Currently, there are at least 76 balls in our house. Some orange road hockey balls (you Canadians, explain to everyone else), and racquetball balls. Doesn’t matter. These two will always argue over who gets the ball. Case in point, arguing over an orange ball:
Stella won this round:
Yep, that’s Tuesday.
You just never know what Mr. B is going to be getting up to. Tonight, it was making a mixed drink using his extend-o-reach gizmo thingy.
This is him closing the bottle. I missed getting a shot of him actually pouring the bottle with the gripper thingy. He did do it though, I swear.
I don’t even know why we own this thing. He probably just thought it was cool or something.
Oooo! Almost lost it there!
The entire time I’m taking pictures, he’s calling out in a rather desperate voice, ‘If it spills over you’re cleaning it up!’ and ‘ Hurry up! It’s getting to full!’
What? Why yes we are actually twelve years old. On a good day, mind you. 
Last thing, did you see Bethany’s new tattoo? I love this idea of getting words on the skin, for keeps. Gorgeous.
Okay, truly last thing. I’m sitting here smelling the dinner that I cooked. I browned chicken breasts in olive oil with 4 cloves of fresh garlic. Once browned I added Herbes de Provence, the juice of 1 orange, salt, pepper, white wine, and then at the very end some Rewarewa honey. Added carrots & turnip slices to the hot pan and bunged it in the oven to roast. Smells amazing! Serving that little number over rice in about 20 minutes. Nom, nom, nom.
I’m finally easing off on the barking like a seal cough. So pleased about that. Work was…odd. The earthquake in the Ottawa/Gatineau area may have had something to do with that.
Today’s most exciting thing? Look at the pretty moth that was in our front porch?
Isn’t it lovely?
And that was Thursday.
Posted in life
I’ve been sick as a pike all week. Coughing and such. Nastiness. I did manage to get some knitting done. It was about all I could manage, really. Finally off the wee circular needle are the brightest socks in the house.
Socks that Rock in the Spawn of Braun (on a break, unfortunately), colourway. Very bright and cheery, dontcha know.
They are so comfy. I used the Crusoe pattern but mixed it up a little. Cast on 64 stitches, 2.25 mm needle, k2p2 ribbing for 1 inch, Eye of Partridge heel flap. So in love.
I also finally finished and blocked my Multnomah shawl.
I used Yarnbearer sock yarn and I’m really impressed with it. Unfortunately, she’s on a yarn dyeing break. 
And now, I’m going to bed. Still trying to break this cold/cough thingy. Happy Wednesday everyone.
Posted in fo's
I just finished The Book Thief, maybe ten minutes ago. Now I’m sitting here with my eyes so red and swollen from crying that I can hardly see to type this. It was amazing. It’s given me a tilt in my perspective on a subject that I thought I had a very firm handle on. I now realize how narrow my perceptions had been and how blown open it is by this novel. I’d only been looking at the situation from a single direction. Never a good thing.
Really, it’s a tremendous book. I think I’ll add it to my Christmas wish list so that I can have a copy to re-read a dozen times. I also know now why I had to wait behind 28 other borrowers in the hold queue of the library to get it and there are already another 15 people behind me who’ve reserved it. And this is after it’s been out since 2006.
I do find it interesting that it was published as an adult book in Australia but as a young adult book in North America. Odd, no?
So this is your book entry for this week. I have no books on order from the library so there won’t be any pictures of new books tomorrow. I’m trying to decide if I want to read Storm Front or The Black Powder War next. Or, I could read the book of Ibsen plays I got at the used book store today. Hmmmmmm.
Oh, and last but not least, I have not tried the sautéed radishes yet. Sorry, I made a radish salad with the last batch! Soon my pretties, soon!
Posted in books
Today was the one of the local World Wide Knit in Public Days. Baaad Anna’s, a wonderful local yarn store, had a little event at the Hastings Racecourse. What could be more fun than a bunch of knitters in the wild, betting on horse races, and bad for you food? Nothing really. 
Knitters in the wild
Pretty horses were seen
Pretty horses raced
Hot dogs & veggie dogs were consumed...with onions and sauerkraut!
Spent $19.00 gambling. What? I'm a high roller!
There was even a shuttle bus from the racetrack back to skytrain. Did I say shuttle bus? More like a land yacht! Thing was huge!
So, I didn’t win a thing, I can still taste that sauerkraut from the hotdog, I think I have a bit of a sunburn, and I had a great day.
