No cats in the bag

Notes from the road....

I finally packed my bags, despite the cats' attempts at helping....  

One flight to Montreal and a second connecting on to Geneva.... 'Gen Ev'. 

I arrived earlier than expected and had some technology anxiety as I tried to text and call my brother with no immediate reply and then issues trying to connect to the airport wifi.  I finally connected and was met by family.  My Dad was also visiting my brother and family. 

I was feeling quite jet lagged but there was so much to see, the excitement kept me awake.  Arrived at my brother's place at the edge of town, sorted out local calling, texting and wifi access, then time for a nap. 

It was my brother's birthday and mine in a week so it was a joint party!  Out to a fabulous Moroccan restaurant almost next door, then home for cake and presents!

The next day Dad and I went exploring, with my niece as a guide to the transit system. ...

The idea was to take boat from Geneva, Switzerland to Yvoire, France.

 A tram ride downtown only to find out the schedule has changed for winter. 

All was not lost for we could take a train to Nyon and then a boat from there. However when we got off the train we chose to ask directions where to catch the boat... These two looked helpful 

Only problem was after a chat, exchange of card and patch... 

....well,  we missed the boat!  If we took the next one we would not have much time to tour before having to return .... Hmmm

 

We decided to a take a boat to Chens, France and have lunch there.

The boat took us to a park at the waters edge and it turned out that Chens is really more of a suburb alittle distance away. ... We decided to go for a walk. 

After about an hour, and passing many houses we finally found a restaurant. It was away from the tourists and filled with locals.   Everyone was eating the special ... bread, pate, red wine, beef with rice and veg, followed by creme caramel and coffee.  We chose the same and had a great lunch... 

For the both of us, it cost the price of only an entre at the tourist restaurant at the waters edge. 

We did not get to where we planned, but it was a grand day out and we even managed to find our way home. 

Dad leaves in the morning.... I will find more adventures with my brother and his family. ....

Thanks for the giving Mother Earth

The apples are just about done..... 

I have made apple sauce and apple butter with unpeeled apples.  I have cut up peeled apples for the freezer.  I have canned peeled apples in a stevia water mix.  I don't think think I will do that again..  Not sure I care for stevia. 

And most importantly I have stuffed peeled apples in jars and covered them in a sugar and cinnamon sauce ... All ready to pour into a pie or eat with ice cream!  Thanks K. for the recipe!

I even tried apple jelly.  It did not set right, so really I made apple syrup.  But it's good!

And I continue to share and eat the biggest little apples I picked!

The hazel nuts were dried out and left in the cold room.  My hammer worked great, but I finally invested in a proper nut cracker. 

I tried roasting some too, but I think I like the hazel nuts raw better.  Anyhow, a few samples shared and the rest to the freezer in bags.  

~   ~ 

And then...

It was time to check out the fall colours in my future neighbourhood and gather any walnuts that could be found. 

I had only seen a few walnuts growing on the tree so I did not expect to harvest many.  I read on the internet that one should wear gloves when harvesting; that the outer husks have an oil that stains everything. 

I did not have to worry about that for I only located a few walnuts and the husks were cracked enough I did not have to handle them much. 

.... Only seven found in the grasses, none on the tree. 

I still have much to learn about my fig tree.  It looks like there are little figs growing now. Surely they will not continue to grow and ripen at this time of year...?

The plum tree looked nice with its fall colours... 

No sign of the Young Ben, yet more signs the bear still likes to hang out with my fruit trees. 

And well that's it. 

I really should be cutting back the grass, cleaning out the shed, or carting away some of the junk on the property.  I even could say fixing the greenhouse roof, but the fig tree will need pruning first. 

There is time. 

So no more work.  It was a nice fall Thanksgiving weekend and I took a few walks.... down to the lake, then from the river to the lake and then I found an ocean beach with a boat launch about 5-10 mins away from the fruit trees. .... Shoulda' brought the kayak as the water was so calm. 

Time to head back to the house that will someday soon sell and to think about packing my pack... after chopping and stacking some more firewood of course!!

This post was all from my phone, so I am ready for the road less travelled...

Its Oct. 2, 2013.

In four weeks I will have arrived in Geneva, it will be my brother's birthday.

In four weeks, I will have finally figured out what I am actually packing in my backpack and I will have packed it.  The cats will have tried their best to come with me and I hopefully will not have forgotten anything.  Sorry cats.

I am pretty good at remembering somethings.....like how one should not split up the verb with a word in the middle.  A teacher told me that in high school.  I know it, but I almost always break that rule.

Now if I can remember that, hopefully I will remember all my gear for my Portuguese Camino.

In five weeks I will have already arrived in Porto.. Oporto... it will be my birthday.

I am not sure how much I will write while I travel. ....