-We're currently in the midst of a light snow shower. Assuming all goes as planned, I'll probably head out in a few minutes to do a little light shovelling. Of course, depending on the length of this snow shower I may or may not have to head out later tonight to do a little final tidying.
-Fortunately, we've not had all that much snow this winter. And what snow we did have earlier in the winter was reduced dramatically by a warm stretch we had a few weeks ago.
-The Pet Roombaing has continued unabated. And as I've previously reported, each session results in far more hair and dust than seems reasonable given the frequency with which the machine is run. Gross.
-A few days ago Jeannette and I bought about a pound of strawberries. We consumed them in a single sitting last night as the fruit component of a chocolate fondue session. Once we ran out of fruit I switched to crackers (we wouldn't want to waste perfectly good chocolate, would we?).
-At the New Year's Eve party we attended one of the attending families brought a chocolate fountain with them. While the theory is quite similar to chocolate fondue, to get the right consistency for the 'fountain' effect they had to add quite a bit of vegetable oil to the pounds of melted chocolate. It was probably quite good that I saw the prep stage as I think I am quite unlikely to ever take part in any chocolate fountain activities in the future (not that I'd ever taken part in the past - but now I have a good reason).
-At some point I going to have to figure out what we're going to have for dinner. B'ys, it just never ends.
-Hope you're enjoying your blog-off content spurt.
Cameron - 8
Neil - 0
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A Few Quick Notes 612
-Though we can often go months and months without any real rain, for the past week or two rain has been a very regular occurrence. For most of the past few days we've had more than one very intense rain shower, and on a few occasions we've had rather extended rainfalls lasting for hours at a time. Not surprisingly, the ground is now absolutely drenched. What fun.
-A few nights ago we even had enough rain that we had a little water in our basement. While it's unfortunate that we have any water problems in our basement, I'm glad that it is only when we have either massive thawing or a substantial rain storm that we have problems. Arguably, that water came in exactly where I hoped it wouldn't because of an epoxy patching agent that I'd used at least somewhat conclusively confirms my sense that the patch work didn't stick.
If the rain ever stops I'll have to head down and try to do some crack patching again. Hopefully this time I'll use something that at least works for one major rainfall.
-Since the local grocery stores started carrying cherries in the past few weeks we've really upped our cherry consumption. If I know what's best for me I should probably consider dialling it back down to under two pounds of cherries a day.
-Last night we received a last minute invitation to attend a barbecue with a few neighbours. Aside from the sudden downpour that forced inside for about an hour, we had a great time. Because we brought a tray of vegetables with us I finally had the excuse I needed to harvest the first green onions from our garden. As expected, they were pretty green oniony.
-While the rain means that we haven't needed to water our garden in weeks, a little more sun would probably be good at this stage. I guess probably shouldn't be complaining too much - basically everything seems to be growing. The potatoes, in particular, seem to be doing well.
-This year we've also planted a garden in front of our house. Our original plan was to plant a variety of plants that would look nice and complement each other in terms of height and style. As the absence of sun seems to have stunted growth I'm not sure if the plan will come to fruition this year. Of course, even if it doesn't we should at least manage to grow a few potatoes, some corn, and a few tomatoes.
-A few nights ago we even had enough rain that we had a little water in our basement. While it's unfortunate that we have any water problems in our basement, I'm glad that it is only when we have either massive thawing or a substantial rain storm that we have problems. Arguably, that water came in exactly where I hoped it wouldn't because of an epoxy patching agent that I'd used at least somewhat conclusively confirms my sense that the patch work didn't stick.
If the rain ever stops I'll have to head down and try to do some crack patching again. Hopefully this time I'll use something that at least works for one major rainfall.
-Since the local grocery stores started carrying cherries in the past few weeks we've really upped our cherry consumption. If I know what's best for me I should probably consider dialling it back down to under two pounds of cherries a day.
-Last night we received a last minute invitation to attend a barbecue with a few neighbours. Aside from the sudden downpour that forced inside for about an hour, we had a great time. Because we brought a tray of vegetables with us I finally had the excuse I needed to harvest the first green onions from our garden. As expected, they were pretty green oniony.
-While the rain means that we haven't needed to water our garden in weeks, a little more sun would probably be good at this stage. I guess probably shouldn't be complaining too much - basically everything seems to be growing. The potatoes, in particular, seem to be doing well.
-This year we've also planted a garden in front of our house. Our original plan was to plant a variety of plants that would look nice and complement each other in terms of height and style. As the absence of sun seems to have stunted growth I'm not sure if the plan will come to fruition this year. Of course, even if it doesn't we should at least manage to grow a few potatoes, some corn, and a few tomatoes.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
A Few Quick Notes 611
-Today has been variously rainy, cloudy, and sunny. Unfortunately, the sunny portions of the day have tended to be the shortest. Apparently funnel clouds have been spotted in souther Saskatchewan - so there's that too.
-Maybe because of the rain we had over the past few days the mosquitos have been out in full force. While at our Ultimate game on Thursday I received several bites and this afternoon while we were in the garden briefly Jeannette received about a half dozen bites, most of which were through her clothes.
-Yesterday I made a quite enjoyable batch of pea soup for dinner.
-We've been on something of a fruit leather making kick recently. We've made three batches in the past few days. I think we're particularly motivated to make this much because each successive batch has been more successful than the previous batch. I'm convinced that part of the recent success stems from my decision to include both a wider variety of fruits and also to include the juice from one or two lemons.
As Jeannette can attest, the only problem with so many successful batches of fruit leather is availability of so much fruit leather. If one's not careful one can in a matter of minutes eat the equivalent of several pounds worth of fruit. I guess there are worse things one could be binging on.
-Maybe because of the rain we had over the past few days the mosquitos have been out in full force. While at our Ultimate game on Thursday I received several bites and this afternoon while we were in the garden briefly Jeannette received about a half dozen bites, most of which were through her clothes.
-Yesterday I made a quite enjoyable batch of pea soup for dinner.
-We've been on something of a fruit leather making kick recently. We've made three batches in the past few days. I think we're particularly motivated to make this much because each successive batch has been more successful than the previous batch. I'm convinced that part of the recent success stems from my decision to include both a wider variety of fruits and also to include the juice from one or two lemons.
As Jeannette can attest, the only problem with so many successful batches of fruit leather is availability of so much fruit leather. If one's not careful one can in a matter of minutes eat the equivalent of several pounds worth of fruit. I guess there are worse things one could be binging on.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
A Few Quick Notes 603
-After a few false starts, we've finally had a full-fledged snowy winter's day in Regina. At the moment I'd say that we have somewhere between 5 and 7 cm of snow on the ground, though I guess my estimate could be a little off due because zero-ish temperatures are leading to some simultaneous melting.
-Because of the snowfall I'll have to head out for some shovelling later today. I tried to do some shovelling a few weeks ago when we had another small snowfall but there wasn't enough to really clear.
