tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15146662718428471882024-03-24T13:45:42.463-04:00Earthworks FarmAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-19273415977654860572015-03-30T15:26:00.001-04:002015-03-30T15:26:53.712-04:00Planting in the Snow<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, here we are at the end of March, and it is snowing in
Western Massachusetts. Again. Like most New Englanders this winter, I have gone
past even the point of complaining about the snow. If you know anything about
New Englanders, you’ll have some idea about how desperate the situation is. I’ve
idly contemplated throwing various pieces of furniture out of the window when
confronted with the sight of a few fresh inches when I come down the stairs in
the morning.</div>
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It has been a long, long winter indeed. I got a furious call
from my mother about a month ago, after she realized that she simply couldn’t
shovel the six or so inches of snow that had fallen the previous evening,
because the snow banks were so high that she couldn’t fling the snow over the
top them. Neither could the snow blower. This coupled with more than three feet
of snow and ice on even the steepest of her roofs (despite having been shoveled
at least three times already) had pushed even her veteran New England spirit
past the breaking point. I know just how she feels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My cats haven’t set so much as a paw outdoors since
November, and there are now six of them. I’ve had to resort to drugging the
poor bored babies with catnip to keep the number of tussles down to something
reasonable. They all really need to get out and kill something, to be sure,
because more often than not, they have chosen my feet to practice on. It’s like
living with a pack of restless toe-hunting tigers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Worse than the snow, really, is the cold. Heaven only knows
what the cold has done to my perennials, and it is only the reality of wind
chills approaching negative fifty (that’s negative forty-five-ish for you Celsius
folks) that could possibly make me in any way grateful for the snow. We bought
a whole extra ton and a half of pellets for this winter, and we had half a ton
left over in the basement from last winter. Given that we only go through about
two and a half tons to heat the house for the whole winter, I was feeling
pretty proud of my surplus. Virtuous, even. Storing a little extra in case of a
bad or lean year is only good planning, after all. Folks, we’ve gone through
the entire extra ton and a half. We’ll be lucky to have the same half ton surplus
we started with last summer. That means we went through sixty percent more heat
than in previous years. Most of that was before the first of March, when the
worst of the cloudy days were done, and the temperatures weren’t quite so
frigid, allowing us to turn off the pellet stove and take full advantage of the
passive solar nature of the house. Before that, I would have been surprised if
someone had tallied up the number of sunny days and come up with a number
greater than ten. No joke.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We won’t discuss what we’ve spent in propane this year, due
to not being able to fully utilize the solar hot water system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This tally of complaints might then explain why
seed-starting day came as a surprise this year. I was completely unprepared for
it, which is really quite unusual. Usually, I have my planting all planned
weeks in advance, and every flat surface in the house is covered in seed catalogs,
bits of paper covered in hasty plot plans and unintelligible scrawls, and seed
packets are scattered <i>everywhere</i>,
usually due to my inability to keep them away from my eager children.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This year, the Friday before seed starting weekend, I realized
my predicament with a start. Woah, wait, what was the date? Geez! So instead of
starting the planting bright and early Saturday morning, we were all still
scrambling around trying to find everything we needed. Where are the cow pots?
Ah, in the basement. Where did I put that small order of replacement seeds I placed
in mid-January? Oh my, did it even arrive? Did anyone check? Ok, it <i>did</i> make it into the downstairs fridge,
but someone stacked a bowl of beef bones on top of it. We probably ought to
make stock out of those rather soon, you know. It took us more than twenty-four
hours to find the shallow, clear plastic bins and lids that we use for make-shift
miniature greenhouses. They were stacked up in the shed, which no one has been
able to get into for a while, due to the fact that the plow left a snow bank in
front of the door. Thank goodness the thaw has started, or Shawn would have
been shoveling it out for a month. He had to actually buy a bag of soil, and
the only reason he didn't have to take a pickax to the compost pile was that I
had some still in a bucket from last fall. It was frozen solid, and took all
day and all night to thaw. Even so, I’ll have to use warm water when I mix it
up, lest I kill my poor seeds in cold soil.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gathering supplies took all weekend, what with everything
else going on; fencing lessons, grocery shopping, social studies projects, and
the necessity of shopping for a new car (Shawn’s died a spectacular death on
the highway after 240,000 loyal miles). Sunday I spent in intensive planning. I
don’t think I’ve ever done a garden plan in a single day before. Frankly, that
makes me nervous. It usually takes roughly the same amount of time, but there
is always more leisurely contemplation. And never, ever, have I come up with a
plan that my husband rubber stamps without adjustment or discussion. I honestly
don’t think he was paying attention and that is <i>certainly</i> concerning. I should not be left to plan this stuff on my
own, as I always and without exception think we’re going to need far, far more
than we ever do. I really cannot emphasize that one enough. We may be in for an
interesting summer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That leaves us today with me starting the seeds all by
myself. And it’s not that I mind doing the work, at all, but… it’s usually
something we do as a family. So this year is unusual in that regard as well.
However, life moves on, and the seeds have to be started. It is just so odd to
be doing it on a day where it was snowing when I got out of bed. I’m honestly beginning
to wonder if we’ll still have snow on the ground until sometime in August at
this rate. But the calendar says plant, because the calendar says my frost-free
date is about six weeks out. Hard to believe, but I guess I am taking it on
faith that the wheel of the seasons will turn, the earth will warm, and spring
will finally arrive.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-35817761407947847232014-06-25T11:51:00.000-04:002014-06-25T11:51:34.966-04:00The Unsung Hero of the Kitchen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span id="goog_1369203138"></span><span id="goog_1369203139"></span>Summer is well and truly here. I haven’t seen our big farm
table in weeks. First it was housing the dehydrator, and covered in fruit, and
for a couple of weeks now it has been home to the first seedlings of my herb
garden. This is what it looks like right now. I didn't even tidy. We hit the jackpot at a local farm, and came away with all of our
vegetable seedlings and a really nice start on the seedlings for the culinary
herb garden. Why didn’t I start my own this year? Well, I had a little problem
with <a href="http://www.earthworksfarming.com/2014/05/a-very-small-disaster.html" target="_blank">Mothra</a>, and spent planting season cleaning out my studio instead.
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Regardless, and as is usual, I wound up with what I needed,
no matter my original plans. We planted two kinds of tomatoes, both new to us,
sweet red peppers, yellow crookneck squash, zucchini, about half a ton of
pickling cucumbers, and even managed to put in carrot and onion seeds. It is
certainly less variety than last year, but fresh veggies are fresh veggies, and
with the amount of food I need to put up, every little bit helps. And the
herbs, hooboy. It’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possible</i> I maybe
might have kinda gotten carried away. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never</i>
do that, you know.</div>
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We have, sitting on my table, three kinds of thyme (English,
French, and lemon), two kinds of sage (regular garden variety, and a very
pretty variegated), two kinds of oregano (Greek, and something called “hot and
spicy”), rosemary, basil, spearmint, and the find of the decade – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chocolate</i> mint. I’m telling you right
now, that one is destined for some seriously awesome mojitos. Really. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chocolate</i> mojitos. Epic, right? We also
have six unidentified hot peppers (they came as a mix) that I’m not entirely
sure what to do with. The veggie beds are full, and last year the ducks ate the
hot pepper seedlings right out of their pots! I may end up putting them out on
the back porch.</div>
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I still have the elderberry bush that didn’t get planted
last year, as well. So, for my birthday, all four of use spent some serious
time and effort pulling out the grass and weeds from the garden beds along the
back of the house. It was truly lovely to work together as a family, especially
at a project that will feed and take care of us for years to come. However, it
must be said that a week later we are still at it. The larger of the two beds
is now free of weeds, and is waiting for compost, a layer of newspaper, and a
covering of mulch. The newspaper acts as a weed barrier, but unlike the plastic
stuff, it rots right into the soil over time. Plus, you know, no plastic
leeching into my medicinal herb gardens. That one seems pretty sensible to me.
The newspaper is also free, abundant, and a form of composting. This whole
process, though time consuming, allows me to look my family in the eye and say,
“I know, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>, but I promise, we’ll
only have to do this ONCE.” Well… this year, anyway. In the meantime, the
seedlings are taking up nearly the entirety of the farm table.</div>
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So am I looking forward to the imminent unearthing of our
table? Not really, no. I hope to get the herbs off it before this weekend, it
is true, but mostly because I am expecting another ten or twelve pounds of
fruit. I may get lucky and wind up with more. After that, I need to start the
seedlings for the medicinal herbs. There really is no other place to put them
that will keep them safe from cats, kids, and ducks. Then there is the fact
that I have a whole boat-load of stock to make and pressure can. We do this in
two huge eighteen quart crock pots. Guess where they are most of the time? And
my big nine-tray Excalibur dehydrator? Yup. You guessed it. Oh, and did I
mention that the pressure canner has to live somewhere in-between uses? I would
love for it to get put back into its box, and go back to the basement where it
is supposed to live, but when you are using it every weekend, that becomes a
bit impractical. So, well, you can imagine where it ends up. In addition, it is
the closest flat spot when you come in the back door out of the herb garden.
Right at the moment, that makes it the recipient of a stack of sun hats,
sunglasses, and dirt-covered work gloves. In my defense, those are at least
getting put right back on bodies in a little while when we go out there to
finish in the garden.</div>
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Why isn’t this stuff in the kitchen, where it obviously
belongs? Dude. It is already <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scary</i> in
there. There is so much equipment that I am lucky to get six inches of counter
space along the front. And we use it ALL. I have a coffee maker, a Kitchenaid
stand mixer, my monster food processor, the knife block, one of those eighteen
quart crock pots, a compost bin, a duck food bin, the toaster oven, the bread
box (which has the empty egg cartons stacked on top of it), and the oils and
vinegar we use in cooking every meal. The water bath canner is actually on top
of the upper cabinets. No, really.</div>
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All of the food prep has to be done at the island, because
the counters are FULL. Even so, right now the fermentation crock is living
there with a new batch of sauerkraut bubbling away, and there is an eighty
pound jug of honey on the end near the stove, waiting to be split into smaller
jars because it crystalized SOLID in the big one over the winter. Just one more
little curveball that spring threw at me this year.</div>
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The bottom line? My house is NOT tidy in the summer. The
dishes get cleaned, the surfaces get washed, and before I can anything, the
whole kitchen gets sterilized. Short of that, my kitchen is definitely enter-at-your-own-risk
this time of year. There are bound to be at least three recipes running at any
given time. Right now, I have the aforementioned sauerkraut, a batch of banana
butter in the crock pot, and the honey waiting to be re-melted and put into
quart jars. I should also start another batch of beef stock, because the number
of bones in the freezer is getting out of hand. Oh, and I probably have a few
actual meals to make in there today, too.</div>
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Where do we eat? Mostly outside on one porch or the other.
It’s summer, and beautiful out. Another advantage of this tactic is that I have
a lot less cleaning to do. The kids spill the food outside, and the ducks clean
it up for me. Bonus.</div>
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Really, all of this is why I have started calling that
particular bit of furniture a farm table. It is not a dining table, mostly
because we simply don’t use it for dining during the summer months. It’s
constantly full of projects, preserving equipment, fruit waiting its turn, big
batches of food in progress, plants, and piles of open cookbooks. Let me tell
you, I leave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">both</i> leaves in it. We
need all ninety-six inches. I am very glad of its sturdy construction, three
and a half foot width, fifth leg, two inch thick top, and the heavy geared
beams that support it. I never have to worry about how much weight I put on it,
or where I set things down. It’ll take two or three hundred pounds right in the
center over a seam and never give a hint of protest. I bought a table that
would last me a lifetime long before I had any inkling what I would be doing
with my life. At the time, I thought for sure that it was over-kill, but knew
that it was a solid piece that was extremely likely to outlive me. Ten years,
hundreds of miles, and thousands of pounds later I believe it more than ever.
Of all of the expensive and large pieces of equipment in my kitchen these days,
it is the one I use the most, and the one I think about the least. And it sure
looks like it, too. Battered, dented, gouged (still no idea how that happened),
dotted with permanent marker, and in desperate need of refinishing, it is like
a sturdy battle-scarred veteran. Someday I will likely strip the varnish off
it, sand it down, and refinish it. I keep meaning to, but honestly there never
seems to be a time we can be without it for a few days, let alone the two weeks
it would take me to fit it in around my schedule.</div>
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A few weeks ago, as canning season started to swing into
view, and the huge pieces of equipment we use started to come out of the
basement and other places where they had been tucked in for the winter, Shawn
and I rapidly came to an agreement. We need a summer kitchen. We talked about
one last year, but in a decidedly “someday, wouldn’t it be nice” sort of way.
This year, we have come to the inescapable conclusion that this is going to be
an outbuilding that is necessary for our sanity. My number one concern for this
new building? You would think it would be the stove, or the ventilation. Nope.
Where on earth am I going to find another table like this??? I can’t function
without it. I will not lie, I am giving serious thought to buying another one
and putting it in storage until we build, just on the off-chance that they stop
making it. I actually went back and checked to make sure that it was still in
production.</div>
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That was the moment I realized what a truly essential piece
of equipment my table is. I mean, on how many tables can you lay out flat and
sort forty pounds of freshly washed blueberries? It allows six people to work
all at once without a bit of crowding. Eight can eat without any trouble, and I
can get ten people around it if we are all feeling friendly. A batch of stock
alone weighs something in the neighborhood of three hundred pounds – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and I never gave it a thought.</i> In fact,
I have had a batch of stock running, and hoisted a bleeding kid up on the other
end in order to closer inspect a scraped knee. Could I do my job without this
table? Yeah, sure I could. But to be honest, I’d rather have the table than my
food processor any day, and that really says something.</div>
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I think sometimes in the exhilarating rush of the new,
larger, and technologically advanced gadgets that we fill our lives and
especially (for some of us) our kitchens with, we overlook the most important
things that allow us to be effective and productive. My table is not fancy. It
is not a brand-name product. It did not come from a high-end store. Nowhere is
it stamped with Restoration Hardware, or even Pottery Barn. It is not walnut,
cherry, or even oak. It didn’t even come pre-finished (although you can order
it that way, if you like). But you know what I realized? This is where we
gather. This is where we pursue our passions, be they food, art, or even Legos.
Shawn even builds his miniature replica medieval siege engines on it. This is
where we do everything from the paperwork that runs the house to homework. This
one large, sturdy piece of furniture is not just the heart of my kitchen, it is
the heart of my whole house.</div>
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Oh, and if you want a table like mine (and I wouldn’t blame
you), you can find it <a href="https://www.millstores.com/categorydetail.cfm?cattype=1&catcode=158B&sku=19-6640&prodname=Extendable%20Dining%20Table" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-40285364813625393872014-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-18T08:00:02.977-04:00How to Get Rid of and Prevent Clothes Moths<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->The last of the moth-infected stuff from the studio is
sitting in my kitchen, waiting to be cycled through the oven. Yeah, you heard
me. I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still</i><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have two bolts of silk, an alpaca fleece, and a couple of bags of llama fiber
left. I should be done with that part today. Then I have to go through every closet and storage box in
the house and deal with the clothes.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The part that is really killing me, though, is the sheer amount
of plastic this requires. I was planning on moving my stash <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">out</i> of plastic over the coming years,
and into fabric-lined lidded baskets. Well, no more my friends. I am not bloody
doing this twice, I can tell you that right now. So everything is being processed
to kill the moths, then bagged in 4mm clear plastic bags and put into plastic
totes. The totes have already been washed with hot soapy water, and then
sprayed with moth repelling essential oils while still hot. Plastic, being
porous, sucks up the oils and stays smelly pretty much forever. Then I lob two
moth repelling sachets into the tote, spritz it with diatomaceous earth, and
then tape the whole thing shut with packing tape. I like to wear a belt and
suspenders on my overalls in such situations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The theory behind all of this? You may want to sit down for
this part, because I have (of necessity) become something of an expert at
killing these horrid white squirmy monsters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exterminate the
Beasties</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, you have to get the dirty rotten so-and-sos to stop
chewing holes in your things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do
that by killing them. You can freeze them, which kills the adults and the
larvae, but it does not kill the eggs. You have to freeze your stuff for a
minimum of three days, thaw it, let the eggs hatch, and freeze it again. As the
hatching takes four to ten days in warm weather, you should repeat the freezing
in about two weeks to make sure you got everything. Given the absolute WALL of
plastic totes behind me, and the tiny amount of available freezer space not
taken up by food, that method would have taken me months. So I opted for heat
instead. Thirty minutes at temperatures over 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) will
kill all stages of clothing moth; egg, larvae, and adult alike. Sign me up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I set my oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C) and ran
everything through for thirty minutes. I want to make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sure</i> nothing survives. Will the temperature hurt the fiber? Nope.
