Vintage Trailer Show

We always enjoyed this a lot at Modernism Week.

"Join Modernism Week for the Vintage Trailer Show - one of the most celebrated and exciting events of the second weekend. This year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever! This thoughtfully curated collection of vintage trailers, campers, buses and motor homes is arguably one of the largest and most attended vintage trailer shows in the United States. Year after year the Modernism Week Vintage Trailer Show continues to surprise and delight attendees with some of the most stunning, unique and rare vintage RV’s. Trailer owners and custom restoration craftsmen will be on hand Saturday, February 26 and Sunday, February 27 to meet the public and discuss their trailer’s unique history and travels. The show will also have a fun mix of retail vendors whose products complement the vintage trailer lifestyle and will have you ready to hit the open road! As an exciting bonus, attendees on Saturday, February 26 will have the opportunity to vote for the prestigious Peoples’ Choice Award and show their love to these one-of-a-kind treasures. Don’t miss this great Modernism Week tradition!"

I like Alexander Calder a lot...but over 5 million US to buy it?

ALEXANDER CALDER Jerusalem Stabile (Intermediate Maquette) A-12794 1976 painted steel 45 x 112 3/4 x 45 in. (109.22 x 271.78 x 114.30 cm) 9633 $5,400,000.00

Ukraine flag

I love the flag and hope it continues to fly.

This would have been quite something to see!

I know zoos are a controversial topic for many people but The Living Desert is about as good as it gets.

It's a girl for The Living Desert community, which welcomed the birth of a giraffe calf on Monday. The gender of the calf, born to first-time parents Shellie and Kelley, was announced Tuesday following her first well-baby exam. “The calf is healthy and bonding well with mom. She weighed in at 143 pounds and stands 5’10” at her well-baby exam this morning,” noted Dr. Andrea Goodnight, head veterinarian at The Living Desert. “Shellie is doing great as a first-time mom.” The calf, which has yet to be named, was born on the zoo's giraffe savanna habitat. “This sweet giraffe calf has captured the hearts of the community,” said RoxAnna Breitigan, director of Animal Care. “Many of our guests had a front-row seat along the guest pathway and hearing their collective excitement as the calf was born and began to stand was a true delight,” Breigigan said. The calf’s mother, Shellie Muujiza, was born at The Living Desert on Aug. 27, 2017. She was named by longtime zoo supporter and philanthropist, Harold Matzner. Six-year-old father, Kelley, was born on May 15, 2016, and came to The Living Desert in 2018 from Wildlife Safari in Oregon. The birth of the calf is a successful result of the Species Survival Plan recommendation, which ensures the genetic sustainability and diversity of the species in human care. Giraffe gestation is about 15 months. The calf will now nurse for nine to 12 months and begin eating foliage at about 4 months old, zoo officials said in a press release. The giraffe is expected to double in size in the first year of life. Giraffes have their own individual spot-like markings and no two giraffes have the same pattern, similar to humans’ unique fingerprints. Currently listed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as vulnerable, giraffe populations have declined up to 40% over the past 30 years. There are fewer than 98,000 giraffe in the wild. Native to southern and eastern Africa, major threats to giraffe population are habitat loss and fragmentation, civil unrest, and ecological changes. The calf is currently bonding in the behind-the-scenes barn with her mother. She is expected to be introduced back onto the giraffe savanna next week, zoo officials said. The Living Desert is now home to a herd of 10 giraffe. Visitors can participate in the giraffe feedings from 9 a.m. to 3 pm, daily. The cost is $8 per person or $6 for members, in addition to the entrance fee. For ticket pricing and advance purchase, visit LivingDesert.org or call (760) 346-5694. Previous reporting by Desert Sun staff writer Ani Gasparyan is included in this report. Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherryBarkas

I can't quite get my mind around 3D printing especially when it comes to homes

I noticed there was a session at Modernism Weeek in Palm Springs that was on 3D Printed Homes.

https://www.eyrc.com/work/mighty-house

Nothing quite like family

We had a wonderful time with Richard and Grace yesterday evening and they brought dinner. I've been having stomach problems and alcohol seems to aggravate it so they brought some very tasty non-alcoholic ginger beer. Thanks so much, you guys, we love you!

Love the design of this Canucks jersey

Countries that drink the most coffee, tea, and wine

I was surprised by just about everything in this article.

https://www.interestingfacts.com/countries-that-drink-most-coffee-tea-wine/YaWPz07cAQAHtnMw

This looks like a pretty cool office space....

