tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54395611594974032932024-02-19T18:56:49.525-05:00Harvest Kitchen SistersHarvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.comBlogger495125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-47939008498886834092014-08-04T12:34:00.001-04:002014-08-04T12:39:11.144-04:00Farm photos- pictures instead of words!!From the country...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwo_fe3n6PfPcGx5KRCdZ97lLrkwcGT7Qg_vJFOlLMgzBP_IFJnWC0HDK7L8PEzi5AjRrT_04yPgMpNRzvRdQDD8HJKttKujJooH0dHzVv9PpiSNKSfByoEWCFFnW2Cbn6t-ctHTwT_c/s1600/2014-08-01+18.33.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwo_fe3n6PfPcGx5KRCdZ97lLrkwcGT7Qg_vJFOlLMgzBP_IFJnWC0HDK7L8PEzi5AjRrT_04yPgMpNRzvRdQDD8HJKttKujJooH0dHzVv9PpiSNKSfByoEWCFFnW2Cbn6t-ctHTwT_c/s1600/2014-08-01+18.33.40.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabbage! Super excited- sauerkraut and coleslaw here I come!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxiYI72jlsm1hSXoJOG_4X3TFjSbSwX7hpPHCIOrMxbsf3XdyUfFVSkX4y_q5_LUCpLU5ilrogf5-Z8eYi8a5kr_9-7_W0eDBnzQ_viUOdDlqsWkh8gtJr8MOKMaoyhDzK8zfnfjKg5M/s1600/2014-07-24+13.32.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxiYI72jlsm1hSXoJOG_4X3TFjSbSwX7hpPHCIOrMxbsf3XdyUfFVSkX4y_q5_LUCpLU5ilrogf5-Z8eYi8a5kr_9-7_W0eDBnzQ_viUOdDlqsWkh8gtJr8MOKMaoyhDzK8zfnfjKg5M/s1600/2014-07-24+13.32.29.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrots one of the gazillion crops we are harvesting right now...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Apa2LxFWQEFxMrcUOcHEqalQp7dsRzvEyxeE066-QXrk7QGlnV356enMD1sGvDukxJSttVI5YrF7AED5m9uxaQ18bnnx_JSwrnlJFUm4IRofTLt7729NqcGNYHXaGXmrUewXRdOnVrI/s1600/2014-08-03+19.28.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Apa2LxFWQEFxMrcUOcHEqalQp7dsRzvEyxeE066-QXrk7QGlnV356enMD1sGvDukxJSttVI5YrF7AED5m9uxaQ18bnnx_JSwrnlJFUm4IRofTLt7729NqcGNYHXaGXmrUewXRdOnVrI/s1600/2014-08-03+19.28.30.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raspberry pie- sure to rival my sis' sour cherry one (with an all butter crust I might add...)</td></tr>
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-49418785023398384622014-07-23T12:36:00.001-04:002014-07-23T12:37:10.083-04:00Preparing for Travels: 2 Mamas, 2 Toddlers and 2 Babes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtvljON84vYJZmIIx_fkDcdvc4GZurbKh_VzyP6whra6h4IOrV9oglFY-K85B8MvkkVQNn6KdYXIj3PKLv0T_klhABCAsgIfh1q8UUESVQwZ-L0jojuCPG-BO_OOkqLisVzjAz1tmacw/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-07-23+at+10.46.11+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtvljON84vYJZmIIx_fkDcdvc4GZurbKh_VzyP6whra6h4IOrV9oglFY-K85B8MvkkVQNn6KdYXIj3PKLv0T_klhABCAsgIfh1q8UUESVQwZ-L0jojuCPG-BO_OOkqLisVzjAz1tmacw/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-07-23+at+10.46.11+AM.png" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is what life looks like right now; lists and spreadsheets and emails outlining travel plans. Robyn and I and our four children set off for Calgary in a week and the amount of preparation is mind boggling.<br />
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You can tell this is a list written by mamas because we had to include bras and underwear so we wouldn't forget them.<br />
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Wish us luck.<br />
A<br />
<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-24382069536273796732014-07-20T15:39:00.000-04:002014-07-20T15:39:11.806-04:00Kudos to all the Single Mamas Out There <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EWQQFGn70CE0bqMs7BnxW4fRAQsOVSrW4etMG5m16TIfgbm4JUkyxULkVQTaudFKz4pBBwWwqI6__U7o5JEY0snDzJAwmSNQdyac_l15rN9p4TlxFeB4W6ei0tlsfk6ZklHprT1GTbs/s1600/IMG_2174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EWQQFGn70CE0bqMs7BnxW4fRAQsOVSrW4etMG5m16TIfgbm4JUkyxULkVQTaudFKz4pBBwWwqI6__U7o5JEY0snDzJAwmSNQdyac_l15rN9p4TlxFeB4W6ei0tlsfk6ZklHprT1GTbs/s1600/IMG_2174.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So Simon has officially been gone for two weeks today, we have another 11 days until our family is glued back together in Canmore, Alberta. Some days seem to fly by and I forget that I'm single parenting a three year old and a 5 month old, while other days drag on and I watch the clock waiting for bed time. These days I feel as though I'll scream. Loneliness lingers throughout the day but catches up with me at night when I realize how much I miss my partner but also just how much I'm missing.<br />
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I have to admit though, I have it much easier than most single moms because:<br />
<br />
a) I have a good partner<br />
<br />
b) I have an incredible community of friends and family. Like, an unbelievable community. Grandmas/grandpas, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends who soften the blow.<br />
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c) It's temporary.<br />
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I wonder though, if all moms of young kids are going through this feeling of single parenting. We're all sorta sitting on the sidelines of our partners careers waiting for our time, even if we do go back to work, we still prioritize family first. I am doing this and not begrudgingly, don't get me wrong. I love my kids, they're a total pain in the ass, but I love them. Sometimes though I can't help but feel like everything in my life is stalled and learning to live with this can be a challenge, especially when your partners life is evolving and expanding and becoming something amazing, albeit, without you.<br />
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Learning to accept and love the space that I'm in right now has been my greatest challenge but I wonder if, when my children are grown, i'll look back and yearn for these days again, for the simple pleasures that make all the parenting hardships worth it. I'm pretty sure I will.<br />
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A lot of love to all the struggling mamas out there.<br />
xAHarvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-50441274705845006892014-06-16T11:52:00.002-04:002014-06-16T11:52:23.977-04:00Full Steam Ahead <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6SFYhJPythOp4ggHpIFOllTCg_viZikYX3M2Yo08b9QsOHzgETO9TUOFSRrwI34HzBWhcy2Qmk1Jiq-lVjh0bcX_C0oHa53RuOKeS2nw9Oco9EqK_w1RVX4sKEyjhOhqNBgbQJQMtk0/s1600/IMG_2132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6SFYhJPythOp4ggHpIFOllTCg_viZikYX3M2Yo08b9QsOHzgETO9TUOFSRrwI34HzBWhcy2Qmk1Jiq-lVjh0bcX_C0oHa53RuOKeS2nw9Oco9EqK_w1RVX4sKEyjhOhqNBgbQJQMtk0/s1600/IMG_2132.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I realize how quiet it's been on the blogging front; slacking is an understatement. Our family has been experiencing major changes; a new baby, a new juno, a wild tour schedule, a new home(s). We've left Toronto and our little 1 bedroom apartment, that treated us quite well for the past 5 years, put our life in storage and moved in to the family farm house. <br />
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To say that our kid's quality of life has gotten better is an understatement; it has surged and gone off the charts. Theo now spends his days with his cousins, playing outside until dusk when the bugs are nibbling at his ear lobes and his feet are coated in a fine layer of dirt and Frankie is surrounded by the chattering of little voices and an endless supply of arms to cuddle her. <br />
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We are lucky. <br />
<br />
For about a thousand reasons.<br />
<br />
Here's 3.<br />
<br />
1. We have family that loves us enough to put up with us invading their space like a bull in a china shop. <br />
<br />
2. We have family that bends over backwards to love our kids, one example being this past weekend. Simon's fam took Theo to a cottage for the entire weekend and cared for him and loved him and played with him so that us parents (+ Frankie) could get away and be together and listen to music and drink beer and pretend for just a minute, that we were 20 again...<br />
<br />
3. Simon has an amazingly awesome festival schedule coming up that includes Yellowknife, Salmon Arm and Fernie, to name a few and that we get to go with!! The whole fam will be out on the west coast for the month of August. It will be crazy and there will be meltdowns and temper tantrums and when we get back, we'll likely need a vacation to recover but it will be the thing that memories are made of. I mean, how often do you get to tour the country with your dad's folk band?<br />
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So keep checking in cause this summer is gonna be a good one.<br />
x<br />
