Last night I went to a gathering of beautiful and well-intentioned people who get together to mingle and network to support each other in the business world. It was a sparkly holiday party at a swank private "lounge" downtown. It was challenging for me to be fully present, even though I know that as a creative freelancer, networking is very important. I have a handful of solid clients and a steady flow of work but logic tells me that I should be developing potential business more broadly.
Most of my professional connections are with fairly large companies and my recordings are one component of the more complex product they sell. Seeking more clients like these is the perfect focus for long term contract work, but why turn away from the person-to-person possibilities? I have recorded a single script, or a short list of voicemail recordings for small business in the past and enjoyed these projects very much.
I'm going to focus some of my planning energy on the single project client...how to communicate clearly all the ways a professional voice might be valuable, even when the project is a little one.
09 December 2009
07 December 2009
northwest nostalgia
It's pouring rain in San Diego this morning. Sitting inside, decked out in layers of fleece, looking out at the gray skies, it's all very reminiscent of Portland...EXCEPT that I just checked the internet and it's 20-something-degrees up there! I had no idea! I can't even remember how I coped under those conditions.
On NPR this morning there was a nice story about a cargo bike manufacturing operation in NE Portland. The American League of Cyclists was quoted "Sometimes we take the love affair with the car, that we think we have, to a bit of an extreme. We really have a love affair with the quickest, easiest, most convenient way of getting around." Well said. We take more of a Vietnamese approach to carting around groceries and such, strapping it on and piling it high. I do love the cargo bike idea though, allowing people to safely carry their surfboards to the beach, and their children to daycare without the tow behind Burley-type trailer. I'd like being able to see my precious cargo in the front loaded position.
But I digress. There is something to be said for having winter weather that asks you to slow down, get cozy inside, and do some baking. Today I made chocolate shortbread cookies from the Innocent Primate blog. Yum.
On NPR this morning there was a nice story about a cargo bike manufacturing operation in NE Portland. The American League of Cyclists was quoted "Sometimes we take the love affair with the car, that we think we have, to a bit of an extreme. We really have a love affair with the quickest, easiest, most convenient way of getting around." Well said. We take more of a Vietnamese approach to carting around groceries and such, strapping it on and piling it high. I do love the cargo bike idea though, allowing people to safely carry their surfboards to the beach, and their children to daycare without the tow behind Burley-type trailer. I'd like being able to see my precious cargo in the front loaded position.
But I digress. There is something to be said for having winter weather that asks you to slow down, get cozy inside, and do some baking. Today I made chocolate shortbread cookies from the Innocent Primate blog. Yum.
06 December 2009
my yoga teacher is an angel
I find more and more that I meet angels on my path. Sometimes you'll just go to a yoga workshop and someone will walk through the door with a special glow...a combination of sparkle and humility...a grounded quality and a big, bright spirit. Then you'll be shopping for natural body care things at your neighborhood boutique, and there she is again...saying do you take yoga at our center? And before you know it, you have a new yoga class and a wonderful new teacher who is both young and fresh, and sharing something so much bigger...an eternal, beautiful, encouraging energy. The room is filled with Love and you know what is means to "be the change."
apple-hemp muffins
I've tried this recipe a few ways, depending on what's in stock in the kitchen. Today I used all oat bran where the original recipe called for oat flour and it may be the best yet! They have loads of fiber and protein, no dairy or eggs, and only natural sweetening. My husband is working through a cold bug today and they made him smile.
To make the applesauce, I peel, core and cube two apples and simmer them in a shallow pan with a little water until they are soft. Use a potato masher to make them into applesauce. The beauty of this method is that small chunks of apple will be here and there in the finished muffins.
To make your own plain almond milk, soak 1 cup of raw, organic almonds in water overnight. Drain, rinse and blend with 4 cups of fresh filtered water until almonds are ground fine. Strain out the almonds, using a fine mesh sieve. You can compost the spent almonds. I keep a quart of this milk going at all times, so I always have some ready for granola or chai.
Apple-Hemp Muffins...makes 12
1 1/2 cups whole spelt flour
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup shelled hemp seeds
2 teaspoons non-aluminum baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup plain almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons almond oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oat bran, hemp seeds, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom until well combined.
In another bowl, combine applesauce, maple syrup, plain almond milk, vanilla, almond oil and salt. Add dry mixture to the wet and gently mix until just combined.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
To make the applesauce, I peel, core and cube two apples and simmer them in a shallow pan with a little water until they are soft. Use a potato masher to make them into applesauce. The beauty of this method is that small chunks of apple will be here and there in the finished muffins.
To make your own plain almond milk, soak 1 cup of raw, organic almonds in water overnight. Drain, rinse and blend with 4 cups of fresh filtered water until almonds are ground fine. Strain out the almonds, using a fine mesh sieve. You can compost the spent almonds. I keep a quart of this milk going at all times, so I always have some ready for granola or chai.
Apple-Hemp Muffins...makes 12
1 1/2 cups whole spelt flour
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup shelled hemp seeds
2 teaspoons non-aluminum baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup plain almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons almond oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oat bran, hemp seeds, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom until well combined.
In another bowl, combine applesauce, maple syrup, plain almond milk, vanilla, almond oil and salt. Add dry mixture to the wet and gently mix until just combined.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
04 December 2009
tennis
What a lovely morning on the tennis court! There are days when the weather is perfect and everyone is energized and playing smart...today was one of those days. I'm so grateful to have put in years of lessons and league competition so that I always have tennis to come back to. When I moved to San Diego, I gave all my tennis clothes and my ball hopper to Goodwill. I hadn't played in years. I did keep my racquet and the bag I won in the annual tournament in Oregon City. Good thing, because I'm back on the court, playing twice a week again.
There are many blessings here in San Diego. One is being able to play outdoors virtually any day of the year. And having a community to play with is wonderful.
There are many blessings here in San Diego. One is being able to play outdoors virtually any day of the year. And having a community to play with is wonderful.
03 December 2009
gathering rainwater
Today there's a lot of hammering and jolting going on up on the roof. It's a necessary step to get to an excellent rainwater harvesting system. First was the termite treatment. We chose the least toxic method that would still give us pretty good longevity. I think having a wooden house in Southern California is a shaky proposition, but we love our site on the canyon, and will do what we can to preserve it and use it for highest good.
Once we get the spongy wooden parts replaced and the roofing secure, we'll install new gutters that channel water into the garden and some kind of cistern for water storage. Then the painting begins. After much deliberation, we found a color scheme we like. It's more saturated than a Palo Verde tree, but has the same range of colors. It will remind us of our Thanksgiving camping trip to Baja.
Here's the palette...
Once we get the spongy wooden parts replaced and the roofing secure, we'll install new gutters that channel water into the garden and some kind of cistern for water storage. Then the painting begins. After much deliberation, we found a color scheme we like. It's more saturated than a Palo Verde tree, but has the same range of colors. It will remind us of our Thanksgiving camping trip to Baja.
Here's the palette...
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