Apres Ski

 This guy knows what its all about.

 

 Feeding the horses just behind the house.

 

 Cold nights call for vegan chili with cashew 'sour cream'.

 

For someone who has claimed to have lost interest in alpine sports I sure have been spending a lot of time on the mountains lately.  The last couple weekends have been a blur of ski visits.  A and I have been planning a couple of ski trips for a while now and a few weeks ago we met up with a large group of our hometown friends and rented a condo in Whistler Village.  Although I had packed my board, skis and our loaned snowshoes, I regret that that I didn't hit the slopes once.  In my opinion, the mountain was much too busy and too tourist driven to justify a lift or trail pass.   The trip itself revolved more around visiting with old friends and enjoying the mini city that Whistler Village has become.  We took the opportunity to socialize in the local pubs and shop the variety of stores that we don't have access too in our small city. 

 

 The large lake, which my interior city is named after.

 

 

The drive to and from the coast was just as enjoyable as the trip itself, filled with scenic mountain passes and quirky roadside stops. A humoured me and stopped at a miniature western town so that I could snap a few shots. 

 

 Icicles clung to the cliff sides along the steep mountain pass.

 

 Large frozen waterfall.

 

 miniature building that only stand about 6 feet tall.

 

 

We arrived back home for a short work week then headed up to our local ski hill to spend the weekend with family.  Our city has an impressive ski resort with small village modeled after the European style.  The snow conditions were lovely and the hills were almost empty after the long weekend.  My aunt, who used to be a cross country ski instructor, took me out for a long ski up to a small lodge.  By the end of the trail I was exhausted and stiff.  The evening were spent enjoying good food, sipping wine and ending the night with a delicious chocolate raspberry port. 

Sunday morning when A and I packed up to head home, my aunt and uncle sent us off with some extra food for lunch and dinner and the remaining port which we sipped on all evening long. 

 

 Whistler trails full of cedar and pines.

 

 

After a busy weekend I am always happy to get back home and into routine. 

By what way is the light parted?

Lately, I've been reading a short novel I picked out at the local thrift store.  Sisters of Grass by Theresa Kishkan.  Funny the way that books will sometimes jump off the shelf at you.   I picked this novel up for no apparent reason only to realise that it takes place in the local area.  It is a story of a young girl with mixed heritage, growing up on a ranch in the Nicola Valley over a century ago.  The book is a light read but description of local heritage and they way in which the author writes of the land has me eager to pick up the book, yet reluctant to near the end.   Funny enough, upon researching the writer, I found out she currently lives in a small coastal town, neighbouring the town that I grew up in.   Synchronicity seems to be showing up in my life a lot lately. 
I am finding that the more I read, the more I seem to journal.  I often find myself jotting down notes or passages from the books I am absorbed in.  I particularly like how this novel mirrors the colours in my current notebook.

 

This weekend has passed in a blur.  Uncle G and Aunty C came by for a visit again, this time coming along with Aunty R and Uncle A.   We spent the morning conversing over a pot of hot tea a plate full of Dr. Weil's millet scones.  R and A brought us a large potted flower as a housewarming gift, perfect to brighten up the kitchen table.  With the passing of Imbolc just yesterday I have been thinking a lot lately of spring.  Although there is still a good few feet of snow on the ground, and this weekend's temperature had dropped somewhere near -27 degrees, it does feel as though warmer weather is just around the corner. 
Uncle G and Aunty C were kind enough to let us borrow their snowshoes for a little longer.  With last weekend's constant fog and my ever persistent head cold we never got the chance to try them out.  Even though the constant fall of snow never let up A and packed a small picnic and a couple thermoses of spicy chia tea and headed out into the bush.  Walking was awkward at first but after a little practice and with the help of some vintage bamboo poles we quickly got the hang of it. 

 It looks awkward because it was.

 

The reason behind the Aunts and Uncles quick visit was to drop off some family items to us.  Uncle G and Aunty C recently downsized and were looking to rehome some heirlooms.   We gladly accepted two hunting trophies that belonged to my late Grandfather: a set of not-so-big bighorn sheep horns and the largest rack of whitetail deer antlers I have ever seen.  Both had been refinished on a red and gold mount which couldn't match our paint colours any better.  We also received a refinished Winchester 30-30 rifle which used to belong to my dad in his hipster days.
Last summer, much to A's dismay, I had purchased some funny little spring loaded stag heads, not quite sure knowing what their purpose was.  Upon research I learned that they are commonly used as a gun rack. After a quick coat of black paint both A and I agree that the look quite hilarious holding my rifles to the wall.

I love how the trophies add to the cabin feel of the house. 

 Dad's older Winchester 30-30 and my current Savage Arms 22 LR

I do believe we have become quite hick.

Thoughts on foods

 

 

Its no secret that I have been obsessed with honey bees lately.  They have been on my mind constantly for the past few months.  With all the garden planning for this summer I have been taking the bees into serious consideration.  Beekeeping will test your patience.  Most will fail within their first year or two of owning a hive.  With the constant threat of predators and pests and the mystifying phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, most new beekeepers wont make it long enough to harvest their first jar of honey. 

