Or rather, barging in on my dreams. This weekend I woke up from a terrifying dream where a bear was rushing toward my house (we lived in Palmer in this dream). To make matters worse, our dog was on a lead outside and the bear was swerving to get him. The next morning, I told my boy about how I frantically opened the door and struggled to get our jack russell off his lead before the bear could come up and crash through our sliding glass door.
My boy said: "You should have known right then that it was a dream!" I was confused and said "Because we wouldn't have sliding glass doors in the wilderness? Or because the whole bear charging the house scenario was a little too The Great Outdoors (skip to 1:24)?" He said: "No, of course not, the fact that we had a little dog should have been a tip off!" I said, "well jack russells are kind of sporty, it's feasible we'd have one." My boy just shook his head and muttered something about small dogs and sporty and ridiculous. . .
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Go Ahead, Have A Cow
My friend Christina introduced me miniature cows awhile ago. While I thought they were darling, I didn't really expect to have one. Since we're talking about the dream still, don't you think one of these babies would be perfect?!
My mother has always said that Jersies are the most beautiful cows, and of course she's right. I mean come on, they have the longest lashes and beautiful brown eyes with golden coats. Go look at that link and find Louise and tell me your heart doesn't break a little at her cuteness!!
Having a cow could provide some natural fertilizer for our plants and maybe a little cream for my coffee (am I reading that right are they saying those little cows provide 6 gallons of milk a day?). I think this plan is a keeper.
My mother has always said that Jersies are the most beautiful cows, and of course she's right. I mean come on, they have the longest lashes and beautiful brown eyes with golden coats. Go look at that link and find Louise and tell me your heart doesn't break a little at her cuteness!!
Having a cow could provide some natural fertilizer for our plants and maybe a little cream for my coffee (am I reading that right are they saying those little cows provide 6 gallons of milk a day?). I think this plan is a keeper.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Time Has Come
When I was little, my grandfather used to recite these lines from the Walrus and the Carpenter:
I was thinking about them a lot today. About how perhaps they could be a mission statement for our new farm, or at the very least, be used in our once a year whole pig roast accompanied with all the sauerkraut varieties we'll be making.
Since I typed out my current wild dream yesterday, I've thought about it more. I am concerned that I have now worked myself up into such a frenzy I'll be terribly crushed when I come crashing down from this dream. Another friend suggested that since the cabbages in Alaska really are giant we could also make kimchi (another favorite of my boy). I think it sounds brilliantly fun (though smelly).
You can go here to find recipes and learn about the history of kimchi (you know what else there is even a kimchi museum). This summer we went to a Korean first birthday at KumGangSan and my boy was sorely tempted by these huge plastic tubs they had of kimchi in various states, we briefly considered buying one just because it was such a great size (and they did make a particularly good kimchi), but with our new plan, we could have our own giant tubs and make other people jealous! It looks like we could even go here and try out the techniques before committing to a whole big processing system: http://store.therawdiet.com/pisaandkimch.html
Pork and sauerkraut apparently brings good luck for the new year among the PA Dutch, at least that's what my boy's family (and the post I linked to yesterday) say. I think that we could start an annual New Year's whole pig roast and sauerkraut buffet. Someone suggested that New Year's in Alaska might be cold for a whole pig roast and perhaps we should do it in the summer. I said, it doesn't bring good luck in the summer, besides, the summer will be reserved for giant homemade bratwurst and sauerkraut barbecues!
With my new plan though, we not only have to set aside the issue of money, jobs (though I remembered I vaguely know two architects, perhaps my boy could work for one of them?!), and my dislike of winter, but also set aside my fear of canning. . . besides that, this plan is brilliant. I mean really, don't you think that having 5 acres of peonies and five acres of giant cabbages would make a beautiful mix?
Don't think you've heard the end of this. Oh, no, the floodgates are open people, I'll be chattering about my calling to garden, for a lot longer.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes--and
ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling
hot--And whether pigs have wings."
I was thinking about them a lot today. About how perhaps they could be a mission statement for our new farm, or at the very least, be used in our once a year whole pig roast accompanied with all the sauerkraut varieties we'll be making.
