The Farmer's Veggie Wife

January Gone

2012-01-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

Wow, next week is the end of January (and Justin Timberlake's birthday in case you write that on your calendar). I gotta say, January 2012 has been a pretty interesting year beginning.

I am now the chair of the local Public Market (not sure how I feel about that still).
We had over a foot of snow for almost a week (which I totally loved but thought the schools should have been in session).
We went to visit Sissy and Lil' Bear is California (had a great time even though it rained...at least it wasn't snow).
I discovered Pinterest (what I do instead of updating this here blog, whoopsie daisy).
I haven't worked a full 5 day week for probably a month because of holidays and vacations (but I still didn't find time to get all my other "to-dos" done).

But alas, next week I will be working a full 5 days but then....it's my birthday and I am taking a day off (or two). I think Washington should put a 4 day work week on the ballot soon.

My first pinterest DIY project "snow sticks"

Bright New Day

2012-01-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wake up (when I am not cozy under the covers and talking myself out of waking up) and I look outside and the sky is beautiful. Our front windows have a great view of the islands and sky. The clear sky and pink shadowy clouds are amazing. This morning I decided to take Buk for a walk (because I didn't want to run). When I walk just a quarter of a mile up the road, Mt Baker is fully visible. This just makes me smile every single time. If I walk even further, about half a mile, I can see the Canadian mountain range and that too is spectacular.

I get such joy seeing nature in all its splendor. Every time I see the mountain or the green San Juans, it makes me remember why I love my home. You know, sometimes I wished I lived in Hawaii because it too is so perfect but on mornings like this, I am reminded why I love Washington.

I know, this is total hippy bullshit but lordy, my day is a little brighter now because of the chilly, beautiful morning walk!

Garlic Carrots (Raw)

2012-01-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

I love garlic. If you don't like garlic then you probably won't like this recipe. Which means you probably are a vampire. Just sayin'.

But, if you do in fact like garlic and you also happen to like carrots, then you should make this. It is super easy to make and it is a healthy snack. I make this when I find myself wanting a snack and about to open some chips. For me, this recipe replaces those easy to eat snacks that I really shouldn't eat all the live long day.

INGREDIENTS
6 larger-sized carrots
3 cloves of garlic
1T Mirin (an asian sweet rice vinegar) or regular rice vinegar
2t agave (or 2t simple sugar)
1/2t (or to taste) salt

METHOD
1. Grate carrots and put into a medium sized bowl.

2. Mince the garlic and put in same bowl.

3. Pour Mirin, agave, and salt into bowl.
4. Mix together.

5. You could eat it now or stick it in a jar and put in the fridge to let the flavors mix together a bit more and enjoy some later.

I am going to go eat some of mine right now!

Twenty Hundred And Twelve

2012-01-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012 everybody! I have spent the last few days doing nothing! Great way to start a year, if I do say so myself! However, I have to go to work tomorrow and that isn't so happy. I mean I like work and all but I like eating food, taking naps, looking at pinterest, and doing what I want a lot more. I even did some DIY projects: homemade kahlua and some sticks in ~~jars with salt~~ snow decorations. Sissy was in town too; therefore, I got my fashion and decorating senses kicked into high gear. Thank god, I need that from time to time. Those sweat pants were really starting to stink.

All in all, I really enjoyed my family time (immediate, inlaws, and extended). Although, we were supposed to go x-country skiing with Ma and Pah and that didn't happen due to 20mph winds, we still had a great time entertaining each other.

Cousins

Now, for 2012, I need to do some working out. I know that is what everyone says and that is why the gym is going to be like the Walmart parking lot (which I have never actually been to, just heard about) but this inner tube I am beginning to get isn't really going to help me in any winter floods. Time to strap up my Nike's and get serious. Who's with me?! No one? Shit, this is going to make getting out of my cozy bed pretty difficult.

Buky's Xmas Hat

White Russians Are Sooo Good

2011-12-20T21:39:00.000-08:00

These last few days have been quite busy for me at home and at work.

At work, we have kids all day so it is non-stop and I feel like I don't have much time to get my "to-do" list done. With work busy, I am reminded why I never became a teacher because dealing with children all day really makes a couple drinks after work hit the spot. However, I would rather not need 4.5 white russians to stop hearing the children in my head. Not to mention my office is a hell hole! I leave work everyday either in a rush to get home because we have plans or I have just told a kid to "stop saying shut up", "say please", and/or "get the ~~hell~~ off the ~~mother f-ing~~ pool table please" for the three thousandth time and I only have enough energy to grab my bags, planner and book it out the doors. Sometimes I remember my keys, sometimes I don't.

But...it is only a 4 day work week this week and next (and the week after) and I am SO happy for that. I need some down time. This year for the holidays we are going to spend full days with both of our families and Sissy and Lil Bear are coming home for a visit and I am so excited! I will even get to spend time skiing with my family AND we get to welcome the new year with Sissy. I couldn't think of a better way to finish off the year!

At home, I have been wrapping and re-wrapping presents. Our dear Buk took to unwrapping presents one day because he is bored. Yes, he is bored because his mommy and daddy don't love him and didn't take him to exercise for like 3 or 4 days but comeon!

I also finished our Holiday letter this weekend and I got most of them mailed out Monday. The letter explains what all of the Pepperworths have been up to this year and how we all fared with 2011. If you would like your own recap, you can see it here, here, here, here, here and here. Don't worry, you don't have to read them all, there will not be a test.

Here is our picture this year. After a week of trying to get Mr Pepperworth in a new photo, it never happened because he was too busy saving us thousands of dollars by fixing up the van. So this is our way of still sending a silly picture but not actually having to take one.

I hope you all are looking forward to your holidays!

Love The Pepperworths

Holiday Picture Outtake 2008

2011-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

While I am away...

2011-12-15T09:03:00.001-08:00

I am leaving you with this. It is one of those things I watch once everyday right now because it is just too effing funny to me.

Newt Gingrich - Bad Lip Syncing

Oh and I will leave you with another previous year out-take picture tomorrow. It will be my gift to you.

I'm busy

2011-12-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

I am working on the Pepperworth Holiday letter. Therefore, I am busy. I must put all of my creative work into the letter. Plus, I am wrangling all the animals for the picture. I am also convincing Mr Pepperworth to be in the damn picture. So just give me a minute here. Please.

Outtake from 2009; although, it is perfect!

Carma*

2011-12-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a middle class household. Both of my parents save money (and let's be honest, other crap). They believe in providing well for my sister and I. If I had to be thankful for one thing in my life, it wouldn't be my babies, it would definitely be my parents and their ability and planning to make my life easier by providing for me until I was graduated from college (and then sometimes after). I don't have loans or debt because they helped me along the way and they taught me about investing and saving. I am so so so grateful for that!

I will say that I did work in high school and throughout college. I am not a total spoiled piece of shit.

Anyway, in high school I may or may not have been as grateful for their love and support. I may or may not have thought of it more as more of an expectation. I knew that I was eternally grateful but I didn't act like it per se. Something that I am not so proud of is the fact that wanted/demanded a car. Actually, I didn't demand a car, I just demanded that I didn't drive a certain car. Well, van.

We had a white dodge van, still have, and I would have rather been caught dead then drive that thing to school. My hatred for driving that thing made me cry (literally) whenever I had to drive it. Looking back, it is the dumbest thing ever but I can still feel the hate for driving that thing. I much preferred driving the new PT Cruiser, which looking back is the dumbest thing ever!

I have had 10 years to forget about the van, although I still have driven it on certain occasions (ie Ragnar). Nowadays the van has some quirks, like when you put a tape in the tape deck, it makes an awful screeching noise and when you go over 15 miles/hour and the doors lock, one lock doesn't work and makes a machine gun noise. It is pretty great. But, if I was 17 years old, I definitely would still cry.

But, I better get my shit together because guess what, I am going to have to start driving a van again. Really, a Vanagon. A VW Vanagon. It isn't too embarrassing though. It is more classic and cool. Although, yesterday I drove it and it WAS embarrassing to be at a stop and not get the damn thing into first gear. (Something Mr Pepperworth will be working on today.) So yes, Mr Pepperworth and I have bought a new van. Most likely, I will be driving it when we need a second car. Mr Pepperworth LOVES the thing though and right now it is all taken apart so he can clean, fix, and re-do some parts. It is the first time he has asked to use the carpet cleaner. He must really love his new purchase!

So, in conclusion, the Pepperworths have a van. We will have many adventures with the van and have the space to haul all the needed camping gear. It gets about 19 miles/gallon apparently which isn't too bad for a 1986 van. Mr Pepperworth says it will last another 10 years. It damn well better, that's all I gotta say.

*I am giving the idea for the title to my mother. When I texted her about our purchase, she texted back that one word.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T08:45:00.000-08:00

2011 will be my first Gluten-Free Thanksgiving. Last year around this time I was having horrible stomach pains and decided that I would go on an elimination diet AFTER the holidays. Why would I want to give up cookies, dinner rolls, stuffing, cake, pie, crackers, and all the great food that comes along with giving thanks and opening presents? I didn't. So, I decided to eat all I could until January 2, then I would start my diet.

After eliminating gluten from my diet, I don't have stomach pains and my regular headaches went away. It has been great actually...although I do cheat occasionally because there are just so many good gluteny snacks! My doctor didn't understand why I would want to "eat socially" and therefore eat gluten occasionally. I wanted to say, "uh, hello, does nacho Doritos mean anything to you?!"

Anyway, besides the occasional 1/2 bag of chips or one home-baked cookie, I am doing pretty well. I have learned some new ways of cooking and I am experimenting with new recipes all the time. The only down sides are that I have not found a good pizza crust (although Garlic Jim's gluten-free crust is AMAZING, I haven't been able to make it myself) and I introduced eggs back into my baking. I have found some great gluten-free/vegan recipes but sometimes gluten-free items need eggs or else they just crumble. I still don't eat things like omelets or scrambled eggs because that grosses my shit out but I do have to crack an egg sometimes to make cupcakes.

So for this Thanksgiving, I have decided to make a few things so I hopefully don't eat other things with gluten. Plus, I am a vegetarian too so that means I need to make sure I have something I can eat. To Mr Pepperworth's family Thanksgiving I am bringing:
- My family jello with cranberry sauce, celery, and sour cream. But of course made with agar, agar because eating the horse hooves in jello is something I like to avoid. (p.s. although that jello combo doesn't sound great, omg, it is!)
- Gluten-Free Veggie Pot Pie. I made this a couple of weeks ago and it is hella good!
- Gluten-Free Carrot Cake. I was going to go with pumpkin cupcakes but I made those and wasn't that impressed.
- Mushroom Gravy. No turkey drippings for muah.

With those things, I still plan on eating mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole (I'll have to live with the gluten in the soup to make that), and I will forego the yummy biscuits and stuffing. Those things I don't feel like making. Bread is hard.

Oh lordie, I'm hungry!

p.s. I am thankful for my mommy, my daddy, my husband, my sissy, my in-laws, my unborn niece/nephew, my babies, Gussy, my house, my job, my co-workers, my heat, my new fridge, my books, and my 7 year old laptop.

Kitten, it's been real...

2011-11-19T21:25:00.000-08:00

As I sit here, there is a small black cat jumping half way up my drapes just for the hell of it. This cat's name is Kitten. Yes. This Kitten is Red's little baby. I have referenced him before (see number 5).

Kitten and Red have lived with us since July. They move out next weekend. It has been nice having someone (Red) else in the house to hang with. But, between you and me, that cat (Kitten) won't be missed. Red will be; Kitten, not so much.

Ya know, as I type this, Stanley sits on my lap nodding his head in agreement. He too hasn't gotten along well with his cousin.

I know, how could I, a loving mother of three dislike another's baby so much that I swear, squirt, and hiss at the sweet young thing? Well, when I constantly have to chase the cat away, get the humping cat off my cat, or when I am telling it to shut the fuck up because YES, it WILL get dinner, just wait a fucking second, my nerves get the best of me and I don't think fondly of Kitten. He is a bit, shall I say, f-ing annoying? But, his momma loves him, very much. When he sits on her lap and is loved, it's sweet. Kitten's constant, shrill meows are precious to Red. Only a Kitten a mother could love I guess.

So anywho, although Kitten keeps us on our toes and does make me laugh when he chases his own damn tail, I will see him go and probably not cry about it. Red, on the other hand, has been fun to be around. I don't have to squirt her and she doesn't cry when she is hungry. Her, I will miss. It is nice to be with family.

But Kitten, I know you are my nephew and I do love you and hope nothing bad ever happens to you but....it's been real. Peace!

Poor Simon

Pre-Weekend

2011-11-10T20:23:00.000-08:00

Right now I am home alone (if you are a burglar and you are reading this right now, please don't come get me) and I should be a) making dinner b) cleaning the table, kitchen, bedroom, or livingroom c) turning down the rice that is boiling on the stove or d) walking the dog. But...I don't really want to do any of those things.

I also don't really want to make a real post.

I have about 4 posts lined up but they are waiting for pictures. But getting those pictures onto the computer and edited isn't something I really want to be doing right now. I'd rather just talk about how I am not doing it.

I just got home from work. It was a long day with a break in the middle but I was gone from home a long time and now I am tired. Plus, I am still home alone so there is no one to do anything for, such as a) find something b) feed c) punch or d) clean.

Today at work we had a lot of kids but they were pretty much all precious. Although there was a squirt bottle at the front counter that we use for cleaning things and I had to hold myself back from squirting kids probably like 5 times. If a kid a) didn't say please b) threw something on the floor c) played tag where they weren't supposed to or d) asked me what time it was, I had to take 10 deep breaths and hold my twitching fingers away from the trigger. Once I did squirt a kid. It was super satisfying. He must not have told his parents because I didn't hear about it.

Anywho, I think I am done for now. I have decided to eat something and think about how I must make myself get up and go to the gym tomorrow. This a) cookie b) french fries c) fried rice and d) snickers aren't going to magically make my butt smaller. (And yes, I know half those things have gluten so I probably have to go clench my stomach in pain here pretty soon.)

OMG, I think we are out of french fries. Fuck me. I guess I will just go lay on the floor and cry and wait for the gluten to catch up with my digestive system.

Playing Hostess

2011-11-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I co-hosted a baby shower for a Ferndale friend. I was in charge of the games and food. My games were unique and my food was obviously divine. I may not be able to do laundry, clean a shower, or wash my car but damn, I can sure whip up a mean chip dip and cupcake.

And, I would like to show it off. Naturally.

