My Blog

Happy New Year!!!

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:53:45 GMT

January 1, 2008 This bright new year is given me To live each day with zest … To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best! I have the opportunity Once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, And sing more joyful songs! ~ William Arthur Ward Happy New Year everyone! I have a few resolutions for myself. One is to get my raised beds into the greenhouse by April 30th. If I can shovel out the path to the greenhouse, that is something I can work on well before growing season. I also want to get a potting bench done. Another is to get back into my yoga routine each day to help my back out. I am also doing another fun thing which helps my dexterity. When I am better at it, I will reveal to you what it is. I also resolve to finish those three socks which do not have mates yet. And finally tackle the spare room to get it in order again, so my guests do not have to sleep in the livingroom anymore. That one has to be done before the end of the month when I have guests again (and so I can get to my knitting stuff). In my new job, I want to be able to use the position to help as many people as possible. Bring wrongs to right. Single out those who are perpetrators and should clean up their act. Showcase those who go out of their way to make life better for others. I am really enjoying my job and even though I feel like I am floundering at it from time to time, they reassure me that I am doing great and it will come with time. The root cellar got all done yesterday. Good enough until summer/fall to finally get that false wall in. Normally I have a 'guesstimation' of time to finish a project and I tend to be overly optimistic. Amazingly enough this one took half the time I thought it would. There is a sense of relief to get that puppy done I tell you, it was a worry. I am repairing my dog sled tonight (to take a break here and there from writing on the magazine) after I haul it into the livingroom to dry and warm up. Two days ago I found a critical bolt which was missing from my brake system which could have been highly dangerous. I am glad I saw it sooner than later. Yikes! There are also a couple little things to fix on it which are not critical but need to be done. And then go over everything to make sure it is all sound. The sled has very few bolts or screws on it. Most of it is drilled and hand tied. That gives it the flexibility for going around corners or moving the sled from one side of the trail to another. I cannot run my dogs or use it for chores until it passes my inspection and repairs. From now on, I can only train them at night. I do not mind running with the dogs at night, as it is rather surreal, but doing 20 milers on unfamiliar trails at night by myself does not excite me overmuch. I have three weeks to get my dogs (and me) conditioned. I also got a few little annoying home repairs done last night. One of which was the 2 facades on the face of the counter under the sink which have been held on marginally by duct tape for the last 3 years. I finally got tired of that cheesy duct tape system. I bought four 60 cent angle brackets and some screws and it was fixed in about 8 minutes. Now that is one thing I do not have to worry about. They even look straight!! I think 2008 is going to be a lovely year. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com "Down to the Roots" homesteading magazine

Did you get your seed catalogs yet?

