Division of duties

 I made peanut butter cookies yesterday. It's been a while since I've done baking. Well, something about the cooler weather. I made chile recently and no doubt Autumn soup will soon be on the agenda. 

Jim always cooks the steak perfectly and we usually stick to Safeway's Sterling Strip Loin. I sometimes get a T-Bone if there isn't a lot of fat. The bone does add a nice flavour. And we're very pleased with this frypan that is called "Blue Diamond". It is a really high quality ceramic coating. What you need when you are cooking a steak at a high temp. We use a 9" one for the steak and I just ordered a 12" one from Amazon.

The not so mini "Mini"

 October 7th, 2021 — Two Minis on Cypress Street; one new and not so mini and one old, very mini.

Photo by John Denniston

I was surprised to see how mini the old Mini was. My father wanted me to buy one to drive to UBC rather than my Honda 50. He was worried about me on the motorbike. Well, my Honda 50 cost $195

and the Mini was around $1600 I believe. And I could fill my gas tank for around 20 cents and it lasted for a lot of miles.  And would you believe I bought the Honda 50 at Sears so got my employee discount.  

Burgers wonderful burgers

 We met Donna at D.I.C.E.D. CAFE for lunch yesterday. We had their amazing $6 burger as usual. She had the omelette which she felt wasn't that good. I don't think we would order anything but the burger. Then we went for a walk...a lovely afternoon!

Bread wonderful bread

We had the most amazing baguettes in our early days in France and then we noticed the bread wasn't so good especially in Paris. We had wonderful bakeries in our little village of Carqueiranne when Jim was teaching at the University of Toulon. So,  great to hear there is a "tradition" baguette. 

We would often have lunch in a park or our balcony...baguette, round of Camembert, grapes, and a bottle of wine for the equivalent of a dollar. This was 1972.  And a little secret. I often bought 100 grams of Roquefort cheese (around 60 cents as I recall) and gobbled it down before I got home. Jim wasn't a big fan of it anyway.

They would bake bread twice a day so you would have fresh, sometimes even still warm from the oven, for your evening meal. Sometimes they tried to fob off some leftover morning bread on us foreigners but I soon learned. I remember one of the locals warning me it was "morning bread". Well, now we buy our baguettes at Save-on and cut them up and freeze them so we always have French bread...well, not "tradition" French bread but we still think we capture just a bit of France when we eat it which is almost daily.

The dubious quality of some Paris baguettes led to changes in the early 1990s.Consumers and artisan boulangers banded together to try to return the traditional quality of Paris baguettes. In 1993 a law was passed in France that regulates how a baguette de tradition (traditional baguette) must be made. Baguettes de traditionhave to be made on the premises of the boulangerie, from start to finish. They can contain only four ingredients — wheat flour, yeast, salt and water. Only then can they be called tradition. 

The baguette law is supported by an annual competition for the best Paris baguettes — the Grand Prix de la Baguette de Tradition Française de la Ville de Paris. To be entered in the competition a baguette must measure between 55 and 70 cm, weigh from 250 to 300 grams, and have 18 grams salt per kilogram of flour. The winner, the top baguette-maker of the year, gets the honor of supplying the French presidential residence with baguettes every morning for the entire year. 

So, when buying a baguette in Paris, we recommend you always ask for a tradition and, if you get a chance, try a baguette from one of the prize winning boulangeries. Below you'll find the lists of the ten (or more) winners for every year going back to 2010.

The Best Paris Baguettes – 2021 Winners

1. Les Boulangers de Reuilly, 54 Boulevard de Reuilly 75012 
2. Boulangerie de la place, 162 Boulevard Vincent Auriol 75013 
3. Maison Lardeux, 67 Rue Caulaincourt 75018 
4. Aux Délices de Vaugirard, 48 Rue Madame 75006 
5. Aux Délices de Glacière, 90 Boulevard Auguste Blanqui 75013 
6. Le Pétrin Fontains, 88 Rue Cambronne 75015 
7. Boulangerie Béchu, 118 Avenue Victor Hugo 75016 
8. Boulangerie BAC, 2 Rue de la Butte aux Cailles 75013 
9. Boris Lumé, 48 Rue Caulaincourt 75018 
10. Aux Castelblangeois, 168 Rue St Honoré 75001

Nobel Prize in Literature....guess it won't be Atwood

There are an amazing number of her books in the VPL. I hadn't heard of her and certainly will give her a try even if she doesn't win. 