I made deviled eggs.

I made cucumber sandwiches.

I made gluten-free carrot cupcakes.

I made chocolate brownie cupcakes.

goodies bags made by my co-host

It was a good shower and baby will have some great clothes and toys when he/she is born. Which should be very soon. Hopefully I get over my cold soon too so I can see the babe when he/she enters the breathing world!

These Brownie Cupcakes are amazing, by the way. In fact, I would like to provide everyone with the recipe. You can make these vegan easily. They aren't gluten free but I will work on that asap!

Brownie Cupcakes
makes 13-15 cupcakes
adapted from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

INGREDIENTS
2/3c semisweet chocolate chips
1/4c plain yogurt
1/2c cherry preserves (black or red)
1/2c milk (I use vanilla soy)
3/4c sugar
1/2c canola oil
1t vanilla extract
1/2t almond extract
1/4c cocoa powder
1/2t baking soda
1t baking powder
1/4t salt

Frosting:
2T melted butter or margarine
1/4c cocoa powder
3T milk
1t vanilla extract
1 1/2c powdered sugar

METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin pan with liners and spray each bottom with oil.
2. Mix together yogurt, cherry preserves, milk, sugar, oil, vanilla, and almond extract. There should be no large chunks although the preserves with still be floating around which is all right.
3. Melt chocolate chips in pan on stove. Heat slowly while stirring until all chocolate is melted.
4. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the yogurt mixture. Mix thoroughly with hand held mixer and mix for about 3 minutes on medium speed.
5. Mix in melted chocolate until well incorporated.
6. Fill the liners 3/4 of the way full with batter.
7. Bake for 24-26 minutes. The tops may look semi-shiny and undone but that is all right.
8. Take out of the oven and let them sit in the pan for 5 minutes.
9. Take cupcakes out of the pan and finish cooling on a rack.

To make frosting:
1. Beat together butter, cocoa, milk, and vanilla.
2. Add sugar in cupfuls and incorporate well before adding more.
3. The frosting will be semi runny, runnier than normal frosting, but that is all right, it will "dry" like frosting on a brownie.

Enjoy!

Summer Review

2011-10-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

The summer is over. It was officially over last weekend when I didn't sell at the Market and I found myself saying, "what project am I going to do this weekend?" I even cut all my dailias yesterday because I am ready to be done with those. I am ready to hunker down, read a book, turn on the fireplace (yes it's gas), knit, and cook/eat until I gain 30 pounds.

Unfortunately, I know I won't be doing all those things regularly, besides eating, I still am ready to go into hibernation because the summer was pretty busy. We were working in the yard, working to get ready for the market every weekend, attending family events, and trying to relax when possible.

So, in order to put the 2011 summer to rest and get ready for my knitting needles, I would like to reflect on its events -

Failures:
1) The deer ate all the f-ing beans. I love eating beans and canning beans. That didn't happen.
2) I wish I would have swam in the pool more often. However, the green water scared me away most of the time. Next summer we will be more on top of that situation.
3) I didn't weed as often as I should have. Although really, I don't care.
4) I ran but not as far as I wanted. I never made it passed 9 miles and that was only once.
5) The number of times I hung the clothes outside to dry: 0. Total failure!
6) The number of times I turned on the video camera: 0. What is wrong with me?!
7) The number of times I made blackberry pie: 1. That should have happened at least 5 times!
8) The number of weekends we missed the Farmer's Market: 3 or 4, I can't remember.
9) Camping. Did we even go? I can't remember. I think maybe once but that is definitely NOT ENOUGH!
10) We didn't loose any weeding tools. Some people might think that is a good thing. It isn't. See number 3.

Successes:
1) I went waterskiing. Some summers I can't say that and it makes me sad, luckily I can say I did this summer.
2) The Public Market (farmer's market) was amazing. While we didn't make much money it was super fun!
3) I got Mr Pepperworth to run Ragnar and like it!
4) I canned applesauce, sweet pickles, salsa, and green salsa. Great for eating in the winter!
5) We introduced Red to Earth Hour, she calls it Pioneer Hour. She even observed it without whining! Sissy even observed it on the same day. Bi-state Earth Hour. Great!
6) I read many books. I love reading.
7) I joined the Ferndale Public Market board. This should be interesting.
8) Our asain pear tree gave us some pears. Last year it didn't. They are so delicious!
9) The house got cleaned every weekend. I think. I am pretty sure. It may have looked like a shit hole 6 days a week but I think every 7th day it was clean. That's how I remember it.
10) Simon hasn't pissed on the couch for a couple months. Hallelujah.

Although there may have been equal amounts of failures and successes, the summer was still a great one. It was a summer of learning. We are already gearing up for next summer and planning our year. I am already craving cherries and sunscreen but I will embrace the winter months by eating as much squash as possible.

The Cowboy Way

2011-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Mr Pepperworth and I got off work early and drove 2 hours to see Riders in the Sky with my Ma and Pa. After years of hearing me and Sissy singing things like, “I wanna drink my java from an old tin can…” “Mom, where are you? I’m over here, behind the big rock…” and “Oh, I am Queen Elizabeth…”, it was time to introduce Mr Pepperworth to the sweet group that is RIS.

Now, my family has listened to RIS since I was about 8 years old. RIS has over 8 albums out but we had one album back in the day. Well, one tape. One tape that they don’t even produce anymore. It is a good one! So needless to say, the group has been around awhile. 34 years to be exact. And, honestly, they look kinda like they have been around that long. (I realized that Mr Pepperworth and I only go to concerts/events where we are the youngest people there but that is another story.)

Anywho, RIS is a cowboy group that sings old country western songs but also has some funny songs to go with them. There used to be three of them, now there are four. They added an accordion. He’s pretty good.

There is this one song on the tape we had called, The Queen Elizabeth Trio. It is really the Happy Wanderer but the guys sing it like they are old British women. Since it was a trio, and we tend to like things that are Monty Pythonish, my Pa, Sissy, and I sang the song. We sang it hiking, we sang it as a phone message, we sang it for shits and giggle. Good family times. So…because I thought it was funny, I emailed RIS’s manager. It went something exactly like this:

Hello,

I am not quite sure if this will find the right person, or if this is even possible, but my name is Emily and I will be attending the Friday 10/14 show in Covington, WA with my husband and parents.

I am super excited to see the group as I grew up listening to Riders in the Sky on family vacations. My sister, dad, and I would sing at the top of our lungs to Saturday Morning with Riders.

Anyway, long story short (that includes many singalongs), I would like to make a song request for Friday night. I am sure this doesn't usually happen but my request would be "Queen Elizabeth Trio", although I know there are 4 guys in the group now. I know it isn't really a hit song or even very sophisticated, but it would make my dad so surprised and happy if the guys would sing it seeing as my sister, dad, and I sang it constantly growing up. I am assuming it isn't already on the play list. :)

Hah, thanks for reading this odd request. Again, I have no clue if a)this is possible or b) this will reach anyone but hell, it was worth a shot for my Pa.

Thanks again,

Emily

Ferndale, WA

The response was something exactly like this:

Hi Emily,

Great letter! I've passed on your request. No telling what those cowboy characters will do.

You'd be surprised how many letters I get asking where to find those old shows. CBS put them in the archives and we have never been able to release them on dvd. So sad - they where really wonderful and the guests, Rikki Lake, Florence Henderson, Julia Sweenie...people would love it.

Thanks for writing,

Roberta

Riders In The Sky

And, guess what....they played it. And, they introduced it by asking if I was in the audience. And, then they said they hadn't sang it in 20 years. And, then, they bombed the song. Oh well, it was still funny in my opinion and then they referred to me later in the show and other people after the show asked me if I was Emily and my dad was Pa (because obviously that is what they referred to him as). I got a kick out of it anyway and I think Pa did too. Another great Riders in the Sky moment to add to the family fun list.

I gotta say though, Too Slim, definitely the funniest Rider.

I think Mr Pepperworth is a fan now too.

This Really is Embarrassing

2011-10-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

I need a sherpa to guide me up this mountain. Laundry Mountain.

Ugh, I hate weekends (not really).

This doesn't even include the 2 more loads of clothes.

Please pray for my safe return.

Best Fries Ever

2011-10-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

My friend just posted these fries on her blog and in a fit of ~~hunger~~ overindulgence, I decided to make them that night for dinner. With fried rice. I know, best combo, huh? Well, I already had everything on hand because we have some beautiful purple, red, and yellow potatoes from the garden so I couldn't pass up the opportunity for fries, but then again, when can I pass it up? (never!) Anywho, I made this because it is super easy and I have never really been able to master homemade fries. I made these fries back in 2009 but these 2011 fries just are a ish-ton better. Sorry for previously posting an inferior product.

However, because I like to tweek things and try to make things better than the last, I decided to add a few special ingredients to my fries. It certainly was a good thing.

Homemade Oven Fries
serves 2-3
adapted from these guys

INGREDIENTS
4 medium to large potatoes (I used our homegrown yukon gold and purple), rinsed, peeled roughly, and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
4T olive oil
ground black pepper
salt
small pinch cayenne pepper

METHOD
1. Put oven rack to lowest position, put a baking sheet on the rack, and heat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Place cut potatoes and 1T salt in large pot; add water to cover.

3. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and gently boil until exteriors of potatoes have softened but centers still are semi-hard, you can use a fork to make sure it can't pierce through the middle, about 5 minutes.
4. Drain potatoes well and transfer to large bowl. Drizzle with 2T oil and sprinkle with 1t salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper; using rubber spatula toss to combine.
5. Drizzle another 1T oil and continue to toss until exteriors of potato slices are coated with starchy paste, 1-2 minutes.

6. Working quickly, remove baking sheet from oven and drizzle 1T oil over surface.
7. Carefully transfer potatoes to sheet and spread into even layer. Bake until bottoms of potatoes are golden brown and crisp, 15-20 minutes.
8. Take sheet out of oven and flip potatoes and rotating sheet. Bake 10-15 more minutes until fries are completely golden.
9. When finished sprinkle with pepper and maybe some more salt and enjoy!

Incredible Journey

2011-09-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is about Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Only with an English Pointer, a Siamese cat, and an orange Tabby.

Sometimes Mr Pepperworth and I like to pretend Buk, Stan, and Simon will go on an adventure someday. Not because we left them alone or anything. No, it will be because they just want to go for a hike and because they are getting to be adults.

We will let them go and give them packs to carry food, water, and treats but the hike will turn somewhat dangerous when they become lost because Buk left his map at home and Stanley forgot his compass. That's when the homeward bound part turns into real life! Of course, we will be looking for them and have helicopters out but we won't find them for a couple days. And, in those couple of days where they are lost, the story will go a little something like this (as dictated by Mr Pepperworth and myself over the course of a few years of storytelling):

Buk, Simon, and Stanley have been lost in the North Cascades for three days after going on a hike. They come to a river and need to cross....
"Whoa, water. We're three brothers who LOVE swimming, let's go!" - Simon

"Oh man, you know I don't go in water." - Buk
"Yea, I'm with Goofy over here. Water mattes my fur like nothing else!" - Stanley
"Do you two want to see Mom and Dad anytime soon? If so, you are going to have to figure out a way to cross."-Simon
Just then Buk falls into the river after peering over the bank to watch a fly float on the water. Splashing and doggie paddling ensues.

"Dog overboard!" - Simon
"Quick, let's run down stream and see if we can stop him somewhere!" - Stanley
After running downstream, the cats find a bridge and an old fishing net. They hold the net in their teeth and catch Buk but of course Buk is too big and they drop him. Luck is on their side though and there is a logjam under the bridge. Buk climbs to safety on that. Everybody is safe but Buk is very wet and walks with his tail between his legs and his ears down.

They all lay on the bank panting for a minute.
"Whew, we thought we may have dog-gone lost you forever on that one Buky." - Simon

Stanley, not amused, "at least we all are safe for the moment. Look, over there! A road!"
"Let's see if we can catch a ride!" - Buk, whose mood has turned around suddenly.
They all run off together to the road and see if they can't get a ride into town on a watermelon truck.

And, scene!

As you might be able to tell, Simon is the smart but funny one. He knows what is going on and can get the group together to focus on getting home safely. Buk is the goofy one of course. He gets stuck in the brambles and falls in the river and when it is time to decide which path to take Buk always chooses the path with a cougar waiting at the end behind the big rocks. Stanley is the prissy one. He usually drags behind the rest trying to clean his fur and complain. But, although Stanley complains, he is pretty tough and super brave. He is also the serious one, when he isn't looking for his flea comb.

Starring:

Man needs a Maid

2011-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

With busy weekends and even busier weekdays, I have a few chores that tend to get shoved to the bottom of the list.

These would include (but are not limited to): mopping the kitchen, cleaning the shower, weeding the overgrown mess at the front of the driveway, and taking care of the huge pile that is the laundry. I am really good at cleaning the laundry but not so much into folding.

Throughout our relationship together, I have never folded Mr Pepperworth's clothes. (Maybe I did once when he was sick or something but he would really have to be sick.) I know that many girlfriends and wives fold the laundry but Mr Pepperworth knew I did not love him enough to do that when he married me.

With that said, it also should be known that I don't like folding my own laundry. I need a laundress. That is a woman (but a man, preferably one that could also act as pool boy, would suffice) who comes in and folds laundry.

Right now there is one week worth of clean laundry on the bed/laundry baskets and there is definitely another weeks worth of clothes in the dirty laundry basket.

I am not proud of myself. No siree. I just want a laundress goddamnit. Actually, a TV in my room would work too. Folding just gets so f-ing boring!

Yes, that is a bed full of laundry....and Stanley. He loves the pile.

S + LB

2011-09-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Mr Pepperworth added "photographer" to his resume. He photographed the wedding of Sissy and Little Bear. I just mailed Sissy the pictures today but with it being Labor Day weekend and all, she won't get them for awhile. So, to whet her palette, and my mother's because she is wetting her pants in excitement, I am posting some of the photos (there are over 325 edited and 1,000 non edited pics). These aren't even the best ones because those are a surprise for Sissy and LB.

I love these so much and unfortunately this post doesn't make them look as good as they really are but you can click on each one to make it full size and quality.

Mam and her babies

LB and his bro and nephew

Pretty Sissy

Aweshum fabric flowers made by Mam

Booyah!

Booyah II

LOVE THOSE, made by Pah

Table settings, so beautiful!

The 'rents

Me and Pah

Footloose = fun

Part of the high kick competitions

Bros in Law

Shit Show

2011-08-26T08:26:00.001-07:00

It has come to my attention that many people over the age of hmm....40, don't know the phrase "shit show" and what that means.

