Our Lifestyle Blog as We Create a Homestead in Northern Ontario
A fair while ago Donna had purchased a large bag of soapnuts. They are advertised as being a natural alternative to many soaps in the household. So far we have been using them mostly for laundry, but I did fill a small bottle for Kenny to try using in the sauna (I wondered if maybe … Read more
Well, I spent my bread labour yesterday cutting, splitting, and piling the pile of logs I had accumulated by the woodshed over the past week. Grandpa had earlier made a beautiful pile that I continued. My sloppy piling on the left side, not a good use of space. Grandpa’s neat and stable piling on the … Read more
A few days ago, Grandpa declared that he was going to put in a new, short side trail to some jack pines that had been killed by a porcupine. Yesterday he finished the trail and cut up some smaller deadwood that he deemed suitable for firewood. As such, today I took the ATV and trailer … Read more
Over the course of the summer, while enjoying the steam of the sauna, I became increasingly agitated as I noticed that the wood paneling on the wall directly over the stove was getting steadily darker. I examined it in the daylight with a flashlight and could see that it was clearly darker than the rest. … Read more
My solar pump is still going (strong? Well, perhaps not strong…) and keeping the pond aerated enough for the goldfish to have flourished, after a fashion. I’m going to call them koi. I think they are not officially koi, but this is an unorganized township, and I can call them whatever I want (except for … Read more
Last week Donna and Kenny managed to get an up close and personal encounter with one of the many Spruce Grouse that seem to think of our property as home. It’s always cute to see them with the little ones, but that’s not nearly as common as almost stepping on them before we notice them … Read more
After previously updating the stovepipe with a cleanout T, and then using the SootEater to clean out the stovepipe, I decided to literally (a proper use of the word) allow the dust to settle. Today after doing the dishes and starting the laundry (and making the bed and cleaning the spare room), I didn’t feel … Read more
With the new T added to the stovepipe, and drop cloths still in place, it made sense to jump right in and clean out the stovepipe. Laying out the SootEater and hooking up the first section. I found a thick plastic shopping bag and fit it over the side junction of the T connector. I … Read more
I’m not afraid to admit to my fear of heights. It all goes back to my early years on Henry Street where I started out oblivious to the dangers present. Apparently one day my dad came home to see me lounging in the open, unscreened second floor window. I greeted him cheerily enough, but he … Read more
Things haven’t been terrifically exciting here on the homestead the past couple of weeks, so I haven’t felt like I had much to post that either of my readers may be interested in. One thing that was really uplifting news was that one of my readers, CW! from our church underwent successful, life changing surgery! … Read more