From The Original Middle Aged Humour...

From Linda's blog....

Another new find...

Debra Burchett-Lere and Aneta Zebala American artist Sam Francis (1923–1994) brought vivid color and emotional intensity to Abstract Expressionism. He was described as the “most sensuous and sensitive painter of his generation” by former Guggenheim Museum director James Johnson Sweeney. Francis’s works, whether intimate or monumental in scale, make indelible impressions; the intention of the artist was to make them felt as much as seen. At the age of twenty, Francis was hospitalized for spinal tuberculosis and spent three years virtually immobilized in a body cast. For physical therapy he was given a set of watercolors, and, as he described it, he painted his way back to life. The exuberant color and expression in his paintings celebrated his survival; his five-decade career was an energetic visual exploration that took him around the world. Francis’s idiosyncratic painting practices have long been the subject of speculation and debate among conservators and art historians. Presented here for the first time in this volume are the results of an in-depth scientific study of more than forty paintings, which reveal new information about his creative process. The data provides a key to the complicated evolution of the artist’s work and informs original art historical interpretations.

IKEA

I didn't know it was an acronym. I'm trying to remember what we first bought from IKEA. I'm pretty sure it wasn't small household items. “IKEA” is an acronym. You’d be forgiven for assuming that IKEA is a Swedish word related to furniture. In fact, it’s an acronym that combines the initials of founder Ingvar Kamprad (IK) with the name of the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd) and a nearby village (Agunnaryd). Kamprad was just 17 when he founded the company in 1943, initially selling small household items — think pens and wallets — rather than beds and sofas. He likely had no idea that there would one day be more than 450 IKEA stores across the globe.

Carmen Herrera

I really like her work!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Cable cars in Paris

Well, I do understand the congestion problems and glad residents will get help getting around the most visited city in the world but sorry to see yet another thing that changes the Paris we so loved.

Memory on FB 9 years ago

Treated to champagne brunch at Melvyn's. So great to see our old friends from Edmonton, Roger and Kerry.

Travel, dining out, and helping charities all at the same time

Another "rabbit hole" I fell down recently. I noticed somewhere that some restaurants have begun asking for a donation to charity when making a reservation.This seemed like a real "win-win" since so many people don't honour their reservations.I think most diners would welcome paying something towards a charity for being able to make a reservation. And then I learned about this group that is a clearing house to give unsold hotel rooms and other perks to folks who have donated their time to charities. "CharitableBookings.com is the travel and lifestyle platform with a social purpose. We help raise unrestricted funds for thousands of charitable causes from local projects to global endeavours at no additional cost. BOOK at over 28,000,000 accommodation listings in partnership with Expedia and Booking.com with a price match promise. PURCHASE unique limited edition artworks from our virtual Art Gallery. RECEIVE cheaper rates by earning 30% of our travel commission on ALL bookings, including Amazon vouchers and money for your favourite charity. Plus, Lifestyle Benefits & FREE tickets for the chance to WIN £250M of luxury prizes for you and funds for your favourite charity. RAISE unrestricted funds for your favourite charity with EVERY booking at no additional cost to you."

Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

An ad came up for this hotel and reminded me the time I stayed there and really caught a break. I went with some other women from Cedar Hill School in Victoria during the January semester break. We had booked dinner in their fancy restaurant. We had a late lunch since we were doing so much shopping and we were very hungry so ended up having lunch at an Italian restaurant on Robson. The portions were very large and since we were all very hungry we ate heartily. So,we didn't use our reservations at the restaurant that had a big mushroom special on. My friend, Elaine, and I, loved mushrooms and always ordered them if on the menu.This was a special dish the chef made. It seemed he preserved these mushrooms himself and guests got very sick with botulism. No one died but some guests were sick for months and had long term affects. We got lucky that night!

More on "the barge"

Looks like you're going to be able to buy pieces of if with proceeds going to charity. What a wonderful idea!

