Some KUDOS

Visited 2 wonderful restaurants this morning and they took my green and Phillip's yellow zucchinis. Its hard to explain how impressed I am with these establishments. Both had emaculatly clean kitchens and knowledgable staff, they wanted to be sure the veggies were organicly grown! Obviously they are concerned about providing only the best to their clients. One is 'The Sprout' on Duckworth Street west, near City Hall and the Delta Hotel. The other is 'Get Stuffed' across from the War Memorial, also on Duckworth Street and just down the road from the Fairmont (or old Newfoundland Hotel). I won't go into any more detail because you should really check them both out for yourself. I assure you a pleasurable experience at both.

Yesterday I contracted a locally owned company 'Eastern Propane' to install the gas lines and fuel supply for the range (stove). Everything will be working later next week. Also yesterday, the spices and casings arrived for my sausages. The house is now full with the wonderful smell of fresh herbs and spices. I can't wait to begin experimenting. I will complete the frame work for the kitchen extension this afternoon and over the weekend may pour the cement. Slowly everything is starting to fall into place. I just wish I had another pair of hands and more hours to the day.

Well, must get back to work. Have a wonderful day and take care.

Another day, a new post

The backhoe machine has gone back and the foundation hole has been dug. I also fixed the sewer line today. Last night we used the machine until 22 minutes past midnight. Well actually that's when Phillip brought it back. He used it to do some work around his place. Anyway, I've added some more pics to the photo archive. Here's some descriptions: Aug 28-07 o1o is of pea plants, with peas, in the veggie garden. The next pic (009) is looking accross the garden at the pea plants and showing the tool shed with truck cap as roof. The third picture in the row is 008 and here you can see the foundation hole/s and the new white sewer line that was just installed. The second row starts with pic 006 and shows the 2 lambs (white and black) up at Phillip's and Julie's. Next can be seen the flea market set up as mentioned in yesterday's posting. The last pic labelled Aug 28/07001 is actually the same pic as can be seen further down the page labelled July 29001. I don't know how I added it a second time. Sorry! I don't have anything else very exciting to say and it has been a long day, so I think I'll end here and go to bed. Be good to each other and take care.

What a day!! What a week!

Its been ages since I've posted, so here's a little update. Today I rented a backhoe to dig out for the kitchen extension. Of course in the process I dug through my sewage line. It can be fixed but, after that I went around the house and past the truck up the driveway to dig a trench for a wall at the top of the driveway. In the process I somehow managed to knock the track off the machine. Now I've got tons of clay and rubble piled in the driveway and a disabled machine at the entrance and... no pipe for the sewage line. Obviously the truck is parked down by the house, but I can't get out the driveway. Ah well, I'll just have to wait till tomorrow, but I did want to do a little bit more digging before the machine has to go back. But what will be, will be! The stove is finally in the kitchen, but not hooked up yet, I'm waiting for the propane man to come and install the piping before I move the thing into position, hopefully in a few days. Last week my Victorio strainer arrived so now I can start mashing stuff for jams, jellies and other purees. Maybe in a week or so I'll go blueberry picking. The berries are ripe, but the commercial picking season hasn't started yet so I still have a little time. It will be nice to have a freezer load of plumb berries. On Sunday past (Aug. 26/07) Phillip and I set up a table at a local roadside flea market, but it turned out to be the worst day this summer. There were several women also at our location and they confirmed the fact. Unfortunately we had to dump 40 lbs of lettuce and about 10-12 lbs of zucchini into the compost at the end of the day. I've kept the herbs and will dry them. Phillip sold none of his produce, but I did sell 1 bottle of last year's pickled beets. I honestly don't believe I've seen such a slow Sunday afternoon before, hardly any traffic.

Bet you couldn't tell, but I've been gone for an hour. Rod, the next door neighbour arrived home and he put the track back on the digging machine. Of course he also had things that needed digging up so we've been out doing that. His 9 year old son tried the machine and he's a natural at it. Put us both to shame. Tomorrow I'll finish what needs to be done around here (move the stuff out of the driveway) and hopefully I'll get a few pics. Its now 10:22 at night and time I suppose to get a bit to eat! So that's it for now. Take care of yourselves and enjoy nature's bounty. Talk to you soon.

Yahoo-moving range ???????

I know I've neglected adding any posts but, I've been really busy. Took pics today of a robin's nest(with babies inside) on my porch and 2 of Henry/Henrietta. Still don't know which one it is. There is also a family around. I went outside the other day and there were 5 or 6 of them around. They ran off into the undergrowth though when I came down off the steps. All the birds looked identical and about the same size, so I don't know if one or other of them was Henry/Henrietta. Anyway, I've got a bunch of new pics but I can't get them to post to Photobucket. I really should take some time and figure out how to use the software. The alcove is ready to accept the new stove and a crowd is expected later this evening to move the range into the house. I won't be putting it into the alcove yet though. It has to be cleaned and the gas line/s have to be installed. Then I've got to re-install all the pieces taken off for the move. Yesterday the lumber arrived for the kitchen extension. I don't know if I mentioned it before but I'm adding a 10 by 20 breakfast nook onto the kitchen. The window and space below where the stove is coming through will eventually become an archway to the nook. This additional space should free up some of the dining room and kitchen. The garden is moving along and the zuchini is in full production. I lost 1 of the zuchini plants to the wind and rain several days ago. Shame, it was the one that produced the "baby zuchini" shown in the pictures. I still can't keep ahead of the lettuce production though. Now that the blueberry harvest is almost upon us I've ordered a Victorio strainer from Berry Hill. So, not only will I have a stash of frozen berries, I'll also be able to make blueberry juice and jellies. If I had the time I'd contemplate trying to make wine, but I've got a full plate already and if I wanted wine I can easily buy a bottle of the Notre Dame Wineries vintage. Phillip and Julie have a new addition to their family, a lamb. It is the cutest little black sheep and follows Phillip wherever he goes. They have also increased their flock of chickens. Hopefully the egg production will increase. Well better end here and go prepare for the stove moving. Hopefully I'll post again shortly. Enjoy the bounties of nature and take care of yourselves.

Just like a day in Fall

This morning started out overcast with a little mist, but now is blue sky and a little cool. You'd almost swear it was October weather, but at least it isn't the torrential rains of the past few days. The garden is still moving along. Last night I harvested and ate the "baby zuchini" that is shown in the pics. It had grown tremendously in just a few days and was really too much for 1 person to consumer at a single meal, but I did anyway. YUM! Fried it with a few onions and garlic. Today is a civic holiday in the city, it is Regatta Day (the longest running sporting event in North America, this is the 185 annual running of the races). I went to town and picked up rum and blackberry wine, obviously some stores were open. Of course I couldn't resist and also bought 3 more DVD's. This afternoon I'm measuring for and calculating the requirements to install a stairway to upstairs. I'll order the lumber tomorrow and hopefully will do the construction sometime next week. I'll complete gutting the kitchen tonight so tomorrow I can plaster and paint the alcove in preparation for the stove (range) installation. I can't wait to have a normally working kitchen again. Right now I've got pans and pans and things spread all over the place and it makes for a hard time getting food ready. I was planning to write more, but have decided to do a bit of work outside while I've got good weather. If I get a chance, or the mood strikes I'll post some more later. Take care.