I Yam What I Yam...

This story begins with a problem.

The problem was this: I love yam fries, but I do not like the way they are often served.

Whenever I buy them in restaurants they come deep-fried with chipotle mayo.

When deep-fried, the wonderful sweet natural flavor of the yams is completely covered in the taste of the frying oil. I don't notice as much with regular fries, probably because they have a much milder flavor in general, but with the yams I always get a bit grossed out.
Especially with how greasy they are. I feel sick after eating them.

And I don't know why, but chipotle mayo is the staple dip to go with it. I guarantee if you order yam fries anywhere, they will serve a side of this weird stuff. The first time I was ok with it. And then I got really sick of it. It was just too much weird slippery savory stuff, combined with the greasy fries.

Yam fries deserve better.
Much better.
I feel very strongly about this.
So I began to think of how to do them justice.

At last, as I lay in bed one night consumed with my love for yam fries, it came to me.

Lime.

Yam and Lime. Sweet and Sour.

This could be good.

Yesterday I got the opportunity to experiment, so I did.
And I loved it.

Here's what I did.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cut a large yam into thin fries. The thinner the better, because it will cook faster. And the sooner they bake, the sooner you can eat them.
But if you're more a wedge person, go for it, I admire you for your patience.

Make sure the yam is nice and dry before you lightly toss it in oil (I used olive oil), and give it a good bit of pepper. NO SALT...yet.

Now...if you are feeling especially adventurous, get out the curry powder!
YES...trust me, it is going to be delicious. If you are a spice person, make your own mix. I just used the pre-mixed curry we had on hand. Because I'm lazy. And mixing curries can be hard.

Throw in quite a bit. I just eyeballed it, but what I thought was a lot turned out to be a very mild flavor, so you can afford to go a little crazy here.

Now after those yummy yammy fries have been tossed well, throw them on a baking sheet. Its best if they are well spread out and not touching each other. You don't want any moisture to be trapped anywhere, because then your fries will get steamed, not baked. Remember Julie and Julia? "Don't crowd the mushrooms!" Its the same principle with the fries.

Now put them in the oven. They're going to be there for a while...30-45 minutes. I know...it seems an eternity.

While you pine away for them, make yourself some Lime Aioli!

Aioli is really just a fancy name for a flavored mayo, meant to intimidate and impress. At least that's the conclusion I've come to.

Now, if you are like me you can scoff at that name and whip out your eggs, oil, and lime juice and whisk away...

And then when the emulsion breaks (twice), come to the realization that you really can't remember the basics you learned at school last year. And reflect on how sad that is.

And then you can pull out the Hellman's Mayonnaise in your fridge, and mix a small amount (however much you think you will eat with all those fries) with a fresh squeezed lime, lime zest, and a small amount of crushed garlic, salt and pepper and SUGAR. Tasting it and adjusting constantly is the only way to get it right, so get in there!

Now you're done!

Keep it chilled while you wait for your fries to finish. Also...don't forget to flip those little darlings now and then.

I like to cook my yams pretty long, so that they get almost yellowish, and chewy. But if you prefer, take them out right when their centers become soft.

Sprinkle as much or as little salt over them as you like.

Now enjoy your curried yam fries with lime aioli!

It sounds almost gourmet, doesn't it?
Just humor me and say yes.

Sunny Day

On a day like today its impossible NOT to go outside
and watch the last bit of snow melt awayunder the glare of the sun.

To wonder at things big...

and small...
close...
and far away.
But most of all wonder, how can this be February?


And jump for joy because it is.

Knitting? Check.

One more step taken towards being little Susie Homemaker.

My toque is completed, and I feel that I have learned a lot of new Skillz. With a Z.

I can cast on, knit, purl, increase, and decrease stitches...the only thing I don't know how to do is fix my mistakes. That might be a problem later on, but for now, I'm just happy to have made something that I like. Hooray!

Succumbing to Knittery

In a fit of creative passion, I bought 2 skeins of wool last summer.
I've made a scarf a couple years ago, but I didn't remember how to knit at all. I just figured I would get around to it sometime.
The colors were amazing...a dark, teal-y blue, and a fantastic (almost burnt) orange.
Anyway, these have been sitting around for months. When I went to visit my friend in Vancouver last October, I brought the orange along because I knew she could teach me to crochet. I attempted at making a hat, but ended up working it so tight that I ran out of wool long before it would have come anywhere near completion.
That was discouraging.
The wool went back into its corner for another couple months.