Know how I know? When you iron wool and silk, you do so at about 300 degrees F.
In fact, any temperature under 392 degrees F is perfectly safe. Yeah, I looked
it up. There is one caveat, and on this one I got lucky. You cannot do this to
a raw sheep fleece. The lanolin melts at those temperatures (anything above 100
degrees F), and when allowed to cool, it chemically changes and becomes almost
impossible to remove. Once the wool has been scoured it has already had most of
the lanolin removed, and all chemical changes have already been wrought, so
clean wool and yarn are perfectly safe to bake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My luck? I had only one raw sheep fleece, and
it was so infested it went straight into the trash. The alpaca and llama fiber
have no lanolin, and are thus completely safe to bake, even raw (which really
just means sandy).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A word on other methods of extermination. There are several,
and I’d like to take a moment to discuss why you should not do them, if at all
possible. First, there is dry ice fumigation. You do this by enclosing the
material in air tight plastic, putting a small piece of dry ice in the bottom,
and sealing it shut. You leave it for at least three days. This kills all
stages of moth, but dry ice is difficult to get in many places, and you run the
risk of frostbite. This would be an excellent method, however, for saving a
piece of wool or horsehair stuffed furniture, if you could not take it outside
and freeze it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can dry-clean your things, which kills everything, and
removes any attractive staining. Dry-cleaning chemicals, however, are
notoriously toxic, and if you have a large number of things to save, it could
be quite costly. The same goes for chemicals used by professional
exterminators, though permethrin (made from orange peels) is safe enough for
people, as long as you have no cats or fish in the house. For them, it is
extraordinarily toxic. We have five cats, so this one is absolutely off the
list for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prevention</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, once the moths are dead, how do you keep them from
re-infesting your things? The problem with these guys is that they don’t just
infest your clothes or yarn. They infest your house, too. Which means that
unless you take steps, you’ll be right back where you started. Understanding
how to prevent a moth infestation (which would have been so much smarter of me
in the FIRST PLACE) starts with understanding the life-cycle of the clothing
moth. This is going to get a little nuts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The whole thing starts with a pregnant female moth. She’s
looking for a place to lay her eggs, and she finds it by following her nose.
She is afraid of the light, and not a very good flyer. This means that she’ll
hide quite well, and you will likely not ever see her. If you do, she will be
more likely to run away from you than fly. She will lay anywhere between 30 and
200 eggs in any animal hair (wool, alpaca, cashmere, angora, fur, discarded
human hair, etc.), protein fiber (silk), or in fact, in grain. Damp, stained,
or smelly things are vastly preferred, because the caterpillars do not drink,
and must get their moisture from their food. With that said, live caterpillars
have been found in bags of salt. No kidding. I told you this was ridiculous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The eggs take four to ten days to hatch. Once they do, they
start eating whatever they were laid in. Often, it is your favorite cashmere
sweater. For me, it was my fiber stash. As they feed, they spin a webbing mat,
which they hide under. This mat typically contains dye and fiber from whatever
they are eating, so detecting them can be almost impossible. Usually the first
symptom of an infestation is moth holes in your best wool suit. They will
continue to feed at a rate determined by temperature and humidity. The colder
and dryer it is, the longer it takes. Larvae will hatch and grow at
temperatures ranging from 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) to 91 degrees F (33
degrees C), with ideal conditions being about 75 degrees F (24 degrees C) and
70-75% relative humidity. This stage can take as little as a month… or as long
as two years. Yeah, I kinda wanted to cry at that one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once they have gorged themselves on your hand knit socks,
they spin themselves cocoons, and become pupae. Now here’s the tricky part.
They often actually crawl away from their food source in order to do this. This
means that they can crawl off your woolens and onto something that is cotton,
viscose, or synthetic. Thus it is EXTREMELY important to wash <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i> in the infected area. Do not
skimp out here, or you may be sorry. Once they are cocooned, they will spend 10
to 50 days transforming into adults.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the adults emerge from their cocoons, it is important
to understand that they do not, and in fact cannot eat. It is only the larvae
who do the damage. The adults do not even have working mouth parts. An adult
female clothing moth will mate, and lay her eggs, and she has only about 15
days in which to do this. Males will live a bit longer (figures, right?); about
30 days. Males find the females by using their nose as well. The females give
off a very specific pheromone. We’ll get back to that later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how does all of this help us prevent infestation, or
re-infestation? Let’s start with our adult female moth, shall we? After all, no
eggs mean no hungry hungry caterpillars. The first, most excellent prevention
method is as simple as a barrier. If the moths cannot get to the woolens, they
cannot lay their eggs in them. Makes sense, right? Well, clothing moths are
TINY. So the only way to be completely sure is to encase everything in
air-tight plastic. I know, I know, it makes me crazy too. Just bite the bullet
and do it. If you really can’t stomach it, or if (heaven forbid) you actually
want to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">use</i> some of the things you
own, there are some different measures you can take.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition to the barrier method, you can employ a
substance called diatomaceous earth. It is the fossilized remains of
microscopic sea creatures, and comes as a powder. For any animal without an
exoskeleton it is completely harmless (caveat – don’t breathe in a ton of it,
it is still a powder, after all). But to creatures who carry their bones on the
outside, it is quite deadly. We have used it for years to keep the house free
of fleas. It gets in between the plates of the exoskeleton and rubs, causing
tiny scratches. The insects actually die of dehydration, so the one thing to
remember is that it absolutely does not work once it gets wet. As soon as it is
dry again, however, you’re back in business. It is a physiological death
mechanism, and thus there is no adapting to it. In addition, there is a food
grade variety (which is the only one you should be buying) that has no
additives. It is designed to be added to grain products, such as flour, to keep
the weevils out. If you eat grain, you are already eating diatomaceous earth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the things about re-learning an older way of life is
that occasionally something that you always saw as quaint suddenly becomes
quite obviously not. One of those things is the extraordinary measures that
people used to go to in order to prevent clothing moths from entering the
house. All those little bowls of potpourri and sachets of sweet smelling herbs
tucked away in drawers? Yeah, they were not because women had so much time on
their hands that they had nothing better to do than sit around and sew dainty
smelly things. Let me tell you. It was to avoid exactly what I am going through
right now, which is engaging in furious and pitched battle with something about
a million times smaller than I am. And yes, it is just about as ridiculous as
it sounds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, those various sweet smelling herbs, well, to a
clothes moth, they smell like week old human waste, dipped in stink solution,
which has then been vomited up and left in the sun for a while. In addition to
that, depending on the herbs, they can actually kill the smaller caterpillars.
This is not a quaint custom, it actually works. Potpourri was originally
intended to protect the furniture in the room, which was often stuffed with
horse hair or down and covered in wool. This same effect can be achieved by
using sachets, and also by spritzing with essential oil blends. Some of the
herbs and oils in question include: wormwood, lavender, cedar, rosemary, cloves,
mint, camphor, orange or lemon peel (again, only if you don’t have cats or
fish), lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, and cinnamon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the larvae and eggs, the best prevention method is
vacuuming. A lot. If they have nothing to eat, the moths will go elsewhere, and
even small amounts of pet hair can keep a small infestation active. Vacuuming
destroys eggs, as does taking your things out into the sunshine and brushing
them. Light exposure will cause the larvae to drop off your garments, so this
is best done outside. Remember, the adult moths don’t like light either, so
exposing your stuff will keep them at bay as well. Doing this once a week often
solves the infestation problem without need to resort to chemicals. But
seriously, you might want to do everything listed here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, about those pheromones that attract the males? Well,
some very clever folks applied them to some sticky traps. They attract <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only</i> the males, which keeps the females
and the eggs from setting up shop, as there is no one to fertilize them. This
is an excellent extermination method, as well as prevention and monitoring.
Simply set out the traps, and if you find any moths in it, you have yourself a
problem. If you don’t find any, just leave the trap out for up to three months,
and keep changing them out. These little cardboard tents also act as a kind of
early warning system. If you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> have
an infestation, the number of males caught in the traps will tell you how fares
the battle, and it will tell you (with reasonable certainty) when the battle is
over. Keep putting out traps, however, for at least six more months. Better
safe than sorry.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-81078017971988434262014-06-16T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-25T12:06:09.088-04:00Moth Repelling Sachets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA17c5Y6zsUzUZwFpInqy_Axr-0oxhV4a57EM2OVdsAiaf017MNbARCNe3zKbAhgD4IdT-jPS2oN75f7YHxKGmRWisrb_OVnc4zvFOMjEW9pZ7oJ_EwZ6gKVson0uOWOHWdn_kYwF67Rw/s1600/_MG_9607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA17c5Y6zsUzUZwFpInqy_Axr-0oxhV4a57EM2OVdsAiaf017MNbARCNe3zKbAhgD4IdT-jPS2oN75f7YHxKGmRWisrb_OVnc4zvFOMjEW9pZ7oJ_EwZ6gKVson0uOWOHWdn_kYwF67Rw/s1600/_MG_9607.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<![endif]-->This has a lovely smell, the cedar and lavender make up the
bulk of the scent, but the clove bud leaves a nice hint of spice. Be warned,
the smell is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> strong and slightly
astringent when the batch is freshly made. The scent continues to work for a
whole year, but it mellows quickly; usually within a few days.<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 oz dried wormwood</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 oz dried rosemary</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 oz dried lavender</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 oz cedar shavings</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp lavender essential oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp cedar essential oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10 drops clove bud essential oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5 drops rosemary essential oil</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mix herbs and oils together in a large glass or metal bowl.</div>
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Use 1/3 cup of mixture in each sachet. You can use small
organza bags, or sew your own.</div>
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Put 1-3 sachets in every place in the house where animal
fiber or silk is stored.</div>
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In closets, hang one sachet from a hanger for every 2-3 feet
of closet rod.</div>
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Mixture should be replaced completely every spring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Makes 33 sachets.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-70169262107670671672014-06-11T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-11T08:00:04.099-04:00Accounting, and the Start of Canning Season<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roasting strawberries may just be my new favorite smell. We
got six pounds of juicy ruby red fruit from the farmer’s market, and just like
that, Canning and Preserving Season had begun. The moment the fruit came
through the door and went onto the big farm table, I started sorting it. Only
the reddest ripest ones would do, because they were destined to be sliced up for
the dehydrator. The rest I put, still unwashed, in a wire colander and set on
the counter to ripen up a bit in the summer heat. They’ll get processed into
jam in a few days. The trick to strawberries is very simple. DO NOT wash them
until you are ready to use them. They are like little sponges, and the moment
you wash them, they start to go mushy. Keep them dry, and they’ll last for
days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan and I set to work. She has recently been cleared to
work with sharp knives, and was more than happy to help hull and slice
strawberries. With two of us working, we had about four pounds of painfully
ripe strawberries washed, hulled, sliced, and into the dehydrator within an
hour of them coming through the door. I’m telling you, she’s hired. It’s really
the way to go with strawberries anyway. They don’t last long. Some of those berries
may not have had a few hours more in them. But oh, what a lovely aroma they
have, warmed up to 135 degrees, and wafted around my kitchen by the fan. It’s
like warm strawberry caramel. Yum.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m equal parts excited and trepidatious here at the start
of the busiest time of my year. On the one hand, STRAWBERRIES – strawberry butter,
syrup, sliced and dried, fruit leather, pie filling, jam, and maybe even some
strawberry mead if I wind up with enough fruit. On the other hand, STRAWBERRIES
– it will take me something in the neighborhood of thirty pounds of fruit to
put up everything. That’s an awful lot of red juicy berries. And that wouldn’t
be so bad, except that I actually sat down and calculated my canning for the
season. Last year, I started with making all of my jam and fruit leather for
the whole year. It was a total success. I could maybe make one more batch of
fruit leather, but we are still eating the jam, and we didn’t buy a <i>single jar</i> last year. We didn’t buy any
fruit snacks for the kids, nor did we buy any pickles or relish. Wait for it - <i>because I put up enough for a whole year</i>.
Can I tell you how proud I am of that? I might just bust a button.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is but the first step on the road to food sufficiency. This
year, the goal is to do the same, and also to can up all the tomatoes we will
use for the whole year (minus the ones we gobble right off the vine, of
course). It may not seem like much of a step forward, until you stop to realize
how many tomatoes we go through in a year. I mean, you’re talking almost one
hundred and sixty pounds of fresh tomatoes just in sauce alone. When you throw
in diced tomatoes, ketchup, salsa, and soup, you are talking well in excess of two
hundred and sixty pounds of fresh tomatoes. Holy edible nightshade, Batman.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I mean, that’s kind of intimidating, right? I find myself
saying it out loud at odd moments… two hundred and sixty pounds of tomatoes.
Two hundred and sixty pounds of tomatoes. About one hundred pounds of that has
to be skinned and chopped, as well. Think about that for a minute, blanching
and skinning one hundred pounds of tomatoes. At least I don’t have to do it all
at a whack. Tomato season lasts for something like ten weeks, so at least I only
have to do something in the neighborhood of twenty-five pounds a week… which is
still a lot of tomatoes. This doesn’t count, by the way, the green tomato
relish I make at the end of the season. That’s another five pounds or so.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twenty-five pounds a week doesn’t sound like a lot, until
you realize that over those ten weeks, I also have to do twenty pounds of
blueberries, fifteen pounds of cucumbers, forty-five pounds of peaches, and
fifteen pounds of pears. Oh, and then there’s the apples. Let’s not forget the
apples.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn’t make my apple goal last year. I <i>drastically</i> underestimated the amount of
homemade apple sauce that my children and husband would eat. After all, we’ve
never been big apple sauce eaters in the past. I thought a couple of gallons
would see us through the whole year. Boy was I wrong. Maybe by an order of
magnitude. Truth is, they ate it almost faster than I could get it in jars. So
this year, I’m going to try and ration it to one quart a week. Yeah, it turns
out that that <i>is</i> rationing it. I’m
not kidding, they went through about a gallon and a half a <i>week.</i> So this will be an exercise in learning how to stretch your
favorite foods to last the whole year for my family. Still, that’s fifty-two
quarts of applesauce. That’s thirteen gallons, or something like one hundred
and forty pounds of apples. When you throw in apple butter, pie filling, fruit
leather, and dried apple slices, the total amount of apples that are going to
be coming through my kitchen this year is something like one hundred and
seventy pounds. I’m pretty sure I’ve underestimated that, by the way, as that
comes to just over four bushels of apples, and I went through three last year.
Surely my family didn’t eat nearly a year’s worth of apple sauce just during
apple season last year… right? Right?</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, the vast majority of this food will be canned or
dehydrated, but in order to get some of it in the freezer, I have to make room.
I buy my meat half a cow and pig at a time from a farmer I know, and we are
getting ten Red Ranger chickens of our own this year, so there will be quite a
lot of meat in my freezer come fall. Some of it has to move out to make room.
