BCS Championship!

Go Ducks!
Can't wait for the game...

Light Rail

The light rail line opened on our wedding day, interestingly enough.  Yet I had not been to see the station at the airport which I contributed to the design of.  I helped with this project over the span of several summers as an intern at Hewitt Architects.  As a fun winter afternoon adventure, Mr. Johnson and I rode the light rail to the airport and back again. It was a beautiful day with even a little snow on the ground as we approached the airport.  It was interesting to see the station built after seeing the various design stages throughout the process.

And here are two photos of the early-stage physical model that I built during the internship.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful holidays, I know I did.  This year we spent Christmas with my family on Whidbey Island it was calm and fun and so much good food- just what I needed.

Before Christmas we took a trip to Portland- by the way we are no longer in Bridgetown- more about that in an upcoming post.  That was fun, Christmas shopping -downtown Portland is so great and there is always the Rack (where Mr. Johnson and I got sneak peaks at our gifts to come), holiday time with his family, as well as saying hi to a bunch of friends.  After that start to the season, we went to little Bavaria with my family and our good family friends.  Oh Leavenworth.... according to Mr Johnson it is up there in the top cities he has visited only sharing its place with Hong Kong!  It was snowy, beautifully decorated, full of kitschy Christmas shops, and Bavarian beer.

Then it was Christmas.  Christmas eve we went into Seattle to the beautiful and impressive St. Mark's Cathedral for midnight mass.  I always enjoy Christmas eve services and this one was very special because it was so late and very ceremonial.  Christmas morning was full of opening gifts and delicious breakfast followed by a slightly odd but exciting tradition of road bowling with members of the neighborhood.  And of course more food. 

And 2011....
We welcomed in the new years with my brother and his friend in a very fun fashion.  Starting off with this Portuguese dish Clams na Cataplana.  Isn't it pretty?  Both the clams and the copper cataplana dish?

Well I hope you had a great season with family and friends!

Sushi

Konnichiwa!

I made sushi last night and it was so fun!  My friend, also named Lauren, shared with me that recently sushi has been her go to meal so I decided to try it.  I made cucumber rolls and Philly rolls. The Philly rolls had a combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese and I added cucumber to some of them.  I was amazed at how good the sticky rice turned out, I was eating it straight out of the pot before making up my rolls.  Here is the directions for the vinegared rice also known as sumeshi from the cookbook Easy Sushi by Emi Kazuko. 

1 3/4 cups Japanese style short grained rice
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons sea salt

- Soak rice in clear cold water 10-15 minutes, then drain.

- Transfer rice to a deep saucepan, add 2 cups water.  Cover and bring to boil over high heat, about 5 minutes.

- Lower heat and simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes or until all water has been absorbed.  do not lift the lid.  Remove from heat and leave, still covered, for about 10-15 minutes.

- Mix the rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in small bowl.

- Transfer the cooked rice to a large shallow dish, if you have the set-up a Japanese handai can be used, I had used a pie plate. 

- Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold the vinegar dressing into the rice.  Do not stir.  Let the rice cool to body temperature before making sushi.

Tea Time

Mmm banana bread and Irish Breakfast tea.  Nothing is better than a pot of Irish Breakfast, more flavorful and all together more delicious than its English counterpart, served with my classic Fiesta Ware.  I don't often follow in the British ways of enjoying an afternoon tea, but my overly ripe bananas were calling me and so I whipped up a little chocolate chip banana bread.  What a treat for Mr. Johnson and I.

Happy Friday for everyone!  I am off to a girls weekend in Seattle, all of us haven't been together in the same spot since high school so this should be a blast.

First Day Back in Architecture

Yesterday was my first day back in architecture!  I have begun volunteering at a small firm here in bridgetown.  I really like the work that architecture w produces and I think it will be a fun school studio-like environment to be involved in.  I am also interested in architecture w's artistic exploration within the design process, they have made beautiful abstract paintings and built plaster cast models that diagram and depict the architecture.  The project I will be working on is a design competition for the Kuwaiti embassy in Tokyo.  I am excited for this opportunity and all that will come out of it.


Check out the website of architecture w.  And in case you were wondering what I wore on my first day, here is a picture of me!

 

Discovered Pleasures

Yoga has taken me by surprise.  It is the real deal!  Usually I am suspicious of exercise activities that are within the general dance family and are not ballet.  After years of training in ballet, most of the time loving it and sometimes becoming quite frustrated by its rigor, I have realized the discipline, grace and athleticism that ballet requires is exceptional.  This being said, I was quite happy when I enjoyed the first yoga practice I had ever attended.  It was a physical challenge and I felt it in my upper body the next day! It really is relaxing, during the quiet stretching times I have a chance to let go of my busy thoughts or pray.  I know many people have already jumped on the yoga bandwagon and I am glad to report that I have too.