For example, after explaining, in one sentence, the evening events of my 10 year high school reunion to Phil (my FIL - father in law) he was a bit perplexed. "Shit show?" said he. "Shit show, yes," I explained.

So, after explaining to him what exactly that entailed, I would like to inform all the readers out there exactly what those words mean. It really is a great phrase that wraps up a lot into two little words.

Okay, "shit show" is a descriptive term to explain how a situation became/was frantic or ridiculous. For example, let's say you start out an evening eating dinner, having a lovely time and then, BAM, the waitress spills a full bowl of soup on your dress. After you get semi-cleaned, an old chum finds you and tells/yells at you all about his/her new life as a divorcee. Then, you decide to leave only to realize your car won't start and your dog shit in the back seat (although, no shit actually has to occur for it to be labeled as "shit show). You get home just ready to crash into bed but alas, your cat pissed all over the bed because, well, who f-ing knows (it isn't a urinary tract infection). *Or if you are an actual adult that doesn't just own animals, let's say your babysitter didn't actually put the kids to bed and they built a fort blocking the entire hallway to your bedroom.* So instead of sleeping in bed (because it either has piss on it or you are too exhausted to find the way in after putting the little shits to bed), you just open a sleeping bag and fall asleep. (The individual events in this story may, or may not, be things that actually happened in my life.)

The next morning, you would call your sister and she would ask how your date night went. You would sigh and say, "It was definitely a shit show." You could then proceed to explain all the events or she would just know that it was exhausting and probably slightly funny.

Shit shows are usually something you end up laughing about though because they are so ridiculous and you feel so overwhelmed that you don't know what else to do.

They have happened a lot in our household: here, here, here, and here.

Hopefully you experienced at least 10 shit shows in your lifetime. While they are annoying, they provide good stories and remind you that, well, shit happens.

Summer Tacos

2011-08-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Since becoming gluten sensitive, I have had to re-vamp some old recipes and use new ingredients in my cooking. Something that I am in LOVE with right this second are corn tortillas. I never really liked them before but for some reason now, I crave them. A fresh, homemade taco with sour cream, salsa (even homemade tomatillo salsa!), beans and some lime sound amazing to me. I make this at least once a week. You should too.

Summer Tacos
created by Emily Marrs
makes 6 corn tortilla sized tacos

INGREDIENTS
- 2T extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 medium sized onion chopped
- 1 can of black beans (or 3/4c of dried beans, soaked and cooked)
- 1 small zucchini sliced
- 1 small summer squash sliced

- 2 cups of cabbage, shredded
- 1 stem of oregano, leaves stripped and cut roughly
- handful of cilantro chopped
- 1 lime
- 1 carrot, shredded
- salsa and/or hot sauce
- package of corn tortillas or taco shells

DIRECTIONS
1. Begin heating a large saute pan. Add a pinch of salt to the bottom of the pan.
2. When pan is warm, add olive oil.
3. After about 20 seconds (before olive oil begins smoking), add minced garlic and chopped onion to pan.
4. Saute until onion is semi-soft and translucent.
5. Add zucchini and squash. Saute until soft, about 4 minutes.
6. Add carrots and kale. Saute for 3 minutes, until kale begins to wilt.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Add beans (or meat), cabbage, and oregano. Squeeze the juice of one lime on top of ingredients in pan. Saute for 5 minutes.
9. Give the dish a taste and season with salt and pepper if more is needed. If you have agave, about a teaspoon is great in this dish!
10. When the saute is done. Warm your tortillas in another pan until soft.

11. When all your tortillas are ready, take out and add your saute on top with some fresh cilantro, freshly shredded carrots, hot sauce/salsa, cheese, and any other fresh toppings you like on tacos. I love sour cream.
12. Fold and enjoy!

Something Blue

2011-08-16T20:31:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was beautiful Sissy's wedding and my one year wedding anniversary. (They were not on the same day. They were one day apart but that didn't stop Little Bear (bro-in-law) to ask what we were doing for our anniversaries next year.)

Mr Pepperworth and I wanted to celebrate our anniversary somehow. Really that just meant we would go to dinner (something we try not to do often). Our plan was to get off the island where Sissy and Little Bear's wedding was held, go to dinner, and relax. All fine and dandy.

Well, it really wasn't all fine and dandy. You know why? Because I forgot to wear blue on my wedding. I had a blue addition but never put it on, I forgot. Hopefully this only jinxed the first year anniversary. It was a dousy. Let me tell you about it.

Sunday August 14:
9a- Mr Pepperworth and I roll out of bed. I realize we have to make an "after-wedding brunch" at 10a and probably have to pack and figure out how to use a fucking ferry. We showered and got packed pretty fast. I try to call the ferry people to find out what the situation is for the day but my phone keeps roaming because it thinks I am in flipping Canada.
10a - Guy on the phone says noon ferry still isn't full. We are safe, or so we thought.
10:15a - On to brunch we go.
11:30a - Little Bear's brother (a ferry captain) says he is going to put his car in line for the 2p ferry. We figure we should do the same but after trying to figure out details we leave about 5 minutes after him.
11:50a-12:30p - Mr Pepperworth gets in line for the ferry and does all the things you have to do in said line.
12:45p - Mr Pepperworth arrives back at brunch.
1p - We head back to our car afraid we won't make it on the ferry. Ferry comes and it looks like we might get on.
2:17p - We move up in line. All our other friends who left the same time as us get on. The ferry is pretty full. The ferry guy shows "5" on his hand, we are the 5th car. We get excited.
2:19p - Ferry guy gives the "stop" sign to the car 3 cars in front of us. Fuck! We didn't make it. Next ferry arrives at 5:30p. Luckily my loving Daddums and Mother waited for us and we decide to go with them and leave our car. (I love them.) We are going to go to the state park and get a snack. We get a snack, I feel sick. Too much car. I get a headache. Emily with headache = bitch.
4:10p - 20 minute rest in parent's hotel room.
4:45p - Back in line for ferry. Obviously, we get right on. Mr Pepperworth falls asleep. I go find some family friends that are on the same ferry who I never see. We have a good time on the ferry.
6:15p - We get back to the main land and decide to eat. I remember this taqueria I ate at with some college roomies. $22 later we have a fabulous meal actually.
8p - We get home. Thank the lord all mighty.
8:05p - Start unloading.
8:15p - Realize cat barf on the floor. Clean up cat barf.
8:30p - Realize cat pee all over bed comforter. Clean comforter but in the process the laundry overflows.
8:50p - Realize cat is super sick and clear liquid is coming out of his anus.
9:00p - Feel like crying when I have to decide whether to sleep in sleeping bags or in old sheets and thin ass comforter.
9:20p - Realize my husband wants to cry.
9:30p - Say, fuck this. Put the cat in a room with a litter box so he can shoot clear liquid out of his butt in that and not on the bed or dog bed.
9:45p - Take a shower. It is a cold shower because I was last and the overflowing laundry machine used too much hot water. At this point, I just laugh. I can't believe this is the end of the day!

10p - Realize this all happened because I didn't wear something blue.

Good thing I gave Sissy one of my blue silly bands to wear on her wedding so she won't have to go through this next year.

Oh yeah, and good thing I love my husband so freakin' much otherwise I might take this as a sign our marriage ain't gonna go so well. But I am sure it was just the one day.

The Porch Swing

2011-08-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

After coming home from a productive day at work and only feeling the need to wring one or two necks on the job, I was feeling pretty good. So good in fact I canned some bread & butter pickles, fermented dill pickles, made gluten free zucchini bread, made dinner, and sat down to write this post. Today was good.

But you know what ended up making it great? The Porch Swing.

Now, when I think of a porch swing I think: relaxing, inviting, comforting, and so on and so forth. This is exactly what I am about to introduce but it isn't that swing on your front porch. Oh no, this is a drank. A perfect summer drank.

The Porch Swing came to my attention last summer courtesy of Smitten Kitchen. It screams summer and is so refreshing. What isn't to like? Pimms, great, even if you aren't English. Gin, sippin' on it. Lemonade, oh god. Cucumber? Y.E.S.

So if you need an evening siparoo, pull this concoction together, you won't be sorry.

Porch Swing
adapted from smittenkitchen.com

INGREDIENTS
1 part Gin
1 part Pimms
4 parts lemonade (a good one, like newton's)
some cucumber slices
nice amount of ice

Mix her all together and don't have too many. Plus, don't drink and drive. You shouldn't be anyway though, you just got home from work. You need rest.

What the Farmer Doesn't Tell You

2011-08-04T21:11:00.001-07:00

As you may well know, we went to our first Farmer's Market last Saturday. (actually it was a Public Market, hence why it didn't go so well.)

As you may have well guessed from that last sentence, the Public Market was a hoppin' but not so much money was made. Let's just say it is a really good thing both Mr Pepperworth and I have our full time day jobs. We made back about a 1/5th of the cost of the damn tent we had to buy but really, I can't complain too much, it wasn't all bad.

Our first Market sale ever.

Okay, it was that bad money-wise but fun-wise, it was pretty darn good. Mr Pepperworth and I spent Thursday and Friday prepping ourselves, saying, "do you want the bad news or the good news first," and things of that nature. We had to figure out what we had, how much we would need to take and it was actually all very exciting trying to guess how many customers we would have and what they would buy.

We got to the Market at 7:30am, first ones there, whoop whoop! Then had to wait around until someone could tell us what to do. We set up and totally had the best looking booth. Cute, inviting, and better than the plastic tubs other people were using.

Alas, for our first week we didn't get the attendance we were hoping for. In this one horse town people don't seem to actually go to the Public Market to buy food. Hopefully by pulling through we will get people to go for that purpose. We do have some great things but most people don't know that baby beets and purple kale can be made into some smashing, awesome stirfrys. Eat that for dinner, not your veal parmesan TV meal. I held my tongue though and didn't tell anyone they could loose a few lbs with more veggies in their diet.

We had fun. We met some great people and hope to really help Ferndale grow their local food movement. They need farmers and I must stick by Mr Pepperworth as the Farmer's Wife. I pretty much am the best Farmer's Wife and have to live by my name now! Plus, I make the signs look pretty damn good. I even put one of our engagement photos on a bulletin board. Everybody thought it was pretty cool.

Unfortunately, we won't be at the Market for a couple of weekends because 1) we took everything we had the first week. It is a hard "summer", throw us a bone now. 2) my baby sister is gettin' a married. Can't wait to get back though and establish ourselves a bit better. Plus, when those cantaloupe and melons come out, ain't nobody gonna pass us up. Oh lord, please let them like melons.

Summer Swim

2011-07-25T18:23:00.001-07:00

We have a swimming pool. That's right, a real swimming pool, not a hole dug in the ground with a trap lining filled with water. (Which is what we had to do as children because we really wanted a swimming pool.)

Last summer the pool wasn't up because we had a wedding and decided having a big blue thing in the background of pictures wasn't the best back drop. Turns out the weekend of our wedding we def could have used a pool, it was around 90 degrees!

This summer the pool is back and totally awesome. Times I have used it....twice. Once for 10 minutes and once for 20 minutes of cleaning and 15 minutes of crawl stroke, butterfly, diving and doggie paddling. Pool = free, Swimming fun = priceless, all around great hand-me-down from the in-laws.

So yes, it has not been above 80 flipping degrees this summer. The pool sits lonely most days under the clouds but when the sun peaks its tiny yellow head above the clouds, I am ready. Although, I haven't taken the noodles out of the garage yet. Those are only for fights and so far I haven't got anyone else in the water with me for more than 10 minutes.

I dream of the Saturday I can lay on the air mattress and read a book. Alas, there is now Farmer's Market so now I shall dream for a sunny Sunday (hello it IS SUN-day and the day of rest!). I dream of the day there is a patio around the pool for sunbathing exercises and a slide into my pool. Everything is better with a slide and, well, a patio!

She's a beaut!

Did I mention my pool is about 3 feet deep? Size doesn't matter though. I still love it. Summer swimming is always the best! Hopefully August and September have some smashing hot Sundays.

Zee Farm

2011-07-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of my presence, blah, blah, blah.

I do have something for you though. This will be the only time I will link my blog to the farm so go ahead and take a gander.

In the mean time, I will think of something funny/amazing/heartfelt to write about.

Good Ole Fashioned American Camping

2011-07-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mr Pepperworth and I are somewhat outdoorsy people. I mean, obviously, if you are gardeners and what not, you pretty much can count yourself as an outdoorsy person. Unless, you garden in a greenhouse. Which in that case you are cheating anyway so you are not an outdoorsy person. You are supposed to be at one with Mother Nature not defy her with your extra big tomatoes and ginormous hanging baskets! Jealous? Perhaps.

I digress though.

Last year Mr Pepperworth and I didn't get to go camping. Never, not once. It is a sad state of affairs seeing as we had been every other summer of our lives and we were even engaged whilst camping. Yet, home chores called and something called a wedding took up a lot of our time.

First time hammock testing

So because July 4 was a long weekend and because I wanted to get the heck outta dodge for a mini-vacay, we packed our things (tent, sleeping pads, camping bin, camp stove, lantern, two tables, two chairs, and forgot our headlamps) and left this one horse town.....to.....a smaller one ~~horse~~ mule town. Winthrop, WA.

We went up some Forest Service Roads in the Chelan National Forest and did some camping. We ended up staying at Ruffed Grouse C.G. It was pretty nice but the fishing was awful as the snow pack is still so large that the creeks and rivers are running high. Actually, we didn't catch a fish, not even a bite. And, I broke my rod. On the last day. I shut it in the car door. Whoopsie Daisy.

Sweet bike jump

Camping Dilly Beans

Firewood

Painting with my Indian Paint Brush

All in all, it was a great weekend and I definitely wasn't ready to come back to life and work and a messy house.

Pity Post

2011-06-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Just yesterday it seems like I was finishing the spring fastpitch season and was planning all my summer camping trips. I was looking at my calender and realizing I had a full month ahead of me and I needed to put some things aside in order for me to get all those things done. Just yesterday I told you I wasn't going to post anything for awhile.

Holy shit, just yesterday was 3 weeks ago. Has it really been 3 weeks? I can't believe it. It may have seemed long for you without my witty words but for me I am pretty sure the last thing I knew was that it was the first day of spring and then, like, 6 days ago they told me it was the first day of summer. I am also hoping that my calender is wrong and Father's Day is in fact July 3.

I'm tired.

