200927 Forests Family Food

sept 27

This is the Missisquoi River. It is older than the Green Mountains (northern Appalachians) dating to 375 million years ago, 25 million years before the mountains rose up. How can that be? It just kept on flowing along while mountains pushed up beneath it like someone sliding into bed under a sleeping cat.

Three weeks ago as we drove south from Montréal the forest was green except for the maples that had turned red. Now the mountains are quilted in red, yellow, purple and orange. The pale purple aster is a perfect offset to the fall trees.

This is Rain and Tal's farm. The sugar shack (not in use) on the left and the farmhouse on the right. Many houses here are clad in cedar which doesn't require a finish - it doesn't rot and ruin. In Japan cedar is widely used for houses and temples and ages to a lovely grey. One can see cedar fences and barns in Ontario too.

Rain and Tal's dogs, Handsome and Strong. (Note: names derived from 200924 post, not predating it.) Strong, the black and white, is still a pup. They have a good life here, guarding the farm and accompanying their humans on farm tasks.

On the left is the usual one-and-a-half lane Potton County road, while the one on the right is our own stretch of Chemin du Lac (well-travelled), while we stay at the chalet.

Below: These strawberries are locally grown and available June through mid-October (How? greenhouse?). They are perfect and delicious.

Dinner last night: falafels, fresh vegetables, pita and peanut butter. I left the tahini at home. PB is an excellent substitute, and for little children, a much easier sell than tahini.