Saturday 8 September 2012

Halliburton Highlands Homestead #2

I have started 2 blogs about our niece's farm/homestead.  I think I tried to add too many pictures at once as it froze 2x so I will try one last time and only add 4 photos at a time.  Or maybe I should make this three blogs as we were there for a few days.  It is a steep learning curve for this pea-sized dinosaur brain. 


Dave took us for a walk to see his ripening heritage organic crops.  The orders are all in to be filled when he is ready to harvest and thresh.  He is mainly raising Red Fyfe Heritage 1846 wheat, and a heritage buckwheat this year.

This is the his buckwheat field.  It made we want some buckwheat pancakes which I haven't had for
a long time.      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            



                                         
Their house was originally just a log cabin.  They worked hard to spruce it up and add additions over the years.


I really enjoyed being able to use a clean washer and dryer set, and then hang most of it on the line in a fresh hilltop breeze to dry them.  Laundromats on the trail are not always the neatest or nattiest places.  We were camped just east of this winter woodpile. 

 I think I wrote about this little sun house/guest room a few years ago when we were here for their daughter, Eleanor's, wedding.  It has an outside shower at the back.  The entrance is like going into a secret fairy garden that ends up being a vegetable and herbs and flowers area.  I love the serenity of this place in the hills north of Toronto.  The old piled stone walls, that were hand picked off of the fields are also charming, now that I am not the one to have to do the stone-picking.

Niece Cheryl was in the Yukon with her mother (Old Man's sister that we visited in Cardston AB on our way out east from BC.)  But Dave was home and a great host, showing us all the things they are getting into after retirement.  They have always been interested in organic food and heritage plants and animals, so now they can indulge their passions without the distraction of going to work somewhere far away everyday.   They are true Harrowsmith folk.  (That is a magazine started over 50 years ago to cater to Canadian back-to-the-landers.  I still get it from the library and learn something new from each issue.)

6 comments:

  1. Great photos. I have some buckwheat flour in my cupboard, but haven't used any of it yet. Interesting to see a buckwheat field! The log cabin turned mansion is great! Sounds like Cheryl and Dave are headed for a great retirement!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have never had buckwheat anything before. I was just thinking though that the top photo could have been taken in Derbyshire ~ it even has a stone wall.

    It looks a lovely house and area. I really must find out where my Wagstaffe relatives are in Canada ... y'see there's just not enough time. Is that you in the shower Karyn ? It must be great to shower outside like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You devil you. I only wish I were that young and lithe. It is a grandchild. I took one of Old Man too and she got mad at me, reasonably I guess. I don't take pictures of privates or pirates. I really do love outside showers on a warm day. Even here in Canada on the homestead they say that they start outside showers in April and don't stop until October. The water come underground from the house so is very warm.

      Delete
  3. I was.... well,, shocked.. to see someone outside showering..lol.. hahaaa... then laughed... what a shot... I also have not ever used buckwheat flour.. And that bread looked wonderful.. I know I'm on the wrong blog,.,, but I am reading everything at once.. I have been away without notice.. lol.. have been recouping from my trek to the grocery store.. still am very tired this morning.. won't be doing that ever again....

    ReplyDelete
  4. I remember that beuatiful wedding photo you posted some time back in Multiply. Happy to find you Karyn!

    ReplyDelete