I invited my students to go to my travel blog website so they could see pictures of all the places I'm going to. Although this is an open blog, I'm starting to (belatedly) get concerned about how much I share with everyone and everybody, and I'd rather my students focus in on just the travels and not necessarily everything I put on this site. More on this topic will follow in the future I'm sure but for now my quick fix is to use another website.
So.
If you'd like picture and blog updates of the trip you can find it here at
www.planetranger.com/onenewmexican
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Not Stressed At All
Okay, so that's a lie.
I leave tomorrow and I haven't packed. I'm supposed to make a pot roast for our Christmas party tomorrow, get a planetranger account so I can post photos of the trip for my students, leave instructions for the cat/housesitter, get a key to our eagle eye neighbor, clean, do another load of laundry, and call everyone who called yesterday to wish me a happy birthday, but couldn't reach me because I was at Stammtisch. And I've left my cell phone at work. I have to remember to pack my passport, the Euro Gerd gave me, my phone (and charger), warm clothes, and any Christmas gifts I've been accumulating. I know I'm forgetting something else!
Okay, enough writing about what I have to do, onto the doing.
I leave tomorrow and I haven't packed. I'm supposed to make a pot roast for our Christmas party tomorrow, get a planetranger account so I can post photos of the trip for my students, leave instructions for the cat/housesitter, get a key to our eagle eye neighbor, clean, do another load of laundry, and call everyone who called yesterday to wish me a happy birthday, but couldn't reach me because I was at Stammtisch. And I've left my cell phone at work. I have to remember to pack my passport, the Euro Gerd gave me, my phone (and charger), warm clothes, and any Christmas gifts I've been accumulating. I know I'm forgetting something else!
Okay, enough writing about what I have to do, onto the doing.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Leftovers
I'm home sick today and my doctor's appointment isn't until 1:00 so I might as well blog. I've had a stomach ache for over 1 1/2 weeks, generally been achy, and overall just not right. I'd hoped I was finally pregnant, but I guess not. Considering recent fertility bad news it would've been a miracle anyway, but now I'm wondering if it's not THAT, why in the world am I nauseous?
Two weekends ago we had a nice party, with tons of leftovers. Considering I haven't been feeling all that well, I haven't wanted to do much with the food. Since we'll be in Europe this Christmas, we really don't have much time to use up all of our leftovers, which forced me to deal with a refrigerator of food this weekend. We still had leftover turkey, 6 pounds of a 7 pound ham, tons of bread and cheese, and all of the vegetable from Boston Organics that I'd forgotten to cancel (specifically 2 squash, celery, turnips, onions, apples, oranges, pears, carrots, cranberries, mushrooms, and a head of cabbage).
So I decided to make soup. Actually, I've only made one pot of split pea soup, but I'm expecting to eat most of it before we go, and freeze the rest. It's easy on the tummy, used a bunch of the ham, carrots, onions, and celery, and didn't require effort (gotta love crock pots).
I also made a quiche to get rid of the rest of my eggs, use some of the cheese (still tons more to go), reduce the amount of ham, and use up the aging cauliflower. I forgot to save some mushrooms for the quiche, so it was mushroomless. This should get us through breakfasts for the week.
For yesterday's dinner I made potato and turnip mash, which disguised the turnips nicely and prevented their waste. I also roasted one of the squash and made roasted mushrooms as found on SmittenKitchen. Oh MY GOD these were good mushrooms. I was a little worried that I wouldn't keep them down, but I couldn't stop eating them!
In addition over the weekend I made bread pudding and custard. The bread pudding used up almost all of the leftover bread and the custard was made with eggnog that was about to expire (plus it used some eggs).
I still need to deal with apples and oranges, one squash, the head of cabbage, and a couple more carrots. I put the rest of the ham in the freezer for another pot of split pea soup later on down the road.
The apples are easy, I'm going to make apple pie filling and can it, if I can find enough unused cans around the house. Oranges, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Perhaps I'll just make orange juice one night and call it done. Squash perhaps I'll make for dinner one night this week. Cabbage I'm tempted to make into sauerkraut, but that will require a bit of research. Plus there's the problem that I don't like sauerkraut and will be eating tons of it over Christmas. Gerd likes it though, so we'll see.
All of this is a bit of food to deal with when you don't feel like looking at food.
Two weekends ago we had a nice party, with tons of leftovers. Considering I haven't been feeling all that well, I haven't wanted to do much with the food. Since we'll be in Europe this Christmas, we really don't have much time to use up all of our leftovers, which forced me to deal with a refrigerator of food this weekend. We still had leftover turkey, 6 pounds of a 7 pound ham, tons of bread and cheese, and all of the vegetable from Boston Organics that I'd forgotten to cancel (specifically 2 squash, celery, turnips, onions, apples, oranges, pears, carrots, cranberries, mushrooms, and a head of cabbage).
So I decided to make soup. Actually, I've only made one pot of split pea soup, but I'm expecting to eat most of it before we go, and freeze the rest. It's easy on the tummy, used a bunch of the ham, carrots, onions, and celery, and didn't require effort (gotta love crock pots).
I also made a quiche to get rid of the rest of my eggs, use some of the cheese (still tons more to go), reduce the amount of ham, and use up the aging cauliflower. I forgot to save some mushrooms for the quiche, so it was mushroomless. This should get us through breakfasts for the week.
For yesterday's dinner I made potato and turnip mash, which disguised the turnips nicely and prevented their waste. I also roasted one of the squash and made roasted mushrooms as found on SmittenKitchen. Oh MY GOD these were good mushrooms. I was a little worried that I wouldn't keep them down, but I couldn't stop eating them!
In addition over the weekend I made bread pudding and custard. The bread pudding used up almost all of the leftover bread and the custard was made with eggnog that was about to expire (plus it used some eggs).
I still need to deal with apples and oranges, one squash, the head of cabbage, and a couple more carrots. I put the rest of the ham in the freezer for another pot of split pea soup later on down the road.
The apples are easy, I'm going to make apple pie filling and can it, if I can find enough unused cans around the house. Oranges, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Perhaps I'll just make orange juice one night and call it done. Squash perhaps I'll make for dinner one night this week. Cabbage I'm tempted to make into sauerkraut, but that will require a bit of research. Plus there's the problem that I don't like sauerkraut and will be eating tons of it over Christmas. Gerd likes it though, so we'll see.
All of this is a bit of food to deal with when you don't feel like looking at food.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Too Mean
This is a revised post. Gerd thinks my first one was too mean. Ah well, he's probably right. It was about Karma (or how things all equal out in the end).
This is our former house:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/south_end/2010/12/water_restored_in_south_end_af.html
On the SAME DAY I found out our old place was covered in water I got a call from HR. Turns out somehow my first paycheck was never cashed. I vaguely remember wondering when I was going to get paid because it seemed like FOREVER. Turns out it was. The check must have gotten lost in the move. As a result I have an extra paycheck, about the same amount we were asking from our landlord for our missing furniture.
Not only that, but I won two tickets to go to the big Christmas Gala ($500/ticket) which turned into a very nice birthday bash.
The heats back on, the car's still sitting in a shop south of Boston, and we're just not using the spare bathroom. Life does seem to equal out after a while.
This is our former house:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/south_end/2010/12/water_restored_in_south_end_af.html
On the SAME DAY I found out our old place was covered in water I got a call from HR. Turns out somehow my first paycheck was never cashed. I vaguely remember wondering when I was going to get paid because it seemed like FOREVER. Turns out it was. The check must have gotten lost in the move. As a result I have an extra paycheck, about the same amount we were asking from our landlord for our missing furniture.
Not only that, but I won two tickets to go to the big Christmas Gala ($500/ticket) which turned into a very nice birthday bash.
The heats back on, the car's still sitting in a shop south of Boston, and we're just not using the spare bathroom. Life does seem to equal out after a while.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
What a Weekend!
I can't say it was ALL bad. We had a nice party with a lot of great people.
But leading up to the party I decided I wanted to install a bathroom. Seemed pretty simple. I mean, the pipes were all there, the water worked, all we needed to do was get a toilet and a vanity and hook it up. Even I thought I could handle that.
So we started installing stick-down tiles at 4:30 on Friday night, got to the toilet around 10:00, and finished around 11:30. We got up the next morning in time for the trash haulers to take away our monstrous cast iron tub (not the pretty kind) so we could finish installing the tile and put in the vanity. We finished the vanity by 1:00, except for the missing piece.
(Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate these photos)
Did I mention that we were having a party at 7:00 that night? So when I came back from the store around 3:00, with groceries and everything Gerd had an unpleasant surprise for me. Sure, the water worked, but the drain pipe. The drain pipe on the other hand did not work. There's about a 2 foot long crack that runs down to the main line. Flushing the toilet resulted in a gush of water Gerd found while looking for a tool in the basement. At least it wasn't flowing through our heater this time. That was last weekend.
The party went well and nobody seemed to mind our dining room bathroom, or were at least polite enough not to mention anything about it.
But this morning our woes weren't over. The heat turned off around 10:00 and is still out. Thank goodness for home warantees. The heater guy is looking at it now. Other than our disastrous trip to drop off the Mini, we've been wholed into our living room with a miniture space heater and about 6 candles to keep warm. It could be worse, the house only got down to about 60.
After we got a time frame that the heater guy would show up we decided to go drop off the Mini in the mean time. Not so good. We think the engine might need to be replaced. Apparently the coolant hose disconnected while Gerd was driving it and it started smoking. There was another hose that we couldn't figure out where it connected too, but Gerd decided to keep driving anyway (we were only 5 miles away from where we were going). At first there wasn't anymore smoke, but then it came back like before, but this time the engine block was leaking something.
Just when I hoped we were done with bad luck my computer cord stopped working. If I have to replace it, this will be the 4th cord I'll have had to buy for this computer.
So it was just one of those weekends. Hope yours was lest costly, less frustrating, and less cold.
But leading up to the party I decided I wanted to install a bathroom. Seemed pretty simple. I mean, the pipes were all there, the water worked, all we needed to do was get a toilet and a vanity and hook it up. Even I thought I could handle that.
So we started installing stick-down tiles at 4:30 on Friday night, got to the toilet around 10:00, and finished around 11:30. We got up the next morning in time for the trash haulers to take away our monstrous cast iron tub (not the pretty kind) so we could finish installing the tile and put in the vanity. We finished the vanity by 1:00, except for the missing piece.
(Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate these photos)
Did I mention that we were having a party at 7:00 that night? So when I came back from the store around 3:00, with groceries and everything Gerd had an unpleasant surprise for me. Sure, the water worked, but the drain pipe. The drain pipe on the other hand did not work. There's about a 2 foot long crack that runs down to the main line. Flushing the toilet resulted in a gush of water Gerd found while looking for a tool in the basement. At least it wasn't flowing through our heater this time. That was last weekend.
The party went well and nobody seemed to mind our dining room bathroom, or were at least polite enough not to mention anything about it.
But this morning our woes weren't over. The heat turned off around 10:00 and is still out. Thank goodness for home warantees. The heater guy is looking at it now. Other than our disastrous trip to drop off the Mini, we've been wholed into our living room with a miniture space heater and about 6 candles to keep warm. It could be worse, the house only got down to about 60.
After we got a time frame that the heater guy would show up we decided to go drop off the Mini in the mean time. Not so good. We think the engine might need to be replaced. Apparently the coolant hose disconnected while Gerd was driving it and it started smoking. There was another hose that we couldn't figure out where it connected too, but Gerd decided to keep driving anyway (we were only 5 miles away from where we were going). At first there wasn't anymore smoke, but then it came back like before, but this time the engine block was leaking something.
Just when I hoped we were done with bad luck my computer cord stopped working. If I have to replace it, this will be the 4th cord I'll have had to buy for this computer.
So it was just one of those weekends. Hope yours was lest costly, less frustrating, and less cold.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I thought I'd write a novel?
So, looking at November I have to say, I really thought I'd write a novel this month? Crazy.
Thanksgiving was great, the week before it booked solid, and today is Gerd's 40th birthday. Happy Birthday honey!
The month has moved along too fast to be bad. In fact, I've been pretty pleased about my workplace, and been getting happier about our house (until the furnace flooded and died) and overall more optimistic. We're even hosting a house party this weekend (I really must be crazy).
Yesterday I asked my students when winter really begins (hint, not just on the day marked by the solstice). Most said it begins when they get cold enough to put on a coat or that winter comes with the first snow. My own definition?
Seasons change when I start to feel miserable enough that I have to change something in my routine to become happy again. Like, turn up the heat, dig out the warm boots, pack away any dresses that are too tempting to keep wearing, dig out the ski gear, and stock up on soup.
So as far as I'm concerned, winter is here. I've just been so busy with life I forgot to notice.
Thanksgiving was great, the week before it booked solid, and today is Gerd's 40th birthday. Happy Birthday honey!
The month has moved along too fast to be bad. In fact, I've been pretty pleased about my workplace, and been getting happier about our house (until the furnace flooded and died) and overall more optimistic. We're even hosting a house party this weekend (I really must be crazy).
Yesterday I asked my students when winter really begins (hint, not just on the day marked by the solstice). Most said it begins when they get cold enough to put on a coat or that winter comes with the first snow. My own definition?
Seasons change when I start to feel miserable enough that I have to change something in my routine to become happy again. Like, turn up the heat, dig out the warm boots, pack away any dresses that are too tempting to keep wearing, dig out the ski gear, and stock up on soup.
So as far as I'm concerned, winter is here. I've just been so busy with life I forgot to notice.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
I had great plans for today. A full day off! And it's sunny outside!!!
And I'm on Facebook.
I have to wonder if Facebook is bad for people. I mean, here I am, still on the computer.
