tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77476863270931712542023-11-16T10:34:09.958-05:00A Backwards Progress - Homestead EditionMuch of what we call progress is backwards.
And much of what we call backwards is progress.Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-46450030763895077872014-10-18T21:17:00.002-04:002014-10-18T21:17:34.784-04:00Owl Sweater, Finished!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember the famous <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owls-2">owl sweater</a>? I <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/search/label/Knitting">started </a>making it a while back...and finished it awhile back...and finally I have blocked it!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdJD9N8iknHRvYsLelZBVp4kpWQ1KL-CqCBzErZB-s8thyphenhyphenpGvJ-3vuW_T7GkGR8K4AQVySnZTXE6ulW68tICP5E5RSGwpHfxJvtuMwAvMew-rOLAE3pivY491yQvLT8XPlnwtkp9bDWtR/s1600/owl+sweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdJD9N8iknHRvYsLelZBVp4kpWQ1KL-CqCBzErZB-s8thyphenhyphenpGvJ-3vuW_T7GkGR8K4AQVySnZTXE6ulW68tICP5E5RSGwpHfxJvtuMwAvMew-rOLAE3pivY491yQvLT8XPlnwtkp9bDWtR/s1600/owl+sweater.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Owl sweater, my first adult sized knit!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I thought it is rather tight...especially under the arms. Next time (oh yes, I think there will be a next time!) I will have to start the armpit farther from the neckline to give me a bit more room. This sweater is barely wearable, and only if I am in a good mood! If anyone a bit smaller than me would like it, I would be willing to part with it if it goes to a good home where it will be loved and worn!</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-18392068488844526832014-05-25T20:55:00.000-04:002014-05-25T20:55:07.799-04:00Garden Plans 2014<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So spring has finally sprung and I have not been making time to play in the garden much. This would have been the weekend to do it but instead I spent a lot of time resting due to a bad cold that knocked the stuffing out of me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I do get to finish planting here is what will be in my garden (some of these are in the ground already):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/11/planting-garlic-bulbils.html">Lots</a> and <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/11/garlic-planting.html">lots</a> of garlic (can't wait to make more scape pesto!). I planted 11 different kinds last fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. The usual suspects - chives and mint are both up already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Rhubarb! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZlt0WpQ7rNsLL8D-sC-H5X-Y4XCtXUK-1soiYYeAyxfZ_KxHX3soQtuDMMtIKKUFmpwzNy2FkH7nPmVO6JR6iUhyphenhyphenpVM8QQ1zkQPw1dtDxBCZlCZBXodX9zUMYOTtW3FmeapPuSmE3lZs/s1600/HPIM5812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZlt0WpQ7rNsLL8D-sC-H5X-Y4XCtXUK-1soiYYeAyxfZ_KxHX3soQtuDMMtIKKUFmpwzNy2FkH7nPmVO6JR6iUhyphenhyphenpVM8QQ1zkQPw1dtDxBCZlCZBXodX9zUMYOTtW3FmeapPuSmE3lZs/s1600/HPIM5812.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My rhubarb is already huge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgupdI10LHqp7FkXH8VQOtJfBjmTcvgrLrYdjp2ekUF56M5Q8IYxlskxBfITPPvCVCJV0HzNrP-uZjjn1G9vHun3J3aWFnfMb1AyPfG6FLaiNo8C-Bg7jw0yoTe0jGtbTfIb1wdHt84MJy/s1600/HPIM5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgupdI10LHqp7FkXH8VQOtJfBjmTcvgrLrYdjp2ekUF56M5Q8IYxlskxBfITPPvCVCJV0HzNrP-uZjjn1G9vHun3J3aWFnfMb1AyPfG6FLaiNo8C-Bg7jw0yoTe0jGtbTfIb1wdHt84MJy/s1600/HPIM5811.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And after two days of +31C, one flowered, but I promptly put a stop to that!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Chufa nuts, try #2! I really hope to get some this year to taste their almondy-ness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Montreal melons! Try #2, from seed that may have been cross-pollinated though, so not sure what I'll get! My seedlings are stashed in a small corner in the farm greenhouse so this year they should be ready in time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Mache, first time try and I've never tasted it either. Heard about it at a farm conference last year. It's a fancy green popular in Europe?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Hibiscus! How much tea can I get out of 4 plants, I wonder? Better stock up in time for my next cold.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfn64jLatU2u0roCmueREaGJfmKkL5UE9H3m9WVOWUF9BH7xNEmjHpP_apNBqrAc2us2cduJxx-DJwX4LJQfOyStn1ssKywj5b5wONBbHrYXmg_ZclazBu287TVaHDNO8hNczQ02DHNEu/s1600/HPIM5815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfn64jLatU2u0roCmueREaGJfmKkL5UE9H3m9WVOWUF9BH7xNEmjHpP_apNBqrAc2us2cduJxx-DJwX4LJQfOyStn1ssKywj5b5wONBbHrYXmg_ZclazBu287TVaHDNO8hNczQ02DHNEu/s1600/HPIM5815.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibiscus flower tea, aka "bisap", is great for sore throats.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Parsely - last year's parsley-less season was sad. I <3 parsley!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Spinach, for those last minute salads or greens in burgers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Peas, because who can ever have enough spring fresh snow peas!?</span><br />
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Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-55063926837603969302014-04-16T06:37:00.001-04:002014-04-16T22:29:23.719-04:00Interview with a Food Hero: Edible Landscaping Ottawa<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love meeting people in the ecological food movement.
Take for example, Gavin Morrison, owner, designer and builder at <a href="http://ediblelandscapingottawa.ca/">Edible Landscaping Ottawa</a>. Edible Landscaping Ottawa “designs, builds, and installs
innovative landscape designs to create beautiful and functional green spaces.”
