Guten Tag

Next monday I'll be going on a study trip to Germany (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn) with Roomie. Hopefully, Longhaired Roomie will behave during our absence. And manage to keep herself alive.

I've flexed my German vocabulary: Apfelstrudel, currywurst, blitzkrieg, kartoffel, umgebung, lederhosen, sauerkraut, brille, bralle, bier, ein zwei drei, vier-und-fünfzig.

Das ist mein lederhosenkartoffel mit blau currywurst unt pretzelbier! Ich heiße dirndl-Sonja und ich liebe dein apfelstrudel!

I'm as ready as ready can be.

I am, however no big beer-lover, but I've made a solemn vow to try out a dark kind in Germany, we'll see how it goes. I've also entertained the idea of trying to keep a picture diary during the trip.   

Been dabbling with some aquatint:

  

I've been intrigued by pretty patterns lately.


There's also some interesting workshops starting at uni after we get back from the trip. One is about animation, and another on taxidermy. We'll be stuffing a mouse, and I'm really excited about it, since apparently it'll be pretty much from start to finish (the mice will obviously be dead already), we'll be taking the innards out and that sort of thing. Here's hoping that I could somehow preserve and keep (and maybe even mount) the skeleton. . .

Shameless Advertising

It is now possible to have a peek at my Research Practice project (that will probably keep updating even after this unit is finished.)

Legendary Lobster



There is a function that makes it possible to tell me about mythological beasts that are missing from the set. Obviously, I'm not even close to having everything I know myself down there, but interaction is good for the project.

Story of a Naan

 

Time for some retroactive foodblogging! Back in January, this happened:

 Dough-slippers!

Through the marvels of the freezer, the last couple of those naan-breads made their final appearance with some other indian food, and alcoholic ginger beer:

How unbelievably exciting!

Tomorrow evening Roomies mom and sis will share us a visit for a couple of days. We'll see what we might pester them with, food-wise, then.

Whaddya know?

Apparently, I was making an untruthful claim yesterday. This morning it looked like this outside:

 

Flakes

There was a light snowfall today, nothing that would stay on the ground. seems like winter's still trying to remind us of its presence, however slightly. I think it has pretty much given up already, which is all for the better, with our lousy insulation.

It makes, however, for a marvelous opportunity to spam you with some wintery photos from a couple weeks back:

 A snowy path, where might it lead. . . ?

 Oh, look! Two friends!

 

 

 Here's more sturdy fellows at their favourite game, hide and seek.

Not much further exciting things happening here, 'cept on the foody frontier. I'll do an update on that later, as the camera is downstairs, and I am, regrettably, upstairs.

Runeberg

Well well, Runeberg's day (Finnish national poet) came and went (5.2) and, as always with celebrations that give you an excuse to make something nice to eat, we seized the opportunity and baked some Runeberg's Tarts:

 Who could say no to something with both icing and jam?

 Quack quack!

The greenhouse (space between curtains and window in living room) has started to show some signs of life! How unexpected.

Cress in a hurry.

Alas, the weekend is drawing near. Tonight is there is indian food on the menu. Homebaked naan-bread, homemade raita/tzatziki, home-marinated chicken pieces . . .

Exciting Adventures

Marvel at the size shifting girl, her ethereal bicycle and the surreal midgetchair, Gonzo! *applause*

Just illustrating what life in England is like, as you seriously need more clothes indoors than outdoors, (the exception being the rare days when it's below 0° C)
because out there you're at least moving around a bit.

It does feel a bit silly sometimes. Carrying around all these protective layers, I would probably make a great knight. :B

Boeuf Bourguignon

We started our herb garden today (no not herb, these are all very legal, and I've never seen anyone smoke parsley), or me and Longhaired Roomie did anyway. Roomie was out shopping, although she stayed strong and refrained from purchasing anything, which is more than you could say about me. I went to the supermarket to get breakfast cereals, and when I checked out, I had around ten items in the basket. 

A certain amount of items did join because I figured i might as well start baking some Runeberg tarts now, to have as snack when watching Melodifestivalen, Sweden's auditions for the Eurovision Song Contest. Should be quite a spectacle, it always is, let's hope it's triple the entertainment now that they're hosts this year. Another reason for baking Runeberg tarts would be to give them to some people at school, as they've given us marmalade.

This would have to be the touristiest I've been in London in ages, I've never had the chance to climb the Trafalgar lions (they're huge and slippery, so I was a wimp and just climbed up on its pedestal).

 The Pose

 Made friends in the Rainforest Café shop.

 Let us not forget the post title, a little something me and Roomie whipped together yesterday:

 

 

*drool*

I happened to stumble upon a reduced piece of beef brisket. Enter red wine, garlic and other delicious stuff, and you have a classic from England's southernly neighbours, le frogs.