Montreal!

Altar in Notre Dame Basilica, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Man my updates about our trip are pretty lackluster .. few and far between. Party I blame my sister. but that only can go so far as.. well... the first group of pictures were taken on my camera and it's my job to upload them.
This is the altar in Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Mom and I ducked in here after wandering around in the morning checking out old Montreal. It was one of the only days that was overcast and rainy. We were just so lucky.

Expo 67 site, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

We also did a little wander down by the waterfront and checked out the old expo site. I think the last time my dad was in Montreal he as attending Expo 67... Crazy!

candles in Notre Dame Basilica, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

also on a side note... found Montreal's Trudeau airport highly confusing and the airport shuttle very vexing.

the cup!!

the cup!!, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

So it's taken me a while to start this but I wanted to blog a few posts about mom and dad's trip out here to visit me and our family trip around the east coast.
It was amazing! I could not have asked for a better trip.
And really what a better way to start the trip then sightseeing in Toronto. I've not done a lot of touristy things since moving here - and I saved up a few things for when they came.
Top of the list had to be seeing the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Just let me say - WAY more interesting than I thought. There were lots of interactive things and of course - the cup.
way cool.

12 questions

12 questions, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

This is borrowed from mary as a time killer for a slow day at the office.
if you click on the picture it will link back to my flickr page with all the source pictures. I was amused / disturbed by all the answers that we had in common and so changed a few (they are noted)

The Questions:

1. What is your name? willa
2. What is your favorite food? salmon
3. What elementary school did you go to? wickaninnish
4. What is your favorite color? green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? errol flynn (easily could be fred astaire)
6. What is your favorite drink? whiskey sour (i went alcoholic instead of tea)
7. Dream vacation? manchu picchu
8. Favorite dessert? bread pudding (tied with rhubarb pie and strawberry shortcake)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? medical illustrator
10. What do you love most in life? family
11. One word to describe you? hostess
12. Your flickr name? girl from finito


... simple questions, pretty answers. Here is how you play:

* type your answer to each question above into Flickr Search
* using only the first page of results, pick an image
* copy and paste each URL into fd's mosaic maker
* blog it!

Fun. Thanks for the idea mar.... see you sunday!

Hey! look at that!

After much more swearing than probably necessary my new website is up and running!
i'd like to consider it in beta mode as i haven't really tried to break the code. but i like how it's turned out.. heavily influenced by the folks over at AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) and their design archive.. ahh le sigh.

Olympic Fever

I'm not a big sports fan. My days watching sports are confined to the big competitions: The Stanley Cup, the Grey Cup, the euro/ world cup and the odd Calgary v. Vancouver/Edmonton game and for those I generally head out to a pub and enjoy the game surrounded by like-minded people. But man, the Olympics, there's something different. I scan the morning paper for highlights, watch recaps and read blogs on my computer, listen to the rankings on the radio and have ruined my sleeping pattern to watch them on tv. alone. on my couch.

So what is different?it's defiantly easier to get into the events when your country and pride is at stake. Then there is the hint of connection: I obsessively watched the triathlon remembering the Simon Witfield plaque outside the running room store near my old place in Victoria. I used to pass it on my way to get groceries and think about that race in 2000. yep. i did.


but the weird thing is I'll watch the Olympics when Canada isn't even in contention. I pick teams or athletes I want to win and root for them or just enjoy the show these people put on.


This Olympics I've been all about the equestrian (haha yes I like the horses). I would probably change the channel if it was any other competition but these days I've been wondering why I don't get "bold" (the cbc channel that is showing the jumping). I watched the recaps on my computer at lunch - too amazing.
Go Canada!

