tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81676325049651933392024-03-20T14:02:37.038-08:00Garbanzo & RutabagaBriggs Family Historyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05015759408070240502noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-82915293228380037092015-10-25T15:39:00.002-08:002015-10-25T15:39:54.735-08:00Spring 2011<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An unposted draft from 2011... the themes continue their relevance, so it is now freed from being unposted!</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325513320735196850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2uBPUmBLWDWB4waJ7vo-N7FSMJy4ayYQMh5an5G0sNunFgyxbJLhToTV52smfoeCHT5amChUW57v6GiOGrCIhVxmAAMJvlSwcYSwtgOE4GuXyh4anKaRswhCPXRHIBqTa9_7fmwWXlhR/s400/cauliflower+blog.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only way we've been eating cauliflower this year.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325513315587644898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJi2LtCcdUAHmP2e_uDCZbvXz8J-AjZnqahlhz_dAUkO4ifdDiuI_ZoCPFwMlPVcPExPwXzAuV6mWuJoDKB59DyIOlnejv-VBDb-gBM9de8bnTbpgaBiTmCQA-VBbK8XoXfJBKkQnN2hr/s400/loom+blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a beautiful new bench and used it for a good 3 hours on Saturday.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325513315152972434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3vJoGZRwGFEQ_x1lMpxHCirMUjPWPRJ-pBlldjaqazxW9bccfOpn2UGgUG9k7lTa6ND68lzRJU-ZvWRM3tt-lathkSr6KtGmxqBXUngGbvCq_696Q8z8Fkp2WwX0Wp0qBh0zuiTbivSX/s400/seeds+blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />Thinking about the garden, excited for the sun.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325513307039710306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQohDmVWnc2icxYq75njNvozA0gOhJX7_CCdnD_B3B4XqyxuwxRy8Gg1WFdYFbQn_p__aFZHEnp6Y2bzB77JAK_EnyrZsQoFQZtBWAlAPMyDSK475cg4ZHgEHZxAHXEd7mWxhhGo950QY/s400/rye+blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />Peter's been making alot of rye bread recently, I'm certainly not complaining.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325513308602169298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31raYmALlqzc4WJPZNesPUNMqtcZM-0I5XIyGQIOM-FSyS7Xmep7rENp5iJn1gTOYy1KgNlPrwxfwQtBorULof7wVqgnmrGWsp-chsPxk84ZO1y6vI6cf52accw73HjfVVOTCRVK4AA7s/s400/bike+blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Very much looking forward to my summer commute.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-3392351874055767372011-10-12T14:55:00.001-08:002015-10-25T15:42:52.137-08:00Jackie Jackson Terrence - R.I.P.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZAjlLrf2nAJ6gEnBl4hjmjjCtuTPk7c-GWi2uAPV4I4cV1tzALPmKTH6j3ay6WJg13lnm0rOzoNpDAZErDIQ5BK57tViZuc0dbVderVdpOl5tlJdLAHiMk6v65thpw6igzQnFiZy5YLc/s1600/IMG_2937.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670578470190158850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZAjlLrf2nAJ6gEnBl4hjmjjCtuTPk7c-GWi2uAPV4I4cV1tzALPmKTH6j3ay6WJg13lnm0rOzoNpDAZErDIQ5BK57tViZuc0dbVderVdpOl5tlJdLAHiMk6v65thpw6igzQnFiZy5YLc/s320/IMG_2937.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZEs1u-5pAomNs5qt2pUMDBkCBa6Nrfe4QrMhInA_pSSEc5i_pMZFGTlPnwORwiLiZCs3er1HQhr-1tM9QDp1fXH5XazXN_6aW2ckWDbbTuy0lXOpud9oN6ixNcUJ4QsgkwYFTbQxnVc3/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670581712833037218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZEs1u-5pAomNs5qt2pUMDBkCBa6Nrfe4QrMhInA_pSSEc5i_pMZFGTlPnwORwiLiZCs3er1HQhr-1tM9QDp1fXH5XazXN_6aW2ckWDbbTuy0lXOpud9oN6ixNcUJ4QsgkwYFTbQxnVc3/s320/IMG_0087.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyLsGdmsCYwlP4pqqc0yMGxfEdI6l2_ovudJh4y0_N0vx051iCYq5xHxAEm5-GslAuyKyvj95ZxnKI_JkeOmF0f7RQW6qo-9uTnnMXAMeCt1liOetLpBvFfEL4s1FNzKDy24qRNI5kUzF/s1600/IMG_6874.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670578455029354034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyLsGdmsCYwlP4pqqc0yMGxfEdI6l2_ovudJh4y0_N0vx051iCYq5xHxAEm5-GslAuyKyvj95ZxnKI_JkeOmF0f7RQW6qo-9uTnnMXAMeCt1liOetLpBvFfEL4s1FNzKDy24qRNI5kUzF/s320/IMG_6874.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehdD0DZ4wwSz1QQTaN3YMhvw-169Uq802JstaAzwcXCF32_wC9yTAnL3ZPaM47BrccBjyPWSpUMNjw3lY1i0R2ZWEGvvcZ4C647XPv9QE13N8Plt-GflX-XFwKRksp2vcRL0eXuKOpJE6/s1600/IMG_3254.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670578439560552530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehdD0DZ4wwSz1QQTaN3YMhvw-169Uq802JstaAzwcXCF32_wC9yTAnL3ZPaM47BrccBjyPWSpUMNjw3lY1i0R2ZWEGvvcZ4C647XPv9QE13N8Plt-GflX-XFwKRksp2vcRL0eXuKOpJE6/s320/IMG_3254.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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One of our dogs left us last week. I picked up his ashes yesterday, accompanied by a pawprint that they made for us that says "Jackson" on it. It's almost a week later. I've been struggling with what I want to say about it, and who I might say it to. I really don't want to tell it to anyone... the thought of posting it on something like facebook is appalling to me. But... I want to somehow leave something somewhere that someone might find so that they could know about Jackson. I would like to memorialize him. I guess we could have a wake for him... and maybe we will, but for the moment... I kind of just want to be alone with my thoughts. I guess that's what blogs are for... being alone with your thoughts in a public forum.<br />
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When I carried Jack out to the Vet's car... he was the softest I'd ever felt... and the smallest. I asked for that last option to be with him. To carry him to their car. All 69 pounds of him. If I had tried that when he was alive, he'd be pissed off. Recently passed... I hope that he cherished it as much as I did. That's what has stuck with me the most... how small and how soft. How small and how soft. Sigh... I'm at work and my eyes are hurting from the tears that are trying to come out. This might be something I finish over time.<br />
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I met Tracie partly because of Jackson. Tracie lived in Bethel, and she was interesting because she lived far away from me, was an intriguing person, and she had a quirky picture of Jack. Something about how his ears were cocked. He looked like a good dog. Someone with a dog like that must be a good person.<br />
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As he fell asleep in our living room for the last time... his ear stayed up. Tracie touched it and commented on that.<br />
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Tracie and I met, and it wound up that she was moving into Anchorage in a few months. Eventually I got to meet Jackson in person. I think he looked a bit like Alf. Tracie would never agree, but most people agreed with me when they saw him... if they didn't even confirm it independently. He also had a real personality, not so sarcastic as Alf though... and I don't think that Jack ever ate a Cat.<br />
<br />
Tracie and I dated, with our pets (Jackson, Mason the dog and Asia the cat) a part of our integrated lives. We married on December 29, 2007. The site for our wedding was Otis Lake, about half a block from our house. When we got the walkie talkie call that all was ready, we walked with Mason and Jackson from our house and down to the lake. Mason had Tracie's ring tied around his neck, and Jackson had my ring. (Asia wasn't invited.). The dogs were funny. Mason kind of flopped down on the ice, and Jackson sat there politely (mostly) facing the wrong way. They were our ringbearers... and I guess since no one was there to give Tracie away, Jackson did double-duty on that task.<br />
<br />
He was almost thirteen years old. Tracie got him eleven years ago. If you look at it right, he did get an extra year. Last year he had a pretty bad cancerous growth on his back. The prognosis wasn't very good for it, but we had the vets take out a big chunk of him... and it didn't come back... at least there.<br />
<br />
Jackson really liked to have his legs rubbed. I felt the lump on his left leg the week before he left us. Tracie took him into the vet at 3:00 on Wednesday. He had cancer in his bone that had reduced much of it to sponge. The vet was surprised that he hadn't broken his bone already. She warned us that it could happen in the next few days, or the next week or two. It would be excruciating when it did happen. I got home at 6:00... Tracie hadn't been home long. We talked. We cried. We hurt.<br />
<br />
All dogs like their schedules I think. Jackson loved breakfast, with being let outside afterwards. He loved his dinner, ideally with a walk afterwards. Sometimes we're good, sometimes we're not. That night we took him for a walk with Mason, and his limping took on a new significance in our minds.<br />
<br />
Jack had been getting older. Other than last year's cancer, he'd had some bladder problems where he hadn't been able to hold it in the house. He also had some instances where he pooped in the house. We couldn't help but laugh at those rare instances, recognizing that things happen when you get older... and because we'd seen the episode of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" where Danny DeVito left poops for the heck of it. It's not as gross as it sounds. The bladder problems subsided, and the poops mostly. On our walks, he did still kind of poop in the middle of his walking. Wherever, just stop and poop. None of his previous signs of, "I think I'll poop here... sniff... sniff... yep, this is a good spot.". Just... here it comes.<br />
