How to Pickle

Finally, here it is...
a casual video about how to pickle.
I wanted to make a video to demonstrate how
easy and relaxed food preservation can be...
it is pretty straight-forward - so much so that I feel like
there HAS to be something more to it,
and people these days have been lead to believe
that they can not take care of themselves.
So. Relax, enjoy the film, and consider pickling for
yourselves. You can pickle nearly anything
and it is another step on the path to self-sustainability!

More tomorrow. I've been taking lots of videos recently, it's time to splice them together and share.
I've decided that I like snow better than rain, but I still can't stand the cold! But it's more fun to be cold and play in the snow than run through the freezing rain!

craft fair success!

too much going on to post much until monday, but here is a teaser...
i can not wait to have a wicked monday morning sleep-in.
no manic monday going to be happening over here!

HELLO to some new friends...Pam, Petra. It was great singing at the pub and fireside chatting. Hope to see you all back over here sometime :)
and also from a few weeks ago, Caelie and Mallory. Sorry I lost that scrap of paper with your blog on it!! and same goes for you two, come back over whenver!

Hi Nannie, can't wait to see you over Christmas (make sure Nannie sees this blog!).

Crafty or Crazy?

First of all, I finally did it.
I have been wanting one for years
but kept coming up with reasons to justify
NOT getting it.
But I finally ran out of reasons,
and with a cold winter approaching,
it just had to be done.

I got myself a mandolin.
It's tuned like a violin but played like a guitar.
I've been tearing it up -

so happy.
So so happy.

This weekend I have my Father coming, which will be fun.
I also am teaching a doll-making workshop on Sunday,
and SATURDAY is the Lion's Hall Christmas Craft Fair.
Gotta finish my knitting, my prints, do so much baking...
I love it so much but I don't know if this makes me Crafty or Crazy...
so much to do!

Wish there were three of me.
But there can only be ONE Kathryn.!!!

On a different note..
All of this TSA shit in the States upsets me,
and I use "upset" as an understatement and blanket-term
for all the emotions I have felt from researching this.
And not just the pat-down, the amount of radiation in the scanners,
the theft of civil and personal rights.....just google it.
How about the scans that have been illegally kept?
Get out there and DO something about it, US Citizens!
Maybe if you guys start waking up and getting angry,
Canadians will do the same,
as we don't like to be outdone by our Southern Cousins :P
ha. well, to be honest,
We all need to wake up!
There is a lot going on, folks.


Buuuut on a happier note, here is a picture of Molly, nipping out on the catnip I grew...
and a deer video!

It rained a lot today...but we had fun, anyways!
I think Molly had the right idea, though...
goodnight, world.

rainy day, go away!

Here is something to help you with the rain blahs...
Cuteest thing ever!
Going to post a homemade movie tonight...
either on the pickling process
or making something delicious to eat.

It is already the middle of November.
Christmas is coming soon!
Some might not believe it...
but if you're into crafting/craft fairs
or just into making excellent homemade treats...
you can never start too soon!

Trim up the tree...

 Winterize the house, play in the snow...

 Prepare for turkey!

So. Saturday.

Saturday could have been terrible.
On my way to a craft class for children,
I put my van in the ditch by my driveway.
Very gently.
My van is temperamental and do NOT worry mom,
I am fine, the van is fine, it is allll good. 
These tourists were walking by and would not get out of the way
and in trying to not hit them and watch for traffic,
I got distracted.10 out of 10 for finesse, though. Ha.

Anyways, at this point,
a miracle.
Two angels in disguise, Don and Bill, both drove by and got me out of the ditch in 15 minutes, van safe and sound. That was that. Crazy.

So. Back en route to my craft class. I decide that everything is FINE and I will be ok and the class will either happen or not happen (trial-run). If it does, excellent fun. If not, ah well, more homemade Christmas presents for me.

It ended up that I did NOT have anyone show up (needs better advertisement).

BUT.
(i don't know why i am using so many capital letters today..)
World Canada Youth were staying at our school's gym on a little mini-vacation.
They did a 12-hour healing circle on Friday, and on Saturday, they were just relaxing,
getting ready to prepare a feast of Mozambiqian food.
The food was delicious. Yum yum.
Anyways, when I arrived they were about to take a course from my friend Cedana on making homemade herbal first-aid kits. They also had made these plaster of paris face masks.

So. They were interested in tie-dying, my class. So I came back afterwards and did tie-dying with all of them. For those who do not know, WCY is related to Katimavik, and the people involved were 18-24.
We had a laugh! I wish I had my camera for the first part of the day, but here is my tie-dye shirt...

Couldn't stop laughing!

