Moving to Blogger

Ok, I am consolidating and have found that, while wordpress is really fun, I like the video/picture, manipulation qualities of blogger better.

So, follow me here. . . .

Tea anyone?

A quick diversion from our usual programing – I’m going to a tea party in Charlottesville on 4/15/2009!  Whoo Hoo!  My first political event, other than bashing our local board of stupervisors *rolls eyes*  three of us from work are heading out.  T-shirts and all!

Some cute slogan suggestions include:

Give Me My Freedom, You Keep The Change
Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth.
Washington’s Plan “The Way to Hell” Czeck Prime Minister Topolanek
The Idol Shall Not Wear the Remnant nor Eat the Bread of the Laborer – God
Born Free, Taxed to Death
Bailouts, Stimulus, and Pork. Oh My!
Millions, and Billions, and Trillions. Oh My!
Tax Me Not My Children
It’s not New, It’s not Change and It’s not Hope – Rush Limbaugh
Stop Spending My Children’s Money
Socialism is Bondage
God Gave Us Freedom Obama Gave us Chains
God Gave Us Freedom Obama Gave us Chains Please Return to Freedom
Don’t Tread On Me
No Taxation Without Deliberation
Personal Accountability Not Government Bailouts
We Believe in Freedom Not Socialism
If You Think Health Care is Expensive Now, Wait Until it’s Free
The Answer to 1984 is 1776< a copy of 1984 can be found here.
Wickedness Never Was Happiness Return to Constitutional Principles
Paying My Mortgage, and Yours Too
Keep Your Bailout; I’ll Keep My Freedom
Obamanomics: Chains You Can Believe In
Repeal the Bailout – Margaret Thatcher
Where Evil Men Rule the People Suffer
No More Bailouts
Stop Subsidizing Stupidity < my personal favorite!
Let the Free Market be Free
Give me Liberty, not Debt
Free Markets, Not Free Loaders
Your Mortgage is Not My Problem
Socialism Works Until You Run Out Of Other People’s Money – Margaret Thatcher
Constitutional Principles Not Big Government
Please Help Protect The People From the Government
Cut Taxes Not Deals
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death – Patrick Henry
Read My Lipstick No More Bailouts
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Next Time Read The Bill

I decided to participate after reading Phelan’s post.  This was after I sent No-NAIS emails to all of my reps.  I can relate, in a small way, to Phelan’s dilemma;  What to do.  I feel that way with the state of things right now.  I see revolution on the horizon and it is approaching fast.  My children and I will see the fight on our doorstep and I must say that the idea excites and scares me at the same time.  I am willing to sacrifice so that my girls will have a chance at a future, at freedom.

Ok, that’s enough for now.  This topic makes my blood boil.  =)

what weed is this and other news

I am still on a weed kick but also had some fun shots to share.  What does one make when they burn the top of the cornbread?  A cornbread sun flower!  

A toad house from a favorite bowl that was broken.  =/

Now for the “What weed is   this and can I eat it” game.  A friend reviewed my pictures and identified one of these as mouse ear chickweed, which is edible.  He was not sure if the other (with white blooms) is regular chickweed.

Common chickweed?

The last one is a succulent of some sort – not sure what.  It is not purslane (that I know of).  We do have some purslane that blooms purple flowers on a stalk, or at least I think it is purslane.  Guess I need to have the forestry person come visit and confirm?

Over the weekend we were able to finish the pallet fence and burned the brush pile.  We discovered numerous raspberry bushes that I will transplant.  Now to decide where to plant thethe strawberries so they can grow and not be caught in foot traffic.

Rain has returned to Ashwood.  Not torrential just steady drizzle.  Where is that second rain barrell??  *sighs*

Oh, speaking of weeds, we also have violets, some of which actually bloom.  We are all familiar with the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, well, how ’bout “when life gives you violets, make jelly”.  Check out this link or this one.  Thank you Joyce Ann for a great idea – something is up with her blog and I cannot link to it.  =/

Now for some dandelion wine.  There are numerous sites that show recipes, some quite elaborate including wine making yeast and a collar (?).  This one looks more doable:

Dandelion wine does not require any special equipment to make. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. This recipe uses cloves, which I think give it a nice touch. If you have dandelions around, give it a try!

• 1 package dried yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 quarts dandelion blossoms
• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 8 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped orange peel
• 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped lemon peel
• 6 cups sugar

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Set aside.

