Autumn's Treasures

The autumn colors are coming on with hurried splendor.

One day they can be found creeping in here and there amongst the gardens and 

the next, at least it seems, the birch trees are aglow with the 

fiery hues found only at this most enchanting time of year.  

The poplars have begun to turn, the reds of the amur maple mingle

gently with the just touched tips of the tamarack. 

While this time of year finds me wanting to do this

I think I could be just as happy doing this

But instead, I'm really, seriously trying to get my blog "shop" up and running.  
Really, I''m trying.  Thanks for being patient.  
In between I'm working on a little autumn DIY project for you to try. 
I think you'll like it.  
{both photos above Sarah Maingot}


Enjoy its every moment, it's passing quickly.
Here's to autumn and all her possibilities.

A technical melt down and a so long . . .

LIFE IS BEAUTY

    FULL . . .

It's been a couple of those weeks.  Autumn is without question my most

favorite season.  A time when the sun shines more brightly, when the warm cool breeze

and scent of the earth's floor bring a sense of renewal and calm and feeling of

contented joy.  It's a time full of "nesting" tendencies,

of harvesting natures bounty, of making and baking and preparing 

for the colder days to come.  It's a beautiful time full of life and which

on occasion finds me asking the question:

"How can life be so breathtakingly beautiful and so 

challengeing and heartbreaking all at the same time?"

In the scheme of things, the technical glitch (a.k.a. computer meltdown) that has 

prevented us from getting our "shop" up and running on the blog

or posting at all,

seems unimportant when it also arrived at a time when I said

so long to a really great guy in my life.  

SAMUEL HYSLOP

10.10.98 - 13.09.11

A great companion who loved to help out in the garden, loved to be carried, but in 

just the right way, was a great cuddler but hated to be hugged,

a really great "hot water bottle", an incredible hunter, watching out for his brother even 

sharing the occasional mouse, going on one unauthorized week long vacation causing 

intense worry at home until a mailbox flyer in the neighborhood returned 

him home safely.

We miss his presence in our home and in our lives.  Probably more so 

because unlike any feline companion I've ever had, Sam was a "talker".  He held 

his own in a great conversation leaving no doubt that he needed to be heard.

His range of vocals was noticeable.  The "I want to go out NOW" tone, the

"I'm hungry NOW" tone, the I'm in need of a good cuddle" tone, the "oh please, please, please" 

tone and the "hunting sucked" tone offered in reply to being asked

"how was hunting today Sam?".  Known to be a scrapper who protected

his territory when the unauthorized "wild" cats showed up on his turf and

a kind and gentle soul at the same time to be sure. 

You were loved Sam, rest easy and party on!

Here's to the family members of the furry kind . . .

Getting ready . . .

I know, I know, it says "coming soon".  

I really did mean it at the time but time's the thing!

It's soooo hard to believe it's already September.   It has been

a fantastic but seemingly fly by summer. 

We have had our first few nights of light frost but an early

rise to spray the gardens down has prevented most damage.  

The forecast is fantastic and the overnight temps more reasonable.

And so it goes come September.  There is still much to be done

in the gardens.  The final perennials are going into the gardens to allow

them to put down proper roots before winter, the cutting gardens will

be harvested one last time for fresh cuts for market this week, the harvesting for 

our lovely dried bunches has begun and will continue throughout the week,
the soap making marathon has begun in preparation for the gift 

giving season, the house is a mess and the laundry has been piling up. 

We've been a little busy.  Not complaining, just saying.  The infamous

list never wanes and some days it's all about priorities.  

But, having said all of that, we have been busy taking pictures and getting ready to

post the pretty awesome little pictures of goods for sale. 

Effective Monday, September 12th,  you'll be able to pop by the "Shop" and pick out a 

treasure or two.  Mark your calendar, don't miss out, we've been

saving stuff up!  

Here's to being busy and enjoying these golden, sunny, cozy days.

Beets, Beets the musical fruit . . .

