Bumblebee

A Birthday in the City.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:53:00 +0000

Monday was Willem's birthday. To celebrate we had bought tickets to the Blue Jay's home opener so we spent the day in the city. It was a beautiful day with lots of sun and wind. We had lunch at the Mill St. Brewery in the Distillery District, walked through the Eaton Centre, tried out all the furniture at the Bay (we're unofficially in the market for a new couch), and wandered down Queen St.

My lovey is 25!

Their fancy-dancy stunt - the whole section is holding up coloured cards to make the flag.

The game was sold out within an hour of the tickets going up for sale. It was fun being part of such a huge crowd. The Jays were winning until the 9th, when they threw in the towel. We went home a bit disappointed.

Top 100 Foods To Eat Before You Die.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:05:00 +0000

This interesting list is going around the internet (does anyone know the original source?). Apparently the majority of people have tried 20 or less of the following. The foods I've had are bolded.

Tom Yum

1. Abalone

2. Absinthe

3. Alligator

4. Baba Ghanoush

5. Bagel & Lox

6. Baklava

7. BBQ Ribs

8. Bellini (it's on my list though!)

9. Birds Nest Soup

10. Biscuits & Gravy

11. Black Pudding

12. Black Truffle (I'm not sure what kind of truffle I've tried...)

13. Borscht

14. Calamari

15. Carp

16. Caviar

17. Cheese Fondue

18. Chicken & Waffles

19. Chicken Tikka Masala

20. Chile Relleno

21. Chitlins

22. Churros

23. Clam Chowder

24. Cognac

25. Crab Cakes

26. Crickets

27. Currywurst

28. Dandelion Wine

29. Dulce De Leche

30. Durian

31. Eel

32. Eggs Benedict

33. Fish Tacos

34. Foie Gras

35. Fresh Spring Rolls

36. Fried Catfish

37. Fried Green Tomatoes

38. Fried Plantain

39. Frito Pie

40. Frogs' Legs (we ate whole frogs in Eastern Thailand, but I don't know if they were compatible to the frogs legs available here)

41. Fugu

42. Funnel Cake

43. Gazpacho

44. Goat

45. Goat's Milk

46. Goulash

47. Gumbo

48. Haggis (this looks terrible)

49. Head Cheese

50. Heirloom Tomatoes

51. Honeycomb

52. Hostess Fruit Pie

53. Huevos Rancheros (I can't remember if I have or not, so I'd better stick with not)

54. Jerk Chicken

55. Kangaroo

56. Key Lime Pie

57. Kobe Beef

58. Lassi

59. Lobster

60. Mimosa

61. Moon Pie

62. Morel Mushrooms

63. Nettle Tea

64. Octopus

65. Oxtail Soup

66. Paella

67. Paneer

68. Pastrami on Rye

69. Pavlova

70. Phaal

71. Philly Cheese Steak

72. Pho

73. Pineapple & Cottage Cheese (never together...I will have to try this!)

74. Pistachio Ice Cream

75. Po' Boy

76. Pocky

77. Polenta

78. Prickly Pear

79. Rabbit Stew

80. Raw Oysters

81. Root Beer Float

82. S'mores

83. Sauerkraut

84. Sea Urchin

85. Shark

86. Snail

87. Snake

88. Soft Shell Crab

89. Som Tam

90. Spaetzle

91. Spam

92. Squirrel

93. Steak Tartare

94. Sweet Potato Fries

95. Sweetbreads

96. Tom Yum

97. Umeboshi

98. Venison

99. Wasabi Peas (Wasabi paste, but not the peas, whole)

100. Zucchini Flowers

That brings my total to 47. It's fun to go through this list and remember where and why I've tried different things during my life - traveling, family, college roommates, friends, etc. How many have you tried?

In Your Arms.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:57:00 +0000

Check out Kina Grannis' music video for the song "In Your Arms".

