Merry Christmas to all.

Pictures from our camping trip with the T@B trailer in Manitoulin Island, Niagara Falls, Welland Canal bike path, Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park falls and kayaking in Restoule Provincial Park

L'Épiphanie

Today, January 6th, is technically - according to French culture - the last day of the holiday season. L'épiphanie, as it is know, is the day the "Rois mages" reached the manger with their gifts. That is why in olden days gifts were opened on the first Sunday of the year - unless January 1st was a Sunday. 

It is also the day we eat the awesomely delicious "galette des rois". It has a small figurine hidden inside. If you get the piece with the figurine, or pea for the poor version, well, I forget what it all ment, but I guess you were going to have a good year, or have all your wishes granted, or something wonderful. What ever it was, the placebo effect and bragging rights were the most important part of getting the pea. 

So while I enjoy my "galette des rois" for breakfast and say good bye to another xmas season, I wanted to share my wonderfully frugal xmas tree. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that the new year brings you health, happiness and great company. 

Purse into basket

This purse was not used and was perfect to transform into a basket.  The outside of the purse was made of knitted vinyl; the bottom was flat and sturdy. I easily removed the interior lining and handles with a thread remover or seam ripper.  After the lining and handles were removed I folded the top half of the purse inside.  The purse’s exterior was a heavy material and did not sag. It is a lovely basket for a few books.

Agnes’  Seasoned Salt

 

1 tsp sea salt (optional)

¼ tsp onion flakes

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp parsley

1/3 tsp black pepper

1/3 tsp crushed chili or red pepper  flakes

1/16 tsp each  of thyme, mace, dry mustard, nutmeg and curry.

 

Salt is optional or divide recipe in half and add 1/2 tsp salt. 

Mix and store in glass container.

2012

Pauline's picture of a giant mushroom

Another mushroom with glasses found in Nova Scotia. 

Pauline wants to shrare a few pictures she took in Nova Scotia.

Giant Puffball mushroom

We found this giant puffball mushroom in our garden, I dressed him up for the picture.

Bonsai 101

I have been meaning to make a bonsai tree for ever.

Today is the day.

You will see how easy it is to cross one thing of your bucket list in less then an hour.

One pot, one rock and some copper wire.

A tree or two that always wanted to grow-up to be bonsais.

A book small enough to be read while having morning tea.

Sand, gravel and fertilizer (very important according to my savant book).

Take the dirt off the roots and figure out a good arrangement for your trees.

Put gravel and rock in pot. Mix potting soil, sand and fertilizer.

Voila!

Now water carefully every 2 to 3 days for 10 years and you have got yourself a bonsai.

The coper wire ? It's used for shaping but is was not needed since these two neglected trees already have a very nice shape.

Now take a look at your bucket list and kick something off of it!