Happy Thanksgiving, twice

As some of you know, I am an American Canadian. Besides paperwork, that means all sorts of goodies. Like celebrating both Canadian and U.S. Thanksgiving! A delicious holiday full of gratitude and good times. 

Saskatchewan (more than Grey Cup Champions!! Go Roughriders!!)

Last month I was in Saskatchewan spending Canadian Thanksgiving weekend with good friends and their extended families. Our extended families are 3000 km away, so the 9 hour drive to Saskatchewan was relatively wee and loads of fun. I walked through cleared frosted fields at sunrise, watched geese fly overhead and waterfowl putter on slough ponds. I ate and drank, celebrated the abundance of the season and great company. 

Horses and Helicopters

I also got on a horse that gave me the opportunity to get my head screwed on straight. Horses have that effect on me. Nearly always, right before I get on a horse, whatever energy that is just below the surface that needs to come out bubbles up. Then the horse waits patiently as I have my epiphany or release before I hop on. Horses are magical like that. Like helicopters, horses get me all fascinated and excited, but there is a serious side to them, too. They both offer me opportunity for perspective and usually release, too.

Celebrate the Process

This Thursday is U.S. Thanksgiving. As much as I love turkey, we're going to celebrate with one of the salmon we caught this past summer on the Pacific Ocean fishing trip we did. Again, something to be thankful for. That trip rocked! And it has the added energy of eating food that which we have procured ourselves. There is a connection, a satisfaction and tapping into something universal when we pay attention to, respect and honor our food. Whether you are cooking, gardening/farming, fishing, hunting or ranching, celebrate it. As for the eating, savor that experience, too. It keeps us ticking . . . so we can write more! And everything else we do, too. :)

Happy Thanksgiving.

PS, Pumpkin pie with the salmon? Sure, why not. ;)

My Harvest Festival

First off I need to say whoops, I meant to blog about my garden harvest pre-snow. Today is the second winter wonderland spell we've had this season. Gorgeous fluffy white snow out there. I was thinking how busy fall has been, but then I thought the same for summer and spring, heck last winter, too.  Life is awesome, busy, beautiful and awesome. 

Rewind to Harvest

But let's rewind to harvesting time! I have a couple raised garden beds that I started by trying the square foot gardening method and have transitioned to a free-for-all. I know,  free-for-all fits my "pantser" writing style. And it absolutely delights me having plants come up from last year that have self seeded! I have trouble pulling them. I also get all twitchy when I go to cull so that the ones left may thrive. Pulling plants feels like stripping books in a bookstore. Ouch. But I digress, back to my garden. The potatoes actually grew!! This was my first year trying them and YUM!

Form and Function
We put in a new deck a few weeks ago and are planning where additional garden beds will be going next season. We like form and function (i.e. edible plants). I'm so going to have more potatoes next year. And a pumpkin patch! And carrots, and beets, and zucchini, and squashes, and a mix of leafy greens, and tomatoes, and loads of fragrant herbs, and oh my gardening is fun!

Still Learning
I'm still learning. And realizing gardens need more lovin' than winking and water. Weeding is good, and plant food, etc. But it brings me joy, and delicious organic, heirloom bounty. It brings me closer to my food supply and I get to witness earth energy.

Happy Learning, Happy Growing

Beets and carrots from my garden.

Potatoes from my garden this year.