Troma-inspired

So, the other night Curt went to bed early and I took it upon myself to watch Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD. What a fun film to have on in the background!
Anyhow, it must be pretty neat to do the makeup and costume for movies like this. I started doodling. If nothing else, I guess it's a sign to go & see the new Batman movie...

Somerdale

The wonderful folks at McCouls Pub had this Red Dragon cheddar. I found it at the market and have decided that it is the perfect accompaniment to that delicious Malbec I mentioned a couple of posts ago.
I am on to try some other Somerdale varieties next - hopefully they will all be so yummy!

Tea time

Okay, I think it's been too long since I expressed my great thanks for tea. That coffee stuff is just too horrible to contemplate. But tea, wonderful tea, how does anyone live without you?!?
I just finished a morning cuppa. Wrapped up in my emails, the bottom inch went cold. You know what? It was still really good! I have inherited a snobbish way or two though. Spoiled girl I am as Mum brings me the best kind on her visits. It would be awfully hard to revert back to Twinings at this point.
In the afternoon, it's all about Earl Grey - yum!
Anyhow, came across a site - Think Outside the Cup: Cooking with Tea will have to give some of these recipes a try.

Malbec

How come I never had this before!? Anyone!?
This Conquista Malbec is terrific. I will have to try other producers and find out if it's just this brand or if it's pretty consistent as a type. Anyhow, yum! This could be the red counterpart to my favourite white (Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio)

The interloper

Here is the aggressor in the showdown...

Silent wars

Whilst talking with our neighbor Joe today, I noticed a largish heron land in Pam and Dave's front yard. It was all out of breath and landed rather near to us, completely ignoring the fearsome growls emanating from Clovis. This occurred to me as odd.

About 20 minutes later, Curt called me from downstairs. He said that two herons just finished fighting right by our downstairs slider. By the time I crept out with the camera, one of them was gone and the other was heading into the heavy underbrush.

I slipped out of my flip-flops and pattered down the garden path to get some snaps of the terrified creature. He obviously saw me and tried to camouflage himself (right behind a tree). So, guiltily I backed off.

As I retreated, the other bird descended on the rear bank again. I felt rather bad for the hiding heron as it seemed to be hyperventilating (I should note also that it's in the mid-90's out there). So, I shooed off the attacker. With almost no effort, he swung out over the lake and flew to the neighbour's yard to attempt a campaign from that side.

I just couldn't watch anymore. The strange thing was that with all of this going on, there was complete silence. Here are a few images of the hiding heron:

Summertime

It's all about chillin in the garden and the itsy-bitsy watermelon (we have got to find a sunny patch and grow some next year!)...

Wrath

Man, I don't care if Ernie is a blind, old thing. He gets so mean when he's had his wine (he's sleeping it off now)...

Oops, it's just about your birthday

Alright, we're getting to that age where we start trying to not think about birthdays so much (I promise I won't reveal those numbers). That must be why I keep forgetting to send cards out!

Anyhow, There are certain gifts from the ether now and again. Every once in a while a tax rebate comes just when you need an extra couple hundred to keep the car running or you get a great dream about someone who's passed on.

Nostalgia can really get one bogged down, but occasionally it is great. When I am an old biddy, I will look back on some of the concerts - Radiohead, Doc Watson and of course the Ramones!

As you all see, I am a youtube addict. I found this wonderful old treat there. The (ewww) Spector (ewww) touch is reivisited - I wonder what Ronnie made of this version?

Rave on

So, we've been listening to the newest Raveonettes album - 'Lust Lust Lust.' It's really good. I'm not sure it's as consistent as 'Pretty In Black,' but most folks only seem to get out one or two that strong and then they either just regurgitate the same songs with different lyrics or they get all 'experimental' (read this as egocentric noodling aka suck-baggy).
Anyhow, LLL is neat - I like Candy and, of course, Dead Sound and Aly Walk With Me. Here's a video:

Lobsta

Excellent, I am still basking in the delicious daze that was last night's sup. Our neighbours are fellow heathen Yankees. Their brother Tom is here for a visit. In an act of inordinate kindness, he brought with him a plethora of New England coastal yummies; scallops, steamers and lobsters (and real lobsters, not the little crawfishy looking things they try to pass off here). What an wonderful fellow!

Summer planting

We have some new additions to the garden. Hopefully the voles will not find them as tasty as some of our previous guests...

How to annoy your friends further

Try pinching their noses when they wish to nap in your arms...

How to annoy your friends

It's so easy when they can't see you coming...

Casa Flop

I ordered a mess of Casa Blanca Lilies from a catalogue this spring. I was afraid that they would come to nothing. Surprise, surprise, here they are and they are so heavy that I'm contriving all kinds of support systems (I wonder if I cut them back in the early summer before they begin to bud, if I can get them to grow a bit shorter at least)...

Control

We saw Control last night. Pretty decent movie; beautiful atmosphere.

I guess that it came out last year and is based off 'Touching From a Distance' by Deborah Curtis. So, the focus is as much on the Curtis' as on Joy Division.

There is a film Joy Division that is out (?) or out soon which looks good - maybe a bit better rounded.

Durham Cathedral

We received a lovely postcard from my mother today. She had been out to Durham Cathedral and writes:
'This door-knocker on Durham Cathedral was made in 1300 AD. People who knocked could take sanctuary for 30 days and either arrange to stand trial or go into exile.'

Where's the sailboat?

Okay, so I tried to make this picture more interesting by putting a cormorant drying it's wings on a rock in the foreground. I had to get rid of it though, because it just ended up looking like a slug working it's way across the corner. Guess I need to practice my bird close-ups.

Anyhow, I like the direction it's heading, but it's a bit dull. So, I added a sailboat - can you find it on the horizon? Any other suggestions? I thought about ruins or a lighthouse on one of the islands, but that seems a bit too cliche. Maybe I'll just paint a giant sea squid coming to get the little boat. Hmnnnn....

Sidekick

I must share my new-found powers.
Clovis, come help me fight evil! Clovis, don't lay down!
Okay, Wonder Pup is training up by licking his paws now. Just you watch out bad guys - after Clovis, I mean Wonder Pup, is done with his nap, he's going to back me up...

The power

Now, with my new bullet-reflecting bracelet, I truly am Wonder Woman...

A new beginning

My dear friends Stacie and Kimon heard of my lethargy and took action. They knew that my powers would all return with a little reminder of the childhood years I had in Saturday morning training...Thanks Guys!

Weakness

I was a lost soul: A weak housewife dancing around the house to bad 80's tunes and in need of a shower...