The Fish Wrapper

American Road Trip: W Hotel at the Foshay

2009-08-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Under the category of Knock Your Socks Off Hotels is the W at the Foshay. This one-time office building is now the hippest hotel in the city (although it's not the only hip hotel). Surprisingly, rooms start at about $116 and range up to $415. Judging from the look of the lobby, I thought they would be a lot more. About the lobby. It looks like it was designed by Prince, circa 1984. There are at least 20 sitting areas with jumbo couches, purple velvet, crystal accents and lots of leather. All this is a drop-dead gorgeous Art Deco space with marble floors and impressive ceilings. The lighting is low, low, low so don't even think about bringing a book. Just sit there and look cool. Ultra cool.

American Road Trip: The Juicy Lucy

2009-08-16T05:31:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis, Minnesota: I had been throwing out the term 'juicy lucy' before I left home, mostly to sidelong stares that suggested I had some something inappropriate. I'm here to tell you right now just exactly what a juicy lucy is. As luck would have it, the local magazine called Mpls St Paul included a feature story about the best burgers (big hint) in town. I will steal their definition. A juicy lucy is a homegrown favourite. It's stuffed with cheese, griddled and served with a molten interior. Get it? The cheese is on the inside of the patty, just like those cheddar cheese smokies we all love so much.

We headed to The 5-8 Club last night, one of two bars in a lifelong battle over who created the local treat. It's beside the freeway and a stone's throw from the Mall of America. It's been around since 1928 so the local know this place and tend to account for the lion's share of business. It was a speakeasy back in the days of prohibition, serving illegal hooch out the back door. It was rather nostalgic that we had to wait in a line at the back door to secure a seat.

There's nothing fancy about the 5-8. In fact, that same magazine included in its review the following line. "The vibe inside the place isn't especially evocative or fun, particularly near the pull tab lady." Guess where we sat?

The menu suggests a Juicy Lucy may take a while to prepare but that wasn't the case. Our meals arrived with lightening speed. Everything I read about juicy lucys cautioned me to wait a few moments before biting in, so I did. I have to admit that it's kinda cool seeing cheese ooze out of the centre of the burger, but what really impressed me was the taste. A 5-8 juicy lucy tastes like a homemade burger fried in a pan, all crispy, greasy and delicious. It comes with only pickles on the bun and I kept it that way, dipping it in a pool of ketchup with each bite.

I'm not sure if it makes any difference if the cheese is on the inside or the top but I have to admit it's a novelty to have a juicy lucy. It's even more fun to say you had a juicy lucy.

The Olympic Oval

2009-02-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

I've seen it in the Rona television commercials but it was wonderful to see it in person. This is the venue where the speed skating will take place in the 2010 Winter Olympics. The ice is open for public skating. In about a year, I suspect it will be home to folks who can skate a little faster than the ones I saw last night.

My First Outdoor Meal of 2009

2009-02-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

The temperature was hovering around -20C when I left Winnipeg early Wednesday morning. By mid afternoon, I was noshing on hot-out-of-the-fryer halibut and chips at Pajo's, a cute-as-can-be fish'n'chip joint in Steveston, a tiny spit of land south of Vancouver, Canada. And best of all, I was eating OUTSIDE! Now this might not seem like a cause for all caps but let me explain. When you're a Winnipegger and you've been living through roughly 60 days of cold that grips the small of your back and won't let go, having a meal out of doors in February really is cause for celebration.

Lay Your Head Down

2007-03-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

If you've heard the term boutique hotel but don't know what that means, check it out. This was an old Holiday Inn that's been transformed. Across from this giant bed is a sitting room with a 42 inch plasma.

At The Zoo

2007-03-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous day today and it seemed everyone in Calgary was at the zoo. Here are a couple of the cool critters.

Little Drummer Boys and Girls

2007-03-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

Today we took part in a drumming circle inside an old Anglican church in Calgary. It's great for blowing off some steam and finding your groove. We felt like the Khartum Temple Shriners in the parade.

Show Me Your Mussels

2007-03-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

This was the first course of our cooking class at Fuze Finer Dining in Canmore. It was followed by tomato tarts, beef curry and pinapples in butter rum sauce.

Where The Elk Play

2007-03-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

So I says to the cabbie, "Let's go find some elk." I had noticed a herd of about 50 in a meadow a few miles out of town on Monday. When the driver called dispatch to let them know what we were up to, the nice gentlemen on the other end informed us that the elk were in 'the compound'. So the driver wheeled around and pulled up to an spot beside the highway, just a stone's throw from the townsite. Sure enough there were dozens of cows and young bulls lounging around. They were okay with me taking pictures. Soon after, a man and his wife pulled up, got out of their car and were obvisouly talking too loudly. The elk started to scatter but not before I snapped a few shots.

Standing On The Divide

2007-03-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

If I fell to the east, I would end up in Hudson's Bay. If I fell to the west, I would be in the Pacific. Here I am standing on the continental divide in the Canadian Rockies. The snow was fresh and deep. Good thing I was wearing snowshoes (apparantly the Japanese photographer who took the shot didn't understand that I would have like the shoes in the shot). That's Mount Whimper in the background.

Am I In A Budweiser Commercial?

2007-03-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

About 30 minutes before spring officially arrived in the Canadian Rockies tonight, this is what it looked like. These sleighs took us on a short ride around the grounds of the historic Chateau Lake Louise.

Banff Upper Hot Spring

2007-03-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Oh so this is what the rich people do on vacation! It's hovering around zero outside but here in the pool, it's a beautiful 39C. I'm convinced that 'taking the waters', as they used to say back in the day, really does have health benefits. Even if it doesn't, what a great way to spend a Monday afternoon.

It's All Greek (and delicious) To Me

2007-03-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

I visited Greek Market, 1440 Corydon this week. What an easy way to get supper on the table! Check out the roasted vegetables in fillo pastry.

Eat, Eat, Eat

2007-03-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Monday I leave for a press trip in Western Canada. The first couple of days are in Banff. On Thursday, a small group embarks on a culinary tour of Banff, Canmore and Calgary. Here's a list of the restaurants we will dine at over the course of three days. Perhaps I should weigh myself before and after. Perhaps not.
Fuze Finer Dining
Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company
Le Chocolatier
Chez Francois Fine Cuisine
Spolumbo's Fine Food & Deli
Bistro Twenty Two Ten
Raw Bar at Hotel Arts
Urban Safari Resturant Tours
Vintage Chophouse

My New Mocs

2007-03-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

During my recent trip to the Trappers' Festival in The Pas, I bought at least $50 in raffle tickets. I came home empty handed. This week, my luck changed. I got a called from a lovely gal named Jaimie at the Arts and Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba. I had won the door prize at the Wildcrafters Show! Check out my handmade and oh-so-beautiful mocs.

Trappers' Festival 2007

2007-02-19T13:32:00.001-08:00

More Cuba

2007-02-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Barbie Loves MAC

2007-02-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

Today a new line of cosmetics hits the market. Barbie Loves MAC brings the leggy icon's best-loved traits to the ultra-hip makeup line. There's also a limited edition Barbie to go with the launch. She's sporting an outfit that every MAC lover would be proud to wear.

Walk This Way

2007-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

Check out Saturday's Detour section of the Winnipeg Free Press for a refresher course on S-E-X.

Cuba: The Highlights

2007-02-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

Mmm Vinertarta

2007-01-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

January in Winnipeg

2007-01-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

This is the view from our office in the Exchange District last week when the morning temperature was -36C. All the pigeons were clustered around the chimneys to keep warm. Steamed squab, anyone?

Ukrainian Christmas Eve

2007-01-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

According to the old-world Julian calendar, today is Christmas. We celebrated Ukrainian Christmas Eve last night. The night starts with a meal of 12 (symbolizing the Apostles) meatless dishes. We don’t quite have 12 dishes but we try to stay as close to tradition as possible.

The first dish is kutia (pictured here). It is a blend of wheat, poppyseed and honey symbolizing fertility and abundance. We follow that with pea soup and garlic toast (pictured here). According to all the literature, the soup should be borscht, but Baba Zolkewich always made pea soup so that’s what we do. Next we move on to pickerel, herring and perogies. The meal ends with stewed fruit.

For the children, the highlight of the night is diving under the table for treats. Before supper, straw is placed under the table to symbolize the manger. We all tuck our toes into the warm straw while we eat. After the dishes are cleared, we hide candies, money and small gifts in the straw, lower the lights, and call the kids in to scramble under the table to collect the bounty. I’m happy to report that bumped heads were kept to a minimum this year.

The Christmas Chase

2006-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like spending Christmas Eve in the country. A stack of straw bales provides the backdrop for a game of Where's the Monster.

Oh Deer!

2006-12-22T13:24:00.001-08:00

My buddy CJ has found a new hunting spot for us. Only 10 more months until opening day

I Made The Martha Show!

2006-12-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

Barb Foreman of Amma's Tearoom in Gimli was live on the telephone on The Martha Stewart Show today. As the ladies were chatting about Barb's fund-raising efforts, my photographs were on screen. Yeah!

Christmas Memories Present

2006-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Christmas Memories Past

2006-12-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

Gateway to Canada

2006-12-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Scrolling through some old photos, I found this shot. This is the HBC Depot at York Factory. At one time, more than 50 buildings stood at this site. What struck me most was the vastness of this land. In the foreground is the Hayes River. In the background is the mighty Nelson River. To the right is the Bay. Imagine the stories this building could tell. It was a busy place for almost 275 years.

Land of the Shrunken Head

2006-12-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Oh the fun you can have with a new laptop and the software that comes with it.

Pile Em High

2006-11-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

The good elves at Amma's Tearoom in Gimli are very, very busy these days. Barb and her staff are baking all 106 cookie recipes from Martha Stewart's Holiday Cookies 2005 magazine. They've been baking since October and had their first offering on Saturday. All 3,400 cookies that they had baked sold in one hour. The baking continues and Martha has been notified. All proceeds will land in the hands of a local charity.

