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​Okay, now that I have just said something so radical that many may be literally falling off their chairs; something that seemingly goes against all current and popular way of thinking ... ​grant me the opportunity to share another viewpoint!

​But first, a sincere apology to those sputtering; "But I feel better when there is no clutter around!" or "My parents' / grandparents' stuff is so out-dated ... I don't want it!"  or "I'll have more time for experiences if I'm free from taking care of dust collectors!" And so on and so forth. Yes, I do hear these protests ... ad nauseam in fact.  It is pounded into my head constantly by posts on social media and by well-meaning individuals who truly believe in a minimalist lifestyle.  I believe their viewpoint resonates with many people for one very simple reason ... that there is indeed good value in clearing out useless clutter! But the keyword here is "useless".

The alternative viewpoint I wish to share is not to be so over zealous that we "Throw the baby out with the bathwater"; and instead to focus on "Sorting the wheat from the chaff".  (I do love old sayings!)

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Here's the thing.  I love my "stuff"!  It fills me with great joy to be surrounded by sentimental items.  They jog memories that I thought forgotten.  They provide a warm connection to family, friends and pets who have since passed, to my family history and cultural heritage, and to travels taken.  And these items reflect back to me, a little of who I am, where I've been and what I believe in; thus providing a sense of grounding in a sometimes unstable world.


I wholeheartedly believe that this sense of belonging is something that so many people today are desperately searching for and that I believe, could at least be partially found, in celebrating their own personal (and family) story through that very "clutter" that is so often overlooked, devalued and discarded. 

The definition of clutter has recently evolved to mean basically anything and everything in the home - except for only the most necessary and (usually) neutral items.  Under current attack in the name of "clearing the clutter" are sentimental items, heirlooms and keepsakes.  We are also urged to discard books, records, videos, CDs, DVDs, photos and documents that can be transformed (or re-purchased - Aye, there's the rub!!) into digital form.  It has come to mean vilifying anything and everything that can't be used in the actual moment.  It has come with the illusion that new products are always better.  And it is this new definition of "clutter" that I don't actually see as clutter at all, but in fact, an attack on heritage, disdain for the generations that came before us, and an inability to recognize quality household goods that last and last. It is also a symptom of the "throw away" culture and goes against the goal of sustainability.

I hate to throw out food. It has just gotten too dear to fool around with!

Before Christmas and New Year's we purchase all kinds of groceries and goodies.  We bake and cook - sometimes a little too much in anticipation of guests (Note: 2020-not this year of course!), and just in the spirit of abundance that the Yule Season represents.  Hopefully, you have been freezing all your leftovers along the way - especially those best cuts of turkey.

I recommend taking a good look inside your fridge ... and now! Because that food is going to spoil if you don't get to it very soon.  It's too easy to forget about something you bought and didn't use and that is now buried in the fridge, which is overly-stuffed with bits and pieces and leftovers.  So do a proper clean-out to make sure you are saving as much of that food as possible.

Step 1:
What's in your fridge?
Take a good look on each and every shelf.  Push everything aside so you know what is really in there.  Remove all spoiled food and compost it, wrap up for the "green bin" (if your city provides that kind of recycling service) or toss out.  Don't forget to reuse all those plastic, glass or metal containers ... if you haven't been using your very own covered dishes that is!

Step 2:
What's left?
Now take a look at what is left and prioritize.  Do you have extra cheeses, vegetables and sauces?  Make them part of the next few nights dinner plans so they don't go to waste, with these ideas:

Various kinds of cheeses from cheese platters, sour cream, homemade dips =
"Put-It-All-Together" Macaroni & Cheese
Find the recipe here:  february-when-theres-snow-on-the-snowdrops.html

Cherry tomatoes from finger food veg platters =
Spaghetti sauce or addition to salads.  Or preserve and freeze to use as tomato sauce later on in the year.
Instructions here: january-make-even-more-of-the-food-you-buy-by-reincarnating-it.html

Left-over root vegetables like turnips, parsnips, carrots and potatoes =
Roast and serve as a side dish with meatloaf or fish dish.

Left-over vegetables like brussel sprouts, broccoli, carrots, celery and peppers =
Stir fries, soups, omelets or cut up for snacking with hummus.

Left-over tortilla chips, salsa, sour cream and cheeses =
Nachos!

Set the bag of frozen cranberries on the counter to thaw. Peel and coarsely chop the apples and lemon. Try and chop the raisins a little bit too!  Then put apples, lemon and cranberries into food processor / chopper, a few at a time, until coarsely chopped. Remove and place in a large mixing bowl.  Add the chopped raisins. Then add all the sugar and mix thoroughly until completely mixed. Let stand for 10 minutes.