Since I typed out my current wild dream yesterday, I've thought about it more. I am concerned that I have now worked myself up into such a frenzy I'll be terribly crushed when I come crashing down from this dream. Another friend suggested that since the cabbages in Alaska really are giant we could also make kimchi (another favorite of my boy). I think it sounds brilliantly fun (though smelly).
You can go here to find recipes and learn about the history of kimchi (you know what else there is even a kimchi museum). This summer we went to a Korean first birthday at KumGangSan and my boy was sorely tempted by these huge plastic tubs they had of kimchi in various states, we briefly considered buying one just because it was such a great size (and they did make a particularly good kimchi), but with our new plan, we could have our own giant tubs and make other people jealous! It looks like we could even go here and try out the techniques before committing to a whole big processing system: http://store.therawdiet.com/pisaandkimch.html
Pork and sauerkraut apparently brings good luck for the new year among the PA Dutch, at least that's what my boy's family (and the post I linked to yesterday) say. I think that we could start an annual New Year's whole pig roast and sauerkraut buffet. Someone suggested that New Year's in Alaska might be cold for a whole pig roast and perhaps we should do it in the summer. I said, it doesn't bring good luck in the summer, besides, the summer will be reserved for giant homemade bratwurst and sauerkraut barbecues!
With my new plan though, we not only have to set aside the issue of money, jobs (though I remembered I vaguely know two architects, perhaps my boy could work for one of them?!), and my dislike of winter, but also set aside my fear of canning. . . besides that, this plan is brilliant. I mean really, don't you think that having 5 acres of peonies and five acres of giant cabbages would make a beautiful mix?
Don't think you've heard the end of this. Oh, no, the floodgates are open people, I'll be chattering about my calling to garden, for a lot longer.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ennui
Lin Yutang said: "Probably the difference between man and the monkeys is that the monkeys are merely bored, while man has boredom plus imagination."So I usually only blog when I am bored or annoyed. I was unbearably unhappy at work today. So much so that on my lunch hour I spent time searching for another job. I cannot handle the social dynamics at work. It's so frustrating sometimes. In the last few months, I've had a couple of dreams that include me quitting my job. As you know, I have also been unhappy generally and have felt pulled somewhere else, I just can't figure out where.
A friend suggested that perhaps blogging my ideas for alternative realities may help the build-up of unhappiness. Awhile ago, I wrote about a house I wanted but I wouldn't share the link because it was too dear to me. That house has since sold (shockingly, not to me). So I've decided to share my insane dreams with you all from now on.
Today, my big plan when I couldn't find anyone hiring was to buy a house (still have no down payment mind you) in Palmer, Alaska and start growing peonies . People on weddingbee.com are always moaning about how they cannot get peonies in the middle of summer because they're not in season. I thought I was brilliant for coming up with the idea of growing them in Alaska. When I was in college, I would love it. It would be lilac season in Michigan and then when I got home to Alaska it would be lilac season all over again because Alaska's summer was about a month delayed. Clearly, I could use that same theory for my peony business!!
When I was home this past summer my dad mentioned a family friend had considered going into the peony business. So perhaps I should have realized that my brilliant idea wasn't so unique/earth shattering. What I didn't realize, was that there was a whole association!!
So perhaps the peony thing won't work out, there will be too much of a glut on the market and I don't have a job lined up for the two years it would take to start the plants growing strong. But follow me down this path for a bit, the one where money is no object, and I actually don't kill every ivy plant that crosses my path (supposedly one of the easiest plants to grow).
I would buy this house: http://www.trulia.com/property/1074787248-20723-N-Glenn-Hwy-Palmer-AK-99645 it's reduced guys, it's like a siren song to the buyer in me! As an aside, if you went to look at the house, I hope you made it to the last few pictures of the 25 where there are gratuitous "cute moose" pictures (notice they didn't show you the bears or wolves or scary animals). It's half the price of the house I have my eye on here AND it has 13 acres of land, surely that would be plenty of land to grow peonies! The house is slightly over 2,000 square feet and has a large outbuilding so there's got to be a space for my boy to set up a dark room, not to mention to start thinking about making my compound for family/friends to visit.
We would be 20 minutes away from the fairgrounds and certainly live far more in the wild than I ever have. This means my boy could take all the nature pictures he could possibly want and once a year there would be a market practically in our back yard to sell them!
