Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

It's Christmas Eve and I've finally begun feeling the spirit today, mostly due to the fact that though I have to work straight through Christmas, at least I got to deadhead on West Jet's 'Frozen' plane, right after I enjoyed an Eggnog Latte. 

We had our little decoration party early in December so I've been able to enjoy a festive home, albeit a very dry tree. Since I like to click around looking at other people's decorations on Michael Wurm Jr.'s Inspiredbycharm.com Christmas Home Tour, and secretly covet a spot on it, here's a quick look at what is waiting for me when I get home to celebrate. 

Maybe next year we will have a tad more time to develop our country Christmas décor! And enjoy it, together. 

I'll be back once more before the end of the year for a little 2016 round up and direction for 2017. Before that happens, I need to decide on a pre-printed agenda or a new book for more bullet journaling... 

What's your preference?

Peace, joy and love! 

Soaps, Detergents, Cleaners, Disinfectants...

On the subject of homemade and natural cleaners and their effectivity - I know I shared an idea I'd put together a while ago (a vinegar and borax solution) - I've delved deeper and with quite some research and found some really good, simple, safe solutions regarding disinfecting. 

The spay I shared will suffice for relatively clean cleaning. 

You know, the stuff that only needs minor cleaning and /scrubbing and not so much disinfecting. Which is necessary, so it won't go to waste. 

There's some internet discussion on how acids and bases may cancel one another out, 

but in my world I actually don't care about my cleaner's pH, 

rather how it cleans my house, and it does. 

Although we often use these terms interchangeably, it's interesting to be reminded of their definitions.

Soap: "a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids" (Merriam-Webster) 

or more simply put, "...oils react with lye to create a solid mass... the result of saponification is soap and a small amount of glycerin mixed in." (the Soap Queen)

Detergent: "a powder or liquid that is used to clean clothes, 

dishes, etc.:a chemical substance that is like soap" (Merriam-Webster)

Cleaner/Cleanser: "a substance used for cleaning things" (Merriam-Webster)

Disinfectant: "a chemical substance that is used to kill harmful germs and bacteria" 

(Merriam-Webster)

What I found out, in a nutshell, is that there will never be a disinfectant more effective than bleach, and yes we are talking chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach is 100% effective, when used properly. 

We also have a 99% effective option which happens to be not only safe for the environment, 

the water table, you, your family and pets, but also easy to use and make, 

plus it's likely you already have everything you need. 

So, if you're willing to sacrifice a 1% possibility of parasitic infection, 

for other awesome benefits, please read on. 

Firstly, I must say, I noted in a number of the articles I read, a valid point worth mentioning 

(based on how I've seen some people over the years 'clean' something, 

and the article PhD authors' respective repetition): "when used properly". 

That does mean, regardless of what you want to use as a disinfecting agent, 

you must first prepare the area by cleaning it up. Mop up the mess (discard if necessary) 

and then clean thoroughly with hot soapy water. 

I thought that was obvious, but maybe not... 

Then disinfect as per the instructions on the Chlorine bleach bottle, 

if that's your choice (and I will still be using this for anything really nasty, just to be sure) 

or follow this simple solution, which is again, only 99% effective (like birth control, when used properly!): vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. 

You'll need: 

Vinegar (5% acetic acid, which is standard, or stronger, but stick to white vinegar for the least amount of lingering scent)

Hydrogen Peroxide (3% is the dilution required, and luckily just how it's most often sold in Canada, however I happened to have a food grade 30% strength bottle on hand, which I diluted myself {I'm sure this is the cheapest solution in the long run})

Two spray bottles, empty and clean (it's best if they 'mist' well)

Add the vinegar to one bottle, the hydrogen peroxide to the other, and you are ready, assuming you've already cleaned up the area to be disinfected. Now spray either on the surface and wait a minimum of 5 minutes, wipe it dry (or perhaps it already has dried), then spray the other and wait a minimum of 5 minutes, wipe it dry. That's it. 

*Don't combine the two because together they form another chemical compound 

which will not disinfect. 

*I noticed that to end up with the most neutral smell, it helps to start with the vinegar. 

*The vinegar/hydrogen peroxide does not make your skin feel all weird the way bleach does if you aren't wearing gloves. Which I never want to do. Another win!

The great thing is a person only really needs dish soap, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, borax, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide - possibly chlorine bleach standing by for those truly drastic incidents (non-chlorine bleach's active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, so it isn't sold as a disinfectant, btw, but colourfast for your clothes and also not as bleaching as the original), to clean their home. 

My previously blogged water, vinegar, borax and tea-tree spray is a useful and handy combination. 