-Last weekend we purchased a discount vegetarian Indian cookbook. The night we purchased the book we prepared about four of the dishes in the book. They were great. The only problem with the book is that it has lead us to over eat. Of course, this overeating hasn't discouraged me from fantasizing about preparing even more dishes from the book this weekend. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
-A few months ago we purchased a food dehydrator. Since that time we've been really into dried apples and fruit leather. Turns out that with a few hours of dehydrating time you can turn a dozen apples into nothing more than a few grams of dried apples/fruit leather. The problem, if you can say there is a problem, is that the dried fruit can be consumed almost instantly and without the feeling that you're chewing through multiple apples in a matter of seconds.
-Turns out I should probably do some fish tank cleaning today. Do Saturdays get more fun?
-Last weekend, while socializing with neighbours, one of the guys recommended a pomegranate de-seeding technique. When I finally got around to trying it last night I was amazed that it was actually as easy and effective as promised. You really have do the whole thing in less than a minute.
[Embedded video]
-Because of the snowfall I'll have to head out for some shovelling later today. I tried to do some shovelling a few weeks ago when we had another small snowfall but there wasn't enough to really clear.
-Last weekend we purchased a discount vegetarian Indian cookbook. The night we purchased the book we prepared about four of the dishes in the book. They were great. The only problem with the book is that it has lead us to over eat. Of course, this overeating hasn't discouraged me from fantasizing about preparing even more dishes from the book this weekend. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
-A few months ago we purchased a food dehydrator. Since that time we've been really into dried apples and fruit leather. Turns out that with a few hours of dehydrating time you can turn a dozen apples into nothing more than a few grams of dried apples/fruit leather. The problem, if you can say there is a problem, is that the dried fruit can be consumed almost instantly and without the feeling that you're chewing through multiple apples in a matter of seconds.
-Turns out I should probably do some fish tank cleaning today. Do Saturdays get more fun?
-Last weekend, while socializing with neighbours, one of the guys recommended a pomegranate de-seeding technique. When I finally got around to trying it last night I was amazed that it was actually as easy and effective as promised. You really have do the whole thing in less than a minute.
[Embedded video]
Sunday, June 17, 2012
A Few Quick Notes 581
-At first I was thinking today wouldn't be particularly hot or unpleasant, it seems I may have been a little off. It's just past noon and it already feels like it's in the low 30s. Gross.
-It seems that the Ottawa Fringe Festival is taking place in our neighbourhood. Despite my best efforts I haven't yet been able to convince Jeannette to attend any of the shows with me. Hopefully sometime between now and the end of the festival I'll manage to talk her into seeing at least of of the shows.
-As another week as passed I thought I would post a few more photos of our container garden progress.
Not surprisingly, the largest portion of our container garden is where we've seen the most growth. The largest tomato plant keeps pumping out flowers (and immature tomatoes), as do our four pepper plants. And our runner beans ran right up a line I set up for them. Maybe most amazingly, our mini-pumpkin plants keep adding new leaves and buds (though only male buds so far) to their pot. Almost every morning when we head our for the first inspection/watering of the day we find new and exciting developments.
Or, if you were looking for the angle I've posted for the past few weeks.
And if you needed more evidence in support of my claim about the presence of immature tomatoes.
The bathroom wheat continues to grow, but I think the less-than-harsh environment that is our bathroom didn't condition the wheat for some of the wind that we had earlier this week. To try to overcome the weakness of the plants and fix the damage that was done I installed this new rigging system. Hopefully this will encourage the growth patterns we are looking for.
We've also had some success with some of the plants I haven't spent as much time documenting.
For instance, a few days I noticed that one of our bean plants had a juvenile bean. I would guess that we now have at least a dozen or so beans in various stages of not-quite-ready-to-pickness.
And after a slow start our lettuce has finally started to come into its own. Maybe if we'd used a reasonably sized pot we'd have even more success (but I'm still hopeful that even with this small pot we'll have enough lettuce for a few salads).
And finally, maybe our most exciting garden development is that we finally had our first harvest. When we went out to check on the plants this morning we noticed that two of our strawberries were ripe. While even if you combine them these guys won't be much of a meal, it's nice to know that purchasing those plants wasn't all for nought.
-One of the things I've really like about our subscription to the Ottawa Citizen is that it means we're regularly supplied with new crossword puzzles. Not that either of us is particularly adept at crossword puzzle solving, having the opportunity to spend a few minutes each morning on such a puzzle can be quite pleasurable.
Oh, and maybe the best thing is that on Saturday and Sunday two such puzzles are included. They seem to know that when we have more breakfast time on our hands we will want more puzzles.
-It seems that the Ottawa Fringe Festival is taking place in our neighbourhood. Despite my best efforts I haven't yet been able to convince Jeannette to attend any of the shows with me. Hopefully sometime between now and the end of the festival I'll manage to talk her into seeing at least of of the shows.
-As another week as passed I thought I would post a few more photos of our container garden progress.
Not surprisingly, the largest portion of our container garden is where we've seen the most growth. The largest tomato plant keeps pumping out flowers (and immature tomatoes), as do our four pepper plants. And our runner beans ran right up a line I set up for them. Maybe most amazingly, our mini-pumpkin plants keep adding new leaves and buds (though only male buds so far) to their pot. Almost every morning when we head our for the first inspection/watering of the day we find new and exciting developments.
Or, if you were looking for the angle I've posted for the past few weeks.
And if you needed more evidence in support of my claim about the presence of immature tomatoes.
The bathroom wheat continues to grow, but I think the less-than-harsh environment that is our bathroom didn't condition the wheat for some of the wind that we had earlier this week. To try to overcome the weakness of the plants and fix the damage that was done I installed this new rigging system. Hopefully this will encourage the growth patterns we are looking for.
We've also had some success with some of the plants I haven't spent as much time documenting.
For instance, a few days I noticed that one of our bean plants had a juvenile bean. I would guess that we now have at least a dozen or so beans in various stages of not-quite-ready-to-pickness.
And after a slow start our lettuce has finally started to come into its own. Maybe if we'd used a reasonably sized pot we'd have even more success (but I'm still hopeful that even with this small pot we'll have enough lettuce for a few salads).
And finally, maybe our most exciting garden development is that we finally had our first harvest. When we went out to check on the plants this morning we noticed that two of our strawberries were ripe. While even if you combine them these guys won't be much of a meal, it's nice to know that purchasing those plants wasn't all for nought.
-One of the things I've really like about our subscription to the Ottawa Citizen is that it means we're regularly supplied with new crossword puzzles. Not that either of us is particularly adept at crossword puzzle solving, having the opportunity to spend a few minutes each morning on such a puzzle can be quite pleasurable.
Oh, and maybe the best thing is that on Saturday and Sunday two such puzzles are included. They seem to know that when we have more breakfast time on our hands we will want more puzzles.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A Few Quick Notes 564
-While I was expecting be faced with either the rain or snow when I woke up this morning, instead what we got was just a little wind. I wonder if Sackville is getting any of the 10 to 15 cm of snow/ice pellets they were expecting?
