love those cupcakes

Random stuff

  It's all been a bit lacklustre here after the Canadian adventure.

Of course, there has been cake.  Or cakes.   Quick and easy chocolate ones, slathered (couldn't be bothered to get out the piping equipment) with buttercream.  I have no idea what they tasted like as I've banished sugary treats from my diet for the time being.  Well, until the waistbands are less snug.

Someone has been in the dog house after ignoring the calls of his master and disappearing into the bushes in the park with what was described as "a very flirtatious Yorkshire terrier" who suddenly appeared from nowhere and is thought to go by the name of Mimi. Hmmm.

 I've watched this.  Loved the book (which I read years ago) but have to say I was disappointed with the film.  Daniel Radcliffe just didn't convince as widowed solicitor Arthur Kipps, the bumps in the night/faces at the window/shapes in the mirror were too predictable to be really chilling (maybe I did jump a couple of times) and it all looks so very, erm, digital, if you know what I mean.  A definite thumbs down from me.

There have been lunches with friends, here and here.

The roses have finally appeared in the garden but they're very strange looking on one of the bushes.  I have no idea what's going on but they're not a pretty sight. Any suggestions?

 

Resit

I indulged in a spot of easy baking this morning. 

Shortbread, part of my 96 year old father in law's Father's Day gift. 

Just three ingredients:  flour, butter, sugar. 

Make that four.  I decided to add some finely grated lemon zest for a bit of a citrus kick.

Reminded me of the shortbread fingers I made at school as part of an afternoon tea for a Domestic Science exam. 

Our teacher, Miss Benson (young, trendy, drove to school in an orange MGB GT sports car, was rumoured to be going out with Long John Baldry), told my dad at parents' evening that I'd made them too thin.

Hopefully, today's biscuits passed muster.

 

Catch up

We've been back a week.

The suitcases have still not been unpacked.

Jet lag has taken its toll and I seem to be in real danger of becoming nocturnal. (I went to bed at 5 a.m. one day.)

Canada (Alberta and British Columbia this time) and Alaska were truly spectacular. We travelled by plane, train, ship and coach and managed four days in fabulous Vancouver. 

Unfortunately, my camera didn't perform quite so spectacularly (yes, I know it's a poor workman who blames his tools but I'm thinking I need an upgrade) so I've pinched some of the mister's pictures to add to mine to give you a flavour of what we got up to.

 

Sulphur Mountain, Banff

The Rockies

Lake Louise, Banff

 

 

 

Sawyer Glacier, near Juneau, Alaska

 

 

Glacier Bay, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska

Ketchican, Alaska

Vancouver

 

Steam clock, Gas Town, Vancouver

"Lying on top of a building, the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street"

One of many

 If you're wondering, the sprained ankle made for slow and painful progress but we ended up changing just one of the planned activities. 

Boo had a whale of a time with his carer in Darlington (he's been turning his nose up at the usual dog food since his return) and the cats, well one of them, made the most of his absence to get in a bit of uninterrupted sunbathing.