It seems to remove soap scum as well as any other cleaner when used in conjunction with baking soda for a scrub. (I love the fizz).  

The frugal cat also gives a mighty PURRR for such a cost effective solution!

I guess I have to ask, if chlorine bleach is the active ingredient in most cleaners on the market, what the heck else is in there, and what side effects do they have? (Maybe I don't want to know). 

As if that isn't reason enough to go Au-Naturel when it comes to your home. 

Not that I suggest or condone ingesting or bathing in any of the items I listed. 

Anyway, next up on the investigation list of cleaning arsenal is dish soap, as they are not all made equally, and because most of the information on the internet is geared toward the US, not Canada, where I buy cleaning products. 

I see that Dawn is the favoured brand of the US, but that's more likely because the lucky animals during the terrible Gulf of Mexico oil spill got washed with Dawn, than the actual wonderfulness of Dawn as a cleaner and its biodegradable-environmental impacts. 

Heck, even plastic biodegrades after thousands of years. 

A grand publicity scheme if ever there was one. But also for a good cause. 

I'm all for washing petroleum-ed wildlife.

I have an inkling this is going to take me down the road of saponification, which is right along the lines of chemistry I love (home made and from scratch!) though more expensive to start out than the above, so we may have to add lye and oil to our shopping list!

I just have to quantify it all for myself. Knowledge is a powerful tool. 

Brrrr...

Just a little bit brrrr... I know it will plummet soon.

No snow for some time now, but lots of ice fog making beautiful statements 
out of our trees and yard.

After four days of the growing crystals, the sun came out!

Time for some pretty cookies and warm loaves of bread out of the oven.

I even figured out how to braid four for my loaf. 

Now I just need to learn to fishtail my hair ;)

Chocolate Salted Caramel Sandwich Cookies

The chicken's egg laying quota has reduced somewhat 

- I hope not too much more - 

but they aren't scared of the cold!

I, lucky me, got an early Christmas gift, allowing me to update myself in the 

savviness of computer intelligence, blog with ease, and manage my photography properly.

That's the idea anyway. More on that shortly. 

Marsa Alam, Egypt

At Warsaw Airport 

I hadn't before had the opportunity to fly to Egypt during the day, 

or to fly anywhere other than Sharm El Sheik, 

which for me isn't the Egypt I've ever dreamt. 

Alexandria and the Mediterranean Coast

In the summer I went to Marsa Alam, 

and though it's on the Red Sea we flew over the mainland to get there. 

It was cloudy over Giza, so no pyramids for me,  

but a view of the Nile valley from about Asyut to Luxor. 

Near Luxor

The Nile is the centre of a striking, fat, green snake that stands out clearly against the sandy desert. 

Luxor 

It was very hot in Marsa Alam and on the approach we suddenly saw this 'town'. 

It came out of nowhere and we both wondered if it had been a mirage. 

It was indeed a real town, but the feeling or illusion may still have been caused by 

the same type of light refraction that causes a true mirage. 

Islands in the Red Sea

I guess I keep getting closer to visiting the ancient places of my childhood dreams... one day! 

Egyptian Red Sea Coast

Saudi Arabia in the background

Now it's all Cancun and Canada for the foreseeable future! 

(Until next year...)

Rosie the Riveter

Surprisingly, I haven't been making many cakes recently. 

Only two in October, and one of which an order. So I guess it's fair to say I'm craving cake. 

The first cake was a repeat that could be appreciated so many times over. 

A pumpkin, chocolate, cream cheese cake, which ganache. 

Always delicious in my book and as expected it disappeared rather quickly.

The second cake was an affair. I always feel fondant makes for a grand affair. 

In reality kneading fondant is the main chore, giving one carpel tunnel, 

all the while worrying about the finished cake.

Fondant cakes are something that is meant to look a certain way, while icing is so versatile...

Each is different and has its applications.  Here, fondant was the obvious choice. 

I was given no instruction other than to make a Rosie the Riveter cake,

so I took the liberty of using a sort of comic book style and I'm quite pleased with the results. 

As always, I hope it tasted good!

Colder days mean more time for the kitchen, so hold on tummy, I'll fill you up!

Colder days mean different types of projects: 

Tidying up, organizing, sorting, preparing, dreaming, planning, reading, 

while wearing long-johns and wooly, downy, furry everything. 

Having animals and still having high standards of cleanliness inside our home has meant 

a rather bothersome amount of cleaning, very regularly. 

It has also brought me to consider what I'm using to clean. Obviously it has to work.

I like soap, rags, and water, but what I needed was a germ-ridding spray. 

