Today we took advantage of the not-raining weather and did our first walk from my book of walks. We walked from Spofforth Castle down through the village of Sicklinghall and back. Total walking distance: 4.6 miles.

Spofforth Castle

Sarah made a friend

We should have worn our wellies

Photo Album

What kind of shoes do you use for your work out ……fitness mag polled 67 women to see what they use when walking,  running or hiking and this is what they found.

Winner: Best Neutral-Cushioned Running Shoes

Brooks Ghost 2

These shoes have extra cushioning where it counts — the forefoot — thanks to tiny fluid packs in the padding for a bouncy push off and a safe landing, plus they’re contoured to cradle your midfoot.

“Heaven for women with high arches!” says one tester who wore her pair pounding the pavement in Central Park. “They have the ideal amount of support without being too cushioned or clunky.”
Runner-Up: Best Neutral-Cushioned Running Shoes

Nike Zoom Vomero+ 4

This uber-cushiony shoe melds perfectly to your foot with a snug, supportive heel, an adjustable arch strap, and a stretchy mesh panel that leaves extra room for your toes — even those with bunions.

“So pillowlike and durable — I’m obsessed! They made me look forward to my runs,” says a tester whose Vomeros inspired her to add extra miles and uphill sprints to her workouts.

Winner: Best Mild Stability Running Shoes
New Balance 749

Its lacing design locks your arch in place, a stiff midsole keeps your foot secure, and heel-to-toe cushioning buffers joints on impact. We also love the shoe’s airy mesh material.

“These fit beautifully,” raved one tester, who ran off workday stress wearing her kicks. “They were never uncomfortable.

Runner-Up: Best Mild Stability Running Shoes
Asics GT-2140

Don’t let its superlight weight fool you: This breathable sneaker packs in just-right arch support plus a durable midsole, which reduces jolts to your joints.

“Fits my foot like a glove,” says one weekend warrior who clocked in many miles around the Hamptons. “These are easy to run in, comfortable and stable

This Santa Barbara beach is one of the few beaches that actually allows unleashed dogs. I don’t even have a dog, but I love them and it is really fun to watch how much the dogs enjoy this experience. They just have a ball running all over the place and romping with other dogs, charging in and out of the water. It’s like the dogs have gone to heaven and can’t believe how free they are. And their owners really enjoy throwing them balls and sticks. It’s just a wonderful scene to watch and experience. … more

More photos of Hendrys beach

What are Community Dog Walks?

• Casual Walks (some walks are on leash and some are off leash)

• Meet Other Dog Lovers and Have Fun

• Optional: Celebrate the Weekly Themes (each week there will be a theme)

What to Bring on the Walks:

• You
• Your Dog
• Friends
• Other Dog Lovers
• Soft dog treats (pea to a dime in size; bring a small Ziploc bag full)
• Flat collar. No choker or prong collars please.
• 4-6 cloth/leather leash. No flexi-leashes please.
• Treat bags (attach to your pants) and clickers are recommended. *
• Children 12 years and older are invited if they are patient and listen well.
• Poop bags
• Water for you and your dog
• Dress warmly

* *Note: Friendly Dogs Only Please. If your dog has aggression or fear issues please contact Four Legged Scholars for training.

Registration (RSVP)

Dates and Locations

1.) Sat. Jan 2nd 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Place: City Creek Canyon, 300 Canyon Road, Salt Lake City

Meet on the sidewalk at the first gate that leads in Memory Grove (near the parked cars on the street) If you get lost call Johanna 801-463-1668

Theme: “New Year’s Resolution Walk for Your Dog”

*Off Leash Walk

2.) Sat. Jan 9th 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Place: Tanner Park, 2760 South 2700 East, Salt Lake City, 84109

Meet on the grass in front of the parking lot (park in parking lot with the Tanner Park Sign).  If you get lost call Johanna 801-463-1668

Theme: “Doggie Meet and Greet Walk”

*Off Leash Walk

3.) Mon Jan 18th from 4:00-6:00 PM

Place: Liberty Park, 900 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, 84105

Meet on the grass at the entrance to Liberty Park from 900 South.  Call Johanna if you get lost 801-463-1668.

Theme: “Breed Equality Honoring Martin Luther King Day”

*On Only Leash Walk

4.) Mon. Jan 25th 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Place: Sugarhouse Park, 1300 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City 84108

Meet at the south side of the pond. Call Johanna if you get lost 801-463-1668.

Theme: “Bring a Friend Walk”

*On Only Leash Walk

Happy Training!

Johanna Teresi, Professional Owner and Trainer of Four Legged Scholars LLC

Everyone will tell you that the Sydney Opera House is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, and even though it didn’t make the top ten posted on Flickr, I can totally understand this particular Aussie boast. Once you see it, you just can’t stop taking pictures of it. It’s actually made up of several buildings and as you walk around it, together they produce an everchanging pattern with each step you take. The architecture is as stunning and dramatic as I always thought it would be, but  a wee surprise – even though the white roofs look smooth from a distance, up close you can see that they are actually covered with a mix of glossy and matte cream-coloured tiles. 

That gave me a little secret thrill of discovery even though millions of people have visited before me. I remember when I saw the Eiffel Tower and it was so familiar and also kinda like every picture I had ever seen of it. I mean, we’ve all seen hundreds of pictures of certain things and places but yet we still travel to see them for ourselves, to discover them for ourselves. And it’s magical when there is actually still something left to discover, something that we didn’t know before despite our fine educations and the existence of Google and Wikipedia. I know they’re just tiles, but trust me, it was magical.

