A year in Brussels here.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Yule Log


Here is something to set the mood in your living room in the coming holiday season: I picked up a 2 hour video of a wood burning fireplace off the web. Inspired by Mr. Scatlif.




Burning fireplace
A 2 minutes video, set it on loop. Not the original Yule Log video.

Plants

The best way to liven up a home is too turn it into a jungle.

I have repotted our palm tree:












and we have Christmas tree. Keep this to yourselves, it is against the building rules, so we snuck in a miniature . One day it will be a real sized tree.













We also have an Assorted Succulent (AKA: Crassula tetragona, left), a sad, sad bush (AKA: "we lost the name tag", right) and an African Violet (AKA: Saintpaulia), with more on the way.

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Breadmaker!

I received a breadmaker for my birthday a few weeks ago. So far I have made lots of whole wheat bread, plus cinnamon raisin bread, banana bread, pizza dough, and baguette dough. Next I plan to make pumpernickel, gingerbread cookie dough, oat bread, rye bread, jam, improve the banana bread, and try to come up with something else to prepare in it. I think I may try to make a casserole in there one day - just drop everything in and let it do the mixing and baking..... perfect!

Waking up to fresh bread is the best. Though it is quite a strong smell, it helps get me out of bed. Also, a couple times my whole wheat bread has collapsed. I think I have solved that issue - make sweet breads! Also, the bread does not last long before drying out because of the freshness and simple/basic recipes. We have found the best way to extend the life of the bread is to wrap the loaf in a tea towel once it comes out of the machine.

Another favorite feature is the lack of preservatives in the loafs we pull out of the machine, since we put none in the machine in the first place. Our favorite preservative that we now get to avoid is Calcium Propionate. It is used as an anti fungal in the preparation process. By adding this to the ingredients the baker (and other food preparers) do not have to properly clean the cooking utensils thus preventing bacteria and fungus from growing on their machines. We have been thinking of using this on ourselves so we don't have to bathe as much.

Friday, November 17, 2006

How not to earn money

In the local Loblaws last night a man mugged a woman who was on the otherside of the apples from me. In this store the pharmacy and the produce are adjacent. The victim was sitting with her arm in one of those blood pressure machines. The look of terror on th muggers face is unforgetable as he went sprinting by. After years of working at Safeway, I felt the urge to give chase,cause man that was fun. But I also remeber it isn't really worth it. I was impressed with his timing though, he was able to make it out the in door just as someone was coming in.

Tonight we drive down to Toronto to spend the weekend with family. Its a big eating weekend, in respect of St. George.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Rain, Rain, Go away....

It is still raining. May be a break from rain Wednesday, not counting on it.

Ottawa has a new mayor. All the discussion over candidates has been focused on the proposed light rail system in town. I guess Larry had the most favoured plan.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Meech Lake


Saturday hike along side Meech Lake, Gatineau Park. The leaves are mostly on the ground along with a touch of snow (though the snow was only for the day). The "leaves report" for this weekend was that 90% of the leaves were on the ground.