autumn

i like autumn best of all the seasons, i don't even mind the rain ('cause i have proper rain gear from my janitor days...). these pics were taken few days ago, same scene twice...

this at 9.15am







same again 10am







9.15am







10am







almost blindingly yellow leaves.





have a great weekend!

my new wooden splint

yesterday it was time to remove the stitches from my wrist and thigh, and obviously, they had to make a new cast for the wrist. the nurses were discussing the options and they decided to try the latest invention in cast application (by a finnish company i might add) which is made of wood...







...wood? yep, i admit i had my doubts. they told me the cast is made of wood chips and biodegradable plastic, is non-toxic (you can either toss it into the compost heap or burn it) and pliable.

to start the application, a 4mm thick sheet of this OMNICAST is heated (60-65C), it's then pliable and you can cut it with scissors.







lots of hands here...once they got the measures and placement right, the cast was bandaged.







the onmicast website has good pics to show it was done. what i like is the facts that it took no time to harden (5mins with ice-packs, instead of the 30mins with tradiotional cast) and is so thin i can wear a regular jacket, and weights next to nothing.

the nurses seemed to like that this cast doesn't let out any toxic fumes whilst drying, is not messy and wet, and is quick to work with. the cast has been tested at helsinki university töölö hospital, which is probably the busiest trauma center in finland.







i wanted a pink "wrapper", but i guess i can live with this blue for 2 weeks...







i did take pics of the metal stitches in my thigh, but decided to save you from such an ungodly sight.

my skinny elvis

for some strange reason i had been graving for an elvis sandwich for days. my skinny version didn't have bacon in it, but the more i think about it...it might actually work (not very heart healthy, though...)







i have always been partial to crunchy peanut butter, but use what you like.







smush the banana (think baby food) and smear one slice of bread with the banana, the other slice with peanut butter (obviously...)







melt a comfortable amount of butter (you have to use butter, seriously), i used 1 tsp per side. place the sandwich on pan on medium-low heat until golden brown.







we shared this one, and it was plenty to satisfy my graving.







the dog loves peanut butter, but got to work for it a bit...







...he managed to lick the jar quite clean.