we've moved

Hey everyone! The read baron has moved to new digs. C'mon over: www.thereadbaron.com

charmed

So here's what, er, whom, I've been impatiently waiting for:

Her name's Jinxy, she's four or five years old, and we brought her home from the shelter this afternoon. Here's her story, taken from the SPCA website (and edited slightly by the anal retentive writer in me) :

I was a stray two years ago and then I was found as a stray again. I think I need to find a home where I can be kept safely indoors or with a nice secure outdoor area. I am very sweet. I will give you kisses and roll over to show you my belly, and I like to tell you stories. Please make the third time lucky for me.

Sleeping on the back of the couch within hours of being brought home

She's already staked out a prime spot in front of the window, and has covered both of us in kisses, rubs and head-butts. She's the most love-starved cat I've ever met, and I'm so glad I can give her a loving home.

~

This week I am waiting waiting waiting on things. I wish they would hurry up.

photo walk: hare krishna festival

Late Sunday morning, Dave and I heard some music getting closer and closer. We shuffled onto the balcony to catch the beginning of a procession:



Many hands pulled three caravans up Beach Avenue amid singing and dancing. I checked online to see what the little parade was about, and found out that it was the Hare Krishna Festival of India Tour, a group that travels across North America spreading goodness and handing out wisdom and wonderful food.

When we caught up with the procession, it had stopped at the foot of Stanley Park and people were receiving the flowers used to decorate the adorned caravans. The sky cleared up and the air quickly warmed. A winding line of people was forming up ahead, so we joined them.

There were cooking demonstrations, theatrical performances, henna stations, yoga sessions, and gurus handy to answer all of your burning questions about love and life.

As well as the plates of amazing food, we were constantly being offered homemade sweets and fruits.

But my favourite part was the singing, and the joy and generosity felt throughout. Here's a video I took - it's 5 minutes long so you can skim through if you like, but the music changes rhythm and tempo so organically that I had to capture a large chunk of it.

hare krisha festival from Amanda Nicole on Vimeo.

small graces: lazy, grey

1. mist on the water

2. an evening in

3. real animal crackers

4. late night baking

5. a parade in the rain

lolling

I've been feeling sluggish these past few days, and then this morning I woke up with a sore throat. We won't mention it, but I think you know what that could mean... Anyway, this weekend I plan on doing some cleaning, some TV show watching, and a lot of reading. I may even loll over onto my side and doze off like my favourite Rex bunny. It's going to be that kind of weekend, and I can't wait.

Happy Friday!

buns on film

Last night at the rabbit shelter I got my first good glimpse at the newest additions. These cutie patooties are 5 weeks old and full of adorable smooshiness. This is my first video, so please excuse the lack of filming skillz. And that doink! sound you keep hearing is my finger moving over the pause button. Doi.

baby bunnies from Amanda Nicole on Vimeo.

photo walk: Sucia Island

August 3 was BC Day for us British Columbians, and Dave's parents took us out on a wonderful little two-day getaway to Sucia Island on their boat.

From Point Roberts Marina it's a two hour cruise via cruising boat, but it took Dave and I six hours once when we sailed it. The crossing was the smoothest one I've ever been on, with a gentle breeze and calm waters.

{waving goodbye to Point Roberts}

After dropping anchor, Dave and I took the kayaks out for a closer look at the island from a watery vantage point. Usually we camp on the island in a tent while his parents stay on the boat, but this time we didn't step foot on land at all. Instead we made like ancient explorers and ogled the amazing shoreline up close.


The next day we tackled the new sail kit Dave's parents bought for the dinghy. The sailing itch has been satiated - for now.


But the best part of the trip happened on our little sailing excursion:

They were happily sunbathing on their favourite rocks when they saw us, and then about fifty seal heads popped up and stared straight at us. Many of them dived into the water, and all of them made quite a racket hollering, snorting and bristling at us. We didn't want to disturb them further, so we steered away. Not without a few heads trailing us, though.

{view from the bow}

I'm a sucker for all things nautical, and went around snapping interior shots of the boat.

{where D and I stayed}

small graces: part 45

1. a merciful breeze

2. urban waterfalls

3. just visiting

4. when light uses a paint brush

5. cute fungi

perfectly

My Huarache sandals from Zuzsi arrived!

{disclaimer: these are black, but the light would prefer them to be blue}

I haven't taken them off since I ripped open the package, watched this video on how to tie them and (after few attempts) put them on thirty minutes ago. They are more comfortable than bare feet, and I am a bare foot person.

