Video of the ATV Ride

Here is Husband's video of the the ATV ride we did the other weekend filmed with a GoPro camera




We love this camera as it is so versatile.  I have also been using it for work because it takes still pictures with a wide angle.

Quading weekend Aug 10-12

I had a request to post some photos from our quading trip with the ATV club which we did this past weekend.

On Saturday we started out at Telkwa, BC and drove over the mountains on the Telkwa Pass to Terrace, BC where we had lunch.  Then back again to Telkwa taking a side trip up Trapper Mountain just above tree level where there was a fantastic 360 degree view of mountains.

Rest break at a lake

Glacier

Husband and I on top of Trapper Mountain

 On the Sunday we spent the morning in the mountains on the alpine.  This is above the tree level where there are meadows filled with wild flowers and as one reaches the higher altitudes the terraine become more rocky.

Still within the tree level

A huge rock in an alpine meadow left over from  glaciation.

This route doesn't look very scary, but it was!
Steep with loose rock and a narrow pass connecting 2 mountains.

A totally beautiful trip with some really nice people from the club.  Everyone driving responsibly and taking care not to go off trail.  The worst is seeing people who have driven across the meadows leaving tracks in the alpine.  No one wants to have these sensitive areas destroyed... but there' re always some idiots who just don't care or just don't know.

Black Currants and Beans

I'm sure that I will be dreaming about black currants and beans tonight....  I have been canning, picking, juice making, jam making, and baking for the past few days.

Today I actually went out twice to the garden picking beans - first yellow wax and then later an heirloom green variety.  

Husband estimated that he picked over 30 pounds (13 kg) of black currants from our four bushes.  I used some of the black currants (fresh) in some scones that I baked - they turned out very yummy with a bit of tartness from the berries.

Tomorrow I begin tackling the peas...

This Is Not a Still. I repeat... NOT a Still

It may look like I'm making moonshine, but alas, I am not.  Instead I made Black Currant juice with my steam juicer.  In North America steam juicers are almost unheard of, but my mother always had one to make juice.  I don't know where she got her's, but perhaps brought it over from Germany.Mine is most likely from the 1970's that I won from eBay a few years ago.

Steam juicers have 3 separate containers that fit together - the bottom one holds water; the middle one has an inverted funnel shape with a hole in the middle for the steam to go through and the juice collects around it and pours out of a spigot (connected to a hose) on the side; and the top container is a strainer where you put the fruit and berries.  During the steaming action the fruit becomes soft and the juice drips through the strainer holes and collects in the middle container.  When enough juice has collected it pours out of the spigot and down the hose which has a clamp.  I have a stainless bowl in the photo just so the juice doesn't run onto the floor if the clamp is not on tight enough.  I put the hose into the my bottle and release the clamp letting the juice fill the container.

The juice that ensues is concentrated and we put a little into a glass of water, add a teaspoon or two of sugar and stir it up. There is no set amount as to how much concentrate to add - we just add until it tastes good.

The steamer works well with rhubarb (as mentioned in my sister's blog), apples, tomatoes, black currants and other berries.

50th Anniversary Party

On the weekend we put on a Golden Anniversary party for my parents.  Husband purchased a new camera and took photos of the occasion.

50 years of wedded bliss

The family

 Good thing we ordered tents as it was 35c!

Yum, cake....

Some guests

My potting bench converted to drink station

Vintage Bike

I am coveting this vintage inspired bike by from Opus.  

It was in my local bicycle shop, so I took it for a spin.  I soooo want this bicycle.

It was super comfortable

       I haven't sat upright on a bike for years

It feels better than hunched over a 10 speed or mountain bike

But at a price tag of almost $900 it is a bike to dream about.

Strawberries and Ice Cream

In our northern climate, strawberry season is finally here!  This is our fourth year with the strawberry plants and they finally producing more than just a few berries here and there.  

Last weekend I picked our first batch of red berries and filled half of the basket.  Subsequently, I have been picking berries every couple of days.

To best use the berries (other than eating them fresh of course!) we decided to make our own strawberry ice cream.    As a wedding gift years ago, we were given a Donvier Ice Cream maker.  We have used it in the past and it truly makes wonderful ice cream with ingredients that are normal and healthy (read: no artificial colourings, preservatives, etc)  It is easy to use as the interior cylinder is kept in the freezer and taken out and placed into the outer casing when it is required.  You assemble the turner, fill your ingredients and give a few turns every couple of minutes for about 20 minutes and at the end you have ice cream!

Donvier Ice Cream Maker

Homemade strawberry ice cream in my vintage polish dessert bowls

I also made homemade Strawberry Marguaritas with the Donvier. Sorry I forgot to take photos.  They turned out okay, but next time I will make sure the puree the berries more, add a bit more sugar or other sweetener and more rum (I'm sure one can never go wrong with more rum!)

I've decided with the hot weather we are experiencing that I'm going to use the Donvier more this summer for making frozen yogurt, ice cream, and drinks.  Guaranteed to be better than store bought.

Donviers can be purchased in two sizes I believe.  I have the larger gallon size which I know costs around $100 in my area, but I have seen them in thrift stores for only a few dollars.  If you're thinking of getting one, check to see if you can obtain one second hand as I would think most people only use the Donvier a few times and then get rid of it, like many other appliances that are not used every day.