<br />
But... age and what it brings can be easy to live with when it's not about pain and misery. He was a happy dog and brought much of the same to us. I can say I've never been around a dog with so much character. I know that we anthropomorphize... but... he had a personality. A dog's personality, but one nonetheless.<br />
<br />
My mom and the vet were right. Jackson did quietly fall asleep. I was scratching his ears (one of his favourite things), and his eyes got droopy and his head slowly fell to the floor. We cleared a spot in the middle of our living room, and had him on his dog bed. I had his head, scratching his ears, and Tracie was to my left... also petting him. The vet and her tech were fantastic people. The tech shared that she had lost her dog in the past year, and she was crying. What a hard thing to do for someone. To come into another person's house to take away an important and cherished part of their lives. The vet did tear up as well. Sigh... I'll come back to this later.<br />
<br />
(a few weeks later)<br />
<br />
Four weeks ago today. It's much easier of course, but there's always a space in our house where Jack should be. Lying in a corner of the kitchen when we're working in there. We eventually gave up on ordering him "out of the kitchen". Lying on the floor in front of us when we were on the couch. Less frequently on his dog bed upstairs (choosing to be closer to us). This space where Jack should be always moves around... generally someplace close to us. If you think about it right, this space could be Jack. It's just not him physically. It doesn't matter, he's still there.<br />
<br />
One of the things we notice is the lack of noise. Jack was a vocal dog... barks, a lot of groans... and burps. He burped and blew. He had stinky Jack breath. With his groans, you could tell when he lay down. He'd slowly get down, accompanied by deep groans. For some reason, he got to have two beds in our bedroom. One on each side of the bed. It seemed he would fall asleep on one side, and then sometime in the night move to the other. I'd sometimes hear him move over, and moan as he lay back down.<br />
<br />
The container with his ashes is on our windowsill in our bedroom. We booked a ticket to go down to Tracie's home in Oregon, and we'll be taking him along. Her family has a beach house and Jackson used to chase the seagulls on the shore there. Tracie feels it's a nice spot. It's also a place where he'll get to be with family. Walking on the beach is always on the list of what to do at the house there.<br />
<br />
I don't think I have much more to say... other than if I let myself think about it... I really miss him. I always called him "your dog" when I talked with Tracie... but, he was my dog too.<br />
<br />
Oh... when Tracie adopted him, his name was Jackie Jackson Terrence... she kept it.<br />
<br />
---<br />
Today is two months... and we still find the holes in our lives that Jack occupied (and still occupies). It's still a bit weird in our house without him, but time does indeed take the edges off the sharpness of feeling... but, the feeling is there still. Just softer.<br />
---<br />
Four years later and we still find the Jackson-shaped hole in our lives. He still roams through the house and revisits us with memories like his groans, burping and blowing and how soft his fur was. We are better for knowing him, but it would be nice to be with him in person.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-90647510211051175782009-12-14T12:24:00.001-09:002009-12-14T13:09:20.103-09:00Hoar FrostEach winter we seem to get a period of weather that is perfect for the formation of hoar frost. This year conditions have been perfect!! There has been no wind, the temperature has been around 10F, and we've had higher humidity than normal... so it's been foggy... and amazing things have been happening to most objects outside! It's a winter wonderland...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV31ShjcUhxGhcID1tS18SSJoNk9LPCHfCf7fLkPEUdo0sblIp9dwrFpxCOR-MKvqjh-Vq0tafa49eAFhS_bdJOMQCYiX9PJFhll5NjQmUsEf9XD_r-_F53fPQvkuvIadPcd2YaD4p2lKm/s1600-h/IMG_4903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV31ShjcUhxGhcID1tS18SSJoNk9LPCHfCf7fLkPEUdo0sblIp9dwrFpxCOR-MKvqjh-Vq0tafa49eAFhS_bdJOMQCYiX9PJFhll5NjQmUsEf9XD_r-_F53fPQvkuvIadPcd2YaD4p2lKm/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415216389687216258" border="0" /></a>A few days into it... a light coating on the birch branches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNtOII_lr9f0feFpmVqE1ngxJX13k4kj0hAqfX-4HUm8xdEmb_39g4V2Nsw9ZducSZ6wy8tx6w3l4tFPfZACXUepLXdcLqULXhf7zsXwfQddrvzMvN89QiG-TTIrfFmp6fa2KRM4ESgFR/s1600-h/IMG_4909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNtOII_lr9f0feFpmVqE1ngxJX13k4kj0hAqfX-4HUm8xdEmb_39g4V2Nsw9ZducSZ6wy8tx6w3l4tFPfZACXUepLXdcLqULXhf7zsXwfQddrvzMvN89QiG-TTIrfFmp6fa2KRM4ESgFR/s320/IMG_4909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415216808591515410" border="0" /></a>Spruce needles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaqg4B2v1Mor2Sa6RZd58IuqMsKOezw3N2xBNtjDV9FMQESKVHUHiZLfGFTq4bqwHG2jvYWxFH9tgygtqETyBTR8LNk7aAjmZ6T_GZEMxD1zRKofA33xUl80yJM1rhsWIJO1AZhaqe-JQ/s1600-h/IMG_4895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaqg4B2v1Mor2Sa6RZd58IuqMsKOezw3N2xBNtjDV9FMQESKVHUHiZLfGFTq4bqwHG2jvYWxFH9tgygtqETyBTR8LNk7aAjmZ6T_GZEMxD1zRKofA33xUl80yJM1rhsWIJO1AZhaqe-JQ/s320/IMG_4895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415216381380696194" border="0" /></a>Backyard trellis with frosty hops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFRR-rOuiYgYjr2V-8D0GJDK2knG2juQpUeciCrhCINH_UJes2EHGLBiSs_kUDKHGA8uP1U5DsXm2rA1A76-EiOk76iJIs87oSKFRvBcgL9PzqnCW0ZrTesq9Wu6QBY52GZUzWgGPlQgp/s1600-h/IMG_4883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFRR-rOuiYgYjr2V-8D0GJDK2knG2juQpUeciCrhCINH_UJes2EHGLBiSs_kUDKHGA8uP1U5DsXm2rA1A76-EiOk76iJIs87oSKFRvBcgL9PzqnCW0ZrTesq9Wu6QBY52GZUzWgGPlQgp/s320/IMG_4883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415216373247699442" border="0" /></a>Pine looking like it's been spray painted!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_KItq-w5EA3gF8c3auNjEtgUU2scmscungPBaIGXqRjMh4TdIlJiQtQT3OlTo7BDvLJD0qOferXZx5U9B3EECKQqJsX7gT94JfrN9lO4CnH0MiuJOWS0KvFOgq9AT12fH_VIX_RBdyRm/s1600-h/IMG_4917.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_KItq-w5EA3gF8c3auNjEtgUU2scmscungPBaIGXqRjMh4TdIlJiQtQT3OlTo7BDvLJD0qOferXZx5U9B3EECKQqJsX7gT94JfrN9lO4CnH0MiuJOWS0KvFOgq9AT12fH_VIX_RBdyRm/s320/IMG_4917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415207746606178562" border="0" /></a>Every view is photo-worthy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5dmrP9gPn4FDwaeNdHGprvLKUqgLP3DGlsJEHFWwZQK3l27A8-tRA2cDD1mEjjMloo0_oD8xWgjkKaIbcN3098VTN13WNFMZjzVWL_aszDleMtt__umK7u9_L6lK8GNznKQhIPi71T8I/s1600-h/IMG_4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5dmrP9gPn4FDwaeNdHGprvLKUqgLP3DGlsJEHFWwZQK3l27A8-tRA2cDD1mEjjMloo0_oD8xWgjkKaIbcN3098VTN13WNFMZjzVWL_aszDleMtt__umK7u9_L6lK8GNznKQhIPi71T8I/s320/IMG_4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415207740028990786" border="0" /></a>Nice contrast in colour...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Aq2SON9rhPLZAz105nUq1iynPfqrjESLBL9RAP3F7IjO7Ld99wx-KSC-Hf6BIBBys2NMOKvFK4tKOTio9V-bj0wzSgKUk7T4JSdF_Q4Bg9ECVRHpwrysN3HiAfb5-FXMNELGsBixHCaz/s1600-h/IMG_4937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Aq2SON9rhPLZAz105nUq1iynPfqrjESLBL9RAP3F7IjO7Ld99wx-KSC-Hf6BIBBys2NMOKvFK4tKOTio9V-bj0wzSgKUk7T4JSdF_Q4Bg9ECVRHpwrysN3HiAfb5-FXMNELGsBixHCaz/s320/IMG_4937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415207732852246578" border="0" /></a>Front of our house... nice composition between spruce in front and birch behind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnNCexuidd1LFFEtgW1D003c852wGhuPycFkZ1u_99PhQJpQ5gxhuYb-nmAPYZDtjKy9qLvt_Gpsr3neHNiw6bQOIeetFgeVyl6GapYT83C-scQncOTmpUgJkz_ZUaTwG3CnwOeX5pNQj/s1600-h/IMG_4942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnNCexuidd1LFFEtgW1D003c852wGhuPycFkZ1u_99PhQJpQ5gxhuYb-nmAPYZDtjKy9qLvt_Gpsr3neHNiw6bQOIeetFgeVyl6GapYT83C-scQncOTmpUgJkz_ZUaTwG3CnwOeX5pNQj/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415207722610440466" border="0" /></a>The crabapples we didn't pick for making jelly...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02kwldL_qRQ2mjDbZPOvndgO7D20au40DILtYeic_Rdq3ItauWcr0iXLNrvdcTghnKM_zjTphkvy6scjXhKtsk3sxohahDk1aR49d1dhNDQaFzjqVdCZIZZnMVYUYRndR04S1as6gIpqo/s1600-h/IMG_4941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02kwldL_qRQ2mjDbZPOvndgO7D20au40DILtYeic_Rdq3ItauWcr0iXLNrvdcTghnKM_zjTphkvy6scjXhKtsk3sxohahDk1aR49d1dhNDQaFzjqVdCZIZZnMVYUYRndR04S1as6gIpqo/s320/IMG_4941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415207714215728706" border="0" /></a>...looking very cool as frosted bird treats...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-73817187411321354302009-08-13T19:49:00.001-08:002009-08-13T20:25:53.550-08:00Snozzberries, Poutine & SNOW in Toronto!