<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-50124690894696081142014-06-11T16:08:00.002-04:002014-06-11T16:08:37.334-04:00The Birth of Frances Pearl So this happened...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaqEWrGSYOeHXot45d7E0hzZJxlbECti5W-99Ju4eP3fEG_x5bViXbpLpuDrtxFp3ttLyDoHx9GRIAS4YBIHwJqxaZK111UeOs442aJuNl4orxEEhfEQ7Lek2QDmSZdgfI2_EV8P3oaw/s1600/IMG_1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoaqEWrGSYOeHXot45d7E0hzZJxlbECti5W-99Ju4eP3fEG_x5bViXbpLpuDrtxFp3ttLyDoHx9GRIAS4YBIHwJqxaZK111UeOs442aJuNl4orxEEhfEQ7Lek2QDmSZdgfI2_EV8P3oaw/s1600/IMG_1978.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On Monday March 3, a cool week before her due date, we welcomed our freshest little one, Frances Pearl. Right here at home in bed just the same as we did with her little bro just three years earlier. I'll be honest, Frances was a complete surprise baby, I actually found out that I was pregnant while on tour with Simon in Vancouver, talk about a vacation bummer. Frances' pregnancy was much harder, having a busy two year old and a hectic tour schedule made for lots of tears and tantrums; me and not Theo. Nevertheless, we managed and at 9:30 am, after about 8 hours of labor and to a room full of women Frances was born, screaming and mad as hell, feisty like her mom already.<br />
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Here's our wee girl's birth story if you're into that sorta thing.<br />
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At about 12:30 am, a gush of water woke me from a deep sleep. At first I thought I wet the bed and then I thought, crap, I wish I had put the plastic sheets on the bed and then it hit me that I was in fact going in to labor early! Now I was pregnant for an eternity with Theo; real time 41 weeks and 3 days so to be going in to labor roughly a week and half before my due date was pretty much the best thing ever. Simon was out at a music thing so a phone call later, he was on route, while waiting for him to get home I wandered from room to room, I was calm and excited. I also called Laura and gave her a heads up, not much was happening as the contractions were mild so I told her I'd check in in a bit and we both decided to head back to bed and to get as much sleep as possible. <br />
<br />
At about 2:30 am, the contractions were getting more and more intense and I was having a hard time sleeping through them. I woke Simon up and we decided to call the midwife (anyone seen that show??)and my sister. At this time I decided to take a bath thinking that the warm water might move things along, the contractions were manageable but slightly painful. While in the bath, my midwife Corinne and her student Sarah arrived as well as Laura, I was checked and was only 2-3 cm which was discouraging because I had woken up three very sleepy women to drive across Toronto at 2 in the morning for early labor. But lucky for me, my birth team was a solid one; we had tea, they rubbed my back and gave me words of reassurance. Corinne suggested I go back to bed for a bit and the four of us camped out my room; Laura and I sleeping side by side and the midwives at the foot of the bed couting my contractions as I slept. It was then that the labor tapered off, contractions went from being every 3 minutes to every 7. At 7 am, Corinne and Sarah decided to go for breakfast and to check on another patient. Laura ran me a bath and brought me tea while I laboured in the tub listening to Theo watching cartoons, the contractions becoming more and more intense. <br />
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I remember being very concerned about Theo at this point, though he was oblivious to what was going on, I knew I didn't want him to stay while I laboured. Simon called his sister Meg and asked her to come and get the little gaffer, while out I asked him to pick up some ginger-ale because an ice cold gingie was something I couldn't stop thinking about. Just as Simon left, the contractions were getting intense, Laura was pushing hard on my lower back which relieved some of the pain and I found the only position bearable was on all fours; which is what got me into this predicament in the first place.<br />
<br />
Around 9:15 am, the midwives arrived and I was checked again, they told me I was about 5 cm which was soul crushing because I was so tired and in so much pain. Almost immediately after being checked I had two really good mind blowingly painful contractions, that I think I'll remember till I'm 85, to which I heard Laura say; "Amy, the head!! the head is out! Keep going!..." what's next is a blur but then little Frankie was put on my chest, screaming like hell. <br />
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About 10 minutes later, after the placenta had been birthed and Frances was chattering away to us about her journey, Simon ran in thinking we were watching a movie with a baby in it, he was blown away to realize she was here. Laura told him it was a girl and the look on his face is one that i'll remember forever. <br />
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So there it is, that's the story of how little Frankie Pearl came along. To say she's great, is an understatement. She has brought all this amazing craziness to our life in the best and most wonderful way. <br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
xHarvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-60462515562329611182014-05-10T11:18:00.000-04:002014-05-10T11:18:56.443-04:00Spring 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From the country...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oMdj0GoivEjQLqalHciRhrATOgp0tOSM6B66-G859B3iGDg1rVjc_0qBpizlM3jcyiW1hh3hrQp5ZOl0FpKSVln3gbT3h8nAyFhXGOnMqBMwS7ym6BPTT61pcHGI2sZDrKJUl9-PFPo/s1600/2014-05-08+12.59.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oMdj0GoivEjQLqalHciRhrATOgp0tOSM6B66-G859B3iGDg1rVjc_0qBpizlM3jcyiW1hh3hrQp5ZOl0FpKSVln3gbT3h8nAyFhXGOnMqBMwS7ym6BPTT61pcHGI2sZDrKJUl9-PFPo/s1600/2014-05-08+12.59.10.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So we have been lost in space for a while, but there are many exciting happenings around here. Amelia is moving on home to the farm (at least for the summer while Simon is touring with the <a href="http://www.thestrumbellas.ca/index.jsp" target="_blank">Strumbellas</a>).This old farm house will be rocking with a big brood of kids! Speaking of kids,we welcomed baby Frances Pearl in March- another girl to the mix! So we will be posting more often with our new adventures on the farm and Amelia's adventures touring with the band across Canada in mid summer with a toddler and a new lil' one. I of course,will be here on the farm plugging away and periodically updating our life here. Stay tuned...Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-82588076010633541352013-12-07T08:59:00.000-05:002013-12-07T08:59:02.078-05:00Some tips on how to cook your holiday heritage turkey.From the country...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjKbORHrdDT8chfoAqmRiuu4egAcLNh_zsU4q448FaYUfp9Wrykvh49wtXElimAH-AW_-KQ5NM9nES-iAdk-GzoeMmFxBOOUKRebCrXP_DHSkKt3Aob8NwVN_jF7-XLm1DBxE4rq5rot9/s1600/7-124-chile-rub-turkey400.jpeg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjKbORHrdDT8chfoAqmRiuu4egAcLNh_zsU4q448FaYUfp9Wrykvh49wtXElimAH-AW_-KQ5NM9nES-iAdk-GzoeMmFxBOOUKRebCrXP_DHSkKt3Aob8NwVN_jF7-XLm1DBxE4rq5rot9/s400/7-124-chile-rub-turkey400.jpeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
There certainly are a
lot of opinions on how to cook that holiday bird. Brining vs. not
brining, larding vs. rubbing w/ fat, trussing vs not trussing, to stuff
or not to stuff. Rest assured though, you can get good results with any
of these techniques, if applied correctly.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Brining</span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A
little difficult to do at home especially with large birds but if this
is attempted, it is much better to err on the side of not enough brine
time than too much brine time. In the end, in my opinion, you want the
bird to, almost, taste like it was not brined so that the natural
flavours of the turkey will come through and not be disguised by
herb/salt/citrus. Just an ever so slight hint herb/salt/citrus is the
ideal. - and, in particular, the salt aspect of the brine is more
important to how it changes the cell structures than achieving a
marinated-tasting bird (whereas the salt actually makes individual cells
more elastic, enabling a juicer bird in the end, and being more
forgiving if overcooked). A very important tip is to rinse, pat dry, and
let the turkey rest, uncovered in the fridge, for 24 hours after
brining. Click <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/" target="_blank">here</a> for a low tech brining recipe<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Larding</span></u> <div class="MsoNormal">
Heritage
birds have more fat than standard birds but when roasting a whole
turkey, it is inevitable that the white meat will cook quicker than the
dark meat. A couple of tricks here:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soak a
cloth in some sort of fat (butter will do nicely, or melted
duck/chicken/pork fat) and drape over the breast. Leave the cloth there
for the first 1/3 of cooking, then remove to allow breast skin to crisp
up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another good trick is to have some softened butter and rub the breast well with this, under the skin.<br />
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Trussing</span></u> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
like to leave legs untrussed, which allows them to cook a bit quicker.
