Down in Portland!!

Hullo!!

I am down in Portland, visiting Little Fox... check out his blog to keep track of my adventures.

Touring Portland

Garden Consult

What to Study?

Hullo!!! I tagged along in Mama's backpack today and we are at the local university. Mama says she can get more work done here cause it is sooo quiet and nobody bothers her! Except me... heheh!

It sure is beautiful here. Look at that view of the Coast Mountains.

I'm thinking maybe I should study something here at the university? I know Little Fox is studying Archaeology. Jerry and Ben are always talking about going to university. I think Ben is studying French? Their friend... shoot... can't remember his name... he's a snowman anyways. He's doing Arctic Studies somewhere. Sooo... what could I study?

There are so many possibilities. Any suggestions???

Bored Bear...

Sigh... I'm bored. It's raining... again... and the snow is melting away. I don't like these in-between periods. I wish it would just snow and be cold or... be sunny and warm! Sigh.

What's that??? A trip???? OH BOY!!

Oh boy... on Canadian Goose Airlines!!!

Mexico would be sooooo beary nice right now. .... No... sorry... no Mama... not going to Winterpeg with you... I'm going somewhere exciting!!!

I'll pack my bags... see ya later!

On Thin Ice

It was such a gorgeous day today that we went for a bit of an outing... look at those mountains!

 Aren't they gorgeous?

We are off through the forest...

 I thought I might be able to go skating on some forest pools but... the ice looks a bit thin.

 A nice place to rest on top of this mountain.

 With a gorgeous view of the frozen lake!! Oooohh... maybe I could go skating there?

 A bit of persuasion and... here we are.

Hmm... poke, poke... I wonder if this is thick enough for a little bear?

Looks like it is... except...

 Heh-heh... it's beary slippery!! I haven't skated for 4 years or so... must be out of practice.

 I dared Mama to try it but she's a sensible type and said no. Don't blame her, it doesn't look that thick.

 But it sure is pretty here.

 I think I'll just sit here and soak up some sunshine for a while.

 After a while, we walked farther along the lake and saw this! Oy!

 I guess the ice is thicker here but... I don't know if I would be out there if I were a human...

 You can't see it from here, but the far end of the lake is ice free... silly people...

Mail!!

Hullo... I've got mail!!... Eh???... Where are you guys?

Oh... Hi! Yes... I got mail!

First up, a card from Ajdin and his crew.

I DO believe in the magic of Christmas... this outfit tells the tale! Thanks Ajdin!

Next up... a package... oof... from Droopy & Co. I smell chocolate.

Wow... nice card! Thanks guys!

And four packets of Starbucks Hot Chocolate - peppermint flavoured... mmm!!!

A gummy candy straw... hic!

And something wrapped in bubble wrap... oooh....

It's me!!!... Just a sec....

It's me!!!

Aren't I cute??? Jerry & Ben got a pair as well. These are so cool! Thanks Droopy!

Heh-heh... we make quite a pair.

Baking with Gramma

Hullo! A few days ago, Someone had a bearthday and so Gramma baked some nut cake (or nut torte). It's a beary simple gluten-free recipe!

First you take 4-5 eggs and beat them... while adding a cup of sugar slowly.

Gramma grumbled cause our Betty Crocker hand mixer wasn't beating the eggs beary well. She says she used to have the same mixer and it did the same thing. She says it's cause the mixer beats the eggs too fast... she got a cheapo mixer and it beat slower and it worked like a charm. Oh well...

Then you need a few drops of almond extract (rum extract works too... hic!). And a bit of salt.

Ground filberts/hazelnuts (2 cups of whole nuts ground up).

You slowly add the ground nuts to the egg mixture...

Until you get the right consistency... don't you love how cooking is such an exact science?

Then you put it in a spring-form that has the bottom lined with wax paper.

Into the oven at 350 for 40 minutes.

Mmmm... can't wait!

We also need some icing sugar and 13 hazelnuts...

Cake is done... now pull off the wax paper from the bottom... slowly...

Carefully!

Then you put on the icing sugar and add the hazelnuts! Now... Gramma didn't use a lot of icing sugar cause sugar is BAD! Sooo... back in the Middle Ages, this would have been coated with icing sugar on the top and sides but... we are doing low sugar so... Voila! Nut Cake (yummm).