Accidental (Kitchen) Bliss

My table decor this year includes dried flowers from the garden.

The month began with an accident that led to completing a kitchen project I'd wanted to do last winter, but never did manage to find the time. I came home from work after being away and noticed our stove top, which is a cooktop placed into an old fashioned gas stove, wasn't working on one side. That meant two of four burners were out of commission. 

Somehow, only a mere ten minutes or so later I accidentally dropped a small jar on the 

other side of the cooktop. It shattered the front burner that had been functioning just a second earlier, leaving me with glass shards and a sole back burner to use. 

A beautiful rose from a friend who just moved away... 

This stovetop set-up has always been a great idea in theory, 

but in reality it's been an issue since the Christmas we moved in. I assume it was fitted with 

nouveau technology induction when our caring fore-owners came up with the idea. 

That first Christmas, if you recall, I cooked for 12 in one small pot. That was repetitious. 

And it was loud! 

Then I bought, and was gifted (thank you!), all new pots and pans that are magnetic. 

Cooking worked at that point - clearly a plus - but it was still making its normal constant buzz, like standing beside a beehive. And the temperature was wicked. Not only do I hate burned food, but you could not simmer, nor brown, and overflow was inevitable, which leads me to where the overflowing liquid would then seep. Clean up wasn't pretty, and I was losing most of any conversation, if one dared to try, in our otherwise socializing-friendly kitchen, while standing at the stove. And on a dangerous note, it was possible to turn on burners without really touching the controls, meaning it was easy to do completely by accident! Yikes

Our new-old stove 

Well, it doesn't sound fancy, as it isn't, but I bought a new radiant heat cooktop, of which there was only one on the market that could fit our old stove set up. Jordan installed it, I caulked it, and together we sealed up the front as well. In the end, we have a lovely quiet atmosphere, smelling of caramelized onions and gently cooked garlic in butter, and a finished project that continues to emanate the olden days country style in which it charms... if only I had more time to cook. To cook like the French, as perhaps Julie, or Julia Child... At least I now can attempt with some likelihood of success. (Don't you love the decor in Julie's apartment? Or Julia's Parisian apartment??? And if you don't know what I'm talking about just watch Julie&Julia.) 

Amazing Apple Cider - so good as it is, heated with spices, or mixed with some bubbly.

It was an accidental opportunity to change what we liked least about our kitchen. 

The only other complaint is a lack of lighting over one counter. 

I'm sure that change won't come soon, 

but perhaps I'll be inspired to do it in the next ten years... ha! 

For now everything is pretty much perfect. Only I need a few non-metal strainers, and well,               the list goes on! However once I have them my kefir creations will be streamlined and no longer seem so much of a chore. More on that subject soon, I hope! 

Advent Kranz - every candle alight a wee bit early

As for the rest of December, I hope to begin feeling Christmassy. 

I've hardly started shopping (I vow to start in September next year.) and I dread it, 

I've not made a single sweet treat, and there isn't even red or green ribbon left for sale, 

let alone have I wrapped even one gift. I suppose we managed to get the tree up on Monday accompanied by some store-bought egg-nog, and our Christmas guests do have 

clean bedding and towels. So if you feel you're not keeping up to the ticking of the advent, 

we are in the same boat, and I just wish we all may get the chance to 

enjoy the magic before it's all gone....

Violets, Violas, Pansies, Etc!

We've had our first real chinook already and I'm thankful for the warmer temperatures. 

It's really pleasant walking about the yard without slipping or traipsing through deep snow. 

Plus it's easier to stay warm, especially since I'm sick (so sick my mom caught it over the phone!). 

And chores can be enjoyable! 

As the snow receded, it exposed these tenacious and happy violets, 

still somehow in bloom despite three weeks of heavy snow and -25 degrees Celsius. 

They remind me of the people who started out on a homestead quarter-section, and made it. 

Hardy little wonders... I read violet's Spring 'blossoms' don't actually produce seeds, 

which makes them a sort of non-flower, 

and it seems they simply grow these lovely little faces purely for joy! 

I conferred with a native species guide and it appears mine are wild. 

There's a yellow faced type, too. 

All the violet, viola, pansy, johnny jump ups, etc 

are closely enough related it seems they can be used interchangeably in herbal remedies. 

I wonder if the Dycks - our quarter-section patent earners - 

ever saw these blossoms in similar conditions (I'll just go ahead and assume they had a 

much closer relationship with nature than even I do, even if they did build our cozy 

little house for us, it's not as though they had the same conveniences...) 

and if they would have remarked on the strength of das Veilchen 

(or simply used the English term) 

and if they'd have used the flowers and leaves as a part of their medicine chest? 

My throat could really go for a violet syrup just now... 

I must remember to pick more of these next summer.

I'll guess they must have eaten them, if nothing else! 

Flowers are a sort of gourmet food, I'd say.

Either way I hope they never got sick like I am now. 

