Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well and so I made some home-made chicken soup. In it I put some of my home-grown barley.
I’m not sure what made me feel better – the chicken soup or knowing that I was eating some of the barley that I had grown in my yard this summer!!

Regardless, it warmed my body, my heart, and put a smile on my face.

I wasn’t going to write about this but then changed my mind.

Recap: Saturday I brought our two fish inside and set up a bubbler/filter for them. The cat was soon to greet them with a paw that was itching to play catch. So I covered the container, leaving just enough open on one end for air/light circulation. It was a “quick fix” until i decided where the fish were going to stay for the winter.

This morning I woke to find only my goldfish in the tub. My koi was missing. With tears threatening to come to the surface, a lump in my heart, and a panic running through me I frantically searched for the missing fish -hoping that the turn of events was just moments ago and I could save my ”#1”.

After a minute or two of searching I finally found him laying on the floor under a cabinet. He had dry skin and a semi-glazed look in his eye. My dear little fish. And then I saw a gill move – barely. Well I couldn’t just toss him out now, he wasn’t quite dead yet. So I picked him up and put him back in the water. And then I told Rick that he would have to bury the fish later today after the fish took his last breath.

About an hour ago, I started thinking about Goldie—poor poor Goldie who had lost her best friend and there I had her swimming around the upside down koi. Sheesh.. so I took her and put her back in the pond outside. At least I could giver her her home back.

Over the past hour I’ve looked outside just to check on her and I see her once in a while swimming around. I’m sure she’s looking for her buddy.

And just now as I was sitting at my computer I heard a splash. What was that? Was the cat trying to bat at the dead fish? So I go and look and what do I find? But a koi swimming around in the tub!!! I don’t know if he’s going to make it but boy, oh boy, what a tough guy he is to have recovered this far from “cold, dry and barely gasping”.

The Saga Continues…. and I’m holding my breath.

This morning, I looked out to the pond to find it covered in a layer of ice. Brr. it’s cold.

It’s interesting to watch our two fish continuing on about their day under the ice… the fun part, however, was just now (noon-ish) watching half a dozen sparrows bathing in the little corner of the pond that was open water.

I wish I could have gotten a picture.

1/2 lb red & candy-striped baby beets
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced shallot
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped chives
salt & pepper

• To prepare beets, preheat oven to 400°F.
• Rinse beets. Wrap colours separately in foil, drizzle with olive oil and roast in middle of oven until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Cool the beets, then peel and halve lengthwise. If using medium beets, cut each half crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, keeping colors separate.
• Whisk together shallot, orange zest, vinegar and olive oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, toss beets together with dressing and chopped herbs

This was demonstrated by a chef on “CityLine” a Toronto tv show
http://www.cityline.ca/foodandentertaining/recipes/index.asp?articleID=3878&topicID=2&categoryID=122&categoryName=Appetizers

My beets are pre-cooked and in the freezer so I’ll be skipping the roasting part (which will probably take away from the overall flavour. I also only have one variety of beets so that’s another element that will affect my results.

And then I watch what’s happening in our backyard. Tons and tons of chemicals put onto it each year.
Tons and tons of chemicals going into our soil.
Tons and tons of chemicals making their way into our water.

Who was it that just said “Grow what is natural in your environment”????
My guess is that either 1) ginseng is not natural to Canada or 2) the growers are so busy trying to grow a fast crop that will make them wealthy in as little time as possible that the contaminates have to outweigh the benefits of this plant.

I’m not sure how you’d buy wisely, to ensure the ginseng you get is organic. I’m not even sure where the ginseng goes that is grown here.

I do know that .. there are tons and tons of chemicals spread onto the ginseng crops (here) every year.

((stepping down from my soapbox))
Now, I’d love to hear more about this plant. Anyone know the “good news”?

This morning was Bonfire Breakfast. Bright and early (7 AM) family arrived to enjoy our “traditional” bonfire breakfast together.

Ok, so the sky wasn’t bright – but it was early! Actually, it was pitch black out and we had the privilege of experiencing Mother Nature’s washing of the world (yes, it was a rainy morning).

