Year Two Day One Hundred and Six - Spamalot

Dear all,

After months of waiting, today we set sail for Orillia and the illustrious 'Casino Rama', https://www.casinorama.com/index.html ( now famous after Russel Brand's unfortunate run in with immigration in an attempt to get to his gig there) to go and see *drum roll please*... Month's Python's Spamalot!

We took Anna and Dale, neither of whom had seen any Monthy Python, or even for that matter any Fawlty Towers, Blackadder etc etc... this would be a treat! http://www.montypythonsspamalot.com

We managed to get cracking seats as I had booked the tickets months ago. The heart warming theme tune to Monty Python was playing in the background and I started to get excited. I was very interested to see how Anna and Dale would fair... as many of you will know.. Monty Python is very English and VERY strange but also rip-roaring-ly funny.. so I was hoping this would pull us through. 

Needless to say, they enjoyed it. It was hard not too really. We were greeted with back to back musical numbers but all were very tongue in cheek, well acted and well choreographed. The costumes alone were spectacular, as you can see from some of these production stills. 

 Highlights for me included the Black Knight *but it's only a flesh wound*, the Knights that say 'Ni', the cow flying over the castle walls and the gay musical sing-off from Sir. Lancelot. The film is based, loosely but directly on the iconic 'Monty Python and The Holy Grail', a film most certainly ranked in my top 15. I was ecstatic. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/

Spamalot has come and gone to Orillia but I would definitely urge fans and non-fans alike to go see it for an evening of harmless, medieval merriment. In the meantime folks.. *Run Away*!!!

Year Two Day One Hundred And Five - Ashanti

Dear all, 

Today, after a glorious morning run, I met with the beautiful Karla in our newest, coolest spot in town, Ashanti Coffee http://ashanticoffee.com/index.html .

I am habitually hot on the case on the sniff of any new coffee house but due to my exponentially increasing course work load, I hadn't had the chance to check it out yet *disaster*. 

 We met early morning and I was greeted by a very welcoming porch and lovely display including a small chalk board with a very teasers as to what was on offer inside.

They had a fabulous range of food and drinks and everything was displayed beautifully. The sandwiches and wraps caught my eye with a note-to-self to bring D here for brunch one morning. 

They import coffee direct from Africa and I was excited to try a cup; they have been successful already at their cafe in Thornbury. 

The one thing that struck me in Ashanti was the space! They have oodles of table, all with lovely comfy chairs and room for newspapers.. food.. or whatever you want really. There is space, but it still maintains a very comfortable and intimate feel. A big chance from Starbucks and a welcome one at that. 

Me and Karla had a gorgeous post-run morning,  sipping our delectable coffees and catching up on the events of the week. I would highly recommend Ashanti to any CWood locals, don't be deterred by the slightly bizarre location ( on the highway), this coffee house is a winner!

Year Two Day One Hundred and Four - Band Saw

Dear all

Today I started work on my final sculpture project of the year: A site specific installation! *tremble*. The master wood shop technician, Niall ( I promised him I would mention his website - check out his work.. outrageously good http://nialldonaghy.com/site/) tentatively agreed to let me lose on the 'band saw' - quite a moment as I have am increasingly reputation for self harm in the wood shop (chisel's cut me... by accident of course). 

The band saw is a very small blade that moves very fast... not for the faint hearted therefore. I wanted to cut out two large oval pieces of wood to start my armature and the band saw is [actually] the quickest and probably safest route. 

 It was actually very easy to manipulate the wood ( see above * these are not my hands *) and I managed to get the job done in around 5 minutes - MUCH quicker than if I had used my Swedish Saw!

I then started to cover the wooden shapes with chicken wire.... and then plaster and burlap.. .but more on that to come!

 A great day's work ad I still have all my fingers - HURRAY!

And in other news:
1. The 2nd years have opened a show at the Georgian Gallery! I went to the opening last night but forgot to bring my cell phone.. so sadly no pictures.

I managed to take some piccies this morning instead... so imagine these images with lots of people milling around sipping wine and eating bite size cup cakes... very fabulous. The show was excellent - congrats to all the second years!

Year Two day One Hundred and Three - 32.5oC in March

Dear all, 

So sorry to dwell on the soaring temperatures... but it's HARD TO IGNORE! Today we hit 32.5oC in the car park of Georgian College campus. I managed to document the 30 degree mark when I was about to embark on  my desert crossing home at around 5pm. This is crazy!!!!

But my goodness, I am LOVING IT! Here are some pics of my 6:30 run this morning... to describe this weather as perfect for running would be a gross understatement. At around 7pm, when the sun rises, it was a balmy 14oC, crisp, clear and fresh. Heaven. 

