Meanwhile, Across Town

I supposed it isn’t entirely over just yet but we are certainly closing in on it. The nights are cooler and the sun sets just a bit earlier each evening. It all seems like it goes by too fast but in retrospect we had a great summer. First and foremost the garden was and continues to be a great success. We had our first winter squash of the year and I have to say it is probably at the very top of my list of favorite veggies. The girls attended two different art classes, one in painting and one in pottery just last week. These classes we at the Haliburton School of Arts and since it is close to Corrie’s dads they stayed in the guest cottage for the entire week. I did head up to visit with them for a day so we could poke around the town and see some sights. One of my favorite sights that I have been meaning to take a picture of is the shoe tree. Now I’m sure there are lots of these all over the world but when you come across it on a deserted back road it always brings a smile to my face.

Now thoughts turn to fall, next years garlic, bringing boxes of kindling up from the woodshop and things of that nature. Each season holds it’s own special joy but fall always seems to be my favorite. I’m sure before we know it there will be snow up to our hips and then summer will be upon us again.

Oh what a grind it is too. You would thin for someone who works a seasonal job in the summer they might be smart enough to have a hobby that isn’t centered around backbreaking amounts of summer chores. Since Corrie is less tethered to a baby this year the garden has been a rousing success with her help. The garlic is once again spectacular, there are more beans than you can shake a stick at, not to mention the carrots, beets, potatoes and tomatoes as well. Heck there are even zucchini, pumpkins and winter squash on the vines as well. Our meat birds were victims of a raccoon earlier in the summer when about half of them were killed for sport but the survivors grew big and they averaged about eight pounds each which is not too bad if I say so myself. Our pig raised by our neighbours is currently at the butcher and soon it will be time to order our freezer beef and then our meat needs for the coming season will be all taken care of. Luckily we still had enough pickles left over from last year that I only needed to do one batch for our friends which made the 4 days of canning shrink to just one. There is still tomatoes to can and of course elderberry jelly to make but the things to do before the snow flies list is shrinking.

The kids are growing faster than the produce and it is downright shocking how much help they have been this year. They’ve piled firewood, picked veggies, washed veggies, weeded the garden and cut peaches for Corrie’s peach jam. It is so nice to know that with each passing year they will be able to help that much more. Don’t think that it is all work around here as Corrie and I are taking Molly to go visit our good friend Bill and finally see he brand new shop. I really can’t wait for a whole day of grownup conversation and a few tattoos as well. Talk to you all in the fall!

Actually there were a whole bunch of people in there this weekend. As the rain continues (let’s not think about garlic and potatoes rotting in the ground right now) we took full advantage of the cool day to catch up on some baking. I of course required some of Corrie’s patented giant muffins and whipped out two batches,  one oatmeal chocolate chip and one lemon and red currant. The cookie jar was bare as well so there are a full batch of slightly undercooked (just the way I like them) oatmeal chocolate chip and raisin cookies too. We also had an abundance of eggs as our regular buyer was away and didn’t require her weekly delivery so we baked up a giant (and I mean giant) batch of pound cake. Using a whopping 24 eggs, 12 cups of flour and 12 cups of sugar among other things we produced 7 large loaves and 7 mini loaves. Not pictured below was Saturdays efforts of two batches of strawberry jam and one strawberry pie. The pie didn’t last long and was still warm when it disappeared and the jam has made it’s way into storage. Our weekend of cooking all began from an abundance of eggs and our favorite veggie vendor at the local market having too many strawberries and not nice enough weather to sell them all so we got one heck of a bargain. And now the oven has been switched off, the dishes washed and once again the freezer is full to the brim.

I’m not sure it the title is referring to the crazy amounts of rain falling on us right now or my enthusiasm for posting to my poor neglected blog. On one hand the garden, rain barrel and the well give thanks for the rain but on the flip side when you only get two days off every two weeks a rain day certainly puts a damper on things. Not to fret though as there is always plenty to do inside as well as out so it looks like today will be filled with cutting and painting trim and perhaps a second coat of paint on Corrie’s new bathroom cabinet. Work outside has been progressing nicely with two cords of wood split and stacked with many thanks to Olivia for her help with the stacking and my neighbour for lending me his 3 pt. hitch mounted log splitter. On the horizon there is more wood to pile and new this year there is hay to cut. Rather than watch the pastures grow and grow only to be hacked down with the bush hog in the fall we’ll be cutting and baling it this year with already two potential buyers for it. Heck it’s like found money growing right out the back door. The meat birds are doing well and getting fat, the layers are laying and the berry bushes are heavy with berries ready to ripen. All is well.

Well there was no fire involved but we certainly got one hell of a storm. Several of them actually. After a relatively sunny and warm month of April, May has rolled in with a vengeance. We’ve been treated to several days of torrential downpours as well as a couple days of wind that seemed like they would never end. It’s not to say that I’m working on an ark or anything of that nature but we were certainly lulled into thinking that summer was here already. With the rain comes green grass and that is certainly worth it after months and months of shades of greys and browns. The apple blossoms are out and the strawberry plants are growing in leaps and bounds and if only we could get a couple dry days we’d work on getting the garden in.

Since it is Saturday once again perhaps a trip into town to the farmers market or the sale barn and see about picking up this years meat birds. Best to make the most of the day since tomorrow is Mother’s day and each of the girls have drawn, painted and crafted about a hundred items each for Corrie the entire day could be spent doling out the artwork. And on that note I’m off and running with coffee in hand.