Good Eats and Trick or Treats

Happy Hallowe'en!

I've gotta say that I have enjoyed the holiday more today than I have for a long time, despite the fact that I did not dress up, nor do I have any children to dress up. My amusement this year came from the little things that are so enjoyable about the season. Tasty treats, children's smiles and the autumn elements.

I started my day off with a steaming cup of pumpkin chai tea from David's Tea. This is an exquisitely flavourful tea that is only available for purchase in the fall, so you have to make sure to stock up for the entire year at this time. It also has cute little pumpkin candies in the loose leaf blend, which makes it the perfect start to an All Hallows Morn.

My next order of business this morning was to bake a sweet treat to take into work (I'm not crazy; I didn't go to the office until the afternoon so it's not like I got up super early or anything...well actually I did but that was for the puppies, not to slave away in the kitchen). I'm a sucker for a good cupcake, so naturally I turned to that department. I have a nice moist chocolate cake recipe that I usually use, but it's not as rich and sweet as I wanted for these cupcakes so I decided to do some surfing to find something else. I'm so glad I did! I found the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever at this blogsite. The cake is fantastic, although to be honest next time I will add a bit of melted semi-sweet chocolate to the mix because it still wasn't as chocolatey as I would have liked. The cupcakes were, however, the moistest, airiest and most delightful cupcakes I have ever made. Scrumptious! I used the cream cheese icing recipe from the same site. I ran into one snare with the icing, however, in that I didn't have orange food colouring and wasn't aware how much yellow would be required for a vibrant orange, so I just didn't have enough on hand. The result is a very pale orange with chocolate piping. Not the greatest first attempt at fancy cupcakes, but I'm pleased enough with the results to post a photo, so they can't be that bad.

My second project of the day was seasoning and roasting the pumpkin seeds from the jack-o'-lantern that I carved yesterday. I had decided that despite the no children factor, I would carve a pumpkin this year. It's something I haven't done since I was in grade school. At first it seemed a bit strange to be sitting in my kitchen alone with a butcher's knife and a large squash, although one of the greatest things about having a blog is that I can justify anything that I do by simply saying: "It's for my blog". And really, it was fun.

The carving went pretty well, as you'll see at the end of this post, although I couldn't remember having such an easy time gutting the thing. Since I was a kid, has a particular group of pumpkin scientists been toiling away to create a Supergourd just for lazy gourmands' Hallowe'en carvings? Or am I just old enough now that what seemed like a lot of work is no more? And what happened to the mere handful of seeds that I can recall salvaging from the thing? This is to say that the inside of my pumpkin was mostly empty except for a veritable bounty of seeds. I hardly had to scoop out any innards, just pull a few stringy pieces and voila! A hollow pumpkin ready for carving! I happen to enjoy roasted pumpkin seeds immensely, so I was pretty stoked with my loot.

I rinsed the seeds of any pumpkin flesh in a colander and set them on two cookie trays to dry overnight. This morning I doused them all in a bit of canola oil (not my favourite choice: next time I think I'll use olive oil or maybe butter; I've seen recipes using egg white as well) and then seasoned them with different spices I found in my cupboard. I decided to quarter the batch of seeds and spice each quadrant with a different flavour: Montreal steak spice, cayenne pepper, curry and za'atar spice. The last one is a Lebanese spice blend that is commonly thyme, sumac and sesame seeds along with a bit of salt, although I bought my blend in Boston and the label doesn't say exactly what is in it, so there could be other flavours there as well. Maybe oregano, but I'm not entirely certain. The roasting results were a pleasing and crunchy snack that admittedly could be improved upon by adding a bit of salt or garlic salt to those spices that didn't already have salt as an ingredient; mainly the curry and cayenne pepper. Their normally bold punch of taste ended up a bit bland without a bit of salt. Regardless, this was a snack that I truly associate with Hallowe'en, and it was much appreciated! 

