Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a beautiful flowering plant belonging to the mallow family, Malvaceae. There are many species of Hibiscus including both annual and perennial herbaceous plants.

 

Hibiscus is recognizable by its showy trumpet-shaped flowers that can be quite large from 4 to 18 cm wide. The petals of the Hibiscus flower come in various colours from white, pink, orange, purple, yellow and my favourite “coral”,. The individual flowers are short-lived; they live only for one day. However, the numerous flower buds produced on the shrub's new growth, provide an abundance of flowers from July to September and even later if the plant is brought indoors before the cold fall nights kick in.

The sepals of the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower are used to make Hibiscus tea, a hot and cold herbal drink consumed by people around the world. Hibiscus tea is also referred to as sorrel and roselle, which is another common name for the hibiscus flower.
 

 

Hibiscus plants are often used in the garden to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Thanks to my brother-in-law Colin for the great picture of the hibiscus and hummingbird.

Caro Emerald - That Man

Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald singing "That Man". This single is one of many hits taken from her upbeat chart topping album "Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor". 

Swinging and sassy!

www.caroemerald.com

Petit Corse aux Herbes

Petit Corse aux Herbes is a soft ripened sheep-milk cheese covered with herbs from the island of Corsica.

Petit Corse aux Herbes is a small 150 gr (5 oz) round shaped cheese. The soft fine-textured ivory coloured paste is creamy and slightly salty. The strong-scented dried herbs that cover the cheese give it a flavoured bite.

Petit Corse aux Herbes is produced by Fromagerie Pierucci located in Vescovato, a commune in Upper Corsica. Fromagerie Pierucci operated by the Pierucci family for three generations, has become one of Corsica's leading cheese producers.

Corsica's Mediterranean climate and its mountainous terrain allow the livestock a diet that is rich, natural and flavourful.

The Corsican mouflon (Ovis musimon) is thought to be one of the two ancestors for all modern sheep breeds. These small and rustic sheep give up to four times less milk than the best dairy breeds, but the milk it produces is good milk that is very rich in proteins and lipids.

http://www.fromage-pierucci.com

Photo source: Larry Dowell's flickr photostream

Noriel Vilela - 16 Toneladas

This version of "Sixteen Tons", entitled 16 Toneladas was recorded by Noriel Vilela in Brazil in 1969; it is featured on his solo album “Eis o Ôme”. Noriel Vilela known as 'The Tenor of Samba' is an iconic samba-rock artist who was a member of the band Cantores de Ébano in the 50's.

 

"Sixteen Tons" was first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis.

In 1955 Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version of Sixteen Tons became a huge number one hit.

The song has been covered by a variety of musicians among them: Elvis Presley, The Platters, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, among many more.

The Clash used Tennessee Ernie Ford's version as their intro music for their 1980 US tour, called "The 16 Tons Tour".

Jayne Mansfield's Car

Jayne Mansfield's Car is a funny, crazy drama directed by Billy Bob Thornton.

 

This quirky film is about two colourful families who are brought together by the death of a woman. The acclaimed cast includes Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now, Lonesome Dove), John Hurt (The Elephant Man, Harry Potter), Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade, Bad Santa), Kevin Bacon (Footloose, The River Wild) among others.

Delightful!

Zacharie Cloutier

Zacharie Cloutier is an award winning raw sheep-milk cheese from Quebec's Eastern Township region.

Zacharie Cloutier has a firm, semi-cooked, pressed paste that has a pleasant sweet floral aroma with hints of coconut and caramel. The 3.3 KG wheel has a golden-orange coloured washed rind that bears a distinguished zigzag basket weave pattern. Zacharie Cloutier is ripened from 4 to 6 months. The butter coloured paste has a mild, soft and creamy texture.

Zacharie Cloutier produced by Fromagerie Nouvelle France, is the brainchild of experienced cheese consultant and cheesemaker Marie-Chantal Houde.  The farm's herd of East Friesian sheep is run by Marie-Chantal's brother, Jean-Paul Houde on the family's 250 hectare spread in Racine, Quebec.

Zacharie Cloutier was named as a tribute to the Cloutier-Houde family ancestor.