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:32:32 GMT

December 31, 2007 Did you get your seed catalogs yet? It is not too late. These are some of my favorite seed companies I have ordered from over the years, plus a few for those of you in countries other than North America. Canada Agrestal Organic Heritage Seed Co. P.O. Box 646, Gormley, Ontario L0H 1G0 905 888-1881 fax: 905 888-0094 www.agrestalseeds.com farmerbob@agrestalseeds.com Canadian owned and operated company specializing in certified organic heirloom vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Catalogue online this year as they are moving. Aurora Farm Creston, BC www.soulmedicinejourney.com There has been, for 10,000 years and more, an honorable custom of gifting seeds; the grandmother to her granddaughter on the occasion of the young woman's marriage, to and from the neighbors, in the celebration of life. Giving the promise of life, the wish for fertility, in the certainty of abundance. Our Gift Seed Packages revive the tradition. Each contains five packets of righteous, old fashioned, organically grown seeds. Gift Packages come in five varieties: "Garden", with carrot, spinach, lettuce, swisschard, hollyhock; "Flower", with poppy, calendula, gallardia, primrose, hollyhock; "Old Fashioned Tomato", heirloom varieties "Medicinal Herbs" "Three Sisters", with native corn, beans, squash; "Bee and Butterfly Garden", with flowers very attractive to our insect allies. at http://soulmedicinejourney.com/GiveSeeds.html Boundary Garlic P.O. Box 273, Midway, B. C. V0H 1M0 250-449-2152 fax: 250-449-2152 www.garlicfarm.ca sonia@garlicfarm.ca Heritage varieties of seed garlic organically grown. Catalogue free. Butchart Gardens Ltd. P.O. Box 4010, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3X4 866-652-4422 fax: 866-652-1475 www.butchartgardens.com giftstore@butchartgardens.com Hand packaged seeds and seed collections representative of those found in this wonderful garden. Catalogue free. Dominion Seed House P.O. Box 2500, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 5L6 800-784-3037 fax: 800-282-5746 www.dominion-seed-house.com mail@dominion-seed-house.com Mail order catalog of seeds, plants, and bulbs for gardeners. Catalog free and on-line. Richters Herbs 357 Hwy 47, Goodwood, Ontario L0C 1A0 905-640-6677 fax: 905-640-6641 www.richters.com orderdesk@richters.com An enormous selection of unique seeds and plants. On-line catalog gives descriptions and uses for plants. Catalogue free. Salt Spring Seeds Box 444 Ganges P.O., Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2W1 250-537-5269 www.saltspringseeds.com dan@saltspringseeds.com Dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Organically grown open-pollinated seeds. Specializes in beans. A large and interesting variety of vegetables grains and garlic. Catalog $2 or on-line. Tomatoes etc. 63 Nelson, Outremont, Quebec H2V 3Z8 514-272-5185 fax: 514-272-5185 www.web.net/tomatoesetc/ tomatoesetc@yahoo.ca Catalog by e-mail request. Offering over 50 varieties of heirloom tomato seedlings. Orders by phone or e-mail Payment Cash. Both official languages served. West Coast Seeds Ltd. 3925 64th St., RR#1, Delta, B.C. V4K 3N2 604-952-8820 fax: 877-482-8822 www.westcoastseeds.com info@westcoastseeds.com Many excellent organic varieties especially chosen for coastal B.C. On-line catalog also includes growing information and planning for year round harvesting. Catalogue free. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United States Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 2278 Baker Creek Rd., Mansfield, Missouri 65704 417-924-8917 www.rareseeds.com seeds@rareseeds.com This company sells only non-hybrid vegetables, flowers and herbs. None of the varieties sold are hybrids, gene-altered or patented. Well worth investigating. Catalogue free. Cook's Garden Box 535, Londonderry, Vermont 05148 802-824-3400 fax: 802-824-3027 Cook's Garden are committed to ecological and sustainable farming methods. All seeds are untreated and time tested. Claim to have the largest selection of lettuce and salad greens in the world. Catalogue free. Heirloom Acres Seeds PO Box 194, New Bloomfield, MO 65063 573-491-3001 www.heirloomacres.net A Christian family business selling over 450 open pollinated and heritage seeds. Catalogue free. Tell Thom that tenzicut send you!!! They are one of my top 3 favorite seed companies. Seeds of Change Box 15700, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506-5700 888-762-7333 fax: 505-438-7052 www.seedsofchange.com gardener@seedsofchange.com Organic and open-pollinated flower herb and vegetable seeds featuring many heirloom traditional and other rare seeds collections built around specific themes. Catalogue free. Seed Savers Exchange 3076 North Winn Rd., Decorah, Iowa 52101 563-382-5990 fax: 563-382-5872 www.seedsavers.org A grassroots seed exchange. Members receive two information filled issues and a huge seed listing. Membership $U.S.35 SSE subsection "Flowers & Herb Exchange" U.S.$12 A free heirloom and products catalog published for the general public. Territorial Seed Company PO Box 158 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Phone Orders: 800-626-0866 Fax Orders: 888-657-3131 Customer Service/Gardening Questions: 541-942-9547 http://www.territorialseed.com/ Territorial announces over 200 new items for 2008! One of the best parts of my job is evaluating our trials. I literally get to taste thousands of different vegetables and herbs, and view hundreds of beautiful flowers. Each year, I find both new favorites and get reacquainted with old favorites. The problem (if you can really call it a problem) comes when it is time to start choosing new varieties... Catalogue free. My family has been ordering from them for at least 20 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I do not know anything about the companies listed below, but I thought they were noteworthy. England Chiltern Seeds Bortree Stile, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7PB 011441229 581137 fax: 11441229 584549 www.chilternseeds.co.uk info@chilternseeds.co.uk 4600+ varieties of wild and cultivated plants from around the world. Seed packets are usually generous. Catalog listed by ethnobotanical names. Payment by credit card or postal order. First catalog Can $4. Free after first order. Thomas Etty Esq. 45 Forde Avenue, Bromley Kent, Britain BR1 3EU 11020 846667 85 www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nfarley/thomas-etty/etty.html rwarner@tometty.freeserve.co.uk Online Seed catalog with heirloom seeds dating back to medieval times. Postal money orders only to R. Warner. An interesting book "Roots of vegetables" is offered at #9.00. Catalogue free. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France B & T World Seeds, sarl Paguignan, Olonzac 34210, Olonzac, France 34210 33-6891-29-63 fax: 33-46891-30-39 b-and-t-world-seeds.com matt@b-and-t-world-seeds.com Extremely large selection of over 35,000 common and exotic seeds. Publishes a master catalog and several sub-lists. Catalog is also on CD or on-line. It can be downloaded to any database (ask for schema). Minimum order U.S.$ 9.00 Catalogue $24 Genesis Seeds 10 Plaut St. , Weizmann Science Park, Rehovot, Isreal 76122 972-8931-8966 www.genesisseeds.com genesis@genesisseeds.co.il Israeli seed breeder Genesis Seeds is promoting its organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds to the conventional market. There are about 10 companies in the world producing organic seeds and Genesis is among the big players, producing over 350 varieties of heritage, open pollinated and F-1 hybrid seeds. It has an 11-year history in the field. Catalogue free. Graines Baumaux B.P. 100, Nancy Cedex, France 54062 03.83.15.86.86 www.baumaux.com contact@graines-baumaux.fr French Company with a huge selection of vegetable and flower seeds both organic and chemical. Online ordering is very easy with a catalog. Catalog is totally in French. Orders take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Catalogue $1 L'Association Kokopelli Oasis, 131 impasse des Palmiers, Alès, 30100 0033466306491 www.kokopelli.asso.fr kokopelli.semences@wanadoo.fr Association Kokopelli endeavours : - to promote the preservation of biodiversity through the distribution of organic and open-pollinated seeds of heirloom varieties of vegetables and grains. - to create a network of gardeners involved in seed saving. - to help Third World countries to develop sustainable organic agriculture through the gift of seeds and the setting of seed grower networks. Catalogue free. To start out the new year, I am buying a new vacuum cleaner today since my ex wanted his back. And since time and light ran out yesterday, the root cellar is a definite must today as it got down to -17C/1.4F last night, although it warmed up to -12C by 5 am. I made some seafood chowder last night, of organic or locally grown items, except I did break down and buy pollack. It is also yummy for breakfast, which I am currently having as I type this before I head about my chores. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful evening bringing in the new year and I hope 2008 is wonderful for everyone. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Blaugh Part III (die or get better already!!_)