                                                                      

But after the dinner, I came home to a romantic evening, complete with baked brie, before heading back out to the folk-rock show at the South End Hall. WHICH WAS AWESOME!!!!
There were so many people there! 20 people from WCY, about 20 locals, and 10-15 other randoms.
Holy cow. After the band stopped, someone put on an ipod or something and we danced up a storm...they taught us a few moves, those WCY people. There was appreciation all around, so much fun.
I hope I can go out to Sooke before they go back to Mozambique!
So here are a few highlights from the Dance....

                                       Katherine and Sultan - everyone wanted to dance with him!

                                              Myself, Katherine, Mercia, and Jacque

                                                                          Us ladiezzz

                               The volleyball team....LtoR Bernardo, Felizado, and Leopolo

LtoR Bonnie, Jacque, Carston, Tristan, Mercia

                                              It wouldn't be a west coast party without Ian

                                                         We danced to the wee hours.

 

  mmmm baked brie with maple syrup, walnuts, blueberries, and brown sugar

and pastry!

it is getting dark so early!
when the clocks first go back in the fall
and the nights are quickly darkening..
i appreciate the moments of cool sunshine through the clouds -
i actually stop wherever and feel it on my face, my hands..
and as the world fades gray-blue and the chills
put their chilly fingers on my neck and
slide down my wrists to my elbows
and the Damp creeps in - but not too much..
ah, such a slightly mischevious feeling
and a reason to run inside to my cozy fire
and cuddle in my cabin!

It's hard to describe the first feelings of fall turning into winter and the magic of it all without it being cheese-arific. In a few weeks all the leaves will be off the maples and birches and we will settle into a winter routine. Excitement up to Christmas, waiting for nicer weather come January. Starting to find comfort in the winter months, though. You have to have hobbies, and be OK with yourself. I feel OK with myself.

Still need to tell you all about yesterday, but not now.
Some things to contemplate..

the end, for now!

Fate is in MY hands

What started off, and could have been one of the worst days of 2010 ended up being one of the best.
I could feel the badness coming and I said to myself this morning "You can let this get to you and ruin your day, or fight it! Relax! Be happy!" And so I did. And good things kept happening, and the things that could have
infuriated me were swept off with ease.

Cap it off with a nice of excellent dancing and laughter, new friends and old...wowza.
And now, to retire to bed, to cuddle some scapulas and cuddle some clavicles...err..
in other words, I go now to be the Little Spoon.
After I eat these dried blueber - dizizaaaammmm
DRIED BLUEBERRIES ARE DELICIOUS.


Do not worry my friends, I will be posting current pictures soon...but I feel like THIS.

 

and THIS

AND this.

  and this!

                                 beautiful beach somewherez between San Diego and Santa Monica
                                                                   goodnight, peace.








oohhhh ps updating tomorrow. i am feeling motivated.

Remembrance Day! Pickling Fever!

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada.
Today I wore a poppy and thought about my poppies (grandfathers).
Both of them served in World War 2.
Both of them lived through the war but died before I was old enough to get to really know them -
or for them to know me, I guess.
So, remember on Remembrance Day.

Here are some pictures to help describe life, since words often fail me..

  Molly.

                                                                             

                                                               Life is rough, eh Molly?

                                                           ...don't think that's even a cat..

                                                             That is definitely not a cat.
                                          This is one of Molly's victims, 1 week after death.
                                                                    More on this, later.

                                                                    Who caught Who?

                       Pickled green beans, garlic, ginger, radish pods, and hot peppers..
                                                                             Uh Oh....

                                                         Someone caught Pickling Fever!

                                                                          So did she.

                                                                     aaannnnnddd him.

                                    Might have been that tomato weird tomato we ate...

                                                                 Run home, run home!

                                                                     goodnight deer.

                                                                              
 
                                                                                fleurs.

                                                ain't no party like a west coast party

                                                                   winter is coming.

                                                          finish the harvest, call it a day.

old poetry, OH NOETRY!

Ahem.
And now, poetry that I wrote whilst I was younger.
Just before 18?
This will be a short series, mainly to kick my own butt into writing again.
I will just post just one or two for now.

#1
The Stars Will Blush!
i want to run into your arms and tumble,
legs entwined,
to the ground.
i want to roll around in your arms and kiss you
while the stars blush and huddle closer together.
you crumbled my fortress with a smile.
the little things you do
speak louder than you will ever need to.
i didn't remember that i could feel this way.

#2
! i am Youth !
i have nothing to be sad about.
i have two strong legs to carry me
and two strong arms to lift me
i have a voice to sing with
and eyes to take everything in.
i want to take everything in.
i am young and innocent,
at least for a moment
and i will keep myself busy
with learning and loving -
maybe not another
but myself,
and all that i can do
with this world
that is mine for the embracing.

