So after my lunch at Broder, I drove to Manzanita. The weather was kind of crappy….rain with lots of crazy big lumber trucks and me in my dinky rental car with some good music. There were a few moments where I thought I would fly right off the road but honestly, I really enjoyed the drive. It was so cool to see random waterfalls on the side of the road! There were some cute little farms too! After 2 hours, I arrived safely and dove right into the retreat. Met all of the ladies and went outside and took this photo with my phone. Hello Manzanita! How you doin’?
Later into the night, my friend Jen made a few of us her special Jen & Tonics. They were pretty delicious! See those cute earrings I’m wearing up there? She made them! I looove them.
So we had girl talk over jen & tonics. What a way to start the week! After all the traveling, I needed 3 stiff ones.
The next morning I found this nestled in my sheets. Yes!
I took a little walk on the beach to clear my head. I was teaching my first workshop that afternoon and I wanted to center myself. Fresh sea air will do you some good. Doesn’t do wonders for you hair though…trust me.
Then I quickly ran into the kitchen to make caramelized bananas and cinnamon spiced apples for our waffles. I had a little trouble with the stove…and the pan… and some burning caramel but no one noticed…That’s what happens when you make something up on the fly in a kitchen you’ve never cooked in before. I triumphed, though. Hooray for that!
And then our Instant Joy Polaroid workshop with Hula began! She brought out a huge suitcase full of Polaroid cameras! You should have see how excited we all were. We were like kids on Christmas day! Andrea (Hula) lined up all of her cameras in the center of the table and put corresponding Polaroids next to each one. It was a sight!
Look at all of these beauties.
We learned what each camera does and how it differs from the next. We talked a lot about the Impossible Project & the history of Polaroid film. This woman KNOWS her stuff. I was thoroughly impressed!
I got to look at a few polaroids that I’ve swooned over online IN PERSON! My friend Stef is caressing one here.
Andrea taught us all so much about the beauty & charm of Polaroid film. Her passion is contagious.
She is a treasure. There’s sooo much to love about her.
After our workshop, we all went out to play with our cameras on the beach!
It was foggy and misty with a few light showers…but that didn’t stop us.
I kind of fell in love with the beach. The sand was really compact and didn’t fly everywhere. I hate sand.
I stalked a seagull for awhile…with both my Polaroid Spectra (pics to be scanned!) and my digital SLR.
I enjoyed watching silhouettes from far away.
And then up close. There’s that seagull.
Stef and I took some shots together and she captured this one of me. I love it! And her!
And then we all came back to the house and showed off our adventures.
Polaroid wrappers & photos were EVERYWHERE. It was delightful.
We had a break for lunch in town. Pear ciders…iced tea… Polaroids….girls…
The best part? The most ENORMOUS basket of tater tots. I was so happy that I couldn’t get a good shot. We are talking a basket the size of a watermelon BIG. I cleaned house.
And then my first kitchen demonstration started. Liz (our fantastic organizer!) took this photo of me during my class. I’m wearing an apron! I’m so legit!
We made a soup & tacos together. I taught a few of my special tricks & some knife skills. Questions were asked, kitchen problems were solved. It was FUN! It was almost as if I had my own cooking show!
Here’s the huge pot of Black Bean Soup ready to be served.
And everyone dove right in….
We also made tacos with soyrizo. I converted quite a few people to the church of Soyrizo.
I’m like Tom Cruise…no wait.
That was the first full day at the Joy Retreat! Painting workshop coming up next!
