We have had a small family crisis that has kept us busy . We apologise for being away so long and not posting our progress. But things are getting back to normal and so here we are again.
We have been very busy preparing for what we hear is going to be a harsh Canadian winter this year.
Our gardens have produced some beautiful gifts to last the winter ...hopefully.
We did not get as much squash this season as we thought we would. And our zucchini did not produce as well either. According to gardening expert Ed Lawrence this years way too much rain in the spring and not enought rain in late summer hurt crops such as squash,turnips,zucchini and garlic. One organic farmer lost over 2/3 of their crop this summer ...wow
We have been very busy trying to fit canning of apples ,pears, tomatoes and whatever else we can get our hands on .I think we might have enough beautiful apple jelly to keep our grandchildren coming back for more for a while.
Ken has been fixing the shop/shed in order to set up his forge. he has added a second floor for storage , and it looks fantastic.He has worked hard.
We managed to buy another wood stove at an auction to put in the shop. Although I am sure the forge will warm the shop too.
We will need to get in more wood and build up our kindling supply. Between the wood cook stove and the wood furnace we use quite a bit of wood. Add to that the shop and well you get the picture.
I have been thinking about what this all would mean in the year 1865 and again I come back to how we would have survived given the loss of some of our crops. For instance our tomatoes. We today can say oh well, and then when we need tomatoes or tomato sauce pick some up at the local store. that would not have been the case here in 1865. Gardening would have been a pretty serious business. This is an area I can say we have failed in during this project and hopefully can improve on next year. We need to fence some of the gardens to keep the chickens from having access to the veggies. They really enjoyed the cucumbers this year, and the watermelon...they loved the watermelon. Not sure what we can do about the racoons , they seem to be able to get into anything .
Speaking of chickens, our new breeds are doing well and are now producing eggs , wonderful green and blue eggs. Small but lovely.
We still have not purchased our quails , and I am thinking that will have to wait until the spring. We will be lining the outside of the chickens coop with straw bales this year for warmth and will let you know how that works. Until next time , I will say the wood stove in the kitchen is keeping us warm for now and the earth smells of fall. Thank you for being patient with us ...Margaret & Ken
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
"Well Dorthy it isn't hot anymore"
Well how is that for a weather change?
I have been happily adding wood to the cook stove all week, I havent said that in a while. just was complaining about the heat of the wood stove all summer. This morning when I was sitting here all I could think of was my kitchen smelling like a true Canadian fall. The smell of wood smoke , the damp musty air coming in through the still open window, and the smell of tomatoes cooking down on the stove to be made into stewed tomatoes. Which we use for many recipes our favorite being poached eggs in stewed tomatoes and served on toast. Very yummy indeed. We have gotten most of our soft vegetables from the garden and will await the harvest of the squashes and harder veggies. Time to fill the basement with the larger wood for the furnace and pick the yard and fence rows for small kindling for the kitchen fire. Ken built a wonderful haystraw crib out of free skids from London...works great and the straw he has put in is dry and clean. We need to buy some square bales of straw to put around the chicken coop for the winter.Will insulate the coop better . It is time to really think about what and how this project will develop with winter,it has been easy being summer and not using hydro, with the exception of the heat and no fan or ac (not that I ever use ac). To keep cooler especially at night we just put a damp cloth beside the bed and wiped our faces and arms . Seemed to do the trick although not always. Interestingly our Grandchildren have been here a few times during the summer and did not complain about the lack of a fan or ac at all..
I will be back later , may head to the library ...thank goodness for laptops huh?
I have been happily adding wood to the cook stove all week, I havent said that in a while. just was complaining about the heat of the wood stove all summer. This morning when I was sitting here all I could think of was my kitchen smelling like a true Canadian fall. The smell of wood smoke , the damp musty air coming in through the still open window, and the smell of tomatoes cooking down on the stove to be made into stewed tomatoes. Which we use for many recipes our favorite being poached eggs in stewed tomatoes and served on toast. Very yummy indeed. We have gotten most of our soft vegetables from the garden and will await the harvest of the squashes and harder veggies. Time to fill the basement with the larger wood for the furnace and pick the yard and fence rows for small kindling for the kitchen fire. Ken built a wonderful haystraw crib out of free skids from London...works great and the straw he has put in is dry and clean. We need to buy some square bales of straw to put around the chicken coop for the winter.Will insulate the coop better . It is time to really think about what and how this project will develop with winter,it has been easy being summer and not using hydro, with the exception of the heat and no fan or ac (not that I ever use ac). To keep cooler especially at night we just put a damp cloth beside the bed and wiped our faces and arms . Seemed to do the trick although not always. Interestingly our Grandchildren have been here a few times during the summer and did not complain about the lack of a fan or ac at all..
