Christmas.

I love Christmas, and I also hate it. I guess I mean that I hate what Christmas has become. And everyone says the same thing....all the cliches about how it's so commercial now, it's not how it was when we were kids, its all about the money, and so on.   Everyone agrees.

It's like Disneyland. You know how Disneyland touts itself as The Happiest Place on Earth, yet when you're actually there, your ears are filled with the sounds of crying children, children throwing temper tantrums, overwhelmed, overtired, over excited?.  Everyone is having a meltdown. However, when you're home again, and reliving it through pictures and memories, it's all a rosy bowl of cherries. Christmas is like that. It's full of gimme and greed and "I want, I want, I want ". Everyone agrees. It's too commercial. It's too expensive. The meaning is long gone, be it religious or not, it's not "Christmas" anymore.

But everyone does the same thing every year....they start earlier and spend more.They all agree that we all go overboard. But they start buying next years presents on Boxing Day.  The sooner the better.

I think everyone wants to have the Christmas of the past, the perfect family Christmas. The Norman Rockwell kind. 

An old fashioned Christmas. Sigh.....does that even exist anymore? 

I was reading a letter that someone wrote to a Facebook forum the other day.  In a nutshell, this is what she wrote:

"Just a gentle reminder to all you parents out there to be modest with your gifts from ""Santa"". Not all parents have a ton of cash to spend on making their kids Christmas special, so it doesn't make sense to have Santa give your kid a PlayStation4, a bike, and an iPad, while his best friend at school gets a new hat and mittens from Santa. You know? Give something small from Santa and make the more expensive presents from you. 

You can explain the value of money to kids, but you can't explain Santa's discrimination to a heartbroken kid. Keep that in mind this year and always..."

That's all she said. She said it gently and respectfully. And it makes sense. It's hard to explain to your kid that Santa gave Little Johnnie all those fancy toys, yet he only gave you  a small toy or some new clothes. 

All this woman did was voice her opinion. And Holy Cow, what an uproar she caused.

The comments were all along the lines of:

-Then get a better job.

-Don't tell me what to get my kid.

-It's not my problem if you're too broke (lazy, useless etc) to give your kid a good Christmas .

-Jealous of people that have more money than you?

-I'll do whatever I want, your kid is not my concern.

And the meanest one was:

-So your kid thinks Santa likes the other kids more than her? Suck it up, learn a life lesson.

And the festive "F" word was bandied around quite liberally. Merry Christmas.

It's not like I have an answer or a solution, and I don't have small children, thank goodness, but it's never too late, or too early, to start a new tradition. If not now, then when?

Myself? I need nothing. I have absolutely every material thing I could want. My husband is the same. If I need....and I mean the literal meaning of need....if I need  anything throughout the year, I buy it.  If I want something, I might buy it, or I might not. Depends. So, why spend money on things I don't need, or want, just because its ingrained into us? "It's Christmas....gotta buy, gotta buy, gotta buy...gotta spend, gotta spend, gotta spend..."

My family knows I love them. I don't need to spend money to prove it to anyone else. 

Now, having spouted all that, you may be asking yourself "Didn't she buy her kids anything? Nothing?"

Well of course I did. I now follow the Gift of Four that I read about. I've talked about it before. 

Four gifts. 

1. Something you want. (It's homemade)

2. Something you need. (It's healthy)

3.Something to wear (it's also a "need")

4.Something to read. (Reading is knowledge, and you can never have too much of that.)

Simple. Stress less. Paid for. What's my Christmas credit card bill? Zero. Christmas isn't about having debt. It defeats the purpose to owe a huge corporation money if that's how your Christmas ends.

I have a friend whose family does not buy gifts for each other, they combine the money they would have spent and provide for a needy family. Awesome!

My new daughter-in-law ❤ does not accept nor give gifts, and I am so very proud of that. She is one of the few who "walk the walk". I almost managed to do it this year. 😃. Next year....maybe. I do like stuff a stocking and my Four Gift rule will likely stick around. 

I don't want this:

Or this:

I'd like this:

But I'll happily settle for this:

And I will strive to remember this: 

Think about it:

Black and White.

My new daughter-in-law (a phrase that I will never get tired of saying!) is a photographer, and she was in a challenge to post a Black & White photo each day for five days. She generously invited me to join the challenge, I say "generously" because she does amazing work.