But I love Facebook too. Within the space of 30 minutes I found out that one of my friends I haven't spoken with in months is in Arizona, found out my favorite cousin-in-law is home too, sent a message to the seller's Realtor from our house purchase (we liked her more than our Realtor) about contractors in South Boston, and found suggestions for a bunch of high school "friends".
One of those friends was someone I remember well, but who I doubt really knew me at all. Heather M. She and her cousin (I think) Melissa M. were really about as different as two people with the same last name could be. Heather was quiet, a little plump, smart, but non-competitive (at least from a distance). We knew each other, but not very well. I was a bit of an outsider, not having grown up in the area myself.
Melissa was someone even my mother remembers. Cheerleader, possible saluditorian, honors student, popular, she had it all. I wasn't exactly jealous of Melissa, it's just that she was the all American sweetheart. Our high school had many of them. Indiana is full of all Americans. But I couldn't help, even in high school, comparing the two Ms. They had the exact same shade of hair color (brilliant blond).
When Facebook popped up Heather's name, I clicked on her profile and saw two small pictures. You know what, she's beautiful. Now, it could be a picture from a few years ago, but she looks young, happy, brilliant. She had over 100 friends, so I thought I'd see what high school students were on her list. Guess what, Melissa was one of them.
Now I'm not going to say Melissa isn't pretty. She still is. She's still thin, blond, and has a great smile. But I've got to say, Heather eclipsed her, at least over the internet. I'm sure they're both happy people, but it's really nice to see Heather as a happy adult. I always had the impression in high school that she hadn't really figured herself out yet.
Another "friend" of hers was Taylor. One of my high school crushes, who a few years ago I tried to friend. He didn't friend me back, and I can't really blame him. Of course he knew who I was, it was a small school after all, and I'm sure he'd be friendly to me if we saw each other somewhere, but we were hardly friends.
In fact, none of the people I've mentioned were really friends. They were people in the same community as mine. When I miss "them" I think I miss the time of that community. I guess during high school you're too busy enjoying, and alternately hating, being a teenager to recognize how unique high school is in life.
I have to wonder how many community members I have now. I've got people at church I know but don't really know well. I've got coworkers, but it's definitely different that being in school.
So is it good to catch up with these folk? Perhaps, in fleeting glances. I suppose if I still lived in Fishers I'd still be in the loop anyway. Facebook just provides me with a connection to all the healthy, and unhealthy memories of my past.
And I'm on Facebook.
I have to wonder if Facebook is bad for people. I mean, here I am, still on the computer.
But I love Facebook too. Within the space of 30 minutes I found out that one of my friends I haven't spoken with in months is in Arizona, found out my favorite cousin-in-law is home too, sent a message to the seller's Realtor from our house purchase (we liked her more than our Realtor) about contractors in South Boston, and found suggestions for a bunch of high school "friends".
One of those friends was someone I remember well, but who I doubt really knew me at all. Heather M. She and her cousin (I think) Melissa M. were really about as different as two people with the same last name could be. Heather was quiet, a little plump, smart, but non-competitive (at least from a distance). We knew each other, but not very well. I was a bit of an outsider, not having grown up in the area myself.
Melissa was someone even my mother remembers. Cheerleader, possible saluditorian, honors student, popular, she had it all. I wasn't exactly jealous of Melissa, it's just that she was the all American sweetheart. Our high school had many of them. Indiana is full of all Americans. But I couldn't help, even in high school, comparing the two Ms. They had the exact same shade of hair color (brilliant blond).
When Facebook popped up Heather's name, I clicked on her profile and saw two small pictures. You know what, she's beautiful. Now, it could be a picture from a few years ago, but she looks young, happy, brilliant. She had over 100 friends, so I thought I'd see what high school students were on her list. Guess what, Melissa was one of them.
Now I'm not going to say Melissa isn't pretty. She still is. She's still thin, blond, and has a great smile. But I've got to say, Heather eclipsed her, at least over the internet. I'm sure they're both happy people, but it's really nice to see Heather as a happy adult. I always had the impression in high school that she hadn't really figured herself out yet.
Another "friend" of hers was Taylor. One of my high school crushes, who a few years ago I tried to friend. He didn't friend me back, and I can't really blame him. Of course he knew who I was, it was a small school after all, and I'm sure he'd be friendly to me if we saw each other somewhere, but we were hardly friends.
In fact, none of the people I've mentioned were really friends. They were people in the same community as mine. When I miss "them" I think I miss the time of that community. I guess during high school you're too busy enjoying, and alternately hating, being a teenager to recognize how unique high school is in life.
I have to wonder how many community members I have now. I've got people at church I know but don't really know well. I've got coworkers, but it's definitely different that being in school.
So is it good to catch up with these folk? Perhaps, in fleeting glances. I suppose if I still lived in Fishers I'd still be in the loop anyway. Facebook just provides me with a connection to all the healthy, and unhealthy memories of my past.
Monday, November 8, 2010
What is and is not going on...
Well, my nanowrimo didn't get off to a good start this year. Day 2 I ate lamb, which I usually can eat, except couldn't anymore. Instead of normal irritating but fleeting red meat reactions, I was pretty sick for 2 days. Then there was the grain pick up.
I now own 1/2 of my 1/2 share grain share. I've got wheat, spelt, rye, and corn, all of which I'm going to need to find glass containers for, and learn how to cook. Oh, and I need to buy a mill.
My garden is no longer alive since we've met our first frost, but I also haven't managed to pull up the plants yet. That would require figuring out where to put the outdoor compost, and I haven't an idea yet.
I've managed to make almond flour chocolate chip cookies, which are pretty good, but not as good as my moms. Seriously, my mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies, ask anyone. We have also now discovered that gluten free pizza crust is not equal to the regular stuff.
The crazy diet is still crazy, although I'm not sure what good it's doing. After reading about soy milk being, perhaps, not good for people we've now switched back to cow milk, but raw cow milk. We cheated over the weekend too and had a wonderful breakfast in the North End. I think caffeine may make me a smarter person.
Life just keeps on truckin by.
I now own 1/2 of my 1/2 share grain share. I've got wheat, spelt, rye, and corn, all of which I'm going to need to find glass containers for, and learn how to cook. Oh, and I need to buy a mill.
My garden is no longer alive since we've met our first frost, but I also haven't managed to pull up the plants yet. That would require figuring out where to put the outdoor compost, and I haven't an idea yet.
I've managed to make almond flour chocolate chip cookies, which are pretty good, but not as good as my moms. Seriously, my mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies, ask anyone. We have also now discovered that gluten free pizza crust is not equal to the regular stuff.
The crazy diet is still crazy, although I'm not sure what good it's doing. After reading about soy milk being, perhaps, not good for people we've now switched back to cow milk, but raw cow milk. We cheated over the weekend too and had a wonderful breakfast in the North End. I think caffeine may make me a smarter person.
Life just keeps on truckin by.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Please Vote!
It's November 2nd! Go vote!!!
(and if you live in Massachusetts go vote NO on 1, 2, and 3).
(and if you live in Massachusetts go vote NO on 1, 2, and 3).
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Warm Weather
I wouldn't normally say 70 degrees is warm. Really, it's just lukewarm. But for the end of October...it's surprisingly warm. I can remember my first Halloween in Indiana where all the kids were dressed up in costumes which you couldn't see. They were all bundled in coats since it was snowing out. THAT was a big surprise for a kid from Tucson.
Anyway, the "warm" weather is appreciated, and I don't feel quite so bad about just now getting my garlic in the ground. Yes I know I'm late, by something like a month, but we haven't had a frost yet, so hopefully it's not too late for a good garlic crop.
I finally got around to picking green tomatoes too. I think I picked around 50 - 100. A ton. Really, a lot of tomatoes. Something keeps eating them so I figured it would be no loss if they fail to turn red over time. I'm only concerned about putting some tomatoes that already have a whole or two in them in the basement. I hope the bugs aren't still there chomping away at my green tomatoes. I still have a bunch of tomatoes on the vine too, probably another 50, but they didn't seem as far along as these tomatoes are, and with this weather who knows when the frost will hit. I could have another month of growing (especially if I decided to go find a pop-up greenhouse, but all bets are off if I get around to it).
My carrots are HUGE. I mean over 12 inches long and, at least at the top, about the width of a small jelly jar. I only have about 12 left to harvest, but I'm saving them for a day when I need to figure out what to cook.
Yesterday I pulled out the first bag of frozen broccoli and decided that I should have blanched the heads before freezing them. It was edible, but not nearly as good as the fresh stuff, and a bit hard. I'm hoping broccoli cheese soup will come out so good I don't even realize it's from my frozen supply, but we'll have to see.
Not much more homestead wise has been going on around here. I'm on this crazy diet still so it's kind of taken the joy out of eating. The first week went well, I cooked everything ahead of time and we had breakfast together every morning, but it's been slipping ever since then and poor Gerd has had to go back to buying his lunches. I really think he liked having me pack him a lunch everyday.
I've been debating NaNoWriMo, but I figure if I can't even figure out how to cook meals for the month I've got very little chance of keeping up...But on the other hand I have a couple of hours every day that are being wasted (I know, I could be cooking, but I don't wanna) and writing would be a good use of my time. So we'll see I guess. I've had a few story ideas floating around in my head for a while now, perhaps one will decide it wants to pop out.
Anyway, the "warm" weather is appreciated, and I don't feel quite so bad about just now getting my garlic in the ground. Yes I know I'm late, by something like a month, but we haven't had a frost yet, so hopefully it's not too late for a good garlic crop.
I finally got around to picking green tomatoes too. I think I picked around 50 - 100. A ton. Really, a lot of tomatoes. Something keeps eating them so I figured it would be no loss if they fail to turn red over time. I'm only concerned about putting some tomatoes that already have a whole or two in them in the basement. I hope the bugs aren't still there chomping away at my green tomatoes. I still have a bunch of tomatoes on the vine too, probably another 50, but they didn't seem as far along as these tomatoes are, and with this weather who knows when the frost will hit. I could have another month of growing (especially if I decided to go find a pop-up greenhouse, but all bets are off if I get around to it).
My carrots are HUGE. I mean over 12 inches long and, at least at the top, about the width of a small jelly jar. I only have about 12 left to harvest, but I'm saving them for a day when I need to figure out what to cook.
Yesterday I pulled out the first bag of frozen broccoli and decided that I should have blanched the heads before freezing them. It was edible, but not nearly as good as the fresh stuff, and a bit hard. I'm hoping broccoli cheese soup will come out so good I don't even realize it's from my frozen supply, but we'll have to see.
Not much more homestead wise has been going on around here. I'm on this crazy diet still so it's kind of taken the joy out of eating. The first week went well, I cooked everything ahead of time and we had breakfast together every morning, but it's been slipping ever since then and poor Gerd has had to go back to buying his lunches. I really think he liked having me pack him a lunch everyday.
I've been debating NaNoWriMo, but I figure if I can't even figure out how to cook meals for the month I've got very little chance of keeping up...But on the other hand I have a couple of hours every day that are being wasted (I know, I could be cooking, but I don't wanna) and writing would be a good use of my time. So we'll see I guess. I've had a few story ideas floating around in my head for a while now, perhaps one will decide it wants to pop out.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Energy
I recently read an article about the effects of cell phones on our health. The claim? The energy transmitted from cell phones causes anything from depression to cancer to ADHD. Apparently 2000 hours of cell phone use over a lifetime makes one 200% more likely to get brain cancer on the side of the head where you hold your phone.
I go to acupuncture, which is energy work. Acupuncture claims to resolve energy blockages in the system which can cause physical ailments. Yoga also focuses on movement of energy, and I have to say that I feel emotionally better after both yoga and acupuncture.
The article wasn't actually limited to cell phones, but also suggested that the amount of energy thrumbing around us, via laptop or alarm clocks, or turned off TVs has an effect on our well being.
So should I abandon modern technology? Abandon my iPhone? I'm an iPhone addict.
The whole concern comes at a time when I feel like I don't have any energy. A gluten free, refined sugar free, caffeine free diet has its drawbacks. I'm no longer dreaming of eating sugar, but I'd say I'm still feeling emotionally drained. No longer can I eat a piece of candy to get myself out of a bad mood or drink a cup of coffee to help me concentrate.
So I find myself wondering.
How much healthier would I be without the modern conveniences we have today. No cell phone, computer, electricity for that matter. No gas or car or processed foods.
I'm pretty sure my health would be great...unless something went wrong.
The same society that creating things that kills us creates cures that heal us. I might not like pesticides and disposable napkins, but could we have modern medicine without the advances we've made through the industrial and agricultural revolutions?
I know, it's a pretty deep post for a Monday morning. But it IS a rainy day, which in itself would lead me down a dreary path. Three of my students came into class today telling me that friends of theirs had died over the weekend. Boston is sick with violence right now, and it's easy to say that our modern way of life has created a social sickness.
But the truth is, I'm trying to be more optimistic. The things we take for granted may be killing us, but they might also be keeping us alive.
I go to acupuncture, which is energy work. Acupuncture claims to resolve energy blockages in the system which can cause physical ailments. Yoga also focuses on movement of energy, and I have to say that I feel emotionally better after both yoga and acupuncture.
The article wasn't actually limited to cell phones, but also suggested that the amount of energy thrumbing around us, via laptop or alarm clocks, or turned off TVs has an effect on our well being.
So should I abandon modern technology? Abandon my iPhone? I'm an iPhone addict.
The whole concern comes at a time when I feel like I don't have any energy. A gluten free, refined sugar free, caffeine free diet has its drawbacks. I'm no longer dreaming of eating sugar, but I'd say I'm still feeling emotionally drained. No longer can I eat a piece of candy to get myself out of a bad mood or drink a cup of coffee to help me concentrate.
So I find myself wondering.
How much healthier would I be without the modern conveniences we have today. No cell phone, computer, electricity for that matter. No gas or car or processed foods.