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xzUJOHSiGxCSbMXaKNgdgG3RXyZQ71V6SrZq6Anp2TYdVjbZfUiRcKQEh0wC_d9YULqIrSDBX9Lywr5twDWjJQNI7BC-VBeRd6JFc6iwR6v7YJrpRG3LdyggoxtlikKBWoyHBg4ey4f/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_xzUJOHSiGxCSbMXaKNgdgG3RXyZQ71V6SrZq6Anp2TYdVjbZfUiRcKQEh0wC_d9YULqIrSDBX9Lywr5twDWjJQNI7BC-VBeRd6JFc6iwR6v7YJrpRG3LdyggoxtlikKBWoyHBg4ey4f/s320/Toronto+Fun+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662356425459282" border="0" /></a>Serendipity... almost as good a word as dubious. Both appropriate! A few weeks back, Tracie asked me, "Isn't this a friend of yours?" Indeed! Tyler Clark Burke was being really interesting again, importing something I will refer to as the snozzberry, but she refers to as the <a href="http://www.miraclefruittoronto.com/">mystery fruit</a>. This tiny little berry, alters the way food tastes. So... then the globe and mail has an article about another berry tasting happening at the Drake Hotel in Toronto, and that's where I am!!! So I go! Not only was it fun to see old friends including Tyler, Cheryl and Michael (and meet new ones), I got to have probably one of the oddest and most fun food experiences to date. Warning: if you believe in dietary balance and the consumption of regularly associated foods, do not read on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HsTETb3QtJPzQmQW8pmJ7F8bXUkOC6wIFOl7MmWior29GkDX7WDvnsPLzBsRhR24WAHL-TTxfjJxGjp06Vx3JULKDQgjhWbGJoZhP8PhNqcYtJ8UIzajeJpz-KHpumSdhkSnphC4FVih/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HsTETb3QtJPzQmQW8pmJ7F8bXUkOC6wIFOl7MmWior29GkDX7WDvnsPLzBsRhR24WAHL-TTxfjJxGjp06Vx3JULKDQgjhWbGJoZhP8PhNqcYtJ8UIzajeJpz-KHpumSdhkSnphC4FVih/s320/Toronto+Fun+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662374038166738" border="0" /></a>Here I am eyeballing the fruit... you might say I'm dubious... or wall-eyed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRL0DRImBT31uvC6XpsDGYxgAEAZwLCPm7mmf_E6MbYB0ZauEtQnNcCydJNzUHGVsK5T9c5t6EkX9mHX_lQO93Z1Dqu9E7qubMq2cZpzMX8Y9PxsnEnZnNXozkQrWLlDhVcTFF58nzOvP/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRL0DRImBT31uvC6XpsDGYxgAEAZwLCPm7mmf_E6MbYB0ZauEtQnNcCydJNzUHGVsK5T9c5t6EkX9mHX_lQO93Z1Dqu9E7qubMq2cZpzMX8Y9PxsnEnZnNXozkQrWLlDhVcTFF58nzOvP/s320/Toronto+Fun+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662363432764242" border="0" /></a>Here the other guinea pigs are... various emotions, not sure if any dubiosity is involved here. Perhaps stunned? Worried? Distracted?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37bbUKmXACgDY91qPHlaqgQqN_QiaXA1cYg2uanz6WuITajH_AVI6itsg_IBWEXCLiFJlfjM6ofzHcWVssZtL5Mnrhm0t8Af0eloWn03lhtu6CYkmazxkLtPs5rtPjXPzgF3dQybqQ7jL/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37bbUKmXACgDY91qPHlaqgQqN_QiaXA1cYg2uanz6WuITajH_AVI6itsg_IBWEXCLiFJlfjM6ofzHcWVssZtL5Mnrhm0t8Af0eloWn03lhtu6CYkmazxkLtPs5rtPjXPzgF3dQybqQ7jL/s320/Toronto+Fun+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369663658614889602" border="0" /></a>This photo makes it clear... there is NO (I repeat...NO) need for being skeptical. These berries work. The best things were probably lemons and limes, which tasted very much like sweet lemonade or limeade. Sour candies tasted like sweet candies. Little pickles tasted like sweet pickles (although, we couldn't tell... maybe they actually were sweet in the first place). Vinegar had a sweet beginning with a more vinegary finish. The most interesting was wasabi. Eating wasabi had a sweet/smooth beginning to it, with some heat... but heat depended on the person it seems. It's all kind of wacky, and left me thinking that different potato chips would have been an interesting experience as well (salt & vinegar, barbeque, wasabi even) although, I have vague memories of there being fruit flavoured chips in the 70's??? There might be a reason it didn't last...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9J67qhTW_5kHmy7qSjgcpFOgKTaE6u1GoqQ9ItdgbWtiKsq3NZ-KHiMfkJZOUdD9rWBubiNTUo9BHjMG9fffFZy1pW7sJJbNFI31N0HmV7MZDovZmAJtNXbeSAU7dF01A1lrC7qUj4qj/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9J67qhTW_5kHmy7qSjgcpFOgKTaE6u1GoqQ9ItdgbWtiKsq3NZ-KHiMfkJZOUdD9rWBubiNTUo9BHjMG9fffFZy1pW7sJJbNFI31N0HmV7MZDovZmAJtNXbeSAU7dF01A1lrC7qUj4qj/s320/Toronto+Fun+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369664615558535986" border="0" /></a>This doesn't relate to the berry so much as it shows a bad camera angle can really affect a photo. And bad timing. While in reality it was the feeding of a spoonful of vinegar... it magically appears like someone making a goofy face while being knuckled in the kisser. There were a few foods that miraculously tasted like... themselves. I guess nothing can make brussel sprouts better?<br /><br />Then... when flavours began to return and tobasco tasted like... tobasco... we went to the next stage of the "dream trip to Toronto"...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLI02XoAW_14eJkjYU_j3sCZayY9rWLnEDAbBY7kul6Yn5g_eNpLeMWGfLAvK_QNO0r2OVpDAx8BdacjPT-BGndlQOjb1kTvBZHTUg7haVbuY9_z3w_qcPCagY_dUfup0xEH9raqiHQJn/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLI02XoAW_14eJkjYU_j3sCZayY9rWLnEDAbBY7kul6Yn5g_eNpLeMWGfLAvK_QNO0r2OVpDAx8BdacjPT-BGndlQOjb1kTvBZHTUg7haVbuY9_z3w_qcPCagY_dUfup0xEH9raqiHQJn/s320/Toronto+Fun+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662382754588642" border="0" /></a>Tracie is going to kill me. She was upset enough I was getting to try snozzberries... without also getting poutine... and good poutine with veggie gravy at that!! When she had poutine, she wasn't impressed. This was pretty good. The veggie gravy was tasty, the potatoes were real, and the cheese curds were fresh (enough?)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2LG7aX8EgxeI882ANF7faCmQ9rtMRv7sPHOK9GMXuN4G5EXSUBudBms8g4JiHQhVKhprtnbTz-4gKlNza7pCNMm2QMlgvrmgzmCVKbryMARS5i9VsMUUydFzu91s3Ags4nj7rUSUVa0y/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2LG7aX8EgxeI882ANF7faCmQ9rtMRv7sPHOK9GMXuN4G5EXSUBudBms8g4JiHQhVKhprtnbTz-4gKlNza7pCNMm2QMlgvrmgzmCVKbryMARS5i9VsMUUydFzu91s3Ags4nj7rUSUVa0y/s320/Toronto+Fun+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662393735537106" border="0" /></a>Biodegradeable bucket and forks too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZSlBfjo9xjvb-JedKJJffL5QbenvEdi_EKWwpjDTqmL-eLx1RVZsoJnh2ypFsXyAvIlPZCdL5bvKk8CBWDwKXQwxp8aGpsDpk5ocRdkQe1PHS8NycdEAOjcdTjI95DIs7gAdUaB4lfrC/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZSlBfjo9xjvb-JedKJJffL5QbenvEdi_EKWwpjDTqmL-eLx1RVZsoJnh2ypFsXyAvIlPZCdL5bvKk8CBWDwKXQwxp8aGpsDpk5ocRdkQe1PHS8NycdEAOjcdTjI95DIs7gAdUaB4lfrC/s320/Toronto+Fun+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662735419519138" border="0" /></a>Here's me... and poutini!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlD3mHFLfMdbae0e8g0LKp9MjvoQhud_GTzjnr1aytJ8A1vhulTq8ECHFAkVzioWMkZT6WgO7erWApd4So2tJko00sIu8hxTZiKamdkVTVVlTrVZdH3QuTBFKF7IvZqwB5MzpsRy-d1DA/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlD3mHFLfMdbae0e8g0LKp9MjvoQhud_GTzjnr1aytJ8A1vhulTq8ECHFAkVzioWMkZT6WgO7erWApd4So2tJko00sIu8hxTZiKamdkVTVVlTrVZdH3QuTBFKF7IvZqwB5MzpsRy-d1DA/s320/Toronto+Fun+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369668969687561618" border="0" /></a>Ahhh... poutinis...<br /><br />And now, for something completely different...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsouZPv3IIbYLGoqT8VvV4EY6dQIN78L5sU-v-4XF8NZHE6-2ulnDc9CsZTVCZoYzmQ083NZaT8wiZN4kY_HXinKYaf0hRC8Fg965aoWBHpmuADoZeZ8x_Zk9IVaCaRq9fYsw-liuPDOl5/s1600-h/Toronto+Fun+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsouZPv3IIbYLGoqT8VvV4EY6dQIN78L5sU-v-4XF8NZHE6-2ulnDc9CsZTVCZoYzmQ083NZaT8wiZN4kY_HXinKYaf0hRC8Fg965aoWBHpmuADoZeZ8x_Zk9IVaCaRq9fYsw-liuPDOl5/s320/Toronto+Fun+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369662742025183362" border="0" /></a>...and then to show that hell froze over and all of the stars were in alignment... in 30 degree Celsius weather, it snowed... and stayed on the ground... for the people filming on Queen Street. It kind of broke me though... you mean sometimes when I watch movies there are fake things in them?<br /><br />Ahhh... friends make the world go round. A great evening...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-37558662063018605372009-08-08T09:43:00.001-08:002009-08-08T09:46:27.226-08:00Fresh Bread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLoeSI9dCT8ZxVOhQev2IxN9jIozMCDc4uxotPBOmca5PIkl4kn2CK_Hi2w_miZhQQxfEbtPZyLek2Tvh9USBxOaMOZWdq8r_LmVujay8BJe3qOBfczKa-ZZFAx1Tq6r527zmVFdqoRnC/s1600-h/IMG_0568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLoeSI9dCT8ZxVOhQev2IxN9jIozMCDc4uxotPBOmca5PIkl4kn2CK_Hi2w_miZhQQxfEbtPZyLek2Tvh9USBxOaMOZWdq8r_LmVujay8BJe3qOBfczKa-ZZFAx1Tq6r527zmVFdqoRnC/s320/IMG_0568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367650701863518354" border="0" /></a>There's something slightly unfair about being awake earlier on the weekend than during the week. I took advantage of that this morning to bake bread for breakfast. Shortly after Tracie got up, the bread was waiting... with some raspberry jam from (many thanks to both of our moms for the plethora of preserves in our cupboard... one of our favourite things to have).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-36352932869819890242009-06-10T21:01:00.001-08:002009-08-08T09:47:11.542-08:00Quickie<span style="font-weight: bold;">What I started last weekend: </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVQgTx1wv0cZlrFXmX_iIN-tkBboyU5AjzFf2OysqiQSG05cQx9nhBw38opamv8Reig2quq_xXRQh2j7CRtmcH8MGYxuKyGCdqL6dVCIg65aAAg2JP97nOZGPjoIn5H6cjGgcvAMVpKKg/s1600-h/brewing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVQgTx1wv0cZlrFXmX_iIN-tkBboyU5AjzFf2OysqiQSG05cQx9nhBw38opamv8Reig2quq_xXRQh2j7CRtmcH8MGYxuKyGCdqL6dVCIg65aAAg2JP97nOZGPjoIn5H6cjGgcvAMVpKKg/s320/brewing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930984168454770" border="0" /></a>Stay tuned for more info on Tracie's first brewfest<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I hope to do again soon:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OeahkKANw68Z76PrwGK5F0n74tVBYXmGDyZiGbBtyD-6aqcc92eVGjP5JpGrTUurhdkyY3ddlgwn-BXybguvuXMHChUN8fm0nvP95GVl9V_vQK084-xfw0AZtxJtdyU_1-eL9E-cKTMG/s1600-h/mint.