I did get lots of face time with the Opera House as I ended up visiting the area in and around Sydney Harbour three times. The first Saturday I was there  (after the trip to Featherdale), me, Tammy and the Pennster took the ferry over to Manly on the Northern Beaches as the sun set. It was about a 30 minute ride over and since I was a kid who grew up spending every Sunday on her dad’s boat, I am always happy to get on the water. I’m thinking I might like to learn to sail, actually. We’ll see.

Then I did two Sydney city walks – with the first one, I started the day by having breakfast in Maroubra with my old high school friend from Trinidad, Ingrid Wilson. She moved here years ago from London, and neither of us could remember when we’d last seen each other. So after compressing 10 years of personal history into an eggs-on-Turkish-toast-and-a-long-black minute, she dropped me downtown near Circular Quay, which is the ferry dock on the harbour. I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art and saw the most amazing retrospective show of work by Fiona Foley, walked through The Rocks (the old colonial district), part of the way on the Harbour Bridge (saw bridge climbers) and then round through Darling Harbour.

The second walk saw me starting back near Circular Quay, but this time, walking the other way, up close to the Opera House, through the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and into the CBD. Australian cities don’t seem to use the term “downtown” or even “high street” which is what I would expect since they still feel so British to me. The Royal Botanic Gardens are right there, in the middle of the city, next to the central business district, and it made me once again lament the absence of a huge green space in downtown Toronto. All large central city parks are the same – filled with every type of city resident, all rubbing up against each other in their leisure moments. I love that.

But the Royal Botanic Gardens are even more amazing because they host colonies of flying foxes (my new animal  fascination). There are thousands of them living in several trees in the middle of the park, constantly rustling and flying about. Their presence is killing trees and the goverment wants to move them. There were signs posted in several places asking for resident feedback about the decision to use noisemakers to encourage them to reestablish their  colonies elsewhere. Maybe they should have tried that with the camel cull plans in Docker River.

London has Selfridges and Sydney has David Jones, so after a quick browse there, I caught a bus to Bondi Beach and did the classic Bondi (bond-eye) to Coogee (cudgie) Coastal Walk. This walk seems to be as popular with locals as it is with tourists. Bondi is everything you would want in an Australian beach and I felt like an extra in an Australian TV series. It just has that sense of drama about it. And of course, it’s the perfect location for a beach shoot.

The coastal walk starts near Bondi Iceberg’s club, and takes you past several beaches and bays. People were out on dates or walking their dogs or just heading one bay over for another swim. If this is not part of the Department of Immigration’s recruitment strategy, then it really should be. You got me, Bondi, you got me good.

The weather has turned quite chilly — but also clear-skied. We’re getting 20’s at night and sunny afternoons in the 40’s.

Our first city walk was along the “Alameda ridge” … a rocky elevation in the wake of Rocky Butte during the Missoula floods. It was rife with stair cases and glorious (and sometimes historic) older homes.

Having just watched the documentary A Man Named Pearl, I noticed the topiary.

We came across poetry kiosks, Beverly Cleary’s neighborhood and these lovely decorative sidewalks.

One resident invited us into their backyard to see there spectacular Koi pond. The yard was on a steep hillside. They just built a deck and filled the difference with water!

You can see more pictures of this and other walks in this slideshow.

I’ve been busy lately finishing up the Master Gardener program, taking the QuickBooks ProAdvisor exams and getting ready to leave for a 2 week stint of traveling with my sister in her van in California.

(photo © kiwidutch)

We have stopped at the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick on our way back to Maine.

The kids are having a wonderful time on the beach, looking at the rock formations, weird pebbles, small rocks piled up artfully,  crabs and a multitude of thing in and around the waters edge.

We all take a heap of photos, and generally get inspired by our surroundings.

The weather is lovely and we are all loving the walking.   Eventually my asthma gets the better of me and  I get a bit wheezy  after walking a bit further than I intended  and Mr. Four’s little legs are starting to suffer from weariness so it’s nice to see that there is a trolley at  the end of the loop walk where the two of us can catch a lift back.

We leave the fitter members of our party to do the full loop, Mr Four and I take the motorized way back to the information centre, where we amuse ourselves in the outdoor playground until the others catch up.

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © elmotoo)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

This is an excellent place to have visited… everyone is very pleased that we stopped here.

Slow shopping isn’t just organic, it’s good for you.

It’s a lot better than heading to the mall, anyway. Holiday highway traffic and box store crowds are hard on your health. Take a look at Black Friday, with its long tradition of Cabbage Patch Kid stampedes and Tickle Me Elmo crazes. This year shoppers didn’t hit stores in their usual rabid fashion, though. Black Friday sales rose only 0.5 percent higher in 2009, even as Americans spent $10.66 billion the day after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday brought up online purchases by 14% from 2008, indicating people stayed indoors after turkey day, pointing-and-clicking.

Let Oakland suggest a more festive alternative. Whether you wore black or plaid last Friday, this week bring out the green; find holiday gifts made and sold in Oakland. You’ll get out, stretch your legs (earning you an egg nogg) and see the streets decked out in holiday decor. Crisp air and sparkling lights beckon more brightly than the glow of a computer screen.

In a time of year when instances of road ragers and QVC sales increase, shopping locally will lead you to the perfect gift in little time. And it will help keep your neighbors in business. Here are some spots to check out…

• This Weekend
• Next Weekend
• Out-of-town & Ongoing

This Weekend:

Holidayland Reception
Blank Space and Compound galleries continue their Paul Bunyan-themed artist sale, featuring the artwork of over 100 local artists, designers and craftspeople. In case you missed the sale launch last week, stop by for Oakland Art Murmur this Friday and take your picture with Paul’s ox Babe; your $5 mug shot goes to support Oakland high schools. Also in store for First Friday are tamales by Tina Tamale of La Borinquena. Sip on Mexican Hot Chocolate, munch on a green bean tamale and peruse the fine art for sale. Emily Sevier creates ornaments to wear on site.
Reception: Fri., Dec. 4, 6 p.m.–10 p.m., Sale through Dec. 20, Blankspace Gallery, 6608 San Pablo Ave., 510-547-6608, blankspacegallery.org.