Maybe we could branch out, in the winter we could offer to cater holiday parties, or go to church bazaars and similar events with a cotton candy machine or kettle corn. In fact, the Alaska state fair has a LOT of nice booths, ice cream booths with fresh made waffle cones filled with barley caramel ice cream, genuine southern gumbo, and lots more yummy items, but I don't think they have deep fried cheese curds. We could TOTALLY fill that market. If that's too tough though, maybe we could just make deep fried oreos (such a simple treat).
I think we could totally make it work, and I also think, barring the fact that we have no money and I don't love winter, we'd be way happier than we are currently (and by we, clearly I mean me).
While searching for property in Palmer, I vaguely remembered a for sale sign I saw when we were up there this summer. Wolf Country USA is for sale for $950,000 I've always been a fan of crazy road side attractions. The problem is, I find wolves mildly intimidating and I'm not a great gold panner, so I am not sure that wolf country is the best fit. Perhaps if they had something in the way of pink flamingos. . .
EDIT: My boy heard about my plan and said he'd rather grow giant cabbage and start a sauerkraut canning company -- perhaps that's what we could do with the winter months? I mean he is from the land of pork and sauerkraut.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Instant Streaming
So post three of stream of consciousness. . .
Little Couple is in Boston. Here are the things that are weird about this. 1. they're in the north end in the summer and it's not crowded to the brim with some festival. 2. they're in Mike's Pastries and they were not only not trampled to death, the camera crew had enough space to get shots of the glass cases filled with pastries. Also, not weird, but I thought I should mention I hate Union Oyster House (they went there too). I realize it's historical and that the founders of our country were patrons of the establishment, but I am convinced given the choices available now, they wouldn't be caught dead in the Union Oyster house (well actually, they aren't caught dead there and they actually are dead so I rest my case).
Speaking of the Faneuil Hall area, I went to Crate and Barrel today and that location is closing. It's been there for 30 years, it is the most convenient location in the world for me and has gotten a number of us in my office out of a lot of jams. I am sooo sad about this closing. The biggest shopper I know has left the country for two weeks and in her absence Crate and Barrel decides to close?!
And while we're on the topic of dishes and being abandoned, my boy is the one in our house that does our dishes. I hate doing dishes. There are a lot of reasons why I hate doing the dishes, but tonight as I was doing them, I was reminded of yet another reason. We have one of those handled sponges that is filled with soap. It's great except that the sponge doesn't stick very far out the front of the handle but it sticks out behind. Why would you design something like this? It means you cannot get the bottom part of narrow cups, vases etc clean. In looking for a picture to demonstrate the maddening design to you, I had to go through two pages before I could find one to show you what I was talking about. Apparently oxo's classic design (and pretty much any other one they've designed) does not have this issue, nor does libman to the same extent that ours does.
Little Couple is in Boston. Here are the things that are weird about this. 1. they're in the north end in the summer and it's not crowded to the brim with some festival. 2. they're in Mike's Pastries and they were not only not trampled to death, the camera crew had enough space to get shots of the glass cases filled with pastries. Also, not weird, but I thought I should mention I hate Union Oyster House (they went there too). I realize it's historical and that the founders of our country were patrons of the establishment, but I am convinced given the choices available now, they wouldn't be caught dead in the Union Oyster house (well actually, they aren't caught dead there and they actually are dead so I rest my case).
Speaking of the Faneuil Hall area, I went to Crate and Barrel today and that location is closing. It's been there for 30 years, it is the most convenient location in the world for me and has gotten a number of us in my office out of a lot of jams. I am sooo sad about this closing. The biggest shopper I know has left the country for two weeks and in her absence Crate and Barrel decides to close?!
And while we're on the topic of dishes and being abandoned, my boy is the one in our house that does our dishes. I hate doing dishes. There are a lot of reasons why I hate doing the dishes, but tonight as I was doing them, I was reminded of yet another reason. We have one of those handled sponges that is filled with soap. It's great except that the sponge doesn't stick very far out the front of the handle but it sticks out behind. Why would you design something like this? It means you cannot get the bottom part of narrow cups, vases etc clean. In looking for a picture to demonstrate the maddening design to you, I had to go through two pages before I could find one to show you what I was talking about. Apparently oxo's classic design (and pretty much any other one they've designed) does not have this issue, nor does libman to the same extent that ours does.
