Garden Geek

A Better Sunday

2012-01-15T16:07:00.004-05:00

Well this has certainly been a better weekend than last. Feeling better both mentally and physically; feeling more productive, happier, and lighter-hearted.

I've suddenly felt the urge to cook and bake the past few days; more than I have in some time. So yesterday I made Aloo Gobi (cauliflower-potato curry), a family favourite - and baked Cornmeal Muffins (which were brilliant topped with homemade Crabapple Hot Pepper jelly - yum!) Today I made the week's supply of my daily breakfast staple - homemade Granola; it is super easy to make, tastes wonderful, and is good for the gut! I have been soaking red kidney beans this afternoon, and will cook them now, to be a part of the Vegetarian Chili I am about to make. A brick of butter is out on the counter softening, with the intention that I will make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies with it. A good food weekend!

Just back from a walk in the glorious sunshine. The timing was perfect, in that the sun was still pretty high in the sky, so at its optimum warmth for the day...and the temperature was the best it's going to get today; about -14 degrees Celsius. The thermometer showed -30 degrees first thing this morning! Pretty much unbearable to be outside for even a minute; the air felt so sharp. Nice by 3:30 PM, though. Here are some photos from my little walk down the road:

Have a great week!

Greetings from the Beaver Lodge

2012-01-13T20:41:00.005-05:00

Last Sunday was gloriously sunny, after a number of grey days. I had cabin fever, so went out for a nature walk...with mixed results.

Saying hi to the cows. (They did not respond.)
Walking on the frozen swamp, checking out sedges and a bird's nest......woven amongst the willow. Seeing things I usually don't get to see, because...they're in the swamp.
Still on the frozen swamp, checking out the young deer tracks.
Cool! A beaver lodge! (This is where it gets dicey. A tip: Don't get close to the beaver's lodge...especially when the temperature has been erratic. This translates to - the ice may not be consistently solid everywhere!)

Saturday

2012-01-07T21:06:00.004-05:00

Playing with a neighbour's kittens (all six of them - tumbling out of the wood shed to greet me). Eating homemade Hot Fudge Pudding with freshly made whipped cream. Walking down a country road, enjoying the mild day. Making the dump run. (Not 'making the dump RUN'; ME making the DUMP RUN.) Reading Organic Gardening magazine. Recording last year's vegetable garden story in my gardening journal. Crying for no reason. Laughing (gut laughs) at this episode (and parts 2-4) of the Graham Norton show, with Ewan McGregor and Chris O'Dowd. Looking at the gingerbread houses in an adorable village in Ontario with Google Streetview. Tramping around the snow in the yard, doing some cleanup in our small pine forest. Talking to my daughter on the phone, now back at university for the semester.

My day - in no particular order.

Holiday Retrospective

2012-01-02T18:34:00.004-05:00

Back to work tomorrow, after a week and a half off. Just because days begin to meld, and some things get forgotten (by me), here are some highlights (for my benefit):

the four of us - all together - for days on end (the last time we were all together was August) - WONDERFUL family time

Backgammon

puzzles

making snowmen

walks

fantastic hike on Rideau Trail (in Top 3 of this list!)

the BEST double layer chocolate I've EVER made - Chocolate Beet Cake (soooooo moist; so full of flavour)

baking awesome ginger snaps

crocheting

a great visit with the family I babysat for when I was a teenager

a haircut I really like

read a couple of books

and to reiterate - great family time - especially with my daughter, who is home from university

I had a great holiday :)

A Trio of Snowmen

2012-01-02T16:24:00.006-05:00

Can you see the three snowmen hanging out under the crabapple tree? I had a blast last week making them. The 'personalization' of each one was inspired by garden treasures - a rosehip for a lipsticked mouth on the dressed up lady (who also sports a pine bough 'fascinator'); wild parsnip flower seed branches for hair on another; iris seedpods for hair on the third. Pinecones for eyes; pebbles for (bad) teeth; grapevine tendrils for a mouth and nose; empty milkweed pods for elf-like ears...It was hilarious giving each one its own personality.

This is my absolute favourite tree on our property (the tall pine). You can spot the top of it from the next concession over - about 1.5 kilometres as the crow flies (even though, from that distance, it looks as though it is surrounded by other pines). It is so majestic, and always looks different. These days, its branches are coated in snow, or sometimes hang heavy from ice...or with the mild spells we've had, along with some high winds, its branches have been waving madly, looking very dramatic.

Reading in 2012

2012-01-01T11:32:00.003-05:00

I just added the blog 'So Many Reads' to my sidebar after reading Stefanie's post on her 2012 Reading Plans. I like the idea of keeping a list throughout the year of books read, and jotting notes of my thoughts of on the books. (I have a dreadful memory, and would never be able to remember all the books I've read within a 12-month period.) So I think I'll keep this list for 2012 on this blog.

As for some Reading Goals:

Something by Charles Dickens (I read Great Expectations two winters ago and LOVED it (after thinking for three decades that I disliked Dickens), so want to read another)

More Bronte work (ADORE Pride and Prejudice)

Giller Prize winners/nominees (every fall when the Giller list is announced and I hear reviews on the radio about the novels, I really want to read them - then entirely forget about them when I get to the library. I've read two in the past two months - one so-so; the other enjoyable)

That's just a few for now; I have more books I'm interested in reading. But in the interest of not taking time away from my family by blogging, especially on New Year's Day...I will leave it at that for now!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Retrospection, and Happy New Year

2011-12-31T23:13:00.003-05:00

Forty-six minutes until 2012. It's astounding that I am up this late, considering I can rarely make it past 9:20 PM. I was playing Backgammon with E. at around 9:30, and making some foolhardy moves, revealing my lack of sharpness at the 'late' hour...but other than that, I've been holding out pretty well.

To entertain myself as the family has been watching a movie I'm not interested in ("The Watchmen", I believe), I've been updating the look of my blog. In switching over to the new look, I lost all the links to the blogs I follow. (I actually switched over a couple of weeks ago, but this evening's work has been on fixing up some issues with layout and colours and the sidebar turning into the 'bottom bar'.) I was originally quite peeved at losing all my links, but then switched my perspective to one of the opportunity for a fresh start. I have done some research on finding the address of blogs I really enjoy (ones I used to follow starting five or six years ago, when I first started blogging, as well as ones more recently discovered), and have added them to my sidebar. I know other ones will pop into my head as time goes on, at which point I'll add them to my list again. But it's been a good opportunity to clean things up, and to remind me that it's good to let things go, and have a clean start - a particularly good message for New Year's Eve.

As I've been looking at my old posts and reading the comments to remind me of 'old friends', I have also been reminded of how much I enjoy writing, and how I've gotten away from it. I had made a conscious decision to stop writing about my life and that of my family's for privacy issues...as well as the fact that blogging was taking up a disproportionate amount of my time (time taken away from family). I was also expending too much energy and focus on living my life for my blog and what I would post next, instead of just LIVING, and posting naturally. I've decided I'd like to blog more regularly again, but in a healthy way (for me), and to enjoy the writing process.