After work came the hour most anticipated: Trick or Treat Time! The children in the village go out to beg for candy between the hours of 4 and 7pm, so I was ready and waiting with my jack-o'-lantern display outside of the door and my bowl of candy inside. What I was not quite prepared for is that although the kids may knock or ring the bell (or they very well may not), they will quite certainly reach for the handle and let themselves in. Apparently it's the norm here, and I would venture to guess that many aboriginal communities are the same, although for someone coming from The South it's a bit off-putting at first. These were expected visitors, however, so I really couldn't be startled by little witch or vampire heads that peeped in the doorway at me. The puppies, watching from the backyard, were intrigued by the flow of strangely dressed traffic. I offered Nanuq to one boy instead of candy, and he accepted; but of course I couldn't part with my little polar bear. He would have fit in the boy's bag. Reina, not a chance.

The little ghouls and princesses proved to be too overwhelming for my candy stash; I ran out in under two hours. Next year I'll have to buy more than 140 pieces, I suppose. I brought in the pumpkin, turned off the lights and spent the next hour pretending no one was home. This was tough. The doorbell rang a few more times, although I had had the foresight to lock the screen door so the little ones (or not so little; there were more than a few older kids with nary a costume in sight, but I won't complain about that because this is what grown-up people do and I am not a grown-up!) couldn't sneak in and raid the pantry or start a riot.

The final delight of today was unexpected but oh so pretty! The Northern Lights were glowing enticingly so we drove out of town to watch them for awhile against the staid silhouettes of the spruce trees. One beam created a green streak across the entire sky from one horizon to the other. The stars were also vibrant, so the show was quite spectacular. Unfortunately I don't possess a camera of the quality required to capture such things for all infinity, so you'll have to take my word for it.

The last day of October has marked a truly satisfying day here in The North, although I have to end this post with a thought on what Hallowe'en ultimately means to me...

...IT'S LESS THAN TWO MONTHS 'TIL CHRISTMAS!

Change of Seasons

It is becoming ever more clear to me that fall is officially over and that winter is here. 

There are only a few trees left that cling to the last colourful leaves of autumn. The two birch trees in our neighbour's yard still have most of their leaves, despite the fact that all of the other trees around them have been bare for about a week now. They are like misguided rebels; they stand against a change that is  inevitable by the laws of nature. Eventually they will have to give in to winter's chilly grasp, like I will have to start bundling up soon when venturing out.

It snows every few days now, and we recently saw accumulation that stayed until the next morning. The snowflakes that day were so huge that they weren't flakes, but chunks of flakes that bee-lined to the lawn instead of flitting daintily around on their way down. They were so big that the dogs tried to snap them out of the air, or they would take bites out of the snow cover on the ground, which was clearly a novelty for them.

This not being Reina's first encounter with snow, she got over the initial excitement and back to her normal routine of chewing anything that could be found, ripped or dug from the ground. Sticks are easy prey for the little doggies, but that doesn't stop them from going after trickier backyard game such as charcoal, weeds, stones, dirt and garbage (not ours: sadly, it often blows into the yard).

Nanuq, upon recovering from his wonderment at the falling flakes, took cover under the pine tree with a miserable look on his face. To his credit, he's getting over a rather nasty mange invasion during which he scratched off a considerable amount of fur around the belly and elbows, so he feels the cold more than Reina and I in our respective coats.There's no vet in town so he had to suffer a bit longer than we would have liked. C'est la vie Au Nord.

Thankfully Nanuq's fur is growing back so he should be more comfortable by the time the snow bleaches our backyard and beyond with a thick covering of flakes big and small...and when it does, believe me, I'll let you know!

