Things To Google When We Get Home

The Wind Farm
About one hour away from destination point in Gaspésie, we could see these giant wind turbines on top of a mountain. There must have been at least twenty.

This was something we knew we had to check out when we arrived. I had seen these turbines in Prince Edward Island and a few in Toronto, but nothing of this magnitude.

We had the opportunity to see how people transport parts of these giant structures on our way towards a wood festival. No matter how I type that out, it still comes across weird in my head. Wood Festival. Oh well,






I had to google how it is possible to transport something of this size and found this video on Youtube:


I am always amazed at the ingenuity of humans. Watching the drivers haul that blade made me realize they must have amazing communication skills and intuition. They were also moving really quickly. I guess it helps if you know the region really well. At one point they entire team pulled over and asked that all the vehicles following pass them because we were coming up on very twisty roads. Hubs and I were rather disappointed because we wanted to see how the team navigated those turns. I was even more disappointed because we saw these rock structures on the side of the road. I wanted to take pictures but there was no where safe to pull over and I already felt like Indiana Jones trying to outrun an over-sized cannon ball.


We learned that the wind farm is located in the town of Murdockville.


The blades are manufactured in Gaspé.

When you stand next to the farm on the hill in Murdockville, all you hear is a woosh type sound. Reminded me of the few alien movies I have seen in my time. That woosh sound is how the aliens communicate with each other.

The Wood festival took place in Ste. Anne des Mont over a three day period. The contestants have a chunk of driftwood which they try to fashion into a sculpture based on a particular theme chosen by the administrators. This year the theme was to create something that represented a Quebecois song.








These are the tools mainly used:



Here are some from last year:











After the Wood Festival we foraged for food and discovered a few people wind sailing.





I don't think I have the arm strength for this sport. It was amazing to watch.

Once we were fed and burned to a nice red colour while watching the wind sailors, we found an aquarium to visit, Exploramer. They have a whole programed geared to everyone with outdoor and indoor interactive activities. You can touch sea life, partake in sea excursions, stay inside and enjoy their museum, the whole nine yards. We just spent most of the afternoon in the indoor aquarium taking loads of pictures.


















I couldn't touch any of the specimens. My had just would not reach out...


On our way back to the motel we were able to take a few more pictures. There was no giant blade following this time.












We also stopped in Murdochville where there used to be an active mine.








We also stopped by the side of the road so I can find a stump for our front garden.


All throughout our travels we kept seeing this bright orange signs, No Fracking/Non Fractuation. I have finally been able to learn what they are all about. Fracking involves pumping a mixture of water, sand and other chemicals deep underground at high pressure to fracture rocks, allowing the trapped natural gas to flow and then be pumped to the surface.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/health/Fracking+poses+risk+water+systems+research+suggests/7048967/story.html#ixzz23RtwBrms

I also googled more information on the wind turbines.

I think this will do for today. I hope you all enjoyed your week end.

Home Again

We arrived yesterday evening from a week long trip to Gaspésie Quebec. It was a wonderful holiday about which I cannot say enough good things. We tried to take as many photos as possible to try and remember everything. I will not overwhelm you all just yet, but try and break it down over the course of a few days. I have heard that at the very beginning is a very good place to start. Let's try that shall we?
We set up a babysitter for the three cats and the ferret. A trusted young man who understands the difficulties of living with Rebel the crotchety old dude, Napoleon, slightly psychotic youngin' of the group and Tom, who just wants to be left alone. So with that taken care of, we were ready to embark our adventure.
Very early, or early for us, on Sunday morning we left home at 06h05 says the clock inside the truck. We tried very hard to pack light. There was much discussion on bringing the coffee maker. I won this disagreement and the precious coffee maker remained in its rightful place on the counter.
Gaspésie is located on the eastern part of the province above New Brunswick. It took us about ten hours to drive there via highway 20, following the St. Lawrence River. It is a pleasant picturesque drive that gives you many opportunities to stop and take advantage of an emergency bathroom run photo-op.









This is the hotel we stayed for the entire week:




This is the view from the front of the hotel:




This is what the interior of the room looked like:
I'm knitting by the way...





The smallness did not bother us. We spent a lot of time exploring outside.

This is what I was working on:

I think I will stop here for now. :D

They Came,

They Saw, They Left.
That pretty much sums up the visit with my parents.
I am not even sure if they liked the house.
Well, I think my Mom did.
She loved the garden, or rather the potential for the garden back there.
All my Dad kept saying was, There is mold in here. You need a De-humidifier! At theater sound level.
Every.
Single.
Damn.
Time.
He entered the house.
Which was a lot.
I'm ok with this. It is what he does.
I mentioned to my Mom that as soon as Hubs finishes the demo and reno, we will be painting. Her eyes lit up with possibilities, saying colours I did not even know existed. This is where I get my artsy fartsy side.
I cooked dinner while they were here.
This is the first time they never complained. They ate the meal. Said it was good. Even smiled.
Who are these people?
Where are those garden gnomes that are my parents?
I was just pleased they ate what I prepared. This is a new thing for me. The no complaints from the parental unit. I enjoyed it.
Still do not like that actually cooking thing though. There is too much work involved for a 15 minute devouring session.
I even cooked my birthday dinner. I didn't really know it was my birthday dinner.
I just started the prep work and next thing I know all these people are at my dining table. I was good with this. Someone brought cake!!!
I think I am going lose power again. We have a vicious storm yesterday. The high winds brought down a tree that is (was) toward the back of the property. So I will say, have a great day!

More Garden Stuff

Here is an photo update on the garden.
This bush is at the front of the house:


This is a close up of the flowers.


