a finished object

i've been working on this baby blanket for my cousin and his wife since october! it's FINALLY finished. i'm really happy with it.

the pattern is theHoover baby blanket from Knitty . it was hard to get good pictues of it on my carpet, it is actually rectangular not all wonky. i used 2 balls of pattons canadiania in oatmeal and 3 balls of pattons canadiana in winter white. i just think acrylic makes sense for a baby blanet.

SNOW!

there is SO MUCH SNOW in ottawa! it's unbelievable. a few buildings have collapsed from the weight of all the snow. it's had me thinking a lot about climate change. everyone talks about it as if it's something in the future but really it's happening all around us.

here's a photo out my front door. note the lamp post!


and here is my back deck. ugh.


it's funny, there was a woman on the news who said "i hate the stuff, but if you tried to take it away from me i'd fight you tooth and nail" i agree. as much as i hate snow i don't think i could live without it! but i'm desperatley looking forward to spring.

Glorious Seeds

i am so bad at updating this thing. mainly because i havn't been doing much except applying for jobs (as usual).

i'm trying to write a cover letter at the moment but i'm easily distracted and have turned my attention to seeds. i've been ordering seed catalogues! i can't wait to look through all of them. i guess looking online is more environmentally friendly but i can't put posted notes in the internet like i can a catalogue. also most of the websites don't have pictures of the veg whereas the catalogues do.

where i am going to plant these seeds is unknown. i plan on getting a community garden plot somwhere in the city. i should start looking into that too. of course i could get a job in a different city. who knows. i'll probably try to do a bio-intensive to maximize space...

its snowing like crazy here so it's nice to dream of hands in warm soil and a big haul of fresh tomoatoes.

new blog for y'all

check out this blog! im adding it to my links aswell.

http://seasonalontariofood.blogspot.com/

Composting Toilet Poem

i'm reading "the self sufficient life and how to live it: the complete back to basics guide" by John Seymour and in it he has a poem about his composting toilet which was just too hilarious. all joking aside this is a really great book!

Our Marvelous Thunderbox "Loo"
now the human being is a very strange beast with capabilities good and bad
not frightened of nature, no not in the least our follies are often quite mad
the toilet that flushes fills our souls with glee
a brainwave by Thomas Crapper
mixes shit with clean water and pours out to sea
as if the dirt did not matter

out of sight, out of mind, much shoots down the pipes
an incredible fabric of magic
squandering food for the soil as the water we spoil
it's a tale that is terribly tragic

but all is not lost for at a marginal cost
another solution comes easy
the composting loo; yes that's our riposte
and your tummy need not feel to queasy

the vent goes up high, sending gas to the skies
and the lid fits snug so no entry to flies
two years it will take, our compost to make
and our river's not sorry the flush to forsake
no water, no tricks--it's all built with bricks
the shit and the kitchen waste too
all go together making food for the soil
in our marvelous Thunderbox loo

Perfect Soup Stock

soup is pretty much my most favourite thing in the world and making stock from scratch is super easy and basically free. take your bones/carcass (you can even save and freeze them and then make it when you have time!) put bones/carcass in a large heavy bottom pot with onions cut in half (skins on) and carrots cut in large pieces (skins on). drizzle with olive oil and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. put the pot on the stove top, add pepper corns, bay leaf, salt (if necessary) and fill the pot with water. bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. simmer for a few hours. put the stock through a strainer. pick any meat off the carcass and put aside to use in soup. let stock cool overnight and skim fat off. make soup as usual or freeze for later use.

Current Goings On

Here's what I've been up to lately!

reading: so many books is ridiculous. I'll post some reviews once I'm done some. mostly are farming/homemaking books
knitting: a baby blanket for my cousin and his wife's little fetus. will post a picture when it's finished.
fermenting: I'm venturing into the world of fermenting vegetables with some beet sauerkraut. I'm taking pictures so expect a step by step tutorial!
job searching: yawn. i did get offered an interview but the job was going to Africa for 6 months to teach people how to make websites. a) i know some html code but am in no position to TEACH people how to make websites b) is not being Internet savvy really the most important issue when it comes to people in Africa? seriously? websites? id go to Africa in a second to do AIDS education or build wells or farm but websites? no.
stripping: wallpaper that is. my mom is getting her house ready for sale next summer so I'm stripping the old wall paper in the guest room.

xo liz