CCA Holiday Fair
Students and alumni of the California College of the Arts, will turn the campus into an arts bazaar Saturday morning. Have your pick of original paintings, jewelry, textiles, paper media and more. As you browse, enjoy complimentary jazz and treats.
Sat., Dec. 5, 11 a.m.–2:40 p.m., California College of the Arts 5212 Broadway, glee@cca.edu, cca.edu.

Piedmont Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Stroll
Merchants along one of the city’s oldest business districts show some holiday flair for the shopping season. L’Amyx sells its quality teas (and accoutrements) at a 10–25 percent discount, and feature musician Michael Grandi plays jazz guitar and Cascada de Flores some Cuban folk tunes from 6 p.m.–10 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony (one of three scheduled in Oakland this week) begins the festivities, near the clock tower towering over the Mexican-American diner, J’s Hamburger & Such.
Sat., Dec. 5, 5 p.m. to closing, 41st St. and Piedmont Avenue, piedmontavenuemerchants.org.

Annual Pottery and Craft Sale
Studio One Art Center offers the best of both worlds during the giving season: gifts and a good cause. Purchase any art piece and all the proceeds go to fund Oakland’s youth programming.
Sun., Dec. 6, 12 p.m.–4 p.m., 365 45th St., 510-597-5027, oaklandnet.com/parks.

Fourth Annual Holiday Reception & ArtWalk
Back in the days when corporate plants dominated the landscape, the factory workers used to jangle their pay in-pocket, earning the neighborhood the name “Jingletown.” These days the arts drive the industry here instead of Ford Motor Company, and the products are more climate-friendly. Don’t miss photographer Jan Watten’s portraits, Sarah Swell’s metal-wrought jewelry or the Institute of Mosaic Art, whose gorgeous tile murals tag the warehouses on Chapman Street. Download an ArtWalk map here.
Reception: Fri., Dec. 4, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.; Gallery 4:20, 420 Peterson St.; ArtWalk: Dec. 5–6, 12–13, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., when you’ve reached the intersection of Peterson and Ford streets, you’re in the epicenter of ArtWalk, jingletown.org.

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Next Weekend:

Holiday Buy Night
Pro-local Oakland Unwrapped and Oakland Grown are just two of the merchant organizations sponsoring this “Mall-ternative” to box store shopping. Products at this evening fair have more variety than a box of See’s candy, with everything from candles to kayaks for sale. Linden Street Brewery keeps customers warm with the launch of its Bleeding Heart Lager, a name that characterizes the most die-hard of Oaklanders.
Dec. 10–11, 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Jack London Market, 55 Harrison St., oaklandunwrapped.org.

Holiday Gifty Art Sale
The Crucible, largely responsible for the upsurge in the Oakland’s art scene, hosts more than 70 Bay Area artisans for this annual gift fair. Each booth standing on their 56,000 square foot space holds new surprises without the high retail prices. Also, sale-goers see demonstrations of what makes the Crucible tick year-round; glass blowing, metal casting and blacksmithing demonstrations wow crowds (11 a.m.–3 p.m.), between live performances and Santa’s appearance (1 p.m.).
Dec. 12–13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 1260 7th St., thecrucible.org.

Winter Arts Fair
Join Mercury 20 gallery to select artfully rendered pottery, mixed media, tote bags, jewelry and more. One of the several artists to participate is Chela Fielding, who brings her mixed media to the sale. One of her installation pieces, the charming and stark “Memory Drawers,” was pictured in a book called “Memory Boxes” by Anna Corbin. The hidden objects give the work a nostalgic feel, like a well-loved advent calendar. No chocolate Santa Clauses here, though. Cheer and refreshments however will be served.
11 a.m.–5 p.m., 25 Grand Ave., 510-701-4620, mercurytwenty.com.

Second Annual Temescal Holiday Skate & Stroll
The outdoor ice skating rink takes center stage at this neighborhood fair, with sales proceeds benefiting Good Cents for Oakland and the Emerson School. Once you’ve reprised “The Nutcracker” on ice, peek into the charming stores in the Temescal. All weekend long, hear carolers and dunk candy canes in hot chocolate. On Sunday, artist Mark Brest van Kempen unveils his city-sponsored art series—“Views of the Greenbelt”—sculptures that reflect the flora and fauna of the Rockridge-Temescal neighborhoods.
Dec. 12–13, 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m., Telegraph Avenue and 49th Street, temescaldistrict.org.

Local Love
Manifesto Bicycles is just one of the retailers spicing up 40th Street for holiday consumption. On Saturday it fetes 40th Street with the Local Love collective, a band of block merchants, including the Rowan Morrison Gallery, 1-2-3-4 Go! Records and the city’s premier mag shop: Issues.
Dec. 12, 6 p.m.–9 p.m., 40th Street and Broadway, 510-595-1155, wearemanifesto.com.

Fourth Annual Holiday Reception & ArtWalk
Back in the days when corporate plants dominated the landscape, the factory workers used to jangle their pay in-pocket, earning the neighborhood the name “Jingletown.” These days the arts drive the industry here instead of Ford Motor Company, and the products are more climate-friendly. Don’t miss photographer Jan Watten’s portraits, Sarah Swell’s metal-wrought jewelry or the Institute of Mosaic Art, whose gorgeous tile murals tag the warehouses on Chapman Street. Download an ArtWalk map here.
ArtWalk: Dec. 5–6, 12–13, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., when you’ve reached the intersection of Peterson and Ford streets, you’re in the epicenter of ArtWalk, jingletown.org.

