For me, there is nothing more wonderful than being told you are an inspiration.  From inspiring someone to see the world from a different perspective to inspiring someone to change the world, inspiration can be one of the most powerful forces for change, growth and innovation there is.

Not only was I honoured to be mentioned on their lists, but I was also honoured to be included with the powerhouse women who inspire:

erin_bury: @womenspost My inspiring tech women picks are @leilaboujnane @alexaclark @nicopop @SarahPrevette @aprildunford @karmacakedotca @melle #IWD

 

MolsonTonia: @womenspost Have a few! Some inspiring women picks: @Miss604 @alexaclark @KimVallee @AmberCadabra #WomensPost #InspiringTwoman #IWD

 

aprildunford: @womenspost Here's my #inspiringTwoman picks. The Startup Folk @SarahPrevette @LeilaBoujanane @ECHOage @JacquiMurphy @erin_bury    More #inspiringTwoman picks. The Do-Gooders: @AlexaClark @S_Moore   More #inspiringTwoman picks. Gals I will see speak at SXSWi: @michele_perras @tinkugallery

My list? (please excuse the brevity, these are direct quotes from twitter)

There are MANY women and men who inspire me to think, explore and create, but here are the 7 that I tweeted:

Evelyn Hannon @journeywoman Who took up the challenge of showing the world women COULD travel alone. And then built one of the largest online communities around it.  [Check out Journey Woman: www.journeywoman.com]

Tara Hunt @missrogue Who, in the few short years I've known her, has done more, lived more, been more & inspired more, than most do in a lifetime! [More about Tara at www.horsepigcow.com]

Melinda Sinclair  My professional coach who has challenged me to ask the big questions of myself, and embrace the chaos to find direction. [More about Melinda www.melindasinclair.com]

Tanya Tiziana @tanjatiziana Whose photography has inspired me to open my eyes & pay attention. [See her work at www.doublecrossed.ca]

Cybelle Srour Whose sense of Integrity is my benchmark! [See her on LinkedIn]

Rosemary Rowe @rosemaryrowe Who inspires me to laugh at everything from dead bears to dating (http://www.seekingsimone.com/) and the olympics (http://www.creampuffrevolution.com/)

Kate Trgovac @mynameiskate Who inspires me to work outside of my comfort zone just so I can understand what she's up to. [Read her on www.mynameiskate.ca and www.funchico.com]

(on re-read of this last one I realize I wasn’t very clear, so to clarify: Kate is brilliant and inspires me to think, create and push my own boundaries.) 

Thank you all!

One of the sessions at Terroir 2009 was Chef Owen Steinberg's session on flavour development.
Using a squash soup as the basis, he took us through the flavour development step by step. it was a fascinating exploration of flavour, taste and the layering of flavours.

I’ve always been a little fussy about my birthdays. I remember as a little girl bursting into tears at more than one birthday party surrounded by friends. And in contrast, I remember the years where being in transit or transition from one city to another left me alone and feeling forgotten on my birthdays.

My 40th birthday, which I had been planning as a big, sparkling cocktail party inviting everyone I know, turned into me, alone on the island with the chickens, rabbits and dogs keeping me company.** 

But not this year! 

No dogs! 
No chickens!
And the only rabbit was in the paella.

My tentative queries about what I should do to celebrate turned into 2 parties!

The first, which we dubbed The Society of the Public Pickle, was a rollicking beer & wing night at the Crown & Dragon. A natural extension of the last 2 years when Gerry & I have shared a party at a pub and drunken pickle photos ensue!  I’ve already posted the photos and talked about this a lot!

The second, which we dubbed the Society of the Secret Pickle, was an intimate guided Tasting Tour of Spain at the Fair Trade Jewellery Company with food prepared by Chef Matt Kantor of LittleKitchen.ca.   (Which has turned into a scheme, but I’ll tell you more about that soon!)

The Secret Pickle burst out of two very exploratory conversations. The first with Matt, who I was asking loosely about what would be involved in pulling together a tasting event for some friends for my birthday  and he responded “Let’s DO IT!!!!”

The second with Ryan, started with “I might be doing a tasting for my birthday…” Before I could finishing “… would you like to come?”  Ryan had offered me FTJco for the event, had run next door and had booked us a kitchen. 

Then as soon as we had a date and I told a small handful of people, we had to start figuring out ways to add more seats to the table to fit in as many people as possible given the limitations of a 2 burner kitchen!!  (I’ll be posting about the food next – it was amazing!)

Both nights we were joined by dear friends and I can honestly say this has been one of the best birthday-seasons I have ever had.

Thank you all!

** But it’s important to add that my lovely and delightful friend Heather organised a wonderful surprise party for me when I did finally get off the island and back to Toronto. Sadly, she was too sick to come.

Note: this post was intended to be live end of January but both tech hiccups and island-time got in the way.

However the pickles became the star of the show with Mondo encouraging everyone at the table to pose with a pickle.  A tradition was born.

This year with 2 pickle events, 5 types of pickles and lots of great friends, we had some of the most interesting pickle poses ever. Even with a bum camera!