I have more randomness I could spurt (like a handled sponge), but I think this is probably good for tonight. Tomorrow will be my last night with ready access to Internet till Monday, so eat it up now!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friendly Little Public Service Announcement
So clearly the stream or consciousness writing hasn't affected my readership. I didn't get any comments but I also got no complaints. So here we go again.
Have you used up your FSA yet? You have three more days. I was planning on getting a tdap vaccination because I work with the homeless (who can be high risk for pertussis) and am around a few babies (though I've been so slow about it at least one of them has already sped well past the 12 month marker). Apparently whooping cough is deadly to babies, or at least that's what the scaremonger article I read said. The cdc just says:
Anyway, that's a long boring post, to say, if you're like I am and didn't make it to the minute clinic, you can go to drugstore.com, where they have a lovely tab for fsa eligible items. I ate through my balance pretty quickly.
In other random announcements, did you know that there are pink tomatoes? I mean really, can't Susan G. Komen let just one opportunity to turn things pink go?!? Really it's Burpee, and as as far as I know they aren't donating money to Susan G. Komen, but maybe they should get on them!
Have you used up your FSA yet? You have three more days. I was planning on getting a tdap vaccination because I work with the homeless (who can be high risk for pertussis) and am around a few babies (though I've been so slow about it at least one of them has already sped well past the 12 month marker). Apparently whooping cough is deadly to babies, or at least that's what the scaremonger article I read said. The cdc just says:
Adults who expect to have close contact with an infant younger than 12 months of age should get a dose of Tdap. Waiting at least 2 years since the last dose of Td is suggested, but not required.According to the CVS minute clinic website, that vaccine and a flu vaccine would have taken care of the rest of my FSA balance. Sadly, Mayor Menino (WHO I DID NOT VOTE FOR WHEN I HAD A CHANCE -- TWICE!!!) doesn't like minute clinics (okay fine, it's not just him, but since I currently don't like doctors, I like the above board we're just in it to make money minute clinic idea besides, there are two cvs stores really close to work, so convenient for a quick vaccine).
Anyway, that's a long boring post, to say, if you're like I am and didn't make it to the minute clinic, you can go to drugstore.com, where they have a lovely tab for fsa eligible items. I ate through my balance pretty quickly.
Speaking of eating, have you tried Turkey Hill's Chocolate Nutty Moose tracks?!
It's delicious, you should rush right out and by some -- and by you, I mean my boy specifically because even though it's only 55 degrees in our house and I am freezing, it's becoming a very real possibility I will consume all 12 servings before Thursday.
In other random announcements, did you know that there are pink tomatoes? I mean really, can't Susan G. Komen let just one opportunity to turn things pink go?!? Really it's Burpee, and as as far as I know they aren't donating money to Susan G. Komen, but maybe they should get on them!
Also, my boy is correct, apparently, when he says everything comes from Pennsylvania. Burpee seeds come from Fordhook farm located in Doylestown, PA (only an hour away from all of you in Philly). They appear to have "open days" in the summer and fall months where professional gardners give you lectures on gardening and you get to wander around a truly historic site (this is the birthplace of the big boy tomato, golden bantam corn and, most importantly, iceberg lettuce -- so named because of being shipped in crates of ice long distances. If you're interested in more about Burpee and the farm, you can read an article about how burpee seeds got sold off and then reunited with fordhook farm.
Oh, and to answer my question from the last post about best Christmas present this year, I think the beautiful candy apple red kitchen aid mixer I got pulled out ahead:
See how much more blogging you get when everyone I know has left the greater Boston area (and by greater Boston area I mean Roslindale and the South end).
Oh, and to answer my question from the last post about best Christmas present this year, I think the beautiful candy apple red kitchen aid mixer I got pulled out ahead:
See how much more blogging you get when everyone I know has left the greater Boston area (and by greater Boston area I mean Roslindale and the South end).
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
PSSSSSSSST Guess What?! It's Been a Month!
So time flies, that's it, time just flies. . . .
We've come to the end of watching The Waltons. Technically we haven't in the sense that in January all the reunion movies come out. But for now, we're aimlessly searching the television for other options. I pick The Golden Girls my boy picks Air Wolf and usually we compromise on an episode of History Detectives we've only watched once or twice before (especially now that TopChef and Monk are finished).