When I bought the wool, I knew that I wanted to make a slouchy toque with it, but after the crochet tragedy I was sure that I didn't have enough to finish one. My mother convinced me that if I worked it a little looser, it would be enough.

I found a pattern on Ravelry, and set to work yesterday.


Since I hadn't knitted in at least 2 years, it was like beginning from the very beginning! After a long lesson on casting on, I began the ribbing...only 8 rows took me the better part of the afternoon (if not the whole afternoon...I didn't keep track)!!! There was a lot of "Oh no, what did I do?" and "Mom, can you fix this?" and pulling out, and re-knitting...

Really slow going.

But somehow its very satisfying! This morning I couldn't wait to pick it up again!
Despite my first couple rows having to be "frogged", I've made a lot of progress, and I'll upload the next picture tomorrow.

It Came!

My package has arrived at last! What a practice in patience. Its been over 2 weeks.

The contents: a CD...Meaghan Smith, "The Cricket's Orchestra".

I first heard her on the "(500) Days of Summer" soundtrack (also worth checking out), and I thought Wow, who is that? I love her voice!

Of course Googling her was the next step! She is a new-ish Canadian artist from London, Ontario, whose work is inspired by music of the 20's, 30's and 40's.

In her bio, she writes,

"[I] decided to create my musical world by using a string quartet, an eight-piece horn section, guitars, keys, upright bass, a clarinet, some flutes, and even an Omnichord. We used Mellotron samples in place of a modern band because we loved the quirky, vintage vibe they brought to the songs, and topped it all off with some turntable scratches. The result is an ideal blend of old and new."

She also admits to watching lots of animated movies and old musicals, even listing "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" as a favorite!

That's when I knew I'd like her.

I've just finished listening to the entire CD once through, and I really enjoyed it. There is definitely that nostalgic vintage sound the brings old black & white movies to mind, which I adore, but her voice comes through soft and clear. Very, very, easy to listen to. Think Norah Jones meets Mary Poppins.

Its very different from most stuff you hear these days...a refreshing blast from the past.
Music samples can be found here, or watch this music video...

She Knows Me Too Well

I used to be a pretty organized, schedule-loving, list-making, give-me-a-weeks-notice, kind of girl. But somewhere near the end of my teens (perhaps under the hippie influenced air of Quadra Island?) I began to let go of my uptight ways, and morphed into a more spontaneous, adventurous, "you-want-to?-ok-lets-go!" me.
Especially while living out in the boonies this past summer at Strathcona Park Lodge, where internet access was sketchy and cell phones get no reception, I became the person that would call at 9AM and say "Hey its my day off, and I'm driving into Campbell River now...wanna hang out?", or even more likely, 9PM, "Hey I just got off work and tomorrow is my weekend...wanna hang out?"
It was sort of a running joke between my friend Karissa and I, so I laughed when I received this birthday present in the mail.
Its perfect.

For The Austen Fans

People like to give me a hard time sometimes, because they think I don't appreciate romance. But that's a lie...I do like romance. My heart goes all gooey and mushy watching a good chick flick, I read the end of Ella Enchanted over and over (I know, I'm sad), and I almost always cry at weddings. But I'm particular about what qualifies as romance...for instance, Twlight doesn't. Unless you're talking about Jacob, 'cause lets face it people, he's the one she should've gone for. Not that she deserves him. Not that I'm picking teams...*shifty eyes*

ANYway....

I'm a sucker for a good love story. And that means, I'm a sucker for Jane Austen.

I own the BBC 'Pride & Prejudice', and 'Emma' starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and I'm always on the lookout for others. I've watched Ang Lee's 'Sense and Sensibility' a couple of times, and its always fallen flat for me. I mean, really...Colonel Brandon is creepy enough already without being played by Alan Rickman.

So imagine my delight when I was lent the (relatively) new BBC version of 'Sense & Sensibility'!
I could hardly wait to watch it.
And it did not disapoint. I loved this version, and found it far superior to the old one. For one, it was created by the same director as BBC P&P, and two, it is in 3 parts...there is just too much to these stories to cut them down into a regular movie length. You have to give them enough room to squeeze all the good bits in!

The Good:
The visuals were rich, and the soundtrack was beautiful. Acting- excellent. Humor- spot on.
Loved the costumes, and scenery, and realistic take on things. Also loved Edward Ferrars.

