A Cozy Brick House

All Covered Up

2011-09-21T18:47:00.004-05:00

We figured the stairs should be covered before the racoons moved in, so The Geek Upspent a day finishing that up.

Not to shabby!

Decriminalize What?

2011-09-17T21:51:00.002-05:00

I love the quinoa section!

Amazing what comes up during elections. This article was in the Winnipeg Free Press.

Pop goes their world: Leaders grapple with silly celebrity-culture barrage

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 09/16/2011 3:27 PM

In his 1985 landmark Amusing Ourselves To Death, American media critic Neil Postman argued the North American public had become addicted to entertainment, thanks to dumbed-down TV programming, vapid radio and declining print journalism.

Needless to say, it’s a good thing Postman isn’t around today. Pop culture and celebrity gossip trumps actual news in the modern media environment, where reality TV boasts better ratings than political leaders’ debates, sports tickers are more important than headlines and traditional news-gathering outlets struggle to compete with Twitter and Facebook.We invited candidates to tell us more about themselves. See what they had to say.

Reporters often lament this. But sometimes, we just go with the flow.

To that end, the leaders of Manitoba’s four mainstream political parties agreed to subject themselves to a quiz about pop culture, sports and their personal entertainment and lifestyle preferences. In the 2011 provincial version of our semi-annual election-campaign exercise, here’s how four smart politicians responded to a bunch of really stupid questions:

Which AMC television series best describes your party: The Walking Dead, Mad Men or Breaking Bad?

Enlarge Image

James Beddome (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

James Beddome (Green Party): I’m going to have to say Mad Men, because we’re pretty clever with our marketing techniques.

Jon Gerrard (Liberals): Breaking Bad? It’s the best of the three choices.

Hugh McFadyen (Progressive Conservatives): It’s gotta be Mad Men, for no apparent reason other than the fact that I’ve never heard of the two other shows. And apparently I wear nice suits, according to the NDP.

Greg Selinger (NDP): God, let’s go with Mad Men for what the heck. It’s the only one I know really well, it’s a pretty good series and it’s got a little depth to it as well.

How would you handle Snooki?

Beddome: Ooh, that’s a tough one. Moratorium?

Gerrard: I would take things as they come and just do the best I can.

McFadyen: Well, clearly this is the main ratings driver for Jersey Shore and I think you just let Snooki be Snooki.

Selinger: Who is Snooki?

Where does your party stand on the Kardashians?

Beddome: You know, I’ve never actually watched the show.

Gerrard: I can’t help you on this one.

McFadyen: We would want to take a balanced approach with the Kardashians and ensure the appropriate measure of fiscal restraint with protecting frontline services.

Selinger: Let’s put it this way – they know how to get media headlines.

Say you’re a vampire. Who’d be better company – Bella Swan, Sookie Stackhouse or Buffy Summers?

Beddome: Buffy The Vampire Slayer? Is that who you’re talking about? It’s the only one I’ve watched. I’m not a big TV guy.

Gerrard: Buffy Summers? Just seems like a good idea.

McFadyen: All of the above?

Selinger: Buffy Summers. She has a vampire-like first name.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Enlarge Image

Jon Gerrard (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Beddome: Who would be up for the role? James Brolin.

Gerrard: Robert Redford. He stands up for little people and I believe standing up for the ordinary Manitoban is important.

McFadyen: Betty White. No, I would be flattered if we could get Vince Vaughan to do it.

Selinger: How about Gregory Peck. You want to know why? Same first name.

What’s the last book you read?

Beddome: The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan.

Gerrard: The last book that I read is one which talks about the art of persuasion. It’s Split-Second Persuasion.

McFadyen: This is just going to put people to sleep: Yalta. I’d have to check the guy’s name. He’s a Ukrainian historian. It’s about the Yalta peace negotiations and post-World War Two Europe division of powers.

Selinger: Joseph Boyden, Through Black Spruce. And a little one called Skufty, by a guy named Bruce Benson, up around Gimli. And I’m working through Stieg Larsson right now.

What’s the first album you ever purchased?

Beddome: Nirvana, Nevermind.

Gerrard: Good question. I suspect it was a Beatles album. I can’t remember which one. It was love songs, like the Yellow Submarine.

McFadyen: I think it was Boney M, Night Flight To Venus.

Selinger: That would have been a long time ago. Maybe, Beatles album, probably, back in the day?

