Saturday, October 13, 2012
Crab Fest 2012
I love it that my dad takes us Crab fishing. Salt water fishing licenses for kids under 16 are free, so we always have the kids' up to date when we go for a visit. My dad renews his each year and Steve and I go along for crowd control, and of course we help with the eating. Scott isn't a big fish-eater, but he sure loves catching them and hanging out by the ocean and on the dock.
Getting the traps ready.
Down they go!
Pull...
Keep pulling...
Sometimes you get the reward of a beautiful male crab that is big enough to keep, and sometimes you get a great big slimy starfish!
Steve made a few new friends...
We had the most incredible weather while we were on the island.
We got 6 keepers the first day and 10 the second day. Each license is allowed to keep 4, so our max would be 16.
Todd and Papa... two peas in a pod and best buddies from the start!
A typical scene off the Sidney Pier
Thanksgiving Overseas...
It was the first time in about 5 years that we were able to join my parents and brother for Thanksgiving. Nothing like being home for the holidays. Mom put on a feast, as usual!
Loved mom's festive displays around the house...
We also celebrated my big brother's birthday.
The kids all chose gifts to give him and piled on him on the couch to get him to open them!
I don't know if Elise was trying to get her card to look like Uncle Angus, or not, but she sure made a cute card!!
Then, the after-dinner festivities included a show by Elise and Uncle Angus - they had us in stitches!
My dad and his "girls".
They got some new chicks that were "all girls" but my dad said as soon as he saw the babies he knew this one was a rooster, even before the baby feathers grew out, he was struttin' his stuff. The last rooster they had ended up in the freezer, so it was nice to see one around there again!
On our ferry ride home, a nice lady took our picture.
We have so much to be thankful for, including the bounty that was loaded in our truck as we were leaving. All from my parents' garden, and from their neighbour's garden. Potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, zucchinis, pears and more. Fresh food is the best gift!
Loved mom's festive displays around the house...
We also celebrated my big brother's birthday.
The kids all chose gifts to give him and piled on him on the couch to get him to open them!
I don't know if Elise was trying to get her card to look like Uncle Angus, or not, but she sure made a cute card!!
Then, the after-dinner festivities included a show by Elise and Uncle Angus - they had us in stitches!
My dad and his "girls".
They got some new chicks that were "all girls" but my dad said as soon as he saw the babies he knew this one was a rooster, even before the baby feathers grew out, he was struttin' his stuff. The last rooster they had ended up in the freezer, so it was nice to see one around there again!
On our ferry ride home, a nice lady took our picture.
We have so much to be thankful for, including the bounty that was loaded in our truck as we were leaving. All from my parents' garden, and from their neighbour's garden. Potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, zucchinis, pears and more. Fresh food is the best gift!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
A Patio Garden
I was determined to have a garden this year, however, we don't really have the yard for it. So, after browsing Pinterest, I decided that I could put most of the things I wanted to grow into pots. Here's how it all turned out... we are still harvesting beans, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries!
For a couple months, we continued to to take the tomatoes inside overnight. This was our first beautiful tomato. For quite awhile, we thought it might be our only tomato! But we have had an abundance now in September.
I felt like a kid doing a Styrofoam cup science experiment when my beans started sprouting. I had almost given up on them, but you just keep remembering about all the work that is taking place below the surface before there is evidence on top of the soil.
The first sign of strawberries... I'll have to get some pics of the ripe ones, but that is very difficult because they get swallowed up before I can show how pretty they have become! They are tasty, too.
Elise, hard at work with the watering. She took this very seriously, and we discovered that she is quite the little worker.

I got some seed potatoes from my dad and we planted them in 9 pots. I may have put too many in each pot because the potatoes were very small, but that just saved on having to cut them up!
The cherry tomatoes are full of flavour and Elise is so proud of every single one of them! We ended up tossing 2 of the plants halfway through because they didn't make it, but with our 2 remaining plants, we have made salads, snacks, sent them on school lunches, and just eaten them right off the vine since there are no sprays or chemicals... the best way to know your produce is fresh and garbage-free... grow it yourself!!

Nothing like new baby potatoes with fresh backyard garden beans and onions, and cherry tomatoes on the side!
For a couple months, we continued to to take the tomatoes inside overnight. This was our first beautiful tomato. For quite awhile, we thought it might be our only tomato! But we have had an abundance now in September.
I felt like a kid doing a Styrofoam cup science experiment when my beans started sprouting. I had almost given up on them, but you just keep remembering about all the work that is taking place below the surface before there is evidence on top of the soil.
The first sign of strawberries... I'll have to get some pics of the ripe ones, but that is very difficult because they get swallowed up before I can show how pretty they have become! They are tasty, too.
Elise, hard at work with the watering. She took this very seriously, and we discovered that she is quite the little worker.

I got some seed potatoes from my dad and we planted them in 9 pots. I may have put too many in each pot because the potatoes were very small, but that just saved on having to cut them up!

The cherry tomatoes are full of flavour and Elise is so proud of every single one of them! We ended up tossing 2 of the plants halfway through because they didn't make it, but with our 2 remaining plants, we have made salads, snacks, sent them on school lunches, and just eaten them right off the vine since there are no sprays or chemicals... the best way to know your produce is fresh and garbage-free... grow it yourself!!

Nothing like new baby potatoes with fresh backyard garden beans and onions, and cherry tomatoes on the side!

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