I like to tie the wings in tight to slow down the cooking of the
breasts a wee bit.<br />
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Stuffing</span></u> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
wouldn’t recommend stuffing your bird you’re planning to brine, instead
make it on your stove top. Stuffing in a brined bird can be too salty
otherwise. A real turkey pure-ist would say that you can't get your
stuffing up to a proper temp without compromising the breast meat (ie
overcooking your bird). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, in my
opinion, there's nothing more classic than pulling out that perfectly
roasted turkey, complete with stuffing in both cavities. Having that
cloth draped over the breasts will help you achieve these good results.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What I’m planning to do this year to my heritage holiday bird:</span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></u><ul>
<li>Take turkey out of bag asap and let rest, uncovered, in fridge
for as long as possible (up to a week is just fine, and a day or two
will help too)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>The night before I roast it, <span style="font-family: Symbol;">I</span>'ll
rub all over w/ salt and pepper (inside cavity too); this is a bit of a
cheat, giving you somewhat similar results as brining does (a lil' bit
anyways)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Heat oven to 450</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Gently lift skin from breast, and rub breast directly w/ softened butter (can be seasoned w/ herb too)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Stuff
both cavities (and it's better to under-season the stuffing,
considering the cavity is rubbed down with salt and pepper already - can
always be adjusted afterwards)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Tie wings in tight to breast</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Drape a butter-soaked cheesecloth over the breast</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Put into your hot oven (450) for 5-10 minutes</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Reduce oven to 300, and continue roasting for about 20-25 minutes to the pound; remove cloth after 1/3 of cooking time.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>I don't usually bother with basting; I just don’t see the need!</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Remove bird when cooked to your liking (I go to 160 F, tested in the thigh); </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Let rest 30 minutes before carving, in a warm spot, covered w/ foil tent (or something similar)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Remove stuffing, put into a pot/casserole, and bring to temp, gently, on stove top or in oven</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Make gravy while stuffing is heating, and bird is resting</li>
</ul>
. We hope that this little bit of cooking advice helps when preparing your holiday bird.</div>
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Please visit our farm <a href="http://grassrootorganics.com/" target="_blank">website</a> if you are interested in ordering a bird for the holidays.</div>
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Happy Holidays! </div>
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Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-815915553398950262013-08-22T17:47:00.002-04:002013-08-22T17:47:45.061-04:00Travelling with Toddlers<br />
<span style="color: black;">From the City... </span><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGQHyfnGTdmdhqlcHMbrUJIttm8G-Gq5sXnBxYzKeplbqHEZPzjpFAT_MhS5piKVf5n1JhVgi-Jfpt738JmMGNlvfNUUnVn-BTMdE5SxqJGkmIUm9u7fcpPFUZIL3Cwa-8NpTU2NtGdI/s640/IMG_1900.jpg" width="640" /><br />
Traveling with two toddlers is sorta like being stuck with your drunk friends at the end of the night. It is exhausting, embarrassing at the best of times (think all out tantrums lying on the floor of the airport while you check luggage and your child telling everyone that they're "yucky") and I hate to say it, completely challenging and um, sorta un-fun. Our vacation out west was less vacation and more like dragging our kids across the country to see their dads who were in the middle of a four week tour cross Canada tour. <br />
Never the less we bucked up and rose to the challenge, as good mama's often do. <br />
Here's the two little demons at the airport as we leave Toronto for Vancouver. <br />
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Here's when we finally caught up with the Dad's in Whistler before their festival. I have to admit, Whistler was the highlight of the trip for everyone. We had a great room with a kitchen so we could cook some real meals, the shows they played were amazing and we even hired a babysitter so the mama's could go out for a bit.<br />
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Side note; If anyone has ever wondered about the inside of a band van that's driven across the country before with six smoking, drinking band members; trust me, it's not nearly as glamorous as you may believe. <br />
Think feet, old coffee cups and the lingering smell of the armpits. <br />
Ugh. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWUs-eOal_BLCY02jKGg-WaunJ2SJ4uFArLhIBoobW8tIBaY0Vsb3rc2VULPN6i6T-r_cxqZLqpS1CrUVzTarU6fr_leZSiWJjrdoN0lcnsEZH6GbelakFuUxwPVagw2psXuKMtJ20Pc/s1600/IMG_1918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWUs-eOal_BLCY02jKGg-WaunJ2SJ4uFArLhIBoobW8tIBaY0Vsb3rc2VULPN6i6T-r_cxqZLqpS1CrUVzTarU6fr_leZSiWJjrdoN0lcnsEZH6GbelakFuUxwPVagw2psXuKMtJ20Pc/s640/IMG_1918.jpg" width="640" /></a>There are two hours over the course of seven days where these two didn't fight and were tolerable around each other. This is either hour 1 or 2. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYpabLp1dWQMg3BJue-2ndRn5mr3m8DVUVeqYwSspAf4yXnYkOE_sfKA2b-eI1NHVUqsGg3oA9Lp-Fv29B8WDP44bhWrVQaKS4VMj8FZF0smZEqZJOaTZg8spenjOLH-4pVil9uleCo/s1600/IMG_1919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYpabLp1dWQMg3BJue-2ndRn5mr3m8DVUVeqYwSspAf4yXnYkOE_sfKA2b-eI1NHVUqsGg3oA9Lp-Fv29B8WDP44bhWrVQaKS4VMj8FZF0smZEqZJOaTZg8spenjOLH-4pVil9uleCo/s640/IMG_1919.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Not too shabby. From Whistler back to Vancouver. <br />
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Vancouver Aquarium. </div>
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Maddy face in the hotel. Post bath, Pre nap time. </div>
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Cherries on Granville Island. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz7lnOmugiJa7zrr0AlyHkcSDbi5e8tq_nje7EDfvQV-KcWIlCGPm5HrYNBiuIan-H6IX0CWZp65rj0JpO0ES_ft8WcpdFnEvc74ye0k_aGP2Wo2s2oj9Dr1o8f8WBHaKoSudocUSWPU/s1600/bear+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz7lnOmugiJa7zrr0AlyHkcSDbi5e8tq_nje7EDfvQV-KcWIlCGPm5HrYNBiuIan-H6IX0CWZp65rj0JpO0ES_ft8WcpdFnEvc74ye0k_aGP2Wo2s2oj9Dr1o8f8WBHaKoSudocUSWPU/s640/bear+creek.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Playing with Daddy at <a href="http://www.bearcreekstudio.com/" target="_blank">Bear Creek Studio</a> in Seattle. </div>
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So we survived the trip (thanks to wine) and the todd's got to see their papas in the middle of our longest tour yet. I think I'd consider that a success, a great success.<br />
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-amelia Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-58936660756662821622013-07-07T18:15:00.001-04:002013-07-07T18:15:49.154-04:00What it might be like if Dinos where still around...From the country...<br />