The thing that excites me most though, is their goal to offer organically grown
edibles as part of their landscaping projects!<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8zB4-NGqbndtZy_jkgirs_Du6ZmsiP7N49_e8iXBFJY4lvAkIo0lIKyv5rT_pnrbz7alLSrGjuIMBJkNNwrPAkYFHgUI0zYqimwwLbW9Hk8qNuFM9Slgd1SEg2Q0o-Zl6KIr6Q216mtm/s1600/Gavin+ELO+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8zB4-NGqbndtZy_jkgirs_Du6ZmsiP7N49_e8iXBFJY4lvAkIo0lIKyv5rT_pnrbz7alLSrGjuIMBJkNNwrPAkYFHgUI0zYqimwwLbW9Hk8qNuFM9Slgd1SEg2Q0o-Zl6KIr6Q216mtm/s1600/Gavin+ELO+2.jpg" height="240" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gavin Morrison of Edible Landscaping Ottawa at Seedy Saturday 2014.<br>
</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/04/interview-with-food-hero-edible.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-43309636620858381142014-04-09T21:48:00.000-04:002014-04-09T21:49:56.811-04:00Dehydrated Oyster Mushrooms<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pulled out my dehydrator to try out drying local oyster mushrooms (from La <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lapleurotiere">Pleurotière</a>)!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHk3VD2n61JJEqJTCF36UveRZwb6SOx5_s10WIFCDQUX42yQnBBjR6RgOagHCrXlhAcDkYiRt4mLwZVTWiHf6gNlC-e0voJkLYyzvezOzYII48-3gR61pKGajyf1_giO0qW9uFY6kR2QTF/s1600/HPIM5712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHk3VD2n61JJEqJTCF36UveRZwb6SOx5_s10WIFCDQUX42yQnBBjR6RgOagHCrXlhAcDkYiRt4mLwZVTWiHf6gNlC-e0voJkLYyzvezOzYII48-3gR61pKGajyf1_giO0qW9uFY6kR2QTF/s1600/HPIM5712.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fresh mushrooms.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsi40VXWxxzBMVnqObD-P_igQpZqjlleTeltIOjwJioELwRkwvYzXXtYIZ1f2xwReBePXmi_Vi1oiosQxW_0mJDbNFmmXcZWKYSMlA2gKshh0sabaAESpWevRU3_DHqB6A8Pq9xrBF4kB/s1600/HPIM5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsi40VXWxxzBMVnqObD-P_igQpZqjlleTeltIOjwJioELwRkwvYzXXtYIZ1f2xwReBePXmi_Vi1oiosQxW_0mJDbNFmmXcZWKYSMlA2gKshh0sabaAESpWevRU3_DHqB6A8Pq9xrBF4kB/s1600/HPIM5713.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dried about 7 hours.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGf70t38vtEJKvgh4-siIu5gqr-xcyTB1GynCWtlS1ENuQekW9O9q-BmFOHlNlbPAPHCqboPrj94FT9ZvW5VUzC12xibiVHqcpukW5jCzp2nEKFdk2rpv25OyJGS6IqUWhNvF-SaH19T0/s1600/HPIM5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGf70t38vtEJKvgh4-siIu5gqr-xcyTB1GynCWtlS1ENuQekW9O9q-BmFOHlNlbPAPHCqboPrj94FT9ZvW5VUzC12xibiVHqcpukW5jCzp2nEKFdk2rpv25OyJGS6IqUWhNvF-SaH19T0/s1600/HPIM5716.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still a bit soft in the middle.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These taste delicious dried! I'm planning to re-hydrate them in a spaghetti sauce soon. For now, I'm storing them in the fridge (since they aren't totally dry) in a mason jar. Next I want to dry down a batch completely and figure out what the heck to use <a href="http://wellpreserved.ca/dehydrating-mushrooms-easier-than-pie/">powdered mushrooms</a> for!</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-3842751090638500692014-04-05T18:33:00.000-04:002014-05-25T20:55:21.815-04:00French, lists, words ending in "erie" <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R_BUv3edw_hfSRx5LtKhjO7rk32-7uIu0ffw9GJOBLj4AYe-wrJ6JnbY67E4LokW5nEpdKNz-Evaf5YZ2tV5Yusm_-2FVUPq0k6esR8NvAoV5gTDcRkv4B4BgDQCW2exo13ZPVUZY-zr/s1600/poisonnerie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R_BUv3edw_hfSRx5LtKhjO7rk32-7uIu0ffw9GJOBLj4AYe-wrJ6JnbY67E4LokW5nEpdKNz-Evaf5YZ2tV5Yusm_-2FVUPq0k6esR8NvAoV5gTDcRkv4B4BgDQCW2exo13ZPVUZY-zr/s1600/poisonnerie.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Une poissonnerie - a fish market along the St. Laurence.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Over the years I've been slowly but surely improving my French skills. Since I like lists, I've made a few lists of French words that tickle my fancy. While vacationing up the St Laurence coast I started noticing lots of words, at first mostly related to food (all bold), that ended with "-erie." So I started keeping a list and here is the current iteration! I hope it tickles your fancy as it does mine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. l'animalerie (pet shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. <b>la beurrerie</b> (butter making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. la bergerie (place where sheep are kept)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4. la bijouterie (jewellery shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">5. <b>la boucherie</b> (butcher shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6. la buanderie (laundromat) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8. <b>la binerie*</b> (place where you make/eat beans.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6. <b>la boucanerie*</b> (smoked goods (meat) shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">7. <b>la boulangerie</b> (bakery) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">8. <b>la brasserie</b> (brewery, pub)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">9. <b>la charcuterie</b> (cooked meats, delicatessen)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">10.<b> la chocolaterie</b> (chocolate making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">11. <b>la cidrerie</b> (cidre making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">12. <b>la confiserie</b> (sweets making/shop, see also sucrerie)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">13. <b>la conserverie</b> (preserves making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">14. la cordonnerie (cobbler's, shoe store) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">15.<b> la crémerie</b> (dairy shop ie ice cream, cheese) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">16. <b>la croissanterie*</b> (croissant making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">17. l'ébénisterie (cabinetmaking) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">18. <b>l'épicerie</b> (grocery store) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">19. la foresterie (forestry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">20. la friperie (secondhand clothing shop) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">21. <b>la fromagerie </b>(dairy, cheese shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">22. <b>la fruiterie*</b> (grocery store) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">23. l'imprimerie (printer's shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">24. la joaillerie (jewellery shop, specifically related to precious gems and minerals)</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">25. la lainerie* (yarn shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">26.