-I think I am not 1 for 5 in this years RUTRTW contest. As I am only giving this whole thing a half-hearted attempt I am not surprised with such results.
-Oh, and even though we didn't really have that much rain or snow it seems that close to 2000 are without power in the area. I can't help but wonder how this is possible. Maybe a branch landed on something and broke it?
-While waiting for someone to stop by and pick something up this morning I decided to make some banana bread. Of course part way through the process I remembered that we were out of regular flour. So I now have a loaf of whole wheat banana bread cooling in the kitchen. Yum?
-About two nights ago I went to my local grocery store and discovered that they were selling some kind of super pomello that must be close to twice as large as a normal pomello.
The problem with this picture is that it is hard to grasp exactly how big this piece of fruit was. Maybe you can see that it is positioned in front of a microwave and that it's as tall as the control panel? Anyway, eating this thing was not a one-sitting feat.
Cameron: 34
Neil: 0
-I think I am not 1 for 5 in this years RUTRTW contest. As I am only giving this whole thing a half-hearted attempt I am not surprised with such results.
-Oh, and even though we didn't really have that much rain or snow it seems that close to 2000 are without power in the area. I can't help but wonder how this is possible. Maybe a branch landed on something and broke it?
-While waiting for someone to stop by and pick something up this morning I decided to make some banana bread. Of course part way through the process I remembered that we were out of regular flour. So I now have a loaf of whole wheat banana bread cooling in the kitchen. Yum?
-About two nights ago I went to my local grocery store and discovered that they were selling some kind of super pomello that must be close to twice as large as a normal pomello.
The problem with this picture is that it is hard to grasp exactly how big this piece of fruit was. Maybe you can see that it is positioned in front of a microwave and that it's as tall as the control panel? Anyway, eating this thing was not a one-sitting feat.
Cameron: 34
Neil: 0
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Few Quick Notes 557
-The temperature has been yo-yoing for the past few weeks. For instance, yesterday we had a high of 5 while it is currently -13. Apparently it is to be 10 on Friday. Between now and Friday we are to have a series of different forms of precipitation starting with snow and ending with rain. Sounds fun doesn't it?
-As Jeannette noted yesterday, we are currently in the midst of pomelo and blood orange season. Is there a better time of year than a time of year when you can have a pomelo a day?
-As Jeannette noted yesterday, we are currently in the midst of pomelo and blood orange season. Is there a better time of year than a time of year when you can have a pomelo a day?
I think not.
-For better or worse it seems that to coincide with the beginning of a new season of Republic of Doyle a few new pitches have been posted at Doyle Pitches. I suspect that the goal this year is, as Spike Lee almost said, "Mo' Better Pitches."
-Just days after I included a post about my podcast listening habits one of the individuals responsible for many of my listening habits also posted about his podcast listening habits. Of course, Jesse Thorn's post includes a few more details about each of the podcasts he listens to than my post (one might even go so far as to say that it is informative). What Jesse's post lacks, at least in comparison to mine, is an image that charts his development at a podcast listener. I mean, really, who creates such a list without an accompanying info-graphic. How gauche.
(I'm just glad tone comes across so clearly in electronic communications.)
Monday, September 26, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 550
-After a few days of cooler temperatures we seem to have headed back into the mid-twenties. Though it has occasionally been a bit muggy recently, I think that on the whole this weather is fine for this time of year.
-Yesterday some friends from Halifax came out to visit. After doing some apple u-picking we had lunch and then all played some pick-up Ultimate. All in all I think we all had a very enjoyable afternoon.
-Maybe a week ago my father brought to my attention a telephone and internet deal. Almost immediately I signed up for the deal as it will mean a 50% reduction in our telecommunications costs, at least that is what I am hoping will be the case. The aspect of the new arrangement that I am a little worried about is that for maybe two days we may have overlapping service. Anyway, if we don't have a fully functioning phone or internet connection for a few days starting tomorrow afternoon don't be surprised (and I am sure that many of you might be saddened by the prospect of not getting more of these updates for a few days).
Anyway, I just hope the transition is smoother than I am fearing it will be.
-Earlier today I finished reading my first ebook (I read it on an iPad). Much to my surprise, the experience was much more pleasant than I might have expected. Of course, the book didn't have illustrations screw with formatting and as I was reading the book recreationally the fact that it didn't have page numbers wasn't problematic. I can definitely see myself reading ebooks in the future, particularly as public libraries provide larger and larger ebook collections.
-Yesterday some friends from Halifax came out to visit. After doing some apple u-picking we had lunch and then all played some pick-up Ultimate. All in all I think we all had a very enjoyable afternoon.
-Maybe a week ago my father brought to my attention a telephone and internet deal. Almost immediately I signed up for the deal as it will mean a 50% reduction in our telecommunications costs, at least that is what I am hoping will be the case. The aspect of the new arrangement that I am a little worried about is that for maybe two days we may have overlapping service. Anyway, if we don't have a fully functioning phone or internet connection for a few days starting tomorrow afternoon don't be surprised (and I am sure that many of you might be saddened by the prospect of not getting more of these updates for a few days).
Anyway, I just hope the transition is smoother than I am fearing it will be.
-Earlier today I finished reading my first ebook (I read it on an iPad). Much to my surprise, the experience was much more pleasant than I might have expected. Of course, the book didn't have illustrations screw with formatting and as I was reading the book recreationally the fact that it didn't have page numbers wasn't problematic. I can definitely see myself reading ebooks in the future, particularly as public libraries provide larger and larger ebook collections.
Monday, August 01, 2011
They haven't given themselves up yet
A few weeks ago I mentioned that we have some grapes growing next to our apartment. Though the grapes are now more clearly grapes, I still can't quite tell what kind of grape we are dealing with. I am hoping that I will not only be able to identify the type of grape that we have, but also that I might be able to harvest a few of them to waste in a homemade wine attempt.
Anyway, this is all a ways off as these grapes are clearly some ways away from being ready to harvest.
Anyway, this is all a ways off as these grapes are clearly some ways away from being ready to harvest.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Citrus update
A few days ago I mentioned that I recently took advantage of a citrus sale and purchased a variety of citrus fruits. At the time I suggested that I might try to take a few photos of the fruits and post them here with comments about the consumption experience. As seems to be turning out, the comments about the fruits and the photos are now somewhat disconnected (though if you want to find my less than useful comments they are here).
And though it took me a few days, I am finally getting around to at least the photo part of the experience.
This first photo includes a number of the forms of citrus that I purchased during this citrus purchasing spree. From smallest to largest they are: sunburst tangerine (nasty and dry), blood orange (tangy, juicy, and excellent), ugli fruit (tangy and disconcertingly soft), grapefruit (delightfully tangy and juicy), and pomelo (relatively and verging on bland - definitely a tasty treat).
