Honestly

Honestly, just one more post before I start my holiday weekend celebration. I just got so pumped about this loft. You can watch the video here. Liberty out.

Oh Canada

The whole area here in the beach is a buzz with the anticipation of Canada Day Weekend. The exodus from the large cities has already begun and I can hear the traffic moving in. We are a very proud nation and we love our country. I just wish we would showcase more flags. I love to travel into the United States and photograph all the homes who hang flags. U.S. flags are everywhere. The big joke up here is that the rest of the world thinks we live in igloos and play hockey all day on the ice fields. Here is a little bit about our wonderful country:

Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. It has also been influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries. American media and entertainment are popular if not dominant in Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the US and worldwide. Many cultural products are marketed toward a unified "North American" or global market.

Canada's official national sports are ice hockey (winter) and lacrosse (summer). Hockey is a national pastime and the most popular spectator sport in the country. It is the most popular sport Canadians play, with 1.65 million active participants in 2004. Canada's six largest metropolitan areas - Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton - have franchises in the National Hockey League (NHL), and there are more Canadian players in the league than from all other countries combined

We just had a national contest to vote on 'The Seven Wonders of Canada'. You will enjoy reading and learning about them. Have an awesome, festive weekend. Signing out from Canada. I can't wait to read all your posts next week!

i Communicate

There is a lovely gallery on the main street in Huntsville, Ontario. Don't worry you'll find it. It's the only one in the town. It's in an old building. It has good energy. In the little lobby there is some kind of intercom/communication tool that I would guess is from the early 1900's. The landlord has obviously not taken much time to carefully paint around it. We do have painter tape now. Anyway, isn't this a beautiful piece of history? It got the job done I'm sure, but it is a far cry from my new big/little dream I have now. i Communicate.

The Orange Frequency

Just after I finished my 'daily tour' this morning, I went outside to move the hose. I long to be here watering, but alas, I am home in the hazy air. We have a water ban/restriction in our area. I can only water on odd days between 3am and 6am and then 7am to 9am. To my delight my rose bush had it's first bloom. A lovely burst of orange! We all seem to be on the same orange frequency. Even nature is co-operating and I never really believed I could get this plant to flourish in the sun-drenched front yard. (It is so hot and dry in the Beach - people were doing this today to stay cool - have you seen the few minute long Water movie?) I love when stuff like this happens. It gives me chills.

All Things Orange

Actually, this is a grapefruit (behind bars) ready for the darling Baltimore Orioles to pick away at it. I was visiting Decor 8 and noticed all the orange inspired interiors (see her flickr page here) and then over at Paris Apartment (no pun intended....stay with me for just a moment) I saw her post about Paris Hilton.

Orange is going to be huge for the next year. Not only is it trending white hot in fashion, but in gift & tableware, to cars to design. Coupled with this, Paris Hilton had to wear an orange jailbird suit during her stay and now I predict orange will be stronger than ever. Here is another lovely blog How About Orange.

Now the lonely grapefruit here is also part of the trend. All things citrus will emerge. Lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit (yellow and pink) and of course, orange. Orange overalls will sell like hotcakes. Which designer will make all the money on this one?

Your Cheese Dishes & Underground Cellar

I can just imagine the 1950's. Picture this: A woman kisses her husband goodbye in the morning and then heads to the kitchen to read her heavy cookbook. She decides after reading page 834 & 835 that she'll go outside and build an underground cellar.

'A storage cellar below ground is comparatively easy to insulate and to maintain at a constant temperature. Make it of wood or concrete. A sidehill is preferable because it avoids the necessity of carrying vegetables up and down stairs.' - Culinary Arts Institute of Chicago Encyclopedic Cookbook

Alrighty then. And then when I'm done I'll prepare him a tasty cheese dish, but not before I set the table correctly for dinner with a monogrammed tablecloth.

O.K. Back to reality now....

For another fun cookbook based on Gone with the Wind, check out Apartment Therapy Kitchen.

My Favorite Find Today

What a wonderful afternoon at the Salvation Army. I snapped up this vintage Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook (Chicago) for $4. This 974 page book was published in 1950 and the first chapter is called, 'Your 2000 facts about food.' Here is an excerpt from the introduction:

'The personality of a cookbook is as apparent as it is important. It is composed of known and stable ingredients with unknown and elusive ones to make a mixture as familiar, friendly and exhilarating as a pine woods on a summer morn. The elusive charm of this personality stems from a clear overtone: a light touch- a sense of humor - a flair for the clever idea of cooking and serving that results in something called style, but above all a feeling for the kind of beauty that women want about them in their work-a-day world.'