What was the last concert you attended?

Beddome: Shotgun Jimmie, at the Lo Pub.

Gerrard: I was at the performance by Keith & Renee. Keith is a River Heights performing artist.

McFadyen: It’s got to be Coldplay, a couple of years ago. It’s been a while.

Selinger: It’s been a while since I’ve been at a concert.

What band should perform at NHL FaceOff, the concert before the Jets’ home opener?

Beddome: I think we should find something local. I think The Weakerthans are a good choice. Another might be Greg MacPherson or you could even do The Liptonians. All three, good Winnipeg bands who could kick off the Jets.

Gerrard: Neil Young.

McFadyen: I’d love to see The Guess Who.

Selinger: How about The Weakerthans?

Who is your favourite Winnipeg Jet from the original era?

Beddome: When I grew up, Teemu Selanne, man. As a little kid, Teemu, Teemu, Teemu had it going on there. He almost took us to the playoffs a few times.

Gerrard: Bobby Hull.

McFadyen: Veli Pekka-Ketola. He lived in St. James and I met him when I was a kid. I got his autograph. Obviously Bobby Hull and Anders Hedberg would be obvious candidates.

Selinger: He’s still playing. You know who I’m talking about, down in California there? Aaaand ... give me his name. Come on, he’s a really good player. Help me out guys. My favourite player was the guy who got the 70 goals in his first year.

What about your favourite new Jet?

Beddome: I haven’t really had a good chance to take a look at the roster. I gotta wait to see a couple of games to see who the starters are.

Gerrard: [After a long pause, handler David Shorr whispers "Kane."] There are a lot of good Jets, so it’s hard to pick a favourite.

McFadyen: Andrew Ladd. Byfuglien. One of those two guys.

Selinger: I think Dustin Byfuglien’s very popular in spite of the current challenges he’s got. He’s a very popular guy.

Who is the Mayor of Swaggerville?

Enlarge Image

Greg Selinger

Beddome: The Mayor of Swaggerville? It’s something off Family Guy, maybe?

Gerrard: Right now it’s Sam Katz. The swagger is not as good as it was but we hope it’s going to get better.

McFadyen: It is O-...? The mayor is not be confused with the CEO of Swaggerville. I was just reading about it this morning. Hasn’t Swaggerville been discontinued?

Selinger: Oh, gosh. I’m not sure who it is. The whole defensive corps themselves, they all play together. They’re really quite good.

What would you rather do to blow off steam: Play a round of golf, hike 15 kilometres, spend the day fishing or fire off several rounds of ammunition?

Beddome: Hike 15 kilometres. It takes me back to (being) a kid. I grew up in the Little Saskatchewan River valley. From a young age, literally three or four years old, I used to love hiking around the bush in the river valley.

Gerrard: Hike 15 kilometres. I enjoy getting outdoors.

McFadyen: I would have to say hike 15 kilometres. Golf raised my blood pressure.

Selinger: Hiking would be more fun.

What brand of beer must be in your fridge?

Beddome: Half Pints. I’m partial to St. James pale ale but I also like Bulldog amber.

Gerrard: Fort Garry dark ale.

McFadyen: MGD and probably a Labatt’s product of some kind, which goes back to curling days, when they were our big sponsor. I’m loyal to that brand.

Selinger: I had a little pale ale from St. James last night. That was quite nice. That would be a nice beer to have. That’s a local beer.

Favourite variety of wine?

Beddome: I really like Cuma Malbec and another one that I like is Birchwood Estate Merlot-Gamay.

Gerrard: The wine produced by Rigby Orchards in Manitoba, near Killarney.

McFadyen: I don’t drink a lot of wine. I really don’t. Anything in a box.

Selinger: I like a light white. Something fruity. Something you can eat with fish. It’s a nice light wine.

Where do you stand on the decriminalization of quinoa?

Beddome: We have so many vegetarians in the party, they need their quinoa. Come on, don’t mess around with them.

Gerrard: Quinoa is a drug, I presume? ["It’s a grain," handler Nancy Chippendale interjects.]

McFadyen: Clearly, the war on quinoa raises all kinds of public policy issues we need to be mindful of.

Selinger: What is quinoa?

Food-wise, what’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Beddome: Sweets. I like ice cream, and baked goods.