I'm pretty sure my health would be great...unless something went wrong.
The same society that creating things that kills us creates cures that heal us. I might not like pesticides and disposable napkins, but could we have modern medicine without the advances we've made through the industrial and agricultural revolutions?
I know, it's a pretty deep post for a Monday morning. But it IS a rainy day, which in itself would lead me down a dreary path. Three of my students came into class today telling me that friends of theirs had died over the weekend. Boston is sick with violence right now, and it's easy to say that our modern way of life has created a social sickness.
But the truth is, I'm trying to be more optimistic. The things we take for granted may be killing us, but they might also be keeping us alive.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Diet
According to "the plan" we were supposed to start IVF this month.
I am NOT ready for a shot a day, the stress, the hormones. Seriously, I'd rather just adopt. But would I then wonder if it would have worked? People spend tons of money and time trying to get pregnant. I think you have to feel comfortable with your decisions and know when to stop.
So we're on our last, last ditch effort pre-IVF treatment. We're already on herbs and doing acupuncture.
"The Diet"
The NO list: No flour, no refined sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol. This radically changes our diet (especially the flour since bread/noodles are a major part of our lives). Gerd's on it too, partially for moral support and partially because he's a part of it too. He's not happy about it, but surviving (probably better than I am).
The YES list: Daily exercise (even just a little bit), more sleep, more healthy snacks between meals. Breakfast together in the morning with a cup of (decaf) tea. Vitamins.
The new "plan" is to do this until Thanksgiving. Nothing like a feast as a reward for good behavior. We'll quit for the month of December (no way am I forgoing Christmas cookies) and then start IVF in January. We will do 2-3 rounds of IVF and then go to adoption if it hasn't worked by then. I do not want to be a human pincushion forever.
At least that's "the plan". We'll see what actually happens. I just still can't believe that this isn't coming naturally. When I was younger I never really thought I'd have difficultly getting pregnant. I really didn't think about it at all.
I am NOT ready for a shot a day, the stress, the hormones. Seriously, I'd rather just adopt. But would I then wonder if it would have worked? People spend tons of money and time trying to get pregnant. I think you have to feel comfortable with your decisions and know when to stop.
So we're on our last, last ditch effort pre-IVF treatment. We're already on herbs and doing acupuncture.
"The Diet"
The NO list: No flour, no refined sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol. This radically changes our diet (especially the flour since bread/noodles are a major part of our lives). Gerd's on it too, partially for moral support and partially because he's a part of it too. He's not happy about it, but surviving (probably better than I am).
The YES list: Daily exercise (even just a little bit), more sleep, more healthy snacks between meals. Breakfast together in the morning with a cup of (decaf) tea. Vitamins.
The new "plan" is to do this until Thanksgiving. Nothing like a feast as a reward for good behavior. We'll quit for the month of December (no way am I forgoing Christmas cookies) and then start IVF in January. We will do 2-3 rounds of IVF and then go to adoption if it hasn't worked by then. I do not want to be a human pincushion forever.
At least that's "the plan". We'll see what actually happens. I just still can't believe that this isn't coming naturally. When I was younger I never really thought I'd have difficultly getting pregnant. I really didn't think about it at all.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The Only Mexican Food Around
So, I haven't tried this restaurant yet. I have no idea how good the food is, although reviews say the burritos are wonderful, the best in Boston (just don't order delivery).
But I have to mention, this isn't Mexican food.
1. Breakfast. No Huevos Rancheros here. You can get 2 eggs, a chicken tamale and a pupusa for $8.00 though. They have breakfast burritos too, with a choice of spinach, grilled veggies, mushrooms, and homefries (in addition to eggs and meat and guacamole). They also offer pancakes.
2. Desserts. They offer Baklava, Kadaif, Rice Pudding, and Kazandibi. What the heck is Kazandibi?
3. Main Dishes. Here's where we find out it's El Salvadorian food. The tamale's are made with carrots and potatoes. Humm. Someone online said they were very good. I'll have to try them, but could they at least think of a different name? They also have "pupusa" which comes with coleslaw and tomato sauce (the description says it's a pancake filled with pork or cheese).
They have some "Mexican food" like burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and fajitas, but they offer things like zucchini frittata and lentil soup. I really, *really* miss good New Mexican food.
My favorite dishes that I can't get around here? Stuffed sopapillas, chili rellenos, and breakfast burritos with green chili. While this restaurant may be tasty, it's not going to be a stand in for what I really want. Too bad. With the exception of breakfast burritos, these dishes are not exactly easy to make from scratch.
Seriously, why couldn't they just SAY that they're an El Salvadorian restaurant?
But I have to mention, this isn't Mexican food.
1. Breakfast. No Huevos Rancheros here. You can get 2 eggs, a chicken tamale and a pupusa for $8.00 though. They have breakfast burritos too, with a choice of spinach, grilled veggies, mushrooms, and homefries (in addition to eggs and meat and guacamole). They also offer pancakes.
2. Desserts. They offer Baklava, Kadaif, Rice Pudding, and Kazandibi. What the heck is Kazandibi?
3. Main Dishes. Here's where we find out it's El Salvadorian food. The tamale's are made with carrots and potatoes. Humm. Someone online said they were very good. I'll have to try them, but could they at least think of a different name? They also have "pupusa" which comes with coleslaw and tomato sauce (the description says it's a pancake filled with pork or cheese).
They have some "Mexican food" like burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and fajitas, but they offer things like zucchini frittata and lentil soup. I really, *really* miss good New Mexican food.
My favorite dishes that I can't get around here? Stuffed sopapillas, chili rellenos, and breakfast burritos with green chili. While this restaurant may be tasty, it's not going to be a stand in for what I really want. Too bad. With the exception of breakfast burritos, these dishes are not exactly easy to make from scratch.
Seriously, why couldn't they just SAY that they're an El Salvadorian restaurant?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Knocking on Doors
I guess you could say our church practices a *little* proselytizing, but not in a traditional sense. We've got a campaign to go door to door to get registered voters to vote. According to the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, who heads the project, the effort to get people to vote in the last election (not the presidential race) resulted in a 30% increase in turnout in our precinct. That's pretty good!
Our goal is to get 500 people in our district to pledge that they'll vote. We're not trying to get new people to register, although that's important too, we're looking at people who have voted in the past. We have a list, thanks to public record and the city, of everyone who is registered, has voted in the past, but did not vote in the election 4 years ago. We go to those houses, knock on the door, talk about voting, and then bring up the ballot questions so they know what they are.
I have to admit, we've got a view on how to vote on the ballot questions this time. I guess the last time they did this it was just to get people to vote, no favoritism. But this time, we want people to vote no on ballot question 1. That means we want people to say NO please don't eliminate the tax on alcohol.
We're not prohibitionists, but we are in favor of drug and alcohol prevention and recovery programs. Right now all of the city's programs are funded by the alcohol tax. If we eliminate the tax we eliminate funding for the programs, which will either close, become grant funded (which is touch and go, let me tell you), or get funded by the state budget (which is already overburdened). Not only will programs be at risk (because of the funding issue) but people likely to abuse alcohol will have easier access to it.
We don't have a stance on question 2 (about affordable housing) or on question 3 (halving the sales tax) although I'm personally opposed to question 3 (education is funded by taxes). I remain unconvinced either way about housing. One side says it's a corrupt law that disregards permitting and leads to environmental harm, the other side says it's the best way to ensure low income housing in a very expensive state.
I've never gone door to door before, but I guess there's always a first. I'll let you know how it goes!
Our goal is to get 500 people in our district to pledge that they'll vote. We're not trying to get new people to register, although that's important too, we're looking at people who have voted in the past. We have a list, thanks to public record and the city, of everyone who is registered, has voted in the past, but did not vote in the election 4 years ago. We go to those houses, knock on the door, talk about voting, and then bring up the ballot questions so they know what they are.
I have to admit, we've got a view on how to vote on the ballot questions this time. I guess the last time they did this it was just to get people to vote, no favoritism. But this time, we want people to vote no on ballot question 1. That means we want people to say NO please don't eliminate the tax on alcohol.
We're not prohibitionists, but we are in favor of drug and alcohol prevention and recovery programs. Right now all of the city's programs are funded by the alcohol tax. If we eliminate the tax we eliminate funding for the programs, which will either close, become grant funded (which is touch and go, let me tell you), or get funded by the state budget (which is already overburdened). Not only will programs be at risk (because of the funding issue) but people likely to abuse alcohol will have easier access to it.
We don't have a stance on question 2 (about affordable housing) or on question 3 (halving the sales tax) although I'm personally opposed to question 3 (education is funded by taxes). I remain unconvinced either way about housing. One side says it's a corrupt law that disregards permitting and leads to environmental harm, the other side says it's the best way to ensure low income housing in a very expensive state.
I've never gone door to door before, but I guess there's always a first. I'll let you know how it goes!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Coat Shopping
Last winter I realized I needed a warmer coat. I've got a wool princess cut that I adore. It's from Cardiff, and has served me well for the past 9 years. I hope to keep wearing it for a long time yet too, because I love it love it love it. Well, I love it until it's 10 degrees outside and sleeting. Then it's not so awesome, even with a few layers of fleece and wool socks. Nothing seems to keep me warm enough around here.
See, it's the coastal wind. We live right by the water, so the humidity, or whatever you'd call it, that permeates the air makes winter snows feel sloppy. It seeps into the bones in a way I've never really experienced before. Even when it's warmer than other areas (because the coastal effect also makes it less likely to get cold enough to actually snow) it feels more miserable.
So this year I decided to find a coat BEFORE winter begins. I realized around January last year that my coat just wasn't cutting it, but decided winter wouldn't last *too* much longer. And I was right, but I was also miserable for a few months.
But did you know how many puffy coats there are to choose from? And how expensive they are? While I normally love to shop, I pretty much hate coat shopping. First of all, many coats (at least many super warm coats) really don't flatter the figure. Searching for that ONE coat that doesn't make you look like you're 50 pounds heavier can take hours of searching. Meanwhile, as you try every coat on, you get to feel like a sweating walrus, because even in winter, department stores keep their buildings warm enough to make a coat too hot to handle.
To avoid the process, this year I decided to search online first. I'd pick out the best features, read the reviews, limit my choices and go in for the kill. REI had a bunch of options so I did my fact checking and headed out. I STILL ended up stuck between a few choices and came home empty handed. More down but no rain proof? Rain proof but super heavy? Removable vs. non-removable hoods? Marshmellow vs. Gestapo?
I came back home and immediately checked the internet again, hoping to find more reviews, better online prices...and was directed to.... Sacks Fifth Avenue.
On a positive note, the price for an Arctic Down coat from REI is the exact same from SFA. I suppose that makes sense, although I'm surprized to see the same coat in both stores. But the big difference? Oh, how about those other 96 coats that cost up to $2000. Won't be buying them.
But you know what I noticed? All those pretty, well fitting down coats that I've seen on people walking by on Newbury St., yeah, they must be very expensive coats. You can tell, just by the pictures, that a down coat that doesn't make you look like the Michelin Man from Ghostbusters, one that has style and finesse, costs some serious $. I mean, some are downright beautiful. I wish I could convince myself the investment is worth it. I mean, my last coat has been good to me for almost 10 years. And who knows, maybe I can find a pretty coat somewhere less well known for their high prices. Or maybe they could have a sale...
But I really want the agony of buying a coat out of the way and there is no way I could justify a coat that expensive.
WHY does coat shopping always have to be so painful?!
See, it's the coastal wind. We live right by the water, so the humidity, or whatever you'd call it, that permeates the air makes winter snows feel sloppy. It seeps into the bones in a way I've never really experienced before. Even when it's warmer than other areas (because the coastal effect also makes it less likely to get cold enough to actually snow) it feels more miserable.
So this year I decided to find a coat BEFORE winter begins. I realized around January last year that my coat just wasn't cutting it, but decided winter wouldn't last *too* much longer. And I was right, but I was also miserable for a few months.
But did you know how many puffy coats there are to choose from? And how expensive they are? While I normally love to shop, I pretty much hate coat shopping. First of all, many coats (at least many super warm coats) really don't flatter the figure. Searching for that ONE coat that doesn't make you look like you're 50 pounds heavier can take hours of searching. Meanwhile, as you try every coat on, you get to feel like a sweating walrus, because even in winter, department stores keep their buildings warm enough to make a coat too hot to handle.
To avoid the process, this year I decided to search online first. I'd pick out the best features, read the reviews, limit my choices and go in for the kill. REI had a bunch of options so I did my fact checking and headed out. I STILL ended up stuck between a few choices and came home empty handed. More down but no rain proof? Rain proof but super heavy? Removable vs. non-removable hoods? Marshmellow vs. Gestapo?
I came back home and immediately checked the internet again, hoping to find more reviews, better online prices...and was directed to.... Sacks Fifth Avenue.
On a positive note, the price for an Arctic Down coat from REI is the exact same from SFA. I suppose that makes sense, although I'm surprized to see the same coat in both stores. But the big difference? Oh, how about those other 96 coats that cost up to $2000. Won't be buying them.
But you know what I noticed? All those pretty, well fitting down coats that I've seen on people walking by on Newbury St., yeah, they must be very expensive coats. You can tell, just by the pictures, that a down coat that doesn't make you look like the Michelin Man from Ghostbusters, one that has style and finesse, costs some serious $. I mean, some are downright beautiful. I wish I could convince myself the investment is worth it. I mean, my last coat has been good to me for almost 10 years. And who knows, maybe I can find a pretty coat somewhere less well known for their high prices. Or maybe they could have a sale...
But I really want the agony of buying a coat out of the way and there is no way I could justify a coat that expensive.
WHY does coat shopping always have to be so painful?!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday Night
I think one of the nicest things about Fridays (now that I'm married and boring) is staying in.