Honestly though, the whirlwind that has been my life isn't over but I promised to show myself again today and that is what you shall have. Lovely ole Me.

Let's see though, besides trying to make you feel sorry for me, I wanted to give you a brief overview of what I did while I was away. In "list" form.

1. That running I said I was going to do....well I did it. Well, most of it anyway. Mostly I just dreamt I was running.

2. I had a huge event at work that went very well. I talked to Jake Locker and he responded. And, I love him. And, I ~~met~~ saw his wife who is also a brunette. That makes me feel good about myself.

3. Red (my sis in law) moved in. It is great. However, every time I turned around the goddamn dishwasher is full and/or ready to be emptied. Granted, she empties it, which is uber cool. What is not cool though is she watched, For the Love of the Game in my home.

4. I started a facebook page for our farm. I pretty much just entered the name but it is a start.

5. And, one of the biggest events that happened was the acquiring of another g.d. cat! (g.d. = god damn.) The story is as follows...I went to work. A girl brought kittens to my work and was handing them out to other young girls. I heard. I arrive at the scene when only one cat was left to be given. I confiscated the cat. Maybe I was going to take it to the Humane Society, we don't know. I didn't really want to keep the black/white kitten. Kitten is a girl. Cute, but I wasn't feeling it. Decision to auction off cat in big work event made. We are foster home for a week. Kitten is temporarily named Suzanna (for Oh, Suzanna sake). Kitten is a boy. Now named, A Boy Named Sue. Red falls in love with kitten. Red buys kitten at auction. I bang my head against the wall.

So yea, we have another shitter in the house. He is very precious and sometimes we call him Sue. However, he will be leaving in December. Its a good thing, we need room for next year's cat since we seem to acquire a new one every year.

There you have it. Some main life happenings of the last three weeks. Tomorrow I have to go to work and be with children ALL day long so lord help us all. I think we are all going a little crazy at the moment with the busy schedules. Mr Pepperworth just looked and Simon and said, "Wouldn't it be fun to take cats camping?" He really thought it would be fun.

Someone help this household.

My June Leave

2011-06-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have some bad news.

I am sorry, I really am.

But I have to do it.

I am leaving you for awhile. My life is just too busy right now. I am sorry, I must leave you in order to make time for my husband. It was either you or him. I chose him. I'm sorry, I really am. I may regret it, I know.

From now until the time I return I will: run 20+ miles a week, work with children daily, coach 3 practices a week, go to another fastpitch tournament, pull 12,540 weeds, clean the toilet 3 times (if it's lucky), sleep in twice, get home after 8pm four times a week, get a new housemate (my sister in law is moving in for the summa), start some net-media for the farm, and hold an auction for my work. Hopefully you understand.

That means, mark your calenders for Monday June 27. That is when I will be back. In full force. Clever, awesome, beautiful, and hella f-ing tired.

I'll miss you. You'll miss my new potato salad recipe, don't worry though, I'll be back before the really good BBQs start.

Best ever ending to a BBQ

Spoiled Rawton

2011-05-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Me spoiled rotten? Oh no, I would not be talking about myself. I mean I watch library dvds, use baking soda for shampoo, and shop at consignment stores (but all that is for another day). Oh no, not me.

The S's are spoiled rotten. As in Stanley and Simon. Well, if you asked them, being locked in the bathroom all day (because he pees on things sometimes) and not going to the vet when clearly you should (his eye and leg both healed) doesn't a spoiled cat make. But, even after all their life hardships, S & S get homemade food now. I was talked into it at the pet store.

One day I traipsed through the pet store door and explained that my cats both had urinary tract infections (only one got to go to the vet) and meds weren't helping the problem. I said that I didn't want to put them on special diet food because that stuff was made mostly of grains which is not what cats digest easily. The pet store lady told me that her cats and all the staffs' cats were on a raw diet. Of course, the store sold some stuff but she told me how to make my own and that it was cheaper. It was worth a shot.

So, I ordered 14 lbs of ground rabbit (whole rabbit, minus fur) online. I bought a butt load of vitamins to put in the mix and I made a batch of food. It was super easy and only a little scary realizing I was working with raw meat. (It doesn't gross me out by the way, it is what cats are supposed to be eating.)

Holy hell, the cats LOVE this food. I read that some cats don't like it right away but when you have Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb who will eat anything, it isn't a hard or slow adjustment period. Both boys are in the greatest of health and Simon has even slimmed down, he is back to looking like a kitten.

I got all of my information about making the food on this website. The only trick is you actually have to read all the information because you can't really stray from the recipe or the cats won't be getting the correct amount of vitamins and what not.

I always make a big batch and freeze jars of it (after measuring it out into 2 day jars). It works great. In fact, I am going to make some more today. Today's menu will be chicken with liver. Delish!

Spring in Pictures

2011-05-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Spring makes my house looks so much better than winter. The trees finally have leaves, the flowers are in bloom and I can't help put smiling every time I pull into the driveway and see the apple and cherry trees blossoming.

Perhaps you want to smile too, although I am sure your own home makes you smile but nevertheless, just smile at mine too please. (as I made you do last year too)

By the way, if you happen to look at the link to last years post, it mentioned that we had a lot of irises and I was wondering how they would do this year. So far, nothing but there are a lot of stalks pokin' up. But, the season is a lot different than last year and I am still a week ahead of last year's post, so we shall see.

Da Farm

2011-05-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

We finally decided on a farm name.

It is clever, it has our name it in (kinda), it has a nice ring to it.

And now after all that hype, I can't tell you.

I am so very sorry but I have decided not to ever put our farm name on my bloggie here. It would just be my luck that some person would google our name, this blog would pop up, and the person would get offended with all my shits, fucks, and poops. We just can't have that. It is hard enough that we can't even grow anything with all this damn rain so I will keep my image clean with the customers and they will never know I am a potty mouth sass face.

I can tell you that is isn't:
Better From Afarm
Buk's Place
S&S Farm
Aladdin & JaFarm
EmTy Farms

All great names.

As Per Request

2011-05-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

This is why we should have named our farm Dandelion Meadows.

To honor the weed, and as per a beautiful curly haired vegan friend o' mine's request, I shall now post my dandelion stir-fry recipe. Really, this recipe could be used with anything, it is my go to stir-fry method. But for the sake of this, I shall make it all about da spring.

Dandelion Stir-Fry
serves 2

INGREDIENTS
- handful of dandelion greens, washed
- about 3-5 dandelion flowers, petals pulled off
- 1/4lb tofu, cut into bit size squares
- half an onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- about 4-5 mushrooms sliced
- 1 carrot, shredded
- 1 cup rice

Sauce
- 2T soy sauce
- 1T hoison sauce
- 1T mirin (rice wine vinegar)
- 1T agave or sugar
- 1t chilli sauce or red pepper flakes

METHOD
1. First things first, you are gonna have to go forage for those dandelions. Grab some scissors and a baggie and head outside. You are going to be looking for healthy looking dandelions.

This is an UN-healthy dandelion

Healthy dandelion. Lots of leaves pointing skyward.

2. Cut the leaves at the base and cut flowers off a couple dandelions and save those to use.
3. Head back inside and cut up all your ingredients.
4. Start cooking the rice. If using brown rice, you may want to start the rice before you go outside to harvest dandelions, that way everything is ready all at the same time and you don't have to wait for the rice to cook.
5. Add 2T oil to a frying pan. When hot, add tofu and turn heat down to low. Stir/flip constantly for about 5 minutes or until tofu is crispy.
6. Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms and fry for another 5-7 minutes or until mushrooms are wilted and onions are translucent.
7. Add shredded carrot and dandelion petals and greens. Fry for about 3 - 5 minutes until everything is wilted and soft.
8. Mix sauce together in small bowl and then add to the pan.
9. Let everything soak in the sauce on low for about 3 min or until the sauce is all soaked up. (If you need to add more sauce, go for it. If the dish is too bitter add a bit more agave.)
10. Eat over rice.

I hope you enjoy!

p.s. if you have frozen peas, add those in with the mushrooms and onions, they are awesome in this dish!

Softball Doesn't Really Use a Soft Ball

2011-05-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am going to let you in on some daily happenings in my life. I don't usually talk about my life outside of the plants, dirt, food, and animals but I have something I want to tell you about. This tid bit is just another piece of the pie that makes up my life and one of the big reasons why I don't get to post as often.

I am a coach.

I coach girls fastpitch and where I live, that can be a challenge because every athletic girl usually plays soccer, not fastpitch. For years, I have been recruiting, maintaining, and growing the local fastpitch league for girls 8 - 14 years old. I haven't been doing all the work though, I have a lot of support from co-workers and parents. Sometimes things go well and sometimes things are frustrating but I keep trucking on because it is fun.

Currently, I coach 13 and 14 year olds. I have been coaching some of the girls for 4 years and it is a lot of fun to see them grow, learn, and deal with me tormenting them. Luckily I haven't offended ~~many~~ families with my sarcastic comments and the girls seem to enjoy a little back and forth occasionally.

I do get frustrated with my team sometimes though. In fact, just last weekend I told them they were playing horribly, it was true. None of them cried about it though, at least not in front of me. And then the next game, they all did about 103% better, it was great. I guess some of them have had coaches in the past just yell at them, I don't think I can do that but I can verbally abuse with quieter words. Sometimes, I swear (go figure) but only by using the word "crap". (It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.) As in, "that was a crappy throw", "get your crappy glove in the dirt already", "used two hands you crapster". Well, maybe I don't say all those things, but I think I just gave myself some new material.

So anywho, that is where I am during the evenings when I should be making dinner and blogging. I am in the world of softball with 13 and 14 year old girls who win about half of their games because sometimes they can't hit the ball because they are playing crappy. Sometimes the play amazingly though and it makes the evening one totally worth not being home making dinner and blogging and snuggling kittens.

Home Foraging

2011-05-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been reading about foraging and how it is such a great thing to do in the Pacific Northwest because such great things grow 'round these parts. Although I have been reading and looking at plant pictures, I was too nervous to go foraging and eat things when I didn't really know what I was doing.

But, because hippiness runs in the family, I was able to recruit my cousin, Laurie, to come show me the plants I can eat around my own house. I want to forage because a) I think it is cool to be able to eat plants that already are growing and you didn't even have to do anything (like weed them because they are weeds!) and b) it is free. Plus, nature provides some pretty awesome plants in the spring. Most of them make a pretty good attempt at detoxing all the winter shit in your body. I think we all could use a little help with that once in awhile! So, why not let nature help in the process.

Laurie

Not everything on the property is medicinal or detoxifying but even if it is edible to went in my fridge. Some of these fancy plants included:

1) Um.....hm.......I don't remember the name. But, let's just call it peppery tiny flower weed. We have about 6,594 of these growing around our house.

2) Horsetails (with a dandelion thrown in for good measure...although it is sad looking). This weed, formally known as son-of-a-bitch-roots-for-miles-weed, is actually pretty good for your if you eat it. You have to cook it though and you only eat the young stems when the leaf/stemy things are still folded upward.

3) Dandelions. They really are dandy. You can eat the leaves, flowers, and root. It is bitter but that is good for you (something about liver and fluids). Plus, you can just add something sweet to manage the taste. I have been adding it to salad and stirfry. We definitely have a ton! Our farm could have been named Dandelion Orchard.

4) Stinging Nettles. These bastards are like the superfood of spring. They clean your innards. Laurie suggested that I make Nettle Pesto, it was very good. Although, I did add a little basil too for good measure.

Nettle Pesto
makes 4-6servings

INGREDIENTS

- 1/4lb stinging nettles
- 2 sprigs worth of basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2c walnuts (or pine nuts)
- 1T lemon juice
- 1/2c olive oil
- 1/2c parmesan cheese

METHOD
1. Add basil, garlic, walnuts and lemon juice to food processor and pulse about 3 times.
2. Fill a large pot with water and add some salt. Bring to a boil.
3. Fill a large bowl with cold water.
4. With gloves, submerge nettles in the cold water and let them soak for about 5 minutes. Remove and discard water.
5. Put nettles in the boiling water and boil for 1 minute. This will take the sting out of them. Drain and let cool a bit. Squeeze as much water out of nettles as possible.
6. Add nettles to food processor and begin mixing.
7. After it is mixed well, add olive oil slowly and cheese. Mix until well incorporated.

We had ours with pasta (brown rice for me) and I even mixed it with a cheese sauce one night. It was delicious!

So go out and forage something it your yard. Just make sure it is edible. Call your hippyish cousin if need be.

The Younger, Smarter, "Taller" Version of Me

2011-04-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I am an older sister. You'd think that would make me smarter, prettier, taller (by .000078 of an inch), faster, and more cleanly than my sibling. That isn't the case. Except for the prettier part, oh, who am I kidding, she got the good side profile, not me. But the cleanliness, that is a tie.

I am an older sister to Sissy. I love my lil Sissy and always will with all my heart. No matter how often we yell at each other or make the other cry. That's right, we used to hit and pull hair but she will always tell you I lost because I went and told on her or I cried or did something to make her stop. Blah, blah, blah.

Anywho, my Sissy is amazing. She goes to grad school, she has long legs, she can calculate tips in her head, she can do a pretty good front walkover, and she has the exact same hair cut as me. Always. She'll tell you I copy her.

Sissy and I grew up having friends but not being able to go over to anyone's house because we didn't do our chores. Therefore, we were forced to play together. We did a shit ton of things: Oregon Trail, dress cats up and force them to sleep in baby carriers, write and direct plays, make dances, and play sports (like grab giant madrona branches, dress up in god-knows-what and proceed to hit each other). We had imaginations, I can tell you that much.

There was this one time though were I was learning how to pitch fastpitch softball and I needed a catcher. It made perfect sense to teach my 8 year old sister how to be a catcher. Der. I strapped all the boat seat pads to her body and put her inside a chicken-wire cage. Safety first, I always say. Granted, I forgot one of the most parts...a helmet and face mask. So, when I started chucking balls at her as hard as possible she got scared and stood up. What the hell? Who stands up? Although, she may have been getting ready to run. Anywho, she stood up as I was throwing overhand (I was just warming my arm up) and she got beaned right in the nose. Whoopsie-daisy. I don't remember getting too much in trouble but I remember her getting a bloody nose and being really mad.

There was this other time that I introduced the idea of throwing all the stuffed animals in our rooms out the 3rd story windows. After about 30 items (stuffed animals, blocks, socks, underoos, knives, etc) she got caught. I can't remember where I went, I was probably trying to finish my daily chores or something precious like that. But Sissy sure did get in trouble for that.