I Can See you

2006-11-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

As if Clark's eyes aren't already big enough.

Third Field

2006-11-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Casting Days Are Over

2006-11-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Red River is frozen. Or almost frozen. There was an open pond just north of the locks and at least a dozen anglers were desperately trying to get in the season's last casts on Sunday. Tune up those ice augers!

How Could You Resist

2006-11-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Taking the picture of these cookies was torture. If was nearly impossible to not snack while shooting. The treats are from High Tea Bakery on Portage Avenue. They also do lovely decorated cookies shaped as snowflakes. Pick some up for the hostess on the way to the party.

I'm Hiding

2006-11-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

"If I stick my head in the bush, maybe no one will notice that I'm a really nice buck." This bad boy was busy rounding up two does on Sunday afternoon and couldn't care less about cars or cameras.

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown

2006-11-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

Looking for the perfect tree? Check out this beauty from Orange Poppy Gifts on River Avenue in Osborne Village. At just over a foot tall, it's a statement in minimalism and a steal at $4.99.

Skull Boy

2006-10-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Free Hemming

2006-10-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

If all else fails when it comes to hemming pants, grab the tape gun. John and I adjust the length of Rayna's pants for a shot in the holiday issue of Shop ’Til You Drop magazine.

I Have A New Column

2006-10-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Check out my new column. It appears every second week in the Detour section of Saturday's Winnipeg Free Press. It's called All Things and each time I focus on a new theme. Watch for a the next one on Oct. 14.

The Smell of Roasting Chicken

2006-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

The cooler weather means it's time to turn on the oven again. Find a couple of farm-raised chickens, some fresh veggies and a good handful of garlic and supper is done.

Riding Mountain Cuisine Tour

2006-09-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Making beautiful pictures is a walk in the park—provided it's fall time and you're in Riding Mountain National Park.

This fence is one of the few in the park. It keeps the resident herd of about 40 bison inside park boundaries. If left to follow their natural instincts, the bison would roam in search of grasses and end up causing big problems for landowners and motorists.

As part of a pre-conference tour for the Cuisine Canada function being held in Winnipeg, a few lucky souls were treated to a four-course meal inside this picnic shelter at Whirlpool Lake in the park. Needless to say, a white tablecloth and bountiful sunflowers can transform even the most humble of surroundings.

Picnic shelters are not wired for electricity so chef assembles the desserts by lantern light.

Exploring Black Island

2006-09-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Black Island sits to the west and north of Hecla Island between the south and north basins of mightly Lake Winnipeg. It's accessible only by boat (or snowshoe, snowmobile, Bombardier, airplane or foot in winter). Black is a huge chunk of land with a robust history as a sacred place for our First Peoples. The shoreline holds several bays with white sand beaches that quickly give way to the towering evergreens that sprout from the Canadian Sheild.

One bay included a beaver dam just slighly inland. The tracks leading in and out of the watering hole were almost too numerous to decifer. In a spot nearly, I saw timber wolf prints as big as my hand and moose tracks as big as my foot.

How big is Lake Winnipeg? If you look on the Manitoba highway map, the distance to travel from our spot on Black Island to Punk Island (just off the north tip of Hecla) is about four millimetres. It took us a full 30 minutes in calm water with the 55 Evinrude at full throttle to reach Punk.

Sunset On Hecla

2006-09-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

I've always been a sucker for a sunset. This is the mainland side of the causeway to Hecla Island. Back in the day, a ferry transported visitors from this dock to the island.

You Are Cut Off

2006-09-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things get out of hand when photo shoots involve too much booze.

Hold Yer Breath

2006-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

This is not some controversial form of swimming lessons. Brad simply did a nose dive while attempting to give Bodhi a wake board ride. The little guy didn't mind too much. He was back up and riding within minutes.

Good Enough To Eat

2006-08-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

Run, don't walk, to your nearest Liquor Mart on November 1 and pick up the 2007 Pairings Calendar. We started production of this mouth-watering job today, shooting at Dandelion Eatery and Casa Grande. Each month features a premium beverage paired with a dish from a fine Winnipeg restaurant. Above: Ekert's Organic Beef from Dandelion Eatery. Photo by Doug Little.

Shop ’Til You Drop

2006-08-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Our latest edition of Shop ’Til You Drop magazine hits the streets Sept. 7 (I've already purchased two of the items we photographed—don't worry, there's more in stock). I've always been a firm believer in the fact that fall is the best time for fashion, footwear, jewellery and home accessories. However, I recently noticed a fashion trend that sent me scurrying to the bathroom to lock myself in. A denim mini paired with black leggings. Ahhh! I was a maniac, maniac and a material girl once and I have no desire to do it again.

Who Discovered the North Pole?

2006-08-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this novel (pretty sure Ian gave it to me, so thank you). In a nutshell, it's about the tumultuous rivalry between Lieutenant Peary and Dr. Cook to get to the North Pole at the beginning of the 20th century. It is also the story of a young man’s quest for his origins, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to the bustling streets of New York, and the remotest regions of the Arctic.

