Thursday, June 30, 2011

A Cucumber From Leighton and Other Magical Things

Last night Pam and I went to Hayward's, a local greenhouse, owned and run by Leighton and Shirley. They are in their 70's and it's unbelievable how hard they work. They are incredibly knowledgeable and energectic and creative- you should see the bizarre and brilliant contraptions that Leighton comes up with, like beans growing upside down. I wish I could describe it better, but I just can't.
Anyway, the Hayward's are wonderful. And hilarious. Pam often helps out at the greenhouse, and we go there lots to pick up plants or to amuse ourselves. Last night we went for ice cream (because, along with plants, they also sell ice cream). And Leighton gave us a cucumber. A FRESH CUCUMBER. IN JUNE! Of course this is possible because the plants were raised in the greenhouse, started early, etc. Still. How wonderful! How Magical! Look at this:
Just beautiful. We each had two cucumber sandwiches.
  Speaking of delicious fresh food, Pam and I went to the farmers market in Florenceville-Bristol today. It was the first day of the market, which will now be held on every Thursday for the rest of the season. And we bought FRESH STRAWBERRIES! And oh my goodness, I think they are the best things I've ever eaten. You should be jealous of me.
The strawberries were from Shauna McIntosh, who is actually the daughter of the aforementioned Hayward's. Fancy that!
There was also a lady with a red hat selling a bunch of old jewelry at the farmers market. And look what I got from her:
A pretty little pony brooch!

ALSO, Pam's gardens have become home to some very fascinating creatures. We adore them and I thought I should share them with you.





Pam informs me the gnome infestation happens every year. Not to worry, though. They are peaceful little beings and benefit surrounding plantlife. And Pam would know about these things. She's the boss. She has a book about gnomes. She says "[reading the book] is the only true way to know about the gnome reality. And anyone who's read the book knows that to be the truth." She also advises against seeing the movie Gnomeo and Juliet.
It's a very good read.

As you have probably picked up from the amount of large text and exclamation marks, I am in a very good mood. And I hope you are too. Happy Thursday!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Personal Hygeine

It was a warm, lovely day today. Pam and I prepared a plot for planting wheatgrass. While she planted I picked rocks and hucked them in the bush (this task reminded me of my childhood) and cut off garlic scapes. And while Pam did some other planting I cut multitudes of little Manitoba Maples, that grow like weeds around other trees. This was very satisfying and I liked it much better than picking rocks.

I can't even remember what else we did, but it was a busy day. And after such a busy day under the hot, hot sun it feels divine to take a solar shower.

This is the solar shower:
The solar shower is wonderful for many reasons. It saves water and energy. And the pleasures of showering outside are indescribable.

After cleaning up I sat on a hill ...
... while drinking a beer and reading a book.

And it was good.

I have been thinking that I never post any pictures of work, but just talk about it. For all you know, I could be lying, and just gallivanting and reading and drinking beer all of the time. Well, there is a reason for the lack of work pictures: when one is working, one has not the time to take pictures. You'll just have to take my word for it that things get done around here.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

A Jaunt Up River vs. a Jaunt Down River

Pam and I were quite productive today. We finished making the garden on the south-west side of the house look beautiful. Then while Pam started on the container garden I made mulch by mowing over twelve bags of leaves that have been sitting in a gigantic heap all winter. Some of them were dry. And some of them were slimy. Ew. And while Pam planted wheatgrass I weeded the shasta daisies and echinacea. And while Pam transplanted delphiniums, I transplanted lemon balm. After such a day of work, my hair looked like this:

What is this mess? Am I derranged? One never knows...

After supper I tidied myself up so passersby wouldn't wonder about me as I went on my jaunt. Yes, every evening, I go for a jaunt. Sometimes I jaunt up river, sometimes I jaunt down river. And because I jaunt so often, I thought I would compare the two different types of jaunts.

First, The Down River Jaunt:


When one jaunts down river, one must walk, for very soon after Hartland there is a washed out section of the trail, making the distance not long enough for a bicycle ride. While jaunting down river, one may see pretty rose bushes...

...or worms as long as your foot...
(in case you were wondering, I didn't scream at it)
...or nasty graffitti.

That is all.

Now for The Up River Jaunt:
When one jaunts up river, it is best for one to take the bicycle with the fatty tires. One can go on and on and on, through all the little towns, like Peel and Stickney. Furthermore, the view of the St. John on this route is much more superior. It is also a good choice to bike when travelling up river because there are many pesky dogs. Some of the dogs are friendly, and some of them ARE NOT. So it's best to bike so you can be very speedy if the situation warrents (this happened to me today).

When biking up river, one sees pretty lupins...
...and pretty hills...
... and pretty old barns on pretty hills...
... and pretty streams.

It is very scenic, much more scenic than down river...
... and has adequate signage.
One might even come across a ditch full of blossoms.
What a perfect photo opportunity! Unfortunatley bicycles with fatty tires don't have arms and therefore cannot take pictures. So one has to take a self portrait, which will inevitably look crazy, even if one's hair is sort of neat.

(Let it also be noted that when jaunting down river, one comes across one very small cemetary, and when jaunting upriver, one come across three before even reaching Stickney!)
In conclusion, I would say, without bias, from my depth of experience, that jaunting up river is far more exciting/beautiful/refreshing than jaunting down river. I would go into this more, but I don't see much point. Besides, it's my bedtime.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Welcome to Slovenly Saturday

Yesterday it rained all day. All day! Between rain showers, Pam and I managed to get a bit of mulching in. But other outside work was not possible. So we puttered around the house. Pam made a soup with venison and carrots and turnips and millet and oats. And then we puttered around some more. And did some tasks in front of  movies played on the laptop  OUR CINEMA.

