bierkergaard

I am attempting to blog from my iPhone at a cafe in Quebec. Asymmetrical blogging. I have some time. I have a lot of espresso hurtling through my nervous system. If someone sneezes, I am so jittery that I might have a stroke. I first ordered a 16 ounce coffee, then a double espresso. Then, I accidentally gave the barista a ten dollar tip. The credit card processing system here in Canada is different than the U.S. Handheld devices. Prone to screw-up at the hands of dudes like me. Rather than retract the tip, I let the tip stand. The barista tried to dissuade me but it seemed like a Christmassy thing to do. He then repaid me by making me a single espresso for free. Now, I got the shakes. The little espresso cup trembles. I have found the Quebec natives to be quite reserved. I only know a bit of its culture, but this reticence seems historical. A walled city, where the French were beat in battle by the British in a sneak attack up a bad-ass hill during the French Indian War. Psychol...

This Fall, rather than pulling my kale out when it started to get cold, I decided to let nature take its course. I figured that soon enough, the kale would slowly freeze to death. A death by degrees. I would take no heroic measures to keep it alive. Instead, four days from Christmas Day, the kale is still kicking. All on its own. We have had a very warm Fall but the temps have dropped below freezing numerous times where frost was on the leaves in the morning. I had consulted a farmer friend of mine and he advised that kale can survive frosts. It dies when the thermometer gets in the mid-20's. Heck, I am feeling that I should wrap some Christmas lights around these sulfuric evergreens. I started growing kale about ten years ago around the time it was trending. But, I am not one of those foodie types that will pay 12 dollars for a plated dish of two sliced organic tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Instead, I will spend two dollars and buy a plant. Kale grows well, is o...