tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65296361348245101132024-03-12T16:48:17.955-07:00Profiterole Visionajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-75236797251770161412016-05-05T12:39:00.001-07:002016-05-05T12:42:32.467-07:00Maple tapping. Priceless.<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding: 0px;">
This morning, I watched a discussion on one of my favourite (knitting) podcasts about the cost-effectiveness of growing your own vegetables. This inspired me to financially evaluate my first foray into maple tree tapping this winter.<br />
<strong>Step 1:</strong> Autumn. Incredibly enthusiastic about the process. Crocheted maple leaves to tie around our two trees while they still had leaves, as once those drop I won’t have a clue which is which and run the risk of birch-syrup or somesuch. Cost: negligible. Scraps of red acrylic yarn from deep deep stash.<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/thejasperpatch/maple-leaf-banner" style="color: #666666;"><img alt="Maple Tree markers" src="http://www.ravelry.com/attached/thejasperpatch/53056937" style="border: none; max-width: 670px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Step 2</strong>. Wait. This past winter was relatively short for Quebec, however 5-6 months between stages of a project does rather put a dampener on the enthusiasm!<br />
Forget about project. On drive to town in late March, notice buckets on trees. Passion for project is reignited. Go on epic-hobbit-style-quest round Ottawa’s hardware stores to find the last remaining sap spiles and buckets in the city. Notice there are now displays of BBQ equipment and sunloungers in the stores. Yup. Left this a little late!<br />
Cost: 2 x buckets, lids and spiles = $24. Gas cost: I dread to think! Damage to pride at screwing this up: negligible, pride went missing way back in the late 90s. I’m happier without it.<br />
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<strong>Step 3</strong> Drill hole in tree (with Mason drill bit because you forgot to buy wood-bits in the many hardware stores you visited, and you aren’t going back.) Tap in spile, hang bucket. Wait.<br />
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<strong>Step 4</strong> After a week we collected 16oz of sap. The next stage is to boil it down, the ratio of sap to syrup is 40:1. Not enough to share with friends, but hopefully a pancakes worth. Boil sap down, after half an hour bladder becomes unignorable, nip to bathroom. The unwatched pot boils. Syrup stage bypassed and we have maple toffee. 1 teaspoon of maple toffee.<br />
Cost: One tub of local artisan vanilla ice-cream to serve with toffee = $9.<br />
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1 teaspoon of maple toffee = $33.<br />
Today’s market price for gold? 1 gram = $52.</div>
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Best maple toffee I ever tasted!<br />
Hours of entertainment from that $33 investment - countless! Same again next year!<br />
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(This post started as a forum post responding to the aforementioned conversation. I copied and pasted it here as I haven't felt the urge to write in so long, I thought I would preserve my ramblings. )</div>
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ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-15165755243384254322014-06-22T09:10:00.001-07:002014-06-22T09:10:28.708-07:00hummm......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tfeyDBK8ouwGBJ_5PJgS-HyNAtcFQW2D8_C8_YDoTKaQgtctd8l5IXuFgGx_T9dmgedhyZcE6pq2Bj9G8muBfWts9WNxjVMHQtuSIKoXd1dN-Qyqs1cBpW2h744B8pnLM4zGHB9AGYw/s1600/IMG_20140526_091803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tfeyDBK8ouwGBJ_5PJgS-HyNAtcFQW2D8_C8_YDoTKaQgtctd8l5IXuFgGx_T9dmgedhyZcE6pq2Bj9G8muBfWts9WNxjVMHQtuSIKoXd1dN-Qyqs1cBpW2h744B8pnLM4zGHB9AGYw/s1600/IMG_20140526_091803.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last month I felt so sorry for the hummingbirds sat in the rain, and wanted to make little hummingbird sized umbrellas to keep their tiny feathery noggins dry.</div>
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Yesterday one pooped on my eyebrow.</div>
<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-28580310545200621202013-08-10T10:00:00.002-07:002013-08-10T10:00:42.881-07:00Cardigans and Canoes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFmspmbnoBKw_Zk_v_7-Ecm9oHTCUne9-BTz8adnU4hCxeIW0LJGRNnTjv_Dm76fmwLbOfEgiU7jM34ekWcIWaPJa26ebAmK_y0EzhZHY9PmqLHKsuOHQMdq9g92f-jApJwkvRoTShxE/s1600/morning+coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFmspmbnoBKw_Zk_v_7-Ecm9oHTCUne9-BTz8adnU4hCxeIW0LJGRNnTjv_Dm76fmwLbOfEgiU7jM34ekWcIWaPJa26ebAmK_y0EzhZHY9PmqLHKsuOHQMdq9g92f-jApJwkvRoTShxE/s400/morning+coffee.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
We moved house this week, and I have lots of news and reports, but for now the sun is shining and the breeze is in the trees so I'll save the rambling for a stormy evening.<br />
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This is the view from this mornings coffee spot....suffice to say that all is well!ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-2382062910659121352013-08-02T17:06:00.001-07:002013-08-02T17:06:05.663-07:00Star struck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tJqukaqBX329GD0NEt79csNsBIQMFrfpGpYFDMvD9lfCJ-J4rzsmkrddsVTlRdGCoUaigkpYfdmgMueG9locadiJ3j-JAkIsT6DmSfSEHQkZrerteGq2j-OMhbUHk8lTQtsCW-_YK5U/s1600/caterpillar+nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tJqukaqBX329GD0NEt79csNsBIQMFrfpGpYFDMvD9lfCJ-J4rzsmkrddsVTlRdGCoUaigkpYfdmgMueG9locadiJ3j-JAkIsT6DmSfSEHQkZrerteGq2j-OMhbUHk8lTQtsCW-_YK5U/s320/caterpillar+nose.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ3XgHfc15-3aTHgtGlLRMZAfWi2R7u6_f91rtL49NCv7pr8UP73uAYImbfXe01VHJn37BWQX_4A136W7O7ykqP4ilyPbQhYOT5xY5RM8DLENpB3FTOB95q83uGSr5oYOrXZa9tkclxQ/s1600/segments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Today I met the star of one of my favourite books. He was crossing the bike path. I'm not usually an autograph hunter, but excitement got the best of me and he very kindly posed for some pictures with me before continuing on his way....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUowfL5EJRfaKI197tiKYaWpcSq_NS9oK7VjaxvGNS8Gfb8q7TIW5fENxpLxvCtTy2f5Y8LiPQhQZcxjHtfuLU80lfZ1ZarbG797Gm-Ly9d0joZYovd-LfPfdDnJldSyVcaDyfF9hsXUI/s1600/stuffed.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu-1n3D_D_C1LAurDyUfjsJB4j-xFw7H-h51no_qi5wG88qrV_jd6vn_XY_l1tDVKI-0THd4rCcwRG6CUajYKS5UScG3Gw-lWhwKmGoVy870hyphenhyphenPjW6e04DTXwKVDO-Pyk_ip5wIMiYEg/s1600/caterpillas+bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSu-1n3D_D_C1LAurDyUfjsJB4j-xFw7H-h51no_qi5wG88qrV_jd6vn_XY_l1tDVKI-0THd4rCcwRG6CUajYKS5UScG3Gw-lWhwKmGoVy870hyphenhyphenPjW6e04DTXwKVDO-Pyk_ip5wIMiYEg/s200/caterpillas+bottom.jpg" width="194" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ3XgHfc15-3aTHgtGlLRMZAfWi2R7u6_f91rtL49NCv7pr8UP73uAYImbfXe01VHJn37BWQX_4A136W7O7ykqP4ilyPbQhYOT5xY5RM8DLENpB3FTOB95q83uGSr5oYOrXZa9tkclxQ/s1600/segments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ3XgHfc15-3aTHgtGlLRMZAfWi2R7u6_f91rtL49NCv7pr8UP73uAYImbfXe01VHJn37BWQX_4A136W7O7ykqP4ilyPbQhYOT5xY5RM8DLENpB3FTOB95q83uGSr5oYOrXZa9tkclxQ/s200/segments.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWflxkOQ97crIL_vb9Wr0I3JfL96swTZRPMuHQRKKJWLbIQ9wFz7cGGcH5xrdPHri0R5MaVkJF8_VF29XJ5Vdw9Ng8-uPP9NpbShZ2lctGuFDXoIIWTs87b6rX1EQZ5cx_MuhGm80VPQ/s1600/bad+hair+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWflxkOQ97crIL_vb9Wr0I3JfL96swTZRPMuHQRKKJWLbIQ9wFz7cGGcH5xrdPHri0R5MaVkJF8_VF29XJ5Vdw9Ng8-uPP9NpbShZ2lctGuFDXoIIWTs87b6rX1EQZ5cx_MuhGm80VPQ/s200/bad+hair+day.jpg" width="200" /><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUowfL5EJRfaKI197tiKYaWpcSq_NS9oK7VjaxvGNS8Gfb8q7TIW5fENxpLxvCtTy2f5Y8LiPQhQZcxjHtfuLU80lfZ1ZarbG797Gm-Ly9d0joZYovd-LfPfdDnJldSyVcaDyfF9hsXUI/s320/stuffed.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="clear: left; color: black; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">But not before he kindly allowed me to recreate a page from the text, although I had to adlib a little on the fruit selection.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUowfL5EJRfaKI197tiKYaWpcSq_NS9oK7VjaxvGNS8Gfb8q7TIW5fENxpLxvCtTy2f5Y8LiPQhQZcxjHtfuLU80lfZ1ZarbG797Gm-Ly9d0joZYovd-LfPfdDnJldSyVcaDyfF9hsXUI/s1600/stuffed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfESYFffalhr4hn8ONW3f2PFRTyLmcasqKuKCiCQtICDcYJVdOaftxY4UlIurjK3LN-lJe7LVwHrPe8gR4A1GwkZBwVMzu86Oa0LSOXPGsv1RqIx58a3_wWlIlG3qOQIYghAi36dDMytI/s1600/the+very+hungry+caterpillar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfESYFffalhr4hn8ONW3f2PFRTyLmcasqKuKCiCQtICDcYJVdOaftxY4UlIurjK3LN-lJe7LVwHrPe8gR4A1GwkZBwVMzu86Oa0LSOXPGsv1RqIx58a3_wWlIlG3qOQIYghAi36dDMytI/s640/the+very+hungry+caterpillar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Internet research leads me to believe this fine fellow is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antheraea_polyphemus" target="_blank">Polyphemus Moth</a> caterpillar, and will grow up into a 6 inch beauty if he avoids ending up as a blackbird's breakfast. </div>
