August 26, 2008 

  ot home last night after work, settled on the couch as I am 'homeschooling' myself about a certain subject and woke up about midnight when the dogs were going off. I then toddled off to bed wrapped in a blanket. I must have been tired as I think I fell asleep about 8 pm. I have been doing too much again... 

Yesterday morning it was 1C/33F at 6 am. The garden still looks pretty good. This morning is warmer at 3C/37F as there was alot of cloud cover.

Saturday I went to a seminar by Associate Professor Todd Whitcombe of the University of Northern British Columbia about Global Warming. He is an environmental chemist from the University of Northern British Columbia. It was very interesting.. I agree with him that is should not be called Global Warming.. but to call it 'Climate Change' instead. There are people who would disagree, seeing as we have been having cold wet summers for the last couple years, but it makes perfect sense that it is the slight temperature increase which is causing this problem. Like Dr. Whitcombe said, it is sometimes the smallest thing which causes the largest problem. Much like trying to go to sleep with a mosquito in your bedroom. 

Before 1880, there was a increase of CO2, but it was just slowly heading uphill on the graphs. Since the 1880's, and the industrial revolution, population increase, more people owning cars, more people living like the 'Jones', the CO2 levels on the charts went from a slow incline to almost vertical. But CO2 (carbon dioxide) is only one small part of the issue. 

For instance, in the case of where I live and us getting the wetter, colder summers that we didn't used to get... As the world is getting warmer, there is more moisture over the Pacific Ocean. Think of it like your glass of lemonaide on a hot day and there is condensation on the outside of your glass. The warmer it is outside and the cooler your glass is = more condensation on the outside of your glass. 

The clouds coming in from over the ocean are heavier and more full of water than they normally are. So they are having to dump more of their load of liquid as they 'scrape' up against the mountains as they head east to get over them. So we are getting more of the water. In Alberta, just to the east of us, they are having a drought the last couple years, while we have been soggy, as the clouds used to be light enough, to get over the mountains to drop rain there. 

On the flip side, we are getting more cloudy days in the winter, and just like comparing the last 2 mornings here at home, the clear nights = colder and the cloudy nights = warmer. Which is why we are having 'warmer' winters here.. at -38C, instead of -60C. Which is why the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic has gotten out of hand, as the winters are no longer getting cold enough to kill them. And this is just one effect in one area of the world.

Yes, the Earth has always had climate changes. The issue this time is, we are having one when we are not due for one and it is man caused this time, not the Earth doing it to herself. We are like a couple hundred thousand years too early (if not millions of years, I lost track on that part, but I was pretty sure I will not be breathing then). 

I am not sure I agree with everything Dr. Whitcombe said, especially on composting and soil nutrients, but like he said, everything in science is just a theory until proven true. I am still going to do my part, I know others will continue to do their part and I hope alot of other people come on board and do their parts. 

In other news, on Sunday, as part of my job, I went to go look for a dead guy. Well, it coincided with my job anyway. My companion's great-grandfather was part of the gold rush era here and we went to try to find his grave. We went to three cemeteries and the into the B.C. Archives to find out. There was no record of his death (we presume he is indeed dead), but found out that he had mining claims for 10 years in one of the most historic gold mining areas in North America. The search is on.. and it was a fun and learning experience. A little bit like a treasure hunt.

We also found a really nice historic woodworkers shop. I wonder if Johnny Knox (or whom) used to own it or work there. My companion was drooling over a 4" wide chisel and a couple shoulder planers. I was busy checking out the steam box and how it would have worked. 

My daylilies are blooming nicely. I have a thing for this type of flower and have always liked them. They are edible as well. 

Fried Rice With Golden Needles

"Golden Needles," a traditional ingredient in Chinese dishes, such as Hot and Sour Soup and Moo Shu, are actually sun-dried daylilies! Vast fields of daylilies are grown for harvest in Asian countries including China and Thailand. The buds are picked when colored, but unopened, and dried in the sun for about a week. You can harvest your own (use the milder yellow varieties) and either sun-dry them or use a dehydrator. They may also be found in oriental markets. To use them, soak the dried flowers in hot water about ten minutes. Then pinch off the stem end, and cut in half if large. They add a chewy texture and are rich in carotene.

Ingredients:
4 eggs
4 scallions, sliced
20 golden needles
1 small can bamboo shoots
1/2 pound snow pea pods, cut in half the long way
1 medium carrot, cut into match-stick (julienne) pieces

Substitutes: water chestnuts, bell peppers or broccoli, all cut in comparable sized pieces, can be used in place of any of the vegetables.

2 cloves minced garlic
2 Tablespoons grated or minced garlic
4 cups cooked rice
2-4 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
1 Tablespoon sesame oil

Heat the sesame oil in a 10-12 inch non-stick skillet or wok. Add eggs, spread over pan as thinly as possible. When done, but not brown, remove and slice into thin strips. Set aside. Heat canola oil until smoking. Add ginger and stir. After one minute add garlic, the vegetables, scallions and golden needles. Mix and stir-fry rice about three minutes. Lower heat and cook until vegetables are done but crisp. Add rice, egg and soy sauce to taste, and mix until heated through. Serves 4 as a side dish or 2 as an entree.