A work of fiction, it's based on real events, namely the discovery of the North Pole. The novel sent me racing to Google to find out who really was the first white man to set foot on the pole (which, apparently doesn't exist on terra firma). Do you know the answer?

Wisconsin Dells: More Than Waterparks

2006-08-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Paul Bunyan’s Northwoods Cook Shanty is not to be missed. There is no menu. You eat what the cooks fix for supper that night. Our meal included fried chicken, pot roast and noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, tossed salad and fresh-baked bread. It comes to the table family style, meaning in bowls and on platters so members of the family can help themselves just like they would around your own table. Need more chicken? The server will be happy to deliver all you can eat. For $12.99 it includes your drink and dessert.

Get nostalgic at the Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theatres. This vintage drive-in has two screens that face one another. Let the boxoffice know which movie you’d like to see and they will direct you to a parking spot. Visit the concession stand for all the traditional goodies and you’ll feel like you just walked off the set of Grease.

Wisconsin Dells in the Waterpark Capital of the World but the attractions don't stop there. A go kart track winds through this Trojan horse at Mount Olympus Park.

Fighting For Fish

2006-08-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

At first these cormorants seemed very friendly. Then they got a little aggressive. The fight was on to see who could catch more fish.

They Don't Make Em Like That Anymore

2006-07-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Line 'Em Up And Haul 'Em In

2006-06-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

Miserable rain on Sunday turned into sunny skies and the boys hauled in enough white bass for a tasty supper.

In Focus

2006-06-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

I was testing to see how still I could hold to get Clark's eyelashes in focus. Eight years old and still a bit of a baby face.

Who Needs Hawaii?

2006-05-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

There's no need for the North Shore when you have the west shore of Lake Winnipeg on a very windy Sunday afternoon. These brave waterlovers took full advantage of the big waves to do some Prairie body surfing. I was happy to see they were completely outfitted in westsuits, booties and personal floation devices.

Blooming

2006-05-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

This morning was sunny and warm, perfect for taking some snaps of spring blooms. I found the lady slipper along the railroad tracks. The lily of the valley grows around the oaks at the cottage.

May Long 2006 at Lake St. George

2006-05-23T15:24:00.001-07:00

When night falls, the sparklers come out, that's if the kids haven't already fallen asleep after a long day of fishing and exploring.

Thanks goodness someone in the Interlake still owns a pair of Macho Man Randy Savage shades so I can see how I look after three days in the bush.

When the fish aren't biting, sometimes the best course of action is a nap in a sunny boat.

But when the fish are biting, it makes little boys very happy. This Northern was not too keen about a boat ride. He swirled around the motor and did a dozen spins before Clark landed him.

Kim gives Jake a few casting lessons. About two decades ago, Merv was standing on this very dock teaching little Kim how to get her hook in the water.

Dad and Kim practice getting skunked on Lake St. Andrews. It looks calm and quiet but the wind she was a howling that day. The preferred spot was on the sunny south side and out of the wind.

Salivating

2006-05-12T10:49:00.001-07:00

Charbroiled pork roll-your-own rice paper rolls. I am so hungry!

Don't Do Crack

2006-05-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

Note to Self: Do not wear lowrider pants on the day you plan to be in the photo studio. While you're hard at work adjusting the model's hemline, your pal the photographer is falling on the floor laughing but only after he's snapped a few for, um, posterity.

Snake Day!

2006-05-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

A Closer Look

2006-04-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a story for Westjet's magazine about the town of Pinawa. If there's one thing you can count on during your visit, it's a close encounter of the whitetail kind. This image is not cropped. I had some lens cleaning to do.

Hop, Skip, Jump

2006-04-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Lake Winnipeg's lakeshore is littered with debris when the ice goes out. Driftwood, tires and Bic lighters wash up on shore. Clark found a bona fide treasure—an all-metal Dinky Super Toy truck complete with its rubber tires.

Fish in Foil

2006-04-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

I learned this foolproof recipe up at Knee Lake Resort (now North Star Resort) last season. It goes in the oven, barbecue or over an open fire. Start with a long sheet of foil. Spread it with butter or margarine. Layer on some fish—any kind will work, even pike that's been in the freezer for eight months. Add salt and pepper. Slather the fillets with your favourite salsa. Top with red, green, orange and yellow peppers, chopped green onions and chopped white onions. Add lots of hot sauce. Omit anything you don't have or don't like. Seal up the foil edges to make a big pouch. If you're doing this in the oven, set it on a cookie sheet for easier handling. Cook it for 25 minutes. The foil pouch will plump up nicely. Let it settle down for five minutes before tearing in. Serve with rice, egg noodles, pasta, mashed potatoes or bannock.

Ribbet

2006-04-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

"Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal."

I can't help but think about that old Warner Brothers cartoon when I look at this shot. This giant leopard frog was in the hands of a curious little girl all day who decided to return him to the creek at sundown. Needless to say, he was bushed and didn't put up much of a fight when a curious little boy recaptured him. But the frog still did some mean croaking before burrowing into the mucky bank to get a rest.

