Monday, August 25, 2008

Hey! look at that!


After much more swearing than probably necessary my new website is up and running!
i'd like to consider it in beta mode as i haven't really tried to break the code. but i like how it's turned out.. heavily influenced by the folks over at AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) and their design archive.. ahh le sigh.

Friday, August 22, 2008

sweater is done!



sweater is done
Originally uploaded by knit_north
it has been done for a while ..... but no pics until now.
alas it did not make it into the fair .... "oh honey you have won a ribbon" the lady at the fair sighed - i missed the date - oh well, i love the sweater....

ps please don't mind the messy house - we are in the midst of moving!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Olympic Fever

I'm not a big sports fan. My days watching sports are confined to the big competitions: The Stanley Cup, the Grey Cup, the euro/ world cup and the odd Calgary v. Vancouver/Edmonton game and for those I generally head out to a pub and enjoy the game surrounded by like-minded people. But man, the Olympics, there's something different. I scan the morning paper for highlights, watch recaps and read blogs on my computer, listen to the rankings on the radio and have ruined my sleeping pattern to watch them on tv. alone. on my couch.

So what is different?it's defiantly easier to get into the events when your country and pride is at stake. Then there is the hint of connection: I obsessively watched the triathlon remembering the Simon Witfield plaque outside the running room store near my old place in Victoria. I used to pass it on my way to get groceries and think about that race in 2000. yep. i did.


but the weird thing is I'll watch the Olympics when Canada isn't even in contention. I pick teams or athletes I want to win and root for them or just enjoy the show these people put on.


This Olympics I've been all about the equestrian (haha yes I like the horses). I would probably change the channel if it was any other competition but these days I've been wondering why I don't get "bold" (the cbc channel that is showing the jumping). I watched the recaps on my computer at lunch - too amazing.
Go Canada!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Caribana Festival... Parade Day



1st sight, originally uploaded by girl from finito.
Caribana - the Caribbean cultural festival is a big thing around these parts. Living in Toronto for almost 4 years now it's a little embarrassing that I have never checked it out. I have heard a few bad things about the parade, it's history of violence and the unruly crowds but Connie and I decided to brave it - just to see what was happening.
It was busy and loud and I got soaked on the way over. The weird thing was for being the huge event the parade route was all but impossible to find online and there was no information on when the parade started and where to go. We just followed the crowd (thankfully connie had arrived earlier and sussed things out). The barricades proved another problem - so high that it was impossible to get a good view of what was happening.
I must admit, I was a little disappointed.
But the colours were cool and fun and I would go again, just with lower expectations and later in the day.



caribana costumes, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Monday, August 11, 2008

olympic update

well i'm about 1/4 of my way there - it is certainly a bulky funny thing. but will be thick spongy cute mat when it is all said and done (and heavy!).

totally addicted to watching the olympics - fashion wise: i love the russian team jackets - i couldn't find any decent pics but here is one to the right - the crisp red and white is fantastic with the scrolls found in traditional russian embroidery.



the other team that looks fabulous - in the opening ceremonies in particular are the french. check out the dove gray jackets on the men and the belts! looooove the red belts!!! really all their accessories are perfect and so french.


i wish i could say the same for canada - HBC blah! have you seen the the ugly fully patterned track pants?! they better put out the classic Bay jackets in Vancouver - keep it simple - the whole 'four elements' theme is overly complicated and ends up looking like pajamas - lame.

just lame

Sunday, August 10, 2008

our lady of sitka


as promised let me chat about highlights from our south east alaska trip. so the big landmark in Sitka is the Cathedral of St Micheal. The Russian Orthodox church is right in the centre of town. Sitka was once the captial of Russian America (until 1867 when Alaska was sold to the States) and has a few buildings from that era. The original church burnt to the ground in 1966 during a fire downtown, but has been completely restored. all the art was saved as was the chandelier which was hauled out by two guys while the church was on fire. the next day they went to move it and it took 6 men to move it as the chandelier weighs over 300 pounds - amazing what people can do in emergencies.

