More photos of Tasia

Tasia

Introducing my Bengal kitten, Tasia:

Likes:

The Internet
Watching TV/DVDs
Climbing
Exploring
Playfighting
Playing with her toys
Cuddling
Riding on the big guy's shoulders
Climbing the Christmas tree and playing with the ornaments

Favourite movies: Kill Bill, Vol. I, James Bond

Artistic expression + romance

I’m not a fan of IKEA. The chain reinforces the stereotype of Sweden as being bland and boring (except for the occasional splashes of bright orange or blue, that seem like a throwback to the 60s, that dot the store). But I wanted to see what was out there in the way of bed frames before I made a choice and I was in a “leave no stone unturned” kind of mood.

As I wandered through the store I came across a curvy glass vase. The mind started clicking right away. An opportunity for artistic expression and romance – what could be better? I bought the vase ($13). When I got home I poured some coarse black sand into it. Then I went to add a tea candle. I’d believed that I’d be able to place the candle using a pair of tongs which I thought what just fit through the narrow neck.

Well, it didn’t just fit.

So I’m pondering how I’m going to put the candle in place. Being a clever lad, I quickly hit upon using a pair of wooden skewers. I place the tip of each between the candle and the edge of the aluminum tray the candle sits in. Gently, I lower it into place. Then I remove one skewer and use it to hold the candle down as I pull out the other skewer.

I then placed the vase in a white, semi-opaque bowl that I’d purchased from Costco some months ago ($20). As night falls I light the candle. The effect is beautiful. The candlelight shines through the bowl, and the bowl reflects in the glass tabletop upon which I’ve placed it. I wish I could reproduce the effect in a photograph, but a timed exposure without flash casts everything in an orange colour and using flash photography cancels out the soft light and shadows. All I can offer is the daylight photo that accompanies this piece, but it comes nowhere close to doing it justice.

Tea candles burn for a surprisingly long time. It was almost out when I decided to blow out the candle. This proved exceedingly difficult. Due to the shape of the vase and the narrowness of the neck, no matter how hard I blew the candle flame barely flickered. Being a clever lad, I quickly hit upon the idea of lowering a straw down the vase, close to the candle flame, and blowing through it. The flame was instantly extinguished.

But not clever enough. The next day I noticed candle wax splattered on the inside of the vase. I removed this by emptying the contents of the vase, placing the vase in very hot tap water, and pouring hot tap water into the vase. This loosened the wax, which then floated to the surface.

Next time I’ll just let the candle burn out.

The vase and candle will stand on it’s own, without the bowl. And for a cost, including tax, of less than $15 you can create a romantic mood. Even with the bowl the cost in only $35 – and the bowl can be used in other ways. You can add water and float flowers on top, or floating candle. It can be used to hold an orchid (the most exotic and sexy of flowers).

So what are you waiting for? Get busy. ;-)

Strawberry season

Strawberry season

Lately, I've been addicted to strawberries with whipped cream.

I'm really going to miss strawberry season.

Best shoe stores - Vancouver

Best shoe stores

Three of the best shoe stores in Vancouver - two of which take orders online:

Gravity Pope

Fluevog

Stoneridge

For hip, sexy fashion.

Melting into love

Melting into love

Connoisseurs say that the best way to eat chocolate is not to chew it, but to let it melt slowly on your tongue, savouring both the taste and the texture. Romance and relationships, like chocolate, are also meant to be savoured. Too often we will treat them like a race to an end result - affirmation of self-worth, the bedroom, engagement, marriage, children. Being greedy for a quick end result we find ourselves unable to enjoy the journey. We are overcome by stress and feelings of doubt and possibly even mistrust...of our ourselves or our partner. But if we let the relationship move at its own pace, when we find the right person it will naturally lead us to those things we desire.

Wrap yourself in the romantic journey - like melting chocolate around your tongue.

Chocolate Confidential

Chocolate Confidential

A show I just watched on the CBC has inspired this...

Chocolate Confidential

The Sweet Science of Chocolate

Chocolate Health

Psychoactive Chocolate

Chocolate Brainpower

Virtual Chocolate

Chocolate Fashion

Enjoy!