She always told on me for swearing though. I swore a lot...as if you couldn't guess.

Although I left home when I was 18 to go to college and she left to go to a different college later, we still are the best of friends and I don't think we could live without the other. There is something about being forced to do hard labor as children that brings siblings closer together. The whining and sweat carries a deep bond.

Some things that I love and miss about Sissy are:

8. Her dog. Gus is precious. Most of the time.

7. We get each other on pretty much every level. We have this thing where we "talk" to each other by making sounds and not using words in the mornings when we aren't ready to use our voices.

6. Sissy is getting married this summer. It's sad not to be with her while she is getting ready to be married for the rest of her days.

5. She teaches me how to dress trendy. I don't wear new styles until she does and I know they either a) look good or b) look bad. She and I have pretty much the same body type so if she can pull it off, I know I can. She is helpful that way!

4. Sissy likes dancing and watching dance videos. I love that ish.

3. I don't go to the movies because I think it is a waste of money because it is so freakin' expensive so I just wait until I can get it free at the library 8 months later. However, there is one series of movies I always go to...Harry Potter. Sissy has always gone with me (except this last time). It is the love of the wizarding world we share.

2. We sometimes still do things that mid-20 year olds shouldn't do. We still dance, we still dress up, we still make routines, and my favorite, synchronized diving! I know Sissy doesn't love it as much as me but she does it to make me happy, even though it embarrasses her a tiny bit.

1. My Sissy scratched out all the of faces of the kids she didn't like in her preschool class pictures. Seriously, preschool. That makes me laugh so much. I remember when she scratched out faces with a needle and put hearts around the kids she did like. It proved that she wasn't a push over. If you mess with Sissy, she will kick your ass, or at least preform voo-doo on you. I like to think I taught her that.

Sissy is again away from me in California but I know she is just a phone call away. (although we never call each other, another fine trait!) Hopefully someday we will live near each other again and have children that grow up together doing the same shit we did. I hope my children love their sibling(s) (shooting for sibling) as much as I love mine. There isn't anything quite as fulfilling as having a perfect sibling.

Previous Family Members: Mam, Pah, Mr Pepperworth

Earth Day 2011

2011-04-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

I want Earth Day to be like Christmas. People get eco-friendly gifts, share love and stories with family and friends, and ride bikes all day. Okay so maybe riding bikes doesn’t happen in December but it does in Hawaii probably.

Tree hugger in Hawaii

Someday soon I am going to throw parties on Earth Day. We will go barefoot (vibram shoes not allowed), plant trees, drink homemade beer/wine, dance to regular music (not reggae), and eat all local food. It will be amazing.

However, since I came up with this idea ON Earth Day this year, it didn't happen full scale but it is happening on a mini-scale.

We ended up riding our bikes about 4 miles to our friends' house and then we ate some local food, including buffalo (not me though, obviously) from the buffalo farm about 2 min away from home. We then chatted and played games in candle light when it got dark. After 11pm, we biked home, up hill mind you, and it was a great ride. All in all it was a pretty good Earth Day party. I can't wait until next year when it is on Saturday. You are invited now so keep those calenders open.

Gluten Free (Vegan) Breakfast II

2011-04-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

I miss wheat sometimes. In fact, I missed it so much last night, I ate pasta. Fresh, homemade pasta. It was worth it. Luckily, I didn't feel too bad but I definitely couldn't do that regularly.

Anywho, I LOVE eating biscuits and gravy on weekend mornings. A warm biscuit with veggie gravy and hot coffee is so delicious. Therefore, last weekend, I decided to tackle gluten-free biscuits.

They were so good and prefect to freeze! I pop them in the oven on a workday morning at 350 and then I go get dressed and in 15 - 20min, it is ready for some jam. Yum!

Gluten-Free (vegan options) Biscuits
adapted from "Gluten Free Cooking School"
yields 8 biscuits

INGREDIENTS
3/4c brown rice flour
1/2c cornstarch
1/2c arrowroot powder (or just more cornstarch)
1/4c soy flour or sorghum flour
1t baking powder
1t salt
3/4t baking soda
1t xanthan gum
3T butter (chilled in the freezer and grated - it is amazing how well this works) *vegan - use Earth Balance Buttery Stick*
1/2c + 1T whatever kinda milk
1/2c + 1T water
1/2T cider vinegar
1/2 egg, beaten *vegan - or the equivalent amount of egg replacer*

METHOD
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the flours, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and xanthan gum.
3. Add small amounts of grated butter into the flour so that there are no large balls of grated butter. Mix with hands while adding butter.
4. Add the soy milk, water, vinegar and beaten egg to the flour and stir until the dry and liquid ingredients are combined.
5. Drop the dough onto a greased pan to make 8 biscuits or roll slightly with hands and press into small rounds.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Mouse Trap

2011-04-18T08:52:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that game Mousetrap? In fact, I think they still sell it. It was totally a rad game but sneezus christ, it took a mother f-ing long time to set up. Honestly, what 6 year old, who is truly excited to play and see all the bells and whistles, is going to want to take the time to set it up? No one I tell ya; therefore, the game never really took. A parent wasn't about to set it up, they are doing the laundry and cleaning up the previous mess from when the kid was playing with his/her 5,478 Lincoln Logs (which mind you, they still also make!).

Anywho, that is not where I was going with all this. So let me take some giant steps back to the beginning.

As you should well know, we live in the County. Good ol' folk who pitch the hay and round up the cows for milkin' time. We are also folk that have dead mice, shrew, and other various small animals laying dead in our driveway, on the porch, on the steps, in the grass, and.....fuck.....in the mother f-ing house! Now, we are mostly cleanly people and we don't attract mice in the house but sometimes when you aren't looking the cats are buttholes and they bring in a half dead shrew.

This happened a couple weeks ago.

The story went a little something like this:

I call Mr Pepperworth because he is in the shop doing god-knows-what (something manly, like grunting) and I wanted to let him know his loving wife is home from a honest day's work. As I am doing so, I let Stanley inside because he has been out. I get off the phone and turn around toward the living room only to find Simon with something fury and black in his mouth. It takes me about two seconds to realize it is a mice and Stanley obviously brought it in because he gave it to Simon and went to go lay down on the bed, obviously after getting a crisp $10 bill from Simon.

I pick the phone right back up and have a conversation with Mr Pepperworth that went something like this:
Me - Oh god, Oh god
MP - silence
Me - (more dramatic) Oh god, there is a mouse in the house. Stanley brought a mouse in the house.
MP- Okay
Me - You need to get up here RIGHT NOW and get it. Oh gosh, oh gosh, AAAH
MP- *already hung up*

After what was much too long of a time, Mr Pepperworth gets his sweet butt in the house and has devised a plan. Since the mouse had gotten away of Simon, it ran under the couch. Mr Pepperworth decided to block off all exits besides the front door. We (he, really) would lift the couch, scare the nasty bugger and it would go out the front door. That was all fine and dandy.

Except that the mouse didn't come out. Was it still under the couch? Oh shit. We looked around although I refused to move anything. What is worse than a helpless mouse running out of the shadows straight through your legs to the shadow behind you? Nothing, nothing is worse. We didn't find it in the dark corners.

It finally dawned on us that the mouse must be IN the couch. The damn children have ripped holes in the bottom as kittens while they thought it would be fun to f with. So the mouse was in the couch and wouldn't come out. I then decided to put Simon in the couch to verify the mouse was in fact there.

Simon entering

It took Simon about 30 seconds to find the damn thing and start batting it around. It was obvious the mouse was in the couch....and it wasn't having fun. Simon was though.

Mr Pepperworth wanted to let Simon kill the thing and I said, "oh hell no, I am not going to be searching for mouse pieces over the coming years." So Mr Pepperworth had to tear a bigger hole in the bottom of the couch to extract Simon, then he extracted the mouse. Mouse went outside and on the lawn....from which he never moved.

Poor Mouse.
Good Simon.

What is the World Coming to?

2011-04-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

I just figured out how to look at the stats for my blog. It is pretty interesting.

However, I learned something kinda sad.....

The most viewed post on my blog is this: key word Nude.

Guess what google search has brought the most outside people in. "Farmers wife nude".

Good lord people.

At least they are super sad when they click on the link and the first this it says is..."that says noodles". Hah, take that 30 year old men sitting on your mother's couch eating cheetos.

However I would like to take a moment to let those guys know they are certainly welcome to learn about food, gardens, and hippies. Although you won't find any nude pictures on the site, there sure are some really cute kitty pictures. And who doesn't love a soft kitten? So stay and enjoy. Just keep it appropriate please. Or at least as appropriate as I do.

Piss Pot

2011-04-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Simon. The baby.

Simon, the baby, pees on things. Things that are laying on the floor and since things lay on the floor a lot at our house, many things get peed on...but...they do have to be cloth. Buk's bed, dog feet-drying towels, my backpack, and so on and so forth.

Sam had the same problem. He lives on. In a bad way. Damn

In order to fix Sam of his problem, we sent him outside (which I know, ended in his demise but really, he wanted to be outside). But, we honestly can't handle Simon's problem anymore. I tried feeding him on Buk's bed in order to get his brain to realize he eats and sleep where he pisses. It didn't work. So, we pushed him out the door like a 30 year old son who eats cheetos on the couch all the live long day.

And boy did he enjoy it.

Yes, he is jumpin' over Stanley

Simon will only be outside with parental supervision for awhile until he can listen perfectly and we can teach him the road in a bad place. Hopefully all goes well.

Weed the Poor

2011-04-03T13:03:00.001-07:00

Mr Pepperworth found someone in our garden the other day. It appears to be a confused homeless woman weeding. Thank god! At least someone does the f-ing weeding.

Miss Me?

2011-03-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, all 9 of you missed me horribly. You weren't getting your bi-weekly dose of hippy, humor, and sassy pants. No worries, your pants are back.

In my younger days.

As I have previously mentioned, I got a new job and it keeps me busy and I have this new thing where I get home and watch a dvd. Plus, I am sickly. And I watch too much of this dvd business.

Anywho, remember when I talked about my crock? (yes, that says crock.) Well, I finally made it 4 weeks and dove into my fermented veggietables. Boy, they are good. Or as good as fermented veggietables can be.

No, really, they are decent. And, they are good for you. They have lots of that -bacillus, -schmallicus culture shit.

If you are interested in making your own fermented veggies, it is very simple and you can pretty much ferment any vegetable you can think of: carrots, turnips, beans, cabbage, garlic, ice cream. I recommend looking at this website if you don't have a fancy crock to make your fancy concoction.

Here is what I did though:

INGREDIENTS
1 jalapeno chopped
1 large onion chopped
1 medium cabbage sliced thinly
8 carrots peeled and shredded
8 cloves of garlic peeled and chopped
1/2 apple peeled and finely chopped
2T agave
1-2T salt

METHOD
1. Prepare all your veggies. I did it in 4 batches. I cut everything and put it all in an 8x8 pan (see pic in previous crock post) and squish all the veggies together, with some salt and a little agave, trying to get out some liquid.
2. Put each batch in the crock or jar.
3. Cover and let ferment in pantry for 4 weeks. Mine could have gone longer too, it would have made the ingredients not as crunchy.

Happy Fermenting!! I suggest watching a video online to get a better idea of what you are doing. But, you really should try, it is SO easy and if you ever buy these in the store, it costs $10+ for a pint. A pint people!

Mam Pants

2011-03-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Where do I even start with Mother? Do I start with all the material she has given me (like literally, she knew this post was coming and she emailed me ideas)? Do I explain how we are very alike in certain ways? Do I say how good she looks for being some age between 50 and 60 but closer to 60? Hmmmmm......

Oh hell, I'll start with my younger/more embarrassing days. Growing up, I always had a miss-my-mom problem. I couldn't spend the night at peoples' houses until 4th grade or something ridiculous because I thought something bad would happen to Mother while I was gone. I tried sleeping at my Anut's house more than once and I threw up every.single.time. I would almost make it to bed and then I would make myself sick with worry. It definitely was NOT on purpose. Even if my Sissy was there I couldn't bare the thought of being without Mother. It was awful! Mostly it was awful though because it always veal parmesan tv dinner that Anut let me eat.

So obviously, I love my Mom. We understand each other. My Ma has funny things going on in her brain like me. We each have a hard time with "left" and "right" and we each have husbands that aren't very forgiving about that. (I already talked nicely about them so know I can say that.) We understand each other though and it is nice to know someone gets what you are trying to say even if you can't get the words out. We will be driving in Seattle, and I'll be all, "go that way toward the water" and I'll point. She knows just to look and go that way. We have good sense of direction, seriously, we just have a hard time communicating it.

Best pic of Mother I have ever seen.

With that scary thought of brain farts, I would like to announce Mother was my primary 5th grade teacher. *Fun fact: Sissy and I were homeschooled for one year when we were little but then we realized we weren't a) religious b) dorks.* Ma worked at a high school and Sissy and I would get to go there and learn math off laser discs. You know, those things that are 46 times the size of a dvd. Other than that and reading a ridiculously huge orange book, I don't really remember doing much work but I do remember going places. Which, if you ask Mother, is the important part. But..that only lasted a year, everyone was ready to not have to spend 24-7 together.

Some other things that make me love Mother and miss her are:

8) She was lead majorette in high school and has the salute hands to prove it.

7) The fact that she will take care of me when I am sick. She will tell me how precious I am and get me any popsicles I need. Now, she won't drive to the store to get them, she will just use what is on hand. Another good trait...resourceful.

6) Mother likes to tell stories. It is prefect when you don't like to talk much.

5) Ma knows that I am NOT a morning person. She will not ask questions when she knows it might just turn ugly. That is one of life's biggest lessons when living with me.

4) Mother loves her boat and taught me how to waterski. One ski. 'Nuff said.

Not the right kind of skiing but still, she taught me this kind too.

3) Mother talks to my dead grandmother. I think Grammie has come back as a crow. But as a crow, Grammie is very helpful and when you find that front row parking spot, a blouse in your size and color at Value Village, or that infection finally went away, Mother is sitting there thanking Grammie. Grammie has Ma's back. I know my Ma will have mine too in the far, far future.

Ma, "showing" Grammie Hawaii. Yes, that is a plastic baggie with ashes.

2) Chore List. I would like to say that I did hella chores whilst young. I vacuumed, emptied dishwashers, cleaned the counters, cleaned the stove, cleaned the bathroom, scrubbed showers, washed the car, dusted, and pretty much had the lick the toilets clean because of the chore list Mother left. Every.Day. She almost got away with me not mentioning it but I cried about it enough that it is going on the blog. The reason it made the "nice" list though is because it actually did teach me how to clean. In the end, I am glad I know how to clean but lord have mercy on me!

