We are pleased to bring you April’s guest contribution from the enchanting Liz Shuman. She is the fingers behind the Paper Crane Project, one of our very favorite photographers and an excellent companion for ice cream cones or afternoon coffees. Please step into Liz’s world and enjoy the glory of its corners, edges and textures.
A Most Delightful Yellow Chair
I got this chair on Craigslist for $15. The chair is old, yellow and matches our orange desk famously. Sometimes I think of replacing the desk, but I would never consider getting rid of the chair.
Vegetables
Sometime around late December I bit the bullet and dropped meat completely from my diet. There I was, a brand-spanking new vegetarian and I was starving. It became painfully clear that I would need to learn how to cook vegetables and at the very least they would need to be edible, if not enjoyable. It was then that I fell in love with asparagus. I found a ridiculously easy recipe that not only yielded edible results but they were enjoyable as well! Who knew? The easiest asparagus recipe is as follows…
Wash and cut one to two bunches of asparagus. Slice three or four cloves of garlic (though I’ll tell you, the more the better). Take a soufflé dish (or a dish/pan that is safe to put in the oven) and pour in a bit of olive oil. Layer the asparagus covering it lightly with olive oil and salt and evenly distribute the garlic slices. Once you’ve followed the aforementioned steps, put the pan in the oven and turn on the broiler. Ten minutes later you have yourself a most delicious asparagus dish. Wasn’t that easy?
Now go eat your vegetables.
Blackouts
The evening I took this picture our electricity had suddenly gone off. Chris and I had an excellent time with each other, we drank some wine and played a very long game of Scrabble.
In this age where everything needs to be plugged in to be enjoyed, it was refreshing to know that we could sit in the dark and enjoy each other’s company.
Henry
The other man in my life, and the cutest being to ever grace the Earth, is our beloved feline Henry. Although I’d much rather not reveal my crazy cat lady tendencies, I’m afraid I must. I love this cat so much I will, on occasion, pick boogers from his little, pink, wet nose.
Putting Two and Two Together
I love diptychs.
Birkenstock Wool Clogs
I’ve had these clogs forever. I won’t get rid of them. In fact, the thought of chucking them hardly ever crosses my mind. I really only think about discarding them when I make the stupid decision to wear them in the winter and, not thinking, step in a puddle.
Who cares if they have holes all over them (as easily seen in the picture) and the left one is starting to come apart at the toe? I personally, think that’s part of their charm. I love these clogs; I’ll wear them until I, literally, can’t any longer.
The Paper Crane Project
I’m a very impulsive person; I’ll be the first to admit it. So, on impulse, I recently announced to the world wide web that I would make 1000 paper cranes and send them to people all over the world. I didn’t think about the potential cost of the project, nor the massive amount of time it might consume. And I certainly didn’t think about the fact that I don’t even know 1000 people. I got an idea in my head and I felt in my very core that I had to make this project happen.
But, about a week or two into the project, anxiety set in. You see, I’m a social worker; I wait tables to pay the rent, and in September I will be an unemployed grad student. Right about the same time I faced the financial reality of the project, two generous friends swooped in and saved me from myself.
I am eternally grateful to George and Lori who auctioned off beautiful art, allowing me to continue on with my crazy idea. In some ways I’m glad I didn’t give the idea too much “rational” thought prior to its launch. If I had, I’m not sure the project would have ever become real.
Although I’ve been vague when asked, the paper crane project is about something that people lose faith in all too often. It’s about the kindness in humanity and the little things in life that can mean so much. I am so thankful to all who have participated; the response has been overwhelming in the best of ways. I keep folding the cranes because of the kindness of strangers. It is the words of people I will never meet that keep this project alive.
Polaroids
When I was just a wee one my aunt had a Polaroid camera, which I coveted: partially because I was never allowed to touch it. These were the days way before digital imagery and that camera was my first dealing with instant gratification.
The thought of a camera that provided pictures immediately, as long as you could be patient for one minute, blew my young mind. Although I wouldn’t have a Polaroid to call my own until twenty years down the road, it was then that my lust for the Polaroid camera began. In this digital age, I now own four Polaroid cameras that I use on a regular basis, and I love each one of them.
Our Apartment
Chris and I have lived in the same place for almost two years now. It’s small and, like many Bostonians, we probably pay too much in rent, but we love our home. It’s quaint, and perfect and just the right size for us. Could we use more space? Probably. But in the time we’ve been here it’s become home and, for at least another year, we’ve decided to stay put in our lovely little abode.
Graduate School
Sometimes, the biggest questions that loom over you solve themselves simply and perfectly; and they do it all by themselves.
