Curves and Levels

Sunday Drive To Lac Lyster

These are from last Sunday. Lac Lyster is south of Magog, almost at the US border. It's distinguishing feature is the massif known as Mont Pinacle (one n), looming there in the left of the photo. A popular hike takes one to the top from the east side of the lake. I plan to make this trip as the weather gets warmer and will publish a report at my new blog. As you might be able to see from the ice on the lake, April is still cool in Quebec. A larger detailed view of the lake, complete with bathymetrics, can be seen by clicking the map at left.

The beach in the foreground is at the village of Baldwin Mills. I drove here from Magog via Ayer's Cliff and Ways Mills. I'll post a Google Map link, although it doesn't actually show the lake or the village. If you're looking, it's directly south of Barnston, which is between Ayer's Cliff and Coaticook on Hwy. 141.

The other two photos here: an old garage in Ayer's Cliff and a sunset looking north from somewhere near Ways Mills.

Migration Notice

United Church, Ayer's Cliff, Quebec. April 19, 2009.

I apologize again for the dearth of posting hereabouts lately.

A new weblog project is taking shape - an online magazine devoted to the Eastern Townships region of Southern Quebec. That is where I've been concentrating these last few weeks; designing, compiling, planning.

I will be publishing new material there AND here simultaneously for the next while and using the overlap period to direct Curves&Levels readers to my new home. Eventually this blog will need to come to a relative standstill, perhaps with occasional travelogue postings as I find the time.

So go have a look at MemphreBlog or it's French-language counterpart. I will try and outline the reasons and strategy behind the switch in a future post.

Thanks for your patience.

Costa Rica, Part Three

Volcán Arenal is Costa Rica's youngest and most active volcano, erupting continuously since it "woke up" with a major explosion in 1968.

The second week of our Costa Rica holiday began by dropping our rented Daihatsu in Quepos and flying north by small plane. After a brief stopover in the capital, our short flight ended in La Fortuna, a farming town lying east of the volcano and a jumping off point for visitors wishing to explore the volcano region and the celebrated cloud forests near Monteverde on the other side of Lake Arenal.

We found a lovely spot to stay just outside of town; a group of cabins in a garden setting on the road leading to the La Fortuna waterfall.

Asparagus Risotto

We have a small tradition at chez Curves&Levels: the Saturday meal. A little wine, rambling conversation and some real cuisine. Last weekend it was Asparagus Risotto, a rice dish from northern Italy. (Note: these pictures were taken hand-held with no flash, so you'll notice a certain, uh, immediacy.)

Add white wine over low heat and stir.

Have shallots and garlic, chopped and ready.

Add with chicken broth and stir some more.

Lemon for zest, grated parmesan cheese and chopped asparagus.

Chicken wings are optional.

Below, the ingredients have been added. Keep stirring. And stirring.

Voila! Bravo!