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Out-of-town & Ongoing:

Renegade Craft Fair
Oaklandish represents The O in SF with its line of pop-historical wear. This homegrown outfit makes the best threads for those tapped into Oakland’s cultural underbelly. And Oaklandish is just one of hundreds more Bay Area vendors setting up shop at Fort Mason, which hosted the wildly successful Slow Food Festival two summers ago. Renegade’s combination of small businesses and big markets provide ample tasting of the region’s indie art.
Dec. 19–20, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Fort Mason Center, Herbst Pavilion, San Francisco renegadecraft.com.

Berkeley Holiday Artisans Open Studios
This recurring gallery crawl has an Oakland Art Murmur feel, and this winter it comes in holiday dressing. A self-guided tour leads you through every type studio shop and material imaginable, from leather to glass to semi-precious stones.
Dec. 5–6, 12–13, 19–20, Berkeley, 510-845-2612, berkeleyartisans.com.

Holiday Warehouse Sale
Fair trade goods are in abundance at this warehouse sale. It’s hosted by the World of Good, an organization and think-tank that works to improve living conditions for women living on less than $2 a day. World of Good helps millions of women and adolescent girls in the developing world. You can help by purchasing a gift at the sale; items are as little as $5 and discounts as great at 90%.
Dec. 5–6, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., 6315 Doyle St., Emeryville, worldofgood.org.

Oakland Artisan Marketplace
For those who miss this year’s slow shopping events, swing by this marketplace year-round. Each weekend Oakland artisans open up their folding tables and display their wares. More often than not, you’ll find Paula Chan among the vendors; her line includes handcrafted jewelry and frame-worthy cards and she’s always working on something new.
Fri., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Frank Ogawa Plaza; Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at Jack London Square; Sun., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Jack London Square, oaklandculturalarts.org.

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For those who want to stay fit but low on motivation, a personal trainer is often the best option. However, the human version may not be the most effective. A new study has shown that having a dog can successfully fill that requirement.

A survey of 5,000 Britons, conducted by pet healthcare company Bob Martin, showed that dog owners get more exercise walking their pet than people who go to gyms.

Two dog walks a day each lasting 24 minutes and three longer walks a week each lasting 30 minutes give pet owners seven hours’ exercise a week, reports the Daily Express.

Those without a dog spend an average of just one hour and 20 minutes a week exercising by going to the gym or walking or jogging. And 47 per cent of non-pet owners admit they do no exercise.

The survey revealed that 86 per cent of dog owners enjoy walking. On the other hand, only 16 per cent of gym users actively enjoy it, with almost 70 per cent seeing gym exercise as a chore.

(photo © kiwidutch)

Today we start heading  back to Maine. We want  visit the Hopewell Rocks the way as we have heard that the walks  are lovely and rock formations are well worth seeing.  Some of the rocks are called ” flower pots”,… Flower pots? Humm, sounds interesting … we pack everything into the van and set out…

The flowerpot  rocks we want to see are situated near the very top of the Bay of Fundy, where  the tides there are amongst the biggest in the world.

Imagine 100 billion tons of water moving in and out of a bay twice every 25 hours. Powered by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.  The gravitational pull of the sun during the new and full moon phases is stronger then usual and and results in higher than normal or ‘Spring: tides.

When the moon is at right angles to the line between the earth and the sun, the gravitational pull is weaker, resulting in lower then normal or “neap” tides.

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

Why does the tide come in so high? Because the Bay of Fundy is funnel-shaped, wide and deep at one end and shallow at te other, tides are pushed increasingly higher as they move up the bay. By the time they reach “ the rocks” the tides are over four stories high.

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

Although the flowerpot rocks come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, they have all been formed over millions of years by the dynamic movements of the earth and erosion from glaciers, tides, snow, ice and winds.

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

The story of the rocks began approximately 300 million years ago when fast-flowing streams deposited thick layers of and and gravel at Hopewell Cape from the nearby Caledonia Mountains.

(photo © kiwidutch)

Over time the sand and gravel compacted into layers of conglomerate rock and sandstone. Forces within the earth thrust and titled the rock layers, creating large, vertical and horizontal fractures. From this point of the flowerpots began to evolve into their unique shapes.

(photo © kiwidutch)

How long will they stand? As the upper surfaces of the flowerpots become weakened in the spring due to moisture, pieces slide down the cliffs. Larger flowerpot rocks may stand for thousands of years, other hundreds, depending on how much they become unbalanced though erosion.

Geologists say there is enough conglomerate rock to make these amazing pillars for the next 100,000 years!

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

(photo © kiwidutch)

The midges attack us in the forest, but the beach walk is lovely and we have fun looking at odd looking rocks, piles of pebbles and puddles in the rocky  muddy flats… we like Hopewell Rocks!

(photo © elmotoo)

(photo © kiwidutch)

A friend sent me this video clip this  week I guess she saw my post on the three day and wanted to share this clip with us….This is so cool I would love to work at a place like this!!!!!!! Have a blessed and don’t forget to check your boobies on a regular basis!

NY Daily News: Faced with a hopelessly deadlocked jury, a federal judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in John A. (Junior) Gotti’s fourth racketeering trial.

The jury, in its 11th fruitless day of deliberations, sent out its second note in three days announcing it was at a stalemate on all three charges against the now-Teflon Son.