Sun Girl

2006-04-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

I was trying to trick my Nikon D50 by shooting into the sun. The Nikon won, as usual. This is my niece Jada sitting atop a fence on Easter Sunday. I love the way the wind is kicking up her ponytails.

Buns in the Oven

2006-04-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

I baked these this morning. That's an incredible statement in itself. You see, I'm not much of a baker but this recipe is so easy and yields such amazing results that even I can pretend to be an accomplished baker. The secret is frozen dough balls. There are lots of recipes online and they are all slightly different which leads me to believe that this recipe is very forgiving.

1 pkg. frozen dough balls
1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)
Cinnamon
1/4 lb. butter, melted
1/4 c. + 2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 sm. pkg. regular (not instant) vanilla pudding

Grease bundt pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Toss frozen dough balls in cinnamon. Spread frozen rolls around pan. Sprinkle with pudding mix. Pour melted butter over rolls. Sprinkle with brown sugar and more cinnamon. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel. Let rise overnight in cold oven. Take out in the morning. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 20-25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes to cool. Invert onto serving plate.

First English, then Ukrainian

2006-04-14T06:25:00.000-07:00

With Easter just a few days away, my thoughts have turned to the Easters I remember most. Ukrainian Easters. When I was growing up, English Easter in our house was only half of the equation. A few weeks later, and according to the Julian calendar (April 23 this year), we'd celebrate all over again.

Ukrainian Easter was a religious and somewhat more subdued affair. But it happened later in the year which meant the ditches around Poplarfield would be gushing with spring runoff and the pussy willows would be out in full force. That meant after church and after a meal, we were free to roam, explore and of course, get the mother of all booters.

One of my favourite things I wrote is a piece about Ukrainian Easter. Of course I wrote it in pre-electronic days so I have no idea of I could find a hardcopy or not. But I'm going to try.

Flin Flon For Lunch

2006-04-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

I flew in and out of Flin Flon yesterday. Bombed across the lake in a Bombardier and was treated to a lunch of pickerel, wild rice and bannock in the picturesque setting up on the rocks. The tour was part of Travel Manitoba's annual conference. Instead of spending their time in a meeting room, delegates were sent on one of 12 field trips across the province.

Our Bombardier drivers were a couple of character who together have logged more hours on the ice and snow of northern Manitoba than you can imagine. At one point, we were discussing the condition of the ice when our driver said casually, "When they drop through the ice, they actually float for quite a while before going down."

The Klondike may be long gone but people are still staking claims in northern Manitoba. This is what a claim tag looks like. You'll find them littered throughout the north. Apparently there are only about 20 active prospectors in Manitoba.

After lunch our task was to locate staked claims that were located in bluffs across the lake. It involved using snowshoes, compasses and coordinates—lots of math. In the process, one team found some moose poop.

Rotten Ice

2006-04-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Definition: Any piece, body, or area of ice that is in the process of melting or disintegrating. It is characterized by honeycomb structure, weak bonding between crystals, or the presence of meltwater or seawater between grains.

Although Lake Winnipeg is still a solid mass, the top layer is starting to give way along the shoreline. Sections of ice start to break away and the ice crystals make a tinkling sound as they slide into open water.

Land Snakes Alive!

2006-04-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

If there’s one thing that defines the Interlake in spring, it’s the snakes of Narcisse. So put aside those images of tulips pressing through winter’s last layer of snow and bunnies running through greening fields. Get you head around holding a tumbling, squirming ball of snakes as big as a volleyball. This is spring, Narcisse style.

Tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes are expected to emerge from their limestone dens beginning April 23 this year.

TORO!

2006-03-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest issue of Toro magazine for my story on six swanky fishing lodges in Canada.
http://www.toromagazine.ca/0406/getaways/index.html

Locked in Ice

2006-03-26T06:49:00.000-08:00

When it's a balmy 7C outside, it's hard to believe that there's still four feet of ice on Lake Winnipeg. But that won't last for long. Already there are big cracks in the surface, making the drive out to your favourite fishing spot a little freaky but still very safe.

When the ice starts to let go, it cracks and heaves and the boom and echo is like that two freight trains slamming in to one another.

Here, Clark practices his casting using a discarded Labatt bottle as a target. The Lake Winnipeg research vessels sits still in the background, locked in harbour ice.

2006-03-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you very much Mr. McCausland for introducing me to the Running With Tweezers food stylist blog. Now I am compelled to take photos of everything I consume.

Here are a few snaps from lunch at Rembrandt's Bistro on the outskirts of Lockport. It's a chi-chi place with soaring banks of windows, hence the good light for the shots. There's an antiques shop connected to the bistro and the owner of both alternates between a pipe and cigar so there's that aroma in the air all the time.

The Reuben gets dressed up with smoked lamb and goat cheese. I would order that again. If you like your meat sweet, order the pork chop. It comes with a spicy marmalade glaze.

Where Is Charlotte?

2006-03-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

I was deleting files from my cards when I came across this image. It was shot on a staircase on the grounds of a Disney World hotel in Florida. Perhaps this is where Charlotte lives?

