How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year! ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson, "April Days," 1861

Woefully Wild Winter Weather

Wow! That was some cold spell we had!

The guys bundled up to feed cattle that were huddled up in their shelters. Both cows and guys were frost covered on those -30 something days.

The sheep had wool "jackets" and a barn with a deep bed of straw to lay in, so they weren't suffering. The hen's berm house had a toasty wood-burning stove keeping them warm. And the cats joined them in there.

Our friend in Houston, Texas was snivelling about it being so cold at 40°F (5°C) while another friend in Sundre, Alberta was experiencing -42°C and -52°C with the wind chill. (To our Texas friend's credit, he did admit that he was a wussy for complaining.) However, right after that conversation, it went below freezing in Houston for a couple of days, so he really did have something to complain about. But, I didn't feel too sorry for him, because in five days the temperature was going up to 25°C.

We were happy when it went up to -25°C, and at -19°C Martin was shoveling snow in his t-shirt. It was very nice to walk outside and not have your face stinging from the cold and being able to breathe without coughing from the cold air as it took your breath away.

In my seventy some years, I don't remember it being that cold for that long. However, as a young teen in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, I do remember one December when it was so cold that our water pail had ice on it in the mornings. The wood stove died down overnight and the coal oil stove in the living room didn't put out enough heat to keep the kitchen warm. The windows were totally frosted over so we couldn't see outside, and laundry was hung throughout the house because it was impossible to hang it outside.
Here's the funny part about the laundry hanging in the living room – the short items had to be hung so that you could see through to watch TV.

Dad had to bring the beef cows close to the homestead to feed and water them. We didn't have running water in the house, so you know there were no heated waterers in the corrals. Dad had to find where the springs along the creek were so he could chop holes in the ice for the cattle. I don't know how he found those springs, but he did, and there was the clear fresh water running under the ice.

Memories of those days make me appreciate waking up to a warm house and running hot water.

I'm also thankful for the chinooks that bring warm air over the mountains and eat up the snow. Chinook is a native word meaning "snow eater."

When the chinook blew in this time, it produced something none of us had ever seen before. In the picture you'll see snowballs rolling across the yard.

The melting snow and the strong winds caused snowballs to form and roll until the balls were too heavy for the wind to push any further. Quite an amazing phenomenon.

Harvest Haven lamb is raised on lush pastures, and given quality, non-synthetic minerals and salts, and Grander Living Water, to produce tender, delicious, and mild-flavored meat you will be delighted to serve.

We have a variety of cuts that make meal planning and preparation easy or involved, for single servings or large gatherings.

Juicy flavorful leg of lamb roasts are boneless or bone-in and whole or half-cut. These take a minimum of preparation but are so elegant, either roasted or barbecued.

Lamb chops are a quick and easy main dish for a special dinner party or a busy evening. Slather them with an aromatic marinade or simply sprinkle with lemon juice and herbs. Grill, roast, or pan fry…what could be easier than that?

The recipes for lamb stew are limitless. Let your imagination travel the globe because with switching a few herbs and sauces, you have a whole new dish from some other part of the world, from Ireland to the Middle East and India.

And speaking of variations…add ground lamb to your menu. You can enjoy pan-fried or barbecued burgers, meatballs in an herby tomato or cream sauce, slow-cooked in a ragu sauce, or spicey tacos. Wherever you use ground beef, you can change up the flavor with ground lamb.

For something super special, try paper thin slices of lamb ham. Serve on a deli plate for a special occasion, in a sandwich with a pinch of Dijon mustard, or on pizza. Delectable and delicious!

We're sorry that we don't have more eggs for everyone. The hens just are not laying enough.

Apparently, we're not the only ones having a problem. We've been told that many others around North America are in a similar situation. On the Alberta chicken Facebook page, there are many comments from people saying their hens aren't laying like they should.

When the head nutritionist for an organic supplement supplier in Pennsylvania was asked if he'd heard anything about the lack of egg production, he said, "[I have] no idea on why the longer molt. The moon phase was almost a month early this year. I track it for hay making maturity. Many things have been shifted from 'Normal' this year. But I don't have any conclusive ideas why."

Neither do we. It's a mystery.

I just know that there'll be a lot of happy people when the hens do start laying more eggs.

Caption this. The kitty's name is Montgomery.

Camino is a Canadian brand of fair trade and organic food products, owned by La Siembra Co-operative, based in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

Established in 1999, La Siembra Co-operative became the first registered importers of Fairtrade Certified cocoa and sugar in North America and today works with 25 producer co-ops, supporting more than 47,500 family farmers in 14 countries.

Unparalleled in taste and quality, their organic ingredients come from environmentally responsible family farmers and through fair trade practices.

Camino's limited edition seasonal chocolate bars are back! Three delicious varieties: White Cocoa Crunch, Crispy Gingerbread Spice, and Cranberry Orange Ginger Zing.

White Cocoa Crunch – Rediscover the comforting taste of "Cookies & Cream." Its cocoa crisps and chocolate chips covered with smooth white chocolate make this treat irresistible.

Crispy Gingerbread Spice – Bring back the taste of your childhood with this milk chocolate bar that is both creamy and crunchy with the comforting taste of warm spices.

Cranberry, Orange, Ginger Zing – This dark chocolate bar is ideal to enjoy with a hot cup of tea or at the end of a good meal! Let it melt in your mouth to slowly release its invigorating cranberry, its subtle orange, and its touch of ginger.

They are delectable!

Harvest Haven Pastured Boneless Lamb Leg Roast – Such a great cut of meat for a special event or a family dinner. Easy to prepare, and so delicious!

Maison Orphee Organic Dijon Mustard, 250 mL – A pure Dijon mustard with a lovely creamy texture and inimitable sharpness. Use in dressings and mayonnaise, brush on lamb chops before cooking, spread in sandwiches with cold cuts, or mix into stuffed eggs or potato salad.

Harvest Haven Parsnips – A sweet cream-colored root vegetable that makes a delicious side dish. Roast with olive oil and spices until caramelized a bit and still slightly crispy, sauté in olive oil with a dash of rosemary or thyme, boil and mash with butter, milk, and grated Parmesan cheese. Sweet like carrots, creamy like potatoes.

L'Ancetre Organic Butter, 250 g or 454 g – Tasty and healthy organic Canadian butter from environmentally-friendly farms. Smooth, creamy, and flavorful – perfect for all your baking or just spread on your favorite Harvest Haven bread.

Organic BC Blueberries – Remember summer with frozen blueberries. Incorporate them into muffins, sprinkle on pancakes, blend into a smoothie, or stir into yogurt. Enjoy little bursts of juicy sweetness in every bite.

Avalon Organic Sour Cream, 500 mL – Made with organic milk and cream, which means no GMOs or pesticides in the soil or the plants the cows eat, no hormones or antibiotics in the cows, and no artificial colors or preservatives in the milk. This is an excellent product for serving as is or mixing into your favorite recipe.

Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic.

Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Lamb

The best quality lamb comes from gentle sheep raised in a calm environment on rich green pastures with short tender grasses and fresh Grander water. It's also very important that they are moved to fresh pasture every few days.

Organic farming done this way is an organized, sustainable system for raising a very healthy protein. Rotational grazing in small paddocks is a more productive, lower cost model of farming than any other method. It just requires creativity, diligence, and care – care for the land, the animals, and the consumer.