Nobel odds: Annie Ernaux is the favourite to win this year’s prize for literature

Ernaux, who writes novels about daily life in France, is one of her country’s most acclaimed authors. Could she win the world’s most prestigious literary prize on Thursday?

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/04/nobel-odds-annie-ernaux-is-the-favourite-to-win-this-years-prize-for-literature 

From Heather James Fine Art

There was a really nice painting of butterflies...quite simple. I liked that. Then when I tried to find others they were all quite "busy".  I can't seem to copy the first one. Ah....I did copy it in the end. 

DAMIEN HIRST

Overwhelming Love, 2008
household gloss, butterflies, 36 x 60 in

A leading figure of the provocative Young British Artists, Damien Hirst garnered international attention with his striking works that examine the fleeting nature of life. Referred to as memento mori, this is in fact a traditional theme found throughout art history. Hirst breathes new life into the subject with his dazzling use of shocking materials and a glossy contemporary aesthetic. Overwhelming Lovebelongs to the artist’s iconic series of butterfly paintings which beautifully capture the tension between life and death.

Stealing John's photo today...

 I loved the orange umbrellas and brought back memories going to the Studio Theatre to see movies.

- photo by John Denniston

Some very cool pumpkin carving

 We were at D.I.C.E.D. for their great $6 burger yesterdayand the staff had carved these pumpkins.

Isn't this a great idea to use the stem like this....never seen that before.

Nobel Prize in Literature to be announced Thursday

 While I was thrilled that Alice Munro won it in 2013, I would love Margaret Atwood to win in this year. She has contributed so much to Canadian Literature and has written in all genres.  I notice Ladbrokes is listing her at 6th in the odds. Well, we'll see.

Good on the Blue Jays!

Recently, I was reading various news items on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and someone mentioned that they appreciated that groups were trying to do something like the Blue Jays who were offering 5 or 6 tickets and perhaps a chance for someone to throw the first pitch. I'm a big fan of the Blue Jays but that sounded like a pretty pathetic gesture. Then I read this:

"In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Toronto Blue Jays and Jays Care Foundation are pleased to announce a commitment of more than $1.5 million in funding for Indigenous communities in 2021. The investment will be made through Jays Care’s sport for development programming and organizations that support Indigenous children and youth.

Over the past decade, Jays Care has been honoured to partner with Indigenous organizations to co-design and implement programming for more than 5,000 Indigenous children and youth in more than 100 communities. Jays Care has also invested an additional $1.4 million in infrastructure grants through its Field Of Dreams program in 14 Indigenous communities since 2016, to provide spaces for youth to learn and play.

Some photos from a walk yesterday after picking up items from the library

 Leaves are turning...I love this time of year.

And who could resist a blue slate roof with a lime green umbrella.

When you are complaining about the nuisance of facemasks...

 I thought this was so cool...a facemask that can translate what you say into 8 languages!

There will be a lot of inventions coming out of this pandemic mess, I think.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/09/30/this-smart-facemask-can-translate-what-you-say-into-8-languages

National Day For Truth and Reconciliation

Many people are making great efforts on this day and I have been very touched by many stories. I chose to focus on this one for my blog today as I really look forward to seeing the sculpture from a large slab of jade of an owl leading a child to a safe place

Artist D'Arcy Basil displays the slab of jade he will be using. 

-Photo by Francis  Georgian. Vancouver Sun

The 2,500 pound of jade was donated by Tony Ritter. Its estimated value is $35,000.00.

More resources here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

A lovely lunch at Las Margaritas yesterday

 We picked up a sunflower and little pumpkin.

And some Sterling Strip Loins at Safeway...the only steak we eat.

Everything was wonderful especially the tortilla soup.

Van Gogh at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris

I'm so glad I saw they posted this clip. I was moved to tears when I visited this room of his paintings in Paris...so much beauty.