Gerrard: Cake. Cheesecake. I like the taste of it. When I get the chance, I eat cheesecake.

McFadyen: Peanut M&Ms, the official food of campaign 2011.

Selinger: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Say you have a night off. What would be your favourite thing to do in Winnipeg?

Beddome: I’d just go down to Osborne or Sherbrook and hit a few of the local pubs – the Standard, Cousin’s or the Toad up in Osborne Village, just to have a beer with some good friends and some good conversation.

Gerrard: I like to spend it with my wife. Sometimes we go to a movie. Sometimes we play tennis. We just get out and do something together.

McFadyen: In Winnipeg, it would be got to a movie or maybe listen to a band play somewhere. But you know what, I haven’t had a night off in a couple of months, so I’m starting to get rusty at these things. Pizzeria Gusto would be a good place to go for dinner.

Selinger: I went for a bicycle ride last night down to that new tapas bar, Segovia, with my son. We had a lot of fun down there.

Where did you meet your wife/girlfriend?

Enlarge Image

Hugh McFadyen (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Beddome: I met my girlfriend on the Greyhound bus. We were both on our way to write the LSAT, the law-school admission test. We couldn’t get into Winnipeg, either of us. So we went to Brandon.

Gerrard: I met my wife in Newfoundland. Naomi was nursing and I was a medical student at that point. We happened to meet in northern Newfoundland, in St. Anthony, and the rest is history. We met in the emergency room.

McFadyen: I met her at a Boxing Day party. You’re thinking to yourself ‘Who has Boxing Day parties?’ but there was a Boxing Day party at a friend’s house in St. James, and that’s where we met.

Selinger: The University of Manitoba. Undergrad. We were in the same classes together.

What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Beddome: I’m more approachable than anyone realizes. I don’t care who you are, from someone who’s having a tough time on the streets and someone that can be in a three-piece suit who has a lot money. I can sit down and relate to anyone.

Gerrard: For vacations, I often climb trees and band eagles.

McFadyen: That I am probably really a geek at heart and kind of shy, which normally don’t get associated with people in politics.

Selinger: Probably that I used to drive an English minivan. You know the Austin Mini? A right-hand drive, English minivan, in Winnipeg.

Please name the make and model of any vehicles you own.

Beddome: I recently acquired a Buick Century from my recently deceased grandmother’s estate. It’s a 1996.

Gerrard: We have a Toyota Prius, 2007. And we’ve got a Toyota Corolla, from about 2000.

McFadyen: A Mazda MPV van and I’m fortunate in my job to have a fleet vehicle, so I don’t own it. Currently, it’s a Ford Escape.

Selinger: An Escape hybrid. It’s a lease.

Please name all your pets.

Beddome: It’s just sad. I had a another pet that just deceased. She was my little cat, Candy. I had her since I was about eight years old. She was 18, 19. I had to lose her. But I have another cat who’s more my girlfriend’s than mine, but now it’s mine. He’s a lovely orange cat named Charlie. He’s very furry. You can go on my Facebook page. I have pictures of them.

Gerrard: We don’t have any pets at the moment, but we’ve had lots of them.

McFadyen: Meika the dog. Eight-month-old cross between a shih tzu and a spaniel.

Selinger: Don’t have any pets, just passions.

Please name the brand, country of origin and approximate retail value of the suit you’re wearing.

Beddome: What I like to do is go second hand. I buy suits and take them into a tailor. This is Bellissimo. I got it at I’m not sure what second-hand store. I would have taken it in to get tailored. It’s a good way for people to be green and save money.

Gerrard: This is a suit I purchased at Moore’s. JBH, I guess. It would have an approximate value of about $500.

McFadyen: The brand is a J.P. Tilford. I think it was made in Canada, actually. This one would have been on sale for about $500, which would be at the expensive end of the range.

Selinger: Oh god, $400. I have no idea where it’s made. I’ll have to check out the brand. There is no obvious brand on it. Let’s put it this way – I got it in a basement at a good price.

Say one genuinely nice thing about one of the other party leaders.

Beddome: I can say something nice about them all. Everyone who puts their name on the ballot does it because they want to make Manitoba better.

Gerrard: I’ve known Greg Selinger for a number of years in the Legislature. I think he tries hard.

McFadyen: Knows a lot about birds, Dr. Jon Gerrard. I have a soft spot for Dr. Jon.

