BostonZest

We Have Your Memories - Found a Camera Memory Card

Ed and I found a camera memory card on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall yesterday. How do you recover a lost memory card or lost camera? You have ID on it!

 

I popped the card into my camera hoping to identify the owner. Maybe it was someone nearby. Maybe it was a neighbor. While there were many photos, I didn't recognize anyone. And, there was no way to reach the person who took them.

 

Last year, we found a camera in Philadelphia- same story; there was no identification. We left our name with the hotel where we found it, but never heard from anyone.

 

As a photographer, I know just how valuable a card full of photos can be. In my case, it may mean a loss of income or having to do the work over. But, to lose important memories of a trip, event, or family member is even worse. I've checked the lost and found on Craig's List and posted the found item there.

 

Every memory card I own contains a locked photograph of my business card. If someone finds one of my cameras or memory cards, they have a way to reach me and return it.

 

 

If you don't want to use your business card, just print how to reach you and take a photo of it. Then lock the photo so it remains on the card even when you erase your images. If you do a compete wipe of the card, then retake your ID.

Or, get creative like Andrew MacDonald did.

Related Post:

Lost and Found in Boston

 

Need extra memory cards for summer travel? 

And, since I'm often asked what camera I would recommend for someone outgrowing the point and shoot option, here's a link to the Canon G-11. Many of the photos you see here and in the newspapers who publish my work are taken with the Canon G-10. It's the camera I always have with me. 

When I'm working, I shoot with the Nikon D200. The newest version of that is the D-300. I've shown it with my favorite lens the 18-200 Zoom.

 

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Writer: Penny Cherubino

Top Photo: by Alan Levine used under creative commons license. Here's a link to his photostream and here's a link to his blog.

 

 

 

 

"Beautiful" Betty

Betty's not only beautiful, but also knows what she wants. We actually heard Betty, before we laid eyes on her.

 

 

She was lunching with her friends on the patio outside Coppa in the South End.

While food was definitely on her mind, it wasn't "people" food. Betty was barking at her favorite place in the whole world– Polkadog Bakery, directly across the street. She was speaking-up, because that's where she wanted to be. 

 
Suddenly, Betty went into a trance-like state. At first, we were all a bit concerned. Later, Betty explained she was practicing a special doggy form of visualization. (I wonder if Cesar the Dog Whisperer knows about this technique.)
 
Adopted last August, Betty's people think she's about 5 or 6-years old.


 

At BostonZest we think Betty is beautiful, intelligent, and just can't wait for the check to arrive.

One of our favorite canine friends has a new obsession. Miss Greer adores sweet potato treats and begins drooling at the thought of them.

   

 

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AKC/Bull Terrier    

Writer: Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

Nap Time in the Public Garden

One solution to the instant heat last week was to find a shady bench and have a snooze.

Are you a napper? 

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Writer: Penny Cherubino

Photo: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

Cheap Healthy Good– Our Friday Link

Cheap Healthy Good is our Friday Link. One of the great things about being a part of and hanging around Serious Eats is finding other contributors' sites. I love the "Healthy & Delicious:" entries on Serious Eats from Kristen Swensson. I wanted more, so I clicked over and subscribed to her blog.

Now, I'd like to introduce "Cheap Healthy Good" to our BostonZest readers.

 

Here's how Kirsten describes her site:

"Cheap Healthy Good is a blog dedicated to the advancement of frugal, nutritious, ethically-minded food in everyday life. All of our recipes, links, and articles go back to that main subject matter. Occasionally, we throw in some pop culture references for fun."

Click here and try a taste of her "Cheap, Healthy Good" offerings.

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Writer: Penny Cherubino

Screengrab from Cheap Healthy Good

Dutch Elm Disease Alert

The heat this week is reason for an early alert to watch for the signs of Dutch Elm Disease. Henry Davis, the elm expert who acts as consultant for the Friends of the Public Garden, has asked us to keep watch for "flagging" or wilted looking leaves at the tops of elm trees over the next few days. 

You can become part of the team of volunteers who keep watch on elms throughout the city. Here's a link to a piece that explains how to identify elm trees, recognize Dutch Elm Disease symptoms, and report the ailing tree to someone who can help. If you have any questions you can add a comment here or email us, and we'll dig up the answers.

http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/06/time-to-keep-wa.html

And, remember The American Elm is our official state tree here in Massachusetts.

"The American Elm (Ulmus Americana) was adopted as the official tree March 21, 1941, to commemorate the fact that General George Washington took command of the Continental Army beneath one on Cambridge Common in 1775. It is a large tree, with gray flaky bark. When growing in the forest it often attains a height of 120 feet, but in the open it is wide-spreading and of lesser height. The leaves are oval, and dark green, turning to a clear yellow in the autumn. The American Elm, like most elms, has been severely afflicted by Elm Disease."

Source: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm

Details:

Friends of the Public Garden

www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

A Week of Farmers' Market Openings - Whew!

From JP to Cambridge, Copley to Kendall Square, and most everything in between, we covered a lot of ground to bring you opening week at the farmers' markets.

Each day last week meant a new location–I felt a bit like a tourist, complete with itinerary to plot our journey.

 

Marge and Symm Cook from Cook's Farm Orchard opened the Copley Market together 

Penny and I really enjoyed ourselves, meeting some new farmers and saying hello to old friends. It felt like an official crossing from winter into spring with summer just up ahead.

 

We both got to taste the freshness of the season. There were all sorts of greens, including some new items. Plenty of breads and cheeses to try, even some early strawberries!


 
Penny put together the entire week's adventures in her latest piece for Serious Eats, "Boston Farmers' Markets Opening Week."


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Writer: Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

City Gardens Require Special Skills

Yesterday we profiled city garden expert Susan Juretschke. Today, she'll share some guidance on growing a successful city garden. 

This celebration of green & white is one of Susan's gardens.

Gardening in the City

There are special challenges when creating small city gardens. "It's like gardening in a giant container," Susan said. "There's a limited volume [of soil], it's effected by temperature changes." "...water tends to evaporate more quickly, and you have to really be sure you keep up with feeding..." She explained that microclimates created by trees, corners, street width, wind patterns, shady and sunny sides of the street make each garden's needs unique. 

Where do you put stuff?

Working clean is also an issue. Unlike large suburban lots, there is nowhere for a compost pile or to store extra soil. If she digs out an area to plant, she has to take the excess soil away. 

The care Susan takes in tending gardens is noticed, "When you see her working around the neighborhood - she is careful, deliberate and caring in her work, whether she's planting or pruning. Even if she's removing a plant or shrub, she wants to find a good, new home for it," said Jackey Blombach Co-President of the Garden Club of the Back Bay.

Gardening Tips 

With her years of experience, Susan was happy to give advice for city gardeners.

1. "For gardens on the shady side of the street, I try to plant very early blooming bulbs so the people on that side of the street don't have to wait so long before some color comes out."
2. Since trial and error is often the only way to find out what works in your garden, she suggests keeping good logs of what you plant and how it works out. "Keep records and take photographs," she said.
3. "Use more interesting annuals– especially for the shade. People rely on impatiens, but nowadays there are more options." She suggests trying rose impatiens, torenia, browallia, and one of the many varieties of begonia.   

The next time you see this Back Bay "sign of spring" working in a front yard; say hello, and know that she's the perfect person to give you some gardening guidance.  

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Writer: Penny Cherubino

Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

This piece is adapted from a profile written for the Back Bay Sun.