Ed and I went to a party last night with really good food, and I just had a sudden urge to make cool appetizers to eat while watching the Oscars. For instance, these cherry tomatoes filled with goat cheese and stuffed cucumbers (hollow out cucumber wheels and fill with tomatoes and goat cheese feta and cilantro and some oil and vinager dressing). I've also added crispy baguette pieces with hummous.
I've always thought that making party food takes way too much effort and coordination for my taste. But I have now discovered it is very much like making crafts, where you get really absorbed in the process and making things pretty (especially when bright colours are involved) and the end result is usually impressive. Plus it feels decadent to have such things without having a party.

I've been waiting so long to buy a pair of these John River birch knitting needles. Lovely aren't they? I have been working diligently on the spiderweb capelet in Stitch N Bitch Nation, only to read the postings on Craftster about the changes in the pattern. I am going to have to rip it out and start again...but not without my lovely new birch needles. I'm convinced they'll make all the difference, kind of like a magic wand...maybe they'll even knit the darn thing for me.

I was overjoyed to be walking around outside in the beautiful sun in the middle of February wearing a t-shirt and no coat. Tomorrow will be fabulous as well, getting up to 16 degrees.
I am getting so sick of wearing winter clothes, they feel so heavy and scratchy.

I've almost finished a can of dry roasted madadamias and could eat five more cans. I cannot get over how wonderfully wonderful they are and oh so addictive.

5:45am: We are rudely awakened by the thundering sound of a large van careening down the street and flipping onto its side and a Jeep driving through a chain link fence. I think we've now phoned 911 about 10 times in total for the number of accidents we've heard/seen right outside our apartment window.

Ed and I have been researching buying a house or townhouse within the Lower Mainland. We went for a drive today and managed to eliminate two whole cities due to distance and unattractiveness. I have been checking out the Multiple Listing Site for affordable areas and just for comparison's sake looked at Novia Scotia (where nobody wants to live??) and came across a big 3 bedroom house for $7,900! Shocking.

I love Sara Varon's art. I have her book Sweaterweather and am eagerly awaiting her other publications, one of which is due out this spring. If animals were like humans, this is how I'd imagine they'd be. This is a really nice site too.

I was out for strike duty again today. Brought the big ass thermos full of Creamy Earl Grey tea and a delicious bagel sandwich. We played frisbee and someone brought a camping stove. I must say, I've never before seen picketers actually doing anything other than picket-hoping we won't get in trouble for having fun!
I am quite tired though and surprisingly feel as though I've been in the sun too long-feel slightly sunburned. I'm not complaining though, it was great being outside with beautiful weather today.

Today was so gorgeous and sunny and breezy, so I took a big walk downtown and perused some stores and the library. I spent a while in Le Chateau...their jeans are actually not too bad, didn't buy any, but now I know where to look if I need some. Went into Cheap thrills as well (a favorite store of yesteryear) and now just feel way too old to be in there. I found myself getting angry at their music (someone has butchered one of my favorite Smiths songs: There is a light that never goes out) and being astounded that vinyl purses are now 90 bucks.

I went to the gym today at my work. There is simply no excuse for me not to go. It is free for employees plus there's a great new steamroom and nothing makes my skin feel better than being in a steamroom. I had to muster up an astounding amount of energy to drag myself there, but as usual felt a million times better after. I could literally feel my stress melt away. Then I promptly ate a chocolate bar and felt even better.
I have rented two movies: Ray and Vanity Fair (which I've wanted to see for a while-I've heard the costumes and sets are amazing in that one.)