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:31:45 GMT

December 30, 2007 Someone painted pictures on my Windowpane last night -- Willow trees with trailing boughs And flowers, frosty white, And lovely crystal butterflies; But when the morning sun Touched them with its golden beams, They vanished one by one. - Helen Bayley Davis, Jack Frost t is funny sometimes. I get all these emails and handwritten letters mailed to me about how I inspire you all and how so many of you have made the leap into this homesteading thing due to my magazine and blogs. But on the flipside, I also receive letters of inspiration from you people as well, which keep me going when things get rough on me too. I got two of these such letters last night that I would like to share with you all, as I do from time to time. Hi tenzi, I just visited your DTTR site today for the first time in a couple of months. (I have neglected checking in--am very sorry for not being more attentive.) I was shocked when I realized your recent blogs were all about you doing everything alone--no boyfriend, no teenagers, etc. So I tracked back--read through two months worth of blogs to find your announcement about your split with your boyfriend. I am SO sorry to hear that. I know this is late (2 months late), and I apologize for that, but I wanted to let you know that I wish you the very best. I am so happy to see you continuing on the homesteading path--even if you have to do it alone. Somehow, I think there is someone special out there for you--maybe in a few years after you have had a chance to heal. I know things are tough right now--you don't get over a 4-year relationship in 2 months, so I will be praying for you--that God would meet all your needs, financial, emotional, spiritual, physical. You are not alone. Hugs and God bless, Brenda (artistmama) Zone 6, Boise, Idaho Hi tenzi, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year. 2008 is going to be a good year, I believe! I still want to order your magazine very soon. Got to get past the holiday spending..... You are a neat person and one that I am glad to call a friend. Talk soon. I still have a very "little something" to mail you....call it a very belated Yule present..... Take care!! Cheryl in South Carolina ooooo...to have a few icicles!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks you two (and everyone else who sends me emails/letters). I am feeling kinda 'sucky' (which is a Canadian term apparently) with being sick, so it lifted me for the day. It got to -12C last night. Not too bad. Dogs kept me up all night and I had about 2-3 hours of sleep. There must have been something up behind the barns as the guardian dog kept wanting to take out something in that direction. I wanted to put the pillows over my head to sleep, but I couldn't, as I had to listen to any other kafuffle going on.

Blaugh Part II

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:30:48 GMT

December 29, 2007 I still don't feel very good this morning, to the point I even broke down and had 2 aspirin. I still have a major headache and coughing. So after I finally got out of bed this morning (I am taking advantage of this last few days of 'vacation') I am having Blueberry-Pomegranate juice, Wasabi, organic oranges, my special Chinese herbal cough medicine and peppermint tea with honey and lemon for my breakfast. That should either cure me or kill me. I may just top it off with 1500 mg of Vitamin C today and homemade chicken noodle soup with fresh ginger and hot peppers for dinner. It is the headache which is really making me feel yucky. Pomegranate juice provides 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving and pomegranate juice is a good source of the B vitamin (which I am always low in), pantothenic acid, potassium and antioxidant polyphenols. I think I have drank at least a half gallon of the stuff since yesterday afternoon. I also have a whole Pomegranate in my fridge as they are generally on sale this time of the year. I remember getting one in most of my Christmas stockings when I was growing up. I may have that for a snack after dinner tonight. My prototype for snow removal off my driveway worked excellently yesterday, so I am building a proper one today. Unless I get a huge dump of snow here, it should work out most awesome. I also got called into town yesterday, so I did not get a chance to deal with the root cellar yesterday, but that is also on the list of things which need to get done today. It is not as easy as it sounds, as I have to dig out the door to the pumphouse, to move enough snow to get the door open enough to get the extra insulation out of it. Then I have to dig out and drag the lumber wrap out from under feet of snow and drag the roll to where I need it. It could be a couple hour project at this time of the year, whereas in the summer it may have taken 30-40 minutes. Tonight I also want to fix the facade of the kitchen counter under the sink. It has needed repair for three years and it was never gotten to. I bought brackets for it yesterday (60 cents each) so tonight is the day... I think. But I am tired of it falling off so I need to do something about it, and then I do not have to think about it anymore. Then I am off and writing on the magazine again. It is getting there and soon it will be done and mailed. I am trying to get chores done in the light and write when it is dark and I am inside. Lots of subscriptions and orders for back issues are coming in. I will get the current issue out first and then fill the back orders for you guys as many need to be reprinted. I thank you all for your patience as I am only one person and doing this all on my own. Afternoon Update: I did not really get moving until 3 pm, I think I am running a fever, so I only got one of my chores done. Since there is more snow coming, that project took priority. Maybe I can get to the other one tomorrow morning. It is nice and sunny today, but the sun does not get any higher than that during this time of the year and it is already touching the mountain a bit before 3 pm. I want to be out in the sunshine today and the couch just really sounds good. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Blaugh!!

