always at sea level: Life Is Good

The excitement meter has been pretty low lately so when I received an email from Ken titled “visit” there was a definite jump in our spirits. As I am wont to do my first thoughts were of what to bake and than I opened the message. Terry or 'Kingpin' as he is more often referred to as was flying in for a couple of days. Obviously we enjoy the company, a change of routine and some gossip but I have to admit I was more excited about what else would be coming in on that plane. Fresh produce. When was the last time you got excited about a head of crisp lettuce? With an ETA of less than a week I quickly sent off my food order to our 'food order' person, Bev. There is the usual banter back and forth of what I would truly desire and what is actually available in the store. They depend on the ferry for delivering the goods and this time of the year weather conditions can (and will) hamper schedules.

My 'go to' food blog these days is “The Smitten Kitchen”. Still dieting ( yawn) I now have a good excuse, i.e. Kingpin, to try out a couple of delicious looking recipes.

“I don't think Terry eats sweets”, Mike informs me. When he was at the OP earlier in the season and I had headed out to Masset for a couple of days Mike was in charge so I had to listen to what was being told to me but REALLY who doesn't like cookies and cakes and squares. Maybe Mike was mistaken, so I plowed ahead. I didn't go overboard but I did manage to make some cookies, a cake (sorta) and a pan of squares. The fact that these all happened to be sweets that I have been craving may have accounted for my choices.

Taking into account Kingpin's possible aversion to sugar I started with a simple “Jacked Up Banana Bread” good for breakfast or a coffee break.

Rule #1 (in my book) any new recipe must first be sampled by baker.

“This is really good Mike, want a piece?” Stupid question.

Not having a regular size loaf pan I made it in 2 mini pans.... so they are small.... and really it's only a couple of slices each, more or less and it was warm and smelled sooooo good and it's fruit and fruit is good on a diet, right? I have bananas on my food order so I can always make more.

Sticking with a fruit theme and something not overly sweet, a pan of date squares. Having made these many many times before only a small sample was needed, just to make sure they were as good as I remembered.

I am a cookie person. I love cookies. I love “Oreos”. I love “Double Stuff Oreos.” I think only someone who really loves cookies can get excited when they come across a recipe for homemade Oreos. Once again it was only because of Kingpin's arrival that I made these. If this sounds as if I'm using him as an excuse than guilty as charged.

In the “Smitten Kitchen” recipe you can spread that wonderful filling with a knife or pipe. I liked the idea of piping, it not only gave the cookie a bit of a different look but was definitely 'double stuffed!'

FYI they really do taste like Oreos.

Can't say I had much hope for the arrival of the plane on February 25^th when I awoke but as the day worn on it cleared up enough for the flight to be 'a go'.

'One Horn' aka 'Sammy' must know we have a fresh supply of produce and has been staking out his territory at the back door.

I'm not quite sure what I was anticipating more....the fruits and veggies or the new unit for the internet that would set me free. Sounds rather dramatic, I know except it's true. The system here has always been a thorn in everyone's side and Mike's always researching ways to improve what he can. The previous plane in November brought in a directional router that would focus the signal on the lodge and not out to sea but the problem remained that you had to sit by the patio doors to receive it. I was literally tied to the table by an invisible cord if I wanted to be on the internet.

In record time Kingpin had the new rads on the 50kw and the 20kw generators, along with whole new motor for the incinerator (no more burning in the barrel) so he offered to lend Mike a hand in trimming some branches down by the dish, that we felt were interfering with our signal.

Patience is a virtue or so I've heard and it was 6 whole days before Mike could hook up this new component. The instructions stressed that you must have a good signal so now all we had to do was wait for some clear skies.

March 3^rd is circled on my calendar as the day I was finally freed. That evening found me sitting back in my favourite chair, a glass of wine on the table beside me and my laptop on my lap. Happy happy happy!

We are going to remember this season at the OP as the year of the eagles. In the past it was a thrill to spy one maybe two soaring overhead but not a week goes by where I haven't been able to snap a picture or 5.

This is the upper heli pad.... a good place for landings and taking offs.