<b> la laiterie</b> (dairy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">27. <b>la liquoristerie</b> (liquor making work/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">28. la lunetterie (eyeglasses store) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">29. la lutherie (stringed instrument making/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">30. la ma<span class="Locution2" id="658467" lang="FRA"><span class="ht">ç</span></span>onnerie (masonry)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">31. la maroquinerie (tannery, leather shop, see la tannerie)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">32. <b>la meunerie</b> (flour mill/milling)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">33. <b>la miellerie*</b> (honey producing/shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">34. la papeterie (stationary, stationary shop, paper mill)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">35. <b>la pataterie*</b> (chip stand)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">36. <b>la patisserie</b> (pastry and pastry shop) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">37. <b>la poissonnerie</b> (fish market)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">39. la quincaillerie (hardware store) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">40. la raffinerie (refinery)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">41. <b>la sandwicherie</b> (sandwich shop)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">42. la savonnerie (soap factory)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">43. <b>la sucrerie</b> (sweets, sugar refinery, maple forest in Quebec)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">44. la tannerie (tannery)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">45. la taxidermie (taxidermy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">46. <b>la viennoiserie</b> (pastry made with sweetened dough ie a croissant) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">47. la vitrerie (glaziery, window glass making/shop)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(*Note some of the words seem coined to be cutesy shop names and aren't really used as general nouns, or at least I didn't find them in the online dictionary I used.)</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-47134036568217576982014-03-28T07:48:00.000-04:002014-04-11T22:44:20.510-04:00Citizen Science<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With spring officially here (haha), it's a good time to talk about Citizen Science! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is that, you ask? Citizen Science is defined as <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/about/definition">"<em style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20.591999053955078px;"><strong>projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions."</strong></em></a> I think it's a fun way to contribute to science while learning and engaging more in the natural world around us. If you have kids, it could be a great way to introduce them to potential career paths too.</span><br>
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<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/03/citizen-science.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-76175516686950433012014-03-22T08:38:00.000-04:002014-03-22T17:21:12.733-04:00Tales of Garlic<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember how I planted something like 11 varieties of garlic last fall? And how my favorite one was name "Fish Lake 21"?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrsTUjUxxv0kDAXYyJv4yleefW6O1rhcR24gSV4251xRmApi3qM0EP2t0L_uqYsP_ZXG_dXAm9BGdWKCLg0UID1Kh_z_i8out6OMl6V4g6bBUAla-XvMGVKS8xzn7ZRuuC42cpHwnOKvo/s1600/HPIM5412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrsTUjUxxv0kDAXYyJv4yleefW6O1rhcR24gSV4251xRmApi3qM0EP2t0L_uqYsP_ZXG_dXAm9BGdWKCLg0UID1Kh_z_i8out6OMl6V4g6bBUAla-XvMGVKS8xzn7ZRuuC42cpHwnOKvo/s1600/HPIM5412.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well it seems there is quite the story behind Fish Lake garlic! I love knowing the roots of the varieties in my garden. Check out the <a href="http://www.seeds.ca/int/doc/docpub.php?k=e817140037e1c222cecd46aeb824a37900001008">story</a> of the Fish Lake Garlic Man, Ted Maczka. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was surprised to read that we were importing garlic from China back in the 1970s, and I'm glad to do my part to change that.</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-51646994112141355342014-03-15T03:00:00.000-04:002014-03-15T03:00:02.052-04:00Farm Season 2014!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So although it feels like January outside and we are still shoveling plenty of snow, work on the farm has begun in earnest. I am happy to be returning to <a href="http://www.ourlittlefarm.ca/">Our Little Farm</a> for season number three! (<a href="http://www.ourlittlefarm.ca/csa-basket">CSA basket</a> sign ups are open so don't wait too long if you are interested!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the first year that I start at the farm at the beginning of the seeding. This week we are working through a LOT of onion seeding, among other things. The cozy warm greenhouses and heat tables are helping these guys to germinate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J3qq3wfYFpq7oQcHZHNapqIIua8r4o6-cu_RUjn2v41fX63-Mzl5vTEbkxt6nChSaiOcaktlLa0TopaQk8g5WJp_3iiBlyxC_p57AdpAg2zkzpl4Ca8QOapoqKUtTaNc3XM1bg8GNqqu/s1600/onion+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J3qq3wfYFpq7oQcHZHNapqIIua8r4o6-cu_RUjn2v41fX63-Mzl5vTEbkxt6nChSaiOcaktlLa0TopaQk8g5WJp_3iiBlyxC_p57AdpAg2zkzpl4Ca8QOapoqKUtTaNc3XM1bg8GNqqu/s1600/onion+planting.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onion seeds in nice rows.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, check out the awesome locally grown mushrooms that were in my dinner last night!