Etel Adnan

I came across some interesting paintings in The Art Newspaper. I can't seem to display any but my blog readers might want to look some up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etel_Adnan

Las Vegas

I'm not a fan of casinos and gambling but good on this casino to make sure the player got his money. We have enjoyed going to casinos for the cheap meals and entertainment but aren't tempted by the gambling. Once, we decided to use whatever change we had to play some slots because we had had a wonderful meal for almost nothing.We had three nickels which we eventually lost.Jim got a big payout of nickles in his first try and needed a bucket for them. I imagine there aren't too many people who have just lost 15 cents to gambling. People seem to tell you what they won not what they lost. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/06/us/missed-jackpot-malfunction-casino-game-trnd/index.html?utm_term=16442336179965e02b5e9b50d&utm_source=cnn_Five+Things+for+Monday%2C+February+7%2C+2022&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=TuoDuD8seDMmHSB3ydQDEWC5MOm2LZYRygE8%2BKjzmkYeDH4H1ZV2kYe%2BODoyp%2BeH&bt_ts=1644233617998

From the blog of Seth Godin

On newspapers...I always like to give newspapers a plug. "It doesn’t talk back. It doesn’t beep or update or invite a click. It doesn’t change based on who’s consuming it. It doesn’t interrupt you, and it begs to not be interrupted. It’s rarer than ever before, and sometimes, we need it." We always tried to get a print newspaper when we were travelling. It's just the way we like to start the day. I know print newspapers are struggling in most parts of the world but it seems in India they are thriving. I found this article quite interesting: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/05/despite-the-decline-of-printed-papers-theres-one-place-that-is-bucking-the-trend I started reading The Vancouver Sun when I was a kid and continue to read it now we're back in Vancouver.

Today marks the 70 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth

 Amazing achievement and to do it so well. 

Then....

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, perches on the roof of a Land Rover but Queen Elizabeth II prefers a ground-level view of competitors during the Horse Trials at Badminton, Gloucestershire I April 20, 1968

And now....

Still trying to understand NFT's

I googled "could I buy an NFT of digital newspapers". I brought this up: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/cnn-selling-nfts-coverage-1234969149/ It seems I can buy CNN coverage. I still don't think I quite get it but I am intrigued by the whole idea.

Trying to understand NFT's

I can't seem to make this link live but it is about how Coachella festival lovers can get lifetime passes with an NFT. My mind can't quite seem to get how this works. https://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/coachella/2022/02/03/coachella-sell-lifetime-festival-passes-nfts-starting-friday/6649701001/?utm_source=desertsun-Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=hero&utm_content=1082DS-E-NLETTER65

Probably my favourite view from the UBC campus

 I loved to sit here as a student. This photo was with a news story on the controversy surrounding the decision to return to in-person learning. I really don't know what to think about it but I think students should have a choice. I hope they have a plan for physical distancing since my memories of going to classes and walking around the campus were being with hoards of people.

A bit late but too cute not to blog...

 

A Scots food blogger has created some fun cupcakes inspired by Scotland's unofficial national animal, the Highland Cow, and they are absolutely adorable. 

Lucy Wilson, who is known as the Glaswegian Foodie on Instagram is the genius behind the Heilan Coo cupcakes, originally made the incredible treats to take to a friend's house on Burns Night.

Featuring delicious milk chocolate icing, pink and white fondant icing and fluffy cakes, the inventive cupcakes look and taste brilliant.

Speaking about how they came about, Lucy explained: "One of my pals threw a Burns Night last night and I was racking my brain on what Scottish themed gift I should bring.

Socks

 We grew up wearing pretty dull socks in terms of colour. I guess Richard introduced us many years ago to the new world of socks of many colours. 

These are created by Bombas to celebrate Black History month.

Lunar New Year's fare....looks very yummy!

Happy Lunar New Year! I would love to be partaking  in this feast.

 

 

 Lunar New Year | Available January 31 – February 15

Mott 32 Vancouver invites diners to ring in the Year of the Tiger with a luxurious lineup of features. Highlights include a Whole Lobster Salad that takes the form of a Lo Hei, or “prosperity toss.” Tossed tableside, this elevated favourite brims with chilled seafood and spirals of crisp vegetables.

Lunar New Year Features

Whole Lobster Salad
Abalone, Homemade Sauce

Deep-Fried Giant Prawns
Salted Egg Yolk, Sesame, Seaweed

Braised Chicken
Chestnuts, Aged Huadiao

Fried Arrowhead Cake

Braised Duck Breast
Taro, Plum Sauce

Minced Lobster
Diced Vegetables, Prawn Cracker, Pine Nuts

Minced Prawn
Fish Maw, Pigeon Eggs

Tri-Colour Fried Rice
Salted Fish, Conpoy, Japanese Sakura Shrimp, Spring Onion