I don't miss Friday night dates AT ALL. Really, after a long week I don't want to get dressed up and go out, not on Friday anyway. I want to veg on the couch, cuddle with the husband, play with the cats.
Honestly, I don't know how people do it. I can't imagine having enough energy right now to go dancing. Did I ever have energy on a Friday night? I suppose I must have; Sunday's have never been for sleeping in around my house. But then I've never been much of a partier, and my brain stops functioning at a certain hour, usually around 11.
So I'm sitting here on the couch waiting for a pizza to arrive (half sausage and mushroom, half pepperoni and olive) looking through the online Netflix options, and debating whether or not I'll allow myself a beer.
Who in the world would ever have thought that *this* feels like a perfect night.
I don't miss Friday night dates AT ALL. Really, after a long week I don't want to get dressed up and go out, not on Friday anyway. I want to veg on the couch, cuddle with the husband, play with the cats.
Honestly, I don't know how people do it. I can't imagine having enough energy right now to go dancing. Did I ever have energy on a Friday night? I suppose I must have; Sunday's have never been for sleeping in around my house. But then I've never been much of a partier, and my brain stops functioning at a certain hour, usually around 11.
So I'm sitting here on the couch waiting for a pizza to arrive (half sausage and mushroom, half pepperoni and olive) looking through the online Netflix options, and debating whether or not I'll allow myself a beer.
Who in the world would ever have thought that *this* feels like a perfect night.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Primarily Speaking
The primaries are in, and the worst guy for the job (in my opinion) got the Democratic nomination.
So I've decided to change parties.
Right now I"m registered in the Green Party. Yes, I know, they don't have any chance of putting a candidate in power anytime soon, but my idealism led me to join. I want to support a 3rd party, and I agree with the Green Party's emphasis on the environment. AND, by being a part of the Green Party I'm helping build their numbers. I think in NM if they have 5% of the population they get money and the ability to participate in the debates. So there was a reason I joined.
But the thing is, I've missed out on two primaries now. First, Scott Brown, now Tim Collins. I'm beginning to realize how important primaries really are. I called the city to find out where I could vote for the primaries, because I didn't want another Scott Brown moment, and was told I couldn't vote. Doh, that's right, I'm not a Democrat. Either everyone else is registered Green, or just didn't vote. There was only an 8% turn out in South Boston.
Now I'm stuck deciding if I'll vote for the Republican candidate, who I liked better than Tim Collins, or not. The lingering problem I have with Patrick Brennen, at least after listening to the primary debate hosted by our church, is that he shot down spending for all programs we (as a church) said we wanted to see in the community (gotta tighten the purse strings) but didn't offer any options to help those that would be cut from spending. It's a problem I frequently sense from the GOP.
Now, I tend to agree with balancing a budget, and recognize that some programs probably SHOULD be cut. I mean, if a state is overspending, it can't continue indefinitely. But what are you doing to do about the people who still need benefits?
From Brennen I heard he couldn't support the Substance Abuse Recover Act (which taxes alcohol and uses the money to fund recovery programs). He couldn't support allocating money for YouthWorks, a program that gives youth from underprivileged areas jobs for the summer so they can build skills and experience in the workforce. He wouldn't support moving state money from Bank of America to local banks that cap usury at 10% interest.
There was always something wrong with the bill that was introduced. There was always a reason to tear it down, but never an answer. Never a suggestion that we could improve the acts or money allocations by one means or another. In other words, lets just cut spending without resolving issues. It's like the businesses that cut employees but keep expecting everyone to do the same amount of work. Eventually it falls apart. And frankly, the Alcohol Recovery Act is self funded, tax alcohol. The Bank of America move doesn't cost any money, it saves it in reduced interest.
So Nick Collins said he'd do everything that we wanted. Do I believe him? Not sure, he was a little unclear in his speaking, a little slick in his bearing.
By next election I'll be an Independent (although it won't matter by then, at least this year). In Massachusetts (so far the only good thing I've seen politically in this state) an Independent can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries.
Sometimes I want to just withdraw from politics entirely. But then I think of the kids I teach and the problems our communities face, and I know we need to keep fighting to ensure programs get the funding they need to flourish. Who would pick up the slack otherwise?
And case in point? At the Catholic organization where I work there's a food pantry. People get one bag of groceries once every TWO MONTHS. We give out bags of groceries every day. That's a lot of people with very little food. Even if the private sector would take over charity, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
So I've decided to change parties.
Right now I"m registered in the Green Party. Yes, I know, they don't have any chance of putting a candidate in power anytime soon, but my idealism led me to join. I want to support a 3rd party, and I agree with the Green Party's emphasis on the environment. AND, by being a part of the Green Party I'm helping build their numbers. I think in NM if they have 5% of the population they get money and the ability to participate in the debates. So there was a reason I joined.
But the thing is, I've missed out on two primaries now. First, Scott Brown, now Tim Collins. I'm beginning to realize how important primaries really are. I called the city to find out where I could vote for the primaries, because I didn't want another Scott Brown moment, and was told I couldn't vote. Doh, that's right, I'm not a Democrat. Either everyone else is registered Green, or just didn't vote. There was only an 8% turn out in South Boston.
Now I'm stuck deciding if I'll vote for the Republican candidate, who I liked better than Tim Collins, or not. The lingering problem I have with Patrick Brennen, at least after listening to the primary debate hosted by our church, is that he shot down spending for all programs we (as a church) said we wanted to see in the community (gotta tighten the purse strings) but didn't offer any options to help those that would be cut from spending. It's a problem I frequently sense from the GOP.
Now, I tend to agree with balancing a budget, and recognize that some programs probably SHOULD be cut. I mean, if a state is overspending, it can't continue indefinitely. But what are you doing to do about the people who still need benefits?
From Brennen I heard he couldn't support the Substance Abuse Recover Act (which taxes alcohol and uses the money to fund recovery programs). He couldn't support allocating money for YouthWorks, a program that gives youth from underprivileged areas jobs for the summer so they can build skills and experience in the workforce. He wouldn't support moving state money from Bank of America to local banks that cap usury at 10% interest.
There was always something wrong with the bill that was introduced. There was always a reason to tear it down, but never an answer. Never a suggestion that we could improve the acts or money allocations by one means or another. In other words, lets just cut spending without resolving issues. It's like the businesses that cut employees but keep expecting everyone to do the same amount of work. Eventually it falls apart. And frankly, the Alcohol Recovery Act is self funded, tax alcohol. The Bank of America move doesn't cost any money, it saves it in reduced interest.
So Nick Collins said he'd do everything that we wanted. Do I believe him? Not sure, he was a little unclear in his speaking, a little slick in his bearing.
By next election I'll be an Independent (although it won't matter by then, at least this year). In Massachusetts (so far the only good thing I've seen politically in this state) an Independent can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries.
Sometimes I want to just withdraw from politics entirely. But then I think of the kids I teach and the problems our communities face, and I know we need to keep fighting to ensure programs get the funding they need to flourish. Who would pick up the slack otherwise?
And case in point? At the Catholic organization where I work there's a food pantry. People get one bag of groceries once every TWO MONTHS. We give out bags of groceries every day. That's a lot of people with very little food. Even if the private sector would take over charity, there wouldn't be enough to go around.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Yogurt
It turns out that a half gallon of milk makes a WHOLE LOT of yogurt. Or, in my case, semi-yogurt.
AFTER starting my yogurt in the slow cooker I read that I shouldn't use ultra-pasteurized milk. Pretty much all organic milk on the shelf is ultra-pasteurized, which has led me in the past to consider going milk non-organic. I keep buying organic though because I figure it keeps that many more fields pesticide free (organic cows have to eat organic grass...)
Anyway, I got more of a Kefir appearance, but it does taste like yogurt, and it is thicker than plain milk. I'm hoping to go buy some fruit and make fruit yogurt drinks out of it. Maybe I'll find some recipes that call for yogurt too. This is like a repeat of the cucumbers. Can you preserve yogurt?
Anyway, I loved my recipe and I will definitely make yogurt again (on a smaller scale), so I thought I'd share!
I got this recipe from this site:
Step 1: Pour 1/2 gallon NOT ULTRA-PASTEURIZED milk into slow cooker (2%/skim/lowfat is fine)
Step 2: Heat on Low setting for 2 1/2 hours (set a timer and go about your life)
Step 3: Turn off slow cooker and let sit for 3 hours. Keep the lid on. (again with the timer)
Step 4: Measure 2 cups of the warm milk into a separate bowl and mix in 1/2 cup yogurt with live cultures.
Step 5: Return mix to slow cooker, cover, and wrap the slow cooker in a towel overnight or 8 hours.
Okay, so this is like making bread, do something, wait, do something, wait, etc., but it's incredibly easy, not messy at all, and I have to believe regular milk would have turned out a nice thick yogurt. Even kefir-like it tastes good.
I put my milk on at 4pm then checked it 3 hours later (after dinner), then mixed the culture in around 10:00.
Now, any ideas of how to use all this good stuff?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Squirling Away
Its beginning to feel a bit like autumn! I think we're about 2 weeks behind, which somewhat connects with the maple syrup harvest this year. Anyone else a bit concerned by the warmer temperatures and longer than usual summer? Ah well, it's too beautiful a day to complain.
Anyway, on my last trip to the farm I ended up with 10 pounds of apples. They're "seconds" so they were cheaper, and not really in too bad shape either. What do you do with 10 pounds of apples? Make apple sauce of course!
(I'd already started cutting up apples and putting them in a pot before I took this picture, but you can see that I have at least a few apples :)
I canned and processed! Now I've got 6 pints of apple sauce....and about 5 more pounds of apples!
So even though it's warmer this season, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to get my fall garden planted in time. Today would have been a great day to do it, but I don't really have a bed set up for new plants. My other plants are still slowly putting out veggies, so I'm not quite ready to pull them up yet. Well, I did pull up the potatoes, but that's in the knotwood infested area that I'm about to (ye gads) spray with double strength round up.
Still, I've done a pretty good job this summer I think. I've managed to squirrel away more than I ever have before, even if I am pretty far from a full backyard homestead.
Here's what I've got so far:
2 large freezer bags of whole frozen tomatoes. These can be thawed individually or a few at a time. I plan to make sauces with them as I need to.
3 small portions of tomato sauce. I'd like to have a ton more sauce, but we keep eating the tomatoes. I started freezing tomatoes to make more sauce, but just left them whole and frozen. I plan to use the frozen sauce for pizzas when I don't really feel like doing a bunch of cooking.
2 tupperware boxes and 2 small zip lock bags of Rainbow Chard. I'm guessing these will go into soups sometime when it gets cooler.
2 small ziplock bags of squash, most likely for soups
1 large bag of carrots, probably for soup, maybe for a side dish.
1 small bag of spinach, definitely for soup, I hate frozen spinach otherwise.
2 small bags of green beans.
9 heads of broccoli (and 3 more growing on the plants as of September). All for soups, I just need to get and freeze some soup to go along with it.
1 pound of potatoes
5 heads of garlic (decedents of my grandfather's garden)
9 jars pickles (and I still have enough cucumbers for 9 more jars if I can get to it)
12 jelly jars of grape jelly (hopefully to be traded or given away as gifts).
6 pints of apple sauce
I'm currently making yogurt, but I don't know if it'll come out alright or not. I read too late that I shouldn't use ultra-pasteurized milk. I had a bunch of raw milk from our Raw Milk Festival outing yesterday, but wanted to experiment with something less expensive on the first try. Oops, guess I should have gone ahead with my original plans.
But instead of worry about that now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. I've been puttering in the garden and baking, so the day has already been a good one. Time for yoga, or maybe a nap.
But before I go.... Here's the latest wildlife found in our garden. Mama snake and 3 babies. I sure hope they aren't poisonous, and I really hope the cats don't get too interested in making friends with the locals.
Anyway, on my last trip to the farm I ended up with 10 pounds of apples. They're "seconds" so they were cheaper, and not really in too bad shape either. What do you do with 10 pounds of apples? Make apple sauce of course!
(I'd already started cutting up apples and putting them in a pot before I took this picture, but you can see that I have at least a few apples :) I canned and processed! Now I've got 6 pints of apple sauce....and about 5 more pounds of apples!
So even though it's warmer this season, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to get my fall garden planted in time. Today would have been a great day to do it, but I don't really have a bed set up for new plants. My other plants are still slowly putting out veggies, so I'm not quite ready to pull them up yet. Well, I did pull up the potatoes, but that's in the knotwood infested area that I'm about to (ye gads) spray with double strength round up.
Still, I've done a pretty good job this summer I think. I've managed to squirrel away more than I ever have before, even if I am pretty far from a full backyard homestead.
Here's what I've got so far:
2 large freezer bags of whole frozen tomatoes. These can be thawed individually or a few at a time. I plan to make sauces with them as I need to.
3 small portions of tomato sauce. I'd like to have a ton more sauce, but we keep eating the tomatoes. I started freezing tomatoes to make more sauce, but just left them whole and frozen. I plan to use the frozen sauce for pizzas when I don't really feel like doing a bunch of cooking.
2 tupperware boxes and 2 small zip lock bags of Rainbow Chard. I'm guessing these will go into soups sometime when it gets cooler.
2 small ziplock bags of squash, most likely for soups
1 large bag of carrots, probably for soup, maybe for a side dish.
1 small bag of spinach, definitely for soup, I hate frozen spinach otherwise.
2 small bags of green beans.
9 heads of broccoli (and 3 more growing on the plants as of September). All for soups, I just need to get and freeze some soup to go along with it.
1 pound of potatoes
5 heads of garlic (decedents of my grandfather's garden)
9 jars pickles (and I still have enough cucumbers for 9 more jars if I can get to it)
12 jelly jars of grape jelly (hopefully to be traded or given away as gifts).