So, in addition to all of the fruits and veggies, I will be canning up a significant
amount of soup and stock. It, of course, has to be pressure canned, and my
pressure canner (being aluminum) does not work on my induction cooktop. We have
to use a big propane burner outside. This is just not something I want to be
doing when it is thirty degrees out there with the wind just-a-whippin’. Just…
um… no. So, it must be done before the end of October... which is still pretty
darned chilly, let me tell you. The goal for this year? Slightly over thirty
gallons.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ladies and gentlemen, that is <i>eight hundred and fifteen pounds</i> of food to put up in just over twenty-one
weeks. That means that I have to put up just under thirty-nine pounds of food a
week, without fail. This week, if I am lucky, it will be thirty pounds. That’s
all that is available. Now, eight hundred and fifteen pounds of food may sound
like a lot, and it is. However, even if you figure that equates to the same
amount of <i>finished</i> food (and it’s not
even close), and you add in about five hundred additional pounds of pork and
beef(no, I am not counting the meat twice), and about fifty pounds of chicken
we will raise ourselves, that means we’ll put up about thirteen hundred and sixty-five
pounds of rich, nutrient dense food before snow flies. Sounds impressive,
right? Well, we go through an average (as a family of four) of three pounds of
food per person per day. That’s forty-three hundred and eighty pounds. At this
point in the calculations, I start to feel a bit like Charlie Brown. Good
grief.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s not quite as bad as it looks, we eat a staggering
amount of local produce in season, plus local dairy, honey, and maple syrup.
Still. Forty-three hundred pounds! I should give myself a break, really. I did
the math, and we managed to purchase about sixty percent of our food locally
last year. This year, with an increase in local dairy consumption, my canning
goals, and the addition of five new laying chickens to our flock (not to
mention the meat birds) I am hoping to hit seventy percent. But, no matter how I
look at this, if I want to be growing and buying as much local food as I feel
is right, then I am easily going to have to double the amount of food I put up
during canning season. Right now that feels quite overwhelming, to say the
least.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look, I’m not looking to be a heroine, here. I have no
desire to give up vanilla, cinnamon, or cardamom. You can have my tea when you
pry it out of my cold dead fingers, let me tell you. But, if I can figure out a
way to put a root cellar in, and not buy carrots or onions at the grocery
store, I’m going to do that. After all, those two things are staples, and together
they account for about four hundred and twenty pounds per year.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing to do here, I think, is to let this year be this
year, and let next year be next year. I have four hundred and eighty-eight
canning jars, ten gallons of mead, twenty-six sheets of fruit leather, and the
butchering of ten chickens to get through in twenty-one weeks. I also have a
studio to clean out, an herb garden to plan and plant, a vegetable garden to
tend and harvest, six weeks of friends and family booked for visits, children
to supervise and educate, and regular domestic chores to do. Not to mention
Father’s Day, two birthdays, a major family holiday, and several small ones to
plan. With all that said, this winter, the only fresh fruit in my kitchen will
be bananas, apples (grown and stored locally) and citrus fruits. This year, I
will not buy tomatoes anywhere but at the farmer’s markets. I will be able to
crack open jars of last year’s green tomato relish all summer long, and share
them with my loved ones. These are the fruits of my labor, and I really need to
keep my eye on the prize. Canning Season has begun. So I’m just going to buckle
down, put on my big-girl-pants, and do it. Here we go.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-49285339970996789672014-06-09T08:00:00.000-04:002014-06-09T08:00:00.098-04:00Crispy Strawberries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic93LqCiQrQoH-OkvUleybGw8ozobpusOyhW6abX-m2YAbAfjQzc4_UtVbCyyN1HLPwWZ01e_YcqYlnWeRvIXfexZlmXwkVm3ZQ3UMt0p1qrViPopEWLPqG2HhHllDQuQv0B3nAzmsuE/s1600/_MG_9616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic93LqCiQrQoH-OkvUleybGw8ozobpusOyhW6abX-m2YAbAfjQzc4_UtVbCyyN1HLPwWZ01e_YcqYlnWeRvIXfexZlmXwkVm3ZQ3UMt0p1qrViPopEWLPqG2HhHllDQuQv0B3nAzmsuE/s1600/_MG_9616.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ah, the first fruit of canning season; the faithful strawberry. You just can't go wrong with these lovely little berries. Top them with honey or cream, and it's a dish fit for a king. The only trouble is that their deliciousness is only matched by the brevity of their freshness. Strawberries just do not last long, sometimes not more than hours. How is one supposed to enjoy their fragile and sweet flavor in the winter? The store-bought strawberries at that time if the year are bland and often tart. Freezing turns them to mush, and renders them only fit for yoghurt or smoothies. And though jam is lovely, it is always nice to have options. Hence, my trusty dehydrator. Dehydrated strawberries can be eaten as they are, or dropped into anything from cereal to ice cream.</div>
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This, like so many of the best recipes, started with a happy accident. My son (being at that age) decided to investigate my dehydrator while it was running. Unfortunately, instead of returning the dial to the recommended 135 degrees for drying fruit, he set it to 145 degrees. The results are actually quite spectacular. These are like a cross between chips and strawberry candy. Crunchy and sweet, they hold up much better in cereal than those dehydrated at a lower temperature.Seal them up in a jar, keep them in a cool dark place, and they will stay fresh for a whole year. Not that they will last that long.</div>
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4 lbs extra ripe strawberries</div>
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<br /></div>
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Only use the very ripest strawberries for this recipe.</div>
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Rinse strawberries in cold water.</div>
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Pare to remove any damaged or bruised spots.</div>
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Cut tops of strawberries, and slice into ¼ inch thick
slices.</div>
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Place in a dehydrator on mesh trays at 145 degrees for 6-8
hours, or until strawberries are crunchy.</div>
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Remove from the dehydrator trays, place in a quart sized
Mason Jar, and screw the lid tight.</div>
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Place in the back of the pantry and forget about them until January or so.</div>
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Makes 4 cups.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-52853066923540326942014-06-04T19:32:00.000-04:002014-06-04T19:32:30.601-04:00Rough Day<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It has been a hard day. Really, it is a culmination of quite
a few hard days in a row. Yeah, I have been having a problem with moths. Then
one of the drains clogged up and spilled sewage all over the basement. We
thought the pipe was cracked, and I honestly had enough on my plate. The kids
were both sick and my husband was out of town on business. Oh yeah, I called a
plumber. We won’t talk about the backlog of laundry and housework that I still can’t
get to while I clean up the moths. Oh, and canning season starts this weekend.
Did you hear that? I think someone whimpered.
<br />
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<br /></div>
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During all of this was an ongoing struggle of gigantic
proportions on the farm. It seems, as sometimes happens, we did not receive a
goose and a gander, but two ganders instead. Anyone with experience buying
poultry knows that from time to time it happens. Well, it happened to us. The
problem with that is that they had a lot of competition, and no outlet for
their spring hormones. No females to mate with. So, over time one of the
ganders got larger than the other, as they do. What I didn’t expect was that
they began to see the ducks as their harem. The larger gander, one night, beat
the smaller one really badly.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, hard as it is to watch, this is actually pretty normal.
What <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">isn’t</i> normal is that the smaller
gander was not allowed back into the flock. The larger one kept driving him
off, and the poor little guy started losing weight. He also came out of the
duck house every morning with fewer feathers and more bruises. Enough was enough,
and we decided to fence off part of the duck house for him, so he could get
some food and sleep. They could work out their differences while they still had
room to get away from each other, during the day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This worked for a while, and we thought we might have a solution
on our hands… until the larger gander started driving our drake, Sir Francis
(get it?… Sir Francis?), out of the flock. Now this I can’t abide. Sir Francis
keeps the ladies all together, and keeps them from straggling off in ones and
twos. He’s a rather gallant little gentlemen, and likes nothing better than to
be solicitous to his ladies and give them a merry chase every now and again. He’s
quite the gentle soul, and counts to seven quite handily. He makes his low
gentle quacking noises until everyone comes out of the bushes and they are all
ready to move on together. The geese can’t count, and often leave a duck or two
behind. The girls get a bit distressed when they discover they are on their
own, and run in circles quacking until someone answers them. At that point,
they go tearing off in the direction of the flock, scolding the whole way,
shouting, “Why didn’t any of you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tell</i>
me we were leaving?!?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In any case, a goose on goose dispute might be rough, but a
small drake would stand absolutely no chance. Time to intervene again. Not my
favorite thing to do, animals are usually much better off if you let them work
it out for themselves. This situation, however, was just untenable. You see, the
big gander had also been taking half-hearted lunges at me, and I was concerned that
he might hurt one of the kids. So, after much research, soul searching, and
trying to find another way around it, we decided to lock the him inside the dim
duck house for a week, and see if we could get his spring hormones under
control. They are light dependent, you see, so it may sound a little cruel, but
it was better than the alternative, which was the freezer. Besides, he had
fresh bedding, food, water, treats, and visits every day. The flock even joined
him at night.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The smaller gander slowly rejoined the flock, and started
putting a little weight back on over the course of the week. I watched him
carefully, worried that the lack of competition might send his hormones
surging. It turns out that I was right to be concerned. On Monday, I was
hanging some laundry out on the line in the back yard. The ducks were almost
under foot, which is a habit of theirs I find quite pleasant. Ducks are
surprisingly good company, actually, and make a delightful variety of small
noises. Suddenly, the gander started to make quite a lot of racket, and ran
into the ferns and blackberries that border that part of the yard. He started
attacking something full-out, beating with his wings, stomping, and biting
viciously. I couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about, and thought it
might have been a snake (it happens). But then I saw a flash of brown and black
feathers. It was Sir Francis, and the gander was doing his level best to kill
him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to believe that, in the scheme of things, I am
neither cowardly, nor stupid. I’ll tell you, I didn’t even think twice. I ran
straight at all twentyish pounds of that gander shouting and flapping my arms
for all I was worth. I’ve been at this for a few years. I know the difference
between dominance fighting and going for the kill. There is not a doubt in my
mind that I saved Sir Francis’s life that day. There’s not a doubt in his mind
either, believe it or not. The poor little drake limped a few steps out of the
bushes and laid down behind my feet, putting me between himself and the gander.
After that, he could barely stand. So we rounded him up, and put him back in
the duck house with food and water, so he could recuperate. Which he did, thank
goodness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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This added to my concerns, however. I can’t watch the birds
all the time, and the purpose of the geese is to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">protect</i> the flock, not disrupt it, and certainly not to try to kill
its monarch. And the smaller gander was starting to make threatening overtures
towards me. Not that I can really blame him, after scaring the daylights out of
him in the bushes. I was sort of stumped. The next day marked the end of the
larger gander’s confinement, and so I hoped that with another dominant bird in
the flock, the smaller gander would leave Sir Francis alone.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We let everyone out on Tuesday morning, and I swear, I spent
so much time running to windows and sitting on the porch watching everyone that
I hardly got a thing done. Everyone was fine. I mean… completely fine. It was
like a miracle. The larger gander was back to his usual sweet self, and the
whole flock grazed and took naps together all day. One contented whole. Shawn
and I sighed a huge sigh of relief, and went about our business. That is, until
this morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was one of Shawn’s days back in the office in Boston.
I got up early, made myself some tea, chatted with the kids, and got everybody
ready and on the bus. I made breakfast for myself, fed the dog and cats, and
sat down to write. I usually let the flock out around eight or nine in the
morning, giving everyone time to lay their eggs indoors, and reducing (though
certainly not eliminating) the number of eggs I find in my garden beds. I went
down to open the door and let everyone out, and heard a whole flock of ducks in
full-on distress, a huge amount of thumping and banging, and ominously… not a single
honk from a goose. I ran to the door, fearing the worst, and flung it open.
What met my eyes… was so much worse than anything I could have imagined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of you may want to stop reading here. This is hard.
Really hard, and I am giving you a trigger warning. This is part of the reality
of farm life… but probably one of the hardest parts. You have been warned. I’m
not kidding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What met my eyes when I opened the door was by far the worst
thing I have ever seen. Bar none, hands down, no contest. The smaller gander
had tried to wedge himself into one of the nesting boxes. These boxes are
designed for ducks, not geese, but such was his desperation to protect his
eyes, that he peeled layers of feathers, skin, and muscle off his own wings
while trying to fit. The larger gander was on top of him, reaching his head
into the box and beating the smaller one against the sides. He was raking him
with his claws, beating him with his wings, and trying to pull out his eyes.
That isn’t the worst part, though, the worst part was that he was actually
mounting the smaller gander. Anyone who tells you that animals don’t rape each other…
is wrong. I am officially a witness.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stood there, stunned, for maybe a tiny fraction of a
second. The smaller gander was not moving at all, and I was really deeply
afraid that he had been raped to death. But in that moment, something
solidified in me. I was not going to allow this to happen. Not on my watch. Just…
no. And so I ran, full tilt, screaming like a lunatic and flailing my arms like
a windmill straight at thirty pounds of full-grown, dominant, angry gander. I
feel the need to pause here, and explain something. These are Embden geese, and
the larger male is a particularly impressive specimen. He’s something in the
neighborhood of thirty pounds of muscle, stands three and a half feet tall, and
has a wing span of over six feet. They are extremely powerful birds, and they
know it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The large gander was completely unimpressed with my
performance. He didn’t even look up. I was desperate, stomping and shouting,
but he just went right on raping that poor smaller bird… who still wasn’t
moving. So I did something that I am not particularly proud of, but still don’t
see a way around. I kicked that big gander right in the butt. Not hard, mind
you, I have pretty strong views on treatment of animals, but there was simply
no other way to stop him. I may be brave enough to take him on, but I’m not
stupid enough to put my face where he can scoop my eyeballs out. But I did give
him a good enough bump to knock him off the little guy. And then thirty pounds
of angry dominant gander turned around and came barreling straight at me, wings
spread, like a feathered freight train. I am not ashamed to say that I turned
around and ran like a rabbit. You just have NO IDEA how large, dangerous, and
scary these animals are until they charge. And let me tell you, he was already <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">splattered</i> with the blood of the other
gander. His face was nearly red with it. Talk about intimidating.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I peeled out of the door to the duck house, and ducked
around behind it. The gander was so close that I certainly couldn’t have gotten
it shut. He came around the door after me, so I let it go, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ran</i>. He took off up the hill after me,
towards the house. I have never run from an animal in my whole life. It is
almost always a bad idea. Prey runs. I have literally faced down crocodiles
with complete equanimity. I have stood my ground while being hunted by a pack
of wild coy-dogs… twice. Not so with this gander. He was going to add my blood
to his collection whether I ran or not. So run I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am faster than a gander, it turns out. It’s good to know I
can still move like that at thirty-one years old. I honestly wouldn’t have
thought so. The part that, in hindsight, amazes me? After I outran the angry
gander, I looped back around and went back down to the duck house. You see, I had
to know if the smaller bird was still alive. I know, sometimes I’m not very
bright, but… I had to know.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was still alive. He pulled his head out of the nesting
box as I approached, and struggled to his feet. He was covered in blood, and
his eye was swollen and protruding. He headed straight for the door, straight
for where I was standing. I looked at his blood-covered body and knew that if
he left the safety of the duck house he would be fox bait within an hour. I
slammed the door in his face, and latched it shut. I wish I could tell you that
I went in there and checked that poor wounded bird over. But I didn’t. These
guys have been chasing me around for days now and my nerve just… failed. The best
I could do for him was to save his life, first from the larger gander, and then
from the foxes. Besides, I thought while looking at the closed door, heaven
forbid I went in there, and something happened to me. Wounded animals are the
most dangerous kind. If anything did happen, my kids would get off the bus this
afternoon with no one there to protect them… and an angry dangerous gander
loose in the yard. And I was home alone, with no car, and no way to get him to Springfield,
which is the nearest avian vet. As much as I have a duty to my animals, my duty
to protect my children has to come first. It was a terrible thing, to have to
make that decision.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It went through my head, over and over, how grateful I was
that this happened on a day that the kids went to school, and that it was me
who opened that door… and not Susan. I have not a doubt in my mind that my
kind-hearted girl would have charged in there to rescue the smaller bird, just
like her Mama. But even at nine, she only weighs just over fifty pounds, and
she has nothing like my experience or sense of self-preservation. He might have
really seriously hurt her. He certainly would have tried.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was shaking, with tears and snot running down my face, by
the time I reached the back porch. Some of it was a reaction to what had just
happened, some of it was because I knew what had to come next, and I was
heartbroken over it. Most of it, though, was simply the straw that broke the
camel’s back. It has been an extremely rough couple of weeks. I’m a pretty
tough chick, but sometimes life gets to be a little too much, a little too
fast.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat down in my chair, nerves shattered, and tried to get
myself under control enough to do what I had to do next. I picked up the phone,
and called my husband at work. I try really hard not to do this, as he doesn’t
make it into the office very often, and usually works from home. So when I
called, he knew it was likely serious. And like all good men, he does not react,
um… positively, when something has made his mate cry. That doesn’t happen
often, either. Hardly ever, really. I’m afraid I wasn’t terribly coherent for
the first few minutes, and I had to try and repeat myself a few times until I
could calm down.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I had finished, there was a deadly silence on the other
end of the phone for a minute, and then his low rumble came out, “He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chased</i> you?” My husband is the most laid
back and gentle man you will ever meet. However, anyone who knows him well will
tell you that that quiet rumble is when he is at his most dangerous. The large
gander had signed his own death warrant the moment he chased me out of that
duck house. I knew it, and Shawn knew it. I simply cannot allow him to be a
danger to my children. Why not re-home him, you might ask? You do not fob your responsibilities
off on someone else. This animal is not a dog. Geese are not truly
domesticated, and so when one goes bad, there is no help for it. You have to
put him or her down. I will not lie, it breaks my heart. Absolutely in two. He
is a majestic animal, and he has been an excellent protector for the flock. He
has faced down a hungry fox to keep them safe. This feels like utter betrayal.