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OeahkKANw68Z76PrwGK5F0n74tVBYXmGDyZiGbBtyD-6aqcc92eVGjP5JpGrTUurhdkyY3ddlgwn-BXybguvuXMHChUN8fm0nvP95GVl9V_vQK084-xfw0AZtxJtdyU_1-eL9E-cKTMG/s320/mint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931383268761618" border="0" /></a>Harvest fresh mint<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYfoUvDIy1J-8Wfeo1VviGV5oaUQZUqRGSe444CI5xhg2oZU9fz2ILNVF3fxaIVsnCjBxd4iee8jAjx_ufQ5yxIBgvyV0SMAXasZe4-pP-M61nxvB6VEoqj_Fr3p_RcUeaLmiqFbh0mJl/s1600-h/cream+and+mint.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYfoUvDIy1J-8Wfeo1VviGV5oaUQZUqRGSe444CI5xhg2oZU9fz2ILNVF3fxaIVsnCjBxd4iee8jAjx_ufQ5yxIBgvyV0SMAXasZe4-pP-M61nxvB6VEoqj_Fr3p_RcUeaLmiqFbh0mJl/s320/cream+and+mint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931625205510818" border="0" /></a>Combine with cream, sugar and some eggs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDzf-RByEy_3P-c2I9fzBl6Jl8QIITmV8XpYndg9sU6ZVI91j2IsQn9q1Qiak8SU-a7XwnQVs2mF5BqKQYQ_H4WNgFiSGKWOj-ousfUBNQnh7a19VWyoyVu3agtrm6pKJuo5yi2TiKKwk/s1600-h/yum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDzf-RByEy_3P-c2I9fzBl6Jl8QIITmV8XpYndg9sU6ZVI91j2IsQn9q1Qiak8SU-a7XwnQVs2mF5BqKQYQ_H4WNgFiSGKWOj-ousfUBNQnh7a19VWyoyVu3agtrm6pKJuo5yi2TiKKwk/s320/yum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931905844085762" border="0" /></a>and make FRESH MINT ICE CREAM!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-44510475101487067692009-05-25T09:10:00.000-08:002009-05-25T09:16:52.209-08:00Kitchen Aid Mixers and MicrowavesTracie asked me this morning if I would be baking rye bread so often if we didn't have our kitchen aid mixer. No. This is one labour saving device! Also, we bought a convection microwave oven. Having a microwave that has some power to it is kind of awesome. It cooks things quickly, and has the added feature of being a microwave oven. The scale in the photo is also pretty good. Weighing ingredients has a benefit for baking especially (so I've been told). <div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339811272042190658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJQmRVuPp66G5KWtyJcH1FbBQOsiJLEXdYtg7_B2bU95uIQ39RKcg2qgVnjwlYnXosBCxmFxYLqeVimofHlkKuW9LKIdiB_A6FFp7qbI0JiRXmXFIL81Jk1mDXS-1lSRb0NIQEqZUi1yh/s320/IMG_6025.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Tracie is working on a quilt for a friend who is leaving Alaska for Colorado. She's a good friend and a wonderful person - Kelly Kane, best of luck to you wherever you are. We'll see you in beautiful Colorado!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339811623560478002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XE-swwBqp7M6J2pkXdy7bj4LvGbRm39iy576E9v2CBwmB7syUM397Fexr1-RNHU7jvGG8OR6rdRr1ooX7DBiqfEAG7ASk34Jb8yv6HaVMZ-OpJtHjufyJqAO2JJqu7Plsi0_dqtZUMor/s320/IMG_6028.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-9808999826931202652009-05-22T17:03:00.000-08:002009-05-23T10:06:23.763-08:00Pete Briggs Picks up PigsTiffany (a good friend in Bethel) asked Tracie to pick up some piglets for her from Wasilla and put them on a plane to Bethel. She has interesting requests sometimes, but this one wins. So, Peter got to pick up two porkers, package them up in the truck, and pull their posteriors back to the palacio. The two piglets are pictured here:<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338820583975687938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0W1V6M4gD4EpXds1bc3j8MOfAvBB6lnGubOczakwOZ6d718NyvhS5kqyj9id76AZisBYphWYhQOB1Eap0dSHCSXF9Mltg-0pdz2DAjwHVgUL37X_9s8AtujNEyWlAovawfL11gdeuDRg/s320/IMG_5998.JPG" border="0" /> <div>Their prickly, petlike parent is pictured here (700lbs of pure pork):</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338820571471731346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz2sMUW7yPmoDzZ27h8Z1WhKVrLg8nM6s01-BNgj6Nk6tOGR9S2Y3IViIAWW0skAd22zHbe33J-Cg40wYDFmODgAy1y0su3PC1QBenMbW1usPG_yLkK8gyca44FBa0iPAiZ_vt-DS7eIM/s320/IMG_5994.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>We've been told we will have a lifetime supply of delicious things from rural Alaska now! Smoked salmon bellies and the such... mmmm...</div><br /><div>And for those that don't know... there is a Dr. Seuss poem that starts "Pete Briggs pats pigs". This is now a true story. This Pete Briggs has now patted pigs.</div><div></div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339051545030666722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6YHpZCmmrYuu7RSVckYF1QFMkSiP9PPGIeHZjrWSDwWG1U3VehwUrqDJpRwvucvMkcUT4sdCEBDV_dlQBefTRYhYDXRW4UE9N3TkFmmIoNnHpzWrG90qvQyLBIBnENzWKOgUcrRoeCQT/s320/IMG_6014.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339051546506331522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAolentftyZjw9W6xBqbVf7ubB1GTe4hwNFahTLBsTC5iKrA7sXeaiJwnFAbXKXmaBkWlKnH7BhMlERhADBJkk2-AucHgRks8biJ8T_M4w0YccJYdBX9kLN8V97HKrzWy-93_SZu7eNsCu/s320/IMG_6009.JPG" border="0" />Tracie took them for their flight to Bethel last night at 2:00am. They got to go through the MVP line, and I hear the inflight movie was Babe (or Charlotte's Web?). Maybe fate will be kind to them... =)</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-65843795387250943102009-05-18T12:27:00.001-08:002009-05-18T12:31:10.304-08:00Ryebread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqdspStJYHv51GUyaAD_xp5kvc-Xkqiv9NVB_jAhf5TF26xssHcwA8Zd0GjuoNtlG_-ce0Zalu6jKlcwutro5zorD6lC74zH9XGaLhgBnV-jQHfH2rFF7T3HXOO8X_arbbMzXfOhAYi21/s1600-h/IMG_5863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqdspStJYHv51GUyaAD_xp5kvc-Xkqiv9NVB_jAhf5TF26xssHcwA8Zd0GjuoNtlG_-ce0Zalu6jKlcwutro5zorD6lC74zH9XGaLhgBnV-jQHfH2rFF7T3HXOO8X_arbbMzXfOhAYi21/s320/IMG_5863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337263619585579778" border="0" /></a><br />One of the best things I've baked (and continue baking)... rye bread... thanks to Grethe's recipe by way of mormor. We normally cook two big and two small... and give one away to some lucky person each week. It might be you...<br /><br />(I've added 1/3c wheat berries, 1/3c steelcut oats, 1/3c powdered flax, and 1/3c gluten... the last seeming to help with the crumb of the bread??)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-56736893596639051432009-05-17T13:30:00.000-08:002009-05-18T16:09:39.904-08:00Mormor's 90th Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxFeqmPUT67kqI6bgL0_koz78aC0MRP5XKuZikB5tLYVmiv-ru_suTa93Xcmzytz6hbTW_QcXPsCcYyWQNIQUdecDsZzA-LXlvcypxVAp8btAcpTUIwCR-RF72QEB1DpIIH3Hgts4hbEl/s1600-h/IMG_4552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxFeqmPUT67kqI6bgL0_koz78aC0MRP5XKuZikB5tLYVmiv-ru_suTa93Xcmzytz6hbTW_QcXPsCcYyWQNIQUdecDsZzA-LXlvcypxVAp8btAcpTUIwCR-RF72QEB1DpIIH3Hgts4hbEl/s320/IMG_4552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336913465544295346" border="0" /></a>This is who it's all about. Mormor. Mormor is one of the most important people in my life. So many of my memories growing up have her as a part of it. The small but so important things that make us who we are. She'd read to me, and she still tells me how much I looked forward to learning how to read. She'd get me to do things for her (like pull some metal wire garden bed fencing out) and be so appreciative. Being around Mormor made/makes me feel like I could do anything, and anything I did would be right. Her honesty and compassion are so contagious, and her voice is the one at the back of my head when I need to make the right decision. Food is probably one of the keys to our relationship, and importantly, helping her with it. Whether decorating gingerbread men or helping her make vanilla kranse, like many third generation kids, I learned a lot about Denmark through eating. This is a good kind of learning, and sticks with me. I just pulled a few loaves of rye bread out of the oven, and having a slice smeared with butter (the Danish have one of the best concepts... teeth butter. Where when you've bitten your bread, you can see teeth marks in the butter) reminds me of her and my childhood. Oddly enough, as a vegetarian, I think that I will still say my favourite food would be mormor's rye bread with liver paste and pickled beets. I get to forever remember how good that was. I think I could go on for so long about how special she is to me. At her birthday party I had so much to say to her, but found myself at a loss for words... and much tears. I'm even tearing up a bit now. It's such a good feeling to love someone so much that wanting to tell them how much they mean to you is almost impossible. While I wish in some ways that I was more articulate speaking in front of my family, I know they understand. Even if I had prepared what I was going to say, I know I would have been no better off. She's my mormor...<br /><br />So... I finally sat down today to print photos, burn CDs and assorted things to send out to the family. April 6th was my grandmother's 90th birthday and we had the first family gathering where EVERYONE was there! It involved two great parties and much family! I can't think of a better reason for celebration than something involving my mormor!