Recipe for a new kind of Casserole

For several months now, students in Quebec, Canada have been on strike, protesting proposed tuition fee hikes. They have coordinated many small and massive marches. After some of these protests turned violent, the government of Quebec instituted a new law restricting gathering in groups etc - basically restricting people's ability to protest. Now they've made EVERYONE angry! Here is the latest in creative protest - les parades des casseroles. "Casseroles" in french is basically pots and pans. What I love about these protests is how they bring all kinds of people together - and they are so joyous. Enjoy.

Mish Mash

Well, it's the 12th of May today, just over a week since our first rhubarby feast and we've just finished our third. We've had two (three?) batches of sauce, a decadent upside-down cake, and a rhubarb crisp. Mmmm. I'm in heaven!

Renovation update...

You thought it was all over. We had almost forgotten it ever happened and then... I gave up on the parts we were awaiting for the range hood - THREE MONTHS was my absolute limit. SO I packed it into the van and returned it to the shop. Then I went up to order a different one, only to be shown this interesting thing they found... the PARTS! So, I took ours back and VOILA it is installed and working and sucking all the smoke and grease and steam straight out of our kitchen. Here is Joe, not making enough steam to justify the expense but HE WILL!

That leaves just the kitchen lights to go - they are here but I just need to get the electrician back to install them. Oh, and then there are the boxes in the basement that are still full of all the crap that used to fill up the kitchen... I think they will go directly out to the lawn for the Great Gilmour Street Garage Sale in a few weeks...

Project - Opinions welcome:

I'm starting a new garden where the sandbox used to be. It's beside the "garage" which is really just a (shockingly shabby-looking) shed. I've made two parts. The path across the middle is made from the caps that used to be on the front porch but which were replaced by the stonemason when he discovered they were causing the porch bricks to degrade. In front of those will be an herb garden - Joe wants one he can see from the kitchen window so he'll remember to go out and get some. The back will be for climbing beans - I've picked up some lovely ones at the seed exchange. So the question is this - I have a little rustic trellis at the left that I made from sticks a while ago. Then I've been saving this stair railing set for years thinking I could use it for something - that's the thing in the middle that looks like an inverted v. Can't decide if it looks good or just dumb. Or if I should get rid of both and just run lots of string from top to bottom or what. Any thoughts? (PS the garage doesn't look this bad in real life... I hope!)

On a related note, there is still lots of compost to be transported...

Cheers,

c.

First Rhubarby Feast

I just picked my first bunch of rhubarb for the season - May 4 - which I believe is a few weeks early.

(I wish I could post this in smell-o-vision! Wow!)

And I just went to reprint my rhubarb cheat sheet from my previous blog post and realized it's no longer printable. I thought it was - I was sure I had posted a pdf. Now I'm not even sure that's possible...
I will try to figure that out but meanwhile, I will post the stewed rhubarb recipe as that's what I plan to make along with some scones - want to savour the pure rhubarbiness. I will likely shorten the sugar. I like a little bite in my rhubarb.

stewed rhubarb
6 cups rhubarb
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp water (try without) 
simmer 15 m minutes.


(Seems a bit silly posting this - too simple - but I guess if you've never made it...) 


Cheers,
c

Happy To Make L...

The title is my attempt at humour - I'm taking an html course. Well, it's actually a introductory web design course which starts with HTML. I have much and varied experience but no clear overview of how it all fits together, plus much of my knowledge is outdated. SO, I signed up for a course at our local community college. Naturally the course I picked is at their furthest-away campus. Anyway, it's a nice drive, once a week, and an evening all to myself. The skill level of the group is quite varied and the instructor is a guy who actually runs a business in web design and not a teacher per se. I successfully resisted my teacherly instinct to explain more clearly when someone didn't understand, and to run around helping people who were having difficulty. I just sat, and played, and tried stuff out, and had fun. It felt so indulgent. I was really happy by the time I got home. Looking forward to next week. When I have something worthwhile to show, I will post a link. Meanwhile, here's how to make a break
in your work. And how to make a larger

heading

.
Cheers
c