22 months
1,357 hours
30 people
2 ladders
1 still camera
288,000 jelly beans.

whoa.

via NieNie Dialogues

DIY Hanging Planter

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Our house has a hook on the ceiling in the kitchen/dining room. We've been meaning to hang a plant up there since we've moved in. In February we made a trip to Ikea and found a cute plant hanger,

brought it to the checkout along with all the other things that we didn't come for but suddenly really needed (anyone else have this Ikea-problem?), paid for the hanger, and then somehow left it behind. When we got home we searched the car, but it definitely wasn't there. Last time we made a trip to Burlington, this hanger had been discontinued. Sad day.

And so, after many, many months, I decided it was just time to take the matter into my own hands. I did a search to see if anyone had any ideas for a DIY plant hanger. There were surprisingly few, but I did find some good ones. The one that I particularly liked was from Whitney from Sew Trashy. She used a t-shirt to make a great hanger:

I used one of Willem's old white t-shirts. From the look of Whitney's hanger, I'm guessing she cut the shirt up into 2" (ish) strips. I cut mine to be between 1/2" and 1", so the cords are much thinner. I braided them into three braids, sewed the bottom ends together (pointing in three opposite directions), and then tied a knot at the top. Finally, I tied the top ends together to make loops to hang it from.

And voila! A hanging planter:

We put our little Himalayan plant in there for the time being but we'll have to invest in a cascading plant soon.

Summer Cravings.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:20:00 +0000

We took a trip to Ikea yesterday to pick up a picture frame for a large canvas map for our office wall. While we were there we stocked up on napkins for our summer barbecues and get-togethers. Check out the cute new ones they have this year:

Gunga from Ikea

We've already had hamburgers on the bbq a number of times (this meal always makes it feel like summer) and I'm looking forward to the kiwi vine leaves coming out. They enclose our back deck and make it feel like a real retreat space. It is the absolute best thing to have outdoor space...after a year of not having any in our old apartment, we just can't get enough of it.

I've been looking forward to summer for the past few months (sad, but true). In January I even created an invitation* for a little summer evening shindig. All I have to do is pick a date that works, adjust/fix the contact info, and it's good to go:

*Inspiration from Wicked Brides' Cafe Lights wedding invation. The little lights just make me think of soft breezes and a large pitcher of sangria.

Pizza Stone.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Willem bought a pizza stone yesterday. I found this great pizza dough recipe a few weeks ago and while our Monday night pizza nights have been even better since using this dough, it's still missing that nicely browned, crispy bottom. On Monday the centre was so thin and soggy (too much sauce perhaps?) that it was nearly impossible to eat. They say if you want to make good pizza then go immediately to the store and buy a pizza stone. Well, we finally did. I'm looking forward to trying it out on Monday. I also want to make focaccia bread on it. Yummmm, I LOVE focaccia. I'm looking for a great recipe if anyone has one...

Peter Reinhart's Napoletana Pizza Dough Recipe

Also, yesterday I booked a campsite at the Pinery for a few days in July. I am so looking forward to a few days of a camping and especially sitting on the beach. Hoorah, I can't wait.

The Pinery

Michigan.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:03:00 +0000

This past weekend was filled to the brim with visiting family in Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan. We had an absolutely wonderful time seeing everyone (aunts, uncles, cousins, my brother, and grandparents) and catching up. On Sunday we left early and drove to Detroit to go to church and spend the afternoon with our dear friends Kate and Matt. The weekend was full of good conversation, walks in the sunshine, and trees in full blossom. Here in Hamilton we haven't seen leaves, blossoms, or tulips yet, but in western Michigan they are out in full-force. As my uncle says, looks like Tulip Time this year is going to be Stem Fest as it's still a month away.

Photo credit: Erica Maddox. Did I remember the camera? Yes. Did I remember to take a single picture? No.

We went for a drive with Grandpa and Grandma Saturday night to Saugatuck. We went by the Felt Mansion (which is said to be haunted), and around some of their other favourite places in the area on the way. I also discovered the location of a very vivid memory I have of fishing with Grandpa when I was 3 or 4.

On Sunday we happened upon the Greek Independence Day celebrations in Detroit on an afternoon walk. What a fascinating city - I'm glad I've now finally been there. Willem and I discuss Detroit a lot (we both studied Sociology...what can I say) and it's good to be able to connect the place with all the stats and info I've learned about this place.