So here's to 2012, and to introspection, retrospection, and enjoying one's life in a meaningful, pleasurable, healthy way. Happy New Year, friends!

Saint Emilion

2011-12-18T16:57:00.001-05:00

What a vista. Unbelievable.

Doors in France...

2011-12-04T19:44:00.004-05:00

of many gorgeous colours, with interesting hardware, textures, and widths. I also loved the address numbers on tiles.

...and more doors

2011-12-04T19:43:00.000-05:00

Door Knockers

2011-11-20T20:52:00.004-05:00

I fell in love with the door hardware, and doors, in France. So much personality; colour; character... A post on doors to follow soon.

Vieux Cognac

Grésillon, Ile d'Oléron

Vieux Cognac

Brouage

Hollyhocks...all over Oléron

2011-10-21T13:52:00.002-04:00

Rose trémière

Stratford

2011-09-18T20:22:00.004-04:00

Spent some time last weekend in Stratford, Ontario with some lovely ladies, enjoying the performed works of Willie Shakespeare at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

We saw Twelfth Night and Camelot. Both very different, and enjoyed them immensely. Brian Dennehy played Sir Toby Belch. Just loved him, and what fun to see him in a more playful role than the typical 'mean guy' he plays in the movies.

The town does a glorious job of making the downtown core just beautiful with gorgeous plantings. I was making mental notes of plant and colour combinations all weekend.

A weekend filled with great conversation, LOTS of laughs, food, wine, shopping, and of course the plays. What a treat.

Hangin' out at the Shed

2011-08-28T18:23:00.004-04:00

Root travels under shed wall.
Plant grows inside.
Flower blooms.
Flower longingly looks out window.

"Can I play with you guys?", she says to her long-legged friends.

And in other flower border action, the bumblebee escapes the clutches of the Turtlehead...

Misty Mornings

2011-08-20T20:44:00.003-04:00

The landscape has been so magical this summer in the early morning. There is often mist floating above the grasses in the fields; spiderwebs are made visible on wire fences and hanging between blades of tall grasses by the dew; the sun is hot pink as it peeks above the treetops...

Garlic Harvest 2011

2011-07-24T19:22:00.002-04:00

Our garlic harvest for this year - approximately 500 heads. Smells and looks WONDERFUL.

Strung up to cure for two weeks. The string on the right is the garlic set aside for planting this October, for next year's crop. (We're upping the next crop to about 600 heads.) The string on the left is for consumption over the next 12 months.

An Afternoon in Bytown

2011-06-12T07:21:00.004-04:00

We spent Friday afternoon in downtown Ottawa, exploring the locks right at the beginning of the Rideau Canal system. Exploring beneath the Plaza Bridge, looking up at the stunning Chateau Laurier (a Fairmont hotel), watching the water spill down the eight locks...just a stunning area, and a lovely hidden surprise for someone who knows the Ottawa area well.

Darling Jonquils

2011-05-18T20:09:00.000-04:00

no compartments

2011-05-10T12:05:00.000-04:00

I like this line, from
Human Flower Project...

Derek Jarman had the right stuff of gardening. He had an acceptance of limits and then threw them away. He knew or learnt what went where, what worked, what didn’t and what didn’t but would if it just got shifted a tad. But above and beyond all that he brought his whole sensibility to both the creation of it and his comprehending of it. The person and his creativity were one; there was no dividing wall between himself and what he did. The creative was all there was and that applied to everything—friendships, filming, gardening, designing, cooking, walking, writing. No compartments. Everything was himself.

...because I compartmentalize my life, and it gets me into trouble.

500 cloves

2011-04-22T20:30:00.002-04:00

The garlic patch is looking splendid.

Golden Marmalade

2011-04-17T21:35:00.001-04:00

The fruit of this weekend's labours...Golden Marmalade. (Made with navel oranges, lemons, dried apricots, and fresh pineapple.) Lovely.

A calm end to the weekend

2011-03-06T19:43:00.003-05:00

Hard, constant, cold rain, all day Saturday. Snow and hard winds Sunday morning. The snow finally stopped, but the wind did not. Finally, by evening...an incredibly beautiful sunset. A gorgeous way to end a volatile weather weekend.

Blue Beanie with Pink Flower

2011-03-06T19:25:00.002-05:00

I had to abandon the pattern I was working on last week for the baby beanie. I think it wasn't written properly, and I was getting quite frustrated with how it was turning out. I found a new pattern the other day, and have been working on it this weekend. Finished the beanie today (I made an adult size), and am happy with how it turned out - especially with the cute pink flower. I will need to find someone to give it to, though, as it does not suit my face, or my short hairstyle.

It's very easy to make. I will definitely make more! Crocheting is so addictive.

Family Day

2011-02-21T14:42:00.003-05:00

I'm spending Family Day doing the following:

Reading, watching Ladies' curling (the Scottie Tournament), and crocheting (a baby cap)...

in front of a cozy fire (the perfect antidote to a cold winter day with a cutting northwest wind).

Definitely a relaxing day.

Puppies

2011-02-13T17:59:00.001-05:00

We visited 4-week old Golden Retriever puppies today.

One can't help but be happy in their presence.

Making my own summer

2010-12-22T14:36:00.004-05:00

I'm working away at my desk, with my space heater blowing nice warm air, and my full spectrum light making my workspace bright and 'sunny'. I'm just thinking...I could bring a small load of sand from the pile beside the laneway at home, and put it underneath my desk...take off my shoes and socks, play with my bare feet in the sand; have my 'daylight' and heat...

Dammit, I can MAKE my own summer in December!!!

Moo

2010-11-11T20:28:00.002-05:00

After I spent the morning pickling beets, I went for a walk. Loved seeing our neighbour's cows in the bush, sunning themselves on the sunny corner of the field at the road. The big bull; the cow 'hiding' behind the juniper; the beautiful russet-red cow staring at me, ready to bolt if I advanced too suddenly...they made me very happy :)

Beets!

2010-11-11T20:25:00.002-05:00

I pickled beets on Sunday. Ten pounds, to be exact. Or 9-500ml jars.

I don't like them; the smell that filled the house was grossing me out all day - they're for my husband and daughter. Thus - a labour of love :)

October 2010

2010-10-23T17:08:00.004-04:00

Lane entrance

Waiting patiently

October sky

White Beret

2010-10-23T16:59:00.002-04:00

I crocheted myself a black beret, and enjoyed doing it so much that I made a white beret for my daughter. Mine is 10" across, and fits more like a cap with a bit of flare; hers is 11" across, and looks more like a traditional beret.

I've made another black one since, for my son's housemate, and am about to embark on another one this afternoon for a friend.

This is addictive.