I mixed a cup of vinegar with a cup of water, added and stirred until I dissolved  

a 1/2 cup of borax, and added about 15 drops of tea tree oil.

So in one spray bottle there's cleaning, deodorizing and disinfecting all in one. 

Interestingly, it leaves almost no sign of a vinegar or tea tree scent, 

just freshness, which is good because we don't ultimately care for either!  

Don't those flowers just make you want them to last? As an oil, perhaps?

On the subject of essential oils, I'm quite interested in distilling some of my own. 

It's totally okay if you want to, 

but I'm not into spraying them around my house or diffusing them, 

since for me it not only makes the air feel heavy and thick 

(and unclean like the air needs serious degreasing), 

but becomes a lingering smell refusing to vanish despite fresh air... 

but rather to use them for homemade natural cleaning and cosmetics.

I think lavender, calendula and rose could be places to start. 

But this falls under the above category of dreaming... 

Speaking of dreaming, I think this little one might be!

Snuggle time with mama in the sun. 

oh so cute

Winter Begins with Memories of Albania and Greece

As the first snowflakes come whipping around the house, mostly horizontally, 

I can accept that our extended Autumn is now ending. 

Quite the gift of Mother Nature to allow me, after my late return: enough time to finish up 

in the gardens, prepare our yard and house for winter, and even plant some daffodils. 

Maja e Kendrevicës, Albania. Mount Cika is behind.

Since it's a cold day, and the chickens are snacking on some warming seeds 

and the rabbit babies are tucked in their makeshift nest, 

I thought I'd finally share some of the summer. 

Corfu!

The routing is pretty similar when flying to four of our destinations in Greece, 

all on the Ionian Sea: Corfu, Prevesa, Araxos and Zakinthos. 

Spellings of Greek places varies through Europe, 

which is fair, I guess, since the greek alphabet is different than ours. 

Did you know in Bulgaria almost everyone is versed in three languages, all

closely related, but with slightly different alphabets similar to the greek alphabet. 

That's what a Bulgarian told me, anyway. 

Albania, near Sarande, looking north.

I don't spend much time thinking of Albania, but when I do 

I see the mountains that form the desolate area of the hide outs of the enemy in 'Taken'. 

As you can see there is also plenty of farm land. 

It's quite green in the lower areas. 

Can you see Kerkira airport?
Airports are sometimes quite tough to see even without clouds in the way!
Knowing the surface's orientation is one trick to locating it. 

Albania is only a couple kilometres from Corfu, so don't forget about it! 

Or Macedonia, where "Kaliméra" isn't kosher, 

(instead try "Dobro utro" - whoa doesn't that have some similarity to Polish??) 

but the controllers kindly do put up with our collective pilot ignorance. 

In Albanian it's "Miremengjes", in case you need it! 

Which you DO, since you're Canadian; courteous and worldly.

The north end of the island of Corfu. Don't you just want to take a dip?

Very kindly, a colleague friend of mine lent me his long lens for the same camera body I have. 

I won't say I got the hang of it, because I didn't (my heart's art remains stuck on close-up 

and portraits, I suppose) but, it does allow observation of more detail. 

So, thank you Nigel!

The border between Albania and Greece: See the first hill directly on the shoreline?
The border cuts east (left in this case) from the innermost part of the bay 'above' it. 

Aktion airport is a military aerodrome, near the city of Preveza.
We are just backtracking to depart from the threshold of 07L. The elevation is 3 feet lower than YVR, at 11'!

 I need a bit of a rest from all the physical labour over the last month. 

Any back stretches anyone can recommend? 

I believe stretching would be more helpful than massage, though who could say no to a kneading? Some quiet time will be good as it will allow me to get to some inside business, 

like reading, researching, sorting/storing saved seeds, and knitting warm, wooly things. 

Plus, we are developing fresh eating strategies for the chickens.

Books on the Go - 

Currently reading and loving the streamlined methods proposed in 

'The Lean Farm' by Ben Hartman, all ideas we'd like to implement gradually ourselves, 

returning to review parts of 'The Small-Scale Poultry Flock' by Harvey Ussery, 

(the best chicken book ever) and learning some interesting and useful information 

with 'Butchering' by Adam Danforth.

And then there are Christmassy projects to get started upon...

Computer Woes and Other Misfortunes

I nearly packed in the blog for good with all my recent computerized tribulations. 

In fact, I nearly went off the radar completely. I mostly still am. 

Drowning one's phone is a predicament that throws oneself into such a state.

It's a nice cozy spot where I can exist 'non-contactably' and unidentifiably. 

But it's also impractical in this day and age. Sadly... 

Here's the lovely calendula!

