Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Happy Summer Solstice!

And what a lovely night it is! I took the fiddle out to the back deck with every intention to play, but there was a deer nosing around the far edge of the property and I didn't want to scare him off. The fire flies are out in force, and though the weather is still nice here, we can see the lightning south of us. Dressed in my favorite jeans and a flannel shirt, and barefooted is exactly the right way to welcome a cool summer night. A jim dandy of a night.
Welcome summer, I've missed you.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

New (to me) Re-enactment Clothes


Sometimes, good things do come out of disorganization! The friend whom I borrow my re-enactment clothing from could not find the skirt and shirt that I usually borrow for these events, so we started going through the extras bucket and put together a whole new outfit that I'm very excited to get to wear. The best part is, nobody else likes the skirt or shirt, so all I have to do is make myself a vest and I've got a whole re-enactment outfit that can actually be mine (and not just borrowed). I had planned to make a dress for myself this winter, but you know what I say about the best laid plans. Maybe this summer I'll finally get one made.
This weekend, we will be going to Port Dover, and it's one of the events when our unit (Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada) becomes the IMUConnecticut. Our soldiers dress in grey American uniforms and play for the other team, as it were. Hey, we all have to take turns being "the other side" now and again or we'd be chasing shadows around the field. Life is not much different for us women though, we still dress and act the same.

Trivia question: in 1812, one would say "God save the____________" Post you're answer in the comments!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Grandma's Casserole

A week ago I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my mom and Grandma at grandma's house. She made the most fantastic casserole for lunch, and now that she's given me permission to share the recipe, I though I'd let you all in on the next best thing to hit your french whites.

Creamy Ham Casserole

2 cups broccoli chopped
1/2 green or red bell pepper diced
1 cup shredded cheese
1 1/2 cups cubed ham
1 1/2 cups fusilli cooked
1/2 cup miracle whip
1/4 cup milk
an extra 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Mix first 5 ingredients in a 6 qt casserole dish. Mix miracle whip and milk
together. Toss with the rest. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake at 350
for 20 minutes uncovered.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The best laid plans...

It's supposed to be a beautiful, natural, symbiotic relationship. Not unlike the way natives grew corn and beans together, my pea plants were supposed to benefit from the sunflower plants, using their big thick stalks to climb up, while legume plants (like peas) help fix nitrogen in soil, which sunflowers use up a lot of. Unfortunately, the peas are starting to grasp for something to hold on to (the row closer to us), and the sunflowers are still kinda spindly and tiny (the further row). Apparently they'll shoot up on us any ol' day now... but I think maybe next year we'll plant them a few weeks before the peas.

One day I'll figure out this whole companion planting thing...

Radish Greens

When Zack helped us plant the garden this spring, he accidentally dropped the package of radish seeds in a corner of the garden. Today I pulled them up. There were about 20 tiny little plants, the largest three radishes are all still smaller than my thumbnail. I just meant to clean up the garden a bit, and pulling these young plants was way easier than trying to pick up the microscopic seeds. But then I got to thinking about all these fresh greens I had in my hands and thought: are they edible? Turns out they are. Tonight we will be having braised radish greens with our dinner!!
The first food out of our garden this year, and especially welcome considering none of the lettuce seeds grew. I guess it's a new kind of spring green... though, right on the verge of summer I can't help but feel we're beyond fashionably late at this party.

Monday, June 13, 2011

This Week's take from the Farmer's Market

This week Zack and I went to the market with my little brother. They were doing some kind of televised weight loss pledge in the center of the market, and it was loud and repetitive and there were bells ringing, so we didn't spend as much time as we usually do.

Still, we came away with potato herb bread, sheep's milk cheese curds, lamb leg chops and vine ripened tomatoes. Not a bad haul!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The Vegetable Garden

All moved in

It's so good to be back here. I love this place. I love the gardens. I love the yard. I love the conservation area behind us. I love the 5 bird feeders around the back patio. I love the feel, and the rhythm, and the flow of this place. I love being around my dog again. It's good to be back.
(and family isn't a half bad reason to be back either!)
So, now I scour the weekly paper and make my connections with the world and try to find a job. I want to be a stablehand, and spend my summer mucking out horse poo. I also want to be doing some equine massage.
For now, I'm gonna go bury my feet in some dirt and pick away at the weeds in the vegetable garden.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Moving Day Tomorrow

So now comes the part where all my belongings here get reduced to as few boxes and bags as possible and tomorrow we get to jig-saw them into mom's car. More like tetris really.
Its kinda sad. Both of the other places I rented a room I was starting to feel like good riddance by the time it was time to leave. I'm really going to miss Zack's mom and stepdad. And even miss living in the city a little. But, they're family now, and I know I can come and visit any time I like. That will be nice. And if I need to be in the city for anything I know I've got a place to stay.
I don't really know where to start packing, but I think if I just get myself out of bed and pick something up it will set the ball in motion.
The city is giving me a grand ol' send off. There's a nice rumbly thunderstorm going on out there right now... the good ones where the thunder vibrates the lining of your lungs. And it wasn't even in the forecast! Might just play hooky and go dance in the rain for a while.

Friday, June 3, 2011

A day for small dreams come true

It started with Zack's mom treating me to a pedicure, and ended off playing my favorite board game with our neighbors and a 3 week old baby falling asleep in my arms. Toss in some good coffee, shopping at yorkdale, finding a potential grad dress and making a little girl feel like a princess. Need I say more? Not everybody's idea of sunshine, but I think today was a really awesome day, and I'm thankful for every minute of it.