Heat Waves

Complaints about the heat abound. But I suspect that’s the price of air-conditioning – we don’t practice our own adaptability enough to get good at it. Then when the power goes out people panic. I can’t figure out how to get the AC on in our rental house but I don’t care. I like the heat as long as I can get clean water right from the tap.

I walked into this store called Planet Organic yesterday. It’s got all this stuff on the walls and in the brochures about good for the planet sustainability etc.. As I walk in off the hot, humid street I‘m hit with this wall of freeze. Uncomfortably cold I’m thinking “can this abuse of the AC really be good for the planet? How many of these overpriced foods are in reality green washed planet killers?” By the time I’ve formulated that question, boom, the power goes out.

Fitting I says.

So I went to Home Depot and bought a hedge trimmer. Gonna do some plant killing of my own on the weekend. Unless mother-nature fights back and strikes me down with the lightning in the forecast…

More twists in the river

The La Cloche trip is officially on hold again and I suspect the Adirondack trail is as well. This is basically the result of two recent developments. Firstly I have a new job starting in July so scheduling is all up in the air. Secondly I just blew 2.438 years of my disposable income on a new Mac book Pro. A third factor is that I’ve decided it’s really time to focus on getting ready to move to the farm so what time off I do take from work will be dedicated to farm prep work.

This year we want to get a shed or two built, work on clearing some brush, put in a mass of fruit and nut trees and get started on some fencing. In the fall I am hoping to go to the Earthwood Building School ( http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/ ) and take the three day cordwood workshop. Given the location if I could get a few extra days off I might try to sneak in a trip to the High Peaks Region of Adirondack Park and do the MacIntyre Range ( adirondackjourney.com/MacIntyre_Range.htm ) since I’d be in the neighbourhood anyway.

I can't figure out why the cordwood thing won't make a link.

Cider Quest 2010: Progress Report 2

I’ve got five more ciders to add to the sampled list: Cracked Apple, Grower’s Peach, Magner’s, Peeler Premium Light, and Williams. Nine ciders in I’ve come to the conclusion that cider’s come in two basic forms - ones that try to be as beer-like as possible and ciders that try to be crisp. I prefer the crisp ones because from what I’ve seen the beer imitator’s would do better to just be beer.

My current rankings are:

1. Cracked Apple
2. Grower’s Peach
3. Peeler Premium Light
4. Wapoos
5. Williams
6. Bulmer’s
7. Blackthorn
8. Magner’s

Sadly, the Cracked Apple has been discontinued. Only seven bottles remain I the province. 3 in Bala, 3 in Petawawa and one in Portland. None of which I will be anywhere near anytime soon.

Happily, Grower’s has a variety of flavours of cider so I will have to see if the LCBO carries a variety pack. And I’ll want to check the other county cider brewing company offerings. And I’ve heard a rumour about some offering from La belle provence…

Some of you may have noticed the absence of that most ubiquitous of ciders, Stongbow, from my list. I drank Strongbow once a long time ago. I see no need to go back. Unless I’m really feeling depressed and it’s free.

9. Strongbow