A Book of Jewels

After Bill & Mary left this morning after a visit and coffee, I saw Bill's book on the coffee table that I should have returned. Maybe I forgot because I really don't want to return it! I sat down to read it again. I'll Never Marry A Farmer: Lois Hole on Life, Learning & Vegetable Gardening is a book full of little jewels. Maybe I am a old lady at heart because I love the vegetable gardening tips. This book is about more than that. It made Lois Hole my new hero for her outlook on life and people and her wisdom. (The short story format is also perfect reading for me right now.) So I'll share one story that touched me...

Society's Loss. Mrs. Dorocher, my dear friend and co-worker, gave me my first strong connection with the native community and my first insights into the difficulties native and Metis people face every day. Every time I saw other people dismiss her, it saddened me to think how much they were missing. Once I got to know Mrs. Durocher, I learned to look at all people more carefully.

When Ted and I first started farming, we truly depended on members of the native community to help us. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered that the problems of alcohol and conflicting cultural values meant we couldn't plan on having their help every day.

Mrs. Durocher's nephew, Peter, was one of the hardest working employees we ever hired. He wasn't always available for work, but Ted made it clear that he was welcome to show up whenever he could, no questions asked.

Peter was a handsome young man, lean and athletic, with a neatly groomed moustache. He was strong, but also shared much of his aunt's grace and agility. I remember when the barn was being shingled, he would slip some nails between his lips and criss-cross the roof like an acrobat, hammering away. The others would struggle to keep up, pausing now and then to watch Peter in amazement. He was quick with a joke and got along well with everybody. Ted often said he breathed a little easier whenever Peter was on the farm.
Then suddenly, on day, Peter was gone. They found him alone in a hotel room, where he had choked to death. He wasn't yet 30.

When you read items like this in the paper, stop and think for a minute. When that person was born, he or she should have the same human potential as your own child. But somewhere, somehow, things went terribly, tragically wrong. I believe very strongly in personal accountability, but it would be foolish and unfair to discount society's role in deaths like these.

I wish I had the answers, but I don't. I try, in my own way, to accept people for what they are and help wherever I can. I just know that we can't afford to simply throw our hands in the air and lament that there's nothing we can do.

Every time our world loses a Peter Durocher, it loses a lot.

Recipe #5: Bulgur Salad

I may have found my favorite summer salad yet. Taste is right up there, but what makes it the greatest is that there's no cooking involved. I haven't been making my usual favorite salads, because even cooking barley or quinoa is no fun when the house is already 30 degrees. This is a must try salad...

1/2 cup bulgur
3/4 cup diced cucumber
3/4 cup diced tomatoes
2/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
1/3 cup chopped green onions
2 T fresh lemon juice
2 T olive oil

So, I'm giving the recipe as I read it, but I should say that although I think it would be better with the fresh herbs, I just used dried basil and parsley and skipped the mint. I also added more lemon juice and oil than called for.

Place bulgur in large bowl. Cover with 1 inch water and soak for 1 hour. Drain off excess water. Add rest of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Wait 10 minutes before serving.

-Original recipe from The Enlightened Eater's Whole Foods Guide. The book gives a description of bulgur - it's made from whole wheat berries that have been steamed, hulled and then cracked. (In case you were curious.)

Very fun that we now have our own cucumbers to make this with. We also enjoyed our fresh, just picked corn-on-the-cob with this salad for lunch. If only my herb garden had come through, this salad would be really delicious. I even enjoyed the salad for supper - this time in a pita with cheese and mashed lemon sardines.

I've really enjoyed reading some food blogs lately. I've been inspired to cook more and feel like starting a blog just for that purpose. But I would never do as good as a job as some people do, so I think I'll just enjoy theirs. I came across a vegetarian one that gives you a week's menu and the grocery list to go with it. Maybe I'll get around to putting up links to some of my favorites soon.

From the Niedermayers

Our next door neighbour, Iris, got home from her visit to BC. She spent some time with her grandsons, Scott and Rob. They were nice enough to send Kellen a very special shirt. Not sure if I'll want to let Kellen wear this one. I'm sure there will be many shirts that I try to get marker out of, but I don't want this marker to wash away.

Uncle Tim, Kellen wants to know if you're jealous.

Kellen's Latest

Kellen would prefer to eat fruit all day. I caught him munching on a plum before I put our Good Food Box away. He ate the whole thing without taking it away from his mouth (except for the few moments of screaming when I grabbed it to get the pit).

But the more significant news to report...Kellen slept through the night last night. He didn't wake up once! What did we do to acheive this? Nothing, really. Was it just a lucky night? Perhaps, but I'm holding my breath for tonight, hoping that we are entering a new phase.

I left Kellen and Ian overnight on Friday and enjoyed a scrapbooking/stamping retreat. Maybe that helped. Although he had still got up twice for me Saturday night. Anyhow, I may have to find reasons to leave overnight again to see if that brought on the lucky(?) night.

So, big news, eh? I'm sure all other parents can feel my excitement. Any guesses as to the likelihood of a continuing trend of more uninterupted sleep?

More Fun, Summer Pictures

Too cute sitting at the fire, eating breakfast.
This one cracks me up. He looks like a monkey. Poor kid with a black eye and swollen face from all the mosquito bites. Those Northern mosquitos are mean and unstoppable. I laugh now, but I didn't that weekend.
These were on the way to Waskesiu, while he was still really looking cute.

Grandma's Visit

Now that I'm back to work and getting into a routine again (slowly), I thought I should post my fun summer pictures. Grandma's visit was a highlight. Planting flowers, snacking on the front step, playing at the playground, walking on the beach... Good times.

Restored Faith in Humanity

I didn't post our sad news earlier. I was too mad about it. When we got back from camp on Friday, Kellen's wagon was gone. It was stolen out of the backyard. I had a suspicion some kids may have taken it to the bike park behind out house and had some fun with it in the hills. So, Kellen and I took a long walk but had no luck finding it. I tried to accept that it was really gone, but every day I'd been looking out in the yard with hope that it would be returned. I was going to post earlier today and see if I could get people on the hunt for another second hand wagon for me to buy. No need now. Kellen and I went to enjoy some Saskatoons and ice cream outside after supper. Sitting just a couple feet from where I always park it...the wagon had magically reappeared!! I hadn't felt too trusting towards this town or anyone in it the last few days. When Kellen and I went for a walk, I was peeking into everyone's yard looking for the blue wagon. Tonight on our walk (with Kellen in the wagon) I smiled at everyone in their yards. Sometimes little things make a big difference. A returned wagon makes me feel like people aren't all bad. Thanks to whoever returned it, hope you had fun with it! Sorry to everyone that's heard me complaining about the missing wagon!