Just discovered an amazing website. Photographer Joel Sartore has been taking picture of zoo animals against black or white backgrounds. Prints available for sale with profits from the photos goes towards funding further shoots. His mission is to show the amazing animals that are in danger of extinction with the hope that raising awareness will help raise support.
I was surprised by the number of creatures on the site that I'd never heard of before. What's cool about the Biodiversity Project is that it doesn't focus on the charismatic megafauna that usually get all the attention. There's equal coverage of the ugly and ridiculous. Except in Mr. Sartore's photographs, the unique beauty of each creature is brought out. I mean seriously... this little possum ain't pretty, but isn't it also oddly endearing?
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Yesterday morning was beautiful. The forecast for the evening was showers with a chance of lightning. I thought "beautiful morning, showers this evening..... I'll plant my garden!" Put in everything. Herbs, annuals, tomatoes, plus there are lots of delicate little seedlings popping up. And then...
torrential rain, hurricane-force winds, hail
Put pots over the basil and hoped the rest were hardy. You can't tell in the picture but the water between the beds was like a river, gushing out into the back lane (which is much better than it gushing towards the house).
Still raining this morning so I haven't gone out to survey the damage. Some of the lettuce looks like it is covered in mud. Pretty sure the beans and peas will be toast but it's still early enough to replant. Fortunately, I'm a pragmatic gardener. It's just not fun if you're stressed out about it.
The weather here has been astonishingly beautiful. Feels more like July than May. So we took advantage of the sunny days and got the yard ship shape. Mowed the lawn, weeded and mulched the front garden. O fixed the back gate and adjusted some of the stone path between the back garden beds. I made two frames for my cukes and peas to climb up and wrapped our laundry pole in chicken wire for the beans. O made a small window box for the garage and I painted it. Planted all the veggies.
Then we had beer and tacos on the patio. Followed by much needed showers. And woke up this morning feeling very much like we had worked all weekend. Next weekend.... cleaning the garage.
Took some photos of the yard. Pretty amazing compared to what we started with!
Spent a cloudy Sunday afternoon on my first Jane's Walk. The one I chose was located just a few streets from where I live and featured a stop at my community garden. The walk was hosted by a local blogger and history buff, Christian, who has nicely put up a history of Burnell Street and lots of photos on West End Dumplings.
It gave me a totally new appreciation for my community. I had no idea there was such a strong Icelandic influence in the way it was developed. Some of the gorgeous old buildings are the only ones that have ever stood in that spot and were built on what was once pasture or a dairy farm. Others, such as Greenway Elementary School have been built and replaced multiple times. And speaking of Greenway, the modern school patrol system started there. Who knew?!?
I am now a huge fan of Jane's Walks and I'm sure this will be an annual event. O is still a bit limpy and didn't join me but I'll be dragging him out next year!
Not really my theme song but very bummed to hear that Adam Yauch aka MCA died of cancer today. This was the first Beastie Boys song I ever heard and though I was never a fanatical fan they've been part of my musical landscape since 1986. They were true originals. Maybe the death of MCA won't be the death of the Beasties but it's hard to imagine them without him.
In honour (?) of Earth Day. And because it's really funny and ridiculous.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
sure sign of spring
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Half way through Fahrenheit 451. Another classic that I probably should have read long before now. Humming nicely along, enjoying dystopia, and then this on page 61:
Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.
1. Raking the lawn in a tank top. But not raking the leaves off the perennials even though they are definitely coming up. The weather is unbelievably warm but really.... it's Manitoba. We could get a snow storm at any moment.
2. Multitasking in the lounge chair. That is: knitting, eating crackers and cheese, listening to an audio book, cuddling with the cats, noticing a butterfly, watching the sparrows scrap, enjoying the reggae drifting over from my pot smokin' neighbour's house and trying not to fall asleep.
3. Drinking coffee on the stoop with O and Lexi.
4. Drinking coffee on the patio at the Neighbourhood Cafe with Elizabeth and Lexi. Lots of coffee drinking this weekend though technically Elizabeth and I were doing MALT work.
5. Unearthing ladybugs.
6. Hanging laundry on the line. And then blissfully sleeping in sun dried sheets.
7. Riding my bike. Woo hoo!
8. Gazing at the planets. Three of them, anyway. Have yet to spot Mercury and Saturn but hoping my sister and her telescope will help out with that on Easter weekend.
9. Listening to my favourite birds singing. Just the common white-throated sparrow. Excellent video below.
Was there (but more stage left.... and closer!) Amazing show. Not procrastinating on school work by surfing for videos. Specifically looked for this song because, well, I can kinda relate right now.
Omar and I had an amazing dinner last night with his friends who are in town doing a show at PTE. Jan prepared an excellent beet soup, pakora and filo pockets, five Indian dishes, naan, rice, and various condiments. Was quite blown away and totally stuffed. We were tasked with brining wine and dessert.
Don't have any pictures of the buffet but did take a shot of the dessert. Very pleased with myself! They are mini cheesecakes made in a muffin tin and they rocked, if I do say so myself. Topped with apricot ginger jam. Recipe is available on the Martha Stewart website. She suggests straining the jam, which does make it look prettier (and a bit like eggs) but I preferred the chunky bits of apricot and ginger.
Rufus was a big help, as always. He's well known for his love of all things toasty but this was going a bit far. He wisely stayed off the vent (which is why his butt is hanging over the edge) but he didn't seem the least bit concerned about getting caught lounging on the stove. He jumped off in a dignified and casual sort of way after I shrieked at him. Had to take his picture first, of course!
Well, half last year's resolutions were a bust. Specifically 2, 3 and 4. I resolve to do better this year?
1. I will continue to keep my head above water financially. My income has been cut in half since September but I appear to be doing okay. No wiggle room, but hey, surviving.
2. I will get back on the exercise bandwagon. Got rid of the 10 lbs I had gained and then put them back on. Grad school is hard on the body. Waaaaay too much sitting at a desk. Taking Lexi for a 5km walk every morning and lifting weights again. Will start running and biking as soon as the snow disappears.
And a new one....
3. We will not waste food. This is actually a household resolution prompted by a statistic that I came across while researching a paper. Approximately 1/3 of food is wasted at the household level. This one starts right after I clean out the fridge! I'm sure there is all kinds of horrifying things growing in there...