The Bad (?):
The only thing I cannot give my opinion on is how close to the book it stays...seeing as I've never read the book! I KNOW! Can you believe it? I can't. I started it years ago when I was a lot younger, and there were simply too many Dashwoods in the first chapter. I got so utterly confused, I put it away and I just haven't got around to picking it up again!

The Ugly:
(SPOILER ALERT!)
I just can't get past the fact that Marianne is 16 and Colonel Brandon is 34...and they get married. Especially because she looks so little and young and childlike in this movie. It freaks me out. But that's the only thing. Besides that...

It was a satisfying experience in every way. I need to own it now.
If you like a good love story, and especially if you like Jane Austen, you will like this movie.
Go watch it now!

Starting the Year Off Right

So I decided I'd better get started with my goals of becoming little Susie Homemaker...

I actually started this project last summer, while I was at Strathcona Park Lodge.
I was inspired by my unique and creative friend Taryn, who seemed to think people can do anything they put their minds to. We worked in the kitchen together, and so we had many opportunities to talk about everything, and anything. I discovered in her a really amazing person who exudes joy and contentment with herself and life in general...an intriguing characteristic, to someone such as myself who has difficulty with that. In other ways we were very similar, so I found myself wondering why I couldn't adpot her positive thinking and open mindedness.
Taryn was very encouraging to me, especially when it came to trying new things (since she was vegan and gluten-free, this really applied to the area of food as well!) She is a very creative person, who draws, paints, sews, weaves (on a loom she built), and did all manner of craftsy artsy things. Not only that, she drew me into her sphere of creativity too.
Inspired by her confidence and you-can-do-it attitude, Taryn somehow made me believe that I too, can make things and try out different creative venues.
So I made moccasins, Thai Fisherman pants (picture below), got dreads, ate vegan food, went for long walks/hikes/drives all by myself, and discussed ideas and views I'd previously taken for granted.

My "Hippie Pants"

It was exciting, exhilarating, and freeing.
After completing my pants on her sewing machine, I was feeling pretty good about my creative abilities, and so when I saw a sling bag that belonged to my friend Barb, I asked myself, "Why can't I make that?". I examined it, and determined it wouldn't be "that hard". After all, it was only 2 pieces.
I traced it, cut out my homemade pattern, bought fabric in the discount bin at the fabric store, and dove in.
In my enthusiasm, I may not have thought it all out properly...

When I pinned it all together, somehow it didn't fit. Instead of a large sack-like shape, I had a bag with two weird pouches on either side. Confused and frustrated, I pinned, and re-pinned, sewed, picked out stitches, and re-sewed...and picked-out stitches again.

By now, hours had gone by. I was tired, and fed up with this first solo sewing adventure.
I guessed that by tracing the bag for my pattern, I had created a curved edge where there should have been a straight edge, and I didn't have the patience or will to figure out how to correct it. I also didn't have enough fabric to cut out a new one, so I felt that I had wasted a lot of time, money, and energy. Project: FAILED.

I didn't touch the thing again...until today.

Today I resolved to get started on my crafting resolution. The bag had to be conquered. It represented my mental block concerning my confidence in my own creative abilities. "I can't" had to become, "I can...if I try hard enough".
Resisting my natural tendency to avoid anything I'm "not good at", I dragged out the pieces, ironed them, and worked out what needed fixing. I decided the bag needed panels on either side to fill in the 'blanks' that I had made by curving the fabric, so that the bottom would fit in naturally, instead of becoming tight in the middle and creating those loose pouches.

Long story short, I made a pattern for the panel, and it worked!
Encouraged by this victory, I hauled the sewing machine upstairs and set to work with renewed energy. With my dear mother's help in getting the machine's cooperation, I was soon whittling away at the project.
By 8:30 tonight, I was proudly displaying my completed sling bag (it even has pockets on the inside), and even though its far from perfect, I'm really pleased with it. While sewing might never be my strength, I have proven to myself that that doesn't have to stop me.
Its a good feeling.
I don't know why this pic is upside down and I can't get it to change! Anyway, you'll be able to see a little bit of the seams if you click on it.

Merry Christmas from PJ!

