Quote of the Day

The more one judges, the less one loves.

Honoré de Balzac

(Picture taken in the Kawarthas this summer)

Fall Walk

A few weeks ago, I went out with two of my favourite people to walk through some fall colours. We visited the Mountsberg Raptor Centre, where they care for birds who cannot be released into the wild for one reason or another. It's an excellent opportunity for them to educate the public. Near Campbellville, on the Escarpment, it's a great day-trip from Toronto. We also walked trails, breathed deeply, saw my favourite Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings rooted trees, and ate well... a diner in Campbellville earlier in the day and then the Queen's Arms in Oakville for dinner. Got home feeling full and happy. Grateful.

Beautiful Thing

A return to the Apsley Fall Studio Tour yielded more beautiful items made by craftspeople in the beautiful Kawarthas.

Remember my leafy mug?

I bought another item from Cathy Pennaertz from Tallan Creek Pottery Studio. I love the elephantine feet and the mug sits comfortably cradled in my hand.

I Took a Little Refreshment. I Don't Remember Much After That

I ended up checking on some old posts I'd written, and found this reply I wrote in the comments section to a comment that a certain Dr. M. left on my blog. It still cracks me up. It's true. It started when I dined at the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Well, when I was in Vegas, I indulged in the "Warp Core Breach", described thusly in the Quark's menu (which I bought a copy of):

"Red Alert! Order this drink and prepare to separate your saucer section [I read this as saucy section]! Sensors indicate Bacardi Lemon, Bacardi Light, Bacardi Select, Bacardi Spice, Bacardi 151, Razzmatazz, and So-Be Power Drink. We add pure ice crystals from the planet Exo III. You'll need more than one officer to handle this situation."

It came in a round large fishbowl kind of container, spilling over with what looked like dry ice. Yes, it was very strong. It was only after this that I had the incident at the gas station on the Strip, when I temporarily forgot how to pump gas into the rental car and had to ask two gentlemen to help me, explaining that "I'm from Canada and the gas pumps are different up there." They were delighted to help and especially after I informed them where Canada was located. "Oh it's north of here, right?"

Right, neighbours, we're north of you.

I love you crazy Americans. Hey! Don't forget to vote! (Gobama)

"Are you Ready for Your Soup?"

Time shifted, and when I woke this morning, I lay there watching the light get stronger, earlier. With it came the first really cold weather. I lost my gloves but retrieved my pea jacket from the lovely Iranian laundry, where they do excellent adjustments. They took my jacket in at the sides, and you'd never know.

Tonight I had to make warming, woodsy, fragrant soup: onions, mushrooms, organic stock, fresh thyme, salt, pepper, cream.

It's comforting and warming.

Sigh... winter is only just beginning. But, if we are lucky, we have love. And we have laughter. And there may even be espresso!

Quote of the Day

"Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is."

Albert Camus

Shifts

I'm looking forward to the shift in Daylight Savings Time this Sunday morning. Early risings in the dark can be exciting when they are rare (early flights, and other adventures), but they are enervating when they are repetitious. We were lucky not to get battered more than we were by Storm Sandy, but I admit I'm tired of the week-long grey sky now. I need sun. I need light. Not this morning though, as I head into work a couple of hours earlier than normal, in preparation for an intense day.

Here is a recent dawn, and also two shots of a recent sunset, when I was at home still in daylight. The dragonfly was the result of a rainy day at the cottage and my desire to explore with wire, something I hadn't done since I was in my teens. His tail is made of crystals. Had to add a bit of sparkle... heh heh... mmmm... shiny.

You may recall I'm a fan of dragonflies and have a large one hanging in my bedroom.

Shifts are good and necessary, to keep things limber and flexible. I feel more shifts coming, and I'm looking forward to them, no matter how small.

Treats Please

Die Fledermaus (The Bat)

So, I had two companions at the opera house the night I saw Strauss II's  Die Fledermaus ("flying mouse" = bat). One was very tall. One... not so much.

If I was ever going to take Bruce the Bat to the opera, it had to be this one.

We got there early and checked out our box seats as soon as the doors opened. Bruce had a good time after that at the bar, the shop, mingling. He's a social guy and had a good time.

Act I alone was worth the price of admission, bringing out Freudian-dreamscapes that made this the first Fledermaus I've ever truly enjoyed. Someone had thought this one out. Chocolate-box images were erased from my mind... relief.

 

Giving Thanks

How has it been a month? Oh right... working hard, playing not so much.

But we had a beautiful Thanksgiving, enlivened by the Armenians, who came, as usual, bearing mysterious pastries... and jewellery! I love them. They're lively, loving, glamorous, optimistic, opinionated and passionate. What's not to like?

I tell you what... cutting up a rabbit.

Venison is fine. It didn't look like Bambi.

But the rabbit... well, I could see Thumper laying there. I fiddled a bit, then girded my loins, whacked off the head, except... I hadn't. I took the somewhat severed head, averted my own, and gave it a good twist. In to the garbage without looking into that face.

"OKAY!" I declared to the world. "I can do this now."

We spent a fair bit of time pre-dinner with some fine cheeses and Prosecco. For dinner, we had game pie (pheasant, rabbit, venison) which was sweetened with the inclusion of many onions. I feared the new recipe called for too much and cut down the amount. It was still too much in my opinion. No doubt the quantity was to counter the gaminess, but then what's the point? But it was deeeelish nonetheless.

We also had turkey, cranberry sauce, the usual veggies, lashing of gravy. Except I seemed to have lost my mind when it came down to the potatoes. I made a vat. No, I mean a VAT. My parents were eating them for five days afterwards. Odd.

For dessert, I tried a new recipe, a cranberry-apple crumble pie, with pecans in the crumble topping. This was to die for. I'll do it again. Ice cream or whipped cream were the accompaniments. Strangely there was still enough heavy cream to whip... I hadn't use quite all of it in the potatoes. Armenian pastries followed of course.

I lay like the snake digesting the deer the next day.

Oh, and check out the sparkly new place mats. Slightly more sparkly than I had planned, but, as I always say... oh, actually I don't, never mind.

Very thankful.

The Frankenstorm is on its way, but my cup Runneth Over... and I Won't Waste a Drop.

It's back... at long last, the LCBO carries it again. I'm picking up a bottle after work. A big warm bed, safe from the frankenstorm, awaits.

Thank you for the heads up, Cowboy.

Cottage: Black and White Shots

Some extra cottage week shots. The one obviously not taken by me was taken by ace boy photographer, M.