I love my Brantford.

Today Josh and I took our photos for the Love My Brantford project:

Josh loves his Brantford cottage.

I love my Gilkison Flats.

The project seeks to engage community members by inviting them to take a picture with the MY sign in a coveted spot within town, then visit Love My Brantford to upload and share (the submission form doesn’t seem to be up just yet…the site was just launched at Tweetstock last night.) It’s a bit of a hide and seek game because your goal is to find one of the signs somewhere in town, take it to your favourite locale, snap a photo, and then drop the sign off somewhere else for another person to find. If you don’t feel like doing all of that, you can make your own sign and just use that as well. I personally like the idea of finding one of the red wooden signs! We left ours somewhere in Gilkison Flats, my favourite “thoughtful spot” here in Brantford -

The project runs from June – November. It will be really cool to see how creative people get with the idea! I am itching to go find another MY sign, because I let it go before I could take a photo in one of my beloved thrift/antique stores! I’d also love to upload a photo of the MY sign to the Things I Like About Brantford tumblr. After all, the online spaces and communities we build as Brantfordians are also part of our community fabric.

In closing, I leave you with a picture of a snail buddy I came across while walking through the flats in platform shoes and a dress (an appropriate hiking outfit if I ever did see one) -

Holding on for dear life.

Making Rose Water

For the past week or two, we have been revelling in the scent of fresh blooms and taking in the sight of new life in our gardens. We have been watching the peas, zucchinis and tomatoes flower — and today we were delighted to behold a couple of beautiful peas that have somehow sprouted overnight (seemingly anyway). It’s amazing how quickly nature can move when it’s ready. Our peonies for instance – one day they were the tiniest little red shoots, and the next day they were vividly green and easily as tall as our hips. I think there’s something so beautiful about that – our plants don’t toil, worry or stress about their progress the way people do. They are just given the very basics and they sprout up, out, and onwards until they are bursting with their best – aromatics and edibles that nurture and restore. It is uninhibited growth that culminates in a precious offering.

Today as I walked around the garden I noticed some of our roses were looking a little ripe. Not wanting to lose their scent, I decided to pick the ones that were fully bloomed and make rose water! I once bought a jar of rose water from the general store and it worked beautifully as a skin toner. Not to mention, with rosewater you can make delicious treats like rose water marshmallows and rose water macarons! If you have the right supplies, you can even make rose water soap and lotions. So many fun things to do with this stuff! Here are a few photos of our flowers and my afternoon in the kitchen -

Our roses <3

Sigh...

Peonies

More peonies!

About 2 measured cups of rose petals - the stems and stuff were discarded.

Chuck and I were waiting for our water to boil.

I felt really sad when I had to do this part. Bye-bye pretty colours, hello steepin' roses for 2 hours.

Covered the mouth of my jar with some cheesecloth, a bowl for spills, poured it in and VOILA! Rose water.

I did this the “quick” way – 2 cups of packed, rinsed petals to 4 cups of boiling water. Cover petals in water. Steep till cool. Pour through a cheesecloth, into a jar. And refrigerate.

I wanted to do this the old fashioned way (which involves making a still) but I didn’t have the right supplies or enough time, so a bastardized version it was. But this is SOME bastardized rose water because it smells soooo pretty! I wish I could wash my linens in it, but I have a feeling rosy smells at bed time would make for a not-so-rosy Josh in general.

In closing, this little afternoon adventure has inspired me to host a canning party at our homestead this summer. Canned peaches, betta’ ask somebody!!

Cute!

Lieutenant Daaa-aaan, Ice Cream!

Try this now.

Take those overripe bananas!

Slice ‘em.

Put ‘em in a ziploc.

Put ‘em in the freezer.

Take your banana buddies out when they are good and frozen.

 Put them in a blender/food processor with a pinch of cardamom and a pinch of nutmeg.

Blend those guys up real good and BAM!

Delicious, fat free, no sugar added, dairy free Banana Ice Cream.

So. good.

The epic migraine of 2011 and my Christie Antique Show recap.