And here is my first Primrose! Always a joy to see that the perennials survived the winter. I am also very excited about the impending film version of 'The Hunger Games' which I am currently reading (in the 5 minutes I have ever night before I fall into a print-making induced coma) . Fellow fans will, of course, get the reference. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

And in other news:

1. Drawing class is one of our more intense however, today, after a critique, we were given the task of completing a 'pencil-less' drawing.. 

Karen and I made a beeline for the main exit in order to maximise sun exposure. Here is Karen with a blow torch ( she made some delightful cave drawings on the large pile of rocks outside the art department).

I made a network of Ant Hills made from sawdust and clay... I am not sure If my teacher, Aaron,  appreciated my piece (he said it would have worked better with 'real' ants). I am however, yet to master the art of Ant-wrangling' and not sure Georgian Health and Safety would appreciate me encouraging the massive expansion of their native tetrapod community. 

Year Two Day One Hundred and Two - Butter Chicken

Dear all, 

HOooooray! Its BBQ season in Collingwood! our heatwave is continuing to overwhelm Georgian Bay with a staggering 29oC today *Woot Woot*! What better time to crank up the BBQ and celebrate with a legendary Beer Ca Chicken!

Darren took control and after a quick once over of the 'Weber', he turned the magic knob and she was off: The Grill is open for business! 

Darren started with the preparing a revolutionary new sauce, he combined butter, flour, lemon,  rosemary and thyme and after mixing it together, used it to cover the whole chicken. In celebration of St. Paddy's day, we used a can of Guinness as our magic ingredient (as seen here in action). 

D also soaked some mesquite wood chips and sprinkled them beneath the chicken on the baking tray in order to simulate a 'smoker'. We are much in love with the idea of a smoker and the chips are most definitely a great leap in this direction. *They also make everything in a 10 metre radius smell outrageously good*

In the meantime, I was upstairs grappling with some crazy, multi coloured spuds and pruning some broccoli ( nothing like a cruciferous vegetable for a wellness boost). 

So here she is mid-bake....

And the final moment before plating! Isn't she a beauty! The skin was rich and crisy, the meat was moist with the flavours  from the lemon especially coming through. It was exceptional! And in all the excitement... I didn't even burn the potatoes. Phew. 

Ahhhhhh Summer, hurray! oooo please excuse me.... I mean, the first day of  S P R I N G!?!!?!!?!!*

Year Two Day One Hundred and One - School Bus

Dear all!

Today, our wonderful painting professor, Gary Evans (http://www.paulpetro.com/artists/27-Gary-Evans/CV) organised a trip to Toronto for all us youngling artists on yet another blistering summer *oops I mean Winter....???* day. We assembled at Georgian Collage on an early, foggy morning and I shrieked with glee when I realised what awaited us on our Journey: I was going to ride in a traditional *School Bus*!

The School Bus is an iconic tradition here in North America: everyone rides on the school bus and they basically own the roads (with a few different rules from those in Europe, including the ability to stop traffic periodically on BOTH sides of the road *on coming traffic included*. This is something that continues to petrify me)

When I exclaimed I hadn't been on a school bus before, most people groaned (as a result of their world-weary 'bus riding' days) and I ended up on the 'wheel' seat as part of my initiation. Once in Toronto, we embarked on an epic mission around some of the best Galleries and Museums in town.. here are a couple of the highlights!

http://www.paulpetro.com/

 http://www.mocca.ca

http://www.ocadu.ca/

It was a fabulous and inspirational day and yet another scorcher ( I was over dressed in winter boats)... this weather is amazing! 

And in other news:

1. Check out these fabulous art deco pieces from Japan... *love* http://www.salon.com/2012/03/17/japans_art_deco_interlude/

Year Two Day One Hundred - 27oC in March

Dear all, 

Check it out... We are having a full blown heatwave and it's only MARCH!

After a very mild winter ( We still had snow... but a few inches at a time rather than the usual 3 feet), the spring has arrived very promptly in the form of blazing temperatures and the start of a farmer's tan ( I run.. it's an occupational hazard). 

Here are some piccies from my run this morning - what a stunner! I arrived home in a full sweat and gasping for water! Quite the change from -25oC two weeks ago *shudder*. 

Amazing, gorgeous sunshine,  flowers bursting through the earth.. bird cheeping... *ahhhhh* I just have to hold off doing too much gardening (Legend states no planting until May!)for fear of a vicious cold snap, which currently seems very unlikely *as I laze around in my sun dress and sandals...yay!*.