Living in modern times probably means somewhere from the point of OS 10.6.8 onward. 

That's because OS 10.6.8 is so old it's verging on prehistoric carbon dating, 

while the original iMac is in the Palaeolithic Period, 

and that little box with a screen we had when I was a little kid, 

is now considered to be one of the earliest stone tools to have been made by man. 

Blah, blah, blah. 

The moral of my caterwaul is buying a new computer always solves you problems. 

They go for about $1500.00. 

FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS??? 

Yeesh. Okay, okay I'll stop my griping and catch you up.

The good news is that I learned a few things in the process, and I am now actually able to blog normally once again. Which also means I can properly backtrack to the summer :) 

We finally got a photo with our sign we made for our farm. 

The name is a namesake for the couple who lived at Blue Moon Farm before us. 

It was the name they named the farm. They figured you only buy a farm once in a blue moon! 

We agree. In 2015 there was only one blue moon and we were able to enjoy it together 

despite all the time we spent apart, which gave it significance. 

There won't be another until 2018! 

Nothing too exciting has happened so far this Autumn, apart from unseasonably great weather in which I've been able to get many extra chores done outside around the property 

(it feels great to be catching up), our harvest of which I am quite proud, 

and of course, baby rabbits! 

It snowed... awww I am outside...

Um, it snowed! Didn't you notice? Let me in!

C'mon don't just stand there with the camera. GUYS!!!

 I spent a quality 2 hours being entertained by Jason Bourne last weekend. 

Matt Damon is awesome. 

Which reminds me of Adam Steele. Remember him? 

He is basically Jason Bourne ;) 

Diaries of a Hopeful Gardener - Salt Spring Seeds

Gardening connects me to what is real, (as do my small assays into animal husbandry, building, kitchen endeavours, and knitting) add heritage seeds and seed saving, and real gets even better. I'd just like to share my happy endings regarding growing seeds from Salt Spring Seeds. You can read more about the company and their philosophy, here: www.saltspringseeds.com

The Seven Top Turnips are reminiscent of octopuses. Don't you think? The plan was that these would be animal feed, and the chickens did love the tops. The roots have been stored in sand and are being fed slowly so my dear poults continue to have fresh food now that the garden is packed up for winter. 

In the photos the turnips are about 60 days from direct sow, and when I pulled the crop for harvest at 90 days the roots were more developed, those crazy taproots had aerated my soil (they were a tad difficult to get out of the soil) and the extremely bushy tops were dying down ever so slightly. Planted June 18, in very poor soil, had excellent germination, were quick to make the garden look green and alive, left in the ground for a few light frosts and one hard frost, about 90% reached a good size. I might instead try a smooth cultivar next year, known for keeping well. Just to mix things up. 

The amaranth was one of the most attractive plants in our garden. The stocks grew tall and the 'flowers' were colourful and fun. Sadly in our short and far too cool and wet season, and week early frost, they didn't have the chance to develop seeds. I'd happily try these again next year, but start them earlier. 

Two interesting facts: the roots are the same colours as the stalks and flowers and they stayed upright and tall after a 30 hour wind storm that even the chickens wouldn't go out in. 

Both the phacelia and borage grew well, were very popular with bees and could be used as attractive bouquet fillers. The blossoms of the borage were featured floating in drinks, on cakes and just about everything else as they are edible and perfect for such applications. The phacelia is curled a bit like a fiddlehead and unusual. I've attempted to save seeds from both - they are drying out now. 

The cosmos were white through the deepest fuchsia, have a single row of petals, and bloomed profusely at the very end of August. I've also attempted to save some seeds, though the frost may have thwarted my efforts. 

The calendula was really beautiful. I'd have liked to collect the blossoms for essential oil, but of course I was not home at the prime moment to do so. Next year perhaps as I'm sure I've been able to save these seeds. They were vibrant orange with some variations in the centre colour and petal fluffiness. These lasted well into the frost looking cheerful and were the final plant to be removed for winter. 

Since we were so happy with the seeds I am now experimenting with garlic and shallots. I've planted this fall 50 garlic (Music), 25 garlic (Red Russian) and 50 French Grey Shallots. I might have preferred more of the Red Russian garlic but since my mom was kind enough to bring them all the way out to me from Salt Spring, I cannot complain about order mistakes! ;) 

Speaking of what is real, check out this cool woman (Megan Samms) here: http://megansamms.com/. We dyed the samples above in Indigo with her. (Let double dipped, right single dipped). We met her at our local wool mill (Custom Woolen Mills) where she was the artist in residence.

(Sorry no photo just yet of the calendula - it will arrive with the rest of my very tardy posts😉)