I will be back later , may head to the library ...thank goodness for laptops huh?
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Almost the end of August already...wow
I cannot believe this summer has gone so quickly. It has flown by indeed.
We had the grandchildren here again for another week and took them home on the weekend. So it seems very quiet here tonight Spent the weekend in Guelph,attending a Civil War reenactment event at the Milton Heritage Museum. Lots of fun and Aidan had a good time watching the battle.(they re enacted the battle of Bull Run) After that we stayed in Guelph and visited with our children and Grandchildren...reason I am pointing this out.
While staying at Vivians we noticed a couple of things .First the noise, of tv's and cars and just plain noise,noise,noise. Secondly we noticed the brightness of the lighting. I guess we have gotten so used to the softness of candle light that electric lighting seems so harsh and bright to our eyes. I ended up on sunday night with a headache. I am sure it was from the light.
Driving around the city especially at night one realises how many lights most homes have going at the same time . Most homes look like they have every light in the house on . I wonder how much electricity we would save in Ontario if we all, (and it would have to be everyone) would take one day and not turn on any lights. You wouldnt have to shut off your freezers or fridges ,just no tv,radio,computers or lights...wonder how much we would save. Oh well ,just a silly idea as one could never get everyone to participate. Well for sure we have lost all of our tomatoes with the exception of some herlooms that are just starting to get fruit now. I am going to bring some plants into the house and see what happens.But lesson learned , never assume !!
We have lots of squash and they are lovely. And Aidan has committed to return as soon as the cantelope is ripe to have his fill. Our grapes our turning and I cannot wait to taste them. We are thinking about our wood supply for the winter and that is our next project. We have a bunch now but between the kitchen stove and the furnace we use alot. Well I think that is it for now . Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather.I certainly am, one thing about this project ,if one asked me to describe my summer it would start with the word "hot" and end with the word "hot"
Talk to you soon
Margaret
We had the grandchildren here again for another week and took them home on the weekend. So it seems very quiet here tonight Spent the weekend in Guelph,attending a Civil War reenactment event at the Milton Heritage Museum. Lots of fun and Aidan had a good time watching the battle.(they re enacted the battle of Bull Run) After that we stayed in Guelph and visited with our children and Grandchildren...reason I am pointing this out.
While staying at Vivians we noticed a couple of things .First the noise, of tv's and cars and just plain noise,noise,noise. Secondly we noticed the brightness of the lighting. I guess we have gotten so used to the softness of candle light that electric lighting seems so harsh and bright to our eyes. I ended up on sunday night with a headache. I am sure it was from the light.
Driving around the city especially at night one realises how many lights most homes have going at the same time . Most homes look like they have every light in the house on . I wonder how much electricity we would save in Ontario if we all, (and it would have to be everyone) would take one day and not turn on any lights. You wouldnt have to shut off your freezers or fridges ,just no tv,radio,computers or lights...wonder how much we would save. Oh well ,just a silly idea as one could never get everyone to participate. Well for sure we have lost all of our tomatoes with the exception of some herlooms that are just starting to get fruit now. I am going to bring some plants into the house and see what happens.But lesson learned , never assume !!
We have lots of squash and they are lovely. And Aidan has committed to return as soon as the cantelope is ripe to have his fill. Our grapes our turning and I cannot wait to taste them. We are thinking about our wood supply for the winter and that is our next project. We have a bunch now but between the kitchen stove and the furnace we use alot. Well I think that is it for now . Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather.I certainly am, one thing about this project ,if one asked me to describe my summer it would start with the word "hot" and end with the word "hot"
Talk to you soon
Margaret
Monday, August 22, 2011
Our buggy
Brian and Danute took this picture of our buggy. Have no idea how to add this to our pic section but thought you might like to see it.
Margaret
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Another week.
Well we ended our week this week with a film shoot here at our home in Dutton. A good friend of ours has a production company and used our grounds and home to do a short film for Sharpcuts. Was cool to have everyone here. Rained part of the day so the woodstove was welcome today as it kept people warm and the tea hot.
The chickens and cats certainly kept everyone amused especially when we ate outside under a canopy. I believe the outside beasts thought it had been all especially laid out for them.
Was funny watching the kids from the city interacting with the chickens. By kids I mean the 20 somethings...everyone learned something, our guests learned that roosters crow all day long and will eat your dinner if you hold your plate low enough and the chickens learned that not everyone will share their food ...just cause you are pecking at their shoes.
We had another usual week this week. I am busy trying to get canning done & we dug potatoes from the front garden and got a nice amount. Our tomato plants are I think beyond repair , we keep finding more huge tomato bugs, interesting cratures they are for sure. But wow can they do in a plant quickly.
