A Satisfying Shopping Trip

We have some friends visiting from abroad in a few weeks. I had the idea to purchase some Inuit gifts for them. So we went downtown to The Eskimo Art Gallery and found some great gifts. At first we were a bit put off by the prices of sculpture at the front of the store (there was a beautiful stone bear for $5,000), but fortunately they had other 'more suitable' items. I was initially thinking of soapstone Inuksuks, but then I noticed some pretty jewelry and ended up choosing these items:



From left to right, we have a bear paw made from hematite stone, a polar bear made from bone and hematite, and an energy symbol made from hematite. While the saleslady was wrapping these up, I noticed they had already got their 2012 Inuit Art Calendars in. I got 3 small ones and she wrapped them up for me as well. I was really happy with our purchases. It turns out the saleslady is the gallery owner as well. She does a lot of travelling, to source her gallery items. Her customer service was excellent, as were her prices, and I think we will be back. She gets a lot of business from corporate customers and is crazy busy in the fall.

Here is the calendar (front and back):

Creative Tuesdays - Ideal Coffee Break

Welcome to Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesdays!

The theme this week is 'Ideal Coffee Break'. Here is my interpretation. I can think of nothing more soothing and relaxing than being on a quiet beach early in the morning, sipping on a hot cup of coffee.

Please stop by the other participants to see what they came up with!

Keeping up with Technology

Have you noticed these QR codes popping up all over? They are in magazines, store flyers and in a lot of news articles lately. From what I read, they originated in Japan and are popular in Europe. They are poised to take over North America?

I have a smart phone, but have never downloaded an app. It seems you have to do that from the browser on your smart phone. Of course all this translates into data charges! To read these QR codes you have to download a QR reader app. Then instead of taking a photo, you point the smart camera at the QR code and it will translate it into a website, or whatever information it stores. My fear is of getting left behind by technology. I already heard this new movie starring one of the Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen twins will be advertised solely via QR codes.

Have you noticed these QR Codes popping up all over? Are you comfortable with them?

Sunday Sketches - Fall

It's time for Sophia's Sunday Sketches.

When I think of fall, I think of ripe apples ready for harvest. I hope you like this one.

Please stop by the other participants to see what they did today.

Sweet Saturdays - Raspberry Muffins

Welcome to Diana's Sweet Saturdays!

I made some raspberry muffins for you.

Please stop by the other participants to see what they found sweet today.



Here is the recipe:

3/4 c fresh raspberries
2 c flour
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c yogurt
3 tbs oil
1 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 400F
combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
add raspberries
in a smaller bowl combine wet ingredients
stir into dry ingredients until just combined
spoon into muffin cups
bake 15 to 20 mins
makes 9 muffins

I adapted the recipe slightly from here.

Paint Party Friday - Thinking of Fall

It's time for Paint Party Friday. Thanks to Kristin and Eva for their dedicated hosting as this co-op grows.

With the mornings getting cooler, and with 'back to school' preparations underway, my thoughts turn to fall. I hope you like this one.

Please stop by the other participants to see what they did this week.

My fabulous seafood lunch

I recently had this fabulous seafood lunch in a Chinese Restaurant and took some photos for you. Dungeness crab is real treat for me because I don't have it very often. (Largely because you have to cook them live, like lobsters and I am squeamish.) Eating them is a messy job, but I just ask for tongs, extra napkins and it may be part of the fun. Another unlikely dish is eel, but it's really just an elongated fish. It's also used in sushi.

So, are you a crab lover?


Lobster Chow Mein




Crab Congee (a savoury rice porridge) and Deep Fried Eel (delicious!)




Dungeness Crab with Ginger and Green Onion