in pursuit of???

Pictured is a mesculun salad with maple balsamic in a frico cup which I made. Below it is a banana petite cupcake with coconut icing.

Well, post neighbour's open house boxing day party, I begin my journey. Really, I am only beginning blogging it, my journey began so long ago I can't think of the year. What I do recall is the absolute excitement of the process of cooking. The end product is like a bonus, a bit of an after-the-fact reward for a job well done. However, like life, it is the journey, not the end point which truly matters.

When I was quite young, I remember helping churn butter. It began really with the ingredients. I recall standing in the barn watching Mom or Dad milk, asking to help, but usually being told no because Maya kicked. Betsy did not usually kick, but parents, being parents tend to error on the side of caution. When the milk was in the pail, if it was clean, we carried it to the house. Any that actually got kicked and dirtied, went to the barn cats.
The steaming pails were brought to the house to cool. The old separator sat on the edge of the old kitchen table. Its parts were boiled between uses, I used to love the round metal float the best. It sat in the concave part of the top where the milk was poured in. Something about its smooth metal completeness was very satisfying. I often helped pour the milk in. I usually got to flick the switch as well. The machine wound up. Loud humming would fill the room. Then the two spouts would begin to put forth the fruits of our labours. The milk would absolutely pour. The cream would trickle out much slower. When it was done, each went to the fridge to chill. this was our milk and our cream which I loved in cereal. it was unpasteurized, but our process was clean, and the cows were well kept.I recall periodically cows needing ointment, Watkins I think for their udders, but I can't recall why. Either way, that and vet visits aside, our cows were well.
The cream was put in big metal urns to take to the creamery for sale. if my memory serves correct, often in those large cans we only got $30 for them. It seems a huge rip off by today standards, especially considering our products were organic, but money was money and you took it then. What we saved for our own use was then made into butter. The cold milk was poured into the cylindrical drum shaped churn. A handle sat on one side to turn. A rectangular lid sat atop, wooden bars inside served to turn the milk. I recall turning until my arm ached, listening to the swooshing, swooshing, with a rythmical sound, over,and over. I would turn and turn, waiting for the thumping sound to appear. For a young kid, it was amazing patience, but when it appeared it was amazing. I would peer inside, trying to catch the first glimpse of the lumps of butter. When ti finally came together, the sheer joy of pressing the butter into the wooden presses, tasting its sweet creaminess was beyond description. This is an experience most will never know. Pure, fresh sweet butter, unadulterated by salt, chemicals or time. Absolute bliss.
Ok, so I said absolute alot. Point is, it was damn good. We had a sirloin roast tonight. The cut was nothing special. Marinated in cab sauv, rosemary from my garden tonight, roasted garlic, caramelized onions, carrots, purple and yukon gold roasted fingerlings, it was, unreal.I am very food satisfied, enjoyable eve. I will finish off my glass of Castillero el Diablo Carmenere (very nice fav), and watch hockey. Ultimate Chileno-Canadian household....salut!

A chat

Josh came to sit with me while I was working on a paper today. He has been quite quiet today, so i asked him what he had been doing. He replied saying "watching Finneus and Ferb". (Now I may be spelling that wrong)
"That's good."
"Do you like Finneus and Ferb?"he asked.
"yes" I replied.
"It has boys" he said kind of sing songy.
"cool" I said.
"and girls" he continued.
"cool" I said.
"Not cool" he said. "Girls are not cool" he informed me.
"oh?"I said. "They're not?"
"No" he replied. "They're stylish. Actually, they're pretty".

I had to laugh. It sounded so funny how matter-of-fact from a 3 yr old!

Time flies!

Wow. I have not blogged in ages, which I guess is an indicator of how little spare time I seem to have. The holidays came and went so quickly. Just as I finished training with case management for work, I trained for liason-then the holidays were upon us. After a couple of weeks of baking and cleaning, and discovering that our change in level of elevation affected my baking times severely (!), we manged to get baking done for the kids schools, attend their wonderful Christmas concert. It was amazing-instrumental accompaniment and fantastic harmony in an elementary school? Yes, it was amazing. They have a fantastic teacher! The artwork the kids decorated with was beautiful, I am so impressed with the levels that come out of that school! It was funny too, as there was an absolute blizzard that day, and since Dave and I ducked out of work early to see the afternoon concert, we did not lose out like the evening ones, as that concert was cancelled due to 15 cm of snow! The best part of the snow here, was that it was warm out, so we spent two days building forts, snowmen, sliding, and enjoying hot cider! it was so much fun! Christmas itself had lil JR with strept throat, so we did not travel to Auntie and Uncle's for the holiday, but we had our classic Christmas eve fondue and margaritas, and appies and a big feast the next day. Josh was feeling very punky, but he tried to enjoy his toys. The girls had a blast, and it was overall a mellow, albeit slightly cranky day!