A few of the blood oranges I have purchased have been particularly purple, like the one pictured below, while others have been just tinged with purple at one end. Though I can't really tell if the stronger colours lead to a better flavour experience I do think I prefer it when the oranges are particularly dark.
Aren't you glad you stopped by today?
And though it took me a few days, I am finally getting around to at least the photo part of the experience.
This first photo includes a number of the forms of citrus that I purchased during this citrus purchasing spree. From smallest to largest they are: sunburst tangerine (nasty and dry), blood orange (tangy, juicy, and excellent), ugli fruit (tangy and disconcertingly soft), grapefruit (delightfully tangy and juicy), and pomelo (relatively and verging on bland - definitely a tasty treat).
A few of the blood oranges I have purchased have been particularly purple, like the one pictured below, while others have been just tinged with purple at one end. Though I can't really tell if the stronger colours lead to a better flavour experience I do think I prefer it when the oranges are particularly dark.
Aren't you glad you stopped by today?
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 498
-Today was strangely warm, though as I write this we seem to be heading back towards temperatures below freezing. Assuming the forecast is correct, this cool weather should be with us for the rest of the week.
-For the past two nights we have had vegetable heavy chicken stir-frys. These have been consumed with relatively little rice. This is all just part of our continued effort to maintain healthy diets.
-Episode 2 of the second season of The Republic of Doyle will be airing tonight in Canada. I am particularly looking forward to this episode as a few of my good friends will be appearing as extras. One of them can be seen is this still from the episode promo (he is the guy standing with his arms crossed to the left of the guy with the tattoos).
-I have recently been on something of a blood orange consumption spree. Yesterday I likely consumed about 6 of them (and five in a single sitting).
-A few days ago I realized that I haven't been to a liquor/beer store since mid-December. This also means that I haven't purchased beer or other alcohol from such a store in the same period of time. All things considered, this is likely a good thing.
-It seems that the two dogs that have been using the green space across from my window have recently been accompanied by a new chaperon. This new guy seems to be a military guy, or at least someone wearing a uniform that is militaristic. Weird.
-For the past two nights we have had vegetable heavy chicken stir-frys. These have been consumed with relatively little rice. This is all just part of our continued effort to maintain healthy diets.
-Episode 2 of the second season of The Republic of Doyle will be airing tonight in Canada. I am particularly looking forward to this episode as a few of my good friends will be appearing as extras. One of them can be seen is this still from the episode promo (he is the guy standing with his arms crossed to the left of the guy with the tattoos).
-I have recently been on something of a blood orange consumption spree. Yesterday I likely consumed about 6 of them (and five in a single sitting).
-A few days ago I realized that I haven't been to a liquor/beer store since mid-December. This also means that I haven't purchased beer or other alcohol from such a store in the same period of time. All things considered, this is likely a good thing.
-It seems that the two dogs that have been using the green space across from my window have recently been accompanied by a new chaperon. This new guy seems to be a military guy, or at least someone wearing a uniform that is militaristic. Weird.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 497
-Though today started off in the -14 range, as time has passed the temperature has steadily risen. Though it is now -2 the temperature is predicated to reach a few degrees above freezing by later tonight. I have to agree with Environment Canada that this is "an abnormal temperature trend."
-Today I bought a few blood oranages (also known as moro oranges). I opted for the regular priced bulk oranges at $1.95 a pound instead of the on sale 2 pound bags at $4.49. I am not sure if I feel about about spotting the chance to save or bad for all the people who will be suckered into paying the higher price.
-I am currently studying and drinking some yerba mate with my new bombilla. The big problem with this set up seems to be that the ability of the metal bombilla to conduct heat makes drinking the beverage when warm a little unpleasant. Of course, if you like really hot metal tubes that squirt equally hot water into your mouth than this may be the set up for you.
-The Dalhousie libraries website is really unpleasant to use. It is so frustrating when it is clear that so much effort has been put into a project that takes one further away from the goal than they were when the started.
-Today I bought a few blood oranages (also known as moro oranges). I opted for the regular priced bulk oranges at $1.95 a pound instead of the on sale 2 pound bags at $4.49. I am not sure if I feel about about spotting the chance to save or bad for all the people who will be suckered into paying the higher price.
-I am currently studying and drinking some yerba mate with my new bombilla. The big problem with this set up seems to be that the ability of the metal bombilla to conduct heat makes drinking the beverage when warm a little unpleasant. Of course, if you like really hot metal tubes that squirt equally hot water into your mouth than this may be the set up for you.
-The Dalhousie libraries website is really unpleasant to use. It is so frustrating when it is clear that so much effort has been put into a project that takes one further away from the goal than they were when the started.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 496
-After some early morning snow and slush today turned out to be a rather nice winter's day. Though it was cold this evening, the air was clear and the were sidewalks relatively dry.
-We managed to win our Ultimate game last night. This was a particularly impressive feat for two reasons. Firstly, because we were short females we had to pick one up from another team, which meant that we had to take a 7 point penalty. Secondly, even with our extra female player we only had two females, meaning that they didn't have any substitutes during the game. Hopefully we play as well next week.
(Update: Jeannette was upset that I did not mention that she was one of the two female player mentioned above. Both of these players played hard the entire game and score many of our points. Jeannette has suggested, and I agree, that she likely scored about one third of our points.)
-I have managed to do a fair bit of studying this weekend, which is good as my first comp is just around the corner.
-Our salad diet is still going strong. Furthermore, for the first time in my life I have also been doing a good job of integrating fruit into my diet. Actually, I may be over doing it on the fruit front, though this will likely come back into line now that one of the great citrus sales of the year has ended.
-I guess I should get back to work. The Durham Report awaits me.
-We managed to win our Ultimate game last night. This was a particularly impressive feat for two reasons. Firstly, because we were short females we had to pick one up from another team, which meant that we had to take a 7 point penalty. Secondly, even with our extra female player we only had two females, meaning that they didn't have any substitutes during the game. Hopefully we play as well next week.
(Update: Jeannette was upset that I did not mention that she was one of the two female player mentioned above. Both of these players played hard the entire game and score many of our points. Jeannette has suggested, and I agree, that she likely scored about one third of our points.)
-I have managed to do a fair bit of studying this weekend, which is good as my first comp is just around the corner.
-Our salad diet is still going strong. Furthermore, for the first time in my life I have also been doing a good job of integrating fruit into my diet. Actually, I may be over doing it on the fruit front, though this will likely come back into line now that one of the great citrus sales of the year has ended.
-I guess I should get back to work. The Durham Report awaits me.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Few Quick Notes 495
-We had another relatively mild winter's day today. My recollection is that things were a little grey, but never particularly bad.
-Assuming the forecast is worth anything, it seems that we are due for a storm starting tomorrow afternoon. The forecast is calling for up to 30 cm of snow, which seems hopeful given my experiences with Halifax weather. Whether we get the full weight of the storm or not, getting at least some snow seems plausible.