Falling for The North

The bounty of Autumn is truly amazing; its beauty never ceases to impress me. As I write this snowflakes are falling around the bare birch branches and sturdy spruce, reminding me of impending winter. I'm also reminded that I'd better post my fall photos, as we are clearly heading into the next season rather more quickly than I was used to in Southern Ontario (not that we don't ever get snow in October; I've seen quite a few flakes fall on or even well before Hallowe-en). The fall colours Up North are a bit different as well, omitting the rich reds of them maple trees and deep oranges and browns, but still beautiful. Enjoy.

The Canadian Shield starting to show signs of the season.

 

The lakeside is particularly beautiful when the leaves start to turn.

  I feel like I'll be taking a lot of pictures of this bend over the years.

 The line of trees remind me of Degas' paintings of the ballerinas. 

Strange? Maybe, but they seem very graceful to me.

 Love the stunning contrast of the deep blue sky and bright yellow leaves.

 The birch trees are mostly sunshine yellow and tangerine.

  A mass of a driftwood root system got lodged on shore, with pleasing results.

 The shores that I gaze out upon regularly. 

 It's so lovely up here.

Not only the changing leaves add to the landscape; 

the reeds and bushes contribute their own sort of beauty.

 

 The afternoon sun encourages the Autumn hues to be at their best. 

 

 Cherishing the moment with the puppies on a day too beautiful to stay indoors. Fall is gone too quickly up here so you have to take advantage of every nice day.

Turkey Take One

Recently across this great country we celebrated Thanksgiving, and like our neighbours to the south who will gather around the table in a little over a month, our autumn holiday is all about giving thanks...and turkey! I happened to be in the U.S. during Canadian Thanksgiving, but I was unwilling to live through an October without a full turkey dinner, so I cooked a feast this past weekend to make up for the missed opportunity. It was my first time cooking The Bird with all of the trimmings, and I must admit that I was more than a bit daunted by the task.

My original idea was to blog as I cooked, but already being in a bit over my head, I didn't entertain that notion for long. Instead I was thinking to document the entire process, but I also realized very early on that this would not work. For my first time making such a meal, I simply concentrated on cooking. My only distraction was having to tiptoe around a little puppy who sat at my feet the entire time hoping for some tasty morsels to fall on the floor. He was not disappointed.

In the end, the meal turned out really well, although I was about an hour behind schedule in the end as the turkey took longer than the recipes I consulted called for (my 5 kg turkey was supposed to be done in 3 and a half hours but it was more like 4 and a half). Otherwise only very minor glitches were met and dealt with accordingly and I was quite pleased with myself at the end of the day.

To stay sane on Eating Day I did make a few dishes the evening before and there are a couple that I want to share. Incidentally, I also had enough time to photograph them, whereas the turkey didn't make it on the memory stick before we devoured it. 

Awesome Herb Rolls

The first recipe is from one of my favourite food blogs, Once Upon a Plate. The rolls shared on that blog (and all recipes, for that matter) are fabulous so I knew that they were something that needed to be included in the meal. You can find the recipe by following this link; I've made the herb rolls before and they are so comforting served warm with salted butter, on their own or accompanying a lovely soup or chili. I'll make them again and again.

I also made a couple of pies the night before; traditional harvest pumpkin and blueberry. I was so excited to use my hand-picked wild Northern blueberries in a pie. 

Wild Blueberry Pie 

5 cups frozen blueberries
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 pie crust
Enough dough to cover the pie
1 egg
1 Tablespoon water


You don't have to defrost the blueberries beforehand, but watch the pie carefully because the cooking time will be decreased if you do. Also, if the blueberries have thawed completely and been drained, use only 1/4 cup of flour. Mix the berries with the flour, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon and pour over the crust. Brush the butter over the berries and top with a layer of dough. If you cover the berry mixture completely you'll need to cut a few slits so that steam can get out. Beat the egg and mix with water. Brush the top crust with the egg wash and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 and bake for another 45 minutes, or until the blueberry mixture bubbles. You'll probably want to place a cookie sheet on the lowest rack of the oven so that it catches any overflowing bubbly goodness.