In a small saucepan, mix water, brandy and pectin. Bring to a boil and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and pour over the fruit and sugar. Continue stirring for another 3 minutes until well mixed but don't worry if a few fruit pectin crystals remain.

Pour into sterilized jars and seal tightly. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Will store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze to keep longer.

It's Christmas Eve and I know you have lots to do ... but since you are probably in the kitchen anyway, you might have just enough time to whip up a batch of fresh Cranberry Apple Chutney to accompany the Christmas turkey this year .. and impress the heck out of folks! 

I LOVE buying vintage items ... or just plain used!  It's a way of life for me - why pay more when you don't have to?  (Mother Nature will love you too for keeping good, reusable items out of the landfills!)

Gentlemen:
Everyone is keen on saving the environment these days aren't they?  Find some old over-sized vintage handkerchiefs for the boys.  Wash and iron them.  Even if he doesn't want to use them at work or at home, they're handy in the car for coffee spills or wiping a spot off the windshield.  Indispensable in his pocket while working in the garden or the workshop for wiping the sweat off his hard-working brow!

Children:
Young children are the easiest.  With usually boxes of toys to choose from, you can put together a nice little collection of toy cars, doll furniture or clothes, board games (check to make sure all the pieces are present) or some little stuffed animals.  Take them home and give them a good clean.  Plastic toys can be wiped down and the little crevices cleaned with a wet Q-tip.  Stuffed animals can go right in your washing machine, with mild soap and cold water on the gentle cycle.  Let them sit on a towel to dry.  Barbie and doll clothes can be washed in the sink in a similar fashion.  When dry, mend any little tears.  Put them all together in zippered toiletry / cosmetic bags or small decorative boxes from the dollar store.  Parents will appreciate that your gift comes with its own storage ... and not all that ridiculous plastic packaging that takes a hacksaw to get into!!  (Seriously, this reduces frustration on Christmas morning when the little one has to wait for scissors to be found, packaging to be cut  ... not to mention cutting or untwisting all those superfluous tie-downs.  And then somehow removing the delicate plastic toy without breaking it!)

The amazing thing is that by shopping this way, you actually will find you think more about the person you are buying for.  What do they really like?  Would they be able to use this item?  What could I pair it with?  You spend less, yes, and save the environment too, but the result is actually more personalized ... and thoughtful, which is ultimately what gift-giving is all about!

Summer is almost over.  Did I just say that?  No worries - capture the essence and feeling of summer by making rose petal jam!

This jam is really easy to make.  I am continually astounded by how much our small city garden gives in the Grove.  Our roses have been really abundant this year and I discovered that there are many recipes with which you can use or include rose petals such as:  rose petal jam or jelly, garnishments for salads, rose vinegar dressing and more! 

Collect rose petals and make some jam now with this simple recipe!

You will need:
- equal parts rose petals and berry sugar
- juice of one lemon
- water
- canning jars

... and a little pectin (if required)

Step 1:  Collect the rose petals
Pick petals from your loveliest roses and choose only those free from blemish.  For this recipe, I used approximately 250g / 8 ounces of petals.

Step 2:  Wash rose petals, dust with sugar and chill
Rinse the rose petals with cool water, discarding any with blemish.  Drain well and crush lightly in your hands with a bit of berry sugar, making sure to bruise each petal slightly.  Place in bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Step 3:  Making the jam
Pour 1/2 litre of water into a saucepan, together with 250 g berry sugar and the juice of one lemon.  Bring to a boil, stirring all the time.  Add the crushed rose petals, reduce heat, and continue at medium heat, stirring constantly until jam consistency and setting point is reached.  Add 1/2 package of powdered pectin if necessary.

Step 4:  Preparing the jam for storage
Properly sterilize your canning equipment.  I usually achieve this by boiling jars, rims, seals and any utensils I will be using.  Spoon the jam into jars and seal tightly.  Store as appropriate for the canning method you use.  Enjoy with toast, croissants or scones on a rainy day when you are dreaming of summer ...

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018

May is such a magical month that the appearance of fairies in your garden should come as no surprise!  Even the staunchest disbeliever must do a double take when ... apple, pear or cherry blossoms float and swirl though the air, fresh new leaves rustle in the wind or the sun shimmers and gleams in nooks and crannies in the garden.  All these subtle happenings can be evidence of fairy activity ...

