September 20

 Dear Cindy, 

We've started swim lessons again - this time north of us. 

BUT - when I booked the lessons, I forgot about our northbound road out of the neighbourhood being closed for repairs. Repairs are good. The closure is an inconvenience and means an additional 20km of travel and time to get to swim lessons in the future. 

Lessons are scheduled for mid-day Saturdays, so we'll have lots of time, and it will give me an opportunity to get shopping done - instead of before the picket line times. 

Still no frost - and the garden needs to be harvested.

I have cherry tomatoes in the dehydrator that need to be removed and put away before I can use the dehydrator again. 

I was thinking of making a soup mix of dried vegetables. Carrots, onions, celery, greenpepper. Celery tends to not hydrate well - it stays chewy - so I'll have to make sure it's cut up very small. I have lots and lots of celery and peppers to process. 

September 19

 Dear Cindy. 

I took Moka to the picket line. 

I was asleep by 8:30pm. 

September 18

Dear Cindy 

On Tuesday I was on Virtual Strike. 

Literally - it's do not sign in to the work account, spend 1 hour in a meeting, spend the rest of the time in a meaningful way. 
I volunteered in the neighbourhood to listen to a negotiation with BC Hydro. Trying to listen to what they are not saying. 

On Wednesday I was on the picket line. 

There was a vehicle accident on the highway south of us. The bush caught fire. The highway was shut down.

Luckily, I was able to drive home via the normal route by the time my shift ended. I had Patric with me - as he went to Chess Club at the library after school. 

Luc left in the morning for a high school salmon trip - sleeping over at the local "Boyne River/Island School" style camp. I think there are 20 students - grade 9 through 12. So, he'll be the youngest in the group - but he can handle it. 

Today - I made 20 jars of spaghetti sauce. It is delicious. 

And I'm done with salsa and sauces. 

I'll can up any extra tomatoes as plain, unflavoured tomatoes for soups etc. 

September 15

 Dear Cindy, 

This morning I spent sorting laundry and vacuuming some of the spots - like the basement and stairs - that haven't had it for a while. 

I also used the 'self-clean' function on the stove. I wanted to wait for Gilles to be at home before I tried this. The house smells. I think I've only used it once before on this stove. I attempted to clean the inside with baking soda abrasive and vinegar cleaner - but I didn't like the results. So .... after 3.5 hours we'll see what the results are. 

I'll be headed in to town for 'work' once it's done. So Gilles is in charge of dinner. And by that - I mean he has to dig and make the potatoes and perhaps broil the pork ribs - which are currently cooking in the crock pot. 

September 14

 Dear Cindy, 

Today, I am attempting to can apple pie filling. 

I'm using the https://melissaknorris.com/pioneering-today-how-to-pressure-can-apple-pie-filling/

I made 6 quart plus jars of filling and I didn't use clear gel or cornstarch. 

They turned out ok. 

I made a skillet sourdough discard crumb pie. Haven't tasted it yet - so I don't know if I burnt it or if it cooked through well enough. 

The the rest of the day was spent making pizza for a gang of kids - each with their own order of a half a pizza on a medium sized pie. 

September 13

 Dear Cindy, 

Today is our 17th wedding anniversary. 

Gilles is working. 

I have rallied the boys and they are in the backyard hand-digging up the perimeter of our septic system. I'm taking photos, but not posting them. It is not a fun job. But every shovel they dig, is a shovel that Gilles doesn't have to dig in the future. 

While they were digging hard packed dirt. I shovelled out the winter chicken coop. a) It has to be done before we put the birds back in it for the winter and b) my compost pile is in a good state of decomposition and piled to one side of the bin. The chicken poop is considered 'hot' manure and can age on the right hand side of the compost for a month or two. We'll add fresh compost to that side and occasionally give it a stir. I'll have to be careful not to be tempted to play too much with the good side. The worms in there are incredible. They are loving life. 

The afternoon is for cleaning more garlic. Gilles planted a variety he's labelled JOAN-X. Because our neighbour or he forgot to write down what it was - but thought we would plant it anyway and see how it does. It's a pretty garlic, but doesn't grow too big. We're going to clean up the harvest we have - about 300 heads, and probably not plant as much next year. Regardless, it needs to come down from hanging in the garage. 

After all this, I'm exhausted at the end of every day and fall asleep quickly when I get in to bed. 

September 12

 Dear Cindy, 

I had the last shift of the first week of picket line. The smoke is clearing up. The weather for a picket line is perfect. 

The boys were able to do a Board Game Club afterschool. Then there's a 2.5 km walk (downhill mostly) to get to the ice cream place and to my picket line. This saves anyone meeting them at the home bus stop tonight.  

Dinner is Dominos pizza. 

I debated bringing Moka. I think she'll come next week. She's a great dog - but I want to check out the logistics of having her constantly with me.