Who controls Canada's Money?

       Canadians should be ashamed of themselves. We pride ourselves on being a thoughtful caring people but our reckless legislative and regulatory banking practices have enslaved generations to come to debt.
        Let 12 year old Victoria Grant enlighten you. If you love your children, heed her recommendations that we legislate back control of our financial future.

Happiness is a Bicycle

Can you believe the weather we are having? Too warm too soon for me but I like a normal Spring.

I have been riding a bicycle, have you thought about riding yours? Gas is $1.33 a litre here in St. Catharines, that is CAN$6 for an Imperial Gallon. Our US friends pay CAN$5 for the same amount.

So save some money, enjoy the weather and improve your health .... ride your bicycle!

And here is my Yuba Mundo Bicycle in front of the St. Catharines Central Library

 

Here is the Environment Canada forecast for St. Catharines:

Issued: 9:09 AM EDT Wednesday 21 March 2012
Today:Sunny. Fog patches dissipating late this morning. High 25 except 16 near Lake Ontario. UV index 4 or moderate.
Tonight:Clear. Low 12.
Thursday:Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud late in the afternoon. High 24 except 16 near Lake Ontario.
Friday:Sunny. Low 10. High 17.
Saturday:Showers. Low 9. High 14.
Sunday:Cloudy with 40 percent chance of showers. Low 7. High 13.
Monday:Sunny. Low plus 1. High 6.
Tuesday - April 2, 2012 :Sunny. Low minus 2. High 7.

And for our friends in Buffalo and environs:
NYZ010-212130-
NORTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFFALO
932 AM EDT WED MAR 21 2012

.REST OF TODAY...SUNNY AND VERY WARM WITH RECORD HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 80S. LIGHT WINDS.
.TONIGHT...MAINLY CLEAR. MILD WITH LOWS IN THE MID 50S. SOUTH WINDS
10 MPH OR LESS.
.THURSDAY...SUNNY AND VERY WARM WITH RECORD HIGHS RANGING FROM
THE MID 70S ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORE TO THE LOWER 80S INLAND.
SOUTH WINDS AROUND 10 MPH...BECOMING SOUTHWEST.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY. MILD WITH LOWS IN THE
LOWER 50S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 MPH OR LESS.
.FRIDAY...PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH HIGHS AROUND 70. NORTHEAST
WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH...BECOMING EAST.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 40S.
.SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. HIGHS
IN THE UPPER 50S.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS IN THE MID 40S. CHANCE OF
RAIN 60 PERCENT.
.SUNDAY...SHOWERS LIKELY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. CHANCE OF RAIN
60 PERCENT.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
LOWS AROUND 40.
.MONDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.
.MONDAY NIGHT...MAINLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S.
.TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S.

Save when you Shave - 20 December 2011

I remember vividly the first time that I shaved. I was watching my father shave his well lathered face with a Gillette double edge razor. That razor is much like the one I used today.

He reached into the medicine cabinet and extracted a small 2 inch by 4 inch by 1 inch box. The box was garishly black, red and beige the colour of the cardboard it was made from. He gave me the box and upon opening it found a small razor, just like my Dad's but light blue in colour, a box of safety blades and a small bar of shaving soap wrapped in wax paper.

My father lathered up my face, stood me in front of him so we could both observe while I tried the new razor. It was a wonderful event that I will remember forever.

Of course, I was standing on the edge of the sink in front of my Dad, the razor was blue plastic, the blades were cardboard and I was 5 years old. That was 55 years ago, 1956 ...... and it was again this morning when I stood in front of my mirror and shaved.

Shaving is something that most men used to have in common. Not so much anymore. I shave the same way as my Dad did, although for several years I used a straight razor. I don't use a straight razor any longer as my eyes require eyeglasses to see close enough and I refuse to wear glasses when I shave so I have reverted back to the trusty double edge razor.

I don't understand why people use electric razors, I just don't get it. You don't get a clean shave, they are noisy, cause ingrown hairs to many users and are of dubious hygiene.

Nor do I understand why men spend over $3 per blade to have a wet shave with the latest multi-blade gadget and use expensive but crappy canned shaving foams.

I used the outfit below to have my shave this morning.

The cost for the first year is: $20 double edge safety razor, $23 boar bristle shaving brush, $1.35 lathering bowl, $10 for 50 razor blades and $20 for the wonderful Vitos shaving cream. Total - $75 plus tax.

But the cost for your second year is only $10 for 50 razor blades and $20 for the wonderful Vitos shaving cream - $30 for a year - or about $0.60 sixty cents a week - less than 10 cents a day.

The mass marketed super duper multi-blade scenario is, at one blade a week, not including anything but the blades, about $3.60 - that is 600% the cost of the system that I use. What utter nonsense to purchase such crap and waste your after tax money. I have better things to do with the $150 dollars a year than to give it to marketers and their henchmen while getting a crappy shave in the bargain.

