Llama hiking

When we found out we were going to Massachusetts, I assumed we would do certain things, but never anticipated that hiking with llamas would be one of those things. I didn't even know it was a "thing." But, turns out, there is more than one farm that offers this interesting activity. Enter: Hawkmeadow Farms.

I was excited. Didn't know what to expect—do we ride them? do they carry our stuff?—I didn't really care, I just wanted to hang with some animals!

As a naturalist, Richard made an excellent guide, pointing out features of the land that we might not have noticed. Like the large beech tree, called a "babysitter tree" because mama bear sends her babies up it while she forages, hence all the claw marks on it's trunk. Or the area of freshly dug earth, indicative of a bear rooting around for grubs. Or dissecting some scat, revealing rodent bones, to determine just who's scat it was. Coyote, likely.

The llamas made interesting and unique hiking companions. When my llama, Picasso, wasn't munching on every possible thing he could reach (which was a llot, his neck is llong), he engaged in an activity called "pointing." I would notice the slack in the lead tighten, and would turn to find him stopped, and looking, pointing, intently into the forest. I would follow his gaze, as Richard said this often would lead to a sighting of some sort of wildlife. But I never saw anything, which actually started to freak me out after a bit. Especially after Richard kept pointing out fresh evidence of bears and coyotes.

By the end of the hike, Mark and Happy Jack were besties, and his llama would rub it's face on Mark's arm. But note Picasso's distinct lean away from me. He would have none of it. But I love him anyway. How could you not love those big eyes and prominent underbite? And did you notice the spot on his left eye is shaped like Africa? How cool is that?!

Cricket Creek Farm

I've got a bunch of posts to share with you this week about my vacation last week in western Massachusetts! Western Massachusetts, you ask? Why'd you go there? Well, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of some awesome friends, we were given a week's stay in a timeshare hotel, in an area known as the Berkshires. And though this area hadn't previously been on my radar (overshadowed by more well-known places on the east-side of the state, namely Boston and Cape Cod), I'm so glad we were given this opportunity, and I would absolutely go back. The Berkshires are full of things to explore: picturesque towns and winding roads, art galleries and antique stores, organic farms and hiking trails...

In doing a bit of pre-trip research, Mark came across this awesome farm that was our first stop: Cricket Creek Farm. If I ever come back in another life, please let me be a barn cat on this farm. Situated in the Taconic hills, overlooking the highest peak in the Berkshires and all of Massachusetts: Mount Greylock. Surrounded by green, rolling pastures and beautiful forests, the farm raises dairy cows and sells raw milk, raw milk cheeses, bread, baked goods, local honey and beeswax products, maple syrup, preserves, jams, and even pottery! The farm store runs on the honour system: put what you owe in the box, and take change if you need it. Plus they host monthly potlucks to the members of their CSA. There is nothing I don't love about this place! Plus, when we were there, there were brand new, 5-day-old piglets! Piglets, baby cows, barn cats, chickens—I was in heaven!

Of all the cheeses they offer, we tried the Tobasi and Maggie's Round, and both were fantastic. We also got some raw milk, which I'd never had before (since it's illegal in Canada; don't get me started on that one), and ohmy, it's good! So good! So fresh and clean tasting. Just like regular milk, but better!

Yarn-wrapped wreath

A quick DIY for the door to replace the winter wreath I made last year. The wreath form was found at a garage sale for 25¢, the yarn was from my mom's collection, and the buttons were scrounged. The most expensive part, by far, was the three sheets of purple paper I bought from Michael's, at 89¢ per sheet. I had wanted to make the flowers from upcycled felt, but couldn't find any purple... To be honest, I'm not in love with the flowers, and might replace them if some felt comes along, but until then I'm just happy to have some colour on the door.

Spring, unsprung.

I hope the seeds we planted yesterday don't mind this little snowfall...

Earth Day

This year we spent Earth Day starting to plant our vegetable garden.

Last year, we were lucky enough to spend Earth Day in the splendour of some of the most dramatic natural scenery on earth... We finished up our California roadtrip in Yosemite National Park, a place of stunning granite cliffs, roaring waterfalls, and towering red pines.

No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls
seems to glow with life... as if into this one mountain mansion Nature had
gathered her choicest treasures...

