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The following piece is gouache, ink and colored pencil: a rendition of Jamie Erickson.
Jamie Erickson is a central character in my new novel, My Travels with Eos. She is a clever femme fatale with a carefree and spontaneous quality.
She was a bit of a surprise for me. When writing the book, she sort of came into the plot out of necessity. Every sentence involving her was spontaneous. I came to really enjoy her personality, and found myself adapting a major role for her.
She’s still a bit of a mystery to me. She has a lot of depth I’ll have to explore in future novels, and I can’t quite figure it out without writing…
This following piece is a combination of gouache, ink, and colored pencil. It is my rendition of Alex Wesley, one of the main protagonists in my new novel, My Travels with Eos.
Alex Wesley documents his experiences with Eos Cerul, a nyx entity that has traveled to the vast expanses of space. Eos lacks a basic understanding in human behavior, and relies upon Alex to teach her the finer nuances of humanity.
Together, they survive a series of misadventures related to Eos’ breach of nyx protocol.
Alex is a thoughtful brooding type, not without his sense of humor. He is hard working, though a little scattered in his methods. He has deep emotional trauma from his distant past that he carries with him.
He believes he came to terms with his past long ago, though recent events force him to confront it. Due to his headstrong nature, he has difficulty reconciling his emotions.
When I wrote My Travels with Eos, I had to dig dee
Saturday, January 8th, 2011—The day after a winter storm dumped 7” on Ballston Spa. I snowshoed along the Kayaderosseras creek in Kelly Park. I had much better trail blazing here than on the Zim Smith Trail, which becomes overrun with snowmobiles.
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First image gallery of the new year! Also, first winter storm of the new year.
Friday, January 7th, 2011, about 7” of fluffy crystalline snow fell on Ballston Spa. The contrast of artificial lighting against the pristine snow was perfect for night photography
My Travels with Eos, Published!
Jan 6 2011 4:30:04 pm EST
Topics:Just published my novel, “My Travels with Eos.” Download the first half for free at Smashwords
Synopsis:
What course of evolution would humans take during prolonged interstellar travel? Enter the Nyx. The nyx are a matured species that have traveled to the far reaches of space. In their explorations, they found Earth, and have sent a delegation to share the mysteries of their evolution.
One such nyx, named Eos Cerul, breaks nyx protocol and enters Earth without permission. She takes human form, and seeks to explore the unique beauty of Earth, and experience the quaint nuances of human nature. In the Adirondack State Park, NY, she encounters her first human, Alex Wesley.
Eos invites Alex to explore the mysteries of the nyx datastream, where physical consciousness is translated to waves of energy, and the universe can be explored at the speed of light. In return, Alex educates Eos on the finer workings of the human condition.
The yeast has settled down after 7 days, the water has cleared up and taken on the color of their respective fruits.
I noticed that the apples exposed to air inside the container have oxidized, making them brown. I searched various stores for small ceramic dishes I could place inside the canning jars to weigh down the fruit. I was unsuccessful.
For my next batches, I will use a system that can weigh down the fruits while letting gasses escape. I may even consider using an air lock, and other wine fermenting implements.
Another problem I notice is fruit flies, even in winter. They really love the canning jars. I had to place the jars in a colder room, where the yeast may have become dormant.
After making a vegan chocolate mousse, I decided to give the non-vegan version a fair shake. Although the texture is more accurate in the non-vegan version, I still prefer the vegan alternative. I still love the both of them.
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On the second day of my fermented fruit experiment, the yeast bubbled vigorously. The pear jar and blueberry jar overflowed, despite the pear jar being 3/4 full and the blueberry jar being 1/2 full.
The yeast in the blueberry jar was particularly active, perhaps because of increased surface area or higher sugar content in the fruit.
The fruits are losing their brilliant coloration, but still retain a lighter shade. Of concern are the fruits that are forced to the top from bubbling action. I am afraid that exposure to air will lead to aerobic bacteria consuming the fruit. However, it appears that the yeast has impregnated the surface of the fruit, and is acting on it. I sti
As a result of tasty successes fermenting sauerkraut, I am expanding my fermentation experiments to fruit.
Fruit fermentation utilizes yeast. The yeast consumes the sugars in the fruit and produces alcohol. As a result, one can become intoxicated eating too much.
I started fermenting blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pears, and apples in 1 quart canning jars. Referencing this article, I came across online, I used the following proportions:
-2 cups water
-1 cup sugar
-1 package baker’s yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
I filled six 1 quart jars about 1/2 – 2/3 full of chopped fruit.
I proofed a double batch of the fermentation liquid in a large bowl, making sure it got foamy within ten minutes. I poured equal amounts in three jars. I did this again to fill three more jars. So that would be the above recipe four times to fill six 1 quart jars.
As a result, the containers are never more than 3/4 full. This allows for expan
Next time you have a sweet tooth craving, reach for a date. It’s better for you and just as tasty as a dessert.
Dates have a honey, sugary flavor, balanced with a bread-like heartiness. Looking at this article, which references the USDA nutritional database, I learned that each little date is packed with vitamins and minerals. Sort of like an energy bar on a tree.
Note that per 100g, 74.97g are carbs; that’s 58% RDA in 3.5oz. Fat is only .15g, less than 1% RDA. In other words, dates are better as an occasional sweet tooth fix.
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