Anyhow, I tried to see things with black and white eyes and these are the five pictures I took:

A deer hoof print.They always remind me of little hearts.

A duck on a chilly, but brilliantly sunny November day.

The same sunny November day!

The results of the first, melting snow of the year in a strangers driveway.

The "eye and eyelid" of an obviously (to me) feminine 1950's car.

Vote!

I

But you never know. Maybe I can talk just one person into voting this this year. 

When I try to talk about why you should vote, I work myself into a dither. My mind goes in 8 different directions, trying to say all the things I want to say in a reasonable and calm manner, but I just get so darn frustrated with the reasons that people give. I've started this post more than once, and just got myself so worked up that I deleted each one. I just feel so strongly about voting.

Maybe I'll start again, and list some of the reasons that people give me, with my response to follow. Like a debate, except I'll be alone and have time to compose an answer without spittle flying from my lips. 

The number one reply I get, when I ask people if they voted is "Meh. I can't be bothered, one vote doesn't make a difference."

Oh really? Tell that to these folks:

General elections in  Canada in these years were won by ONE VOTE:

1887, 1891, 1896, 1935.  

"But, whatever." you say "That was in the olden days."

Well, yes it was. But these ones werent.:

General election in Saint-Jean, Quebec. 1994

General Electon in Shelbbourne, Nova Scotia. 1999

General election in Champlain Quebec. 2003.

General Election in Kitchener Ontario. 2010.

And there are so many more that were won (or lost, depending on your point of view) by 3, or 5 or 20 votes. 

In Germany, the first chancellor after World War 2 was elected by ONE vote. 

In 1920, an Ammendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by ONE vote. Oh, big deal you say...but the Ammendment? It was whether or not women should be allowed to vote.

You can Google "close elections worldwide" and see for yourself. One vote can make a difference, don't ever  kid yourself about that. So next time you want to say that one vote isn't important, just realize this:

 2. "I was away." Pfffft. Poor excuse. There are always advance polls.

 3. "I was away during the advance poll too." Pfffft. Even poorer excuse. You can advance vote via 

     mail. I was in Switzerland during an election once and I had my vote count. I was in Africa during a

     Federal election and I managed to vote. Being away is no excuse anymore.

4. "I forgot" Well. Far be it from me to call you names, but seriously, you're either lying, or an idiot.

     What do you think all those miles of signs on every street and corner are for? The flyers that arrive 

     in your mailbox, the full page ads in the paper, the ads on the radio and TV?  The conversations at 

     The water cooler? You can't not know when an election is afoot.

5. "I didn't have a way to get there". Again....poor excuse. If your friend won't take you, phone who

     ever it is you want to vote for, you can be darn sure that someone at that office has arrangements 

     set up for rides.

6. "I was in the hospital."  Election Officers will bring a ballot box to you if you are hospitalized, or 

     bedridden or in a nursing home.

7. "I am in prison." If you are in a Canadian prison, you still have the right to vote. If you are  in prison 

     elsewhere, well, congratulations, you've found a legitimate reason to not vote, but im thinking you

     have bigger problems and probably aren't even reading this. But good luck.

8. " I had to work." Oh, don't even start that. If your hours of work genuinely interfere with the polling

     hours, then your employer has to give you time off (with pay) to go and vote. Two hours, I think.

So, you see, there are no good reasons to not vote. And if you are a woman, well, come on!! What are you thinking?

I hear a lot of women complain about the discrepancy between men and women in so many ways. We make less money for the same job, we struggle harder to be accepted, we  are "the weaker sex", we are the ones who should stay home and raise the family, "it's a woman's job", "that's women's work" "thats no place for a woman" I could go on and on and on, but that's a whole other blog post. 

The point is, women had to fight to be able to vote, "Silly  little fluff-headed ladies, voting is a man's job. Women don't understand politics. Stay home and make some dinner for your man."

Doesn't that piss you off? Of course it does. 

In 1917, Canada's federal electoral law stipulated that "idiots, madmen, criminals and judges" were not allowed to vote.

It didn't mention women, but they were still not allowed to vote in national elections. Nice group that they lumped us in, isnt it?

Finally, in 1921, women could vote. But wait! Are you of Asian descent? Chinese? Japanese? East Indian? Hindu?  Oh, you can't vote. Not until 1940. Are you aboriginal? Indian? In 1940 to 1959? Oh, you cant vote yet at all.