6 pints of apple sauce
I'm currently making yogurt, but I don't know if it'll come out alright or not. I read too late that I shouldn't use ultra-pasteurized milk. I had a bunch of raw milk from our Raw Milk Festival outing yesterday, but wanted to experiment with something less expensive on the first try. Oops, guess I should have gone ahead with my original plans.
But instead of worry about that now, I'm going to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day. I've been puttering in the garden and baking, so the day has already been a good one. Time for yoga, or maybe a nap.
But before I go.... Here's the latest wildlife found in our garden. Mama snake and 3 babies. I sure hope they aren't poisonous, and I really hope the cats don't get too interested in making friends with the locals.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Defensive Driving
We bought a car. No, not the Mini, ANOTHER car. Turns out a car that won't run in the rain isn't a good investment in the Boston area. No, we haven't sold or returned the Mini yet either. I kind of expected my husband to be more solid about returning the car to the guy who sold it to us, but he hasn't been. Neither of us has the umph to sue him, and would it really help in the long run, even if we won? A court order to pay us wouldn't really guarantee that he'd pay us, would it?
Anyway, I realized that I REALLY wanted a car.
Recently I visited a blog called "Simple, Green, Frugal" where one of the writers mentioned she was enjoying being without a car for a while, but wasn't sure it would last. I sympathized with her. It's wonderful to live somewhere you don't NEED NEED NEED a car. When I posted that I recently decided to buy a car again I did so to show encouragement, not to convince her living without a car isn't an option. Sometimes convenience wins out over simple, green, or frugal.
But I've been feeling more and more defensive about my decision. The commenter who posted right after me said "I would NEVER go back to two cars in a family" and my non-driving friends, although non-judgmental, have mentioned they wouldn't buy a car based on transportation time. They've adapted to the long travel times. And I KNOW in my heart of hearts that I'm not doing what I feel is best for the environment.
But, despite feeling a bit guilty about the oil consumption, I feel so much happier knowing I can go wherever I want at the drop of a hat. Sure, parking is still a consideration, so I might choose not to go, or I might take the bus or the T, but I'm no longer feeling confined.
Perhaps someday I'll be able to live without a car, and that feeling will make me feel free. Right now being carless brings the opposite emotion. Until my mindset changes, I'm going to try not to feel too guilty for enjoying my new little Yaris.
Anyway, I realized that I REALLY wanted a car.
Recently I visited a blog called "Simple, Green, Frugal" where one of the writers mentioned she was enjoying being without a car for a while, but wasn't sure it would last. I sympathized with her. It's wonderful to live somewhere you don't NEED NEED NEED a car. When I posted that I recently decided to buy a car again I did so to show encouragement, not to convince her living without a car isn't an option. Sometimes convenience wins out over simple, green, or frugal.
But I've been feeling more and more defensive about my decision. The commenter who posted right after me said "I would NEVER go back to two cars in a family" and my non-driving friends, although non-judgmental, have mentioned they wouldn't buy a car based on transportation time. They've adapted to the long travel times. And I KNOW in my heart of hearts that I'm not doing what I feel is best for the environment.
But, despite feeling a bit guilty about the oil consumption, I feel so much happier knowing I can go wherever I want at the drop of a hat. Sure, parking is still a consideration, so I might choose not to go, or I might take the bus or the T, but I'm no longer feeling confined.
Perhaps someday I'll be able to live without a car, and that feeling will make me feel free. Right now being carless brings the opposite emotion. Until my mindset changes, I'm going to try not to feel too guilty for enjoying my new little Yaris.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Grape Jelly
When my neighbors cut down the Concord Grape Vine that bordered my yard, I thought I was out of luck for grapes this year. Fortunately however, the grapes left on the dead vine branches ripened in the sun anyway. Most of the grapes weren't as plump as normal grapes would be, but they were the right color, and juicy. I wasn't sure about eating them straight out, so I figured I'd make either wine or jelly. Wine was a bit over my skill level for now, so I settled on grape jelly.
This is the harvest a few weeks ago, when I pulled all the grapes from the vine. I just keep getting more cucumbers!
Here's a better close up of the grapes:
Concord grapes aren't like "normal" grapes you'd get at the grocery store at all. They have a very thick skin that slips off easily. The taste is strong too, and despite a kind of weird texture, they can be an addictive snack. I forgot to take a picture of the next step (boiling down the grapes), so you'll just have to imagine these beauties in a pot with about 2 cups of water. After boiling the grapes, I drained them with cheesecloth and left the juices sit overnight (because one recipe said this would eliminate "crystallization" whatever that is).
While I planned on making jelly last weekend, my cousin from Buffalo visited so we biked around the city and took a boat trip along the Charles River, ate Ethiopian and Afghani food, and basically didn't do much more. So my juice sat for about a week before I got a chance to make my jelly.
I didn't really have a great recipe, and I had trouble deciding which online recipe to use. Some didn't use pectin, others were freezer jelly recipes, many used a thermometer, and the pectin I bought didn't have a recipe for grape jelly either, so I kind of improvised using other recipes as a baseline.
I put in 4 cups of grape juice, 5 cups of sugar (most recipes called for 7!) and after they boiled together added 1/2 packet of pectin. I initially forgot to scoop off the foam, but quickly figured out that I needed to. This did cause a problem for some of my jars though, so there may be a few jars of jelly with globs in them.
After a I scraped off the remaining
foam, I processed the jelly in a water bath for 10 minutes (looking at other jelly recipes for direction here). When I pulled them out they began popping immediately.
Then, because I had some time on my hands, I decided to make labels for my jelly and pickle jars. I used the homemade paper I made a few weeks ago and pasted the labels onto the jars with a glue made from flour and water.
Here are the results :)
I plan to either give some of the jelly away as presents for Christmas or take some to the Laurel Street Trading Post in a few weeks.
Gerd loves his pickles and says they remind him of his grandmother ("Granny"). Since we used her recipe I figured I would give credit where credit was due.
This is the harvest a few weeks ago, when I pulled all the grapes from the vine. I just keep getting more cucumbers!Here's a better close up of the grapes:
Concord grapes aren't like "normal" grapes you'd get at the grocery store at all. They have a very thick skin that slips off easily. The taste is strong too, and despite a kind of weird texture, they can be an addictive snack. I forgot to take a picture of the next step (boiling down the grapes), so you'll just have to imagine these beauties in a pot with about 2 cups of water. After boiling the grapes, I drained them with cheesecloth and left the juices sit overnight (because one recipe said this would eliminate "crystallization" whatever that is).
While I planned on making jelly last weekend, my cousin from Buffalo visited so we biked around the city and took a boat trip along the Charles River, ate Ethiopian and Afghani food, and basically didn't do much more. So my juice sat for about a week before I got a chance to make my jelly.
I didn't really have a great recipe, and I had trouble deciding which online recipe to use. Some didn't use pectin, others were freezer jelly recipes, many used a thermometer, and the pectin I bought didn't have a recipe for grape jelly either, so I kind of improvised using other recipes as a baseline.
I put in 4 cups of grape juice, 5 cups of sugar (most recipes called for 7!) and after they boiled together added 1/2 packet of pectin. I initially forgot to scoop off the foam, but quickly figured out that I needed to. This did cause a problem for some of my jars though, so there may be a few jars of jelly with globs in them.
After a I scraped off the remainingfoam, I processed the jelly in a water bath for 10 minutes (looking at other jelly recipes for direction here). When I pulled them out they began popping immediately.
Then, because I had some time on my hands, I decided to make labels for my jelly and pickle jars. I used the homemade paper I made a few weeks ago and pasted the labels onto the jars with a glue made from flour and water.
Here are the results :)
I plan to either give some of the jelly away as presents for Christmas or take some to the Laurel Street Trading Post in a few weeks.
Gerd loves his pickles and says they remind him of his grandmother ("Granny"). Since we used her recipe I figured I would give credit where credit was due.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Evil Ragweed
I haven't needed allergy medicine in several years. I've got a few different ideas about why, but the whole reason isn't important now because they're back (cue creepy music).
I just KNOW I'm going to end up with a stupid sinus infection. I should have started medicine a week ago, but I kept thinking it would all go away. But Tuesday I found out WHY I was having such difficulty. It's not just any allergen, it's ragweed. UGGG.
But did you know that you can track allergens on weather.com? Right now our weed count is high and very high. It doesn't say what pollen is high though. I'm on a quest for a better allergen predictor now. Any site recommendations would be appreciated!
I just KNOW I'm going to end up with a stupid sinus infection. I should have started medicine a week ago, but I kept thinking it would all go away. But Tuesday I found out WHY I was having such difficulty. It's not just any allergen, it's ragweed. UGGG.
But did you know that you can track allergens on weather.com? Right now our weed count is high and very high. It doesn't say what pollen is high though. I'm on a quest for a better allergen predictor now. Any site recommendations would be appreciated!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tree of Knowledge
I've been trying to get more news from different places. I went through the Boston Globe online today, but I found myself back at HuffingtonPost. Why? I'm not really sure. I like to read the comments on all the stories, I think they're possibly more informative than the articles themselves sometimes. The topics are often mindless pulp, but I can't seem to help surfing their site.
I was reading this article and couldn't help but scroll down to the comments. One in particular stood out to me, and it has made me think. Here's a quote from "WasteNJ" " We seem to be the only species on Earth that doesn't fit into the environment naturally...that must destroy to exist."
And I began to wonder, must we destroy to exist?
Let's look at life BEFORE modern technology. We would live in huts, farm our own food, reproduce, create art, participate in religion, and die. Did we destroy then?
Certainly if you farm a piece of land for too long, and you don't take care to rotate your crops, you can destroy the earth. When you build a house, regardless of whether or not it's a rudimentary shelter, you're taking something away from somewhere else; however, when birds and beavers create nests is that destructive?
So at what point did we start destroying, because there is not a doubt that we destroy now. I don't think it's just related to energy use, my first hypothesis. The collapse of Rome, or Babylon are often linked to environmental destruction, and that's WAY pre-energy.
So at what point did we go from small pastoral farms and small village centers to large empires? Was it a desire for power? Was it increased population size? Was it increased knowledge? If we look at Medieval Europe, life was pretty basic until new ideas about the world came out of the return of crusaders. New ideas led to innovation and inventions and the whole Renaissance period. People wanted nicer cloth and better food, and more knowledge.
It seems to me like knowledge is a double edged sword. The story of Adam and Eve and their desire for knowledge is an analogy of that fact. The more we separate ourselves from animals, the more we bring about destruction of the natural world. Or, the greater our life, the greater our life's impact will be.
Even now, when we are aware that our destruction may cause the end of our species, we destroy. We destroy when trying to fix the problems; even wind turbines require resources from the earth. But is there a way to reach an equilibrium? Can we give back to the earth? The world destroys and rebuilds itself all the time. Erosion is creation and creation is erosion.
So I think that we destroy because we exist, not in order to exist, but we have the opportunity to create life as well. Creation is an equal and oppositive force. And if we can be great enough to stop taking indiscriminately from the earth, then hopefully, in some way, our impact will be one of lasting greatness.
I was reading this article and couldn't help but scroll down to the comments. One in particular stood out to me, and it has made me think. Here's a quote from "WasteNJ" " We seem to be the only species on Earth that doesn't fit into the environment naturally...that must destroy to exist."
And I began to wonder, must we destroy to exist?
Let's look at life BEFORE modern technology. We would live in huts, farm our own food, reproduce, create art, participate in religion, and die. Did we destroy then?
Certainly if you farm a piece of land for too long, and you don't take care to rotate your crops, you can destroy the earth. When you build a house, regardless of whether or not it's a rudimentary shelter, you're taking something away from somewhere else; however, when birds and beavers create nests is that destructive?
So at what point did we start destroying, because there is not a doubt that we destroy now. I don't think it's just related to energy use, my first hypothesis. The collapse of Rome, or Babylon are often linked to environmental destruction, and that's WAY pre-energy.
So at what point did we go from small pastoral farms and small village centers to large empires? Was it a desire for power? Was it increased population size? Was it increased knowledge? If we look at Medieval Europe, life was pretty basic until new ideas about the world came out of the return of crusaders. New ideas led to innovation and inventions and the whole Renaissance period. People wanted nicer cloth and better food, and more knowledge.
It seems to me like knowledge is a double edged sword. The story of Adam and Eve and their desire for knowledge is an analogy of that fact. The more we separate ourselves from animals, the more we bring about destruction of the natural world. Or, the greater our life, the greater our life's impact will be.
Even now, when we are aware that our destruction may cause the end of our species, we destroy. We destroy when trying to fix the problems; even wind turbines require resources from the earth. But is there a way to reach an equilibrium? Can we give back to the earth? The world destroys and rebuilds itself all the time. Erosion is creation and creation is erosion.
So I think that we destroy because we exist, not in order to exist, but we have the opportunity to create life as well. Creation is an equal and oppositive force. And if we can be great enough to stop taking indiscriminately from the earth, then hopefully, in some way, our impact will be one of lasting greatness.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Newspapers?
I've pretty much been awake all night because some idiot decided that 1:30am was a great time to set off firecrackers in the middle of the street. I, of course, work up immediately and could not, COULD NOT get back to sleep. I finally came downstairs to surf the web, hoping to dull my mind enough that I could fall asleep again. Nothing new out there really, so I got to thinking about the news.
I recently bought a local "newspaper" (using the term very loosely here as you'll see) at our local bakery. I've bought it once before and noticed that it was pretty conservative, but I liked that it was put together by local writers, no associated press here. I don't think I'll be bothering with the $.50 in the future, not after some of their recent articles. The paper in question is called South Boston Tribune, and they have a website here that doesn't appear to be updated.
