Adventures in Pasta Making

The best birthday gifts are those that keep on giving long after your birthday has passed. My birthday was a few weeks ago, but I'm still enjoying the rewards of one such gift given to me by my boyfriend T: a gift certificate to attend local cooking classes. It was really a pretty clever idea of T's because he more than anyone (except perhaps yours truly) stands to reap the benefits of said gift. And ever since taking the introduction to pasta class a couple weeks ago, I've been on something of a pasta-making roll. It's actually way easier than I anticipated and quite fun to make! I've been experimenting with different types of flours and the different textures, and what I've thus far learned is that semolina can be very difficult to work with (it's a tougher grain, so isn't as malleable as, say, all-purpose flour....it's a learning process). With my new handy dandy rolling attachment that I have affixed to my apple green Kitchenaid mixer, I am now one lean, mean pasta-making machine. 

Behold my latest cooking creation: fettucini with pesto, olive oil, and a dash of parmesan. Not to toot my own horn or anything (I realize that I am tooting away, anyway), but it was pretty darn delicious. I've come a looooooooong way from the very first meal I've ever made that, embarrassingly enough, involved a George Foreman grill....don't ask. 

Here comes the rain

Rain has come to Southern California. And just like that, fall has arrived. My oft-neglected rain boots are mighty happy to get a little action today. 


{Image via Pinterest}

Blog turns 3

Today is my third blog birthday. I've been thinking a lot about blogging lately: why I started Lark in the first place, the amazingly talented artists I've discovered since embarking on the whole venture, as well as the rather disappointing aspects of the process - i.e. the distractions, the comparisons that are naturally drawn between bloggers, the excess and regurgitation of content, the commercialism, the superficial nature of blogging in general (I'm just as guilty as everyone else). And yet, I keep coming back to this space because I like it here, this small nook that I've created for myself. Because I'm constantly being inspired, whether it's by books I've read or new artists whose works I've stumbled across somewhere, and I like to share these experiences. Even if I'm the only one reading, the very act of writing, synthesizing information, and publishing it makes me feel alive, engaged, informed, productive. So even though it's an imperfect medium, I'll keep plugging away at it. No matter where (or nowhere) this little venture takes me. Because the alternative - i.e. the not participating and marveling and learning - is not an option for me.


{Image via The Sweetest Occasion}

Another Pottermore post

Dear Reader, if you're not riding the Harry Potter train (i.e. you couldn't give a fig about the boy wizard), then by all means ignore today's post. And for the rest of you...ok, I think they're gone. Anyway, so my Pottermore welcome email finally arrived the other day. The website isn't open to the public until October, but since being granted early access this week I've able to rummage around the beta site ahead of the worldwide unveiling, and I can tell you that it's pretty freaking awesome. You basically read along with the books, unlock/find certain magical objects (it's a virtual game, people. And yes, it's a little on the nerdy side), and most exciting of all - at least thus far - is that you can procure your very own wand and get sorted into one of the four houses at Hogwarts (alas, if only it were a real school)! Take a look at my airy, serene living quarters that is my house common room. 

Yep, I'm in Ravenclaw. And I'm not at all surprised, I might add. Ravenclaws highly value wit and learning and scholarly pursuits above every other house. So naturally this bookworm of a blogger got sorted there. Anyone else having fun with Pottermore? And can we be friends?


{Image via Pottermore Central}

Ode to Autumn

Friday, September 23rd marked the first day of autumn here in the northern hemisphere. This little autumnal song sums up perfectly my sentiments about this most glorious of seasons (I have my five-year-old twin nieces to thank for introducing this celebratory tune into my life). Take it away, Moose A. Moose.

{From Youtube, via Nick Jr}

Book Quote

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library." -Jorge Luis Borges

{Image of Nigella Lawson at home in her library from House and Garden, via The Neo-Traditionalist}

Celebrating Roald Dahl

So this is where the magic happened. Where beloved author Roald Dahl imagined his beguiling stories for children and grownups alike (last Tuesday marked the 95th anniversary of his birth). I'd quite like to while away an afternoon in a holy place like this.

Oh, and how amazing is this cutout illustration from artist Jayme McGowan? James and the Giant Peach was my first and favorite of Dahl's books. You can view more of her brilliant artwork at Roadside Projects.


{Images via The New Yorker and Roadside Projects}