Judge Kevin Castel then declared a mistrial in the 11-week old case, yet another stinging defeat for the government in its relentless pursuit of the second-generation mob boss.

Gotti inhaled deeply, his face flushed, and his family applauded as the decision was announced. Defense lawyer Charles Carnesi put his hand on Gotti’s back.

Gotti was expected to walk out of court following a bail hearing – his first taste of freedom since August 2008,
when he was arrested on the latest indictment.

The former Gambino boss faced life in prison if convicted – and could still face a fifth trial.
“Damn it, let it go,” said his sister, Victoria, as the family celebrated its latest courtroom triumph. “It’s the
same thing over and over and over again.

“We’re no organized crime family. We’re just a family.”

The family was planning a belated Thanksgiving celebration for Gotti, his wife and their six kids, said his brother-in-law, Louis Albano.

The panel announced it was hung after returning from a five-day Thanksgiving weekend vacation.

It marked the fourth failed prosecution of Gotti in five years, all ending with hung juries and mistrials.

This jury deliberated longer than the first three, but ultimately reached the same conclusion.

The mistrial boosted Junior Gotti – who spent six years in prison on an earlier conviction – past his dad in
courtroom successes.

John (Dapper Don) Gotti beat three cases before he was convicted and jailed for life on murder and racketeering charges.

The one-time Gambino family boss was charged with racketeering and a pair of drug murders.

The divided jury sent out its first deadlock note Nov. 19, prompting the judge to give them a three-day weekend.
They returned Nov. 23, but found itself split again a day later.

Castel read the jury an “Allen charge,” a last-ditch legal effort to urge a jury verdict before a mistrial.

Gotti, 45, used the same defense that worked in three prior cases: He quit the mob in 1999. The retirement defense split the three prior panels, and the fourth time proved a charm, too.

Gotti’s fourth racketeering trial in five years began Sept. 21, with the anonymous jurors listening to a pair of familiar refrains.

Prosecutors described him as a ruthless mob boss responsible for murders, mayhem and drug dealing.

The defense, as it did successfully three previous times, insisted Gotti retired from “The Life” a decade ago.

Emotions ran high through the trial, which made as much news through courtroom theatrics as testimony. There were angry outbursts by Gotti and his mother, along with ugly backbiting among the jurors.

Junior exploded at his former buddy John Alite, a drug dealer turned mob informer who spent more than a week testifying against Gotti.

“You got something to say to me?” the star government witness barked at Gotti as he left the witness stand last month.

“You fag!” Gotti shouted back. “Did I kill little girls? You’re a punk. You’re a dog. You’re a dog. You always were a dog your whole life, you punk dog.”

Alite described his former best man as hot-tempered, violent and responsible for eight murders – including one where he gutted the victim with a knife inside a Queens bar.

He also infuriated the Gottis by repeating his claim of a romance with Junior’s sister Victoria, claiming she turned to him after beatings inflicted by her ex-husband.

As the defense wrapped up its case, mob matriarch Victoria Gotti unleashed a vulgar tirade at Federal Judge Kevin
Castel over his decision to cut loose a pair of feuding jurors.

One of the two, Juror 7, was widely seen as favoring the defense.

“F—– animals!” the seething mother screamed. ” … “The f—— gangsters! You son of a bitches! Put your own sons in there. You bastards!”

Gotti’s mother was not in court Tuesday.

The jury’s infighting – including an anonymous letter of complaint sent by one juror to the judge – became a recurring theme during the trial.

Castel, trying to calm the divided panel, at one point offered the jury a sweet treat: A plastic jar filled with 105 individually-wrapped pieces of strawberry licorice.

Heart shaped meringues for Valentine's Day

Set the scene as Alexander McCall Smith’s character Hugh does by packing a little picnic hamper and catching a train to Scotland – but in your case, head for Edinburgh Waverley Station. It’s only a short stroll from there to your romantic weekend hideaway.

Surprise your loved one by nipping out to the Manna House for breakfast supplies – they have delicious cakes and pastries to tempt you – or start your day with a stroll on the romantic Royal Mile – choosing to stop at one of the lovely cafes which abound there to plan your day.

Remember, it’s February, and it’s Scotland, so wrap up warm and find some magical indoor activities to relax and entertain. A short walk to Holyrood Palace to hear tales of Mary Queen of Scots, or The Queen’s Gallery for their current exhibition would be lovely ways to spend a morning. Or, heading towards The Mound you might be drawn in to see what is on show at the Fruitmarket Gallery before a visit to The National Gallery Complex for the Paul Sandby Exhibition or their “Loves Me, Loves Me Not” tour. The Royal Scottish Academy is linked through the underground entrance way to The National Gallery of Scotland, so if it suits your schedule, then lunch at The Scottish Cafe between the two galleries would allow you to recharge and think about somewhere to head for the afternoon. If it’s too cold for Edinburgh Castle, then the Camera Obscura will provide a different view of Edinburgh and some fun reasons to shriek and cuddle together (see the scary holograms!).

And if Upper West Side Soweto Music is your thing…can you believe that Vampire Weekend are playing at the Cameo on 14 February – check here for tickets.

If all the romance of Edinburgh is working and you’re ready to look for an engagement ring, then Rose Street jewellery shopping might be on the cards? John Whyte was the place where we found a ring (oh, so many moons ago!) – our marriage is still going strong after all these years, and so is the shop where we found our ring.

And if you’re already prepared with the ring for that someone special in your life, then a stroll in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden might just provide the perfect spot to ‘pop the question’.