The front page was actually pretty good, they've got articles that are important to the local community and an "Around Town" column that shows all the local happenings in Southie. The problem starts on page 3. In a box call "The Information Center" John Ciccone titles his article TEA Party to Meet Sunday at Castle Island/Tax Break, Bay State 2-NH 365. The title itself is a bit confusing, but it just reflects the unfocused conservative rant that flows out after it. Seriously, my 8th graders in New Mexico could have done a better job. Ciccone column alternates between a condemnation of taxes, a condemnation of vandalism of the Korean War Memorial in Southie, a Condemnation of Obama, and an invitation to a Tea party meeting on Sunday. Sort of says something about the man and the movement really. Unfocused, vague, and without any solutions offered.
Here are some quotes on taxes:
"Anytime there's a day or two free of taxes it a good thing"
"Even as their Governor, John Lynch [NH] taunts Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to "go ahead, keep those taxes coming". Because Governor Lynch knows that the more Patrick raises taxes here, the more Massachusetts residents will travel to his state to shop and the more Massachusetts businesses will relocate north as well."
"If voters continue to reelect the same people who ignore the wishes of the people and treat us like mere subjects and serfs rather than citizens living in a democracy, they'll just continue to treat us any way that suites their agendas."
And on Obama:
"I'm sure it comes as no surprise to readers of this column that Barack Hussein Obama, going against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Americans like he does on every other issue, has come down in favor of building the Mosque at "Ground Zero" in New York City...This of course proves once again that Obama and his Regime are completely out of touch with the American People and most likely enjoy being so just fine."
But none of this is NOTHING compared to page 11 and an article entitled, I kid you not, "Show the Truth - Abortion is Satanic". That this is the title of an article in a "newspaper" is shocking enough. That it's not labeled OpEd, Letters to the Editor, or anything demonstrating that this is not necessarily the view of the "newspaper" is unforgivable. Then again, considering some of the grammar used throughout other articles, I'm not sure about the ability of the "editor" anyway.
Now, to be clear, I don't really care what your take on abortion is. You don't have to agree or disagree with it to think that this article doesn't belong in the news. I'm not particularly pro-abortion here and have considered myself personally "pro-life" my entire life. My view on government control on morality is a topic for another day.
But read these snippets and see what I'm talking about:
"The abortion industry is a profit-driven raw killing machine...the spiritual dimension of this grisly business, however, is systematizing of ritual blood sacrifice to the god of child murder who, in the Old Testament, is called Molloch." (I have a love of ... but this one came in the article, I have not edited the sentence at all.)
Fr Euteneuer points out that "For example, extreme feminist Ginette Paris described abortion 'as a sacrifice to Artemis' in her 1992 book The Sacrament of Abortion."... (that one's mine) Those of us who have been engaged in this truly holy work of carrying the Gospel of Life to our society know that we are not fighting against flesh and blood in the pro-life vs pro-abortion arena. We are contending against 'principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness'"
Now, I can accept conservative views. Half of my family is traditionally conservative and I find that we can logically discuss our different stances on major issues without blood (most of the time;) It helps that I'm a veteran and a teacher. I can often agree with the ideology of both sides of most issues. I'd like to think that I haven't necessarily become more "liberal" I've become more educated about issues and I want to see educated responses to the issues at hand.
Give me an answer to a problem that doesn't increase government spending, build more bureaucracy, give more power to corporations, and leads to peaceful domestic and international relations, increased equality in the U.S., and I'm totally in. Don't give me talking points or generalizations, give me real news if you're a newspaper. People need real news articles to think on issues and find a way forward. If the news is the "fourth branch of government" as was implied by Madison after writing the constitution, it's no wonder we've got problems with government.
I recently bought a local "newspaper" (using the term very loosely here as you'll see) at our local bakery. I've bought it once before and noticed that it was pretty conservative, but I liked that it was put together by local writers, no associated press here. I don't think I'll be bothering with the $.50 in the future, not after some of their recent articles. The paper in question is called South Boston Tribune, and they have a website here that doesn't appear to be updated.
The front page was actually pretty good, they've got articles that are important to the local community and an "Around Town" column that shows all the local happenings in Southie. The problem starts on page 3. In a box call "The Information Center" John Ciccone titles his article TEA Party to Meet Sunday at Castle Island/Tax Break, Bay State 2-NH 365. The title itself is a bit confusing, but it just reflects the unfocused conservative rant that flows out after it. Seriously, my 8th graders in New Mexico could have done a better job. Ciccone column alternates between a condemnation of taxes, a condemnation of vandalism of the Korean War Memorial in Southie, a Condemnation of Obama, and an invitation to a Tea party meeting on Sunday. Sort of says something about the man and the movement really. Unfocused, vague, and without any solutions offered.
Here are some quotes on taxes:
"Anytime there's a day or two free of taxes it a good thing"
"Even as their Governor, John Lynch [NH] taunts Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to "go ahead, keep those taxes coming". Because Governor Lynch knows that the more Patrick raises taxes here, the more Massachusetts residents will travel to his state to shop and the more Massachusetts businesses will relocate north as well."
"If voters continue to reelect the same people who ignore the wishes of the people and treat us like mere subjects and serfs rather than citizens living in a democracy, they'll just continue to treat us any way that suites their agendas."
And on Obama:
"I'm sure it comes as no surprise to readers of this column that Barack Hussein Obama, going against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Americans like he does on every other issue, has come down in favor of building the Mosque at "Ground Zero" in New York City...This of course proves once again that Obama and his Regime are completely out of touch with the American People and most likely enjoy being so just fine."
But none of this is NOTHING compared to page 11 and an article entitled, I kid you not, "Show the Truth - Abortion is Satanic". That this is the title of an article in a "newspaper" is shocking enough. That it's not labeled OpEd, Letters to the Editor, or anything demonstrating that this is not necessarily the view of the "newspaper" is unforgivable. Then again, considering some of the grammar used throughout other articles, I'm not sure about the ability of the "editor" anyway.
Now, to be clear, I don't really care what your take on abortion is. You don't have to agree or disagree with it to think that this article doesn't belong in the news. I'm not particularly pro-abortion here and have considered myself personally "pro-life" my entire life. My view on government control on morality is a topic for another day.
But read these snippets and see what I'm talking about:
"The abortion industry is a profit-driven raw killing machine...the spiritual dimension of this grisly business, however, is systematizing of ritual blood sacrifice to the god of child murder who, in the Old Testament, is called Molloch." (I have a love of ... but this one came in the article, I have not edited the sentence at all.)
Fr Euteneuer points out that "For example, extreme feminist Ginette Paris described abortion 'as a sacrifice to Artemis' in her 1992 book The Sacrament of Abortion."... (that one's mine) Those of us who have been engaged in this truly holy work of carrying the Gospel of Life to our society know that we are not fighting against flesh and blood in the pro-life vs pro-abortion arena. We are contending against 'principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness'"
Now, I can accept conservative views. Half of my family is traditionally conservative and I find that we can logically discuss our different stances on major issues without blood (most of the time;) It helps that I'm a veteran and a teacher. I can often agree with the ideology of both sides of most issues. I'd like to think that I haven't necessarily become more "liberal" I've become more educated about issues and I want to see educated responses to the issues at hand.
Give me an answer to a problem that doesn't increase government spending, build more bureaucracy, give more power to corporations, and leads to peaceful domestic and international relations, increased equality in the U.S., and I'm totally in. Don't give me talking points or generalizations, give me real news if you're a newspaper. People need real news articles to think on issues and find a way forward. If the news is the "fourth branch of government" as was implied by Madison after writing the constitution, it's no wonder we've got problems with government.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Welcome Home!
In lieu of children, I've adopted a car. MiniMe! Not sure if that name will stick, but here she is! She's got a personality on her, that's for sure.Here are the keys:
For comparison, the key on the far left is to a bike lock. The key in the center is the door lock key. The ignition key is on the right.
My mini is a cross between a toy and a bicycle. But it RUNS! A fact that wasn't true for a few months, but lets not get into that...
YEAY!!! A car that a) fits into every little spot that other cars can't fit into b) gets good gas mileage (well, it should, we'll see how it actually works out) and c) will (almost comfortably) fit 5 people, and d) has style!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Inspiration
I haven't been sewing a lot lately. I used to sew garb for SCA events, but haven't really gotten into medieval "re-creation" (and recreation) in the Boston area. It just isn't the same without all of my friends nearby and there are SO many things to do.
But I've missed sewing. I thought about trying to sew a normal outfit, but it just didn't pique my interest. I debated finding a sheet and creating something, but it seemed like a major undertaking. But THEN, I found this blog. I don't care that I'm copying her, it's a great idea. Basically she takes old, out of date dresses and makes them new again.
I can do that!
So I decided to try. Here's the before picture. I wish I'd taken one with the top buttoned all the way up, but I didn't, so you'll have to imagine. It goes all the way up to the top ("military style" my husband says).
I took about 6 inches off the bottom, and wish I'd been a little more careful about the hem... you'll see on the final picture that it's not *quite* even all the way around. Since my hubby didn't like the collar (I didn't mind it really) I decided to change the look a little. It still doesn't lay right, but here's the "during" shot.
I discovered that I needed to take the sides in, and that the armpit area was difficult to get "just so" as I nipped and tucked. I took the leftover hem and made a sash to go around the waist (and subtly hide the hem issues and eliminate the need to take in the pleated waist. And this is what I came out with!
Now, I'll be the first to tell you that it's not perfect, but I'm actually pretty proud of myself. A project that took less than an hour of work to complete. I don't know how this other blogger manages to do this on $1 a day though. My thrift store of choice is great (a lot of already fitting finds to be found actually) but not as cheep at a single buck. I think I paid $3 for the dress, still a pretty good find. Then I needed thread and buttons. The buttons (for some strange reason) were purple and didn't match.
Unfortunately, the only fabric store near Boston is about a 30 minute drive, so the detour took a bit. I ended up buying imitation pearl buttons after about 20 minutes of staring at all the buttons in the store. I paid a little over $5 for the thread and buttons, bringing the whole project to around $8.
I'm still not sure if I should do something to "fancy up" at least one of the shoulders. I've got a bunch of extra fabric so I tried leaves off the shoulder and miniature fabric roses, but mostly it just looked like a blue corsage. Any ideas anyone?
But I've missed sewing. I thought about trying to sew a normal outfit, but it just didn't pique my interest. I debated finding a sheet and creating something, but it seemed like a major undertaking. But THEN, I found this blog. I don't care that I'm copying her, it's a great idea. Basically she takes old, out of date dresses and makes them new again.
I can do that!
So I decided to try. Here's the before picture. I wish I'd taken one with the top buttoned all the way up, but I didn't, so you'll have to imagine. It goes all the way up to the top ("military style" my husband says).I took about 6 inches off the bottom, and wish I'd been a little more careful about the hem... you'll see on the final picture that it's not *quite* even all the way around. Since my hubby didn't like the collar (I didn't mind it really) I decided to change the look a little. It still doesn't lay right, but here's the "during" shot.
I discovered that I needed to take the sides in, and that the armpit area was difficult to get "just so" as I nipped and tucked. I took the leftover hem and made a sash to go around the waist (and subtly hide the hem issues and eliminate the need to take in the pleated waist. And this is what I came out with!Now, I'll be the first to tell you that it's not perfect, but I'm actually pretty proud of myself. A project that took less than an hour of work to complete. I don't know how this other blogger manages to do this on $1 a day though. My thrift store of choice is great (a lot of already fitting finds to be found actually) but not as cheep at a single buck. I think I paid $3 for the dress, still a pretty good find. Then I needed thread and buttons. The buttons (for some strange reason) were purple and didn't match.Unfortunately, the only fabric store near Boston is about a 30 minute drive, so the detour took a bit. I ended up buying imitation pearl buttons after about 20 minutes of staring at all the buttons in the store. I paid a little over $5 for the thread and buttons, bringing the whole project to around $8.
I'm still not sure if I should do something to "fancy up" at least one of the shoulders. I've got a bunch of extra fabric so I tried leaves off the shoulder and miniature fabric roses, but mostly it just looked like a blue corsage. Any ideas anyone?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Double Grr Day
This morning when I went out to water my garden, I noticed something missing. I hadn't had a chance to take pictures yet, but a vine that had been creeping over our fence turned out to be a concord grape vine. I had a boatload of grapes almost ripe for the picking.
Too bad the neighbors cut it down.
In fact, in preparation of renting out the two apartments they've been converting next door, they killed every single plant in their back yard. It's such a shame, and some of the vine was growing on my side of the fence.
I guess I can't complain too much, considering most of the root ball was on their side of the fence, but a little warning would have been nice. Instead I found plant carnage on my side of the fence.
Next GRRR. I came home and found my housekeeper's son using my laptop. Sorry, but I think it's inappropriate for someone to use my computer without asking first. He's a 6 year old kid, so I can't blame him too much, but I can get upset with his mother for allowing it. I've never needed to password protect my computer, but I'm debating it now. I feel kind of bad for the kid, he went off and played on his mother's brand new iphone after I kicked him off of the computer. The iphone is a whole nother issue...(she did claim in the interview she needed a second job because she was going through a separation and needed money to support her son...)
This almost set me over the top, but rational thought took over. She's now been told specifically that anyone needing my computer needs to ask first. She always follows directions and corrects mistakes when they're made, but problems occur when she isn't given explicit instructions. I don't know, maybe I'm overboard on this issue, but to me it seems like a no-brainer.
But Gerd came home today, so life is much better now. I may be grape-less, and maybe soon housekeeper-less, but I'm no longer husband-less, thank God. Boy have I missed him.
Too bad the neighbors cut it down.
In fact, in preparation of renting out the two apartments they've been converting next door, they killed every single plant in their back yard. It's such a shame, and some of the vine was growing on my side of the fence.
I guess I can't complain too much, considering most of the root ball was on their side of the fence, but a little warning would have been nice. Instead I found plant carnage on my side of the fence.
