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. 

September 11

 Dear Cindy.

I was on the picket line today. 

Definitely have mixed feelings and perspectives since I've normally been on the other side of the line. 

I got my steps in. WOW. Lots of steps. And rest. And donuts. And donuts.

I had a morning shift, so I was able to come home and put a third coat of paint on the back steps - just the horizontal surfaces exposed to the rain, snow and ice. We're letting it cure now - and I'm looking forward to having access to the back and garden again - the easy way. 

September 10

 Dear Cindy. 

This is my official first day back at work. 

However, my union declared STRIKE last week. 

My office is declared to be STRUCK and on a picket line. 

The air quality outside is hazardous due to wildfires to the west. So, we have the OPTION of attending a virtual picket line. 

What does that mean? 

Don't log in to the employer's systems (I can't as my laptop is still in the office - behind the line). 

Attend a Zoom Call "Can everyone hear me?" to discuss labour actions. 

Do some homework - which today mean watching the National Film Board movie FINAL OFFER, a 1985 documentary about the 1984 contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers and General Motors and the differences between the Canadian wants/needs and American counterpart union.  

It was an interesting watch. The filmography is dated, which is fantastic too. 

After my homework, I was able to catch up on household chores/projects. Like completely washing down our spring planting shelf - which also serves as a piece of furniture in our main room. And the Master Bedroom got a deep clean under the bed. DUST BUNNIES are GONE! 

September 9

 Dear Cindy, 

Today I canned 15 jars of spaghetti sauce. 

It is a delicous batch. 

I used 5 gallons of frozen tomatoes where I was able to decant most of the water. I reduced and strained yesterday. I also sauteed and pureed the extra vegetables. Today I heated everything up to boiling and got it into the jars. 

I was able to watch three episodes of Gilmore Girls Season 5 and got going on the final episode of Dexter.

Then I went for a 5.5 km walk with Moka. 

September 8

 Dear Cindy, 

Today I am reducing tomatoes and straining them for the base of spaghetti sauce which will be made tomorrow. 

I'll also prepare all the vegetables and puree them to be added to the sauce. It's essentially the same amount of work as making salsa, but with different texture and spices. I'll add basil to this sauce since the plants are still strong and healthy in the garden. 

It's also time to make a batch of muffins. Blueberry. 

September 7

 Dear Cindy, 

Today, Luc and Gilles went to get a load of firewood. 

Patric helped me cut and shred vegetables. 

I made 21 jars of salsa. 

I went for a walk. 

I started a sourdough loaf. 

Dinner was slowcooker - venison shanks. I put 4 in, so there was plenty of meat and shared one with the neighbour, giving them an easy dinner. We also had leftover rice and corn on the cob. 

I received the news that I'm scheduled to be on a picket line next week. I was scheduled to go back to work on Wednesday - so, that will be my work day. They are 4 hour shifts - in town. There's no remote work picket lines ... so I'll be spending money on fuel for the commute. I'll also be relying on neighbours to assist with bus drop off and pick up - as the schedules start and end at 7am and 6pm. 

September 6

 Dear Cindy, 

Today we picked our corn for winter eating. 

The tomatoes I've picked are ripe in the basement. We either need to make salsa tomorrow - or I have to stew them down, strain them and use for future spaghetti sauce. 

I was also able to do some cleaning - ie I dusted our nightstands. It was needed. I had been collecting pens on mine and for some reason (well, I know the reason) Gilles had random peanut halves on his. 

I'll fill you in on the reason - for mice. We've lived here for 16 years, and only once have we had a mouse in the house. The cats take care of all the interlopers. So, the one time we had the mouse, Gilles set up 5 traps in the basement, using peanut halves for bait. Luckily there was only one mouse. And the one mouse was discovered in a trap within 24 hours. 

The now extremely stale peanut halves are in the garbage. 

The collection of puffers and eye-glasses has been audited. 

I feel better. 

My next big job is all the dustbunnies that have collected under neath the bed. But, that needs a chunk of time planned in. And, I'd like to flip the mattress, so that requires a second person because our mattress is a marshmallow and 18" deep. I'm on the constant struggle to find fitted sheets with deep enough pockets. I love it though - I love having to CLIMB up and into bed. It also justifies the tall night tables that we have. 

                                                    

                                                    

                                                        

                                      

September 5

 Dear Cindy, 

Gilles is home today. 

I shredded and dehydrated my zucchini today. I picked them yesterday and they've been staring at me - to process. I dehydrate them, then vacuum seal them. That way there is no further energy input required to keep them. 

There is so much to do. I think our priority is SALSA to use up all the good tomatoes and garden produce. 