I decided to celebrate the bounty of The North by topping my pie with a moose crust (belatedly I realized that both of the moose, having antlers, are male. Brotherly love pie? Or gay moose pie?!?). If you decide to do something like this (not the gay part, but the partial pie coverage), know that the parts that are not crusted over do not get as bubbly, but this doesn't compromise the taste. 

This Thanksgiving just getting all of the dishes on the table was enough work for me, however next year I hope to document the process of turkey dinner a bit more closely and share more of my trials and triumphs.Or who knows, there's always Christmas...

Quick and Easy

Today, a cool and windy day, I just wanted to share a simple pattern for a chunky knit cowl. It took me a day or two do knit completely, and in fact the first time I did it I wasn't 100% sure whether I liked the end result so I just took it all apart and started again the next day. Here's the pattern that I ended up with:

Chunky Cowl

 

Cast on 50 stitches onto one 12 mm circular needle: the chunkier the yarn the better

Transfer half of the stitches onto the second 12 mm circular needle and joint in the round

Row 1: Knit (K)

Row 2: Pearl (P)

Repeat rows 1-2 four more times

Row 11: K1, Slip, slip, knit (ssk), K until the last 3 stitches of round, Knit two together (K2tog), K1 - decrease of 2 stitches (48)

Row 12: P

Repeat rows 11-12 four more times (until 40 stitches)

Row 20: K

Row 21: P

Row 22: K1, Make one (M1), K until the last stitch of round, M1, K1 - increase of 2 stitches (42)

Row 23: P

Repeat rows 22-23 (until 44 stitches)

Row 24: K

Cast off LOOSELY and sew in ends

I used Flamm FB Fashion wool, which is interesting because it's thick and thin intermittently, so the cowl turned out really nicely. Even after my second attempt, I still feel that the cowl turned out a little looser on the neck than I might like, so you can try casting on a few less stitches if you want a more snug fit, or don't do the increases but make sure that you cast off loosely (I didn't the first time and the result is that the cowl would hardly fit over my head despite being loose everywhere else). The nice thing about the circular needles is that you can try the cowl on as you go (looks a little goofy with the needles hanging out, but you sure can get the picture of how it is fitting) so feel free to alter the pattern as necessary, or just try your own! Like I said, it doesn't take long to do so it is not a big deal if you need to start over at a certain point.

Today is a perfect day to wear the cowl, as it is cold enough (snowed a little bit again) that just a sweater or jacket aren't enough on their own; however a sweater with gloves and the cowl was fine for shorter jaunts outside with the pups. Having a warm neck can sometimes make a world of difference between cold and comfortable; that's why it is always handy to have a chunky knit cowl on hand!

Close Call

October is fire safety month, and with that in mind I'm sharing a recent experience of mine that many people of a certain latitude have had, and of which all are fearful. Part of living in an isolated location is that often the unsettled expanses are filled with trees. A lot of trees. The trees, normally so wholesome, become deadly if ignited. Of course I am referring to forest fires and the danger they pose to Northern Residents.

A few weeks ago there was a day unlike any I have lived before. Having only ever inhabited densely populated and therefore sparsely forested regions, I had never considered what it would be like to have two forest fires burning within 50 kilometres of my home; this is what I was facing one day not long ago. I write about it in retrospect partially because I was waiting to see what would come of it all, but also because I was hesitant to post the potential danger and cause my mother to worry from two provinces away. Fortunately, neither blaze reached my Northern Town, but for a few days we were at the mercy of the spreading flames and shifting winds and left to wonder if they would reach us.

One day in particular was noteworthy. It was fairly windy, and when I took the dogs out the scent of campfires was heavy in the air. The sky was completely grey, which at first I mistook for impending rain. Looking around me I realized that what was above me was not a raincloud but a dense blanket of smoke drifting continually from the west. I could see the edges of the smoke to the north and south; the sky was actually a lovely blue. Even the setting sun was filtered by the hovering mass, and small bits of ash were starting to collect on the back stoop and windowsills. This was no campfire, that much was clear; somewhere out there an inferno was burning. I had no idea how close it was, how expansive it was, or whether there would be a need to evacuate. All I knew was that if the winds remained constant we would be in its path of destruction.

