The In Crowd

If you can't beat the weather, you can join it. If you're a Ridgeback the best way to keep warm (next to stretching out against the baseboard radiator) is to make sure you expend a lot of energy at the park. It's even better when you meet a new friend like Jaeger, an 8 year old Weim who had absolutely no trouble keeping up with Rory.

This is pretty much typical Rory...totally oblivious to the fact that the other dog is pretty much unaware of his presence because there is a B-A-L-L.

What's a Ridgeback to do? Well, find another Ridgeback and show the Weim what you want.

You can start with the stare-down. Maybe the Weim won't notice the ball beside his feet. "Look into my eyes, there is no ball".

And the next thing you know...

Sproing!

Zig. Zag. Where'd that darn ball come from?

Plotting.

Ambush! Though Rory wasn't nearly as hidden as he thought he was.

Photographic proof that Rory marches to the beat of his own drum. Or he's directionally challenged.

A little sit-stay. No big deal, since Jaeger was back looking for the ball anyway.

TOMATO CAM

Don't let the greenery fool you. Good light and shadow combined to make this look like just a pretty picture of a tomato biding its time, growing, ripening.

No sirree folks, this is a tomato in jeopardy. As are all tomatoes in Calgary gardens. I don't know much about the blight in Edmonton and whether it has been found in Calgary tomatoes, but I do know this summer has not been warm enough and September isn't looking any better. 1C last night and frost on the yard. Luckily Norm helped me rig up something to give these poor green guys a fighting chance. When I went to check on them today it was noticeably warmer beneath the poly than the 6C that the outside thermometer indicated. Whew!

There isn't any room for me under there, so the photos are the result of me sticking my arm inside and snapping whatever shots I could. I like to think of this as seeing things from the tomatoes' perspective. Looking out at a grey world, while rain runs down the outside of your little cocoon and the occasional drop of condensation drips on your little tomato head. Maybe every once in a while there is a collective tomato shiver as they all look outside and sigh. If they get big enough to pick even before they've ripened I'll probably feel bad about eating them.

Or maybe not.

Ode to Being Four

Here, near as I can recall it, is a transcription of the dialogue between my four year old nephew and I from last Sunday. We were at the mall, it was lunch time, and he had just finished telling me he wanted tzatziki and pita.

"Okay, that sounds good. You'll need some protein to go with it though. How about some chicken?" [I don't even bother venturing into vegetables with him...let's just start with the chicken I figure.]

"Uhm, I like regular protein."

"Regular protein? [huh?] You have to pick something, like chicken... or some other meat or fish, beans, tofu. You know, some sort of protein."

"But my mom just gets me regular protein. That's the kind I like." [Now I'm pretty confused. His mom is not a health-food type person, but all I can picture is some sort of protein powder, maybe mixed into some milk.]

"Xander, really, if we go to the Greek place, you can get your tzatziki and pita and a skewer of grilled chicken."

"How come the Greek place? That's not where my mom gets it from. We go to the other place. For protein. You know: fries, and gravy and cheese. There's no chicken on it."

I think les Quebecois will forgive a small child (and his aunt, who really should have clued in earlier) for the mistake. Protein, Poutine...close enough. We settled on a chicken skewer.
 

A Dog and His Boys

It's a quiet day for Rory. After three full days of hanging out with my nephews who were here visiting from Manitoba, I think Rory is wondering where the love went. He's never had so many pats, scratches, belly rubs and treats.

From the walk on the first day....

 ...to the good-bye hug on the last day

Kitchen Pining

I wouldn't say we've returned to kitchen planning full throttle, but we are definitely gearing up for some autumn renovations. This means going through the huge Hettich book and figuring out what kind of cabinet inserts and gizmos we need/want and then comparing that list against the kitchen drawings and deciding what will go where. We're still waiting to hear back from the distributor on the cost associated with this wish list. I will say that there was no going overboard, it's all functional with the idea being to make the most of the smallish space we have to work with. Speaking of wish lists though, I did spend some time dreaming and drooling on a website (no keyboards were harmed) for a Canadian company that 'custom' makes reproduction type appliances. They bill it as retro styling with 21st century technology. And they get my vote. You can design your own fridge or range on the website. Again, keeping in mind the width we previously allotted for the stove/oven I carefully chose my features (30" gas cook-top, electric self-cleaning oven, antique nickel detailing, pretty apron and legs...) And came up with this little gem.

The price tag? Too much. But dream big or go home I say. It was a fun exercise. I'll console myself by remembering that the warming drawer on the top of this puppy would interfere with the custom copper and stainless hood fan cover that I really want and that I can actually have. The website is worth a visit though. And be sure to check out the fridge with the brew master draft system. Add your favourite keg and voila! it dispenses beer out of the front of the fridge. Ideal for people who believe there is something wrong with the water.

http://www.elmirastoveworks.com/whatsnew.aspx


Right...back to reality. In case you're thinking I spent my weekend looking at everything but the kitchen sink, fear not good people, I found it. Really. It's the perfect balance of how to incorporate a large sink near a stove without sacrificing counter and prep space. I've put a photo below for those of you who need instant gratification (or simply don't care about sinks, oh my). To really appreciate the design watch the video here:
http://www.kohler.com/video2/index.jsp?bcpid=823619074&bclid=203863667&bctid=21311779001  I'm in love.

Idyllic Angst?

Today I wonder what on earth would possess a person to cry foul because Facebook and/or a blog seems to portray an idyllic life. Do they want the angst? The suffering? The heartache? The doubt? The guilt? There is no rule that says all must be shared. There is an underside, you know. Deep, dark, disturbing. But not always for public consumption

Reflections

I wanted to come back. But it was hard to leave.

Making room in the dog/reno blog for some vacation reflection. Here's some of what I saw, heard, felt, learned and tasted on my latest trip to Newfoundland. You'll have to use your imagination to figure out which verb(s) to apply to what. There are some entertaining possibilities.





-Stinging nettles.
-Raw fingers and sore shoulders from reeling in fish.
-Cod.
-Blue Rodeo.
-Setting sunlight shimmering off my daughter's hair and a love so big for her that my heart squeezed and I couldn't breathe.
-The instant sense of peace that is Black Island.
-Scrabble strategy. Finally.
-A mouth full of salt water.
-The biggest canvas of clear dark sky and stars. Ever.
-Curly hair requires no product after swimming in the ocean.
-All 16 year old boys are fundamentally alike. Funny, awkward, cute.
-Line dried clothes still warm from the sun.
-Sea urchin spines are a bitch.
-Rory will wait by the living room window for three days before resigning himself to the fact that I'm not home yet.