Bick’s Pickle Alien Post:

• Plight of the Pickle   
• He's In MY Fridge
• Hey You Alien, Get Out of That Pickle Tree

I have modified the recipe down from the traditional serving size of 1 Bucket, since Morgan doesn’t want a whole bucket of sangria for her birthday. Obviously I haven’t had enough influence on her.  While the scaling down of the recipe has had some other subtle impacts on resulting Sangria, it is still damned tasty!

This is the same Sangria made famous, or infamous, at our annual BBQ and Sangria parties.  The Sangria served the other night at the Secret Pickle Supper Club’s Tasting Tour of Spain. The complete Sangria recipe, including the secret ingredient.

Sangria – approx. 3L

• 1 orange – thinly sliced
• 1 lemon – thinly sliced
• 1 lime – thinly sliced
• 1/2c sugar
• 1/4c brandy
• 1/4c apricot brandy (secret ingredient)
• 2l red wine
• 2c Orange Juice
• soda and ice to taste

1. slice citrus and put in a non-reactive, sealable bowl.
2. add sugar and both brandies and stir until mixed
3. cover and leave fruit to macerate for 4-20 hours. (longer and things get really bitter)
4. Add wine & orange juice and it’s ready to serve (or chill and serve)
5. Serve with ice and club soda to taste.

Notes:

• re: citrus - you don't have to be exact on type or quantity of citrus, and you can mix things up with other fruit too – apples are also traditional, but frozen berry make an interesting twist
• re: Apricot Brandy - other fruit brandies work, but apricot is best since it's less identifiable and introduces almond notes (which are traditionally Spanish even though apricot brandy is not)
• re: Orange Juice – the original Bucket version uses frozen OJ and is cut with bags of ice being added to dilute and chill the full mix.
• re: Red Wine – big and fruiting is great, anything too delicate will get lost. And you know I go for cheap, but good cheap!  Quality homemade red wine is perfect for value.
• re: Making in advance – you can make the sangria in advance, and you can keep it for a while too.  Just make sure to strain out the citrus fruit after about a day since the pith starts adding too much bitterness to the mix.

Then invite me over!

** Yes, the same one who was coached by her father to say “Lexa is a boozehead” at the tender age of 2.

For example: The Fish Store and Sandwiches

The best fish sandwich in Toronto. Not to be missed, but don't expect fancy service or plush seating. The focus is food - fresh, flavourful, perfectly prepared. Only 4 seats when the patio is closed.

Read more on Top 5 Toronto Weekend Meals by Alexa Clark on At Home With Kim Vallee

I'm hoping to scan many of these slides to be able to share them with my family.

So far I've only been able to reproduce them by holding them and rephotographing each slide, but I have recently been given a slide duplicator and if I can find the right adapter should be able to do this a lot more quickly and cleanly.

Here are the one's I've done so far: Grandpa's Slides

11 new laying hens are growing up on the island... starting in a cardboard box.

We attempted to sample each of the 30-types of wings available at the Crown and Dragon, but unfortunately we missed 3 – Apple & Cinnamon, East Coast “Donair” and The Rookie BBQ (mild).  Last year we were able to make it through the whole list.  Lee suggested that this year people just didn’t love me enough.  Perhaps it’s true, I’d have to love someone a lot to eat a Donair wing. Not sure I want people loving me that much.

Favourites from the list included – The Traditional, Dragon’s Breath, Roadside Lemonade, Killer Bee and Bollywood.  

A great time was had by most (I can’t guarantee “all” since not everyone checked in but the beer was certainly flowing which is always a good sign.) Certainly a great time was had by us! Thanks to everyone who came out.

[This post is part of the 5 Years Ago Today Series]

Woke up at Di’s and started checking prices of flights home. (The other one.) Then I grabbed my gear and hit the road. COLD walk home in the wind and sun, though it was fairly easy.

When I got to the shore I saw Bandit standing on the cliffs, looking terribly romantic and wind swept (for a dog.) She moved around the island like a Queen, but came to me immediately when I called her. It looks like she unhooked her snib – nothing broken and it was easy to hook her back up. 

She was loose for a while – some footprints are ice indentations, others more like brand new tracks in the snow. There were 2 bunches of feathers without chickens – one that looks identical to the the golden rooster, and another that is white and red (likely from a hen). But another rooster seems to be missing too.

Found the remaining chickens and one rabbit hiding under the yurt platform, which was surrounded by dog tracks.

Waiting until morning to make a call on how much carnage was wreaked. You can take the dog out of the wild, but you can't take the wild out of the dog.

[This post is part of the 5 Years Ago Today Series]

Woke up in Saint John, did a bunch of errands waiting for the flurries to ease up but they never did.  Combined with the wind, I was stuck on shore unable to get home to the island.

Made arrangements for Violet to take over island-sitting when I head back to Toronto.

We found a Mongolian Grill style fast food restaurant for a quick and easy DIY stir fry for dinner.

U p early and cooking – literally. Used the sweet dough to make 2 cinnamon loaves – one horseshoe shaped and the other snail or turban shaped. Both baked up beautifully. I also chopped up some onions and meat chunks to prep for a frittata. Tossed in a handful of the Bulk Barn’s dehydrated vegetables which perfectly complemented the frittata.