But… I cannot let him kill any of the other birds. I cannot let him be a danger
to my family or friends. Never mind the poor UPS guy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stayed inside the house until it was time to get the kids
off the bus. Then I got a heavy walking stick, crept out of the front door, and
down the driveway. I got the kids off the bus, and made them walk behind me all
the way up the driveway. I stood to the side of the porch, and followed them up
the steps to the front door. When we reached the door, that big gander hissed
and charged at the porch. We scrambled inside, and shut the door behind us. We’ve
stayed inside ever since.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a few minutes, when Shawn gets home, I am going to take
my big stick with me, and watch his back while he gets everyone in the duck
house. And tomorrow morning, after the kids get on the bus, Shawn and I will
take the big gander’s life. It will likely take two of us, as I do not own a
kill cone large enough. The geese were never meant to be food, but were
supposed to be permanent additions to the farm. They can live for up to 100
years or more. I have not decided whether or not I will eat him. It seems even
more a betrayal to simply put him in the ground. But… they were not meant to be
food, and even if they were, it is entirely the wrong time of year to kill a
goose for meat. We will make our decision tonight, after a long talk, I am sure.</div>
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Now, where was my faithful Rottweiler during all of this,
you might ask? Yeah, that’s the other thing contributing to my terrible day.
Tiny is not well. He is ten years old now, which is the upper limit of his life
expectancy. Over the last six months, he has gotten slower, more deaf, and more
blind. Over the last couple of weeks, he has gotten far more lethargic, and has
started showing signs of swelling, especially in his legs. For a few days now,
he has had trouble breathing off and on, and has had trouble keeping down his
food. When you string all of this together, it seems obvious that he is likely
coming to the end of his life. His body is shutting down, and I need to take
him to the vet to make sure that’s what we’re dealing with. But… it happened so
gradually that I didn’t notice. Slowing down, panting a bit more, vomiting a
couple of times, on their own they don’t seem like much. But he wouldn’t come
down to the duck house with me this morning. He tried, he wanted to, but he
just as clearly couldn’t make it. Which got me to thinking about the rest of
it. I’m pretty sure my dog is dying. And even though he has only been in our
lives for a couple of years, just the thought of it is like a hole in my heart.
I don’t even know how to bring it up to Shawn.</div>
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So, yeah, it’s been a pretty rough day. And tomorrow doesn’t
look like it’s going to be much better. But for now, everyone is safe. I’m
beginning to realize that in the end, that may be enough. All things pass, and
this will too. The geese will leave the farm, and we will not be replacing
them. The only good news there is that I will not need fencing for my gardens,
as the ducks are not destructive. The clothing moths will eventually be gone,
canning season will come and go, and the wheel of the year will turn. For now,
I just have to hang in there.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-87048163601047297252014-05-29T15:07:00.000-04:002014-05-29T15:07:33.701-04:00A Very Small Disaster<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I wanted to talk about my vacation last week, or maybe my
new fencing, and how it is shaping up. And I will talk about those things,
honest. Today, however… well, I have a disaster on my hands. Now, as disasters
go, it could be a lot worse. This one is small. The house is still standing,
and no one has died. I am reminding myself of these things frequently,
sometimes aloud, albeit under my breath.
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<br /></div>
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It all started last year, when I bought some cobweb weight
cashmere yarn from my local yarn store. It was a closeout lot leftover from some
designer’s workroom, and I got a really good deal on it. I intended to ply it
together and make myself a nice heavy shawl on the loom. It was a lovely plan.
And then I did something very very very stupid. Well, several somethings,
actually. And this isn’t my usual boneheaded but slightly adorable kind of
thing, either. You see, I didn’t bother to quarantine the cashmere, but instead
just put it into my studio and forgot about it for a few months. Those of you
who are serious fiber enthusiasts are almost certainly moaning right now,
because you already know what happened next.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to spin up said
cashmere, and get it tucked into a bin. The bag was rather large, as the yarn
was on cones. I pulled it out, and to my absolute horror, it was infested with
wool moths. Here is where we meet my second serious mistake. Though (almost)
everything was packed neatly away in the studio, almost none of it was in
airtight containers. This is why I quarantine most things in the freezer for a
few days before putting it into the studio. However, it leaves the entire
stash, easily something in the neighborhood of fifty or sixty pounds of wool
and silk (including fabric yardage) at risk for infestation. So I baked the
cashmere in the oven to kill the bugs, and spent the next two days combing
through everything I owned. I got lucky. Only six cones of cashmere were
damaged. Nothing else had been touched. I said a prayer of thanks, packed
everything away, and moved on with my life.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Which is where I really screwed up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You see, I did not take the opportunity to move my stash
into better storage. Nor did I give my studio a spritz with diatomaceous earth,
or take the opportunity to make moth repellant sachets. I meant to. It was on
my list. And yes, you guessed it, I missed something. And I now know exactly
what it was. The cashmere had been stacked on top of a storage tote, inside
which was a plastic garbage bag which contained an as-yet unwashed Karakul
fleece (it’s a kind of sheep’s wool, good for making rugs). The thing is, wool
moths LOVE unwashed wool. The nastier the better. This particular fleece was
pretty darned ripe, and I was waiting for spring and good weather to take it
out into the yard and wash it. Trust me, that is NOT a smell you want to be
cooped up with for any length of time. Well, I guess that is unless you are a
female wool moth looking for a place to lay your eggs.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I discovered all of this yesterday afternoon about two hours
before the kids got home. Ironically, literally moments before discovering the
infestation, I was having a semi-serious melt down about the size of my stash.
I really do have too much stuff. The cleaning of the basement during screen
free week left me with even more to put in my studio. There just isn’t any
room. So I decided then and there to do yet another serious purge. I have more
stash than I can possibly get through in the next decade. Enough is enough. So
I pulled out the first bin (which happened to be said Karakul fleece) and
decided to set-to. At that very moment, I realized that there were wriggling
things all over it… and the floor… and the wall… and the shelves. I have a real
problem with slimy white things that wriggle. It is just possible that I may
have emitted some rather girly and possibly even completely undignified noises.
Look, they were in my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hair </i>at that
point.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I cannot even express to you how many wool moths are in my
studio. Thousands. Nearly everything is infested. There is a lot of damage. I
may, in fact, have to nearly start over. A few things were in sealed plastic,
and of course none of the tools were damaged. I am baking the yarn in the oven,
two trays at a time. Clean fleeces that are waiting to be carded and spun are
going through the drier in pillow cases. The two remaining unwashed alpaca
blankets are going into the oven on trays. The Karakul went straight into the
trash. OUTSIDE. I have been at this for over 16 hours, now, and I have barely
made a dent. Oh, and then there are the clothes for the whole family (we wear a
lot of wool), Shawn’s hand-woven French tapestry, and did I mention the fact
that every rug in the house is wool? Oh, and I just found out that the little
blighters can live on shed pet hair alone. With five cats, a dog, and two
long-haired people around, that means that while jumping up like a demented
jack in the box every thirty minutes to change out the wool in the oven, I have
to vacuum every cranny of the entire house every single day… for the next three
or four months. EVERYTHING made of wool or silk (and all the baskets they were
stored in) will have to be washed, baked, or frozen, without exception. Then it
will have to be covered in a dusting of diatomaceous earth, strewn with herbs,
and sealed in plastic. Good great gravy.</div>
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There are, however, a few bright points. The house is still
standing, and no one has died (telling myself… over and over). So far, I have
not found any evidence that the moths are anywhere but the studio. There does
not appear to be any damage to any of the clothes or furnishings. That is not
keeping me from taking steps as though there were. I have learned my lesson.
Also, I am taking the opportunity to do a major purge. Some of this is painful,
mostly because I cannot even find it a good home. It’s just going in the trash.
That kills me. I have to remind myself that this is making room in my life. I
wanted this. Maybe not quite in this WAY, but then I suppose we don’t always
get a choice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I am finally upgrading and reorganizing the storage in the
studio. All of the animal fibers will be stored in airtight plastic. As soon as
my herbs get here on Friday, I will be making really wonderful smelling sachets
to scatter in boxes, baskets, bags, and closets around the whole house. Already
my house smells pretty good, as I took the opportunity to mix up a spray bottle
of moth repelling essential oils and water to spray on some of the things I
can’t get to yet. Like, you know, the rugs, the tapestry, and some wool-stuffed
antique furniture (whimper). I used a blend of clove, rosemary, lavender, and
cedar oils. I may make a habit of it, it smells so nice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Last, but not least, I do believe that I am going to take
this opportunity to paint my studio shelves and furniture. After all, I am
going to have a lot less stuff when all of this is over, and I have to wash
everything anyway. It’s where I want to be in the end, I just didn’t expect it
to be this dramatic… or fast. But I will get it done. It is also probable that at
the end of this horrible process that I will actually be better off. So, that
is what I am telling myself, over and over. And over.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-58433993314072753282014-05-14T17:53:00.000-04:002014-05-14T17:53:03.744-04:00Screen Free Week, and Why I’m Giving up Facebook<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Last week was Screen Free Week, and for the first time ever,
I actually participated. A friend of mine had been trying to get me on board
for years. So, three days before it officially started, I decided to take the
plunge. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Man, talk about culture shock. My eyes opened up on Monday
morning, and I immediately began to twitch. I really didn’t know what to do
with myself. I am so accustomed to reaching for my phone first thing in the morning,
really before my eyes are even open. It started with needing to know what the
weather was going to be, then over time it progressed to Pinterest and
Facebook. I spent hours lying in bed, reading. I would spend all day, some
days, engaging in debate and argument with people who are near-strangers. I
would scour the internet for new ideas, and then carefully file them away, and
go off in search for more. It was informational bliss. The ideas, news, and
stimulation went on and on and on, until I collapsed at the end of each day.
Then I would wake up the next morning, clutch my phone in my hand, focus my
eyes, and start all over again. All of a sudden, Monday morning, all of that
stimulation was gone, and the only thing left was… me.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I immediately started to panic. Then, slowly, softly, came
the realization that I was uncomfortable with my own thoughts. The whirlwind in
my head came to a screeching halt, and I thought, “Hmmm, that’s interesting.”
And so I made myself lie there for a while, on that first morning, and just
watched my thoughts go by.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When I finally got up and came downstairs, the first thing I
realized was that I was up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hours</i>
before my usual time. I was up so much earlier, in fact, that I received funny
looks from everyone, right from my husband, down on through the dog. So, I made
myself a cup of tea, and sat down in my chair. And I did NOT turn the
television on. My winter habit had been to sit down, have a cup of tea, and
watch a documentary or a TED talk while knitting. Well, it had been such a long
cold winter and spring, I realized that now I don’t know what else to do with
myself. I left my tablet and phone upstairs, so even my usual forms of
entertainment without the TV were not available. I wasn’t awake enough to read
my book, or knit something complicated enough to hold my attention. And there I
sat, without a clue what to do with myself. Pretty embarrassing, eh? Screen
Free Week. Right. I can do this.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As I sat there, I realized a few things. The first was that
my house was a disaster area. There’s always a certain amount of fur on the
floor, what with five cats, a dog, and it being spring. They start in as I am
still vacuuming, no joke. But this was a bit intense. And there was… stuff, for
lack of a better word, everywhere; socks, napkins, books, papers, half-finished
projects, and things waiting to be mended. We won’t even talk about the dust. I
mean, wait a minute, didn’t I just get through with spring cleaning? How could
this possibly have escaped my notice? How is it that I didn’t see… it… oh, that’s
right, because I had been too busy looking at my phone. The other thing I
noticed right away? My favorite chair faces the wall. It’s not like I didn’t
know that, mind you. I’m not completely dense. But, the impact of such a simple
thing had never occurred to me. There is nothing to look at from my favorite
spot, except electronics. So that’s what I been doing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Rapidly, I realized that I didn’t want to sit and stare at a
blank wall all day, so I got up and set to work on the laundry, which is my
usual Monday chore. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hours</i> ahead of
schedule. I didn’t forget about it part-way through either, for a change. I
worked steadily through the day, had time to read my book in between folding
loads, and the end result was that ALL of the laundry was done, folded, and put
away before I went to bed. By Monday evening, I was an entire day ahead of
schedule, and I had even talked to my mother and a few friends on the phone. I was
even able to go to bed early. Whoah.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday dawned, and I got right up out of bed. Now what? Well,
the house is still a mess, I’m nice and rested, and have nothing planned. So I
spent the day cleaning the upstairs. I even cleaned out and reorganized my
closet, and put a whole bunch of clothes that had gotten too big in a box to be
put away (at least until I’m sure this weight loss is permanent). I deep
cleaned the bathroom, and reorganized the library, finding homes for all the
books that had been piling up on the desk. Wednesday, I did the ground floor,
and deep cleaned the kitchen. I found time to talk to my mother at least once a
day, and several other friends as well. I went to bed early every night, and
bounced out of bed fully rested at dawn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Wednesday, I realized that I had not had to raise my
voice once all week. I hadn’t lost my temper, felt grumpy, had an anxiety
attack, or even felt overwhelmed. Not once. Nor had I asked the kids to be
quiet at any time. In fact, I had encouraged their noise, games, and music. I
had even started singing to myself again, something I haven’t done in years
because I haven’t been able to stand the noise. Thursday morning, I looked
around and realized that my house was spotless, and all the laundry was done. The
weather was kind of cold and wet, so I sat and read my book all morning, and
went to my knitting group in the afternoon. It felt completely decadent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday, I decided that I was going to tackle a big project
that I had been sure I would never have time for. A bit of puttering Thursday
night had left the house immaculate once more. So, I headed down to the
basement. Much like everyone else, our basement is our catch-all. And, um… I
don’t really go down there if I can help it, so, it was stacked taller than me,
with only a goat-path from the bottom of the stairs to the sliding glass doors
on the side of the house. We are talking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">scary</i>
messy, here. And, it was getting kind of critical, because I really didn’t have
any room for the stuff I need to can and dehydrate over the coming summer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were boxes down there that I packed when I moved out
of my parents’ house, which have never been unpacked since. I have known for
years that I should just throw them out unopened, but there are family
heirlooms in there, you know, stuff that I actually want to use in my house and
give to my children. And I’m not just quite sure where my wedding photos are.
