Been a busy time

Obviously its been a crazy busy time around here. I haven't written a post since Aug 3rd!! And with my memory I can only write about that which I have pictures of to recall. 

I have been unpacking and finding places and rearranging to fit all of our belongings that I brought back with me on my trip. A feat in and of itself, I assure you.

Regular use jar stand

Found this wine bottle stand (at GIRO, the local re-store) which fits my 'former spaghetti sauce' jars. The proper canning jars are too big but fortunately the spag sauce once which we have a lot of do fit very well.

We went for supper at a place in Cedar, just outside Nanaimo and it was fantastic! So reminded us of a pub in England just down the road from Brad's brother.

Crow & Gate Pub

Beautiful outdoor (s)eating garden also. 

There are benches to sit and chat over a glass of wine, picnic tables for meals and just an all around fabulous atmosphere. The staff were amazing, such a vast difference from our current island that I cannot even begin to explain.

Tudor building to boot

Such a warm and welcoming environment

One happy dude

On a different topic -- the garden. We are still harvesting, processing, freeze drying, etc. 

1 of our zucchini

So far Betty is managing to keep up with the garden harvest but the tomatoes haven't 'really' begun coming ripe yet. We get the odd tomatoe here and there which we're mostly using for our fresh salads, I also made Picco de Gallo (Bruschetta) the other day and shared a bit with the people who were staying that day in the guest house next door (which is now a B&B, apparently until fall).

My 'Good Son' is coming for a night or two, he hopes (ferry scheduling issues with his work schedule) at the end of the month so I have been rearranging all kinds of stuff which was in Betty's room (which is the guest room) so that if/when guests stay we can just pull Betty out for the duration of their stay.

To be clear, I say 'my good son' because they are both my good sons. Its a family joke, I've always told them both they are the good son or favourite or whatever. And yes, they are both well aware that they both get the same blah blah from Mum. (also, remember the movie 'The Good Son?... jus sayin'.)

This particular 'good son' is my Army brat. Who is stationed in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) literally just north of us - and yet something like 18 hours away. I will warn you now though, he does not like his picture taken nevermind posted online.

The last 10 days, or so.

GIRO (the local re-store) is open every Wednesday and Saturday here on our little island. Anything that someone no longer needs but is still potentially useful to someone goes to GIRO. They then open this little (not that little, I suppose) store where others can peruse, buy someone else's junk and take home a new treasure.

I like to go to both openings each week. So far Stacey has been joining me but she has a hard time not buying cool stuff she finds so I'm not sure how much longer that will hold but so far, she comes with me. Today is another Giro day.... but in the meantime, I thought I'd catch you up on the last 10 days or so...

Cast Iron Griddle I found for around $5. I think that's 3 so far.

It was in really bad shape, especially the bottom edge - just coated in rust. So I cleaned it all up and re-seasoned it and voila, another for my collection... I have decided to collect ALL things cast iron. Kitchen stuff, garden stuff, house stuff.... anything cast iron - especially unusual stuff, because I love unique things. 

The back side was really bad but cleaned up great.

Not my picture but it was hanging at the blood clinic when I went for my last vampire session and I found it captivating. It is a local protected tree, very old.

My peas are coming along.... This was about a week ago...

Barely reaching the trellis

I have since propped these up with cut up TP rolls to help support them off the dirt. Working good.

Another round of Broccoli Sprouts started

I also sprouted some chickpeas

Again, at GIRO Stacey called my attention to this cupboard.

It will work great for storing planting stuff and using as a potting bench.

Brad put his hat on my head and snapped this pic... like I don't look bad enough!

Another pic of our view

We went for a walk to the Malaspina Galleries and this is the view from there

It's a beautiful area

My two best guys

 

We were having trouble charging the iPhone 6S so I ordered an upgrade from Bell.

The garden taken with the iPhone 6S

The garden taken with the iPhone 12 Mini

If you remember several months ago we purchased a generator because Stacey said the power goes out a lot on this island.... well, it finally did. Actually, I think its the 2nd time since we moved here (at least for any significant amount of time, usually just off and then on if anything)

WoodStove Cooking 101

One thing we know how to do is cook on a woodstove. Having lived in Hell for 8 long grueling years.... anyway... I digress.

So yesterday, the power went out at 2pm ish.... and didn't return until 8pm ish... so we occupied ourselves talking and playing a cribbage tournament (I won, of course)... Haha, Brad usually wins but seems he was off his game yesterday. That cast iron came in handy. We only ran the Generator to boil the kettle though.

Peas this morning

Brussels and Green Onions

Radishes

Beets and Kale

Peas and Leaks

Lettuce and a couple of grapefruit seeds I don't expect anything from but.... 

Broccoli Sprouts this am

We're moving -- NOT.

Our neighbour Kane and our friend stacey both recommended us to their mutual friend (even though the two of them do not know each other) who is moving to Vancouver and wants someone to rent her house. After viewing the Acreage and discussing it for 3 days, we accepted the offer. It is a fantastic property with an outside (modern version of) clawfoot bathtub with hot and cold water (inside bath as well, btw)... the house is wired up to an 11000w generator for the many power outages here.... there is room for a big garden and even a 'she shed' as well as a big shop in the backyard, which i absolutely loved. However the water had an incredible stench and so we accepted the offer with the condition that a filter system was put on the well water coming into the house, which was agreed to.

The owner has recently replaced the kitchen entirely but the installers made a right cockup of it, so it was agreed that we would fix the kitchen and also paint the house prior to moving in (at no charge) and we offered to do the gardens and make the house more presentable which would help her to sell in 5-10 years when she retires, as she wants to keep the home as an investment for that time.

Anyway, we were very excited and have been a bit preoccupied with the prospect. Unfortunately, in the last week since this process began the arrangement has been altered so many times and so many inconsistencies have come up that we have opted not to take the property. We are comfortable where we are and with housing being in such short supply on this island, we felt it better for us long term to stay put given the problems which have occurred with this deal in such a short time.

Racoon at the bottom of a tree at Stacey's house

Hoping to find a baby monitor so that I can keep an eye on Betty without having to go up and down the stairs, I went to GIRO which is essentially a ReStore. Everyone drops off the things they don't want anymore and GIRO (non-profit) re-sells them, minimizing the human footprint.

Tree trunk turned fairy garden at GIRO

I did not find a baby monitor and have since ordered one from Amazon, but I did find a ton of molds. I've heard it said that Jello through the FD is Amazing.... and as I said previously, I am looking for fun and tasty stuff to do for the Grandkids - so I bought every mold they had -- for $10 and I could not be happier!! Those things are something like $10 each new... and I got 18 of them... What a coup.

New molds, plus I had a rather large one already so I'm set.

The last batch were raw steaks we put into Betty and it took a long time (27hrs) but they finally finished and today we have a $50 ham which Brad cooked that is going in - shredded. 

I have the next batch sorted already and that is Lemons, Limes, Zucchini, Cucumber, Apple slices with peels separately to be blended to powder. 

Of course, yesterday I filled the molds with 3 different colours of jello which are now ready to be popped out and the other 2 colours I picked up can be put in to cool. They will be the following batch. I also picked up 5 flavours of pudding.... so you know where that's going.

Today I think I am going to Salt Spring to visit with Dana. Its a long day though since I've been up since 3:15am and didn't get any sleep.... 

PS Rick & Kathy, I may have fixed the comment thing... we'll find out soon enough.