Goops

These were some of the most freakish, and yet also the most awesome
stocking stuffers ever. I can't tell you how many times I've
shamelessly whammed! them into the floor today.

Saved from the stewpot

Finally, the girls have started laying again!

Home, lap, home

And now Harry's had his turn on charlie's lap too. Everyone is happy.

Home again

After a long two day ordeal, stranded in Denver, we're finally home
from the holidays. Henry is overjoyed.

Dec 25

Happy Christmas, all.

Dec 24

On the twenty-fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a
shining star, one goldfish, one bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one
golden bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one
jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise,
one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue
ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol,
one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one
bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 23

On the twenty-third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
goldfish, one bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one golden bell, a
yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a
nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 22

On the twenty-second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
bluebird of happiness, one acorn, one golden bell, a yellow candle,
one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown
bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 21

On the twenty-first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one
acorn, one golden bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread
man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green
tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 20

On the twentieth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one golden
bell, a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly
snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 19

On the nineteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a yellow candle, one candy cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 18

On the eighteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one candy
cane, a gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a
holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath,
one sparkling
snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree,
one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 17

On the seventeenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a
gingerbread man, one jolly snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree,
one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling
snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree,
one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 16

On the sixteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one jolly
snowman, a nut brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one
grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball,
a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 15

On the fifteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a nut
brown bird, a holiday tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a
holiday wreath, one
sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 14

On the fourteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a holiday
tree, one green tortoise, one grey kitty, a holiday wreath, one
sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 13

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one green tortoise, one grey
kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 12

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one grey
kitty, a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a
spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one
nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch
of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 11

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a holiday wreath, one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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the seed mix always looks prettiest before the shake

The secret to my bread? Take a standard milk bread recipe and add a seed mix. Some days it's regular milk, some days buttermilk. I use at least half bread flour and the other half is baker's choice: wheat, rye, graham, whatever bits I have on hand. Then I add about a half cup of my pre-mixed seeds per two loaves. This batch includes flax, sesame, anise, poppyseed, and caraway. If I want something crazy and strong like a jolt of rosemary or cumin I add that when making the bread.

Dec 10

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one sparkling snowflake, one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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Now that Sappho's birthday has gone by I can safely post a photo of her party dress. I found some soft, soft tiny wale corduroy with hip birds and almost a peacock design. It was calling out to be a smock dress, meant to be worn over a long sleeved shirt and pants. Because it's cold outside!


Harry thinks it is very cold, and the only way to deal with it is to curl up on a recently-vacated chair and cover his nose.


I've been snip-snipping at this year's snowflakes. One of my favorite family traditions is the labeling of gifts with snowflakes as gift tags. Snowflakes are cut from little squares of paper. And you know what comes in a perfect square? Origami paper. None of that white christmas stuff for me....I am quite partial to the brilliantly metallic purple one up top.

Dec 9

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one blue ball, a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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Water has been restored! A pipe burst underneath one of our neighbor's houses and drained the holding tank. It was 14 degrees this morning, which made it almost impossible to get out of the warm bed filled with Charlie and cats and go to crossfit. But we both did. I'll save my "get out of workout free" card for the first snowfall.

Dec 8

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a spangled pink ornament, one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

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One thing we didn't get today was water. It was down in the teens last night, and something has gone awry at the well. Fingers crossed that it gets fixed soon! The chickens are keeping warm under their heat lamp.

Dec 7

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one frosty tree, one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 6

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one batman symbol, one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 5

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one nibbling squirrel, one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 4

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one letter B, one Charlie Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 3

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one Charlie
Brown ornament, one bunch of grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 2

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one bunch of
grapes, and a bearded Santa Claus.

Dec 1

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: one bearded
Santa.

Harry is ready.

T-minus 2

Since I'm brining our thanksgiving turkey, I must turn to alternate
sources for gravy (brined drippings are inedibly salty). Tonight I
roasted some legs and unmentionable bits, and will make a reduced
stock out of them. Time to add parsley and white wine...

Chowdah

When Charlie says he's going to make clam chowder for dinner because
clams are in season, he really means it. Good thing I made bread!

