Lapis & Llamas

So Valentines Day was lovely. Thank you to my "Love" for the cute gifts of chocolate and sweet heart socks.  We exchanged homemade cards and dined on chocolate/ginger cake. Yummy.  I made my boyfriend a card with rats and a cat. I think it turned out cute. For the cake I used 2 different cake mixes (chocolate & ginger). I prepared them just like the box said to, then I took half of each mix put then in separate bowls and mixed vanilla pudding mix plus 1 cup of almond milk. Then layered all four mixes in a greased bunt pan.  The cake turned out so moist & chewy. I melted icing in the microwave and poured on the warm cake.  Add pretty sprinkles and done. It was such a nice, despite getting to filling done in the morning.  That was kind of gross.

Making tags with Cory & Tamara. Oh so much fun.

It definitely spring around here.  While at work on Saturday( at the garden center) I was talking to gentleman who, with his wife operate a website in Breslau. Breslau is area on the out skirt of Kitchener.  There they have a 24hour live camera feed of an Osprey family. Two different camera angle capturing all the action. Here is one of them. Live TV : Ustream Zeus and Hara are back in town to rebuild their nest and start there family.  It's actually pretty cool, the only action right now is them building there nest.  No babies yet, can wait to see the little ones. Check it out at Birds of Breslau

A couple of weekends ago we were in Toronto and the convention center we were at was having the "Canada Blooms" show.  This place was full of beautiful flower arrangements and people walking about with their arms full of bags with plants in them.  There was one particular plant that caught my eye, it was lovely and the color was not one I have seen before.  It was a blue orchid called the Mystic Blue Orchid.  It is new variety that is not dyed by adding blue coloring to the water but a hybrid .   Mystic Blue Orchid 3 An older gentleman was carrying one so I asked if I could take a couple of pictures.  He told me that he had bought for $30.00.  Wow that's so cheap! At the front entrance to the show they had a giant cake on display, yummy!  It was decorated with soft pink Magnolias made out of fondant. So pretty!! Now that I am back at work, I just can't wait for spring to start!!  We are slowly getting in our stock, today we received some tre...

So one of the many cool things about these conventions is meeting new people.  And of course seeing your idols in the flesh.  This year the only one I was really interested in meeting and maybe paid to get an autograph was from Billy Dee Williams.  I was satisfied with just taking a picture of him.   We ended up getting an autograph  from Arron Douglas, he played  "Chief" in BSG.  I was so happy to meet and talk to him.  What a cool guy, so funny!  His friend next to him at the same booth was Toby Proctor.  He is a voice and film actor.  He did the voice of "Tuxedo Mask" from the Sailor Moon cartoons. I really enjoyed talking to these guys because they let you know what cool things are coming up, like the new series of Sailor Moon graphic novels that will be release in May 2011.  How cool is that! And of course another one of my favorites is my friend Sam Tweedle.  We always see him at the Fan Expos and Comic Con...

The People! I love looking at all the people who come to these things.  This event was much smaller than the Fan Expo in the summer time, but you get to see some die hard fans out there.  It cool to see people get all dressed up in their favorite character, and the effort they put into their costume.  That takes commitment to make your outfit, and then wear for the whole day(over 8 hours). Here are a couple of people who caught my eye. Senior Lando I thought this guy did good with his outfit.  I was very impressed. Streefight chic & Supergirl Ghost Buster & Darth Vader Good job to everyone!!

We had lots of fun at Comic Con weekend.  There is so much to see, lots of artist, stars, information tables & vendors.  My personal favorites are seeing the artist, and picking up a print of their work.  I was impress with a few and saw a couple that I've been a fan of for a long time. Like Lamin Martin , his work is so beautiful.  Every year we try to pick up his latest collection. "Fields" - Lamin Martin JM Ken Niimura is a new artist to me.  He had some great illustration for sale and a collection of his work in graphic novel form.  He is from Japan/Spain and now lives in Montreal. He has a blog were he uploads a chapter of his comic every Monday called "514H". http://514h.blogspot.com/ Check it out! http://niimurablog.blogspot.com/2011/03/go-japan-animo-japon.html This was the print he was selling at the convention.  All the profits were going to support Japan Red Cross Society.  Agnes Garbowska is another artist that I r...