home dairy

 If I blogged about every book that I borrowed from the library, there would be nothing else here. Mostly, as of late, it's been non-fiction books. I get most of my recommendations from other blogs and friends, and I seldom buy a book without first borrowing it from the library and checking it out (literally and figuratively). I'll often fly through them quickly. Sometimes, by the time I actually get my hands on a book, it's been months since I requested it and I can't remember where I read about it, or why I wanted to borrow it. I've come across a bunch of good ones lately, but this one absolutely deserves its own post.

It's Home Dairy with Ashley English, and it is the perfect reference for making yogourt, cheeses, and butters. It's beautifully laid out, the pages have a lovely texture and smell like Grade 4 (Mmmm!) and the instructions are clear, well-written and logically ordered. I LOVE it, and will be buying my own copy with my next Air Miles redemption. (That's how I keep myself from spending all of my money on books!) If I had some extra cash lying around, I would give you all copies. But since I don't, go to your library's website immediately and put a hold on it. Then you'll read it and decide that you need to buy a copy, too. I promise.

Ashley English is also on Twitter, and she has a great blog, Small Measure. There are also three other books in this series, which I am assuming are just as excellent (and I've read positive reviews, too!): Keeping Bees, Keeping Chickens, and Canning and Preserving. If one of you has a bazillion air miles that you want to redeem for Chapters gift cards for me, please feel free. I will happily accept! Really, this book is worth your time. I promise.

**Edited to add: I was so excited, I forgot to include three of my favourite things about the book! Firstly, it was manufactured in Canada, a rare thing to see these days, and secondly, there is a section of body care recipes! Third, there are instructions for a cheese press, which I don't know if I'll ever make, but I love that it's in the book.**

I hope that you had a great weekend, and happy reading!

4

 It was kind of a big week last week. Phillip turned 4! He and Thomas relaxed after the big party yesterday with some bedtime reading with Dadoo.

These are the cupcakes Phillip chose from the Martha Stewart Cupcakes book. They took awhile, what with the buttercream frosting, toasting the coconut (YUM) and inserting those beady little eyes, but were totally worth it. So amazingly delicious. The frosting has one pound of butter in it. Good choice, Phillip. And a happy, happy birthday to my sweet, caring, smart, funny, and wonderful boy.

on trout, life, and death

 My sweet Dad gave us some brook trout that he caught this afternoon, knowing how much I love to eat them. Usually, with food from Dad, it's already 'ready'. Lobsters are cooked (he's a lobster fisherman), fish are gutted and filleted. Today, there wasn't time, so these little beauties arrived intact.

And I wrinkled up my nose and didn't feel very 'homesteady' at all. I did not want to clean them. These perfect, beautiful little fish - it just seemed so barbaric to cut them open. I thought about it as I steeled myself, and came to the same conclusion I always do: I am recognizing the worth of an animal life sacrificed so that I can eat. And it's kind of uncomfortable. And humbling, and good - that's how it's meant to be.

Then over trotted Phillip. "Those are dead now, right, Mama?"
"Yes, they are."
"But they were alive, right, Mama?"
"Yes, they were."
"And Bompie caught them for us to eat."
"Yes, love."
"They're slippery! And pretty. Look at the spots, Mama."
I cut open one of the fish, and found eggs inside.
"That fish was going to lay eggs. But she can't now, because she died."
"That's right."

I silently thanked the trout for being our supper. And that felt right.

the cutest vegetable

From today's CSA share. SO cute, don't you think?