Winter Breather

BACKYARD FIND ~SUMMER 2013

Autumn in Hamilton's Backyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centaurea-that yellow thistle like thingy in the back

Before the tempest blew it down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with house guest...

 

 

Notes From A Warm Climate

I haven’t complained yet, have you?  43C does wonders for the skin.  We’d pay thousands for this in a salon; we’re glistening, not sweating. Some of you on the other hand enjoy sweating profusely.  While I lay like a slug trying to breathe, you take your 2PM jog.  I am fascinated watching you maintain your sanity as you run in 40C; the sun full bore.  What are you thinking?  Martyrs, all of you. Of course, in light of Toronto and Calgary floods, plane crashes, train derailments and Orange Day riots, we can hardly moan about our little bit of inclement weather.  But as I wrote in OLD YEAR/NEW YEAR, writing about our little corner is one way to sustain ourselves.  I began this post three weeks back but the neurons don’t function so well in 90% humidity. 

 

Dinner with the Pater had just wrapped up-London Broils and roast potatoes-delicious.  Forced a couple of White Russians before dinner and followed them with a bottle of rose; recommending the Pelee Island. I'll be posting the avocado courses later. Took coffee and pastry on the patio and watched the pre-Canada Day fireworks.  Where were the neighbours?  Watching the big blue screen?  Comfortable temps and no mosquitoes; we could breath and our buttocks didn’t stick to the chair.  Second slice of meringue?  Why not?  Feel very strongly about giving in to the urge to take that second slice.  Because, Dear Reader, what if something should happen and you never again taste your favourite dessert? Would you not (if you still could) kick yourself?  Give in to it.

Once the night sky lost its crackle and pop, I turned to the usual late night romp through TV Land. PBS had a doc on Harlem undertakers.  Thinking a parade through town in horse drawn carriage would be a fine thing.  Perhaps while I’m still alive, though. I must say, I’m missing The Box when it comes to Wimbledon and Tour de France.  The 7^th was the perfect day for tennis. Temps soared and a leisurely afternoon court side would have been good.  Of course the last time I watched tennis with any regularity, Connors and Cash were out on the clay. Oh, I’m not that old and yes, I know it’s 2013.  Wondering how many cyclists are doping. Very impassioned stance from The Widget Maker on the Armstrong debacle.  He claimed a large heart was the only thing responsible for the race results.  I was redeemed in the end. 

Took my leave and soaked up the remainder of the Stat holiday.  A four day week is a fine thing but you’ll be pleased to know I won’t be going down that particular rant today.  Think we’re all in agreement that the less time spent cubicalized, the better.

Tried to nurse an injured bird, but, it soon became clear that we had a dying bird on our hands. The right leg seemed to be growing out of the back of its body.  Scooped it out of the bottom of a rubble pile and it escaped only to fall into a watering can. I was distraught. Then, with what strength it had left, the bird bit me; my life flashed before my eyes.  The bird was determined to die in dignity and made its way down to the sunny patio where it took comfort in the sun.  I was worried about the heat and tried to create shade.  The bird turned to me as if to say, “Get out of my space, now.”  By eight o’clock, instinct took over and it dragged itself into the plants for the night, only to drag itself out again at sunrise, when it died.  I buried the animal in the top garden and let nature take its course.  The fireworks continued.  Someone offered up a hot dog salute to the long weekend-deep fried/bacon wrapped/dressed in mac & cheese and drizzled with fried onions.  Who could resist?  Finished off the evening with Annie Hall.  What can I say about this movie?  Do I need to say anything?  Finally noticed the photo of Allen holding the lobsters!

Thanks to those who opened their property up for Hamilton Open Gardens.  Apparently we are the only community that has managed to sustain this.  What’s blooming in the garden this week? 

 

TICKSEED...

 

SHASTA DAISY...

 

NASTURTIUM...

 

HOLLYHOCK ...

LAVENDER...

 

CHIVE...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try to incorporate scratch and sniff into your garden.  Fragrant herbs, soft Lamb’s Ear and so on.   Don’t be afraid to mix and match; there are no rules in gardening.

Reading frenzy at the moment.  Picked up three rapid reads and I recommend them all.  Julian Barnes’ A Sense of An Ending and Staring At the Sun. Just finished Pat Barker’s Blow Your House Down where every chapter is dripping in misery but the sections end in such a way as to make you stop squirming and just be taken in by the images. You’ll probably want to read it through as soon as you’ve finished because you’ve been introduced to everyone and for obvious reasons you’ll see things from a different perspective. Wasn’t expecting chapter ten to wander off where it did; I was ill prepared. Of course, I’m still wading through Trollope.  Like Mr. Fry wrote, you have to treat books of this nature like dips and tortilla chips.

The Ice Cream Man has become a regular fixture in the neighbourhood.  Everyone wants one but nobody wants to show themselves up by actually running after him.  Happy memories of ordering a “99” back in the day.  A 99, for those of you who don’t know, consists of a cone, soft ice cream and a Flake. Delicious.  I may or may not have managed some ice cream this week.