No Valentine’s Weekend break in Edinburgh would be complete without a romantic dinner for two somewhere special, and if you book a stay at Craigwell Cottage, then we’d be happy to recommend restaurants we’ve enjoyed, or take a look at Edinburgh Spotlight where the reviews are always fresh and enticing.

Is this enough to tempt you to whisk your loved one to Edinburgh for Valentine’s Weekend? Or do you have other suggestions for activities and ‘must sees’ in Edinburgh for a weekend – we’d love to hear from you.

Tuesday December 29^th 2009

Our Festive Walk is, as usual, wedged between Christmas Day and New Years Day. An opportunity to get some fresh air and light exercise. The walk is very close to home just over the Suffolk border. Park your car at Brome Grange at about 9.45am and then go into the Hotel and choose your meal from the menu so that we can be ready to begin our walk at 10.00am.

We leave from the car park and take a field edge to a country lane. Grove Lane brings us past the pigs and to All Saints Church Stuston and a short stop to see inside this lovely building. Onward passing Stuston House and following the Common we reach Place Farm and an early rest stop at the Stuston Farm Shop for a browse, purchase, or cup of coffee. More pigs here but are they really pigs? The peacocks are real!

Refreshed, we follow country lanes, very attractive field edges and hedge tunnels to Saint Margarets Church Thrandeston. Look out for deer! Over the village green and by the pond, a short section of road before picking up wide field paths and quiet lanes. Soon we are back for lunch at about 1.00pm.

The walk is about 5 miles and is very attractive. Almost the nearest walk we have done to Diss but so much to see especially the superb Suffolk cottages. More lanes than usual but if wet then we may be glad of them, otherwise be prepared with decent footwear. Toilets at the start and at the Farm Shop. I would like to know by Sunday December 27^th if you are joining us on the Tuesday not the usual Wednesday. 643263 or 07818436592.

Travel Directions:

Take the A140 southwards from the Scole roundabout. After the B1077 Eye junction on the left almost immediately turn right into the entrance to Brome Grange. Drive through the arch at the end of the hotel rooms and park at the back.

Notes:

1. Your “Walks for 2010” are now available and will be distributed at the Christmas lunch. Please put your card in a prominent place in your house and put the walks in your diary.

2. You can gain access to the information that is on each walk sheet by looking up my blog on the computer. Each walk is also written up afterwards by a small team who take it in turn to provide a report for the Diss Parish Church Magazine. Peter Harding, Lesley Harding, Brian Beecroft and myself would welcome others to join them. Their efforts are also on the blog which can be accessed by davidabryant.wordpress.com/

 Next Walk Wednesday January 20^th – Knettishall (130^th walk)

Hintlesham was our destination for the walk in November, an attractive village about 5 miles west of Ipswich. Having had some glorious weather earlier in the year, there is always a risk with the winter months, particularly with November as it is the wettest month of the year. True to form the practise walk was delayed until the torrential morning rain had cleared. We decided to have lunch before we set off in the afternoon and completed the walk as the watery sun dipped below the horizon.

Early morning rain on the day of the walk suggested that we might be in for a soaking but the rain stopped, the clouds parted, a glimpse of the sun and 23 smiling faces appeared from behind an assortment of rainwear. Despite the negative weather forecast, everybody was determined to put up with whatever weather came our way. Although the worst seemed to have past, we were left with a gale force wind. The area of the walk was quite undulating and gave little shelter from the wind as occasionally we reached the top of a slope and found ourselves facing the wind with two steps forward and one step back. Hands were needed to hold down hats but twice the wind caught our leaders hat and sent it bounding along only to finish in a large muddy puddle!

Despite the weather, spirits were high and the wide paths beside the fields allowed conversations to take place. Large hedges gave shelter from the wind while we paused to have a coffee or regain some energy from a banana.. All in all it was a fine walk. The woodland gave lovely autumn colours with cascades of leaves blown by the wind. What a year it had been for fruit in the hedgerows with again the wind playing its part with carpets of sloes, too late to be picked. At last, thanks to the recent rain, fungi were appearing along the woodland edges. A tail wind saw us back to Hintlesham as we crossed the final meadows and through the trees to the ‘George’ for a well earned pint and hot meal. The weather had certainly given us an appetite!

I thought I’d show you this photo of my dog, I thought she looked quirksome. Like the Mona Lisa, my dog has an irresistable smile.

I feel scared, I don’t know why. I think it may just be some misconstrewed excitement, it’s muddling up my head and I don’t like it. I think I’d feel safe if I had finished my dress and bought nicer shoes. Tegan came over today and it was nice, we went on a long walk and talked about things, I’m not quite sure where we were walking, but I know it was a pretty place. A nice old dog came up, so we gave him a pat and left, back down the shady paths to the loud noisy highway. Hurrumph.
Strange dreams of late.

I only came on here to share this with you;

‘One upon a time, when I was seven or eight or nine years old and lived on a ranch in Colorado, I knew a magic trick. I could live in two worlds at once. One was my everyday world of that western prairie where tumble weeds blew across roads in the fall, and in spring the short grass was white with tiny flowers called May Stars. There I rode a buckskin pony three miles to a one-room schoolhouse. There I saw long-horned cattle and antelope and prairie dogs and rattle snakes and the bluest summer sky in the world. But nothing I saw about me was so exciting as the other world I lived in at the same time. It was a world I called England. I don’t suppose it was much like the real England, even then. My country was all primroses and skylarks and water meadows and London fogs and streets and winds over the moors and children from the vicarage and elms full of cawing rooks. It was an England I got out of books, out of ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill and Peter and Wendy and The Wind in the Willow. Most especially it was the England of Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett whose stories were my favourites.’

Today is a day for Band Of Horses. I’m not in a very nice mood.

