Southampton

Ahhhhh to return to the city... incredibly sad since the most beautiful and eco-friendly vacation of my life just ended. I just spent the past week in Southampton, reading "Pushed" and wishing that I had access to the internet so I could more accurately discuss my experience in the small community, and do some Canadian-based research on modern maternity care in Canada. But alas, my life was so hard as I watched the sun set and did nothing but read...

Now that I'm sitting at my desk in Waterloo, I feel like I can't describe the week accurately. (But I'll try)

Southampton is on lake Huron, and it is absolutely beautiful. My family and I have been going there for years, and each time we're there we take a picture by this gigantic rock at our "spot" on the beach. The whole vacation has a sense of nostalgia to it, but being 24 now, it was also a different kind of experience for my sister and I. First, I was able to appreciate the beauty that is Ontario. I experienced 7 beautiful sunsets, swam in clear blue (yet cold) water, and was able to take a beautiful scenic bike ride along the shoreline. Breathtaking. Beyond that, I was able to experience this vacation as something that was eco-friendly! Which was what i loved the most... I think that we drove twice- once with my parents to Port Elgin for dinner, and once to Port Elgin with my partner to do some shopping and bask in the small-town feel of all the small towns. Other than that, there was literally no driving done for a week. You can bike or walk everywhere you need to go in Southampton. Can I also mention the local produce that abounded? The local craft show? The local everything? Wind turbines in the fields on the drive up? It was lovely. Leaving that beauty for the city is shameful! Southampton is the place for the eco-friendly person who can truly appreciate the beauty that is Canada.

This trip was so rejuvenating and really made me come to the decision that at some point I would like to invest in property in Southampton! I would love to own a cottage up there, and I would of course make sure that whatever cottage I bought had a bedroom/accommodations for my parents... they'll certainly have earned it!

I am very thankful to my parents for their polite refusal to take family vacation in Florida or a tropical location. Throughout my whole life they have been firm supporters of travelling Canada, and at the age of 24 I was finally able to appreciate Southampton, Ontario and Canada for it's breathtaking beauty. At this point I feel no need to leave the country for a holiday. I am only concerned with making sure I get one more day in Southampton this summer...

Good Food and Friends

Today was a great day for many reasons, particularly since it involved my food and it involved my friends. Wonderful day indeed.

Today, Dan, Sarah and I went to run a couple errands, picking up some final things before our kitten comes home! (Yes, we are getting a kitten, and I'll write another post about why I wanted to get this kitten) Anyhow, we went grocery shopping, and I am very happy about the purchases I made! When I cashed out my order, there was hardly anything in my bags that was not "real" food, or had not travelled thousands of kilometers to arrive at my plate! After reading the 100-mile diet, I have definitely made a resolution to buy foods which are appropriate for the season, and that are actually food. Basic ingredients. I have always loved to cook, and now, this desire to eat food rather than the "non food" we so often find ourselves consuming is re-inspiring me.

Particularly, it is really motivating me to carefully read the ingredients of the food that I am buying, and really consider what it is that is in those products, are they ingredients that can still actually legitimately be considered food? (An example: a roommate of mine who was minoring in chemistry once told me that margarine is only one molecule away from being plastic, so now I use butter.)

Because of this, I found myself at the cash with "local" asparagus, fiddleheads, beets and carrots. I also am becoming very protective of the "real" food I have, by making sure not to waste anything, which involves freezing really ripe bananas in order to make cake, and making buttermilk pancakes and salad dressing in order not to as the buttermilk)

Today, Karen and Ryan came over for dinner, and everything we had on our plate was natural, literal food, not processed, not preserved, but chopped up, fresh vegetables, and homemade sauces and salad dressing. Sitting down to that meal tonight gave me such a great sense of satisfaction, knowing that I had cooked that delicious, healthy meal with the help of great friends, and I knew everything that was in it. And really, it was just sooooooo good, and really inspired meaningful conversation!

I feel like cooking is becoming a lost art! I have read a lot of literature about how being a feminist means shedding the ultimate "symbol of femininity", that being cooking, and being in the kitchen. However, I think that in the process, we are losing so many valuable aspects of life, such as the bonding that takes place over good food and wine and the sense of accomplishment cooking and serving a homemade delicious meal gives someone.

I tend to view the discussion of feminism and cooking in a different light: Cooking is a way for us to stay in touch with the world around us. It brings friends and family together, and the more we prepare from scratch, the healthier we are and (provided we make largely local choices), we will have a positive impact on the environment, and ensure that our agriculture and sustainability will be preserved.

The meal tonight was absolutely delicious, and it is hard to believe that it was all good for us, contained no preservatives/chemicals, and was made by hand. Amazing. Not only that, everyone enjoyed the meal, everyone left the table happy, and we didn't gorge ourselves. (Probably because there was no MSG in our food, and any similar product.)

This whole afternoon of consumption has made me so excited to read In Defense of Food, and now, I'm going to look up directions on how to can... when tomatoes are in season, I'm going to dice and can my own! I feel like a nerd, but I already feel so much better physically since school ended and I've been eating more natural, real food, and i just really love the idea of knowing exactly where my food came from, and, in particular, the product will be so fresh, and I love cooking!