Michael Kaeshammer graced Hamilton with his presence last Friday and Saturday as part of the BROTT FEST.  It was an impulse purchase, but so glad I did. Great show.  And we were not sat on pews as expected.  Of course I first took a wander through the graveyard, as is my wont.  As with most Brott concerts, you have to get to the venue early because it’s open seating.  I chose wisely and got sat next to some fine people.  The general rule at shows like this is that no one talks to anyone.  Fortunately the tide had turned and we had a fine conversation.  How refreshing!  Kaeshammer brought his bassist and drummer with him and I can’t say enough about the show.  Refreshing also to have such an enthusiastic performer and everyone offered up a solo.  Do like upright bass.  Drummer and bassist hanging about after the show and I made a Bee-line to thank them for the performance.  Unfortunately, they had asked someone to take their picture. There was great technical difficulty and things got a little awkward.  So I quietly took my leave because to remain would have turned me into some kind of gawker.  Hope we’ll see Mr. K. in these parts again.  I think the Proms concert, next.  Quick drive through town.  Where is the new cheese shop?  Drove past the Indian restaurant and was very tempted to pick up samosa and butter chicken.  Next time.

Sunday.  30C by early AM.  John Major interview on The Sunday Edition about his book, My Old Man.  Major's father had been a performer in early Music Halls and was sixty five by the time little John came along but Major managed to extract from him reminiscences about his early life.  Unfortunate news on the new stadium front-we are to scrub the name Ivor Wynne in favour of Tim Hortons dollars.  I detest naming rights.  We’ve been through this at the Henderson hospital.  The Juravinski’s should have done the right thing and acknowledged that they already have several buildings named after them (including the adjacent cancer hospital)and that it would be wrong to rechristen this hospital.  I digress.

Sought refuge from the heat at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.  I was in my element-19^th century French painting and photography.  Lots of it. The photographs are of the painters themselves in their studios or portrait sitting.  Enjoyed the Arthur Crisp’s,  Lavergne’s David with the Head of Goliath, Steinman’s Roulette and the film I’ll call, The Chess Player of Sarajevo. (Have you read The Cellist of Sarajevo?) Basically, the movie cuts between two men playing chess and a ballet where the chess pieces have come to life.  Something you’ll have to see for yourself.  Finished up having a wander through the new grocery store, Nations Fresh Foods.  Wondering how this will affect the Farmers’ Market?  The downtown needed a seven day a week store. Sliced pig feet and ears available along with deep fried chicken feet.  It’s carrying a bit of everything-fresh veg to deli and cheese to Thai, dim sum and Chinese takeout to bagels and coffee.  Have a wander ‘round and pick up something you haven’t tried before.

Drove past Gage Park.  The flower beds are looking well but couldn’t get a parking spot on account of the Jazz concert at the band shell.  It was rather hot to be wandering around, though.  Here is something from last year, OUR OWN KEW GARDENS, until the new one’s come along. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to cool off with another in a series of icy showers.

More people watching to come.  I think I hear Stratford calling. 

Tour of the Neighbourhood~Hamilton Open Garden Week Highlights

Day 6 in Open Garden Week.  Visited four gardens so far and picked up some ideas along the way.  All the hosts were very welcoming; gardeners love to talk shop with other gardeners. On 'til July 2.

Specimen Garden...

 

 

Bird Feeding stations w/ ladles...

 



Mixed garden including "skeleton trees"...

Mixed shade & sun ...

 

Eclecticism alive and well...enjoyed the glass totems...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour of the Neighbourhood-Hamilton Open Gardens Week June 23-July 2

Garden a little drab? Looking for inspiration?

OPEN GARDENS WEEK:

DETAILS

Food, Father's Day & a Forty year old mini series.

 

Always a thrill to see your name in print.   In this case it was the Letters to the Editor. (Remember newspapers?)  Just a few lines but had to make my point.  When I see the logical road not taken, well…  Of course we have blogs and tweets to get our point across at any time of day or night and don’t have to wait for the approval of a senior editor. Although after perusing a few Twitter feeds this past week, you’re almost crying out for an editor.  I believe “train wreck” was the expression used in a recent interview.  Note to selves:  not everything has to make the journey from the brain to the keyboard.  That aside, there are some little gems out there.  Two noted tweets from this week:  getting home to find a magazine waiting for you in the mailbox (akin to an Xmas card instead of the usual bill) and the quiet Spring we’ve been having without the constant hum of air conditioners.  Amen (says the atheist).

In between bouts of what could only be described as some freak avian flu, I cobbled together letters to the editor, Food Pen Pal (FPP)packages, letters of complaint and of course Father’s Day (FD) festivities.   I may be heading down the road of some Talking Heads character-drafting one letter after another in search of a reader.  It is important to compliment others at the same time; don’t just offer up criticism.  If you see a job well done, let someone know.

FD prep began weeks ago-pick a theme, find four courses and pairings. The FPP didn’t take as long but I was faced with catering to a vegetarian and fish was off the menu.  Returned on more than one occasion to the drawing board.  Discovered my first item had fish in it so I ate it- tears streaming down my face; sinus cavity burnt out from the heat of the chilis.