From the shop:

Our sandal design is inspired after a unique running sandal created by the Tamahumara Indian tribe. The design allows natural movement of the foot and ankle. They are extremely comfortable, almost as good as a bare foot.
Each pair is custom made to your specifications using 100% leather. Available in natural, caramel, brown and black leather. The straps are adjustable for a snug fit.

Nickie at Zuzsi asked for all sorts of measurements of my feet, and they're crafted accordingly. I can certainly see how these would be ideal for running: They're perfectly formed to my feet and feel durable yet remain lightweight.

Thank you Nickie!

photo walk: UBC

The other week I had a chance to (read: kill time by myself) walk around a small section of UBC. I could have ventured further, but I don't know the place well and I was in a pathway that the sun-drenched rough-types walk through from wreck beach. I am 73 years old and think that video killed the radio star.

It's a beautiful campus, lots of leafy green-sided buildings and sculpture inspired by various spots of the world.

Here are some picks I particularly like, chosen from many shots.

{How fantastic is this?}

As I was walking along a particularly wooded path, I started noticing these large, white, splotchy sections. I stopped to take some pictures, internally wondering what sort of project some fine arts students had been creating. I'm sure I looked very ponderous to the small study group a few metres away.

{Huh? Where?}

This could have been a trecherous photo walk, people.

I hurried along.

{Bye!}

recipe: egg, avocado & cheese sandwich

I go through sandwich phases, piling various vegetables, cheeses and spreads on top of delicate slices of french bread that we get from a mom n' pop bakery on Davie Street. Deluxe sandwiches are a staple around here.

I just recently started eating eggs again after a five year hiatus, and have been experimenting with all the different ways to prepare them. Funnily enough, it took me this long to incorporate them into my beloved sandwiches. Why, I don't know. It just kind of happened.

You know how they say that some works of art - songs, paintings, sculptures, even bits of literature - are the result of accidental necessity? That's the story of this sandwich: I was out of butter and, on a particularly adventurous morning, decided to use mashed avocado to coat my toast instead. I use this spread on sandwiches instead of mayonnaise simply because I like it better, so why not on toast? Then I realized I had to fry my egg in something. I added a drizzle of olive oil to the heated pan, dropped in the egg and cooked it sunnyside up with salt and pepper. When it was done I slid the egg on top of the avocado-coated toast. Then I remembered some swiss cheese that was sitting patiently in the fridge, sliced thin and wrapped in brown paper from the deli. I folded a piece in half and placed it on top of the egg. The finished product may not have looked like a work of art, and I certainly didn't look like one while eating it, but it certainly tasted like one. The olive oil gave the egg a savoury taste and crispy edges, a perfect compliment to the tangy cheese and creamy, complacent avocado.

This sandwich has evolved in the past week to include a buttered slice of toast as the top of the sandwich, but it's good both ways. Havarti is also wonderful in place of swiss cheese.

Egg, avocado & swiss cheese sandwich ~ for one

good quality olive oil for pan
1 large free-range egg
1/2 ripe avocado
2 pieces thinly sliced bread (french or sourdough would be best)
butter for bread
1 slice of swiss cheese
salt & pepper

Pop bread slices into the toaster. While bread is toasting, cut an avocado in half, scoop out one side and mash it with a fork in a small bowl. Store the other half of the avocado in a sealed container in the fridge with a splash of lemon juice to slow the oxidization process. Warm a frying pan with a few drizzles of olive oil, then add your egg. Cook the egg to your preference with salt and pepper - I like mine sunnyside up, which I do by adding a splash of water to the pan and then covering it with a tight-fitting lid to cook the yolk. Butter one of the toast slices and spread the avocado onto the other. Assemble your sandwich and enjoy. You will need napkins.

rivalled display

We hosted the second fireworks party on Saturday, but the fireworks display paled in comparison to an impromptu thunder and lightning storm that last for hours before and during the show. Here's a nice video of that day and night. This is pretty much the view we had, as our apartment is on the near corner of the street you see running up the far right side. Enjoy!

recipe: cracker jacks

Lately I have been really into food. I think I mentioned a while back that I'd been feeling blah about food, and I figured some reading on the subject would help to push the blahs along. And now I can't stop reading about and discovering new (to me) and immersive books by chefs, restauranteurs and food bloggers. I've yet to get my hands on Orangette's A Homemade Life, but I did snag a big, heavy copy of The Zuni Cafe Cookbook. If you follow me on Twitter you're probably sick of hearing about this book, and I only picked it up two days ago. Judy Rodgers' writing and explanations of everything food-related that goes on in the landmark restaurant as well as in her home is truly as addictive as what's on the recipes' ingredients lists themselves. You've probably already heard me opine on In Defense of Food, a more clinical look at eating good food. Basically, I can't get enough. (Maybe why my small graces have begun to turn into odes to the stuff I eat?) I am taking extra care in noticing, I guess. I'm also finding myself emailing my somewhat experimental, recipe-less recipes out to sweet people who've said sweet things about the food posted here.

