Yes You Can Grow Bamboo in Ontario

Despite BC bamboo " expert" Carolyn Mayo's assertion that bamboo is unlikely to survive in South Western Ontario, my bamboo is thriving. Planted in 2008, my bamboo has thrived in poor sandy soil and under extreme weather conditions. I rarely fertilize and I only mulch in the autumn when I dump my shredded leaf refuse around the base.

My "let it be" attitude has paid off. My bamboo is now over 5 1/2 ft tall and healthy.

If I can grow a hedge of bamboo in London, Ontario, surely other species should thrive in the balmy banana belt of Norfolk County.

Norfolk County was a proverbial dirt bowl, reminiscent of Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath in the 1930's. When I was a child, my father relayed stories about sand storms and farmers struggling to make a living before the advent of tobacco as a game changer crop.

Since the 1980's, Norfolk County farmers have survived due to their open attitude towards farming new to Canada crop species. Norfolk farmers have switched from tobacco to ginseng, peanuts and most recently created a new wine industry.

Norfolk County farmers are hardy and flexible entrepreneurs.

The area survives and flourishes because of their take no prisoners attitude.

A couple of so called "experts" from a nursery in British Columbia should not halt a research study into the viability of growing bamboo in Norfolk County.

Senator Doug Finley touted the merits of growing bamboo in a 2010 Sun media article, " Finley touted the plant as a possible alternative crop for the area, noting research has found an extract from bamboo has industrial use.He called bamboo the new "Microsoft" of the business world and said it could give the county the "value-added" agricultural product it needs, spawning research and development as well as manufacturing jobs in the county."We know from research we can grow this in Norfolk County,".

A couple of naysayers aside, it at least warrants a research viability study.

The appeal of bamboo is an extract from the plant called nano-chrystalline cellulose, an extract from the substance inside the plant. Using nano-technology, it can be added to materials, such as plastic, to make them thousands of times stronger.It has obvious potential for widespread industrial use in the auto and aerospace industries.

It's a game changer crop that could possibly boost the local economy and well worth government and/or private research dollars.

How about it ?

Photo Friday - Part 4

Photo Friday - Storm Part 3

Photo Friday Storm Part 2

Photo Friday - The Storm

Keeping up with The Kardashians... Reno House Style!

We haven't watched reality tv since I pulled the plug on cable almost four years ago.

Since the switch to digital tv brouhaha in late August , we only receive ONE analog channel.

Yes we have a digital tuner in our top of the line Toshiba television and we even went out and purchased a digital antenna from Future Shop. The top of the line digital antenna was a bust but it was no surprise to me and the dude.

The only radio stations that we can receive are CBC 1, Bob FM and EZ Rock. All other signals come in very faint with CBC 1 streaming over the intended signal. It's a strange anomaly that we have learned to cope with. Thank G*d for Internet radio.

Since moving into Reno House in 2008, we have made the search for seamless low cost wireless home entertainment a priority.

Our pipe dream of yesterday is now reality in 2011.

We just purchased Apple TV with a Netflix Subscription to fill the void with movies, TV and personalized entertainment. For $7.99 a month Netflix truly proves why Netflix killed the video store. With the option of controlling bandwidth, Netflix provides a wide arrange of entertainment for the entire family with parental control.

Apple TV seamlessly provides access to all of your media, from your ipad, media server, computer to your designated entertainment centre. Reno House will have three entertainment centres including the home theatre, master bedroom and kitchen.

Back to the Kardashians ...

From no cable to watching not one but all three Kardashian shows for the first time this morning I could see how tempting it is to fall into watching reality tv. I'm still experiencing culture shock!

EOnline is a modern day Sodom and Gonorrhea. I'm suffering like Lots wife ... I can't turn away.

Perhaps the spiracy theorists have it right .... but it's not in the digital signal, it's the programming itself. If television has such a hold on intelligent adults what chance do our children have ?

When we bought this house it was our intention to renovate an original Sifton family home into a home for the 21st century. It's a house that has been re engineered for the ultimate family experience. A separate pantry, main floor laundry, led lighting, a six foot fountain in the dining room for ambient noise enjoyment /natural humidifier. We designed the house for smart storage, no useless shelving and a natural design that forces the home owner to reduce clutter.

Our move to cancel cable was wise. Children's grades went up, improved communication from all family members and it freed up our expendable income. The house could be rewired for cable or satellite but why ? The freedom to choose entertainment at a price point which is acceptable to us is part of our dream.

If we want to watch a reality TV show, it's always available to download from Apple. Creating the choice to buy/ download versus the unconscious couch surfing move is a smart family decision and one that thousands of Canadians across the country are making.

If I want to keep up with the Kardashians, that's my choice !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDCeZXwntbE&feature=related

He googles, she googles, we all google!

After a verrry long silence, I strapped on the thinking cap and decided I needed to either can the blog or reinvent it.
As discussed in a previous post, I'm trying on new looks to see which "virtual skin" fits the best and accessorizing with slight modifications here and there. I decided not to get too introspective and go all corporate with a mission statement but in the end believe it's best to go back to my original intention. Write and write often.
I scaled back the gadgets as my blog was starting to look like a Myspace page with every gidget going. The blog went girly pink, a new look that needs to be modified a fair bit. I want a chic boho fem branding not Stepford Coral... obviously a work in progress.
The upside has been a slightly more upscale advertiser is now gracing my page. Time will tell if boho pink equals more $.
As part of my research, I googled Unconventional Mummy to find I have an alter ego who resides in the UK. She has quite the flare for prose... erotica to be precise :). I also see she has a forum, not sure how if she uses the blog as a business tool but you have to hand it to Unconventional Mum ... she has it going on. Go ahead and take the jump http://www.unconventionalmum.co.uk .