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHtf-jxsSjAJayHvZM1MGRlLnPhRX7Q54GcsunzleQVBNFewiCvkPrSvg7h9W8KaRZINtaae9-xbOj6LpvsCeC7Y8kHX78pb6xisbvnHSYPIoRaoAP4t6BSvT_5z51bF8hDP6lhAli8F2/s1600/HPIM5675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHtf-jxsSjAJayHvZM1MGRlLnPhRX7Q54GcsunzleQVBNFewiCvkPrSvg7h9W8KaRZINtaae9-xbOj6LpvsCeC7Y8kHX78pb6xisbvnHSYPIoRaoAP4t6BSvT_5z51bF8hDP6lhAli8F2/s1600/HPIM5675.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-76005019322623330672014-03-13T00:55:00.002-04:002014-03-13T00:55:24.347-04:00Quick projects and a few WIPs (works-in-progress)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My life hasn't had a lot of space for creative crafting lately, but here are the bits and bods I've been squeezing in!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ1BYUXcUgyvJqJvcr8s3lj-A3fBccWFwSK04BLb9vujP3i7-IdpY8wcYw5ABT0JmPq5-azlrNtrMRQHDSpn-CBxu1-NbMSEmrvqQ8J04CSkhlVA-ZVqj7EIYk_dXDoWqyBDlKbGmR7UU/s1600/HPIM5653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ1BYUXcUgyvJqJvcr8s3lj-A3fBccWFwSK04BLb9vujP3i7-IdpY8wcYw5ABT0JmPq5-azlrNtrMRQHDSpn-CBxu1-NbMSEmrvqQ8J04CSkhlVA-ZVqj7EIYk_dXDoWqyBDlKbGmR7UU/s1600/HPIM5653.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flat zippered pouch #2.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sewed up this tool pouch for JF to match the<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/03/sewing-makes-2010-to-present.html"> first one</a> I made. He's gotten another set of small specialized tools that needed a home. I made this using instructions from the free <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/bag-making-basics-reversible-tote-and-zipper-pouch/148?_ct=sbqii-sqjuweho-qbb&_ctp=148,5">Craftsy class</a> on making bags.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWnw4x-x-w3Y0lsN9TNdxvwFepbpI7PDIcigsoeLTS4AsKxUH5j-9Vw2r5fbJsKjfd-LhuXURYvXMraguJescMmx58IASuCy6R6HDJMTAzfofLUFeo9GMOaDGVGyM7Eo3bPOOu9K7ZHBs/s1600/HPIM5639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWnw4x-x-w3Y0lsN9TNdxvwFepbpI7PDIcigsoeLTS4AsKxUH5j-9Vw2r5fbJsKjfd-LhuXURYvXMraguJescMmx58IASuCy6R6HDJMTAzfofLUFeo9GMOaDGVGyM7Eo3bPOOu9K7ZHBs/s1600/HPIM5639.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hat to go with them didn't turn out, but these <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SimplyRah/mary-jane-booties">MaryJane</a> style booties were so fun to make! They will soon be worn by a little one expected in our extended family.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5iVyfiz2fUCiFu9fdq7aiqwEaqTNjYY-FMxgH4tJDn1KlhptnPvgKHmmiBUp7MtFZw3Z27SYcuhAbLMgJoW2LanQfl_D0argDYLf6YkHk3BS0gfVBet1ycx99hkGt_Bo5gop4JJ9S3Ip/s1600/HPIM5677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5iVyfiz2fUCiFu9fdq7aiqwEaqTNjYY-FMxgH4tJDn1KlhptnPvgKHmmiBUp7MtFZw3Z27SYcuhAbLMgJoW2LanQfl_D0argDYLf6YkHk3BS0gfVBet1ycx99hkGt_Bo5gop4JJ9S3Ip/s1600/HPIM5677.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Owl sweater in progress</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The famous <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/owls-2">owl sweater</a> was coming along great in January but hasn't been touched in quite a few weeks...I am not quite sure the size I picked will fit. Depending on the relaxing it does when I block it, I may be looking for something slightly smaller than me to adopt this one! :(</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqUyZUZfpKwt51VE9QeH0UuGQZWSO8GgET37obXAsrCLA1LonN2_i4hyphenhyphendYn_-nWRNtum1OTpn4PBZ9u0p_VsjCtSDkVnIoi9HvrJN72I3nEvR_k9MPcPUKHSZNnDdVGeMdpaIOXxgmJ5d/s1600/HPIM5676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqUyZUZfpKwt51VE9QeH0UuGQZWSO8GgET37obXAsrCLA1LonN2_i4hyphenhyphendYn_-nWRNtum1OTpn4PBZ9u0p_VsjCtSDkVnIoi9HvrJN72I3nEvR_k9MPcPUKHSZNnDdVGeMdpaIOXxgmJ5d/s1600/HPIM5676.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/rollin-beret/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rollin' beret #2.</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I lost my hand knit <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SimplyRah/rollin-beret">hat</a>! Thankfully I still had yarn leftover so I am making a replacement! This time I picked a size smaller, which should fit better than the last. However, if I lose this one I am not knitting a third because I won't have enough yarn and I think it has been discontinued.</span></div>
<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-19105635280175985742014-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:002014-03-22T08:38:46.539-04:00Knitting Makes of 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This year I knit 7 projects (from top left to bottom right): </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcSp0TQcsdJZzy_bUacsLKbQwxLiS1oSqdIv2Yq1c-HvsltN_6-9HG0LTKUkdG9YiPDGX_vunD2i8PAOibhWNsIUbq4l4IwOCSw9ho3F_90IR3QgYTJTW7HGcf3s7fnUYoGe8Oj0uPSOA/s1600/Knitting+projects+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcSp0TQcsdJZzy_bUacsLKbQwxLiS1oSqdIv2Yq1c-HvsltN_6-9HG0LTKUkdG9YiPDGX_vunD2i8PAOibhWNsIUbq4l4IwOCSw9ho3F_90IR3QgYTJTW7HGcf3s7fnUYoGe8Oj0uPSOA/s1600/Knitting+projects+2013.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/01/friday-is-for-finishing.html" target="_blank">Hayride</a> baby cardigan in a week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I bought my own labels </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/06/friday-is-for-finishing-supernatural_22.html" target="_blank">supernatural stripes</a> baby sweater</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A new kind of dishcloth (double bump) and I learned how to <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/08/sourcing-colourfast-cotton-yarn.html" target="_blank">colourfast</a> them</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A stuffed, felted <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/05/une-pieuvre-finally-finished.html" target="_blank">octopus</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A retro turban style <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/11/knitting-turban.html" target="_blank">headband</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A checkered scarf</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oops, not posted is a second pair of Newfie <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/01/friday-is-for-finishing.html" target="_blank">mittens</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newfie mitts</td></tr>