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:30:07 GMT

December 28, 2007 I don't feel very good this morning. Well actually it started before dinner last night, I started to get a headache and about 2 am to current, I have a stomach ache to go with that. I think I will make some tea here fairly soon. I need to go out and build 2 things for the magazine here in a bit as well as being practical items around the farm here. One of the snowmobilers whom was here yesterday told me of a great idea for my driveway snow situation and I am really wanting to try it. I had another 4-5" of snow to shovel off 2 days ago and it is a slow process and taking up valuable time I really do not have right now. There is light snow coming down currently and up to 4 cm of snow today. The rest of the day I plan on writing on the Winter issue. Last night I went to dinner at a friends home and it was an excellent dinner and even better company. I am turning into quite the social butterfly lately. I had never had Ratatouille before. The word Ratatouille comes from "touiller," which means to toss food. Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Nice. It was originally a poor farmer's dish, prepared in the summer with fresh summer vegetables. Appetizers was toast pieces with cream cheese and spruce tip jam. It was quite good as well. Looking out my bedroom window this morning I saw a curtain of icicles. The second one from the right is as big around as my arm. They have been there awhile, I just noticed their beauty a bit more this morning. I also need to work in the root cellar this morning as I had a few spuds which happened to get frosted on that last freeze. I know more of the cold snaps will happen so I am insulating the front wall with R-40 insulation. I also have a good tote full of soft potatoes to take to the compost. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Build your own cow..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:29:24 GMT

December 27, 2007 Do you still have a full belly from the holidays and not quite moving around yet? Do you want some kind of quiet homesteady project to do? I found this one on how to make your own cow. Try it out! http://www.benjerry.com/assets/images/fun_stuff/papercrafts/action_cow.gif It is from Ben & Jerry's ice cream company and I do not mind promoting them as they are fighting for anti-rBGH labeling on their products. If you want to help them out, click here http://www.benjerry.com/features/rBGH_labeling/index.cfm . In Pennsylvania, new rules are set to go into effect in February 2008 that would effectively ban rBGH labeling on all dairy products. This means that someone does not want to let you know what is in your food. Do you want that? I know I want to continue to get hormone free 'Cherry Garcia' and they have a good sounding organic one coming out I want to try. Recombinant bovine growth hormone, known as rBGH or rBST, is a genetically engineered hormone that is injected into cows to make them produce more milk. Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all 25 countries in the European Union do not allow the use of rBGH. Both Ohio and New Jersey are considering rBGH labeling restrictions, and other states may follow. Let's not let another such thing as Oregon's Measure 27 to fall through. http://www.voteyeson27.com/ In other news around here, I have been getting company left and right the last 2 days. I have a friend up from the island who is visiting for a couple days. Just after she showed up, then Barb came over. Pork chops with apples and onions, organic salad and homemade dressing for dinner. I am glad my dinner turned out good as my island friend is a professional caterer. Just as I have morning coffee on the go, another friend calls up and she is coming over for morning tea. Snowmobiles are coming over today and we are going to pack trails for my 2 mile track at home. Then I am going to show them the local trail systems to ride on. Last night we took the dog team out about 9 pm, but the trails are so powdery, it is very difficult for the dogs to pull 2 full sized adults. It will be nice to get my trails packed. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

I thought about all the holidays at home in Oregon with my family

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:27:15 GMT

December 26, 2007 Oh Man!! I ate too much!! At first I felt strange going to celebrate the holidays with other people's families... like I was invading their private celebration. But then I thought about all the holidays at home in Oregon with my family and how we had people there from all over the place, elderly neighbors who couldn't be with their families and students who could not go home to their countries to be with their families. This is the first year I celebrated Christmas without family. I was not sure I would have a good one, but I really did. Dinner last night was home grown turkey, homegrown and home-cured ham, local organic potatoes, organic carrots I grew, I took bread I baked (they love my bread), wassail for me since I did not drink wine with everyone else at the table, and home baked goodies. It was delicious. My friends gave me a stainless steel pot and pan set as a gift, so I actually have cookware again. I thought I must have been a bad girl this year as Santa did not come to my house, not even a lump of coal. But He did. My refrigerator/freezer is magically/mysteriously working again (and it is no longer leaking to boot) and Santa apparently knew I was going to my friend's house and he left me a few tools over there to add to my new toolbox. Christmas Eve I went to another set of friends. It was odd to me to go out for dinner, but from the restraunt being filled to capacity, it must be a fairly common thing with many families. I actually had so many invites for both nights that I had to turn alot of them down. I will try to make the rounds today on Boxing Day, in order to visit everyone, but I am also on day 3 of the magazine, which I hope to have done within another 3. Today I also have out of town friends coming by to visit and maybe have a dog sled ride. That would be good since I have only had my team out three times this season. I will not get them trained and conditioned at this rate *sigh*. I also noticed I need to bring more wood down to the cabin with "Cyrus" at some point today. It also snowed last night so I should shovel out the driveway. I still have not figured out a dog sled plow yet. I had many emails regarding "The Cinnamon Bear" vintage radio show I have been posting for the last couple weeks and I am glad everyone enjoyed it and I hope you had alot of children listening to it as well. I so remember that show as one of my Christmas memories as a child. I hope you all had as good of a Christmas as I did. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Christmas Day

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:26:17 GMT

http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com/Blogs/07_december_25.htm

