Leaf's Bench

Okay - I thought this was an illustrative picture - there are at least the logos of 6 corperate sponsers in this picture and a bench full of desparately worried players...

My second think - what a great job the coperate sponsers did of providing interesting entertainment in the form of of advertisments. The ring of TV that circled the entire rink was really cool (and I actually mean that) and it was used well. The comercials during intermission and pregame on the TV were quality adds, but felt a bit like they were taking advantage of a captive audience who'd payed a fair bit to be there already - a touch tacky - but corporately saavy.

And in final thoughts - I hope the Leaf's make it next year - I like the Senator's, but really its not the same.

First NHL Hockey Game

Thanks to a kindly gifter of tickets, I got to see my very first hockey game at the ACC. I had a great time - but I came out of the game with two thinks. First - I'm not sure professional hockey is enough to justify their staggering ticket prices. Granted the Leafs had a brutal and devestating loss to the Bruins (so I wasn't seeing them at their best), but I certainly remember the energy at some of the Varsity Reds games in Fredericton where there was more excitement and energy in the stands. I mean they had to have celebrities prompt the crowd to "Get Loud" and we had to confiscate air horns (dangerous to other members in the crowd) and keep the kids from pounding on the glass. Maybe its just the city or the crowd - the type of people who can afford tickets probably don't have any energy left to cheer.

Still - a great experience which has certainly seen me reading more sports columns the last few days. I guess I'll be cheering the Senator's for the 3rd straight year through the playoffs.

Regenisis

Well, after a long winter scraggling along indoors, one brave geranium plant has burst into flower this week. There were some casulties of winter and under watering, although my dead mint seems to have decided it no longer feels dormant.

I will have to figure out how to convince my crocuses to spring up, in spite of being stored indoors all winter, I think I'll put them in the garage for now and then see what I can do about planting them in the thawing soil.

Waning Winter Woes

In spite of 2 cm of snow this morning, I sense that winter is waning and spring and all the changes it brings is coming quickly. The above photo was an unusually unpainful self portrait I took while skiing. My geraniums are hanging in - one is even threatening to flower although most of them are threatening to die from lack of water - which I hear is easier to cure than root rot from over watering.

I'm in the throes of thesis writing which is about as pleasent as breaking rocks with hammers and less good for calorie burning and cardio.

Yesterday, I paid Gabe back for all his help with my field work by playing assistant while he took so shots for his school project at Philosopher's Wool in Inverhuron. The people who run it are really cool - and while Gabe was snapping some pictures of sheep, Ann managed to teach me to knit 2-handed fair-isle so quickly that I was pleasantly astonished. They have a lot of good thinks - especially regarding sustainable agriculture - and beautiful sweater kits. So, once I've cleared a few nearly finished projects from my needles, I'm going to tackle a Kilim Jacket in the Night Sky Colourway - which I'm going to try and finish for next Christmas and then maybe try knitting some matching socks or something. Stupidly, in spite of bringing a camera - I didn't take any pictures for my blog. So maybe I can con one out of Gabe later.

It was a good change of scenery even if we didn't add to our provincial park count, I suspect I'll be back in that direction at some point this summer to do some hiking.

The Sight of Silence

Albion Hills... somwhere open.

Sunlines

ahhh... sigh... beautiful.

Snowshadows at Albion Hills

My last ski for the season was at Albion Hills. I did somewhere between 6-9 km (probably closer to nine since I only lopped off a tiny loop) through hilly forest with a few views of clearings and farms. I went nice and early so I got some neat sun effects and some good pictures. Overall, it was pretty nice, but a bit icy in places and the tracks were well worn. It was actually probably the coldest day out this year - it was below zero.

Aroo wearing my Irish Hiking Scarf

I borrowed this pattern from hello yarn and then modified for my big, fat, chunky wool. Aroo says its his now, and I'm going have to knit another one if I want it for myself.

ROM - PPM reunited

Well, the gruesome threesome of the LU EFRT were actually in the same place at the same time for the first time since A. went overseas I think. So - after much discussion we decided to go to the ROM - since only I had been there in recent years at all - and I hadn't seen the new crystal. I'm sad to say that I was a bit disappointed. The displays looked nice, but they seemed totally lacking in the usual explainations that you find in museums. Even the dinosaurs had little in the way of interpretive signs. What there was in abundance were small label cards identifying the artifact and giving some numbers - like date found and location, possibly the period where appropriate - but I didn't learn anything and I found it difficult to read the cards without focusing my energy toward it - perhaps they just haven't finished that part of the new exhibits. It seems a lot less geared towards kids than I remembered. Crazyness!

chickedee on branch

Chickedee Enjoys a Snack

Yum!! Seeds!

I spent about 10 minutes trying to get a good shot of the birds, but this was about the best one. Better luck next time for something unique and cool.

Looking Up River

Here is the scene just above the falls. :D

Frozen Falls

Here I am looking over Hilton Falls (safely behind the fense and still on my skis). I was amazed how frozen they were.

Holy Tree Batman!

Some wood pecker (Piliated is my first guess given the size) has been at work on this tree at Hilton Falls Conservation Area. Now that the snow is back I might get to do the Beaver Meadow Trail.