The world needs ditch diggers too, Danny.

The gnome supervises

Our original gravel driveway had one thing going for it: it doubled as a natural drainage field for all of the water coming down the hill onto our property. The newer paved driveway is lovely, and let me tell you it is way easier to rake all of the leaves and maple tree-whirlies off of it, but it sheets water like mad. About half of it goes off to one side of the house, but the rest of it pools along one curve and then flows directly under the house. This makes me a little nervous. I know that we live in a very wet place, and that our house isn't going to slide down the hill while I sleep, but all of that water can't be good.


So I decided to install a drainage pipe. Something that would take that pooled water and shunt it off to the other side of the house where it could blend back into the ground. One long pvc pipe, one curved joint, and two grate attachments later I let the chickens out and got the pickaxe out of the shed. After watching the chickens and realizing that they weren't going to dig the ditch all on their own I finished the job.

scruffy chicken looks for bugs to eat

The chickens are so amusing when I work in the yard. When they roam around, they are constantly scratching with their talons, bending over to see what they've unearthed, and picking something to eat. When they see me with a huge rake or any other gardening tool, scratching industriously at the soil they assume that I have found Incredible Treats and am ready to share with them. So after every pickaxe stroke, I look to see if there is a chicken diving into my upturned earth to check for worms. It is definitely easier to dig a ditch while you are laughing.

fashionable yardworking footwear, and mud covered legs: business as usual!

The chickens are also going through their annual molt, and are in the very unfortunate stage. They've lost most of their feathers, and if you look closely the blank spots are covered with one-inch long stiff new feather tubes. New feathers start out in a casing that looks almost exactly like a shoelace tip (if you've ever owned a parrot, you've probably watched them industriously try to help you by freeing the end of your shoelaces). These casings are jammed with new growing feathers that have blood circulating in them and they itch like crazy. This equals cranky chickens covered with prickles that want nothing more than to roll in the dirt. I've been letting them out more than usual just so that they can get some sort of relief.

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Eggs laid in the coop lately: none! Molting chickens use every single mineral and vitamin that they eat to build new feathers. They don't care that I would like to make a coconut angelfood cake.

Mushroom

Maitake mushroom, you are so delicious in my hot pot.

Crumby

What do you do with all of those leftover heels of homemade bread? You
put them on top of the fridge to dry out for a couple of months and
then you pound the daylights out of them. Breadcrumbs!

costumed

costume inspiration

What was my costume? Why, the Queen of Hearts of course. I saw a picture of a little girl's version of the costume and loved the graphic elements of the Disney movie character design. With the help of a corset pattern and Suzanne's sewing experience with gored skirts, the costume worked out pretty well. My favorite part was the bright red poufy petticoat worn under the skirt. The costume got worn first at the company Halloween party and I felt quite regal.

driving with a petticoat is entertaining

the queen on halloween

We had no party to attend on Halloween, so I implemented my genius plan: get dressed up and go out to dinner at a favorite restaurant.

John Lennon, a chef, the queen, and Indiana ready to party with tasty italian food

gratuitous shot of handsome Charlie

We ate good food and then came back to our house for an evening of playing Beatles rock band, in costume of course. Except for Charlie since he couldn't rock in his chef's coat and hat.

Fall

Sometimes living in the woods is a lot of work. But sometimes it is
beautiful. (and at least I don't have to rake the leaves on the road!)

Saturation

Ok. I'm happy because someone is making some money selling fine Indian
black tea at whole foods. But, please...does it have to be Twilight-
branded? Really?

Planet Steam

I love German board games, the kind that are so damn big that they
cover your entire coffee table.

beary big

I went to get eggs this afternoon, and saw that the girl's yellow treat bucket was overturned. It was up against the side of the coop, covering an enormous hole. My guess? A bear. Something chewed through a one inch thick piece of wood and then peeled back the hardware cloth to get at the bucket. A cat or raccoon would have swarmed right through that hole and eaten all of the chickens. Luckily, when he pulled the squash and other bits out of the treat bin it was left covering the hole, or else the chickens could have just walked right through it. The picture doesn't show the scale very well, but that hole is the size of a basketball.

Sorry girls, no more treats for a while!