Caribana Festival... Parade Day

1st sight, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Caribana - the Caribbean cultural festival is a big thing around these parts. Living in Toronto for almost 4 years now it's a little embarrassing that I have never checked it out. I have heard a few bad things about the parade, it's history of violence and the unruly crowds but Connie and I decided to brave it - just to see what was happening.
It was busy and loud and I got soaked on the way over. The weird thing was for being the huge event the parade route was all but impossible to find online and there was no information on when the parade started and where to go. We just followed the crowd (thankfully connie had arrived earlier and sussed things out). The barricades proved another problem - so high that it was impossible to get a good view of what was happening.
I must admit, I was a little disappointed.
But the colours were cool and fun and I would go again, just with lower expectations and later in the day.

caribana costumes, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Vegan Peach Cobbler

Vegan Peach Cobbler, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Horrah for peach season! I had a few friends over on tuesday and whipped up a vegan cobbler for them. I replaced the butter with all vegetable shortening, the whipping cream with soy milk and omitted the blueberries (which I admit would have been really nice).. I cooked it in ramekins in a water bath as an alternative to serving it in one dish which worked out quite well.... yummy yummy yummy.

PEACH AND BLUEBERRY COBBLER
from A Matter of Taste .. Waverman and Chatto
filling....
4 cups sliced peeled peaches
1 cup blueberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp brown sugar to taste
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp butter
topping....
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, diced
1/4 cup whipping cream

preheat oven to 350
combine peaches blueberries, lemon juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
place in a buttered 8in square baking dish and dot with butter
combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar and nutmeg for topping. cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. stir in cream until mixture is just moistened.
drop batter by heaping spoonfuls onto fruit mixture. Topping will spread slightly during baking.
bake for 30 minutes, or until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling. serve warm.

Chickpea flour pasta

Chickpea flour pasta, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I love fresh pasta.. but man is flour, water, oil and egg expensive. Sunday I decided to take matters into my own hands and made pasta for the first time. I made this vegan friendly pasta with chickpea flour which binds a lot like egg. The conclusion: pretty amazing .. other than the kneading.. my arms were sore the next day. The first batch i made to wet and had a soggy dinner but the second batch turned out well. It's been dried and frozen for later nom-ing.
advice to future me: get a pasta crank-thing and omit the rolling out by hand part

a nice little day

distillery district, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I was thinking about where I could take my parents when they come to visit me.. a place that was out of the way and reflected the Toronto that I have grown to like (not love.. but like). In this spirit I visited the distillery district with my pals Naseem and Kean. It's a nice place but... well considering the tours are given on segways it was a little pretentious. As Kean described it - it was like Granville Island (except without the great market and the crowds of people bustling around). I think it has the potential to be awesome - but there is a lack of shade on hot days and (I think it's real downfall) the buildings are too far apart to make the place look busy. The area lacks the energy of Granville. Distillery District... Fail. I will not be taking my family to visit you.

In other news fun times!

Award Winning

I posted a while back about what I am doing at my job in Toronto.

This weekend a co-worker and I were acknowledged for our work with Awards of Merit from the Association of Medical Illustrators. There were only three people who received awards in the professional interactive media category (the category we entered) so we were very pleased.

What won was my work on Periopertive Patient Simulations
and Michael's work on Trans-esophageal Echocardiology (specifically the standard views).

UPDATE 7/25/08:
this afternoon... after spending the day panicking that i might have left the stove on (i didn't.. i knew i didn't but somehow was filled with a sense of dread anyway) i walk up to my place to find these in front of my door. what nice neighbours to receive the flowers and leave them out for me. What an amazing set of parents to send me congratulation flowers.. I am so happy right now.

flowers from mom, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

fleurs, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

It's Summer!

lemonade, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

It's finally gotten really hot and lovely out here and the summer garden is growing nicely.
I made a really simple lemonade this weekend and loved it.. so sour and refreshing

1st blooms of summer.., originally uploaded by girl from finito.

in other news my sweet peas have started to bloom.