That being said, beehives are an expensive hobby and I have been trying to gain as much knowledge as possible before diving into it.  I know that if I want to be successful, obtaining a hive or two is out of the question for this upcoming summer.   I also know that unless I want to starve the bees out of their winter stores, I won't be wanting to harvest honey in the first year. 

No, this spring and summer will be spent keeping an eye on the local flora.  Bees rely on the plants, and I need to have a keen understanding of which flowers bloom when and where they can be found.  Botany has interested me ever since I was young and over the past 15 years or so I have collected an impressive library of reference books.  Plants and bees have a symbiotic relationship, neither one surviving without the other, and to me it only makes sense that to love one you must love them both.

 

Nice little set up the neighbour has.

 

Ominous scull and crossbones had us turning around.

 

With the damp weather and my ever persistent sinus cold I haven't felt like doing much of anything lately.  I'll admit that I haven't gotten out as much as I would like too.  Yesterday, in lieu of snowshoeing, A. and I took the jeep out for a 4X4 in the snow.  It wasn't the refreshing get-out-into-nature that I have been craving but it kept me from going stir crazy inside the house.  The rest of the weekend has been spent curled up close to the fire place, giving me a good excuse to work with my journal and yarns. 

My baby booties are coming along nicely.  Although I am always happy to have a hook and yarn in my hands I get greater satisfaction from working with natural wools.  This chunky blend is worked up quickly in a warm and sturdy bootie.   With the recent announcement of her first pregnancy I have a good idea of which friend these booties will be going to.

 

 

 

I have been thinking a lot about my diet lately and how I would like to cut out some of the crap that I am accustomed to eating.  I don't really believe in supplementing your diet with protein powders and pills, to me these just seem like prepackaged convenience foods masquerading as health foods.  Personally, I would rather add foods to my diet that are high in the minerals, fats, and proteins that I lack.  Ever since trying my first bottle of  kombucha in San Diego last fall I've been obsessing over the drink.  The fermented tea is slightly fizzy and high in minerals and probiotics.  It tastes a bit like a cross between and alcoholic cider and (if you ferment it too long) vinegar.  I'm hooked and I have a continuous batch brewing in my pantry at all times. 

Aside from getting my daily dose of probiotics, I have discovered bee pollen again (surprise, surprise).  This little super food is extremely high in protein, vitamins, and folic acid.  I have been adding it to my oatmeal and smoothies throughout the day.  Not only is a great addition to the diet but its unbelievably gorgeous ranging in colours from soft yellows and oranges to sometimes pinks and green.  Seriously get in on this little gem. 

This week will be spent mulling over meals and which foods I would like to cut out of my diet.  I can express extreme self-control in the market but once a 'treat' comes home with my it becomes a free for all.   I need to do some serious planning to better manage my snacking and to keep my blood sugar even.  My diet plan tends to lean somewhere towards a raw-vegan and although I do tend to play around with these types of foods quite often, I really need to create a solid meal plan that will get me thought the work week.  I don't put label my diet but I do try and eat those foods that fuel my body and make me feel good. 

 

Due for a top up but check out that SCOBY!

 

Beautiful pollen granules.

 

 

 

  



Passing Weekends

 A thick frost covers the trees.

 



As another weekend winds down I take advantage of the quite morning to catch up on everything I had wanted to accomplish.  Although the past few days have been quiet I feel they have been quite productive.  I'm a homebody and I prefer to spend my days off around the house, baking away in the kitchen or hiking the many trails around the neighbourhood. 
This weekend we received a pleasant visit from my aunt and uncle who happened to be passing by on their way home from a ski trip.  It has been a good 6 months since I've seen any of my family so it was a nice chance to catch up.   After spending the morning enjoying tea and baking we hiked up to the view point over looking our lake.  The sun was out and the hoarfrost so thick that everything seemed to sparkle.  Aunty C and Uncle G generously lent us their snowshoes to try out next weekend and I honestly cannot wait to get on them.
 

The best way to travel.

 

A view well worth the hike.  

I have been busy in the kitchen all weekend baking a cooking up a storm.  I tried my hand at baked kale chipped coated in a zesty 'cheese' sauce.   The chips turned out surprisingly crisp but I think next time I would stick with a plain oil and  salt coating, letting the flavour of the kale shine through.  I Also had a big craving for sushi so I spent the better part of Sunday preparing a Japanese style dinner.   In the big city, A. and I would to eat sushi a lot.  We had four sushi restaurants within a stone's throw from our condo and you could fill your stomach for a song and a dance.  Lazy Saturdays were often spent browsing the local thrift store then walking up the hill for an early sushi lunch.  I sometimes feel a small nostalgia for our urban lifestyle. 

Lovely kale leaves washed and ready to become chips.

Since we now live a good 45 minutes away from the closest Japanese restaurant I tend to make my own sushi often.  The process is actually quite easy although it can be rather time consuming.  I like to round out my rolls with a large pot of miso soup and good sized bowl of sunomono salad.  Since we make it so often I try to keep all of the ingredients on hand.  I may be a little too prepared - upon searching my pantry I found 3 bottles of rice wine vinegar and 3 packets of nori sheets.  Oops.

 

My first time preparing shitakes. 

Their shape seems to lend themselves to potions and magic.

Ingredients for sushi dinner.

 

Like sushi rice, I tend to buy most pantry staples in bulk.

The rest of the weekend has been spent catching up on some reading and finishing up a crochet project.   I have been making a great effort to work with my yarns more often and my next planned project is a pair of baby slippers.  I picked up a leather punch at the local tool shop the other day and I plan to attach suede soles to the slippers.   As for now, I plan to top up my continuous batch of kombucha and then get ready for the work day.    What meals do you most like to prepare in the kitchen?

Completed cozy for my telescopic lens.

Daily Distractions

 

Monday mornings are always relaxed.  The office is slower, with only one doctor working the earlier shift, so I get head into work a little later in the day.   A. and I are usually up around 5:30am and while he heads off to work I meander upstairs to enjoy a latte and catch up on my blog roll.  I like having the house to myself, it gives me some quite time to catch up on my reading and housework.  Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with A. but he constantly has the gaming console or music going.   I find I need quite time, without distraction, to reflect and recharge. 

Our community is quite rural and not many services are offered to us.  We have no cellular reception.  (A little strange at first but then oddly liberating) and there isn't one company that bundles all services.  Our internet is painfully slow and cable TV is relatively expensive for even the basic package.   When we first moved into the house we had intended to hook up satellite TV.  When the provider told us they couldn't receive a clear signal we put it on the back burner and learned to live without.  Its hard to keep up on current events without the morning news, and I admit, there are some series that I do miss, but often find myself grateful for the break from daily TV.   To compensate, we set up our furniture with the heart of the home in the kitchen and dining area.  Our main floor consists of a spare bedroom and bathroom and an open concept kitchen and dining room.  The woodstove is located right in the centre of everything, making our large farm table the area to area to gather and socialize.  Still, we do have a theatre area, where I sometimes indulge in downloaded shows, but its tucked away in the loft, out of sight and out of mind. 

Today's morning will be spent without the distraction of TV or movies.  My entertainment is the view from the large picture windows facing north. The sun is starting the rise and the white snow on the hills is starting show.  Firewood needs to be gathered and soon the house will be filled with the scent of zucchini muffins baking in the oven.  Tonight's dinner will be organized and if there is time remaining I may take some time to crochet a lens cozy for my camera.  It seems that there isn't much time left in the day for distractions when everything has been finished.  The mornings are so much more productive when I take the time to focus. 

What are some ways you spend the mornings free of distraction?

Summertime in our little neighbourhood, tucked away in the middle of nowhere.

 

 

The weather can close the world within it's hand.

 

Can you spot the cave of the selenite crystals to the bottom left? 

Here in the west we have not been experiencing winter with the same severity as the other provinces.  Still though, the blanketed landscape and blowing snowdrifts have me cozied up inside enjoying the warmth of the woodstove.  Maybe it's my European background, but this time of year I tend to crave hearty soups and stews.  Last night's snow fall had me rushing home from town early to prepare a large pot of my Grandmother's Hungarian Pea Soup.  It is quick meal, coming together with sautéed vegetable and egg noodles then finished off with a very generous amount of sweet paprika.  It reminds me of being a young child, sitting in my Grandmother's yellow kitchen enjoying the rust coloured soup from her old country rose china bowls.

 

 

Today's weather is quite mild.  The sun is out and warm but the strong wind seems to find a way through the layers of my clothing. The trees are shedding snow and the sounds of it hitting the tin roof carries through the house.  I bundled the pup up and we both headed out for a walk behind our old home.  Although the area is close by, I haven't ventured out that way in some time.  The fields are covered in snow and the once busy ponds are now frozen and still.  Even without the abundance of herb and wildlife I cant help but feel like I live in the most gorgeous place in the world.  
On my way home I was reflecting on the beauty of the land but also little disappointed that I hadn't found any wildlife.  In the summertime, I always seemed to be trailing beautiful birds or sneaking up to a couple of deer hiding in the bush.   Once while walking the same route I came upon a large turtle sunning itself on the path.

Best to stick to the roads.

This livestock dog always comes over for a friendly greeting.

When I heard the jays calling overhead I instinctually took out my camera to capture some shots.  While trying to focus in on one of the jays I started thinking about the beautiful sapsucker that teased me on our deck the other day.   He had perched under the awnings for a bit and then landed on the railing, wings outstretched, leaving his delicate feathery imprint in the snow.  Then, as if by magic, he was right there in the middle of my shot.  He stayed for a brief moment and then flew off into the trees.  It all happened so fast I didn't have time to focus my camera, unable to capture a decent picture.   I can't help but compare the two encounters, both happing so quickly and then leaving me with faintest  proof that he was even there at all.  The universe works in amazing ways and I intend to look into animal totems this evening. 

 

Back home all ready to warm up.

 

Which animals have been revealing themselves to you lately?