Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Good Old Days

If there is such a thing as re-incarnation,
and I am not saying if there is or isn't,
then I KNOW for sure
that I was once a farm wife.

Each harvest I revisit the idea.
I cannot look at a farmer on a combine
without pausing and thinking
that somehow this used to me my husband,
my life.

My favorite color is the color of ripe wheat.
And here in Saskatchewan
that color is everywhere
this time of year.



Every fall when I process the garden produce,
that which I have grown
but more often
that which I have had delivered
by our Hutterite friends,
my thoughts turn to simpler times.
Almost as if I have lived them.





And of course the "ping" of the jars sealing...
well those of you who do canning
know exactly what I mean.
It is soul satisfying stuff.



And seeing those jars all lined up,
cooling on a towel,
knowing you are putting food by
for your family...
nothing like it.



And snapping off the ends of beans
as you sit on the deck
overlooking your "homestead"
makes you think of all of
the women who came before you
who did exactly the same thing.


And as the freezer fills
with summery goodness
a sense of accomplishment
overtakes you.


Vine ripened tomatoes.
No other words necessary.


And this rustic pot rack
(thank you Paul and Pinterest)
while not too pretty
but oh so functional,
I just love it.
I love seeing my collection
of cast iron pans hanging there.
My first one was from my Grandmother.
It is seasoned to perfection.
Its the one on the top right if
you must know.


And this rhubarb jam
from rhubarb Athena and I
found tossed over a fence in an alley
was all but free. Free!





Yes, if there is re-incarnation
I must have been a farm wife.
I love every single second
of the process of
preserving the summer harvest.
And I suspect I always will

Monday, August 13, 2012

County Fair

Ever since we have lived here in Delisle,
which has been 7 summers now,
I have wanted to go to the county fair
in the neighboring town.
This year we finally did!
I was not disappointed.

There were so many "best" categories.
Best quilting.
Best knitting.
Best bread.
Best jelly.
I'll bet over 100!
This is what I came to see.

Then there were so so many things that kids could enter.
Best mud pie. Best MUD PIE!
Modelling clay,
crayon drawing,
watercolors.
Best 4H book.
Best paper craft.
Best craft kit.
So fun.
Cash prizes too.
If we are here next year,
Athena has a list of things she would like to enter as well.
And we will.
What is a more wholesome way
to spend an afternoon
with Auntie and Uncle from Quebec?

Ice cream.
Rodeo.
Ring toss.
Hot dogs.
Gymkhana.
Bean bag throw.

After all was said and done I must add:
"Our state fair is a great state fair...
its the best state fair in our state!"