Illustration Friday: Tea

Back around the turn of the 20th century, bears were widely used to advertise all manner of consumer goods from bullets to thread to gasoline. The connection was as bizarre as this one is with grizzly bears and herbal tea.

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L'il Bologna Loaf's Curiosity

Sniff This

Tai Shan tangles with the trees, does a few chin-ups and contemplates the crunchiness of bamboo last Wednesday the 22nd.

Holding On

Not the greatest climber in the world, but he doesn't seem to be worse for wear when he occassionally falls out.

Let's Eat

Time to tuck into some lunch. He's dragging bamboo boughs onto the tree.

Somesai has taken awesome pics of his day in person at Pandafix.

Part II: Frozen in Place

Frozen Rabbit Tracks

A few nights ago some brave rabbits hippity-hopped over the, as yet to be, solidified lake ice. These tracks will continue to betray their nocturnal route till the weather warms up.

BC Rail

Some stupid developer built an expensive enclave and a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus at the far end of Green Lake. This active railroad cuts through it, moving southbound railcars of saw dust, paper and plywood twice a day at 5pm and 1am. I get to see the rails once a year, when it is possible to walk across, and not swim, the lake.

junker

There are thousands of tons of abandoned logging, railroad and mining equipment strewn all over British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Back in their heyday, these industries made so much money that it was cheaper to leave stuff behind rather than pull it out of the bush. I'm guessing this was once a crane for hauling rails, logs or both. It rests on the cusp on the lake and the town formerly known as Parkhurst.

warming hut

One of the last remaining structures in defunct Parkhurst. The log skids on the bottom hints to the fact it may have been moved around before resting for good in this spot by the lake. Inside are two flanking rows of built-in benches and a little shelf. The caved tin roof makes it difficult to discern that in a photo, hence this back view.

Part III: Trekking Back to the Car

Humble Crumble Pie

So easy to make, if a bear stole your fresh baked pie cooling on the windowsill, you'd have time to make another one before the conservation officer came round to take your complaint.

Filling Ingredients:
1-9" deep dish pie crust
5 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 c. white sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon

Topping:
1/3 c. white sugar
3/4 c. flour, unbleached or whole wheat
1/2 c. uncooked oatmeal
5 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400f. Lay apple slices in unbaked pie shell. Mix sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle on top.

Mix topping ingredients till crumbly. Spoon mixture over apples and press down with hands. Bake in convection oven at 400f for 20 min., then reduce to 300f for 40-45 min (maybe a little bit longer in a standard oven). Pie is done when apples are soft and top is lightly browned.

Pandas at Home

Su Lin, 2:21:06

She spends more time in the air than a jet liner, I think. Must be nice for Bai Yun, always knowing where her daughter is.

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Somebody's Having Breakfast

The Panda Cam audio sounds just like a wood chipper, except it's Gao Gao (Su's Babydaddy) cracking and tearing his bamboo. I'm sure Pandas don't suffer from tooth decay too much.

What to do with Discarded Plates

a licence to collect

Why, nail them throughout the house inside and out! In two years I've amassed about 200 plates, mostly from eBay. They add a punchy shot of colour on the dark dutch cedar panelling upstairs. This pic was originally shot for the 'Corners of My Home' Flickr pool.

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Part I of III: Cold Snap

Green Lake 2

This is the first time I've walked on a frozen Green Lake in hiking boots. Every other winter season required snowshoes laced under my boots to avoid sinking in deep powder. It was two weeks since last snowfall and the white patches in the pic are rime frost oddly enough, not snowy drifts. I thought I'd take a quick skip from the house to check out my backyard view close-up. I forgot no matter how short your exposure to sub zero weather is, wear gloves. A breezy hour later back at home found me needing hot cups of coffee to thaw out painful finger-scicles.

crack in the ice

A fissure re-frozen into a solid sheet once more. All it took was three days of -10c chilliness to harden up 10" thick.

Isle of rock

It blows me away that in the winter I can walk up to things usually surrounded by deep water. Here's a big bit of glacial till like the one I have to pass by on the way up Soo Valley to cut firewood.

Shadow

Mid afternoons on short winter days make for crazy, long shadows. That's me of course, before I stomp Tokyo into the ground with my buddy Godzilla.

Next Post, Part II: Frozen in Place

Go North Young Man

beer pallet

All sorts of transients find their way here to Whistler and doff their hitchhiking aids at city, or in this case, village limits. There are others like this in worse shape discarded in the snow, begging for either a lift to Pemberton or a return ride back to Vancouver. This in particular is a perfect specimen made from a Corona beer pallet. In the school of hard knocks, these guys are majoring in hitching with a minor in littering.

Hang in There Baby!

Su Lin's pre-nap ablutions

It wouldn't be a fair bet if one wagered it on Su Lin not being in a tree. Today found her getting comfy cozy before bedding down in the mid-afternoon at San Diego Zoo. She did a few 360's on a sliver of a branch, as agile as a logger topping a fir 100 feet in the air.

Illustration Friday: Song

Dave v. Bear

If there was a song my man/bear illo could be set to, 'Killing Me Softly' would be Dave's choice. I drive him nuts doing this sort of thing.

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Alpenglow

Pink Wedge

The further up our continent you go, the pinker the sunsets get. Alpenglow occurs just before nightfall when the snowcaps reflect the pink light of the setting sun. It makes giant scoops of strawberry ice cream come to my mind. A daytime view of Wedge mountain is here.

I'm Loving...

Le Creuset

Le Creuset cookware, in particular the 12 litre stock pot. Mine came today via Cutlery and More, and as soon as the courier left it on the doorstep, I started to cook with it right away. One thing I noticed; this pot conducts heat better than any other brand I've used. 8 litres of chili and chorizo sausage took less than 2 hours to cook thoroughly. The vivid red enamel is a refreshing shot of colour on the stove.