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And if there was any doubt as to his credentials as The Very Hungry Caterpillar? This lumpy fellow can eat up to 86,000 times his own body weight in his 2 month life - impressive stuff!</div>
ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-42337920614624654682013-07-30T10:32:00.005-07:002013-07-30T10:32:58.358-07:00Procrastinating...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAhfhuw9Z2sBFZQ6sY4n7WiUJB1Y5Bw_Pqs1MOpq3KT0tWGb0xf50N2fGuOsAna1vv-SBtR8IiFr2SDoFq9x7_TjEmmaf6vSU8fkzwIG3wWFwhh20pi9GJxI7hiipL37zMakjheaOyw/s1600/giraffes+and+aloof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAhfhuw9Z2sBFZQ6sY4n7WiUJB1Y5Bw_Pqs1MOpq3KT0tWGb0xf50N2fGuOsAna1vv-SBtR8IiFr2SDoFq9x7_TjEmmaf6vSU8fkzwIG3wWFwhh20pi9GJxI7hiipL37zMakjheaOyw/s320/giraffes+and+aloof.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQBxMnX6i72DIqJ4Dh4w69_VNHsaB_fFjKRfjwMKOlCpsfVf4yi6npAKkz8vhzmNVFcqRwbT4K-CfbM0pQYeAyaI6XYvMyr6xIIv7r-Sa72yoBUshJesRq2hzPxbq5RIUrXqcFHyYIvI/s1600/giraffe+buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQBxMnX6i72DIqJ4Dh4w69_VNHsaB_fFjKRfjwMKOlCpsfVf4yi6npAKkz8vhzmNVFcqRwbT4K-CfbM0pQYeAyaI6XYvMyr6xIIv7r-Sa72yoBUshJesRq2hzPxbq5RIUrXqcFHyYIvI/s320/giraffe+buttons.jpg" width="101" /></a>I should be packing, but instead I spent the morning sewing giraffe buttons onto my new blouse, and then attempting to take a half decent self portrait.<br />
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The buttons were a success. The portraits less so.<br />
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Sadly I only noticed that the button band was slightly off centre when I had complete the blouse....but then I feel slightly off-centre most of the time, so it works on some level.<br />
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Our evening stroll was post rain-storm last night, which enabled some rainbow spotting.....I tried in earnest to take a shot resembling a famous album cover, anyone get it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZUAfUXz1Q9JfHRq8Jtmm0ivHK1_2jRZmhLJTT6IccigGYsQzR9GNNwTTqytsRmCYX3qfEYlVcfU3CQs0FoOhw3fYTUI6AclhCESa4IUKtr105wXrGjyaIhlwQeZY6To1-lkUyOrYZyM/s1600/album+covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZUAfUXz1Q9JfHRq8Jtmm0ivHK1_2jRZmhLJTT6IccigGYsQzR9GNNwTTqytsRmCYX3qfEYlVcfU3CQs0FoOhw3fYTUI6AclhCESa4IUKtr105wXrGjyaIhlwQeZY6To1-lkUyOrYZyM/s320/album+covers.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-81581163407986093012013-07-27T19:01:00.002-07:002013-07-27T19:23:39.882-07:00Feats of engineering.<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sunday mornings as a child often involved curling up on the sofa watching TV. Of course, for the most part this consisted of cartoons, but despite never been much of a regular sports fan, I remember loving <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_World_Sport" target="_blank">Transworld Sport.</a> This show somehow held my interest with its mix of weird and wacky events and brief clips of sporting madness. And today's event definitely fit that bill. After work I nipped over the river to watch the first few flights of the Redbull Ottawa Flugtag 2013. Of those I witnessed, the Gameboy was definitely the most successful flier - although it also nearly blew off the staging area when a sneaky gust of wind caught it side on. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLvId1ykHnG7IUwdlgMRFdUIg9ANOtM-tWq1s5fKkurlQKQuPEgYapwkpvjbL0rER9ik8CvBNEaNdZLx7_tWu1RP5Rt6j0geiAHp1i4PmYqCXPuYfCOpGadFPRLTl6utb2Q8w07ZVO5o/s1600/yoshi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLvId1ykHnG7IUwdlgMRFdUIg9ANOtM-tWq1s5fKkurlQKQuPEgYapwkpvjbL0rER9ik8CvBNEaNdZLx7_tWu1RP5Rt6j0geiAHp1i4PmYqCXPuYfCOpGadFPRLTl6utb2Q8w07ZVO5o/s200/yoshi.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG5p39O-JwRIpyY6e3j3M-2loipam6KuUlJem59DTgW_zxbrfLdo9F_6XSpfPmDUwn5uMbbfy1F5THXar_l735um8X8XKn5l5c6TSdkadl-MItiFAoQMij-ISoHPJDw6W5S8AxSdFGF4/s1600/game+for+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidG5p39O-JwRIpyY6e3j3M-2loipam6KuUlJem59DTgW_zxbrfLdo9F_6XSpfPmDUwn5uMbbfy1F5THXar_l735um8X8XKn5l5c6TSdkadl-MItiFAoQMij-ISoHPJDw6W5S8AxSdFGF4/s200/game+for+flight.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGP9VbS8I40nM_fJKNqNT9SuRenuncmoHsuOTh2JPkoIAL-2N2IcgWOeJKQplmZ-eyGz_myKHw5gDjhNn5BjIiX6s3MTaIcTpQKn1xGej2umBEmMKHZTEfE7gwGwwH3E-SvQjWDSw4ZM/s1600/et+fly+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGP9VbS8I40nM_fJKNqNT9SuRenuncmoHsuOTh2JPkoIAL-2N2IcgWOeJKQplmZ-eyGz_myKHw5gDjhNn5BjIiX6s3MTaIcTpQKn1xGej2umBEmMKHZTEfE7gwGwwH3E-SvQjWDSw4ZM/s200/et+fly+home.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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As usual at these events, for me it was the efforts put into the costumes and the aesthetics of the machines which were the most impressive. I was particularly fond of the Yoshi and Sock-monkey models, and despite a slightly menacing cyclist the ET effort was great too. (I should have taken a video of it in action, the guy wrapped up in the blanket had E.T waving and blowing kisses at the crowd). Much like Comicon earlier in the year, Costume-wise it seems like all these events serve as good excuses for people to get into something skimpy and/or cross-dress. The Eagle-fliers (top left) were very keen to show off their bows and arrows!<br />
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I didn't stay long as it was ridiculously busy and shade was hard to come by, but it was nice to see the event in action. And the crowd were definitely very supportive as flight after flight nose-dived into the water. Apparently the winning flight made it 129 feet smashing the Canadian record, there are photos and more details on the <a href="http://www.redbull.com/ca/en/stories/1331604116568/top-images-from-red-bull-flugtag-ottawa-gatineau" target="_blank">Flugtag</a> website.<br />
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So, did I return home inspired to build my own flying machine and take to the air? Well despite my prior experience (well, that one <a href="http://knittersrumble.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/x-treme-knitting/" target="_blank">flying lesson</a> last year), I didn't immediately reach for hammer and nails. Nope, it was boiled egg and sausage meat engineering for me this evening....far safer, and the results are yummy!<br />
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I miss Scotch Eggs, Sausage Rolls and Cornish Pasties almost as much as I miss Fish and Chips, so I was very pleased with how these came out.<br />
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The recipe is from <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a-perfect-day-for-a/9781849753531-item.html?ikwid=a+perfect+day+for+a+picnic&ikwsec=Home&gcs_requestid=0CNiOspiL0bgCFcZA5wods34AAA" target="_blank">A Perfect Day for a Picnic</a> , and most of these are for the Cookbook book club at work tomorrow.....if I don't scoff them before bed tonight that is.<br />
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Night all. xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-46057571640398657372013-07-21T19:29:00.004-07:002013-07-21T19:29:34.782-07:00Commoon misconception.It is a common misconception....<br />
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....that there is a man on the moon...<br />
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....in fact there is a giant song sparrow, who perches and serenades the stars with his slightly flat rendition of David Bowie's Space Oddity.<br />
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So now you know.ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-69918068259477343612013-07-13T08:48:00.000-07:002013-07-13T08:48:16.430-07:00Are you dancing?I have never been much of a public dancer (*), I think I can count on one hand the times I've danced in front of other people. Most memorably for me was the occasion at a family wedding many moons ago. I found myself so inspired by a Billy Joel track (probably Uptown Girl), that I managed to mash-up Celtic Sword Dancing and The Robot, to hideous effect. (I can only hope that I am the only one that remembers this....and I am eternally grateful that back then video-cameras were few and far between).<br />
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In recent years, only the imbibing of copious amounts of alcohol have led to more than a mere foot tap, and then I have found myself looking down and wondering whose legs those are jiggling about so ridiculously, before regaining self-control and retreating to the safety of wallflower status once again.<br />