Boys At Play

2006-03-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

It's All Downhill

2006-03-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

Winter ain't over yet. You still have time to head to the picturesque Asessippi Winter Park near the Saskatchewan border. It's astounding that downhill skiing opportunities of this calibre exist in our prairie province. The bunny hill was fine; Easy Street had me wondering if I needed oxygen this high up. I can only image what those runs with the black diamond signs on them are like.

Now That's a Burger

2006-03-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

It appears that the burgers in Inglis are as big as the elevators. This signature burger from The Prairie Grill boasts a half pound of ground beef, green peppers, sauteed onions and mushrooms, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, well, you get the picture. The bun measures six inches across.

Prairie Giants

2006-03-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness the folks in Inglis had the foresight to restore and preserve this magnificant row of prairie giants. I'm old enough to remember going to deliver grain to an old wooden elevator. Brought back lots of good memories to see these standing so proudly against a brilliant winter sky.

And The Oscar Goes to Manitoba

2006-03-10T06:37:00.000-08:00

After months of meaning to, I finally went to The Globe to see Capote last night. It's a gripping story to be sure and Phillip Seymour Hoffman did a bang-up job of playing the iconic writer. But for me, the real star of the show was the Manitoba landscapes. My hat goes off to the director of photography who sees what I see in those bare and linear vistas. The movie opens with a low shot of waving grain set against a moody sky. There are several shots of the train moving across the prairie with the sky taking up at least the top two-thirds of the frame. Breathtaking stuff. As a prairie girl I never tire of those scenes in real life. They are beautiful to see on the big screen.

Sip A Glacier

2006-03-02T15:39:00.000-08:00

He's left candyland behind and now he's in waterworld. Larry Finnson of Chris and Larry's Clodhopper's fame is hoping for two-time success in the business world. He's the Canadian distributor of Icelandic Glacial bottled water.

Look for the water with the fabulous packaging on store shelves (namely Wal-Mart) starting next month. The premium product competes with the likes of Evian but sells for a little less.

Oh What A Difference A Week Makes

2006-03-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

They say that if March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb. Well today in Winnipeg it certainly came in like a lion. This is my front street at sundown. One week ago, this was my view. Just beyond those cabanas on the beach is the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Goofy and Laurie

2006-02-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you're familiar with the character on the left but any idea who's taking up the spot on the right? That's Laurie Skreslet, the first Canadian to summit Mount Everest. Laurie was along on the Disney media trip to mark the opening of Expedition Everest, the new roller-coaster type attraction in the Animal Kingdom in Florida. I sat beside Laurie on the ride. He giggled all the way. I screamed.

Laurie is heading back to the big hill in three weeks to accompany the British military.

I Saw Fireworks

2006-02-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

I first saw the fireworks at Disney's Magic Kingdom when I was 16 years old. I wasn't expecting to be wowed by the 2006 version of the show. But I was. I think this is my favourite shot from a week in Florida. The ever-changing light show on the castle makes each shot unique and the night shooting setting on the D50 doesn't hurt either.

Fishing in February

2006-02-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

That's me with Captain Brent during a pit stop on the Shell Key Preserve in a small bay in the Gulf of Mexico, immediately west of Tierra Verde, Florida. It includes a barrier island and several mangrove islands as well as the surrounding seagrass beds and sandflats. Shorebirds and sea turtles, among others, make their nests here.

As you can see, it wasn't a great day. And the fishing wasn't so hot either. A few months ago, the area fell victim to a huge algae bloom that all but wiped out several species and sent the others packing.

Still, we managed to catch a couple of sheepsheads. Captain Brent says you can catch 20 species in these waters including snook, mackerel and redfish.

Orange You Glad They Have Strawberries

2006-02-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

Apparently Florida is more than oranges. Sure they sell them by the truckload for peanuts (5 pounds for 99 cents) but there's much more at the fruit stand.

In Plant City, a smallish community outside Tampa, it's strawberry season. We passed fields of migrant workers picking the berries in preparation for the annual strawberry festival.

I couldn't resist a quart offered up for a measly $2.49. I am a huge fan of Manitoba strawberries but these certainly gave our homegrown berries a run for their money.

The Parkesdale Market seems to be a popular spot. The parking lot was jammed and there was a line up at one end of the open market. Folks went in empty handed and came out balancing huge bowls of strawberry shortcake at $2.50 a piece.

Crabby Clark

2006-02-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

What says Florida more than fresh seafood? Here Clark displays supper at Crabby Bill's—a tourist trap restaurant if ever there was one.

Yes It Was Cold!

2006-02-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I agreed to take part in Festival du Voyageur's Survivor event. Part of the challenge was to sleep in a quinzhee. Here's an expert from my story that ran in the Winnipeg Free Press.

At first the chill was invigorating. The plan was for the three members of my Modern team, part of Festival du Voyageur’s Survivor event, to spend the night in a quinzhee. But as night fell it became clear I had been abandoned. I was the sole survivor, at least on the Modern team.

I checked the accommodations of the Aboriginal team and the teepee was downright cosy. When I walked into the cabin of the Voyageur team, it was practically t-shirt weather as their woodstove glowed red. They were perched on their mattressed bunks, wondering how to cool the place off.