I also painted a birdhouse.



I am now sitting on the couch with Buster lying at my feet. Today is Sunday, my day off. I would like to go on an adventure. It's not raining at the moment, BUT the sky is anything but sunny.

So happy Sunday.
                             AND....
                            HAPPY FATHERS DAY!
(That last message was mostly directed to Garth).

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Another Retraction

Pam is looking at my blog right now and she told me I made another mistake in my plant identification. I am a failure. I am sorry.

The cranberry blossoms weren't cranberry blossoms. I was sure that they were. We talk about that tree every time we drive past it. But she says I'm wrong. And she's the boss.

I am SO embarrassed.

Question: What am I going to do with myself?
Answer: Go in the hot tub and forget about my misery. That's right. Pam has a hot tub. We have a soak nearly every night.

Retraction

I have a confession to make. In my last post I labelled a picture of what I said was stinging nettle. The thing is... I always think I see stinging nettle when I don't. You'd think I'd be better at identifying it since Pam and I were, not long ago, up to our waists in stinging nettle! But the truth is, I may be overly paranoid. I see so much stinging nettle it isn't even funny... except it's probably not all stinging nettle. I am so afraid of being stung, I imagine the plant everywhere to protect myself. It's starting to control my life.  

Anyway, I looked at that picture again and I don't think the leaves are jagged enough... Oh I just don't know!

In conclusion, I apologize if you take my words for fact, and therefore mis-identified stinging nettle and got yourself into an uncomfortable situation. I would also like to assure you that I am still a competant person, and that I was just kidding when I said my obsession was starting to control my life.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Flora, Fauna, and Merry Weather

The sun shone today and the flowers bloomed. I went for a walk (as usual) and took a bazillion sixty-eight pictures of plantlife. I bet you are on the edge of your seat.
First I admired Pam's bachelor's buttons (isn't that the funniest name for a flower?)
And then her irises, which are my favourite. I think they are breathtaking. It looks like someone painted designs on them with a very fine brush.
And then I took off down the trail. What a pretty trail! What a noticeable tan line!
I saw some wild cranberry blossoms.
And I saw this flower... which must be a daisy.

And I saw these pretty little yellow mystery flowers, which are probably a weed, but I think that's irrelevant.

And then there were these teeny tiny flowers...

And this, which must be some sort of wild rose bush or something. They are quite something.
And I saw this little butterfuly/moth/winged creature...

...And these little flowers...
And a bumble bee! Now, I know these purple flowers are weeds because we are forever pulling them out of the garden while Pam says, "begone with you!" But, again, irrelevant.
I also admired the roadsign up the hill.

And I looked across the road at some poppies by a farmyard.
And I saw something that I did not want to get up close to with my camera. Now this, my friends, is a patch of stinging nettle! Yes, this is the reason why I fear wandering off of the path while I'm walking. I'm not really sure what will happen, but I am sure that I don't want to know.

And now, my favourite flower in New Brunswick, which grows along the roadside, up the hills, everywhere....

Lupins!

I don't think there is any point in me trying to comment on how lovely they are. Lupins, it seems, speak for themselves.

After much walking and admiring of flowers, I came upon my favourite staircase on the side of the hill, and sat down.
And I looked at the river.
And that was that.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Heart of the Matter

I have been here for almost two weeks now, which, to me, seems a bit bizarre. This place has enfolded me, and I feel like I've been here forever, and will be here forever. It's so strange to be so far away from home, from my closest friends and family, and yet feel so at home. There is a part of me that is sure that I belong here, by the St. John River, hidden among the blanket of the hills and trees. And still, there is a part of me that misses my little life in Winnipeg, and the community that surrounds me there, and my blue bianchi that doesn't have fatty tires and rides like a dream.

ANYWAY- since I have been here so long (and yet not so long) I thought I should write a bit more about the farm itself. I am confident that you are intelligent and have gathered some idea of what Brighton Botanicals is all about, but let me inform you. Pam is (to borrow a term from my father) the "head cheese" of this place. And she is not without her help. Neighbours do her favours (like Jim and Peter) and often in the summer she'll have a WWOOFer (willing workers on organic farms). Or me. A crazy Mennonite in search of a simple life and the completion of a practicum requirment... I tangent. What I really wanted to tell you about is the farm itself. It is a small, and really beautiful place. Pam grows vegetables for her own use, and she sells cut flowers (she is doing the floral arrangements for a wedding in July and I get to be her date!), herbs, herbal culinary blends, herbal teas, and wheatgrass. I am learning a lot about gardening and different techniques to control weeds, etc... but I am also learning a lot about nutrition, eating simply and in season, and living simply... and even frugally. It is a satisfying life. I wake up just before 8:00, we eat oatmeal and drink coffee, we work, we drink coffee, we work, we eat lunch, we work, we eat supper, we water plants, I go for a walk, and we rest. Never has food tasted so good, never have I slept so soundly (except, perhaps, when I was a wee babe). Of course there are worries. Will the impending storm flatten the larkspur? Will the rain wash away the wheatgrass? And, of course, there is much on Pam's mind. All the same, I love it here, and I find this type of life, where work is a part of one's lifestyle, refreshing, good for the mind, and good for the soul.

OH MY GOODNESS!  That was entirely too much reading I just put you through. And too much writing for me, really. I still want to email my dear mother Irmgard before I go to bed.

I feel as if I must reward you for your endurance of that essay.

So here are some pictures:


Awwww, look! Buster is being a gentleman!
Baby Kitty, filthy after her exploits.

I promise next time I will not just post pictures of my animal friends. Are you getting bored of them yet?

...I fear I am turning into a politician. I promise you many things... and I'm not certain I will follow through.