It's the last Dungeons and Dragons session in town today at the local toy store. So supper is pizza and I'll be spending a lot of time in town. 

I started an FOI - Freedom of Information request for the washout above our house - on the road goiong north. There's been drilling and digging and investigations up there since 2023 and I'd like to know what has been determined. 

September 4

 Dear Cindy, 

Ahhh. A day fully to myself. Gilles is at work (day off tomorrow) and the boys are at school for a full day. I have my TO DO List - which is 20 items long. 

BUT Patric has a doctor appointment at 10am which is a followup from when he was super sick last September. So, we will make it to that appointment. Then sell my worms at 11. Maybe do some shopping downtown Williams Lake and then head home to the HEAT. 

The boys aren't fully sick to taking the bus yet, so I don't feel bad not driving them to school or sticking around to pick them up. 

Perhaps this is an opportunity to binge watch something. I'm in the middle of the Handmaid's Tale on Prime. Dexter on Paramount. Gilmore Girls on DVD - even though they are on Netflix. And I should finish up the Hunting Wives on Crave. Gilles is waiting for me to get to the last episode and we'll watch that together. 

In the afternoon, I was able to shampoo Moka, who decided to take an adventure while I was gone. I cleaned her dishes and catch mat. I washed the kitchen garbage bin. 

I started a sourdough loaf and made extra extra starter to use as a discard tonight. I'm going to pour it into a frying pan and make a garlic pesto bread to go with spaghetti tonight. 

September 3

 Dear Cindy, 

It's the first day of school here. Second day of school in Ontario. 

Both Luc and Patric are in the same school this year - junior high. Just a half day, so I have to pay attention to the time and meet the bus at 12:30. 

I was able to wash the floor with no one at home. It was an empty house for the first time since we have returned from our adventure. 

I also had to can up the applesauce. 

And I froze the chicken stock I made 2 days ago with the bones from our roast chicken dinner. 

September 2

 Dear Cindy, 

I baked the loaf of sourdough I prepared yesterday. 

I picked tomatoes and 4 big zucchini. 

Patric and I picked apples and some pears for applesauce. 

I sorted worms from the compost because I was contacted on Facebook Marketplace for someone wanting to purchase 1 lb of worms for $60. Unfortunately - yesterday I had moved all the easy, good compost with the worms in it - over to the new, messy and uncomposted side. So, I had to dig into some slimy apples and other goodness that hadn't yet been converted to soil - to find some worms. Luckily, there were pockets of worms hanging out, eating all the good stuff, and I was able to separate out a pound. They're currently in a large yogurt container in the fridge. 

I made 7 loaves of bread - which included some oats picked up at the Yorkton SK tourist centre and some leftover mashed potatoes.  While making the bread I watched:

10 Things I Hate About You.  1999. IMDB 7.4.   I don't know if I would have given it that high - but it was pretty entertaining while doing other things. 

I also watched: 

Spiderman - No Way Home. 2021. IMDB 8.2.  It has many many cameo appearances. 

I shredded half a big zucchini and made brownies for lunches tomorrow. It went in the oven beside 3 loaves of bread. Heating up the kitchen. I have to go to the basement to hide and regulate my temperature. I also have to remind myself to drink water. 

Once the apples were softened in my 20 litre stockpot - I let it cool while I made supper of sweet and sour pork (pre-frozen) and rice and green salad. 

Then I took the apples outside with my Roma tomato strainer - and made the applesauce. It's so much easier to do it outside where the cleanup is easier. The solids can go right down the sink and into the yard - the splashes from the strainer can go on the grass. 

I'll can them up tomorrow. 

September 1

 Dear Cindy, 

I started the day with a walk, while the temperatures were cooler. 

I canned 15 jars of dill pickles. One jar broke in the water bath. Another didn't seal - so it's in the fridge. 

It's still ridiculously hot outside. 

Patric and I cleaned some more garlic. All the chesnock red is down from the stringers. 

Dinner was hot chicken sandwhiches with the leftovers from the day before. Vegetable was a freshly sliced cucumber. I don't have the energy for anything full of thought with this heat. 

August 31

 Today was all about GARLIC. Sorting. Cleaning. Aiming to finish up the job and clear out the garage to make room for winter wood. 

We had a whole roast chicken in the stock pot. It turned out pretty good. 

Then I used the bones to cook up stock through the night. Strained in the morning. 

Once that's done, I have some older meat from the freezer that I will put in the stockpot and cook up for a bonus treat from Moka's food. Meat definitely does not go to waste now that we have her. 

August 30

Today we took a break from chores and went to a party that started in the mid-afternoon and went till late. It was a fantastic gathering. The hosts did a wonderful job with decorations and looking after their guests.