Surprise!

When you go away for awhile, you sometimes come back to a surprise!

Our ladies began laying. The egg in the middle is a commercial large white - for reference only.

We were away on vacation for four days and when we returned - there they were.

Lions, Tigers, and Academic Papers, Oh,my!

Okay, it doesn't roll off the tongue.

I am drowning in end-of-term papers. Or more accurately, I am drowning in papers and books. My whole bed is covered and has stayed like that for three days.

Since DH is working out of town this weekend, and I was left with a mountain of work, I often stayed up so late as to just fall asleep in the mess.

Sad thing is when I woke up, it was still there. And it will likely stay there until these papers are finished, later this week.

Every once in awhile, I reward myself by daydreaming of simpler, get-your-hands-dirty, organic things - like knitting, or sewing or making salsa. When my vacation starts next week, you can bet I will either immersed in a trashy book, knitting a tea towel or some other lazing around.

Certainly, these profs shove a lot of work our way and it is their job to do it. But the real problem is how difficult it is for me to get started writing. I am a die-hard procrastinator.

So, I bring this on myself. One of my friends finished a paper I am still writing weeks ago. I was truly green with envy....

A Swim a Day....

We have been swimming a lot in Georgian Bay. However, never as much as I would like to.

This evening, and for the last three nights, I have been reflecting on how lucky we are to have such a clean and beautiful place to swim, boat, fish etc. as I swam in the lovely WARM lake water.

Tonight was the warmest water yet.

Have you had your swim today? I realise not everyone lives near a lake, ocean or watering hole. But if you do, get out for a swim. It is free therapy.

Zucchini Relish

So far this year I am way, way behind. I missed strawberry season so there is no strawberry jam and no strawberries in the freezer. I had good intentions mind you. I simply ran out of time.

I did get six jars made of rhubarb jam, but if you give lots of things away, six jars of jam won't get you far.

Last summer I didn't make any jam, but the previous year's jam 2008 lasted us until this February.

We are on our last jar of zucchini relish. It is pretty delicious stuff and according to my son, store bought will not do - so it is homemade or nothing.

Since I had some friends who had zucchini to give away, I decided now was the time to make relish. Normally, it is best to wait a few more weeks until peppers are available, but this time I bought some peppers at the store.

With helpers like these, there isn't much for me to do.

Yesterday, my kids helped me start the zucchini relish. For a good zucchini relish, you must soak in a salt water brine over night.

Today we will finish by squeezing out the juice, adding the seasonings and vinegar and process. I will post pictures later.

~~~Update - I promised a finished picture ~~~~.

~~~~Recipe~~~

After several requests - here is the recipe.  I admit I didn't create it. But, it is the yummiest relish I have tried. If you try it and like it, let me know!

Terms of Reference

I meant to post this yesterday, but I was so busy I didn't have time. Details in the next post.

Okay, my big plans yesterday need firming up and fleshing out.

I obviously will have to give up a few things, and there will be others I can't find and I will need to make a decision.

Everything I will buy will be from Canada; most, but not all, will be local. There isn't that much that I will need from further than our borders of Southern Ontario (seen any Goderich salt lately?)

Here are some examples of this "fleshing out" below.

Foods that are totally off the list:
bananas (don't really eat those anyway)
citrus Fruit (aakk! I will miss my iced tea & lemonade!)
rice, quinoa, etc.
olives
chocolate
alcoholic beverages( I don't drink wine so I am SOL!)
most processed or packaged foods that I can't identify the origin fully (example would be cottage industry jams, syrups, sauces, name brand smoked meats)



Exceptions:
coffee
tea
spices - ex. cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, pickling salt etc. <--mostly these will be used for canning sugar for canning
occasional dining out (we can't verify every single ingredient is local even if they try to be mainly local )
whatever is already in my pantry! (no, I didn't run out the day before yesterday and stock up)

Okay, am I a hypocrite? Not really. I never said I was perfect! Coffee and tea are clearly not foods. :) They are definately extras and they are extras that I will allow myself this time, though I am aware that I don't need them.

I will let you know how I make out. This is a challenge, so there will be issues. Especially for canning where it is so cost prohibitive to make jam from honey or maple syrup. My promise to myself is local first, then Ontario, then Canada.

I noticed yesterday onions are hard to come by in large quantities from Canada because it is still early. I mean the cooking kind such as one might use for making relish.

More on that next post.