Don't mind the blond streaks.

1) My Mom comes and deep cleans my house about once or twice a year. I get too bogged down trying to lick the toilets clean to get to the fridge.

My mom just plain gets me. I am the first born who didn't get the brains or the height and Mother finds pity in that and just loves me. I am thankful for the Momma I have and I wouldn't ask for another one, even one that didn't force me to do housework like f-ing Cinderella.

p.s. Mother has previously been mentioned as Mrs. Pedemonte because she had a cobbler, or some shoemaker, that was named Pedemonte. She always liked it. But it doesn't fit so it is back to Mom, Mam, and Mommy.

Next Family Member: Sissy
Previous Family Members: Dad, Mr Pepperworth

Brothers Alike

2011-03-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

With Sam gone, we have been holding the other children to higher standards. They must be good and responsible boys. They must come when called, accept love at any point and have sweet dispositions.

Luckily Simon is trying extra hard....

Simon this week has start sleeping on Buk's bed instead of pissing on it. p.s. he did look sweeter when he was sleeping.


Sam loved to sleep on Buk's bed and we usually found him sleeping with Buk in the morning.

It makes my heart melt.

p.s. Yes, we get Buk's beds at Goodwill. We choose the best comforter for King Buk.

Speaking of Buk, he isn't doing as well with the adjustment period.

Daddy Dearest Love of My Life

2011-03-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here is what I grew up saying, "Daddy Dearest, love of my life, etc, etc, a'hun'red n'finity kisses." Whenever my sister and I wanted something. Want dinner? Say it. Want a ride? Repeat. Want money? I can't hear you.

No, really though, we didn't mind and we do love our father the mostest.

Unless he makes us pick up rocks.

You know, picking up rocks is something I will always remember from my childhood. Father Michael Francis bought a piece of property next to our house when I was young that was full of dirt and broom scotch (it is really scotch broom, I know, but I wrote that first thinking it was correct so it stays). After clearing the land, my sister and I were forced to pick up rocks in order to plant grass. We picked rocks 24-7 like the roman slaves built pyramids or whatevs, or at least that is how I remember it. That summer my dad went to K-Mart for front shield windwipers or something of that nature and I saw a pink flashlight I really wanted. Instead of purchasing his sweet daughter that light, he made me pick rocks for it. Something like 50 buckets worth. Daddy Dearest didn't win him over when there was hard labor to be done.

But ya know, that manual labor really did train me for being a strong lady. Not many girls can say they chopped wood, picked rocks, fed ducks, changed oil, shot bows and guns, lived in a tee-pee, and drove a bulldozer all while living in suburbia. If I didn't know how to get dirty I wouldn't be as good at my job or know how to weed correctly in my garden. And, I know that is what Pa was going for. Strong girls. Hell, I probably did 1,436 real push-ups and 469 clapping push-ups as punishment when I was young.

Yep, ducks

Father Michael Francis taught me all about sports too. (wow, I really wouldn't have been as good at my job if my dad didn't force me to do things I didn't always want to do.) Dad coached basketball and fastpitch when I was younger. He was a good coach. I think. I don't really remember actually. But, I am sure he was because I remember liking sports but I don't remember if we won or lost. I mostly remember playing the clarinet during half time while my sister rode her unicycle or jumproped to our 6th grade version of "On Wisconsin". On the clarinet and flute. That is 100% true.

My loving Father would do anything for his sweet daughters and I am glad I have the Pa I have.

Yes, that non-cabbage patch is my sister

More things I like about my Father include:
8) Father Dear gave me the knowledge and desire to predict weather. I used to just ask Pa what the weather would look like but since I don't have him at my disposal all the time anymore, I had to learn to fend for myself.

7) Dad is consistent. He forced me to run in Pt Defiance Park with him on weekends. It probably only happened like 4 times but it felt like pure torture. Although, I did get egg mcmuffins afterward.

6) Dad taught me the importance of "a deal". I ate 99¢ Whoopers all.the.time. 39¢ Mickey D Hamburger Sundays? Oh baby, yes! But I couldn't have cheese on it because that cost 15¢ more. I became a pro-grocery shopper by holding all the coupons and telling Father when I saw that super-deal cake mix. I wasn't to worry if we already have 5 at home either. A deal is a deal!

5) He always has chips stashed away. (see number 6) But, he won't let you open them unless you ask. Plus, you have to make sure it is the next in line with the expiration dates.

4) Pa likes old country music and likes to sing. "The Happy Wanderer" is a family song.

God I love this picture. Such happy wanders consulting a compass

3) Father let us get cable in 1999. That day was when the whole world opened up to me.

2) He likes to torture his children sometimes just to make sure they are on their toes and ready to try new things. Like the museum. The exhibits could be 17 years old but you are forced to go every year and see the same ole shit about the pioneers, natives, and trains.

This is mostly just to show Sis she wore that hat in public

1) He doesn't like to talk on the phone. I hate the phone so I don't have to feel bad when I don't call Father regularly. He knows I love him and I know the same. If there is something important, I call. If there isn't, I don't. Same as he. Except that he always wants me to call "when I get home". But, it doesn't matter anyway because I call and he is always in bed asleep. Real worried, real worried.

So Father Michael Francis has some quirks and is a bit of a goofball but if he wasn't that way, I wouldn't be the same person I am today. People seem to like me so I am thankful for everything Pa has showed me/given to me throughout my life. I love him lotsa much.

Next Family Member: Mrs. Pedemonte
Previous Family Member: Mr Pepperworth

Gettin' My Groove Back

2011-03-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

As you may or may not remember, I was feeling pretty down in the dumps late 2010. Things just weren't going my way.

My professional work started to get a little disappointing and things were happening that just made work not much fun anymore. I trudged on though, like a good little worker, and just did my own thing and got ish done.

However, I would like to announce that I am excited again because I got a new job within the same organization that is a step up from what I have been doing. Professionally, it will challenge me more and I love that.

I'm excited to do something different. I know it will be tiring at times and it will keep me super duper busy but I am certainly ready. Plus, it will put me in Ferndale, oh yea. I can ride my bike to work more often!

Oh, and my new boss reads my blog....and she still hired me. Good thing this is really the only time I will ever be mixing blog with work.

This is a good example of how excited I feel. And yes, that's Buk.

"Sneezus Christ," says He

2011-03-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

Things have been slow on the farm. I don't know if it is suppose to be slow but no one has told me to do anything. Actually, not true, I did weed 3/4 of the front flower bed. But, then I got tired/bored.

Mr Pepperworth has been busy though. Spending money. Buying seeds, greenhouse plastic, door knobs, and child locks. He is doing some garden planning and home improvement projects. By the way, the child locks are for the damn cats that learned how to get in the garbage and feed the dog leftover lunch meat. Twice. Sick.

Anywho, because things have been ho-hum, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about some of the things I love most, my family members. We all know I love my babies pretty much almost the most but then they get in the garbage together and that drops them a couple notches on the love-scale.

I will be starting the family exposè with my handsome husband. I know I have talked about him briefly hither and thither but I would like to focus a full post to his honor.

Good Ole Trustworthy Mr Pepperworth
Mr Pepperworth is the butter to my bread, the pepper to my salt, and the super to my sonics. I love the guy super a lot.

Let me give you a little background story about how I met Mr Pepperworth....

It was 9th grade. I had just moved to a new city and was uber nervous about going to a new school. I didn't know anyone and was nervous about who I would sit with at lunch. Sitting alone at lunch would totally have ruined me socially. I am getting a little ahead of myself though. Back to class before lunch. Specifically, band class. (I know, talk about ruining me socially.) During class, Mr. Red-faced Passive Conductor introduced me and impressed/annoyed everyone by saying I was second chair clarinet at my old school. Mr. Conductor sat me in the front row and I probably pooped my pants because I totally was not ever second chair (more like I spat on second chair's head from the next row back). Mr Pepperworth says he remembers this story vividly and how he may have been impressed by my clarinet abilities. What this mostly means though is that he remembers the first day he ever set eyes on his wife. How f-ing romantic, huh?!

Band Class. Can you find me and the boy?

Anywho, a couple of days into band, I am sitting near Mr Pepperworth (who also happens to play the clarinet and is actually second chair) and I say, "you are Mr Pepperworth, right? I think your (younger) brother is dating my (younger) sister." Mr Pepperworth responds with a heart fluttering, "um, yea." Actually, I don't think it made my heart melt. I think I had a crush on a Mr. T. Anderson.

But later that school year, after realizing that Mr Pepperworth had all the babes seeking his attention, I decided I would take a swing at him. All it took was some band jokes, tripping, an "accidental" brushing of the arm, etc to win Mr Pepperworth over. I totally won. I beat Kendra, Brianna, Kim, Kim, Rachel, and probably some others. (For those of you I am still friends with and you actually read this secretly, I apologize, except to Kendra...for obvious reasons.)

Then, I broke up with him in the first week of 10th grade. Whoops.

After about three years of realizing that I really did love the guy and writing "Mrs Pepperworth" on notes, I won the sucker over, again. Boo-f-ing-yah! But seriously, Mr Pepperworth is super funny and slightly nerdy. Both of which I find oh so charming. Luckily he finds those traits charming in me as well.

More things I love about the guy are:

8) Mr Pepperworth's curly hair. But cut short, definitely cut short. Oh lordy.

You'd think this was 1973. Try 2003.

7) Mr Pepperworth's musical abilities. He did used to sing me songs on his guitar but now he just turns the music up to the 11th volume at ten o'clock at night which I don't like as much but you learn to live with it sometimes.

6) Mr Pepperworth plants me dem veg.a.tbles. You can't find that in many ole joes.

5) Mr Pepperworth keeps me happy with his accents and funny terms like "Sneezus Christ" when the dog sneezes.

4) Mr Pepperworth finishes the chore list when I leave it. But only when I leave it.

3) Mr Pepperworth loves his Bronco and tractor and sometimes I feel left out but he always sleeps in my bed. The night he sleeps in the Bronco, there will be problems.

Again, during his freak-flag-fly phase

2) Mr Pepperworth has really nice calves and likes to keep in tip top trim shape, always nice in a man.

1) But most importantly, Mr Pepperworth eats what I make. Sometimes he doesn't want to eat string beans but he doesn't complain much and doesn't mind being a vegan for 85% of his life. That's a true man.

Boy, I love my farmer with all my farmer wife heart.

Next Family Member: Father Michael Francis

What a Crock

2011-02-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

Today was super exciting because I decided to use my crock. That's right, I got a crock for my birthday and decided to break it in today. What is a crock you ask? Well, you probably wouldn't know because you aren't a dork but let me tell you. A crock is a traditional piece of stoneware used to ferment vegetables. They are extra special (and expensive) because they are easy to use and have special powers to keep food fermenting without molding.

Since I decided to start my fermenting now, I wasn't able to use any of our own harvest but I did buy some organic carrots, red cabbage, and jalapenos to begin my first batch.

Because I like vegetables, I decided to just go for it and put all my favorite vegetables in the crock and see what happens. Therefore, I don't want to put the recipe up yet in case it was a piece of crap. I am guessing that can't happen but they are fermented veggies. Still, I can't wait for my first batch!! Only 3 - 6 weeks away. Hah! Seriously, though.

The crock from the top. Those are two ceramic stones to hold everything down

Fermented vegetables are somewhat similar to pickled things but have a stronger taste and have live cultures that make your body sing with joy. Traditionally sauerkraut was fermented but the stuff you get in stores now is just pickled cabbage. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE pickles but I am looking forward to eating fermented veggies for their health benefits. It is somewhat an acquired taste but I eat some weird ish so I am not worried.

All the layers inside the crock

The Diet Update

2011-02-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

As you should know and know and know, I did the elimination diet laid out in the Whole Food Nutrition book. Things went well. I was on it for over a month.

(side note: on my birthday, I saw one of the creators of the diet/book at the whole food cafe we went to for lunch. I didn't say anything to him but I thought it was pretty cool. He is a celebrity in my eyes. But then again, I don't have high standards.)

I thought it was potatoes that was making my stomach ill. I seem fine with them now.

Then, I thought it may be beans. But, I just polished off half a jar of basil dilly beans and my pooper seems a-okay.

However, the past two days, I have had some sort of stomach thing. Not painful but certainly there. I think it is just a case of starting to eat processed crap that are gluten and/or dairy based products.

I have to say, when I was mid-diet and not eating dairy or gluten or even corn really, I was on top of the world. I had never felt better. But, the chips and salsa were certainly calling my name! So corn was back in pretty quick. I still felt fine after corn but it does open a lot of doors into processed foods.

From the diet, I learned a couple things and I am very thankful that I did it. The diet reminded me that I can make good food everyday with veggies and whole foods and it will taste amazing. Because of this, I have decided to stay away from dairy and gluten (hard if you think about it) but when I want ice cream or pizza ain't nothing gonna stop me from stuffin' my face.

Oh yea, that was probably the other problem. I eat more than my stomach can handle about 92% of the time. When I was on my diet and digesting things at a fast pace, that wasn't such of a problem. Now, I need to eat only when I am hungry.

So, here's to bread and cheese, I won't be seeing you guys as much and I will miss our past relationship but I know I can be strong and move on (and I won't get the trots now so that is a plus).

Amazing book! And der, of course I got it from the library, I don't pay for shit.

Sammy Boy

2011-02-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

Now, I know I am a cat crazy momma. I love my babies maybe too much for just being pets but I don't have children yet so my animals take up a large percentage of my heart. And that is okay.

It just makes it much harder when they disappear and/or die.

A couple of years ago, Sammy went missing for two weeks. TWO WEEKS people. I went through the whole crying and grieving stage because my sister and husband both told me he probably wasn't coming back. I had made peace with that and then one Sunday I get a phone call from the pet finder place (to which Sam had a microchip) and Sam came back. Not the very next day...but 13 days later. Hallelujah, my family was back together and Stanley had his twin back.

The emotions that went along with that ride were crazy. I went from being sad then beyond happy.

Sam always was an adventurous boy. He was the hunter, the explorer, and he generally did what he wanted but every few days he would need major attention from the time Tyler got out of bed to when we went to bed and he would scratch at the door wanting to sleep with us. Those time when he would lay stretch out on your lap or curl up under the covers because he liked to be warm, he was a precious baby. He loved his ma and pa and they loved him. He knew that.