the madonna above is of the older russian icons. she is susposed to heal eye problems

up the hill


213 steps 6088.1
Originally uploaded by Yukon White Light
just home from a walk up the cliff - where i live right now is in the older residential part of whitehorse right along the bottom of the clay cliffs. on the top of black street is a huge set of steps (200+ stairs) which i climb a few times a week, well at least at this time of year. it is so pretty up at the top you can see right across the city down to the river

this afternoon i took my knitting with me - i realized yesterday that i definitely do not have enough loops for the bathmat (like 150% more!) so loopy cotton loops .... solution? socks - yep i cut socks into loops. about 30 socks - i found a package of 20 youth sport socks for $5! plus a 10 pack that had white, pink, blue and purple socks. I spent last night cutting socks up as i watched the olympics. normally when patrick is away i rent girlie flicks (costume dramas and bollywood is my weakness) but the olympics are fantastic. not sure what is, i'd never watch bike road races, beach volleyball etc normally but during the olympics? count me in.

yesterday was pretty busy. i moved everything from christine + my house up the hill to the new place in porter creek. i spent friday night packing up and then on sat afternoon, four of my friends helped pack the boxes in the van and then into the apartment. took less than 2 hours! so i treated everyone to coffee and a treat ... ahhh.

still have to move patrick's place ..... that is the big stuff like couches etc but almost there.

Friday, August 8, 2008

olympic knitting challenge


after failing last Olympics with a rather ambitious (cough.. crazy) sweater challenge i set myself - this time round: it is a bathmat. yes not nearly as sexy... or wearable (well maybe as a heavy-ass cape but yeah no.)

so how does one knit a bathmat? with potholder loops.... ummm potholder loops??? these cotton jersey (t-shirt material) loops - I found two bags in this funny little 'everything' store in Sitka. so yeah i need to loop them together to make my yarn then knit away with some big knitting needles! i'm already starting to worry i don't have enough .... so if any of you see these in weird little craft shops let me know!

Monday, August 4, 2008

new blanket for new home

this was my big splurge on the alaska trip. a Pendleton "Beaded Woodland" blanket ...... pure wool and so pretty i couldn't resist it when i saw/found it in Juneau yesterday. well i was good .... saw in the morning and by dinner time knew it had to be for our new apartment. nice thing is was a good deal too (yay! as it is an expensive month).

i'm really looking forward to moving in. we hopefully get the keys tomorrow and i'll likely camp out there for a few days while patrick's son visits (this cabin is sooooo teeny!). then this weekend i hope to move as much as i can on my own over. happy to be back in whitehorse - great fantastic trip but lovely to be home.

ps i promise to post more about the alaska trip - just need to organize photos etc

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Vegan Peach Cobbler



Vegan Peach Cobbler, originally uploaded by girl from finito.
Horrah for peach season! I had a few friends over on tuesday and whipped up a vegan cobbler for them. I replaced the butter with all vegetable shortening, the whipping cream with soy milk and omitted the blueberries (which I admit would have been really nice).. I cooked it in ramekins in a water bath as an alternative to serving it in one dish which worked out quite well.... yummy yummy yummy.

PEACH AND BLUEBERRY COBBLER
from A Matter of Taste .. Waverman and Chatto
filling....
4 cups sliced peeled peaches
1 cup blueberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp brown sugar to taste
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp butter
topping....
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, diced
1/4 cup whipping cream

preheat oven to 350
combine peaches blueberries, lemon juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
place in a buttered 8in square baking dish and dot with butter
combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar and nutmeg for topping. cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. stir in cream until mixture is just moistened.
drop batter by heaping spoonfuls onto fruit mixture. Topping will spread slightly during baking.
bake for 30 minutes, or until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling. serve warm.

Friday, August 1, 2008

mmmm salmonberries


i think that was my favourite thing about Sitka - the salmonberries - so many ripe salmonberries! what a beautiful town - it used to be the capital of Russian America and still has buildings from that era along with amazing totem poles, a full harbour of fishing boats and just a quaint lovely feeling about it all. sooooo great! i have to jump off the computer now (in a bar in juneau) more soon i promise!