Selinger: They’re all very committed to what they do. They’re all working like heck right now.

Finally, which marsupial best describes your party?

Beddome: A kangaroo, because we can jump across really fast and we have a lot of things hiding in our pockets, namely some extra pocket change from our free-fare bus policy.

Gerrard: Maybe a duck-billed platypus? The marsupials would be possums, things like that.

McFadyen: (Emerson MLA) Cliff Graydon.

Selinger: The kangaroo. It has a lot of bounce.

Frightening Fungus

2011-09-13T18:44:00.002-05:00

It isn't necessarily the size that makes this fungus alarming, it is that it is growing out of a huge, very ill cottonwood in the back lane.
Be afraid!

Worse than Anticipated.

2011-08-28T09:36:00.004-05:00

The front steps have been on the to-do list for a couple of years now. We had to take some other rubbish to the dump, so thought we may as well rip off the old stairs and haul them away at the same time.

We knew it wasn't going to be pretty under there, but we weren't prepared for what was found.
Alarming!

Test Fitting the Doors

2011-08-14T17:30:00.005-05:00

The Geek has been busy making doors for the cupboards. Very good of her, considering she doesn't think the cupboards need doors.
This is how it looks so far.

Frogs and Follies From August Long Weekend

2011-08-09T20:01:00.019-05:00

Mom, Sister C and Jay have covered the dike to protect the sandbags from UV and Jay finished the bridge.

The road west of the house is now closed.
This is the first of five places between the house and the school where water runs over the road.

More clay dikes around the property that I hadn't noticed when we were out sandbagging the house.

And in terms of more silliness, why would anyone use plastic parts on a farm implement? The top bracket was rotten and the whole wheel assembly became bent when it broke. Dad had to do a field repair to get the sprayer home.
Once home he had the right equipment (tractor, winch, crowbar, towing chains, hydro pole and a 160 pound bi-pedal counterweight) he was able to attach a new part and straighten the wheel assembly.

One of the few bright sides of this whole flood is the resurgence of the frog population. When I was little, the local frogs were picked almost to nothing when university supply companies paid local people to supply them with frogs. I haven't seen this many of the little guys for over 35 years. If you turn up the volume, you can hear the plop, plop, plop-plop-plop, of frogs jumping from the road into the ditch, Unfortunatley the sounds of my boots on the gravel is much louder than the frogs.

Questions You Just Can't Answer

2011-07-15T21:27:00.002-05:00

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard when he lives in the jungle without a razor?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?

What is the speed of darkness?

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up every two hours?

Are there specially reserved parking spaces for 'normal' people at the Special Olympics?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no rational human being would eat?

With A Little Help

2011-07-11T09:51:00.002-05:00

from family and neighbours and friends.
N1 hauls sandbags that weigh almost as much as he does.
Much help is needed to build the bridge.
The front end loader is great for pushing in posts.
And we're done!

Sandbags and Stuff

2011-07-09T20:43:00.001-05:00

Several truckloads of sandbags arrived Thursday and Friday so things were ready to roll when we showed up Saturday.
The water across the road is even closer.
Trucks are still hauling gravel to build up the road further west.
Dikes on the prairie,
and in PeaStraws keeep the lake from getting any closer.
As it is, the water is already up to the road.
At the end of the day, The Geek and I had build the dike around the house three layers high.
and a rather soothing lake montage, except the lake on the right is pasture and on the right is hayfield.

The Red River is High as Well

2011-07-05T07:25:00.002-05:00

The river is very high this year. At the moment, there is a very short walk from boathouse at WRC to the dock.
The first picture was taken July 5 and the second on the 6th.
If this keeps us, we'll be able to launch without even leaving the house.
Even the trees along the edge of the river are underwater.

It's About Blooming TIme

2011-06-19T09:00:00.004-05:00

The lilacs and the peonies have finally decided to get to work.

My First Attempts at Bohemia

2011-06-14T17:49:00.003-05:00

I found a recipe for home made deodorant.
I'm always trying to reduce the amount of chemicals I apply to myself and this seemed pretty natural.
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-make-your-own-deodorant.html
Here is the recipe, should this link disappear.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup baking soda ($1.19 for a box)
1/4 cup arrowroot powder ($5.99 for 20 oz.)
4 tablespoons coconut oil ($6.00 for 15 oz.)
10 drops/shakes grapefruit essential oil ($9.99 for 0.5 oz.)
A tin or jar with lid
n a bowl, stir together dry ingredients, then add oils gradually until you like the consistency, mixing with a fork. Store in a closed container at room temp. (If the mixture seems too soft, try refrigerating it for a bit to firm it up.)
To apply, scoop up a bit with your finger, hold it against your skin for a couple seconds so it melts a little, then rub around.

