153:365 - cat of opportunity

Just remembering how to use a !%$ camera.. I need to get out more. :(

152:365 Free stuff is always good...

Anna: Philippe actually took this picture for me while I was layering nachos. :-D

While picking up nacho fixings for a movie night this evening, I used the loyalty card points I've been accumulating at the local grocery store to get this 6 quart crock pot for free. It was selling for about $60. It joins a growing list of stuff I've been able to get for free with points. I kind of like that. ;-)

I've never used a crock pot before. Something new to learn. :-D

152:365 I must be insane...

Anna: If you've seen some of my craft related photos, you've probably guessed that I enjoy trying different kinds of crafts. One of my favorites is temari. In this photo is my Mardi Gras inspired temari made using a 3 inch Styrofoam core. It's a very comfortable size to work in.

You see the little while balls at its base? Those are going to be temari, too.

I think I must be insane to try it.

It was actually painful to wrap them. The cores are half a facial tissue each. Holding something so tiny while trying to wrap it tightly with sewing thread was quite the challenge!

If they work, I think I'll make them into earrings. I haven't decided on colours yet, so they're just ready and waiting for now.

151:365 Warped (and late! *L*)

Anna: This is the photo I meant to post yesterday, but Blogger wouldn't let me upload anything.

This is our new keyboard - and the software CD that came with it. We just didn't know how to react when Philippe pulled out the warped plastic baggy with the disc and paperwork in it. LOL

150:365 The Show that Wasn't... and mystery pic solution.

Anna: My younger daughter and I went to the museum to take in Fire & Water: The Dragons Awaken. This was to be a production with Scarab Productions and the Edmonton Stilt Walkers.

Unfortunately, high winds knocked one of the towers down during set up - this one stayed up only because they'd tied a concrete garbage can to one of the legs. Those banners had been tied down a few moments ago. The museum didn't want to risk anyone getting hurt and canceled the show. They've got one last performance scheduled in September. Weather willing, we'll be taking that one in instead. :-)








There were three weddings being photographed on the grounds while we were there. One of them had several classic cars. You can see those and more photos here.








Now here's the solution to the mystery photo. Gawdess and TTJ got it right.


This is a Jones Soda mint tin. Not that they're actually mints. The candies are carbonated and start fizzing on the tongue. They come in a variety flavours, much like the drinks (though I've yet to see Turkey and Gravy flavour...). Like the drinks, the inside of the mint lid has some pithy saying printed. My kids really like them. :-)

149:365 Doggin' the Sun, and my first Mystery Pic

Anna: This evening, we headed out for a bit of a shopping trip, finally replacing the mouse and keyboard on our computer. They were both doing some really weird things on us.

Unfortunately, there were no plain, ergonomic keyboards. I've been typing on a split keyboard for years and love it, but the only split keyboard we could find was really expensive, wireless, and had all sorts of bells and whistles we don't want. So now we have a plainer, somewhat ergonomic keyboard (it has wrist support), with bells and whistles we don't want. *sigh* I'm going to have to learn to type all over again.

Oh, and apparently, you can't buy a plain mouse anymore. The plainest one we could find was a gamer's mouse. Right handed, of course. Philippe and I both use the mouse with our left hands, so it's a good thing we don't need the gaming buttons on the side. The scroll wheel glows blue, and the logo has a blue light that very slowly blinks on and off. Pretty, but I'd happily have done without. *L*

As we were leaving with our purchases, we saw a rainbow sundog in the sky. Our younger daughter had her A75 in her purse, so I borrowed it and got this photo.











I've so enjoyed the mystery pics on other photo blogs (visit my links list on the sidebar), I just had to join in the fun. Here is my first mystery pic.




Can you guess what this is?

148:365 Colours

Anna: Headed out for a walk this evening, taking some paths to an area I haven't walked to before.

Along sections of the LRT rails that run near where we live is a walking/bicycle path. Once the tracks near downtown, they go underground while the path continues on. On the path side of the opening into the tunnel is a long row of graffiti murals. Some are really fantastic. Unfortunately, little effort seems to be made to maintain them, so the work of the artists is being mucked up by the taggers.

The lack of maintenance was clearly demonstrated by the decorative raised beds. I had to cross a street just before the tunnel entrance. The cross walk for the path is bordered by decorative poles and large raised beds with trees and shrubbery. On one side, the bed, though sparse, was mostly free of weeds and garbage. On the other side - near these murals - the bed clearly hasn't seen any maintenance all season. The tree and shrubs planted in it were nearly choked out by weeds, with plenty of garbage stuck in them as well.

I went far enough to get a photo of the last mural before turning around and heading home. By then I could see the people I'd been hearing for some time. From the sounds of it, the "party" had already started some time ago, in the back of some business' property.

So much for chain link fences and No Trespassing signs.