KatieTheKat

Hmm, I guess this is inspired subconsciously by my Grandfather's poem entitled "Things I Learned Last Week" (not currently available online, far as I can tell). But I was just thinking it might be a good way to organize a fairly regular little blog update - to jot down random facts and learnings from the last week. I had a rather eventful weekend (and week, in fact) to kick things off with:

• Moving always takes longer and more boxes than expected (that one courtesy of Matt).
• Bamberton Provincial Park near Mill Bay is a pretty spot to camp on Vancouver Island, though it appears to be fairly popular.
• Cowichan Bay is like a natural outdoor aquarium and the red dock appears to be a great place to go crabbing (unfortunately didn't quite have time to test this one, but at a nearby pier while eating brunch, we watched large crabs crawl around beneath us and later were regaled by the playful antics of a harbour seal).
• Speaking of Cowichan Bay, the bakery is a great place for Hazelnut or Raisin Bread, among other loaves.
• And also in Cowichan Bay is a cool boat-building place... DIY plywood kayak?
• Dandelion pullers seem to be fairly handy tools.
• Fisherman's Pier at the Nanaimo harbourfront is also a good place to catch crabs (and this one is proven).
• A crab should be scrubbed before it is cooked, I am told.
• Razor Clams are only to be found on the open coast in Washington - i.e. in the vicinity of Olympia and not further North.
• The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival: they sure do have a lot of tulips, and daffodils too.
• Another pretty but popular campground: Whidbey Island, south of Anacortes.
• Time Traveling can be hazardous (according to "The time Traveler's Wife", by audrey Niffenegger)
• hula hooping on the knees involves describing small circles with one knee then the other, both in the same direction (a skill I now have in theory, but not yet in practice)
• Manila Clams can be identified by their having both lateral and longitudinal ridges, and they are edible.
• Butter Clams have only lateral ridges and are best avoided.
• Saltwater fishing is under federal jurisdiction while freshwater is provincial - no wonder I had trouble finding any shellfish guidelines on the provincial fisheries site!
• A resident's annual saltwater fishing license only costs about $22.
• Dungeoness crabs are keepers if they are male (skinny tail) and at least 6.5 inches wide at their widest point.
• Spatz does not seem to be particularly uncomfortable with hanging out in the sun in random city parks.
• It helps to lean the wheel you're working on on another one when popping out rollerblade wheel bearings. It also helps to use a hammering device with your bearing removal tool.
• Reminder: chinese bakery coconut buns can be very tasty (if they're good ones!).
• BC Hydro will send you $30 if you give them an old fridge.
• Trader Joe's has delicious unsulfured dried mangoes. Also chocolate covered raspberry sticks.
• Oysters can be less repulsive if they are nice and little - and the little ones are actually native to our waters.
• Taking pictures from below up towards the sky can result in very nice pictures, at least on a blue sky day.
  
• It is hard to stop once you get started on one of these lists.

Kat