New bed...wallpaper

new bed...wallpaper, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Mary and I both bought wall paper when we were in Montreal last year. It has taken me almost a full year to put it up. I think it looks beautiful.. and my friends have started to tease me that my new bedroom is very "french country" or as Naseem put it "Muskoka Chic"

many thanks to Frances for helping me put it up.

ella, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Rainy day cooking

atichokes are a waste, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

in a bold, somewhat stupid move, i decided that biking home in the rain was not enough and i should stop and pick up all the ingredients for a huge meal and spend all day cooking ... the results...
1. atichokes are a waste and i hate cleaning them

Veggie stuffing, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

2. whole grain veggie stuffing!!

sauteed fennel, artichoke hearts and leeks, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

3. sauteed fennel, artichoke hearts and leeks

red lentil soup, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

4. red lentil soup

tofu spanikopita, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

5. awesome tofu spanikopita

here comes the sun, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

6. and a break in the clouds and rain

blackberry apple crisp

blackberry apple crisp, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Ever feel like making desert at 7 at night.. defrost your fruit and get everything ready only to find the store is closed and you are short a cup.. thank goodness for friends around the corner who have apples.. yeah katie!

Birthday!

ouefs en cocotte, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Wow! I'm 29....
I had a really low key birthday this year. Just some friends over for wine and snacks. My camera had a dead battery so that day I took no photos. These are from the day after.
Andrea gave me a book for Christmas - Julie and Julia - about a woman who decided to cook all the recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She mentioned Ouefs en Cocotte and I just had to try them... and oh they are ever so good.

tulips from Katie, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

there is nothing i can think of at the moment that i like better than getting flowers.. good thing my friends know this (or they like getting them too and are clever).. these came from Katie.. i love tulips.. stunning!

flowers from Jen and Tusche, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

A Birthday Theme.. Flowers and how pretty are these.. and it's a living plant.. so it will continue to be beautiful.

birthday flowers, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

and lovely ones from mom and dad.

Tofino..

barnacles.. woot woot, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I have been massively lucky to get as much vacation time as I want. Right when I got back from Cuba Mary called me up and floated the idea of joining her when she went to Victoria for a conference. Being Mary's birthday as well it seemed like a good idea. While we were celebrating mom thought it would be a good time for a little unbirthday for me! how could I resist!

unbirthday, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

In another lucky happenstance my friend Diana was in BC from Beijing visiting some friends. I convinced her to come up for a few days as well. I love introducing my hometown to my pals - it's the most beautiful place in the world.

diana and I at the BEACH, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

sa sa sa sand, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Bike Trip Day 5 ... Havana

Havana - Karen and I at the Water, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

The next day we returned to Havana and took a walking tour to the old city. I had such a fabulous time I really didn’t want to go back to Canada, especially since it was 28 degrees in Cuba and –28 in Toronto. Oh well.

Bike Trip Day 4 ...one more thing

town outside of San Cristobal (day4)
Originally uploaded by girl from finito

Who knows where this was shot...
we at just biked through San Cristobal on our way to our last stop...
make sure to notice the awesome nurse and horse drawn cart..

Bike Trip Day 4 ... a few more pics

The road to San Diego, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I took the best pictures this day.. most while speeding along on my bike. I think I was probably more relaxed and could go a little slower and take more because it was the last day.

mind the poo...

man there are vultures everywhere in cuba. alot of the time Karen and I would imagine the vultures waiting for us to wipe out/ pass out from exhaustion on our bikes so they could sweep down and eat us.

Bike Trip Day 4 ... Victory!

Victory!, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

The last day of cycling we traveled about 70 km back to San Diego. Checked into our hotel and had massages. Well worth it! Before dinner we went on a tour of a cigar factory which we had missed the day before. That night we had a little band all to ourselves and we danced until we were too tired to move. We didn't last too long.

Bike Trip Day 3 ... Las Terrazas

Last stop, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

By the third day we all though we were insane but the cycle trip, though longer (about 65 km), it was an easier cycle from Vinales to San Diego and then we bussed to Las Terrazas. Las Terrazas is a project set up by Castro of sustainable rural economy based on the rational use of its natural resources for tourism. The buildings were designed to blend with their surroundings. Many of the people that live there are farmers whose fields are located a short distance away and others are artists. Before checking into the hotel we went swimming in the natural waterfalls at Banyos de San Juan. The pools and waterfalls was used as a spa when the Spanish first came to the island. There is only one hotel in the city and it was gorgeous.

The Hotel Moka was 4 star and deservedly so. We ate that night at a converted coffee plantation on the top of a nearby mountain.