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib97eWnhUo9-y8slGkx0vlR5w0IZAVZt6JQknfihK1uYedi1aegU7GRdv8UuK28DI_THAy-HsTFvoVD_dEc3qkL50hGU-O9bPEMcBhG181zU1Gaf8CnNDQblnWeOgEMNlllUf29yFkFx6j/s1600-h/Mormor+90+Collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib97eWnhUo9-y8slGkx0vlR5w0IZAVZt6JQknfihK1uYedi1aegU7GRdv8UuK28DI_THAy-HsTFvoVD_dEc3qkL50hGU-O9bPEMcBhG181zU1Gaf8CnNDQblnWeOgEMNlllUf29yFkFx6j/s320/Mormor+90+Collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336909616287569794" border="0" /></a>This is the whole family! A better bunch we would not have been without our Mormor!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJhImuRPhxx-Z2J_DmdEOR5QS6osxP_-QM4k-HL5yZlRc2AzBXQX7W7-syTCpEgUhlFqAPdnQsFp15ikjL7CKe9AUI7N05O8aOWjtRUSuWMhR1BSop_YktKjjl0MTGLdDtZ9dSyY8x0yT/s1600-h/IMG_4432.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJhImuRPhxx-Z2J_DmdEOR5QS6osxP_-QM4k-HL5yZlRc2AzBXQX7W7-syTCpEgUhlFqAPdnQsFp15ikjL7CKe9AUI7N05O8aOWjtRUSuWMhR1BSop_YktKjjl0MTGLdDtZ9dSyY8x0yT/s320/IMG_4432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336913459990906354" border="0" /></a><br />These are mormor's girls: Chriss, Elizabeth and Grethe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5knSC7n2qGx0REEJtrYQhhFdpe4PhHvEHomds8OAnNMy8g9aTzZVnmtto6470cG7uVsi3Wz6QoWy9Y7YgWiJAPH1fOKGkd1SYrC_VUC4bUa4cPn2O-oEqFPRhLjR855hEo7fVfMRHb_/s1600-h/IMG_4433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA5knSC7n2qGx0REEJtrYQhhFdpe4PhHvEHomds8OAnNMy8g9aTzZVnmtto6470cG7uVsi3Wz6QoWy9Y7YgWiJAPH1fOKGkd1SYrC_VUC4bUa4cPn2O-oEqFPRhLjR855hEo7fVfMRHb_/s320/IMG_4433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336912603954717970" border="0" /></a><br />Mormor's grandkids: Michael, David, Sarah, Peter, Ian and Paul.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOjcldQ1wiE3Ajuvix2wnbAmh9niAz1_Yh40W3xqlWOVGt07xhFViyIkCLky4Hf6l-V3qE8FiHpmUi4KGtFxwstVKQTVN0YojtDkBoNFOSYSN0Ofxw-L2G-0BiGhuVQG0qNMb44brfNtC/s1600-h/IMG_4436.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOjcldQ1wiE3Ajuvix2wnbAmh9niAz1_Yh40W3xqlWOVGt07xhFViyIkCLky4Hf6l-V3qE8FiHpmUi4KGtFxwstVKQTVN0YojtDkBoNFOSYSN0Ofxw-L2G-0BiGhuVQG0qNMb44brfNtC/s320/IMG_4436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336912603993059986" border="0" /></a><br />Chriss and her family (Tracie, Peter, Chriss, Amanda, Michael and Nicholas).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdSKD3fYt2pgSa3orz2b4C3tcN8bndyKbweApKj7V-E2TFYalfenxcgDzSSijKtUFFZ8_dFwESWTdxATONl45BlA_xxszfv1MYb3fU3mp07-M-u57LnHRPDa8GW3Z2Roh6MnD-opq5_jG/s1600-h/IMG_4445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdSKD3fYt2pgSa3orz2b4C3tcN8bndyKbweApKj7V-E2TFYalfenxcgDzSSijKtUFFZ8_dFwESWTdxATONl45BlA_xxszfv1MYb3fU3mp07-M-u57LnHRPDa8GW3Z2Roh6MnD-opq5_jG/s320/IMG_4445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336917208082799330" border="0" /></a><br />Grethe and her family (Brooke, David, Grethe, Larry, Paul and Joanna).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiqTEINe9TqXhXcUXhrxcrZ7AKKWw5IgiEsIHQgKmhObDvpLfg4AWiIuUHUM8vN6xMWLvB-GpPO2urciYaMHhhabMQwJwvktCwLNQDhY1kFxHGGw7xlB0O32asF3Hz_xGfWj7jDJg4hdC/s1600-h/IMG_4440.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiqTEINe9TqXhXcUXhrxcrZ7AKKWw5IgiEsIHQgKmhObDvpLfg4AWiIuUHUM8vN6xMWLvB-GpPO2urciYaMHhhabMQwJwvktCwLNQDhY1kFxHGGw7xlB0O32asF3Hz_xGfWj7jDJg4hdC/s320/IMG_4440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336912605707592210" border="0" /></a><br />Elizabeth and her family (Vance, Elizabeth, Ian and Sarah - looking very scandinavian indeed).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWHJLsru79AvHKvSAhLMJ98ruttXir9Vza8BUy1l9KwQk2p6ZxJH8z7MiX-DbjKFO1LJeCX7CcR7tnO9r-X7HqE5krZ2WLEtApNOrNlNm1chgtO72xKv4E1C9awEiHgxneuXeKGomIoF/s1600-h/IMG_4444.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhWHJLsru79AvHKvSAhLMJ98ruttXir9Vza8BUy1l9KwQk2p6ZxJH8z7MiX-DbjKFO1LJeCX7CcR7tnO9r-X7HqE5krZ2WLEtApNOrNlNm1chgtO72xKv4E1C9awEiHgxneuXeKGomIoF/s320/IMG_4444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336912607967744386" border="0" /></a><br />And Mormor and Nicholas. Knowing that another generation is under the influence of a mormor (mormormor?) is a good thing. I know that Tracie and I very much would like to introduce mormor to our kids (when the stork brings them). And to quell any potential rumours from this, we would like kids but no buns in the oven yet. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiuSr01RH4XKANa9Oeh5fXZQclXMhYnFXBeUHtGAjeeBs6tCzNMTnfYXPNLRYvD2jEZvDbEbe0Cg732kCA0Z-TcbOManmeBdVjjl-JRwRRllxCm_d4bbbmaVNyNaO9ITSUmfqNtp7JGFq/s1600-h/IMG_4618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiuSr01RH4XKANa9Oeh5fXZQclXMhYnFXBeUHtGAjeeBs6tCzNMTnfYXPNLRYvD2jEZvDbEbe0Cg732kCA0Z-TcbOManmeBdVjjl-JRwRRllxCm_d4bbbmaVNyNaO9ITSUmfqNtp7JGFq/s320/IMG_4618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336916309814516770" border="0" /></a>Thank you for reading this post. I can't think of a better or more meaningful subject.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-20067797676837303172009-05-16T22:01:00.000-08:002009-05-16T22:13:37.409-08:00Garden & FlorThe office is moving on up... got rid of various area rugs, and just installed <a href="http://www.flor.com/">Flor</a> tiles. Makes it look a heck of a lot more professional. They're a great modular tile with a whole bunch of options. I need to check my estimation skills though... we wound up with more than we needed (I drew the tiles the wrong size in AutoCAD... big brain fart). Better than too few though. We'll figure out a way to use what we have left on our side of the house...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwnbdVF6cSuZ2gPFnxDpQ4sFeIhyphenhyphen6GghHCYSSRXevpX5sfMoVQmCWtnVQzwfBDcamq5Wdfr2fKnZ3IMYuq9aWhS0YmUVk2ijiixtG8GourPsj50uq5MhUz48lbq4ahGpXrg-PzsdTfCU4/s1600-h/IMG_5855.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwnbdVF6cSuZ2gPFnxDpQ4sFeIhyphenhyphen6GghHCYSSRXevpX5sfMoVQmCWtnVQzwfBDcamq5Wdfr2fKnZ3IMYuq9aWhS0YmUVk2ijiixtG8GourPsj50uq5MhUz48lbq4ahGpXrg-PzsdTfCU4/s320/IMG_5855.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336670837350682034" border="0" /></a>We also worked in the garden on a very lovely, sunny day. We found some pieces of a garden shelter that we have repurposed as trellises ( I heart <a href="http://anchorage.craigslist.org/">Craigslist</a>)... so, are trying kiwi vine, hops, and woodbine vine. Tracie planted the garden beds with a whole bunch of veggies. We set up some lines for peas to grow up. Some bush beans too... and potatoes. We've hit the limit for the amount of mulch we can use in the yard, so no more shredding leaves and chipping branches to compost. Rather than being one large compost pile, the other side of our yard is now scheduled for landscaping.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy0QwRYFojI7ECLPkdAmIZI9upbMXSZhKpBEON3FZvINDFuBOVsyFgA2DD1RrVNu-1WCFqqJ8KMbbJJyZgR3I5KfoRvqiAkfk6io_mvQw2HPES1vOgmj2tmdoY5sjlxhZQJ3E1Qyzo5rK/s1600-h/IMG_5856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy0QwRYFojI7ECLPkdAmIZI9upbMXSZhKpBEON3FZvINDFuBOVsyFgA2DD1RrVNu-1WCFqqJ8KMbbJJyZgR3I5KfoRvqiAkfk6io_mvQw2HPES1vOgmj2tmdoY5sjlxhZQJ3E1Qyzo5rK/s320/IMG_5856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336671274517837650" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-77031699834871230042009-05-15T09:16:00.000-08:002009-05-15T09:25:04.376-08:00Bike to Work Day!So, I work from home... but somehow managed to bike to work today! Tracie signed us up for counting bicyclists, so Tracie, Laura and I went down to the Seward/Chester trail intersection and counted! And... as fate would have it, we have our first chilly/wet summer day (after weeks of awesome weather). But, we're tough and the census was done...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLM0ZkYCMXvNhvcq8dLk_femSBdWbEXrR-b6cVObDLZ8EkGg_sFl0a3uIZeSo_Ean_uAQ_m-mml7VPfLuUGJBEfcl0FFYnn6a6zCWNrbZkj1Uks88fTKsbwWc2yFaQnGylJifsqVIYHYf/s1600-h/IMG_5847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLM0ZkYCMXvNhvcq8dLk_femSBdWbEXrR-b6cVObDLZ8EkGg_sFl0a3uIZeSo_Ean_uAQ_m-mml7VPfLuUGJBEfcl0FFYnn6a6zCWNrbZkj1Uks88fTKsbwWc2yFaQnGylJifsqVIYHYf/s320/IMG_5847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336101531238504530" border="0" /></a>Biking away from work to count and then come back to work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m8Jo0oQdEhKpMStgWqfDMMfoLv2v8OHAX9GW3-kImgkQeD-h5jU9sMwrUu0SpXoDdikPvlXbeLlnYLXywH6RBSkAXiSqcj9kMiTcrdjUn_KKk4PeHY96dwQ-mbxDIrMODmkf7Opr9kMh/s1600-h/IMG_5849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6m8Jo0oQdEhKpMStgWqfDMMfoLv2v8OHAX9GW3-kImgkQeD-h5jU9sMwrUu0SpXoDdikPvlXbeLlnYLXywH6RBSkAXiSqcj9kMiTcrdjUn_KKk4PeHY96dwQ-mbxDIrMODmkf7Opr9kMh/s320/IMG_5849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102401910863986" border="0" /></a>My lovely Tracie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA9etUH45NIwA4B3KaMW9fD8g1D2RXnbHRmaMAcEti-cwE-nFNWlGmuuKE170vA_skAF0P5xQDBxStc4ObnZDKKzs1g4KXGUh27YQZXGKZawjeYuaD_BY32tolWBZ3TT0zUvM097u4rNa/s1600-h/IMG_5850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA9etUH45NIwA4B3KaMW9fD8g1D2RXnbHRmaMAcEti-cwE-nFNWlGmuuKE170vA_skAF0P5xQDBxStc4ObnZDKKzs1g4KXGUh27YQZXGKZawjeYuaD_BY32tolWBZ3TT0zUvM097u4rNa/s320/IMG_5850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336101839048515490" border="0" /></a>The awesome Laura.