-I managed to consume a few more pieces of exotic citrus today. Of course, I consumed this fruit without documenting it in any way. Oops.
-It seems that the relatively unknown PC party leadership contender has been found to have ineligible signatures on his nomination form. In many ways this development isn't particularly surprising. I guess we will now have to see if the potential leadership candidate does go through with his threats to take any such disqualification to court. What ever happens, this should at least make for a few more days of exciting news from Newfoundland.
-Our salad trend continued tonight with both Rebecca and I opting for salads for dinner. Hopefully this pattern sticks.
-It seems that Republic of Doyle will make its triumphant return to Canada's airwaves tomorrow night. I am sure you are all waiting with baited breath for the season premiere as I am sure the better part of Newfoundland is. I am particularly looking forward to the second episode as I have been lead to believe that two of my friends are likely to make appearances as extras.
-Assuming the forecast is worth anything, it seems that we are due for a storm starting tomorrow afternoon. The forecast is calling for up to 30 cm of snow, which seems hopeful given my experiences with Halifax weather. Whether we get the full weight of the storm or not, getting at least some snow seems plausible.
-I managed to consume a few more pieces of exotic citrus today. Of course, I consumed this fruit without documenting it in any way. Oops.
-It seems that the relatively unknown PC party leadership contender has been found to have ineligible signatures on his nomination form. In many ways this development isn't particularly surprising. I guess we will now have to see if the potential leadership candidate does go through with his threats to take any such disqualification to court. What ever happens, this should at least make for a few more days of exciting news from Newfoundland.
-Our salad trend continued tonight with both Rebecca and I opting for salads for dinner. Hopefully this pattern sticks.
-It seems that Republic of Doyle will make its triumphant return to Canada's airwaves tomorrow night. I am sure you are all waiting with baited breath for the season premiere as I am sure the better part of Newfoundland is. I am particularly looking forward to the second episode as I have been lead to believe that two of my friends are likely to make appearances as extras.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
The Day of the Citrus
Yesterday I noticed that one of the local grocery stores was having a sale on a number of different non-standard varieties of citrus fruits. It didn't take me long to realize that I wanted to try a few of the varieties on sale. Shortly after buying the fruit I decided to give them all a try
Ugli Fruit - Living up to its name, this nasty looking fruit did taste a little better than it looked. That being said, this somewhat strong sour flavour made it not a new favourite.
Sunburst(?) Tangerine - Every few years I seem to be suckered into buying a few tangerines. This batch, like all of those in the past, was no exception to the rule: an incredible disappointment. For some reason tangerines are just never quite as flavourful or juicy as I expect them to be.
Pomelo - This isn't my first pomelo of the past few weeks so I wasn't particularly surprised with this particular citrus fruit. As usual, I quite enjoyed the flavour and texture of the fruit. That being said, I can see how it might be a bit sour for some people.
Blood Orange - I guess I must have had one of these in the past but I really don't remember when or under which circumstances this might have happened. Though this one had a little more flavour than I expected, it was also much better than I expected. If all oranges were this tasty I might actually eat them more regularly than once every few years.
Wow, that was much less informative than I hoped it would be. Sorry.
Ugli Fruit - Living up to its name, this nasty looking fruit did taste a little better than it looked. That being said, this somewhat strong sour flavour made it not a new favourite.
Sunburst(?) Tangerine - Every few years I seem to be suckered into buying a few tangerines. This batch, like all of those in the past, was no exception to the rule: an incredible disappointment. For some reason tangerines are just never quite as flavourful or juicy as I expect them to be.
Pomelo - This isn't my first pomelo of the past few weeks so I wasn't particularly surprised with this particular citrus fruit. As usual, I quite enjoyed the flavour and texture of the fruit. That being said, I can see how it might be a bit sour for some people.
Blood Orange - I guess I must have had one of these in the past but I really don't remember when or under which circumstances this might have happened. Though this one had a little more flavour than I expected, it was also much better than I expected. If all oranges were this tasty I might actually eat them more regularly than once every few years.
Wow, that was much less informative than I hoped it would be. Sorry.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Another Pomegranate Trick
A few days ago I mentioned had been lead to believe that there was a special, underwater pomegranate de-seeding trick. Of course, when I actually tried the trick the results were less than impressive. Furthermore, when I watched a video of the so-called trick on YouTube I learned that the trick really wasn't that impressive at all, even when performed by seasoned professionals.
It was then suggested to me, by my father, that my sister could show me the 'real' trick.
Yesterday I asked my sister to show me the trick and she obliged.
[Embedded video]
As you can see, this process does seem to be a fair bit faster than the under-water method, though it is still a little less impressive than I had imagined. The particularly notable attribute of this method, which involved cutting off the ends and scoring the sides, is that there is less juice wastage than in some other methods I have seen. So while this may not be the lighting-speed at which I had imagined the pomegranate de-seeding would take place, it was still a better process than I have been employing recently. If I remember, I will certainly use this technique the the next time I decided I want a pomegranate.
It was then suggested to me, by my father, that my sister could show me the 'real' trick.
Yesterday I asked my sister to show me the trick and she obliged.
[Embedded video]
As you can see, this process does seem to be a fair bit faster than the under-water method, though it is still a little less impressive than I had imagined. The particularly notable attribute of this method, which involved cutting off the ends and scoring the sides, is that there is less juice wastage than in some other methods I have seen. So while this may not be the lighting-speed at which I had imagined the pomegranate de-seeding would take place, it was still a better process than I have been employing recently. If I remember, I will certainly use this technique the the next time I decided I want a pomegranate.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tricked by the pomegranate 'trick'
I was recently told about a 'trick' that would allow me to more easily access the fruit of a pomegranate. Basically the idea was that if half of a pomegranate was pushed open (meaning pressure was applied on the skin side toward the open side) while under water the seeds would self-separate from the pulp.
It was suggested that the proper application of this technique would cause the seeds of a pomegranate to simply "fall out." Though skeptical, I was/am interested in a trick that would allow me to achieve such an effect.
Last night I decided to give the trick a try.
Not surprisingly, the results were quite underwhelming. Actually, the whole thing lead to an outcome that was basically the same as what I had before, but now there was water involved.
Also, it became clear to me that this 'trick' was somewhat widely known I wondered if I might be able to find instances of it being executed effectively. Of course, the internet seemed the place to find such an instance.
Not surprisingly, it was easy to find videos demonstrating this 'secret' pomegranate de-seeding technique. What was most amazing is that outcome presented in these videos was remarkably similar to the one that I achieved - meaning one that was remarkably underwhelming and oversold.
The following video is an example of the application of the 'trick.' As you can see, getting the seeds from the pomegranate is still somewhat labour intensive.
[Embedded video]
Anyway, this experience has taught me that I am really not that far off-base with my pomegranate de-seeding technique. It also has taught me that after hundreds, if not thousands, of years of consuming pomegranates humans have still not figured out an efficient way to get at the fruit (or bred them to be more accessible).