Christmas Eve

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:25:46 GMT

December 24, 2007 Christmas Eve. Have a wonderful day everyone. I got to 'open' one of my gifts already, since it was not wrapped. But my carpenter friend gave me a great gift of a tool box with some new tools he thought was essential for around here. And 3 chocolate bars. Note that there is only 2 in the picture. Hehe!!! I just plan on just working on the magazine today. I hope to have it done within the next three days and then into the mail. Postage costs are going up again in January. I am not sure how badly this will affect the mailing of the magazines. I will keep you posted. Cinnamon Bear Episode 26: Returned to the Attic Santa, Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy pursue Crazy Quilt to the North Pole. As Crazy Quilt begins to climb the Pole, the group scares him. When he falls down, they recover the star and the twins find themselves magically back in their attic with their mother shaking them out of a sleep. When they finally place the star on top of the tree, Judy and Jimmy wonder if it has all been a dream. Then they hear the Cinnamon Bear's song one more time. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Darn refrigerators

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:24:54 GMT

December 23, 2007 Apparently if it is not one thing it is another. Well bit by bit I suppose I will have everything under control. My refrigerator in the house is the newest one which went astray on me. It has been having an issue for awhile and draining out the front of the fridge for 6 months. A towel has taken care of it and no one could figure out what was adzactly wrong with it. This morning I went to get something out of the freezer and things were thawing in there. It is currently only 13C/55F in my house currently, it is not like it is too warm from the woodstove. The refrigerator seems to be holding its own, just not the freezer. So if so, I will hold out and the worse case scenario is to put everything in a cooler in the mudroom which is about 38-40F. It is not like I have not had to do this before. So after a bit I will check the temperature in the fridge and see what is happening with that. I checked prices and I just cannot afford a $800 refrigerator right now. On my list of things to do today, I also need to bring wood down and continue to work on the Winter 2007 issue of DTTR. It is back to work at the magazine today and tomorrow, as I want to get it done, printed and out to you since it is already late as of yesterday. Thank you to everyone who has sent in your magazine renewals recently. For those of you thinking about sending yours soon, remember the mailing address has changed. Cinnamon Bear Episode 25: Betrayed by Crazy Quilt With the silver star now safe, and the Wintergreen Witch turned into a wreath, Santa offers to take Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, and Crazy Quilt back to the attic, but Crazy Quilt wants to remain in the snow country. As the group climbs into Santa's sleigh, Jimmy hands Crazy Quilt the silver star for just a minute - and, true to his nature, Crazy Quilt dashes off with it. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Tonight I have a Solstice party and a bonfire...

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:23:36 GMT

December 22, 2007 Yule is today. Yule is also known as Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The sun is now swinging back for longer and longer days until the Summer Solstice in June. This Yule Log, in the picture, my friend made me out of section of Birch log. She does an excellent decoration job. I should hire her for my interior decorator. A Yule Log is is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night. On or about Christmas eve, a big log was brought into a home or large hall. Songs were sung and stories told. Children danced. Offerings of food and wine and decorations were placed upon it. Personal faults, mistakes and bad choices were burned in the flame so everyone's new year would start with a clean slate. The log was never allowed to burn completely, a bit was kept in the house to start next years log. The log brought good luck. Any pieces that were kept protected a house from fire, or lightning, or hail. Ashes of the log would be placed in wells to keep the water good. Ashes were also placed at the roots of fruit trees and vines to help them bear a good harvest. The remains of my Yule log (not the one my friend made me, but a section of the rest of that particular log), is laying in the snowy driveway to cool to use for next year. I had mine in the woodstove. Tonight I have a Solstice party and a bonfire, wassail, ham dinner and I made fresh made bread and materials for S'mores. Dog sled rides are anticipated by the wee kids, and I was warned my dogs may get renamed. Cinnamon Bear Episode 25: Betrayed by Crazy Quilt With the silver star now safe, and the Wintergreen Witch turned into a wreath, Santa offers to take Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, and Crazy Quilt back to the attic, but Crazy Quilt wants to remain in the snow country. As the group climbs into Santa's sleigh, Jimmy hands Crazy Quilt the silver star for just a minute - and, true to his nature, Crazy Quilt dashes off with it. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Three Toed Sloth..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:22:50 GMT

December 21, 2007 I just can't get moving today. I slept in until almost 9am and here it is 11:30 am and I am ready to take a nap. It is -22C/-7F, but that is not what it is. There is no wind chill or anything as the air is still, but I feel like a 3 toed sloth. I am glad I have those ear muffs on my calf. Good news maybe. I was looking at pictures of my dog box last night to show a friend and realized that the dog boxes were on a short bed pickup last year, so theoretically the same length as mine. I am going to go measure the boxes today ( as soon as I shake this sloth-like persona) and see if they will only hang the little bit over like they did on the short box and check the width. If so.. I am smiling. I was planning on running dogs about 8 am and I have not even made it further than the front porch to grab firewood. I also have to go to town to pick up a parcel, which is probably from my mother and I keep convincing myself I can't wait until Monday. Cinnamon Bear Episode 24: Thrilled by a Train Ride Santa tells the twins not to worry and gives everybody a train ride. While riding on the train, they see all the toys. Eventually Santa is informed that the Captain of the Tin Soldiers is waiting in his office with the silver star in hand. His troops have defeated the enemy! http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

I have worked 50 days straight I think at this point, minus yesterday.

