Thursday, December 4, 2008

Pierre

a story needing told

Some of you have heard about Pierre. He's green, loves dirt and occasionally likes to "catch out" (hobo for hitching a ride). This i found out two months later. And not by sound, nor smell. After noticing dirt on the kitchen table near a house plant (French Sorrel)day after day and attributing it to Ahdin the cat, i felt the need to take a closer look. As i leaned in towards the sorrel, taking one of the leaves for tasting pleasure, two golden eyes appeared just below the surface of the potting soil. These eyes grew into a head, the head extended into a body and I began to see my source much clearer. The source of the dirt mess that is. Pierre the toad.

The story goes: After returning from Minnesota I potted a few plants and set them on the cement stoop in the front of our house. Soon enough it began to get cold and in came the plants. Two months later, i realized that Pierre had come in as well. He housed himself in the French Sorrel for the first two months. Then the day after a rather stressful time of attention (from little ones) he "disappeared". We looked all over the house, or as much of it as we could. We even cleaned areas that haven't been seen by human eyes for years, but no Pierre. A week or two later, we decided to do another search. As i was circling through the living room, Mark was down on hands and knees by the piano. I came running to the proclamation that Pierre had been found. A new home he had made - two room lengths away from his first home. (What would be at least a mile hike in my world. ) One hard day that must have been, from my perspective, but he was content burrowing down in this new dark place.

The decision was made. We didn't want to lose him again, nor harm him in any way. So, to isolate him we decided to move this plant, though tropical, into the pottery studio as the first step to the outdoors. We wanted to acclimate him to the colder temperatures. Winter is here you know. He burrowed down deeper, contentedly. Yesterday, two weeks since the day we re-found Pierre, I moved him outside, and said my goodbye's.

In his small way, Pierre brought humor and lightheartedness into our lives. Now i picture him sitting at the local toad hang out drinking his version of beer with his toad buddies, telling them of his adventure and hunkering down good for the winter.

- Pierre in the French Sorrel.


- Pierre's second home - a bit more tropical.


- Saying 'good-bye'

- Back in the Great Outdoors under the pile of leaves in our raspberry patch.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

At 4:30 today i hit a wall - exhaustion resting on me so heavy.
My response? To get my camera out and go for a walk around the house.
Not a walk of miles, just a short walk here.

This is what i saw.






















Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sunday was a day for canning. I live in a rural area where many people still can - or at least know how to can. My parents generation canned everything - fruits, vegetables, and meat. I grew up on a farm and my family put up food but I haven't done much in my adult years.
This weekend Mark's mom came over and the three of us canned tomatoes, tom thumb peppers and grape puree. I never realized that canning is such hard work - and I am impressed with all those of you out there who can on a regular basis. Way to go! It makes so much sense and is very enjoyable when done with others.



An important tool.



Tomatoes and the cold packing container (in background).





Tom thumb peppers with artichoke, onions, garlic and oregano
with grape puree in the center (left over from making grape juice).



More tomatoes.


Mark and I also decided to get out the food dehydrator to try making dried tomatoes. It is a learning experience. We lost quite a few slices in our first batch b/c we cut them too thick but we also ended up with quite a few and have a better sense for timing, heat, thickness, etc. And they taste amazing!


The thermometer.



Dried Roma tomatoes.


We've come to the end of the day and I'm tired, but i have such a full sense of accomplishment and satisfaction at all that we did and learned. Hopefully we'll spend at least a few more days canning in the weeks to come.

If you have never canned anything but have wanted to try - go for it! You can do it and if you ask around, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone who has some experience and/or tips. And enjoy the process!