Next GRRR. I came home and found my housekeeper's son using my laptop. Sorry, but I think it's inappropriate for someone to use my computer without asking first. He's a 6 year old kid, so I can't blame him too much, but I can get upset with his mother for allowing it. I've never needed to password protect my computer, but I'm debating it now. I feel kind of bad for the kid, he went off and played on his mother's brand new iphone after I kicked him off of the computer. The iphone is a whole nother issue...(she did claim in the interview she needed a second job because she was going through a separation and needed money to support her son...)
This almost set me over the top, but rational thought took over. She's now been told specifically that anyone needing my computer needs to ask first. She always follows directions and corrects mistakes when they're made, but problems occur when she isn't given explicit instructions. I don't know, maybe I'm overboard on this issue, but to me it seems like a no-brainer.
But Gerd came home today, so life is much better now. I may be grape-less, and maybe soon housekeeper-less, but I'm no longer husband-less, thank God. Boy have I missed him.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Lessons Learned in Paper Making
I've wanted to make paper for years. I mean, I first thought about making my own paper before I left for Germany, the first time.
Why haven't I done so already? Probably because YouTube didn't exist back then and I had no idea how to go about it. Then, when I was into my period SCA phase I wanted to learn to make paper using authentic, period ways, and that didn't include paper pulp or blenders.
Now that I'm freed from trying to be historical, and into being practical, I decided to give it a go. I tore up a weekly local paper/advertisement that we get (whether we want it or not) and decided to make paper. Here are the lessons learned:
1) Choose your container carefully. My first attempt included a bucket that had base legs. The base bumped out into the bucket so I didn't have a flat surface to work with. This got in my way a few times when trying to submerge my screen and was generally a huge pain in the butt.
2) Add the dye to the pulp, not the water. My paper is pretty much gray. I later tried to add dye to the pulp and I think it improved a little bit, but it's still pretty gray. I also added a few flower petals, but you can't see much of that either.
3) Have your cloths cut out before you begin. Unless you can do this better than me, you need a different cloth for each piece of paper. This is how you lift the paper from the screen and allow it to dry. When it's dry it should slip free from the fabric easily (or so I'm told, my paper is still drying).
4) I had an aha moment that I wish I'd had the first attempt. If you use a picture frame, your screen will have a perfectly flat side and an inside where the picture usually goes. The pulp goes into the screen like a picture. Put pulp in a tub of water, emerge the screen into the water/pulp, raise it up slowly, and sift the pulp like you would if you were panning for gold, spreading the pulp out evenly. This was the hardest part for me because nothing I saw online clearly showed this. Likely because a person's so busy trying to make the pulp spread evenly that they can't also take a picture at the same time. Not enough hands I guess.
5) DO use a sponge. After you lift the frame from the bucket and drape the frame with your precut fabric, take a sponge and press the water through the screen. A sponge works well because you can wring it out a lot. Messy isn't the right word for this project. Drippy is. It's hard to get the water out of the pulp mixture.
6) Lift the fabric from the screen, not the screen from the fabric. At least this was my experience. I lost some corners trying to lift the screen off rather than do it the other way round.
7) Iron if you don't have kids around. I don't know what some of these people are talking about. I put an old cotton window curtain down, put another layer on time and ironed. Since it's still pretty wet this creates a bunch of steam. This had burn written all over it. Maybe your kids are super well behaved, maybe your iron doesn't spew hot water, but I'd be careful and try this first before presenting it as a kid project. I saw other links that didn't use irons, one YouTube broadcast with kids as instructors, and they used a towel and rolling pin instead.
8) This project took about 1 hour to do 4 small pieces of paper and 3 larger pieces of paper, and then write about it.
9) Use junk mail/recyclables. You might as well, it'll save a bunch of chemical processing, and it really doesn't take much to make paper. I'm guessing one neighborhood newspaper (which is pretty small, but not totally minuscule) would make 8 to 10 pieces of 8 X 10 paper.
10) Imperfection is okay. At least that's what I'm telling myself since it took a while to get the hang of it. Maybe you'll be a paper natural, if you are, good for you. I had to learn from failure. But it was fun, and worth the time spent figuring it out. I'm not looking forward to cleaning up the mess...
when blending pulp, put a lid on the blender...
Why haven't I done so already? Probably because YouTube didn't exist back then and I had no idea how to go about it. Then, when I was into my period SCA phase I wanted to learn to make paper using authentic, period ways, and that didn't include paper pulp or blenders.
Now that I'm freed from trying to be historical, and into being practical, I decided to give it a go. I tore up a weekly local paper/advertisement that we get (whether we want it or not) and decided to make paper. Here are the lessons learned:
1) Choose your container carefully. My first attempt included a bucket that had base legs. The base bumped out into the bucket so I didn't have a flat surface to work with. This got in my way a few times when trying to submerge my screen and was generally a huge pain in the butt.
2) Add the dye to the pulp, not the water. My paper is pretty much gray. I later tried to add dye to the pulp and I think it improved a little bit, but it's still pretty gray. I also added a few flower petals, but you can't see much of that either.
3) Have your cloths cut out before you begin. Unless you can do this better than me, you need a different cloth for each piece of paper. This is how you lift the paper from the screen and allow it to dry. When it's dry it should slip free from the fabric easily (or so I'm told, my paper is still drying).
4) I had an aha moment that I wish I'd had the first attempt. If you use a picture frame, your screen will have a perfectly flat side and an inside where the picture usually goes. The pulp goes into the screen like a picture. Put pulp in a tub of water, emerge the screen into the water/pulp, raise it up slowly, and sift the pulp like you would if you were panning for gold, spreading the pulp out evenly. This was the hardest part for me because nothing I saw online clearly showed this. Likely because a person's so busy trying to make the pulp spread evenly that they can't also take a picture at the same time. Not enough hands I guess.
5) DO use a sponge. After you lift the frame from the bucket and drape the frame with your precut fabric, take a sponge and press the water through the screen. A sponge works well because you can wring it out a lot. Messy isn't the right word for this project. Drippy is. It's hard to get the water out of the pulp mixture.
6) Lift the fabric from the screen, not the screen from the fabric. At least this was my experience. I lost some corners trying to lift the screen off rather than do it the other way round.
7) Iron if you don't have kids around. I don't know what some of these people are talking about. I put an old cotton window curtain down, put another layer on time and ironed. Since it's still pretty wet this creates a bunch of steam. This had burn written all over it. Maybe your kids are super well behaved, maybe your iron doesn't spew hot water, but I'd be careful and try this first before presenting it as a kid project. I saw other links that didn't use irons, one YouTube broadcast with kids as instructors, and they used a towel and rolling pin instead.
8) This project took about 1 hour to do 4 small pieces of paper and 3 larger pieces of paper, and then write about it.
9) Use junk mail/recyclables. You might as well, it'll save a bunch of chemical processing, and it really doesn't take much to make paper. I'm guessing one neighborhood newspaper (which is pretty small, but not totally minuscule) would make 8 to 10 pieces of 8 X 10 paper.
10) Imperfection is okay. At least that's what I'm telling myself since it took a while to get the hang of it. Maybe you'll be a paper natural, if you are, good for you. I had to learn from failure. But it was fun, and worth the time spent figuring it out. I'm not looking forward to cleaning up the mess...
when blending pulp, put a lid on the blender...
What Have You Been Up To?
Okay, so I've been tired lately, but probably for good cause. Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to. (Notice the finished paper in the background?)
Picking vegetables from the garden.
Making tomato sauce (and freezing it since I found out mushrooms cause botulism if not pressure canned :( Mushrooms and wine were my only non-garden ingredients.
Plus 
Plus
Plus 
Equals:
Then I had to deal with the cucumbers! Just in case you can't tell, I have a HUGE bag of cucumbers.
And after a few hours 
I actually made more jars of pickles than shown, but I gave three jars away and one didn't seal properly so it's in the refrigerator (and I am NOT going to show a picture of the inside of my refrigerator anytime soon). I still have a huge bag of cucumbers. More pickles to follow.
I also managed to sing in a choir concert this weekend, sort through 6 months of mail (don't ask, I don't open mail) and read three books in the past week.
Recipes:
Tomato Sauce:
25 tomatoes of various sizes
Handful of fresh picked basil
About 10 cloves of mini-garlic
Equivalent of about a half normal sized onion
salt, pepper, oregano to taste (I didn't grow oregano this year)
Mushrooms
Red Wine
Cut vines out of tomatoes and immerse in boiling water until skins pull free. *INCREDIBLY HANDY HINT* I just learned that you can freeze tomatoes as they get ripe until you get enough tomatoes. Don't bother blanching and peeling, when you pull them out of the freezer, run warm water over them and they will peal without this whole process. You won't be able to squeeze the seeds out though, so it could take longer. Maybe you could let the tomatoes defrost naturally after pealing them. I digress...
Put tomatoes in an ice water bath (or sort of cold in my case) until you can handle them and take off the skins. Smush out the juice (and set aside if you want to make tomato juice) and put tomatoes in a sauce pan along with all the other ingredients (add whatever you want, I've seen carrots and bell peppers added in many recipes). Simmer your sauce until it smells and tastes just the way you want it. You don't have to, but at this point if you want "normal" looking sauce, put it in the blender or food processor.
Scoop out serving sizes into freezer bags, label bags and stick them in the freezer. Don't bother with a pressure canner unless you don't have the freezer space, tomato stuff freezes great.
For the juice. Put the squished stuff through a food mill in the smallest strainer size. Heat until boiling, allow it to reduce by half. At this point you can either strain it again or leave it as is. Can if you want, but only if you put a tablespoon of lemon juice in each pint. This can be done in a water bath, but it's just as easy to freeze.
Pickles:
East German Recipe
This recipe is supposed to make "6 jars" but jar size differed. My mom came over to help so she determined how much we would actually use. I think we halfed this.
A bunch of cucumbers
2 1/2 liters water (10.56 cups)
1/2 liter 5% vinegar (2.11 cups) West Germany uses 10% acidity but it can't be found in the US anyway.
225 grams sugar (1/2 pound, or 1 cup)
2 hands salt (about 1 1/2 TBSP)
10 tsp mustard seeds
5 onions
5 tsp whole black pepper
Dill (we put in about 1 TBSP for each quart)
Prepare your jars by sanitizing them and keeping them warm.
Fill jars with 1 tsp mustard, 1/2 onion, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 TBSP Dill (or a sprig of fresh dill that we couldn't find nearby). Fill jar with cucumbers (ideally just the right size cucumbers, but otherwise chop them up into the right sized pieces).
Make a brine with water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Heat to boiling, then cover cucumbers with a brine sauce.
Let sit for 48 hours. You can either leave these in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or process them in a water bath for storage. We processed. Even if you process you should wait 2 weeks to eat them, so I have no idea how they taste. This recipe calls for far less vinegar than most American counterparts, so they won't be as sour as most U.S. pickles (which makes sense since my East German is always complaining about our pickles being too sour).
Picking vegetables from the garden.
Making tomato sauce (and freezing it since I found out mushrooms cause botulism if not pressure canned :( Mushrooms and wine were my only non-garden ingredients.
Plus Plus
Plus Equals:
Then I had to deal with the cucumbers! Just in case you can't tell, I have a HUGE bag of cucumbers.
And after a few hours I actually made more jars of pickles than shown, but I gave three jars away and one didn't seal properly so it's in the refrigerator (and I am NOT going to show a picture of the inside of my refrigerator anytime soon). I still have a huge bag of cucumbers. More pickles to follow.
I also managed to sing in a choir concert this weekend, sort through 6 months of mail (don't ask, I don't open mail) and read three books in the past week.
Recipes:
Tomato Sauce:
25 tomatoes of various sizes
Handful of fresh picked basil
About 10 cloves of mini-garlic
Equivalent of about a half normal sized onion
salt, pepper, oregano to taste (I didn't grow oregano this year)
Mushrooms
Red Wine
Cut vines out of tomatoes and immerse in boiling water until skins pull free. *INCREDIBLY HANDY HINT* I just learned that you can freeze tomatoes as they get ripe until you get enough tomatoes. Don't bother blanching and peeling, when you pull them out of the freezer, run warm water over them and they will peal without this whole process. You won't be able to squeeze the seeds out though, so it could take longer. Maybe you could let the tomatoes defrost naturally after pealing them. I digress...
Put tomatoes in an ice water bath (or sort of cold in my case) until you can handle them and take off the skins. Smush out the juice (and set aside if you want to make tomato juice) and put tomatoes in a sauce pan along with all the other ingredients (add whatever you want, I've seen carrots and bell peppers added in many recipes). Simmer your sauce until it smells and tastes just the way you want it. You don't have to, but at this point if you want "normal" looking sauce, put it in the blender or food processor.
Scoop out serving sizes into freezer bags, label bags and stick them in the freezer. Don't bother with a pressure canner unless you don't have the freezer space, tomato stuff freezes great.
For the juice. Put the squished stuff through a food mill in the smallest strainer size. Heat until boiling, allow it to reduce by half. At this point you can either strain it again or leave it as is. Can if you want, but only if you put a tablespoon of lemon juice in each pint. This can be done in a water bath, but it's just as easy to freeze.
Pickles:
East German Recipe
This recipe is supposed to make "6 jars" but jar size differed. My mom came over to help so she determined how much we would actually use. I think we halfed this.
A bunch of cucumbers
2 1/2 liters water (10.56 cups)
1/2 liter 5% vinegar (2.11 cups) West Germany uses 10% acidity but it can't be found in the US anyway.
225 grams sugar (1/2 pound, or 1 cup)
2 hands salt (about 1 1/2 TBSP)
10 tsp mustard seeds
5 onions
5 tsp whole black pepper
Dill (we put in about 1 TBSP for each quart)
Prepare your jars by sanitizing them and keeping them warm.
