Homemade hot sauce

This summer was a great one for peppers! Now that they've all been harvested, it's a great time to experiment with different hot sauces. It's amazing, how different they call can be. They're not just hot, there are subtle differences between all of them!
I've made harissa, a north African hot sauce with hints of cumin and coriander, Chinese chili garlic sauce, Thai hot sauce, and Thai sweet and sour sauce. Let me know if you want any recipes!

Thoughts of spring

Looking out over the fields that are, for the most part, put to bed and ready for the big freeze, I find myself optimistically looking forward to the next growing season. But I find that while I have dreams of perfection from October to May, when the garden is still in the planning stages, I resign myself to reality come July and August!

Sunday shopping

I still think it ought to be banned. Was it worth having our little Porcupine Creek Farm store open today for the studio tour? Not really. A few window shoppers, a few curious onlookers, and a few little purchases. But I had some good chats with a few friends, and when there was nobody there (which was a lot of the time), I got to run across the way and keep on painting the little white house, in preparation for our new tenants, who are moving in at the end of the month. Nothing like a fresh coat of paint to brighten up the world, even on a rainy day.
Cheers!
Karen

Of crocodiles and making lip balm

Playing store today at Porcupine Creek Farm wasn't quite like working at Walmart on a Saturday, but the day went by quickly and my Walmart greeters, Molly and Jack, barked enthusiastically at each arrival. I might increase their wages, they behaved so well. Fortunately, they get paid in kibbles, so the farm won't go belly up. Speaking of bellies, they just might get a tummy rub to boot.
Well my first workshop, making lip balm using all natural ingredients, went really well. I had five participants, all women. Unfortunately, the older man who drove up our driveway last Friday evening in his little red Mazda pickup to ask if men were allowed to take the workshop, never did show up. I'm sure he would have been a welcome addition. But the five women who attended appeared to have lots of fun. They got to sniff dried calendula, learn how to make herbal infusions, shave chunks off a one-pound beeswax bar, melt their concoction over the woodstove, flavour their lip balm with an array of essential oils, and break out the coloured markers to pretty up their lip balm labels All went home with stocking stuffers and a recipe. I wish them all happy lip balm making in the future.
Of course Thomas stopped by to entertain us with a sweater that invites playfulness. He asked me to add a hood to the sweater I made him for his birthday last February, but I couldn't resist garnishing the hood.

Sorry, I can't figure out how to flip this picture upright in the blog editor. You'll have to lie down to see the picture properly.
Sleep well.
Karen

Playing Store

Can't complain about today! I got to play store and greet the odd visitor stopping by for the Heart of Hastings Studio Tour, all while getting our former home, the little white house, nicely painted for our new tenants, Matt and Leslie of Punkle's Farm, who we're absolutely thrilled about! The weather outside was gorgeous, the dogs barked to let me know when visitors came. Life is good.

Welcome to Porcupine Creek Farm

What better topic to start with than garlic! Healthy, tasty, good for the immune system...

 This is a picture of Thomas taking a day off school to help me plant garlic. No, I don't employ young children! I thought it would be healthier for him (and his classmates) if he kept his snotty nose at home and spent time in the sunshine planting garlic.
In the background you can see our home and our barn, as yet empty except for our two goats, Lily and Billy Jean.