Forest

 I recently took the resolution of going for a walk in the forest every weekend. (Or try to) We don't live in a very woody area - yet - but it's easily reachable with little road trips in pretty much all directions. G's family is around Rigaud, Qc and Ontario's border, Mount Rigaud is such a beautiful quiet place to walk. Some trails are a bit more intense, but really we probably just feel that way because we're a bit out of shape. (It's not a very high mountain at all.) We love letting Constance explore around, and this time I felt like my imagination was super open...ripe? I stole some wild flowers (little vandal) for my mother in law, picked a wild carrot! and did not eat it. I also saw the most tiny frog ever, barely 2 cm long. 

 If you don't follow me on Instagram, or Facebook, you might like to hear some calendar news. I have decided to make a paper version again for 2014! The subject matter is quite different, and refreshing for me. It will most likely only be sold in my Etsy shop, and be the only item I bring back. I intend on selling it from November to February. It will probably not be home printed, and not made from organic cotton paper... but you have to chose your battles. And for me, this year, it means finding an option that is not as costly and less time consuming. Hopefully the result will be pleasant still and you will like it! Until then, xo. 

Pic taken by Guillaume, I really love it. :) 

An Autumn Vacation

 On the first weekend of November, we went out on a vacation / retreat. We basically, on a whim, rented a cabin, in the middle of nowhere - or Lefebvre, Qc - and took off for 3 days and 3 nights. It was perfect. It rained, or spat for most of those three days, we had no cell reception or Internet, so we really had to change our pace and adapt. Adapt to relaxation mode, and it really recharged us. 

The cabin itself was just so lovely. It had a cozy mezzanine, a balcony over looking the woods, and massive windows facing a stream and waterfall. The sound it made was so imposing... it was surreal. We were detached from reality. Days going by with nothing to do but read, make fires, drink tones of coffee and tea, tend to the fire, cook great meals, drink tones of wine, cuddle with the dog. (And with each other, a little ;))

I took walks with Constance in the little forest surrounding the property, and did yoga every morning. It felt great. We drank good wine, and cooked awesome meals. I made a roast for the first time, ever. It was a scandalizing success. I'm including a humble recipe down at the bottom of the post. 

We had the intention of making a lamb roast, but did not find any at the Drummondville market.. We bought bison instead. Great move! 

As you can see I basically just put my piece of meat in an oven friendly pot. Made it cozy with some green beans, garden carrots, onions, and fresh thyme branches. I added kosher salt, ground pepper and generous chunks of butter to my veggies. I coated my bison with more salt, more pepper, and Dijon mustard. I added about 1/4 cup of blond beer to the bottom of my pot, to make sure these guys would stay moist, since the bison was pretty lean. 

I set my oven at 375f, and let it go for 45 minutes. (the butcher had recommended 1 hour, but I eat red meet pretty rare, have all my steaks blue, and did not want to over cook.) So I checked the middle of the roast, and put it back for an extra 5 minutes. 

Once you're happy with the done-ness, take it out, wrap it in foil. (it will keep it warm, and make it even more juicy, while you serve the vegetables) Slice your meet and enjoy.. Oh boy, that was one good meal!! 

Lake Placid

 We went on an impromptu road trip last saturday, to Lake Placid, NY. It was pretty cool! The ginormous wait at the border was not. (I pat myself on the back, for insisting that we went out there on the first day of Labor Day weekend, even if my super nice boyfriend was feeling down with a cold. I'm just awesome like that.) We had a.... drum roll... 2h30 delay at the boarder, and it kind of changed the whole beat of the day. But the weather was just so nice, it was hard to be mad. (Lucky for me.)

 Lake Placid is kind of neat. Having had more time, we would have looked into the Olympics' stuff. But we mostly just strolled, ate, paddled a bit on the lake, had ice cream and went home. The drive there is seriously breath-taking. It was, by far, the highlight of the trip and my favorite part. That gorgeous almost-full moon was just so stunning in the mountains... I was not able to get a good picture, and decided to actually just stare at it.

 Now I'll return to feeling miserable about that nasty cold. It's my turn.