It was suggested that the proper application of this technique would cause the seeds of a pomegranate to simply "fall out." Though skeptical, I was/am interested in a trick that would allow me to achieve such an effect.
Last night I decided to give the trick a try.
Not surprisingly, the results were quite underwhelming. Actually, the whole thing lead to an outcome that was basically the same as what I had before, but now there was water involved.
Also, it became clear to me that this 'trick' was somewhat widely known I wondered if I might be able to find instances of it being executed effectively. Of course, the internet seemed the place to find such an instance.
Not surprisingly, it was easy to find videos demonstrating this 'secret' pomegranate de-seeding technique. What was most amazing is that outcome presented in these videos was remarkably similar to the one that I achieved - meaning one that was remarkably underwhelming and oversold.
The following video is an example of the application of the 'trick.' As you can see, getting the seeds from the pomegranate is still somewhat labour intensive.
[Embedded video]
Anyway, this experience has taught me that I am really not that far off-base with my pomegranate de-seeding technique. It also has taught me that after hundreds, if not thousands, of years of consuming pomegranates humans have still not figured out an efficient way to get at the fruit (or bred them to be more accessible).
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Michigan +9
Yesterday afternoon was actually somewhat busy. Not long after yesterday's trip report my uncle decided to install his digital TV antennae. While this shouldn't have been a particularly complicated process it did require about three people; my uncle was on the ladder with the equipment, my father was holding the ladder and relaying messages, and Neil was working the TV remote and scanning for channels. Eventually the device was placed in a position that allowed my uncle to catch about 20 channels, though some number are duplicates of the same channel (though they seem to be showing different content).
For dinner we had fillet mignon that we cooked on the barbecue. For some reason, presumably laziness, we didn't brand our steaks. To accompany our meat we had some nice corn on the cob and a few fresh vegetables. The most notable of the raw vegetables were a few plum-sized peeled turnips. As it turned out, the small turnips really weren't that tasty. I guess the good thing is that I won't like be tempted to serve too many more raw small turnips (I will stick to turnip sticks).
After dinner my uncle and I installed a solar-powered light on a tree in his backyard. Unfortunately the height at which the light was to be installed meant that we couldn't used the extension ladder but that the would be to short if properly used. As you might have guessed, we mis-used the step ladder (my uncle stood on the top step while I held it against the trunk of a tree). While holding the ladder I was quite taken with the sounds made by the cicadas. Not only was the volume impressive, but also the fact that it almost sounded as though the sounds were gradually moving from one side of the yard to the other.
Though I probably haven't effectively captured it, I did record a short clip of the sounds that these animals were making near the tree where we installed the lamp.
[Embedded video]
After the lamp installation I manned the burning operation for a little while. Aside from burning the lamp packaging, I also burned some scrap newspaper. Much to my surprise, this process took much longer than I originally expected. Apparently if you throw enough paper in to one of these you can really get quite a fire going and have it burn for quite a while.
[Embedded video]
Later in the evening we were visited by a form high school classmate of my father's and two of his daughters. We basically just sat around the back porch and had a few drinks and snacks.
This morning we started to make our way back to the east side of the state. While in Fenton for lunch we saw a great sign at a BP gas station.
Shortly after we arrived in Ypsilanti my father, sister, and I headed out to a raspberry and blackberry u-pick. In about 30-45 minutes we picked 6 quarts of raspberries and 2.5 quarts of raspberries.
While picking raspberries I happened to spot a small frog.
I have seen frogs like this only in Michigan, though I presume that they exist elsewhere in the world as well.
Tonight we will likely do a little visiting and whatnot. Actually, I think visiting and whatnot will consume much of the rest of the trip.
For dinner we had fillet mignon that we cooked on the barbecue. For some reason, presumably laziness, we didn't brand our steaks. To accompany our meat we had some nice corn on the cob and a few fresh vegetables. The most notable of the raw vegetables were a few plum-sized peeled turnips. As it turned out, the small turnips really weren't that tasty. I guess the good thing is that I won't like be tempted to serve too many more raw small turnips (I will stick to turnip sticks).
After dinner my uncle and I installed a solar-powered light on a tree in his backyard. Unfortunately the height at which the light was to be installed meant that we couldn't used the extension ladder but that the would be to short if properly used. As you might have guessed, we mis-used the step ladder (my uncle stood on the top step while I held it against the trunk of a tree). While holding the ladder I was quite taken with the sounds made by the cicadas. Not only was the volume impressive, but also the fact that it almost sounded as though the sounds were gradually moving from one side of the yard to the other.
Though I probably haven't effectively captured it, I did record a short clip of the sounds that these animals were making near the tree where we installed the lamp.
[Embedded video]
After the lamp installation I manned the burning operation for a little while. Aside from burning the lamp packaging, I also burned some scrap newspaper. Much to my surprise, this process took much longer than I originally expected. Apparently if you throw enough paper in to one of these you can really get quite a fire going and have it burn for quite a while.
[Embedded video]
Later in the evening we were visited by a form high school classmate of my father's and two of his daughters. We basically just sat around the back porch and had a few drinks and snacks.
This morning we started to make our way back to the east side of the state. While in Fenton for lunch we saw a great sign at a BP gas station.
Shortly after we arrived in Ypsilanti my father, sister, and I headed out to a raspberry and blackberry u-pick. In about 30-45 minutes we picked 6 quarts of raspberries and 2.5 quarts of raspberries.
While picking raspberries I happened to spot a small frog.
I have seen frogs like this only in Michigan, though I presume that they exist elsewhere in the world as well.
Tonight we will likely do a little visiting and whatnot. Actually, I think visiting and whatnot will consume much of the rest of the trip.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Improbable and fun recipes
Recently, I ended up cataloging a few cookbooks, most of which were
prepared by government and focused on traditional Newfoundland dishes
and ingredients (the one on Microwave cooking being a notable
exception). During the cataloging process I had a chance to look
through these books and stumbled on several improbable and strange
recipes, edited versions of several such recipes are included below.
prepared by government and focused on traditional Newfoundland dishes
and ingredients (the one on Microwave cooking being a notable
exception). During the cataloging process I had a chance to look
through these books and stumbled on several improbable and strange
recipes, edited versions of several such recipes are included below.
Broiled Grapefruit
2 large grapefruit, halved
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 Tsp. cinnamon
Halve grapefruit. Melt butter and then add sugar and cinnamon, pour
on grapefruit halves. Microwave on high for 6-7 minutes. Garnish as
desired.
A co-worker and I were how readily available grapefruit was at the
time this book was published.
Dandelion Wine
3 quarts Dandelion blooms
1 gallon boiling water
3 lemons
1 orange
3 pounds sugar
1/2 cake yeast
1 slice toast
Pour boiling water over dandelion blooms and let stand overnight.
