SK8R Girls (and Boys)

I watched the finals of the women’s figure staking event this evening, and calling many of these girls women is a stretch. The youngest only just turned 15, and several others were barely older than that.

The New York Times had a great critical piece about how the skating has changed from performing to competing. It’s all about the jumps and not the artistry like it was. I remember watching the skaters trace out their compulsory figures on the ice and the judges dusting the path with a broom to see how clean their lines were.

The outfits are so gaudy and garish, and as the Times says, “What’s the deal with grown women wearing skating dresses that look as if they were found on the sale rack at the tiara store? It’s as if competitors were still on the junior circuit and hadn’t made a commitment: beauty pageants or skating.”

I liked this outfit because it was so understated and classic compared to these.

I would think that the weight of the rhinestones would weigh the skaters down significantly.

And the men’s costumes weren’t much better!

It’s hard to look masculine in illusion netting.

And then there was this pair, who looked like they were skating in their hoodie/footie pajamas.

What did you think of the costumes?

Abandoned Olympics

First, thanks to everyone who sent get well wishes and advice. I feel lots better, but can attest to the fact that a late winter head cold is no fun!

As I watch these Olympics and the $54 billion worth of infrastructure (and bribes) that went into the event, I can’t help but think that in several years, this balmy resort on the Black Sea won’t become the winter venue that Putin has imagined. When you look at other Olympic cities, you see that their infrastructures have been abandoned and are deteriorating in place.

The luge track at Sarajevo.

The ski jumps at Sarajevo

What’s left of an Olympic hotel in Sarajevo

The canoe/kayak center at Athens

The Athletes Village in Tornio, Italy

The canoe/kayak park in Beijing

The BMX bike stadium in Beijing

The volleyball stadium in Beijing

Somehow, I feel that in just a few short years, we’re going to be looking at the ruins of the venues in Sochi, Russia. What a waste.

I’ve Got Nothing…

But a huge head cold, scratchy throat and possible ear-ache. Heading to bed. Hope to be back among the living shortly.

Flower Budget

I remember a number of years ago, a friend laughed at me when I said I had a flower budget. It was quite modest, about $10/week, but to me, it meant that having flowers, especially in the depth of winter, was as important as phone and heat. Almost like another utility. There was a city market close to where I was living that had a great selection of cut flowers, and if you selected the right ones, they would last more than a week. But there were also times when I’d buy the most gorgeous flowers, only to have them die within days.

I still try and have fresh flowers in the house, and in the past few weeks, when we’ve had storm after storm, it’s more important to me than ever! Sometimes I pick up flowers at Trader Joe’s, where you can find bunches of fresh-cut flowers for less than $5.00. I got some primroses, which just scream spring, a few weeks ago, and as long as you keep them watered, they’ll last for weeks.

Before Christmas, a friend gave me a dozen or so paper-white narcissus bulbs, and the last of the lot are blooming now.

He also just gave me a pot of miniature daffodils and it looks like they’ll bloom later this week.

I also have two huge gardenia plants, which live outside from April through November, and which I manage to keep alive during the other months. These are cuttings from a heritage plant that my mother has.

Finally, I have a cutting from a geranium that’s from Monticello, a gift from Reggie Darling. Since I am not a gardener, I didn’t realize that you had to put it in dirt to make it grow. It managed to stay alive just in water for months before someone enlightened me about using Root-tone to make it grow roots. It’s bloomed twice and continues to grow new leaves, I am happy that it’s still hanging on, waiting for warm weather.

Do you have a flower budget?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

From snow-filled Baltimore to you, we wish you a Happy Valentines Day!

That’s Connor’s new Cu-pig, sent to us from our friend BViz!

Vitamin C

It’s snowing here and will be continuing for another 12+ hours, so we thought it was best to load up on Vitamin C, so we wouldn’t catch colds. Of course, the fact that the vitamin C was liberally cut with a slug of gin didn’t harm anyone.

I love grapefruit, and talked about making Candied Grapefruit Peel recently. Naturally, we needed a signature cocktail to use the peel in, and came up with a nice one that included gin, grapefruit juice and peel. It sounds like a summery drink but we agreed that it was a perfect thing for a snowy night. In fact, we had to duplicate our taste test to make sure.

Here’s what we did:

First, we rolled the edge of the glass in a little of the gin, which we had poured into a shallow dish, and then rolled it again in some of the sugar from the candied peel. Of course, we’d added the ice to the glass first, so had to start over!

We filled the glasses with the ice, gin and grapefruit juice,and then garnished it with a piece of the peel.

A toast to snowy evenings,

and then we drank up!

I think that the next time, I will either skip the sugar on the rim, or as a friend suggested, whir the sugar in the blender to make superfine sugar. This was a little chunky.

But regardless of the grain of the sugar, this is a drink that will remain on the menu. It’s going to be winter for a while yet.

More Olympics: Some Helmets

I saw some pictures of the skeleton racers – they’re the ones who go down the track lying on their stomachs, head first – and for being completely crazy, they seem to have a sense of humour. I guess they’re allowed to wear their own helmets in the Games, along with the official uniforms.

Eric Nelson from Canada, with the subtle maple leaf.

Canada's Sarah Reid, again with the maple leaf

America’s Katie Uhlaender with the eagle

New Zealand's Ben Sandford. Is that a fleur de lis, or a nose?

Sean Greenwood of Ireland. Doesn’t look like a very Irish design, does it?

Canada's John Fairbairn. Just so they know what his brain looked like before the crash.

I don’t care how much you’d pay me, I’d never do this.

Yes or No?

It would coordinate with a lot of colours. But it’s a bit jarring on the eyes.

For a child’s room, it might be cute. For a more formal public space, I’d be doubtful.

Classis Danish Design. Dangerous for small children and animals.

Shiny. Creepy. (It’s a door handle)

It’s not real. It’s not real.

Yes or no?

State of Flux

Someone posted some gorgeous china on their FB page and I knew I had to hunt it down and see what it was.

From their website:

Flux was established in 2010 by Staffordshire University. Combining a proud tradition with cutting edge design, craftsmanship and quality manufacturing. A collection of talented designers have come together to position the flux brand at the forefront of the ceramics industry. With its distinctive, eclectic designs, flux exudes a quintessential Englishness which is synonymous with Staffordshire.

Many of the best potteries in England were in Staffordshire, specifically in Stoke-on-Trent, and these days, little of the original industry remains. So it’s great to see a college trying to revive this craft.

Many of the pieces have gold or platinum details, and there are mugs, cups and saucers, cereal bowls, dinner plates, and much more in each design.

Unfortunately, their website is a bit difficult to navigate, and they’re out of much of their stock, but they’ve done a good job on their designs.

I like seeing the revival of dying arts, and the Flux range is a good example of this.

Take a look at their website, and see what you think.

Let me know!