Talking To Spiders

I drove up to Lilac cottage today planning to work but it is sooo hot, like 40C.  The temperature inside the house was tolerable, I opened the windows to let the air in, the house has been closed up for over a year.  I really didn't have a lot of time had to come to work early today, all week actually, blah.....  So I thought I would have a little talk with the current residents, the lovely, delicate, long legged spiders that have been squatting in Lilac Cottage.  I sternly informed them that I have bought the house and if they did not want to be squished or vacuumed up they better vamoose within the next couple of days.  I really don't want to squish them or vacuum them, maybe I'll collect them and carry them across the road and let them go in the forest.

I read in some Feng Shui book or article that one should have something like a windsock hanging in the front yard to bring good fortune to the home.  So the other day I went to the dollar store and for $1.25 I bought myself a windsock.  I hung it in the cedar tree and think it looks quite nice, hopefully the good fortune will show up soon.

Lilac Cottage

After living in a Coop for 10 years, I have finally managed to buy a house!  It's a tiny house that I have named Lilac Cottage because on both sides of the property from front to back are lilac bushes.  I take possession next Tuesday.  I just can't wait, the tulip bulbs have already been ordered for fall!  The house needs a bit of work but I'm sure with some TLC the place will be just heaven.  No more noisy upstairs neighbor making a racket at 4:30 in the morning, no more counsel meetings that drag on forever and parking for friends who stay over in the winter. 

Pumpernickel sans le pumpernickel

I suffer from Celiac Disease which means I cannot eat gluten.  Gluten is found in wheat, rye, spelt, kamut, oats, barley, and bulgur.  So I can't eat your run of the mill bread.  I can buy gluten free bread which can be made from a variety of flours like rice, sorghum, fava bean, chickpea, soya, potato, tapioca, arrowroot, millet and teff flours.  Who knew you could make flour out of fava beans!  Now the store gluten free bread is very expensive and doesn't taste very good so I make my own.  The pic above is of my version of pumpernickel bread made from fava bean, chickpea, potato and tapioca flours.  It is quite tasty and high in protein.  This bread is so tasty you can eat it just plain, no butter no jam. 

Rain Rain Go Away...

This is the view from my balcony today, you can't see the rain but it's pouring!  I live in the capital region of Canada so end of January we should have tons of snow on the ground, it should be at least -15C and sunny.  Instead it's 5C and raining.  Too little snow means no snowmobiling, no skiing and they have closed the canal to skaters.  Since I don't have to work today I am staying in where it is warm and dry.

I am taking this time off to do some chores like boring laundry and more fun sewing. 

These lovely mitts were knit by my sister Aline, they were part of my Christmas gift, meant to match my new coat that has not been made yet....

I think I hear my teapot calling.