Do you realize that aboriginal women could not vote in a federal election until 1960? 

How can you, as a woman or an enlightened man, NOT want to exercise your right to vote? 

 And I don't even want to get started on the men and women who died in war, to give us the freedoms that we just toss over our shoulder without a second thought.

"We can replace a leader with ease and comfort and not with bullets and machetes and with blood flowing on the streets like a river.

The system we have today did not come to us easily or accidentaly. It came with a huge price tag by men and women who gave away their lives so that we will live with dignity."

 

There is no excuse not to vote.

And think of this...all those people you consider stupid? Or clueless? Or arrogant? They are going to vote. Aren't you at least going to try and neutralize their vote with one of your own?

There is never an excuse to not vote.

 

A Fast Food Adventure.

I would think the last time I ate at a fast food place in town was maybe two years ago. Not particularly because it's not healthy, because there's no doubt I eat junky stuff occasionally, but mostly because it tastes awful and the ambiance of a fast food place is so depressing....tables and floors are always littered, everything is so plasic-y, and its just not enjoyable.

 Anyhow...yesterday, for reasons that are just too long and boring to get into,  we decided to grab a burger at Dairy Queen. Well, I gotta say, what an experience. I went in and was waiting for Steven to park the truck, and I walked to the cake display (cake display? In a fast food? Who knew? Not me....they were amazing-looking, and I don't even like ice-cream). I wasn't there for literally one minute, and a staff member asked me if I needed help. IN A FAST FOOD PLACE! Nice! That was one thumbs up. Then, when we ordered our meal (it was only $6 for a bacon-cheese burger, fries, drink and a small sundae...two thumbs up), anyhow, when we ordered, she gave us a number. They bring it to your table. IN A FAST FOOD PLACE. That's a third thumbs up.

 And at our table, which was clean, are actual containers of ketchup, mustard, napkins etc. None of those annoying ketchup packs that you never manage to tear open correctly so that when you squeeze them, the ketchup squirts all crooked and on your clothes. Or on to your companion. So now we have four thumbs up. The food was brought over in next to no time, and, to my surprise, it was SO good. The fries were hot, hot, hot, crispy and yummy. The hamburger was not falling apart and slithering out of the bun, and it didn't have that "glob" of condiment dropped on the bun, and/or that giant hunk of lettuce that sticks up 2 inches high, and that tomato slice that makes everything soggy and slippery. It was seriously almost as good as homemade. Maybe as good. I had coffee instead of pop, and it was in a ceramic mug and a staff member actually made the rounds with a pot for refills. Five thumbs up.

(Below-Mmmmmm.....how I felt, perhaps how I even looked)

 We didn't want the sundae, but the woman who took our order was quite horrified by this (given that we were, after all, at a Dairy Queen) so she gave us each a coupon for a free sundae for another time. So, a sixth thumbs up for our local Dairy Queen. I would most assuredly eat there again, and recommend it to anyone. I don't know who owns or manages it, but if you are reading this, and you know them, pass it on.

(Below-our local DQ)

Today's lesson, boys & girls, is about Juniper berries.

The backstory: I have fresh venison in my house, which I'm not generally too fond of, and I've  always heard how juniper berries  make a fantastic flavor pairing with wild meat. For those who do not hunt, venison is not elk and moose, which I do like, venison is deer. And the difference  is like  night and day.

So I decided to forage for some berries. In the 30-odd years that I've been walking in the bush behind our house, I've noticed some huge and berry laden juniper bushes, and I've often wanted to try the berries in a recipe. So today was the day. A beautiful, crisp October day, no frost yet, and this is apparently the time to harvest. 

I'd like to say that I put on my earthy sandals, wore my alpaca poncho that I  picked up while trekking in Peru, and grabbed my Eco-friendly bag, which is woven with old, plastic grocery bags, and headed out into the wilderness to forage, like Euell Gibbons or Laura Engalls Wilder.

Yes, I'd like to say that, but the truth is somewhat different. I put on my Asics runners, outsourced by child labour in India no doubt, and grabbed a plastic ziplock freezer bag, not only "bad" plastic, but purchased at an American owned superstore. *sigh* We have to pick and choose our battles.

I did wear my poncho though. 