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-74439317975545243192013-07-07T18:06:00.000-04:002013-07-07T18:06:32.542-04:00June and July (so far).From the country...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrzrIyNQ3c88XKlMkZhwg578l-nt26zz-4UQmVJpdAIgyDnIgTiWNt5sGIQ8_B6785D1JvgWMutAcAFO4w9xNwnWqWPTHn3CpLrmYP3CP4fNaELy0IsGq-DbT8TrFam6jdeVv5a9XzGw/s1600/DSCN4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrzrIyNQ3c88XKlMkZhwg578l-nt26zz-4UQmVJpdAIgyDnIgTiWNt5sGIQ8_B6785D1JvgWMutAcAFO4w9xNwnWqWPTHn3CpLrmYP3CP4fNaELy0IsGq-DbT8TrFam6jdeVv5a9XzGw/s640/DSCN4090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducklings in the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfjqvDZd6ep8b-cK7-ERFC2PeRGHGyF8Loq1Lpw_O2PqSICy78cA7pciC9VPkyyg063z2dCKE-n3di-dEEWtQ7_PrvWHECFPSymJEynumOZoVZR4oFyIrGhB5WEpuegc9Vjkg2DLdS_k/s1600/DSCN4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfjqvDZd6ep8b-cK7-ERFC2PeRGHGyF8Loq1Lpw_O2PqSICy78cA7pciC9VPkyyg063z2dCKE-n3di-dEEWtQ7_PrvWHECFPSymJEynumOZoVZR4oFyIrGhB5WEpuegc9Vjkg2DLdS_k/s640/DSCN4103.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potluck fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudsZcER33sSSG8SApwmCbfcJ3IPmE3KrMn3aVEypl17aXZnA3vBtcu3ZJS-jQ8_bO9nA71mRCyiXkpthtbwxEIFBgkH9Fnl1cDkYMPfa7tI_lvYHisU2TWfbBj0UcpIxU-zHIgJE45tc/s1600/DSCN4105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudsZcER33sSSG8SApwmCbfcJ3IPmE3KrMn3aVEypl17aXZnA3vBtcu3ZJS-jQ8_bO9nA71mRCyiXkpthtbwxEIFBgkH9Fnl1cDkYMPfa7tI_lvYHisU2TWfbBj0UcpIxU-zHIgJE45tc/s640/DSCN4105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher's pet...end of school year gift</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrUDasj7Z9CnhGwaptwpLi2Mbex6PT800YXhEjUZ3Zj4MuwqUJNj4fJ85imunegtEzOBl6nK1ZSPNwAVGvhbA0vWiRovEKPg62psxm6RonaCUq4DC-81fESfEv96OL9WLjnl2n_5mfAE/s1600/DSCN4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrUDasj7Z9CnhGwaptwpLi2Mbex6PT800YXhEjUZ3Zj4MuwqUJNj4fJ85imunegtEzOBl6nK1ZSPNwAVGvhbA0vWiRovEKPg62psxm6RonaCUq4DC-81fESfEv96OL9WLjnl2n_5mfAE/s640/DSCN4111.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family at Canada's Wonderland</td></tr>
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So while most of the crops are in (I say most because there are still the continuous plantings and the fall plantings that still need to happen) there is still a huge laundry list of jobs that still need to be done. On said list is:<br />
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-seeding down the buckwheat for a green manure crop<br />
-constructing a greenhouse to go around the cherry tomatoes and peppers that are already planted.<br />
-staking beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers<br />
-planting the haskap starts (when they come in), lovage, spice bush, sour cherry shrubs<br />
-move turkey poults out of brooder and onto pasture<br />
-construct outdoor hoop houses for ducks and quail.<br />
-working up a new garden for fall plantings<br />
-irrigation<br />
-general farm maintenance and weed, weed weeding... <br />
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On a side note my addiction to poultry has hit max capacity. I think an intervention may be in order. That being said I have some of the neatest breeds this year that I am super excited about. Silver Laced Wyandotts, Welsummer's, Basque, Speckled Sussex, and Silkie chickens among the usual ducks, turkeys and quail.<br />
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I put in 200 raspberry cane this year and I am happy to say they appear to be doing really well. Also the apple trees look pretty good, the crab apple tree is full and it may be a banner year for the wild apples and grapes.... <br />
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I have a new culinary love. Her name is <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/07/mayonnaise-recipes-tartare-aioli-saffron" target="_blank">mayonnaise</a>. Why has it taken this long for me to discover it? I have made three batches now and 2 have turned out fantastic. The first one went out the window and then I actually read the instructions.... I chock it full of herbs and garlic scapes and then it is ready for anything. I have since made many a Caesar salad and a kick ass chicken salad too.<br />
No really homemade Mayo- where have you been all this time?<br />
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Had a family trip to Canada's Wonderland. Mark's family came to the farm and treated us to a trip to this well loved theme park. The kids had a blast.<br />
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For me though, I prefer staying on the farm. Not to mention roller coasters freak me out.<br />
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I promise to keep in touch better. My sis is out West (Vancouver, Seattle) and if we play our cards right she may just jump in too and tell us about her adventures... right Amy?<br />
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-30849528635775904802013-06-02T15:12:00.003-04:002013-06-02T15:14:34.431-04:00Did you forget about me?!?!?<div style="text-align: center;">
From the City...</div>
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A fully stocked mom purse.</div>
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Nuts, water, bananas, pocky, work (blah), lip balm.</div>
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A pantless jam session with Sofia.</div>
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A stranger's fancy ride.</div>
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A beauty little dream home sandwiched between two boresville houses.</div>
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Lime green paint?? Yes please!</div>
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Date night at The County General, big thanks to Simon's mom for that blissful child free evening.</div>
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We are addicted to gelato, this past month we have spent roughly $30 on take home containers full of mint, pistachio, banana, grapefruit, chocolate and vanilla.</div>
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Potty time bribery, we have made zero progress yet the box is empty, hmmm...</div>
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If the shoe fits....buy a pair for everyone in your family.</div>
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Holy smokes, what a month it has been. Aside from the shoe shopping and gelato eating; we've been busy. We're subletting our apartment which always equals mountains of work; cleaning, craigslisting, showings etc. Nevertheless we've found some cool folks who'll be living in our little homey while we travel and farm and reconnect with family. It should be a pretty over the top summer. Simon will be out west for the entire month of July playing festivals and recording their second album at Bear Creek Studio in Seattle. Theo and I plus Robyn (band mama) and her little one (see pic #2) will be flying out and joining them for about a week and half of toddler traveling mania. </div>
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Theo and I'll also be working on the farm which I'm hopeful we'll be a great experience for the this little city kid of mine. We need to get some dirt and some knee scrapes on that child. </div>
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We'll also be nesting up in Simon's mom's home which she so graciously offered, it will be a nice opportunity to unite the family a little more.</div>
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I also really do hope to blog more though, I apologize for this lack lustre attempting at summarizing 2 months of our lives. We're actively trying to screen less and do the good things more. </div>
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Nevertheless, I do love to offer this insight into our somewhat quirky little life, hopefully you'll stick around and see what our summer has in store. </div>
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Best, </div>
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amelia</div>
Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-58476663708675295192013-05-31T12:44:00.000-04:002013-05-31T12:44:48.816-04:00Leeks and Lettuce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From the country..</div>
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We have been eating a ton of wild leeks around here and have just started in on our spring lettuces. So fresh and crisp- Spring is a great time for local eating! We have had our fill of stinging nettle, asparagus, spring onions, baby greens, rhubarb, and spinach. If you could turn green by eating too many green things we would be the greenest family on the country block!<br />
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I love growing lettuce. There are so many different varieties as well as tastes and textures. Pictured above is a beautiful butterhead and a gem romaine/buttercrunch called, Pearl.<br />
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We are looking forward some peas and strawberries next!Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-86995610360185066772013-05-03T14:05:00.001-04:002013-05-03T14:06:06.093-04:00Hooray For the Wild Things!!From the country...<br />
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No time to chat because spring is in a hurry! The weather has been amazing and my hands are stained a nice shade of brown...Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-32702706178841234482013-04-28T09:29:00.002-04:002013-04-28T09:29:52.425-04:00BarteringFrom the country...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The goods</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young rhubarb plants</td></tr>
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Yesterday, we ventured over to a fellow farmer's place packing shovels, 3 laying hens, some onion starts and a dozen butter tarts.<br />
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I was on a mission to dig up some<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb" target="_blank"> rhubarb</a> plants to add to the new orchard garden that we are putting in this spring. It was a beautiful spring day and while we wrestled with the rhubarb the kids played in the trees, watched the Indian Runner ducks and feed the goats. As it turns out, getting ol' rhubarb plants out of the ground is a tough job. The plant has a large tap root that runs pretty deep. Rhubarb is a tough, hardy perennial that once established will stay there for many years. I often love going to old farmhouses, almost all of them have a rhubarb patch put in many years ago by someones Grandmother. Nothing is prettier than the large crinkly dark green leaves of the plant set upon dozens of ruby red stalks.<br />
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Once the job was done we ate butter tarts and drank some tea while we talked farming.<br />
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The best part of the day (aside from hanging out with my farmer friend, Les) was there was no money exchanged. I bartered for my 20 or so rhubarb plants, a bale of hay, some sorrel plants and some twine with 3 chickens, onions, and a gooey snack.<br />
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What could be better than that?<br />
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Today is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84T60jYWcBs" target="_blank">fun job of planting my new rhubarb plants.</a><br />
<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-25857597526731555362013-04-26T13:23:00.002-04:002013-04-26T13:23:24.711-04:00The Flu from Hell<div style="text-align: center;">
From the City...</div>
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We have a case of the nastiest never-ending flu over here. We're officially on day 4 but it feels like day 8. Theo has had a fever the entire time, we are also battling some serious teething as well, when it rains, it really does pour. So that little dude has been super out, no drugs, hippy teething necklaces or prayers (i'm not even religious!) can take the demon out of a teething, flu riddled two year old. Today he had an all out meltdown because I wouldn't let him lay on the floor in the hallway of our apartment building, crying. Yes I am that unreasonable and yes, our neighbours hate us.<br />
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And now, Simon too, is sick. Thank god it's Friday and we have the weekend to recuperate. <br />
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Wishing you all a big dose of healthy. We sure could use one over here.<br />
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-ameliaHarvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-64918393374143522922013-04-24T10:12:00.002-04:002013-04-25T07:55:15.562-04:00What Mama Wore and Other Good Things: Juno Edition <div style="text-align: center;">
From the City...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTbWTbSrYaBAZS4aAN4jI2-iYy8fcB0OZ22uVtCRd7-15Zn_Sbx-bQC0mvQAnUisWDS4Cq56vqARPIZjHzscZRJu2qacuEPMNHVJxtQP-LlAZDVgG8IdWvW6z2P5gXbeIY9oruAvvrwX1/s1600/juno+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTbWTbSrYaBAZS4aAN4jI2-iYy8fcB0OZ22uVtCRd7-15Zn_Sbx-bQC0mvQAnUisWDS4Cq56vqARPIZjHzscZRJu2qacuEPMNHVJxtQP-LlAZDVgG8IdWvW6z2P5gXbeIY9oruAvvrwX1/s640/juno+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The best thing about dressing for the Junos is that you can do things like wear a fully sequinned butterfly shirt and not even think twice that you might be overdressed because you can pretty much guarantee somebody else will wearing something even crazier, like, silver spray painted antlers...</div>
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I kid you not. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e3tzdO_TINKw9lT7MIRVAE67t6kkMIxny60njfzift6n2iTfbH0kn6k0HEQZIudzs4BS6GMvea_z7Y4Vej4TzmWfVX3XTpZ86tAzaWdtr14B4cCJQg1SgkOpN1bt40mc2Cii-2V175cJ/s1600/corb+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e3tzdO_TINKw9lT7MIRVAE67t6kkMIxny60njfzift6n2iTfbH0kn6k0HEQZIudzs4BS6GMvea_z7Y4Vej4TzmWfVX3XTpZ86tAzaWdtr14B4cCJQg1SgkOpN1bt40mc2Cii-2V175cJ/s640/corb+collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Laura's and my crush, Corb Lund.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuyel9_SDFdJa1COMkLlEE14ehaACyc_NfHI79-zdyipygVkX8HludFjB_yBco07uxvcRYwBg3U2gQljfWwSKGM2PEZmMKM39Z1sjL1dSZLwE10-4RCBQ4399PGKzopSeal4J8wTDTXvg/s1600/juno:carpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuyel9_SDFdJa1COMkLlEE14ehaACyc_NfHI79-zdyipygVkX8HludFjB_yBco07uxvcRYwBg3U2gQljfWwSKGM2PEZmMKM39Z1sjL1dSZLwE10-4RCBQ4399PGKzopSeal4J8wTDTXvg/s640/juno:carpet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Strumbellas on the red carpet, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sI668XJVHSt__aDHgC_cxFXJE5Y4h32YhL9DVdrVnN-RnNPgL8efU34a9Qja5p0ZRCMMbi-SZTUQ4kJcdTVVkvX8HdrlOkooCP1lk5SVXsmyvM1RSunK4C8f23CVLVSdQkAnpPXDSZfd/s1600/SImon:+junos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sI668XJVHSt__aDHgC_cxFXJE5Y4h32YhL9DVdrVnN-RnNPgL8efU34a9Qja5p0ZRCMMbi-SZTUQ4kJcdTVVkvX8HdrlOkooCP1lk5SVXsmyvM1RSunK4C8f23CVLVSdQkAnpPXDSZfd/s640/SImon:+junos.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Simon and Izz on the red carpet. Yes, Simon is wearing three collars. </div>
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Night 1: </div>
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Outlaws and Gunslingers Show Put on by Six Shooter Records...So many good acts; <a href="http://corblund.com/" target="_blank">Corb Lund</a>, <a href="http://www.sarahslean.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Slean</a>, <a href="http://rosecousins.com/" target="_blank">Rose Cousins</a>, <a href="http://www.royalwood.ca/" target="_blank">Royal Wood</a>, <a href="http://ameliacurran.com/" target="_blank">Amelia Curran</a>, <a href="http://www.greatlakeswimmers.com/" target="_blank">Great Lakes Swimmers</a> and <a href="http://www.thestrumbellas.ca/index.jsp" target="_blank">The Strumbellas!</a></div>
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Night 2: </div>
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The Juno Gala hosted by Gian Gomeshi. Fancy dinner with fancy ladies and whole lotta booze (cranberry martinis!). Followed by a sold out Strumbellas show at The Artful Dodger. </div>
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Night 3: </div>
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The actual Junos...so many incredible acts; <a href="http://ilovemetric.com/" target="_blank">Metric</a> (Emily Haines is not not hot), <a href="http://serenaryder.com/" target="_blank">Serena Ryder</a>, <a href="http://www.hannahgeorgas.com/" target="_blank">Hannah Georges</a>, <a href="http://www.thesheepdogs.com/" target="_blank">The Sheepdogs</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classified_%28rapper%29" target="_blank">Classified</a>. Then off to a universal party where we danced all night! Think; dancing with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjulie" target="_blank">Anjulie</a>, Hedley front man, <a href="http://thewoodenskymusic.com/" target="_blank">Wooden Sky</a>, etc etc! Most surreal experience ever.</div>
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Robyn and I then dragged our sad bodies to the airport at 3 am for a 5 am flight. One must never drink all night prior to a flight, this was learned the hard way. Trust me. Nothing about being in an airplane intoxicated/hungover is remotely enjoyable. </div>
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Overall, the weekend was incredible. I was just blown away by our Canadian music scene, so much talent. I feel compelled to support more Canadian musicians and I suggest you do the same. </div>
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Buy albums, go to shows, buy merch!</div>
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Plus Canadian musicians are so damn humble! I could have talked to Martina from <a href="http://dragonetteonline.com/" target="_blank">Dragonette</a> all night, she was just that cool and down to earth. </div>
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Anyway, now back to reality. </div>
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Theo has the flu and has been puking all night, there is vomit on every towel and sheet we own. </div>
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-amelia </div>
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Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-63081046746712513612013-04-19T18:28:00.000-04:002013-04-19T18:28:02.659-04:00My 33rd Birthday. From the country...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot7JDNv4g3uZC93d_M9XF9n-eZJkdVaUEj5R3WGco1nl44yZ8A1eHnVPHsXhcn7H_DxTftrUjEFesKc41qaNPmjFGfVmEHNCVUGPSz-8O7t2Xt99KAdrOJt44u0pfDx8OhIUiREeBItIj/s1600/DSCN4014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot7JDNv4g3uZC93d_M9XF9n-eZJkdVaUEj5R3WGco1nl44yZ8A1eHnVPHsXhcn7H_DxTftrUjEFesKc41qaNPmjFGfVmEHNCVUGPSz-8O7t2Xt99KAdrOJt44u0pfDx8OhIUiREeBItIj/s640/DSCN4014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st hatch out of the incubator</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzuxsvco9cnT88uh108ZrDK3gdbTUfcipGbtvRAB8gIGh1JECcJZ9CrRm37hv1nAFPfxvUVTWmaDQBpmW5I5nadZsrwj7HaygkiL4sBMxEhJ_msjeZJJ_AX1VkN2T9oe5dsTG5c8UVAc7/s1600/DSCN4032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzuxsvco9cnT88uh108ZrDK3gdbTUfcipGbtvRAB8gIGh1JECcJZ9CrRm37hv1nAFPfxvUVTWmaDQBpmW5I5nadZsrwj7HaygkiL4sBMxEhJ_msjeZJJ_AX1VkN2T9oe5dsTG5c8UVAc7/s640/DSCN4032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New GORGEOUS earrings that I adore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruUKVTOKWk9nPeaasfE2CNF9r9y0vdrOXoDnMStmxHX6sZDfNPgEDrvZ-DIDRCybsDrvHl0yNKQJ0efwkp6Sv_hx2FH6fCAiO0fC4eosoJn76XdYM3CY15YWvB1cQBpp9H8WJ1a2R9dXs/s1600/DSCN4040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruUKVTOKWk9nPeaasfE2CNF9r9y0vdrOXoDnMStmxHX6sZDfNPgEDrvZ-DIDRCybsDrvHl0yNKQJ0efwkp6Sv_hx2FH6fCAiO0fC4eosoJn76XdYM3CY15YWvB1cQBpp9H8WJ1a2R9dXs/s640/DSCN4040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went out for noodles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5bw9ck2BHq47JTe_XVgicg5Su4i_BZKZobDmTTSpMFf9sEk9tV7jjcN5HDVQMnpzn84gMBRcaIH-J9YPuwmEEhIv1e5B94HYELfOcF2MCTjVMMQaAKg_lGC26jGsqCwYtBtLiWFOXOCi/s1600/DSCN4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5bw9ck2BHq47JTe_XVgicg5Su4i_BZKZobDmTTSpMFf9sEk9tV7jjcN5HDVQMnpzn84gMBRcaIH-J9YPuwmEEhIv1e5B94HYELfOcF2MCTjVMMQaAKg_lGC26jGsqCwYtBtLiWFOXOCi/s640/DSCN4048.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 of 2 Mason bee houses that I am SUPER excited about.</td></tr>
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Well, look at me thirty three. Not old but certainty not a young wipper snapper either.<br />
<br />
32 sounded cooler and 23 sounded even better.<br />
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I like getting older though believe me, I appreciate the maturity that has found me. I feel that you get better with age- more so in your mind.<br />
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Man, I wish I had that 23 yr old body...<br />
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So my incubator has been rocking all week long and my brooder is full of little chicks. It doesn't stop there though, I already have a new hatch on and am always on the prowl for something new and exciting in the poultry world. Right now I have my eye on a Speckled Americauna rooster to bring home to my ladies and have some Speckled Sussex and Silver Laced Wyandott eggs in the incubator. Also bought myself this new <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/storeys-guide-to-raising-poultry/9781612120003-item.html" target="_blank">poultry book</a> to add to the library. I highly endorse the Storey's series.<br />
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My sis bought and sent me<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/frameboutique" target="_blank"> these amazing earrings</a> that I am very in love with. I am not as fond of material things as I once was but man do I love these earrings. They look like the top half of an Easter egg.<br />
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We went out for an authentic Chinese dinner. The kids thought we actually were going to China, even though we tried explaining we were only going to China town. Lucas kept asking if we were back in Canada on the way home. We ate at the <a href="http://www.pacificmalltoronto.com/" target="_blank">Pacific Mall</a> in Markham at a place that came recommended for <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/131463/restaurant/Toronto/Suns-Kitchen-Markham" target="_blank">making their own noodles. </a>It was good, the noodles were fresh and we enjoyed watching and hearing the thwack of the dough being shmacked on the counter while the noodles were being made. We ate in a food court and out of one use plastic bowls and cutlery which was a drawback but the dumplings were really good and I LOVE baby bok choi in a noodle soup. The black bean and bok choi dish was really fresh and tasty too.<br />
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My lil' family presented me with 2 Mason Bee homes yesterday morning. It is my first foray into beekeeping. I am very excited to make another space for pollinators at the farm. I want to find a way to have them close to the new orchard that we are putting in this year. I have some research ahead of me to best accommodate these little wonders.<br />
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So while my sis is jet setting to Regina to attend the <a href="http://junoawards.ca/2013-juno-awards/" target="_blank">Juno Awards</a> and all the partying that comes with being a wife to a very talented member of an<a href="http://www.thestrumbellas.ca/index.jsp" target="_blank"> amazing Juno nominated band</a>, I will be attending my first farm auction of the year.<br />
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How very different our lives are. <br />
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33 here I come.<br />
