Alyssa Bailey
Between Fox and Hare | a northern lifestyle blog
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"When a mysterious illness sidelined my original plans in life, I packed up and moved home to Kenora, Ontario, Canada. With little money, the inability to work, and a whole lot to figure out, I moved into my family’s cabin on Lake of the Woods. So these are the moments, the recipes, the occasional heartache, and the adventures of a life starting over on the little island between Fox and Hare."
Between Fox and Hare is the on-going saga of a 20-something Canadian whose heart is anchored in Lake of the Woods. With her love of all things wild, Alyssa chronicles her journey learning and developing her skills in hunting, fishing, foraging, and outdoor cooking. Providing culinary tips and recipes, a peek into the Northern lifestyle, and the insight of a life lived with a chronic illness, Alyssa tells her story of putting back the pieces against the backdrop of the beautiful Boreal forest.
Alyssa can be found during the open-water season on the unnamed island between Fox and Hare with her two dogs, Storm and Lily. She spends the frozen months in the little city of Kenora, mostly in her kitchen, and enjoys winter hiking and ice-fishing excursions when the temperature hasn’t dropped below -30°C.
On the days when I struggle to hold a conversation or can do little more than feed myself, it’s difficult to see that there’s even anything that this illness has given me. Looking back, it seems crazy that I would ever want to move backwards– and yet here I was literally visualizing myself as the 17 year old girl before the illness set in. When this doesn’t work out, we’re left with a negative emotional response– disappointment, resentment, etc.. I answered these 25 questions to gain better insight on the year behind and the year ahead.
If you read my Holiday Gift Guide for the Ladies, you’ll have read all about why I chose the items that I did. I wanted to put together gift guides that were filled with small and local shops and business as well as feature more higher-quality, longer lasting gift options. If you’re in the Kenora area, grab your hot sauce from Lake of the Woods Brewing Company. Head down to see the boys at Lake of the Woods Headquarters and they’ll help you pick out the perfect Rapala lures, whether your guy likes to fish bass, walleye, musky, or all of the above.
While not all products may be available in your specific area, many of the small businesses offer shipping throughout Canada (as well as internationally), or you may be able to find their products at stores that I have not listed. In our tourism town of Kenora, many small business struggle in the winter– so by committing some or all of your holiday budget to shopping small and local, you’re helping make their Christmas just a little bit brighter. If you’re in Winnipeg, go check out their flagship store in The Forks, along with a variety of other shops selling local products, along with some really great food! They’re also a good gift for young professionals who may want some headshots, or any girl who just wants a handful of really great photos to feel a little extra special one day.
A macro bowl is a dish that’s comprised of the 3 macronutrients– carbs, protein, and fat. They typically have a grain or pseudo-grain base, cooked and/or raw vegetables, a good protein source, and a fat such as avocado, cheese, or a homemade dressing. When building a Harvest Bowl or Macro Bowl, I typically try to incorporate a grain or pseudo-grain, a cooked vegetable, a raw vegetable, a green (either raw or cooked), a protein, a fat, and nuts or seeds. Since we’re out of turkey season here in Canada, swap in some leftover roasted chicken or keep this recipe in mind for your Christmas turkey leftovers.