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Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-20477637365096376962014-01-30T09:32:00.002-05:002014-01-30T09:32:46.949-05:00New Sewing Tools: bias tape maker and tailor's chalk<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2014/01/sewing-sorbetto.html" target="_blank">making</a> the <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2014/01/colette-sorbetto-v1-completed.html" target="_blank">Sorbetto</a> I was happy to start using some new tools I got for Christmas. </span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SwxN47nZUa9odZavvNyVCizHZbfPBK9iMowxNpdcfn-AdFX-nbiOI0w0xqz_wt_GhH0US8WgbCAIv5UFF4fKfNMHfVZtevmeyPI5n27g4kw4T3IjnLKmjLvc5MTz2TmE5GulxeMUAnjd/s1600/HPIM5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SwxN47nZUa9odZavvNyVCizHZbfPBK9iMowxNpdcfn-AdFX-nbiOI0w0xqz_wt_GhH0US8WgbCAIv5UFF4fKfNMHfVZtevmeyPI5n27g4kw4T3IjnLKmjLvc5MTz2TmE5GulxeMUAnjd/s1600/HPIM5560.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Left: Clover bias tape maker; Right: Triangle tailor's chalk.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-sewing-tools-bias-tape-maker-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-23938278982917944922014-01-26T09:16:00.001-05:002014-01-30T09:27:19.515-05:00Colette Sorbetto v1 Completed <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I finished my <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-sorbetto-top" target="_blank">Sorbetto</a> wearable muslin!</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08654gdr4pTBUqVmc1LQvU2BBxBJJmOuIaB541CpFuDeIjUHyZdn_gXU5aO5qHnQpmQbV4rt2lMOXOTMRrQr1GqeUhgI6pzU-JSHJZK76lgEA7ef0oUGvJXlid6Q81ezhvGSdJvVwII1A/s1600/HPIM5612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="www.abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08654gdr4pTBUqVmc1LQvU2BBxBJJmOuIaB541CpFuDeIjUHyZdn_gXU5aO5qHnQpmQbV4rt2lMOXOTMRrQr1GqeUhgI6pzU-JSHJZK76lgEA7ef0oUGvJXlid6Q81ezhvGSdJvVwII1A/s1600/HPIM5612.JPG" height="400" title="" width="250"></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Colette Sorbetto</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/colette-sorbetto-v1-completed.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-88137839298895511332014-01-23T09:48:00.004-05:002014-01-23T09:48:56.957-05:003rd Annual Read List: 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">In 2011 I started keeping a list of books I've read. On top of satisfying my love of lists, this list helps me remember</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> the reading experiences afterwards. I often enjoy a good read in the moment and then forget nearly all about it afterwards. </span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">At
the end of the year, I go through my list and note the highlights from
each month. This year I didn't have the luxury of reading on
the bus at all so my decline in book reading has continued - a measly 12 this year, compared to last year's 22 and the year before's 42! I've also become the type to read most of a book, but only the parts I find interesting or necessary. Obviously this applies to non-fiction, which I am reading more of these days.</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here is the (brief) Third <span style="background-color: white;">Annual Read List!</span><span style="background-color: white;"> (First ARL can be found <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2011/12/1st-annual-read-list.html" target="_blank">here</a> and second one <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/01/2nd-annual-read-list.html" target="_blank">here</a>.).</span></span><br>
<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/3rd-annual-read-list-2013.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-11414153731216586612014-01-08T10:03:00.000-05:002014-01-23T10:50:16.149-05:00Sewing a Sorbetto<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm sewing something! It's the Sorbetto top, a <a href="https://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/sorbetto" target="_blank">free pattern</a> by Collette Patterns.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my first non accessory project so it feels like a big deal. I'm using an old bedsheet to make a wearable muslin for sleeping wear.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So far I've learned:</span><br>
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<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/sewing-sorbetto.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-50837159181251329462014-01-05T06:30:00.000-05:002014-02-15T14:43:49.695-05:00Tilly's Faux fur collar<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tilly from Tilly and the Buttons (of Great British Sewing Bee fame!) kindly shared a <a href="http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/2013/12/free-pattern-make-fake-fur-collar.html" target="_blank">free pattern</a> for a peter pan style collar on her blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since I'm just learning how to sew, small projects like this are ideal. They still represent enough of a challenge because I am exposed to new techniques and get to practice using my tools and fledgling skills. This was really fun to make and didn't take me long at all.</span></div>
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<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/tillys-faux-fur-collar.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-14019245772553358592014-01-03T18:08:00.000-05:002014-01-15T22:14:10.364-05:00Finishing Friday: Heartfelt Rings, a ten minute craft.<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCPlWJHW3XoduUoSxiVd2hz5FY-byp5ZAncj0KVG9LbLpL94nBhvhExlAsZVfetvXUmSrJy1LLqMRevtnztlSf8F-CZ7PZjDivbGXlm3NbGTtr_7NdSvqeJjGQwxTx2iN6mukXz-vbZCn/s1600/HPIM5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCPlWJHW3XoduUoSxiVd2hz5FY-byp5ZAncj0KVG9LbLpL94nBhvhExlAsZVfetvXUmSrJy1LLqMRevtnztlSf8F-CZ7PZjDivbGXlm3NbGTtr_7NdSvqeJjGQwxTx2iN6mukXz-vbZCn/s1600/HPIM5483.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, photographing felted rings is really hard! But I managed to get a few focused photos of my new bling.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSSAH7_Kt13onU7k_2v2YEVTtMKHxvuDARFRsTv9SedvYU4lhhviHa6QW8iXZ2s8MJLsIj0dBktouaCLd4-nr2NHToUbnwPnh71ezQO2JGagkIbTD2IE0LvOdQ6eJjhcFyxH_T8MCazFA/s1600/HPIM5484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSSAH7_Kt13onU7k_2v2YEVTtMKHxvuDARFRsTv9SedvYU4lhhviHa6QW8iXZ2s8MJLsIj0dBktouaCLd4-nr2NHToUbnwPnh71ezQO2JGagkIbTD2IE0LvOdQ6eJjhcFyxH_T8MCazFA/s1600/HPIM5484.JPG" height="240" width="320"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is a ravelry <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heartfelt-rings" target="_blank">pattern</a> from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/tiny-owl-knits-2" target="_blank">Tiny Owl Knits</a>, home of some of the cutest knitted creative whimsy on the interweb! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x7SkqC8hnvxl2kGoUPx6Bwj-5btF6CKV9GAi50ql0RFoLFTsRVYwWJia9iBBpQ6OZQkbAnzwpbnE5cUSo5q4Lq4Z-KDuduWr8IovVw0_aY_oaf_wLPQm1dam0zk0F6n39WUdVI1VX2xy/s1600/HPIM5498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.com/2014/01/finishing-friday-heartfelt-rings-ten.html#more">Read more »</a>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-73328988514701378222013-12-31T18:10:00.003-05:002013-12-31T18:10:52.978-05:00Tuesday (Knitting) Tip: Tidying Loose Ends<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't know about you but I often have a slightly less than square corner at each end of my knitting, where the starting and ending tails are tied in a knot and woven in. I have always wished I could make those corners look less stretched out and lumpy...and now I can! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The other day I was watching a youtube video to learn a new knitting technique and I saw the most amazing, simple trick. The woman knitting used both her working yarn and her tail-end together for a few stitches in the second row. This brought the tail away from the edge, leaving a nice round corner. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHiEWtD2ujbzMizdlBO30dZbindMepK18UkpE7jcYCnp-q8yvVRwPsrGQM0ObZKbdjkYNPxWeAiarEn3M9LRCvwiMFKE5g3NPh0R1DPtkOuIC921wkDWbWG8E5tYl6AyHDSHegnCpyqo0/s1600/HPIM5509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHiEWtD2ujbzMizdlBO30dZbindMepK18UkpE7jcYCnp-q8yvVRwPsrGQM0ObZKbdjkYNPxWeAiarEn3M9LRCvwiMFKE5g3NPh0R1DPtkOuIC921wkDWbWG8E5tYl6AyHDSHegnCpyqo0/s1600/HPIM5509.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one good lookin' corner!</td></tr>
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<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-10046213105564150842013-12-21T21:37:00.002-05:002013-12-21T21:37:16.454-05:00For the love of Christmas!<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Christmas is almost here! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been getting in the spirit by being interviewed by the creative and fun-loving Julee aka <a href="http://www.jinglebellejackson.com/" target="_blank">JingleBelle Jackson</a>. You can check out my Christmas themed interview <a href="http://www.jinglebellejackson.com/talking-about-christmas-so-fun/" target="_blank">here</a>, and if you have kids or are one at heart, take a look at the <a href="http://www.jinglebellejackson.com/peek/" target="_blank">excerpt</a> of her Christmas book for children!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've also been baking...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S0nSFCLM_EOcv5lbeC5uaD75HU6L55V3MLEblRYOyIioHmvQMU2IldGVRV0ZOogv0LA-NFmp0IuNYxzA5Pi6aoVnmaOMuFJ_U-556L0Cw3pKtvTW1G8QaE2PERa2HIsPZcLmANe8NKJe/s1600/HPIM5521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8S0nSFCLM_EOcv5lbeC5uaD75HU6L55V3MLEblRYOyIioHmvQMU2IldGVRV0ZOogv0LA-NFmp0IuNYxzA5Pi6aoVnmaOMuFJ_U-556L0Cw3pKtvTW1G8QaE2PERa2HIsPZcLmANe8NKJe/s1600/HPIM5521.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spice Cracklers! (gingerbread)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And listening to Switched On Santa on the moog (experimental synth)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hope you are enjoying the lead up to the 25th! </span></div>
<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-86761067646747030582013-12-15T09:55:00.000-05:002013-12-21T11:13:13.868-05:00Christmas Greetings 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8n4z0e9CFHJyde-PjBWA4RE9HktT3dCljd3PbOxCB9F-4vElHbgqf6aM5GIKL7VR84KpWacs6aVCMgxngQrUSOXLdiHOL1WqH_pdN9mt9dgfXThC_GJakELuk4rN8DN0jHzpEZpsFfAiK/s1600/Xmas+Card+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8n4z0e9CFHJyde-PjBWA4RE9HktT3dCljd3PbOxCB9F-4vElHbgqf6aM5GIKL7VR84KpWacs6aVCMgxngQrUSOXLdiHOL1WqH_pdN9mt9dgfXThC_GJakELuk4rN8DN0jHzpEZpsFfAiK/s1600/Xmas+Card+2013.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-54261500986247895452013-11-29T05:49:00.000-05:002013-11-29T05:49:00.959-05:00Knitting a Turban<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The cold weather is here and I have knit myself a turban style headband just in time!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtziWqHj8_FaEidaGQMwXTs7v_DgIIBPCfX9IuEE2wJBtoF7SIdBWsQImv8FQiJJpH9zcHA9LVMkyoQYcBEQypVwanuxJ7SY5MJlTfruf57NPFHjqtjOMw-_b4h6tqMndIG7dCIjdGQ59/s1600/HPIM5437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtziWqHj8_FaEidaGQMwXTs7v_DgIIBPCfX9IuEE2wJBtoF7SIdBWsQImv8FQiJJpH9zcHA9LVMkyoQYcBEQypVwanuxJ7SY5MJlTfruf57NPFHjqtjOMw-_b4h6tqMndIG7dCIjdGQ59/s1600/HPIM5437.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Francine Headband.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is the Francine Headband that I put on my <a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2013/01/saturday-is-for-starting.html" target="_blank">To Knit </a>list back in January! Well, it took less than a year to make; in fact the actual knitting and finishing added up to 4 or 5 hours! I'm ready to start another one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUAgXxITPtYR8yg9sbMDtKW6aLoe32Gv96nglagQer7kDHGxloTBnV2giWYOEPBn9Pc3nj6aHlsyFyy76bJ49YELs9MqYE1OKmWyZYoboDsyHRYJihWINzxOpMSaGtIj-NEO7xOmbe2m9/s1600/HPIM5442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUAgXxITPtYR8yg9sbMDtKW6aLoe32Gv96nglagQer7kDHGxloTBnV2giWYOEPBn9Pc3nj6aHlsyFyy76bJ49YELs9MqYE1OKmWyZYoboDsyHRYJihWINzxOpMSaGtIj-NEO7xOmbe2m9/s1600/HPIM5442.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCrELltH9cIHqbUwObbUlpZ0IPX0ydxO-8EUwuN7Sz_iel3Dm2E8aDoWLnGkKetr1bCWoJT7k0Lq2XuRv7rLY3SuvK50WFFqZB-LTksHaG65HYLKbbfccqm9WYKH1fUur6t16nVCkQGzB/s1600/HPIM5445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCrELltH9cIHqbUwObbUlpZ0IPX0ydxO-8EUwuN7Sz_iel3Dm2E8aDoWLnGkKetr1bCWoJT7k0Lq2XuRv7rLY3SuvK50WFFqZB-LTksHaG65HYLKbbfccqm9WYKH1fUur6t16nVCkQGzB/s1600/HPIM5445.JPG" height="244" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The pattern is simple and well-written and I love the clever design. You can buy the pattern at <a href="http://knitmotion.com/2012/09/17/francine-headband-now-available/#respond" target="_blank">Knit Motion by Amélie Bernier</a>, and check out another similar headband pattern by Amélie for free <a href="http://fairmountfibers.com/patterns/turband-f27" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The only trouble I had was when I made the first curved part, I twisted the knitting for the second batch of stitches when picking them up. It doesn't make a real difference in the headband, but next time I will just pick up the stitches like the pattern says, RS facing!. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also didn't really get the provisional cast-on. I followed this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OGG0AiJ3XE&list=WLQJqwCBi6ruhj98amnIC0G-cyuLXjcZCc" target="_blank">tutorial </a>for using a crocheted chain as the base, but when I went to pull my crochet chain out, it didn't unravel and I had to pick out. I figured I just cast on with my needle in the wrong spot of the "hyphen" side, so I did the second piece the same way but with my needle casting on the other spot of that side. That didn't work either, so I had some more unraveling to do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I thought I would have to learn the Three Needle Bind Off method for the seam, but it turns out I already know that one - as<a href="http://abackwardsprogress.blogspot.ca/2012/12/knitting-shoulder-seams-easy-and-neat.html" target="_blank"> demonstrated</a> by my MIL, although she could not remember the English name for the technique.</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-25055148458627074192013-11-22T08:19:00.000-05:002013-11-22T08:19:00.122-05:00Garlic Dessert<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today I used up some of our abundant garlic to make something a bit different - garlic chocolate chip cookies! I know garlic festivals often have a garlic dessert contest, so I was curious to taste some myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This <a href="http://www.perthgarlicfestival.com/Recipes.htm" target="_blank">recipe</a> calls for boiled garlic to be chopped up and soaked in maple syrup. The overall effect is not too bad at all. Everyone who tried them agreed the cookies were quite palatable, with "savoury" being a key descriptor. That being said, we all preferred regular good old fashioned sweet cookies without garlic, although we gave my nephew the first cookie and he never noticed a difference!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAbGjvBeqSvXZ1Hwjn5NUlZ12kMofo_QEGo2Wmc0LzbTMGj47GKC32p4WiwNbhS8gtZ5k2K7NAL4B7Bau6VX0l5F9mXSCzCgoqkUWcEFPPaTMLIsN7FK0cR9M42-XXMrWGRiQX73eqt16/s1600/HPIM5418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAbGjvBeqSvXZ1Hwjn5NUlZ12kMofo_QEGo2Wmc0LzbTMGj47GKC32p4WiwNbhS8gtZ5k2K7NAL4B7Bau6VX0l5F9mXSCzCgoqkUWcEFPPaTMLIsN7FK0cR9M42-XXMrWGRiQX73eqt16/s1600/HPIM5418.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Boiling garlic a wee bit!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It was worth the experiment, but I think I'll stick to garlic in my meals and only sweet desserts.</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-34896445497357460112013-11-20T08:47:00.000-05:002013-11-20T17:19:53.440-05:00Planting Garlic - bulbils<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've begun a multi-year garlic growing project. Seeds of Diversity sent me bulbils from five heirloom garlic varieties: Siciliano, Red Rezan, Lavigna, Central Siberian and Fish Lake 21 (my favorite name!). Bulbils are mini cloves, genetically identical to the regular cloves, but formed in the garlic "flower" or mature scape. You may still be able to <a href="http://www.seeds.ca/int/doc/docpub.php?k=df4e83d57e3a35bdaddaa92ab799146100000858" target="_blank">order </a>some for yourself if they haven't run out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PvqNto7N_t7MvbCk9O7WrdQSwlTH3k8eksWukqwNSErh1WOmRphKfciav8xjHQfBTkEwmrwmsdjTd9Rdl2_6723p_gAnvlYQinsZ772LkGTnfdVig3DMRetCKvROm_JHOlAqh2Mn7MGB/s1600/HPIM5412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PvqNto7N_t7MvbCk9O7WrdQSwlTH3k8eksWukqwNSErh1WOmRphKfciav8xjHQfBTkEwmrwmsdjTd9Rdl2_6723p_gAnvlYQinsZ772LkGTnfdVig3DMRetCKvROm_JHOlAqh2Mn7MGB/s1600/HPIM5412.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heirloom garlic bulbils. These are the smallest envelopes you can buy.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I planted the bulbils in pots and "planted" the pots in a garden bed and covered them with fallen leaves to protect them from winter damage. Next year the bulbils will have grown into rounds - a single small round clove. These I will plant as I would regular cloves and the following year they will have grown into larger, multi-cloved bulbs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEQ2pu561yNR3yrd6kVesVQcWEig6P4okEl9dM9KOs7CsZSJU0nGEbn8S4nbunusX5qb2EukSW8CZ6D7-KAdTYmbinc1xMHe_0V2KLMcLsJlVAFWWAQXHY9cBVqREaszsB7_LhEsuTtBd/s1600/HPIM5413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEQ2pu561yNR3yrd6kVesVQcWEig6P4okEl9dM9KOs7CsZSJU0nGEbn8S4nbunusX5qb2EukSW8CZ6D7-KAdTYmbinc1xMHe_0V2KLMcLsJlVAFWWAQXHY9cBVqREaszsB7_LhEsuTtBd/s1600/HPIM5413.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pots are a bit on the small side, but we will see how they do.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Growing garlic from bulbils is a good way to avoid transferring soil-borne diseases with new planting. Plants can produce more bulbils than cloves, so it is a good way to increase your stock quickly too. If you'd like to learn more about planting garlic bulbils, I would recommend<a href="http://goingtoseed.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/growing-garlic-from-bulbils/" target="_blank"> these</a> <a href="http://goingtoseed.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/garlic-bulbil-harvest/" target="_blank">posts</a> from Dan Brisebois' blog Going to Seed.</span>Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-54922148994155205882013-11-17T20:10:00.001-05:002013-11-17T20:40:51.119-05:00Planting Garlic: cloves<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fall is garlic planting time and I've certainly indulged. Not only did I plant for Our Little Farm, but I helped plant about another 7,000 cloves for another farmer and this year I am turning my backyard garden into a mini garlic field!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaYW4purlrRs4uucJNrNYElx2XoM0cZXHcqzUU7LbLScYywwPi1lY5buR8EzXtQECUkHJmEruT85YrLsgJSoGt2ifB6A9ZYpku24j9Xr_xYaN5wViaytdXMnxvjnyoFKdUwbUZ4mireb4/s1600/HPIM5364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaYW4purlrRs4uucJNrNYElx2XoM0cZXHcqzUU7LbLScYywwPi1lY5buR8EzXtQECUkHJmEruT85YrLsgJSoGt2ifB6A9ZYpku24j9Xr_xYaN5wViaytdXMnxvjnyoFKdUwbUZ4mireb4/s1600/HPIM5364.