Crocheted Earflap Hat

2010-10-05T21:23:00.003-04:00

I crocheted an earflap hat for my hubby. I based it on this pattern (for a little person), then just winged it (ha! literally) to make it fit my husband's (much, much) larger head. (I didn't do the piece over the forehead in the pattern though. I tried it out but didn't like it.)

It has strings (a crocheted chain) for the tie-ups - which also tie the ear flaps on top of the head/hat, if desired.

He loves it; says it will be perfect for when he goes out to snowblow the lane in winter. (Awesome. I'm just glad *I* don't have to do it.) It fits his head perfectly.

It was fun to make! I'm just a very 'basic level' crocheter, and am not the best at following instructions...so I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, especially considering that I figured out how to make the hat larger, and how to make it fit his head exactly.

I'm HERE!!! says Fall

2010-09-23T08:16:00.003-04:00

How is it that SUDDENLY fall is here?! The temperature has been evolving to cooler temps in recent weeks, but that's not what I'm talking about. It's the VISUALS. Now, as I drive down the roads, my head snaps to the right and left as I notice that the trees have suddenly turned red and gold and yellow...the asters are blooming all over the place (for me, a definite sign of fall)...and chipmunks and squirrels are scooting around everywhere, getting ready for winter - just like the rest of us.

Tricky math, and garlic

2010-09-21T11:14:00.002-04:00

Via email, from me at work:

Dear [husband],

True to my significantly astute head for mathematics, I figured out this morning that we in fact planted 350 cloves of garlic, and not the 525 which I had previously figured on. My error was in that I counted 3 cloves for every foot, when in fact there were only 2 cloves for every foot, with one extra at the start of the measuring tape.

Which is exactly why I don't foray into the hobby of carpentry. "Measure twice. Measure three more times. Walk away and make some lunch. Come back and review your measurements again. Heed the feeling that you have probably done it wrong. Leave it til the next day. Realize you made an incorrect assumption. Ask someone to help you. They measure once - accurately - and cut once. Carpentry job complete. Affirm knowledge that you despise math."

So shall we plant another row or two?

Ever yours,
Randa

Personal Hygiene - for all to hear

2010-08-25T10:35:00.001-04:00

Why do people clip their nails at work? WHY??!!??

Happy Flowers

2010-08-19T22:05:00.002-04:00

On a happier note...my favourite garden in August at our house...deep yellows and hot pinks...

Front Yard Maple

2010-08-19T21:49:00.004-04:00

We have a beautiful maple tree in our front yard. We comment on its beauty regularly - its full shape, lushness, health, how much privacy it affords us, its STUNNING fall colours which absolutely look like the leaves are on FIRE when the sun shines on it. We just love it.

Sadly...it was struck by lightning this afternoon during a brief storm, with one main limb ripping off, taking a third out of the trunk. (See the burn marks in the second photo?) We'll have to cut it down...which breaks our hearts. I find it amazing how much one can adore and love a tree. We'll miss you, gorgeous front yard Maple...

Front Porch July 2010

2010-08-01T10:31:00.002-04:00

Pots of Hanging Tuberous Begonia, and Basil

(The fresh basil has been lovely! It was used liberally in last night's dinner - pasta tossed with butter, crushed garlic (fresh from the garden), the aforementioned basil, fresh tomato from the garden, grated parmesan reggiano and cracked black pepper. Mmm!)

A heart

2010-07-26T08:47:00.002-04:00

Saw part of this quote on cibi's site. Googled Brian Doyle, and found the expanded quote. It made me cry.

"So much held in a heart in a lifetime. So much held in a heart in a day, an hour, a moment. We are utterly open with no one, in the end -- not mother and father, not wife or husband, not lover, not child, not friend. We open windows to each but we live alone in the house of the heart. Perhaps we must. Perhaps we could not bear to be so naked, for fear of a constantly harrowed heart. When young we think there will come one person who will savor and sustain us always; when we are older we know this is the dream of a child, that all hearts finally are bruised and scarred, scored and torn, repaired by time and will, patched by force of character, yet fragile and rickety forevermore, no matter how ferocious the defense and how many bricks you bring to the wall. You can brick up your heart as stout and tight and hard and cold and impregnable as you possibly can and down it comes in an instant, felled by a woman's second glance, a child's apple breath, the shatter of glass in the road, the words , a cat with a broken spine dragging itself into the forest to die, the brush of your mother's papery ancient hand in a thicket of your hair, the memory of your father's voice early in the morning echoing from the kitchen where he is making pancakes for his children." — Brian Doyle

Garden - Week of June 20

2010-06-26T11:20:00.003-04:00

Centaurea macrocephala

Rose campion

The backyard, with pink perennial sweet peas climbing beside the Centaurea macrocephala, and the newly expanded vegetable garden (in the background) - at long last! Since the purchase of the tractor this spring, cleaning out overgrown areas of the yard has been a breeze. We cleaned out two massive patches of Siberian irises from the holding bed, as well as a corner of the bed filled with well-established quack grass, jerusalem artichokes,and lupins. All dug out, and in new homes on the edge of the property. Now we can get to business with VEGETABLES. Yay!!!

Babies

2010-06-26T11:10:00.002-04:00

I am behind in my bird update...but here are the baby robins, hatched from their beautiful robin's-egg blue eggs...(This was taken a few weeks ago).

The birds have since grown bigger and stronger and have left the nest, and are hopping around the yard. Their speckled chests show their young age (I am looking at one right now in the yard; it is plucking at my pink hardy geranium flowers with its beak). Mom still sticks around and makes sure her children are safe :)

Lamb Minutes

2010-06-17T08:35:00.003-04:00

Driving to work this morning down the country road into town...passed by a farm with a field full of sheep and lambs. The sheep were scattered about in a random fashion, although close in proximity. The lambs, though, were arranged in an incredible pattern. All with their heads down, munching on grass, heads facing the same direction...but side-by-side, and in a slightly curved formation, so that they looked like minute-markers on a clock. Lambs from 5 minutes after the hour to about 27 minutes after the hour.

It was a really interesting visual, and also fascinating to think about how they ended up like that. Some sort of comfort and safety in having a fellow creature touching you on either side, perhaps?

Around the yard

2010-05-22T21:27:00.002-04:00

We just discovered that robins built a nest in the wild and crazy (i.e. growing out of control) forsythia bush. We trimmed the bush back the other day, and only then noticed the nest. (We'd seen a lot of robin activity in the area, in addition to other birds flitting about...but didn't realize they were living in there!) I reached in the bush this afternoon and stuck my camera over the nest (which is above my eye level) and clicked. To my delight, there were four beautiful eggs in there!

The bright white, starry Ornithogalum umbellatum are blooming all over the yard. They're so cheerful! I can't help but grin when I look at their vibrant clusters.

An old-fashioned favourite, and one I adore in my garden - Aquilegia, or Columbine, as it is commonly known. They spread into the cracks between the stone paths. I'm so weak - I can't bear to rip them out.