To my lovely Readers, Friends, and Family...
Most years I am running about frantically at this time on December, grabbing anything and everything that people "might like" because...that's what we do at Christmas. We buy people things that they don't really need, but its "nice" and "polite" and we're "supposed to". And I like giving gifts, I really do. But meaningless, obligatory gifts don't really float my boat.
So I decided to do something different this year.
I got onto the World Vision Christmas catalog site, and purchased clean water for a family...just for you! I know its not chocolate, fancy bath stuff, or sweet-smelling lotion...but I think you'll like it.
I think its the kind of gift that will last a long time, and bring a lot of happiness.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cards

I got 2 Christmas cards in the mail today!

I love getting Christmas cards, and I love getting mail even more...so the two combined is a little explosion of joy.

The post office has already seen me once, as I sent off my first batch of cards. They will most likely be on time. The cards I made today, on the other hand, will probably be late. But cards are cards. I'm assuming everyone else likes getting them as much as I do, whether or not they are late.

This year I bought special Christmas paper and some Christmas phrase stamps, so I have been card crafting wildly. Well, considering most years I don't bother making Christmas cards at all.

I used to be a scrapbooker snob, who looked down on those who hadn't the attention span for making full pages with photos...card-making is much less of a time (and space) commitment. Now I find I'm becoming one of those card crafters, that likes pumping out a 4-6 unique cards in a sitting, as opposed to a page or two in my scrapbook.

Its also much easier to make cards in groups vs. scrapbooking in groups. In fact, the Coulter household hosted a Christmas Card crafting night with a couple of my friends attending, a weekend or two ago. We each had a handful done at the end of the night, as well as some good laughs, and catching up.

I'm hoping to send off my next batch of cards tomorrow. The thing is, as soon as I've sent them off, I will think of more people I want to make cards for, and then the whole process starts over again!

(THERE! I did it! I blogged!)

Christmas Came Early This Year

My mom brought home a surprise for me when she arrived home from Alberta, yesterday.
I think I have probably recommended this book to quite a few people since reading it in August 2008.
To say I am excited to own this book is an understatement. I loved it, and will definitely be reading it again and again.

To those of you who I have not already raved about this to, "Things We Couldn't Say" is an autobiography of a young Dutch woman who joined the resistance against the Nazis in WWII.

I don't remember a lot of details from the story, but it is truly amazing what this woman did and went through, when she was around my age...even a little younger, I think. This might be one of the big draws for me, personally. I find it fascinating to read about how myself and my peers may, or may not, have acted under those same circumstances.

The most interesting thing about this book for me was the glimpse inside her mind at the time, which is revealed through diary entries and letters she wrote.
Sometimes I feel like we only ever hear about the events in those years from a commentary in hindsight. With this book, you feel like you are thrust right into the middle of it, and it is happening as you read.

I am still surprised that this book is not more well known, because to me it is one of the best WWII books I have ever read. As the information about the book reads: "Here is a story that has all the emotional impact of The Diary of Anne Frank and all the drama of The Hiding Place."

Now the best part...Since I told myself I can not start reading anything else until I finish the last 2 I've started, this book is up for borrowing grabs. If you are interested and would like something interesting to read during the Christmas holidays, drop a comment requesting to loan this book!

Friendly Find

This past week, I was meeting an out-of-town friend for coffee.
Usually she suggests meeting at Starbucks for our visits, but this time I convinced her to try something new...I'm just adventurous like that.
There was a little cafe downtown that I'd been dying to try out. Cafe Arianna. It looked cool, inviting, and unique.
So we headed down there.

Its situated right on the corner of Landsdowne and Third, right across from the A&W, with its own little parking lot and everything! I didn't know that at the time, so we walked from the (free!) parking in front of Coopers.
Well, when I walked in I quickly scoped it out. I knew that it had only been open for a matter of weeks, and was probably still finding its niche among all the Zack's, Second Cups', and Starbucks' of Kamloops.
The man at the counter welcomed us with an accent I didn't recognize until I spotted a familiar face in the doorway to the kitchen...
Christiana!
Since none of you probably know who she is, I will explain!

Waaaay back, a long long time ago...as in last year...when I was beginning the Culinary Arts course, we had one of the Third Level Students come into the cafeteria (usually they only run the Accolades restaurant) and work as our Sous Chef. Basically, our task master for the day.

We had some real gems. Cocky, arrogant fellows we wanted to empty our boiling soup pots on, and ditzy clueless girls that didn't know one end of a ladle from the other. None of them cared anything about us newbies, and just resented having to get up so early instead of getting up at 2pm like the rest of their classmates.
Cristiana was different.