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In my garden, I planted the biggest, nicest cloves from the organic Music variety we grow at Our Little Farm. On top of that I planted cloves I was gifted - two other organic, heirloom varieties: Purple Haze and Artichoke. I also planted two heirloom varieties for a friend, Baba Franchaka and Gaterslaker (?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Planting a clove leads to a cloning process so that next summer, I will be harvesting a full bulb of cloves identical to the first planted one. That harvest will come after I break off the curly garlic scape in mid summer to encourage the plant energy to accumulate in the bulb. If left on, the scape will flower and produce garlic bulbils. Planting bulbils is different than planting a clove, something I'll be talking about in a later post.</span><br />
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Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-58405659581022427192013-10-24T06:25:00.000-04:002013-10-24T06:25:00.439-04:00Farming in October<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When we start at the farm these days, it's still somewhat dark. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I keep yawning...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUCBLfu2YUYn5y-76gohuVo5JpULzRcyoQs2HZj1jCaROdPGj1YE-CPcTtXwK2y-YLSYIQZvfNvxsSbMl4PQJdfAfCJfoNgPWpke4q1nSLkUdr080_z3-dbAPZGMAybclqfkAWxk5TtSb/s1600/HPIM5359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUCBLfu2YUYn5y-76gohuVo5JpULzRcyoQs2HZj1jCaROdPGj1YE-CPcTtXwK2y-YLSYIQZvfNvxsSbMl4PQJdfAfCJfoNgPWpke4q1nSLkUdr080_z3-dbAPZGMAybclqfkAWxk5TtSb/s1600/HPIM5359.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747686327093171254.post-38576568450734347232013-10-19T08:23:00.003-04:002013-10-19T08:23:45.021-04:00Handy Tools for Home Canning<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With the bit of canning I've been doing lately, I've noticed how many small tools I've picked up over the years for making the process easier. Here is a breakdown of what I use for most of my canning: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtoLP05rpjEU291mutFP9kD_1nG7D2Y0RKLTvlQ23Lqfp0TXl720s4l_v8BZ1spqef_jpV27_CIRSJBt5aBZ0gVg_3_oE_TuMIta4YSxQOlO7SuL9DY8yJjzd_arp7w7U_cQM7h_yjW3M/s1600/HPIM5282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtoLP05rpjEU291mutFP9kD_1nG7D2Y0RKLTvlQ23Lqfp0TXl720s4l_v8BZ1spqef_jpV27_CIRSJBt5aBZ0gVg_3_oE_TuMIta4YSxQOlO7SuL9DY8yJjzd_arp7w7U_cQM7h_yjW3M/s1600/HPIM5282.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Mason jars, lids and rings </b>- Remember, never reuse the lids. They are made to seal properly only at first use, and they cost very little to replace with new ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Ladle with a side spout</b> </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(hard to see in the photo) - I use this for syrups and jams. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span>Slotted spoon</b> -
I use this for things like peaches or tomatoes, where I want to control
the amount of chunks and liquids that go into each jar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Mason jar funnel</b> - Indispensable for speeding up the filling process while keeping the jars clean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Magnetic lid grabber</b> - I like this better than the old method of fiddling with a fork, and it helps keep my hands off of the clean side.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Silicon tongs </b>- I
use these a lot to orient the jars, tip them to pour out the hot water
after the sterilizing step and to move full jars without using my oven
mitts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Wire rack</b> - Use this
to create space between the jars and the bottom of your pot for water to
flow across the bottom of the jars and to prevent bumping. I never use this with the handles for lifting jars up and down in the pot, as there are no sides and it seems too precarious a method for hot jars that are not supposed to be bumped!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0KmXbmDAooVq_gt9nEEqPQNijy9UggAu9p0Shn-ZW3lKKkiDaeApMGa2n4iTly0Fd4nIBMItGcm-L5TPlSpZYMznWIFWvzO4xh-8H97vbJlDkp33jZYAEdm6lei_9Y7T6cg9txmo0vTK/s1600/HPIM5286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0KmXbmDAooVq_gt9nEEqPQNijy9UggAu9p0Shn-ZW3lKKkiDaeApMGa2n4iTly0Fd4nIBMItGcm-L5TPlSpZYMznWIFWvzO4xh-8H97vbJlDkp33jZYAEdm6lei_9Y7T6cg9txmo0vTK/s1600/HPIM5286.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Jar grabber</b> (pictured at right) - Once you get used to which way you're supposed to hold this thing, his is the safest tool to grab hot jars without danger of dropping them.</span><br />
<b><br /></b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Silicon oven mitts</b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>- I
used to burn myself through my old oven mitts when canning because they
would always end up getting wet, which transfers heat very quickly. That's why I bought these silicon mitts, which are
waterproof and easy to clean to boot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Jar cleaning brush</b> (below) - My small hand actually fit through regular mason jar openings, but for those of you who can't do that, this will be your new best friend.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUu1CJme4GwDB1Mhy2LV-2R5im2f_515mz3naAAx_HlCrGDasXMaBXmhq6eL5rPxtBdKfpjMTMDP5C65fwGaUl-QLacTDBMOOh3DqaUcy3bhJLXq1vygpQp9JRNr0pRjjPlkNiyayHYQ/s1600/HPIM5290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUu1CJme4GwDB1Mhy2LV-2R5im2f_515mz3naAAx_HlCrGDasXMaBXmhq6eL5rPxtBdKfpjMTMDP5C65fwGaUl-QLacTDBMOOh3DqaUcy3bhJLXq1vygpQp9JRNr0pRjjPlkNiyayHYQ/s1600/HPIM5290.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dish towels</b> - Use these as a clean and cushioned surface for filling the jars
and letting them rest after removing from the water bath or pressure
canner. Hot jars can break suddenly when bumped or if cooled too
quickly. Resting on a towel helps avoid this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Have I missed any tools that you find useful? Let me know!</span><br />
<br />Rachellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03840209740132106890noreply@blogger.com1