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It may be surprising to learn then, that I LOVE to dance, and behind the safety of closed doors and drawn blinds, I will boogie away on my own for hours at a time. Particularly on overcast or rainy days, I like nothing more that to push my spinning wheel to one side, stick on ELO at full blast, and then I twist, I Charleston, I fling out moves from Saturday Night Fever - and I absolutely LOVE it. And as I get older, I find this seeping out into public more and more.<br />
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This week has been a prime example, as in our fourth summer in Ottawa, we have finally headed to Bluesfest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDxKeRgic1VeorI3d05xXs1eCH06Vst09JhjiRoMP8nGEH0NfJ2xYwemzoVkuPJTHYXLFPSqxkl5DATauaRypB2_ua8UNoynrPT810XhevUzs9M2mHiiePND_wvmRSaw2QAuJMuo-Ydg/s1600/dreaming+of+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDxKeRgic1VeorI3d05xXs1eCH06Vst09JhjiRoMP8nGEH0NfJ2xYwemzoVkuPJTHYXLFPSqxkl5DATauaRypB2_ua8UNoynrPT810XhevUzs9M2mHiiePND_wvmRSaw2QAuJMuo-Ydg/s320/dreaming+of+horses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belle and Sebastian - dreaming of horses.</td></tr>
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Belle and Sebastian's enthusiasm and energy was infectious last Saturday, and I found myself bobbing, tapping and I may even have snuck in a little shimmy at one point. Now to the outside observer, I may still have appeared to be the Brandy Snap that my dear brother-in-law thinks of me as - refusing to let go with anything like wild abandon. But for me, this was a novel experience - movement, in public!<br />
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My dance-based week continued last night at the <a href="http://duskdances.ca/en/index.php" target="_blank">Dusk Dances</a> in Strathcona Park. This is the 3rd year they've run, and I've been every year, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is dance as art rather than as social activity, so I can't say that I picked up many moves to add to my limited repertoire, but the fun and joy the dancers showed is encouraging nonetheless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjg4OukHGFyj9brK5EbHUa31EAkVvl57xPbu1hKrJzsBNCCpHIpEYJmsj2Yauzk9qeBEbwPuMVe0AEowQ4xrCBLPxrHInJTqSCFWfQBZ4Xylm7HqNWVtRFYG49jpA99UTP7G-PuTKOMY/s1600/night+projections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjg4OukHGFyj9brK5EbHUa31EAkVvl57xPbu1hKrJzsBNCCpHIpEYJmsj2Yauzk9qeBEbwPuMVe0AEowQ4xrCBLPxrHInJTqSCFWfQBZ4Xylm7HqNWVtRFYG49jpA99UTP7G-PuTKOMY/s320/night+projections.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO40IAzFhAbSm36LUFCdy3fS7MiB4GsXUJXwuT9IZO35CpvM1IPcMxgY2ViAyIbT2Y2-CvsY8QoVyOe8dhW3bZFyIIkkflyPdbek3odJsRScmSjUfsqUCJzct5CfvJn6CkvT_89VV3M3k/s1600/happy+showers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO40IAzFhAbSm36LUFCdy3fS7MiB4GsXUJXwuT9IZO35CpvM1IPcMxgY2ViAyIbT2Y2-CvsY8QoVyOe8dhW3bZFyIIkkflyPdbek3odJsRScmSjUfsqUCJzct5CfvJn6CkvT_89VV3M3k/s320/happy+showers.jpg" width="183" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHC40S0Ln9lGAU9PJfHI3RG8iMg9HEib7OBL4bbLpeWERTNRdNIr0ByHBJDLh7NVe_8mU2ADR4iA01pEjMgcaTciT597IAybJRxqZ74nA4vHPMw-bBglfggMSX2iS65BbJRmQqNMvr4o/s1600/spooky+wedding+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHC40S0Ln9lGAU9PJfHI3RG8iMg9HEib7OBL4bbLpeWERTNRdNIr0ByHBJDLh7NVe_8mU2ADR4iA01pEjMgcaTciT597IAybJRxqZ74nA4vHPMw-bBglfggMSX2iS65BbJRmQqNMvr4o/s320/spooky+wedding+dress.jpg" width="231" /></a><br />
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There were spooky marionette brides, moonlight-projection based pieces with werewolf overtones, and an emotional love story told with the aid of bathing-suits, showers and sliding about on slippy wet plastic sheets.<br />
If you're in the area, there are still performances tonight and tomorrow, it is pay-what-you-can, and a fab way to spend a summers evening in the park.<br />
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So tonight, it is back to Bluesfest, this time for Bjork. Not sure whether that will be a dance-inducing performance or not to be honest. In fact, maybe some of the performances last night might lend themselves to her music after-all. Not sure I can pull of Marionette-bride-with-multiple-wavy-arms all by myself . . . but if I do, i'll be making sure that there are still no video-cameras to capture the moment for prosperity!<br />
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(*) Yes, I have decided to label myself as a non-public dancer, as opposed to a private dancer. Tina Turner has a lot to answer for.ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-83013090897036932052013-07-04T17:49:00.002-07:002013-07-04T17:49:28.043-07:00Random encounters....A young Harry Potter-a-like child just ran up to us while we were walking Jasper, holding out a scrap of paper with a badge scrawled on it in felt-tip (on second thoughts, maybe it was psychic paper and that's what I wanted to see!).<br />
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He claimed to be a New York cop who needed to confiscate our dog for being too ridiculously cute.<br />
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When I challenged the authority of a New York cop in Ottawa, he ran back to his friend who was watching us with binoculars from a safe distance, shouting " we got on the wrong plane, we aren't in New York".<br />
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Life is good.ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-16305654995835880302012-10-12T10:33:00.004-07:002012-10-12T10:33:56.818-07:00Scrumping....Last week I ventured out into the big wide world and returned to my cosy nest with a bag full of grapes and a mushroom bigger than my head. And all for free.<br />
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The grapes came courtesy of an afternoon in a stranger's backyard, organised by the fabulous <a href="http://hiddenharvestottawa.ca/" target="_blank">Hidden Harvest</a>. People with an over abundance of fruit/nuts, offer up their wares to volunteer pickers. On this occasion 7 of us turned up, picked the vines bare, and came up with this mountain of grapes:<br />
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The bounty is then divided up between the home-owners, the food bank, hidden harvest projects - and the pickers!<br />
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These are concord grapes I think, very fruity - they taste exactly like the grape juice you buy in cartons, quite a kick. I spent the next afternoon peeling grapes. Well squeezing really. Then into a pan with water and a little sugar.....boiled up, sieved to remove the seeds - and I now have 3/4 of a jar of grape jam. Very tasty grape jam it is - but you don't get a whole lot of return for your labour with these puppies!<br />
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I wasn't deterred by this though, and on my second mission, cycled off to Rockcliffe park to pick myself a mushroom - check out this beauty:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHRa39R-cbIXKQ5sqriZoFUlIlnHlodAsmzrYef3HN1wRwC3AiOPOt7_lpTMgzb4JpL6FFiXfU710eR_FlxrNx0igY5FnHHassE99r7kWOtu0h2IgF0GRZMaJ8Vk8sa61H0Q2y9nEXLM/s1600/Jasper+and+the+puffball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHRa39R-cbIXKQ5sqriZoFUlIlnHlodAsmzrYef3HN1wRwC3AiOPOt7_lpTMgzb4JpL6FFiXfU710eR_FlxrNx0igY5FnHHassE99r7kWOtu0h2IgF0GRZMaJ8Vk8sa61H0Q2y9nEXLM/s320/Jasper+and+the+puffball.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog available for photoshoots on request<br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByQPrncpiEtqC0iUUVTM7ypR_Z9nPLYZm3kCcX_xQeH5tv1YhjyflK-IDgGNxK7-JjPp0ZBQGGyLz5DwFdAaoKK4nR4BONTCbONhH-2iFbhdKSX-8Rs_U4KqgvIaTEMzTlTVKEzkDEas/s1600/bugtastic+puffball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByQPrncpiEtqC0iUUVTM7ypR_Z9nPLYZm3kCcX_xQeH5tv1YhjyflK-IDgGNxK7-JjPp0ZBQGGyLz5DwFdAaoKK4nR4BONTCbONhH-2iFbhdKSX-8Rs_U4KqgvIaTEMzTlTVKEzkDEas/s320/bugtastic+puffball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It is a 5lb puffball. And yes, I knew it was safe to eat. According to my research it is pretty darn difficult to get puffballs confused with any other fungi (but do your own research if you want to go mushroom picking, I am no expert!). The main disadvantage of picking mushrooms in the wild is the extra stage of preparation required - bug removal. Thankfully I am not a squeamish girl, which is a good job as there were 15+ slugs, 20+ woodlice and 4 centipedes to pick off this fella before I could get to the cooking (I may need more protein in my diet, but I'm not that desperate).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHL3df-C_y3VOChXvNQmfPjxwjmFOssxZQq9mvmkeF0HeUmZNRbXGGA-r96QrzW2-HANOKXkkRBYS0M4GnInTVwiXY_6rL-Pi0xzySk-n-Rltrwj2DteytgGMGKO4_-Ao8fFT27HGSaY/s1600/two-faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHL3df-C_y3VOChXvNQmfPjxwjmFOssxZQq9mvmkeF0HeUmZNRbXGGA-r96QrzW2-HANOKXkkRBYS0M4GnInTVwiXY_6rL-Pi0xzySk-n-Rltrwj2DteytgGMGKO4_-Ao8fFT27HGSaY/s320/two-faces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Once peeled I decided that soup was the way to go, and found simple recipe to follow.....added milk and garlic. Cooked up a very fragrant soup - which looked horrendous! I could have taken photos for you, but I wouldn't wish that on you, be you family friend or stranger. Suffice to say - it minged. I managed a bowlful (I felt obliged), but the rest has gone to that beloved home of all my cooking disasters - the compost bin.<br />
