Scene in the City – a round town

In a roundabout way Vancouver is setting the standard for beauty around every corner. The following photos reveal just a few of the city circle ways for slowing down traffic.

nice bird houses — Some have bird houses

nice corner on 1st — Another nice corner in Kits

FUN

AWay with Words – timeless quotes by a comedic legend.

It’s not so easy being funny but this wild-eyed comedienne always had us in stitches.

Phyllis Diller, America’s famed self-deprecating queen of comedy, died on Aug. 20, 2012 at her Los Angeles home at the age of 95.

Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance?

Best way to get rid of kitchen odors: Eat out!

Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight!

I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.

Burt Reynolds once asked me out. I was in his room.

What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.

The only time I enjoyed ironing was when I accidentally got gin in the steam iron.

You know you’re old if they have discontinued your blood type.

I was born at home on newspapers…..I still have a story on my butt, although now the print is much larger. PHYLLIS DILLER, Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse

FUN

AWay with Words – a few brainy quotes

In honor of the Zombie walk last Saturday…………some mindful quotes about Zombies:Don’t worry.. the zombies are looking for brains, you’re safe..

My definition of a good zombie is depending on how it tastes.

Zombies were people too.

Zombies make great pets, they already know how to play dead!

Friends don’t let friends become zombies.

Who can forget Michael Jacksons “Thriller?” It’s the Zombies favorite dance song.

Yeah, I know I’m ugly… I said to a bartender, ‘Make me a zombie.’ He said ‘God beat me to it.’ Rodney Dangerfield

Great Minds Taste Alike!

FUN

Picture This! Jia Jia as the Face of Fido?

Have you cast your VOTE yet?

If not, what are you waiting for? Time is running out. Go directly to link below for Fido Casting Call 2:

http://fidocastingcall.ca/dog/762878017/

and VOTE NOW!

It’s a long shot but every vote counts. PLUS… Fido will pay $1 per vote to support Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dogs.

Confessions of a Dogaholic – part two: More reasons why I love…….

sign — This is one book I should have written

We’ve had dogs and cats in our family since I was born. Growing up with animals is wonderful and while I like dogs I’ve always been more partial to cats…..until now.

Maybe that’s because this little sheltie has many “cat”acteristics. He’s agile, very curious and fascinated by cats. He just stops and stares whenever one is nearby. He’s a dogcat!

Aren't you a cutie pie — He can’t go by a baby without saying hello

Love at first sight — He still believes in love at first sight

Can't you come out — Shows compassion for those stuck at home

fishing — His eyes always follow one little fish in the tank.

On occasion he likes to visit wineries. This one in Napa.

Football — Gets tired after a long day of playing football

JiaJija2 — But most of all never misses an opportunity to run along the beach. Here in Oregon.

little secret — Has some good pick up lines. “Did you know that if you’re not a sheltie you’re just another dog!”

*Fido is a Canadian cellular phone company.

FUN

One Thing to Another – handy home décor ideas

Beautiful baskets, buckets and bowls

I collect baskets and bowls among other things from various travels and then wonder where to put them all or how to make use of them once home.

Ebony wood bowel basket for rice — when not in use as a salad bowl this ebony beauty from Kenya holds rice & grains.

Pineapple — The most obvious – for fruit
In background – another wood fruit bowl from Brazil

So many baskets – so many uses.

I try to find ways to store things in as many baskets as possible.

As you can see from the photos there are several ways you can use and display your baskets and make them functional too.

Zulu Basket — Hand woven Zulu basket from Durban, S.A. Glass insert for flowers.

open basket — Papyrus Egyptian used as sewing basket

plant display1 — various baskets for holding plants & herbs

wicker & rattan book basket — Rattan square for magazines & wicker oblong for books

Wicker bathroom basket from Guadalajara used to hold hair appliances. — this wicker basket from Guadalajara keeps hair appliances neatly tucked away

towel basket2 — For containing guest towels

It's what's inside the Zulu basket that counts — It’s what’s inside that counts

Zulu holding another basket filled with rocks — Not “just” a zulu basket

What do you put in yours?

Food + Drink

Food: homemade CEVICHE

Nothing says summer quite like a good homemade ceviche with an ice cold beer. But since I don’t have a recipe for beer how about sangria instead?

Ceviche hails from Equador and Peru and is very popular in Mexico. It basically consists of pristine raw fish mixed with lime and finished with chillies, onions, tomato, avocado and other fruit.

Ceviche Recipe:

Pour 1 ½ cups of fresh lime juice (from 10 limes) and ½ cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange) into an 8-inch square baking dish. Arrange 1 ¼ pounds of firm white fish such as halibut, scallops, rock fish or red snapper fillet, (I used Halibut) skin removed, and cut into ¼ inch slices in a single layer in dish. Fish should be completely covered in juice. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until fish is opaque throughout, about four hours. Drain fish well, discard marinade.

Divide fish among four plates. In a large bowl combine 1 Cup grape tomatoes (halved), ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion, 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped, roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves and 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Season to taste with coarse salt and ground pepper. Serve fish topped with salad, sliced avocado and lime wedges alongside. Serves 4

For a nice touch you can serve the ceviche in scallop bowls.

Have salsa, guacamole & cut up limes for garnish. Serve with tortilla chips of your liking.

The following recipe is from Toronto’s L’Eat Catering – the ultimate Sangria!

This is the “best” Sangria recipe I’ve come across. Mixing most of the ingredients and letting them macerate overnight allows the flavors of the fruit and spices to emerge beautifully. Any dry, full-bodied red wine can be used.