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVti38mWFHmLvq5cNSI5iXMMeuJU2dwMCf2DOdQ12Mnku82ZRF2sqGOS0bsifAqGN7lrk7Ql4r5lNH94sOWF-KM832WNmrHUsEARl2Hzn6H79GHwnNrHql6NmcICvPRdgdf9N038zeQdIV/s1600-h/IMG_5848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVti38mWFHmLvq5cNSI5iXMMeuJU2dwMCf2DOdQ12Mnku82ZRF2sqGOS0bsifAqGN7lrk7Ql4r5lNH94sOWF-KM832WNmrHUsEARl2Hzn6H79GHwnNrHql6NmcICvPRdgdf9N038zeQdIV/s320/IMG_5848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102962687179186" border="0" /></a>And me...<br /><br />To those in Anchorage that work outside their homes and bike to work... way to go! We're hoping the new city Bicycle Plan makes it easier and easier in the future (and safer).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-25020891129084679202009-05-10T18:38:00.001-08:002009-05-10T18:54:43.679-08:00Back to Alaska<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqmfhiRF7sKEZUCCpm5qrDf-PRLt48nFgwvMWqTxw_d2nA6_Gt7k3nJF200GKrbamU9U2vPYq2RckCvQrmx1Ud6fwpUWB_yC53u8HlyMVUUgQ3Zr3nt_fQwvef5vradfdM_p9UNQ1nnvC/s1600-h/IMG_5375.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqmfhiRF7sKEZUCCpm5qrDf-PRLt48nFgwvMWqTxw_d2nA6_Gt7k3nJF200GKrbamU9U2vPYq2RckCvQrmx1Ud6fwpUWB_yC53u8HlyMVUUgQ3Zr3nt_fQwvef5vradfdM_p9UNQ1nnvC/s320/IMG_5375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334390944288706722" border="0" /></a>Was in Oregon last week (after Vancouver) and spent time at the Oregon Garden for a workshop on Green Infrastructure. The Garden is great, and it was fun to see all of the species of plants there that we can't use here. Kind of like a zoo... for plants... I guess that's the definition of something like an arboretum...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pl7PrbbaBKp70jvGfGEgZb-Uh6oUA_JM2VTWtCOoiPrsPTX9WFgtxq_FMDdja-6ht1bdpj3V7JD7O27TMbg_cXdSyVsrRpIhUF140S06YY6T3cOr3TxLytdmfxHEQ_IJeXclKW3-nGFc/s1600-h/IMG_5703.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pl7PrbbaBKp70jvGfGEgZb-Uh6oUA_JM2VTWtCOoiPrsPTX9WFgtxq_FMDdja-6ht1bdpj3V7JD7O27TMbg_cXdSyVsrRpIhUF140S06YY6T3cOr3TxLytdmfxHEQ_IJeXclKW3-nGFc/s320/IMG_5703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334391537053062818" border="0" /></a>Also saw Frank Lloyd Wright's only building in Oregon... the Gordon House. Suffice it to say, it's quite inspiring to see good design...<br /><br />Then I got to hang out with the Johnson famdamily. It was fun to see Victoria's softball game, Wilson's baseball game (and playing catch with him...), and Madeline getting all crafty with friendship bracelets (and taking photos). Suffice it to say both Tracie and I think we have neat nieces and nephews (Nicholas on my side included... Thomas the train-type picture below sent by Amanda).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMVBv39isb84UbpzSetmiDpBdw5KIV9F37LcgF_WPZ5uwulXj9ymb8e4OuHVqCPnUXIjRcyduROcIad23tkXQNNgEAwRb1sFKdgAmR8yaX5lo6XfOwzg_V0iIiT5w8Tsj6klqUvOZlg3/s1600-h/IMG_5801.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWMVBv39isb84UbpzSetmiDpBdw5KIV9F37LcgF_WPZ5uwulXj9ymb8e4OuHVqCPnUXIjRcyduROcIad23tkXQNNgEAwRb1sFKdgAmR8yaX5lo6XfOwzg_V0iIiT5w8Tsj6klqUvOZlg3/s320/IMG_5801.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334392242735531266" border="0" /></a>Victoria up to bat...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl9pmCmyZJ4Cu7-F0B262r_HR8rvisi1I14ts0f6YRLoqQPh0za0EOyyZHxaOx-uLadIwZOHU5YtVfqc9Xzzefnbz6ghPNnhNFQNQtW3bZmOidHLTBgoWs40GgEERsW9Fc9ik3DyuUiJO/s1600-h/IMG_5823.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl9pmCmyZJ4Cu7-F0B262r_HR8rvisi1I14ts0f6YRLoqQPh0za0EOyyZHxaOx-uLadIwZOHU5YtVfqc9Xzzefnbz6ghPNnhNFQNQtW3bZmOidHLTBgoWs40GgEERsW9Fc9ik3DyuUiJO/s320/IMG_5823.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334392566205978626" border="0" /></a>Wilson warming up (getting ready to serve some killer pitches to unsuspecting small people)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s3nOj3P1mNHxVbHOowe-3tyUMl71Wa29p8zH2m3PI0XVIUvDMTR4eSW9dj0CjjYdcnf-jO_Q9cToGTfyGjU7-lUEDrZY8CLOKAmTH-ueO7szh_7_HrDGHJ_j7uG3sD8_aldMs0VPvF_J/s1600-h/IMG_5828.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s3nOj3P1mNHxVbHOowe-3tyUMl71Wa29p8zH2m3PI0XVIUvDMTR4eSW9dj0CjjYdcnf-jO_Q9cToGTfyGjU7-lUEDrZY8CLOKAmTH-ueO7szh_7_HrDGHJ_j7uG3sD8_aldMs0VPvF_J/s320/IMG_5828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334392905043021874" border="0" /></a>Madeline with the good ole 'me taking picture of you' camera shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpi9wSmvYsoaVWfvEE77Omw1Ikfuk_c9CsNWdWqi8gXodxJ0JSlSJ0QzltrVGFuBQYpwKeizIS_bDrEJulAwFYFk52-zZP_Hm5fRAQ_K2l1Oc2uC2K5cEELXW4-EFqI2B0zwHl8UzLFDq/s1600-h/I'm+standing+THIS+close+to+Thomas.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpi9wSmvYsoaVWfvEE77Omw1Ikfuk_c9CsNWdWqi8gXodxJ0JSlSJ0QzltrVGFuBQYpwKeizIS_bDrEJulAwFYFk52-zZP_Hm5fRAQ_K2l1Oc2uC2K5cEELXW4-EFqI2B0zwHl8UzLFDq/s320/I'm+standing+THIS+close+to+Thomas.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334393237092356306" border="0" /></a>Michael perhaps glowing even more than Nicholas... "if only I had Thomas when I was a kid..."<br /><br />It was great fun to see the Krauthoefer/Johnson clan briefly while I was touring through... including two stops at Burgerville!!! (Tracie gets jealous...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipptJFuVXdui8m38e7iKR3nBUGakXYr0OjyGLSwGSEq6GxIVH39rsNL4Z83pa4vxy9VjUvKYz9XEyhCAad12pL_efEXOYqebXG7sqSAOFvvFZ-TU6RFVLcDOacWhi5ceyuxk6DMGo89A-N/s1600-h/IMG_5782.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipptJFuVXdui8m38e7iKR3nBUGakXYr0OjyGLSwGSEq6GxIVH39rsNL4Z83pa4vxy9VjUvKYz9XEyhCAad12pL_efEXOYqebXG7sqSAOFvvFZ-TU6RFVLcDOacWhi5ceyuxk6DMGo89A-N/s320/IMG_5782.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334393571062430962" border="0" /></a><br />It's nice to be back at home though... I like my Tracie.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-18318593028922914132009-05-03T16:01:00.000-08:002009-05-03T16:17:49.846-08:00Peter & The Mad Hacker Skill Set!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNx-6pOyP-0sE6zns9R_w1ADf4MVOVvooWxy7ZkTjZmNCZpU8rwIMaKkZN0kmZou7RAQh8DkXAtlBlUFgGkpBntT9M9BdL3ZUptyhi9layRs_SWkLbCnfb-kaDe-89NoKLO3iNWMQTPSG/s1600-h/IMG_5272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNx-6pOyP-0sE6zns9R_w1ADf4MVOVvooWxy7ZkTjZmNCZpU8rwIMaKkZN0kmZou7RAQh8DkXAtlBlUFgGkpBntT9M9BdL3ZUptyhi9layRs_SWkLbCnfb-kaDe-89NoKLO3iNWMQTPSG/s320/IMG_5272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331752879952160866" border="0" /></a>Shhh... don't tell Tracie I'm posting here as well. I'm in Vancouver, and decided to take a Tracie shot of a meal... =) Little ahi tuna burgerwiches with sweet potato fries... and a good beer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNRkvfKE43e4Pth8yf1zeWQVH5S0Qu2JUAea4Hengpfn-4fB338cat0sfvfo5QxlXhStHH36XtFIL4Vjudzgy3QQd1wBLSzb5xknffqIhGXV5ChGFjdzH_jCKUiH6hTUhDJEgVgA1p5BE/s1600-h/IMG_4850.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNRkvfKE43e4Pth8yf1zeWQVH5S0Qu2JUAea4Hengpfn-4fB338cat0sfvfo5QxlXhStHH36XtFIL4Vjudzgy3QQd1wBLSzb5xknffqIhGXV5ChGFjdzH_jCKUiH6hTUhDJEgVgA1p5BE/s320/IMG_4850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331754698009129106" border="0" /></a>The Vancouver skyline is kind of unique. The buildings are skinny and tall. Each floor has something like 1-4 apartments/condos on them. It keeps the skyline a bit more open, and really has a neat effect.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yo7Q1H6ZsKL7aUSXACmjvfP6M9SuNG18v_-HVWnWI-c641sCYUYUSkLLs3Q6r3j0oURy58B2cPimko95IAsCaq7a8FwVnJyRDjYXYc7LFxfgR3NoXPf3v2zXy9Yauwuf3zZgWlu2c5DQ/s1600-h/IMG_4842.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yo7Q1H6ZsKL7aUSXACmjvfP6M9SuNG18v_-HVWnWI-c641sCYUYUSkLLs3Q6r3j0oURy58B2cPimko95IAsCaq7a8FwVnJyRDjYXYc7LFxfgR3NoXPf3v2zXy9Yauwuf3zZgWlu2c5DQ/s320/IMG_4842.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331755197318335474" border="0" /></a>I was actually in Vancouver for a reason too... a Canadian Society of Landscape Architects board meeting. Oddly enough, I'm the representative for the Northwest Territories (it's where I'm from originally). One thing I've spearheaded is a Video Challenge... see this for something we did as an example: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUQG9DNkjkA">CSLA Board Video</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-217120836016912562009-04-19T14:50:00.000-08:002009-04-19T15:02:31.370-08:00Rockin' RobinWe recently acquired a couple hundred 45's from an old jukebox and a box of lp's....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtWpkMpLWnkBJbFNmLSqKxLHXnNVeSEd3fBWQovzKj6Y1Dvk1G17mjyzVscyhRT0rdcNMz4KtSJZNQXKiFSxCjJ_5LK7lvu-OgC8_gzKcb2APVGolIJjKyGCV6KZqnUGTT8F2_1ZILyHh/s1600-h/record.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtWpkMpLWnkBJbFNmLSqKxLHXnNVeSEd3fBWQovzKj6Y1Dvk1G17mjyzVscyhRT0rdcNMz4KtSJZNQXKiFSxCjJ_5LK7lvu-OgC8_gzKcb2APVGolIJjKyGCV6KZqnUGTT8F2_1ZILyHh/s400/record.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326539546477049778" border="0" /></a><br />On Saturday we decided to splurge and get a turntable from Costco (the kind that you can hook up to your computer to digitize your albums) so we could listen to them. It's the best $99.99 we've spent in a long time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5ZETaZSthtHvlpDmHPJWBsceAqEQErGiEkix1w-fubidbYdyGq26AVxGjU2g4K7ieh5UORt4PHhyphenhyphenZXRP5zdvy0pNtr7cPfG0T3o2OEPvNVeq7hYduLoYLZafHZj0fN_NoRU17o3tUq2m/s1600-h/turntable.