off my bookshelf February 2011

Another month with a lot of books...

Did I ever mention how much I love books?

This is what has been off my bookshelf this month...

My heart is still in England this month as I continue reading through Jane Austen's novels...Mansfield Park this month...another favourite. I actually suggested calling my third son Edmund but my hubby wouldn't go for it. Tudor England is one of my favourite historical periods so I am brushing up on some of my history with Henry VIII - Reformer and Tyrant. Not a great read for everyone, but I enjoy it.

And continuing with the British theme, my hubby and I have been reading this together. It is taking awhile to read as it is hard to find time to read together and because it is also a subject we are passionate about and the book often gets put aside for some heated discussion and a little bit of ranting on my part. (a small piece of advise...do not get me into a conversation on the industrial food system...I will have a lot to say...and my voice might rise a little...just ask those in the car with my dad and I over the week-end who got to listen to three hours of heated discussion...I think I may take after him just a little). That said, I do love reading the Prince of Wales and he (and his thousands and thousands of pounds worth of education) says things a lot more eloquently than I do.

On a similar and a lighter note...

this is what I have been reading with my kids. My eleven year old daughter and I have been reading one of my favourite books together...Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver ( my daughter and I have been wishing my hubby had a nice farm hidden somewhere we could go and live off of). It has been fun discussing what we can do...(our organic CSA emailed this week with this seasons prices and I can't wait to sign up!). My two oldest boys and I have been reading Farmer Boy and I am having fun sharing my love of Little House on the Prairie with them. (We have previously read Little House in the Big Woods which they also enjoyed but this one has a little more testosterone so it is more fun for them!) And all three boys have been enjoying Dr. Seuss this month.

I am always looking at different points of view and advise on how to make our homeschooling experience more effective and fun.

I picked these up at a used book sale in the fall for 50 cents each. I've been eyeing up the poached egg page. I have never made a poached egg. I have always been scared of failing miserably. As soon as I can get my hands on some VERY fresh eggs I am going to do it. 2 1/2 months until the farmer's markets open up...free range farm fresh eggs...can't wait!

I have picked out my first knitting pattern to attempt. I learned how to knit just over a year ago; but have only attempted scarves and face cloths and things I could do without a pattern. Next month...I am learning how to read patterns and mix colours...I hope it turns out!

And to satisfy my magazine obsession...

Can I just say how much I love How Women Cook! This is the second issue and it is on sale now...LOVE it!

This is what has caught my eye and held my interest this month. What have you been reading?

unpacking and canning an interesting combination

Just thought I would post a quick note...I am still here...but I still have no internet in the house
and I am trying to repack and sort and fit everything into the cottage.

It will be good when it is done, but it is also nearing the end of canning season and so I had
to get some canning in which has meant slow going on the unpacking front!

I am still living in boxes, but I have canned dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, peaches,
peach jam, peach butter, peach butterscotch jam, peach barbeque sauce, stampede barbeque sauce,
sweet and sour barbeque sauce, ketchup (yes - I made my own ketchup and it is yummy!),
grape juice, fruit cocktail (peaches, pears, grapes and cherries), three kinds of salsa, I have also oven dried tomatoes, and frozen tomato sauce, peaches, cherries, blueberries ( I was lucky and caught the very end of the blueberries and cherries), nectarines, a few apricots (again the end of the season), watermelon (for a nice mid winter slushie), cubed tomatoes, and I think that is it so far....

today I am canning the rest of the tomatoes and drying the last few romas and then tonight and tomorrow I will tackle dilly beans and pepper jellies and then I am taking a week off to finish unpacking and then comes the apples....Fall is looking busy for me but the cottage is looking good and smelling great and I am so excited to be all cozied up for winter!

I have also ordered a side of beef and a lamb and am working on my dried fruit and nut order with a local wholesaler who brings in amazing fresh products every fall! I can't wait to find my little house on the prairie books - I think they will make great winter reading with the kids this year!

As I have been enjoying the harvest, I have been looking at farmland around me and wishing it was mine so next year I could grow my own....but I think that dream will still have to wait. In the meantime, I am LOVING the local farmers markets and orchards! I have missed the okanagan!

Can't wait to get my computer up and running so I can post some photos!