This Blog Thing is Paying Off

Sugar Shoes

I recently won a caption contest at Conversations About Fashion and got a $60 gift certificate, which I immediately spent at FlipFlopTrunkShow... Mules, thongs, slip-ons oh my! These sneakers constitute half of my prize. I also got some boring Dr. Scholl's excercise sandals (too boring to warrant a pic).

My winning caption (left photo courtesy of Spirit Fingers; right Go Fug Yourself) was "Bai Ling's mother exudes prudence with this purple ensemble. Unlike her daughter, her breasts are completely covered."

NSFW here

Romancing the Panda

Apparently some pandas in captivity need help in how to, you know, do it. Tvs are set up in their compound with videos playing of other pandas who-know-how-to-do-it, in the hopes that they'll get the hint. Nice to know you're not the only ones watching pornos, huh?

A post-coital snack helps to replenish precious energy for a second round of cub-making. Too bad they don't get very much privacy at the Chendu Panda Facility

Holy babydaddy! That's a heck of alot of panda lovin' going 'round. Be careful of what you wish for because one day when you're just minding your own business, a herd of teenaged pandas will knock you down on the street and take your Kate Spade bag.

DIY Duty

My Man Dave

Most of the garages out here are dodgey at best so it's preferable to fix your car yourself, weather permitting. It was -5c and the ground was frozen, almost ideal if it wern't so damn cold.

in with the new

The Mercury gets a new brake caliper, disc and pad. Dave got me to help bleed the brakes in my pyjamas, which I will not illustrate here.

Happy Valentine's Day

Candy Heart

Acme Labs has a nifty candy heart generator and links to manufacturers who make candy with custom messages. I like the fat free candy jpeg kind.

Tiffany box

Yeah baby, somebody knows what they're doing here! The ultimate Valentine's day gift. Dave was prudent to give it to me last week as he reminds me today his 'ass is covered' till next year.

la cerveza grande

Booze comes a close second as a favorite valentine's day gift... heh, heh, everything really does look better through these 770ml beer goggles. I hope you're sharing this day with your special sweetie!

The Money Pit

Made in Mexico

I'm about to do a partial renovation on my kitchen, meaning replacing the countertop, sink and tap, and adding a backsplash of handmade mexican tile with an accent tile here and there. Pics to be posted as it progresses...

Lovely Pandas

Su Lin loves the trees

My screen shots of the San Diego and Washington DC Pandas suck in comparison to these great photos of people who actually got to visit them. Check them out; East Coast and West Coast.

Method Acting for Bears

miller beer ad

This would have been funnier to me if 'Andy Spiegel' didn't remind me of more than a few guys I've had the pleasure of dating in my previous singledom.

Bear Up To Victory

Nothing speaks of success quite like an enormous pinata bear flanked by the predecessors of Britney Spears. Thanks to Bighappyfunhouse for the photo link.

Sunshine, What a Concept!

Feb 8, 2006

If you've kept up with weather conditions in the Northwest, then you'll already know just how grey and miserable it is, till today. My drafting table has a nice view of Wedge Mountain and all I need to do is turn around and press a camera against the window to take a pic. No photoshopping was necessary, it was beautiful on it's own accord.

Snow Blower

Got the snowblower back from repairs today, yay! We were lucky Whistler didn't get any significant snowfall while it was gone for 6 days.

pink n' white

Good weather outdoors means better indoor lighting to take pics from. A little grainy, but there you have it. The pink bear will be added to the 'Ten Bears Shoppe' on the right sidebar.

San Diego's Got Pandas Too

San Diego Pandas, 2:8:06

Bai Yun and Su Lin are a delight to watch. Bai, in particular, is a fabulous mum and can really chow down on the bamboo like a wood chipper grinding up discarded christmas trees. Her cub is already an expert in hiding herself in tree canopies.

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Su Lin @ San Diego

The staff at San Diego have a hell of a time fetching Su Lin out of the trees to do medical examinations. I personally would love to hide somewhere high before a root canal but I'm supposedly an adult and should know better.

Illo Friday: Chair

bear in chair II

Lots of people are drawing things in chairs, me included... but how many of them are in rocker recliners?

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Not to Be Found at Victoria's Secret

Some things shouldn't be recycled, like the pesky moles that farmers bludgeon in their fields. These slippers are as warm as they are butt ugly. Thanks to Maktaaq for the link!

Bear Shill

Lotto Ad

It was so much fun finding these bear clips that it bumped my regular blogging for a later date.

Gosh, I think this is a real bear hugging that dude. He would be bear chow in any other situation.

H3 Ad

These three bears live in a tastefully decorated, lovely post modern home. Watch the clip, and don't buy a Hummer. Okay?

Jeep Ad

I'm sure Frosty the polar bear would do likewise if you were in the same predicament.

Bud Lite Ad

Never bogart a bear's beer. Enough said.

Bears in Video

kicked in the nuts

I happened to find this little gem while surfing for Super Bowl ads. This FedEx/Kinkos spot has all the things a successful campaign needs, including Burt Reynolds getting assaulted by a grizzly bear.

seal hat

You gotta wonder why a responsible adult would allow a kid to go to the Zoo dressed up as polar bear food. It's nice to see this girl's involuntary reflexes are intact.

My Cup Runneth Over

snow barf

A view from the porch last monday night. It snowed 18 inches in 8 hours. The locals here weep with joy over this frozen windfall. All I know is it's gonna be a sh#tload of shovelling for me tomorrow.

My Shed

A morning view of the subsequent aftermath on our front yard. Someone has to get up there and shovel the snow off and I know it's not me. Dave can do it, he's got climbing crampons and I don't.