Morning Glories in the back:


A little rose bush I thought I might have accidentally killed when I left it unsupervised with Napoleon the Mad Gardener


Lilies of some sort? Is that right?


The bugs are getting at this one:


One lonely yellow flower in the sea of green


These are everywhere:


I guess that is about it.
See you later. :D

Interesting...

So apparently, someone V, nominated this little blog for an Liebster award: New blog with under 200 followers. That is rather interesting. Thank you kindly V!!

"The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, Liebster meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note."

Here are the rules for receiving this award:
Each person must post 11 things about themselves
Answer the questions that the tagger set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
Go to their page and tell them.
No tag backs!

It almost sounds like a chain letter.
OK. Let's give this a go.
The questions V posed are:

1. Why do you blog?
-It started out as an experiment. I did not have a lot of people to chat with about this, that and the other thing. It seemed rather simple. I kept blogging because it is a great release and a wonderful chance to share the little things in the life.

2. What is your favorite color?
Burgundy

3. Cake or Pie?
Pie. The answer is always pie!

4. Are you a book worm?
Very much so. I will read anything and everything. Right now I'm re-reading Stephen King's The Stand.

5. What was your favorite subject in High School?
Visual Arts.

6. What is something you can never leave the house without?
The truck keys.

7. What movie could you watch repeatedly?
Boondock Saints....for the story line, really...:D

8. Who is someone you would want to switch lives with for a day and why?
Oh Dear. Kate Blanchette. She seems so cool. Plus she has an accent.

9. Do you play any musical instruments?
Well, I played a clarinet in elementary school....Now I just sing off key while I drive.

10. What is your favorite Vegetable? Fruit?
For some reason I like cauliflower. It is like eating little brains which you can add cheese to.

11. What is your stance on cupcakes?
Cupcakes are a necessary part of a person's diet. They can be substituted for any meal of the day.

My nominations are:

1. Because It's My Blog
2. Untie the Ribbons
3. A Circle of Buttons
4. Chickens & Fine China
5. Alaska Blue Moose
6. My Everything Corner
7. offalygood
8. thelightpurplesky
9. Love Your Movies
10.Wool n Hook
11.Word Art: Painting with Words

I am sure that many of the bloggers I nominated, have received this award prior to my nomination. If that is the case, I don't think it is necessary for them to go through the whole rigamarole again.

These are my questions:
1. Vampire or Werewolf?
2. Favourite time of day?
3. What is your go to meal to prepare?
4. What hobby are you currently working on? What project is on tap for right now?
5. What did you want to be when you grew up?
6. What is the scariest dream you can remember?
7. Favourite television show?
8. How long does it take you to get ready for bed?
9. Everything in it's place or organized chaos?
10.What is the one thing you missed that has been discontinued?
11.Do you still watch cartoons?
8.

Zombie Socks

My Zombie Socks are now complete!




I have just selected the yarn for my next carry around project, Day of the Dead Mittens.




While I am downloading season 4 of Nurse Jackie, I am busy working on The Light House Keeper's Wife.




Not an easy task in the hot summer months. It is like working under a blanket. I believe I said this before about large knitting projects and summer weather. You think I would learn by now, but I am a glutton for punishment. I have finished the vest version of this sweater and I am not really happy with the end result. I am going to add sleeves.

I have recently become interested in Bedlam. A very addictive British supernatural television show. I can add this show to yet another reason why I have difficulty going to sleep. I'm forever saying, Just one more episode. I have to see what happens next!

I have almost finished Monk's Travel Satchel.




I just have to finish the I-Cords.

I'm quite relieved that I my knitting mojo returned. This is actually the first time in about 8 months where I actually feel like I want to knit. I attribute this feeling to a few things. There are some really good shows on television at the moment. I cannot just sit and watch television. I have to do something be it drawing, knitting or cross stitching. Also, there are some very kick ass patterns available. I look at the pattern and get that, YES! I make that! Lastly, I have time. Things have settled down at work and at home for the time being. I can sit outside or in my favourite place in my home and just knit away to my heart's content.
I've just refilled my wine glass and have another episode of Nurse Jackie queued up. I'm going to watch this last episode, (yeah right) and then head to bed. Hope you are all enjoying the day. :D

Zombie Apocalypse?

I was scrolling through weird news stories online and came across this interesting tidbit: Officer Shoots, Kills naked Attacker. Maybe the Zombie thing is happening and it's good I have all these strategic ideas in my brain.

We have also been very hard at work outside.

The Hubs caught in the act of working.

The gardens are completely overrun and I have no idea what half of that greenery could be. I can make some guesses but I thought maybe if any of you knew what some of these mysterious plants are, you could help me out. Everyday, there is something new that shows up. As long as it does not turn morph into Little Shop of Horrors, I'm good!
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

This is a really cool tree I love:

The branches and even the leaves are all twisty. I just discovered that there are two in that mess of a garden back there!

I know what these plants are because I actually planted them myself and kept the little information card that was attached.

These are the beginnings of my Morning Glories:

These are Gourds that we will turn into birdhouses.

I thought it would be a cool project for the kids, but I seem to be the one taking interest in the seedlings.

Lastly, this is what I see when I step out onto the back deck just beyond our property line:

I love having absolutely no one behind us.

So that is what has been keeping me off the internet most days when I am not working. I am still watching a lot of different shows on television. Once Upon A Time has finished for the season, The Killing only has a few more episodes left. I believe America's Next Top Model will be over tomorrow. I guess I will have to investigate what this Glee is all about. Apparently, it has caught on. ;)

I hope you all had a great week end. Cheers!