I like looking at my website’s stats and more particularly the search phrases that some people used to land here. So tonight I thought I’d answer a few of the questions asked by people in August…

1) “2009 are bakeapples ripe on labrador”
They are more than ripe… They have turned pale yellow and aren’t yummy anymore. So if you haven’t picked yours, too late!

2) “distance natashquan blanc sablon”
It’s quite far, especially since there’s not road linking it!

3) “distance montreal blanc sablon”
That’s even more than question 2!!! But for me, soon, in 11 dodos, that distance will be quickly traveled by plane! Yay!

4) “travail disponible à blanc-sablon”
Well I am trying to find someone to take on a 18 hour part-time gig and not having any luck… So that’s available!

5) “telepheric montjuic price”
Don’t remember, but how I’d love to be back in Barcelona right now!

6) “tide schedule for blanc-sablon”
Look for Brador Bay schedule on the Fisheries and Oceans website, you’ll have better luck.

7) “salmon fishing spot in montreal”
Does not exist. Fish there have 3 heads and 5 eyes.

8 ) “how to make an icelandic wool sweater less itchy”
You wear a long-sleeved shirt underneath.

9) “alimentation à blanc-sablon”
On mange très bien, surtout chez nous!

10) “what kind of people do you have trouble working with?”
People who speak loud on their telephone right next to me.

11) “how to get around in varadero”
You can do like the locals and hitchhike. Biking’s fun too! I rented a car for a couple of days to explore around the area, was quite nice, Cubans seemed to like my Audi!

12) “ou est situé blanc sablon”
Un peu loin de tout, à un endroit remarquablement joli…

I don’t know if I should plan my Montreal escapade or not too much… I am going just for 5 days, September 11th to 16th.

Friday: Arrive late flight.
Saturday: Friend’s wedding, hair dresser, reception.
Sunday: Open.
Monday: Open.
Tuesday: Open.
Wednesday: Come back early morning flight.

I want to: see friends, go shopping, see a movie or two, go to a concert (Possibly OSM? Or maybe something else that’s on during these dates?), go out to a good resto/pub, etc.

How am I going to fit it all in 3 days? For now though it’s time for bed, just like Happy… She looks so comfy in her little bed! Time to jump in mine too! Plus I love it when it’s freshly cleaned… Smells so nice!

Tomorrow for work I am planning this event… People from different organizations are supposed to arrive on the boat at 18h30… But it’s been windy a lot so who knows if that boat’s on schedule or delayed.

Anyways, the locals are supposed to meet at the conference room in my work place… I sent out invites, posted ads up in public places, put a message on the radio. I don’t know how many will show up, but I’m guessing a few, minimum 10!

We’re supposed to have tea, coffee and dessert. So instead of buying ready-made ones, I bought the ingredients… And baked it all myself! I made: bakeapple pie, sugar pie, apple & red berries cake, raisins cookies and chocolate chip muffins. All from scratch. All made today after work. Hope it’s all yummy and it’s enough!

I think I got my baking fix for a little while now.

I don’t feel comfortable when there is friction between others and me… Especially when it’s with people I enjoy spending time with… I gave ideas of solutions… We’ll see what they decide.

Mom’s gone to Newfoundland for almost a week now… On Friday it was her birthday. She wasn’t here. Today she’s coming back. So I made her birthday cake! It’s lemon cake/icing… Mmmm! I brought it at her house and put it on the kitchen counter so she’ll see it the minute she gets home!

After my entrance, I am now repainting the kitchen/living area. Once it’s done I want to apply a decal on the main empty wall… I browsed Etsy and found two I like… So now I can’t choose!

Number one I like the shape of the birds and flowers better, but the branch is maybe strange to put in the middle of a wall.

Number two I love the branch and the flowers are pretty, but don’t like the birds as much.

I also found a cute one for Happy I might get… It’s adorable! I’d put it above the spot in the bedroom where her dog bed goes.

Today I painted the little entrance to my house. I choose a nice grayish blue colour, Manhattan Blue. I also sewed new curtains and put them up!

I also hung some artwork I had elsewhere in the house, it fit very nicely with the new paint!

I love my new entrance, it’s cozy and makes me want to welcome people inside! Next: painting the boring standard beige of the living room/kitchen area a more light brownish colour, Seashore Pebble.

Happy and I have a routine… Before brushing my teeth and going to bed I take her outside so she can do a quick pee. And I get to look at the stars. I love the stars in Blanc-Sablon, there are tons, they are bright and really visible…!

Tonight I was looking up, thinking “it’s Perseid season I could see a shooting star” and I saw one! Zoom! Passed by! I made a wish. It made me smile.

After seeing Vanou make these cupcakes and recently seeing them again on Flickr blog, I decided I’d make them too! Today was a foggy/rainy day so it was the perfect time!

I think they turned out nicely. I made mine from scratch, not using cake mix like in the tutorial. I only had little icing tubes so didn’t put enough yellow cheese at the base of the meat… I think someday for a second try more icing would look even more burgerish.

The other day I saw a news piece asking people to bring school supplies to l’Armée du Salut… They would then distribute the items to families in need.

As a kid I always loved the new school year. I always had new school supplies. I loved them!

So I decided I’d help! I went shopping today… I bought a school bag/pencil case/lunch box trio, books, binders, duotangs, pencils, colouring pencils, markers, erasers, ruler, scissor, etc. I will bring it to my social worker colleague. She’ll be able to give it to a kid from our area.

The best sammy is made with fresh bread and lots of my own smoked salmon… YUMMY!

But I don’t think I’ll have any new smoked salmon this year… My attempt at fishing isn’t going so well… But I’m not giving up just yet!

I put some 90’s songs on my iPod earlier tonight… Some of these songs I haven’t heard in years, yet I still can sing outloud to them! It’s funny how we remember these things.

I feel like having something sweet for dessert but I don’t have anything baked/chocolaty!

I love windy days in Blanc-Sablon. It’s so pretty the blue and turquoise waves on the raging sea! After work I went for a little walk along the rocky shore. Whoaaaaa! The sound and smell are great!

This morning I got up at 7h… The sea was calm… The weather predictions called for wind increasing around noon… Perfect for kayaking! So after a good egg/bacon brekky I went to the beach! I pumped up my kayak, which is getting easier each time, and went kayaking.

But then the wind picked up! CRAP! So I did just 30 minutes around the beach not too far from shore and came back home.

I did things around the house… Some of my indoor plants had to potted in bigger pots, others had to get their yearly cleaning outside with the hose. I also worked a bit on my new project, a Blanc-Sablon photo book.

Then I went to J.&M. for a visit. They were heading out to pick bakeapples. So Happy and I joined them. We went up Brador Hill, a bit passed there. There weren’t too many flies because of the wind! Yay! Happy loved running around, following mostly M. as he went from one good bakeapple spot to the other. And of course she ate tons of fruit too! After 3 hours, back in the car she laid down on the passenger floor (her spot) instead of sitting as usual… She was exhausted!

Just as I was going to make supper (pork chops) J.&R. called inviting me over for caribou on the BBQ! Yay! So I put the chops in the fridge until tomorrow and headed for a good supper! I love wild meat! Then I showed J. my Iceland pictures. It’s always nice to share my travels with others!

It was a really good day!

One more week over! Summer’s going by quite quickly!

Yesterday I went to L’Anse-au-Loup with J. to see the Bowdoin, a schooner visiting the area. I went on another schooner once, the Solway Lass in Australia (which was much bigger than the Bowdoin). I love these kind of old wooden sail boats. The crew was quite informative about the ship, its history, how it works, etc.

This arvo I went to help out a bit at the Youth Services Coop… They were having a spaghetti supper fundraiser at the Municipal Hall. These kids (12-14 yo or so) need so much guidance though! It seems to me I was a bit more of a leader at that age, able to take on tasks on my own, etc. After having my plate of yummy spaghetti, I went to pick bakeapples with Happy. I found a few good spots, I’ll have to go back tomorrow to pick more!

Then on my patio I fixed my fishing pole, eating bakeapples and drinking a Stella. I had a chat with a guy who works at the radio for the Summer… He was passing by with the dog he’s taking care of. Then when the flies started eating me alive it was time to go inside! Bath, pj and now ahhhhh relax. It’s just 20h30 and I’m yawning as if it was 1h!

I want to go fishing tomorrow… But I also want to sleep in. So I surely won’t wake up at 5h30 to go! Perhaps a little later in the morning… I’ll take it easy.