And now for something happy

2010-04-18T18:44:00.002-04:00

Thank you all for your condolences on Sweet Pea. We really miss her, but it was the best thing. She lived a very happy life here in the country. She just got old, and it was her time to go. I dreamt about her the other night; the sun was shining brilliantly, and she was her youthful self, running through a field of long grass, as happy as anything. I woke up smiling.

I looked out the window just a few minutes ago, and the sun was shining through the daffodils. I had to run out to capture the beautiful sight in a photograph! The waxy-flowered hyacinth was gorgeous as well, so I snapped a shot of that too :)

Sweet Pea

2010-04-11T21:00:00.003-04:00

Our dear Sweet Pea -

April 16, 1998 - April 9, 2010

You were such a calm and lovely presence in our home. We shall miss you, Sweet Pea.

...on biscuits

2010-02-07T18:25:00.002-05:00

Craving fulfilled: Homemade marmalade on homemade biscuits this morning.

Using hubby's family recipe, nice warm biscuits baked to crispy on the outside; flaky on the inside. With a chunk of butter melting on the cracked open bread, a nice big spoonful of sweet/tart preserve over top, and a few cups of piping hot orange pekoe tea...just lovely.

Marmalade

2010-02-04T12:22:00.000-05:00

I made marmalade last week. It's a great way to cook up fruit that's no longer at its peak, but is still perfectly good. I've made variations on this recipe three times, and have had fun seeing the effect of using different quantities of the various fruits used. This batch had more oranges in it than the previous two batches I'd made, thus creating the brighter orange colour. The first two batches had a greater amount of apples, which created a darker shade of orange. Other fruits in the preserves are limes and lemons, and one batch had a bit of grapefruit peel and juice thrown in.

I've been wanting to bake some baking powder biscuits upon which to serve the marmalade (with butter too, of course). Hopefully this weekend!

Good Canadians

2010-01-24T18:02:00.003-05:00

Our new canoe! (New to us, that is.) We live near many lakes...so we are looking forward to regular day trips, exploring the Canadian Shield near our home!

And we will do our best to be good Canadians, as per Pierre Burton's infamous line: "A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping."

;)

New Boots

2010-01-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

These are my new boots.

They are red.

They are soft inside.

They keep my feet warm.

Even in the snow!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

A very Happy New Year to you all! I hope 2010 brings you all the best.

Sweet Pea and I just got back from our walk. It is absolutely beautiful out. At just over the freezing mark, the snow is gently falling, and it feels quite mild out. In fact, I was too warm in my down jacket...which is not something you'll hear me say too often (that I'm too warm).

We don't go too far on our walks with Sweet Pea. She is getting old (she'll be 12 in April), and her hips get sore. We probably go a kilometre in total. But she loves going out. Her ears perk right up when she sees us putting out boots on...and when she sees us pick up her leash, she bounces in delight. Here are some pictures from our walk today:

Raccoon tracks

Dr. Seuss Spruce (I think that every time I see those three rounded ends on the branches)

Split Rail Fence

Strawberry Pot -- now almost covered, four days later

And now, Sweet Pea is resting on her blanket in the kitchen; she'll be pooped for the rest of the day now. This is good, as we'll be out until late evening; we are going to a family friends' place for their annual New Years Day bash. Have a safe day, and Happy New Year!

Orchid

2009-12-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Strawberry Pot

2009-12-29T21:50:00.000-05:00

Winter at our house

2009-12-28T21:19:00.004-05:00

Have I really not posted since early October?! Life has been busy. But now it's Christmas holidays; time for things that one normally does not take the time for. Sweet Pea and I went for a really nice walk this morning. There was a lovely dusting of snow on everything, and the temperature was cool enough to keep the pretty snow from melting, and mild enough to be pleasant for walking. Here are a few of the many pictures I took (Sweet Pea stood patiently for my frequent stops)...

Fall Yard

2009-10-05T08:34:00.002-04:00

Getting the yard ready for winter: last lawn-mowing; weeding the veg garden and getting the garlic in; bringing houseplants and lawn furniture indoors; emptying the hose, storing it in the shed, and turning off the outside water...amongst many, many other things.

The canning continues

2009-10-05T08:23:00.002-04:00

Collecting crabapple juice...

...to make Crabapple Hot Pepper Jelly...

...mixing sweet and tart and a nice bit of bite on the finish!

Good food

2009-10-02T16:30:00.002-04:00

Carrots, beets, onions, parsley, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapenos, garlic...and soon, red cabbage and crookneck squash. Still enjoying nice things given by our garden.

Colour Wheel

2009-09-30T12:09:00.002-04:00

When I was a kid growing up in the 70's, we had blue bathroom...furniture? appliances? what do you call the tub, toilet and sink? aha - fixtures, I think!

Anyway, the point of this story is the toilet. We had a blue toilet. If you think of the colour wheel, you will get this: I thought that I peed green at my house, and yellow at my grandmother's house (who, I'm sure you have figured out, had a white toilet).

I remembered that yesterday in the lunchroom when I saw 'yellow' nuts in my friend's lunch container -- the nuts being beige, and the container yellow.

The mysterious ways of how children think and perceive the world...

Glow worms

2009-09-28T13:50:00.002-04:00

"Okay. Get up, Randa. Get out of bed. Now. Go for a walk. You need EXERCISE."

Discussion with myself at 4:45 AM today. I only hit the Snooze button ONCE.

I am so glad I went out. It was actually warm out; about 16 degrees Celsius (in contrast to a VERY chilly Sunday). Of course, it was dark at 5 AM, and foggy, due to the warm air. I wore my reflective safety vest and carried my flashlight, just in case of any cars (there were none)...but my way was lit (to a very limited degree) by the lamposts every few acres in neighbours' yards, plus my eyes just adjusted to the dimness.

It was a very peaceful brisk walk, with few sounds. A light breeze, frogs chirping, a neighbour's hound barking (rarely stops, actually, but that's a hound for you)...It felt great to get out, and to enjoy the early morning in late September.

But my FAVOURITE part of the walk was the discovery of glow worms. I noticed a tiny greenish light on the ground at the very edge of the road between the gravel and the grass in the ditch. Upon closer inspection with my flashlight, I spied a tiny brown 'worm'. I noticed a few others on my walk as well; I'm amazed I saw them, because when I looked more closely, they were always tucked in between blades of grass or partially obscured by a leaf. I guess their tiny dot of eerie green light just kept catching my eye.

That was the best part of my walk. I love the minutiae of nature.

Beets! Dwight K. Schrute would be proud.

2009-09-21T13:06:00.003-04:00

I myself am not a fan, but two family members have a passion for pickled beets. So I happily grew beets in the vegetable garden this summer, and they did very well. Picked them two weeks ago, and pickled them yesterday. It was fun to do, and the final result looks so pretty. It's so satisfying to preserve food; especially food you have grown yourself. And it's so nice to see people smile when you bring out the preserves -- especially on a cold winter day. It's like opening a jar of love...because that's what you made it with :)

Hot Peppers!

