Common Ground Country Fair

My brother and his wife invited me to join them at the Common Ground Country Fair yesterday, which we all went to together last year as well. (Unfortunately, Jonathan couldn't come last year because he was in class on Friday when we went, and this year he had to work...) Despite forecasts of rainy, stormy weather, we lucked out with just a bit of mist and light rain as we arrived, which soon stopped. By the early afternoon, the clouds had disappeared, the sun came out, and before too long we were a little bit frustrated at our outfit choices (sweaters and shoes/boots), although delighted at the wonderful warm weather. We spent our time at the fair looking around at the booths, enjoying the sights and smells and tastes, and making a few purchases. I did a good bunch of baby/kid-watching (one of my favourite sports :) ) and saw so many parents with babies and young children. Most of the kids I saw seemed to really enjoy the tactile activities available and just being able to run and play in the open spaces. And, while we didn't stop in at the animal buildings, I know those are always interesting for kids, as well. If you're ever in the area, I really recommend visiting the fair and taking in all it has to offer!

Throughout the day, I snapped some pictures on my phone (smaller to carry and less obtrusive to take pictures with than my camera, although the pictures are worse quality). I'll let the photos share a glimpse of how we spent our day.

A native man demonstrating how to carve a paddle

Beautiful native basket

Simple, homemade wooden coffins, an idea that I've thought for several years makes a lot of sense

Amanda heard singing not long after we entered the fair grounds and we quickly found the tent it was coming from. It was a shape-note singing demonstration, which Amanda and I were thrilled to join. I don't know much about shape-note singing and fumbled my way through the first 'verse' of each song (a practice verse of sorts where the singers read the shape notes to sing the melodies in 'sol, fa, la' style). Once that first verse was completed, though, we had usually picked up on the tune and could make it through the rest of the song. It was so much fun to join in the sing and I hope it's not the last time I can try my voice at shape-note singing!

This hymnal is going on my wish list :)

Tyler took a more professional-sounding recording of another song. Click here to listen.

Loved this clever idea for a "price tag" (but no, I did not buy a carved chunk of granite for $900...)

I thought this was a very clever idea for a shed with natural lighting

Tyler and Amanda looking at the lavender

One of my favourite flowers in one of my favourite colours. Love the bright fall look!

My favourite booth at the fair, the succulents. I bought one last year and miraculously, it's still alive!

Selection of bonsai trees

Last year Tyler bought a jade bonsai tree, and this year he bought another, a ficus bonsai tree, to keep the first one company.

Loved these handmade wool stockings! When we eventually get family stockings,
these are the kind I'll be looking for, handmade with beautiful, unique designs.

This was such a bright and pretty display of painted bird statues.
It made me think of my Mum and Grandma and other relatives, who love birds.

Amanda loves knitting and I love bright, happy colours. We both enjoyed wandering through the fiber arts tent and booths.

This Angora bunny was being sheared as Tyler and I waited for Amanda to make her wool purchases.
It was fun to watch passersby smile as they caught sight of the relaxed bunny getting a haircut. :)

As we were heading out at the end of the day, we walked by the demonstration tent (where we'd done the shape-note singing earlier) and came across this happy scene of dancers learning new dances as the moves were called out.

On our way out of the fairgrounds, we got to walk through the farmer's market section. The booths were all set up so nicely with yummy-looking produce acting as the actual decor.

What a cute, little popcorn trolley!

I loved the hanging herbs and other produce

All the food looked so delicious

I loved all the different and interesting ways of displaying the produce

Apples are the epitome of autumn

Amanda and I couldn't resist the apple cider. Such a autumn drink!
(And I was so excited to see a Maasai blanket as the tablecloth)

The kids enjoyed this grass sliding hill

Hoola-hoop play never goes out of style

The Elf, an interesting-looking vehicle just near the exit

I had such a fun day at the fair and am already a little bit sad that I likely won't be in the area next year to experience it again. Hopefully I'll find an equally good fair to go to annually wherever Jonathan and I end up. :)

Thanks so much for the invite, Tyler and Amanda. It was great to spend the day with you at this fun event!

Making pies with Gram

Last March I went home for three weeks while waiting for US Immigration to send me back my passport after my immigration interview. During that time I took a multitude of pictures. Unfortunately, while I really enjoy snapping candid pictures, I rather dislike taking them off my camera and actually doing anything with them. Alas, it is my photo downfall. I have pictures that I want to blog from last year, this summer, this past Christmas, any many more occasions, but I might never get around to them all simply because I like taking pictures a lot better than I like culling and editing them.