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I'm not giving up on this scrumping/free harvest idea.....but I am hopeful that my next adventure will yield better results. Watch this space.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzJeKK9R3_yk0vLrNAyp-YM_3j3nY3TVHvyBclVSOEy0IFU0ON1s3VfmJCm-sbFTwUOY0fj6mpTH3CtLyMUtQ9Q8KsluOrzgZOcdHYnL_7vydsS_S4OVpNvwbkCRpfBlyboRD-e8Jz9c/s1600/amy+sandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzJeKK9R3_yk0vLrNAyp-YM_3j3nY3TVHvyBclVSOEy0IFU0ON1s3VfmJCm-sbFTwUOY0fj6mpTH3CtLyMUtQ9Q8KsluOrzgZOcdHYnL_7vydsS_S4OVpNvwbkCRpfBlyboRD-e8Jz9c/s320/amy+sandwich.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-67740829081220922422012-06-15T19:19:00.001-07:002012-06-15T19:19:28.955-07:00Just missing goldilocks....This is not a bear, it is a city-beaver:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTsu6oFUIgIwrZNT6dj1eccCNpWCrmh3pL_gwAqgtCuW_Rf1gHZIiJoVNr4YlSyzyNPvHF1JQBQWjUdZxfvac2KS8ecxndzI9HBYDwS2sC8-yu3pQ0Fh4g912mpANioGZHrmUp3xjc5g/s1600/townie+beaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTsu6oFUIgIwrZNT6dj1eccCNpWCrmh3pL_gwAqgtCuW_Rf1gHZIiJoVNr4YlSyzyNPvHF1JQBQWjUdZxfvac2KS8ecxndzI9HBYDwS2sC8-yu3pQ0Fh4g912mpANioGZHrmUp3xjc5g/s320/townie+beaver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is not a bear either, but I bet you've not seen a cuter fake-bear-with-human-torso-wearing-a-skirt in a long long time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AIahB54_os51Ya5614hdHQKoNA2Oefes1gcLqVHVy4gcNJ9eaiPidKzv-ryET_XZA6K-VuvlJ8XPxcaE68-saM-QozoNZDjD1171WRD53ZoKXV7KA7uHnKS32C_dy6mMa7tzmp6tWTU/s1600/teddy+bear+pin+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AIahB54_os51Ya5614hdHQKoNA2Oefes1gcLqVHVy4gcNJ9eaiPidKzv-ryET_XZA6K-VuvlJ8XPxcaE68-saM-QozoNZDjD1171WRD53ZoKXV7KA7uHnKS32C_dy6mMa7tzmp6tWTU/s320/teddy+bear+pin+up.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
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This is not a bear, it is a note stuck on a post-box.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuna4Ga4ozcNRgVSSdrs8gJMFJzuypQXGPMHopFZcnU9hOAWQZk5uPfsG_824U-4HIcf5pS98TcuJhi4BbCo5lUsiOeDZn5lOj8LIHxcRGjVBlZw3aTYbcx0BYlsBkxQM5Ben4AUBV2cU/s1600/thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuna4Ga4ozcNRgVSSdrs8gJMFJzuypQXGPMHopFZcnU9hOAWQZk5uPfsG_824U-4HIcf5pS98TcuJhi4BbCo5lUsiOeDZn5lOj8LIHxcRGjVBlZw3aTYbcx0BYlsBkxQM5Ben4AUBV2cU/s320/thanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That is all. x</div>
<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-47985866364025594162012-05-21T06:11:00.004-07:002012-05-21T06:11:41.850-07:00As is tradition....Today we have a Bank Holiday to honour our beloved Queen Victoria's birthday (news of her sad demise has been slow to reach Canadian shores. We like it that way so please keep quiet!).<br />
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Breaking with British Tradition, Ottawa has organised three days of glorious sunshine with the current temperature 31 degrees with a nice light breeze.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCog9fY9_ingzoGcsQmfCW8NVkkzIsj21U6IDo5Jq0_KrH9grbdHIaNTnwlrhW_qcWzMMr3kIYalO7xIGWO373arh5vsty-vAlR2W0ThFpIXyY-QHEx4ewxhn2_jjki6rHojyjd_McJ40/s1600/cowboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCog9fY9_ingzoGcsQmfCW8NVkkzIsj21U6IDo5Jq0_KrH9grbdHIaNTnwlrhW_qcWzMMr3kIYalO7xIGWO373arh5vsty-vAlR2W0ThFpIXyY-QHEx4ewxhn2_jjki6rHojyjd_McJ40/s320/cowboys.jpg" width="315" /></a><br />
I am fighting back against this mockery of the English system, and have spent the afternoon baking Blue Cheese flavoured Cowboy boot biscuits. As is tradition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6oNGn3bEo7-5836AcqbwWO-2SQRvciZCk-be-ahQXorU7WBp2dtllAesQ2Ar7m96NqPBFaWTK2HHeVQ3t-_i2Wo0d9cqC60WhGfpthvL8HDW3hA-OhVdNceTf3DRdjGwc06IQEWOe9g/s1600/queen+vic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6oNGn3bEo7-5836AcqbwWO-2SQRvciZCk-be-ahQXorU7WBp2dtllAesQ2Ar7m96NqPBFaWTK2HHeVQ3t-_i2Wo0d9cqC60WhGfpthvL8HDW3hA-OhVdNceTf3DRdjGwc06IQEWOe9g/s320/queen+vic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Long may she rein. </div>ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-73175979775630117192012-04-09T09:38:00.000-07:002012-04-09T09:38:04.104-07:00An Easter Sunday hike....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KZdq-hAyoqAtRdz84wWnODkOTHKP_SoAwEiMlPEtDif2zOAZ4J01mF20Djbr2F0yFMTul2DbQxL2Du1WAMxiaIpul0kV4M34nvIsmWOCRbrjrmimTh2YAkQ8Ndu6KpWpCT6uww6s7p0/s1600/and+then+we+had+ice-cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPBaPXBf6a_KdsVOnq5fOgb_eQt_pDyX0A80CgdhwgGjqzWSnf_yiSITauTjs6NzYqgkG5jdFi1tBEsL77xLiRH2lv1EFwYxexjcb1iZG8Mp_ubagUjas2tZBytMjkEg2gXhFQu8lqts/s1600/flufftastic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPBaPXBf6a_KdsVOnq5fOgb_eQt_pDyX0A80CgdhwgGjqzWSnf_yiSITauTjs6NzYqgkG5jdFi1tBEsL77xLiRH2lv1EFwYxexjcb1iZG8Mp_ubagUjas2tZBytMjkEg2gXhFQu8lqts/s320/flufftastic.jpg" width="190" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW7Z_me_7eprnUY8F82xRRId9qev6SmXkBhQ6r8U2loU0lGhsNTN48mFqiTrXVdPS2q8oQWvi24jboX6SboAd7oZ2IdGadZei6IsReC5UQx1PiuSfQ1Frjykc4ev-sGLpQBKTtNxaXIA/s1600/no+parking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW7Z_me_7eprnUY8F82xRRId9qev6SmXkBhQ6r8U2loU0lGhsNTN48mFqiTrXVdPS2q8oQWvi24jboX6SboAd7oZ2IdGadZei6IsReC5UQx1PiuSfQ1Frjykc4ev-sGLpQBKTtNxaXIA/s320/no+parking.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHZKs5WLFHf4aHO05twpARIJpS7pS9nP7O8CDGJv1y-ACkgdUHHF_leIrFF4Yz_58kgHrbwufUScSJ8vgvU3aj79FCjpq1nhNEmz5HNZ9iauLi5zb9umrmYu-K9gU95pU1ccXD6BZ4mc/s1600/walkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHZKs5WLFHf4aHO05twpARIJpS7pS9nP7O8CDGJv1y-ACkgdUHHF_leIrFF4Yz_58kgHrbwufUScSJ8vgvU3aj79FCjpq1nhNEmz5HNZ9iauLi5zb9umrmYu-K9gU95pU1ccXD6BZ4mc/s320/walkies.jpg" width="116" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4FVw6EKxVwvx0Fsb3TNCmT0UAJYScGpEa-BKO5kYRM0Zm0Gbxj7qCjrXyZFGS7jIVOZdVlgskCP6kHYEenYXa40shDSCvL6nkwO9VLc7i71LbpPvodStk7R7L5mZa3OwRKpvW7nyuDQ/s1600/investigating+the+woodpecker+damage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4FVw6EKxVwvx0Fsb3TNCmT0UAJYScGpEa-BKO5kYRM0Zm0Gbxj7qCjrXyZFGS7jIVOZdVlgskCP6kHYEenYXa40shDSCvL6nkwO9VLc7i71LbpPvodStk7R7L5mZa3OwRKpvW7nyuDQ/s320/investigating+the+woodpecker+damage.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUGHwlcdIXwUb9ceiVqeEXXy9U5OBYdLr0lWXSbyd1FhIqbrtCTtP01F1GZtCkGWZMduS2yisXYmIurQZNF70vIW6CBuEaS4twiUSaNRk5DzaXYV-QAoBrzEaEmf1iJDQkYfb8fFunBs/s1600/woody+has+been+busy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUGHwlcdIXwUb9ceiVqeEXXy9U5OBYdLr0lWXSbyd1FhIqbrtCTtP01F1GZtCkGWZMduS2yisXYmIurQZNF70vIW6CBuEaS4twiUSaNRk5DzaXYV-QAoBrzEaEmf1iJDQkYfb8fFunBs/s320/woody+has+been+busy.jpg" width="136" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOoO17xux1tl87KYsqmY0HzRoKsNwV87z0eZP1gd2oAkXnoEA9VYTs5wh_xwiA4CVmbv0QuxY8NqmTEEdW22AjJ8-4LyETG3sQ9ib4R6wukJFGbukw9lSljxC7flhaHHp2NejULHWAX0/s1600/unicyling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOoO17xux1tl87KYsqmY0HzRoKsNwV87z0eZP1gd2oAkXnoEA9VYTs5wh_xwiA4CVmbv0QuxY8NqmTEEdW22AjJ8-4LyETG3sQ9ib4R6wukJFGbukw9lSljxC7flhaHHp2NejULHWAX0/s320/unicyling.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa7Tkad2tLcKHPmFSmByCbZhLJTNapZxJVmxOnB-Nmi0fjKEK2vgDIoGpq3h2-4QrGxYoDMMMhKCyLXB9aqT2rdxKjJPVT3idTXFPPN9Wdb_8eVFqoUurpK18rdmzuJBVNXwOVTrKcos/s1600/second+breakfast,+or+maybe+brunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa7Tkad2tLcKHPmFSmByCbZhLJTNapZxJVmxOnB-Nmi0fjKEK2vgDIoGpq3h2-4QrGxYoDMMMhKCyLXB9aqT2rdxKjJPVT3idTXFPPN9Wdb_8eVFqoUurpK18rdmzuJBVNXwOVTrKcos/s320/second+breakfast,+or+maybe+brunch.jpg" width="320" /> </a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KZdq-hAyoqAtRdz84wWnODkOTHKP_SoAwEiMlPEtDif2zOAZ4J01mF20Djbr2F0yFMTul2DbQxL2Du1WAMxiaIpul0kV4M34nvIsmWOCRbrjrmimTh2YAkQ8Ndu6KpWpCT6uww6s7p0/s1600/and+then+we+had+ice-cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KZdq-hAyoqAtRdz84wWnODkOTHKP_SoAwEiMlPEtDif2zOAZ4J01mF20Djbr2F0yFMTul2DbQxL2Du1WAMxiaIpul0kV4M34nvIsmWOCRbrjrmimTh2YAkQ8Ndu6KpWpCT6uww6s7p0/s320/and+then+we+had+ice-cream.jpg" width="273" /></a>A morning walking in the woods in Gatineau Park .....spotting deer, evidence of a very active woodpecker, an off-road Unicyclist, second breakfast of Beetroot sandwiches (yummy)......and then we had ice-cream.<br />