2009-09-21T12:57:00.002-04:00

From these...

To this!

Two kinds: Hot Pepper Garlic Jelly, and Double Hot Pepper Jelly. Especially good on top of cream cheese or a chunk of old cheddar, perched on a cracker. In the winter. With wine.

Garlic Harvest

2009-08-05T09:25:00.002-04:00

113 heads of garlic harvested on Monday. (Finally! A sunny day! I've been waiting for two weeks to harvest the garlic, but it's been raining so much...)

So this will be enough to:
* Put some aside for planting in the fall for next year
* Give some to my sister-in-law who wasn't able to get any garlic in this year (and who was the one who gave me the original five heads to get me started a few years ago)
* Carry us through to about next May in our home garlic use

I'm planning on planting at least 150 cloves this year for next year's harvest. I never have QUITE enough. In addition to having enough to carry us from one year to the next, I'd also like to have enough garlic to give as gifts to friends. There's nothing like homegrown garlic!

July weather in Ontario

2009-07-18T21:59:00.004-04:00

It's been very strange weather lately. Rainshowers in the morning; bright warm sun follows; grey storm clouds roll in; air turns cold and the rain hammers down again...sun/rain/dark/bright...It's hard to get anything going outdoors, be it laundry on the line, golf, gardening, sitting outside reading...

These two pictures were taken about 30 seconds apart. The sun shone down on one part of the yard, as ominous storm clouds approached.

Siberian Irises

2009-06-25T10:12:00.001-04:00

Elegant Siberian Irises

Makeshift nest

2009-06-25T10:10:00.003-04:00

Sedum with Robin's egg*

*I found the egg on the lawn. Apparently it was abandoned. The soft fleshy bed of sedum seemed a perfect cushion for the lone egg.

Lupins - glorious lupins!

2009-06-25T10:06:00.003-04:00

One of my all-time favourite flowers in my garden :)

June long hours bring...May flowers?

2009-06-25T09:57:00.003-04:00

Daffodils

Bloodroot

These pictures were taken way back in May. I finally just downloaded them from the camera. So even though their time is long past (in 'growing season' terms), they are well worth seeing at the top of the blog in June. Sunlight shining through yellow daffodils cannot help but make the heart sing...and the folded leaves and peak-a-boo stage of Blood Root flowers in the woodland part of our yard are such a treat to come upon. Enjoy :)

More signs of spring

2009-05-08T09:43:00.002-04:00

More signs of spring: the Marsh Marigolds which burst forth in brilliant yellow bloom this week in the marshes.

Within days, low-lying treed areas filled with spring meltoff went from dull greys and browns to lush green grasses, bright green foliage on the trees, lime green ferns unfurling, and sunny yellow flowers looking like happy little bouquets tucked amongst the trees.

Signs of Spring

2009-05-01T12:04:00.002-04:00

I have a whole bunch of spring garden flowers photos on my camera, but haven't downloaded them yet...so this daffodil picture from last year will need to fill the gap in saluting the beauty which springs forth from the earth at this time of year. The lure of spring flowers is magnetic; one can't help but to gaze upon spring beds filled with tulips, violets, daffodils, hyacinth, crocuses...and see the emerging shoots of Autumn Joy, peonies, irises, lily of the valley, and so many other perennials.

Another sign of spring which I am thoroughly enjoying is the 2-km stretch of the Jock River where the Canada Geese are hanging out. Since the ice started melting in late March, the geese have been collecting in this 2-km stretch where the river is narrow and slow-moving, and there are corn fields across the road. There are thousands of geese resting here, and are often facing the same direction, which I find fascinating (why do they do this? does it have anything to do with the direction of the wind? sun?). I love to watch them every morning as I drive in, whether they buoyantly rest on the river surface, or step about the stubby-stalked cornfields, searching for dried niblets.

Still in the Game

2009-04-24T09:02:00.002-04:00

I am so pleased.

An email went around a couple of months ago at work, asking if anyone was interested in being on a Mixed 'office' team for an Ottawa Slo-Pitch league. My heart beat quickly; I love playing baseball, but haven't played in about 20 years, and have been feeling the effects of aging in the past couple of years. Could I do this? Do I have the muscle strength to throw a ball accurately anymore? Can I run hard without peeing? Crucial questions ran through my mind. Also, I'd be playing mainly with young guys in their 20s and early 30s. Would I be of any value?

Even though I had worries, my excitement about playing ball again (even though it's slo-pitch, which is pretty low key) kept rising to the surface, so I signed up. The closer it got to spring, the more I kept worrying about being out of shape, and about the potential of injuring myself (and of being completely useless on the field). Ego and pride goaded me into starting to exercise. To my surprise, it only took less than a week for me to feel like a more athletic being again, and not prone to injury or embarrassment.

Last night our team had our first practice, with six guys and myself showing up. We threw the ball around for a while, playing catch with another teammate, then played scrub. To my absolute delight, I quickly got into the groove...throwing well, catching pop flies, snagging line drives, running down grounders, and making good hits. I felt excited, content, happy, adrenalized, breathless, giddy...I was SO HAPPY to be out there on the field again.

I was so pleased. I thought to myself, "I can STILL DO THIS."

Administrative Professionals Day 2009

2009-04-22T13:46:00.002-04:00

One of the nice things about being an Administrative Assistant where I work -- each Admin always receive a lovely bouquet of flowers on Administrative Professionals Day...and happily, this year my bouquet contains my favourite flower -- lilies.

Get out of my way

2009-04-16T13:23:00.003-04:00

PET PEEVE: People who walk on the RIGHT side of the road when there is no sidewalk. Don't you know it's safer to walk on the LEFT side, facing oncoming traffic? I've known that rule for as long as I can remember walking.

I often go for a walk or jog in the residential area behind our business park during the workday; there are many others who do the same. It drives me nuts when they walk down the right side of the road, looking at me approaching as if *I* am the idiot, and when am *I* going to move over. Listen, buddy -- did you not pay attention to Elmer's Safety Rules* when you were a kid? Get with the program!

*As I searched out the electronic version of Elmer's "6" Safety Rules (Elmer's elephant voice running through my head all the while), I was surprised to see that there were "7" Safety Rules. Could I have remembered incorrectly? I was POSITIVE there were six. Upon reading the list, I realized that number 7 was not in existence when I was a kid, because wearing your seatbelt in Ontario was not law when I was taught Elmer's rules. Memory redeemed.

Spring Reflections

2009-04-14T11:17:00.003-04:00

My internal switch from "winter sleep" to "SPRING AWAKE!" has been flipped. I've been going for daily walks, and am ready to start jogging. (I've done some short trots on my walks to slowly get used to the idea; otherwise my body would go into shock.) Wow; every year gets harder on the body. The winter weight really loves to 'stick', and it's harder to get moving physically. Ah, the forties. It's seeming like a tradeoff stage: greater emotional happiness; less physical duress. I'm slowly getting used to that idea, but definitely have not given up on staying in decent shape.

