All that is happening right now (hence the lack of posts) is:
clean
sort
pack
toss
repeat
Also, my truck failed inspection, which is inconvenient. And unfortunate.
Just trying to get through the move. Minute by minute.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Pasta Express
It's a whirlwind right now... the cabin is so close and we are in the swing of moving. Boxes, plastic tubs, purging...
This Sunday we drove down to the cabin to set up dog fencing. There were rams ambling about behind the yarn shop, and I thought to myself, "This is our home, next to these rams, and this orchard. This isn't a dream". Badger went with us, and barked madly from inside the cabin because he felt we were much far away from him outside. We brought a few boxes with us, whatever we could fit in the truck along with the fence panels. I'm making another trip down tomorrow with more boxes with Harper to get him familiar with the space. The full move is at the end of the month
On Friday the bank came to appraise the house, I'm attempting to get rid of it via a deed in lieu. Essentially, that means I give the bank back the house, and they sell it but it doesn't go into foreclosure. All the paper work is filed, I'm just holding my breath.
Saturday night we stayed in. We decided to get some great micro-brew from Ithaca Brewery, their seasonal winter ale is a tangy Belgium brew that helped fend off the cold. We also decided to break out a pasta maker that my grandma had given me years ago, and sat on a shelf for too long. Growing up, I have vivid memories of sitting on Gram's scrubbed wooden chairs, hands coated in semolina, helping her role out sheets of fresh soft pasta as sauce bubbled on the stove. With a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, she'd quickly stir the sauce, kiss my head, and roll dough.
Saturday was a different scene, but equally vivid and lovely. "The Pasta Express" is the name of the ridiculous garage sale machine we used, which came complete with an instructional VHS tape. Laughing and listening to NPR we mixed the ingredients and celebrated the perfectly shaped linguine that resulted. We ate the pasta with homemade summer tomato sauce, and then curled up to watch a documentary.
Many folks who are in their mid-twenties would roll their eyes at such an evening, but really, truly, I'm just grateful, or great-full (pun intended).
This Sunday we drove down to the cabin to set up dog fencing. There were rams ambling about behind the yarn shop, and I thought to myself, "This is our home, next to these rams, and this orchard. This isn't a dream". Badger went with us, and barked madly from inside the cabin because he felt we were much far away from him outside. We brought a few boxes with us, whatever we could fit in the truck along with the fence panels. I'm making another trip down tomorrow with more boxes with Harper to get him familiar with the space. The full move is at the end of the month
On Friday the bank came to appraise the house, I'm attempting to get rid of it via a deed in lieu. Essentially, that means I give the bank back the house, and they sell it but it doesn't go into foreclosure. All the paper work is filed, I'm just holding my breath.
Saturday night we stayed in. We decided to get some great micro-brew from Ithaca Brewery, their seasonal winter ale is a tangy Belgium brew that helped fend off the cold. We also decided to break out a pasta maker that my grandma had given me years ago, and sat on a shelf for too long. Growing up, I have vivid memories of sitting on Gram's scrubbed wooden chairs, hands coated in semolina, helping her role out sheets of fresh soft pasta as sauce bubbled on the stove. With a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, she'd quickly stir the sauce, kiss my head, and roll dough.
Saturday was a different scene, but equally vivid and lovely. "The Pasta Express" is the name of the ridiculous garage sale machine we used, which came complete with an instructional VHS tape. Laughing and listening to NPR we mixed the ingredients and celebrated the perfectly shaped linguine that resulted. We ate the pasta with homemade summer tomato sauce, and then curled up to watch a documentary.
Many folks who are in their mid-twenties would roll their eyes at such an evening, but really, truly, I'm just grateful, or great-full (pun intended).
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
We need a farm because...
our puppy needs a hobby other than chasing Harper, harassing cats, and stealing socks.
I'm thinking sheep.
I'm thinking sheep.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
spring is a fickle lady
Today we awoke to yet more snow. I can't contemplate spending another post on pining for spring or on the wrath of winter.
So instead, let's talk more food and music. I'm half down with the flu, so of course, I'm returning to my favorite consolation- cooking. I'm making sauce like my grandma used to, only vegetarian so that every member of the house can enjoy. Then, I am going to make some eggplant-meatless balls. The sauce recipe is a carefully guarded and only passed down in person, so I can't share that one, but if the eggplant turns out well, I'll post that!