She had moved from Italy to Canada in 2007, to take the Culinary Arts course and open a "real" Italian place with her husband. That was their dream.
When she was our Sous Chef, she took it seriously. This was not just another school assignment. For a moment, this was her job.
She didn't sit in one one of the offices and watch youtube like the others, she got right in there with us and actually taught us things.

One day she made homemade ravioli with us, as quickly and expertly as only a true Italian can!
I was in awe of her. She took cooking very seriously, was not afraid to voice her opinions to anyone, and my favorite Instructor truly respected her, which made me respect her as well.
Maybe one of the reasons I liked her so much was because she liked me.
I remember one day when I was in my Entrees station, she came to talk to me. Just to talk. She told me I was really good; that I had "it".
"Some of these kids are no good," She told me, "But you understand about cooking."
Coming from this talented, confident, and ambitious woman, that was a compliment that really went to my heart.

I only saw Cristiana a few times after her stint as our Sous Chef, but I still considered us friends.
So imagine my delight at realizing Caffe Arianna was her dream-come-reality. When it dawned on me who was in the kitchen I felt a huge smile spread across my face. It only got bigger when she recognized me at once and waved ecstatically.
When she got a free moment she came over to say hello.
We hugged, and I congratulated her on opening the cafe. She was very pleased with it, and was beaming with pride.
Then she asked the terrible question:
"So have you quit the program? I went to Accolades the other day, and went upstairs to see you, but you were not there! I thought maybe you were sick or something."
I admitted, yes, I had given up cooking as a career. She understood, but was disappointed, too.
"She was very good," she told my friend with a very earnest expression.
Another Cristiana compliment. My little heart can't take it. Made me want to enroll in the next semester right then and there. (glad I didn't though!)

Anyways, it was absolutely fantastic to see her again, and to know that she got to open her cafe after all. It really made my day.
While I was only in there for coffee, I grabbed a takeout menu to browse later on.
There are paninis (yum!), homemade soups, desserts, and salads available, as well as special order homemade pastas! I even noted something about homemade gelato!

I am so, so glad I opted out of Starbucks to try Cafe Arianna! I know I've been picking on Starbucks lately, but the more I think about it, the more I want to support local businesses, and this experience has certainly encouraged me in that. Why not give friends my business, instead of huge cafe chains?

I'm definitely going back. There's a Max's Panini, and Coffee Affagato with my name on it...

Of Books and Bookstores, Used and Old

So I had this great idea for a blog post about books today...

And then my mother had to go and blog books first.

But I'm a free spirit. So I'm going to go with my idea anyway. That's what free spirits do.

Here is a tale of two bookstores.

The other day I went into Chapters to drop off a resume. I figured, I like books. I can work at Chapters, wear the silly little uniform, weather the Christmas shopping storm...make a little money.
If you've ever been there, which you probably have, you know that Chapters is large. And its a chain company. And its affiliated with Starbucks. What was I thinking...

The lady at the desk peered over her glasses at me when I asked to speak with the manager, and crisply told me that "we don't accept resumes here." She told me to go online and apply there. Since I'd already checked out their site and hadn't seen anything about applying online, I asked, "at Chapters.ca?", and she answered peevishly, "yes, go to our website."
Bad customer service reeeeally turns me off. You have no idea.
I didn't bother going online to look.
That's just the way I am.

I went into Second Glance Used Books today.
On a mission.
Not to drop off a resume, but to find a rather obscure book that I have wanted for a very long time.

There is something about used bookstores that are so much more lovable than new ones, I think. They are so inviting. Its not like when you walk into a new bookstore and everything is displayed perfectly, and arranged just so. You don't feel slightly awed, scared to touch anything for fear of bending a corner, or tearing a page. It is the difference between entering an immaculate show house, and the home of an old friend.

Second glance had a box of freebies at the door, and as I entered, I was pleased to see it was filled to bursting with all kinds of books...books stacked on the floor, piled on shelves, stuffed in boxes...every book imaginable. Mystery, Horror, Romance, Children's, Fantasy, Self-Help, Plays, Poetry...on and on.

I couldn't help but grin as I made my way through the maze of books and shelves, occasionally tugging one book out from under a pile, like a game of Jenga, or finding an interesting title wedged between two larger books.

There were a couple of friends gathered in the back on couches, hanging out, and there were a few wanders who had just come to browse. Then there was me, trying to find that elusive novel.

