Island Time

Leg 5 – Storms, Puppy, Snow, Fires – #LexGoFurther – A Ford Escape

Leg 5 – Storms, Puppy, Snow, Fires – #LexGoFurther – A Ford Escape

Prepare yourself.  I have left you waiting for the continued adventures of Lex Go Further – A Ford Escape for far too long.  It is now time for photos of the puppy interspersed with snow, food and a couple of tweets.  But mainly industrial-grade puppy cuteness. When last we spoke, I had just gotten onto a skidoo for the first time in my life to be whisked away to the island which has been a part of my life since I discovered it and claimed it for my own when I was 3. Here’s a quick summary of what was…

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I’m A Flour Child

I’m A Flour Child

With the dog curled up by the fire, the wind shaking the windows and the snow falling hard and thick, it seemed time for a little comfort food. Slow comfort food cooked over the hot coals in the wood stove. Despite the weather and storm warnings it’s still quite warm (for winter) so don’t have to keep the fire roaring and we can build a great set of coals to cook with. It takes a unique combination of skills to keep things which are cooked IN a wood stove. The trick is to keep the food from burning on one…

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Crashing Against The Shore

Crashing Against The Shore

Winds from the south today crashing against the shore meant I spent at least an hour sitting on the rocks mesmerized. There is nothing more soothing to me than big wind and the sound if the surf. Of course, I don’t feel quite that way when I have to leave the island and the winds mean riding the river in big waves especially in November. Sure it can be better in a motor boat than a kayak… But crossing in wind is always a safety concern and the wind is taken very seriously since as any boater knows, we are…

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More Successful Roasting

More Successful Roasting

After some continued experimenting, and frankly the willingness to throw out an entire batch if I burnt the coffee too badly, I finally produced some decent home-roasted coffee. I mentioned a couple of days ago that we were “out” of coffee. It’s not strictly true. I had some green coffee beans squirreled away for just this kind of situation. So for the last couple of days I’ve been roasting coffee beans in the afternoon and then grinding them to make our morning coffee. Yesterday’s coffee was just about perfect. Dark oily roast with a hint of smoke. It was a…

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Winds & Waves & White caps

Winds & Waves & White caps

It’s a beautiful day. The sun is bright and warm, the sky is blue andclear, the wind is howling and blowing like a "son of a bitch"! The water is slamming up against the island and, as it turns out, over thestern of the boat left a little too close to the tide line. Wind and wavesare quite effective in filling a boat with water. Tip effective in myopinion since I got the pleasure of bailing all that water out. Buckets andbuckets of water bailed as the wind slapped me in the face with coldNovember waves. Finally when there was…

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Neither warm nor calm crossing the river

Neither warm nor calm crossing the river

It was just a quick cross and then back home, but mid-river each leg I wasvery happy that was all. I’d show you pictures of that, but I was too busydriving the boat!One hand for you, one for the boat. And when the one for you is on themotor there are zero for the camera!

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This morning’s coffee, fire roasted

This morning’s coffee, fire roasted

My first cup of coffee made from brands I roasted myself!The green beans were purchased at a small Ethiopian store at the foot oddmy street in Toronto, then I slow roasted them on the wood stove, finishingthe process in the fire over the coals. It was okay. The aroma was wonderful, but I definitely need a darker roastfor my tastes. The challenge is, add with ask roasting, walking that fineline between dark roasted and burnt.The caffeine level is high and I’m buzzing from just one cup though. I’d say the experiment was a qualified success.

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The view from today’s conference call

The view from today’s conference call

Joining me for my call today were a loon and a crow. Yesterday’s coworkersincluded Charlie the dog and a seal. Neither contributed much to the callbut they were great company.

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Dinner’s in The Fire #lovecdnbeef

Dinner’s in The Fire #lovecdnbeef

Cool day today, which means a fire all day. Perfect for braising that chunkof beef we picked up on my way home to the island. Right in the coals and dinner will have that added smokiness. Now it’s all about patience.

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Out for a walk with Charlie

Out for a walk with Charlie

A little island walk about to see the high water accompanied by Charlie whoinsisted on being in all the photos.

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Beautiful river to cross

Beautiful river to cross

Home safe and sound

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Ready to fly

Ready to fly

Waiting to hear those magic words "general boarding call for Air Canadaflight 7514 to Montreal" First leg in our island to island travel. Nap-time here I come!

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