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A fab morning all round. Xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-88561984726620230262012-03-26T07:11:00.002-07:002012-03-26T07:11:28.093-07:00We have a winner.....The snowbank is no more. Here is the little that was left yesterday morning (with dog for scale, not because he is an attention seeking muppet):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquQObEngbjgghR3PSa2BZrJKtoCfIEqNeWHjXIoIyWQ9M0WDrPQ2BS2HuWTrAWp-J5wNxc7iBk8B4wuWzzPKZjsxFbPAhe8onXHIdQdmDEW46xeyzAYzuXUXh5U3EpM-MogmKc9Brwk4/s1600/one+day+left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquQObEngbjgghR3PSa2BZrJKtoCfIEqNeWHjXIoIyWQ9M0WDrPQ2BS2HuWTrAWp-J5wNxc7iBk8B4wuWzzPKZjsxFbPAhe8onXHIdQdmDEW46xeyzAYzuXUXh5U3EpM-MogmKc9Brwk4/s320/one+day+left.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now the space is bare. It survived remarkably well considering the temperatures last week, we rocked up to 27.4 on Wednesday according to the <a href="http://www.ottawacitizen.com/News/Weather-Watch/6344541/story.html" target="_blank">Ottawa Citizen</a>. Craziness, apparently 9 weather records were broken, all I know was that I got to get back on the bike, spin on the front porch and even got rosy cheeks in the sunshine. lovely.<br />
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And this morning? It's -4. Yep, that's a 31.4 degree drop. Winter coats and thrummed mittens back on for the dog walk this morning, but crikey it's beautiful out there:<br />
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So, I am casting on my knitted vegetable, sat with the sun shining in the window. Steve (Paul's brother) won the competition, commiserations to those of you who had been banking on receiving knitted veg....you can always commission some!<br />
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And while I'm here, a very Happy Birthday to my wonderful (cheeky sausage of a) Dad, and my fab brother-in-law Tim. Hope the sun is shining where you are too. Xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-81036477732764925672012-03-22T17:03:00.000-07:002012-03-22T17:03:11.675-07:00Snowbank update....It is still there, but diminished dramatically over the last three sunny days. This is the view this morning:<br />
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More gone during the day, but will definitely be some left tomorrow morning, and the temperatures are dropping now so I have no idea how long we have left!<br />
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Not much else to report, work, and play, and spinning......oh and a lovely lady who came up to me while waiting for a traffic light to change this afternoon, and shared her umbrella with me. Thank you lovely lady. X<br />
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(Oh, and I have been reminded that I stole the idea from another local-knitting-blogger, who I've never met....but you can find her <a href="http://www.knitnut.net/" target="_blank">here</a>.)ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-53520067862502243432012-03-19T08:50:00.000-07:002012-03-19T08:50:03.857-07:00Sharing the wealth....competition time!I went for a beautiful walk in the mist this morning. Not quite as idyllic as it sounds, as I ate the most enormous breakfast beforehand (it was a 10 sneezer!), and didn't exactly feel light on my feet, but the fog added a mysterious air to the city centre which even in my stodgy state I could appreciate:<br />
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Anyway, on the home stretch, the sun began peeking through, and now that I'm home and buoyed by yet more coffee, I thought it was about time I re-introduced a competitive edge to this blog. No, Guess the duck is not back (thats a Wednesday competition, pay attention!).....its time for...... When Ever Will Amy's Snow Bank Disappear? (W.E.W.A.S.B.D - catchy isn't it?!).(*)<br />
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This is the snowbank outside our back door, photographed at 11:30 this morning (March 19th). All you need to do to enter, is guess the date on which, when I head out with the dog for the morning walk, the snowbank is no more.<br />
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Some possibly handy hints for those of you not residing in Ottawa:<br />
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<li>As the observant among you will notice, we have the hammocks out on the back porch already. We are in the midst of a heatwave, with temperatures in the 20s predicted for most of this week.</li>
<li>Despite this, experts are suggesting that the ski season on the other side of the river may last into April.</li>
<li>Erm........snow is unpredictable! There may yet be more coming. If this happens, then I'm still counting it as the same snowbank. </li>
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And the prize? I was lucky enough to receive a fab new knitting book in the post this week (thank you Lucy!), so have a wealth of new patterns for knitted vegetables at my fingertips. You could be the lucky recipient of a woolen artichoke, or perhaps you'd like a plush radish to snuggle up to? The winner can select from the available vegetables, and I will hand-make them a special cuddly veg of their very own. you can even decide if you'd like it realistic, or with a face and features like the munch bunch.</div>
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So, leave a comment, either on this post or on facebook, with three bits of info:</div>
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1) The date on which you think the snow will be no more.</div>
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2) Your chosen vegetable from the following selection: Peas in pod, parsnip, cauliflower, sweetcorn, leek, artichoke, pumpkin, beetroot, courgette, pepper, mushroom, asparagus, celery, carrot, chilli pepper, butternut squash, aubergine, cucumber, radish or a plum tomato.</div>
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3) Face or featureless?</div>
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Good luck! Closing date for entries is Saturday 24th March. Dates are first come first serve, so if someone has already chosen April 1st and you want it, tough!</div>
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(*) I have stolen this idea of another blog I read. Someone ran a very similar competition last year, but I can't find it now, if someone lets me know who it is, I''ll give them the credit they deserve! Thanks.</div>ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-54556334533501269872012-03-18T12:13:00.001-07:002023-03-11T06:45:54.348-08:0031 was not too shabby....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spend far too much time thinking, I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I think about what has been, what will come, and what I should be doing right now, instead of thinking these thoughts. This (again, for others as well as myself) is especially true round significant dates, and so today I find myself pondering the last year.<br />
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The photo above may suggest it has not been a good year. I took this last week, after I had got ridiculously lost on the way back to base from a birding excursion. I am 31 (at least for a couple more hours), and I still have no real sense of direction. Clearly from the photo, I also have still not mastered taking self-timer shots!<br />
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This photo does not represent glumness though. I got lost after spending two very happy hours wandering round a park, under palm trees and along boardwalks, searching for elusive birdies, and jumping out of my skin every time a lizard ran up a tree. It took me a long time to realize how happy being outside makes me, and I still need a shove to get off the sofa every now and again. But the ever expanding collection of sports equipment in our dining room, and the ridiculous shades of intersecting tanlines on my feet are testament to my successes in the ongoing battle with laziness.<br />
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On finishing my excursion, and on the realization that I had left my GPS in the back of my friend's car, I didn't panic (too much) despite my mind choosing to go completely blank. I couldn't even remember which way we'd turned to enter the park, and now I was alone in the industrial area of Tampa (all the best birding spots seem to be in the smelliest places!).<br />