On Saturday morning, Sam was laying with Buk in the kitchen fighting for the heater vent. They comprised and each got half. Sam was in a very happy mood, he got to "fight" with me in the morning as I rolled my shirt over my fist and rubbed his tummy, and he went outside and I even said out loud, "Sam and Stanley are having a good time outside in the sun." I also made a blog post title to add to later called "sweet twins" but that will now be left unfinished because that may just kill me.

Sammy in play "fight" mode

Later that morning Sam was crossing the street to his hunting grounds when he was hit by a car. Tyler found him (he had died soon after being hit, if not instantly) and put him in a box before he told me. (That was definitely the smart thing to do as I know I would not have handled that situation well.) We were both outside working and did not see nor hear Sammy get hit, which was probably a good thing. I had Tyler open the box so I could give Sam one last pet and smell and then we buried him in the field where he hunted shrews.

We will miss Samsonite so very much and soon (hopefully) I won't be so sad that he is gone. In the mean time, thinking about his sweet face and soft ears makes me sad he won't be on my lap later but at least Sam had a good life and was outside on a sunny day (something he always preferred).

Vegan Tom Yum Soup

2011-02-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to make Tom Yum (sweet and sour) Soup forever. It sounds like the perfect soup for a cold day and even if you have a cold. If you add more chilies, it will clear that head right up! Anywho, a lot of recipes I have seen call for Tom Yum paste. Let me tell you how hard it is to find Vegan Tom Yum paste without MSG.

Me, "It's flippin' hard!"

So anywho, I combined a couple recipes I found and make a vegan Tom Yum soup from scratch. The best way to make anything anyway.

Vegan Tom Yum
Makes 4+ servings

INGREDIENTS
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbs ginger minced
About 10 shitake mushrooms sliced
1 stalk of celery sliced
1 carrot cubed
2 stalks lemongrass or zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 Thai (red) chili
3 limes juiced
lime zest
2-3 Tbs agave or 1-2 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 can coconut milk
28 oz water or broth
Small bunch (about inch diameter, you don't want much) rice noodles

METHOD
1. Lightly salt bottom of large sauce pan and let heat for about one minute.
2. Add 2 Tbs olive oil.
3. Add onion, garlic, and ginger to pan and saute for 4 minutes.
4. Add mushrooms, celery, carrot to pan and saute another 4 minutes.
5. If using lemongrass, use the white part of the stalk. Crush it until it just splits with the side of knife or a mortar and pistil. This makes the juice come out a little.
6. Add the lemongrass, chili, lime juice, and lime zest. Saute for 4 minutes.
7. Add water or broth. Bring to a boil.
8. Cover pot and let simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Take out all lemongrass bits.
10. Add coconut milk and rice noodles (broken into thirds) and agave or sugar and soy sauce.
11. Cook for 15 more minutes.
12. Let cool (I told you to, if you burn your tongue don't come crying to me), try a taste test for seasoning. Adjust if you must and enjoy. Don't burn your tongue.

Big Chill?

2011-02-16T18:23:00.000-08:00

Whew! I got a good share of winter these last couple of days. Me, I like winter. I like the cold weather and the time to sit inside and do inside work. We know that though.

Mr Pepperworth and I took a mini-vacation Valentine's weekend and had a great time. We left the responsible kids at home with a babysitter and took the irresponsible ones to the grandparents. We then drove into the cold and had some sun and snow and a pool heated like a hot tub. It was totally rad. Sitting in the "pool" with a drank and snow coming down is just as good as relaxing on a beach with a drank and playing paddleball. That means it is bliss.

We did some cross country skiing and snowshoeing. We burned calories but then we celebrated Valentine's Day (and our 6 month wedding anniversary) by eating half of a 6 inch gluten-free, vegan cake from the place that made our vegan wedding cake. It was totally delicious and the rest of the 3 inch diameter cake will be eaten in the next couple of days.

Got a little beat up in the car.

Other than skiing, pooling, and eating, we managed to fit in some cribbage and 80s movies. Apparently I forgot to remind Mr Pepperworth to bring a book (or at least that is what he said) so he had nothing to do but watch the downhill skiers crash and the VHS tapes of the condo owners. I had predicted there would be a Veggie Tales or something similar but no, we had some quality 80s movies and taped-from-tv soaps.

After watching The Siege (awful) and the last 40 minutes of Talk Radio (because he didn't rewind the tape), Mr Pepperworth finally gave up after 5 minutes of The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Chill. Seriously, did you know they made a Land Before Time III even? Christ, that is a lot of young dinosaurs dealing with human emotions and problems. I am sure the Big Chill didn't end well for those young dinos though and there ~~hopefully~~ probably wasn't a Land Before Time IX. Who knows though, maybe the Big Chill only killed the land dinos and IX is about the flying dinos finally getting killed off. Tragic, I know but seriously, kids need to learn the dinosaurs died at some point. (I wasn't a big Land Before Time kid, if you couldn't tell.)

I won, twice.

So, although the tv entertainment was not ideal, it added to the laughs and relaxation that vacation is supposed to bring. All in all, it was a perfect trip and a super great Valentine's Day with my sweet.

Doesn't look sweet, but hims is.

My Poor Brain

2011-02-09T21:59:00.000-08:00

I have a little brain problem. The fact that I wrote "brian" instead of "brain" twice would be an example of my problem. It isn't that I don't pay attention to what I am doing, it is that I have to think extra hard on certain words and numbers all.the.time.

Luckily, I have a mother who suffers from the same brain dysfunction so I grew up learning "tricks" to words. Like, every time I spell Michael, which happens to be my father's name, my brain process goes like this...."M-I-C-H-um, he doesn't like "emily" best so A-E (that would be me "e"mily)-L". No joke. And I know my father loves me bestest mostest of everyone but that is the trick I remember for my father's name.

Think I am dumb yet?

Well, wait for it.

Yes, just wait.

It gets better.

I really embarrass myself now.....

I always, ALWAYS refer to wind shield wipers as "front shield windwipers" and "back shield windwipers". Mr Pepperworth told me to buy front shield windwipers last week and I was all, "okay, what kind". He said, "Did you notice how I said that". I said, "Yeah, you asked me to buy front shield windwipers". He's all, "Get it? Get how you said that?" I'm all, "what? Oh *giggle* whoops. I totally knew what that meant." One minute goes by, "Wait, what are they really called." Thirty seconds go by, "No seriously, what are those really called?" Mr Pepperworth thinks "worthless."

Luckily I don't have to ask people about their windwipers very often.

So, although I have some faults, I find them charming sometimes. I bet Mr Pepperworth doesn't think it is so charming when I tell him to go left when I meant right but ~~most of the day~~ occasionally it really does take my brain some extra time to think things through. I learn fun songs for tricks though and I get to go through life singing about the days of the month, peoples' names, word tricks and phone numbers.

My hard working brain cells make for good times, like Aunt Judy is "Anut Judy" and every year on my work review, I always add a little extra on the "to improve" line. This year was to "learn the difference between it's and its". I could never keep it straight but luckily I have a trick to remember it now. Thanks to the Boss. Gold Star!

Warm Gluten Free-Corn Free-Vegan Breakfast

2011-02-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Doesn't that title just make you hungry? Totally, for sure. If not, it's because this recipe isn't for the average eater. So there. Are you average? Most people would just go to the cupboard and get from oats for oatmeal or even just go to the pantry and get that package of generic maple oatmeal (that has way too much sugar, by the way). This recipe is for the people who either a) can't eat those oats (this lady) or b) people who want to give their digestive system a little break or c) someone who just wants something a little different.

This recipe has brown rice, soy milk, maple syrup, and apples. It is the perfect cold morning breakfast. I was craving oatmeal but since I can't eat it, I made this. It definitely satisfied my craving. And it is super easy to make, just like oatmeal. Although, you do need a grinder, I use an old coffee grinder.

Warm Rice Cereal
serves 1
adapted from The Whole Nutrition Cookbook

INGREDIENTS
1/4c sweet brown rice (or other brown rice) coarsely ground in grinder
3/4c vanilla soy milk (or regular milk)
1T maple syrup
1t cinnamon

1/2 apple cut in small pieces
1/4c water
1t cinnamon
1/2t nutmeg
1T maple syrup

*optional - blueberries

METHOD
1. Put rice, milk, syrup, and cinnamon in a small saucepan and put on low heat.(if adding blueberries, also delicious, put in pan too and don't worry about steps 3 and 4.)
2. Stir constantly until paste forms. About 3 - 5 min. If too thick, add more milk or water.
3. Take rice off heat and let sit while making apples.
4. Put apples, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and syrup in small sauce pan and stir occasionally until it makes a glaze-y sauce. About 5 min.
5. Put together in bowl, add more milk if wanted and maybe a little agave on top and enjoy.

FVW's Birfday

2011-02-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

That's right. It's my birthday.

It started off slow. I went to work. I was somewhat disappointed because I didn't get the good breakfast with coffee (preferably in bed with a white vase and red rose) I was hoping for but that would be thanks to the Subaru that decided to overheat the night before. Good stuff.

So, my birthday wasn't living up to my high expectations. Which, if you know me, I have. I am not a birthday diva or anything but I like to be a little special. (Like, wearing a birthday crown with dangly earrings isn't unheard of.)

Anywho, the morning presents were great from my ma and pa but the plans for the rest of the day weren't panning out (as in social alcohol wasn't quite happening).

Then, Mr Pepperworth picked me up from work took me to lunch and he made me go in an antique store which I always have hated but...he knew I would like it and I did. Now that I have my own house, the antique things have more meaning. However, it turns out when you have your own house to put cool antiques in, you still don't get cool antiques because with the home mortgage you don't have $525 to spend on the awesome table thing.

After my tantrum at the antique store because I wasn't getting anything, Mr Pepperworth then suggested that instead of going to a happy hour we should have homemade margaritas and watch a movie or play games in the evening. (I think he was trying to distract me from my stomping in the store. It was starting to shake the 70's white and gold cups off the shelves.)

But, with my gluten-free, vegan cupcakes (recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World...amazing book!) and games waiting for me this evening and getting my sissy's sweet gift/card in the mail, how could my day not have gotten better?

Vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Nice.

Feb 4 2011 is turning out to be a great day. Whew! We coulda had a it's-my-party-and-I'll-cry-if-I-want-to-situation on our hands people.

Just Pleasantly Plump

2011-01-30T11:34:00.000-08:00

I have a chubby child. I actually have had a chubby child before but made that one slim down because he was getting large. A strict food and exercise (chasing around) regimen was called for.

This time, my baby is chubbier than the first. And, it is all my fault. Well, maybe not all my fault, I feed the thing and then he goes and pushes his brothers out of the way to get more food. The only time he doesn't think he is hungry is when he has already ate 2 servings of food and is happily playing with twisty-ties.

Simon is only about 8 months old and definitely weighs more than Sam, but Stanley still has some good pounds on him. I am sure it is due to the fact that he isn't outside running all that baby chunk away but still his small head and chubby body are the laughing stock of the house. He sits on poor Sam and holds him down. That, we don't laugh about.

I just hope that when he is old enough and it is warm enough for Simy to go outside, he isn't the laughing stock of the neighborhood. I don't want him to come home with his tail tucked between his legs crying because McLovin called him a Tub'o'Lard. And, I swear, if that Mr Meow lays a single paw on Simon or hurts him with words (ear splitting cries because my strong boys trapped him under the porch yet again. Don't cross the Pepperworths), Mr Neighbor is going to have a thing or two coming from this cat loving ~~crazy~~ mama.

At least Simon is smart so he has that going for him. His personality is definitely different from his brothers. He acts like the young annoying, yet funnier, brother. Hopefully Princess and Tabitha will find that charming. Oh who am I kidding? 1) No child of mine will like a Princess 2) Simon is a fatty, no Princess will find him charming. He will just be the "funny" guy and do impressions of dying birds, barking dogs and the like. His mommy loves him with all her heart though, so that's all that counts.

The Progression of Tub'o'Lard
if my future human babies plan on getting chunky (which they will), I will post their progression pictures too. hopefully it will teach them a lesson

This is the first day we had him. Perhaps it all started here.

3 months old

6 months old. The stomach roll is beginning.

8 months old.

Also 8 months old. It's like he went from healthy chubs to fatty.

This Just In...Again

2011-01-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Potato chips out. Damnit!

Might be allergic. Face is looking a little rashy and had a stomach ache.
Good reason to stop eating potato chips, fries, mashed potatoes. I think I am going to cry.

Beans are out too, for now at least.

New Name

2011-01-24T22:21:00.000-08:00

I already got (notice I wrote got, "not had to change". Progress? yes.) my new name, after marriage. Now it is time for my hunny buns to get a new name...for this blog.

From this day forth, T will now be known as Mr. Pepperworth. Yes, I will spell it out every time.

At work, I get the pleasure of entering thousands of children into a database. One kid had the last name of Pepperworth. I love it! I totally wish I would have seen that name before I went to the Social Security Office and got my new card. If I had, my name would be Emily Saltn Pepperworth. Maybe Peppaworth.

Rolls off the tongue so nicely. And it is a food reference, what could be better? Peppermashpotatoes? Possibly.

Anywho, because I want this name, it is now T's new name in hopes that he will like it and change his name. Chances? Good.

Introducing Mr. Pepperworth

Cabbage Rolls

2011-01-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Time for a recipe. But, since I am only eating go-straight-through-you food, I really had to think about this one. What is something I am currently eating that people might actually like?

BTW, is anyone annoyed that I keep talking about my elimination diet? Because, if so, you must realize I LOVE food. I love making food. I love eating food. So, since I can't eat my amazing food, it is on my mind all.the.time and I like to speak my mind (if you didn't notice). In other words, if it annoys you, time to get over it. There, I said it.

Anywho, I made cabbage rolls for the first time and they were seriously flippin' delicious! You really should try them. You can pretty much put anything you want inside them but I am going to give you my version and if you happen to be on Phase One of the Whole Food Elimination Diet, you have scored. You scored big. You don't have to eat kale again tonight. Holla at yo' girl.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
serves two
adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Since I was not able to eat tomatoes at the time I put this dish together, I used a squash sauce. However, instead of doing my squash sauce step, you could just save yourself some time and use tomato sauce instead. The squash is delicious though (always is).