It should be clear to the reader that I decided a long time ago that since I need to shave daily, I might as well enjoy the activity. So to that end, I rotate between brushes, 3 at the moment. A $25 Semogue 2000 boar brush, a $100 Simpson pure badger "Duke" and a very over the top custom Thater 2 band silver tip badger - the replacement cost for which I refuse to disclose on the grounds that it might, er will, incriminate me. All 3 of these brushes are a joy to use and are of the type suitable for face lathering, called fans.

By the way, when you are soaking your brush before shaving, use warm water, not hot as you will shorten the lifetime of your brushes appreciably if you use hot water.

I also rotate between various shaving soaps and creams. I am fond of almond scented soaps. I have a few others like the really wonderful menthol and eucalyptus scented Vitos cream. My normal rotation for soaps and creams are the wonderful Cella 1kg. brick, the Vitos 1kg. brick, and the Vitos 500ml. cream. The bricks will each last about 2 years when used daily and the Vitos cream tube is good for about a year. The costs for the Cella brick is about $40, the Vitos brick around $25 and the Vitos cream about $16.

I have several shaving bowls for soaking my brush and then making the lather. I have a large custom made scuttle by Robert Becker of Texas, a German apothecary style bowl, an older soap holding English style scuttle by Mason which has a cake of hard soap in it, which was new when I purchased it and a $1.35 ceramic rice bowl. I usually use the $1.35 rice bowl. There is nothing like shaving with fresh warm lather.

Double edged razors and razor blades are usually of very good quality today and when compared to disposable razors, very inexpensive to use. Currently, my preferred razor combination is a $20 butterly opening Weishi razor in gunmetal finish and the $17 pack of 100 ASTRA carbon blades. The razor is not aggressive and the combination works well for me, without my eyeglasses.

I also keep a stptic pencil on hand if I nick myself, which happens but very rarely. They can be purchased for a few dollars at every drugstore.

So there you have it. That is what I use and I suggest that the men out there give wet shaving a try. You can start by using your current multi-blade razors and buy a good boar brush, rice bowl and shaving soap and you will be on your way to enjoying what for most is a chore - the morning shave.

We are lucky to be living in Ontario as we have some very reputable sellers to purchase all of the shaving related items I have mentioned . I can safely direct the reader to both of these sites, Fendrihan and The Italian Barber for their shaving needs.

A visit to the Welland Farmers' Market - 10 September 2011

Here are a few vignettes and photos taken at the Welland, Ontario Farmers' Market . The official location is Welland Market Square, 50 Market Square, Welland, Ontario.

The shoppers are a varied bunch. I heard several languages being spoken: English, French, Polish, Russian, Italian and Portuguese. It was wonderful to hear everyone talk and rejoice at the bounty of the season.

The produce was beautiful and soooo fresh.  I was glad to see some heirloom vegetables and free range meat for sale there as well. I wish that there were more vendors of heirloom veggies. The taste is heirloom vegetables is so superior to the modernized hybrids so as to be a different vegetable.

The market reminded me of the justifiably renowned Atwater Market in Montreal and that is a good thing. This is very much a community market - I advise that you be there by noon on Saturdays as the place is usually vacated by 2:00 p.m.

Here is the video of the Welland Farmers' Market

People waiting in line for baked goods

  This is a very popular market - lots of folks purchasing food

 

 

 

  Have a fresh apple fritter and a tea in the Tea Room

  The Welland Farmers Market is a strong contender for the best Farmers Market in the Niagara Region.

 

Welland Farmers' Market

Market Square, Welland, Ontario

http://www.welland.ca/market/

Google Map

 
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The Annual Tomato Fest at Tree and Twig in Wellandport - 4 September 2011

Linda Crago held her annual Tomato Bash at her Tree and Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm in Wellandport, Ontario on Saturday. The weather was threatening but the rain held off and the breeze was a respite from the warm humidity of the day. A good number of people turned out to the function to enjoy the food, the tour, good conversation and to purchase Tree and Twig harvested and saved seeds.

For those readers who don't know about Linda Crago; she is a local hero. While many of us talk about wanting to grow heirloom vegetables - Linda walks the walk. Tree and Twig is a testament to Linda's remarkably clear vision and the gumption to bring that vision to fruition - annually.

Here is Part 1 of the video - the Tomato Fest

Here is Part 2 of the video - The Garden Tour

Our hostess, Linda Crago, in her normal surroundings!

 

  The sampling table was busy

  The musician, Paul Federici's performance was enjoyed by all.

  Friends came to demonstrate dishes:

Nicole and Jason Sawatsky of Mahtay Cafe

  Scott Hunter of Commisso's Fresh Foods

  Kevin Maniaci from Inn on the Twenty

  Shawn Murphy of The Keefer Inn

  Marlie Centawer

 

  and Linda waving goodbye

 

Thank you Linda, for everything.

Tree & Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm
84039 Road 45, Wellandport, ON L0R 2J0
Tel  905-386-7388      
www.TreeandTwig.ca

Google Map

 

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