Let me tell you what I've learned about juniper berries. The berries take three years to ripen. And since new berries grow each year, one bush will have berries of various stages of ripeness side by side. The newest ones are a bit larger, and quite pale. The ones we want to pick are deep purpleish blue, and are a bit smaller. And they are further in the depths of the bush. Which normally wouldn't matter, but another thing I learned about juniper....the needles are in fact needles. Meaning they are ever so sharp and ever so willing to draw blood. The plumpest berries are alway just behind a protective pale berry and/or a deadly needle.

The needles look soft and inviting, like the misnamed "needles" of a tamarack tree that are soft and feel like cat fur if you brush them. Which I do, I love the tamarack in my yard and yes, I talk to it and stroke the soft branches. But anyhow, I digress.

Now, I was quite surprised at how few purple berries there were. I know that no one else picks them, at least not like people go and pick blueberries, by the bucketful, plus I was off the beaten path, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't at a bush where dogs have peed all over. I know deer don't eat them, nor bears. But, when I reached back into the depths of a prickly bush and plucked one berry, 37 more fell to the ground and vanished into the leaves and twigs. 

"Aha!" I said, "That's why there are so few, the ripe ones fall off at a gentle shake, at the kiss of the wind, at the breeze left by a passing bird or forest animal...I am so at one with nature."  so I figured I could lay my poncho underneath and shake the tree like an olive harvester. 

But apparently these bushes are alert to those tricks. You shake...and nothing happens. Well, all the dead needles fell out and embedded themselves into the fibers of my poncho so that now I need to spend the rest of the day picking sharp twigs and detritus out of my clothing,  But if you gently reach in to get one berry, the others all communicate  in silent berry language and release themselves to hide in the mulch. Who knew?

So I just carefully took my time, trying to not draw blood and was thankful that only 2 or 3 berries are needed for flavor in a marinade for poultry, and just a few more than that for the more powerful flavor of game. They can be used in place of rosemary, which was a helpful hint for me.

As I wandered deeper off the path, I found more bushes and as I came around one corner, I saw this giant:

The sun was hitting it, and I now know how Clark W Griswald felt when he saw the Christmas tree of his dreams. 

I didn't pick too many off of this one, but it was loaded with many, many berries of all shades. It should be prime picking for years. 

On my way home I gathered a few rosé hips as well, they're almost past their prime, but still not bad. One large rosé hip has an extreme amount of vitamin C....far more than an orange. Anywhere between 10 and 50 times more, one hip has more than your daily recommended allowance. I remove the seeds and slice the skin and toss it in a salad. Steven needs extra vitamin C because of his  Crohns and arthritis, and the citric acid in oranges is hard on his gut, but  who wants to buy supplements when you can get a better, healthier and 100% natural product for free?? The seeds are loaded with vitamin E, but they can irritate sensitive stomachs.

I also sometimes add one sliced rosé hip to each muffin, when I make muffins, that way a person gets their vitamin C while having a healthy treat.

But back to juniper:

Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties

According to researchers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, juniper berry combats both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are the cause for E. coli, pneumonia and gonorrhea, while gram-positive bacteria cause Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus is a common infection that people acquire in hospitals and it is often resistant to antibiotics; you have probably heard it called MRSA. Since pharmaceuticals are often ineffective at treating MRSA, juniper berry could be an effective alternative to help combat infections.

Role as an Antioxidant

According to a study published in the medical journal "Pharmacognosy Research," juniper berries contain high amounts of antioxidants. These compounds help to neutralize free radicals in the body, which eventually lead to the development of diseases like cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants also maintain healthy, youthful skin by fighting wrinkles and lines, aiding in cell regeneration and reducing inflammation.

Plus, much, much more. Google for yourself and then go out and pick a handful. Just don't ask me to tell you where my secret stash is.

I'd like say that I dried a few in the Kootenay sunlight on a hemp towel. And in fact, I can say that.

 

A few, final, fishy, tidbits.

The food was amazing. Remember when I said that we aren't breakfast eaters? Well, we aren't, but I certainly tried to force myself to indulge when the morning after the ham, eggs and pancakes there was a crab omelet. And the next day there was salmon quiche. And then there was eggs Benedict with tiny bits of dilled salmon in the sauce. And all the seafood was caught on this trip. 

I didn't take breakfast pictures, I'm not sure why, other than I was usually concerned with getting my caffeine fix.