Today I remembered how Pedestrian City began; who and what inspired the project. There are the obvious catalysts, Jane Jacobs and Guy Debord – Jacobs was an advocate for dense, active mixed-use neighbourhoods made for walking and socializing, and encouraged walking as a means of getting to know your neighbourhood; while Debord gave me a new way to explore with his concepts of psychogeography and the derive.

The not so apparent, but probably first inspiration was Gaston Bachelard. The Poetics of Space is one of my favourite books of all time, one that I have read at least 5 or 6 times, and am beginning to re-read now. I like to think I dream differently when I read this book. At least I think about and experience spaces differently, more consciously and reverently.

As I wrote in the opening paragraph of Pedestrian City: A Visual Narrative of Trinity Bellwoods: “To borrow from William J. Mitchell, I need to make myself into an urbanist, a geographer, and begin “to understand how the objects, narratives, memories and spaces [of the city] are interwoven into a complex, expanding web – each fragment of which gives meaning to all of the others” . I have undertaken this task with this project; through gaining a sense of how people perceive and experience a particular neighbourhood through walking. To relate it to the phenomenological writings of Gaston Bachelard, Max van Manen, and Tony Hiss, this project begins to explore the relationships between place, space, and a sense of individuality; about how our experiences with the environment, natural and built, shape who we are and how we experience different spaces and spaces differently, which is portrayed in individual maps and photographs of the neighbourhood.”

In The Poetics of Space Bachelard explores lived-space as it relates to our daily experiences, reveries and reactions, with the earliest impressions, those formed in childhood, being the basis for how we experience space throughout the rest of our lives. It was this that I remembered while walking to Queen Elizabeth Park today, with the book in my bag and a camera in hand.

Today’s walk was reminiscent of my first conscious attempt of engaging in the act of psychogeography; an instance where I had a destination in mind but no planned route and only a vague sense of time. My pace was slow, my eyes were curious, and my camera and notebook were ready to record the objects that caught my attention and stood out from the rest of my surroundings – the things that enhanced the walk for me…

Today is the 1st of December.  I think winter has finally arrived.  We have been really lucky to have had such mild weather throughout most of November.  Then all hell broke loose.  The wind, the rain, the floods.  Some people have been really unfortunate and have lost their lives because of the weather.

Now that I have moved down to the coast, I am learning about wind.  We have been blown about by gales.  Add a bit of rain (or a lot) to that .  Except for today!

Today the sun was shining with a light breeze, a few white clouds, and it was cold.  By the time I managed to get out of the house and make the most of the lovely weather, it had warmed up a bit and the air was calm.  I walked down to the seafront and this is what it was like.

I walked along the promenade, and apart from a few seabirds, there was not one person on any of the beaches.  I found my favourite spot and enjoyed some sunshine and the sound of the waves lapping in.  The sea was as flat as a pancake.  The clouds were coming in slowly.  I took a few photos with the camera pointing into the sun, which is why some of my pictures look a bit dark.  It was only about 2:30 in the afternoon.

Now it is dark and cold again.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

]]> http://legrandezombie.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/obtention-perdu/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:24:51 +0000 blaark http://legrandezombie.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/obtention-perdu/ http://orientalsweetlips.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/kei-lun-shan-lok-ma-chau/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:33:23 +0000 orientalsweetlips http://orientalsweetlips.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/kei-lun-shan-lok-ma-chau/ http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/timeless-memories/ Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:02:58 +0000 Angelia http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/timeless-memories/

I never imagined this weekend as a gift, but it truly was. A gift of delightful memories.

This weekend wasn’t just about Thanksgiving, it was about how much could Jason take and still love me? Mom staying with Jason and meeting the girls for the first time. Of course, she fell head over heels in love. And they took to her like stink on a dog because, well….she brought four furry children with her. FOUR.

Two tiny Papillons, Buddy the man, and Little Chevy who weighs an ounce? A Yorkie terror terrier named Lola. Poor thing, she has a disorder that requires medication every six hours to keep her from convulsing scarily. Yikes! And lastly, one FRED, a Shih-tzu boy, the biggest of the bunch, found wandering the highway one evening, that she promptly picked up in the Chuckwagon.

I call her vehicle the Chuckwagon, because it’s like the old commercial where the dogs are chasing the wagon with dog food, except it’s her van. The van stops and the dogs pile in. She takes them ALL home. I am not even kidding. My mom has 23 dogs (yes, she lives in the country).

I think half of them she has been trying to find homes for…for-EVER. But ya know? Her guidelines for a doggy home is VERY strict (which is good). Most don’t qualify, the rest don’t want grown up dogs. Then, MORE dogs come chasing down the Chuckwagon, which isn’t hard to catch. I think she ties meaty lamb chops to her bumper. Kidding! She doesn’t.

In all honesty, she rescues bloodhounds. She is part of an organization that will save a bloodhound (or part bloodhound) before they are euthanized at a shelter. They pick them up, put them in foster care until they can be adopted out. So, some of the dogs are fosters, others followed the Chuckwagon, and the rest happened to be on the right road, on the right day.

Whichever way you want to look at it, if you need a pet, please let me know. It really is a great service they do. They all have their shots and have been fixed. The fact that Mom only brought FOUR, ha, that’s a miracle. Lucky JASON!

Why did she stay at his house and not mine? Well, there was a little incident at my Mom’s house where Buddy the dog decided to get in Salem’s face, all chest bumping, and fake punching. She told him to get lost with her teeth and thirteen stitches later……yeeeeeaah. Not good.

Salem does NOT like little yappy, bossy Buddy dogs. Did I mention Buddy is eleven years old and has no teeth? Oh Salem, you are such a brute. Making her apologize would not have come CLOSE to making up for what happened to the little guy. In her defense, she only put her mouth on him for a second.

