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Iced Toddy!?!

Iced Toddy!?! -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

My mid-afternoon meeting today brings me to Manic Coffee.
But on a sweaty day like today, you know I'm looking for something with
Iced in it's name.
Second item on the menu: Iced Toddy

Brewed cold overnight for a slightly different flavour than a straight iced
coffee. I'll be trying this again.

White Violet & An Adventurous Spirit

White Violet & An Adventurous Spirit -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

After almost 20 years, maybe more, of life in Toronto including many photo
walks and urban foraging adventures I was surprised and delighted to see my
first white violet in Toronto!
These are a flower of my youth, f drippy spring days spent wandering
through forests, sitting for hours leaning against moss-covered rocks
inspecting the minutia of the detritus, duff and micro-greens, creating
stories, adventures and legends out of mushroom caps, pine cones and
lichen.
Violets are my herald of spring. Blue and white, with their vibrant broad
deep-green leaves.
But never before have I seen a white violet in Toronto and there it was
peeking out from a lawn I walk by every time I catch the bus.
Did you know that a white violet means "Let's take a chance on happiness"
in the language of flowers? Me either, I just looked it up. It also
symbolises candour (one of my favourite things), modesty, and an
adventurous spirit.
It will be hard to wipe the smile off my face today!

Who Unboxed My Cupcakes?

When I went in to the kitchen this morning to make my coffee, this is what I found on the box of cupcakes from Life is Sweet!

These cupcakes were delivered to my home by a lovely friend (aren’t all baked-goods-delivering friends “lovely”?).  She went into Life is Sweet and requested their best selection of "cupcakes for my foodie friend", and they certainly were that.

I think we got (from front right):

• Chocolate Mint
• (?) Carrot
• (?) Earl Grey w/ Lime
• Earl Grey w/ Orange
• Lemon Drop
• Butterscotch

Though I’m not 100% on the ones I listed w/ ?s (menu)

Not overly fancy, good ratio of icing to cake, moist and flavourful cake, and very tasty... at least the ones I got to try.

p.s. in all fairness, the box was already open because they were last night’s dessert course. But I couldn’t resist sharing Gerry’s playful note.

p.p.s. I did not win these cupcakes, nor were they PR-cupcakes, though the sausages we had for dinner most certainly were PR-sausages.

Tip From the Island: Starter Pots

Sure, some places use peat pots to start their plants.  But have you considered egg shells?

Egg shells are a great alternative. The chickens are already making them daily, they breakdown well and add a little calcium to the soil. The calcium from eggshells is also touted to be a neutralizer of acidic soil, but you might need a bit more than one or two shells.

Route To Solar

Route To Solar -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

Yup, it's a bright sunny morning on the island. Cold but lovely.
And with the sun comes power! Which occassionally means responsibility
falls to me to climb this ladder and clean off the solar panels or check
connections.

Because we all know that with great power comes great responsibility.

Straight from Bilbao to Quispamsis

Straight from Bilbao to Quispamsis -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

Check out how slick dad looks in his fancy new beret, specially imported
from Bilbao, since his beret collection was running low.

We did errands ashore yesterday and hauled great mound of supplies back to
the island. Never quite sure how "we hauled" manages to turn into "I
hauled", but seems it has since I was old enough to haul.

Bunny In The Rough

Bunny In The Rough -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

After checking the boats, Travel Bunny stopped for a little rest by the
Studio.

Easter Morning Outhouse

Easter Morning Outhouse -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

It seems Mother Nature is disappointed in me not coming home in February
and so has contrived to recreate February in April. Thanks Ma, this is
just what I was looking for.
Now excuse me while I run back inside to sit by the fire.

Stalker or Date Night

Stalker or Date Night -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

So hard to tell.

Travel Bunny Does Spain!

Travel Bunny has many fans and yet he is restricted from appearing on Far From Ordinary, so we felt it was only fitting to share Travel Bunny’s experience in Spain.  Complete with sound track and annotation.

We hope you enjoy this video as much as Bunny enjoyed that cava!

Pickle Doc - The View From Here

Pickle Doc - The View From Here -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

Doing a little filming with a documentarian before the next Secret Pickle - Tasting Tour of Spain.

Soon To Be Paella de Mariscos

Soon To Be Paella de Mariscos -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

I've only been home for 5 days, but we've both been chomping at the bit to
crack open one of the olive oils, some of the paprika and the bomba rice I
picked up in Baeza. So after picking up a selection of shellfish and some
squid, we have a paella simmering awayfilling the house with aromas of
Spain.
And yes, of course the vino tinto is flowing...
Oh, that means I should NOT be blogging!

Travel Bunny Stealing Chorizo!

Travel Bunny, what are you doing with Gerry’s chorizo?

Really Travel Bunny?  Really?  You think you'd get away with that?

Bad bunny! Bad!

Bunny Says Goodbye to Madrid

Bunny Says Goodbye to Madrid -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

Yup, Travel Bunny & I are headed home filled with wine, jamon, tapas,
pintxo, bacalo, olive oil and stories!

I'll be sharing more about our adventures, in a semi-professional way, on
www.farfromordinary.ca which so far
has housed mainly our best bites, sips and views from the whirlwind that
has been this trip to Spain. We have plans for recipes and more meaty
stuff from now until the end of April in the Spain Edition of Far From Ordinary!

There is more on Flickr,
and MUCH more to come in terms of photos of amazing chefs, quality olive
oils, fantastic wines and wonderful dishes.... and possible a sheep shot or
two.

And I might, just might, share a more personal tale or two here and there.

Anything specific you want to hear about? Drop me a note in the comments
below and I'll do my best to oblige.

Basque Alexa Enroute to Asador Etxebarri!

Basque Alexa Enroute to Asador Etxebarri! -- Originally uploaded by LexnGer

We visited the Ribera Market this morning and I picked myself up a hat. Had
some help selecting size, and a hat brim in the eye as the shop keeper
helped get this smaller one on, and then a good share laugh.

These berets are 30€ or more in shops close to the hotels, but at Lavin
they were labeld 12€ and she sold them to me for 10€

Now to Asador Etxebarri for lunch!
(Yes!)