I recently went through the excruciating process of applying to graduate school for my Master of Social Work, and for months obsessed over the pros and cons of two programs. The first program was a top-caliber stretch—a dream even—but as the months wore on I wondered if it was a dream I actually wanted. The other program was well within reach, and would allow me to move forward with my life, without uprooting it. The former would entail at least three moves in two years’ time. The latter would allow me to remain in my comfort zone but more than that, it just seemed like a better overall fit.
I agonized over the decision until one beautiful Saturday, when I received a letter from the director of admissions at Smith College’s School of Social Work. The letter told me that, “regrettably,” I’m just not Smith material. Receiving that letter was the equivalent of dropping a two-ton weight I had been carrying for months; I never knew I could be so happy with rejection. As a result, I was forced in the direction of my “perfect fit”: I will attend Simmons Graduate School of Social Work in September, and I couldn’t be happier.
I love Boston and I love the life I’ve carved out here, and I’m excited that I’ll have the opportunity to really get to know this beautiful city, both by attending school right near Fenway Park and through grad school placements within the community. Best of all (and definitely not the least of it) I don’t have to move away from Chris (and Henry).
20 comments
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April 25, 2007 at 8:58 am
meeralee
What I love about this is how much it reveals of your life, your personality, and your mode of being. Some 10 Things lists (mine included) are all about the things on the list — yours is about you. And since you’re rather wonderful, that makes it one of my favorite 10 Things entries: a high compliment. 🙂
April 25, 2007 at 9:16 am
laura
beautiful collection, and quite inspirational… and hooray for the grad school story, sometimes the right answer has to reveal itself to you in the strangest ways!
April 25, 2007 at 9:36 am
sia
10 wonderful things – thank you for that easy asparagus recipe – there should be more people out there who appreciate the small things in life {instead of bigger, better, bolder stuff} and look at the world like they did when they were younger.
April 25, 2007 at 11:08 am
liz
is it wrong to comment on one’s own entry?
it feels almost… sacreligious
thank you so much for coming by and peeking into my world.
Meera… it would take a true narcissist to make a list of ten things about herself that all come from the same perspective, being hers… but thank you sweetness.
Laura, Sia… yay! thanks so much. i’m so glad you two found out about 10 things, it’s a special place to be.
Steph, Janelle… a million thanks to you two and for all the hard work you do!
April 25, 2007 at 12:26 pm
meeralee
Ha — I realize that my comment can be read as if I mean “You’re so self-centered!” but in fact I mean “You share so much of yourself in your choices.” I think you’re generous, not narcissistic. But I’m starting to feel like I ought to be a little meaner — I’ve been called sweet more times since I started Flickring than in the whole rest of my life.
Anyway, the entry rocks and so does the site. So there.
April 25, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Susannah
Liz, lovely to learn more about you – i’m so glad to have found your wonderful photos via Flickr, and in turn the fabulous Crane Project!
Susannah (aka Unravelling)
April 25, 2007 at 4:28 pm
jen j-m
this is a great, thoughtful list. i loved it!
April 25, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Bob van der Kamp
Liz, I can’t find words. Your paper crane project, your 10 things, your pictures in general. Thanks! Dankbaar is the term in dutch.
Bob
April 25, 2007 at 9:28 pm
laura
you must be exactly like I imagine you lizzle, ma shizzle. this makes me miss you oodles. i’m so glad I got to sneak this peek.
April 26, 2007 at 2:16 am
lisa s
your 10 things and my 10 things would make beautiful music! [and some are the same! although i don’t have that yellow chair. harumph!]
April 26, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Liza Kate
Liz!
I love this. I didn’t know you were such a little romeo – ha! “Scrabble” my foot.
This is such a wonderful list – I love learning more about you!
And I’m not saying you’re completely full of yourself like Meera did. She’s mean.
April 26, 2007 at 7:13 pm
emdot
i was shaking with glee! yea! liz’s 10 things!!
April 27, 2007 at 11:35 am
getthebubbles
love this, and like meera said, it certainly does show alot about you personally.
April 27, 2007 at 1:00 pm
alexis
such a great entry! and best of luck in grad school. i hope you enjoy it as much as i did. (law school, on the other hand, was awful. so don’t do that.)
April 27, 2007 at 3:31 pm
jandazza
I love that we keep seeing you here Alexis! We’ll all be sure to heed your warning about law school.
April 30, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Amanda
I love the pictures. Very personal and colourful. I myself humbly wait for my crane to arrive, excited for the day.
P.S. A little parmesan on those asparagus is tasty.
May 2, 2007 at 7:32 pm
liz
🙂 thanks
May 11, 2007 at 4:55 am
Debi
Thanks for introducing me to you and this and that and the other. Lovely things. Making me glow inside.
DMC
April 5, 2008 at 9:32 am
Free Useful Stuff » Featured Things: Liz Shuman
[…] Did you like this brief introduction? Find out about it in full detail here. […]
October 17, 2010 at 5:25 am
Niemiecko polski
For a while this photos are not avalible, can you post them somewhere else?