Happy New Years.

A dictionary definition of a "Hot Mess"

May your stomach be settled and your morning be headache free. May you awake ready to take on new adventures and hobbies.

Megafaun - "Real Slow"

This tune has been on repeat this whole Christmas season, possible the only thing making it bearable. Having the flu over the holidays is not going in my book of "Awesome Things To Do Over Christmas".

Christmas Sign Off.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas, and Fantastic New Year. May your year ahead be full of laughs, love, and great memories! Till the New Year my friends.

P.S. Got to love the Yule log on Father Christmas' back. Looking at it, it should burn the full 12 days! 

Robertson's Candy.

Nova Scotia’s largest family owned hard candy factory was established Truro, Nova Scotia in 1928 by William C. Robertson. Now William’s son, Roy Robertson, runs this producer of fine quality hard candy. Specializing In traditional sweets, you will not see the likes of Sour keys, or jube-jubes in this factory. One of their iconic treats, and claim to fame is Barley Toys. Dating back to 1880, Barley Toys, also known as Toy Candy, Clear Toys, or Animal Candy have been a staple of Maritime Christmas’ since Robertson Candy started producing them when they originally opened.  Today Robertson’s has one of the largest collections of Barley Toy moulds in the world.

Along with Historical “toys”, they also produce a whack of other traditional candies.

Like Chicken Bones, Humbugs, Rum and Butter, Maple Kisses, Natural flavoured candies made with Maltose (not as sweet, perfectly balanced), and one of my favourite flavours, Clove. Their packaging is top notch, and durable, and the candies are large and flavorful. You can order online, and have these nuggets of joy delivered right to your door.

Robertson Candy Website.

Christmas List.

In case anyone thinks I have been good this year.

1. Mike Mignola Batman Black & White Statue.
2. Tandy Craftool Pro Rotary Punch.
3. Carhartt Double Front Work Pant.
4. Filson Tin Cloth Hood - For Tin Cruiser.
5. Dominica Bay Rum After Shave.
6. Hendrick's Gin.
7. Chicago Blackhawks Jersey with Griswold "00".
8. Barbour Handkerchiefs - Yes, I actually use them!
9. Pointer Brand Blanket Cap.

Vintage Tobogganing.

Hopefully soon, we here in Southern Ontario will have a good dumping of snow. So I can wax up the toboggaon and hit the hills!

Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Recorded in 1965 by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become one of the greatest all time selling Christmas albums. In my home, the season begins with a play-through of the entire album while putting up the tree. I dare you to listen to the instrumental "Christmas Time is here" during a snowfall, and not instantly get into the Holiday spirit. I grabbed a reissued vinyl copy from Urban Outfitters last year at the end of the season for $3. If you like fantastic jazz music and Christmas Carols, you best be getting it before Old St. Nick come down your chimney.

Damn Yak Dry Goods At Tinder Shop.

I am super excited to see the newly designed Tinder Shop up and running.  Good friends, archaeologists, and shop owners Donna and Angus, have put together a plethora of fantastic sundries from hot water bottle cover from BC and Scotland, Stanley flasks and thermos', to German Feuerhand Hurricane Lanterns. They carry quite a unique bunch of cottage industry goods at obtainable prices. Tinder has also grabbed the last mason jars of Damn Yak Wilderness Remedy {pine pitch Salve}, and a bunch of canvas cups. Swing by their online shop to take a browse, and don't forget to take a look at their blog as well. 

Tinder Shop & Tinder Blog

Spicy Orange Pomander.

The smell of Christmas is something I look forward to every year. I could buy a candle that smells of cinnamon, clove, apple, and citrus and be done with it, but why not make the original. It's a great way to spend a couple hours with your family and it can become traditional tradition. The idea behind this has its roots in Victorian times. As all ornaments were handmade back then, usually fabric, metal, or brightly coloured exotic fruit. The fresh pomanders were then hung by ribbon around the house to dry and release their citrusy-spice aroma. At the end of the Christmas season when the orange has completely dried you are left with a permanent ornament that can be put away if you like for next year and light enough to be hung on a tree. I have had one hanging in my living room for 4 years now and it looks so beautiful!, and yes there still a bit of fragrance to it! 

Here is how to do it [from tlc.com]

The Pietersma Tinworks

Looking for that touch of Christmas History to add to you upcoming Christmas tree.  Over the past couple years I have collected many cans of Pietersma Tinworks Tinsel and other tin ornaments. I first saw them at Lee Valley Tools about 4 years ago, and now finding them at BCPV and other Historical location. Started by Greg Pietersma, who learned the art of tinsmithing at Upper Canada Village in the 90's. Since then he has opened quite a busy shop involving his whole family and carrying on the traditions of quality and craftsmanship in the numerous products it sells. Besides the tinsel and stars, I have quite a number of the Mason Jar tea light holders casting their unique glow around my pad.  He also crafts other traditional items like lanterns, hurricanes, tin cups, cookie cutters, and an amazing shop lamp. Based in Chesterville, Ontario (south east of Ottawa) the shop is sometimes open as a storefront by chance, but no need to wait out front as many retailers across Canada and USA (plenty in VT!?) carry Pietersma products for you to decorate this Christmas season.

Buy Online Direct From The Pietersma Tinworks.

Christmas Shopping @ Damn Yak Dry Goods Co.

This Christmas be sure to grab your haul of Damn Yak Dry Goods for that somewhat special person in your life. Click on the pictures to be directed to Etsy or Email me at damnyak(at)gmail.com.

FYI. Canadian outdoor equipment still has some stock of the Damn yak Salve in Tins. Contact them for info!

The Klondike Quest: A Photographic Essay 1897-1899.

 

 

This book should be on every one's shelf who appreciates the early outdoors equipment, photography, and hardships of the human. While not all the images are pleasant, most show the struggle and hardship of what Pierre Berton has called "one of the strangest mass movements in history."  Apparently the Klondike Gold rush was one of the most photographed events of the 19th century, so one could imagine the fantastic photos archived in this book. I haven't read the full book by Pierre Berton, but there is a fair bit of summarized reading regarding the images which makes this book great for your coffee table.  In a nutshell, the Klondike Gold Rush was spurred on by a small amount of gold and huge newspaper hype.  This mixture caused a mass uproar of approximately 100,000 people to drop and leave everything behind to get to Dawson City via the mountains and the famous Chilkoot Pass. Then when arriving, only to find out that most of the gold fields were already claimed.  In the end about 4000 people were to actually strike gold. It was quite a endeavor as most people were not well versed in the ways of the outdoors, let alone the harshness of the deep Yukon. At the now historical park in Washington, Alaska you can hike White Pass Trail. During the gold rush was promoted as a horse-packing trail. That meant a person should have been able to take all of their goods by pack animal up over the 45-mile trail. Even though this trail was supposed to be easier than the Chilkoot Trail, it turned out to be more difficult because of muddy bogs and steep rocky cliffs. Even experienced stampeders could not lead the horses around the obstacles. The trail was so rough on horses that 3,000 died along the way, and it was quickly renamed the “Dead Horse Trail.” Author Jack London said about the Dead Horse trail "The horses died like mosquitoes in the first frost, and from Skagway to Bennett they rotted in heaps." This is quite an epic book for sure, the photos tell as much of a story as the words beside them.