Saturday, August 5, 2017

Smoked In

Taken on our fishing trip before the smoke set in
It's only been a week since our fishing trip and on Wednesday the smoke moved into the island, six weeks after the forest fires in the interior of BC started.  It is difficult to see the sun, there is an orange glow to everything and you can taste the smoke in your mouth.  Each day is slightly different but other than walking the dog and mowing the lawn I have not been spending much time outside.  To make matters worse the weather is quite hot between 30-35 C each day.  I am so grateful we have air conditioning as wouldn't want to open the windows to the smoke.  I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be living in the fire zones, where if you are in your home you are on alert to leave immediately should the fires come closer.  Many plans have been cancelled and people are prisoners to their properties.  Many businesses are hurting that normally see tourism this year.  This weekend is a long weekend here, apparently the ferries were a madhouse last night with people trying to get away from the smoke for the weekend thinking the island was the answer.  Unfortunately up until this week it was, but now we have it too due to a change in weather pattern.


Hubby has been gone most of the week to Victoria on business and gets back late tonight.  We rarely do training on weekends but if our client is retail sometimes we have no choice.  Although I have been on my own for a few days I feel totally unmotivated, unusual since I normally take the opportunity to get loads done while he is gone.  Next weekend is the start of another week off, we decided long ago that we would try and take lots of time off in the summer.  That has not been happening as we seem busier each year every June July and August so I actually booked a week off this year and am thankful I did so.  We will have a few days at home then are off on our 4 night trip to Ucluelet, paid almost entirely from items sold on the 24 hour facebook bidding site, rolled coins and bottle deposit returns.

We are again renting the small cabin we rented last year (see last year's trip here) with two burner kitchenette, mini fridge and BBQ.  We will eat in for all meals, have a free park pass and are using the $50 gas certificate I won earlier this year.   We can't wait!  Yes, part of working for yourself is working really hard most of the year then deciding how much time you want off.  We normally take a Spring vacation of approximately 10 days, a summer holiday of a week and two weeks off at the end of the year for Christmas.  That adds up to approximately 4-5 weeks a year, far more than I was permitted when I worked for others.  If we had storefront we could not take that kind of time off as our business has so much more flexibility.  The only thing we have to do is check email daily and forward the business phone to our cellphones.  If we get a new inquiry we have to deal with it.  All our other clients can live without us for a week.  Oddly even though we are staying in a tiny cabin they have great internet so we don't have to rely on only our phone data plan.  We will be hiking, visiting beaches, kayaking and relaxing.  Of course, Buddy is coming on this trip with us as well.

In other news I have been on a quest all Spring to find local tzatziki that is as good as Greece's.  I tried making my own but it still doesn't taste quite right and after buying all of the ingredients far more than I wanted to spend.  I bought various grocery store offerings, all of them fell shy of expectations.  I even tried Costco's version and it was so bad I took it back and returned it for a refund as it tasted like Mayonaise, not at all what tzatziki should taste like.  Yesterday while visiting a favorite thrift store (I found nothing unfortunately) I stopped by a nearby deli as they had a sign in the window with fresh made tzatziki and hummus.  $4.75 for their smallest container which is actually quite large.  I tasted it immediately in the vehicle - score!  Just as good as Greece and as good as the local Greek restaurant which is far more money.  I shall be visiting their store again and will try some of their other items next time as well.  So last night's meal included a greek salad made with my own tomatoes, chicken and tzatziki.  Hubby missed out on that one but there is still lots left for when he gets home.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

26 comments:

  1. I love tzatziki sauce, but since I've never been to Greece, I probably have low expectations. The stuff I made in June with kabobs tasted pretty darn good, but I know not authentic in the least. I love finding something that reminds me and brings me back to a truly great vacation. I splurge every now and then in the World Market on some British chocolate, and am still hoarding the Fortnum and Mason tea gift.Your salad sounds delicious. I too feel so bad for those inthe fire zone-take care and fingers crossed it is under control soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as it doesn't taste like mayo it usually is pretty good, any self-respecting Greek restaurant will give the right taste

      Delete
  2. Glad you've found genuine greek tzatziki. Enjoy!
    As for heat and forests in summer - that's a terrible combination resulting in big fires and dense smoke. We hear a lot about it happening in many parts, during July-August months.
    Your upcoming small cabin weekend sounds wonderful. Have a good time there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Duta! I've tried commenting on a couple of your posts and when I hit comments nothing comes up. Do you have commenting turned off?