Wash the dandelion blossoms well. Put them in the water with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Add the cloves, ginger, orange and lemon peel, and sugar. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for an hour. Strain through filter paper (coffee filters work great). Cool. While still warm (but not hot), stir in the yeast.

Let stand overnight and pour into bottles. Allow uncorked bottles to set in a darkened place for three weeks. Then cork and store bottles in a cool place. Makes about 4 quarts.

Every site mentions that the wine will be less bitter if just the petals and none of the green or stem are included.  Flowers need to be picked at about mid day when fully open and can be frozen until one is ready to make wine.  Fermentation should occur at temps between room temperature and 50-59F.  Also the amount of sugar will determine how dry (or not) that wine becomes.  A similar recipe can be found here – I like how WikiHow explains racking and the above helpful hints.

Being instead of doing

This fits into an earlier post about what things cost.  Things being anything you want it to be – yes I used the word while trying to define ‘it’.  =P  Things can be material items, a job, a mindset, an idea, an action, etc.  You get the picture.  The original content can be found here.  May we be less doing and more being.

Have you ever admired a successful person? What was it that you admired? Was it their fame? Their lifestyle? Their accomplishments?

Society teaches us that to be successful, we must achieve-we, must “do” something to earn it. We are taught to work hard to be “successful”. And to show our success we buy things – material “things” that prove our success “status”. When we focus on earning success we become “Human Doings”.

Human Doings overload themselves with long lists of goals, objectives and “to do” lists. They become emotionally drained as they spread themselves too thin. Worse yet, they are unavailable to respond to the emotional needs of those around them because they have so little left to give. Just as a hand becomes calloused to toughen sensitive skin, so does a human doing become insensitive to “feeling” the emotions of those around him.

“Human Beings” consciously chooses to slow down, prioritize and maintain balance. They understand the risk of getting too over responsible to their success at the cost of becoming insensitive, distant and emotionally unavailable. They make a decision to stay in touch with those they love by setting up boundaries that prevent them from becoming a slave to their goals.

After yesterday’s posting about weeds, I took out my camera and began documenting the kinds of ‘weeds’ I have growing in my side iris/lilly soon-to-be-lettuce garden.  Dandelion and chickweed were the easiest ones to identify.  Am working to identify the others, see if they are good eatin!

Eat your weeds.

Tansy’s post about chickweed got me to thinking about what other wild herbs I may have growing in my yard/garden this year that may have a use other than for cursing.  After Googling chickweed I found this site and, whatdoyaknow, there are several!

Aside from chickweed, I also have common lambsquarters, common purslane (I think),  and prickly lettuce.   My purslane has purply pink flowers on that bloom up the stem.  Not very tall but very pretty.  Before I pick and eat, though, I am going to take a picture and confirm what it is.  Dandelions are easy and we have several growing now.  Perhaps this will be a good addition to tonites salad!  I found pictures of these beauties here.

Recipes for common lambsquarters can be found here with numerous purslane recipes here.  I’ll surf for more exciting herb recipes.  =)

Chow down!

p.s.  today Ronnie and I both packed lunch and I ate in the lunch room.  Missed having lunch with my honey; however, the savings sure felt good!

Carrots, radishes and taters, Oh my!

It has been an interesting week.  Schools were closed on Monday as the shooter was still ‘at large’ so I stayed home with them.  It is amazing on how many chores ones thinks they can get done with an unexpected day off – NOT!  =)  We hung out with my doing some cooking/baking/knitting and the girls reading and surfing the web.  Late that afternoon Matt, the tractor guy, came and disc’d the garden.  It looks sooo good!!  Even the new ground was in great shape.  So Monday evening we planted 8 rows of potatoes; four white and four purple cadillac (the meat is not purple, just the skins).  In between the potatoes, I planted onions (white, yellow & purple).  Then we broadcast seeded the carrots and radishes together.  All of this is in my little book, to which I do not have access at the moment.  The rains started yesterday and will probably continue through the weekend.  Not a heavy, washing away dirt rain but a gentle, misting type – great for the garden!

I had considered planting partial shade loving plants in our front yard; however, since the girls enjoy playing in the front yard and we have taken over most of the back yard with the other garden, I believe these greens may be limited to what can be grown in the front flower beds.  Perhaps lettuces and spinach?