1.  Foliage
This is a biggie because fairies are like songbirds.  They love trees as this gives them little branches to cling to, or big branches for swinging and leaves to hide behind.  Not to mention that their older cousins, the Dryads, will often tell them stories at night about ancient times and places.  Plant lots of perennial flowers that will magically sprout up in the Spring, year after year, without any extra work on your part - bluebells, tulips, daffodils, forget-me-nots, Jack Frost, Lily-of-the-Valley, foxgloves - your garden will be alive with colour and sweet scents that attract the birds, bees, butterflies ... and fairies!

And for some fun, blow some bubbles from a bubble wand!  There is something magical about bubbles floating gently on the breeze ... and the fairies will be sure to notice.

Accept the magical world around you and welcome it into your garden.  It doesn't matter how big or small it is.  Whether you are charmed with a "back 40", a fantastically witch-y cottage garden, a "postage stamp" city plot or even an apartment balcony; you can always add in a little bit of nature - usually more than you think once you get started!  Prepare to be amazed at how special life becomes when your home becomes a safe haven for fairies to congregate and play.

The beginning of May marks the beginning of Summer in old English tradition.  The year was divided into two halves -- with Summer beginning on May 1st and Winter beginning on October 31st.  Of course, the weather doesn't always conform to these dates! 



This year, however, the Grove has seen a lovely hot week of sunshine - after the usual amount of copious April showers of rain and hail.  Hopefully, it will continue for a wonderful and warm May Day on May 1st.


The garden is certainly responding to the heat and all sorts of plants are bursting forth with leaves and blossoms.  Here are just a few that my camera caught today!

Easter continues at Meadow Sweet Grove!  How could it not with lovely fresh eggs, courtesy of our neighbours and their urban backyard chickens? The lovely hues of these eggs are their natural colours - so there was no need to dye these beauties for our Easter display. I think the glass egg cups (a great vintage score scouted out by my mother-in-law); provide the perfect pairing for this little trio.

Having these chickens so near (and occasionally since, the delightful opportunity to care for them) must have stirred something in my blood. I was born on a poultry farm but my parents decided to semi-retire and relocate when I was 3 years old. As such, I only have a few memories of the farm they owned and operated. But it got me to thinking that backyard chickens would be such a wonderful addition to the Grove.  A small coop and run space really wouldn't take up too much room for just a few "hobby" chickens.  But, unfortunately, our garden area is extremely limited right now and we are looking for a bit more room to add veggies ... not fowls! 

There seem to be rainbows abounding all 'round at Meadow Sweet Grove lately ... in some form or other!

Sighting a rainbow is such a mystical experience.  That breathtaking spectrum of colour that appears brightly overhead for just a moment of time literally illuminating the day.  The sheer size and perfection of the arch is awe-inspiring in itself and is an example of Mother Nature's power.  And when a double rainbow occurs?  Count yourself very fortunate indeed.

I have observed that rainbows most often appear when, during a rainy day, the sun suddenly bursts through ... and for a short time, there is both rain and sunshine.  That's when its time to spin around quickly and see where the rainbow is showing itself in your neighbourhood!  Sometimes it isn't worth trying to catch a photo - by the time you grab the camera - the rainbow is starting to fade in brilliance.  But magical moments in life are meant to be enjoyed as they happen anyway.  Truly, they appear for such a short period of time (like many outward "proofs" of magic) that they are unfortunately missed or misinterpreted by many.  But seeing a rainbow can have such a significant meaning (often a hidden one), that the fabled search for the pot 'o gold isn't even necessary - just catching sight of the rainbow itself enriches.  I have noticed, however, that the land over which the rainbow occurs (either beneath the arch or at one of the ends) has often proved to be noteworthy ...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

And, of course, you can always create your own luck through the use of prisms.  Just place them anywhere the sunshine falls in your house ... and they will catch the rays and transform them into good rainbow vibes, right in your own magical home.

                                                                                                                                      Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018 / edited 2020

Sometimes life lands you literally "flat on your back" and out of commission for a few days or weeks.  In such instances, you may need to rely almost exclusively on family, friends and caregivers.  But what if your ability to move around is only partially affected?  For me, an unexpected middle back injury has temporarily left it difficult for me to bend down, carry heavy items or drive - though I can walk and putter about the house - or even complete short errands ... but I can't lift anything or turn my head easily.  This has caused certain things to jump into sharp focus.  Beyond facing any personal assessment and conclusion of this incident; day-to-day life still carries on!  I believe in being prepared, but hindsight is 20/20.  Here's what I have learned, and a list of a few things that might help you to prepare in advance of a (knock on wood!), similar situation occurring:

List of household items to ALWAYS have on hand:

Own a button-up shirt
I prefer to wear shirts and sweaters that pull over my head.  It never occurred to me what is involved in that simple action!  Fortunately, I did have a couple of button-up shirts, way in the back of my closet and I guess I'll be living in those for the next little while!

