Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Fruit forward

The diversity of summer fruits available from local producers is one of the great things about living in British Columbia. The past week has seen Skeena and Sweetheart cherries, Redhaven peaches, Transparent and Lodi apples as well as blueberries pass through the kitchen.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working through some articles about pests afflicting fruit in the province. Yesterday, I had an article in the Globe and Mail on a strategy Vancouver is preparing to ensure office space and residential can exist in the city’s metropolitan core. Fortunately, the deadlines haven't been as hard-packed as usual, so I've been able to squeeze in some reading while I've been at it. Next up: Peter Sanger, Aiken Drum, which I've been waiting almost two months to read.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Dog days

The dog days of summer are here, not just weather-wise but also for the mind. Though today’s weather in Vancouver is wet and drizzly, the climate is just right for settling into a book or a long-delayed creative project while the music of Erik Satie flows through the background.

The break is needed: Last week was packed with real estate stories, primarily on the residential market, and this week I've been writing and editing book reviews for the next issue of the Alcuin Society journal Amphora. My contribution is a review of The Janus Press – 50 Years (2006), an inspiring catalogue of the work of Vermont artist, printer and publisher Claire van Vliet.

Speaking of books, the cover is designed for Real Estate Investing for Canadians for Dummies, available this fall: