Saturday, March 30, 2013

Garlic Shoots

When your fresh garlic gets a little old, sometimes a little green shoot will appear in the clove.  Here's something you can do so they don't go to waste.
 
Peel each clove without damaging it.  Place in root side down in a clear glass container.  Be careful to discard any cloves that look like they have started to rot - they will continue to do so in the container.  Add just enough water to cover the root end (no more a few millimetres).  Place in a bright window.  Replenish the water daily.  Soon you will see new root growth and green shoot growth.
 

 
 
 
The shoots are completely edible. The shoots that I grew are quite pungent and sharp. They are  fantastic as a garnish garlic dishes that I want to be even more garlicky or as a milder flavour in salads or any fresh mixture of veggies.




 
 
 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Makin' Tracks

The fields and forest have been busy, busy places when we have been busy doing other things.  It always astounds me how animals have their own patterns, and they are ever present and yet, we rarely see them in the course of our daily lives.  They, of course, know what we're up to all the time.
 


 
 
The vast majority of tracks I come across are fox as seen above - coming and going, here and there, and hunting rodents under the snow.
 
But then there's this:
 
 
 
I've never seen anything like this, and after a bit of research, can say that it's probably a beaver track.  But maybe I'm wrong.  Does anyone out there know for sure? 
 
Leave a comment!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

From the Weather Book

February 26
- snow, snow, snow

March 1
- in like a lamb


March 3
- light snow

March 5
- sun!

March 9
- mild, sun
- clocks back

March 10
- light rain
- mild
- slush on lake

March 11
- rain



March 13
- snow, squalls in the evening


March 14
- clear, cold & sunny



March 19
- snowy all day

March 20
- first day of Spring


March 23
- mild, sunny
- light snow in the late afternoon & early evening

March 24
- mild, sunny
- still lots of snow!


Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Top

Today I made it out to the top of the falls.  Considering my current state of closing in on 29 weeks pregnant with my second child, it wasn't the easiest of hikes, but it was well worth it.






The river is wide open, and the water at a low - moderate level.  Animal tracks are everywhere (which is a post for another day).





Sadly, even through the snow is still several feet deep, I can still only say I've seen the falls in three seasons, this technically being early Spring.



Saturday, March 23, 2013

Snow Hike

We still have a significant amount of snow, but it's perfectly packed right now, making walking possible.  Today we ventured out into the fields and forest.











Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring in Ontario - A Test

Answer the following questions as "yes" or "no".

1.  Is there snow on the ground?
2.  Is it snowing right now?
3.  Has it snowed in the past 3 days?
4.  Is it forecasted to snow in the next 3 days?
5.  Is the temperature hovering between -5 and 0?
6.  Is it forecasted to warm up in the next 10 days?

If you have answered "yes" to one or more of the preceding questions, congratulations, you are indeed experiencing Spring in Ontario.

You may stop complaining now.


To cheer you up - something to look forward to.






Sunday, March 17, 2013

Normal

What is normal anyway?
 
Today I'm talking specifically about the weather.  As I was saying in my last post, it's cold again.  Snow is flying and spring is seemingly far away.
 
I'm not complaining, but others are.
 
We were spoiled last year by an extremely early spring.  This time last year, temperatures were already in the teens.  By the end of March we were having consistent mid-20 degree weather.  That's certainly not normal.
 
The warm and early spring stretched into a summer that was long and very dry.  It didn't really rain much at all during July.  We had trees turning brown in late August.  The spring and summer months put a considerable stress on the natural environment.
 
In my un-expert opinion, I think the longer it stays cooler this year, the better.  The trees and other plants need time to rest after the difficult growing season of last year.
 
I'll take a longer winter if it might mean a lusher more vibrant and healthy summer.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

It's Back!

Winter, that is.  With just days left before the first official day of spring, we are enjoying a (hopefully) final blast of winter.  Clear, blue, January-like skies, cold temperatures and plenty of new snow, but the sun holds the unmistakable warmth of March.


Beautiful blue over a still white Maple Lake.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Rain, Rain...

...stay while.
 
We woke up yesterday to a sky threatening rain, but it never came.  Today, though has been a different story.  Rain all day.
 
I like it.
 
It washes away the grit and grime that slowly accumulates over winter.  It decimates mile high snowbanks.  It makes puddles that are irresistible to little boys.
 
 
 
 
It makes me crave reading certain books.  It makes me look inward and slow down.
 
Yes, the rain can stay, and the snow can go - although I'm certain we haven't seen the  last of the white stuff just yet.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Spring Forward

Melting snow, mud and turning the clocks ahead are all simple reminders that the first day of spring is only two weeks away.



Hope you are outside enjoying this lovely day!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

In the Air

I felt it. 

Today the light was different.  The great wheels are turning once again, bringing us ever closer to Spring.

It`s still a ways off, but it`s creeping in the corners.  In the fresher winds, in the stonger sun, and the longer days.