I was sidetracked for a while by a pile of retro-looking Tolkien books. Then by an old book of poetry. Finally I found my way into the children's section, and spied a box of Anne of Green Gables books. Aha!

There were old cloth-bound versions of "The Golden Road", and newer shiny editions of the Anne series, with pictures from the movies. And lots and lots of the typical paperbacks by Seal Books publishing.

I trailed my finger down the titles frantically. Was this all there was? Would I never find my book?

Then there it was. Right there, amidst a sea of "Anne of Avonlea"s...

A Tangled Web
By L.M. Montgomery

I snatched it up, as though some stranger would nab it before I got to the till. It was $2.

There were a total of 8 books stuffed under my arm when I unloaded them onto the counter with a beaming smile. I happily handed over the $30 it cost me. One was like new, and the others were old enough to be collectors items, or so I'd like to think.

I really can't help myself when it comes to used bookstores. They are just so awesome.

The girls at the counter were nice and helpful, and I'm definitely going back...with a resume.

On a New Path

Last year at this time I was steeped in culinary life, absorbed with the differences in terms such as "Blanch" and "Parboil". I woke up early each morning, usually around 6AM, got through my regular morning routine, and spent most of the day wearing baggy checkered pants and a checkered pillbox hat. I tried to please my instructors by being early and working hard, spent my late afternoons moaning over homework, and then hurrying out the door to work 6 hours at Billy Miners Roadhouse, deep-frying fries and chicken nuggets.


I was busy, but it was good. This year has been a bit different so far.
After I returned from Strathcona Park Lodge, I decided to take September easy. I had been on the go since last September when I started the culinary program, and I wanted a break. I have been working part-time with Dutch Touch Cleaning Services, and that has been a really great way for me to unwind from the stress of cooking and earn just enough cash to keep the car running and do things that I want to do.


I told myself October would be different. I would get full-time work, move out of my parent's place, and figure out what I wanted to do when I grow up. That sort of thing.

Well, now its late October, and I still haven't got a full-time job (though I've been applying), moving out of my parent's place is just not gonna happen...but...BUT...

I may have figured out a career choice.

This is a big thing for me guys! ME, who has stared at her future with a bleak "I just don't know what to do" for so long. Even while cooking, I wasn't convinced I wanted it as a career.

Researching my Meyers-Briggs personality (INFP) didn't really help with its suggestions (teacher, writer, actor, etc) but it did highlight a few things that I thought, "Ya, that is important to me."

Helping people.
Improving lives.
Making a difference.

Other things I wanted to include:

Low-stress environment.
Working independently (not necessarily my own business, but just not having someone breath down my neck)
Not sitting at a desk all day.

Well, this week I was talking with my mom about jobs, and I don't even remember how it came up, but suddenly I was like, "Maybe I will become a massage therapist."

I said it as kind of a joke. I've thought about it before, when I was graduating highschool. Its been in the back of my mind forever, but then I would always think, "That means I would have to touch people that I don't know...eeeewwwww!"
That still kind of disturbs me, but I think once you are trained professionally its not a big deal.

All the pieces started to fit together.
The whole natural healing thing appeals to me, and its such a diverse field, there would always be something new to learn and specialize in. It really fits in with my interests and values.

I looked it up, and there is a school of massage in Victoria that looks very good. Of course, the tuition kind of popped a blood vessel in my head...but if I work full-time this year and save every penny, I think I could pull it off. Maybe. I refuse to get another student loan. Ever.

Completing the first year will qualify me as a Spa Practioner, which basically means I would be your typical spa masseuse, trained to do hot rock, aromatherapy, reflexology, and all those lovely things.

If I chose to go on for the next two years, I would become a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), and work in a medical setting, or specialize in sports-related massage.

It all sounds so intriguing! For the first time in a very long time, I am excited about the possibility of going back to school! I really think this is something I could "get into"!

Best of all...I won't have to talk to people (much)...and they will love me for it!

The Introvert in me is smiling really big.

Happy Warts-Giving

I didn't put up any Thanksgiving posts this weekend, so now I am going to make up for it.

I am thankful for liquid nitrogen.
I am thankful to be wart-free.
I am thankful for cameras to document my journey through wart-dom.
I am thankful for blogs to share this incredible journey with you.

