Tim and Wendy's Adventures (and Non).

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Doors Open Sarnia/Lambton - Day 1

We started our weekend at the Bridgeview Marina annual marine flea market/garage sale.

Then it was off to the Farmers' Market for fresh supplies and my favorite hot Sikorsky pepperettes.

It was a busy weekend as the first day of summer brought fantastic weather and countless thousands of people out and about after a long and brutal winter and a short spring.

At our first Doors Open visit, the Botanical Gardens on College Ave. we ran into our condo neighbour Heather, who gave us a tour. Heather is a member of the Horticultural Society and also works her magic on the amazing gardens in the courtyard of Venetian Village.

Wendy loves gardens and enjoyed Heather's tour.

Sarnia Observer file photo

It was a coincidence that at our next visit, The Mullberry House on London Road, we were greeted by another condo neighbour, Fern. She met us at the front entrance and gave us some of the history:

Mulberry House
This home was built in 1867, reputedly by Alexander Mackenzie, and received its name from the mulberry bushes on the property. Also known as the “Saddy House” as Mayor Marceil Saddy lived there for many years. The home features bargeboard gables, original doors, floors, ceiling beams, and three fireplaces.

I wish I could have heard the magnificent organ at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, but it looked like it could make some serious sound.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
The original church was built in 1841, and the current building opened on July 1, 1867. Canada's second Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie, worked as a brick layer before his political career and helped to build the church. Mackenzie was buried from this building. Have a guided tour of the church, view photographs and artefacts of the church and Alexander Mackenzie, and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

I had some things to pick up at my US mailbox so we drove across the Blue Water Bridge to Port Huron MI and did a little shopping to round out our first day.
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Friday, June 20, 2014

WARNING: Don't Trust Your Nest Egg To Bitcoin.

Bitcoin, blockchain and nest eggs.

With all the talk in the media about Bitcoin lately I thought I should caution you against jumping in and placing too much of your hard earned cash into something so risky. Bitcoin is HIGHLY SPECULATIVE at this evolutionary period of its development. There may be big money to be made, but then again, you could lose it all overnight if it all collapses. Like any other risky investment, only chance as much as you can afford to lose. If you have some extra cash lying around and want to gamble, the Globe and Mail has a good article today on buying Bitcoin. CLICK HERE to read how.

If you would like to follow world-wide media about Bitcoin and read tons of articles about it you can CLICK HERE. But remember - don't believe everything you read in the paper!

If you look to the right hand side of my blog page, you can check the current price of Bitcoin every day.

UPDATE JUNE 24:

Bitcoin firm boss says 'ordinary people' should not invest in digital currency – yet

Tuesday, 24 June, 2014, 4:01pm

News›Hong Kong

bitcoin

Danny Lee danny.lee@scmp.com

The head of one of China's largest bitcoin businesses says virtual money faces decade of volatility, ahead of conference in Hong Kong

The digital currency bitcoin faces up to a decade of price volatility, meaning “ordinary people” should not invest in it yet, the head of one of China’s largest bitcoin businesses has warned.

Ahead of Hong Kong’s first bitcoin conference which starts on Tuesday, BTC China chief executive Bobby Lee told an audience at the Asia Society on Monday that investors should not buy bitcoin unless they are prepared for wild swings in its value.

Lee warned: “The ordinary person should not buy bitcoin. It’s too early [in its development].
“It’s going to be so volatile over the next five or 10 years,” said Lee, a former e-commerce executive at Walmart China.

“If you’re not up for volatility risk, you shouldn’t own or buy bitcoin.”

A crackdown on bitcoin by the People’s Bank of China has seen Hong Kong emerge as a possible haven for bitcoin businesses.

The price of a bitcoin has fluctuated greatly in the past 12 months.
For a brief period in November the controversial virtual currency was worth more than an ounce of gold per bitcoin. Its value peaked at US$1,242 per bitcoin, but that price tumbled to just US$360 per bitcoin last April.

One bitcoin is currently worth US$585.

“If you believe in the internet, if you believe that technologies can improve lives, if you believe bitcoin technologies [are] fundamentally revolutionary and you want to make a bet, then [invest] a small amount of savings and see what happens,” he said.

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Settings Corrected... Hummingbug Gone SNAFU.

As usual, by the time I got my settings right the moth was gone. I resigned myself some time ago to the fact that I would never be a good photographer of spur-of-the-moment, moving or animated objects. Practice, practice. Ha ha.
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A Hummingbird? A Bee? Wait! I Think It's A Moth.

Wendy spotted what I believe is a type of hemaris moth right on our back deck this evening.

I struggled with my camera since the settings were all wrong for an action close-up but I managed to get a couple half decent shots. Its wings flutter at such a speed they are nearly invisible, much like a hummingbird's wings. It has two yellow stripes that make it appear to be a large bee.
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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Dash Watching TV

What do you see Dashy?
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Friday, June 13, 2014

Deep In The Heart Of Texas

Well not really that deep. This Google Street View is from John's Salvage in Seguin Texas which is about 70 miles south of Austin. Getting there by internet is much quicker and cheaper.

Click to enlarge

I loved the old 50's to 70's cars so I decided to "artsify" it. I added a couple Oldsmobiles to hide the modern cars and sketched the scene. What do you think?
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