Jill Browne, from home and away

Friday, February 25, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cars and cold don’t go together. 

Took one in yesterday for servicing. It will take an extra day to fix, so I stayed home today. Nowhere I really needed to go.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cold. Have I mentioned that before?

But for cold weather, you can put on more clothes and stay inside. When it’s too hot, you can’t get away as easily. The shopping centers and office buildings have air conditioning, and some people have it in their homes, but not many. I hope it never becomes necessary. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Here are more of the pics I took yesterday while driving around, mainly from the south to downtown and back.

Today’s highlight was breakfast at Pfanntastic Pannekoek Haus, a Dutch pancake house on Crowchild Trail just south of 50th Avenue SW. You can get to it from northbound Crowchild, but if you are southbound, take the 50th Ave exit and head left (east), and work your way south a couple of blocks. Easy.

Mine was bacon, raisins, apple. Suzanne had brown sugar and lemon juice. Our mystery guest had the same as I did. All enjoyed the meal.

This is a Calgary classic and always reliable for a tasty and filling mid-day or even evening meal. The pancakes are giant crepes that lie flat on the plate. You get one, with your choice of 80 topping selections (including some combos). Very tasty. One is a meal.

Yesterday’s driving pics.

Crane images on Zoo overpass. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Pedestrian ramp to reach Bridgeland C-Train station by crossing Memorial Drive. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Where the Calgary General Hospital used to be. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Copper domes on church. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Entering downtown on the 4th Avenue flyover. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Booker's for seafood. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

New condo apartments for sale near the Bow River. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I took these pictures on an average day at the very tail end of rush hour. It was still busy (around 8:30 a.m.) but in Calgary the downtown workday starts at 8 o’clock. We were more into the school run and people like me doing their errands. The pictures are a bit blurry because I took them (a) through the car window and (b) while moving, but not while driving. Someone else was doing that.

School bus morning run. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Lafarge sand and gravel and concrete. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Concrete pipes by Lafarge. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Driving toward downtown on Memorial Drive. The haze is partly from the windshield dirt. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Truck carrying yellow pipes. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, Feburary 22, 2011.

Big trucks through a dirty window. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Red and yellow Max Bell Arena. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, February 22, 2011.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

No kids at school today. Family Day, an Alberta holiday originally, because we needed something to relieve us in February. I see that Ontario has got it now too.

But Peggy the mail lady still had to do her rounds, because federal workers do not have Family Day. They have to enjoy their nearest and dearest on their own time, in this particular instance.

Here are some more pictures of Calgary from my 2011 collection.

Cecil Hotel (the green building). Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Plus 15 near Centre Street. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 1, 2011.

Calgary Chamber of Commerce building. Photo by Jill Browne, January 3, 2011.

Calgary Tower, with new Bow Building on the left. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Workers on Bow Building site, No. 1 of 3. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Workers on Bow Building site, No. 2 of 3. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Bow Building site, No. 3 of 3. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Lounging at home, trying to get some work done, managing to actually do that.

The Heritage Classic outdoor hockey game was on at McMahon Stadium today, but I didn’t pay attention, I’m afraid. Glad to hear Calgary Flames won it!

It wasn’t as cold as yesterday, so I hope the people in the stands were comfortable.

Playing hockey outside is a great idea. I’m so glad the NHL has the outdoor classic.

Some pics from 2011 so far.

In the distance, the copper dome of a church, seen from the 4th Avenue flyover. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Entering downtown on 4th Ave SE. Bow Building on left and Harry Hays on right (brown horizontal stripes). Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Cupola of former James Short School. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Saturday, January 19, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Legally Blonde!

What could be better than seeing this fun musical with my law school buddies, and though two were missing, the other five of us ladies had a lovely time.

I of course embarrassed myself by being the loudest laugher in the room but hmmm I don’t think that’s something to worry about. After all, it was supposed to be a funny show, right? The Irish dancing scene brought me to tears.

A fantastic dinner in an old, beautiful Eaton’s kit house in Ramsey, courtesy of one of the gang. Lots of talk and laughter.

We missed our friends who couldn’t make it and look forward to a get together with all present.

Here are a few more pictures from 2011 so far.

Calgary's new Science Centre under construction. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Heading downtown, eastbound on Memorial just off Deerfoot. Photo by Jill Browne, Calgary, January 3, 2011.

In the distance, the Bow Building being built. Mid-ground, footbridge over the LRT. Photo by Jill Browne, January 3, 2011, Calgary.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Not as exhausted this week, because we took things more slowly. I don’t mean ridiculously so, just a more pleasant pace.

I’ll put in some pics I’ve taken since the beginning of the year.

Christmas tree after Christmas is over. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, January 2, 2011.

Driving south on Deerfoot from the airport. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, January 3, 2011.

View of downtown seen from Deerfoot heading south. Photo by Jill Browne. Calgary, January 3, 2011.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

I know that I am not literally the only person without vast channel selection. I know also that many people choose to have no TV. At many points in my life I have made the same choice.

Now I’m in between worlds, televisually speaking.

At the beginning of 2010, I cancelled our cable TV but kept the machine going on the analogue signal and the rabbit ears on top of the TV, with some tinfoil for an extra boost.

I get about three channels reliable. Sometimes to watch House and Lie to Me, I lie on the bed with my foot touching the end of the tinfoil, for better reception.

I got NetFlix and I like it, but it’s pooey to see how many things are on their list but greyed out with a “not available” message. Do other people get to watch those shows? Or does the whole NetFlix customer base get the bait and switch feeling?

The price is right, I like NetFlix, but why do they show us lists of things we can’t watch?

Anyway, with analogue TV and three channels, I pay attention to the TV listings. Bones, tonight, 10 p.m. Be there or be square.

Cactus blooming after Christmas and before Easter. Photo by Jill Browne, February 14, 2011, Calgary.

The shadow of a hawthorn tree, by Jill Browne. Calgary, February 13, 2011.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Home: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

That picture of the shadow of the hawthorn tree is from Sunday. Today I noticed the shadow again, but since we’ve had light fluffy snow all day, the branches’ shadows look twice as thick.

Wednesday is Breakfast With Suzanne Day!

Today: Cora’s in MacKenzie Town. Or maybe that was just MacKenzie. And maybe it’s McKenzie. Anyway, if you live in Calgary, you know what Mac or McKenzie is. The restaurant isn’t obvious but it’s in the same little corner on 130th just east of Deerfoot as The Keg.

The food today: Bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, blueberry crepes and a latte. Beans as an extra (for the protein, dear).

What we found out when it arrived is there was also toast and potatoes.

Enough food for a day, in other words.

Nice food. Atmosphere better than Ricky’s, not as relaxing as Over Easy, my current #1 pick. I think I prefer Nellie’s in the Loop to Cora’s for the #2 spot, but only by a whisker, and it’s only if we get the right table. For the food, Cora’s, for the atmosphere, Nellie’s, so take your pick.

We were at about plus 12 on the weekend. Minus 17 today with snow.

And unfortunately when I went for a grit refill, the box was empty. Oh no! May have to buy cat litter if we don’t get grit, for our sidewalk.