Mark called at 0930 to say he & Peggy were headed over, which gave me time to wrap a couple of presents, clean up a bit and set the table (complete with mandarins and gingerbread puppies)

We had a lovely brunch. Mark & Peggy brought coffee and Mark’s famous Oatcakes and we talked and talked until about 1400.

They headed home and I fed the dogs & chickens and packed up to head to shore. As I was pulling on my boots there was a knock on the door!  Mary Jo & Zarah dropped in.  How lovely! But I was heading out, so I offered them tea and cinnamon loaf and left them in the house.

I spent the evening ashore at Di’s where we had a fantastic spaghetti dinner and visit.

Snapped awake at midnight. Heard 2 male voices out my bedroom window, and then a low chuckle. It sounded like they were very close, as if they were just down the path at the School House.

So I rolled out of bed onto the floor so I couldn’t be seen through the window. Got dressed and went down to see what was happening. Nothing. No dogs barking. No loud skidoos or ATVs. No voices. But it’s pitch black outside, the dogs are agitated and I am completely shot through with adrenaline.

I’ve been alone on this island for a month. No other people, no other voices. I grab the crochet hook and gauge I had in my coat pocket and go sit with Little Bear in the center of his run.

I’ve seen lots of hostile people show up randomly on the island  - summer, winter, day, night. The skidoo marks I saw on the river yesterday means other people now know the river is safe, and some of them know there is a woman alone on this island.

Little Bear is big, loud and intimidating. No one will get to me without going through him first. He might lick them to death, but in the dark they might not notice he’s so damned friendly.

After about an hour sitting with Little Bear and hearing nothing, I’m still skittish, but willing to go back into the house.

By 0400 I’m willing to accept nothing’s going to happen, but my dreams aren’t! I dreamt someone was setting fire to the island, I beat him up with a folded raccoon trap and then tried to figure out how to get help. Weird dream.

Up again at 0730, phoned Di & Dad for … well… a sane voice. When the light was up I checked for footprints. None but mine.

Meet with Glen on the shore late. As we head to get the dog food, I tell him the story. His response? “You sound like Woody Allen” – a whiny paranoid city-folk. Humm… Not a comparison I’m even remotely flattered by, but maybe apt.

My plan to use the dogs to haul their own food back to the island is squashed by the always helpful Calvin clan who hook the loaded Komatik to the back of their ATV and haul it all the way over and up to the house.

It’s beautiful out. Big fluffy clouds falling from the sky onto big fluffy mounds on the ground. Kind of moody inside until Di called and allowed me to apologise for being a self-centered ass. (perhaps this is why all my self-portraits have me looking annoyed – self-annoyed.) All is well I think, I hope, and fingers-crossed I have learned a few things.

Did a little work with Meatloaf & Pork Pie in an attempt to get them used to working with me since we’ll be hauling a lot of dog food across the river tomorrow. I took the “2 best behaved dogs” and put them onto the “fastest sled” and ended up with 2 dawdly puppies and walking most of the way across the river.  Perhaps because the dogs kept rolling around in the new fallen snow rather than pulling.

I got off the sled mid-river, went around to untangle them and lead them for a little while.  As I uttered the words “come on boys”. They took off – WHOOSH! I was left in the powder as Meatloaf and Pork Pie zoomed off to the shore.

Luckily they couldn’t get up the hill without me. Once we made it up the hill, they went straight to the side of the garage and lay down. Not good dogs, but well trained.

With the dogs settled in nicely at the store, I headed off to do a couple of errands left over from yesterday.  Then back out on the river for us.  No problem with the hill (wow!) but as soon as we hit the river, I had 2 lazy dogs again.

Decided to try Meatloaf in lead since he was doing all the work that was getting done anyway. It worked fairly well for about 1/3 of the river, when Pork Pie somehow managed to get loose – harness still on. When he looked back and realized he wasn’t pulling anything he took off like a shot for the island.

Meatloaf and I trudged back through the beautiful thick new snow. All was well when we got back to the island – but that dog!

It’s a scientific fact that dog sledding completely eliminates the need for a thigh master – boy-oh-boy!  I have muscles aching that I didn’t even know I had!

Settled in for a drink before dinner and found myself feeling a little tired. That could be because “a drink” turned into 3 very rapidly. *Hic*. Or as Morgan said when she was only 3: “Lexa is a boozehead”.

Dinner of fire grilled hamburgasas on garlic toasted baguette with a glass of Piemonte Barbera 2003 Patrizi.  (Did I mention I hit the boozeteria during my errands)

6 January, 2005 – Grey -14º

Up early and onto the river at daylight. Original plan to have a Quispamsis Day of Doing – laundry; library; email; blog updates; chainsaw repair; etc, turned into driving into town. I had forgotten to get the Xmas-cum-Thank-You cards signed and to pick up the bank card from dad yesterday.

Got into town, got the chainsaw replaced, got the cards signed, and got mouthy. Vented way too much irritation, loneliness, PMS and frustration, ending with snapping at my friend Di when she, rightly, called me on it. Not my finest moment and yet another thing to apologise for. One of the real things.