Tuesday was spent working both jobs and then yesterday I hung out at home, fixed dinner, read and hung out with my chillins.  Today I work both jobs and then will be off all weekend (yes, still work on Friday).  As I read my schedule in print I am reminded of an article I read in Causabon’s book about the cost of our ‘lifestyle’ and it has made me think; is my family really benefiting from my working both jobs?  The 2nd income helps to feed our technology addiction (cell phones and DSL) and when the girls have a field trip or need project supplies.  What is the cost of my not being at home on those evenings?  It sounds like a topic for a good family discussion.  =)

Murder has come to Hot Springs

It’s late (11:52 actually) and I am just getting home from the restaurant.  While at work we get news that there has been a shooting at the Homestead; a chef and his assistant.  You know what it was about??  Hours.  This man’s schedule had been reduced so he shoot the man who was ‘responsible’.  The shooter is still at large.  *sighs*  This is the first murder that Ronnie has ever heard of in the county – he has lived here for for 48 years.

I am tired and going to bed.  The shot gun is loaded and is sitting by the bed.  I am happy to be alive!  Will write tomorrow.

Working & weekends

Hola ma famille et amigos.  I am still here and still reading everyone, posting comments, etc.  Holding to the ‘make hay while the sun is shining’ motto, there have been many  bartending hours at the Grist Mill, which I cannot pass up.  Working two jobs leaves me whipped by the end of the day and ready for not much but a shower and bed.  Zzzzzz.

I hope to write more soon, perhaps this weekend.  The weather is predicted to be sunny and in the mid to upper 50’s.  Yeah!  Ronnie spoke about seed starting so I’ll be helping with that – rolling newspaper to use for seed pots.

Ciao ya’ll!

Chilling reads

Kathie, at Two Frog Home, has read all 117 of HR 875 and sums the bill up nicely here.  I also follow Casaubon’s book and Sharon had an interesting view on the same bill.

In the chilling read categorie we have The Age of Stupid from Climate Progress and Reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic, and moral reasoning from Casaubon’s Book.  The post from Casaubon’s Book I have personally witnessed on the local school system.  It is chilling.  Virginia has the Standard’s of Learning (SOLs – accurate name), part of the no child left behind mandate.  The school’s funding is based on those scores and if teachers want to keep their jobs, the classes must average a certain SOL average.  Teachers ‘teach’ to pass the test, notto  relay important information/knowledge/concepts.  *shivers*  I cannot say which I find more scary!

My posts have been infrequent and perhaps too thought provoking.  Nothing like a good shake in the boots to realize that homesteading is more than the ‘in’ thing to do; it is a matter of survival; to teach my kids how to live in a world that will be less hospitable than it is now, less technology based. Here in lies the challenge.  What about my grandchildren?

We all know there are more scary things than what I have posted.  It is just too mind boggling.  Can we save overload??  I think I need a cup of tea.

No more farmer’s markets

Today’s post at Two Frog Home, had this link about HR 875.  From what I can tell, this bill would require seller’s at the Farmer’s market to register with a newly created Food Safety Administration and be subject to inspections.  Record keeping would be required and fines for non compliance max out at $1M.  My coworker says “welcome to socialism”.  I find this very scary.

There was some interesting discussion on this site about the bill with this point being made,

thudson said: “Please point out what text prohibits backyard gardening. Also, you should divulge any consulting contracts you have with interested parties.”

The bill does not explicitly prohibit backyard gardening. What is does is include backyard gardens in the definition of Food Production Facilities. Here’s the definition (section 3-14)
————————————–
(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.
—————————————
This is a broad definition that could include backyard gardens, a backyard chicken pen with 2 or 3 hens, a backyard bee hive, etc. One might hope that regulations and courts would clarify the law in such a way as to exempt food produced for one’s own use. But don’t forget U.S. Supreme Court decisions, such as the New Deal era opinion which held that a farmer growing corn to feed his own pigs was engaged in interstate commerce, because growing his own corn meant that he did not purchase as much corn, thus having an effect on the interstate market for corn. Having laws on the books that could conceivably be construed in such as way as to regulate backyard or homestead food production is awfully risky.

In addition to this, the law could very well put small farmers out of business, as it is generally far more burdensome for them to comply with regulations than it is for large companies — plus small farmers do not have the wherewithal to bribe regulators, whereas large corporations do (I use the term bribe somewhat broadly to include such things as free trips, pretty women, and cases of expensive whiskey).

Can we say slippery slope?