Lunches were usually made from something freshly caught as well. A snapper wrap. A salmon roll. Some seafood chowder with homemade rosemary focaccia (and oddly enough, this was the only bread we saw this whole time. If I had any complaint, and I feel like a huge shit complaining at all, but just saying, if I had a complaint, it would be that some bread or buns would have been nice.) One day Darren made a giant  salad with nuts and seeds and cheeses and different greens and veggies and spices and an amazing dressing, and I really would have enjoyed a bun with it. 

 

Suppers were also something concocted from the days catch.

Crab and pork. I guess the pork was just in case the crab traps were empty. It was sitting on a mash of parsnip and potato. 

The presentation was always wonderful and very un-fishing-boat-like. It was heaven.

This is ling cod in phyllo pastry with couscous (omg....you know how I adore couscous....the food so nice they named it twice!) and kale. 

This is blackened snapper and polenta in...I hate to say tomato sauce because it was so much more than tomato sauce. 

And this is salmon and roasted julienned beets and carrots, also on couscous. (The food so nice I ate it twice.)

And even though the fellows raved about the food, there is no doubt in my mind that their salivary glands went into overtime at the sight of the final nights meal of prime rib and all the trimmings. I gotta say, I was ready for some iron-laden red meat myself. Along with the wine from their organic vineyards, it was a real treat. I might or might not have gone for seconds.

 

And we can't forget dessert. 

A berry compote.

The infamous molton lava chocolate cake with ice cream.

A lemony custard thing, with blueberries that I forgot to take a picture of:

And a raspberry sort of mousse/cheesecake that I also forgot to take a picture of, but it resembled this:

And there was a never-ending pot of Tim Hortons coffee, with all the Baileys one could want, as well as a never ending supply of wine, which was organic. Reds and whites.

To not have to cook a single meal was one of the best parts for me. 

To not have to clean a single fish was one of the best parts for Steven.

Charles took care of all the cleaning, filleting, cryovac-ing and freezing. When we got off the boat, our fish was literally packed, frozen and ready to go.

Salmon for supper.

Getting it all sealed up. Actually, this is Stan, the Gorton Fisherman, called such because he was out fishing in his yellow slicker, rain or shine, for as many hours as he could. He stood on the precarious front deck, with "the stance" and fished and fished and fished.

Besides all the eating and fishing and eating and fishing I found some time (lots of time actually) to sneak away and just sit and enjoy the ocean. And a book. And maybe enjoy a glass of wine. Or seven.

And to enjoy the scenery....we really do live in one of the most beautiful places in the entire world.

Steven and Tony going for the  day on the little boat. 

I like the way the swirl of water looks so smooth in this.

Steven and Tony again, going in the little boat. I was so happy with this picture, it reminds me of a fantasy fairy tale....or heaven or something. Just mystical and soothing. Like the Robin Williams movie about the afterlife.

And this picture is my absolute favorite. To me, it looks like molten gold and I find it mesmerizing. I got a copy enlarged and I just love to stare at it.. No talent, just luck and Mother Nature.

We also saw lots of wildlife. Porpoises...impossible to get pictures of. Whales, both killer and humpback....almost impossible to get photos of. They'd be gone long before I was focused, but we did see one breech...and that was an "Ooooooh!" moment, I've never seen that before, and I think my jaw literally hung open. It was magnificent.

This fellow hung around for quite a while...he'd come up and down like this, but no jumping. But that was ok, this was still a phenomenal sight.

A flip of his tail as he vanished.

An early morning, misty sight.,

Regal but stinky. And loud!

Even the little coves and islands had sights to see.

By the way, this is where we were. Kitimat is a bit above the red mark. We went down the Douglas Channel to the ocean.

This island is Campania Island, we went past that and then, alas, at the end of the week we turned around and went back.

Good bye, beautiful islands.

Goodbye little threesome of boats.

Hello Jasper, Columbia Icefields, Yoho, Banff and Kootenay National Parks. Hello most amazing Storm Mountain Lodge hidden in the middle nowhere...home of romantic cabins and the sweetest restaurant...home of bison burgers and halibut crab cakes and a $12 pear (well, I mean, it was stuffed with ice wine, honey, chèvre, bee pollen and a balsamic glaze.) 

This place was built to attract tourists in the 1920's and we're still arriving. It is spectacular!

My cup runneth over. Are we there yet?