I've been THOROUGHLY enjoying my walks. My favourite part is passing the marsh just down the hill from our house. On Sunday I saw a beaver gliding along silently (not a SOUND; I only first noticed it because of the 'v' pattern following its gliding body). It crossed the open water, then became hidden from view as it moved into the clumps of willows. In the same part of the marsh I saw what I believe was a leech, right on the edge of the water near the dried grass. It was about 2" long, black, and very flat/thin. It swam in an undulating fashion. It was fascinating to watch it.

I also saw a gorgeous red fox trotting up the laneway of the house next to the marsh. It was the healthiest-looking, most beautiful red fox I've ever seen. It carried itself in such a poised fashion. Entrancing.

My favourite part about this time of year is hearing the Spring Peepers in the marshes and low lying areas. I heard them for the first time this year on April 3rd. It literally stopped me in my tracks. It's like seeing an old friend standing in your doorway whom you have missed terribly, but accept that you don't get to see each other for great lengths of time. It makes my heart thrill to hear the Peepers start up their spring chorus.

Sunrise

2009-04-14T09:19:00.002-04:00

Sunrise at our house, last Thursday morning. The shots were taken within less than a minute of one another; I find it interesting how different they look. One shot was zoomed (the bluer one); the other shot I think the flash went off.

It was so nice to see the sun coming up when I was still at HOME in the morning. Spring is really and truly here!

Making Informed Choices

2009-04-07T09:38:00.005-04:00

I keep on thinking that I'll write a thorough, long post about this topic, but I never get around to it. So I'll just put down thoughts when I think of it.

What I'm talking about is living green, living simply, reducing one's ecological footprint -- whatever you want to call it. This is something our family strives for continuously (and does quite well at, I think), yet I'm always sort of surprised when something else comes to my attention, and we decide to make another lifestyle change to live better and to make this a better world.

Case in point -- DYES. We've been aware of the presence of dyes in food products for a long time, and take great pains not to buy foods coloured as such. We eat pretty much zero processed foods (there's the odd exception -- chocolate bars comes to mind), so it's not too hard to avoid food dye consumption.

But it's only in the past year or two where we've taken more notice of dyes in personal care products. I'll admit that I've been rather haphazard in my purchases in this respect, buying things out of habit, getting home and taking the time to read the label, and going, "Aargh! Why didn't I notice that at the store!?!" A recent example of this is lip balm. Grabbed a package off the shelf (a name brand which we've used all our lives). Read the label when I got home, and there was Red and Yellow dye in it! Who gives a crap about having PINK lip balm! What is the point of that???!!!! So I returned it to the store, and told them why, too. Hopefully more and more people will make similar choices so that manufacturers get the message that dye is not necessary in personal care products!

In recent months I've been far more conscientious than I ever have in making product selections which do not contain dyes, or are comprised of natural ingredients. For example, the liquid hand soap we used to buy seemed so 'processed' and had a bit of a fragrance. Yes, it lathered well and smelled nice and felt soft on the hands...but what was making it that way? Probably products which I really didn't want on my skin or absorbed into my skin. I did some more looking around when I had to replenish the hand soap, and noticed a natural liquid soap on the shelves at my regular store. The soap consisted of four ingredients, and was a natural-looking brownish yellow colour (not something dyed to look 'appealing'). It cost a bit more than our regular soap, but that's okay -- it's totally worth it to us. We've been using it for a few weeks, now, and it's just great. It makes me feel better that we are making more informed and conscientious decisions about what goes on/in our bodies.

My most recent switch was this weekend. It struck me that the Head & Shoulders shampoo that we use is a blue/green colour. WHY??!!! The bottle only lists the medicinal ingredients, but I'm willing to bet that they add dye to MAKE it look 'medicinal' (since it's supposed to keep away dandruff). So when I was shopping at our local 'alternative' grocery/sundry store, I checked out the wide variety of natural hair care products, and ended up selecting a lovely peppermint shampoo and conditioner , made with herbs and other natural ingredients -- and in Canada, to boot! (We ALWAYS try to purchase Canadian products if we have the option -- even if they're more expensive than the alternative.) We've used it for a few days, now, and love it.

Whenever I have the realization that we are consuming or using something that is not the best for us, I feel a bit foolish and guilty, like I have been duped and not paying attention. But we make changes as we go, so it is definitely a 'moving forward' process, and one we feel good about.

Shopping Success - one in a million

2009-04-06T08:50:00.003-04:00

I bit the bullet and went clothes shopping on Friday at lunch. I ended up returning to work a half hour late...which I felt a bit guilty about, but so many things that I was trying on were actually FITTING and looking GOOD on me that I didn't want to stop! This sort of luck is a rarity for me, given my short stature. I went home with three full ensembles, a couple of camis, and a sweet sexy dress. I totally scored.

And here's a shoutout to whoever came up with the idea of lycra content in women's clothing. (The pencil skirt I'm wearing today, with its element of stretch -- BRILLIANT. So comfortable, yet very nicely fitting. What more could a woman who has to wear work clothes ask for.)

At middle age...

2009-03-11T08:20:00.004-04:00

At middle age the soul should be opening up like a rose, not closing up like a cabbage.

John Andrew Holmes

This is a good reminder for me. In fact, I have it stuck in front of my face on my computer, and absorb the message in my brain and my soul multiple times a day.

Lose the fear, Randa, lose the fear...

Lunch at a lolo

2009-02-18T09:51:00.005-05:00

Lolos are infamous in St. Martin -- local outdoor barbeques, with picnic table seating, looking out onto the ocean, and the cooking done right in front of you. The lolo we went to was in Grand Case, a quaint village where we had gone the night previous for a street festival. On this day, we spent the morning at the beach, then took in some wonderful food and views at lunch.

Red Snapper and Curry Rice

T-Punch (petit punch) - a 'little' rum drink; very sweet

The barbeques -- cooking ribs

local lobster

view from our picnic table -- the Caribbean Ocean

my real life

2009-02-04T13:59:00.002-05:00

It's quite unpleasant to go back to wearing socks, makeup, a watch, and a bra, after being here:

the dancers

2008-10-29T11:08:00.000-04:00

I sit in the car, inching forward in first or second gear down the icy road as the flow of traffic permits. Last night and this morning brought Eastern Ontario's first snowstorm of the season, and it was a doozy. As I drove home from curling shortly after 9 pm last night, the wild wind rocked my car, sending the thick snow blowing horizontally across the roads and fields.

This morning the wickedness of the wind has died down -- a bit -- and the roads are slick with either visible hard-packed snow, or worse, black ice. I just take my time getting to the office; there is absolutely no point in rushing. The good healthy fear I have of my car ending up nose first in the ditch, crumpled, keeps my speed at a reasonable one, given the treacherous road conditions.