 From "Open Culture"

"Now imagine that Van Gogh had actually been able to experience the acclaim bestowed on him near the end—or the acclaim bestowed on him hundreds of times over in the more than 100 years since his death. Such is the premise of the clip above from Doctor Who, Series 5, Episode 10, in which Van Gogh—who struggled to sell any of his work through most of his lifetime—finds himself at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in 2010, courtesy of the TARDIS. Granted, the scene milks the inherent pathos with some maudlin musical cues, but watching actor Tony Curran react as Van Gogh, seeing the gallery’s collections of his work and the wall-to-wall admirers, is “unexpectedly touching,” as Kottke writes. To drive the emotional point even further home, the Doctor calls over a docent played by Bill Nighy, who explains why “Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all.” Laying it on thick? Fair enough. But try not getting a little choked up at the end, I dare you."

https://www.openculture.com/2016/09/vincent-van-gogh-visits-a-modern-museum-gets-to-see-his-artistic-legacy.html

Lots of rain yesterday but at least the Blue Jays won

 

"Danny Jansen hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, George Springer also went deep and the Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Sunday to maintain pressure in the AL wild-card race before heading to Toronto for their final homestand.

Toronto will enter the final week one game back for the second AL wild card. The New York Yankees and Boston were tied for the wild-card lead heading into their game on Sunday night.

Toronto won the final two games of the four-game series. The Blue Jays host three-game series against New York and Baltimore."

It's great when The Blue Jays host because they have a stadium that has a retractable roof so rain isn't a problem. We certainly get a lot of entertainment from our baseball. It will be ending soon and we'll miss it.

And we topped off the day by having a lovely dinner with Donna at The Four Olives. It's great they are doing a good trade. We're really happy for them and will be returning soon.

Another blast from the past

 I almsot forgot how much I disliked Save-on Foods initially. Well, Thrifty's was pretty hard to beat. I guess I usually went to the local Safeway which went out of business. I went to IGA after that mainly but then got used to Save-On.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018

I survived Save-On Foods!

Well, it actually wasn't that bad and surprisingly not busy.  Now that all the revnovations are finished it's a much more pleasant experience. Would you believe that two cashiers had no one so I got through right away. This is a first for me ever, anywhere. It may even qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records:) 

So, no kids screaming, running around, riding scooters...this is the usual weekend experience especially if you go later in the day. I'm trying to avoid that although it meant I didn't get my swim in yet. That will come soon.

It was a very rainy morning but rather cosy reading our newspaper (yes, it did arrive). And now I'm looking at blue sky and I think the sun will even come out. It's much better now than in the photo.

The sun is coming out...all's right with the world. John and Carol are going to their place on Saltspring Island today so it will be nice for them to have some decent weather on arrival. Saltspring got really hit with the winds but their neighbours had a look round and things seem to be ok. Fingers crossed.

I had lots more bags than these. I felt sorry for the poor person behind me.

Sung Fish Company

 I hadn't heard of the Sung Fish Company so I looked it up. It seems one of their specialties is red sea urchin roe. We were first introduced to sea urchin roe when we happened upon a festival devoted to it in the south of France. I think it was 2005. I do have a photo somewhere of Jim eating it. They crack it open for you and then you make a bit of a messy job eating it trying not to cut yourself on the spines. As I recall we had some of those on the street and then went for a special seafood lunch.

We've had it since in Vancouver as sushi. It was a lot easier to eat like that. It seems the Japanese are crazy about it and it's a real specialty. Well, the French were really going for it at this festival but we didn't really encounter it otherwise in France which is not to say it wasn't available.

From the blog of John Denniston

September 23rd, 2021 — A new building for the Sung Fish Company under construction at the corner of Salsbury and Franklin Streets.

A relaxing evening last night

 Watching the sun go down and listening to music and drinking Jasmine tea.

The Blue Jays lost badly so nice to relax after that frustration. 

Blast from the past...NYC mon amour

From 2009...

https://janicesextonart.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-heart-new-york.html

 

A lovely visit with Donna yesterday...

 Donna was tired from all her 75th Birthday celebration but as ever the wonderful hostess. And she gave me these lovely flowers from the reception. It looks like we will be enjoying these for a long time!

Merci beaucoup, Donna! 

From "The Goodwill Librarian " on FB

Donna' s 75th Birthday Celebration

 It was a wonderful afternoon yesterday at the Shaughnessy Restaurant in the Vandusen Gardens. The food  for the brunch was fabulous. I had the Steelhead Burger and Jim had the Eggs Benedict. Well, we nibbled off each other's meal. There were lovely tributes to Donna and her brother, Ken, did a steller job...wow!

Thank you so much Donna for inviting us to share in this wonderful time with you and your family and friends.

I didn't seem to get a lot of photos. Too busy enjoying myself, I guess. and messed up on others. 

Some old family photos.

Neil and Donna getting married. The wedding was at Cecil Green Park. We had come in from Victoria.

