Canvas to the Imagination

There was something magical about yesterday’s snowy weather. I felt like a kid again as I walked up my street to catch a bus to work. I was warm, cozy, and happy all bundled up in my many layers and I wasn’t bothered at all about having to slog through the wet snow. It reminded me of winters in Ontario, of those days when the snow is thick on the ground but the texture is dry and fluffy, the sky is clear and the temperature is surprisingly warm. I walked outside a lot yesterday, part of the way to work and all the way home later in the evening. There were a lot of other people doing the same but maybe not for the pleasure of it like I was.

Good Things from Yesterday:
- Getting fresh air and exercise
- Helping put together an excellent Christmas luncheon for Hop Studios
- Goofing around outside helping to clean off Travis and Susie’s car
- Feeling over-sugared from eating Susie’s excellent homemade caramel (it’s so good, yet so bad for you.)

It is Sunday afternoon and I’ve decided to take a break from the frenzy of Christmas baking I’ve been up to for the last few hours. I haven’t done baking for Christmas in a few years and I am trying all new recipes. I started with a batch of candied orange peels, then onto chocolate almond bark, with a finale of chocolate truffles. I am waiting for each batch of yummies to cool and set, but otherwise I am done. Overall these were really easy things to make though the citrus peels were the most labour intensive, requiring multiple reboils in hot water to soften and remove the pith. I may do a second batch of these and do a better job with pith removal because they make the taste more sour than sweet.

Good Things from the Weekend:
1. Getting set up with a new cell phone (and plan) that is about one thousand times more advanced than the one I’ve had for almost five years.
2. Baking chocolate chip banana bread
3. Making and sharing Saturday brunch with friends
4. Having a recovered Boris back to the land of the living
5. Getting out for a walk on a rainy but lovely Friday night

Taken with a pinhole camera, while sitting in the window of Brioche on West Cordova Street in Vancouver. They have really yummy soup, and very delicious looking desserts I have yet to try.

Yesterday evening I went on one of my favorite Vancouver walks with a friend. When the water is at low tide, it’s possible to walk along the beach all the way from Kitsilano to Jericho. It is really peaceful down there, with wonderful views of the city and the North Shore. Try it sometime.