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5ZETaZSthtHvlpDmHPJWBsceAqEQErGiEkix1w-fubidbYdyGq26AVxGjU2g4K7ieh5UORt4PHhyphenhyphenZXRP5zdvy0pNtr7cPfG0T3o2OEPvNVeq7hYduLoYLZafHZj0fN_NoRU17o3tUq2m/s400/turntable.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326540223201459602" border="0" /></a><br />Peter played DJ and I sang and danced and eventually settled down to weave. It was so much fun we're thinking we may have to have a dance party. The most exciting thing is I now have a legitimate reason to paw through all those old albums at Sally Ann. I can't wait for our next "date."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-3024150055735424392009-04-16T20:40:00.001-08:002009-04-16T21:02:34.860-08:00Spring HelloThe sun is back...I am happy. It's been a busy winter. We installed a reclaimed white oak floor, re-insulated some walls, visited the Oregon family and the Canadian family, built and carved an ice sculpture (Peter did that, with hot chocolate, pizza and chisel support from Tracie), planned the kitchen remodel and started acquiring elements, changed jobs (Tracie), and more. Rather than bore with a catch-up, I thought I'd dive right in with where I'm at tonight.<br /><br />Inspiring me-<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5c-X-NjD2vU5LDQ0gvrpeXDNhvIM2huUzQJeZjgIk1JrxdVeZKKw9N1m24bkXYgV4ewnSuO4pSvA_5_mErhYjaxbAbOj9ekCVxFXua4Z8rJdvdqigvBD35otAbOBjBo3bDkpMu44kbFd7/s1600-h/loom+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5c-X-NjD2vU5LDQ0gvrpeXDNhvIM2huUzQJeZjgIk1JrxdVeZKKw9N1m24bkXYgV4ewnSuO4pSvA_5_mErhYjaxbAbOj9ekCVxFXua4Z8rJdvdqigvBD35otAbOBjBo3bDkpMu44kbFd7/s400/loom+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325515889385412098" border="0" /></a><br />Weaving.........Peter made me a beautiful bench (not pictured here though, how silly of me) and I've been using it. By golly I will finish that table runner in time for your birthday mom!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5z32j1cFPUzxhjFcPhG0V43AJXo97TkgmTKpm0sIlXcekUYPB9zeDMMhlRdPKuiSRIJ5pdAE5XQU60MQlyBLkYTGOit6XX6YVsdACnH8Feu-Y3VNAo6VFYaFanRqzNlAzvJVdbaHLBIY/s1600-h/cauliflower+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5z32j1cFPUzxhjFcPhG0V43AJXo97TkgmTKpm0sIlXcekUYPB9zeDMMhlRdPKuiSRIJ5pdAE5XQU60MQlyBLkYTGOit6XX6YVsdACnH8Feu-Y3VNAo6VFYaFanRqzNlAzvJVdbaHLBIY/s400/cauliflower+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325516467430097170" border="0" /></a><br />Cauliflower.....this has been the year of roasted cauliflower and I cannot get enough of it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzo4jpUDLDb2Zmz7aiNoPMnIl99zps2UupEEBQVf5bgZtFFKugLHRp2gGy5UR9G5OM0e5ZKyn36p9d8wMQD8qXh2t6nr1O7dX0U5fQsxestQVuTrA5skBY5m0S34FCfPU293JHPa75e2H/s1600-h/seeds+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzo4jpUDLDb2Zmz7aiNoPMnIl99zps2UupEEBQVf5bgZtFFKugLHRp2gGy5UR9G5OM0e5ZKyn36p9d8wMQD8qXh2t6nr1O7dX0U5fQsxestQVuTrA5skBY5m0S34FCfPU293JHPa75e2H/s400/seeds+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325516945989649458" border="0" /></a><br />Planning the garden....Peter is journaling the arrival of green throughout the yard and I am fantasizing about the kale, chard, broccoli, carrots, dill, beets and more.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIe-QDOX-wq8EgrcL1DSKB8-R7COfxyoKr8Uj0lVXOn8XW1WSyzHmDeTS0Byo9f6eC3Vg2xQKPz0YoAffuEVijozNtp-2J2WynRUj5fnnQD28I08eetPYe_KbbYLuSzuwyWvsHPAXxDVl/s1600-h/rye+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIe-QDOX-wq8EgrcL1DSKB8-R7COfxyoKr8Uj0lVXOn8XW1WSyzHmDeTS0Byo9f6eC3Vg2xQKPz0YoAffuEVijozNtp-2J2WynRUj5fnnQD28I08eetPYe_KbbYLuSzuwyWvsHPAXxDVl/s400/rye+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325517488756081922" border="0" /></a><br />Rye bread and most things Danish....Peter's been making the bread and I've been eating it--delicious with last year's pickled beets and Dubliner cheese.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHelRkB_bOE8lJVlQ08vIZ1BMezX4DGIFs0DcwRYORXzh6p3ge8Dl85R3_RiTxvqzmf0aejm5khs-_DyT2L2quP5B5OICfANRo9yyJD1aXftD5r05MhbWsAmuChr8eI6a1YUYn7fzVfKV/s1600-h/bike+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHelRkB_bOE8lJVlQ08vIZ1BMezX4DGIFs0DcwRYORXzh6p3ge8Dl85R3_RiTxvqzmf0aejm5khs-_DyT2L2quP5B5OICfANRo9yyJD1aXftD5r05MhbWsAmuChr8eI6a1YUYn7fzVfKV/s400/bike+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325518286325157394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bike....probably foremost on mind is how much I'm looking forward to my non-winter commute, hoping to switch vehicles on Monday (melt snow melt!).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-68836374639110670792008-06-07T09:04:00.000-08:002008-06-07T14:06:05.580-08:00Inspiration<div>I am posting away from home and feeling bad because it has been so woefully long since my last post.</div><br /><div>Anyhow, finding inspiration with the arrival of summer so thought I'd update you all on a few favorite things going on at the moment:<br /></div><div>-my 4 new <a href="http://www.uaf.edu/ces/publications/freepubs/HGA-00132.pdf">raised garden beds </a>(the official engagement present according to Peter)</div><br /><div>-a surprise visit from Teresa (she gives the best hugs in Alaska)</div><br /><div>-visit from Mom and Dad (with <a href="http://www.sleeman.com/en/html/beer/sl_brands/honey/index.htm">Sleeman's</a> Honey Brown from across the border and delicious <a href="http://www.vistahillsvineyard.com/new_wines.php">Oregon Pinots </a>in tow)</div><br /><div>-guitar lessons (complete with recital at the end of the summer, must pick a song and get to practicing)</div><br /><div>-exquisite letterheads from RG 164, Records of the Office of Experiment Stations </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209264050467432578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH5krgeCj3Dk9uNvwQxwsIOEaMdz1cKDTzOKa-HbqPYM5oZ1apShV0d9FJKFMmv-nXPfMcykNgBFcWRZyKUkgG2ZoTKrTIZgvr-mEGNEPigD21PnGf0oLqZqvMbcWwn1fz9Wr5CC7BFhW/s400/Orange+Judd+Co+letterhead.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Speaking of which....back to work<br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-88979294747836749022008-03-13T18:11:00.000-08:002008-03-13T18:38:32.097-08:00We're Back<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quebec<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ppfwAp3wwOA4zgRgPKqF2vpg28NxjNhfsKghDwzlpeRYchomsxwbeZMz2xq6BaPp8CpmyDKxt8NXDWjcs2ulwDb-JdCkjrzRHSmiPhRFO9xc1BZ6KGlcN-klF_L6tk_kCkkcx3DvaH-/s1600-h/poutine.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ppfwAp3wwOA4zgRgPKqF2vpg28NxjNhfsKghDwzlpeRYchomsxwbeZMz2xq6BaPp8CpmyDKxt8NXDWjcs2ulwDb-JdCkjrzRHSmiPhRFO9xc1BZ6KGlcN-klF_L6tk_kCkkcx3DvaH-/s200/poutine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177417670424983026" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDq6dCfFsgvqE0BWQaA6TH8oilmaWrciUz_EFWPsjBq1ZeMdEn0bE8vxwr4PN9GeED64z7qHXvMNnR9LLgT-dLqCBdgv6NdhyRZPM3HTAruEK2_qbkdwP218Q1bWPygGho4G2pCSJy7tW/s1600-h/street.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDq6dCfFsgvqE0BWQaA6TH8oilmaWrciUz_EFWPsjBq1ZeMdEn0bE8vxwr4PN9GeED64z7qHXvMNnR9LLgT-dLqCBdgv6NdhyRZPM3HTAruEK2_qbkdwP218Q1bWPygGho4G2pCSJy7tW/s200/street.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177417240928253410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Banff<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKnryN7JSjZ4er97lRIKcZpi-jlcBg-WY7vOyAI9hIwKGEPuHMICYYZ3goKmPUlsqfL6VdkSIIzEWHdaFOigm1Ep7w35rzTv1h6Ey3LIddjhctJ9gMrsrlaSzfH9q3wMS9cczPwNIW7YM/s1600-h/blog+girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKnryN7JSjZ4er97lRIKcZpi-jlcBg-WY7vOyAI9hIwKGEPuHMICYYZ3goKmPUlsqfL6VdkSIIzEWHdaFOigm1Ep7w35rzTv1h6Ey3LIddjhctJ9gMrsrlaSzfH9q3wMS9cczPwNIW7YM/s200/blog+girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177419826498565666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_owu0WCmNvxGzUoXftvHpFEPrdh2yV4KGy7BdauYqMUZgy-kscH-E_tEqJQZmFaH1ybT9LmXxumWj0kTlmwDJV-ee55rJ2MdHB6EgJVnR5SNbITIMZ9YBR3YpHcE-5IXoBgpJ5qQaWCZ/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_owu0WCmNvxGzUoXftvHpFEPrdh2yV4KGy7BdauYqMUZgy-kscH-E_tEqJQZmFaH1ybT9LmXxumWj0kTlmwDJV-ee55rJ2MdHB6EgJVnR5SNbITIMZ9YBR3YpHcE-5IXoBgpJ5qQaWCZ/s200/cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177418868720858626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary.............</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbYneLkimaHKD9GgW8yqfrh_u1F0vfIvqP3g7pdED66Sj07uw3dqgYd3NsldvY6cveRhkFyEQqdXr8M9DGKnDxGWMFJBaenlNcP6ua6YpozvDDXIOFzupiIHbVEcsrPL7IYjbuLBF4M9U/s1600-h/roll+er+up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbYneLkimaHKD9GgW8yqfrh_u1F0vfIvqP3g7pdED66Sj07uw3dqgYd3NsldvY6cveRhkFyEQqdXr8M9DGKnDxGWMFJBaenlNcP6ua6YpozvDDXIOFzupiIHbVEcsrPL7IYjbuLBF4M9U/s200/roll+er+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177420913125291570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-65289831523044918552008-02-06T08:34:00.000-09:002008-02-06T08:36:32.915-09:00Democracy Blues Cont.Double poop. Apparently they never enforced the "must be on site by 6pm" rule last night. I could have participated after all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-11314120940098191052008-02-05T18:31:00.000-09:002008-02-05T18:44:29.012-09:00Democracy BluesI am so disappointed. I just spent an hour trying to get to the Democratic caucus. I was so excited to participate.....but apparently so were the other thousands of Anchorage democrats in front of, along side, and behind me on Debarr Rd between 5pm and 6pm this evening......