Our gazebo (that we had built for such weather conditions) is currently holding some big gourds during their drying process and so we had to remain out in the elements. Yesterday, however, Rick and I had spent the afternoon setting up our bonfire area where the pool used to be. We covered the area with some old tattered tarps, ‘strategically’ placing the major rip over the fire pit.

The tarp, although it did a fantastic job of keeping us dry for the most part, did leak – a lot—and some of us had wet backs where the rain dripped down behind us.

Doesn’t this sound like fun? Oh yes, oh yes. Everyone had a wonderful time. The weather always gives us something to laugh about. Everyone agrees, though, that our March 08 morning was the best—as we endured a blizzard!

A glorious way to start the day – regardless of the weather!

I was out in my garden today and I found this tomato lying in the dirt.
When I downloaded the photo I saw a surprise image in the image

This year I purchased some “Anise Hyssop” seeds from Salt Spring Seeds.

My daughter and I tried some licorice flavoured tea last year and although I don’t really like tea I did almost enjoy the flavour.

After planting the seeds I forgot all about it – until I smelled the flower in the garden. The aroma of licorice reminded me that I had planted it on purpose – and to make tea. Even without using the plant, I will probably plant this again as I liked rubbing the leaves to get the licorice aroma.

(sorry, no pictures – I’ll have to wait until next year).

I picked some plants a month or so ago and hung them in the gazebo to air dry. Then, I forgot about them for the most part. Today I tried making a tea from the dried leaves and it was a success: licorice flavoured tea!

Here is some information that I found re: this herb.
http://www.seedsanctuary.com/herbs/detail.cfm?ID=2

I probably won’t try saving the seeds though.. after my experience with the Amaranth. Just too much work for tea, when i’m not a tea lover in the first place!

My best crop, this year, I’d have to say were my green beans. Now, I’m not a huge fan of green beans, but since I’m trying to live off my land as much as possible, I’ve made myself enjoy them.

Other than “fresh off the vine”, I think I’ll save next year’s crop mostly as pickled beans. This year was the first time I’d even made or eaten pickled beans and I love them! The recipe I used turned the beans into the equivalent of “dill pickles”. So they are tasty AND they make a nice addition to hot dogs, since they are in the right shape for the bun! Bonus.

Because the crop was so fruitful I thought I’d save some of the seeds to grow next year. I think, however, my plan was too late in forming. I’ll have to try again next year.

Here was my problem: at my last picking of the crop I saw a few pods that were still growing and I left them on the plant to grow to maturity and dry on the plant, but

1) turns out there were a LOT of beans still to grow on the plants and I have more beans than needed and it’s resulted in a waste of beans
2) we are now at frost time (temperature is to go down to freezing tonight) and the beans that I left have not started to dry.

So, I did pull the plants and store them in the gazebo, hung upside down, to see what will happen.

And I’ve done a little research.
According to the one source I found, the gardener marked the plants that had the best stalk and the earliest pods and left them untouched throughout the growing season. Now that I’ve seen my results it sure does make sense to start the drying process in July and not in September.

• buy two packages of green beans instead of just one (the company was “Mackenzie Seeds”, labelled “beans”.
• identify the sturdiest stalk/earliest pods and mark them so no one will pick from them
• let them grow to maturity/ dry state, naturally during the heat of the summer.

I can’t wait for our cherry tree to have cherries on it! We’re getting close. Maybe next year we’ll have a few handfuls, if we can beat the birds to them.

The following is from the Fall, 2008 issue of “Open”; the article is by Lee Anne Andriessen

• according to the Cherry Nutrition Reposrt, cherries contain 19 times the beta carotene of blueberries and strawberries
• they also have: vitamin C/E, potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, fibre
• potential health benefits: help ease the pain of arthritis and gout; protection against cardiovascular disease; decrease risk of diabetes, and in memory loss
• tart cherries are one of the few known food soucres of melatonin (packed with antioxidants) and may improve the body’s rhythms and natural sleep patterns
• most tart cherries are self-fertile and don’t require a partner tree
• sweet varieties require a pollinator nearby (two exceptions to this are: Stella (which I have) and Sweetheart)