Children's Art

Oscar en plein air...

Itty Bitty Book Review: "A Week in December"

A Week in December" by Sebastian Faulks

Well, this was a very "Fast Read" as I stopped at page 27;however, they were real pages not fake pages like the Martel book. I have really enjoyed Faulk's writing especially Birdsong and Charlotte Gray but this seems like a predictable rant about everything he doesn't like in Britain these days. I think the current state of Britain is ripe for a critique but this just wasn't starting out like it would have any real depth and reflection. Could be wrong...but onto "Solar"...you just can't beat McEwan's writing.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Beatrice & Virgil"

"Beatrice & Virgil" by Yann Martel

I got to page 110 of less than 200. Actually, since the pages are small the book is really only a hundred pages. I thought of finishing it since it was so brief but then I picked up Sebastian Faulks "A Week in December" in Fast Reads today and I own a copy of Ian McEwan's "Solar" and it's waiting for me if I don't happen to have a book from the library so I don't think I'll bother.

I can't really judge the book since I didn't finish it but I think if an author can't capture your interest by half way through then I'm not sure he's going to. So, a million dollar advance and 8 years to produce this? I think I would have been ashamed to present it to my publishers but I guess not producing anything for years more would have been more embarrassing.

As much as I enjoyed listening to Martel's ideas and conversation at the reading I think he is perhaps a "one book wonder" as a writer.

Charming Prince Edward Island Home for Sale! - Home

I ran into an old colleague today and she told me about her brother's home they have been trying to sell for two years. It seems her brother recently spent about $100,000 updating and did most of the work himself.

The listing price is $129,000.00 and includes 6 appliances...unbelievable!




The garage alone could be a cottage!







Property Details

Home

First time on the market in generations! This is a beautiful 2,500 square foot century farm home on more than half an acre of land. This desirable year-round home has been entirely rebuilt and updated from top to bottom by its second-generation owner, an expert tradesman. The structurally-sound renovated home features an improved foundation, newer insulation, electrical and plumbing. It is freshly painted inside and recently painted outside.

The property is heated by two furnaces: oil and wood*, located in a full basement with 8-ft ceilings. The large oil-fired hot water heater and excellent water pressure are ideal for those long, hot showers. Water is provided from well drilled into a deeper water table than most homes in the area. The water is better for your family and eliminates any hard water issues found with shallow wells. The house features excellent air circulation with many cross-breezes, which saves on A/C energy costs.

Residence features a bright interior with eat-in kitchen, large windows. Each door is trimmed with wide hand-cut pine finish and hardwood floors are found throughout the home. On both the main and second floors, there are a total of 6 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, one with Jacuzzi tub and the second with a large shower. The laundry room and the large (20-ft x 11.5-ft) master bedroom with ensuite are on the main level for easy access.

With 14 rooms, this home is large but not overwhelming. It fits a large family just as comfortably as a small family. It is also ideal for those with extended family that visit, for island vacationers who like to entertain, or for those interested in running a business from home. The large detached garage (see below) is perfect for light industrial or commercial work and the house can be set up as a wonderful Bed & Breakfast.

The home also has a charming south east veranda shaded by two mature trees, where you can relax and enjoy the country environment. Keep the screen sliding door open on the veranda to get the refreshing country breeze blowing in, or sit on the porch enjoying its unique feature… its own mature tree, growing right out of the veranda!

Spend your time in the west side of this beautiful island where the sunsets are second to none!

More info on the website:

Charming Prince Edward Island Home for Sale! - Home

Le Grand Aioli

"Cooking is humour-let's not take ourselves too seriously and make dishes of thirty ingredients, 'a batterie de cuisine' with two days preparation. If a chicken falls off the counter, pick it up; if the cake cracks, frost it."
- Mireille Guiliano (French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook)

The gorgeous weather yesterday put me in mind of a provence dish called Le Grand Aioli. It is typically a cold dish of various boiled vegetables (usually carrots, potatoes, and green beans, boiled fish (normally, desalted salt cod), and boiled eggs served with the aioli sauce.

Of course it lends itself to anything and I would make it with salmon and spot prawns and whatever veggies are fresh and in season. I must make this a summer specialty since it can all be prepared in advance. I'm surprised I haven't thought of doing this before!

How does my garden grow....

I'm using my back window boxes again for herbes and tomatoes (some small green fruits already) along with the geraniums. My cactus came out to bloom last weekend when we had that gorgeous day then went back to hibernating with the rain this week and then it's back! The lavender is looking great and I love having the cactus from the desert and the lavender together...reminds me of two of my favourite places...and of course a sunflower to view from my kitchen window to perfect the picture.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Man in the Wooden Hat"

"The Man in the Wooden Hat" by Jane Gardam

Thanks, Claire, for passing along this super sequel to Old Filth! Everyone I know who has read Old Filth has loved it and will love this sequel which is from Betty's point of view. Great stuff.

And now the real Oscar....