Strain bloom mixture and add the juice of the lemons and orange and
the sugar. Boil for half an hour then cool. Spread the yeast on
toast and add to cooled liquid. Allow fermentation. Bottle
appropriately when fermentation ceases.
If there were any dandelion blooms around right now I would be very
tempted to try this. Maybe I will remember next spring and try to
make some dandelion wine then.
Does anyone know where I might find yeast in cakes?
Blueberry Wine
2 quarts blueberries
4 quarts boiling water
6 cups sugar
3 cups prunes
Add berries to the pot of boiling water, keep the pot on the stove
until the water returns to a boil before straining. Add sugar and
boil for 5 minutes. Cool and add prunes. Place liquid in a jar and
let it stand for 2 months before bottling.
I keep wondering what causes the fermentation is this recipe as it
doesn't call for yeast. Is it possible that the prunes are the key?
Salt Pork Buns
1 cup salt pork, finely chopped
4 cups flour
8 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. margarine
1/2 c. molasses
1 1/2 c. water
Fry out salt pork to make scrunchions. Add margarine to combined dry
ingredients. Add scrunchions to mixture and mix well. Combine
molasses and water before adding to flour mixture. Mix. Roll the
dough to a ½ inch thickness. Cut desired shapes and place on floured
baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 15 minutes.
As off-putting as salt pork might seem in a desert, I might be
tempted to give these a try. A salt pork Christmas cake that I made
last year worked out quite well, even if the ingredients were a little
hard to come by.
By the way, if anyone tries any of these I would be interested in
hearing how they turned out. I am particularly interested in getting
a report on the Broiled Grapefruit.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Sint Maarten: Day 7
It seems that at some point I started to misspell Sint Maarten and have since had trouble keeping straight which vowel it is that I am to double. Amazingly, no one mentioned my very noticeable misspelling of the name in the titles of these posts (as nice as that would have been). Hopefully now that I am aware of the problem I will be more vigilant and eliminate any such problems before I post them.
******
Not surprisingly, several things about Sint Maarten are a little different than they are in North America. One of the most noticeable changes is that while doors do have door knobs most function only as handles as there is no catch for them to pull in. The problem with this design, at least as far as I can see, is that it means that doors always have to be locked or they will be pushed open by moving air (such as wind or a draft). Fortunately, some bathroom and bedroom doors are equipped with more traditional mechanisms.
Toilets also tend to have less powerful flushes. This is likely to conserve water. As much of the drinking water is produced through various desalinization processes this makes sense. As water is expensive and difficult and expensive to produce its use should be minimized. Strangely, this seems to be just about the only gesture towards reduced consumption and environmental abuse that I have yet seen.
******
Unlike the previous days this week my father had to be on campus before 7:30. This change in schedule meant that he did not wake me up for breakfast before he left for the morning, allowing me to get another hour and a half of sleep.
Upon waking I again proceeded to blow a substantial portion of the morning with various internet based activities (a few of which were actually useful and related trip). Eventually, I did manage to get ready for the day and make it outside.
I walked to Mullet Beach and made my way out on the rocky outcropping above the snorkeling grounds. While sitting alone on the rocks I was able to watch the rocks and the waves. One impression I had was that the water seemed particularly clear. Many of the rocks were clearly visible from high above the water.
Soon enough I received a call from my father indicating that he would be heading home for lunch. I climbed back down to the beach and then walked across the golf course and home. We ended up having sandwiches and odds and ends for lunch,
After lunch we made our way back to the university building. The main justification for the trip was so that I could stop by the library and get a tour. As I had previously met the librarian and suggested this, it wasn’t too much of a problem to arrange this once we arrived.
Wendy showed me the physical components of the library and also discussed many of the administrative decisions that she had made since arriving. As my library experience hasn’t been all that varied, this was a nice experience. I was particularly glad that she showed me her catalogue and associated system as it differed from the system with which I am most familiar but seemed quite functional and affordable.
While sitting in her office talking to me, Wendy received a call from her husband. It seemed that someone had chained a dinghy to their dinghy instead of the piece of cement, forcing Bob to tow it to their boat. When the person returned to the site they would find that their dinghy was missing. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to have any means of identifying the dinghy to let the owners know what had happened. Presumably they were able to work this matter out within the next few hours.
After departing from the library, and then the university, we returned to the apartment where, based my assessment of the conditions earlier in the day, we decided to go snorkeling at Mullet Beach. Almost as soon as we arrived we saw that the water wasn’t as clear as our previous visit. The water was so cloudy that we were prevented from seeing most of the fish in the area. I also wonder if the slightly altered conditions either changed the behaviour patterns of the fish, or caused them to relocated as I know that I should have been able to make out many of the bigger fish, had they been there.
Though we were not satisfied with the conditions we did stick it out for a while. Eventually, when it became clear that things weren’t about to improve and when it also became clear that we were both fogging up more than normal we decided to head in. As we were making our way back to the beach I looked down and saw a stingray type fish. While the animal was partly obscured by sand it was quite easy to make see the outline of the fish, including the stinging tail. When I came up to tell my father about my sighting he had to re-adjust his equipment before he was able to go back down. By the time that he was able to make it back in the water the stingray type thing had vanished, though not without alerting me to the dangers of the seemingly tame sandy beaches of Sint Maarten.
We both decided to spend a little more time on the beach after our snorkeling adventure. For the most part this meant sitting near the shore and allowing the waves to push or pull us. The result was that, once again, I ended up with sand all over my body, including my ears and my hair.
After cleaning up we made our way to Simpson Bay to look for the local post office and scooter rental locations. While we were able to find both, neither were open and neither included hours or operations or any indications of when they would be open again.
As we made our way back to the Cupecoy/university area we started to look for restaurants. After an unsuccessful scanning we decided to head to the Thai place in the casino. Once in the restaurant one of the first things we noticed was that many of the dishes weren’t really all that Thai, but just generally from Asia. While both of our meals were tolerable, neither of us was particularly impressed with our dining experience. The general consensus was that Cheri’s Café was a much better experience in terms of both food and service.
The casino itself was the next item on the evening’s agenda. While we didn’t have any plans to play, I had wanted to see what the inside of a Sint Maarten casino looked like. Not surprisingly, slot machines and various video terminals predominated. The 1 cent play machines were particularly popular with the patrons that were there while we were. Sadly, the various table games were not in operation during our exploration. From the tables that were present it was clear that this was a much smaller part of their business than the slots and related machines. Another surprise was the number of poker tables that they had. If I recall correctly they seemed to have at least six of these tables, which seemed large considering they only had about 10 other tables.
We then returned home and spoke to my mother and sister via Skype. After the call we started another game of rummy. Part way through the game we decided to have the previously purchased coconut as a snack.
We went on the balcony to smash it open. I was filming while my father was in charge of smashing. When my father first threw it down, the coconut bounced so high it almost went over the rail and off of the balcony. A second throw had similar results.