<br />In the end we all missed the 6pm registration deadline. Poop. Funny thing is, I was still (and am still) totally undecided. Guess now I wait for the decision to be made for me.<br />Happy Super Tuesday!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-14830121816479092552008-01-03T11:42:00.000-09:002008-01-03T11:57:44.827-09:00Happy New Year!<div>I have been a bad blogger as of late, but here are some photos to keep you coming back.......</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151356603848481202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPyprYxCmunQOTFpGbv7HGW_vBaWBHpwra06yvp8ZBnEVd6crtngriIy0CZ50h_KgOF4gF4dob6KSHdlx6pvJBc6hZCMVWo6S64NtZfbGhIijoEhtXYz-YuMU84eM0PAQL38PXcshKJiE/s320/DSC01378_1.JPG" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151356603848481218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WzEmWZZYtxDSvRQzxMulhwmSpBW5HHOqsVjbGlHFBMdFXEwIHgbmxt5j62rLEWeie-72IESwpke2FtRWZm6ueauqT7wXQoV_07BCOctr2YBzV5nElAFo1jhSIkDm2txAiFTwBPF57ekU/s320/IMG_3040.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151356608143448530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwWSPVmq4U6uAt-50UM8c2ofw5Ivnq6p_G_4Obxs1xsp6yylDQbra7FKGrvlBio8dcPG14Mq1au0X_K8HBZBD4a4VxMdM2stf1S6wwg_grkDmhBDxoE5MxsNF4CvZmtO96CBy5NIKn9i8/s320/IMG_7050.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151356612438415842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNdrDztn8aUvaBUlO-zQNGFcDGw9FphTfXUBrhIBFQDkJH5IfIDfVUUOp3-c8LjFi7v8tlkJKAjL9yOlnwDcAPm-h_ClwV0GUsptQ2oDZVKgD9IG_O6ej6AN-roXj2waCgZ3kKGYtb0Ek/s320/IMG_2199.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p> </p><p> Yep, its official. I'm a wife. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-25578953225276571412007-12-07T12:45:00.000-09:002007-12-07T13:05:22.808-09:00Thanksgiving.....Five hours of cooking, too few photos but a few glimpses-<br /><br />Homemade potato/cheese/jalapeno Pierogies for starters....<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAkmTjpfhyphenhyphenyNkP5tsF3r24jValtfoBvSoVZe7_dEeVm0sDVfTu1QvWGay7W0i6LeQjGZYCtuG58H0JutWPCNmz9ntnWug8if6qCkrf1QOt8oM6LulTkhouu7254wKeRq8VCPJDZdHyGZA/s1600-h/IMG_7954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141352974058736914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAkmTjpfhyphenhyphenyNkP5tsF3r24jValtfoBvSoVZe7_dEeVm0sDVfTu1QvWGay7W0i6LeQjGZYCtuG58H0JutWPCNmz9ntnWug8if6qCkrf1QOt8oM6LulTkhouu7254wKeRq8VCPJDZdHyGZA/s320/IMG_7954.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Bethel Cranberries for sauce........<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugy_ChsHM9cq4rCtYtxpt2bgwfHQreONi42U_yp-92zcWVGJvBJzuKP88YIs4cmIVX7nJXWL8Uc0hstZbCoHzDwtiSu303r3vbq7cTXJQDtvAmPNsGvQ8xmYDj2mFW__Ab0wlOMr-Sczc/s1600-h/IMG_7949.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141352978353704226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugy_ChsHM9cq4rCtYtxpt2bgwfHQreONi42U_yp-92zcWVGJvBJzuKP88YIs4cmIVX7nJXWL8Uc0hstZbCoHzDwtiSu303r3vbq7cTXJQDtvAmPNsGvQ8xmYDj2mFW__Ab0wlOMr-Sczc/s320/IMG_7949.JPG" border="0" /></a> Turkey Underground.....(Homemade Seitan and stuffing covered with pastry dough) and my feeble attempts to decorate the top with a turkey. I only know how to draw a turkey using my hand, so it looks like a handprint (the knife blade is covering the turkey's head)....</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141352965468802306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3WdWEwKHy_SourGO5llHw9bca8wA_bI4z6Mum_ahRLj2YGFuwLgl6d_37rjh8RII9c8sRsyyiOe0MJShwaFhFIr21k_bhAYUvYuyxrpcm-atlTTzthPkGesR_cW8Dw3M0tNoDdfKoAad/s320/IMG_7958.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>A nice mellow candlelight evening with just the two of us for dinner......(well five I suppose if you count the 4 legged moochers)</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141353583944092978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kDBGwaKnvKoeVwbQRzyT0c3nlJDOUOJi5Ak_4i__cuMkHCSexn3upGDkzw2pZAtXTXoH7RT3oGxWutvRnqKTX0_hVGxFknUij1Q_lFBJFwEIvQuPpgwcySXMPYNkL-XRYxQ0Z5qfZdwI/s320/IMG_7956.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Hope yours was just as lovely!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-23173677604712969672007-11-17T18:25:00.000-09:002007-11-17T18:44:18.543-09:00Getting in on the gameSeems my sister and her family are getting in on the blog thing, check my sidebar for links to their freshly created blogs.<br /><br /><br />I have been soooooo very bad about posting these last few weeks. I started working again, I'm now an archives technician at a government agency I won't name here. It's enjoyable and very low stress thus far. The only slight difficulty is the getting up at 6am part. I'm not really a morning person (as my family may well attest). I'm hoping this job will help me decide if I truly want to be a librarian (or perhaps I should rephrase), rather if I truly want to invest all my time and salary for the next 2-3 years in pursuit of an MLS degree. We'll see.......<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N7ZNQRNr2wbj9axM16g4heOVL-htviH8KizkGd4ObETbi0aBPouE4jTEymMhvlF9F95uuAErCdxYBXZtS7mMto-DvysXZQJWKaly7GxobLdkUAmM2fw_pJpDnhff5AROlQ1IHIiPBWc2/s1600-h/IMG_2490.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134017995784249586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N7ZNQRNr2wbj9axM16g4heOVL-htviH8KizkGd4ObETbi0aBPouE4jTEymMhvlF9F95uuAErCdxYBXZtS7mMto-DvysXZQJWKaly7GxobLdkUAmM2fw_pJpDnhff5AROlQ1IHIiPBWc2/s320/IMG_2490.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We finally got some snow, but this photo is from last year I have to admit. No, the lake is not yet frozen this year (and yes, I am getting pretty worried that it won't be by Dec. 29, so if you're coming you may want to bring a canoe). The snow is a welcome change, it brightens things up and quiets the road noise a bit. I'm looking forward to more, hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm anxious to get out skiing on the trails.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-66718778922231340312007-10-30T12:11:00.000-08:002007-10-30T13:33:39.683-08:00One Down, Sort Of<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXN0Y7D6iMQHahJ08-RlwNbeApMR96uuofyIuAh8-Fj2h4oFXRx3_9VZlhKzuB4j4lQYZYxNJvvSd2hM6_QmjiY4sgTi7s8b6YtlgY0kGfcDkfxI2TOFs3NIJrlyi-sH_bfegFl6_VQt8/s1600-h/slippers+done.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXN0Y7D6iMQHahJ08-RlwNbeApMR96uuofyIuAh8-Fj2h4oFXRx3_9VZlhKzuB4j4lQYZYxNJvvSd2hM6_QmjiY4sgTi7s8b6YtlgY0kGfcDkfxI2TOFs3NIJrlyi-sH_bfegFl6_VQt8/s320/slippers+done.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127241137940209762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One 2 1/2 year old unfinished project complete. Aren't they beautiful? Some of you may not appreciate the color selection, but then you probably never cared for the colors I painted my house in Bethel either.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTT5IUsZuyBcZq7FCY1NXG0hVhIUiYRV4lc0m6oxQ2KX7Pk04T7ZAsZ7SZUYoK3IxoGjFjats14MXhciievBT3nzaZwb-JDm1-is1GKY5WoL_TO1k_soMCMhYsHXZuGjQGOj7LwoAYXMB/s1600-h/house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTT5IUsZuyBcZq7FCY1NXG0hVhIUiYRV4lc0m6oxQ2KX7Pk04T7ZAsZ7SZUYoK3IxoGjFjats14MXhciievBT3nzaZwb-JDm1-is1GKY5WoL_TO1k_soMCMhYsHXZuGjQGOj7LwoAYXMB/s320/house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127240648313938002" border="0" /></a><br />It feels great to finish something that I'd kind of given up hope on ever completing. I guess I need to thank <a href="http://playingwithspoons.blogspot.com/">Oona</a> for getting me going again. After seeing her post on the slippers she was making, I dug mine out and got her to help me figure out where I'd left off on mine. I probably should have asked for a wee but more help though because it appears that over the course of 2 1/2 years, not only did I lose my place in the pattern, but I sort of forgot which style of slippers I was making....was it high cuff or low cuff?<br /><br /><br />Oh well, now I have one of each! Yep, I goofed on the second slipper and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzwZEO95kiKJxVTWh0Tf1mzPwDT6LE4PLmZUxhMCFPt8dAFs12IdDrjGzkyaQhncXNuP5JvRK-GzUouHuuWGDXRzwCuSx6PPPMrzdNIZWDdPzf-2bpR9-E6OKuhYxfcKrj9rvfcz16jUo/s1600-h/slipper+mistake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzwZEO95kiKJxVTWh0Tf1mzPwDT6LE4PLmZUxhMCFPt8dAFs12IdDrjGzkyaQhncXNuP5JvRK-GzUouHuuWGDXRzwCuSx6PPPMrzdNIZWDdPzf-2bpR9-E6OKuhYxfcKrj9rvfcz16jUo/s320/slipper+mistake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127245875289137266" border="0" /></a>made a high cuff one, thinking that was what I had made before. But it wasn't. I knew this was an issue before I felted them. I knew it was an issue two rows into the orange cuff, when the slipper I was knitting had more rows of purple between the sole and the cuff....but I was lazy. I didn't rip it and fix. I figured felting was a forgiving process, perhaps with some stretching I could make one match the other....but it wasn't as forgiving as I'd hoped. And now there's no way to rip and fix.<br /><br />Live and learn......at least they are done, sort of.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8167632504965193339.post-43951745437190805952007-10-25T13:44:00.001-08:002007-10-25T13:44:23.655-08:00Uncle TedLaura, Get Away From the Internets!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0