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.