Fill jars with 1 tsp mustard, 1/2 onion, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 TBSP Dill (or a sprig of fresh dill that we couldn't find nearby). Fill jar with cucumbers (ideally just the right size cucumbers, but otherwise chop them up into the right sized pieces).
Make a brine with water, vinegar, sugar and salt. Heat to boiling, then cover cucumbers with a brine sauce.
Let sit for 48 hours. You can either leave these in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or process them in a water bath for storage. We processed. Even if you process you should wait 2 weeks to eat them, so I have no idea how they taste. This recipe calls for far less vinegar than most American counterparts, so they won't be as sour as most U.S. pickles (which makes sense since my East German is always complaining about our pickles being too sour).
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Don't Wanna
It could be that yesterday was so busy that I don't want to do anything this morning. My mom and I painted the entryway, all before 11:00. We went to Ikea and bought a new mattress (among other things :) I rushed off to my new herbalist where she asked me two hours of questions about my health. I got home and rearranged the entry, the kitchen drawers, and spent about an hour trying to get my new mattress onto the bed frame.
Today I was supposed to go to church. In fact, I'm already dressed and ready to go. I don't want to. I don't know why I don't want to, I love church. It's probably just what I need, but I'm still on the couch. In fact, it's healing Sunday, so it'd be a good day to be there (even if I don't know the choir pieces). Yep, still on the couch.
Later today I'm going to a cheese tasting event, and then pickling cucumbers at a friends house and sharing dinner. Before dinner I'm supposed to go to yoga and buy some fresh dill on the way over to my friend's house. I also *need* to make tomato sauce today too (the tomatoes are crying for attention, although not rotten yet). And I need to prepare lessons for Monday.
I think maybe I'm trying to pack too much into this weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing I manage to do is go over to my friend's house today. I wish I could just go back to bed. (I'd consider it if the neighbors weren't doing construction on our common wall right now (they started at 7:30 this morning...).
Today I was supposed to go to church. In fact, I'm already dressed and ready to go. I don't want to. I don't know why I don't want to, I love church. It's probably just what I need, but I'm still on the couch. In fact, it's healing Sunday, so it'd be a good day to be there (even if I don't know the choir pieces). Yep, still on the couch.
Later today I'm going to a cheese tasting event, and then pickling cucumbers at a friends house and sharing dinner. Before dinner I'm supposed to go to yoga and buy some fresh dill on the way over to my friend's house. I also *need* to make tomato sauce today too (the tomatoes are crying for attention, although not rotten yet). And I need to prepare lessons for Monday.
I think maybe I'm trying to pack too much into this weekend. I wouldn't be surprised if the only thing I manage to do is go over to my friend's house today. I wish I could just go back to bed. (I'd consider it if the neighbors weren't doing construction on our common wall right now (they started at 7:30 this morning...).
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Field Trip
One of my 10 students make it to our school field trip today. I honestly thought we'd have a better turn out than that, but, no. The Spanish group had 5 student (out of 12) so at least we had a small group.
We took a ferry to George's Island and had a barbecue there. I won't get into the logistics, or lack of logistics, or multiple trips to buy supplies before the ferry took off. I will say the BBQ was tastey, if a bit heavy on my pocket. Until I mentioned bringing chicken it was going to be hamburgers or hotdogs only. Since I can't stomach either I volunteered to bring shish kababs. And corn to grill.
My boss was surprised that the corn was as good as it was, and that it went over well. Apparently nobody here grills corn? I love grilled corn...
On the trip back we sat on the lower deck and watched the yachts go by. My one student who showed up talked about how she wants to go on a plane someday. She would love to travel, but she's never been outside of Massachusetts. If she could go anywhere, she said, she'd go to Puerto Rico to see where her family is from and maybe meet some of her extended relatives. That would cost $1000 for her and her daughter, a figure that seems unreachable to her.
Another student lost her shoe on the way home. Her $20 flip flops that she'd only worn twice. She surprised me with her quick acceptance of the loss. She tied a plastic bag on her foot and prepared to walk to the T station to go home. I volunteered to take her home so she wouldn't have to walk around town with a bag over her foot (although I thought that was pretty creative thinking). Wow, she lived on the way opposite side of the world. I'm amazed that she makes it to school every day, it takes her an hour and 45 minutes every day to drop her son off at daycare and take the bus into school.
Sometimes I get frustrated that we're working in the summer, that attendance is bad, that we don't have any money for supplies or books. But I wish for the world that these students could make it in life. They're all on welfare and they get subsidized food, daycare, housing. They can't can't quite picture a life with a regular job or a regular income, although they'd like to be successful.
So even though our trip got off to a rough start, and ended with one less shoe, it was a good time. I think it's important to get to know the student's beyond the classroom. I'm just glad I didn't have to eat hamburgers to do so.
We took a ferry to George's Island and had a barbecue there. I won't get into the logistics, or lack of logistics, or multiple trips to buy supplies before the ferry took off. I will say the BBQ was tastey, if a bit heavy on my pocket. Until I mentioned bringing chicken it was going to be hamburgers or hotdogs only. Since I can't stomach either I volunteered to bring shish kababs. And corn to grill.
My boss was surprised that the corn was as good as it was, and that it went over well. Apparently nobody here grills corn? I love grilled corn...
On the trip back we sat on the lower deck and watched the yachts go by. My one student who showed up talked about how she wants to go on a plane someday. She would love to travel, but she's never been outside of Massachusetts. If she could go anywhere, she said, she'd go to Puerto Rico to see where her family is from and maybe meet some of her extended relatives. That would cost $1000 for her and her daughter, a figure that seems unreachable to her.
Another student lost her shoe on the way home. Her $20 flip flops that she'd only worn twice. She surprised me with her quick acceptance of the loss. She tied a plastic bag on her foot and prepared to walk to the T station to go home. I volunteered to take her home so she wouldn't have to walk around town with a bag over her foot (although I thought that was pretty creative thinking). Wow, she lived on the way opposite side of the world. I'm amazed that she makes it to school every day, it takes her an hour and 45 minutes every day to drop her son off at daycare and take the bus into school.
Sometimes I get frustrated that we're working in the summer, that attendance is bad, that we don't have any money for supplies or books. But I wish for the world that these students could make it in life. They're all on welfare and they get subsidized food, daycare, housing. They can't can't quite picture a life with a regular job or a regular income, although they'd like to be successful.
So even though our trip got off to a rough start, and ended with one less shoe, it was a good time. I think it's important to get to know the student's beyond the classroom. I'm just glad I didn't have to eat hamburgers to do so.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Thoughts on Fuel
Not fuel, like the petroleum we put in our cars, Fuel like the documentary on biofuel.
It meanders through the environmental issues, and sort of has a focus (on fuel) but it's broader than fuel alone, if you're thinking only gas. It's more about sustaining our way of life using alternative means of energy production. Overall I liked the presentation of information, although it is a bit emotional and I call into question a few facts. At times there are considerations not taken into account. The conclusion takes an eternity.
But, because it does wander along, you get a clear idea of the documentarists' dream for the future. With this, he claims, all of our energy needs can be met without the use of non-renewable resources (I think he's forgetting that metals are non-renewable resources, but that's an argument for later).
Biofuel
Biomass
Hybrids/Plug-ins
Wind
Solar
Public Transportation
Energy efficiency
And how should this happen? First, he says, change your light bulb. Next, he claims that we should pester our politicians, even when it seems like it's not getting anywhere. But he's optimistic that we can change the world into a sustainable future.
I'm not sure I'm so sure it can be done at this point. Isn't it too late? Should it already be happening? Isn't the world in the clutches of a greedy group of bloodsuckers?
The knowledge that it CAN be done doesn't really alleviate my concern that it WILL be done. I alternate between deciding to drop out of mainstream society, running the risk that the world will be falling apart around me, or attempting to change society.
Honestly, I think it's a bit of both. Obviously we should try to change the system we're in. Creating a new system includes chaos. Still, there are those out there that think (somewhat justifiably) that once the current system falls, those that live on the outskirts of society will be around to watch the dust settle.
Fuel's creator paints a picture of New York City with green roofs and vertical farms, of public transportation becoming the stable of daily traffic, of green energy jobs reinvigorating the economy. It's a beautiful picture, no doubt. But when does a utopia become a distopia?
Perhaps we'll get there someday. We'll need to make changes someday, it's inevitable. But even if we look at the dream, or hope for the future, we need to consider that the evil bloodsuckers are still out there. And they still have more secured power and control in the current system. I don't expect them to go down without a fight. Perhaps they won't go down at all, just fund our new ventures.
I get very afraid when I consider bloodsuckers running green technology. Bloodsuckers, by nature, aren't about building a sustainable model of money making. They're about getting that little bit more, and that little bit more comes from somewhere.
Fuel for all of it's optimism and hope doesn't offer a realistic means to combat the bloodsuckers. Maybe Fuel's author knows just as well as I do that the mighty fall on their own accord, under their own weight, just as well as they do when they're cut down. It's the average man (or woman, speaking neutral here) that must maneuver around the giant, and stay out of the way when the giant trips and falls.
It meanders through the environmental issues, and sort of has a focus (on fuel) but it's broader than fuel alone, if you're thinking only gas. It's more about sustaining our way of life using alternative means of energy production. Overall I liked the presentation of information, although it is a bit emotional and I call into question a few facts. At times there are considerations not taken into account. The conclusion takes an eternity.
But, because it does wander along, you get a clear idea of the documentarists' dream for the future. With this, he claims, all of our energy needs can be met without the use of non-renewable resources (I think he's forgetting that metals are non-renewable resources, but that's an argument for later).
Biofuel
Biomass
Hybrids/Plug-ins
Wind
Solar
Public Transportation
Energy efficiency
And how should this happen? First, he says, change your light bulb. Next, he claims that we should pester our politicians, even when it seems like it's not getting anywhere. But he's optimistic that we can change the world into a sustainable future.
I'm not sure I'm so sure it can be done at this point. Isn't it too late? Should it already be happening? Isn't the world in the clutches of a greedy group of bloodsuckers?
The knowledge that it CAN be done doesn't really alleviate my concern that it WILL be done. I alternate between deciding to drop out of mainstream society, running the risk that the world will be falling apart around me, or attempting to change society.
Honestly, I think it's a bit of both. Obviously we should try to change the system we're in. Creating a new system includes chaos. Still, there are those out there that think (somewhat justifiably) that once the current system falls, those that live on the outskirts of society will be around to watch the dust settle.
Fuel's creator paints a picture of New York City with green roofs and vertical farms, of public transportation becoming the stable of daily traffic, of green energy jobs reinvigorating the economy. It's a beautiful picture, no doubt. But when does a utopia become a distopia?
Perhaps we'll get there someday. We'll need to make changes someday, it's inevitable. But even if we look at the dream, or hope for the future, we need to consider that the evil bloodsuckers are still out there. And they still have more secured power and control in the current system. I don't expect them to go down without a fight. Perhaps they won't go down at all, just fund our new ventures.
I get very afraid when I consider bloodsuckers running green technology. Bloodsuckers, by nature, aren't about building a sustainable model of money making. They're about getting that little bit more, and that little bit more comes from somewhere.
Fuel for all of it's optimism and hope doesn't offer a realistic means to combat the bloodsuckers. Maybe Fuel's author knows just as well as I do that the mighty fall on their own accord, under their own weight, just as well as they do when they're cut down. It's the average man (or woman, speaking neutral here) that must maneuver around the giant, and stay out of the way when the giant trips and falls.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Mostly Local?
Okay, I'm trying to classify this meal. Perhaps I should say conscientiously cooked?
The bread is homemade sourdough (and totally delicious). I put a second loaf in the upright freezer, which is filling up nicely. I used King Arthur's flour (produced in New York within a 500 mile radius of here), Florida Sugar Chrystals, Sea Salt (from who knows where) and a wee bit of corn starch (to brown the top). So, mostly local.
The Rainbow Chard was grown in my garden, but I made a red wine sauce for it...from a bottle of wine from Chile. Whoops, there went my local. With large distribution of the wine though, perhaps the carbon cost isn't as bad as it sounds (but I'm probably just justifying the use of a pretty tasty red).
The mustard, not local.
The butter, made by hand by my fabulous husband. He used leftover whipping cream from our last batch of strawberry ice cream (I love homemade ice cream). It was organic, but not necessarily local (I've yet to find a truly local source of milk/cream that's CONVENIENT to get...this is probably my own laziness for not finding a milk buying club).
The Brats are from Trader Joe's. They're not local, but they are raised organically and hormone free, or so the package says. They sure tasted good.
While I didn't get through the whole meal (eyes are always bigger than my stomach) it was a nice way to end the day. I was debating a frozen dinner but while watering the garden I realized I needed to do something with the overgrown chard. I've frozen a lot more chard, and I have no idea how it will taste when thawed. Any storage thoughts for Rainbow Chard? It's never my favorite meal, but it is pretty healthy. The plants are nowhere near done producing yet, so I've got more time to think of chard alternatives...
Other tidbits of the day:
* I finally got the junk hauled from our yard! Yeay!!! He missed a few things, so I called him back and left a message (which he told me to do if he didn't get everything). So it's not quite over yet, but it's a lot better.
* My father, Mr. Antisocial, just asked to friend me on Facebook. That's not fair, my father isn't antisocial, he's just a loner who doesn't seek social circumstances, which makes Facebook an unexpected move on his part. I'm wondering if I have any old posts I should delete!
* I finally realized that my email church bulletins have been going to my bulk email account. I sent myself pictures and could only find them in the bulk mailbox and happened to notice an email from my minister sandwiched between an ad for viagra and a breast enhancement offer. No wonder I never knew when choir was canceled
* I just began my first experiment in paper making! More on that later...if it turns out like paper.
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