I went to bed with a little bit of a headache on Saturday night and woke up Sunday morning to the most dull and stomach turning migraine EVER. I took 4 Tylenols and it did absolutely nothing. I mustered up the energy to make dinner and watch a movie yesterday, but by the end of Winter’s Bone my migraine had taken the reigns and it was off to bed for me at 6 p.m. I woke up a couple times to appreciate the terror inducing thunderstorm that was brewing outside, and only after some consolation from Josh that the lightning would not jump through our bedroom window and hit me in the face, I went back to bed. I was delighted to wake up this morning to find that my migraine friend had decided to spend the night. Delighted. Now I am on a pill concoction that is working very mildly on my brain but has adversely affected the strength of my stomach. These are the woes of a girl whose body is way too affected by barometer pressure. And yet – I blog like a bat out of migraine hell.

So, this past Saturday brought the highly anticipated antique show. I reckon this is where my health issues must have started, because in addition to waking up at an ungodly hour on a Saturday, we were also accompanied by about a thousand other tired souls who – like us – thought that the early bird would get the worm. Here is photo evidence of the car lineup that went to the very edge of the park about 30 minutes after the gates opened:

Nice.

Being neither a morning or a crowd person, this was a fun challenge for me to remember my motto of compassion. I remember at one point smelling Josh’s eau de SPF 50 and grumpily asking him if he had put on “sour cream” that morning. Sun screen, sour cream…same difference at 8 in the morning.

There were some really unique and beautiful pieces at the show, such as this colourful cart -

And these amazing phonographs, which we longed to take home but were $1000+ which was so not in our league -

I adore rustic wood furnishings, especially the large cabinet pictured below. One day when we live in the country (our big “one day” dream), we can invest in some farmhouse pieces. It killed me a little inside to see these beautiful pieces getting so much moisture, but I’m sure the vendor wouldn’t put their inventory at risk.

And here is Josh admiring this searchlight. We’re really into this stuff right now – carriage/railroad lanterns, railroad insulators, searchlights, oil lamps, etc.

We saw quite a few of these lantern-y things that we would have liked to bring home, but they were all over $100 and in worse shape than the $20 one we found at a local antique market. This was a general theme for us throughout the antique show – gorgeous pieces, but we know where to find similar treasures at a fraction of the price. Part of the fun of antiquing is saving something from obscurity at a bargain price, gussying it up and giving it a new home where it’s beauty can flourish! The price points may have been fair for a collector or serious vintage connoisseur, but we’re just regular folk from Brantford with a penchant for the old. Nonetheless, I would totally recommend the show, if only to see some totally delightful antiques and find some serious inspiration for your home (or future farmhouse). Some tips if you attend to plan the next show, which is on September 10.

- Dress comfortably. I decided to wear a dress and flats, which was silly considering it was a little cold and rainy out. Wear comfortable shoes and a cozy shirt or hoodie.

- Show up at 7:30a to park and get into the show right at 8a. It was busy in the morning, but by noon there were so many people that it was difficult to browse without feeling rushed by the person behind you. Some of the booths I really wanted to see and take photos of were so cramped that it wasn’t even worth it to go inside.

- Coffee.

- Bring cash.

- Bring a camera to document items or booths that inspire new ideas.

- Sport a backpack or some other carrying-stuff-easily-device.

We didn’t end up with a ton of stuff at the end, but we did go home with a cute, country style vintage quilt which cost us just 40 dollars thanks to our superior bargaining skills (some similar quilts at the show were 350 bones!! No thanks!) Here is a picture of our new bedspread, which I am glued to today, no thanks to ill health. At least I can look at something colourful and pretty while my tummy and head do a fancy little waltz through Sicktown -

Goodnight…

A full heart.

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I am so incredibly thankful for the last 24 hours. It was Josh and I’s 4th wedding anniversary yesterday, and when he picked me up from work at 2 p.m. he hinted at some plans to leave town for a little bit. He did some phoning around and managed to find us a really nice place to stay at a reduced rate in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We scooted out of town and checked in to Queen’s Landing Hotel which is just a couple of steps away from historic Fort George. Thank goodness for the NOTL Chamber of Commerce and travel incentives! After scoring big time through their Chamber of Commerce last year, we know now to never book a room online at a regular rate. There are almost always travel deals out there if you scout them out.

