I know folks were sure kicking about the price of supermarket beef this last week. I don't buy it, but they say it's about doubled recently. Shew. I never thought I'd see the day when almond, soy milk was cheaper than cow! Blow my tiny mind.
It's far too dry for controlled burns right now, Cajun. You have to do those when there's little fire potential. Right now we're pretty near maximum. The donks would probably keel over dead at the sight of a plow! Oh my, work?! NOOOoooo.....
January 2011 - what is on your homestead horizon?
Darius, that is VERY exciting news. I have always been blown away by your culinary interests, knowledge and variety of skills. You always have something new in the works and it's always something out of the ordinary. Sends me googling a lot of times. I will be very interested to see how this latest adventure opens up for you. Is it the same place you got the pork roast that you brined in your last blog entry? How many people actually keep juniper berries on hand? :)
Jay, you need to make yourself a flap before you think about burning. Stand right over the fire and burn very small areas at a time with your flapper at the ready. Do you guys have to ration water? I know it is a far different world you guys live in out there compared to here and down home.
I am about to turn in. Have to finish my hot chocolate first. It helps me wind down.
Cajun, there is a fire ban in place... controlled burns are not permitted right now. No open fires.
Dyson, what kind of strawberries did you order?
Darius, how exciting! It's going to interesting to hear how you progress.
Jay, not sure that "enjoy" is the right word to use, but I hope your time away is everything you are expecting, and then some. I'm sure SO will hold down the fort while you are away.
I'm sure it will be loads of fun, & lots of stimulating conversation. There's so much to learn; I'm excited when I'm not scared half to death. I sure hope there's a good cook this time! LOL
But, boy, am I going to miss starting the seeds!
Caj, yes same place I got that pork roast. I've never been out to the farm, which is towards the KY line SW of me.
I never heard of juniper berries until I started getting wild game. It really cuts the "gamey" taste, whether it's deer, duck or rabbit. Don't know about bear since I've never eaten any!
Oh, is that what juniper berries are for. I've tasted them--they grow on trees out here--and thought they were nasty.
I sure wish we could do pastured pigs out here. Land won't take it. Shoot, we can still see the ruts of the covered wagons going into town.
Juniper berries aren't real berries at all, but the female seed cone of various juniper trees, such as the Juniperus communis, which is the one most commonly used in cooking.
The ones I've seen look like a berry, dried, shriveled & resinous. Blech. At least the ones off the tree are plump, moist & resinous blech. LOL
Not a lot to do with the conversation, but I wanted to share something I watched on TV the other night. It was a PBS show about things along Hwy 62 running across Kentucky, flimed in 2003. Since I live on Hwy 62, I found it quite interesting that there were so many "attractions" within an hour and a half from me that I had never heard of. Not far from here, maybe an hour or so, we have a Monastary. They earn money making/baking fruit cakes, fudge, etc and sell them around the world. We also have a major Bee Keeping supply company, the home of the Father of BlueGrass (Bill Monroe), a national race car company, the Everly Brothers hometown and museum, a semi-pro baseball team and an artist colony, with all but the artist colony in small towns along the route.
I've gotten fruitcake from that monastery... the only commercial fruitcake that actually had alcohol in it (at the time, anyway). Good, for fruitcake. LOL
Yeah, there's a bunch of stuff near here that I haven't gotten to myself. Did finally make it up to the old civil war fort. There's also a water-powered flour mill from around 1900 that they run once a year that I've seen... quite impressive!
Exploring more of the back roads of Kentucky is now on my Bucket List. Forgot to mention the hot mineral springs just 50 miles down the road and an old 1880 settlement about 60 miles past the springs. Years ago, I visited an old working grain mill in Iowa powered by a real windmill brought over from Holland. I find all of this really fascinating. Maybe I ought to start working on that list....
What is a bucket list & why is it called that?
I thought juniper berries were for making gin.
LOL, it's the Premier use for juniper berries!
Can't stand gin either! LOL
It's okay if you don't mind drinking perfume...
Must be an acquired taste...
I prefer distilled corn squeezin's myself.
I actually like some gins, but cannot drink it. It makes me love everyone... without any discrimination.
Sounds like a "sweet" tonic.
The night I met my now wife, I was under the influence of "White lightning".
Bucket List...list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket, so that when your time comes, you won't have any regrets.
Here's link to the movie that came out several years ago.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/
I much prefer cactus juice as the base material myself. Especially Blue Agave, with a bit of lemon or limeand a bit of salt.
Robert
Regrets when I die won't be from places I didn't see, but people I didn't love.
This message was edited Jan 17, 2011 3:09 PM
Jay, that is suppose to be in the list, too. It's not only about activties to do or places to see, it's also about becoming a better person, making amends, asking forgiveness and making sure that those who matter know you love them. A lot of the items on my list have to do with my kids and grandkids and maybe creating memories for them. But there are also a lot of things that I want to do or see that I will learn from, or get ideas from or just to stand in awe and admire. It's basically all about not dying with regrets. Lots of info on a google search.
I don't need google to tell me how to do that. =0)
But ponder this... even the Dalai Lama has regrets; he's said so himself. So maybe dying w/no regrets is an unrealistic goal.
I agree, there will probably always be some regrets. When I die, I'm sure that there will be a lot of things I wish I would have/ could have/should have done, but I hope there will be at least a few people who will say I made a difference in their lives and/or I will be missed.
Went to the MG Association meeting tonight. Wow! I didn't know our group did so much. This was probably the most intense meeting of the year, with voting on projects, procedures, etc. and setting up committees for all the new projects. My head was spinning. The MG Apprentices had to tell about their projects. Got a lot of support for mine. Felt like a proud mama!
