Dancing for a Cure

I love, love, love this video by researchers at the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre at McGill University in Montreal.

Motivations and Inspirations for Canning

Canning is a very nostalgic act for me. I grew up watching my family can jams, peaches, pears and salsa. My favourite was the raspberry jam and the little wedges of preserved fruit we mixed into puddings in January. My grandma, who had her own full pantry, also canned a mean Saskatoon berry sauce for waffles. This winter we've already stocked away dozens of cans of peaches, peach jam, apple sauce and salsa verde. When my mom visited in August she added raspberry jam to the mix.

Each year as I pull out my own jars, I'm struck by how intimidating canning is for people who didn't grow up in a Family Who Cans. I know a few people who make freezer jams but I can count my fellow canners on one hand.

If you've ever thought of canning but are intimidated by what seems like a complicated process, rest assured that it's far easier than it looks. All you need is a cookbook, which can be found at the library or your local bookstore. Now is the season to start canning applesauce, apple butters and salsa. Check out the quick how-to video below from Ball (as in Ball Blue canning jars) to get an idea of the process. I bought a kit similar to the one they are advertising at my local Canadian Tire. If you're looking for inspiration, Bernardin (as in Bernardin canning jars) has loads of recipes on their website. Another great source for ideas is the Well Preserved blog which just covered tomato sauce canning.

Happy canning!

Photo by tamaraott10

Unplugging

An interesting thing has happened to me since moving to Kitchener-Waterloo. I've unplugged. Or I've been unplugged, I'm not sure which.

When we first arrived we rented a sabbatical home with no cable. Instead of a television, the family home had a stereo wired around the main floor. Every night after a long day at work, we would come home and listen to CBC radio over our dinner and throughout the evening. Whether it was the news on CBC1, the classical stylings on CBC2 or indie hits on CBC3, we really started to enjoy the peace. A piece of quiet in our long day.

When we bought our own home we decided to forgo cable. We had really started to enjoy the calm. We had also realized we could watch most shows online and the radio sufficed as a news outlet. We no longer obsessed over world disasters, crumbling economies, abducted children or near constant danger. We started to read more. I went back to playing the piano. We talked. We walked. We escaped.

As a side effect we also started to unplug from social media. Without the mindless hours in front of a television, my iPhone became less interesting. I didn't have the time to flip through Twitter or blog my innermost thoughts and feelings. I kept up with Facebook only because unplugging meant more time for keeping in touch with friends and family.

Now that the summer has ended, the crisp fall breeze is rolling in and we're in flux. We're preparing to cozy up in the cool nights and can't decide about cable. I think this also means that we can't decide about social media. Social media is an avenue to connect but it is also a means to escape. But by escaping the stresses of a media-dominated life we don't need the other escapes anymore.

So, as the fall rolls in I'm not sure if you'll find much of me here or on Twitter. In fact, if you're looking for me you may have better luck at the park around the corner from my house or in the reading nook with my toddler or sitting behind the piano knocking out some Bach or Mozart. Better yet, if you do find me, you may also find a giant smile on my face and 50% fewer lines and wrinkles.