Armed with the testimonials that all quinzhees are toasty warm, I crawled in alone for the night. The floor was layered with woodchips and a bison hide. I spread an extra thick wool blanket on top then unfurled my sleeping bag that promises a good night’s sleep at –15C. Then I set out my thermometer and watched the temperature drop. At 0C I decided to pull another wool blanket over my sleeping bag. At –3C I slipped on my mittens. By –5C I was squirming to put my down parka on over three layers of high tech long underwear then crawl back into my bag. At –8 I pulled my last wool blanket over my head because that fresh air was freezing my nostrils.

I’m not sure when I fell asleep or if I did. I remember checking the temperature one last time and it was –10C. Something was not right. After some investigation the next day, I found that quinzhees are only toasty warm if two things happen—a modest source of heat (perhaps a light bulb) and several other beings to add some much needed body heat to the space. I had neither.

But the game was on and it was breakfast time. Alone, I started a fire in the pit outside the quinzhees. The teams were each given a box of tools and provisions that included flour, lard, baking powder and raisins. As allowed, I had brought a pound and a half of back bacon. Bannock and bacon were on the menu.

With no team members for protection and little hope of survival alone, I was quickly captured by the Aboriginal team and taken to their camp. I didn’t protest much. They had a teepee with a blazing fire. The floor was lined with spruce boughs and the aroma had me dreaming of Christmases past. Plus they already had a pot of bison stew simmering over the fire outside and were searing some bison ribs for s second course. I quickly offered to chop the turnips.

Postcard From Canada

2006-02-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

These were my eventual teammates from the Festival du Voyageur's Survivor event. I was originally part of the Modern team but when none of them showed, I was quickly captured by the Aboriginal team. In the first shot, Steve Greyeyes and Ernest Muswagon are striking the stoic First Nations pose, most suitable for a Canadiana postcard. In the second shot, we see the wisecrackers they are, posing with a tin of tobacco obviously not from 1815.

You Won't Catch Me Up There

2006-02-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

I've often spotted the ice climbing tower from the other side of the river but getting up close was a different story. This thing is terrifying. The climbers are dwarfed by its size and there's this awful scraping/cracking sound with they drive their picks into the ice. I'll keep my feet on horizontal ice, thank you very much.

Welcome To My Igloo

2006-02-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

This will be my home for the weekend. I got talked in to participating in the Festival du Voyageur's Survivor event. The choices for accommodations include a trapper's shack with a woodstove, teepee with an open pit fire or quinzhee with a single lightbulb for a heat. Our adventure begins on Friday night at 9:30 pm when we'll be quarantined on the grounds. Our challenge events take place Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 4 pm. Organizers are offering no clues about what the events might be. We are limited to one personal item apiece. You know I'll have my Buck knife in hand. We are not allowed to accept any outside food so when you come to visit, please don't feed the wildlife (us) no matter how ravenous we look.

Winter in the Whiteshell

2006-02-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

Here are a few snapsnots from a winter weekend in the Whiteshell. The amount of water gushing through the dam at Seven Sisters is awesome. The handrails vibrate with the force. The wacky mirror shot is a safety feature, I presume, for service vehicles merging at this corner. All the other shots are from inside Whiteshell Provincial Park

Chicks With Sticks

2006-01-29T20:12:00.000-08:00

If you can't skate so great and your stick handling is reminiscent of trying to push a watermelon along with a golf club, then sponge hockey is the game for you. As you can see it has all the elements of the more testosterone-fueled game—wicked wipe-outs and a good high-stick slash (see right) every once in a while.

Portage and Main

2006-01-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

Stopped at the light at Portage and Main tonight, it suddenly struck me about how odd and ancient the Bank of Montreal building looks at this corner. I have no idea when it was built but with its relatively new light job and flanked by modern high rises, it almost looks like a set from Back to the Future. Nonetheless, I'm thankful this city sees fit to let the graceful giants stand. They make for nice pictures on snowy winter nights.

Test Driving My New D50

2006-01-24T18:39:00.000-08:00

Night time at St. John's Cathedral. I popped a card into my new D50 and took a walk. So far so good.

Under the Table Manners

2006-01-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

We don't keep livestock in the house nor do we make our children sleep in the straw. This is a scene from Ukrainian Christmas Eve, celebrated Jan. 6. The day is packed with traditions and one of them is to spread straw under the table. This symbolizes the manger where Jesus was born. After a meatless supper, we stock the straw with candies and money, turn out the lights and send the children in to retrieve the loot. Although I can’t find any references on-line for this practice, we’ve been doing it for at least 40 years so it’s become our tradition. There are two tricks to success—don’t sit on any chocolates and don’t crack your head on the table.

Try It, You'll Like It

2006-01-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

As a new year dawns, there's always a lot of talk about goals. At first I thought it was a bunch of hooey. Then I read a few articles about how setting goals and actually writing them down somehow, magically, makes them come true. So I've done it and because I'm not a chicken, I'm going to share them with you. I have to say that the simple act of tapping them out on my laptop and reading them back made them seen just a little closer, a little more real. Here they are.

