i have moved

I have decided to move my blog to another space. It is time.  My word for 2011 is Rebirth, and this move will allow me to walk forward and appreciate where I have been but enjoy, love and learn where I’m going.  This new space will allow me to do just that for myself.

I hope you continue to follow me here latoyarogers.squarespace.com

Thank you for your support and your kindness.

grateful for simple things

I use this weekly Friday feature to show my gratitude for things that happen during the week. 

1. having an opportunity come into life when another is fading

2. sitting in silence for hours focusing on me and my life

4. speaking photography with someone whose work i admire and find inspiration in

5. finding truth that i can only be me and not anyone else 

6. being alive and healthy to enjoy this week

**i love the blur of this photo, the deep blue and exaggerated white background. it was an accidental snap.

what i like

… Herriott Grace     A father and daughter team based in Canada that sells small handmade by the father wooden kitchen utensils.

(images from Herriott Grace)

food file: pound cake

I made a pound cake a few weeks ago from scratch.  I got the recipe from the Joy of Cooking, which will be the staple for some of my baking.  

 

Recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking

 Ingredients

2 cups butter

2 cups sugar

9 eggs yolks or 9 whole eggs*

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon mace

optional 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, or flavor of choice 

4 cups cake flour

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon salt

The Mix

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 in. tube pan or you can use two 9×5 pans according to the recipe.

Mix the butter and sugar until it becomes creamy in texture.  Beat into this mixture one at a time 9 egg yolks or 9 whole eggs.* Then add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of mace, 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 cups of cake flour. If you have decided to add flavoring you can add it to this mixture.

Mix the entire batter until well blended.  Whip egg whites until stiff and blend them with a spatula into the batter.  Pour into your pans and bake for 1 hour.

Once cake is finished let it rest for 5 minutes then remove from cake pan and cool for 10 minutes or your decided resting time.

* Egg whites will make the cake fluffy in texture. Whole eggs will give you a dense texture.

the weekends

How was your weekend? 

 I spent mine working on Saturday & running errands, reading, writing and watching Turner Classic Movies on Sunday.

I’ve realized late last night that I want to go back to enjoying the simple pleasures of my weekends again.  No errands, no work  just loving my two full days of solace.  You remember the days when you were a child?  When the weekends meant sleeping in late, playing outside for hours with friends, and not having a care in the world except to just enjoy the freedom.  I started writing down a list of things I can do on the weekend that will bring me joy.  Here are a few things on my list.

1. no internet

2. read books/magazines/hideout in bookstores

3. bake bread, sweets, pizza

4. clean my home with music playing loudly in the background with dance moves sprinkled in for good measure

5. long photo walks

6. watch movies – independent, old classic, foreign

How about you?  Will you start enjoying your weekends again with simple pleasures?  If so, share a few?

i love simplicity

I picked up the March issue of Martha Stewart Living and enjoyed the goodness between the pages.  I am especially fond of the image above.  It exudes the simplicity of a home that I adore.   It invites you to sit down with people you love and have a grand meal of simple foods and pleasures.

when being lazy to cook breakfast lands you here…

 

a sausage biscuit from McDonald’s & orange juice from my fridge

photographic inspirations

Photographic inspirations are images by different photographers that evoke emotion for me that day.

Can you believe that March begins tomorrow?  In a few weeks Spring will be upon us.  

(i’ve had this image saved since sept.2010 & the source I had was wrong.  if you know the photographer please let me know found via flickr)