Own a cap or hat
It's also useful to own a cap for walking in light rain.  Fortunately, I am fond of the Irish "newsboy" type of cap so I already had a couple of these.  I'll be using them a lot over the next little while since I can't carry an umbrella.  Hoods are no good with a back injury since they force you to turn your neck to see when crossing the street.

Own an old brass bell
Meadow Sweet Grove currently has two charming brass bells.  One is a goat perched atop the bell and the other is a little girl with a full skirt.  The goat is an obvious bell, but the girl could simply be seen as a decorative  figurine - but for the clapper under her skirt!  How useful are these in a three-story house when you need to summon help from someone other than the fairies?

Keep the receiving room clean
I have a bad habit of letting the housework slide ... piles of laundry, vacuuming, stuff laying around that I've been meaning to swap, sell or donate ... and general clutter!  But I have one very good policy - always keep the "parlour" clean - if nowhere else.  For us, that's the first room guests enter and right off the front door.  My logic was that even if the rest of the house was a disaster area, there was always at least one clean and tidy room that I could usher unexpected guests into ... and maintain some sense of pride.

Unfortunately, I let that wonderful practice slide and the front room has seen a few unexpected guests lately! And I haven't been able to tidy it up.  My advice - ALWAYS keep the room nearest your front door clean and tidy - you never know when you might not be able to - and that could also be when more people than usual will be showing up! 

Stock up on heavy items
Lately, I have been quite good at stocking up on non-perishable food items and emergency items such as candles, matches, duplicate keys and the like.  What I didn't think about was heavy items.  While it might be easy to walk down to the local store and buy toilet tissue ... it is quite another to lug home a bag of cat litter!

Thrift Stores and Charity Shops

Many people make a New Year's Resolution to "clear the clutter" and get organized.  When taking your clutter into your local thrift store / charity stop to donate - do make sure you check inside the store to see what's on offer.

Many people donate unwanted Christmas presents in January or donate the items those gifts replaced.  Ironically, they often donate better quality items, than the new replacements they received!

For example, someone might donate their "out-dated" dishes that were "Made in England or Japan"; in exchange for a shiny new set from Home Outfitters, Pier 1 and the like.  To each their own, but for the lover of antique, retro, quality or just plain eclectic dishware -- your local thrift store becomes a treasure trove!

Charity shops often have promotions too, like any other retailer, at this time of the year, to make up for low sales.

But January is also a time of year when many people are cutting back on their expenses.  For some, there is more tax deducted off the pay cheque starting in January.  Others overspent at Christmas or feel the need for a holiday somewhere warm.  Whatever the reason for shortness of cash in January - there are still many thrifty ways to save money.

~ Reuse food containers in your kitchen ~
Isn't it silly that we buy containers to freeze or store our food in - when we throw perfectly good containers into the recycling bin every day?  Containers that are already bought and paid for.  Recent news has led me to believe that many of the items we faithfully recycle are not being recycled at all - but shipped to other countries for disposal in their landfills and even oceans.  This, of course, defeats the purpose of recycling which is to keep the items out of Mother Nature's belly!

Here's a number of re-uses for those many containers that make their way into your home:

Glass Jars
The best!  Use for dry beans and lentils, pasta, popcorn and rice.  Freeze homemade applesauce and crushed tomatoes (make sure you leave a good inch or so at the top for expansion).  Use for non-food items like:  nails, screws, tacks, seed pods - you get the idea.

Plastic Tubs
Yogurt, margarine, sour cream, cream cheese, and those funky plastic take-away/delivery containers - anything that is packaged in an opaque plastic tub can be re-used.  Use them to freeze meal left-overs, extra tomato sauce and chicken broth.  Keep them handy to send guests home with left-overs, children to school with cut veggies, cookies and cupcakes for school parties and numerous other non-food uses like:  crayons, craft supplies, pet food - just don't get the two mixed up!    