On that blustery day the fire apparently gained about 100 kilometres on us, but in the end it stopped well short of town. The winds died down and we happily received a few afternoon showers. Another fire was reported to the north of us a couple days later but it was smaller and contained. Both eventually petered out. The threat was over.

With the smell of woodsmoke fresh in my nostrils, I couldn't help but mull over the fact that we humans are not as in control of things as we think. All around the world people face overwhelming natural forces; hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes seem to be daily occurrences these days. However, that smoky day was the first time that it was my family and belongings that were in jeopardy. If that fire had burned its way through town there would have been nothing to do but evacuate with what we could carry and re-build elsewhere. A daunting prospect, to be sure, but I was happy to discover that I was not as concerned about our home and its contents as I might have thought.

On the way to my community there is an extensive section of bush that has seen flames in the last few years. The blackened skeletons of spruce tower over the saplings straining to make their way closer to the sun. The regrowth is green and dense; a lush contrast to the barrenness above. Life moves on. Which is exactly what we would have done if our home had been razed by a forest fire, or any other disaster. Life is not about having nice things; life is about relationships, experiences, and the freedom to have both in unlimited quantities. Living Up North is one of life's experiences that I am really enjoying, so I'll have to accept the possibility of forest fires and move on. No worries, Mom, I'm fine!

Post Script: I wrote the first draft of this post last night and was too tired to finish it, so I saved it for today to complete. When I took the dogs out before retiring what did I smell, but the unmistakeable odour of burning wood! Of course it's possible that someone nearby was having a fire; it was too dark to see where the smoke was coming from, but it is also possible that we are again in the vicinity of a forest fire. I don't smell anything today, but it's not windy so that may explain the absence of smoke.

From spring until autumn this uncertainty will be my reality, as long as I am Up North.

Ode to My Back Yard

Whilst out-of-doors in The North, there is but one place in which I spend the majority of my time. This place is of course my backyard. 'Tis a big backyard, especially considering that our previous abode Down South was an apartment with not even a fire escape upon which to set a potted plant, let alone grass-covered territory to call our own. Up North there is little landscaping of note (unless one counts the holes dug by my sprightly hounds and the sprightly hounds before them), but despite this I consider the space beyond our back door be quite beautiful. In fact, it is worthy of praise.

The fence is lined by birch trees, which in turn guard a forest of spruce. The latter are prone to sway drunkenly in the breeze (it may be noted that this town has more than its fair share of drunken swaying, though such an endeavour is not to be accredited entirely to the spruce), while the former maintain their dignity with only the slightest fluttering of foliage. The changes of autumn have only enhanced the allure of my backyard.

The leaves have begun their striking metamorphosis into mulch; I am an eager spectator to the miracle that is fall. Whether red, orange, yellow or brown the flora is at its best at harvest time. Even those fronds already close to the ground, though they have not far to drop, are tinted with the richness of the season. Sprawling vines and sprouting blades are just as striking as the giant trees above: they stand, or rather, crouch, as a reminder that fascination is not to be encountered only at eye level, but can also be found at one's feet. 

Indeed, the natural floor is home to a variety of small wonders.

A forest of moss streams amongst the grass like waves amid stocky seaweed. The red leaf; a buoy that signals the existence of shallow waters. The yellow; an electric eel swimming by, nonplussed. Too much? Plod along, I'll quit this silly simile. A digression, to be sure.

Like the sea, my backyard is a world unto its own. What lies beyond its chain-linked borders?

The realm beyond my yard is a wild one, charging with creatures both weighty and wee.

