So I was reading a borrowed copy of Harrowsmith Country magazine, and they have a whole section featuring long-forgotten and, in some cases, completely disappeared, heirloom seeds. Made me want to start up an apple orchard or something. One thing is for sure, garden-grown produce tastes WAY better that grocery store stuff (because grocery store veggies and fruits barely have a taste at all). I also read, interestingly enough, that the animals on farms, that a hundred years ago had been bred to withstand harsh seasons, drought, disease and could basically exist on their own with little to no human intervention, have all but disappeared as well. Replaced by cows that produce more milk (but are so inbred that 90% of Canada's herd of dairy cows were produced using 11 bulls, one of which has a severe defect which will no doubt affect all the rest of the offspring), and turkeys that carry so much breast meat that they suffer from heart-attacks if not slaughtered soon enough, and chickens that have no mother instincts left, and have to be inoculated constantly as their immune system is so weak. It's sad to see that we all depend so much on technology and modern medicine, etc., that even our ANIMALS now can't live without it. Apparently there's a movement to revive, or at least preserve, the bloodlines of those 'hardier' animals from yester-year, but big-time farmers won't give them a second thought. So I came off the the bus this morning wanting to buy some 'heirloom' laying hens for our new backyard (provided we get it), however I think the neighbours might have a problem seeing as we're buying in a suburb. :)

Maybe I can buy a few to keep at my Mom's or something. :)
While I'm on the whole 'rural' kick, there's another thing I'm interested to try. Apparently there is a movement to try to eat locally produced foods, as a way to support your local farmers, and as well, to try to slow life down a bit. I guess when you think of all the millions of imported foods available to us each day, we often don't really stop to think about what we're eating. I wonder (and it's been suggested that perhaps this is so), if we were to eat a diet of produce that could be grown locally, would we not be better off in terms of receiving the right nutrients for the right times of year? I know that in winter, I crave stews, chilis, cabbage, the 'winter' type foods that aren't available or desirable throughout the summer. Conversely, in the summer, the thought of stuffing myself with fresh baked bread, cheese and chili is enough to make me gag. Anyway, while I'm not ready to give up the foods I eat now, I was thinking maybe we could start trying to buy our summer veggies and fruits from roadside stands and/or the market, instead of the store. And if I get my wish and we have a new house this summer, I hope to plant a small garden (it'll be late in the season by the time I start) so maybe we can grow some yummy veggies ourselves.
Anyway, we're slowly slogging through another hectic, high stress, low money season. Last Spring was like this too. We haven't heard back from the accountant yet on the taxes we're going to owe (and I'd rather not know yet), we put in an offer on the house and are now trying to scrounge up enough money for the closing costs, down-payment, mortgages on both houses (for at least one month), and any repairs/decorating that needs to be done at both places. Gonna be a high-credit, high-interest, no spending cash kinda year I think! The good side is, once we get tenants in both apartments, that house will pay for itself, and we can focus on our new house, complete with two cats and our doggit. :) The other nice thing is we would be moving to Aylmer, which is 40% English speaking, filled with green space, along the waterfront, and full of quaint little shops and older houses. Very pretty area to live in. :)
So, as usual, I'm of course, finding it hard to concentrate on the tedious tasks at work, however, if I want to make this work for us, I guess I better get my head out of the clouds and do something semi-productive today. Keep your fingers crossed for us!!
xo

Introducing the long-awaited newest member of our family (drum-roll please) my new DOG!!!!! :) After a few years of dropped hints and continual scouring of humane society websites (so I could bombard poor Luc with pictures of cute doggies in the pound), I have finally lucked in, not only in that I got a dog, but I got a FABULOUS dog. He's an 11-month old purebred male German Shepherd, originally destined for the conformation show ring, and since (lucky for me!) headed for a pet home, from a well-respected breeder with an amazing line of dogs. I had the good fortune of a chance meeting with him two weeks ago when I was down visiting my parents, and he pretty much sealed the deal with me when he ran right up to me, gave me kisses and let me take him for a walk on his leash with no trouble at all. (In the past I have a bad history of German Shepherds taking one look at me and making a b-line in the opposite direction, so this was a promising start). :) He's not a huge dog, which is great, and he's gorgeous - with a plush coat and dark features (can you tell I'm in wuv with him already?).
Anyway, Luc has been kind enough to relent to my endless bugging, begging and pleading and has agreed to welcome him into our family. :) I can't wait to start obedience training him (in May) and now I have a companion to keep all the bad people away.
So continues my week of planning, e-mailing, shopping, arranging, half-angry trips to the store to lug oversized 100lb boxes of fencing home in my Cavalier, cancellations of many 'engagements' with friends (sorry guys!!) and general disarray which has caused me to be excited one minute and burst into tears the next. One thing I know for sure is that anything that takes this much work to prepare must definitely be worth something in the end, I'd almost feel 'weird' if it was as easy as 'order dog - dog comes home', however it has had its challenges over the last few days that have definitely tested my will to make this work. (And so far, I believe I'm doing alright - despite those people who have offered their two-cents worth of crappy unwarranted comments and negativity that have only served to reinforce the idea that people suck and dogs are wonderful). So starts my journey toward becoming a hermit dog-lady. :)