We just bought the new Decemberist album, "The King is Dead" using a gift certificate from the holidays. It's the kind of music that seeps down into me, and that I hear something new from every time I listen. The first track, "A Turning of the Season" is like an anthem I didn't know I needed. There just isn't a bad song on the record.
It reminds me how much I am craving an instrument. For years, my voice was my instrument, but then my voice changed- and my ability to sing went down the tubes. Since then, I've tried a few instruments, but I'm still trying to find the one that really fits. I'm taking suggestions, I like the sounds of fiddles, banjos, earthy music- and I am impatient. I need something that I can have some kind of result from with hard work, but not endless toil. Of course, finding time to fit this in to the other myriad of things happening seems like a long shot. But... a life without music just doesn't seem complete. In the meantime, I've put that album on repeat.
So instead, let's talk more food and music. I'm half down with the flu, so of course, I'm returning to my favorite consolation- cooking. I'm making sauce like my grandma used to, only vegetarian so that every member of the house can enjoy. Then, I am going to make some eggplant-meatless balls. The sauce recipe is a carefully guarded and only passed down in person, so I can't share that one, but if the eggplant turns out well, I'll post that!
We just bought the new Decemberist album, "The King is Dead" using a gift certificate from the holidays. It's the kind of music that seeps down into me, and that I hear something new from every time I listen. The first track, "A Turning of the Season" is like an anthem I didn't know I needed. There just isn't a bad song on the record.
It reminds me how much I am craving an instrument. For years, my voice was my instrument, but then my voice changed- and my ability to sing went down the tubes. Since then, I've tried a few instruments, but I'm still trying to find the one that really fits. I'm taking suggestions, I like the sounds of fiddles, banjos, earthy music- and I am impatient. I need something that I can have some kind of result from with hard work, but not endless toil. Of course, finding time to fit this in to the other myriad of things happening seems like a long shot. But... a life without music just doesn't seem complete. In the meantime, I've put that album on repeat.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Yes, there is three feet of snow, but the end is in sight
Last night, it was 5:18 and not pitch black. There is no greater hope then the promise of spring.
Friday, February 4, 2011
A new day, Cold, but New
We managed to find a replacement for my beloved blackberry (even farmers love technology) on ebay for less than the cost of my replacement with insurance. Sixty dollars less, which for a under employed person is quite a bit.
It won't arrive until Monday though, which is irritating. Yesterday was the kind of day that makes you clench your teeth and roll your eyes, for 24 hours straight. But it's okay, because it ended wrapped up on the couch, cozy with the suddenly angelic puppy. That makes a big difference.
Today, I am feverishly consuming copious amounts of greenhorn (young farmer) materials. And getting ready for work. And reminding myself of the goal, which has been made easier by reading "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball. Here is a girl, who leaves NYC for the love of a farmer and the farm they build together. It's revolutionized my thoughts on how we might build our CSA. They build a year-round CSA, supplying the members with their entire food supply, dairy, grains, cheese, meat, veggies etc. AND they do it with draft horses. Incredible.
More on this when I'm not rushing to the cafe job. Soon. In the meantime, check out that book, and enjoy.
It won't arrive until Monday though, which is irritating. Yesterday was the kind of day that makes you clench your teeth and roll your eyes, for 24 hours straight. But it's okay, because it ended wrapped up on the couch, cozy with the suddenly angelic puppy. That makes a big difference.
Today, I am feverishly consuming copious amounts of greenhorn (young farmer) materials. And getting ready for work. And reminding myself of the goal, which has been made easier by reading "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball. Here is a girl, who leaves NYC for the love of a farmer and the farm they build together. It's revolutionized my thoughts on how we might build our CSA. They build a year-round CSA, supplying the members with their entire food supply, dairy, grains, cheese, meat, veggies etc. AND they do it with draft horses. Incredible.
More on this when I'm not rushing to the cafe job. Soon. In the meantime, check out that book, and enjoy.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday sucks.
A little immature for a title? Sure, but truthful.