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-43008529965206853332013-04-15T13:32:00.001-04:002013-04-15T13:32:15.573-04:00Juno Fest <div style="text-align: center;">
From the City...</div>
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I'm still trying to process how good this weekend is going to be. We leave for the Junos on Friday morning and will be in Regina until Monday. This is the line up for Friday nights show followed by the gala on Saturday, a midnight show on Saturday night and front row seats at the Junos on Sunday. <br />
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...So far I have the boots, and that is all, so if you see a naked woman with incredible boots on television, that is me. <br />
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...must find outfit, must find outfit. <br />
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ameliaHarvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-90912980413633368302013-04-10T12:25:00.000-04:002013-04-10T12:25:21.398-04:00Little ProtestersFrom the country...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDqm823CmxF_PAcryKUsMrQ8mykvdmpDuGcaxDKrysbi7-UYKBMXQqTdKup8_S3qS6u3Q5XcUjKgpcbwuEjT2NH6UAzFXEa2V8F_lVtguFAhZjkV83eMYRhPoeHQr6HFYUXo-Bcs9NL6s/s1600/DSCN3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDqm823CmxF_PAcryKUsMrQ8mykvdmpDuGcaxDKrysbi7-UYKBMXQqTdKup8_S3qS6u3Q5XcUjKgpcbwuEjT2NH6UAzFXEa2V8F_lVtguFAhZjkV83eMYRhPoeHQr6HFYUXo-Bcs9NL6s/s640/DSCN3992.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yesterday was<a href="http://thebulletin.ca/cbulletin/content.jsp?ctid=1000006&cnid=1003400" target="_blank"> the rally to stop GM alfalfa in Toronto</a> (and many other places in Ontario) called on by the <a href="http://www.nfuontario.ca/" target="_blank">National Farmers Union</a>. We had planned as a family to make the trek to Toronto and join the rally, thinking that it would be a great excuse to ditch school for the day, spend some time together off farm and learn some valuable lessons. True to form, Millie got really sick and ended up with a double ear infection the night before. We were housebound.<br />
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So the troops were sent to represent... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBy-TVqk0NMadC3e6yaldSgRezz_bf_DwpZS0fn7Dh7-qEmp58Lu1qYK9OMhX0BBPKllrQ9xRebXuQnGICkYLENCfS6YKF68B2ZlIgcFzQ_QWZ8v7Ugd-o3F8t1cRxZyHnQioF21fosab/s1600/DSCN3993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBy-TVqk0NMadC3e6yaldSgRezz_bf_DwpZS0fn7Dh7-qEmp58Lu1qYK9OMhX0BBPKllrQ9xRebXuQnGICkYLENCfS6YKF68B2ZlIgcFzQ_QWZ8v7Ugd-o3F8t1cRxZyHnQioF21fosab/s640/DSCN3993.JPG" width="640" /></a>The boys went with their signs and buttons blazing.<br />
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Here is a brief video from an eight year old's perspective of the day.<br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqEGbbYRmPF9aKZjRBgVJnL-EJ4ZwFhIN5o1wiYdUvLwG93Ajbp46Aprj-0K6ubVVMxRctebbOvPq1am84qQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Awesome.Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-32672615540398785512013-04-08T09:48:00.001-04:002013-04-08T09:50:21.094-04:00Day of Action- April 9th- Let's Stop GM Alfalfa!From the country and the city...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2LV9ELtzKH-pTnE2fi1UH5Ej3_uAeAGo1bd9kDl5nKDAlpus-waRsSPcEwGAzIXk6jAFuyTTXHkhcaGe9Y5XA_b0ulxBmJEm-3tJomHEwyPlR-jxzoWEQSzBpMVCtdW1OicWG3qYSeUF/s1600/Day-of-Action-April-9_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2LV9ELtzKH-pTnE2fi1UH5Ej3_uAeAGo1bd9kDl5nKDAlpus-waRsSPcEwGAzIXk6jAFuyTTXHkhcaGe9Y5XA_b0ulxBmJEm-3tJomHEwyPlR-jxzoWEQSzBpMVCtdW1OicWG3qYSeUF/s400/Day-of-Action-April-9_large.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> image from the CBAN website</td></tr>
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The sale of GM alfalfa in Ontario will affect many small farms by infiltrating the non GM alfalfa crops through cross pollination. This will affect hay production, honey producers, grass fed beef, dairy operations and beyond. Let put a stop to this and take some action. Please join a rally tomorrow in your area or send an email to the Minister of Agriculture and support the small farmers who need your voice and support.<br />
<br />
<i>We can stop GM alfalfa in Canada! Its not yet legal to sell GM alfalfa
seeds in Canada. Urgent Action Alert from the National Farmers
Union-Ontario: Stop the release of GM Alfalfa! Tuesday April 9, 2013, 12
noon to 1 pm,
</i><br />
<i>
38 Rallies<b> </b>outside federal Member of Parliament constituency
offices, government and corporate offices in 17 communities in Ontario,
and 21 locations in other provinces.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Rallies in Ontario: </b>Barrie, Belleville, Brantford, Goderich,
Guelph, Hawkesbury, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Orangeville,
Ottawa, Owen Sound, Port Colborne, Stratford, Toronto, Thunder Bay,
Welland. (from the CBAN website)</i> <br />
<br />
For more information about the rallies or what you can do, check out the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network's website:<br />
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http://www.cban.ca/Take-Action<br />
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Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-13790430452055639002013-04-03T09:59:00.000-04:002013-04-03T10:00:43.855-04:00The Aftermath From The Greatest Party Ever...From the country...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7CZh5q9tjs-TaN2SWIOS_oVK5Gj4iRDJLX0XlUdsTiNMLCJORAt4qaQnN6ymzg9zTTaIuLhsirnsuhaInTuTk8CiLGilxg-FPdkjB9FlFj1VqyQuY8n3HBeffKwL1YeVH2md6MZDGn0r/s1600/Lucas_2220b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7CZh5q9tjs-TaN2SWIOS_oVK5Gj4iRDJLX0XlUdsTiNMLCJORAt4qaQnN6ymzg9zTTaIuLhsirnsuhaInTuTk8CiLGilxg-FPdkjB9FlFj1VqyQuY8n3HBeffKwL1YeVH2md6MZDGn0r/s640/Lucas_2220b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BIG 6th birthday bash</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Lucas has an impeccable memory. He is constantly blowing my mind with the minute details of any given day. This year he informed me that he has never really had a birthday party (aside from family ones) and that last year all he received was a stinking bird house...<a href="http://theharvestkitchensisters.blogspot.ca/2011/04/happy-4th-to-my-april-fool.html" target="_blank"> Which may be true but there has been some other good birthdays passed for this little guy.</a><br />
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Needless to say the Momma guilt set in and the party of the century was planned. April Fool's Day just so happened to fall on Easter Monday. I took this into consideration when inviting because I thought (silly me) that everyone would be busy with Easter plans- so I invited a few extra kids.<br />
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EVERYONE RSVPed!!<br />
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I had 13 kids here (not including toddlers and adults). It reminded me of the <a href="http://robertmunsch.com/book/moiras-birthday" target="_blank">Robert Munch book, Moira's Birthday </a>where she invited grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, grade 8 aannnnnnddd Kindergarten! I had kids of all ages. At one point I went upstairs and there were kids everywhere- even in the crawl space below the attic. I needed to get this kids doing something.<br />
