Sugar

When I was in Grade 8, elementary school, I was left to babysit my baby sister. A “friend”, someone I did not know well, visited me on the farm that day. She wanted me to go with her to visit someone else.

I told her I was taking care of my baby sister, who was sleeping at the time. Her response was “she is sleeping, just leave her, she will be all right.”

That person was not my friend. I rejected her ridiculous advice, after which she chose to leave for more interesting entertainment, never to return.

So many times in my life I’ve encountered people with similar logic patterns, adjusted almost completely to their personal desires. I have also observed that they seldom feel responsible for negative outcomes resulting from their “logical” decisions.

I do not respect these people.

I have noticed that they are not easily detectable until circumstance reveals their character. They are often carefree, friendly, funny, superficially kind, and are very appealing. They remind me very much of high-fructose corn syrup.

I like people with sugar, like whole ripe peaches, juicy apples, luscious strawberries. I love sweetness with depth and complexity of flavour, interesting texture, rich in nutrients.

I have wonderful friends.

A cool morning here at Mist Cottage. The sun is shining, and the breeze is gentle. Our walk was very pleasant, it was not too cold, not too hot, and early enough in the morning to offer a bit of occasional shade.

The day opens before us, with a few small projects in mind. But mostly we wait to see what the garden offers that will keep us busy. The natural rhythm of gardening and preserving sets the pace of life here at Mist Cottage.

Harvesting and preserving season come with a certain degree of domestic chaos. Our kitchen is of adequate but not generous size. Some equipment remains on the counter year round, as it is used almost daily. That would be the canisters of whole wheat flour, oats, and sugar. The bread maker, the coffee maker, the microwave oven, and the Berkey all take their honoured positions on the counters. Then there are the utensils on the counter: the spoon mug, the measuring spoon mug, the metal wooden mixing spoon container, the spatula and whisk container, and the paring knife mug. There is not a lot of counter space left.

When other equipment comes out of storage for use, the kitchen soon becomes cluttered. Milling flour, slicing bread, cooking in the Instant Pot, there are many instances when small appliances are used and take up all available counter space.

After equipment is used it must be cleaned, usually washed. I like to ensure all items are completely dry before they go back into storage. The damp items are left out to dry overnight. After a busy day in the kitchen there will be equipment left to dry on every available horizontal surface in the house, including the bed.

Space is also needed for cooling things like homemade bread, muffins, or squares, freshly canned jars so that they can sit overnight and part of the next day after they have been washed.

Mist Cottage is not spotlessly clean, it isn’t pretty, it isn’t always functional… it is home.

There is no place like home.

Worldly

Weather

19°C
Date: 10:00 AM EDT Saturday 29 August 2026
Condition: Mainly Sunny
Pressure: 102.4 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: 18.6°C
Dew point: 13.5°C
Humidity: 72%
Wind: S 8 km/h
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
Rene Descartes
1596 – 1650