It then became clear that we should probably remove the outer husk of the fruit before we tried to smash it. With a large kitchen knife my father was able to cut into the husk to create openings that allowed him to tear it open, and eventually remove the soft protective elements.
Once the protective coating had been removed the coconut cracked on the first attempt. Both of us then tried some of the meat. I was somewhat disappointed in the eating experience. The meat was not particularly tasty, nor was it even easy to remove from the hard shell. This caused me to wonder if coconuts that they serve as beverages are slightly different in terms of maturity than those they serve as fruit, but I haven’t really been able to answer that question.
Eventually, we were able to get back to our rummy game. After only a hand or two we noticed that we had a call on Skype. It was my mother and sister. Though I have no idea what they were calling about, we did manage to talk about names of places on the island.
After the call we were able to return to the rummy game, this time to see it to its end. Unfortunately, I gave my father the victory in the dying moments of the final hand.
We then called it a night and went to bed, in an attempt to keep to our daily schedule (which resembles Newfoundland time).
******
Not surprisingly, several things about Sint Maarten are a little different than they are in North America. One of the most noticeable changes is that while doors do have door knobs most function only as handles as there is no catch for them to pull in. The problem with this design, at least as far as I can see, is that it means that doors always have to be locked or they will be pushed open by moving air (such as wind or a draft). Fortunately, some bathroom and bedroom doors are equipped with more traditional mechanisms.
Toilets also tend to have less powerful flushes. This is likely to conserve water. As much of the drinking water is produced through various desalinization processes this makes sense. As water is expensive and difficult and expensive to produce its use should be minimized. Strangely, this seems to be just about the only gesture towards reduced consumption and environmental abuse that I have yet seen.
******
Unlike the previous days this week my father had to be on campus before 7:30. This change in schedule meant that he did not wake me up for breakfast before he left for the morning, allowing me to get another hour and a half of sleep.
Upon waking I again proceeded to blow a substantial portion of the morning with various internet based activities (a few of which were actually useful and related trip). Eventually, I did manage to get ready for the day and make it outside.
I walked to Mullet Beach and made my way out on the rocky outcropping above the snorkeling grounds. While sitting alone on the rocks I was able to watch the rocks and the waves. One impression I had was that the water seemed particularly clear. Many of the rocks were clearly visible from high above the water.
Soon enough I received a call from my father indicating that he would be heading home for lunch. I climbed back down to the beach and then walked across the golf course and home. We ended up having sandwiches and odds and ends for lunch,
After lunch we made our way back to the university building. The main justification for the trip was so that I could stop by the library and get a tour. As I had previously met the librarian and suggested this, it wasn’t too much of a problem to arrange this once we arrived.
Wendy showed me the physical components of the library and also discussed many of the administrative decisions that she had made since arriving. As my library experience hasn’t been all that varied, this was a nice experience. I was particularly glad that she showed me her catalogue and associated system as it differed from the system with which I am most familiar but seemed quite functional and affordable.
While sitting in her office talking to me, Wendy received a call from her husband. It seemed that someone had chained a dinghy to their dinghy instead of the piece of cement, forcing Bob to tow it to their boat. When the person returned to the site they would find that their dinghy was missing. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to have any means of identifying the dinghy to let the owners know what had happened. Presumably they were able to work this matter out within the next few hours.
After departing from the library, and then the university, we returned to the apartment where, based my assessment of the conditions earlier in the day, we decided to go snorkeling at Mullet Beach. Almost as soon as we arrived we saw that the water wasn’t as clear as our previous visit. The water was so cloudy that we were prevented from seeing most of the fish in the area. I also wonder if the slightly altered conditions either changed the behaviour patterns of the fish, or caused them to relocated as I know that I should have been able to make out many of the bigger fish, had they been there.
Though we were not satisfied with the conditions we did stick it out for a while. Eventually, when it became clear that things weren’t about to improve and when it also became clear that we were both fogging up more than normal we decided to head in. As we were making our way back to the beach I looked down and saw a stingray type fish. While the animal was partly obscured by sand it was quite easy to make see the outline of the fish, including the stinging tail. When I came up to tell my father about my sighting he had to re-adjust his equipment before he was able to go back down. By the time that he was able to make it back in the water the stingray type thing had vanished, though not without alerting me to the dangers of the seemingly tame sandy beaches of Sint Maarten.
We both decided to spend a little more time on the beach after our snorkeling adventure. For the most part this meant sitting near the shore and allowing the waves to push or pull us. The result was that, once again, I ended up with sand all over my body, including my ears and my hair.
After cleaning up we made our way to Simpson Bay to look for the local post office and scooter rental locations. While we were able to find both, neither were open and neither included hours or operations or any indications of when they would be open again.
As we made our way back to the Cupecoy/university area we started to look for restaurants. After an unsuccessful scanning we decided to head to the Thai place in the casino. Once in the restaurant one of the first things we noticed was that many of the dishes weren’t really all that Thai, but just generally from Asia. While both of our meals were tolerable, neither of us was particularly impressed with our dining experience. The general consensus was that Cheri’s Café was a much better experience in terms of both food and service.
The casino itself was the next item on the evening’s agenda. While we didn’t have any plans to play, I had wanted to see what the inside of a Sint Maarten casino looked like. Not surprisingly, slot machines and various video terminals predominated. The 1 cent play machines were particularly popular with the patrons that were there while we were. Sadly, the various table games were not in operation during our exploration. From the tables that were present it was clear that this was a much smaller part of their business than the slots and related machines. Another surprise was the number of poker tables that they had. If I recall correctly they seemed to have at least six of these tables, which seemed large considering they only had about 10 other tables.
We then returned home and spoke to my mother and sister via Skype. After the call we started another game of rummy. Part way through the game we decided to have the previously purchased coconut as a snack.
We went on the balcony to smash it open. I was filming while my father was in charge of smashing. When my father first threw it down, the coconut bounced so high it almost went over the rail and off of the balcony. A second throw had similar results.
It then became clear that we should probably remove the outer husk of the fruit before we tried to smash it. With a large kitchen knife my father was able to cut into the husk to create openings that allowed him to tear it open, and eventually remove the soft protective elements.
Once the protective coating had been removed the coconut cracked on the first attempt. Both of us then tried some of the meat. I was somewhat disappointed in the eating experience. The meat was not particularly tasty, nor was it even easy to remove from the hard shell. This caused me to wonder if coconuts that they serve as beverages are slightly different in terms of maturity than those they serve as fruit, but I haven’t really been able to answer that question.
Eventually, we were able to get back to our rummy game. After only a hand or two we noticed that we had a call on Skype. It was my mother and sister. Though I have no idea what they were calling about, we did manage to talk about names of places on the island.
After the call we were able to return to the rummy game, this time to see it to its end. Unfortunately, I gave my father the victory in the dying moments of the final hand.
We then called it a night and went to bed, in an attempt to keep to our daily schedule (which resembles Newfoundland time).
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