So, NO, I would not risk four doggy lives at my place with not only one big dog, but three. Not to mention, I have no extra bed. AND three grown ups share a very tiny bathroom already. One more might just push me over the edge. Ahhh!

Jason’s house it was. Extra bedroom, new mattress, cleaned up toy room, converted to guest bedroom (which Bridget kept asking me if I was going to sleep there). Uhh, no GRANDMA is “Gwanmah seep dere?” Yes, SHE is sleeping there. Isn’t that cool? (nods head, beams a smile) She only thought it was cool because Grandma has presents, and puppies.

Jason has a doggy run in his backyard, and LOTS, and LOTS of tile. Jason, sweetie, I know I can never EVER possibly make up for your most generous hospitality in the whole wide world. Ever to infinity times squared to the tenth power. But pssssst, you totally passed the TEST. Heh! You had no idea right?

Watching the little girls with my Mom and the dogs brought me great joy. Molly and Bridget LOVE the puppies. They love to hold them, pet them, cuddle them, and even drop them. Luckily they are close to the ground. Please don’t tell them they are not “really” puppies, especially old man Buddy. They were in heaven with all the puppy love.

Fred the Shih-tzu is one of my personal favorites. Cutest dog in the world. He is a love. I am not a little dog fan, but I would take him home in a second (Jason says no, hmph!). This weekend we carted around lots of dogs. Moving them back and forth from outside to in (even in the rain, right Jason?). Pictures galore were taken, adorable subjects, equals timeless shots.

Molly and Fred

Molly, Bridget, and Sydney – Can I just say this photo turns me to mush, awh!

Mom and girls walking together.

Then finally, we ended with ICE at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. What a finale! That place was incredible. The decorations, the art, the imagination of it all, just wraps you up, like a living present. Plus the ice slide, a grown up child’s dream – FLYING down the ice – no holds barred – Weeeeeeeee! It was glorious fun. If it wasn’t so crowded, I would have done it over and over til my fingers and nose froze off (totally worth it by the way).

Did I mention it was nine degrees? Before you can go in, they wrap you up in these big blue suits made for Eskimos. I guess they know Texan’s don’t have “real” winter coats, nor do we need them, although some people think we do when it goes from 110 degrees to 60 degrees, phhsss. Either way, we got a nifty warm sleeping bag garmet to wear in the ICE. Awesome.

Without further ado, timeless memories..

Jason, Mom, Me, Sydney, Kyle, Molly, and Bridget in front.

Jason and his two beauties.

Sydney and the girls.

One of my favorites, Bridget and my Mom.

Ice sculptures.

Molly and an ice lamb.

Me and Sydney. I swear that’s a camera bag under my coat, not like one of Mom’s small dogs or something. Heh!

The Grinch and my heart after this weekend.

Sweet timeless memories, I am not worthy.

Walking is one of the best ways to explore a city, old or new. And since Vancouver is still very new to me I have a lot of exploring to do. One evening a couple of weeks ago I set out for a walk with a friend and discovered an assortment of exciting new sites, scents and spectacles.

We met at a checker board at the intersection of Ontario and 18th, which I didn’t even know existed until that evening, even though it’s only a few blocks away from my house. From there we wandered for 3 hours with no particular destination. It wasn’t too far off from an exercise in psychogeography, which was a new concept, but not a new practice, to my fellow ambler.

There were many memorable sites/sights along the way. We followed a sign in Queen Elizabeth Park that read “Small Quarry” only to find (to our disappointment) a landscaped space which didn’t look much like a quarry at all. Although I must say the view from the top of the park was stunning.

Later in the evening we discovered a “neon Virgin Mary” – back lit with two tubes of lighting that formed a halo above her head, and a passage in a hedge that led to a cemetery where it “smelled like country”. There were scents of BBQ and marshmallow in the air that evening too – but not in the cemetery.

I also learned about the array of fruit trees and other edible treats available if you look for them. Kiwi? I had no idea! I must find the kiwi tree!

A friend showed me this site while we were out for a walk on a Monday afternoon exactly 3 months ago, but I didn’t get back there to take photos and walk through the space by myself until today. It’s only a short walk from my house but being new to the city, I had never heard of it. I was both intrigued and disappointed by what I saw.

The Little Mounting Housing Project was built in the mid-1950s and was once home to 570 people in 224 one- two and three bedroom units. It now sits mostly empty and boarded up, with only a few residents remaining. The site itself is somewhat surreal. With over 1,700 people living on the streets and in shelters in Vancouver, you’d think this would be an ideal means to provide a partial solution to the social housing problem.

Yes, I realize there are all kinds of politics at play here, but if Toronto can redevelop Regent Park into a mixed-use, mixed-income residential development, why can’t the same be done with Little Mountain? Alas, it is too late to change what is already destined to happen and the site will be cleared to make way for new development or sit vacant for some time while the public consultation process takes place.

What struck me most about this place was the fact that even though the majority of the units have been vacated and boarded up, the grounds are maintained and the lawn had been freshly mown. The buildings have also become canvasses for artists and residents, many of whom are long gone. Relocated to who knows where? However, there appear to be some inhabitants holding on to their homes for as long as they can.

As I walked through this eerie abandoned site I noticed that not all of the windows are boarded up. There are a few scattered houses with drapes and blinds in the windows instead of boards; blooming, well-maintained plants adorn some of these window sills and a couple of the balconies have signs of life. There was one place near the office where the door was open and I could clearly hear people’s voices, carrying on as if it was just another normal day in a normal Vancouver home.