You get the idea. It took me three whole days, but I went through every single
box. I had stuff down there that I had forgotten entirely, like the sweater my
parents brought me back from Ireland, and the antique linens given to me by my
grandmother. I had stuff down there that I was sure had been lost along the
way, like my very favorite bag (sweet grass and leather, from the 1970’s), and
all of my husband’s good silk ties (which were in the bag, incidentally). I had
boxes and boxes of fabric, and yes, one with knitting stuff that somehow wound
up on the wrong side of the basement. I also had twenty-three boxes of children
and baby clothes. Yeah, that’s what I said. Twenty-three. What? Don’t look at
me like that. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">meant</i> to get around
to going through them. It was on my list. Honest. But you know, last week I had
time and space to do the really hard emotional work of cutting those
twenty-three boxes down to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one</i>. And
it is done. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in my entire adult life, I
am unpacked and completely moved in to my house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The upshot of all of this? My entire house, from rafters to
basement doors was clean (except the studio, you know, because of all those
extra boxes), I have a lot less stuff, and I hadn’t yelled at anyone all week.
I was not lonely, and I managed to talk to nearly everyone I knew I was going
to miss. The most astonishing thing was this; I was NOT bored. Not once, in
fact. I felt at peace, and at ease with my world and everything in it. All.
Week. I gotten up at dawn every day, rested, and with a song in my heart.
Somewhere in there, I had also worked in the garden with my daughter, and
nursed my son through the first stages of what turned out to be quite a nasty
tummy bug. I am astonished at what I accomplished. I am even more astonished
that I did not have to become a hermit in order to do it. Seriously, I even
took a day off in the middle there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But even more than what I accomplished was the emotional
impact. Leaving all of Facebook and the internet behind made an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enormous</i> amount of room in my life. Room
for my children, husband, and most importantly, myself. We played together, not
just board games (though we certainly did a lot of that), but everything became
a game. I gave them my full attention every time they needed it, and I never
felt interrupted. At the bus stop in the morning, and upstairs one afternoon, I
started teaching the kids how to sing rounds. Chores were done swiftly and
largely without complaint, because I did not have to pry them from the
television first. Now, they don’t watch much under normal circumstances, less
than an hour a day, usually, unless I’m watching a documentary they want to
see. But it turns out that even that little bit makes a huge difference in
their disposition. There was a lot less fighting in my house than usual. The
television makes a big difference to my disposition, too, it turns out. I
turned the silly thing back on yesterday, because Jason was home from school, sick
(still, poor baby). It wasn’t long until I found myself losing my patience
again. By the end of the day, my temper had gone where the dead crabs go. And I
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">still had it on</i>. I went to bed late,
and was cranky that I had to turn it off. Realizing this shocked the heck out
of me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here’s where we get to the hardest part of all of this. I
really don’t believe that this is something I can do in moderation. My best
intentions simply aren’t enough. The whole experience of electronic media is
overwhelmingly addictive for me. I know I’m not alone, here. It’s a huge phenomenon
right across our culture. We all know it. We even joke about it. But after the
last week… I don’t think it’s funny anymore. Social media and television
completely thwart my ability to be present in my own life. That is what they
are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">designed</i> to do. My addiction to
it completely sabotages what is most important in my life, and my propensity to
dream instead of just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing</i> is no
less destructive to myself and my family than an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
I just don’t see any argument that stands in the face of that. I know that in
the past I have used the word ‘deserve’ in conjunction with my use of
electronics. I work hard, right? I deserve a break. I deserve to watch
television. I want to keep up with my friends, and the most efficient way to do
that is Facebook. After all, no one should begrudge me that time, right? Well,
no, in fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s what I learned last week. Without TV or Facebook, when
I am tired at the end of the day, I go to bed. If that is at 8 PM, so be it.
And it usually is. I get more sleep without electronics, and in fact, better
sleep. I am more rested, and can get way more done during the day. I also get
more done during the day because I am not spending my time arguing with acquaintances
over things that, ultimately, I really don’t care about. And let me tell you, over
the last few months, not a day had gone by without an argument on Facebook, and
usually more like three or four. I had begun to joke that the main purpose of
Facebook is to violate the basic rules of polite conversation, to wit; do not
discuss religion or politics. Also in there, is not airing your dirty laundry
in public. You know what I realized about that? Like in so much else in my life,
my grandmother and her peers knew what they were talking about. That stuff is
like rat poison in any relationship. What winds up happening is that we all
lose respect for one another, and we spend more time thinking and talking about
our differences than our similarities. Furthermore, I think that Facebook,
makes me worry more about the opinions of people I know way more than is ever
healthy. I found myself putting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i>
up there, and then waiting to see who would respond. I found myself living my
life through the lens of carefully composed snippets, instead of as an organic
and dynamic whole. I started seeing other people that way, too. More than one
friendship has turned to ash over the years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So you know what I have decided that I deserve? I deserve to
have a relationship with my children where I do not feel interrupted by them. I
deserve a clean and organized house. I deserve time to pursue my passions and
interests, instead of just reading about them. I deserve time in my garden. I
deserve to expect civility from everyone in my life. I deserve to be a civil
human being, myself. I deserve to have actual, whole, dynamic relationships
with the people I love. I deserve a social life where I communicate differently
with my nearest and dearest than I do with my acquaintances. I deserve to go to
bed when I am tired, and to wake up rested. I deserve peace and quiet. I
deserve room to experience my own thoughts. I deserve to sing. I deserve to
write.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">None of those turned out to be television or
Facebook. Imagine my surprise.</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-54159295128834421502014-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-09T08:00:02.005-04:00What's on the Needles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc7nTzmE1BkyhUkdvWRBZH0c-QknGOdPsB8RP3nyz8WyV6Mz8zHS4ZNQ8EsVqukbW3MCW0BSC2ptrI0tXZF31xRzvYO1N2Lzle1oNBjdyJhWFJcAhuxocafaqhPJWmdO2hvP8FuDlCuU/s1600/_MG_9573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc7nTzmE1BkyhUkdvWRBZH0c-QknGOdPsB8RP3nyz8WyV6Mz8zHS4ZNQ8EsVqukbW3MCW0BSC2ptrI0tXZF31xRzvYO1N2Lzle1oNBjdyJhWFJcAhuxocafaqhPJWmdO2hvP8FuDlCuU/s1600/_MG_9573.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
These are Jason's DIS-matching socks. They were specifically ordered, and named by him. One red, one orange, and the toes and heels made out of leftover rainbow yarn from my last pair. Have I mentioned that my son is NOT afraid of color?<br />
<br />
These are made out of old stash yarn; Knitpicks Stroll, I believe, in Firecracker Heather, and Harvest.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>The heels and toes yarn is </span><span>Schoppel-Wolle's
Crazy Zauberball in rainbow.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></span><br />
The pattern is my own, based largely off of<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> my very favorite basic sock pattern, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-socks-for-the-family" target="_blank">Classic Socks for the Family, by Melinda Goodfellow</a>. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>For more of my spinning, knitting, and weaving projects, you can find me <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/twistyknits" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-52616723185712558582014-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-07T08:00:13.127-04:00Surrender<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It was thirty six degrees and raining when I came downstairs
this morning. I yearn to be out in the garden, digging and planting. And instead,
I am faced with another day of research and knitting. Winter activities. And
although they are necessary, and help me move forward, I still want what I want.
Surrendering your ego to the necessities of reality is so very hard, sometimes.
But there is no better teacher than Mother Nature on that one. The irony is
that by the time September comes, I will be yearning for the quiet of my
needles and a roaring fire just as fiercely. So here I am, practicing patience.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spring progresses, no matter how I feel about the weather.
The ducks and geese have been out grazing every day for weeks, now. They are
still molting, but it looks to be coming to an end soon. It took forever this
year. I actually broke down and fed them a bunch of split peas and ground beef,
which seems to have sped up the process a bit. It was a rough winter, so I’m
sure that they just needed a little extra fat and protein. They are certainly
enjoying the rain, playing like a bunch of little kids in the puddles, and
running up and down the garden nipping each other in the bum, before wheeling
around and running the other way, for all the world like they are playing tag.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The yard is greening slowly in patches, and the trees are
budding. So are my blackberry canes, which is causing me to rub my hands
together in anticipatory glee. You would think I would be too excited to be
frustrated, wouldn’t you? I think most of my frustration so far is still about
my herb garden. I’m having a much harder time with it than I thought I would.
We always see ourselves as such rational creatures, when it is often quite far
from the truth. My emotional dilemma is added to by the fact that I recently
found a local farm who is giving away composted cow manure just to get it off
the farm. AND he delivers. Oh, yeah, this is totally my glee face. So now the
cost of the herb garden is considerably less, as I only have to come up with
the money for the fencing. As much as I love the idea that I may be able to do
this after all, I really do hate it when things are up in the air. I prefer to
have things nice and settled, plans in place. My father says, “No plan survives
first contact with the enemy.” and it has certainly proven so over the years.
However, they are nice to have, and I don’t function well without them. There
we go with the surrendering thing again.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the very least, this wealth of compost (it really is the
deal of the century) will allow me to double the size of the vegetable garden
this year after all, which is excellent news. As always, it seems like my needs
are being met much better than I could have planned. Can’t afford top soil this
year? No problem, here’s someone who is giving away a better product, and as
much of it as you can take.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This planning thing may be overrated after all. I mean, just
coming out here was a huge leap of faith for us. We knew nobody, and even
though we may have been armed slightly better than the average city dweller for
this kind of life, we knew (and really continue to know) almost nothing about
doing this. Still, leap we did. I do tend to do that, you know.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But really, I think that may be what this is about for us.
We bumble and flounder through concepts and research invented and conducted by
intellectual giants. Every week that goes by finds me looking at the world
completely differently than I did before. When I moved here, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knew</i> it was impossible to meet all of
our nutritional needs on 6 acres. Then after a while, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">knew</i> that it wasn’t possible without clear cutting it. Now, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know </i>that I can, with very little
cutting at all. Imagine what I will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>
next year, or in a decade. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is just so much to know, and even more to do. But
today’s lesson, it would seem, is about surrender. So many of them are. The
vastness of what I cannot fix or control is almost unimaginable, sometimes,
that I wonder why we even try. Maybe we shouldn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems to me that we have been trying to turn the whole
world into one great big mechanical machine for the last hundred and fifty
years or so. We try so hard to make cogs and wheels out of things that are
simply too complex for us to understand, let alone regulate. Really, right from
God to ecology. It’s like somehow we keep expecting the world to come down to
simple equations, and simple concepts, but it really doesn’t. Physics tells us
that the world is always falling apart, that things are always breaking down
into more and more simple things. Entropy, right? And while that is true, it
doesn’t account for so much that happens along the way. So much of nature is
like a bicycle ride. It is tiny little adjustments, all the time, because it is
constantly falling down, until the next adjustment is made, then it is falling
down again, but differently, over and over. But what you see from the outside
is a smooth ride. Riding a bicycle takes trillions of calculations per second,
and once mastered, looks effortless. For an ecosystem to run in balance, an incalculable
number of things need to go right. Maybe is it a bit egotistical to think that
we can keep the world running in balance while doing away with the vast
majority of those things. No matter how effortless nature makes it look, it
really isn’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If living out here, raising a small number of animals and
growing a few vegetables has taught me nothing else, it has taught me that I cannot,
and should never try to control the weather. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I made the conditions perfect for one
crop, others would fail, and what is ideal for tomatoes would make very sick
ducks indeed. Nature provides a beautiful balance, however, as long as I am
able to take advantage of it. The key, I think, is planting as many things as possible,
in small amounts. I have found that when one crop fails, it produces a bumper
harvest of another. Every year, every product of my farm is produced in
different amounts, but the overall production remains generally similar. The
more different things I plant, the more redundant my system of food production.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is such a simple thing to understand, but the trouble is
that it requires surrender to make it work. It requires that we humans
understand that scarcity and abundance are two sides of the same coin. It
requires that we eat what is available, and not lament for what is not. Most of
all, what it requires is farmers and small homesteaders, not big machines. So
maybe the answer to the agricultural crisis is not better fertilizers,
genetically modified seeds, bigger machines, better pesticides, and more money.
Maybe it is as simple as more diverse edibles, more farmers, less money… and
more surrender.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-87849077180855503192014-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-05T08:00:02.817-04:00Almond Butter Recipe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Homemade nut butter. I mean, that even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sounds</i> delicious, doesn’t it? This is specifically about how to
make almond butter, but the directions are exactly the same for any nut butter.
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why make it yourself? Well, it’s cheaper, for one thing. A
LOT cheaper. A quick check shows me that I can get organic almond butter for
about $20 a pound. Organic almonds cost me about $8 a pound at the health food
store, or about $5 a pound through my wholesale food co-op. That’s a heck of a
price differential. Of course, if you are growing your own nuts, it’s even
cheaper. Then it costs only the electricity to make.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other reasons include; I know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i> what is in it, I waste absolutely no packaging (I re-use a
mason jar, and we use refillable containers at the health food store), and the
fresher the grind, the more nutrients rich it is. I make mine up a pint at a
time, and leave it in the refrigerator. It lasts us anywhere from a week to a
month, depending on what I’m making with it. Let’s get down to the nitty
gritty, shall we?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What you need:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One pound of almonds</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A glass pint jar with a lid</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good food processor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A food dehydrator (completely optional)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Helpful items:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A canning funnel</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A flexible spatula for scraping down the food processor</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I soak my nuts ahead of time. You do not have to, but it
makes the finished product smoother, and more digestible. I soak them for about
12 hours in my largest bowl, and then rinse them repeatedly until the water
runs clear. You cannot make nut butter from wet nuts. It simply will not
happen. It grinds to flour, and stays there. Trust me.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oqw1DgvOHlv16ictu8lEhwyJvlzdjeRJGVLwrp9XdqCq4AYXW4K5fJugpFfnKx5SEFBxYl28CC2rfvi8GnntgRURg7PRn0rvB-fU3Xf5eGdvdb-4QcZBvODSY5P9jCDdLRLBSVNOS24/s1600/_MG_9561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oqw1DgvOHlv16ictu8lEhwyJvlzdjeRJGVLwrp9XdqCq4AYXW4K5fJugpFfnKx5SEFBxYl28CC2rfvi8GnntgRURg7PRn0rvB-fU3Xf5eGdvdb-4QcZBvODSY5P9jCDdLRLBSVNOS24/s1600/_MG_9561.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the nuts are soaked and rinsed, I spread them out on
the dehydrator trays, and let them dehydrate at 135 degrees for about 16 hours.
It sounds like a lot, I know, but they have to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really really</i> dry. The extra drying time also serves as a low-temperature
slow roast, and adds a lot of flavor to the finished butter. If this sounds like
a lot of time to invest, it is. I do the soaking and dehydrating in large
batches, about five pounds or so. This makes it worth the time, as I only have
to do it every few months. I store the soaked and dehydrated nuts in the
refrigerator, or in the freezer. Once they have been soaked, they are far more
prone to spoilage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you have your nuts all dry, you throw them into your
food processor. If you do not want to soak your nuts, you would start with this
step. Horse power counts here, if you have an underpowered machine (like those
intended only for baby food), you may kill it. You have been warned. Close the
lid, and turn it on. Then you make a pot of coffee.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not kidding. This takes a while, usually about ten
minutes. It will go through stages. First, it sounds like you are grinding
rocks, and the almonds will break down into finer and finer powder. Then, it
just looks like you aren’t making any progress, the powder (which is almond
flour at this point) just kind goes round and round. Then after a couple of
minutes, it starts to clump together. More and more of it sticks to itself,
until it forms a giant ball of nut butter that goes round and round in the food
processor. DO NOT STOP GRINDING. It actually isn’t ready yet. Eventually, the
big ball starts to spread out, and becomes smoother and smoother. At this
point, you can start checking it. I like mine really quite smooth, so I let it
go until it stops making any difference in texture. You can add a little salt to it, but I don't.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Turn the food processor off, and scrape the nut butter into
a clean pint jar. I like to use a canning funnel for this step, because I am a klutz.