We had many lovely times with Neil and Donna once we reconnected in Vancouver.

Brunch was in The Atrium...such a lovely setting.

Just love this...

 Someone in Montreal is replacing election signs of candidates with pictures of cats!

New TGV trains

 I'll never forget our first TGV train ride from Paris to Marseilles.  So wonderful speeding along watching the scenery whizz by. We had ordered a meal as well that first time and it was excellent as I recall. After that first time we often brought on our own wine and food...wonderful that you can do that on all trains in Europe.

From Euronews:

"Almost 40 years to the day since the first TGV rolled into service from Paris' Gare de Lyon, the new generation of France's iconic high-speed train was unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron at the same station on Friday.

Its fortieth anniversary and the arrival of the TGV M come as the race to produce the best high-speed railway heats up around the world.

The first engine of the new train, which will not officially enter service until 2024 in time for the Paris Olympic Games, was first presented at a press conference on May 26 at the Belfort factory in eastern France.

Compared to the previous versions, the stylistic evolution is obvious. The front of the train has a reptilian profile somewhat reminiscent of the Japanese Shinkansen."

Rest of the article here:

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/09/17/the-need-for-speed-the-new-tgv-m-is-being-launched-in-an-era-of-global-high-speed-rail-riv?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=en&utm_content=the-need-for-speed-the-new-tgv-m-is-being-launched-in-an-era-of-global-high-speed-rail-riv&_ope=eyJndWlkIjoiZjEzZWRhNDI3ZjFhNmE4YWExMDVkYzliMmY0NzZjODYifQ%3D%3D

Mushroom soup at The University Golf Club

Yesterday we had the soup and half sandwich special. I always get the shrimp and usually their clam chowder but their soup special was mushroom and they make an amazing mushroom soup. Even better than I remember it.

Well, the first time we've done the vaccine card and id. They still were accepting the card you got when you were vaccinated but wanted the other if you had it. We figured it was a good opportunity to try out our paper copies. Worked just great. One of the servers put it on my phone so I have that as a backup. I guess we'll get it on Jim's phone but he doesn't tend to take his phone so a paper copy is really better. I was glad to hear some fellow coming in saying he had it on his phone but he didn't usually have his phone with him.

There was almost nobody in the restaurant and the staff were surprised. I guess people will be dining out less.

Stealing from the Times Colonist today

I'm always interested in stories about these wonderful animals:

"Volker has produced five calves since 2007 — a high rate considering orcas have an 18-month gestation period, second only to the elephant in the animal kingdom.

And she’s a big reason why there’s a healthy population of Bigg’s orcas — also known as transients — flooding the Salish Sea these days.

“They are thriving,” said Erin Gless, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

She said unlike the southern resident killer whales, which only eat chinook salmon and are struggling, Bigg’s orcas eat seals, sea lions and porpoises. And they’ve been finding plenty of food in the waters on our doorstep.

The Orca Behaviour Institute based in Friday Harbor, Washington, says the Bigg’s orcas are in the Salish Sea in record numbers this year."

 

C-Lovers Ultimate Platter for two

 We really miss C-Lovers so were envying Richard and Grace who cycled up to Horseshoe Bay Monday and had their Ultimate Platter Dinner for Two. I don't know if they had mushy peas...probably not. We always add that on. I thought it had oysters as well but perhaps I'm getting it mixed up with Red Lobster's Seafood Feast. Good thing they went Monday when the weather was fantastic. Well, Horseshoe Bay isn't really that far by car and this meal with a nice hot cup of tea on a coolish day would be perfect. 

Afternoon tea at Dick and Susan's

 We had a wonderful time with Dick and Susan yesterday. It was so nice to catch after not seeing each other for quite a while. We were lucky with the weather as it was just perfect sitting outside in their garden. We were going to make it for today but so glad we went yesterday. Looks like rain is coming.

From "Inspiring Quotes"

 

Susan K. did another sketch from John's car photos

                                    Photo by John Denniston

From Susan's blog:

"Life has been getting in the way of sketching and blogging lately, but I do have a few more that I did from the lovely photographs of local photographer John Denniston.

If you want to see the photo from The Car Project, it is #30 of 43.

I do like those nice round old cars!"

http://passionforpaper-passionforpaper.blogspot.com

Back to me:

I'm quite sure the car in the photo wasn't pink but that's the great thing sketching from black and white photos. Well, I guess you could change the car colour regardless. And you can make it a bit more round if you like that about the car.