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:21:55 GMT

December 20, 2007 I have worked 50 days straight I think at this point, minus yesterday. Tomorrow I have the day off. I would like to sleep I think, but I need to go about building new dog boxes for my truck. I also need to get the magazine done and out. (I think I need a twin or a clone of me.) I do not want to injure my other dog boxes that fit a full sized truck as I plan on having a full sized truck one day, but I need some dog boxes for my smaller pickup or I cannot get my dogs exercised enough to be able to go on the Mail Run event. I do have a huge network of trails near me, but I am not comfortable taking them on the road for 2 miles down and back as my team tends to take their half out of the middle and I have not yet been able to get them to stay on the shoulder. I have about 30 days to get them in tip top condition to carry real mail over 100 miles of mountains. I snuck in about an hour of running dogs yesterday and I will run the dogs late tonight in the dark. There is a bit of a moon and with a headlamp I will be able to see well enough. Also some good news after the loss of "Tess", which left me without a reliable leader. I have been shuffling dogs around to see who would be a good candidate and one of my most unlikely dogs actually knows her stuff. She has been a swing position dog for many years (in order, there are your leaders, your swing dogs, your team dogs and your wheel dogs), but she knows all the commands and snaps right to them. I am SOOOOOO pleased. It is very much like driving down the freeway at 65 mph without a steering wheel, without a decent lead dog. I do not get many pictures of me as I am the only one who seemed to be able to work a camera and now that I live alone, it is even more scarce to get any. My friend snapped this one of me as I was sweeping off the front porch and talking to another friend on the phone, just before breakfast. I hate a messy porch! The dog sled is always parked where it is at in the picture when I get done hauling wood down with "Cyrus". Cinnamon Bear Episode 23: Enchanted by Santa's Storeroom Jack Frost observes the Bad Dolls - a group of mean-spirited dolls made with bad sawdust - running off with the silver star. Santa sends out the Tin Soldiers and invites Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy to the big storeroom where they reunite with Crazy Quilt. Eventually, Santa receives word that the soldiers need reinforcements because some hideous green creature is leading the Bad Dolls. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Visitors

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:20:51 GMT

December 19, 2007 Well, a friend who is a carpenter came to visit and help me on my chimney. Then he apparently had altitude sickness while he was here. Poor guy! He determined that my house was not going to burn down today, but he may come back in the spring to help me install the new piping. It is so tight that we will have to take all of the piping out even though only 2 sections need replacing. What happened is the cap blew off in some windstorm or other, and the water got in the insulated pipe, came down between the layers and into that ring and rotted the ring out, which created water drippage onto my woodstove though the house. It will be OK until Spring and there has been no more leaking since that one day. But he did get better enough to run sled dogs a couple times, which aggravated the altitude sickness, which we actually thought was a mild flu. My friend also brought a planer and we nicked that little lip off the root cellar door and it shuts now easily and opens without having to give it a swift kick. Another friend is coming to stay and visit next week. I noted yesterday that "Blossoms" ears were evidently frostbit a little from that last freeze. The tips are hard and curling backwards, but it doesn't look like she will lose any of the tips. So today she got a new set of cow earmuffs. I thought she would perhaps mind it, especially not being the prettiest colors. But maybe cattle are colorblind or have a different taste in what fashion is, because she seems to actually like them. Don't laugh at her, or she may become self conscience. (I think she looks a little like Mickey Mouse). Cinnamon Bear Episode 22: Welcomed by Santa Claus Santa warmly receives Paddy, Crazy Quilt, and the Barton twins. Crazy Quilt stays behind, as Santa takes Paddy and the twins to the home of Jack Frost who will repair the star. Jack puts magic snow cement on the star and the pieces fit back together again. After he puts it on his windowsill to harden, the star is stolen.

Up on the rooftop...

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:20:08 GMT

December 18, 2007 Well, I got home at 1:30 am technically on the 19th. I was on a friend's roof from 10 pm to 1am when I was shoveling 18-24" of snow off their roof. They were having some sort of weird ice blockage on their roof, it went into the gutters and back and up under the roof, down the inside interior wall and into their electrical panel. It was an interesting evening. Thank the stars for snow pants, head lamps and good ladders. Cinnamon Bear Episode 21: Flown to the Land of Ice and Snow The group enters the hat, which flies them to the Land of Ice and Snow. When they arrive they are taken to see Santa Claus! http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Did I snore?

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:19:13 GMT

December 17, 2007 After working 39 hours in the last 3 days, I slept like as rock last night. I am posting up the backdated blogs this morning so you do not miss any. My appologies for not putting them up sooner, especially with the radio show, but I just couldn't do it. I looked at the website stats this morning and this year alone, DTTR has had 967,205 hits on it this year. Cinnamon Bear Episode 20: Lulled to Sleep by a Singing Tree Wintergreen demands the star pieces, but her evil magic doesn't work. She threatens to destroy the shattered star. Queen Melissa's assistant arrives, arrests Wintergreen "for practicing magic without a license" and hauls her off to Looking Glass Valley, where she will spend the rest of her days staring at her hideous self. The relieved travelers, star pieces again in hand, lay down under a tree and are lulled to sleep by beautiful singing. They have discovered the Singing Tree. When they awake, they see a big hat with a door -- and, pinned to the opening, is a note! http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Working and burning both ends of the candle, plus some..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:18:16 GMT