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Luckily I had planned a scavengerish hunt outside. We had 4 teams: the Snake Rockers, The Champions, The Flying Thunder Horses and The Dragon Slayers (the kids made up the names). The weather held up for the short time we were outside (it was a cold, windy, terrible day...). I had activities like- find a man with a beard and ask him to yodel, push each member of your team on the swing, make a play dough creation of Lucas and challenge another team to a tug o' war. Then there was the farm centric activities like collect 1 white egg, 1 blue egg and 1 brown egg, take a photo of your team around the tractor tire/ below the old taxidermy fish above the shed and dig up a dinosaur from the soil bin in the green house.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_qmhr0N5LT7OSe57No1FNOHN0aeA9a573Xc36IIJ7h3YH-l4FoB2pEzlHPKOoX5RF0Q2QgniaTWUVml_pVMEMcMatgOoUExi6G7_PNQ1buys6qd18hJYHVjzTKLyxNurvOhJ4_hEfvv9/s1600/DSCN3956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_qmhr0N5LT7OSe57No1FNOHN0aeA9a573Xc36IIJ7h3YH-l4FoB2pEzlHPKOoX5RF0Q2QgniaTWUVml_pVMEMcMatgOoUExi6G7_PNQ1buys6qd18hJYHVjzTKLyxNurvOhJ4_hEfvv9/s640/DSCN3956.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy has been around for awhile...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After the game which was filled with laughter and some tears, the kids came back inside for some cake (<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/342348/chocolate-cake" target="_blank">chocolate cake</a> with green icing and dinosaurs), ice cream, prizes, and then a dance party.<br />
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Oh and we had food too! All the stuff that Lucas loves rice balls with dipping sauce, guacamole with corn chips, olives, chips and bean dip, summer sausage, punch...<br />
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So anyway I hope that I have officially redeemed myself in the eyes of my newly crowned 6 year old. The disadvantage though to the party of the century is that I have set the bar pretty high here and my kids will be expected a blow out for every birthday...<br />
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sheesh. <br />
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-17352841653709037792013-03-29T09:46:00.001-04:002013-03-29T09:48:47.512-04:00Dying Eggs (well kind of...)From the Country...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVd5IgM_01mjWN9MIGU7djvQzpVztiodVGAlDo7s6H-S8v37eAjEYNYyFynEVgG7gVvQP0YMdk8faCvKsjb3iKOTsXiEBWdZO_QLH12EsVbhT_TyqUGj9daik8yHqju2wekx2cT7m7DXi/s1600/DSCN3973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVd5IgM_01mjWN9MIGU7djvQzpVztiodVGAlDo7s6H-S8v37eAjEYNYyFynEVgG7gVvQP0YMdk8faCvKsjb3iKOTsXiEBWdZO_QLH12EsVbhT_TyqUGj9daik8yHqju2wekx2cT7m7DXi/s640/DSCN3973.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">some dyed, some from a quail and some already blue.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYwn6mg8UEf1j6aOuXv-AYL_Val4yBJBevJSN9ALof6XHWHXtwWlKhaVXFNWlcdqdU1X9XuX3vKsSroWnNjnvj6ZbJ83LL4IdXNOjk85Arco4rFReLoBc7hYdpi3ySFXaDUAP371_cJu6/s1600/DSCN3979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYwn6mg8UEf1j6aOuXv-AYL_Val4yBJBevJSN9ALof6XHWHXtwWlKhaVXFNWlcdqdU1X9XuX3vKsSroWnNjnvj6ZbJ83LL4IdXNOjk85Arco4rFReLoBc7hYdpi3ySFXaDUAP371_cJu6/s640/DSCN3979.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dyed with black tea and turmeric.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Okay, so this is my half A double S attempt at dying Easter eggs. I have been preoccupied with a certain someones BIG 6th B day blowout this up coming Monday, not to mention all the farm stuff to be done around here.<br />
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I know excuses, excuses...<br />
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I have quite a few eggs in great colours already so I took some of the brown ones and did this:<br />
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<b>Hard boiled them in black tea (5bags) and some turmeric. </b><br />
<b>Let them sit for a couple hours in the pot and steep.</b><br />
<b>Done. </b><br />
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There are some great natural dyes out there (beets, onion skins, nettle) for Easter eggs- maybe I will check them out next year.<br />
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Have a great weekend!<br />
<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-47689261069295414702013-03-25T14:29:00.001-04:002013-03-25T14:29:41.300-04:00Theo Turned Two and Earth Hour<div style="text-align: center;">
From the City..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewkrEM5v5CUYWN9KlxLTH4Wk6qfEodb-HxELk-nVNHBoiDNJLTIMVP745D2fiE9CsvN4lvDA8P1g2orM1xCNyXr1i13stoXjF1BdnXLzMr_aGMC2sxvbo_voQI_wxSjC2a_BjmP3lltaF/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewkrEM5v5CUYWN9KlxLTH4Wk6qfEodb-HxELk-nVNHBoiDNJLTIMVP745D2fiE9CsvN4lvDA8P1g2orM1xCNyXr1i13stoXjF1BdnXLzMr_aGMC2sxvbo_voQI_wxSjC2a_BjmP3lltaF/s640/IMG_2556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJVbN7MA0YTZQRedHxRLVpl8-iP13StPAe_DZ4YjmsGZdbwp6SijH8jVdz0gqb2EeG1csNlbgPDZfWLyHJndZ9qYx66uv17e_k9ti0byo8Z6k34nEbapmTW8qzyS6ASrfeDC661RByPJK/s1600/IMG_2560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJVbN7MA0YTZQRedHxRLVpl8-iP13StPAe_DZ4YjmsGZdbwp6SijH8jVdz0gqb2EeG1csNlbgPDZfWLyHJndZ9qYx66uv17e_k9ti0byo8Z6k34nEbapmTW8qzyS6ASrfeDC661RByPJK/s640/IMG_2560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In typical Simon and Amelia fashion, we stewed and stewed about what to do for Theo's 2nd birthday and then about four days before the actual day; we thought, what the hell, let's do it. Luckily none of our friends do anything on Saturday afternoons, so it came together nicely. About 25 adults and 4 kids, packed into our one bedroom apartment for pizza, snacks and chocolate dinosaur pizza. <br />
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We had a roaring game of pictionary/charades; which the girls dominated in I might add, followed by poker and a candlelit earth hour jam session.<br />
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I've been a bit mushy on the inside since Theo's birthday, trying to take in that this little baby is a now a little boy, I was telling Simon that I wish that I could freeze who he is right now so I can just enjoy it for a little while longer. But alas, that's just not the case, so for now, until they invent some time freezing machine, I'll just have to slow down and spend more time with this little person playing/painting/cuddling/reading and less time worrying/cleaning/working/computering. </div>
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Here's Theo with his Auntie Kathleen at the tail end of the party enjoying his 34th attempt at blowing out all of the candles on his birthday cake, thank god for patient friends. </div>
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xo</div>
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Theo's mama</div>
Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-90663595566965206502013-03-23T14:36:00.001-04:002013-03-23T14:36:47.685-04:00Earth Hour 8:30pm to 9:30pm tonight.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From the city and the country...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFYJP-AvBfev3I1jRBuHKfZj0C2YUyjXq3fAMLzStCTcpYYt6Q5MpGPdthcTNI2CLGKAchZRPXv6cnx5TxQugUAL4gkBFgKQBJThr9B2F6NYCP8fgwslJZjdxOnNe2ZwEQYHrBq3sgZPz/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFYJP-AvBfev3I1jRBuHKfZj0C2YUyjXq3fAMLzStCTcpYYt6Q5MpGPdthcTNI2CLGKAchZRPXv6cnx5TxQugUAL4gkBFgKQBJThr9B2F6NYCP8fgwslJZjdxOnNe2ZwEQYHrBq3sgZPz/s640/logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Turn off the lights. Take a stand against climate change.<br />
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<br />Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5439561159497403293.post-22166600968603508642013-03-20T11:22:00.002-04:002013-03-20T11:22:56.549-04:00The First Day of Spring?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From the City..</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PWOTza__opPuJ2S7G5AHOt_eJNTD8bBJ61kudoyDhHSeFyzyhWCifAU2fNxlv22n9leb-oq8JPMj88BQfDb6QssM5svFHrOVaoWkfAmH2D34Sw3rcl7yFO8C-nPkuhnYMnQfiovrSg7s/s640/photo.png" width="426" /></div>
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...not quite sure I believe it just yet.</div>
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-amelia</div>
Harvest Kitchen Sistershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00783862213886376760noreply@blogger.com0