See that dark round cluster to the Left? That, I believe, is the wart. The rest is simply a blood blister from walking on a sore, recently-frozen wart. The two slightly wartish-looking things on either side were warts-to-be, nipped in the bud.
The other two full-grown warts on my toes departed silently in night, sometime last week.
So this crusty blossom was all that was left of the fiends.
It was looking very pickable...
So I picked it.
It came off quite easily.
My warts are gone! Hurrah! Hopefully I will never have warts again!

Random Updates, and a Helpful Trick

Update #1:
When I returned from Ireland, a few of my houseplants were, shall we say, in need of some TLC. Some (like my English Ivy...that's a post for another day) were beyond help, and I feared my Jasmine was among them. Once the dead branches were pruned, and the crispy leaves bushed aside, there remained but a few sharp brown twigs sticking out of the pot. You can see them in this picture. You can also see that it has been brought back to health, and three lively green shoots have sprung up since then. Its been a long journey, and I wondered if it would ever return to its former glory. This plant used to be quite bushy and frequently dotted with fragrant white blossoms. Well, today I celebrate because one of its 3 buds have opened, and I have a beautiful white bloom!
I am very happy.

Update #2:
Its been one week since I got (my warts) tortured at the walk-in clinic.
They are not nearly as sore as they were, and are now beginning to darken.
The doctor said they should be gone within 2 weeks, so they have seven days to skedaddle.

Ps. I hear putting Apple Cider Vinegar on warts is supposed to get rid of them...maybe I should have tried that. It might have been less painful!

Speaking of Apple Cider Vinegar....

Helpful Trick:
We get bombarded with fruit flies at our house every now and then.
And lately its been more now than then.
I've found a way to get rid of them, and it really works!

I got a shallow dish, poured in some Apple Cider Vinegar (the fruity smell attracts them), and covered it with plastic cling wrap. Then I poked holes with a fork.

The flies smell the vinegar, climb in the holes, and then eventually fall into the liquid and drown because they can't crawl out!

The picture shows the second batch of victims. The first batch was even more successful!

Hooray!

I woke up to the sound of RAIN this morning!!!
I'm very excited.

Beeeeautiful!

On the same day I went to the Dutch Import store, I also visited Cathedral Grove, and old growth forest on the way towards Tofino.
It was sooooo cool!I love forests so much, especially West Coast forests! They are so lush, green, and dense! Cathedral Grove has some trees 300+ years old, which I guess is relatively young in comparison with some forests, but seeing trees this huge is still pretty impressive!
Apparently this is where they shot the Ewok Village scenes from Return of the Jedi...It was very cool, and I had to take lots of pictures, because when I get back to Kamloops, I can kiss green forests goodbye!

Dutch Much?

The other day my friend Cole and I headed south to explore Coombs, the Cathedral Grove, and basically just get away from the lodge!
As we were leaving Coombs I spotted a sign by the side of the road that said "Dutch Imports: 4km". Being the good little Dutch girl that I am (well the maternal half, anyway) I eagerly insisted that we check it out. I smelled dropjes!
It was easy to find. A vibrant orange sign, and the above tourist attractions made it pretty obvious! It took .5 seconds for me to whip out my camera and get these shots.
Then we explored the inside. It was so funny! Just like being in a Dutch tourist shop. Magnets declaring "I love Oma", and traditional white hats, and Dutch soccer jerseys, and lots of Delft...
And there was food. Lots of weird food packaged in Dutch so I couldn't understand.
My favorite part was located in the far right side of the store. Bins and bins of dropjes in bulk. All my favorites, and many more I haven't ever tried before! Cole was disgusted of course, but that didn't stop her from trying out the little dropjes labeled "Extremely salty! Go ahead and feel free to try a sample!". I loved 'em, but she spit hers out. Big surprise!
I'm not going to lie: I spent an exorbitant amount on dropjes that day, and I've enjoyed every moment eating them.
We also spent a lot of time chatting with the store owners. They were the nicest people...probably because they were Dutch. And they own the best store ever.

Midnight Drive

After a great day out at the lake, hanging out with friends, and tubing behind a speedboat, I cranked up my music and headed back to the Lodge.
I love driving alone...not that I don't like driving with people, but there's a certain freedom when you can cruise along blaring the music of your choosing and singing along at the top of your lungs...

Anyway, point of the story...by the time I got to the lodge, I wasn't ready to end my alone time. So I kept on going...

and pulled over somewhere along the road, to take in the beautiful view of the sunset....It was so silent and peaceful. Not a car on the road, not a sound. Just the moonlight, Peppy, and me.

It was the best.