At the last leg of my drive before getting to the office, there is a long stretch of road bordered north and south by cornfields. The corn was taken off about a month ago, save for the sections they leave near the road's edge for a snowbreak. Wide open fields in winter in the country are frightening, in that wind-pushed snow drifts onto the road, rendering dangerous conditions for the unwary or uncareful. The corn fences are brilliant natural barriers.

Given that I had been in my car for an hour and a quarter by the time I was at this last leg of my drive, the interior of my car was pretty toasty. I was sick of the blahblah on the radio, so had turned it off. Cracking my window open for a bit of fresh air, I was shocked by the gust that blew onto my face. It brightened me right up; it smelled mild, and made me crave to be outside and walking, inhaling that air deeply into my lungs. I left my window open, savouring the invigorating wind, pulling my wool toque onto my head and rewrapping my scarf around my neck once I started getting cold.

The dancing corn stalks then drew me in. I was moving along in first gear on the road at this point, and could take my strict attention off the car in front of me. The dry, yellowed leaves of the stalks were flapping quickly from the push of the west wind, the rows and rows of stalks giving the appearance of a stageful of dancers in shredded skirts and waving hands, heads nodding in one direction. The backup dancers were the crows, oddly silent, and soaring close over the corn tops, with no apparent destination in mind; only soaring, dipping, soaring, dipping. The pit band was manned by the Canada Geese, honking on the far side of the field where the corn had been cut clear to the ground and where dried niblets lay, ready to be nibbled up for energy before flying south. All through this, the constant whoosh and push of the driving wind.

It was oddly serene and magical, watching this drive-by slow motion show at the edge of the city...a world of sounds and sights and sensations, all revealed to me just by opening my car window; a show which would typically be shut out by my tightly enclosed car, retaining the hot air that is usually blasting out at my fingers and feet.

More Butterflies

2008-10-20T13:35:00.000-04:00

Live Butterfly Exhibit last week

2008-10-17T15:34:00.000-04:00

Red in the Garden

2008-09-02T16:52:00.002-04:00

The Shed

2008-07-29T22:03:00.000-04:00

This is a little bit undersharp (as in 'underdone'), as the western skies were getting dark with a looming storm on Sunday night. I love the effect of the shed looking much longer than it actually is, though...plus I am so tickled with the flower bed I put in alongside the shed last fall. The colour combinations have turned out beautifully...pretty pinks and purples in the Tall Phlox; deep purple Balloon Flower; a rich yellow daisy (or something; I don't know what it is exactly. It's a Volunteer.); and Tiger Lilies just about to burst forth.

Day 1 of July Vacation!

2008-07-21T09:16:00.000-04:00

July vacation! I so look forward to my annual July vacation week. July, my favourite month, when it is hottest, and the flowers are going bonkers, and people are happy because it's summer, and Rum Iced Tea tastes wonderful, and reading on the shaded front porch is peaceful. I am home during the DAY on a WEEKDAY and I see how sunlight hits the kitchen table at 9 am. I have delicious coffee made from our wonderful French press, and have REAL CREAM in my cup. I eat homemade granola on the back porch facing the morning sun and ponder what to put in a recently extended flower bed. I toss around potential activities for the day: garden? read? long walk with Sweet Pea? crafts? cook? The potentials are limitless, and I try not to become overwhelmed with delight.

I am happy to be off work, and to let my creative mind take over for a while.

The sun was out first thing this morning, but then it turned gloomy. That's okay; that's a perfect time for transplanting.

The lilies and tall phlox still look like they're glowing, even though it's overcast.

Rum Iced Tea*

6 cups tea (can use flavoured)
2 Tbsp honey
1 cup orange juice
an orange, sliced thinly
1 cup rum

Brew tea. Pour into heatproof jug, then add honey, stirring until dissolved. Refrigerate. When cold, add juice, orange slices, and rum. Chill again.

*Randa's version: as above, but I add more orange juice, because I find it a bit thin otherwise. I use dark rum, because dark rum is delicious. I also fill the jug with about four or five huge stalks of fresh mint from the garden. The smell of the mint infusing in the hot tea...WOW.

Fresh Ferns

2008-07-15T08:37:00.000-04:00

Irises

2008-05-19T21:59:00.000-04:00

Blossoms!

2008-05-13T20:42:00.001-04:00

Brilliant blossoms
Entirely surrounded

by
Buzzing bees.
The din!
The din!

Ohhh, the incredible, rich, intense scent of lilacs...It literally made me stop in my tracks this morning on my way to the car...

Almost

2008-05-10T20:24:00.001-04:00

The crabapple tree is about to bloom...

Almost

2008-05-10T20:24:00.000-04:00

The crabapple tree is about to bloom...

Gardening Vacation Week

2008-05-07T03:55:00.000-04:00

My vacations generally revolve around my gardening schedule. I take a week in May, so as to capitalize on the best time to move around perennials (when they are just sprouting). Also I am DYING to be outside in the garden after a long (this year, VERY long) winter. I also take off a week in July, as it is my absolute favourite month (so I can luxuriate in the heat).

So this week's main task is to clear out the Holding Bed, with the plan of planting a major vegetable garden this year. I'm making excellent progress, and feeling very encouraged. Finding places for the many lupins which have spread vociferously in the bed!

Today, in addition to the clearing of the above, I tidied up my favourite bed: the one beside the entrance. I put a ton of sawdust mulch on it last year (courtesy of our good friend who owns a fine furniture-making studio), which has: 1) made the bed look very tidy and pretty, and 2) keeps the weeds down and makes pulling the odd weed very easy.

We have the most delightful little violets ALL OVER our property, covering the lawn in addition to taking over many of the flower beds. I can't help but smile as I see them take over the rocky rubble area where we stack our wood:

Gardening progress photos to follow this week!

Chionodoxa lucilae

2008-05-05T08:39:00.000-04:00

Finally figured out how to spell the name of this flower: Chionodoxa luciliae -- also known as Glory of the Snow. Hard to get a good photo of the flower (with my limited knowledge of light settings on the camera); the white in the center seems to glow, almost...

Administrative Professionals Day

2008-04-23T11:20:00.002-04:00

Today is Administrative Professionals Day. While that is the work I do (I am an Administrative Assistant in a construction company), and am treated very nicely in particular on this day, I find it embarrassing to be part of a group which has been designated as requiring a day of note for what we do. Everyone here at this office works really hard, and brings many great qualities to this company and the work environment. It strikes me as somewhat whiny to have a day for 'Admin Professionals', in particular because most Admin people are women, and it gives the appearance to me of, "What about ME?!! Pay attention to ME!"

Alright. Having said that, I, along with the other Admins, just received a GORGEOUS bouquet of fresh flowers (which we do every year), which I am absolutely in love with, and truly do appreciate. I am being taken out to lunch in a few minutes by the guys in my department, which is very sweet of them. (We're going to a favourite Viet-Thai place of mine. I am salivating just thinking about the curry dish I plan on ordering.) So I will try to relax and enjoy the nice things coming my way and not over-analyze the weirdness of the day, and realize that people are just showing their appreciation for whatever goodness I am able to add to their workday on a regular basis.