Mom came out just after Christmas, and spent the better part of a month here. I was so impressed with her flying alone! We toured here around, went to some fun sites and restaurants, and she visited relatives in Nanaimo and Victoria. It was so nice to have her here, hopefully she can come out for a visit in the summer.

Since Jan we have been swamped with school projects, gymnastics competitions, swim classes. The girls did great in their competitions, with Lauryn, just a beginner, taking 1 silver, 3 bronze, in both competitions. Amelia got 3 gold and 1 silver 1st competition, and 4 gold in the second. In her second she added a back handspring to her floor routine-which was amazing. She has really blossomed, and was just announced gymnast of the month at their club! Amelia also had corrective eye surgery last month, and now no longer sees double! This must have been a massive challenge on the beam and reading, I don't know how she managed.

My course wrapped, I managed to pull off an A+. I wrote a trend analysis on web-based nursing education, analyzing its origins, development over time, theoretical foundations, development of best-practice benchmarks, pros and cons from student and instructor perspectives, and a critical analysis of future implications. I also debated on foreign nurse recruitment. It was challenging in that I struggled to find passion for my side of the debate. The paper topic was well-chosen in the end, as it was a personal point of interest from an future educator standpoint. I am off for a month then back at it!

We are in the midst of massive house renos. We are at least almost done. The office just needs the ceiling completed, I have ended up with a nice work area, and a panel tv with my treadmill, and space for storage. It is a great space. The hallway just needs painted, the ceiling to the mudroom needs finished and the freezer is waiting to move to the garage. The bathroom is being tiled and it is going to be fantastic. We found these beautiful Italian porcelain tiles, large subway style for the walls and regular for the floor. Smoked glass tiles for the tub box, and I chose RL Soho as a paint colour. We put in a heat lamp and jet tub, and chose the funkiest light we could find. I have yet to find the right sink which is frustrating, but I have not given up. It is a sleek urban esthetic, and I can't wait to veg after a workout in there!

We bought a camper, and we are stoked to go camping. It is from the evolution line, so bright yellow, large all terrain tires, chrome trim-a real guys model, nice modern interior. I packed our gear in there on the weekend, and as soon as the camping season is open (3 weeks I think), I am going! We will camp on the pacific rim again after Disney, which will be our long trip. I can't wait, and the kids are so excited!

Easter is almost here. When we wrap the bulk of our renos at the end of the week and clean the house up, we will do a food stock-up and get our Easter crafts ready. Dave's parents are coming out then, so we will see how the week goes-likely overnight in Vic, Nanaimo for the day, cathedral groves, various beach tours. Busy, busy.

I have much gardening to do now that the weather is warm, so after the house I will slug away at that. I am looking forward to down time, but with Dave off travelling, we take on a diff routine. We will see how we fair! : D

Wow-life getting in the way of blogging! Lots happening, no spare time, as usual. What is up? Well, I will tell you....

New job, extremely time consuming learning a very different role, getting my brain to work in different ways. I have yet another new role to take on, it is alot in such a short time. I am still getting used to the fact that MB and BC are behind ON, but I am adjusting each time. I hope I like liason, it is being pushed at me, and I look forward to a more acute atmosphere, so here goes...I am looking forward to my next course in Jan.

Halloween-the most awful, er, wonderful? time of the year?? I get to be a kid, the kids get to max out on fun-does it get any better? The only thing that would make it better, would be going to a fun adult Halloween party ina sexy costume with my man. Not gonna happen this year, but I can hope for next. We had our annual kids party, a big success with 14 kids. I have ideas for next years already. With all my work stress I pulled it together, then had vino with friends-it was fun and realxing in the end, I really needed that wind down time. Every time Diana and I hang out, I say-why don't we get together more often-then life gets us too busy till the next time!

