One

I am trying to formulate a logotype for my private press (that is, a logo for the stuff I print). I’m relatively set on the name “Pencilhaven”, and I want to create something visual that involves letterforms, most likely “P” and “H.” I’m getting close. Believe it or not this represents about four hours of sketching various permutations. Letterforms are hard. Logos are harder. Put the two together and ugh.

The design I have now is swoopy. I wanted to give it “lachrymal serifs” in homage to my Caslon type, but it looked wonky. Now to refine, and then the onerous, many-hour tedium of converting it to Bezier curves in a vector illustration app*. Which is extra challenging this time because I don’t have a vector illustration application at the moment. Illustrator, where are you when I need you?

Two

Wine Cellar WIP, looking North

We are building a wine cellar in our basement, in the semi-octagon underneath the front bay window. This was mostly a self-propelled project, until we got to the drywall  (just…no) and racking steps. The racking quote and plan we got, while exhibiting epic CAD genius and giving us the holy-crap-I-want-that’s, costs as much as a new, entry-level Hyundai. Thus we’ll likely have a non-descript “room” for a few months while we go out and hold bake sales/turn tricks to fund its outfitting.

A skilled man has been in our basement all day, quietly and happily installing exterior-grade fiberglass drywall (moisture issues in wine cellar, see). This represents progress and makes Mr. Pencil and me much more unclenched.

* Perhaps my deeply-talented friend Aileen will have some advice here.

Tags: cellar, construction, Letterpress, Wine

Clamor, clamor, little readers / how I have joy that you care

browsing through the tubes so high / like a duck-fiend in the sky

satue, simmer little duck / you cooked well, such was my luck!

I am glad to follow up with some nonsense and finality about my duck. It all came together in a satisfying orchestration: roasted legs, pan-cooked boobs, reduced sour-cherry/sage sauce, parsnip puree and sauteed garlicky spinach.

Highs: The whole picture. But really, the highlight was the 2006 Martello Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir (Ribbon Ridge AVA, Oregon). Run, don’t walk. Best wine I’ve had in months. You can get it at Garrison’s Wines on SE Morrison. Tell Travis I sent you. Medium-bodied, smooth as buttah, not fruity, but not sere and dry, either. Cocoa, coffee, murky but lovely flavors. Great with duck (hah).

Lows: The actual duck was probably not the highest quality of ducks. The breasts, especially, were fairly tough, though I took pains to cook them gently!

Tags: cooking, Wine