Day 76 - Brown eyed Susans

Day 75 - Search for the ultimate espresso

I recently received a used espresso maker. With some guidance from coffee experts on twitter I am slowly learned the ins and outs of making a decent cup of espresso (thanks @chrissrkay and @bessyn for the insight). According to Chris the most important rule in brewing the perfect shot of espresso is fresh beans. Chris suggests no more then 2 weeks from the roaster; any longer than that and it starts to go flat. A quick search for local roasters revealed Java Blend on North street is a reputable local roaster that also sells retail. Unfortunately, they are not open on Sundays, but I plan to check them out this week. Bessy recommends their ethiopian blend.

Chris recommended the Intelligentsia BlackCat or the 49th Parallel Epic. I wanted to find out what the fuss was about with these beans so we went on a coffee crawl today in search for the ultimate bean. After a stop at Brooklyn Warehouse for brunch we were pointed to the Smiling Goat organic espresso bar on South Park St. They use Java Blend Roasters for their beans. Awesome. They also have some of those funky beans Chris had mentioned, such as the Intelligentsia Black Cat. Excellant.

Geoff Creighton made a cup of the Black Cat and accommodated my request for a picture of the day with one of his incredible art creations. Pictured above is the dragon. I have no idea how he makes this art in the crema but it tastes as good as it looks. The Black Cat is smooth yet powerful. Was that a hint of citrus and currant? I felt like I was doing a wine tasting. In any event it was a fantastic, enjoyable cup. I don't think I can drink Tim's again. In addition to being an exceptional, artistic Barista Geoff is a photographer who specializes in artist head shots and portraits. Check out his work here.

Day 74 - Spider Web

I was happy to see Charlie's web survived last weekend's storm. No sign of Charlie today but his home provides subject matter for me on this rainy, cold day. Rain drops provide good definition for spider webs.

Day 73 - Window Ornament

Day 72 - Rose

I dropped into Sobeys today after work for some groceries and noticed roses in the entryway. I liked the pattern in the center of the flower.

Day 71 - Neon reflection

I seem to be on a water kick....

Day 70 - Water drops

After dinner I was looking at the dishes in the sink, wondering how they could possibly wash themselves, and noticed water dripping from the faucet. I've seen some cool water drops in Flickr and thought, how hard can it be? After many attempts at capturing the drops I have concluded that: a) photographing water drops is not easy; b) I am not very good at photographing water drops. This was the best of the lot. Will have to do some research and try again.

Day 69 - Yellow scooter

The return of clouds brought the return of soft lighting; today seemed like July again. Spotted this scooter next to Park Lane. There was something about the combo of the bike, mold and rust on the round door that grabbed my eye. Soft lighting brings mysterious moods to images for me.

Day 68 - Two favourite red wines

As Bill rolls through I am not feeling particularly adventurous; I have no interest in venturing out to watch the action. I am content listening to the wind and rain from the comfort of home. So my photo of the day will be a boring indoor shot.

I thought I'd share me and Leah's current favorite 'house wines,' i.e. good wines in the sub $16 price range that we've been buying lately to have on hand for BBQs and impromptu guests dropping over. In our household these two wines have competed for top spot in the red wine category this summer. Surprisingly, both are from the US.

My favourite value this summer is Sterling's Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignion. This Cab Sauv is a wonderful, elegant red that has been on sale all summer at NSLC outlets for $15 (normally $21 bones or so). This wine is nicely balanced with dark fruit and a full but soft texture. It is not over oaked. The styling is more subtle than the big, over the top 'fruit bombs' common in new world cab sauvs. It has been a constant companion for me when grilling meats on the BBQ this summer.

Our other favourite is the Hogue's Cabernet-Merlot (blended 55% Cab Sauv 45% Merlot), made by Hogue winery in Washington State. Their 2003 is a well structured red showing fresh fruit, a hint of oak and a dash of spice. The tannins are smooth. The wine shows tons of personalty and is a standard 'go to' wine in our household.

Unfortunately, the Hogue is being discontinued by NSLC and is currently sitting in the discount section in the larger outlets for $12. Do yourself a favour and go buy a case while it lasts.

Day 67 - Local Strawberries

Great to see local strawberries at Sobey's. We bought some. Yummy.