Way back when I started blogging, I thought I had so much to say. Turns out, that's not exactly true. I blogged quite some time ago about a friend who accidentally emailed me (it makes me wonder how many people get back in touch via the auto-fill feature on various email programs). At the time I struggled to come up with something new and flashy that was going on in my life. Oddly enough, my life has slowed down even more at this point, meaning I have even less to blog about -- for example if you referred back to that post, you'll notice that I had started a multi-vitamin, that lasted about a week (TWO YEARS AGO).
Anyway, since it's late and my boy is set on leaving the house at 5am (you know like three hours from now), I've decided to just free associate. . .
I almost titled this post, I got a ring!! Which is true, I did get a ring, but it wasn't an engagement ring, it's just a ring I had admired for awhile and had hinted very strongly (and by strongly I mean I sent a coupon code to my boy and a link) that I would like to see it under our imaginary tree. So yay! It's beautiful, don't believe me? Go, look for yourself.
I've gotten a lot of really lovely presents this Holiday season (I say holiday, because I opened some of them during Chanukah). For starters, I got apples to apples the Jewish edition. WHO KNEW?! Guess which was the first card I pulled, that's right, Sarah!! I also got a super cute stuffed saint (I plan on buying some for two other friends, but since they never read my blog, it's safe to share it here -- besides, the shop is on vacation so I can't even imbed a link). Also, in going to get you the link for the stuffed saint, I stumbled across this which is awfully cute as well!
My boy and I don't write Christmas cards (come on people, you saw how lame I was with thank you cards) but we've gotten a number of cards with pictures of friend's children and sweet or interesting notes updating us on all the goings on in our their lives (clearly I don't need to do that since I blog so regularly ;)). One note I received from my aunt this year made me laugh. She said she enjoyed my blog and that I wrote like I talk. I thought back on how many of my posts are about how annoyed and how depressed I am and I just felt sorry for all of you. Course those of you far away luck out, cause you can just skim or, you know, just skip.
So your turn now, what was the best gift you got for Chanukah (or Christmas if you're late reading the blog post)? And/or if you were going to write a Christmas letter what exciting, new, or notable thing would you include?
Way back when I started blogging, I thought I had so much to say. Turns out, that's not exactly true. I blogged quite some time ago about a friend who accidentally emailed me (it makes me wonder how many people get back in touch via the auto-fill feature on various email programs). At the time I struggled to come up with something new and flashy that was going on in my life. Oddly enough, my life has slowed down even more at this point, meaning I have even less to blog about -- for example if you referred back to that post, you'll notice that I had started a multi-vitamin, that lasted about a week (TWO YEARS AGO).
Anyway, since it's late and my boy is set on leaving the house at 5am (you know like three hours from now), I've decided to just free associate. . .
I almost titled this post, I got a ring!! Which is true, I did get a ring, but it wasn't an engagement ring, it's just a ring I had admired for awhile and had hinted very strongly (and by strongly I mean I sent a coupon code to my boy and a link) that I would like to see it under our imaginary tree. So yay! It's beautiful, don't believe me? Go, look for yourself.
I've gotten a lot of really lovely presents this Holiday season (I say holiday, because I opened some of them during Chanukah). For starters, I got apples to apples the Jewish edition. WHO KNEW?! Guess which was the first card I pulled, that's right, Sarah!! I also got a super cute stuffed saint (I plan on buying some for two other friends, but since they never read my blog, it's safe to share it here -- besides, the shop is on vacation so I can't even imbed a link). Also, in going to get you the link for the stuffed saint, I stumbled across this which is awfully cute as well!
My boy and I don't write Christmas cards (come on people, you saw how lame I was with thank you cards) but we've gotten a number of cards with pictures of friend's children and sweet or interesting notes updating us on all the goings on in our their lives (clearly I don't need to do that since I blog so regularly ;)). One note I received from my aunt this year made me laugh. She said she enjoyed my blog and that I wrote like I talk. I thought back on how many of my posts are about how annoyed and how depressed I am and I just felt sorry for all of you. Course those of you far away luck out, cause you can just skim or, you know, just skip.
So your turn now, what was the best gift you got for Chanukah (or Christmas if you're late reading the blog post)? And/or if you were going to write a Christmas letter what exciting, new, or notable thing would you include?
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