Most mornings a silhouette can be seen in the gloomy shadows of the forest. A neighbouring dog, big, black and bushy, leaves his lair for a morning foray, or perhaps returns home in the wake of a night of canine pursuits. Strays meander routinely through the woods, and doubtless many creatures of a wilder nature pad the mossy floor as well. Lamentably, some newer beings have been introduced to this most natural setting: the plastic critter is strewn by man and burrows into the landscape with great permanence.

Not to be forgotten are the winged creatures which call the forest their playing-grounds. 

There is a house in the trees which either stands empty or its inhabitant is most introverted, coming and going unseen. At any rate it is most convenient lodging. The ominous raven can be seen and heard, a black presence whipping its wings overhead as it careens to the top of a spruce. Although the raven's beak is generally kept empty for the purpose of incessant chatter, I once beheld such a being with a sizeable fish in its bill. 

The most frequent visitors to the back yard, however, are the pups. It is they who can most appreciate the backyard and its generous bounties of sights, sounds and smells. To them it is a patch of terrain on which fetching and frolicking abound, but also one which is to be carefully guarded. One may rest assured that the perimetre has been well marked.

Brother and sister are yet to be best of friends, but as partners in mischief they often have prolonged bouts of camaraderie, however precarious. The familial bonds will strengthen with the seasons, surely. 

As the signs of winter reveal themselves ever more blatantly, the backyard will likely be used less frequently (by myself, at the least), but I am certain that its beauty will, if not remain constant, be appreciated in a whole new light.

Eating Out at Home

I'm excited to share with you our dinner of a few nights ago because it was so fantastic and relatively easy to make. I generally consider a meal a true success if I would be happy eating it at a restaurant. I hate going out to eat only to order a meal that is mediocre (what are they getting paid for in the kitchen?), although I'm a little more generous at my own kitchen table. I admit that sometimes supper is only good, not great, but I'm not a professional cook so that's alright. I found that this dish would be a welcome sight (and taste!) at any eating establishment. I asked my spouse if he would want me to make it again. The answer..."Oh yeah!"

I had some thin strips of flank steak in the freezer (fresh would be better, obviously, but most often not an option Up Here) and wasn't sure what to do with it, but thanks to some inspiration from the "Best of Bridges" cookbook (a gift from my mother-in-law) and a frozen garlic bread, I made a most delicious dinner!

Open-Faced Cheesesteak Sandwich

Mix together the following (this is for 2 portions); adjust for the amount of meat you are working with:

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 Tablespoon soya sauce

1 Tablespoon vinegar (I used rice wine, I would imagine that balsamic would work as well)

1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon powdered ginger

1/2 teaspoon thyme

fresh ground pepper

Marinate the thinly sliced steak for a couple hours, or overnight if possible. 

Chop 1 onion and 1 bell pepper into small strips and saute in oil or butter in a pan on medium heat. Once onions become translucent lower heat and continue to cook, covered for another 20 minutes at least, watching that the heat is low enough that the veggies do not burn. You want the onions to carmelize, not become crispy.

In the meantime, bake store-bought garlic bread according to the instructions on the bag. The best type of bread for this is the wide french loaf, as this will allow you to pile on more toppings than a thin loaf. If you live in the North and don't have garlic bread nearby, you can always make your own while the steak is marinating. Bake a french loaf, cut lengthwise and then smear both sides with homemade garlic butter (soften butter and mix in minced garlic...I didn't need to explain that, did I? Thought not).

Back to the recipe: remove the bread from the oven and set to Broil. Either broil or grill the steak; a few minutes on each side should be enough, depending on how thinly it has been sliced. Cut the meat into strips and lay the strips on the bread. Top with onions and peppers and then grated cheese (I used a blend of old and medium cheddar, but you can use whatever type of cheese you like: swiss would be great too). Put under the broiler until the cheese bubbles and becomes golden. If you wish, top with the other half of the loaf, although I found the bread too thick to make a real sandwich and that it was easier to eat open-faced and still quite filling.