All in all, it was a great weekend, but I am looking forward to spending next weekend quietly at home.

Whole Wheat.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:24:00 +0000

On Wednesday afternoon Willem and I picked up our Oak Manor flour - 10kg of all-purpose and 10kg of whole wheat. I went straight to work making soaked whole wheat bread, using this delicious-looking recipe by Shaye over at the Elliot Homestead (I am, by the way, finding all sorts of gems on her blog...such as her homemade face cream which I made the other day and love.)

Whole Wheat Bread at the Elliot Homestead

I made the bread exactly as the recipe said (with all 11 cups of whole wheat flour!), but somehow it would not rise. I baked it anyways as I couldn't let it go to waste. It turned out tasting delicious but each loaf weighs about 5 lbs. It's like picking up a newborn.

I'm not ready to give up on this recipe yet. It is, obviously, tried, tested, and true, but somehow wasn't working for me. There are three things I want to try differently next time:

1. Get new yeast. It proofed just fine, but maybe it wasn't quite active enough? I know very little about the mysterious workings of yeast, but it sounds plausible to me...
2. Use fresh vital wheat gluten. I borrowed some from my neighbour and while they kept it in the freezer, it wasn't exactly fresh (the bag said "sell by Nov. 2009"). Hmmm...now that I type that out, it's seems a bit obvious that I should get some fresh stuff before my next bread-making adventure.
3. Mix in some all-purpose flour with the whole wheat. It's very likely that Shaye's whole wheat flour is different from mine...mine might need a little extra help in the rising-department.

Thanks for posting this recipe Shaye! I'm looking forward to perfecting it in my own home, oven, and Southern Ontario climate (all differing factors, right?)

**Update: I talked to a friend who works as a baker at the Earth to Table Bread Bar (she definitely knows what she's doing). They also use Oak Manor flour and she says to never use more than 1/2 whole wheat flour. Because of the flour's graininess it will not rise if there is too much whole wheat. Good to know. We still have a super dense loaf left in the freezer so once that is gone I'm going to try this recipe again with 60% white, 40% whole wheat.

Run Ottawa.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Every Tuesday and Thursday I go to an hour-long work out session with a group of women from my church. This year, eight of us decided to make the 6 hour trek to Ottawa for the Ottawa Race Weekend. A few of us are running the 10k, a few are running the 5k, and a few are walking the 10k.

There is nothing like an upcoming race to motivate us all to get our butts into gear. I have been running fairly regularly this past month (although I admit, the slightest unpleasantness in the weather and I am more than happy to stay home). It feels good to be running again and to challenge myself in this way. It's the first time I've ever trained by myself. Running alone is different but it's gone better than expected. I actually kind of enjoy the quiet time with just myself.

Ottawa is a gorgeous city and this race is an evening run in late Spring...sounds pretty perfect to me.

Spring.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:04:00 +0000

After a few weeks of mid-winter blahs, I've found my way back to this blog. My apologies for a lack of updates.

It has been absolutely gorgeous here since Sunday (even with all the rain yesterday). The temperature has been hovering around 15C (about 60F) and the sun is shining. It is that time of year when everyone wants to be outside just to feel the fresh air. It's the awakening after winter that makes you want to throw open your windows and air the whole house out.

I find I am so productive when the weather is like this. I try to keep Sunday as a day set apart, for Sabbath rest. But this past Sunday I was just itching to clean, and as this feeling is rare and far between, I took full advantage of it. I did all the laundry, set up a make-shift clothes line to dry everything (we moved in in September so summery things like clothes lines don't yet exist at our house), baked an absolutely delicious lemon cake, cleaned the kitchen, and washed the windows.

Hooray for Spring...it's so life-giving. It gives energy, creativity, inspiration, and motivation.

*my fingers are crossed, along with all the fruit farmers', that it stays above 0C.

Things I want to make this week:

These cute felt coasters from Jessica Jones at How About Orange

And this incredible looking pizza dough by Peter Reinhart from Heidi at 101 Cookbooks:

We're getting our delicious locally-grown, locally-milled flour order in today from Oak Manor. Can't wait bake something yummy with it!