Our peaches are turning beautifully. And we may not get alot if peaches this year but we are looking forward to tasting them. I am looking forward to the apples that are coming also . Lots to do before all this summer goodness is gone.We have the grandchildren here again this week . All three of them, so should be a very busy week ahead. Interestingly how easily they adjust to the candle only enviroment. And taking a traveller with them into rooms.
Well that is all for now ,think it is time for little people to go to bed....and the kids too
Night
The chickens and cats certainly kept everyone amused especially when we ate outside under a canopy. I believe the outside beasts thought it had been all especially laid out for them.
Was funny watching the kids from the city interacting with the chickens. By kids I mean the 20 somethings...everyone learned something, our guests learned that roosters crow all day long and will eat your dinner if you hold your plate low enough and the chickens learned that not everyone will share their food ...just cause you are pecking at their shoes.
We had another usual week this week. I am busy trying to get canning done & we dug potatoes from the front garden and got a nice amount. Our tomato plants are I think beyond repair , we keep finding more huge tomato bugs, interesting cratures they are for sure. But wow can they do in a plant quickly.
Our peaches are turning beautifully. And we may not get alot if peaches this year but we are looking forward to tasting them. I am looking forward to the apples that are coming also . Lots to do before all this summer goodness is gone.We have the grandchildren here again this week . All three of them, so should be a very busy week ahead. Interestingly how easily they adjust to the candle only enviroment. And taking a traveller with them into rooms.
Well that is all for now ,think it is time for little people to go to bed....and the kids too
Night
Monday, August 8, 2011
Garden Scourges
Greetings, Ken here. We have been visited by garden scourges! Margaret found tomato caterpillers today. We were wondering what was eating our tomatoes and now we know. I picked them off, 6 in all of various sizes and fed them to the chickens. They had great fun with them and five minutes later ... no more tomato caterpillers. We also have something eating the potato plants and the brussel sprouts so tomorrow we are going to douse them witha 40 to 1 solution of water to dish soap and do the little scourges in as well.
We dug up a potato plant to check out our potatoes and found a good variety of sizes, I expect we'll get about 1/2 a bushel from one patch and maybe the other half from the side garden. The pumpkins are doing well, a couple of them are a chewed but otherwise good.
Our first rooster, Henry is feeling his age I think and one of the younger roosters is making a play to become Henry the Second! Ah, to be king and loose it all! Such is life.
Margaret is painting the foyer to freshen it up. The new paint makes the old paint look positively grotty! It should go well with the colour we have on the front door which is a soft yellow, a few shades lighter than butter I think.
I spent the day catching up on spring clean up chores, it takes no time at all to make a mess, but a long time to set things right again. I hope to have the shop and the outside cleaned up by the end of my time off. Then we can get on with doing the framing inside and get things set up inside. I want it all done before the snow flies.
Margaret here ..when we discovered the caterpillars on the tomato plants it made me realise what that might have meant in the time period we are trying to live/portray...1865, a loss of opportunity, a winter without tomato sauces and preserves. And possibly hunger for my family.
In my defense..
Had this been 1865 I would not be working out of the home and my gardens would be a much more serious endeavour. Not that we are not serious but we also have the comfort of knowing that if we screw up we can drive into town and buy what we need. But regardless I should have paid better attention when I first noticed the tomatoes were being eaten. I origionally thought that the chickens were having a snack, then I thought perhaps the racoons. But I should have had a closer look.Next time I will.
I have given the grapes the 40 to 1 treatment and it worked wonders . Have done the brussel sprouts, the cauliflower,cabbage and the egg plants ...I am not sure what has happened to the potatoes, perhaps they are just ready to dig. This has been an odd summer for rain or lack of .
Looking forward to the film crew arriving this weekend to shoot a short film on our property. A period ghost story...
And our Grandchildren are coming this week, I am excited and looking forward to them coming..
That is all for now folks ...thanks for reading!
We dug up a potato plant to check out our potatoes and found a good variety of sizes, I expect we'll get about 1/2 a bushel from one patch and maybe the other half from the side garden. The pumpkins are doing well, a couple of them are a chewed but otherwise good.
Our first rooster, Henry is feeling his age I think and one of the younger roosters is making a play to become Henry the Second! Ah, to be king and loose it all! Such is life.
Margaret is painting the foyer to freshen it up. The new paint makes the old paint look positively grotty! It should go well with the colour we have on the front door which is a soft yellow, a few shades lighter than butter I think.