December 16, 2007 I am working a deadline for my job so no one has seen me for at least 48 hours. I have been up late the last few nights and it is going on 1:30 am now and I am not done yet for the night. Well sorta not seen me. I had to take a break from my job to print up more of the memorial calendars which have sold out a couple times now, so Lynn and her sister came over for a bit to take them after I printed them out. The calendars are all over the world now in all sorts of countries. I have to admit they are beautiful!! I am not sure how many more times we will print them, so if you want yours, you better hurry. Also if you want mail sent by sled dog team, you had also better get your order in for envelopes as they are also going fast. This is the last place in the world where dogs haul the official mail. Order your calendar by contacting Lynn Yurkas at ph: (250) 991-0218 or by ordering online, from the Mail Run website and click on Gift Shop , where you can also order other items, including collector envelopes. I did have an hour of fun Friday night when I participated in the Santa Claus parade and took a couple of my sled dogs. The bad news is I have only managed to shovel out half my driveway due to lack of time from work... and then it snowed again. Maybe Tuesday I can get to it again as soon I will be pushing it with my bumper. I also have to brag. I have been diligently been trying to keep my electric bill down. I made my goal of keeping it under $50. I was WAY under!!!! It was $13.25 for the last 37 days of usage. I do not think I will even try to get it any lower, although it may turn into a game. Cinnamon Bear Episode 19: Confronted by an Angry Witch The searchers run into a cactus forest as they are chased by Indians. Actually, only one Indian had been in pursuit but Paddy, Crazy Quilt, and the Barton's' imaginations conjured up many, many more. They bribe the Indian into letting them go and continue the search for the Singing Tree. Suddenly, the Wintergreen Witch appears and threatens to turn them all into bullfrogs. Afternoon Update: I worked until 2 am this morning and back at it at 7 am. I got finished with Part II at 3:57pm and I am now having Potato Leek soup as I am not too excited about cooking anything major, but I did get some bread on the go. I also mothered up some sourdough for Lynn and her sister last night, so I used a bit to make sourdough pancakes this morning. I finally ran out of real maple syrup. I will have to remedy that soon. I loathed syrup when I was growing up and in the last year got hooked on real Canadian maple syrup. Finally saw my horse. She is fat and sassy. We just kept not crossing paths when it was daylight and she decided not to come up when I fed out in the mornings or when I called to her. I did not like being able not to see her, but I also had no time to tromp through thigh deep snow in the dark. I knew she was out there somewhere as I kept seeing her prints. I did try to take three dogs for a quick rip in the back 40 with the dogsled, but the depth of the snow was over the dogs backs. So that did not go over very well. The next time I see skidooers on the road, I will have to flag them down and see if they are willing to pack snow for me. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Pizza!!!

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:16:53 GMT

December 14, 2007 I was up working until midnight last night for one job as I am determined to learn this one computer program well enough I can do it with my eyes blindfolded and one arm tied behind my back by the end of the week. The snow keeps coming down and there is supposed to be more tonight. I only got half my driveway ... ok.. maybe a little more than 1/3, shoveled out from the last 2 snows today. I will have to do the rest tomorrow morning. Tonight I am trying to duplicate a pizza I had down at the coast over my birthday. It is brie, carmelized onions and pear. I will have to see how it goes. I have the dough rising currently. Dinner Update: This pizza is so good. It is currently my favorite kind of pizza. It looks small in the picture, but easily could feed 2 people and have leftovers for breakfast. I think it cost all of about $6 to make and about 20 minutes total time. 1 pear, 1 onion, a little flour, salt, sugar and yeast... and $5 worth of Brie cheese. Cinnamon Bear Episode 18: Chased by Indians A group of cowboys ride up and save the foursome. The leader of the cowboys brings Melissa into focus through a looking glass placed in his hat. She hears of the troubles experienced by Paddy, Crazy Quilt, and the children. She tells them to locate a singing tree. They leave the cowboys to search and are surrounded by Indians. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Leaks and sssssssssssssssssssssssssssizzzzling..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:16:16 GMT

December 13, 2007 Woodstove is today's agenda. Getting parts for it anyway. A leak happened in the ring the other night and it is dripping water onto the woodstove for a good sizzle every 30-60 seconds. The red arrow shows the damage. I was going to replace only the lower 2 sections of pipe that are starting to go bad, until that leak showed up. But I think it would behoove me to replace the whole lot and do it right. I have a friend coming to visit this upcoming week and since I am not comfortable with running about on a tin roof encrusted with snow by myself, I would like a witness to take me to the emergency room if I fall. The good news however, is there is alot of snow on that side of the house, so as long as I do not smuck the dog meat freezer on my way down, it might be a comfortable fall. Now I need to build a ladder since I do not have one long enough. I have alot of 2x4's and screws. Snow is called for all week. And it is coming down now. Cinnamon Bear Episode 17: Pelted with Mud The twins and Crazy Quilt note instructions on the well that they have only one wish. They use it to rescue Paddy. Heading back to Queen Melissa, they are pelted with mud and trapped in oozy, slimy mud by strange creatures called muddlers. They slowly sink. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