Hey gang
Have no comp at moment
On the iPad
Can't type worth hoot on it
Jaye have fun on trip
I never could understand how one can live in thcountry and be hungry?
I know people who arenon food stamps and have 10acres
Iknow I shouldn't judge but I have offered to make garden for thrum and help get them going but I get ??? No response from the families
So I'm working on a community garden
Msrobin inspired me
Darius good luck on the curing ,it's a lost art
You go, Sue!
Yeah, hard work & sweat equity has gotten a bad name in this country. The national paradigm has become poolside w/a drink in hand.
Quote: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Sue, great idea!
Jay, hope your stay in CA is truly a great experience -- and I know you will appreciate and enjoy it.
To all, I'm still around, still tilting at windmills, still trying to farm lavender. I volunteered to serve as County Chairman of the Libertarian Party, but had second thoughts about how much time I have left (20-25 years or so) and how I want to spend it, so resigned last week.
Just have been lurking here enjoying all your comments but you get way ahead of me!
I hope when I am gone people will think I have made a difference for the better with my life. I hope I have helped people and been a friend to God and man. Whether I get to do things I wanted or go places I'd like to see, I don't think will really matter then. I want to spend my life not only telling people about the goodness of God but showing them with my actions and my life what having Him in my life means. I don't just want to talk the talk but walk the walk. Talk is cheap. In the end, all I can take with me to heaven in the souls I have influenced to follow God. That is what is important to me. But I want to live a full life while I am here. I think that is the best way to show God how much I appreciate the life He has blessed me with. I don't want to be a slug, living on excuses, waiting for the sweet by and by. What a waste that would be.
Sue, you go girl! A community garden would be great.
Our ladies from church are hosting a seeds swap in Spring. It has never been done here and nobody has heard of such a thing. I have never been to one myself but I understand the objective. I swap a lot here on DG. Our area is a very poor area and oppressed by the very industry that feeds it. A good number of people still garden and put food by but they always grow the same things; maters, taters,beans and cabbage. It gets them through the winter but I would love to help them expand their culinary thinking and enjoy some of the great things that are out there. I think tastier, more exciting veggies would get a new generation into gardening. We are also including flowers as I think that will get more people from the community out. I have had the ladies from church collecting seeds from their yards. I imagine I will have the only veggie seeds there and I don't have an abundance. If any of you have seeds you won't be using or trading and would like to contribute to the cause, I'd sure appreciate it. It would be an investment in a community. I would also like to try and grow an informal Garden Club out of the swap. We could have guest speakers to help us learn new ways to grow better crops and we could sponsor a Harvest Display contest. Not a big prize, maybe just a small gift certificate from a nursery. Our area needs some pride and I think that would help. I have lots of ideas. I just hope I can pull it off. My mind doesn't get tired but my body sure does. LOL
Can't comment on the alcohol beverages as I don't drink. I tried it a few times when I was young and didn't like the taste or the effect.
Darius, can you grow and dry your own juniper berries for cooking? I delved into herb growing last year and really liked it. Nothing far out. Some rosemary, sage and a few different basils. I'm going to do those again and add dill and some mints.
Sue, hope you get your computer back soon. Seems we rely on them so much. I know you do especially with your business.
I got 8 eggs day before yesterday and only 4 yesterday. Miracle layed for me. I hope the pullets start soon. I have 3 full dozen eggs now and starting on the 4th. Going to bring a dozen to a friend who has "adopted" the ponies. Her and her DH love petting them and sometimes they buy feed for them. Bought 100lbs a few days ago and I found a bale of hay in the barn last night. They are good people and a blesssing. Hope to give them a ride in the cart someday.
Bought 20 bales of hay yesterday. Paid more for it than where we had been getting hay but it's great hay. Full bales and smells so good I wanted to eat it myself. Got another 70 bales to pick up but can't get a hold to the lady who has it. That's why we had to buy this more expensive hay. It's close. Of course, by the time you pay the difference in time and fuel it comes out about the same so I'm not stessing over it.
Today is my DD's BD. She is 30 today. Doesn't seem possible. She has grown into a fine person. She is a single parent (Knock's Momma) and she works hard to take care of him and herself. Supports them on her own. It's not easy but she doesn't ask for help. My DS is a big help to her with her truck. He is a fine young man too. They are both very hard workers. DD has lots of artistic talent too. I'll have to post a few pics of her work. She has her own face and body art painting business. Does it on the side. She has a full time job too. And she can sing like a bird. I wish she lived up here. We'd hire her to do the music at church.
Gotta get out and get my work done. Hope you all have a good day.
Our forecast of one tenth of rain was way off the mark. We've already had close to an inch. But it's 47*!
Cajun, I won't be going through my seeds untill next week, but I probably have some to share. Here's a couple of links for putting on a seed swap.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2116590_start-seed-swap.html
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/How-To-Organize-A-Community-Plant-And-Seed-Swap.aspx
Thanks a million, Robin. That will help me a lot.
Cajun ~ it isn't vegies but I will donate an assortment of herbal seeds to your seed swap. For you and for the others to plant and enjoy as well as use. I'll be sorting them in the next week or two as am starting seeds thru the end of January. I'll let you know when they are coming your way if that is o.k. with you.
That will be so much appreciated. You guys are too kind.
Here is a pic of my DD's painting.
Here is another.
Just found out that the house next door (containing the SIL apartment) sold. Now where am I going to plant?
I'm taking off for zen center. I'll either see you on weekends or in a couple of months. =-)
Everybody have a great Spring!
{{hugs}}
This message was edited Jan 19, 2011 5:52 PM