I had a great day with my "girls" from work. We have spent the past six weeks training, leaning on each other for info, support, etc. It has been so great to get to know each other, I love hanging out with them-we have educational time, then shopped-we ran out of time for dinner, but we plan to get together at a pub for a night. I really work with an awesome bunch!

Next step in this house is Christmas-already bought some new stuff! Also got some new Gap suff, gettin ready for a change of season-i hope to shop more shortly.

The spooks and ghosts have begun to play.:*:.:*:.

That time of year is upon us. That edge has crept into the air at night, the mornings are filled with fog, the mountains seem to close in around us. The leaves have started to turn, a few are scattered on the paths. Fall is almost upon us, and so is thanksgiving, and of course, Halloween. I love this time of year. There is something I can't explain even, some growing feeling of excitement. I start baking. Anything with spice, apples, pumpkin, nuts. I want to roast turkeys. There is no finer meal than a nicely brined, savory roasted bird, with a sage, sausage, and cranberry stuffing. I love it. That aside, Halloween is the best. We spend months to prepare, and weeks getting it all put together. Choosing a theme to our design, pulling out decor of years past, buying and making new. We plan some sort of party, complete with spooky themed foods, and I even have special glassware, placemats and dishes for the occasion. Our house and yard range between cute spooks to down right ghoulish. The costumes are well planned in advance-and they get more ghoulish as the kids get older. I guess I am one of those kids that night, I get to be a ghoul, er, girl, again. Halloween brings nothing but pleasant memories for me over the years, and I love seeing the spirit alive in our house. We scour the shops for the right accessories for weeks up to the day-I don't know who is more excited-me or the kids! There is not one of us who does not enjoy our walk on the scary side this time each year in our house!

Fall 2004-that is the year of the mag I am looking at. It gave me ideas for my harvest table, the colours and textures. I have started planning my menu-and also I think we will have friends for wine and cheese soon too, so i am planning both. I picked up 3 kinds of cheese-for 6-8 types in total, and some siljan shells for the RIP bites for Halloween-I saw the shells so I grabbed them, will tuck them away till the eve is at hand! I will pick up some ghoulish wines and beers for the occasions, with devil and witch themes in their titles can't wait....

Fall

Fall is nearing, the weather has that slight edge to the air in the mornings and evenings-I love it. There is not other time of year I love more. Maybe its the colours, the harvest baking, the nearing of Thanksgiving and Halloween. I don't know for sure, but it is the best time of the year. In the priairies it seemed to slip by so quick. Freezing cold and snow by Halloween, the colours were a little drab. I think I really began to enjoy it in Ontario. It lasted well into November, even into December a bit some years. The maples turned every shade you could imagine. It was then I could see what the magazines were depicting, and all the fall activities were so much fun. I know here it is fall type weather all winter, I am so excited. I hope the activities are as bountiful. On the fall note, I have been going nuts preparing. I baked blueberry bran muffins, apple pumpkin muffins, banana bread, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin scones. I also made blackberry jam. I love pumpkin, and I alter all my recipes to make them more healthy, so we have a ton frozen to enjoy when I go to work. I also needed stuff for lunches, as both girls go to school full time now, so it is lots of lunches, and snacks for gymnastics etc. It was a flurry getting the kids off to school, getting clothes organized, hair cut, and multiple pairs of shoes it seems. The days are quiet at home with just Josh, but Dave is home a lot right now, so the three of us get to go for lunch, shop, and work on the house.

The house is getting there. I landscaped the whole front and side that faces the mountains. I just need some more bark mulch for the side, the beds are finally high enough-it takes a lot of dirt. I left spaces on the side for the mums in my cast iron urns, they will be perennials once in the ground. They are huge and my favorite colour, a burnt orangy gold. The back has the patio in, but it needs to expand by the hot tub area, so I cleared the ground up to there. I planted ornamental grass and shrubs in raised beds around the stone work, and levelled and dug stones the rest of the yard. It already had the bobcat go over it, but I went over the area with a rake and hauled out about a dozen wheelbarrow loads of stones. I hauled dirt to build beds all along the other side of the house, putting a bed along the garage side that wraps around to the back. I planted one hostas, but I need to buy ferns and other shady plants as that side is mainly shade. We are putting the posts in for the pergola, hopefully that things will get at least half built this weekend, maybe all of it. We are tiling the mudroom, it will be done by the weekend-finally. It looks good. I need to finish setting up my office, need to buy a desk as the table I got from ikea, our former desk, is now the kids craft centre.