Lara at Cook and Eat would have a hay-day with this book. The best part was finding a typewritten recipe inside the worn pages. You know, I could do an entire blog for 5 years based on this literary treasure. Hmmm...and someone obviously thought it was rubbish.

Second Favorite Finds Today

Here I go again. Tiny gems calling my name. Total investment (because I see it as one) $2.00. I'm a happy Rubbish Rebel.

Canada Day is Almost Here!

It's lush and green. It's peaceful and diverse. I love my Canada. Won't you come soon for a visit?

Lots of ice and a Good Magazine

I wait all year for the hot weather. I really do, but yesterday was a hot one. 33 degrees. I enjoyed some late afternoon heat on the patio with my new issue of Canadian House and Home. If you are dreaming of a lakeside retreat, this is the issue for you. Poppytalk has a post today about the cottages that are featured. As I drooled over the pages I could almost hear the old screen door slamming as cottagers head for the boat, but instead of toddling behind them, I imagined sitting at the long pine table and eating the entire strawberry shortcake that was meant for their dinner. (Ontario strawberries are ready for picking now and I do declare they are the juiciest and most delicious in the world!)

The Summer Mantel

Thanks to Beach Bungalow 8

Thank You so much to Beach Bungalow 8 for adding my blog to her links. I can't tell you how happy I am. It's my first link! Big Hug! Be sure to visit her blog often. It's wonderful. It's so nice to have blog friends.

Sunshine Shopping

The sun beckons you outdoors and the salt-water taffy hues on shimmering breezy fabric beckons your wallet. It must be that summer euphoria that draws us to purchase pretty pastel pinnies. Was that enough P's for you? Shopping al fresco is the ultimate self-indulgent pleasure. No sales clerks surround you and therefore no pressure to buy. This almost makes it more appealing. I say that clothes sell so much better when the warm sunbeams are standing in for the halogen track lights. No hip window display needed. Just a rolling rack and ninety degree weather.

Drive-In Theatre

Remember those muggy summer nights when your Mom would give you an early bath and put your flannel jammies on you so you'd be cozy warm at the Drive-In after the sun went down? After my Dad picked the very best parking spot we would run to the swing set and giggle and laugh at my parents trying to connect and adjust the speakers to the car window. Is it my imagination or was Drive-In popcorn the best you've ever tasted? And how about those funny little commercials with dancing hot dogs and silly french fries. I know I always saw the first movie (barely) and then after that, I'd be sound asleep. You know, those are some of the best memories for many families. Going to the movies was an exciting and much anticipated event. This theatre still remains open in Elmvale, Ontario. I think I'll take my family there 'reel' soon.

BIG ASS PIES

I'm so sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but honestly, this is what Marty calls his pies. Let me tell you the pies are so huge (about 16" round and 3-4" deep) and the $8 per slice is worth every penny. Apparently his butter tarts are known as the best in Canada and beyond. His cafe is fun and all 'a buzz' with loud blues music and people drooling into the open window. Marty's is located on Manitoba Street near the falls in Bracebridge, Ontario (in the heart of the oh so picturesque Muskoka Cottage region). Marty also sells branded mugs, hats, t-shirts, aprons and 'Big Ass' pie plates. I wanted one so bad but I did not give in to the $50 price tag and now I regret it! Does anyone out there know of a source for really, really, really big aluminum (I think) pie plates? If not, I guess I'm going to have to go back up there to get one. Marty's blueberry pie is calling my name anyway. I'd give you a link if there was one, but obviously Marty is too busy at the till and has no time for the internet.

Marty's Menu Board & Huge Pies

Each apple pie at Marty's is filled with 6 lbs. of apples!

One Dollar One Hundred Uses

I just got the sweetest little silver-plate leaf dish. I found it this morning at the second-hand shop for $1. Now see how many different ways you can repurpose it. What would you use it for?

Beach Bungalow 8

There must be some synchronicity in the sea air. First, I talk earlier this week about 'Mrs. Butterhouse' and now Beach Bungalow 8 is talking about 'Butter Boy'. Funny how great minds connect even though she's in California and I'm up here in Georgian Bay.