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But I knew I'd be OK, because I'm happy talking to strangers. My Mum and Dad frequently remind me how quickly I would know everyone on the campsites when we went on our caravanning holidays. And everyone there would know my name, birthday and favourite colour too (it was green then, and still is). The kindness of strangers down South is something I've heard tell of many a time. But my hero of the day Kenny proved it to be more than a myth. Meeting a frazzled Brit, laden with binoculars, cameras and a reddening face may not be something Kenny chooses to remember. But for me, he was 6ft4 of sewage-engineer hero, with a twinkle in his friendly eyes. He set me going in the right direction, and grabbed me a couple of bottles of iced water from the magic silver box on the back of his truck (I thought people kept guns in them!).<br />
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Obviously I made it back safe and sound, despite a good couple of hours hiking along the highway. Rather than heading straight for a shower (which lord knows I needed), I wandered into the small local airport near the Yacht club we were staying at, and inquired about a lesson in a Cessna the next day. Sun stroke is a dangerous thing!<br />
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What is the point of this rambling self indulgent monologue? Not a lot. But I spend far too much time thinking about my many faults, its something many of us spend a lot of time doing. And I suppose it can be healthy to reflect on our errors, if we bother to learn from them. But today I'm making an effort to spend at least five minutes thinking about my strengths. Yes I am clumsy, have no sense of direction, am far too introspective, have a tendency to talk rubbish (at length!), and am prone to being incredibly self-centred. But I am also optimistic, far more active than in my twenties, friendly and impulsive. And some days I really enjoy being me.<br />
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31 has been a good good year. I've spent time with loved ones both here and back in the UK. The idea of 'best friends' may be a little dated now that I'm not at school anymore, but I am lucky enough to live with one of mine, and talk to another two so regularly I'm amazed they haven't started screening calls yet (don't get any ideas Mum and Dad!). I have two fabulous sisters, niece, nephew and extended family, who make such an effort to make me feel loved and involved despite the miles I have put between us.<br />
I left some brilliant friends when I left England, and despite those miles, have happily managed to stay in touch with many. I've also made some fantastic friends here, through knitting, neighbours, my job (more knitting!), volunteering and even some of Paul's colleagues. I'm never lonely, which is something I would wish for everyone.<br />
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Agh, bananas, this is getting sappier by the sentence. So perhaps I had better stop.Thank you to those of you who I know and love, and who have helped made 31 one of the best years for me yet. Hope you didn't find this ramble too vomitous, it is meant sincerely, and its the thought that counts after all! Xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-48313768257007473452012-02-26T16:12:00.004-08:002012-02-26T16:12:46.909-08:00Weekends are for....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A picture heavy post, not in a wordy mood (it happens very occasionally!). Images from the last couple of weekends, all jumbled up....from top to bottom:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Exploring the history of log fences, in Almonte.</li>
<li>Attempting to beat the Guinness record for longest game of Crazy 8's, in the Superior Diner in Almonte. (Attempt denied for flexible interpretation of the rules).</li>
<li>Antique shopping - other Amy's have knitted cardigans in the past!</li>
<li>Sat in the sunshine, spinning on my new wheel, watching chickadees feed on the windowsill.</li>
<li>Attending hideously bad walking tours at the War museum. Historical information optional. But the buckles were shiny.</li>
<li>Making the most of the new snowfall in Gatineau Park.</li>
<li>Demolishing a delicious lunch guilt free after aforementioned ski.</li>
<li>Building snow walruses fit for a snog, after an awesome snowball fight with friends.</li>
</ul>
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I am amazed by people that fail to have fun in winter! x</div>
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<br /></div>ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-25478063673477673682012-02-23T06:46:00.000-08:002012-02-23T06:46:38.796-08:00Nervous....There is something about this big grey box, outside of Paul's workplace, that makes me a little nervous....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErZ0rVlJUO6iOGk2rVmlO9CGLHIj77hv-SdKdZXAA-gbCpD97IiXbAnW1sza-wlH9fN9U8heH1GDrfWiY46MWjWqpFHCEWUo3Vy6OUeF07I0Kbv8FUhZsn5Y6sDuSBa2N9Wl2JyqF2uE/s1600/warnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErZ0rVlJUO6iOGk2rVmlO9CGLHIj77hv-SdKdZXAA-gbCpD97IiXbAnW1sza-wlH9fN9U8heH1GDrfWiY46MWjWqpFHCEWUo3Vy6OUeF07I0Kbv8FUhZsn5Y6sDuSBa2N9Wl2JyqF2uE/s320/warnings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Personally, I think I'd taste better fried.<br />
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xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-3505580910108958262012-02-17T16:21:00.000-08:002012-02-17T16:21:12.012-08:00Notices and posters..A series of photos from my walk to work this morning.<br />
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<b>Number One</b>: A lovely display of books about mathematics and baking (two of my favourite things) in the window of my favourite bookshop:<br />
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Got to love maths humour!<br />
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<b>Number Two</b>: I'm guessing this is part of a series, probably from a Valentines Day treasure hunt? Obviously the first question that springs to mind is 'where's the next poster?'.<br />
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However, another interesting point to consider is 'What on Earth did it say on the poster that led Michael to the corner of Metcalfe and Albert?'<br />
Did the couple meet on that street corner? Share their first kiss opposite their favourite stationary store? Did he propose whilst waiting for the lights to change on the way to the library? Sadly we'll probably never know...<br />
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<b>Number three</b>: A church billboard I actually agree with:<br />
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Not a bad selection for a forty minute meander through the streets of Ottawa. Have a good weekend everyone. xajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-2813705304212476012012-02-08T06:28:00.001-08:002012-02-08T06:30:08.146-08:00Results..<div style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; width: 500px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496953381/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day five"><img alt="day five" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6496953381_c727c17548_s.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 75px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496956835/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day three"><img alt="day three" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6496956835_eaae8a1386_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496955279/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day four"><img alt="day four" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6496955279_a23f29320a_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496958123/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day seven"><img alt="day seven" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6496958123_b7a62590a3_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496959063/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day eight"><img alt="day eight" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6496959063_759412cbb6_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496960205/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day nine"><img alt="day nine" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6496960205_0b454640e3_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496962503/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day eleven"><img alt="day eleven" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6496962503_7101ffef4d_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496963857/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day thirteen"><img alt="day thirteen" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6496963857_c97b720eb0_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496965539/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day