1. Find a way to give Clark the summer an eight-year-old should have.
2. Earn at least $10,000 through travel writing.
3. Fish 30 days.
4. Say no to every bug that comes along.
5. Visit The North.

I Am Pippi Longstocking

2005-12-22T16:04:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I thought about my days as a nine-year-old. When I opened an early Christmas present today, I couldn't help but feel like the last 31 years hadn't happened.

I had an idol and her name was Pippi Longstocking. Here's what Wikpedia says about her.

Pippi Longstocking is a fictional character in a series of children's books created by author Astrid Lindgren. She is a nine-year-old girl with red braids that stick out sideways. She is very unconventional, assertive, extraordinarily strong and rich. She lives alone with a monkey and a horse in an old house. Her friends Tommy and Annika accompany her on her adventures.
These children live with a complete lack of adult supervision, and they frequently mock and dupe the adults they do encounter; this certainly adds to the appeal these characters hold for their young readers.
A Swedish TV series was created based on the Pippi Longstocking books in the 1970s. Inger Nilsson gave a confident oddball performance that was uncommonly consistent and eccentric for a child actor. The Swedish series was re-edited as 4 poorly-dubbed feature films for US distribution. They became weekend television staples in several cities in America throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Pippi wasn't pretty or popular but in my books, she was the coolest girl to walk the earth. And if she could have adventures in the world, so could I. In the movies, she went around singing this little ditty. I haven't stopped chanting it all day.

I am Pippi Longstocking, how I love my funny name. I am Pippi Longstocking, if you say it fast it's funny! Pippi, Pippi, Pippi Longstocking.

Oh Chocolat

2005-12-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

As if I need another addiction.

I just brewed up some drinking chocolate. This is not the hot chocolate that all of us are used to drinking after a skate at the rink. This is high test. This is exotic. This is indulgence.

Trevis at Black Pearl Coffee tipped me off that he'd have some in stock soon. I was familiar with the product after sampling Starbucks' version, called Chantico, a few months back. I stopped in Tuesday and picked up a bag. Black Pearl's stock is the Soma brand and it's laced with ginger, orange peel, vanilla, chili peppers and a blend of spices. The mixture get brewed up on the stove and whisked until smooth. Serve it like espresso.

It's thick, spicy and unique. Pair it with a few of those Venezuelan choco-covered beans (also at Black Pearl) and you have to wonder who needs illicit drugs when there are so many organic alternatives.

Be Selfish this Holiday Season

2005-12-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season upon us, I thought I'd share the editorial I wrote that appeared in yesterday's issue of Winnipeg Life magazine. (Also check out www.CanadaHelps.org/GiftCards/charity_gift_card.aspx)

I was in search of an answer. Why does it feel good to give? Handing over a pretty package will give you some warm fuzzies but donating your time or cutting a healthy cheque takes you up to a whole new level.

After much research that wasn’t getting me anywhere, I stumbled upon a reference to a book called The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others. It seems Dr. Allan Luks has the answer.

Luks is the former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City. He published his book in 1991 after conducting a study with more than 3,000 volunteers of all ages. His survey asked volunteers how they felt when they did a kind act. After a computerized analysis, he saw a clear cause-and-effect relationship between helping and good health.

“Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health,” he said. “And it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders both serious and minor, psychological and physical.” That’s a good enough reason for me.

Luks’ volunteers confessed to feeling a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act. He called this feeling helper’s high. Apparently the act of giving causes the body to release its natural painkillers, the endorphins. Who knew? Imagine getting a tax receipt and a rush of endorphins.

In some strange way, the act of giving is a selfish one. “I donate because I know there’s always a need,” said an anonymous source. “But more than that, it’s because it makes me realize how fortunate I am. And really, it just makes me feel really, really good inside.”

This issue of Winnipeg Life is packed with fabulous fashion, funky stories and a gift guide that will put the finishing touches on your holiday shopping. Read it, embrace it, then put it aside and be a little selfish. Go get some of that helper’s high.

Happy holidays.

Shel Zolkewich
Editor

The Exclamation Point!

2005-12-12T15:10:00.000-08:00

PUNCTUATION MONDAY

The first rule of using the exclamation point is never use the exclamation point. Let me back up but just a little. We've become immune to the funny little line with the period floating at its end. Every command on a television commercial ends with the EP. Low! Today! 2006! Every second e-mail from a pal contains at least one. "I'll see you at lunch!" Must be a really good lunch. So use it sparingly and only when you really, really mean it.

The rules say use an EP only at the end of a word group or sentence that expresses exceptional feeling or deserves special attention.

Proper use of the EP
"He's dead!"

Of course we'd only use the EP if someone were truly surprised at this situation.

Improper use of the EP
In the fisherman's memory the fish lives on, increasing in weight and length with each passing year, until at last it is big enough to shade a fishing boat!

The sentence is emphatic enough without the EP.

Never end two consecutive sentences with the EP. One has to have more force than the other or the two will simply be washed into mediocrity.