Being as far North as we are, we have very limited options when it comes to dining out, so I can doubly appreciate a meal that is easy to make but is restaurant quality in taste. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Zen Moment

I've finally gotten around to finishing a knitting project that I had started back in June when such a thing seemed unnecessary: yoga socks. At the time the socks were unnecessary not only because of the outside temperature, but also because I was doing hot yoga classes in my hometown and the very last thing I needed in the 40 + degree room was wool on my soles. Now that I am Up North, however, there are no hot yoga classes to be found, and as the weather cools so does my current yoga studio...my living room. Me being a creature known to occasionally ponder the future, I had foreseen this eventuality, thus beginning the yoga sock project in June.  

The socks are ingenious because they keep one's ankles, soles and upper feet warm in cooler temperatures, while allowing the heels and pads of the feet to remain exposed, therefore the much needed foot to mat friction is maintained. In other words, you don't slide all over the mat (unless you're at hot yoga and your mat has become one big puddle, but that's another story).

Yoga socks are a great project for beginners, since there is no need to shape a heel or toe; just plain knitting and purling. I do hope to become adept at sock knitting someday, but since I only started knitting about a year ago and my skills have not evolved far enough yet, I am quite content to have a couple pairs of these cute sock-like things around for now. The pattern belongs to Paton, whose website can be found by following this link. You have to actually become a member in order to access the pattern, but considering how many great free patterns that Paton offers on its website I'd say that it's worth signing in. I used circular needles instead of knitting in the round on straight ones. I think next time I will fiddle with the pattern a bit, maybe trying a cable-knit design or making a pair with solid stripes instead of variegated ones.

The only challenge that remains after finally finishing these socks is that I actually will have to get into yoga again! Since the big move, the settling in, the new job and the new puppies, I've not actually been doing any yoga up here, but that is going to have to change soon. It's important to take time for oneself and I can feel the benefits of stretching on a regular basis, so there should really be no excuse as to why I cannot seem to find the time for yoga. If for no other reason than the reminder to breathe....just breathe.

A final word for those who made it through the post, especially if you're not a fan of knitting or just don't give a fig (in that case I specifically applaud you for making it this far!). I want to share with you a photo that I took today which reminds me that everything is beautiful in its own way, even that which is normally looked upon as less than desirable. A challenge to you today: be aware of things in your life that may not seem appealing at first glance, but that in a certain moment many turn out to be a blessing.

Namaste!

The North When Warm

I'm sorry. I've been selfish. Please forgive me.

Looking over my past posts, it dawned on me that most have been about things that I have made or about my puppies. I realized that I had hardly posted anything about this place and its natural beauty, which is its most striking feature, really. So I figured that since Fall has begun and the temperature has dropped, I will display some of the photos that I have taken over the past few months of The North when warm. Thus, without further ado...

 This is my favourite place to go for a walk; it's quite and beautiful and there's a lake at the end of the trail. I found the Saskatoon berries along this back road.

 

An old presumably out-of-use WC. I certainly didn't venture inside. The clouds that day were unbelievably beautiful, as they often are around here.

The road into town is accompanied by many lakes and waterways that make the drive more interesting, although much longer when I factor in the number of times I stop to take pictures.

 

A reminder that we are in Cree Nation. This it the neatest tee-pee I've seen so far. There are a few in some of the backyards in town but none as beautiful as this one.  

The evening is the best time be out (minus the bugs) because of the amazing sunsets that we get up here.

 

Most nights we are treated to a multi-coloured show if we only stop to watch. I try to always take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Simply HAD to stop and snap this sunset pic so that I can forever admire the bold colours and serene waters. I think it's my best yet. 

So there you have it, a little less about me and more about where I am. An overdue treat, as I have already admitted. I'm sure as the seasons change I will have many more gorgeous examples of why I am so blessed by my surroundings.