Easy come, easy go...コーヒー・メーカー

L sold her coffee machine...sigh...she'll have to find a better one...unfortunately she fell out of love with that one...残念ながらLはこの間大好きなコーヒーメーカーを売ってしまった。やっぱりもっと高いのがほしいって。

Herbs, herbs, herbs! ハーブ！

We are even planting herbs on our balcony...バルコニーでハーブを植えている！

It was a busy day of gardening all round...今日は超忙しかった！

Bring on the mint-filled mojitos!　右側はミントです！モーヒートを飲みたーい!

今日見た映画 Promised Land

This is the movie we watched on the weekend. It was interesting and thought-provoking, but not an action-adventure by any stretch. この間見た映画。マト・デーモンが出て、アメリカのエネルギー危機についてテーマで、結構面白い。ちょっとゆっくりしたペースだけど面白い。

今日もハーブを植えた Planting herbs again...

I was gardening again today...more photos to follow tomorrow...今日もいっぱいハーブを植えた(うえた)。楽しかったけど超疲れた。明日また写真をアップする。おやすみ！

Weekend in Kelso...

I didn't blog on June 14-15 because we were away in Kelso, Washington. We had some time with the baby and his parents in the pool. Fun weekend but I am looking forward to some time at home (and less hours in the car!) We arrived first so had a quick seafood dinner--I was in the mood for oysters so piggy had a whole dozen!

We checked in to the Super 8, which has a pretty good breakfast!

A couple of us went to movies to see the new X-Men movie, which was fabulous. Unfortunately I got the large drink and popcorn--yikes! Too big!

It wasn't all about eating...there was some swimming, too...

But yes, there was a lot of eating...

Japan out of the World Cup...

I cannot believe that Japan AND Italy went out of World Cup 2014 on the same day...sigh...

Poor Italy...getting booted out really bites :)

Now who to support? Nigeria, Ghana, and Algeria are keeping my African hopes alive. Eventually I will root for any team from the Southern Hemisphere...

Green fingers...

The co-op is starting to put vegetable plots in...

People have different ideas about what their plots should look like...

This is a particular favourite...

 We are even putting coloured trellises up at the back for aesthetics and security...

 Here they are..up...

 Gorgeous little gardens...

Song of the week...

I heard this for the first time today (I am only about 15 months behind the cool curve...apparently it got to #41 in Japan's Hot 100 last year...).  It is even better when turned up REALLY LOUD!

This version gives the lyrics...


I think this is the official music video...not a great video but this will be my new gym song!

Most interesting ice-cream EVER! アイス・クリームの信じられない味

We went to the most amazing ice-cream store yesterday! It's in Vancouver on 1st Ave: they have over 200 flavours.　昨日、すばらしいアイスクリーム店を訪ねた。見たことのない味がいっぱいあった。

アルコール入りの甘いものもあって。。。たとえばウオツカやテキーラ。。。Some were sweet and included alcohol: vodka, tequila...

 ...champagne...more tequila...シャンパンもあった。。。

...sambuca...サンブカも。。。

...Gentleman Jack is a whiskey!　これはウィスキー入り。。。

Some included spices: chili...スパイス入りアイスもあった。。。たとえばチリー

 ...jalapeno...ハラペニョ入りのは辛そう。。。

...the one on the left is CURRY flavour!。。。左側のはカレー味！！

Some ice-cream included herbs: basil...ハーブ入りもあった（信じられないでしょう！）たとえばバジル！

...lavender...あらま！ラベンダー味！

And some flavours were just plain weird: balsamic vinegar?　バルサミコ酢味?

...pear, gorgonzola, and blue cheese?　ラフランス、ゴルゴンゾラ・チーズ、ブルー・チーズ味って？

 ...of course, there is wasabi in here...やっぱりワサビ味も出た！

...hummus?　あれ？ハマス味？

 Thank goodness there were some almost-normal flavours...普通の味もあってよかった！

 ...some really appealing flavours...チョコが美味しそう！

...and of course...a Canadian favourite...あ。。。メープル・ベーコンってカナダの味？

Spamalot スパマロット

This was today's fun...there was LOTS of silliness! 今日見に行った演劇はスパマロットというミュージカル。とても楽しかった。

バンクーバー島で仕事 Work on Vancouver Island...

今日、フェリーに乗ってバンクーバー島へ行ってきた。会議があったので長い一日になった。帰りは午後7:30ごろになってしまったけどまだ明るかった。なつはすごいねー！ Today I was on Vancouver island all day for a work meeting. It was a good day but it was a bit long. We were still on the ferry at 7:30pm and it was still really light...summer is unbelievable!

Final day of the fundraising campaign

We ended with ice-cream...

Chocolate or vanilla, with hot fudge or fruit sauce...

And whipped cream with toppings! Yikes!

There were then some speeches and prizes...

...and a lot of money raised...