Father's Day Shopping

First of two searches began in earnest; raspberry sugar for the FPP.  Fascinating introduction to product placement.  Where are Fortinos keeping their sugars?  Why, in the fresh meat section, of course. Who would have thought?  Baking aisle? Yes.   Salt & sugars? Yes.  But, not sausages.  I asked for some rationalization; none was forthcoming from the department manager.  At another location of same chain, the very idea of flavoured sugar was balked at.  I need sound and video to properly do justice to the comment I received.

Here is SOME INSPIRATION for the next time you’re struggling to come up with a menu.  Key thing is a sharp knife; you’ll be chopping for a bit of time.  (Still getting the hang of my mandoline).  All in all I think things turned out very well.  Who knew lettuce could be so filling?  Finished up with a menu of:

 

~Asian Mary

~Thai Lettuce Wraps

~Miso Soup w/ dumpling

~Japanese Curry

~Indian rice pudding

 
I did cheat on the soup.  Lost the Chinese Soup recipe and although you really cannot go wrong with this (it’s 90% chicken stock) I wanted to compare notes.  The pudding took 2 ½ hours to cook but it’s something you throw in a pan and let simmer away.  Did finish with a cappuccino.  Where was the chai or green tea, you ask?  Took a great chance on the coffee as it was Sunday night and loading up on caffeine at 20:00 could have been dangerous.  I lamented the looming work week.  The Pater was unsympathetic.  Brilliant Dilbert cartoon this week.  Dilbert is exercising in his cubicle hoping to beat the system by living long enough to enjoy at least two years retirement after forty long years under the watchful gaze of Big Brother.  Just hoping the government hasn’t pushed the retirement age further along; they’ve already added two.  Such a lack of holidays in this country.  We are third behind the US and Japan. UGH.  Let’s have some personal days, at least-my gutters and windows aren’t going to clean themselves!  Surely it’s time we moved to the four day week?  How can we be expected to recharge our battery?

Squeezed in a day off last week.  A fine “start” to the day with Tom Allan in the broadcast chair.  Trying to stream the broadcast is futile and wrestling with the clock radio is like trying to tune in a BBC world service broadcast from deep within the rain forest.  Despite my earlier sarcasm, I picked up this week’s rapid read, Apartment Therapy, because it’s like a little itch that has to be scratched.  What more could be added to this subject? I was curious.  As it turns out, not much more could be added, however, if you’re looking for some fluff for back yard reading then by all means read away.  Of course, I’m reading Trollope at the moment and a heavy duty tome it is.

While at library central, I spied a copy of Edward VII. Thirteen episodes of glorious British costume drama, circa 1973.  Never having had the chance to see it the first time ‘round, I am diligently plowing through it now.  Youthful faces abound- Felicity Kendall, Nigel Havers, Francesca Annis, Charles Dance, Derek Fowlds, Annette Crosbie and a cast of thousands.  It’s actually a good companion to the Trollope.  What a cow Victoria has been! Interesting to see how little things change with our own dear monarchy.  The wayward Prince Harry partying it up and having to take a scolding just like Bertie did.

Queen Vic in downtown Hamilton...

 

Back to the grind, but oh how nice to have the weekend close by.  I medicated with coffee but it had no effect.  Lethargy! Awoke Friday to the Toronto chief of Police grilling; interrogation on Rob Ford Watch.  I was driven close to madness tracking down the second product on my list, wasabi powder;  essential ingredient in the Asian Bloody Mary.  Naturally, it was on the door step the whole time.  Never underestimate your local health food store.  Wasabi was found not in the Asian, bulk or spice aisles, no;  it was practically in the pastry racks.  Is there any wonder I get confused? 

Like Thursday, I started Father’s Day with a little piano-the 26 yr old virtuoso, Yuja Wang.  Very nicely done.  Four hours of prep ahead; it's all chopping and slicing. Dinner took five hours to consume and The Pater remarked that the time flew by.  Food and beverage was enjoyed by all.  But what of the clean up?  The less said about this the better. And I’d like to know how all these food bloggers cope with dish after dish in their micro kitchens.  

 

Day three of leftovers, but oh what tasty leftovers! I think all the fish sauce is affecting my brain-long, vivid dreams; restless nights.  Coupled with the fierce allergy symptoms, it's a wonder I'm standing.  Apparently an untidy home is good for allergy sufferers like myself.  Dust mites can't get comfortable so there's less of them.

Burning off the dinner in the garden.  “They” keep calling for rain but we’ve had a glorious few days.   The rabbit population is growing and we are now playing host to a chipmunk.  The rabbit has moved on to shrubbery; making a fine meal of the Sand Cherry.  The Widget Maker is starting a garden and is looking for some tips; I think a separate post on easy gardening is in order.

What’s blooming now?

 Maltese Cross...

Oenothera...

Gallardia...

 

 

 

Campanula...

 

Summer due in just a few hours and we have been promised 25C.  (Thought is was Friday already-it is not; very disappointed with reality.) Off to start work on the next menu.  July 1^st is close and there is a dinner and brunch to prepare. Tick tock, tick tock.