I do like to think I might stay healthy if I stayed put on my own wee homestead 

and avoided passing around germs as we do in contact with the general public. 

Then again, they'd likely have attended church - a fine enough place to share pathogens. 

I've only ever captured the properties of violets in vinegar, which I use to make a hair rinse. 

Since we are still really happy with our newest and improved Argan oil shampoo bar, 

it's nice to follow it with a vinegar rinse. Do you want to make one? Maybe you already do.

In case you'd like to know, here's my method:

VIOLET VINEGAR RINSE

INGREDIENTS

                              🌿 Violet flowers (and leaves)

                              🌿 White vinegar, this is ideal because it's inexpensive and will capture the colour well

                              🌿 Water

                              🌿 Essential oils, I prefer a Citrus mixture

                              🌿 Spray bottle, easiest way to apply without getting in the eyes, or wasting it! 

INFUSE THE VINEGAR  Fill a jar half full with the plant material you've freshly picked. 

Fill the jar with the vinegar, cap, and set in a cool, dark location, shaking when you think of it. 

After a few weeks or so it's ready, but you can simply leave it longer until you're ready for it, 

as I will over the winter. 

MAKE UP THE RINSE  When you're ready to mix up the Rinse, strain the vinegar 

(all or just what you need), and discard the plant material. 

I use a strainer over a funnel to directly pour the, now beautifully coloured, 

vinegar directly into the spray bottle, filling halfway. You could use plain vinegar, too. 

Add water to fill to (almost) the top, and essential oil to mask the vinegar scent. 

The scent of the vinegar will not remain in your hair, so don't worry, 

and depending on the amount of essential oil you use, 

you may or may not smell that either once you're out of the tub. 

USE THE RINSE  Wash your hair, squeeze it out, spray wet hair with the rinse, 

rinse with water, and use conditioner as you wish. I do. Boys/men love to skip a step, 

and I say, "more conditioner for me!", but either way by using a vinegar rinse 

your dried hair will leave it noticeably softer, and by using a violet infusion over time, 

it'll keep your hair from drying out. 

P.S. The traditional method is to pour the rinse (a more diluted version) over your hair, 

which works of course, but I prefer to easily avoid my eyes, 

and by using a spray bottle I find it goes a lot further. It also means fewer accidents. 

P.P.S. Using any flower related to a violet should turn your white vinegar a lovely pink, 

purple or blue! I like to use a clear spray bottle to enjoy these tooth fairy hues.

While I've been cooped up mainly inside, I've been finishing up with some over-due chores, 

such as sorting seeds from their seed heads, and organizing them for next year. 

Which is actually a pretty big job. Obviously I'm in need of new methods or contraption to assist me. Or just the two boys and five girls, plus spouse, of the early Dyck household...! 

You'll be hearing more about the Dyck family as we discover more. 

We are finding our farm's history to be quite fascinating, 

as is the process of gradual information collection!

Floret's Flower Farming Intensive Course!!!

Talk about butterflies in my stomach. 

I've just 'invested' in my small crop farming education. 

I like excitement butterflies (think Monarch), but I'm feeling more anxiousness (think moths...) 
simply because what lies ahead isn't assured. 

When is it though? (I should remind myself.) 

I think it's more about the monetary lump, 

versus my hopes and aspirations for the meat of the course itself.

While I know this course will be taught by a pro in the field (literally) and 

I have found her example teaching methods to be very clear, thorough, and helpful, 

and while education is never a bad thing -

when forking over the payment for any course or programme, 

I always find myself wondering if it's right for me, and the best one I could reasonably choose. 

I've always swooned over taking one of Floret's past courses held on farm, hands on and seeing. 
Those days are over though, so too bad for me. But why shouldn't this version be as good?

Just a tiny bit jealous of those lucky people who did attend!!!

If you don't know about Erin and Floret, please just feast your eyes, here. 

If you want to read about the course, and past on farm events, here.

I have read every word in her lovely and informative book Cut Flower Garden, 
and I talked about it in April. 

So here's my thought process behind taking the dive, 

concerning what I find important, and my pro and con values: 

Who the course is aimed at - People like me in a round-about sense. 

Lots of other people with only a few similarities may well get a lot from it. 

Maybe more, maybe less than me. Positive 

Knowledge and Know-How - Erin is for real. Hands down. 

Entrepreneurial success followed by trial and error, and constant improvement on her way there. She's not giving her students anything but what she's proved works. Definitely positive 

College/Accredited course - How do I know this is equal or better than Floret's course? 
It's a fact I don't, and probably won't. Unless I take them all! 
College courses I could take aren't totally feasible with my current schedule, 
are actually more costly, require some courses I don't even predict would be overly helpful, 
and may not include exactly what I want. 
Do you care if the flowers you buy are grown by a horticulturist or a biologist? 
I bet you've never even given it a real thought. 
If you did, you thought this flower was grown by a flower loving farmer. 
Doesn't it look nice in this bouquet? Right. 
However, it's not a tax write-off. Neither are all the best things in life. 