fourteen"><img alt="day fourteen" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6496965539_45dd7d2fdd_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496967181/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day fifteen"><img alt="day fifteen" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6496967181_b17758ff08_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496968623/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day sixteen"><img alt="day sixteen" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6496968623_7d92d23f03_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496970949/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day seventeen"><img alt="day seventeen" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6496970949_b7f6efe2cc_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6496972745/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day twenty"><img alt="day twenty" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6496972745_42242e55cb_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6499650529/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day twentyone"><img alt="day twentyone" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6499650529_360e55f3a3_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576042339/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 22"><img alt="day 22" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6576042339_2667d624cb_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576043971/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 23"><img alt="day 23" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6576043971_99cbb8d000_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576045351/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 24"><img alt="day 24" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6576045351_3a9a8be18b_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576046971/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 25"><img alt="day 25" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6576046971_cac688edd8_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576048527/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 26"><img alt="day 26" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7161/6576048527_e0e368a0f2_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576049721/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 27"><img alt="day 27" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6576049721_520503ef1b_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576051469/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 28"><img alt="day 28" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6576051469_2096a14f98_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576052693/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 29"><img alt="day 29" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6576052693_62913a66cc_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576148453/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 29"><img alt="day 29" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6576148453_da1300326f_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/6576079043/in/set-72157628382124149/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="day 31"><img alt="day 31" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6576079043_8d9b643103_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyjane/sets/72157628382124149/">Winter is on its way....slowly</a>, a set on Flickr.</div>
The series of photos of the Rideau River, I've taken one most mornings since last November, watching the ice creep in...<br />
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I've been taking the same shot most mornings, tracking the progress of winter. You can view them in order as a slideshow on my flickr page (follow the link above). And if you want to turn it into a 'Where's wally' type game, try spotting:<br />
A traffic cone<br />
Ski tracks<br />
Political protest<br />
An abandoned Christmas Tree<br />
and a Sun Dog.<br />
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Oh and while I'm here (drum roll please) P got his language test results yesterday, and you will be shocked to hear that he is indeed proficient in English.<br />
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Bizarrely he scored highest in the Speaking test. This would be strange on any day (he prefers stoic silence), but on this particular day he'd been to the pub for lunch and had three pints prior to engaging in small talk with a stranger.....<br />
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It is safe to say that if I had behaved in the same way my results would not have been so rosy. In fact it is debateable whether I would have made it to the test centre standing up!<br />
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Ho hum...<br />
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x<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-66809968740567501872012-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:002012-01-30T11:56:38.780-08:00New sports for the olympicsWe headed out cross-country skiing again on Saturday. Except this time we went with a much more advanced skier, who was ambitious on our behalves.<br />
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Which means today I have bruises and aches in places I'm choosing not to share with the world. Suffice to say that I actually managed to get some housework done today, it was preferable to sitting down!<br />
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I managed to attempt two new winter sports whilst out though. The first is tandem skiing - this arises when one skier is too scared to attempt slopes on his/her own, so allows a second skier to steady the way. As you can see from this video, Rune was a little nervous, so I bravely guided him down the hill.(Excuse the shaky camera work, Paul fell in a snow bank just before we set off, and did remarkably well to keep filming!).<br />
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Why am I screaming? Oh, I just wanted to ensure the path was clear of bears. Safety first and all that!<br />
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The second sport? Woodland walking, whilst carrying ski equipment. This sport is designed for those who have decided that if they fall consistently when travelling uphill, and fall consistently when travelling downhill, it might just be better if they bloody walk.<br />
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One more photo to share from our day out. A beautiful example of the differences between the sexes. On the right we have Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, sitting in the sunshine watching the world go by.<br />
On the left we have Mrs. Hairy Woodpecker, working so damn hard she is just a blur of feathers.<br />
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Hmmmmm.......<br />
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<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-46825137010782480732012-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:002012-01-27T19:44:45.367-08:0011 in 2011 done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hoorah and huzzah, last years challenge is done......so a little photo
gallery of 10 out of the 11 (I've just realised I don't have piccies of
the summery cardigan, and frankly its far too chilly to model it
today!).<br />
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Number one: The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/plain-and-simple-pullover" target="_blank">plain and simple pullover</a>. Love this pattern, and loved this top. Sadly it came to a sticky end when accidentally put in the wash.....fits me like a cropped top now which does not go well with my physique. Haven't decided whether to recycle it into a cushion or pass it on yet! <br />
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(Out of order now, getting blogger to upload these in the right order is far too much for my whisky addled brain to handle!).<br />
The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bramblewood-vest" target="_blank">bramblewood</a> vest, coincidentally I am wearing it as I write - I love this top and am very tempted to make another one soon. Never thought I'd be a lime green kind of girl, but this yarn can make anyone fall in love with bright colours, its Punta Merisoft, my favourite!<br />
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Next up we have an Owls sweater, you can't quite see it in the photo but there are cabled owls all around the top. Designed by the fabulous and inspirational <a href="http://textisles.com/" target="_blank">Kate Davies</a>, this is another one that will almost definitely get made again.<br />