I love my bed..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:15:19 GMT

December 12, 2007 Bliss!!!! I usually wake up without a alarm clock every morning. I usually am up at 6 am. I actually slept until 7:33am. I love my bed! It is warmer out. Only -5.8C/21F. Yesterday I checked out the root cellar before I went to work and all is OK in there from the deep freezes. Until I tried to shut the door. As it is a newer cellar, everything has not adjusted itself to its permanent location yet. The door has been hard to open/close recently, but yesterday, it would not shut by at least 1/4" overlap which instantly happened. Between a hammer and a pocketknife I subdued it enough to get it shut again. I will have to borrow a belt sander and trim a wee bit off the edge of the door for a snug fit, where I do not have to have a discussion with a door. I am going to try to get the dogs out for a run today. All this snow for weeks and I have not got them out for anything except a couple for chores. Every time I touch the sled, they are all happy and anticipating they will get to go out. Poor guys! Cinnamon Bear Episode 16: Obstructed by a Deep, Dark Well The crocodile is friendly and reads the instructions in his stomach after digesting them. The foursome is instructed to head for the Wishing Well, which Judy guesses is where they have to wish that the star be fixed. Arriving at the well, Paddy peers into it, loses his footing, and falls headlong to its deep, dark bottom. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Too many pictures to post here

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:14:38 GMT

http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com/Blogs/07_december_11.htm

Sleep is underrated

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:13:47 GMT

December 10, 2007 I finally had a good night's sleep. I slept somewhere between 10-12 hours straight, instead of the 5-6 per night, which is what I have been getting for the last month. I am still sleeping on the couch, but I have the parts for my bed now so I may get to sleep in my bed tonight. The snow report is.... it is still snowing. Only 3" or so yesterday and it has warmed up. They were calling for -17C last night but when I woke this morning it was only -8C/17C. It was almost like summer when I went out to get firewood in my PJ's this morning. But it is supposed to get cold again. I am squabbling with the woodstove as it went out last night and it is not happy with the coloured slick newspaper inserts I am trying to convince it to start with. As soon as I am done with my morning computer stuff I will get more serious with it. I made Hot & Sour Soup for dinner last night. It really hit the spot and it was warming. Not alot on the homesteading front. Just the normal chores, trying to write a bit here and there when I can for the magazine and keeping an eye out for seed catalogs to come in. I may have to order some more as I did not get too many last year and I may be off their lists. Cinnamon Bear Episode 14: Helped by Queen Melissa Crazy Quilt suggests they all go see Queen Melissa of Maybeland who might be able to repair the star. When they reach her, Melissa gives them instructions, requesting their undivided attention. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

The Winter issue may be out a few days late

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:13:08 GMT

December 9, 2007 Finally I got done with my last class of instruction for my new job, which thankfully means I do not have to drive 190 miles every Sunday. The last two times I have come back, it has been in the dark, snowing and 10-12 hour days. The large trucks push the snow and make it almost white-out conditions. The Winter issue may be out a few days late, although I will try to have it out on time. I have literally been working 7 days a week for 40 days now. But I have a space of time coming up which I plan on getting it all done. If you have subscribed in the last while and have not received your order, please email at this address. I have a 'secretary' for DTTR for the time being and she will be filling your orders. I am sending on to her what I have, but I do not want anyone to fall through the cracks. Cinnamon Bear Episode 13: Threatened by a Witch The Giant has heard the whistle as Crazy Quilt was hiccupping and takes the whole group back to the house. Paddy, Judy, Jimmy, and Crazy Quilt step through the picture frame into the clutches of Wintergreen the Witch. She seals the door and picture, trapping them. They ingeniously escape the witch and retrieve the star. Crazy Quilt takes them back to the mainland and he accidentally sits on the star, breaking it into a dozen pieces. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

This & that..

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:12:10 GMT

December 8, 2007 Traditionally the 'Cinnamon Bear' was never aired on Saturdays. To keep things straight, I won't post them on Saturday's either. So stay tuned, the next episode will be tomorrow. And for those of you who say, "But you posted last Saturday!" That is true, but since the dates lay on different days compared to 1937, I had to make up an extra day somewhere, so that the last one is on Christmas Eve. It is -27C/-16F this morning and I was/am tired. I did not stoke the woodstove last night and it was a little chilly this morning with bare feet on the kitchen floor, but tolerable. The cats, pretty much the little one, were being as noisy and as much a pain in the rear end as possible to wake me up. If I could have caught him without moving out of my nest of blankets, I would have stuffed him in my pillow and slept on him. I need to check the root cellar today. I did not get the cold air return blocked off, which was drilled at the wrong time of the year, but oh well, it is done now. I need to stuff a bunch of rags in it. I did get the hot air out-take stuffed with rags a couple weeks ago. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

"A date which will live in infamy."

tenzicut — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:11:31 GMT

December 7, 2007 Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy." I guess I always think of Pearl Harbor on this day, as I have been there twice. I have stood over the USS Arizona on the memorial, which marks the resting place of 1,102 sailors killed that day in that ship alone. Often black oil comes to the surface, which they call 'tears'. Men are still buried within the ship. They will be forever. 'At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor' by Gordon W. Prange is an extremely comprehensive account of the events leading up to the Pearl Harbor attack. It is a balanced account that gives both the perspective of the Japanese and United States. I recommend you reading it. On the homefront here, it is a heatwave of -20C/-4F this morning. I only had to get up twice during the night to toss more fuel on the fire. To tell you how cold it is, they have canceled the Santa Claus parade and rescheduled it for next week when it is warmer. I was in the parade last year and it was pretty brutally cold to be on the float, even in my cold weather gear. Cinnamon Bear Episode 12: Trapped in a Forest The lights turn out to be Crazy Quilt's eyes. He explains that some strange force told him to take the silver star to the house where it then disappeared into the forest picture. While walking, the group meet a rhyming rabbit, a bee stings Paddy, and the group becomes terribly lost. They give the Giant's whistle to Crazy Quilt and he accidentally swallows it. http://www.downtotherootsmagazine.com