a peek inside the fishbowl

Author Archive

22 Apr, 2026

It’s in you to give

Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Yaktivism

If you didn’t know it already, the title of this post is the tagline for Canadian Blood Services. I hope whoever thought of it got a marketing award because it’s absolutely brilliant. Yes! Blood! It’s in you! And you can give! I donated blood yesterday. As I walked home from the clinic munching on my […]

21 Apr, 2026

Ottawa summer bucket list 2026

Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Misc. life|Ottawa

I actually keep this list on my phone but I thought, hey, why gatekeep Ottawa summer fun! This is content I should be sharing! Here’s what is on my radar so far. Consider this an evolving list: “Roper on the River” a three-hour cruise on the Ottawa River in the style (and attitude) of Mrs. […]

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19 Apr, 2026

Rum punch

Posted by: andrea tomkins In: Recipes and Food

I wanted to share this recipe here because we almost lost it, and I wanted to make sure it’s somewhere we can easily find it again. This rum punch was a summertime staple when we gathered around the swimming pool at my in-laws’ place. It feels a little misplaced to revere a recipe for an […]

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Archives


  • alex: For a classic Canadian treat for valentine day , try a BeaverTail (a fried dough pastry) there its yummy
  • Juliet Luiz: I was at this park today and saw the foundation and historical sign which got me curious and let me to your blog post! Great information:) too bad t
  • Rowyn Tape: Hello, I was sitting at Easter dinner with my grandmother and she was telling me this story. She is Herbert Lytles daughter who eventually bought the
  • Bernie: I freeze ball sizes of bread dough for beavertails each winter season.Easy to thaw, roll out and fry. Best winter treat!
  • Jen_nifer: I feel very much the same about my SUP. Floating with snacks is fantastic! When I go on water with some current, I make sure that I paddle into the cu
  • sam: Great article. This is very insightful. Thanks for sharing
  • Renee: I just saw one yesterday on a small patch of grassy land near the Mann Ave 417 exit near Lees Station, Ottawa, ON. I had no idea they came in black!

The Obligatory Blurb

My name is Andrea and I live in Ottawa with my husband Mark and our dog Sunny who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. During the day I work as a freelance writer. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999. The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.

If you're so inclined, you can read more about me here.

I've deactivated the commenting function as well as my contact form so if you want to get in touch, please drop me a line at quietfish@gmail.com. Thank you!

 


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