Welcome Spring! ...and Welcome back to the blog, Kathryn.

Needlework.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Thank you Beaux Mondes for the lovely post about Needlework. Due to the busyness of life right now, I haven't been to James St N since Christmas and so missed seeing this new place come in. But now i'm definitely looking forward to checking it out.

photo: Stephanie Trendocher and/or Jacklyn Warmington, Beaux Mondes

I love the idea of a community crafting space. It's perfect for Hamilton too because 1. we don't really have anything like it (Ottawa St to me doesn't scream "come in a stay awhile"), and 2. because it's pretty clear that there are a lot of crafters in the area. Crafting is more fun in the company of others.

While I'm looking forward to their expansion into yarns and knitting, I'm also excited because at the moment they are focusing only on fabrics and sewing. I love fabrics, but my borrowed sewing machine is still sitting on the shelf at home staring down at me every time I open the closet door. I'm so daunted by it I haven't even tried plugging it in. Needlework's sewing class for beginners might be just the ticket I've been looking for.

Kate and Liz, welcome to Hamilton. I'm looking forward to meeting you and your adorable new space.

to you:

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:33:00 +0000

from me.

Scale of the Universe.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Check out The Scale of the Universe created by Cary and Michael Huang. It's v. cool.

Snoring Dormmouse.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:16:00 +0000

My brother sent me this video yesterday. It's pretty cute.

Yes Please: Sway.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

If I somehow came to be in possession of a Sway chair, I think I would never leave it. Designed by Markus Krauss, the Sway is a rocking chair for two. Comfortable for an individual or a pair, it is made up of a steel frame with soft grey cushioning. Check out how comfortable it looks:

You can also prop it up with a small attachment to make it a super comfy chair without the rocking:

via Jeanie Jeanie

Carly.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:25:00 +0000

I saw a really amazing video today about Carly Fleischmann. Carly is a teenager with dreams, opinions, crushes, and autism. Growing up, she wasn't able to communicate with those around her. Her parents spent thousands of dollars on therapists and programs for Carly, but progress was painfully slow. Over time, Carly did show some signs of learning and understanding. Her breakthrough came, though, when she was eleven.

One day while working with her therapist, she sat down at a computer for the first time. Unexpectedly, Carly slowly typed out two words: HURT and HELP. While it hasn't been an easy journey, Carly has since then learned to communicate and share her experiences with those around her through typing. In the past couple of years, her parents have been able to get to know their daughter - a funny, smart teenage girl who has a crush on Brad Pitt. Carly has been able to explain to them how her brain works and why she does certain things.

Photo from her Blog, Carlysvoice.com

Carly has a blog where she answers interviews people, answers questions and works to give autistic children a voice.

Hamilton Ryan Gosling.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:28:00 +0000

Ryan Gosling was my very first celebrity crush. He played Alan Bosley in Remember the Titans.

remember this?

When I was in grade 6, my dear Emilie and I would rewind the VHS tape again and again in all the places where he showed up (ha, that's really embarrassing). Anyways, he's one of our own, born in London, Ontario and later moving to Burlington.

Have you seen the Ryan Gosling memes, such as the Law School Ryan Gosling? Well, perhaps inspired by the recent twitter buzzing about Mr. Gosling himself being in Hess Village, some wonderful soul has created the Hamilton Ryan Gosling, full of little moments ready to set any Hamiltonian girl's heart a-fluttering.

(...thanks to Willem for sending me the link. What a supportive husband I have.)

Word as Image.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:04:00 +0000

Growing up I always enjoyed those little word games where you find the phrase by the position of the words, such as:

(The answer being "eggs over easy")

Ji Lee creates something similar and just as fun with his project called Word as Image. I think these are so creative. It makes me want to start keeping my eye out for images I see in words throughout my day. A little brain teaser of sorts. Here are some of his:

Fun right?

via My Modern Met

Somebody that I used to know.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

When Walk Off the Earth posted their newest video (less than 2 weeks ago) they had no idea of the uptake it would get. The video went viral within days. They're already had over 23 million views on Youtube. They're also from Burlington which is just around the corner from me. It's a great video and definitely worth a watch:

I checked out the original song and it's fantastic. It's been in my head for days.