      Delete
  3. I am sorry you are dealing with all the smoke too. If you ever find a good tzatziki recipe, please do share it. I'm looking for a good one also.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Replies
    1. Yeah, it was pretty tasty. So tasty I had the same thing 2 nights in a row!

      Delete
  5. I think people take clean, fresh air for granted. It's not until something like fires or a nuclear leak happens, that people wake up and realize that we share the air and what's over there will eventually come over here. I lived near a P&G plant that made toilet paper and their processing emitted a terrible odor that smelled like burnt hot dogs. Every once in a while, during a weather inversion, the smell would come over the hills and be ripe in the air. It was awful. I hope the winds are in your favor and that the air clears soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right, especially people on the coast. We normally have some of the cleanest air in the world, so this is pretty tough but we have it easy compared to those closer to the fires

      Delete
  6. We've got a great Greek restaurant nearby that makes exceptional tzatziki. Just fly over here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem! I'd love to come back to Spain lol

      Delete
  7. That smoke sounds horrible.
    Mmmm, tzatsiki! I don't think I've ever bought any from a shop, we always make our own. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've tried several times to make it, I think the Greek yogurt we have over here is the culprit. I am never satisfied with it. Frankly it costs more to buy greek yogurt than it does to buy this premade container so I think I am going that way now.

      Delete
  8. My husband makes a simple yogurt sauce, which I prefer over any store bought tzatziki. It's a Persian variant, so not quite authentic Greek. It has Greek yogurt, finely diced cucumbers & onions, garlic & salt. It's incredibly easy - I'll get the details from him & share.

    Hope the smoke is gone quickly! My family in the northwest is definitely suffering as well. No fun.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sorry you are having to deal with the smoke. Every now and then we get a bit of a break. Yesterday it improved about 50% but we are back into it today. I am not a fan of being forced to live indoors with the A/C on. I am still managing my morning walks but they are draining.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy being outside too, yesterday we took a walk in the forest, it was cooler and less smoke, plants filter it I guess

      Delete
  10. The wildfires have to be so scary in addition to the smell.
    Good tsatziki is fantastic, and the bad stuff is just horrid! Glad you found good stuff!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I can't believe Costco Canada had such a poor version of it. I don't believe Costco in the USA has the same kind as people were raving about that kind on the internet

      Delete
  11. Ever since Kazi dated a greek fellow in highschool she has been a huge tsatziki fan and therefore so have i :) Not that I've ever tasted the REAL deal. Good thing you persevered and found what you were after! We've been hearing a lot about the smoke in B.C. but I didn't realized you were being affected quite so much. Hopefully you'll get a reprieve in Ucluelet!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We really have been lucky with no smoke up until now. The day we went fishing was the first day it was a bit hazy, then right after that it moved in. It looks like it is overcast, then later in the morning you realize it isn't, that is just smoke blocking out the sun as a little of it peeks through. We have rain in the 10 day forecast, really hoping it does to both wet things down and get rid of a lot of this smoke!

      Delete
  12. Have a lovely time in the cabin - it will be a break from the smoke. Anna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - I am looking forward to it. It actually appears we will be getting a bit of rain and I am even looking forward to that!

      Delete
  13. It is really hard to imagine how people are living in the fire zone. Hope, the rain will come soon...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, I have friends and they all feel like zombies after six weeks of it. Really really hard on anyone with health problems let a lone a healthy person.

      Delete