1 bottle full-bodied red wine

Half a stick of cinnamon

3 cloves

1 medium orange, thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 lime, thinly sliced

5-6 medium sized strawberries, thinly sliced

2 oz. brandy

2 oz. peach schnapps

2 oz. Grand Marnier (or triple sec)

lemon-flavored pop

In a large pitcher, mix all ingredients except the pop and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, fill a glass or wine goblet ¾ full and top with pop. Serves 10

FUN

Scene in the City – and what a scene it was!

ZOMBIE WALK – downtown Vancouver

I’ve only heard about it before this. Sometimes I feel like a zombie but Saturday was my very first Zombie experience as an observer only.

It began at the Vancouver Art Gallery and continued all the way down Robson Street towards Denman & then along Beach Ave. What a nightmare!

Click on photos to enlarge

A zombie walk by definition is an organized public gathering of people who dress up in zombie (monster like) costumes. And it’s not even Halloween.

Zombie walks have become relatively common in large cities, especially in North America, often becoming annual traditions. Usually taking place in an urban center, the participants make their way around the city streets and through shopping malls to a public space (or a series of taverns in the case of a zombie pub crawl) in a somewhat orderly fashion.

These guys were weaving through traffic (which slowed down for the event) and scaring tourists on open tour buses. What an unexpected surprise???

Somebody get me a bloody Mary!

zombie 7 — You don’t scare me Darth Vader!
What’s he doing here anyway?

zombie 9 — Somebody get me a Bloody Mary!

FUN

The Dog Next Door

Please HELP me VOTE for :

At Island Cow Restaurant - Copy (2) — I can really act. Here i’m pretending to be a cow.

Fido Casting Call 2*

With your help, Jia Jia could appear in a Fido ad. Plus, Fido is donating $ 1 for every vote to Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, up to $ 200,000. Check out this pooch’s Casting Sheet and vote every day at http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/

To locate Jia Jia just scroll down to where it says “search for a dog” and “choose dog breed” – Shetland Sheepdog. Click on Jia Jia to cast your vote. Thanks for your support.

Confessions of a dogaholic – Part one

This sheltie is special because………….

No way i'm wearing these — He wears the socks I buy him even if he doesn’t want to

Sets new fashion trends by wearing a feather hair extension

My new hoodie — Likes to appear tough sometimes wearing a hoody

Raincoat 1 — Chose this raincoat himself

sign2 — He loves “Ophelia’s” in Sarasota, Florida. They have the best yappy hour menu items to choose from.

Special of the Day — Ophelia’s has the best daily specials of any restaurant he’s been to.

*Fido is a Canadian cellular phone company.

STYLE

Garbe Luxe – feature product of the week

I want to be in the “MILITARY”………JACKET!

Garbe Military Jacket – It’s all in the details.

military_1 — Monique – The military is a true classic & here to stay. Shown with basic legging.

military_2 — Natalia – you can take it anywhere. Shown with piper shirt & seam leggings.

Two way front zipper, hidden hood and raw seams are just a few of the details on this feminine impeccably tailored jacket.

We have yet to come across a more attractive looking military style jacket.

Available in two styles: Cotton Canvas/Organic Cotton Lining in classic Army Green as seen above.

OR;

European cotton blend in lightweight soft chintz fabric/cotton lining in Coal (see below).

GARBE S_S 2012 LookBook_Page_04_Image_0002 — cotton chintz adds some sheen in this lightweight fabric. shown with biko shirt & VIV pants.

For buying details please refer to our online sales website at http://www.intrigueimports.com

Food + Drink

Blueberry Lemon Loaf

If you love blueberries and you love lemon then you’re in luck. This is a winning combination of fresh blueberries in season and tangy lemon with a moist coffee cake consistency.

Can be served as a breakfast cake, with afternoon tea or coffee or for dessert in the evening warmed up a little with ice cream or frozen yogurt.

RECIPE

½ Cup (125ml) butter (I use unsalted)

1 Cup (250ml) sugar

1 lemon

2 eggs

1 tsp (5ml) vanilla

1 ½ cups (375ml) all purpose flour

1 tsp (5ml) baking powder

½ cup (125ml) milk

1 ½ cups (225g) blueberries

Preheat oven to 350

In a small pot of boiling water immerse the lemon for a minute, then remove and cool. Grate all the zest from lemon then juice the lemon and reserve juice. Immersing in boiling water makes it easier to grate the zest but there’s another trick which I use ***see below.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter & 1 cup of sugar together. Add lemon zest, eggs and vanilla, beating well. In a smaller bowl, combine your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and **½ tsp. of salt if desired).

Add half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mix to incorporate, then half the milk. Add rest of dry ingredients then rest of milk. Fold in blueberries, and bake in a prepared loaf pan until lightly golden – after 45 minutes check that inserted toothpick comes out clean. May take longer depending on your oven.

After: Mix the lemon juice with some sugar (½ cup max) and spread over loaf while still warm. Pop back into the oven for a few minutes which can be turned off at this point – it will still retain enough heat to bake the glaze into the loaf. Cool before slicing.

**many recipes call for adding a bit of salt. Salt in baking has three uses. It helps preserve the food, helps in flavor and aids in doughs rising. I don’t always find it necessary.

***too many lemons on hand? Did you know that lemons freeze well? You can first grate all the zest which can be frozen separately as once you freeze lemons they juice up really well but they’ll be too soft to grate once they get to room temperature. When you need only the juice then bring just lemon to room temperature & same for the zest. I’ve been doing this for a while now because that way they don’t go bad. Same with limes. Plus you can make ice cube trays.