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Hurricane Isabel came and went. All we got here was steady, heavy rain and moderate, steady winds. We needed the rain, and because it traveled to us all the way from the Atlantic, it will help to replenish our local water table. Attila is quite busy these days, working all hours. At least the days are still long enough that there is a hint of light when he leaves in the morning and the remains of the daylight at dusk, when he arrives home. Soon it will be dark at both ends of his workday. A recent trip to the weekly farmer’s market yielded an armful of field fresh basil, and one dozen head of garlic. This is a real farmer’s market, where the farmers sell their own produce. I prefer this to the faux "farmer’s markets" that dot urban areas, where the produce is purchased at the food terminal and resold to the public. At a real farmer’s market there are bushels and baskets full to brimming with produce picked within the last twenty-four hours. We know our money is making its way directly to those who toil on the land. We have had great success purchasing basil in large quantities at this market. The basil we purchased was already sitting in a large plastic bag, roots and all. We added water to the bag as soon as we arrived home, and the basil remained field fresh until the next day. Attila and I proceeded with our annual Pesto preparations and managed to freeze enough for the coming winter. Pesto on cheese tortelinni is our favorite fast food. Our bushel of peaches is gone, consumed daily in pancakes or fresh. I will miss them. However, the first tree-ripened apples have arrived on the doorstep and will help lighten my "end of the peach season" blues. We have been enjoying fresh cauliflower the last week or so, it is so good with a hint of butter and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Neighbour Magarac brought over a bag of fresh pears that he picked from the tree in his back yard. They are lovely, although the modern farmer would be forced to leave them to rot in the orchard. They have blemishes, and some are very small. However, they will taste just as good, if not better, than those we purchase in the grocery store. After leaving them to ripen for a few days, I will be busy making this year's Pear Chutney.
A news story about Canada’s Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, has me thinking and dreaming. I wrote an open letter to her, but it is very unlikely that she will ever read it; I am not expecting a reply. I feel better having written it, so at least there is that. I have to admit that the book, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" left quite an impressions on me, it opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. Dear Adrienne Clarkson, I want to be your friend. I am a very nice person; smart, well educated, hard working, and tolerant. I may also be very talented, but since I am not well connected, I know you will not have heard about me. I love my country and I do what I can, when I can, to make it a better place for all of us to live. Canada should be proud. I want to belong to your special group, the one leaving for the "Northern Identity Tour", my dream trip. Please include me in your elite, because otherwise I could not afford the trip. I promise not to spend very much money, you will hardly know I am there. How much more would it really cost to take 60 people on the tour, instead of 59? Please Adrienne, consider my dream, it would mean a lot to me. Your hopeful friend, |
RECIPES :: Cast Worldly Distractions  Heres looking at you. Taken: First minute of the 21st Century By the Easy Chair Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide by Eric Meyer Trip of a Lifetime! $1-million circumpolar tour... Clarkson's plan to take 59 of Canada's literary and political elite on a "northern identity" trip to Finland, Russia and Iceland..." Weather 14:00 EDT Temp: 18`C Humidity: 52% Barometric: 102.36 kPa Sunrise 7:08 AM EDT Sunset 7:27 PM EDT |
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