WE SAW THE SUN

It's been weeks since we've seen the sun but yesterday ...............

the sun came out all day. It felt good to be outside once again.

Even with our afternoon temperature at -23*C it was still good to bundle up and walk the road.

Today will be much the same, not Florida but more typical of a January day up here. The trails are busy with snowmobiles and the town is full of sleds and trailers on their way through to their place in the bush. Yes, you can ride your machine right into town.

Time for us to clean of the panels and watch for deer crossing our pond.

Safe travels everyone.

NEW GADGET

Art bought another kitchen gadget! I was a bit unsure of it at first. The box was big and the instruction booklet thick...........hmmm. But it was on sale and about 500 reviews gave it a 5*.

So I went online and found a recipe specifically designed for the INSTANT POT and 

within a very short period of time, had a full meal in the pot. A little more delving into the instruction booklet and we were ready to fire it up. (plug it in and turn it on) It is electric.

The result was amazing. We had a 4 1/2 lb. chicken, complete with root veggies ready to eat in under an hour. We had almost 4 cups of super gelatin soup base as well. The actual cooking time was only 28 minutes. I was hooked. We ate some of the leftover chicken the following day and could not believe how moist and delicious it still was. I have also made an amazing pot of chicken lentil soup, which took about 18 minutes cooking time. Art is thrilled at the small amount of energy it consumes for the amount of food one prepares. 

We like it so much I think we will take it camping.

If you use one share with us your experience.

Thanks for stopping by and safe travels everyone.

COSTCO SUPPORT

I bought my computer at Costco, November, 2014. I also bought the extended warranty for $69.00. I've had three occasions to call support and ask for help. Every time they have been very patient and helpful with this old fool.

This week a new issue occurred.  I couldn't get my computer to connect successfully to our TV screen, so I called customer support.

I love these people, friendly, patient, helpful and available 24/7. Health care for us old guys should be just as convenient and friendly.

Anyway, we worked together on the issue for over an hour. You know how it goes, they get permission to get into your computer while you sit there and watch things happen on the screen. 

After every attempt failed it was decided it wasn't a software problem but a hardware malfunction of the VGA port. (no idea what that stands for but it doesn't matter) So off to the repair shop.

Now we are 10 km from town back in the bush and winter has arrived big time.

No problem. UPS will drop off a box in two business days for me to pack my computer in along with the power cord. When packed, I call UPS and they will pick it up and deliver it to the service depot in Markham; no charge. 

Another 6-9 business days and the computer should be back at our house good to go.

Total cost: 0 

You can't complain about the service and support you get from Costco. Love the fact I can call customer help line any time day or night and I get an English speaking individual who understands my frustrations and walks me through the problem so I can get back to posting on my blog.

Costco ............ why would I shop anywhere else?

And our health care is slowly embracing modern communications and moving in the same direction. I wouldn't be surprised that a visit to the doctor's office will, in many cases, be replaced by telecommunications from home to the doctor's office.

 It's a remarkable age we live in.

Now if I don't post for a while, don't worry, I haven't died just don't have a computer that works.

Safe travels everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Decided to start the new year with a hike up to the ponds. It was a perfect morning to be on the snowshoes, not too cold with a gentle cover of new snow still drifting down as we hiked.

Mary lead the way for the first part of the trail; I took over when we had to break new trail.

In about thirty minutes we reached the ponds and stopped for a much needed rest. Snowshoeing keeps me warm and gets the heart pumping.

Can you tell Mary is having fun.

Back home we are enjoying almond biscuits with Sherri's homemade jam. Delicious.

Thanks for stopping by and all the best in 2016

WINTER HIKE

First winter hike. We have about 10 inches of ice crusted snow in the bush.

Mary took this with her phone. I left my camera at home.

Last day of 2015, enjoy the evening.

DOG DAYS OF WINTER

We are definitely into the "Dog Days of Winter". It has been months since we've had any substantial days of sunshine. We've had rain and overcast days since the end of October and today looks much the same. This winter we've run the generator more than any of the past three.  Maybe it's time to hook up the trailer and head south to Arizona. Winters in the desert were great.

Yesterday we had freezing rain followed by 6 inches of snow. I plowed our laneway with the skidsteer which makes the job so easy and keeps me warm inside the cab. This was our first major snowfall of the year and the first time I've used the skidsteer in months. Fortunately I have chains on the back tires so the ice under the snow wasn't a problem.

Today I think I'll get out the travel books and do a little dreaming. 

Safe travels everyone.

INDOOR FARMING

Any idea what this is? It's a high potency herb that has many excellent properties. It's also very easy to grow and harvest indoors.

What you see Mary holding are the roots from one stem of the plant grown in our kitchen over the past 8 months and harvested yesterday. Know the answer? If you guessed turmeric, you are right.

Mary boils it on the stove along with some ginger to make a morning tea. She adds a teaspoon of raw honey and some lemon to the tea. It is delicious and oh so healthy.

Turmeric production is far easier than ginger and as shown here yields much more produce for the same space. I think we will switch to growing more turmeric and buy our ginger at the grocery store where it is plentiful and inexpensive.

Finally starting to get some winter weather today. Snow is falling and I may need to plow the driveway later.

Safe travels everyone.