Fast Food Invasion

Fast food giant A&W, opened a franchise last week at the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Oakridge now hosts three banks,grocery store, specialty food store,Starbucks, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, two gas stations, health food store, Gordons Gold Jewellers, two hair salons, one nail joint and a sushi restaurant.Let's not forget a medical and walk in clinic, not to mention various small businesses across the road at the Oakridge Business Centre.
Since moving to the LOC, I have become enamoured with Oakridge. It's the ultimate community, a perfect blend of nature and planned growth...
My friday night date consisted of a quick bite at A&W with the intention of heading down to the Wortley Roadhouse to listen to some live music. Alas, it was not meant to be ... after a very busy week, we decided to go home and crash. Middle age sucks!
The root beer however was delish.

Shopping for a template

I'm currently trying on new templates for my extremely nekkid blog.
Please be patient and send me your advice and comments as I twirl around in front of the internet dressing room mirror for you...

Under Construction

I'm not the kind of woman whose idea of foreplay consists of ordering her guy to rearrange the living room furniture.
I rather dread the process of changing anything which is rather ironic as I have been living out of a box for the last almost three years. See my previous posts on the unending reno.
The last time I changed my blogs design, I mistakenly screwed up the Google analytics code. I learned a valuable lesson, a little knowledge is extremely dangerous.
In the last six months, I learned how to create a website in Joomla, Wordpress and Weebly. I integrated social media, flash, gifs and much much more. The websites looked professional, unlike this blog. I like Blogger, Blogger's been good to me.
It's stable, free and I'm sure if I actually put some time into the design and content, the results will be fabulous.
So stay tuned.... and feel free to offer any suggestions on design or templates.
I promise it won't take three years!

Yum Brittannia ! Prince William's Grooms Cake

As many of my faithful readers know, my beloved is deathly allergic to eggs. For many years it has been a quest to find THE CAKE that won't kill him. It's one thing to enjoy death by chocolate, quite another to die by chocolate ... cake.

A few days ago I found the elusive prize. This is it.
Earlier in the year, Clarence House revealed that not one but two cakes would be featured at the reception.
Prince William's cake is a chocolate biscuit cake, a long time childhood favourite dessert. It was frequently requested and made for the Princes William and Harry during their nursery days by the royal chef

William's cake was being made by British biscuit maker McVitie's and will be served at the royal reception alongside a traditional fruit cake.

A few years ago, The Queen's Chocolate Biscuit Cake recipe was provided to by Michael Dunn a former Chef at Buckingham Palace.
This is the cake that was served to the Princes at "Granny's House", Granny being HM The Queen and the house is known as Buckingham Palace.

And now I present this recipe to you via Canadian Living.

To make a double layer cake quadruple the recipe and use a round cake pan.

READ THE ORIGINAL RECIPE HERE-http://www.canadianliving.com/food/the_queens_chocolate_biscuit_cake.php

WATCH the Royal Wedding tomorrow LIVE -http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel


Ingredients
20 arrowroot biscuits , (4 oz/125 g)
8 oz bittersweet chocolate , finely chopped (Belgian if possible)
1 cup whipping cream 1 1cup cup(250 mL) (250 mL) whipping cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 1/2cup cup(125 mL) (125 mL) granulated sugar

Preparation:
Line 5-3/4- x3-1/4-inch (625 mL) loaf pan with waxed paper; set aside.

Break biscuits into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces; place in large bowl. Place chocolate in heatproof bowl. In saucepan, stir cream with sugar; bring to boil. Pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Add 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) of the chocolate mixture to biscuit pieces; stir to coat.

Pour biscuit mixture into prepared pan; smooth top. Cover and refrigerate cake and remaining chocolate mixture separately until cake is firm, about 4 hours. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)

Remove remaining chocolate mixture from refrigerator; let come to room temperature.

Invert cake onto serving plate; peel off paper. Using small palette knife, spread remaining chocolate mixture over cake. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. (Make-ahead: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.) Slice thinly.

Royal Wedding Bets!!!!!

I have a confession.
I'm coming out ... to admit I'm one of those people who have an insatiable appetite for all things royal.
That's my big secret.
I'm a professional, I have a University education, I own property and possess an above average IQ.I'm not one of those "cat women" nor do I have a spoon or tea cup collection.
My " fascination" with all things royal started on March 20, 1974. I was bedridden at home, recovering from an unfortunate accident and the opportunity to watch a Princess get married seemed quite exciting at the time.
After the event, my precocious disposition drove me to want to know everything possible about the Royal Family. My parents fed this obsession by buying books about various members of the royal family for my birthday or Christmas.
Looking back I can see that this highly unusual degree interest for a very young child, probably points to a certain Aspbergers diagnosis.
As I grew older, my "preoccupation" went underground until I connected to the rest of the world through the internet.
These days, I follow everything Royal on http://www.unofficialroyalty.com.
It's a great site... very informative and well worth a look!
The world has now caught up with me and has joined the madness surrounding the Royal Wedding.
There has been much speculation about every miniscule detail and now I'm about to very publically lay my virtual bets.
Please join (and share) the wedding madness and add your own predictions!

Tiara
Spencer Tiara

Wedding Dress Designer
Kate Middleton

Honeymoon Destination
Necker

Baby Due Date
July 2012

I also predict that a "royal" will make a gesture or refer to the t-mobile spoof video.

Stay tuned for the "big" royal scoop ....tomorrow!