I whipped up a batch, and we'll see how it goes.
Perhaps shampoo is next.

It's a Wet Year

2011-06-13T19:38:00.005-05:00

The maple trees are loaded with seeds,
And there are bullrushes sprouting in the garden.

Still Getting Higher

2011-06-11T20:23:00.001-05:00

The levels on Lake Manitoba contine to rise.

The Little Island, a family landmark, is living up to its name.
McRae Lake is up to, and even on the other side of the road. At least the drain has now been closed so it cannot fill any more from that way.
Down the road a couple of miles the lake, normally over a kilometer away, is right up against the newly constructed dike. In the background you can see a back hoe and caterpiller building the dikes higher.
In Vogar as well, Lake Manitoba, usually a kilometer away, is right up to the road.
The Dog Lake Drain on the left, and Lake Manitoba on the right.
Stockpiled sandbags by the fish shed in Vogar.
I still hope it is as high as it is going to get!

Rollin' in the Clover

2011-06-06T19:40:00.002-05:00

The clover we seeded in the front yard has sprouted, tho' at the moment it doesn't look much like clover.
And the very first tomato blossom. Hooray!

the Winnipeg Jets or...

2011-06-04T20:49:00.002-05:00

Since we are once again an NHL city, there has been much debate about what the 'new' team should be called.

A letter to the editor in today's Free Press had be giggling. I wonder if you will enjoy it as much as I?
"The name "Threshers" has been suggested for our new NHL team. What a great idea! A fine prairie name for a fine prairie province.

Maybe we could get Atlanta's old jerseys; think of the money we'd save, having to change only one letter. We Winnipeggers are known for our thrift.

Of course, if we are going to redo the jersey artwork, what could be more intimidating than having a big combine on our player's chests? Or perhaps artwork of a grizzled farmer would strike fear into their opponents. Enthusiastic fans could throw hay onto the ice. The possibility are endless!

MARCUS Le NABAT

Winnipeg"

Third Times A Charm

2011-06-03T19:14:00.001-05:00

OK. Hopefully this once lasts a little longer.
It has no recycled material whatsoever.
Pressure treated lumber and concrete deck supports.
Fingers crossed!

Still More Ups and Downs

2011-05-31T21:46:00.003-05:00

The Geek has built another stand for the rainbarrels using an old mattress frame.

And while she has managed to un-flatten the green watering can, the rose is finished. Funny, the only functional part of the metal can is the rose. I suspect a graft will occur.

As I was leaving for the gym this morning I heard a crash and a 'swoosh'.

I guess a the weight capacity of a double bed frame is considerably less than two partially full rainbarrels.
At least they had the courtesy to tip this time so they didn't have to be bailed out.

HIgher Than Normal

2011-05-28T21:12:00.002-05:00

The Portage Diversion is starting to raise the levels on Lake Manitoba.
Last weekend I went with Dad to one of the neighbours to pick up some cattle. The water on either side of the road is covering a couple of his pastures.
The school bus in the distance is usually meters from the shore.
I hope it doesn't get much higher than this. People around here are already starting to run out of pasture.

The Garden is in, But We Need New Watering Cans

2011-05-20T21:37:00.003-05:00

I managed to plant the garden tonight and when I went to water in the tomatoes, I found that the cans were inaccessible.
The new rainbarrel stand provided the perfect place to store the watering cans,
and the perfect place to squash them when they collapsed.

The Birthday Tulips

2011-05-19T20:40:00.002-05:00

The tulips Ruzter and K gave me for my birthday are blooming.

And I love violets.

Some Ups and Downs

2011-05-17T20:24:00.002-05:00

The asparagus and violets are shooting up.

However the newly built rainbarrel stand could not support the weight of one small rain.

Fiddling Around

2011-05-16T06:47:00.002-05:00

Up come the ferns.

Just One More Warm Day

2011-05-06T20:13:00.002-05:00

The tulips are just aching to bloom.

I'm pretty impatient too.

