The Montreal Visit Adventure!

I was really lucky to have my exams finish on the 11th of December, some students don't finish their exams until the 22nd. Bronwyn and Dad came up to the big-poutine city for a retrieval visit. They launched away from Guelph in the wee hours of the morning and arrived close to lunch. While my dad slept in my comfy bed, Bronwyn and I hit the town. I bought her a disposable-film camera so she could take her own pictures of the adventure. We took the Metro to the Pie-IX Station and did the Biodome tour.

Posing in the Biodome, St.Laurent Exhibit.

Amazonian Fish, and the instant camera!

Bronwyn Outside the Olympic Stadium.

After the Biodome, we headed back on the Metro and went back home to my apartment. Bronwyn, my dad and I then went out for dinner downtown at a retro diner style restaurant. They ordered poutine, and I had a salad for starters. My dad ordered a massive smoked meat sand which, Bronwyn had a little burger and I had a vegetable primavera. It was a welcome change from my cheap college meals.

Posing in an alley-way... her idea.

In the Apple Store!

Our dinner at the diner: Nickel's Restaurant.

Driving home in the early morning!

Christmas & Holidays in Guelph

Christmas this year was great! Now that I live away from home, I can savour and cherish my family time even more than I did before. I had lots of great food and meals shared with my family and nights together over movies or board games.

Someone got a Barbie Camper-Van!

On Christmas day we went over to my aunt's house for an all round multi-family celebration. Around 10 pm I took scamp out for a walk and we discovered an injured mourning dove! These birds have a knack of falling into my care. I took her home in a shoe box and let her dry-out from the melted snow in Icicles old cage, ironically replacing hers on Christmas. The little bird's tail feathers where missing and she is now spending the rest of winter and spring at a bird sanctuary in Rockwood, Ont.

I never ended up naming her, but if I could now, her name would be "Snow-Drop"

For Christmas my aunt and cousins got my a round knitting loom set. Its been great, I've made four circle scarves/cowls and a few other things since I started looming. Its so easy to pick up and do while I'm watching TV or reading. Lastly I've been so lucky to catch some of Bronwyn'sfigure skating while I'm home. Each time I watch her she is getting better and better, she truly loves this sport, I'm hoping to start sewing her some dresses, and expanding it into a hobby-job.

Look at that stride!

Donkey Sanctuary!

Bronwyn, Morgan (2nd Cousin), my mother and I all headed out to The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada during its holiday open-house hours. It was a great winter family experience, a super close drive to Guelph! They simply ask for a small donation per person and that you respect the rules. You can move through at your own pace and enjoy the peaceful barnyard setting back from any main-roads.

All of the donkeys, mules and hinnies are tame, quiet, calm and restful and are extremely gentle with children and everyone else. Donkeys are furrier than horses, and are super soft, the staff left several brushed lying around so kids could groom them. The staff was a mixed group of women who had no problem talking with guests and teaching visitors about donkeys amidst their chores and duties. I love all animals and any organization who takes care of those in need, these donkeys are well taken care-of and enjoy a lovely facility.

For Christmas they had lights strung up in the barn rafters, and bails of hay to form a sitting area in a reading nook right next to the indoor pens, with Donkey story books for children to read with parents. It was a bit cold, but they provided free hot cider and hot-chocolate and a small fire pit near the entrance, there were spruce and cedar bows decorating the fences and barn, too picturesque! It's the perfect time to go, the mud was frozen and no-one got dirty!

To learn more about The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, visit their website, by clicking the hyperlink!

Cocoa the Standard Donkey!

Super curious and gentle!

Say: Cheese girls!

The heart is seen through the eyes.

...a bit of grooming

Admiring the do.

July 15th- Garden Update!

"Rainbow Mix" Swiss Chard is ready to cook up in pasta, stir-frys or as a side.

Fresh organic blue-berries ready to pick!

Ripening Green "Early Girl" Tomatoes in the Raised beds.

"Alaska Mix" Nasturtium in bloom. I've been enjoying a few on my salad every night.

We have been really lucky have a very sunny, hot and stormy July so far. This is perfect for heat loving plants like, fruit (raspberries, blue-berries, blackberries) and the end of my ever-bearing strawberries. Tomatoes and eggplants also benefit from the insatiable heat. Other plants like, lettuce, spinach, radish and chard tend to become tough and bitter, and start to form seed heads. Bronwyn and I have been spending 1-2hrs around dinner time, weeding, thinning, pick and snacking down in the garden. Everything is super healthy this year. Soon we will have a great harvest of carrots, beets, beans, kohlrabi, joy-choi, hot peppers and celery! Like always, the herbs are growing strong and we have had no shortage of seasoning for meats, salads and potatoes. Keep in touch, stay up-dated!

Gone to the Goats!

Bronwyn and I spent last Sunday on a local food adventure. We went out to St. Ignatius Farms in the north end of Guelph, where they were hosting an open house and The Guelph Wellington Local Food Festival. The hot topic around Guelph these days is Local Organic Produce. We always take for grant it what is in season in our local area. It's not like a grocery store where you can just walk in and get apples, berries and carrots year round. Not only does it help local farms, thus stimulating local economy but you get to enjoy top-of-the line organic vegetables, grains, cheeses, fruit, meat and fibres. Ever since Headwaters this has always been on my mind, to think more consciously about where are food comes from, it's environmental impact and the quality of taste, colour and texture. Sure, it's a slow and inconvenient way of preparing meals sometimes, but I love the idea of slowing down and going back to the old way of life and respecting the nature of small scale farming and the organic processes. I love food, and what is better than going out on a hot, muggy Sunday to enjoy it. One thing in particular that is fresh right now is garlic scapes! The tender beginnings of the garlic flower bud, found in the curl of the plant, sweet and 10x stronger than garlic its self, you chop it up like a fine herb and use a small amount in stir-fry, marinades, roasts, sauces, preserves and soups. After listening to some local folk music, enjoying some rhubarb lemonade and playing with hula-hoops, we drove to a local goat farm in Arthur. There Bronwyn and I met several cute goats with personalities, learned how they gather milk, made cheeses, spreads, ice cream, yogurt and meats. We also met two dogs, pigs, chickens and a pony. Bronwyn loved every minute and is always asking "Can we get a goat for the backyard?" She and her friend Sol, fell in love with a goat named "Thor" who they climbed around in the barn with. I loved two baby boys named: Baby New and Baby Poo, they followed me around trying to suck on my figures.

In the pool!

What's with Aidan lifting people? Now that he has grown into his man strength he can't help but use it. We really love using the pool on hot days and when friends are over. This year in April we started using the pool, cool, but just as fun. We are looking forward to some great pool parties and the construction of a Tarzan rope. We are also looking to light up the pool in a creative way at night. Bronwyn has come a long way in her swimming lessons, next year she will be able to do the number levels and progress even more. Come join us for a swim!

June 29th- Garden Update!

This spring has been super hot and wet. Bronwyn and I have been busy in the garden, planting, sowing and munching away. This photo to the left is one of the strawberries from the ongoing harvest of our backyard garden. Bronwyn is learning that it takes along time to plant things from seed and that some strawberries are smaller than others. She loves to check for new fruit at the end of each day, we eat and count up our bounty. So far we have picked 24 strawberries. Bronwyn is also learning about insects, soil and how bees help the garden. She is still working on conquering her fears or creepy crawlies. Other plants in the garden that we have been enjoying are Lettuce, Rainbow Chard, Spinach, Radishes, Nasturtium Flowers, Herbs, Calendula, Onions and Rhubarb! This photo is of an Herb bouquet I made for some friends.