I start work next week. I will be full time for the next month and a half, then scheduled here and there. I will be doing case management. I was all prepared for the usual intertview, knowledge testing, thinking skills questions, but it was basically, what did you do in your previous job, then we want you on baord! I am very excited, but I need to buy business clothes! I bought a gorgeous coat, black, knee length class style, but I need more pants, skirts, jackets, etc. I have been checking winners here, but I can't find dress pants small enough. The 4's are too baggy, need to look elsewhere. On another note, I got a really great seater dress and tights. I plan to wear it for thanksgiving, it is so nice. It will be weird working full time, I haven't since I had 3 kids, but it is only temporary. I don't want full time till Josh is in school.

We are gearing for Halloween. I have fall stuff around, pumpkin bread candles, ember diffuser, chinese lanterns in a vase, pumpkins aorund, and my ghosts have crept into the wine cabinet lol. A couple of my bear witches have landed on the buffet, and other such decor has started to appear! The kids are stoked! I got a really cool devil costume for mimi, and noni got a gorgeous witch one-what they wanted to be. We have a really nice dragon costume for Josh, and I am undecided-cat or witch? We started some crafts,a nd have pulled out our arsenal of halloween mags-I bought 2 more too. I started a few crafts, sillhouettes, cat, bat, and dracula jar toppers, games etc. The kids have the stuffed pumpkin, ghosts, bats, the haunted tree from hallmark with the owls that sings, and the spooky puppets out-they have been having a ball. I glittered the skull and bones and colected moss from the forest for another craft. We got some new ciderweb candles, a new tombstone, balck tapers, and some signs for this year too, as well as a fall oil burner and I started gathering weird candy for the haunted house we are making. I bought the 100 ml bottles up from the bodyshop of the pumpkin nectarine oil, so the air is filled with the scents-and I can't stop baking lol. I am so excited.

Dave had a good conference, it was one of those big budget deals, hosting foreign stuff, but I am glad he is home. He is going only once now this month, glad he is not going to el salvador now. He has not been too busy, I am glad, but has been away sporadically. We had lunch out at a funky place yesterday, they have these spicy oysters, sooo good. My new favorite dish. We attend a wine and chees on Fri this week, looking forward to that too, it is our fav hobby as well!

Well that is it, my lack of blogging is due to a busy schedule. Josh is doing great as a pottier, so much later than the girls, but he is doing great. Just in time for daycare!

Nostalgia

I have had to say goodbye to so many parts of my life. We move, it is part of who we are. Don't get me wrong, it is what I have always wished for, as long as I can recall, I wanted to be by water, be it lake, ocean, whatever, to live some vague portion of the romantic novels I am inclined to. To be married to a man who takes my breath away, who fulfills me so passionately, thus can anger or fill me with absolute joy. I am married to that man, my best friend, my lover complete, the father of our children. At times, bits of our life seems like my novels. Somehow, i feel like I am adrift on the edge of reality-how does life remain romantic yet real-do the mundane details make it less romantic? No. I live for those details. I scour old movies, from every decade, books, stories from people of times past, just for those details. I love glimpsing daily life. I thrive by it. Perhaps that is what I love about being a Mom and wife, just that. I love the walks to the bakery and coffee shop, playing in the park when the sun seems like my childhood, so unbelievably bright, walking in a forest that is so larger than life, I am that kid again, yet somehow better, because I know better, and I am with the little people, my children, the future, that have more potential than I ever could imagine. Their imaginations are larger than life, and maybe it is that bit that I seek to glimpse in the past. that tiny bit of intuition into what can, what could be. My children see this, as mimi asks to buy fabric to design clothes, as noni seeks to create dishes, and joshie seeks to take apart his world and discover how to re-assemble it. They know far more than I could ever, their insite is enviable.

I was told how blessed I am, to have 3 children. I really, really am. I am so glad we opted for expanding our family, life becomes more enriched with each passing day.