Heather Cameron

Hee Hawww, Yee Haw...

Today, we were invited to go for a walk - but not just an ordinary walk.

My dear friend Eleanor has four donkeys.

She asked if we might like to come by and take them for a walk.

Of course we would!

Yowsa! A bit of doubt, a bit of fear, a whole lot of excitement.

But, then, ...a whole lot of walking.

My daughter - the donkey whisperer.

She walked them all. Some of them twice.

And we left the donkeys promising to come back soon.

It was a good day.

We brought our cousin from Miami with us.

He found himself a John Deere tractor in action and got to drive it.

It was a very good day.

...did you see me walk that donkey..

...yes, but did you see me use the front loader of the tractor!

This is it, isn't it.

This is one of those days.

The day you remember always.

The day the two cousins held hands happily.

For the first time.

Last year I went to the cutest country fair in an old log barn. It was in one of my favourite areas of the Fraser Valley. Sadly, the owners said they were selling and would not be hosting the sale next year.

Boo Hoo.

Well - they didn't sell, and the sale is on again!!!

It's a happy mixture of festive decorations, homemade gifts, bags, furniture and

Missing Goat will be there with jam, chutney and our yummy new blueberry syrup!

I hope you will come by if you can. It's really a charming sale, with all things hand made.

Oh, did I mention hot apple cider!

I bought this little deer there last year. I love him.

Dates: November 13th and 14th

Time: 10am till 5pm

Location: #632-192nd Street, Just off 8th.

South Surrey, BC.

I'm pushing for a bon fire and marshmallows too!

Jump over here for more info - this is Angela the

lovely hostess.

http://angela-lalasland.blogspot.com/

I've been intervied by Stephanie Levy of Artists who Blog.

click here if you want to read my little take on a few things...

Things I love about Fall..

It was Thanksgiving here this past weekend. Lots of food, family and beautiful weather.

Here are a few things that I love about this time of year.

I love the small details.

I love that the girls are infatuated with themselves - they see their reflection in the window.

Of course, I did have to kick them out of the house when I left the door open. Didn't love that too much.

Love that the apple pears are ready.

I love that giant mushrooms grow in our yard. I'm waiting for the pixies and gnomes to hold a fabulous tea party. I've got my hat picked out.

Pumpkin pie. From scratch. LOVE!

Hope your weekend was lovely and as delicious as mine was.

The Good Dad..

It's been busy lately. I had to work all day on a shoot last week, and got home at 7pm.

What did I see when I got home.. my daughter chasing her dad across the front lawn in the dark with a super soaker in the dark.

It was a chilly fall night, but that didn't stop them from..

.. pitching the tent and camping out in the backyard.

A bon fire was blazing as well.

They'd been roasting mini marshmallows on sticks, as we didn't have any regular sized ones.

Daddy had also hung a new rope swing for her that day.

It's a simple stick on a rope, but it's the best thing in the world as far as she is concerned.

Now, she can fly.

To her, he is the best dad ever. He's Mr.Fun.

They go for long walks in the woods, they sit in the boat

(which is on the front lawn right now) and have high sea adventures.

They pick apples and have picnics with the ducks.

Daddy also painted her toe nails a very fashionable purple that day.

Guess I've got some apple sauce to make now.

The Last Day of Summer..

The whole family spent the last day of summer in the veggie garden.

..and I mean the whole family.

Found a very cute baby pumpkin.

happy acorns with cute bonnets.

gourds gourds gourds - about 300.

Anyone needs any gourds!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Kale Chip Recipe..

I should have known better and shared this in the last post.

I never ate kale till I tried these.

Now, two/three bunches a week is a breeze.

I buy organic kale - but that is my choice.

Wash, dry and tear from the stem - two bunches of kale.

(you can leave the stems on, as I did, but you will find they are very hard. They do make a nifty handle for your chip though, and can be discarded after you nibble off the leafy part)

This is the original recipe I found on the internet. I'm sorry, I don't remember where.

You can try this one, or..if you don't want the onions and garlic, omit them.

I love garlic and onion, but for some reason, liked the chips without it.

Nutrtional yeast was a bit tricky to find. But health food stores will have it, or Whole Foods.

It's apparently a good cheese substitute. Don't confuse with Brewer's Yeast.

Not the same!

I used:

3/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup tamari

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup water

juice of one lemon

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add the kale and toss so they are coated.

Don't over do the coating - the first time I did this, the kale chips were far to saturated in the sauce.

Still good, but I knew they would be better with less.

I have a dehydrator, and the two bunches filled the five trays.

Be sure and lay the kale flat - not folded over. They will dry better flat.

Six hours later..

Kale Chips.

They should be very dry and brittle. They will just crumble in your mouth.

If you don't have a dehydrator, you can use the oven.

115 degrees for 6 hours (says the recipe).

I'd use parchment under them on a cookie tray.

Signs of Fall...

This past week has been full of canning, dehydrating, making soup and being with family and friends.

Today, I found signs of fall.

Hidden under the mint..

pumpkins!

My favourite flower - Japanese Anemone

The grapes are alomost ready.

Fuzzy quince bottoms.

Inside the house.. 20 jars of organic peaches.

..and my new obsession - dehydrated kale chips.

I've never eaten so much kale in my life.

Random Thoughts..

Like I'm sure so many of you did this week..I sat in the car with a knot in my stomach and slight burning in my eyes. I had left the building - step one. I drove to Starbucks, grabbed a frap - step two. I then drove back to the parking lot, outside the building.

And I waited. But not for long. I went back in the building and sat on a wee chair not meant for my ass, and I waited some more.

It was the first day of pre-school.

In one moment, I felt ill, sad, and excited at the possibility of free time.

She's just two - well.. three in November.

Where did time go. Today, she pulled up a chair, and started cracking open the black beans we grew.

I didn't ask her to do this. And, clearly, she took it seriously.

She was working really hard - and well, she was doing a lot of them. Personally, I didn't find it as enjoyable as she seems to. Plus, lets face it, she was focused and quiet.

I offered much praise!

Just this morning I was cursing these damn beans.

Honestly, who would sit for hours pulling out little beans. Oh, wait... - other than my daughter?

It only takes 3.7 seconds to pull the lever at the bulk bean bin.

Is there a better way?

While she shucked beans, I focused on another issue.

Fruit flies in the kitchen.

The most annoying thing on the planet in the summer.

I've discovered the best way to get them. At first, I thought it was all about getting your hands wet before you crushed them with a viscious clap. Momentarily rewarding, but there is another way..

The vacuum.

Remove the head and attack with the nozzle.

They cannot escape the suction - this is their weakness, this is their downfall.

How long should I let her do those beans for?