Tulips are Tough

2011-05-05T12:47:00.002-05:00

They and the rhubarb lived thru' the heavy wet snow.

The rhubarb looks a little shocked, if the leaves are anything to go by, but it is still alive.

Halifax Whistle Stop

2011-05-03T12:56:00.004-05:00

Halifax is a lovely old city.
Sister C had a conference there for four days at the end of April, beginning of May, so I tagged along.

Here are some of the many reasons to love that city.

Bookstores overflowing with books

Lovely parks. This is the Public Garden.

A place where you can actually tell your kids to go join the circus...and have them succeed.

Cool murals celebrating the city's seafaring past.

An interesting sky line.

Th Old Burying Ground, unfortunately closed for the season. My friend Mark told me I would be able to talk to ghosts, so I was understandably disappointed.

Tons of pubs with funky names.

Old churches, built when style mattered.

And while I have no pictures, the drivers were ever so polite to pedestrians. I want to go back and stay longer!!

An Ugly Suprise

2011-05-02T17:42:00.002-05:00

No one likes to see this stuff at the beginning of May.

True Grit

2011-04-26T06:43:00.003-05:00

This it the sand and gravel left on the boulevard after the winter

It is really rather appalling. One year we had fifty grocery bags of the stuff

Repairs

2011-04-25T21:09:00.004-05:00

The Geek has rebuilt the rainbarrel stand

And stitched together the bumper

I smushed in January when I slid into a light standard.
Now to just remove the red tuck tape, which held up very well, I must say.

Persistent Gravity

2011-04-24T11:55:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, after planting the hollyhocks I brought back from the farm, I decided to go and close the stopcocks on the rainbarrels so we could start storing water again.
Winter was not kind to the stand for the primary barrel.

The stand looks something like kindling at the moment.

The Geek has a project, and she wasn't even looking for one right now.

Easter Colour

2011-04-23T20:54:00.002-05:00

The crocuses in the lawn at the farm are blooming.
I've never seen the rhubarb with such red leaves. Is it angry the snow slowed its growth?
And it is always good to see the vinca and the other biennels forging ahead.

Meanwhile, Out in the Garden

2011-04-18T19:45:00.002-05:00

The rhubarb first showed itself on Thursday but somehow, disappeared for awhile after Saturday's snow. I didn't think plants could do that.
And the tulip bulbs Ruzter and K gave me for my birthday are sprouting!

Waking to a Winter Wonde...Wait a MInute!

2011-04-16T05:06:00.002-05:00

It started snowing around 1800 hours last night, and this is what I woke up to this morning.

Thing did not improve much as the day progressed, either.

Not Close Yet

2011-04-15T19:02:00.002-05:00

So far there is still a lot of space before the river hits the St. Vital bridge dike.

Budding Optimism

2011-04-13T18:01:00.002-05:00

While it is really hard to see any signs of spring in our dead lawn,
the crocuses really are trying!

Flood Preparation

2011-04-09T18:58:00.002-05:00

The city is starting to put up sandbags long the river under the St Vital Bridge.
So far it is a much bigger dike than it was in 2009.

Open Water

2011-04-08T20:45:00.001-05:00

It didn't take long for the cracked ice to be washed away by the rising water.
This picture was taken on Wednesday.

The Breakup

2011-04-06T06:21:00.007-05:00

The ice on the Red River has been looking rather sketchy since Friday.
Monday morning there were a few loose pieces near the bridges, and by Monday evening the ice had given way.
Now we have to hope the the Amphibex and machine that drilled holes near Netley Creek have done their job, and there will be no ice jamming this year.

Oh, So Sneaky

2011-04-04T17:28:00.002-05:00

In the microclimate near the back door, the tulips have started.

However, since they are so well hidden by a rhubarb leaf, I didn't find them until today.
I suspect tho', that they popped up on Saturday when it was so warm.

Permanent Speedbumps

2011-03-26T20:35:00.004-05:00

Last fall, the city paved the lane. A few weeks later, after a rain, potholes appeared. Someone came, threw some asphalt into the holes, and packed them with the wheels of a truck.
In years past, when the spring potholes made their appearance, the city would come and grade the lane, smoothing it out, however temporary.
That won't be happening this year.

Turning Into a Hobby

2011-03-26T20:34:00.009-05:00

Ever since she found the lathe discarded on a street, the Geek has been practicing her wood turning.