Do you know how hard it is to get almond butter off the rim of a glass jar
without getting soap in it? Yeah.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Put the lid on the jar, screw it finger tight, and store the
nut butter in the refrigerator. You will have to stir it before using it, as it
separates. Depending on how well you scrape down your food processor, one pound
of nuts should equal about one pint of nut butter. There may even be just a
little left over for spreading on a piece of toast. Yum.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-9663007019347037542014-05-02T08:00:00.000-04:002014-05-02T08:00:09.159-04:00What's on the Needles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMA6txJfoXZZ1TR9YoXzPsvIAMT_zlbctJLoqzIkOF32pfB_boG00qE3z5rWNmWvLW1jwm3QAZbiQX6fDJFwScssWAKjzCSAXDO2kcOWvCjeonOX4Sr6kQKLf7aUU5SX7eLjVpwDSzUA/s1600/_MG_9530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMA6txJfoXZZ1TR9YoXzPsvIAMT_zlbctJLoqzIkOF32pfB_boG00qE3z5rWNmWvLW1jwm3QAZbiQX6fDJFwScssWAKjzCSAXDO2kcOWvCjeonOX4Sr6kQKLf7aUU5SX7eLjVpwDSzUA/s1600/_MG_9530.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Still working on these puppies. A head cold has kept my progress a bit slow, but I just love the colors, and I love how un-matching the second sock is turning out. So far, so good.<br />
<br />
For a re-cap on the yarn and pattern, look <a href="http://www.earthworksfarming.com/2014/04/whats-on-needles_25.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more of my spinning, knitting, and weaving projects, you can find me <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/twistyknits" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-62776832019914222532014-04-30T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-30T08:00:08.202-04:00Witch Doctor<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->I get, on average, something like ten calls, texts, or
messages a week from friends and family looking for medical advice of some kind,
whether for themselves, their families, or their animals. One memorable occasion
started with a photo of an ingrown fingernail, and a request for advice. It was
not memorable for the photo, nor for the asking, but for the last line of text
sent to me by my friend. When I had explained that indeed, it did not likely warrant
the attention of her actual MD, and how I would go about treating it, she said
to me, “Thanks. That’s what I thought, but I wanted a second opinion from my
witch doctor.”
<br />
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<br /></div>
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I thought to myself, “Woah. That’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">totally</i> what I am.” I mean, people ask me some really wild stuff,
from how to check their children for intestinal parasites, to a chicken who got
her head stuck upside down. I am the go-to girl for the unusual, or even
sometimes just the questionable. I almost always have an answer, too, and it is
almost always as wild or weird as the original question. I got to thinking
about it, and the more I thought about it, the more it bore thinking about. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We here in the United States have access to some of the best
medical technology in the history of the world. But you know what most of us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t</i> have? Access to the full attention
of our healthcare providers when we actually need it. They are far too busy to
see every one of their patients for an infected nail, or even for that funny
cough that doesn’t really bother us much, or being tired all the time, or a
hundred other things that can and do add up to really big health issues later.
We’re all busy, and our time is precious, and most of us have a terribly long
drive and wait in the waiting room to see the doctor. It’s just such a burden
when we have kids, work, pets, social obligations, and in some cases livestock
and gardens to deal with. Never mind the financial burden of going to the
doctor. And you all know what happens when you call in to ask if you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> need to come in. They say yes.
They have to, of course, because the risk of being sued if they miss something
is too high. So what happens is that we wind up with an extremely overburdened
medical system, where every waiting room is full, and you lose half a day to
see the doctor whether it is a sniffle or a broken bone.</div>
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<br /></div>
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What did we used to do? I mean, there are more doctors than
ever, and they used to make house calls instead of limiting the time for each
patient to ten minutes or less. Well, we used to have wise people, elders, and
herbalists, of course. There used to be an intermediary between people and
doctors, someone who could deal with small issues quite handily, and refer
larger ones up the food chain to those with more formal training. Now, we have
nurses and nurse practitioners for the same thing today, you might say, but the
truth is that you pay the same amount, and you wait the same amount of time
regardless of who you see in the office. And if you call and ask the question, “Do
I need to come in?” you will get the same answer, for the same reasons. Yes, of
course, better safe than sorry.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The truth is, we have largely been disenfranchised as to our
own health. Most of us can manage only the most basic of first aide, such as
washing and the use of self-adhesive bandages and anti-biotic cream. Mothers,
once capable of stitching wounds, once the front line against epidemics, have
now been relegated to Ace Bandages and ice packs. This is an area where, in my
opinion, our consumerism has gone entirely too far. So far, in fact, that
almost everyone suffers unnecessarily. For instance, the standard line from the
medical establishment is that if something is viral and non-life threatening,
you must just take your pills to lessen symptoms, and suffer through it until
it is over. In fact, there are a host of well conducted studies that show that
some forms of folk medicine actually shorten the duration and intensity of the
common cold, and that certain measures can be used to halt all but the worst
stomach viruses in their tracks. This isn’t pie-in-the-sky, it’s scientifically
proven under rigorously controlled conditions. Why isn’t your doctor telling
you this? Well, it’s not out of malice or greed, it is because they simply don’t
have the time. Ten minutes per patient is not enough time to teach someone how
to make elderberry syrup, or bone broth. They are also so overrun with
paperwork and patients that they do not have time for research. And let me tell
you, most of the things you can do to regain your health or slow an infection don’t
come in a jar, bottle, or box. Pharmaceutical companies have a larger marketing
budget than elder trees and peppermint bushes. Most of the time, your doctor
simply does not know.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I nursed a relative of mine after surgery, and when she went
in for her post-op visit, her doctor said she had never seen healing at that
rate before, and that the lack of swelling and bruising was unbelievable. This
isn’t a boast about my abilities (which are minor, at best), but rather a cry
of frustration that her other patients experienced more suffering than was necessary.
We are a population that has given up the responsibility of caring for our own
health. We have placed that entire burden on doctors, nurses, and technicians, and
then demanded that they be held accountable for the results, absolving
ourselves of every responsibility. Then we have further demanded that these professionals
be ever more financially efficient at the same time that we demand the latest
treatments, machines, and technology. Is it any wonder that lines are long,
visits are short, and health outcomes are declining? Ladies and gentlemen, you
cannot get blood from a stone.</div>
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<br /></div>
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How are we to change this? It’s a bit of a conundrum, really.
This used to be part of our education, before the industrial revolution and the
advent of marketing convinced us that we were not capable of taking care of
ourselves. So where do we go to learn now? In most cases, our elders don’t know
any more than we do.</div>
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Well, I think we can start with our witch doctors. Nearly
every community has one, and you know who we are. The thing is, we never really
went away. We only went underground. There has been a very long running effort
to make us extinct. This is not a persecution complex, on my part. It has been
a necessary process. There was (and still is) a great deal of abuse and snake
oil salesmanship, and we all got painted with the same brush. But here’s a
hint, a good herbalist or witch doctor will tell you exactly what is in their
medicine, and why it works. They will not use buzz-words, they will not use
marketing terms, and they will not spout non-sense like “superfood”. In short,
they will be more interested in educating you than selling you something. An
excellent one will even be able to furnish you with peer reviewed scientific
journal articles that back them up. An absolute litmus test? They will not be afraid to send you
to an actual MD if you need it. Ever.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even though I have recently realized that I occupy this role
for some folks, I have witch doctors of my own; people I see before I see my
doctor, people I check in with, or send a quick text to in order to check an
assumption. This is a function of community. I don’t do this for fame, or
recognition. In fact, I didn’t even realize that I was doing it until it was
pointed out to me. When we are part of a community, we share information
freely. The more I thought about this newly-acquired title of mine, the more I
realized that this is a function of society that has fallen by the way-side
largely because we as a culture have decided that nothing is worth doing
without being paid or otherwise compensated. And I am certainly not
recompensed. I share information just as freely as I share seeds. You know why?
Prosperity helps all of us. Being healthy helps all of us. And being able to
turn sunshine, good earth, and our sweat into food and medicine helps all of
us. Being more self-sufficient means that we are less dependent on money, and
being less dependent on money means that we have more choices. It means that we
can make the choice to give freely of ourselves. We can give to our community
without looking for something in return. Frankly, that’s the kind of world I
want to live in. So, I am.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lastly, I would like to make it very clear that I have
nothing against doctors. They are, in my opinion, absolutely essential, and I use
mine whenever I am in need of her. I would not choose to live in a world
without antibiotics, sterile surgery, prescription drugs, or vaccines. I do,
however, refuse to live in a world where those are my only health care options.
Luckily for me, I know a good witch doctor.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-60835942889055119272014-04-28T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-28T08:00:07.846-04:00Three Ingredient Lotion Bar Recipe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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My recent article about hand washing seems to have generated
some interest in my lotion bar recipe. The original recipe came from a friend of mine (who deserves a whole bunch of praise for them), but I have changed the recipe just a little bit. These are awesome. There’s just no other
way to describe them. They are portable lotion with almost no risk of mess. I
say almost because if you leave them in a hot car, you might be sorry. It is a
pretty standard lotion bar recipe, but it is the choice of ingredients that
make them stand out. Best of all, unlike commercial lotions, there are no
carcinogens, alcohols, or drying agents, which means that they don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cause</i> the dryness you are trying to
cure.
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<br /></div>
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Equal parts by weight of:</div>
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Beeswax (spring for the organic, lest you be slathering
concentrated pesticide on yourself)</div>
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Coconut oil</div>
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Jojoba oil</div>
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<br /></div>
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The coconut oil is a fabulous moisturizer, and provides
gentle antimicrobial and antifungal properties.</div>
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Jojoba oil is actually not an oil at all, but a liquid wax.
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Melt all the ingredients slowly over low heat on the
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small molds, and let cool until completely set. I just make them in the
evening, and leave them in the molds, on the counter, overnight. You can also
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Once they are set, remove them from the molds, and put them
into a bag, jar, or container, to keep the dust off. Store them in a cool
place, and they last pretty indefinitely.</div>
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that a little bit goes a long way. Otherwise, you can wind up with some pretty
sticky paws.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-46439760860399077352014-04-25T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-25T08:00:07.075-04:00What's on the Needles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA2cwLfIjPCIhJMrl5MhXlu5e1mL7KPzYSj9xoIvVD7FzWuC1DsZH3HDG95pkwE1iPQuAWVlr1rj5focvMdBQONN56Jt4_vsvlWiikghZgqI452uLlxvdgbJe-i-SRSx-oJfHbSA3jTQ/s1600/_MG_9527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA2cwLfIjPCIhJMrl5MhXlu5e1mL7KPzYSj9xoIvVD7FzWuC1DsZH3HDG95pkwE1iPQuAWVlr1rj5focvMdBQONN56Jt4_vsvlWiikghZgqI452uLlxvdgbJe-i-SRSx-oJfHbSA3jTQ/s1600/_MG_9527.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
New yarn. My yarn-buying dry spell is officially over. I bought five pairs of socks worth of fingering weight yarn, and a cone of fine linen warp for the rug I'm planning to weave. Bliss. This is a bag full of experimentation, however. My husband has been blowing holes in his socks almost as fast as I can get them on his feet, so I brought home a whole bunch of new yarns to try out. Unfortunately, this past weekend I felted a pair of socks while wearing them. It turns out that hand made wool socks and wellies don't mix. So, the first new pair of socks on the needles is mine, ALL MINE.<br />
<br />
This is my very favorite basic sock pattern, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-socks-for-the-family" target="_blank">Classic Socks for the Family, by Melinda Goodfellow</a>. It gives instructions for five sizes of socks (infant through men's), in three weights of yarn (fingering, sport, and worsted), and several ribbing styles. It also provides the basis for an almost infinite variety of your own designs, simply by swapping out ribbing and simple cable patterns, and varying the cuff length.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The yarn is </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Schoppel-Wolle's Crazy Zauberball in rainbow, and it well lives up to its name. The fiber content is listed as 75% superwash wool, and 25% nylon. Although I love the color, the yarn is very fine for fingering weight, and does have a tendency to split. I have no idea how well it washes and wears yet, as this is the first time I've used it. I will say, if the wash and wear are good, this may become a regular yarn, even with the slight tendency to split.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more of my spinning, knitting, and weaving projects, you can find me <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/twistyknits" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-9361584502472014172014-04-23T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-23T08:00:00.621-04:00Making Space<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I can now say that I have added a new skill to my repertoire;
that of cutting down trees. I was already tolerably familiar with the theory,
hard to escape when you live in New England, really. But I have now had the
chance to put it into practice. We started cutting for the orchard. It was hard
going, and not just because I happened to decide that the best place was amidst
a stand of oak trees (I really never do anything small). It is not an easy
thing to take a life. I honestly hope that I never get to the point where it
will be. A few days before we started cutting, I went around and said thank you
to the trees that are going to be giving their lives so that we can eat and
prosper. Is that sentimental? I don’t think so. Quite a few of those trees are
older than I am. All of them are older than my children. It sort of puts it
into perspective.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVcSC15gHnvKUio0RFFdI_I0GapduBsY00ZMryQCJCRrigWd41QkTOY2aqoKvoVqvj4SCrUF9LbaVAnGQVg7_EnD4YAFNmWBJWqAZPcEV-1eEFBT349Kv7StjbM8c_J1ga-TnKa0QmKc/s1600/_MG_9525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVcSC15gHnvKUio0RFFdI_I0GapduBsY00ZMryQCJCRrigWd41QkTOY2aqoKvoVqvj4SCrUF9LbaVAnGQVg7_EnD4YAFNmWBJWqAZPcEV-1eEFBT349Kv7StjbM8c_J1ga-TnKa0QmKc/s1600/_MG_9525.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The hope, though, is that the trees I replace them with will
far outlive me, and may in fact outlive my grandchildren, if I have any. I
dreamed of them, while doing the hard work of cutting down trees and clearing
brush. Sitting under apple and almond blossoms in the spring, baskets of
yummies in the fall, the pleasure of watching them grow and ripen all summer
long. Plumbs, peaches, apples, and pears; made into jams and chutneys, sliced
and put up in gleaming jars, dried as slices or fruit leather. Bottle after bottle
of homemade wine and melomel. Nuts, hulled and stored, or roasted. Homemade nut
butter, which has got to be one of the most delicious things on earth. That’s
all a few years down the road, however.</div>
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This year, we must work to bring the dream to fruition.
Dreams remain only that, until you put in the sweat to make them a reality. And
sweat we did, let me tell you. We worked all day. First, we strung a line from
marker to marker along the property boundary, to make sure we didn’t cut down
any trees that don’t belong to us. It took longer than you might anticipate, as
the underbrush is a dense mixture of blackberry bramble and mountain laurel.
Then we stopped, and did some math. It’s all well and good to jump in with both
feet (and you all know what a fan I am of doing precisely that), but orchard
planning requires a bit more in the way of, um… actual planning. We measured,
and found that the distance between the driveway and the property line is about
eighty feet, give or take the amount of curve in the driveway. Thirty feet of
that space (again, give or take) is already lawn. So if we cut back a strip
from the edge of the lawn to the property line, eighty feet long, that would
give us an eighty foot by eighty foot cleared space for the orchard, with the
edge right up against the driveway. If we then gave ourselves a twenty foot
border of open space all the way around, to prevent shading of the trees, and
keep the fruit from hitting cars in the driveway, that gives us forty feet
square; enough for up to twenty-five trees. I have to assume that twenty-five
trees will be more than enough. Though, my kids go through applesauce faster
than a horde of locusts.</div>
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Now, do I really want to cut down nearly 1/10 of an acre of
trees and brush all at one go? Frankly, no I do not. Plus, we have to consider
the cost. I could afford to put in all twenty-five trees this year, provided
that they are all small. In which case, I would spend the next ten to fifteen
years waiting for my harvest. Alternately, I can buy a lot fewer trees, but older
ones that are ready to fruit immediately - as in this year, or next, depending
on how well they transplant. I spend the same ten years building up my orchard,
but I get fruit during that ten years. I think I know which way I want to go on
this one. So we will be buying six trees this year; two Hall’s Hardy Almonds,
one Chicago Hardy Fig, and three apple trees (we are still conducting delicate family
negotiations as to which varieties). All of that boils down to the fact that we
marked out about half the orchard to cut down. That may seem a lot for only six
fruit and nut trees, but some of the trees we have to remove are quite large,
and they need to come down in such a way that they won’t wipe out power lines,
the house, or our fledgling orchard. Hence taking the time to do the math at
the beginning of this adventure.</div>
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So with that in mind, we leaped into action. We managed to
cut down about thirty small trees, and clear out most of the brush from our
forty foot by fifty foot section. I say about, because most of them were the remaining sap-suckers of trees that had already been cut down and left as rotting stumps by a previous property owner.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span> </span>And well, then there are about a dozen large
boulders we were working around</span>.</span></span> Holy hard slogging, Batman. You know, you
never realize how out of shape you are until you start doing that kind of work.
