Rolf Devinci

After a winter storm last week we have experienced an unseasonal mild spell this weekend which gave me an opportunity to loose some arrows. What a pleasant surprise especially since the woods still have a decent amount of snow cover so I can double down with the snowshoes.. Archery and snowshoeing on a 3C Sunday......prime!   It was sheltered enough under the tree canopy that gloves were unnecessary which is definitely unusual for January. Wore a leather glove on the bow hand for protection as I shoot off the knuckle using my hickory flat bow and just my three finger glove on my draw hand.   Worse part of the shoot was the occasional cold drips of melt water dropping from the overhanging tree branches. I have been itching to try out my new medieval arrow bag. Being able to conceal the arrows during transport was definitely handy and the bag is far lighter than my previous thick saddle grade leather back quiver. Without the 24 holed spacer it also allowed me to use the

I love the winter woods. An afternoon snowshoeing in pics.       "There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to it's very hollows in snow.It is the still ecstasy of nature..." W Sharp   "Everything looks clean and fresh and unmarred by time or use. Snow, like the silent death it counterfeits, is a great leveler." A Ivey                  

Produced in Guyana this amber offering is a fairly new addition to El Dorado`s lineup. The NSLC tasting note says of the spirit.... "A distinctly smooth aged rum with tobacco and caramel aromas and dried fruit flavours. Enjoy this rum by itself, over ice, or in cocktails". Since my objective is to find affordable rums that can be enjoyed neat or on ice I purchased a 750ml bottle for $30.99 CDN which firmly places the rum in the value for dollar category. El Dorado offers this description of their 8 year Demerara..... "This 8 Year Old rum is a complex fusion of a full flavoured, heavy bodied rum with light-to-medium bodied rums aged in bourbon oak casks – creating a sumptuous smooth sipping rum which can also form the basis of memorable cocktails. Tasting Notes: Light to medium-bodied nose with hints of tobacco mixed with caramel toffee. Faint aroma of dried stone fruits and flambée banana. Soft and faintly sweet mouth-feel with traces of oak and buttersc

In the pursuit of affordable sipping rum I went to the extreme end of the spectrum and picked up a bottle of blackstrap rum. To be honest I had no expectations but figured I would just jump into the fray with a purchase of the Cruzan which was on sale for $25.99 CDN. Blackstrap rum is a serious dark rum with an appearance noted as "used motor oil". Upon opening the bottle the nose is definitely complex with strong vanilla and maple overtones. In the glass over ice it was sweet and, like the nose, the flavor was all over the place. I`m no expert but I did not find it unpalatable and I rather enjoyed the strong molasses flavor.Would sampling different blackstrap rums change that opinion? Regardless it is blackstrap rum - one should expect it to be sweet and thick. Begs the question - what is blackstrap molasses? "Almost all rum is made from molasses, but not all rums use Black Strap Molasses... Black Strap comes from the third boiling of the sugar syrup th

Often relegated as the grog of sailors, scallywags and pirates rum has begun to experience a renaissance of late. I am jumping upon that bandwagon...or should that be the bandship. It was a trip to the Caribbean last year that made me aware of the number of rum varieties available on the market. As a Nova Scotian rum is "in my blood" and part of our maritime heritage so there is a certain attraction towards the history of the spirit. I also realized that the white rum drowned in colas from my youth was not a proper introduction to the complexities of the spirit. Hence my journey to find worthy yet affordable sipping rums.... Contrary to what many think rum, like Scotch, is a complex spirit often individually "unique" based upon the distilling method, ingredients, type and length of barrel aging and blending methods. . Flor De Cana 7 Year (Nicaragua) Having garnered good online reviews I opted for the Flor De Cana 7 year reserve rum . I was looking for 

It snowed.... ...we finally got enough of the white stuff to dig the snowshoes out of the storage locker. Yippee! It was a perfect day for a hike through the local woods. The temperature was around -1C, a decent amount of snow upon the ground and the trees still draped in their winter white. I love the winter woods.❤ With the exception of the hum of traffic upon the adjacent highway it was a quiet jaunt through a pristine winter landscape. Some critters were up and about; rabbit, squirrel and canine prints found in the fresh snow the only other indications of activity. My snowshoeing preference is a pair of Sorel winter hikers matched to a pair of waterproof gaiters. The leather boots are lighter than pack boots and far more versatile. I have poles that I rarely use, usually only when dealing with deep snow. Found some good sources of birchbark for the fire starter kit. Stuff burns hot and fast even when wet.  Perfect for fire building. As does cat tails. It ma

I  finally made the decision to sell my beaded leather back quiver and replace it with a traditional medieval arrow bag. I purchased the back quiver but soon found my limited range of shoulder mobility meant I had difficulty drawing arrows. When I discovered arrow bags being sold on Ebay it sealed the decision and away went my back quiver to a buyer in Kansas. http://www.ebay.ca/usr/yeoldecostumeshoppe?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 I like the look and functionality of an arrow bag. I chose to go with a leather variant of the bag complete with a sewed in spacer ring The ring prevents the bag from collapsing in upon the arrows by keeping the mouth of the bag open. Another (historical) option was the use of a disc spacer. The spacer has 24 arrow holes that prevents arrow rattling and damaged fletchings by keeping them separate while encased in the bag. Based upon the samples recovered from the shipwreck of the Mary Rose they are usually crafted from thick leather. The spac

After a couple years away from the gym I recently rejoined the neighborhood Goodlife establishment. To be perfectly honest I am not sure why I left in the first place. I think It had to do with my decision to cease road racing assuming I did not need to train as much? Or perhaps it was simply a time for a change?Regardless my return was much needed as my fitness and weight had suffered in the intervening years since my last racing season in the summer of 2011. One of the incentives was the chance to participate in spin classes again. I enjoyed them in the past and they definitely complimented my road cycling fitness, especially in the winter months. HIIT and RPM " Born from the sport of cycle racing, RPM uses simulated climbs and sprints in a workout where you control the intensity" Goodlife partners with Les Mills and offers the RPM spinning series. Previous spin classes were less structured and often based upon the preferences of the instructor in

Another natural wonder I keep in the wiccan bag. I began using it several years ago mixed in water as a tonic to improve digestion and as an immune booster. Recently I began having my daughter use it to combat acne as a face cleanser. Mixed 2-1  distilled water to ACV it makes an exceptional toner as it unclogs pores and restores a proper PH level to the skin. I also have begun using it as well as it does help with dry winter skin and the signs of aging; wrinkles and age spots. I usually use it nightly before bedtime where I apply and wait several minutes then finish with a splash of cold water. Yes it does have an odor of vinegar but it fades rather quickly leaving just a refreshed complexion. Make sure you use unpasteurized ACV that contains the "mother" - whispy spider like threads floating in the vinegar. That is the beneficial health giving component of ACV. It offers a legion of benefits and can be easily incorporated into one`s diet. My favorite is simply

Used throughout history as a beneficial healing and culinary herb oregano is now a valued part of my "wiccan" bag - a name coined by my daughter to describe my doctor`s bag of natural supplements and essential oils. It all began a couple years ago when I was researching natural insect repellents and discovered the power of essential oils. I have since discovered the benefits and applications of essential oils and the use of aromatherapy. A relative of the mint family of herbs (Lamiaceae) Origanum Vulgare has been used as a medicinal plant and is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Similar to many traditional plants used for wellness and healing oregano is only beginning to be examined for it`s anti fungal, anti bacterial and anti viral properties. As a result you will find differing opinions upon the effectiveness of the herb. With this understanding my approach is simple in regards to oregano and all nat