 -end-

hmm. I wrote the former at aroung 18, and the latter at the tender age of 16. Sometimes when I read old poetry of mine, I forget who wrote it. 

OH.


BIG SHOUT OUT TO KATHLEEN BUCKLEY MY FIRST FRIEND/FOLLOWER. Here is her website. She is touted coast to coast in this fine Canadian country for her glassware! I even had someone today tell me so. And that she's looking ffiiiiiiiine!
http://cre8glassworks.weebly.com/

How to Slaughter a Chicken

Alright folks, here it is...the slaughter video. There are many different methods. Here, we place the chickens upside-down in a cone with enough room for the head and neck to come out the bottom. You wrap an elasticy rope (like those ones for hooking stuff to the roof of your car, maybe smaller..) around the legs at the top of the cone. Underneath you have the blood tray with a bucket to catch the bloooodd. Heh heh. Anyways, why did we do it this way? Well, when the birdies go upside down and are snugly confined, they get really calm as the blood rushes to their head. This way as well, the jugular veins are nice and full so the death is very quick. The eyes roll to the back of the head in 2-3 seconds. Once calm (both you and the chicken), hold the chicken by the head. You use your knife (very sharp and easy to manage!) to raise the feathers from the neck just behind the ear (that disk thing behind the eye). The feathers will hinder slicing, which makes it messy and more traumatic for the bird. Once you have a good grip, find the back of the beak (put chicken in with neck toward you) and raise the feathers. You want to get a good clean slice and quickly. It will take a good amount of pressure and and downward and through cut. If done correctly you will get the carotid artery.
There will be blood.
But no Daniel Day Lewis.

They will die very quickly.
It might sound Avatar-ish, but a prayer done beforehand is nice. To whatever God. Or, if you are athiest, to the chickens. Treat them with respect. Thank them. They are giving you their bodies for sustenance and you will get out of it what you put in. Our meatbirds were Giant Cornish Hen X's, and typically take 6 weeks from egg to slaughter. We gave ours plenty of room to waddle around, lots of greens, and slaughtered them at 8 weeks old..They were happy chickens, and they are delicious.
So, without further ado...the slaughter...

Death throes? What death throes? I thought chickens were supposed to run around with their heads cut off!!? Well...that's why we bound up their feet nice and snug...because some of them did indeed to this. Why do they run around? It's like what would happen if you decapitated or bled someone out like that. You would be dead and your nervous system would make an epic exit. Like this...! (Note: This head is just about completely severed. This chicken is well-dead. This is not a video for the squeamish.)

How to Scald and Pluck a Chicken

So. You've killed your chicken. Regardless as to whether you are hand-plucking or using a sweet-ass plucking machine, you will have to scald the chicken first. We dunked them in groups of threes in a giant vat. So the first video is scalding them, and the second is the wonder of the automatic plucker.

You have to make sure you keep the water on to keep it cool. All those little nozzles help protect the meat as they suck air out. The feathers come out of a chute the other side. Should only take about 13-16 seconds for three birds. Don't want to bruise the flesh! While this looks a bit harsh, it is soooo much better than hand-plucking and doesn't hurt the meat - though sometimes the heads pop off...

Tune in next time for......THE SLAUGHTER........and Halloween pictures!
Back to work, full-hours part-time work :) hurrah hurrah!

That is what won me Best Costume on Saturday. I was a deer who had been pit-lamped and shot through the neck..I even made a vertebrae tail. Those are real antlers we found in the woods behind the house. I am eating a mini-bagel. Too tired right now to post more, but tomorrow I post more chicken videos, maybe some more deer videos. My chickens are getting real friendly and like to be pat now. But only certain ones. Found the smallest egg today, think robin's egg sized, but a golden-tan colour. I will post pictures of that, too. Annnnd a funny video or two from Halloween. Tomorrow is the garlic co-op.

Just hanging out with some fawns.

And some turkeys. This is the day I fell in love with turkeys.

 Goodnight.

Dia de los Innocentes y Dia de los Muertos

Hello.
This year I have decided to celebrate Dia de los Muertos/Difuntos.
I'm not as prepared as I'd like to be, but as a private celebration, it will do just fine.
Here is a link to wiki for those who are curious.
Today is for the children, and tomorrow is for adults.
So today I will prepare three small altars, make skull cookies, and bread.
And tomorrow I will honour my uncle Jack.
And two dear friends, Adam and Gene.
i miss them.




On a different note, and a less somber one, Halloweekend was fantastic!
Saturday night I won Best Costume!! pictures coming soon.
Sunday was spent having a Halloween party for two year olds.
Balloons and Bubbles and Pizza and Friends and Love.
Chill, but fun, gave the kids a great time.
What a way to end the weekend.