Tonight, though, it is time to put up one series of photos, pictures from last spring that I am so glad I took. My Grandma is a wonderful cook (as is my mother). I, on the other hand, can cook reasonably okay meals, but seldom am actually inspired to do so - I claim that the joy-of-cooking gene skipped me over. In our family, though many are great cooks, nobody makes pies like my Grandma! Because her pies are so delicious, I have been wary to attempt making any myself and stick to baking sweets that I feel confident about - mostly cookies and brownies. But when I was home in March I requested a pie-making lesson, and my sister and I spent a delightful afternoon at Gram's house learning how to make her pies. Here is the afternoon in picture-story form.

Mixing up the pie crusts

Rolling out the dough for my pie

Bryn's crust ready to be put in the pan

Gram's skilled hands molding the crust into the pan

Blueberry filling

Gram showing me how to make pretty designs on the top crust

The finished design

Putting on the top crust

Gramps camping out in the dining room to read the paper while the ladies make pies in the kitchen

Using the leftover dough to make another yummy little treat

Bryn rolling up the sweet roll

All ready to snack on :)

Our pies fresh out of the oven

Bryn showcasing her pie

Hey look, Gram taught me how to make pies!

These pictures are so special to me, and I'm so, so glad I brought my camera over to Grandma's house that day so I could snatch it up with floury-sticky fingers and capture these pictures of the process and the experience of making pies with Gram. Although I have no special passion for cooking or baking, I do enjoy making food with other people, especially people I dearly love. For me, making food is more about the experience and the memories made with others than it is about the actual results. And I will remember and cherish this wonderful afternoon with my Grandma for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much for teaching me just one of your baking skills, Gram! I hope my future pies taste even half as good as yours always do!

Kupikia Tanzania cookbook

A few weeks before Christmas I saw a very interesting post on the Cradle of Love Baby Home Facebook page. Cradle of Love is the orphanage I volunteered at while I was working in Tanzania two years ago. Another former volunteer, Angela, decided to go back to Tanzania and work with Tanzanian ladies to learn traditional Tanzanian recipes. She then put all the recipes into a cookbook, which she is now selling, donating all the proceeds to three organizations in Tanzania that are special to her heart. Cradle of Love is one of the three organizations who benefits from the profits of this cookbook.

As soon as I heard about the "Kupikia Tanzania" cookbook, I immediately went to the Blurb page for the book (Blurb is the company Angela used to make the book) and added it to my Amazon wishlist. Then I went back to my normal life. What a surprise for me when, about a week after my birthday last month, I got a package and found this cookbook inside! My amazing sister, Bryna, had bought it for me! I browsed through the cookbook right away, noting that all of my favourite Tanzanian dishes were included. Mmmm, chapati, chipsi myai, and mandazi! I can't wait to try out the vegetarian recipes and bring a little bit of that beautiful East African country that I love so much into my kitchen!

Thank you so much, Bryn, for your wonderful birthday gift! Come visit me sometime and we can cook and eat some of the dishes together! :)

Thank you also, Angela, for taking the time and energy to learn the recipes and to create this beautiful cookbook! I know Cradle of Love is already benefiting from your generous work and I'm sure the other organizations are as well.

My new cookbook!

I love the Kiswahili tips page! I definitely need to brush up on it.

If you are interested in purchasing the "Kupikia Tanzania" cookbook and assisting three worthy organizations who are helping people in Tanzania, go to the Blurb page for the book: Kupikia Tanzania: An Exploration of Tanzanian Cuisine. You can either buy the PDF version, which will come to you instantly after your purchase, or the softcover book version. For more information about the cookbook and the organizations it's helping, go to the Kupikia Tanzania website.

Valentine's Day, home-style

Valentine's Day is an extra special day to me. While my siblings and I were growing up, my parents always did something special for us on Valentine's Day. We had a small gift (often a small Lego set during the early years) waiting for us on our breakfast plates in the morning, and my mum would always make a fun and different breakfast for us that morning, pink pancakes or French toast with hearts cut into the middle, etc. Of course we did the whole Valentine's cards exchange at school, but that was never really what the holiday was about for us. We grew up knowing that February 14 was a day to show love and appreciation to those we care for the most, be they family, friends, or significant others. I still see it as just an awesome day to love people, and not as a particularly romantic holiday as it seems to be touted in the media and in advertising these days. Good job, Mum and Dad, for showing your kids the true meaning of Valentine's Day. You guys are the best and I love you so much!

And now here's a little look at how the homey Valentine's Day celebrations went at the Gerrans'.

Homemade Valentine's dinner

Homecooked/Asian-themed meal, apparently

My love! :) 

Homemade cheesecake with strawberries

Heart sparkler that my mum put in our Christmas stocking

It sparkled really well!

Valentine's package from my mum which, unbelievably, arrived today! 

Exciting mail, haha

The 2013 calendar my mumma made (all her own amazing pictures in it!)

Us on our second married Valentine's Day