The final countdown: MMM13 Week 5

Finally! It's been less than fun taking daily pictures of myself, but using the daily prompts from Fat Mum Slim's Photo-a-Day challenge and trying to combine them with different locations around the city has at least kept it interesting. For me, at any rate; I can't speak for you.

Last five days. Here we go...

In which PhysicsGirl finally finishes that sequel: P&P #12-13

aka I will post this if it kills me

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife and Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and Days at Pemberley by Linda Berdoll

Behold! I finally stopped being sidetracked by other P&P sequels (and, you know, stuff like work) and finished the second sequel I was telling you about. I really liked the first book when I read it back in March. I sped through it lickety-split. The second? Well, that was the book I kept getting distracted from. A bunch of things that I liked in the first book annoyed me in the second. I don't know if it's because I took a break and read other (better) things in between, but given the amount of junk I manage to read, I doubt it. Something tells me I wouldn't have started reading all those other books if I had been well and truly engaged in Days and Nights.

The penultimate week takes a turn for the chilly: MMM13 week 4

The weather turned cold this week. I probably could have broken out my me-made sweaters, but they're already primed to be put away for the summer. This month has given me impetus to finally get around to a few slightly more extensive refashions that have been long-planned but languishing.

In which PhysicsGirl eats several things and has a few set-backs: MMM13 week 3

I had plans to take pictures at several specific locations, but the weather and altered plans kept getting in the way. I am also starting to get tired of taking pictures of me me me every day. Which is what everybody who does Me-Made May says.

Here he is sitting in a tin can high above the world

For the past five months, Commander Chris Hadfield has been tweeting the ultimate in travel photos: from the ISS. He has been a wonderful science ambassador, and I'm kind of thrilled that he's on the back of our new $5 bill. He begins the return trip tomorrow, and he has left us with this lovely video^*: a cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded near the edge of space.

Safe journey, sir.


^*Among others, mostly for the Canadian Space Agency. If you want to learn what living in space is like, go watch them. One of my favourites is what happens when you try to wring out a soaking-wet washcloth in weightlessness.

Obligatory pedantry: Ignore the bits about being in zero gravity; it's a common misconception, but he's only about 450 km up, so the gravity acting on him is nearly the same as the gravity acting at the surface of the planet. He is weightless because the ISS and everything in it are in free fall. They are all falling towards the Earth at the same rate, but they keep missing it. Douglas Adams would be pleased.

Stretching it a bit: MMM13 week 2

I will say the Photo-a-day prompts are helping me figure out how and where to take the pictures. Mostly. Fine. Some are decidedly a stretch. I'm also getting more comfortable with setting up my tripod in public but I still have to gird my loins, as it were, when asking total strangers to take my picture.

In which PhysicsGirl goes antiquing and buys too many gloves

Today, the DC and I went to the Aberfoyle Antique Market near Guelph with a bunch of friends today. After the week's warmth, the temperature dropped down to oh-lord-but-it's-chilly temperatures - I think somebody could have done a brisk trade in wool gloves.

I hearby claim this blog...

on behalf of Bloglovin. And physics, math, adventures, and tea.

And so this isn't a total loss as a post, here is a random picture of Lucy.

This week has 5 days: MMM13 week 1

I pledged to wear something handmade/refashioned at least 3-4 times per week during May, and only wear me-made/refashioned/acquired through travel earrings, but my secret pledge is to try to do something every day. Also, in the spirit of this blog, I am going to try to take pictures in different places in the city (or elsewhere). And as an added level of difficulty, I'm going to try following Fat Mum Slim's May Photo-a-day prompts.

This could get interesting.

I have to confess I was hoping for the cooler weather to hold on for a bit so I could wear some of my cold-weather items without sweltering. Naturally the temperature has shot up to 20°C. Fortunately it's still a bit cool in the morning and evening, but I was pushing it with those sweaters.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then let the May-hem begin.

Pancake of the month: Puffed Cherry Pancake

It's cherry blossom time. The trees beside Robarts Library at U of T burst into bloom overnight on Wednesday. This morning, the DC and I took our annual bike photo in High Park. I wore my cherry blossom earrings. Aftwerards, I had planned to make puffed cherry pancakes.

Slight hitch: no cherries.

I could have put in raspberries or something, but I was really sold on the cherries-after-cherry-blossom idea, so when I saw the bottle of cherry jam in the store, I may have lost my head a little. Look, it's not my fault; I've been really tired lately, and that never leads to good decision making.

The verdict?

Righteous errandonnée

Look what came in the mail today!

Not only did I get my gold star from MG for completing the Errandonnée this February, but I also got righteousness points! Yay, swag!

In other news, Hyedie of the Cupcake Ride is branching out to other confections. If you've never had a Portuguese custard tart, or pastel de nata, you are missing out. The Pastel de Nata ride will be one of Ward 18 activities during Bike Month. I'm so in!