Oh, How Novel!

I know that my posts are getting fewer and farther between, but let's face it time and distance make forgetting easy and life has a way of filling up free time, like sand fills up a flipped hour glass.  I can tell by my traffic reports that this blog sees fewer and fewer visitors (except of course for the random people who look up things like: "Textured wall paper in a living room" or "Stories about squirrels", or even the random "Humphrey the cow".  (Don't think those things don't happen...I have the proof!)  Please don't take that poorly, I understand that we are all busy and have better things to do...as you can tell by my (in)frequency of posting!

Anyhow, our lives here are finally coming to some sort of normal keel and there's less to do in the house and less discoveries to share.  I did however learn that "a well cooked meal" here means it literally, at least for the country folk.  They like their meat firm (very firm) and their veggies soft.  I guess there's something new to learn at every corner.

Driving home from Charlottetown.

You may be wondering, if you've taken the time to look this up, what's going on in the old Robertson homestead.  As you can see by our survey, we're thinking of trying to start a little side business of a dessert truck/cart and are trying to develop a business plan etc.  I'm also working on the logo for the cake business so that we can start advertising and perhaps get a proper website up and running.  I'm also trying to get my novel published (hence the title of this installment), but you either have to shell out cash for a POD (printing on demand) self publishing company which may or may not be entirely reliable, or you have to flog yourself to the publishers.  I've found a likely one, but I have to write a curriculum vitae, a synopsis, get a sample of my book together (formatted correctly) and other sundry tasks that make it rather daunting knowing full well that I'm far more likely to get a rejection slip than and acceptance letter.  (Did you hear my big sigh, all the way over on the West Coast?)    Here's a sort of concept for my front cover (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24569426@N06/3349226732/) just the idea, not the actual picture, as I don't have rights to it:

I'm also trying to get to writing something new, which with everything else (work included) seems to be almost impossible.  Ron continues his epic adventure in basement insulation.  We've come to call it his "man cave" & it's probably the most literal description of such a thing as is possible.  (Considering it's a dirt basement that tends to flood in heavy rain!)  I can't envision a big screen TV down there.

The weather is finally turning, even though it's milder than normal, the winds are picking up and we are awaiting the first big snows.  We keep hoping that they won't come until later, like last year.  For you westies, the light here is very different, particularly in the spring and fall.  I can't quite pin down the how or why of it, but it's strictly "East  Coast".  There's something about it that is very moving.  I continue to drive around marvelling at how beautiful this place is; around every corner and over every rise.  It's not marred with huge strip malls, billboards or massive commercial buildings.  I hope that the locals appreciate what they have here.  (Excluding you, Noella...I know how you love this place!)

Vote while you have the chance about our little side business, we really want to know if you think we have it in us.  Until next time, be well, happy and good to each other.  We miss you.

Old Man Winter

He may not officially arrive until late December, but he's sent his calling card, letting us know he's on his way.  We woke this morning to a fine blanket of snow and have been treated to hail as we sit and enjoy our morning coffee.  It's hard to think that in another month or so we'll look out our window and see vast stretches of white rolling snow drifts, highlighted by blue vallies and sparkling crests.

Before that happens we have to deal with an autumn occurrence...the march of the mice.  We haven't had a repeat of Mr. Scritchy, but mice we do have.  (We're in the middle of the country, so I guess it's expected.) Ron has located their point of entry (hopefully) and we're working on getting it sealed off, but our pantry fell victim to one of the wretched little buggers, so we've gone out and dropped a couple hundred bucks on a pantry with doors and nice sturdy plastic (BPA free, of course) containers.  We also have a new resident squirrel.  I've named her Persephone, but Ron says she's likely more of a Jill.  She's smaller than Heathcliffe(tte) was and even more energetic.  (I wouldn't have thought it was possible, but she literally flies from branch to branch...we've watched her sail though the air from tree top to tree top.)  Needless to say the live trap has been deployed, but she seems to have no interest in peanut butter crackers as there is a wealth of apples to be had.  (We can't keep up with the windfall.)  Is it just me or does this sounds VERY similar to blogs written at the same time last year???

We've switched over to the snow tires and are looking for a good deal on snow shoes, to aid my trips up the driveway this winter.  We feel better prepared, as Ron has been spending his free days increasing the insulation and sealing off the foundation.  It's very messy dirty icky work, but it makes us feel like we're preparing more thoroughly for winter.  The green machine is also in for a tune up and to have the snow blower attached properly.  No more lawn mowing this year.

Sunrise at Leaning Poplars (I'm trying out a new name for the "estate".)

We've been enjoying some of the items we brought back from Vancouver, things like dried ancho chilies for fish tacos and toasted Lebanese couscous pearls.  Here's what we had for dinner last weekend:

Lobster Provencale on Lebanese couscous...yummy!

Ron seems to have mastered getting the claws out whole with the cartilage removed.  An impressive task for those of you unfamiliar with lobster "shucking"...I don't know if that's the official word for shelling lobster, but I like it!

We must now organize our new pantry and get the kitchen reordered, as we have plates on the counters and everything is in a state of upheaval.  Wish us luck in our quest against the nefarious mice & Moriarty like squirrel.  (Sorry!  We watched the entire Lord of the Rings movies last weekend as a wicked Nor'easter blew through, so I seem to be in that sort of mode.)