Three of us worked all day. My aunt and my cousin’s daughter were up visiting,
so we roped in the young’un while Auntie kept an eye on children, livestock,
and pets. That’s what happens when you come to visit. I’m not shy about putting
people to work. I’m also not shy about being grateful, or feeding people,
either, so it tends to work out. I’ll tell you, we needed the help. We ended
the day with three piles of wood and brush laying in the clearing; one for
firewood, one for just branches (I’m going to try my hand at wattle fencing a
little later in the year, for the herb garden), and one yet to be trimmed and
sorted. The last tree was also left lying where I had dropped it, because I was
simply too tired to operate the chainsaw safely. I actually felted a pair of
hand knit socks inside my wellies. I had to cut them off my feet. So a nice hot
shower, dinner, and bed were all well in order.</div>
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I had every intention of getting up early and starting again
the next day, never mind that it was a Monday, and Shawn had to work. There was
work to do, and I was going to do it myself. I’m a big strong girl, right? Ohhh
boy, was I ever wrong. The next morning, I felt like a ninety year old lady who
had been through the trash compactor. I whimpered just getting out of bed.
Chainsaw? Not going to happen. I could barely lift my water bottle. Couldn’t I
just do laundry instead? Um, I couldn’t even touch my toes, so… maybe not. Look
up over-do in the dictionary. You’ll find my picture.</div>
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So I settled down with my knitting, all the while grumbling
about the fine weather, and not being able to work in it. At least I could
replace the pair of socks that had been sacrificed. I could always get back to
clearing for the orchard tomorrow, right? Well, as it turned out, the next day
it rained, and not a little bit, either. I think we got something like an inch
and a half of rain. The ducks were happy, but I was muttering under my breath.
So, I spent the day wrestling with the household budget, trying to bring
everything into order before our fiscal year (which starts June 1<sup>st</sup>)
comes to an end. I wasn’t very successful. It seemed like every small thing
that could go wrong, did, and every tiny task took ten times longer than it
should have. It was one of those days. I usually have them when I am struggling
with the inevitable, instead of surrendering to it. BUT THAT’S OK, because I
was going to get outside and start moving my way through those brush piles and
stacking the firewood in the morning, by hook or by crook.</div>
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Well folks, I got up this morning to an entire yard covered
in ice, and a two hour school delay. Seriously??? It is SPRING dangit. Someone
up there is having a pretty good chortle at my expense, I must say. So today I’m
going to knit, and wrestle with financial information. I will not be so foolish
as to try and work on ice-coated trees. I will also try and take this delay in
good grace. Because at least there is always tomorrow…</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-78619255307690422652014-04-21T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-21T08:00:10.383-04:00All Purpose Cleaner<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->This is the second of a series on homemade cleaning
products. I’ve had a few requests for these recipes, so I thought I’d share
them here. I’m not going to call these recipes non-toxic, as obviously anything
that kills bacteria and mold is toxic, though the goal is to use substances
that are not toxic to people and pets. In addition, homemade cleaners are far,
far less expensive.
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my all-purpose cleaner, the one I reach for the
most. I use it to clean counters, tables, spots of dirt, and mysterious sticky
substances on the tile floors. It leaves everything shiny, clean, and smelling
wonderful. Best of all? It costs me about $0.09 to make a sixteen ounce bottle.
Seriously, NINE CENTS. And the ingredients, once bought, are enough to keep me
in cleaning solution for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">years</i>. You
don’t get much more frugal than that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp washing soda OR 2 tsp baking soda</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 tsp borax</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp Liquid Soap</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 cups hot water</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is very important to note that washing soda will dissolve
wax. If you have a wax finish on your floors, or furniture, please use baking
soda instead. With that said, parents, this stuff dissolves crayon marks like
you wouldn’t believe. It’s like magic, and more than justifies the extra effort
of locating the washing soda. Please read the information on the box, as this stuff
should not be left where little ones can get into it. It is quite alkaline, and
if swallowed in large amounts, can burn. It is perfectly safe in its diluted
form in the cleaner, however. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Borax is used for deodorizing, and when the cleaner is left
to soak, it helps lift stubborn dirt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I use actual soap whenever possible. Why? Well, because
there seems to be a lot of question around the safety of detergents, none
around soap, and soap cleans just as well for most aplications. My very
favorite liquid soap is Dr. Bronner’s, which comes in a wide variety of scents,
and uses essential oils. I prefer the unscented kind, but you can use anything
you like in this recipe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The water must be as hot as possible to dissolve the borax.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-3410749740128287322014-04-18T11:52:00.000-04:002014-04-18T11:52:03.216-04:00What's on the Needles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhH4S728Pt2xNBkJdQ6Yo7sIplNFJI1UtPyUrWQdUymyrdysAH4vvdcGaRpybZQlAtxdT3TKNyQ1aObpKJsk8mOulZ4-VnllQ2ZUPzizSgekOPiRqoTvGnCGSo66Tf0IrerPAJNfjsJU/s1600/_MG_9513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhH4S728Pt2xNBkJdQ6Yo7sIplNFJI1UtPyUrWQdUymyrdysAH4vvdcGaRpybZQlAtxdT3TKNyQ1aObpKJsk8mOulZ4-VnllQ2ZUPzizSgekOPiRqoTvGnCGSo66Tf0IrerPAJNfjsJU/s1600/_MG_9513.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
I thought I'd try my hand at a pair of boot cuffs. It's a great way to use up a bit of stash yarn, and an excellent chance to try out some new stitches without making a sweater-sized commitment. These are made with <a href="http://www.harrisville.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Harrisville Designs</a> yarn, but to be honest, I'm not sure which one. I'm pretty sure it has just a little angora in it, and maybe some silk? This is the trouble with stash yarn, you see, especially yarn bought before I learned that I have to be organized about my stash. This particular yarn has been hanging around for more than a decade, and I'm absolutely sure that it is no longer available. Which is a crying shame, given that I've just fallen in love with it all over again.<br />
<br />
The pattern is my own, and combines a braided cable, grafting (which you can actually see in this picture), a yarn over braid, and some simple ribbing. It took me about seven hours to do the prototype, but I think it'll only take me about four to finish the other one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-41022677214917478602014-04-16T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-16T08:00:03.772-04:00Spring<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ikX2KP2ZKvnVGJajKa5DXGPny1gD-AsuFDrnNMiy5m1aJulEqYcbmhjOtZ2pubQASvS9WyUwFSsvAfzgjm3cy0IfpXZRh3G9V6wwRgy4rdvabgSWGi3_gQ_7mq9p4o2pscA1aWl6LS8/s1600/_MG_9504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ikX2KP2ZKvnVGJajKa5DXGPny1gD-AsuFDrnNMiy5m1aJulEqYcbmhjOtZ2pubQASvS9WyUwFSsvAfzgjm3cy0IfpXZRh3G9V6wwRgy4rdvabgSWGi3_gQ_7mq9p4o2pscA1aWl6LS8/s1600/_MG_9504.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is time. Even though there are still snow banks in the
yard, the pull of spring has me. The day lilies are peeking up through the snow
this year, their biological clock claiming that it is still April, no matter
the weather. And just like it happens every spring, I look up and suddenly
notice that my house is filthy, smelly, and seems to have accumulated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way</i> too much stuff. I’m honestly not
really quite sure how this happens. It’s not like I go on a cleaning strike all
winter or anything. But every year, it is the same. The thought of the garden
starts to swell, the seed catalogs arrive, and suddenly I realize that I must
be living with a troupe of trolls or something if the house really looks like
this. And thus begins the frenzy. It drives the cats and dog outside. It makes
the humans in the house scurry out of sight and into their respective corners,
lest they be caught and forced to polish something. On the one hand, to be
abandoned so irks me. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> didn’t make
all this mess by myself (just… don’t look at the stacks of books on the table
by my chair… or at the baskets of fiber-related items behind it… and, well, it
would be best if you stayed out of the studio entirely). But the larger part of
me is thrilled to be left to my own devices, to be able to turn the music way
up, throw my hair in a ponytail, put on my apron, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">work</i> without being interrupted. As odd as it sounds, to be left to
wash, scrub, polish, vacuum, and oil my way through my house after a long
winter surrounded by my nearest and dearest… well, it’s quite therapeutic.</div>
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In addition to that, it is time to solidify our plans for
the summer. This is always an agonizing process. All winter long we spend
dreaming, but when spring comes, it is time to set limits and be realistic
about what time and money can accomplish.</div>
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A month ago, I was absolutely sure that my big project for
the year was going to be the medicinal herb garden. Unfortunately, my food
allergies have progressed to the point where I can no longer digest grains of
any kind. Nuts are still on the menu, however. When I add to that the fact that
the kids went through the apple sauce and dried fruit just about as fast as I
could make it last year, it has become clear that a fruit and nut orchard has
to be a priority in the near future. You know the old saying, the best time to
plant a fruit tree was ten years ago.</div>
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But where to put it? We have been struggling with this
question since we moved in. I have finally come to terms with the fact that
there is no way to put even a tiny orchard in without cutting down some trees.
I am consoling myself with the idea that I am at least replacing them with more
trees, and that the trees I am replacing them with will have more nutritive value
for the local wildlife, not to mention us. The trees themselves will furnish
fencing, heating, and mulch. None of it will be wasted. I am certainly going to
need a larger chainsaw. I’m not sure if I’m more nervous or excited about that
part. Chainsaws are fun.</div>
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In addition to that, as the snow has melted it has become
painfully clear that we have to actually make some compost bins. The kids have
been taking the compost out all winter, and let’s just say that my tidy and
clearly defined piles of last summer are not to be found. So, a three bin
system will have to be built, and my husband has asked if it could have a solid
front, so that he doesn’t have to look at it while he is washing dishes. I’m
pretty sure that that is not going to be a problem.</div>
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Lastly, there is the problem of the duck house. You see, it
floods. This is what happens when you put in structures before you know your
land. Every spring, as the melting starts, we have to pile up their bedding on
one side of the house, and it becomes a little island. You would think, being
ducks, that this would be well appreciated, but truthfully, no one likes to
sleep in a damp place. So, it has to be moved. The cutting I have to do for the
orchard gives me the opportunity to cut a place closer to the house for the
duck house, and a covered run. The run, I am hoping, will increase our egg
production during the winter, in addition to giving the ducks and geese more
room and better accommodations. Currently, there are too many hungry predators
during the winter months for them to roam around unprotected. Being brown, they
show up too well against the nice white snow, and the poor things spend all
winter cooped up. The fact that it was such a cold dark winter here in the Northeast meant that we had almost no eggs since November. So, that project has made its way to the top of the list as well.</div>
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That’s a pretty big list. There is also the fact that fruit
and nut trees tend to come a bit dear, which makes it an expensive list. You notice what isn’t on that list?
Yeah, my herb garden. I fretted about it, I won’t lie. Then I got sad. The herb
garden is a large enough project to suck up an entire summer, all on its own. I
had such plans. I was going to fence the whole thing off, to keep it safe from
the marauding geese. They ate last year’s garden to the ground. To the ground.
I dug beautiful beds, and lined them with stone. They are like scorched earth
back there. The great big budgies even ate my rose bushes, thorns and all. I’m
still grumpy about it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ahem. Anyway, I was going to fence it all off, and then put in big
curving beds, and a seating area near the back, with a fire pit. Beautiful basket
cloches, wooden trellises, glass and wooden cold frames, pebble mosaics,
statues, places for my potted plants, gravel and stone walkways, the works. We
won’t even talk about the plants. A whole bed of lavender. Yum. I was going to
put in a summer kitchen too, right at the back, where we already have power and
water lines. No more heating up the whole house during canning season, no more
listening to my patient husband slowly losing it all summer long, as he tries
to make dinner day after day in a kitchen that looks as though a bomb has gone
off, and working around three different recipes in various states of progress.
Not to mention the ease of butchering out doors. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? I
dream big, what can I say.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is just going to have to wait. I have promised myself a
compromise, though. I am going to use some of the saplings I have to cut down
for the orchard to make some fences for the beds I have. That way, I can at
least have a few herbs this year, and stop all that well-composted soil from eroding.
At least the ducks and geese hung out in the beds all last summer, so they are
well-fertilized.</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">But the dream remains. Some day, I will have my
garden AND my orchard. I will have beds bursting with veggies, bushes
overflowing with fruit, and the orchard will be ringed in wild blackberry canes,
trained into a hedge, with a gated arbor. I will take the fruits of my labor
into the summer kitchen, and I will patiently squirrel them away as dried fruit
and veggies, jam, pickles, soups, stews. I will have a cupboard full of tea and
medicine grown and prepared with love and care. I will have all these things,
even if it takes me a lifetime to get there. But the journey of a thousand
miles begins with one step. So the dream of my garden may have to sleep and
wait for another spring, but every hour of effort brings me closer.</span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-82216780055343213992014-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-14T08:00:02.921-04:00Bathroom Cleaner Recipe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This is the first of a series on homemade cleaning products.
I’ve had a few requests for these recipes, so I thought I’d share them here. I’m
not going to call these recipes non-toxic, as obviously anything that kills
bacteria and mold is toxic, though the goal is to use substances that are not
toxic to people and pets. In addition, homemade cleaners are far, far less
expensive.</div>
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This is my favorite bathroom cleaner recipe, and I've been
using it with great success for a few years now. I even use it in the kitchen
sometimes too. It smells great, doesn’t bother my asthma, kills bacteria and
mold, is the best soap scum remover I’ve ever used, and prevents mold from growing
until it is rinsed off. Best of all, it costs me about $1.85 for 20 ounces. </div>
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1 tsp borax</div>
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½ tsp liquid detergent</div>
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½ tsp grapefruit seed extract</div>
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½ tsp lemongrass essential oil</div>
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½ cup white distilled vinegar</div>
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2 cups hot water</div>
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<br /></div>
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Borax is an excellent deodorizer, and loosens stuck on dirt
and soap scum.</div>
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It is important to use a detergent, and not a liquid soap for
this recipe. I use 7<sup>th</sup> Generation Natural Dish Liquid.</div>
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The grapefruit seed extract is powerfully anti-fungal, and
unscented. You can substitute tea tree essential oil if you like. My kids
complained about the characteristically pungent smell, so I decided to use the
equally effective grapefruit seed extract. </div>
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The lemongrass essential oil is antimicrobial. A number of
antimicrobial essential oils can be substituted here, including but not limited
to: thyme (which has been shown in studies to kill MRSA), sweet orange (which
can be toxic to cats), rose, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, orris root,
birch, tea tree, and lavender. The following essential oils should NOT be used
by or near pregnant women: pennyroyal, sage, wintergreen, basil, myrrh, or
thyme. For that reason, I don’t use them in my cleaner recipes.</div>
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The water needs to be as hot as possible to dissolve the
borax. </div>
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Pour all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to
mix. It is important not to reuse a spray bottle from a commercially available
cleaner, so as to avoid chemical reactions. If the borax doesn't dissolve all
the way, leave it overnight, and shake in the morning. For soap scum, I spray
down the surface, and let it sit for a few minutes while I do something else,
then wipe it down with a hot wet rag. Easy peasy. </div>
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It’s my writing day. Wednesday. And here I sit, not writing.
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know!), looked for some inspiration on Pinterest, and checked the news.
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I could do a book review… nah. Another recipe? No, they’re
all out of season anyway. And see there? I just sat there for 2 minutes staring
at the screen because I can’t think what to write about not being able to
write. I mean, come on, I have the whole day ahead of me, and nothing to do but
write. It’s something new I’m doing, setting aside a day. I have all my chores
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You know what? Sometimes the creative process really sucks.