So apparently, this is all to say that I'll be posting recipes on here now too, whenever I think something might be good enough to share. Really this is just an extension of my current obsession, so thank you for bearing with a complete food amateur. Now, first up: Cracker jacks! (Sophisticated, I am.)

Homemade Cracker Jacks ~ minus the peanuts

I make this for parties, as thank yous, and as gifts. It wasn't actually my idea to give caramel popcorn as a gift, but I was being asked by people to make it enough that I thought I might be able to pass it off as one. Last Christmas I bought one of those sets of four ceramic popcorn bag style bowls and filled them up with the caramelized popcorn. Wrapped them up fruit basket style in cellphane, attached a couple movie ticket vouchers to each one and voila: four men off the list. It's also good to make in the summer time - preferably in a cooler day - to take to picnics, road trips, baseball games and bbqs.

You can add peanuts to this to make it really like Cracker Jacks, but I'm not such a peanut fan so I leave them out. Stored in an airtight container on the countertop, this popcorn will keep (but not necessarily last) for about four days. The last ten minutes of the cooking time is my favourite part: it's when the whole apartment smells like the fair.

Homemade Cracker Jacks

popcorn kernels to cover the bottom of a large, wide pot (mine's 4-5 litres)
cooking oil to cover pot bottom
1 cup butter
2 cups lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
couple generous pinches of sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 250. Pop the corn in oil and then pour half the amount into a large, deep roasting pan. Set aside. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium sized soup pot. Stir in the brown sugar gradually, then the corn syrup and salt. Bring this to a boil while stirring constantly and boil for 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. The caramel will be lightening up in colour and expanding and frothing. Pour half of this over the pan of popped corn and stir well with a wooden spoon to get it evenly coated. Add the other half of the popped corn, then the caramel, and stir well again. Slide the pan into the oven and set the timer for one hour, making sure to take out the pan and give it a good stir every 15 minutes. The popcorn is done when the caramel has been almost completely absorbed and dried onto the popcorn, and there's minimal gooeyness. Transfer to serving or storing container while it's still warm.

small graces: part 44

1. cute fruit

2. reading outside on a cool day

3. having just the right amount of friends over

4. fireworks anticipation

5. leftover party food {homemade salsa}

small graces: part 43

1. seeing my guy on stage (and in a suit, yum)

2. random acts of symmetry

3. homemade gnocchi (sauteed in butter & garlic with dashes of salt, pepper & parmesan)

4. poor man's eggplant parm

5. a summer read that makes me laugh out loud

lucky duck

I'm not sure if it's a karmic reaction to having a craptastic work-week last week, but I've won something - again! *Ducks tomatoes and men's shoes* I know, I know, I'm even feeling a tad guilty. But check it:

Star Gazer journal from the Dewdrop Handmade etsy shop

I'm half-expecting an anvil to drop on my head now, but I still think it'd be worth it. Gillian's handcrafted journals are made from eco-friendly materials and boast nature-inspired silk-screened images.

A big thank you to Gillian for being so generous, and to Dionne for hosting the giveaway on her lovely blog!

joke

This is not a photo taken at home on a regular evening. This was taken at a party on Saturday night, where we apparently found a solitary couch and shared hilarious inside jokes. Simple things for simple minds.

we've arrived

Apartment Therapy is (finally) compiling a food guide to Vancouver! Apart from the stunning beauty, friendly people and laid-back vibe, I love Vancouver for its food. You cannot walk a block in this town without tripping over a host of tempting restaurants and food stores. I feel especially lucky that I live across the street from a foot ferry station that takes me straight to Granville Island, the foodie mecca. If you live or have ever lived in Vancouver or even just visited, be sure to add to the user-made guide by commenting on the post. I'm having a hard time making fave picks. You can also check out Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode of Vancouver for, I think, a fair representation of the food culture here. Bon appetite!

small graces: part 42

1. sweet relief from the heat

2. breakfast that reminds me of when I was a kid

3. street mosaics

4. roasted eggplant & parmesan sandwiches

5. 2 week old bunnies