I spent the day catching up on spring clean up chores, it takes no time at all to make a mess, but a long time to set things right again. I hope to have the shop and the outside cleaned up by the end of my time off. Then we can get on with doing the framing inside and get things set up inside. I want it all done before the snow flies.
Margaret here ..when we discovered the caterpillars on the tomato plants it made me realise what that might have meant in the time period we are trying to live/portray...1865, a loss of opportunity, a winter without tomato sauces and preserves. And possibly hunger for my family.
In my defense..
Had this been 1865 I would not be working out of the home and my gardens would be a much more serious endeavour. Not that we are not serious but we also have the comfort of knowing that if we screw up we can drive into town and buy what we need. But regardless I should have paid better attention when I first noticed the tomatoes were being eaten. I origionally thought that the chickens were having a snack, then I thought perhaps the racoons. But I should have had a closer look.Next time I will.
I have given the grapes the 40 to 1 treatment and it worked wonders . Have done the brussel sprouts, the cauliflower,cabbage and the egg plants ...I am not sure what has happened to the potatoes, perhaps they are just ready to dig. This has been an odd summer for rain or lack of .
Looking forward to the film crew arriving this weekend to shoot a short film on our property. A period ghost story...
And our Grandchildren are coming this week, I am excited and looking forward to them coming..
That is all for now folks ...thanks for reading!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
August has begun...time to think of fall
I am at the library for a while today. Just said Good - bye to my lovely husband as he goes away for "another" 2 days for work. I am missing him already .
Have been busy preserving for the winter months and soon our gardens will be giving us the gifts that we will use for the winter and spring. We are hoping to have a large harvest and from the looks of things we will. Especially squash. I think I may have goon a bit overboard witht he squash planting. But they do last well and will almost certainly get us through the winter. Our potatoes are doing well and I am going to perhaps dig a plant and see where we are as far as size. I have preserved a ton of raspberry jam and if my Grandson Aidan does not eat it all it might last through. The blueberry jam is down and I am making chutneys this week. I am being blessd with a copy of Mrs Beeton's book of household management, an origional copy rebound. Ken has seen it and held it in his hands, I have not and can hardly wait to see it. I have over the years referred to it only on line and it is fantastic. But to own a real copy wow...I can hardly wait.(oops did I say that already?)
I am sure I will be busy in the next few weeks as everything will be coming out of the garden at once as it is want to do. the tomatoes ae ripening and will be turned into stewed tomatoes. Good for soup and wonderful to poach eggs in for our breakfast.
I have planted a ton of plum tomatoes for tomato paste and sauces for pasta too. So I am sure to be busy Ken will be busy expanding our chicken coop. Our growing family of chickens needs more room . And with the arrival of our quails we will need extra housing . We are a little concerned as we have 4 roosters and they are quite active, which I think is a bit stressful for our hens. So if anyone wants a beautiful bard rock rooster please let us know . Not for the stock pot though. I will close for now as the computer here is telling me my time is almost up..Oh I have forgotten to mention that our home will be used for a short film set in the Victorian era. So that will be exciting.
For now I will say good bye and I may add to this later .
Margaret
Have been busy preserving for the winter months and soon our gardens will be giving us the gifts that we will use for the winter and spring. We are hoping to have a large harvest and from the looks of things we will. Especially squash. I think I may have goon a bit overboard witht he squash planting. But they do last well and will almost certainly get us through the winter. Our potatoes are doing well and I am going to perhaps dig a plant and see where we are as far as size. I have preserved a ton of raspberry jam and if my Grandson Aidan does not eat it all it might last through. The blueberry jam is down and I am making chutneys this week. I am being blessd with a copy of Mrs Beeton's book of household management, an origional copy rebound. Ken has seen it and held it in his hands, I have not and can hardly wait to see it. I have over the years referred to it only on line and it is fantastic. But to own a real copy wow...I can hardly wait.(oops did I say that already?)
I am sure I will be busy in the next few weeks as everything will be coming out of the garden at once as it is want to do. the tomatoes ae ripening and will be turned into stewed tomatoes. Good for soup and wonderful to poach eggs in for our breakfast.
I have planted a ton of plum tomatoes for tomato paste and sauces for pasta too. So I am sure to be busy Ken will be busy expanding our chicken coop. Our growing family of chickens needs more room . And with the arrival of our quails we will need extra housing . We are a little concerned as we have 4 roosters and they are quite active, which I think is a bit stressful for our hens. So if anyone wants a beautiful bard rock rooster please let us know . Not for the stock pot though. I will close for now as the computer here is telling me my time is almost up..Oh I have forgotten to mention that our home will be used for a short film set in the Victorian era. So that will be exciting.
For now I will say good bye and I may add to this later .
Margaret
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