Oh ya, that's beans! 

The beets are bursting from my garden and many of yours as well I suspect.

My most favorite way to eat beets - plain and simple.

Roasted. 

I simply harvest beets and after removing the tops, snipping off the root

and giving a gentle scrub, I wrap them snugly in tinfoil and bake/roast

on the barbeque.  When squeezed (with the oven mitts on)

and the package feels tender but not too tender,

I take them off, let them sit for a bit,

open the package and let them cool just enough to handle them

with a rubber glove on - then the skin just slips right off.  Nothing added, just

wonderful, naturally grown, sweet beets!  

They are great chilled and added to salad and a few beets also make their way into jars of lovely 

pickled beets.

But, today my friend linked me to this really beautiful recipe for 

BEET CAKE.  

I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful, relaxing baking video.

  Not that I watch a whole bunch of baking video's but trust me, you'll

know what I mean.  

You can take a peak  here (be sure to shut my blog music off at the bottom first).

She also sent along a very pretty printed version but she didn't write down where 

she picked it up from so I apologize, I'm sharing without a link.  If you happen

to know who it belongs to please e-mail me or send me a comment and 

I'll be sure and get the link up right away.  

Have a really Beeeetiful day!

To market, to market

I think it continues to be one of those best kept secrets.  Did you know that Thunder Bay has a thriving farmer's market called the THUNDER BAY COUNTRY MARKET.  Home to some of Thunder Bay's best bakers, makers and producers who bring a wonderful selection of made, baked and grown goods to their market tables every Saturday from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Did ya know, huh, huh, huh . . .

Well if you didn't, now you do!  One of my favorite market vendors is Renata of MILE HILL FARM.  I swear she grows the best lettuce and seasonal greens mix around.  When in season, I get my fix every Saturday and knowing that what I bring home and put on our plates is grown locally, naturally in and on land that continues to be worked by Renata and her family, and by the way also tastes really incredible, is a nice feeling.  

Renata and no - not Moe!

Renata's farm is a family run farm committed to providing natural meat and naturally grown produce for people who are concerned not only about what they eat, but also about the health and well being of the world around them.  You can catch Renata in the market garden of the Country Market every Saturday and to learn more about her wonderful and by the way beautiful farm, go here.

If you visit Renata at the market these days you'll find her fantastic garlic, beautiful sweet onions which will be making their way into my salsa this week,  and 'working' right along beside her -- a little farmer in the making.  

Miera Thiboutot was offering these fabulous little morsels 
'free with a 50 cent donation'!

Affectionately called Basil Boats -- a beautiful basil leaf,
one gouda cheese curd and a yummy, sweet cherry tomato. 
Just the smile was worth 50 cents. 


Cheers to little farmers!

Fresh picked

The other day I went to the farm to pick raspberries.  Yum. 

While many immediately became a lovely snack
 as I drove home, the remainder have made their way into my freezer 

(and then back out again quickly for this photo).  

Later on when I have time, they will become jam or make

their way into muffins and scones.  

Gotta love fresh picked from the farm to your table, nothing beats a lovely
summers day drive to the farm knowing that the goodness found
there will be discovered in your freezer or pantry months down the road. 

On the other hand, as I was driving home, there was what seemed like 

a large number of dead skunks on the road here and there.  Not unusual at 

this time of year, especially on a "country" road but it seems to me
 I've come across a great deal of "road kill" this year -- deer, rabbits, porcupines
and it got me thinking . . .

not about the poor little skunk really but the larger picture . . .

how heavy our footprint has really become and how we need to be purposefully mindful

to tread more lightly when we can.

Here's to farmers -- backyard & otherwise.

Have a tread lightly lovely day.  

A little R & R

I know I haven't posted in a bit -- I've been away 

looking at 

this

and doing 

this

and well, this

but, I've been up to lots of other things as well.  Watch for my posts on the

market, the gardens, works in progress . . . 

I hope that you have had some time to chill out as well!

See you again soon.