Fotoshop.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:40:00 +0000

Filmmaker Jesse Rosten put together this video after watching a cosmetic commercial that he was sure simply showed original and then photoshopped pictures. The video's tagline is, "This commercial isn’t real, and neither are society’s standards of beauty." It's a refreshing reminder about the ridiculous standards our society idealizes - even cover girls don't really look like cover girls.

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

(It reminds me of Dove's Evolution commercial that was put out a few years ago.)

via The Society Pages

Standing Desk.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:08:00 +0000

I'm doing some reading about standing desks. I spend the majority of my day sitting at my desk, 5 days a week. I've been working this particular job for about a year and a half now and I cringe when I start thinking about how much time I've spent sitting on my butt in this chair.

A standing desk, with a bar stool (such as the one in the second picture) would work well I think. I could stand for most of the day which is better for blood flow and posture and burns way more calories than sitting down all day.

Apparently there's some money in this year's budget for office improvements so I'll have to see what I come up when I know the amount I have to work with. Here are some DIY ideas:

source

Does anyone have other ideas for a standing desk?

Boats.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:39:00 +0000

"Chester, Nova Scotia" by Learning Junkie

This photo makes me want to take a book, a towel, and a floppy hat and spend the afternoon in the sunshine watching the boats go by.

Starting.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:05:00 +0000

In the past month or so, my spirit has just not been into blogging. I just haven't felt inspired to write. But, I suppose the only way to get back into it, is just to start. To make something happen. To force some thoughts into words.

After moving into our new house in September, we worked hard to make it feel like home by painting the walls, arranging and rearranging the furniture, hanging artwork, etc. But we reached a point where things felt finished and we haven't done much since (besides getting lovely new curtains in December which made us both so happy). My creative side is waking up again though.

This past weekend Willem and I finally started reupholstering our dining room chairs (pictures tomorrow). Last night was the first class in the Design Principles course I'm taking. At the end of class we spent some time placing furniture in a 1/4 inch one bed apartment floor plan. I really enjoyed doing that, and am looking forward to learning more about those little tricks and tips designers use to make a room look 'just so'.

Glass.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Yesterday I posted a picture of a beautiful wedding that place outside, yet emphasized elements of church. Today, I'm posting a picture of an indoor church that emphasis the natural beauty of the it's surroundings.

This chapel is located in Gretna, Nebraska on the interstate. One of Fast Company's Co.Design editors, Belinda Lanks, writes, 'it is the work of four anonymous Catholics--including an architect and landscape architect--who were inspired to build a chapel for “travelers of the road and of the spirit” in the style of Euine Fay Jones, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright.'

What an amazing place to take a break from a long journey and to sit, rest, and reflect. You would surely leave feeling refreshed.

Their website has lots of information on the thoughtful design of inside and out.

via Co.Design

Neighbourhood Progressive Potluck.

noreply@blogger.com (Kathryn) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:01:00 +0000

To celebrate the Christmas season we're having a progressive dinner with our neighbours tonight. We're hosting appetizers at 5:30, moving on to entrees at Grant and Emily's at 6:30, and finally to Dan and Kristen's for dessert at 7:30. The idea is to share good food and festivities and to also get to know our neighbours better (we'll be meeting many for the first time, as we're still new to the street). We chose to do a progressive dinner to allow for a change of scenery, to split up the hosting, and to allow for people to come to whichever part(s) works for them.

Our contribution to the appetizers will be spinach dip in a pumpernickle bowl, a cheese/meat/cracker tray, and a version of these incredibly delicious (and um...healthy? ha, nope) bites:

Recipe by Lindsay from her blog from the aisle to aloha.

As if this wasn't excitement enough for me, there's more happening tonight. My dear friend Kristy and her boyfriend Adrian are coming over around 10. They'll sleep over and continue on their drive from Michigan home to Niagara tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to catching up and spending some good time with them.

It's going to be a busy, foodie, festive weekend.