I love Niagara-on-the-Lake this time of year, particularly in the evening. We were married in the region so returning once a year is becoming a bit of a romantic tradition for us Hill-Beans. Everything was sort of quiet this time around, which allowed us to appreciate the buildings and energy of the town so much more. It’s amazing walking through the streets and reflecting on the War of 1812 – what a contrast that an area of war and suffering has become such a cultural gem in Canada. As we strolled through the quiet streets we wondered what kind of chaos once occurred right under our feet so that Canada could remain independent from the United States. I am not a patriotic person, but reflecting on the War of 1812 I felt tinges of pride as an aboriginal woman, but also a bit of sadness. I had to wonder why I still encounter so much prejudice towards native people when we were once allies in war with the British, fighting fearlessly and providing our understanding of the land to assist a government that later took native children from their mothers? I could go on and on about this, but instead of being angsty I think I will just be inquisitive. Simply — why? A lack of compassion, I suppose. Such is the answer for most things that are sad, but all the more reason to infuse our own lives with love. Never let prejudice win, lay out kindness and understanding as roots and let them grow outward into the world. Note to self: remember this.

All brooding aside (ha ha), we had such a fun time together! My husband really understands how to get on my good side – take me somewhere historic, hold my hand, and make me laugh. We went to a paranormal museum and heard some ghost stories, checked out the old Niagara apothecary (so many nice bottles!), ate, climbed the Brock monument and ended up at the happiest place on earth – Willowbank, which is a school of restoration arts. We were kind of nosy and just walked into the school, and ended up getting a tour from the director of school programs there. We also met and spoke with some interns who were working on a documentation project. Such a beautiful school! We took home an admissions package to put in our “someday” repertoire – a dream to pull out of our hats when we are ready for a new adventure.

I again have to express my thankfulness for surprises, a loving husband, and that we are fortunate enough to go on spontaneous road trips once in a while. My heart is full of gratitude and new inspiration after seeing so many beautiful things. Thank you, Joshua. Here’s to many more years of growth, discovery, and love.

Macaroni Gardens

This is my darling niece Halle. She and my sister came over for a visit and we ate lunch outdoors. She asked me to show her how to use one of my gardening tools, and as I dug into the ground I explained to her that I was loosening the soil for the food that we would be growing over the summer. She got a curious look on her face and said, “Oh! Are you going to grow macaroni and cheese in there?!?” I love kids at this age. They have the biggest imaginations and say the funniest little things ♥

Remembering my Grandmother with love and scone.

I remember my Grandmother in snapshots. I don’t identify with the memories that have been shared with me over the years of her fierceness, sorrow, or disapproval. As much as I wish I could have known as many things about her as possible, it is a blessing that the only things I remember about her are beautiful in nature. I recall simple, yet impactful things – running out the front door in a new periwinkle romper she had surprised me with, her smooth and warm laughter, the way butter or shortening looked on her hands while she made scone, and her stern but loving presence.

I have been thinking about her a lot lately, as today was the 22nd anniversary of her passing. One of the worst things about losing a loved one at such a young age is that – as you grow – you begin to doubt your own memories. There have been times where I have wondered if my memories are pieced together with what other people have told me, or if they are simply dreams. However, I know in my heart that her love was very real, and if nothing else I can absolutely, vividly remember the taste of her scones. That one simple thing is so very tangible to me.

I decided to make a little meal to celebrate me and my Grandmother’s heritage today and to share the process on my blog. I was starting to feel really homesick as I got to thinking about my childhood, so I decided to make Three Sisters Soup and Scone. I’m sure everyone knows this but the Three Sisters are traditionally the staple food of the Haudenosaunee people. They are simply corn, beans and squash. And when I talk about scone I don’t mean the sweet kind that old ladies have with tea. This is more of a dense, biscuit-y bread, and it’s a food of epic proportions on the rez. I’m pretty sure that ladies have gotten into fistfights and families have been divided over who makes the best scone.

Here are the ingredients for the soup/stew:

Scary orange liquid is vegetable stock. The little thingy it's in makes me so happy when I'm cooking!

And here are the ingredients for my scone. I use half whole wheat, half white flour…but most people just use white:

Simple pantry and dairy ingredients! No guff.

It should also be said that there are about a billion ways to make each of these things, but in the end as long as it tastes good it shouldn’t really matter. I have seen this soup in all sorts of variations with acorn squash, pulled chicken, potatoes, no potatoes, hominy, etc. Also, scone/frybread can be deep fried (soooo good), baked, or pan fried and some people use buttermilk instead of regular, or margarine instead of butter, etc. It doesn’t matter. Whatever you have in your fridge is the general rule of thumb I think. Here’s what I came up with in the end -

NOMZ.

This is a photo heavy (but super simple) recipe, so it can be found under the cut!