Posted in knitting
radishes on steroids!
Literally just in, as in spousal unit just brought it in the house and then consumed it.
Also, to yarnpiggy and kath, I promise, tomorrow I shall pick some radishes and sauté them. Just for you guys…in the interest of science.
Posted in garden
First up, let’s get to today’s book, shall we? Just the one this week. I’m still reading The Book Thief and probably won’t start this until next week.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher. Sounded like fun and sometimes, we as readers, just need a little fun and distraction.
Now, what could I possibly need distraction from? Have a seat, grab a bevie and let me tell you about the ride home today.
Met the husband at the library, then over to Safeway to pick up the ingredients to make this little number. It’s simmering as we speak and smells amazing! Anyway, after Safeway we were going to hit the liquor store and then home. Decided to take the back route to avoid all the Friday afternoon traffic. Keep in mind, the last time we went through that neighbourhood a 60+ year old prostitute in a peek a boo blouse….I’ll give you a minute to process that one….was trying to wave us over to her for a ‘party’.
Okay, so we’re all on the same page re: this area? Right. Great. Today as we’re driving we stop at a stop sign about to make a left. There is a prostitute on the far corner crossing the street. A scary methy kind of prostitue. Husband starts the turn and then almost squeals in horror.
‘Did you see that????? Did you see that??????
Nope, didn’t see anything. I was looking the other way reading a sign.
”That chick! She just flashed me! She lifted her top and showed me all her rolls and her boobs!!!’
The pure abject terror in his voice was really quite spectacular. He was so stupefied that he almost stopped the truck, sort of forgot that he was driving, I think.
He’s still feeling a bit shocky, poor thing. And he keeps asking is we have any eye bleach. Happy Friday everyone!
Damn you super comfy empire waisted summer blouse! Screw it, I’m still going to wear it. And possibly get a seat on the bus too.
I’ve been negligent in answering some questions lately. Now, I’m going to answer them all in one fell swoop.
Heather asked about the white radishes. They are from a mix called Easter Egg from West Coast Seeds. I love the quote at the top of the radish page. Eructation indeed! The white ones do look like vampire radishes, don’t they? Reminds me of the Bunnicula books from when I was a kid. Did anyone else read them? So funny! I blame all my undead fascinations on those books.
Damselfly asked about the leaf with the purple veins. That was part of the Asian Greens – Stir Fry Blend also from West Coast Seeds. You should see the baby baby pac chois! Seriously the cutest little things ever. I’ll get a pici soon.
To Sarah-Hope, that tomato was brilliant!
Yarnpiggy, I haven’t fried any radishes yet. I just can’t seem to do it to them. Sorry, I’ve failed you!
Silverilix, I think I kind of did make a quilt in a month. Okay, except for the actual quilting part.
Bethany, yeah, Brothel did make me sad. In the end I was just a bit wrung out that the folks at the bottom of the ladder paid the highest price while the rich did indeed get richer. Sigh.
I think that’s about it. If I didn’t answer something, please, yell at me. It’s the only way to get my attention.
And now, here’s a couple shots of one of the gigantic poppies opening up to all their glory. So pretty.
And this is my favourite spot in the yard right now. It’s a little flower bed that I violently over planted.
Kind of feels like a mad English cottage garden. At least in my head. Happy Wednesday everyone. It’s all downhill from here to Friday.
Posted in garden
Today with the addition of a tomato. This little guy is from seeds that the husband harvested from last year’s tomatoes. They are supposed to be a smaller but more meaty tomato. The original plant was a hybrid though, so we’ll see how they come along through the summer.
Tonight’s dinner will be a bed of Asian and peppery greens topped off with slices of barbecued pork loin. The pork has been marinating for almost two days in soy sauce, ginger marmalade, maple syrup, and pineapple jam. Mmmmmmmmm, go on say it with me, mmmmmmmmm! Radishes on the side for some colour and because we pretty much have to eat them every day now, and I’m not too sure what for a side. Hmmmm, have to think on that one.
I had plenty of help in the garden today. By help I mean Abbie,
Then all of a sudden she sort of figured out that she was posing with food.
That was the end of the photo shoot.
It’s back to work for me tomorrow and this week off has only strengthened my belief that I was really intended to be a woman of leisure. This whole working for a living thing is really not great. I mean, what if there’s a radish emergency while I’m at work tomorrow? Who will be here to take care of it? No one, that’s who. It’s a messed up world we live in, I tell you what.