And here is a profileration of pics from my new bouquet. Enjoy!

first one this spring

2008-04-09T21:50:00.000-04:00

To my utter delight, I discovered my first garter snake of the year this evening at their habitual hangout -- the stones over the well. One lone snake warmed itself as best it could on the top rock, in the balmy 14-degree air.

It wasn't too impressed with my intrusive picture-taking.

The snow is melting! The snow is melting!

2008-04-06T19:24:00.000-04:00

Quindoxa shoots emerge, as the sun warms the earth...and warmed my face, as I sat outside and happily read my book this afternoon (while still bundled up in my Fair Isle sweater and wool socks).

Butterfly Vacation

2008-04-03T10:56:00.000-04:00

The snow is finally melting. You can actually drive down the street without fearing that your sideview mirrors will be ripped off by oncoming traffic. The texture of the snow is dry and granular, which makes for some interesting melting effects. A coworker commented this morning on the 'sculpture' effect of the snow outside his office window. I took some photos, and was struck with the mood to superimpose the snow on another background. This is the result.

Yellow

2008-03-30T20:28:00.000-04:00

French Sticks

2008-03-28T14:42:00.001-04:00

in a huuuuuge flour bag

Big Snow

2008-03-09T20:24:00.001-04:00

So you may or may not have heard, but there was a wicked-ass snowstorm in Eastern Canada/US from Friday night to early Sunday morning. I made sure to pick up any groceries needed for the weekend on Friday evening on the way home from work, because I knew we would not be leaving the house for the next two days. It started snowing on that night at about 7 pm...and basically became an insane storm for the next 36 hours or so. The photos I took don't do the intensity of the storm justice, I find. Here are a few; hopefully you get the idea!

Woodpile, Saturday afternoon

Woodpile, Sunday morning

Laneway drift, about 7 feet high

Uncovering the cars

Cupboard key in backyard shed

Holistic Treatment of Sore Throat

2008-02-26T12:09:00.002-05:00

After a very fitful night of sleep two nights ago due to a sore throat (the inflamed kind where I dream dreams of suffocation because I can't breathe), I hopped online yesterday and did a search on 'holistic treatment of sore throat'. I found a concoction similar to the one the kids' great grandmother passed down through the family...but this one had a few more ingredients which, in my mind, improves the medicinal effect.

I drank the 'tea' last night -- and had a GREAT sleep. Had another half cup of it this morning upon rising, and my throat is almost completely back to normal. I HIGHLY recommend this. And if you don't have a need for this right now, WRITE IT DOWN, and tuck it with your medicinals, or stick it on your fridge, or put it in the front of your recipe box. There WILL be a time when you'll say, "Damn, my throat hurts! I remember reading a recipe for..." Here it is:

Tea for Sore Throat (enough for one mug)

1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (hot sauce will do if you don't have cayenne)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
small piece of fresh ginger root
2-3 whole cloves (the spice, not garlic) (crush the cloves a bit to release the oils)

Mix it all in a mug, and drink as quickly as you can (i.e. while it's still hot). It works amazingly well; it feels wonderful on your throat.

Irish Wisdom

2008-02-22T09:33:00.003-05:00

I was given a lovely little book a couple of weeks ago, as an "out of the blue, and for no particular reason" gift. It is titled Irish Wisdom for Parents, and is filled with simple and down-to-earth Irish folk sayings on raising children, with adorable coloured drawings interspersed throughout.

Every time I open the book and began reading the sayings, tears invariably spring to my eyes. I don't know if it's because my children are standing on the threshhold of adulthood and are becoming truly independent, but I find so many of the entries in this wee book so damn POIGNANT.

I can be a real sap sometimes.

More, and more, and more snow

2008-02-15T09:01:00.000-05:00

This morning started off well, but not exactly as planned. Typically a group of us at the office meet for breakfast on Friday mornings in the winter months. It's a pleasant way to end the week, with a relaxed social meal before the final workday of the week begins, and to start the weekend off well. This habit falls by the wayside as the weather warms in March or thereabouts (I use "warm" as a relative term; really I should say "becomes not quite as cold")...but in the depths of January and February, it is exactly the sort of meal and sharing of friendship which warms one's heart and soul. And tummy.

So -- this morning was the first Friday in a while we'd organized a breakfast, as our main 'Breakfast at VT' initiator (VT being the nickname for our local business park eatery) had been away from work for a few weeks. I was quite looking forward to going, even though I knew I had to get out of bed RIGHT WHEN MY ALARM CLOCK WENT OFF, and get out the door at least a half hour earlier than usual. Well, this morning came. My alarm went off, as it usually does, at 5:16 am. (5:15 seems too early; 5:17 is too late.) I haven't been sleeping well in the past couple of weeks...this morning I was soooo cozy...hubby was soooo comfortable to snuggle up against...zzzzzz...I HEAR EMMA COMING DOWN THE STAIRS -- SHE'S GOT THE SHOWER RUNNING -- QUICK! CAN I STEAL IT FROM HER??!!? I leapt out of bed, scooted to the washroom, stood before Emma, and literally pleaded with her to let me jump in the shower before her. "No, Mum; that's not right; I'm having my shower now." i.e. I got up on time, and you didn't. I felt like the kid and she the adult. Serves me right.

In the end I got out the door pretty quickly, although not as early as I'd have liked. I knew the gang would still be there by the time I arrived at the sandwich shop, but would be at the end of their breakfasts. No biggie, but it would have been nice to get there early and have a relaxing meal and gab instead of a rushed one.

Of course, getting to the city fast wasn't an option today. It snowed overnight (more snow; just what we need. We've had about 300 cm [118 inches] of snow this year so far. The record snowfall for Ottawa in one season is apparently about 400 cm. Everyone's very sick of snow.) so I cleaned off my car, and headed out on my 87 km drive to work. The roads were pretty messy, so I had to drive very sensibly. By the time I got to the edge of the city, I was dying for bacon.

As I pulled into the VT parking lot, the snow had begun to fall again, and very thickly. I quickly wrapped my luxurious thick handknit scarf around my bare neck and dashed into the shop -- to be greeted happily by my friends...most of whom had arrived just a short while before. Real life got in the way of others this morning as well, it seems...so all was good after all. The waitress (who, incredibly enough, is named Randa as well), was at my side instantly and poured me a hot coffee; my order of one egg overeasy/brown/bacon/homefries arrived within minutes. Carefree conversation flowed easily, filled with family stories, work gossip, winter weather laments, and other odds n' sods.

It was a perfect way to start the day...and somehow, all the snow and crappy driving helped to make it so.

Our office parking lot this morning. The snowbanks from the snow pushed back off the lot are getting pretty high. I think I'll bring my Crazy Carpet to work on Monday to go slide down the hills.