Knut in Vanity Fair

I've got a few posts in draft but I'll jump the shark and post this right away. Annie Liebowitz's shots of Knut came out this month in the German version of Vanity Fair. He is cute enough to melt glaiciers, which may be a good reason to raise him in a zoo for the time being.

Inspired By Spring

For a change of scenery this week I grabbed an opportunity to take pics outside, weather permitting. If you read this blog regularly, you'll remember this view is of my back yard.

Another new cash register for the ol' collection, a 50's Kamkamp in superb condition.

An antique US Marine Corps sweetheart pendant from WWII. It's way daintier and smaller than it looks. I like to contemplate the circumstances this necklace went through way back when.

An old stainless steel charm bracelet with found flotsam over the years that I added onto its links. Two coins in particular are over 100 years old.

A real honest-to-goodness used boot spur, retired from a cowboy (or girl). Wish I had the other matching mate to this spur.

Russian made ceramic panda figurines, possibly 70's, and the most common kind found on eBay. I think I've blogged them before, but they look way better out on in the sunlight.

For those rare times I want to make a rythmic clacking commotion, this souvenir from a 2004 Bermuda trip does the job.

A wrought iron garden ornament I picked up in Squamish before winter; heavy enough to deter squirrels and raccoons from tipping it over.

Notable knick-knacks in Winter Light

... picked up some deeply discounted tree ornaments at Home Hardware recently.



Antique sock darns. Noone makes them anymore and they're very handy for mending socks, mittens and anything else with a curvy shape.

A sandstone pebble, from my trip last year to Oregon, that looks like a turd. I'm still having a bit of trouble flexing my middle finger from shooting a brad nail in it earlier this year.

A small wooden hand from a shop in Pemberton with a simple silhouette. I can't wait for spring to come around so I take my pics outside.

Spring Omen

Take my word for it, standing under icicles at this time of year is dangerous. The days are getting longer and temps are reaching close to two digits. I recently went out around the house and knocked down the reachable ones with a broom.

This 20" spear fell down in tact on my porch.

I don't think poor Were Bear can take another winter, two's enough for him. He will be a good candidate for paint removal this summer. (see top banner for original condition)

I thought it looked a bit dull upon hanging it last month.
The aluminum snowflakes set it off nicely.

The main fireplace busted a seam in its metal liner and now when used, spews wood smoke in the house. Luckily I have a second, smaller fireplace to keep us warm till spring rolls around and Dave can tackle the indoor metal repair with an arc welder. The upstairs windows have to be wide open for venting this process.

He is Everywhere

My bobblehead collection increased five fold a few weeks ago when these came in the mail from an eBay seller. A fitting homage to their namesake, ol' J-Bear.

Click photo to go to 'The Jerry Site'.

No Table, No Chair, No Problem

I've never questioned the tradition of eating a meal directly in front of oneself till it dawned on me while watching the San Diego panda cam widget on my desktop. These bears plant their butts right in the middle of their bamboo dinner. I wouldn't mind giving it a whirl some day.

Zoofart

Dave: Zoofart?
Chief-Ten-Bears: No, the zebra is eating a leaf on the last letter. Sure does look like 'Zoofart' though.
Dave: Another poor example of graphic design.

Click image to find out what the commotion is all about.

All grown up

After I made these screenshots last Feb. 12th, Su Lin was separated from her mother on the 17th. I'm getting the same strange feeling with her as I did reading the last chapter of 'Winnie The Pooh'. I hope the transition isn't too tough on her.

BTW: Happy Rabbit's day!

Snap Happy

The lovely day Whistler experienced two days ago gave us an excuse to break from snowshovelling and take pics around Whistler. Dave should have all the credit for these. I merely snuck his Nikon D2H for some of them.

A closer look at those crazy clouds.

The skiing horse mascot at Dusty's pub.

Kinetic bird sculpture at Creekside.

The inukshuk atop Whistler Mountain.