Our darling Chartreux ....

We were wondering if Oscar was a breed of cat and seemingly he is! Jim did a search of "grey cats" and brought up this info on the Chartreux breed...definitely looks like our Oscar. Grey, muscular, golden eyes, affectionate and quiet.

It seems this breed originated in France in Grenoble, the Savoie region, and so he is definitely a "petit savoyard". Monique, who is from this region, will appreciate this I'm sure! Charles de Gaulle and the French novelist, Colette, owned cats of this breed.

Not Oscar but looks so much like him...I'm sure he is this breed.




Chartreux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The God of the Hive"

"The God of the Hive" by Laurie R. King

I always enjoy the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series and this latest one doesn't disappoint. King does know how to spin a tale of mystery!

Cool AT&T commercials...

All done with painted hands.

King of Cats...

Chinatown in Victoria

After our lunch I picked up some crispy pork for our dinner and took some photos.

Venus Sophia Tearoom

Elaine and I had lunch here today...located just beside Don Mee's in Chinatown and a super place to go. Wonderful teas to choose from and super sandwiches...we shared an open-face roquefort-pear-proscuitto and panini turkey-cranberry-goat cheese. Lots of cosy places to sit, books to read, things to look at including various bicycles for decoration. Highly recommended!

Old is the new happy....

An interesting article that discusses research that points to us getting happier as we get older...who knew?

"On the global measure, people start out at age 18 feeling pretty good about themselves, and then, apparently, life begins to throw curve balls. They feel worse and worse until they hit 50. At that point, there is a sharp reversal, and people keep getting happier as they age. By the time they are 85, they are even more satisfied with themselves than they were at 18.
“It’s a very encouraging fact that we can expect to be happier in our early 80s than we were in our 20s,” he said. “And it’s not being driven predominantly by things that happen in life. It’s something very deep and quite human that seems to be driving this.

For people under 50 who may sometimes feel gloomy, there may be consolation here. The view seems a bit bleak right now, but look at the bright side: you are getting old.

Happiness May Come With Age, Study Says - NYTimes.com

The joys of retirement...

I love my digital photo frame!

Cooking today while watching a slide show of our 2005 trip to France...it makes all the chopping and dull parts of cooking fun...

King of the house....

First of all he walked over my keyboard messing up my typing, then his tail knocked the printer paper askew, then took my desk chair when I got up for a moment.

Favela Painting Project

What a fabulous idea and so colourful! A "favela" is a slum in Brazilian Portuguese. Artists Haas & Hahn, plus local workers transformed 34 buildings with a massive rainbow vision to inspire residents.


Favela Painting

Thank you, Chris and Susan, for the fabulous wine!

Village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Well, I didn't get any other good people photos but I had to take a photo of this fabulous wine Chris and Susan brought over. Reading up a bit on the 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines it seem it was an excellent year and this particular wine is given a great rating...no surprise!

On our 2002 trip to France, one weekend we went to Avignon and dropped into Chateau-neuf-du-Pape. We did some tasting and then had a great lunch in the village. Just as we entered the restaurant an incredible thunder and lightning storm started and it teemed rain all the time we dined and on the way back until we were about a half hour from Carqueiranne and then of course the sun shone while we headed back to our little paradise.


Port of Carqueiranne.




From JJ Buckley:

All of us at JJ Buckley are just buzzing with excitement as the 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes get closer to arrival. Seldom is there as much anticipation as there is for the arrival of this magnificent vintage. Parker declares 2007 “the greatest vintage I have tasted in my thirty years working in that region”.



2007 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

95+ points Robert Parker: "Still backward and unevolved, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape (75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% other authorized varietals) was aged completely in foudre. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a reticent, but burgeoning bouquet of black cherries, plums, black currants, garrigue, lavender, and licorice. One can sense the weight, power, and richness in the mouth, but the tannins are there, and the wine also has very good acids. Consequently, patience will be required, and this is one 2007 where 2-3 years of bottle age is warranted. The wine is capable of lasting 15-20+ years..." (10/09) 93-96 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Inky ruby. Strikingly elegant, hypnotic bouquet of black raspberry, redcurrant, potpourri, garrigue and minerals. Stains the palate with deep red and dark berry flavors and suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers and Asian spices. Impeccably balanced wine with a seductive finishing interplay of sweetness, power and precision. This will be a must buy for Rhone freaks." (Jan/Feb '09) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Crackles with an urgency atypical for the vintage, with juniper, cassis bush and tobacco notes that manage to be more prominent than the well of dark plum and currant fruit this has in reserve. Racy and invigorating, with the fruit's sappy intensity offset perfectly by the mouthwatering minerality. Best from 2010 through 2028." ETA End of 2009.

Monique's famous prawns

Fresh spot prawns from Finest-at-Sea and Monique's famous recipe...wow!. I think we were all having too much fun as the other photos of Chris and Susan and ourselves were very blurry...