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Yummy yummy. This ones from a design called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/irish-coffee" target="_blank">Irish Coffee</a>, and has become another of my wardrobe staples. The colour is scrummy and it fits great too. I am very fond of several other of Thea Colman's designs - who'd have thought I'd have a soft sport for snuggly sweaters?!<br />
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(You may have noticed that all of my efforts have had short sleeves thus far - this is NOT cheating! Why? Because I said so!).<br />
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The first of the baby sweaters now - and look long sleeved!<br />
This one hasn't been gifted yet, it was made with a little boy in mind, but sadly he was inconsiderate enough to keep growing while I was knitting - how rude! If anyone has a littl'un in need of a cotton baseball style stripey tee - let me know!<br />
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Dodgy quality photo, but this one was late getting to the post office so this had to do. It was my birthday present for my Mum last year, the pattern is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sage-remedy-tophttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sage-remedy-tophttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sage-remedy-tophttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sage-remedy-tophttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sage-remedy-top" target="_blank">Sage Remedy Top</a>, and (yet again) I quite want one for myself too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-rtIwkXhbWBor2JaKgm-Age3dPDzJ7sbd1lbJ6MSr-JWGklrlhqRQ9TSaU0yjU2ocEwjQSxYm_jvmeRCGB2Hspu5Q4HFwf5TMnFAGkYjX2SMhtY588Jxl4__3Qttl_Hy35_9M-h1gu4/s1600/megan's+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-rtIwkXhbWBor2JaKgm-Age3dPDzJ7sbd1lbJ6MSr-JWGklrlhqRQ9TSaU0yjU2ocEwjQSxYm_jvmeRCGB2Hspu5Q4HFwf5TMnFAGkYjX2SMhtY588Jxl4__3Qttl_Hy35_9M-h1gu4/s320/megan's+dress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Three more baby sized offerings: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robotshttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dance-of-robots" target="_blank">Dance of Robots </a>for my nephew; a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunnysidehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunnysidehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunnysidehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunnyside" target="_blank">Sunnyside cardigan</a> for my cousin's newborn and a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-sisters-dress-kjole-til-lillesster" target="_blank">Little sister dress</a> for my niece. All great free patterns, well-written and with lots of scope for playing with colours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq01ZJJC6Du4B1-SRNJpSXsVD6K3lYMgd4QmcisHeeDSnhK0A1hrmN20fUv0gRDrsn95-Rm4Z0LP8cojru7v7Tz_ZJltdqG_d293hxQCaYUHuEmyViA6thMe8qXUgVOHkXU6Mxkm2h_Yg/s1600/lime+green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq01ZJJC6Du4B1-SRNJpSXsVD6K3lYMgd4QmcisHeeDSnhK0A1hrmN20fUv0gRDrsn95-Rm4Z0LP8cojru7v7Tz_ZJltdqG_d293hxQCaYUHuEmyViA6thMe8qXUgVOHkXU6Mxkm2h_Yg/s400/lime+green.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
And last, but definitely not least - number 11. This was a beast of a knit, cast on last May and finished on Tuesday this week. The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalor-pulloverhttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalor-pulloverhttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalor-pulloverhttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shalor-pullover" target="_blank">Shalor </a>by Penny Straker. And the finished sweater (if I do say so myself) is fabulous. I wore it to work on Tuesday just to pretend that it was mine, before handing it on to the lucky recipient. Obviously it can't possibly look as good on him, cos all sweaters look better on women (its a boob thing<br />!), but I think he'll love it nonetheless. He'd better!<br />
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And yes, those of you paying attention will have noticed that I none of my 11 were for Paul. No, he hasn't fallen out of favour......his new cardigan is number 12, and hopefully will be done before winter passes so he can get some use out of it.....<br />
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Right, back to the needles. Night all. x<br />
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PS. If someone can let blogger know that 'snuggly' and 'scrummy' are definitely valid words that don't require spell-checking that would be lovely.ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-43616370287540222092012-01-22T18:51:00.000-08:002012-01-22T18:51:16.955-08:00Canal time.....The lessons were worth it....<br />
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I have a long way to go, but there were no falls, no swearing and no tears. And lots and lots of giggling, so vast vast improvements on my previous two attempts at skating on the canal. I managed about 1.3km (from the start to the beaver tail cabin!), which is at least 10 times further than my last effort.<br />
It is a grand thing indeed to be this proud of yourself at 31!<br />
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Oh, and for those of you interested, the language test apparently went well, despite the three pints devoured with lunch prior to the speaking test. When asked to talk about a historic building, he chose The Trip to Jerusalem, a pub in Nottingham. Can't think what brought that to mind!<br />
<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529636134824510113.post-9358861448175961612012-01-21T06:08:00.000-08:002012-01-21T06:08:42.544-08:00Challenges....I've just waved Paul off. He's sitting exams today. No, not laser exams - Language exams. As part of our Permanent Residency application we have to prove that we can speak, write, listen and read ENGLISH!<br />
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Yes, he is English. Yes, he did attend schools in England for his entire academic career and yes, he does have a PHD from an English University. (OK, to be fair, I can not vouch for how much of his thesis is written in English, it all seems like a foreign language to me. The pictures are pretty though!).<br />
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Anyway, in the interests of fairness everyone has to sit the same exam. So I waved him off this morning, having sharpened his pencils for him (with his lucky Niagara Falls pencil sharpener), and provided him with a list of words and phrases he should attempt to shoehorn into the written and spoken parts of the test. I wonder how many of these he'll manage:<br />
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<ul>
<li>A parliament of owls. (Bonus marks for any collective nouns he can invent and drop in).</li>
<li>Knitting.</li>
<li> Jasper. (Preferably as an invented best friend, who is to talk of in human form, not as our dog).</li>
<li>Inauspicious.</li>
<li>Boardwalk.</li>
<li>Jessica Fletcher.</li>
<li>As is tradition.</li>
<li>The correct use of the words 'pants' and 'trousers'.</li>
</ul>
I'm hoping he gets assigned a writing task where he has to write a letter of complaint. This should open the field for an elaborate and hilarious story about a mix-up with a trouser-press in a hotel in Cabot Cove, where an inauspicious character named Jasper, seen knitting on the boardwalk kidnaps a Parliament of Owls and is hunted down my Jessica Fletcher. As is tradition.<br />
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Yes, it would be easier (and more fun) if I took the test! But, sadly as a 'dependent' it matters not whether I can speak, listen, read or write, as I have my big strong man to do it for me. In my case, when faced with a fifteen minute speaking test where he has to make small talk with a strange woman, my big strong man would probably rather rewrite his thesis. In French.<br />
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While I'm here, for those of you interested in the knitting/crafting side of my personality (and if you aren't, I'd be interested to know what other facets you do find interesting!) there is a new blogging adventure happening here: <a href="http://www.knittersrumble.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">knitters rumble</a>.<br />
with my friends Julianna and Emily. I wasn't going to share until I'd taken the lead in our little competition, but that's taking longer than expected, so I'd best garner support now!<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone. x <br />
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<br />ajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353756890169273778noreply@blogger.com1