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clay that have clearly been whipped off the wheel and thrown against the wall
in frustration. She lets them dry there, and then every so often, carefully
cleans them off and recycles the clay. She says it’s rather therapeutic. I
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Seriously, three hundred words about not being able to
write, now. This is getting ridiculous. Maybe I should go out and see if the
ground is thawed in the garden? NO. It is Wednesday. It is writing day. Ugh.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-36432415567023286932014-04-02T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-02T08:00:29.317-04:00My Six Year Old Activist<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Like all parents, I try to teach my children what I know
about how the world works. My great passion is food, and how it is grown. This
has an interesting side to it, however. A goodly portion of my research
involves non-standard food preparation and preservation, and as I have a rather
scientific bent, I have done quite a lot of research into pathogens, how they
work, and more importantly, how to kill them. Unsurprisingly, it turns out that
this is a pretty handy subject to know a thing or two about. It has changed our
lives in some surprising ways. It turns out that our grandmothers knew a thing
or two about staying clean and healthy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the things that has changed in my house since my
journey began is how we wash our hands. I used to be a member of the liquid Dial
Soap fan club. Oh and hand sanitizer, you have to love hand sanitizer, right?
Anti-bacterial! Kills 99% of all germs, including the flu! How could a mom not
love this stuff, right? Well, it turns out that it really <a href="http://biology.about.com/od/microbiology/a/handsanitizers.htm">doesn’t
cut the mustard</a>. You know what does? Old fashioned bar soap, made with real
lye, and water. And yes, LYE soap, because the change in pH is what keeps your
bar of soap from becoming nasty. Seriously, that’s it. In fact, that’s what the
<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/">CDC recommends</a> you wash your
hands with. Yeah, you know them, the world experts on infectious disease. Soap,
water, and scrubbing. So, that’s what we do. My dad makes the soap for us, so
we know exactly what is in it, and I never have to worry about it having too
much lye in it and burning us. And it is so well made that our hands are as
soft as tiny baby butts. So much better than any homemade or commercial soap I’ve
ever tried. He even puts antimicrobial essential oils in some of them so we
have something stronger to use during the eventual family pandemic. What a
great dad, right? I think so. Why don’t I make my own? Tiny baby butts on the
ends of my arms. The man has a gift.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, as with all folks living… shall we say somewhat
outside of the box, we have hit a few bumps in the road over the years as the
kids try to bolt up what they are learning at home, and what they are learning
in public school. One of these bumps was in the way they wash their hands. My
poor son has been coming home all winter with red raw hands, like someone
poured boiling water on the backs of them. You can imagine my horror. As it
looked like standard chapping, I gave him a lotion bar to put in his backpack,
and told him to carefully dry his hands and lotion them every time he washed
them. It cleared right up. I patted myself on the back and moved on. Of course,
then it came back. I was racking my brain, I’ll tell you. Every vacation and
weekend, his hands would get better, and then as soon as he was back in school,
they were red and raw again. I began to think that he might be allergic to the
soap at school, even though I could swear that it was not contact dermatitis I
was seeing. Trust me, in this house, we know what that one looks like. So I sat
my son down, and quizzed him, hoping that it was just that he was forgetting to
lotion his hands. He assured me that it simply wasn’t the case. So I asked him
how many times he was washing his hands at school. He told me he didn’t wash
his hands at school at all. Can you imagine the look on my face? He assured me
that his teacher told him that using the hand sanitizer was just fine, and he
didn’t need to wash. So that’s what he did.</div>
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I was horrified. Folks, kids get dirty. We all know this.
But here’s the thing, hand sanitizer DOES NOT REMOVE THE DIRT. And guess what
is underneath and inside the dirt? You guessed it, everything from botulism to
the common cold. Guess what else? That dirt was getting scraped off on my son’s
food and going straight into his mouth. Now, I’m a pound-of-dirt parent. You
know, kids eat a pound of dirt before they grow up. It’s good for them. I don’t
concern myself overly with germs under normal circumstances. We even have a
five second rule at my house, as long as the floor has been vacuumed. But I
think even the most laid back parent in the world would like to believe that
their children wash their hands after using a public restroom, right? Because
guess what else hand sanitizer doesn’t remove? Yeah. You have to actually WASH that
off. You know, with WATER.</div>
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So what is a horror-struck mother to do? I explained the
situation to both of my children. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">graphic</i>
detail. I don’t believe in making up reasons that are less scary or gross than
the truth. Kids are people. They need to understand the reason behind the rule
just as much as anyone. And they are way smarter than most people give them
credit for. Boy, I’ll tell you, it did the trick. My kids are now devoted bar
soap and water hand washers, and I considered the matter closed.</div>
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But it wasn’t. You saw that coming, right? </div>
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<br /></div>
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You see, yesterday, my son came home and, brimming with
excitement, said to me, “Guess what I did today, Mom?” Ever interested whenever
they are eager to share their lives with me, I asked what had happened. He
proceeded to tell me all about how he had shared what he had learned about hand
sanitizer with his whole table at school. He then proudly informed me that when
it came time to get their snacks out, every member of his table went to the
sink and actually washed their hands “…with soap and WATER, mom! Because you
know what? My teacher is WRONG about hand sanitizer.” </div>
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I stood there, dumbstruck. Whoooboy. Didn’t see that one
coming. “Good for you!” I managed to get out, and he strolled away, pleased
with the world.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At first, I had a pang of concern. I mean, had
my son really just staged a full-scale hand washing revolt in his classroom??
Then, well, then I was proud. Really proud. My son learned something new and
important about his world. And he didn’t hide it. He didn’t hoard it. He didn’t
wait until everyone else had used the hand sanitizer and then stand there and
call them gross. He went straight out and shared his knowledge with people he
cares about, because he wants them to be healthy. He spoke his truth in the
face of the overwhelming pressure of authority, and he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">changed minds</i>. I have to admit, I am awestruck. Every once in a
while, these children of mine bowl me over. It gives me hope for the future. So
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</xml><![endif]-->Here’s the thing. I want to write. I even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">intend</i> to write. But it never seems to
happen. There’s always something that comes up, or gets in the way. I get
distracted, or I forget entirely. I’d love to tell you that I’m so busy
reading, researching, and working on homesteading projects that I just don’t have
time to write. But if I’m going to be honest (and it’s a hard and fast policy
when I write), it’s usually Facebook and Pinterest.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How did this happen? How did I get so wrapped up in things
that do not support or further the way I choose to live my life? I don’t
suppose that it would be so bad if I was keeping in touch with dear friends,
and furthering social causes that I believe in. Well, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am </i>doing those things, but unfortunately I seem to spend most of my
time on Facebook irritated with the thoughtless things that even the kindest
people say, and my time on Pinterest is spent collecting pictures of other
people’s accomplishments. I am too busy doing these things to actually
accomplish anything of my own, of course. And when I do work, I flit from project
to project, never finishing anything, never working on anything for very long,
and taking a Facebook break about every twenty minutes or so. Honestly, it’s
like scratching a persistent rash some days. And like all rashes, the more I
scratch it, the more over-sensitive it gets. The more it itches. The more I
scratch. The more irritated I get.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you can’t tell, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i>
irritated. I’m not irritated with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or any
individual on them, mind you, but I am almost furious with myself. Because the
truth is, I know better. This… thing, called social media, it is addictive. We
all know it. We all say it, jokingly. It is a constant stream of new and
different ideas, in bite-sized pieces. It is neatly and beautifully packaged in
memes, quotes, political cartoons, 140 character statuses, and sound bites. How
very intoxicating. It speaks directly to our innate thirst for knowledge, for
new things. But it comes at a cost. I know I am not the first person to write
about this. I know I will not be the last. What we gain in breadth, we lose in
depth. What we gain in staying up-to-date, we lose in the thorough
understanding of things long-studied, and lived-with. We like to believe that
social media has brought us together, that it brings new perspective into our
lives, and helps us to understand people who are different than ourselves. But
my experience is that it is much easier to unfriend someone, hide their feed,
or stop following them than it is to listen with an open heart. The world is
now full of people, and it has become so easy to isolate ourselves from the
people who disagree with us. Almost effortless.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am guilty of this. I, too, have instituted the infamous
Facebook purge, silencing people whose messages I did not care to hear. I, too,
did this while believing that my behavior was healthy, that I was removing
negative people from my life. But I never stopped to ask the question. What
makes me think I’m so darned positive? Because really, what I was doing was
building a little bubble of isolation around myself. I built myself a
comfortable place to spend my whole day, quietly reading new content, all
generated by people who share my same basic world-view.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow. I mean, wow! See what I did there? And unsurprisingly,
it wasn’t enough. The truth is, we are all more than one thing. Life and the
things that make it up are complex, and there is no such thing as an answer
that is right or wrong for everyone. But it is human nature to understand that on
the one hand, and on the other, believe that only <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> have it completely right. The problem is that we live in a world
of these moral absolutes, and a world where everything is a moral issue. And
the tragedy of it is, that in this world of memes and 140 character statuses,
there is just no room for complexity. I have to say, moral arguments, kept
artificially simple, are responsible for some of the worst atrocities in human
history. There is not one single problem facing humanity today that is simple,
or easy, and we all have to stop acting like they are. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Folks, wake up and smell the fair trade coffee (which often
results in poorer prices for the farmers, by the way), no one is going to agree
with everything you say, think, or do. The bigger part of that is that we don’t
have to be either passive-aggressive, or unkind about it. I see at least one
meme a day that boils down to, “Don’t agree with me? %#$@ you.” And they are
more often than not exactly that unkind. The part that is really amazing to me,
is that people send these things out to folks who are supposed to be their
FRIENDS. Woah. Can you imagine if someone said that to your face? How many of
us would put up with a friend who said that to our face once a day?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The real question I’m trying to get to is this. What on
earth am I doing putting up with it? Why am I spending my day this way, when I
have so much work that needs doing? I have books to read aloud to my children,
boo-boos to kiss, hearts to mend, minds to coach, a dozen or more new books on
homesteading to read, notes to make, research to conduct, a studio to clean and
organize, mead to make, knitting and weaving projects waiting in Limbo, gardens
to plan, seeds to start, and recipes to organize, all before spring finally
comes to the Northeast and the REAL work around here begins. That is to say
nothing of the dishes, laundry, dusting, and vacuuming. And you know, WRITING.
I am months, MONTHS behind in all of it, and all because I am letting my lizard
brain run my life. I feel pretty disgusted with myself, truthfully.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was reading one of my favorite mystery series the other
night before bed. The protagonist is a writer, who has two Siamese cats. He
moves through his social life physically; going on visits, into shops, out to
dinner, having friends over, etc. Then, on given days of the week, he sits down
and WRITES. He just writes. I thought wistfully to myself, “Wow, that sounds
like such a lovely life. I really wish I could have a life like that.” It took
two days for it to sink in. Do you see what I did to myself there? I totally
told myself that I couldn’t have the life I want, because I don’t have time for
it. Why don’t I have time for it? Because I spend so much time on social media.
WOAH. I MEAN, WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING TO MYSELF??? And see, this is where I
get angry. Because, I want something bigger. I want something better. I want
something deep, and complex. I want rich, and dirty, and smelly, and messy, and
difficult, and lasting. I want something in-person. None of those things are
available where I have been spending my effort.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is social media inherently flawed? The truth is, I don’t
know. I think it can be a great tool, and I think for a lot of people it
already is. I have contact with folks there that I am able to get nowhere else,
and that is completely precious. I love seeing everyone’s babies, and animals.
But I’ll tell you, I can’t help but wonder how many people are being kept from
the real business of their lives by it. I can’t be the only one. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You know, the Ancient Romans used to put on big
entertainments, and give out a ration of bread to every citizen of the city of
Rome. It was done in a way that glorified Rome, and the people were told that
this was their entitlement, as citizens and part-owners of a great Empire. In
truth, the games were a way to keep the citizens’ minds off of the growing
economic troubles of their Empire. The games continued right up until Rome
fell, despite their vast expense. Rome had huge problems, but instead of explaining
these problems in all of their complexity, the leaders of Rome decided to
simplify matters for their people, and keep them happy, occupied, and
entertained. I AM NOT saying that there is some kind of conspiracy behind
social media, but modern America, and indeed much of the rest of the world, has
an advantage unparalleled in the whole of human history. We have the ability to
educate OURSELVES. We have the ability to dive head first into any issue we
like, swim around in all its complexity, until our fingers get all pruned, and
work head long, and heart flat-out at finding a solution. The information is
vast, almost endless, more than you could learn in an entire lifetime, and
entirely free. It is your entitlement as the citizen of a vast Empire. Social
media could be a tool of unparalleled power… but not if we spend our time
isolating people who disagree with us. Not if we spend our time passing
pictures and notes back and forth, like kids ignoring the teacher’s lecture in
class. Not if we continue to tell ourselves that we simply cannot have what we
want. That we don’t matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have the power to build the future. All we have to do is
move beyond the comfortable place we have created for ourselves. We have to
stop looking for sympathy and like-minded people, and go out there and learn
something new. There is a passion out there for every person on Earth. Food and
how it is grown is mine. What’s yours? No, really, I want to know. Don’t know?
Wikipedia has a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random">Random
Article</a> button on their main page. I suggest you click on it once a day and
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE. I suggest you do it every day until your passion finds
you. Trust me, when it does, it is like lightening, like your whole soul
catches fire. It is not an experience to be missed, and it will change your
whole life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me? Well, in the meantime, I am taking a break from social
media. I am going to spend some time doing, and some time writing. I am also
going to try and spend some time being gentle and loving with myself, as this
learning process took a while, and now that I get it, I’m feeling pretty
foolish. I’ll tell you what, though, I am going to create the life I want,
because I CAN have it. Because I say so. Social media is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> tool, not the other way around. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today? Well, I probably ought to do some laundry. As Buddha
says, “Before Enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water. After
Enlightenment, you chop wood and carry water.”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514666271842847188.post-36581486390720288112013-11-20T15:57:00.000-05:002013-11-20T15:57:00.259-05:00Blueberry Butter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDNw47mU51-y04tHdta4KCWlRCXMzRfOAg_yHOdIwhBgXw6-YdPwlaOw_BFlWwCeds3lNI09sRFyYilDmekuGEhI6c9oCbVuQuaDopnrvSg-zltJK8VNPsxSEOxrbKD0dLV8t0ZammsI/s1600/_MG_9359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDNw47mU51-y04tHdta4KCWlRCXMzRfOAg_yHOdIwhBgXw6-YdPwlaOw_BFlWwCeds3lNI09sRFyYilDmekuGEhI6c9oCbVuQuaDopnrvSg-zltJK8VNPsxSEOxrbKD0dLV8t0ZammsI/s1600/_MG_9359.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is lovely, rich, sweet, and ever
so faintly tart with a hint of lemon. Even with such a large batch, I
simply did not make enough. It's lovely on toast, waffles, and
pancakes, of course, but is also amazing on ice cream, stirred into
oatmeal, and spooned between layers of muffin batter and baked.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">16 cups frozen blueberries</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">½ cup lemon Juice</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 cups Maple syrup</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tsp Cinnamon</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Run the still frozen blueberries
through food processor, and grind them into chunks, but don't puree
them.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pour just the blueberries into a large
crock pot, and cook on high, covered, until hot. It should steam
slightly, but not bubble; about 150 degrees F.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Uncover, and continue to cook the
blueberries on high until they thicken, and the butter reduces by one
quarter to one third.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Add all of the other ingredients, bring
back to temp, and cook down until desired consistency is achieved.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sterilize 16 quarter pint jars, bands,
and lids.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spoon the hot blueberry butter into the
jars, place on lids and tighten the bands to fingertip tight.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Process in hot water bath canner for 10
minutes (15 for high altitude), then remove the canner lid and let
jars cool in the canner for 5 more minutes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remove the jars, and set on a wire rack
to cool.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leave them undisturbed for 12 hours.
Check all of the seals before storing. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As always, can at your own
risk.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05541217859782808583noreply@blogger.com0