Bread Bags & Cereal Boxes
Those many bread bags basically replace plastic wraps!  Okay, they don't "cling" but many items you wrap don't need that feature.  Use them to wrap extra portions of raw meat like ground beef and chicken for freezing.  Cut them in half and use them to wrap sandwiches and snacks for lunches.  Collect dry seed pods in the summer or fall - shake the bag and all the seeds will collect beautifully in the bottom of the bag (I learned this trick from a wonderful old Yorkshireman).  Talk about thrifty.  He also cut up his cereal boxes to make shopping lists!

  


        Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018 / edited 2019

The fairies at Meadow Sweet Grove just love fruitcake ...

If you research fruit cake recipes, you will find literally dozens and dozens of versions.
Here's one that I used for the single-layer cake featured here, inspired by a recipe in
"The Victorian Kitchen Book of Cakes and Cookies", but altered to suit our taste. 

Absolutely essential extras:
Brandy, cheesecloth, tinfoil and a sealed container.

Instructions:
Pour brandy into a small mixing bowl. Soak cheesecloth until saturated.  Lift cheesecloth and gently wrap around cake, stretching to fit and turning to cover well.  When completely covered, wrap in tin foil and seal in container.  Repeat process, once a week, for up to 6 weeks.

We are fortunate enough to have a holly tree living with us in the Grove and he kindly provided a sprig for the Christmas Fruit Cake.  The sprig of holly is non-essential but incredibly traditional and gives a wonderfully earthy feel; so nice if you can get your hands on a piece to top your cake! 

It's the dark time of the year, growing darker each night until Christmas, when, if we can raise enough good cheer, it will start to roll back towards the light.

In the meantime, the cats have figured out that those dark rainy afternoons are purr-fect catnap times!  The efforts to restore Creepy Cinderella must be working, as she seems to have found a new friend, who thinks she makes a very cozy companion.  I often find these two curled up together!

Isn't it amazing what a little soap and water can do!!                                                                              

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​ 

The Grove is certainly having its share of blustery days and lots of rain.  So much wind that everything - hummingbird feeders, bead curtains, candle holders and even wind chimes have had to be taken down - or be blown down!  So much rain that you can hear it literally pounding on the roof!

But we did have warning - a couple of beautiful sunny days absolutely full of the sounds and sight of crows, hummingbirds, chickadees, juncos, bushtits, flickers, blue jays and robins, robins, robins ... all looking for food.  Now that the wind and rain is here, only the crows have remained steady visitors - hunched on the telephone wires, awaiting a hand-out and then back off to relative dry in the cedar trees.

The combination of bright sun and swaying branches create dancing shadows everywhere.  The rustling of leaves in the wind produces a magical song.  Clouds move quickly and cause dramatic changes of sudden dark and then sudden light.  And the rain pounds relentlessly on the poor plants.  And amazingly, the ethereal and fleeting appearance of a gorgeous rainbow!  Well, with all this funky weather going on, coupled with cold mornings, there can be no doubt that Fall has a firm foothold and winter is definitely on the way.

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017                                        Pounding rain!  Make sure to turn your sound up!

This week we took a break from restoring our vintage dollie because the apples were in desperate need of rescuing.  It's been a hard year for our apple trees.  Too much heat and too many bugs!  Many of the apples fell off during the summer, others were cored through by bugs, and still others rotted right on the branches!  But, all said and done, we were amazed to get quite a few pecks of perfect "eaters", at least a bushel full of "bakers", a number left behind on the tree for hopeful ripening and still many more left over for cider!  Ah, the cider....

There's going to be cider??             Well, our trees kinda look like this so ....    No, don't cry!  We'll try!

Meadow Sweet Groves claims no rights or ownership to the above YouTube videos.
                                                                                                                                                               Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019

Of course, in all the fairy tale versions of Cinderella; the most important item in her transformation was a new dress from her Fairy Godmother.  So we decided to start the whole cleaning process with the clothes.  The dress is actually in good condition.  Pink and white lace overlay with buttons and bows (all in good condition) over an attached pink slip.  Hook and eye closure at the back are okay.  Hair band solid and elastic still has a bit of stretch, but seriously discoloured ... and the smell!  Okay, so atrocious - I can't even begin to describe it, but worse than the smell was the feel of these clothes.  They felt stiff, sticky and "crunchy" if that's possible to imagine.  So, so much dirt.  So into the tub they go!

After two or three rinses, the water finally ran perfectly clear - here we are drying in the sun!  The clothes turned out pretty good actually - still discoloured (especially the socks and hair band) but the contrast is considerably more subtle now.  Best of all they feel soft and smell sweet!

Tune in next week when we'll try our hand at cleaning those dreadful shoes!

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 ​