Yesterday's storm seemed tame in comparison to the walloping we've been getting. Or so I thought, until I started to back my truck (4-wheel drive) out of the drive way, swerved to miss the sudden appearance of our dog Harper and promptly wedged the truck into a snowbank. Fast forward two hours, a bag of cat litter (for traction), a bag of salt and a neighborly tow later, and the truck is free. Of course, calling the neighbor was a production, since Badger (the puppy) ate my blackberry yesterday.
This meant I couldn't text my boss at the cafe, or find the number of my neighbors. After a circular process that I'll spare you the details of... I called into work and am now getting ready to obtain a new phone.
Then, time to finish taxes, get forms into mortgage company to hopefully get rid of the house via a deed in lieu, and more packing. Don't be jealous folks, today is an enviable day.
Yesterday's storm seemed tame in comparison to the walloping we've been getting. Or so I thought, until I started to back my truck (4-wheel drive) out of the drive way, swerved to miss the sudden appearance of our dog Harper and promptly wedged the truck into a snowbank. Fast forward two hours, a bag of cat litter (for traction), a bag of salt and a neighborly tow later, and the truck is free. Of course, calling the neighbor was a production, since Badger (the puppy) ate my blackberry yesterday.
This meant I couldn't text my boss at the cafe, or find the number of my neighbors. After a circular process that I'll spare you the details of... I called into work and am now getting ready to obtain a new phone.
Then, time to finish taxes, get forms into mortgage company to hopefully get rid of the house via a deed in lieu, and more packing. Don't be jealous folks, today is an enviable day.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snow-itis
Well, shockingly enough- it's snowing again. Looks like we are in for about another two feet at our elevation. This will be the third storm this winter that has given us over two feet. I really like the snow, but this last storm, combined with the recent bitter temperatures, is making for a touch of cabin-fever.
To stave off the winter blues, I've been doing a lot of cooking. Last weekend, I made a batch of stuffed zucchini to send with my girlfriend to a dinner, then on Sunday we made brunch for several friends. The menu for brunch was simple, frittata (with duck eggs), venison sausage, biscuits and sweet potato home fries. It was nice to spend the day eating and visiting with people who we care about, and we ended up having two waves of guests, so brunch was served from 10:30-3:00.
Whenever I am fiercely craving spring, I also crave salad. So I made a citrus blackened tofu, some fakin' bacon, and some toasted almonds and laid it on top of a bed of spinach and other veggies.
To stave off the winter blues, I've been doing a lot of cooking. Last weekend, I made a batch of stuffed zucchini to send with my girlfriend to a dinner, then on Sunday we made brunch for several friends. The menu for brunch was simple, frittata (with duck eggs), venison sausage, biscuits and sweet potato home fries. It was nice to spend the day eating and visiting with people who we care about, and we ended up having two waves of guests, so brunch was served from 10:30-3:00.
Whenever I am fiercely craving spring, I also crave salad. So I made a citrus blackened tofu, some fakin' bacon, and some toasted almonds and laid it on top of a bed of spinach and other veggies.
Tofu cooked w/lime and seasonings
Last night, we spent a good portion of the evening online looking at chicks, since we will need to place our order within the next few weeks. I'm debating between the standard cornish-rock crosses that most people use for meat birds, and heritage breeds. I grew both last year, and the crosses certainly got bigger, but the taste for the heritage breeds was so much more profound. Plus the heritage breeds were significantly less filthy. For egg birds, we decided to go with these fine fellows:
photo courtesy barnnecessitiesfarm.com
These, are Polish Buffs. They are absolutely absurd looking. We decided on a variety of laying chickens sporting head wear as they are both good layers of white eggs and immensely entertaining to look at. The baby chicks also have tufts of feathers sprouting from the tops of there heads. In addition, we will be getting the more traditional plumage chickens, Americana/Arucanas (Easter-Egg Chickens), who are a bit less...flamboyant.
Today's list of snowed-in activities includes outlining a garden plan, as we have the okay to have a veggie garden on my girl's family farm. We started picking out seeds a few weeks ago, and now it's time to make those final decisions and map the garden.
Think Spring.
Today's list of snowed-in activities includes outlining a garden plan, as we have the okay to have a veggie garden on my girl's family farm. We started picking out seeds a few weeks ago, and now it's time to make those final decisions and map the garden.
Think Spring.
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