—John Muir 

To escape the hoards we hiked up to the viewpoint for Nevada Falls and Half Dome, past the busy viewpoint a bit farther down at Vernal Falls. Part of the trail we took was buried under snow, which made for a rather heart-stopping ascent as we scrambled up the steep snow-face (actually, the descent was far worse) but, as always, it was well worth it. 

The exquisite sight, sound, and smell of wilderness is many times more powerful
if it is earned through physical achievement, if it comes at the end of a long and
fatiguing trip for which vigorous good health is necessary. Practically speaking,
this means that no one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means.

—Garrett Hardin, The Ecologist, February 1974

Weeknight hike, complete with bear!

One of the many things I love about Ottawa is the proximity to great hiking. Take last night for instance. Weekends are usually the time for hiking, but when you can get from door to trail in twenty minutes, and the sun doesn't set until about 8pm, why not get out for a hike after work?

The Promenade de la Gatineau isn't open until early May, so we parked in P3 by the gate and set out on the paved trail, detouring as soon as possible onto the first earthen trail. We met up with the end of a service road where there is a man-made mound with a fenced-in station of some sort. Curious, we walked to the top of this mound and there, across the grassy green was a big, healthy-looking black bear! Heart rates immediately through the roof, I did a quick scan. Phew! No baby bears. (My nightmare: big bear in front, little bear behind me... and me, monkey in the middle...) Though the bear seemed quite unperturbed by our presence, and may have allowed us to observe him from a distance for a while, I didn't want to contribute in any way to his habituation. So we slowly and discreetly made our way back down the slope, and joined trail #66 which ran off the service road.

Nerves slightly on edge for the remainder of the hike, we made sure to keep up our chatter up, since we hadn't brought our bear bell. In all honesty, I hadn't even thought of it, since in all the times I've hiked in Gatineau Park, I've never seen a bear. (And I wish I had some photos of the bear, but it wasn't my primary concern at the time!) 

Two deer startled us (and/or we startled them) as they dashed through the forest, white tails high. Nerves no less on edge, and the setting sun dimming our beautiful forest setting, we were slightly relieved to reach the Promenade, where we didn't have to worry about where trail #66 would end up (since it's neither on our winter map nor our summer map, yet there are blue signs on the trees). While walking down the shoulder of the Promenade, we could marvel at the speed of the cyclists whizzing past, and enjoy the rest of this beautiful evening.

Mark's phone has a super-cool tracking feature!

Raw brownies and kale chips

How about sweets first, then the salty. My friend SV made a batch of these brownies when I was over for one of our feasting marathons, and I was hooked. They are unbelievably scrumptious, but may cause a food processor burnout. Mine nearly ground to a halt trying to blend up the sticky sticky dates, but any struggle is well worth it.

The Raw Brownie
Recipe from My New Roots

2 cups whole walnuts
2.5 cups dates
1 cup raw cacao
1 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
¼ tsp sea salt

1. Place walnuts in food processor and blend on high until the nuts are finely ground.
2. Add the cacao and salt. Pulse to combine.
3. Add the dates one at a time through the feed tube of the food processor while it is running. What you should end up with is a mix that appears rather like cake crumbs, but that when pressed, will easily stick together (if the mixture does not hold together well, add more dates).
4. In a large bowl (or the pan you plan on putting the brownies in), combine the walnut-cacao mix with the chopped almonds. Press into a lined cake pan or mold. Place in freezer or fridge until ready to serve (it is also easier to cut these when they are very cold). Store in an airtight container.

I am loving all the amazing recipes featuring kale lately (Adrienneats has posted a lot of awesome ones, this one's one of my favourites). Salads I get, but chips? From kale? Really? I was so curious to try them. And when I finally did, I can see why they're so popular! I would describe their texture as crispy, but too delicate to call crunchy. Because they're so crumbly, like a dry autumn leaf, I imagine storing them in a jar is best, but mine never made it past the cookie sheet...

Kale Chips
Recipe adapted Feather + Anchor

Curly kale
Olive oil
Sea salt
*Other optional toppings: soy sauce, sesame seeds, cayenne pepper, ground pepper etc.

1. Tear kale into small pieces and drizzle with oil, salt, and any other toppings you wish, and toss until coated. As Erin mentions, keep the oil/liquids to a minimum (I made a batch with too much soy sauce, and they took a lot longer to dry out) and place on a cookie sheet in a single layer without overlapping edges.
2. Bake in a 200º oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the kale is dry and crispy. 
3. Feast.