Fromagerie Nouvelle France and Fromagerie du Prosbytère have recently collaborated to make a unique mixed milk (sheep and cow) cheese called Le Pionnier. 

http://www.fromagerienouvellefrance.com/

Photo source: Wikipedia

Outside Bet

Outside Bet is a tale of seven friends, who embark on a journey that eventually leads them to gamble all of their savings and redundancy money on a single race.

 

Outside Bet is a British comedy film directed by Sacha Bennett and starring Bob Hoskins (Mona Lisa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), Jenny Agutter (Logan's Run), Philip Davis (Vera Drake), Adam Deacon (Anuvahood, Criminal Justice) and Montserrat Lombard (Ashes To Ashes).

A light, enjoyable film.

Alvin Child

Alvin Child is a Haida artist from Alert Bay, British Columbia. Alvin, born in 1962, is a member of the Tsawataineuk band from Kingcome Inlet. The Tsawataineuk (pronounced 'tsa-wa-tay-nook') belong to the Kwakwaka'wakw Indian group.

Kingcome Inlet is an isolated fjord set against the breathtaking backdrop of towering mountains on British Columbia’s mainland separated by the Queen Charlotte Strait across the north-end tip of Vancouver Island.

Alvin Child studied native art for about twelve years under the tutelage of John Livingston, a Victoria, BC master wood carver and accomplished artist.

I was drawn to the works of Alvin Child for his great eye for design and form and great respect to the traditional Haida symbols.

These photos are some of Alvin Child's silkscreen prints done from 2000 to 2008. They are great examples of the artistic skills of one of today’s exceptional Haida artist.

For information on the history and detailed description on the symbols of art depicted in the Haida culture visit: Haida Designs.com and the Canadian Museum of Civilization exhibit on The Haida – Children of Eagle and Raven.

Photo sources: http://www.cedarhilllonghouse.ca and http://www.pacificeditions.ca

Le D'Iberville

Le D'Iberville is a beautiful raw organic cow-milk, semi-soft, washed rind cheese from Québec's Montérégie region.

 

This farmstead cheese which has been ripened for 60 days has a lovely herbal aroma. The exquisite pale ochre washed rind covers a rather soft pale-yellow paste punctuated with small openings due to its molding method. Le D'Iberville has an herbaceous floral flavour with lingering notes of creamy mushrooms.

Le D'Iberville pairs well with a California Zinfandel.

Le D'Iberville is produced by La Fromagerie Au Gré Des Champs who are located in Saint-Jean-sur Richelieu.

Meet the Gosselin family, Québec's first certified organic cheese-makers and passionate organic farmers from La Fromagerie Au Gré Des Champs.

 

www.augredeschamps.com/

Charles Bukowski - The 9 Horse

Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. Here's a great example of Bukowski's prose and brilliant sense of humour. ‘The 9 Horse’ is an excerpt from an album recording entitled “Hostage” which was recorded live at The Sweetwater, Redondo Beach, California in April, 1980.

The 9 Horse by Charles Bukowski

I was at the race track one day

And I had drunk much beer the night before

And I was late for the first race

But I parked, hustled in, and I could

Feel this beershit really coming on,

You know, not only coming on

But I had to hold the cheeks of my ass

Together while walking real fast from

The parking lot and through admissions

And toward and in the crapper.

Luckily, there was a stall and I got

My pants and shorts down real fast

And then it came: hot, glorious and

Stinking.

When I got up and wiped I looked down

And there was my wallet afloat

In all of it.

I dipped in, got it, flushed, got out

Of the stall, washed up, walked out,

Then stood in a corner and pulled

The bills out of my wallet: they

Were wet and they stank.

I heard the announcer say, “it is

Now one minute to post time.”

I wanted the 9 horse, I had this

Very strong feeling for the 9 horse.

I put the bills back in my wallet.

I didn’t know what to do.

Then the announcer said:

“they’re at the gate!”

I ran around the corner

Found a betting window

Pulled one of the bills out

Of my wallet and hollered:

“Ten to win on the 9 horse!”

The seller picked up the bill

And looked at it.

“Come on! Come on!” I said,

“It’s good, just a little wet,

What the shit!”

The seller looked at me,

Hit the button and I had

The ticket.

Then I went out and watched the

Race and the 9 horse ran

Out

http://bukowski.net/