She made this kaleidoscope while visiting friends in Calgary.
And this little container and stitch ripper.

Snow Prisms

2011-03-26T20:34:00.008-05:00

Yesterday Ispent a few hours sitting in the back yard, bundled up, reading a book. I really enjoyed the refracted light put out by all the crystallized snow. Too bad one can't capture the colours and sparkles in a photograph. Or maybe you just need the right kind.

The Prototype; Optimism Abounds

2011-03-26T20:34:00.005-05:00

The last time we went to the farm, the Geek brought back some of the dried planks.
The planks are destined to become cupboard doors.
And here is an idea of how they will look.

Isn't This Cheery?

2011-03-11T06:16:00.004-06:00

Hah!

I especially like the part about temperatures remaining well below normal. Harumph.

A Little Rain

2011-03-11T05:14:00.001-06:00

Anytime Environment Canada predicts rain in March, I am never pleased, (not that they had anything to do with the creation of the weather) since it always makes things so wretchedly slippery.
However, the weather warnings for today make me wonder if they didn't estimate properly the amount we would be having.

And I thought the Arctic Sea and Hudson Bay would be frozen at this time of year! Find your canoes and lifejackets!!

Tracks and Shadows

2011-02-20T20:38:00.008-06:00

There is a great deal of snow this winter.
The low hanging sun casts long shadows.
The fence posts barely stick out of the snowdrifts.

And the tracks of many different animals are everywhere.

Enough!

2011-02-16T19:07:00.001-06:00

Frosty!

2011-02-10T08:18:00.002-06:00

This is what I looked like after walking to the bus stop this morning. -29. I can't remember the windchill. Not bad, except my eyelashes kept freezing together.

Saturday Has Been Cancelled

2011-02-04T05:59:00.006-06:00

I'm not sure what was going on at Environment Canada this morning, or else Saturday's forecast was too ugly to publish.

Turning on a Light

2011-02-01T06:08:00.002-06:00

The Geek went to a wood-turning course on Friday and Saturday and brought home this lamp.

Liberal application of walnut oil has brought out the grain in this cherry wood.

Four!!

2011-01-31T12:23:00.002-06:00

N3 turned four on Saturday but his party was yesterday.

He is a huge batman fan.

The candle sequence...
Where else would a green tongue be socially acceptable?

Beautiful Music-makers

2011-01-29T15:32:00.002-06:00

The West End Cultural Center had a display by Winnipeg luthiers. There were some beautiful stringed instuments - guitars, mandolins, ukeleles, and other instuments.

A mandolin.
A guitar without the usual 'hole in the middle'.

Harp guitar.
and an eight stringed ukelele.

Just a Reminder

2011-01-28T20:33:00.002-06:00

It is still winter.

In the event anyone had forgotten, we got another six inches of snow. How's that for a dose of reality?

Still Air

2011-01-27T12:09:00.002-06:00

It is a rare day when there is no wind. Even more amazing when those days occur with high humidity.

The first photograph was taken without the benefit of a flash. The other two show up quite differently because of the extra light.

Colourful

2011-01-22T06:20:00.004-06:00

A wide assortment of instruments and colours.

An Ice Castle

2011-01-21T12:37:00.006-06:00

On a side street a few blocks from my office, someone has created an ice castle in their front yard.I wonder what they used for moulds.

And how interesting it would look on a sunny day?

Snowy Saturday

2011-01-15T21:41:00.004-06:00

We've had about 10 cm of snow in the last few days and very little wind, which is odd for Winnipeg. Very pretty.

It Keeps Growing and Growing

2011-01-11T05:48:00.002-06:00

This is starting to get a little monotonous, but this expanding foam is really weird. How long does it take this stuff to set?

Last night when I went downstairs, a protuberance had grown out of the explosion.
It looks like a tiny little alien hand.
This morning, there is another growth coming out of the masking tape,
and the little hand has one seriously long and twirly appendage.
Keep checking back for further developments. We're all in this together!

More Revisions Required

2011-01-10T05:39:00.002-06:00

Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I heard a bang. I thought someone had hit the house, but thankfully, as I am sure you have guessed, it was simply one of the balloons exploding.

I went down and put the box back over the other balloon (we had already decided there was no longer a risk of explosion) and went to bed.

This is what it looked like downstairs this morning.

The orange balloon is still pretty squishy too.

Next?