All things are equal - or slightly better

Instructor/Teacher - We all know about this one. 
If you connect, the experience is just that much better. I do think Erin is that for me

Cost and Virtues - Floret's is expensive. Its true. But try to create the same college equivalent 

and you'll pay more. Or you want just one elective and you need prerequisites. 

You also won't have lifetime access. You can't do it at your own pace. 

(Take other training programmes on a similar platform and the course simply won't offer 

the depth or detail, though the cost would be so, so very much less.) 

It may not be held comfortably outside of the growing season. 

Still I find myself saying, you just never know. 

And I totally sound like a relic who needs to loose my tarnish. Get out the Silvo!

More positive than neutral. Course isn't useful if one cannot attend.

Could this be done Myself - I am a fan of figuring things out myself, 

even if it means doing everything the hard way. 

To save money, to prove a point, or mainly because I didn't see it another way -  

probably because each step became so taxing I couldn't look up and see a resolution. 

What I actually mean is I am self perpetuating in a stick-with-it way, and that's great,

but certainly I'd prefer to breed some sense into my actions. 

You know, when you get good advice; take it. Right?! 

Also, how much is my time worth? 

Researching from scratch as we've done in the past has meant a time consuming 

and labourous outcomes we would rather not repeat. 

Who's ideas are we using anyway? Positive 100%

Not Making So Many Mistakes, For Us/Me - Time is worth something. 

Frustration kills enthusiasm for even the most positive, go-getter, energetic, inclined human. 

It also makes you tired. 

Reducing my time, trouble and expenditure on the wrong things is so helpful! 
It could probably save the cost of the course, and then some. And our sanity. 

Content - Oh this one is the hardest. If it's a wonderful course designed for me, then perfect. 
However I have fears. But it could be simply perfect. 

Hands On - I'm just hopeful in this area. What if I struggle because I'm not able to be hands on? 

Random but Cool - The course is going to be easy on the eyes. 

Everything is filmed on their gorgeous small farm. 

And as you know, Erin's got impeccable taste in flowers, colour and arrangement, 

plus she's one organized woman. It's going to be a beautiful course! 

This is clearly a bonus, but I've decided this couldn't sway choice. 

Well now that I got all that out, and down on paper, it seems I've I made a logical decision. 
Good thing! And, it's going to be gorgeous, to boot. 

Now I can await the course start on January 8, 2018, with my proverbial monarchs! 
Anticipation is the best! I'll be keeping you up to date...

You're asking, am I going to become a flower farmer? 
Who knows... But I'll probably be growing more soon!

Leave me a note, and tell me, what's your favourite garden flower? 

You do all secretly know how much I also love herbs. I guess it's not really a secret!
That's right those fluffy orange (and yellow) calendula blossoms do a lot more that just look pretty.
Herbs are very companionable. Flowers and them are a good match.

What herb could you not live without? 

Yorkshire Dales Area

On a perfect Autumn day I enjoyed a lovely walk in the Yorkshire Dales area,
and brought my camera along.

On the right side of this little bridge, there is such a sharp uphill turn that there I met with a backing-up truck tankering fuel,
and a downhill stopped semi as it wasn't possible for them to pass! 

A day or two before I went out to the countryside, 

I received an email from Robin Harford on what to forage in November.

I was excited to use his guide because I was actually in England! 

The very place he wrote it.The very place he forages.

And because Alberta prairies don't often offer too much in the way of foraging, 

nor the items of which he seems so particularly fond.

And even though I was trying to be very observant in this outdoor environment, 

I didn't really find a thing except for rose-hips, and they were soggy, and sadly spoilt.

Anyone else have any luck in this department?

I love these simple stiles. Can't say I have ever seen one in Canada. 

Then again, walking culture is different in North America. In so many ways...

I found a broken down, old and abandoned house in the woods. 

 I always try so hard to imagine how it once was, who was there, and why they are gone...

I couldn't help myself and climbed inside. 

I just had to see more!

We are actually uncovering some very interesting facts about 

the beginnings of our homestead and farm. 

Those things just set your mind to thing, wondering, pondering!

There were hundreds of these over-turned black mushrooms along my walk.

Any idea what kind they are?

You see, I was in fact there. If you can recognize me out of focus...

Afternoon sunshine pouring down..mmmm...

 There were many people out enjoying it, but I caught a wee break in the traffic on the main trail.

Back home now, with seeds to sort, produce to use, and some reflections to be had. 

And snow to traipse through. Of course! It's winter after all.

There will definitely be fond reminiscing of the garden!

And perhaps I'll even post on harvest and seeds sooner than later...

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Sally, Our Newest Love

No, not a pet - a tractor!

Sally Satoh is her name.

Just the right size for our farm, though a tad light on the front end. And pretty darn cute!

Awfully photogenic, don't you think?

The pooch even joined us for the family photo!

A proud owner in the beauty of Autumn.

Oh how we love you, Sally!