INGREDIENTS

Sauce
- 2 1/2c peeled, diced squash
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 2c veggie broth
- 2T Olive Oil
- salt and pepper

Cabbage Rolls
- 1/2 head cabbage
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2T olive oil
- 1 carrot shredded
- 1/2c zucchini chopped
- 1/2c rice cooked, this is a pre-recipe step*

METHOD
1. Cut the core out the bottom/middle part of the cabbage but leave it whole. The core is hard to roll, so you don't want it in there.
2. Place cabbage, with the empty core area facing up, in a large bowl.
3. Boil water and pour the water over the cabbage until it reaches the top and let it sit for ten minutes.
4. Heat the oil in a saute pan.
5. Add onions and garlic for the sauce. Cook for 4 min.
6. Add squash and salt and pepper (to taste). Saute for 5 min.
7. Add veggie broth and cover. Cook for 10 min.
8. Add sauce mixture to food processor and let sit until slightly cook.
9. While the sauce is cooling, cook the other onions until they are soft.
10. Add garlic, carrots, and zucchini and cook for 4 min.
11. Add rice and saute for another 5 min. Add salt and pepper to taste.
12. Transfer it to a bowl and let it cool a bit.
13. Drain the head of cabbage by turning upside down.
14. Pull off large leaves, cut out the large vein. If the leaf is very large, you can make two rolls from each.
15. Roll about a spoonful or two of filling in each leaf (depending on the size of your leaf)
16. Arrange in a large, wide pot.
17. Process your squash mixture until smooth. If the sauce is thick, add more broth. You want it to be the same consistency as heavy cream.
18. When sauce is right, pour it over the rolls, enough to almost reach to top of cabbage. (You can add more broth or water to the pot if needed.
19. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat, letting them simmer covered on the stove on low for about 30-45 min.
20. Serve immediately. If sauce you have extra sauce, pour over individual portions. Mmmmmm.

This Just In

2011-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

I can eat potato chips now!

I am sure the founders of the Whole Food Elimination Diet didn't have potato chips in mind as phasing in "nightshade vegetables" but according the kettle sea salt chips ingredients I am good to go. Potatoes, sunflower oil, and salt. Booyah.

Although I have lost about 8 lbs, I am certain to gain it back by the end of today. (not really, I can only eat about 10 anyway, I just like to think that I could eat more)

I Love You Kettle Chip

Calling Bullshit

2011-01-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna go ahead and call bullshit on something.

Actually, why don't we just go ahead and make a list and make that somethings:

5. Navy blue dresses exist. I can't find a single one that doesn't look like a) a hooker dress or b) a mu-mu and I need one for my sister's wedding.

4. Being a pregnant is worth it. I'll believe it when it happens but for now I would like to point out that I like coming home, making dinner, and watching adult situation TV shows. I also like not feeling fat.

3. 13 yr old girls at the gym with their fathers. Yes, I am gonna go ahead and say that is BS. Maybe the girls want to be at the gym doing what their father says, maybe they will be Olympians but chances are, they won't be and they will only begin to think their father is mean. Then they will rebel. They will eat twinkies and drink Dr Pepper all day long at school. I promise, they don't actually like going to the gym. Teenagers don't like exercising, I would know. The only time I went on runs with my father was when I got an egg mcmuffin afterward. Fathers, don't worry about your daughter and her playing college basketball. If she wants to, she will. And, don't take her to the gym to do crunches on the exercise ball when she can't even balance on the damn thing.

2. Anyways is a word. It isn't. I would know, I used to use it and then I lost a $3 bet to my mom when she made me look it up in the dictionary. (She also taught me gambling was okay.)

1. Drinking water makes you full. They (I am guessing dumb doctors) say drinking more water makes you full which in turn will make you not eat as much. Yeah fucking right. I still want cookies, chips, and seconds after I drink 64 oz of water.

Happy National BS Day! (not really, that is total bullshit)

MLK Day

2011-01-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

I have a real two day weekend this week because of this holiday. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I have been watching a lot of Mad Men lately (a totally rad show, by the way, which makes me wish I had 60's dresses and wore them regularly). They are getting to the era in the show where integration is an issue.

It made me think.

We learned about integration in school and Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr but my parents lived through all that. Granted, they were just entering the double digits or teen years but it is really interesting to me that just a generation ahead of me, people were experienceing HUGE change in the US.

I don't know though, maybe I am in the midst of experiencing change in America with the "integration" of the gay community and allowing them the same rights as others.

MLK was a true leader and I am glad he is recognized nationally. I am envious of his voice and grassroot organization abilities. We are still fighting for equal freedoms today and probably always will be. I hope that today people take a second to think about Martin Luther King and recognize that he stood for equality, peace, and love. We could definitely use all those thing in the world today.

And don't you think this quote from MLK Jr is interesting? "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom." Damn, that guy was great!

Just so you know

2011-01-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

This is what I ate for dinner tonight.

Spinach, lentil, rice casserole. Peas. Roasted brussel sprouts.

It actually was all right, even if it looks like diarrhea with carrots. The peas were especially good! I cooked them for 15 minutes with onions. Delicious.

Dieting and Dreaming

2011-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

Okay so, I dream. Don't you love it when people tell you their dreams? You are like, cool. That is crazy. Whoa, what do you think that means? ....and all that shit.

So.........listen to my dream:

As we somewhat know, my most memorable dreams include teenybopper boys. JTT, Joey McIntyre, Nick Carter, Justin Timberlake and any other boyband member that shared a group with the aforementioned hunks. (no need to google all those guys. they are boyband members sometimes with brown hair, sometimes with bleach blond) My dreams are/were innocent. I begin as a friend and then make them fall in love with me. Sometimes they sing me a song. We sit on couches and talk. I may have even done a choreographed dance with JT, I can't really remember 100%. Anyway, it is always so fun and then I wake up. I used to wake up alone. Now with my husband. And his morning hair. No choreographed pop-lock dancing.

Anywho, what was my point?

Oh yea.

So I am dieting, blah, blah, we know.

I have dreamt twice about accidentally eating things I am not suppose to on my diet and I get SO mad because I totally f-ed it up for nothing. I have been eating yams and apples and adzuki beans until they come out my ears and I go and accidentally eat a pizza...or lasagna with turkey....I know weird...and oh.my.god that sounds so f-ing good btw....and I am so mad.

The other night, JT was my buddy and we were chatting over coffee and I was so lovestruck I drank the damn coffee. It was raining. In case you were wondering. And then I was mad but didn't want to tell him because then I would have to explain what I am dieting for and it just wasn't worth it.

So I wake up a bit angry. a) because it takes me a second to realize I didn't break my diet beyond repair. b) JT is gone and so is my latte.

Baggies

2011-01-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

I forgot to tell everyone what I gave away to some family members on Christmas...

One night, T and I were watching No Impact Man and although the documentary as not at all as good as the book, it made me evaluate my own environmental practices. Right, like I don't already do that? I know, I know. *hippy alert* It is just inspiring every time.

Anywho, I started thinking about plastic lunch baggies and how we use those everyday. I can't even imagine how many of those there are in landfills. In order to make me feel better about that though, I make T bring his used baggies home everyday so I can wash them for re-use. I mean, we have saved a lot from just being thrown away. However, I started thinking about it and I know those things probably break down over time so that we are getting nice little bits of plastic in our bodies. So, I was wondering what I could do to use cloth.

Then it hit me, I'll just make some. So, that same night at like 9:30pm, I took some old oil cloth and an old curtain and sewed them together with some velcro to make myself a sandwich baggie. It works great.

I used an old broken laundry basket for the oil cloth and reused the velcro too!

I have made about 25 now and it is super easy and it is a good way to use up old cloth. The only thing that I really need to buy is oil cloth (not vinyl) and velcro.

When I am ready to wash them (and I do use them for more then one day at a time) I simply turn them inside out and wash with dish soap. Then I hang them to dry on my little baggie dryer.

My first finished bag. The newer ones were much better.

T hasn't used any though. I am not sure what he is scared of. Maybe boys will make fun of him at work, I don't know.

Here is where I got my pattern if I have inspired you. I plan on making more so I have enough to use for multiple things!

Going Green

2011-01-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

This is the first time in my life the word green makes me want to vomit.

As previously noted, I am doing the elimination diet. I started on Wednesday (yesterday) and spent the day drinking water and green smoothies. By the time I got home from work, I was tired and my stomach felt blegh. It doesn't hurt, it just is wondering what the hell is going on. It is used to breaking down chips and pizza and tofu. It didn't have a job to do and it was pissed.

Today, unfortunately, I am forced to drink water and green smoothies again. This morning, I took a drink of my smoothie, homemade, and gagged. The thought of drinking that again was incredibly unpleasant. Granted, I don't have a Vitamix so "drinking" a smoothing really consists of sipping/chewing kale. It's awful!

I cannot wait until tomorrow morning when I can eat real food. Real as in yams, lentils, cilantro, avocado, the list goes on...luckily. I am going to eat a breakfast of rice, lentils, and avocado sauce. It sounds so f-ing good!

iDiet

2011-01-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, as I have stated above, I am going on a diet.

Everyone's New Year Resolution always includes dieting so I guess I am jumping on the bandwagon.

Although, I am not.

Yes, I am really going on a diet but I am going on an elimination diet to see if I am sensitive to certain foods. I was having horrible stomach pains about a month ago. No, I am/was not pregnant, let me just get that out of the way.

Although the pain is gone, something was causing it and I am going to see if it was a food thing. Spending 4 - 6 hours in bed trying to sleep away the pain is not something I want to experience again.

I have decided to start this diet now though because I wanted to get past the holidays. I was willing to sacrifice being sick in order to eat 6 cookies a day and family potatoes until I burst. I also needed coffee during the cold mornings and red wine to ring in the New Year. Alas, I didn't get sick which could mean it wasn't a food thing but I think my body could use a little cleansing anyway so this elimination diet can't hurt.

Here is what I have in store though:
Day 1 - 2: green smoothies only. ONLY! lord.
Day 3 - 9: allergen free food (brown rice, yams, lentils), can't be too bad.
Day 10 - 28: haven't gotten that far
Day 29: Almost my birthday! Time to stretch the stomach back out for cake, cupcakes, ice cream, etc.

This whole plan shouldn't be too bad. I eat pretty well during the majority of the year. But, if I don't blog for another week or so, you may want send a search party. The green smoothies may have killed me.

Winter Storage

2010-12-29T22:10:00.000-08:00

In the good ole' olden days, the majority of people had things called root cellars where they stored their root veggies (potatoes, squash, yams, onions, etc) to eat all winter. People also actually canned food and used that to eat in the winter. People in the North didn't go to the store and buy tomatoes, corn, peppers, or bananas during the cold season. They just ate what you could store.

Totally NOT my root cellar, just a pic of an awesome one!

To me, the idea of eating what you can store/grow yourself is obviously appealing. I am so glad I have a butt load of canned pickles, beans, tomatoes, salsa, peppers, beets, and jam. I love that in our garage (where there is no heater) my onions, potatoes, beans, squash, and garlic are just waiting for me to make dinners out of them.

Totally my storage veggies (grown by and photo taken by TBoy)

However, I could do a better job of integrating some of my stored foods into our daily meals. I am pretty good about it though as we have squash for supper (I like calling dinner that, makes me sound all farmy and shit) a lot, which is totally awesome. And we eat potatoes like a freakin' Irish peasant. My canned goods could use more integration though. T uses pickles and peppers daily in his sandwiches and I try to eat the beans and beets daily but really I should be eating them more. Lord knows we have a good amount to sustain ourselves so I should look more into some pickled beet recipes...if they exist.

I do have some amazing squash recipes though! I know I have posted them on here before but you know what, now you get another....deal with it and eat it. It is f-ing delicious.

Storage Squash Lasagna (now the squash doesn't have to be storage squash but I like the idea)
Serves 8 - 10
adapted from Giada's recipe

Ingredients

1T olive oil

1 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) butternut (delicata is also delicious!) squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2c water

1/4c butter

1/4c all-purpose flour

3c whole milk

1/2c veggie broth

Pinch nutmeg

3/4c basil leaves roughly chopped

12 no-boil lasagna noodles

2 1/2c grated mozzarella cheese

1/3c grated Parmesan

Directions

To prepare sauce:

1. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Pour the water into the skillet and then cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.

3. Cool squash slightly and then transfer the squash to a food processor. Blend until smooth. Season the squash puree, to taste, with more salt and pepper.

4. Melt the butter in a heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat.

5. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute.

6. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

7. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes.

8. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly.

9. Transfer half of the sauce to a blender (or food processor).

10. Add the basil and blend until smooth.

11. Return the basil sauce to the sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.

Putting it all together:

12. Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.

13. Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish.

14. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the prepared baking dish.

15. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan.

16. Spread 1/3 of the squash puree over the noodles.

17. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.

18. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over the noodles.

19. Repeat layering 3 more times.

20. Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes.

21. Take off foil and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the lasagna.

22. Continue baking uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden, 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Come On 2011

2010-12-21T21:45:00.000-08:00

2010 was a good year. It was full of happiness, weddings, engagements, healthy gardens, vacations, and a new baby. On the other hand, 2010 also had its share of sickness, frustration, drowned flowers, and other general fuck-i-ness. In fact, it is f-ed right now.

Yes, 2010 is ending on the bad side.

No, I didn't get that job.

No, I didn't get/want a Christmas tree.

No, I didn't get my cowboy boots.

Yes, I just got back from Vegas (which was fun) but

Yes, it rained 90% of the time and

Yes, I almost cried when I walked all the way down the Strip with wet shoes and socks squishing water with each step.

It was jesus telling me I was a sinner.

Yes, I know people have lives way shitter than me but

Yes, I donated money/time to many organizations so I could feel sorry for myself when the time comes.

Anywho, I am tired from getting home at 2am and getting up at 7am which may be why I am whining.

But....I am VERY excited for more holiday vacations and visiting friends on December 31, 2010 to say "Fuck Off 2010, you started swell and got better but then you decided to shove your foot up my ass. See ya!"

New Year's Resolution: floss and smile.

Family in Vegas

Nervous?

2010-12-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

I have a job interview tomorrow. It is in with the same organization I am currently in, just a different position.

People keep asking me if I am nervous. Am I supposed to be nervous? Because, I don't feel nervous. I am more like excited, confident, and (hopefully) prepared. I'm not overly confident or anything, just the perfect amount to sell myself.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow while I am waiting I will start sweating, get pit stains, and be super nervous but I certainly hope that doesn't happen. Which is why I am trying not to think about it. But...everyone is asking me if I am nervous.

It isn't that being asked that question is annoying, I just wish people wouldn't ask because I don't want to be nervous.

Instead, I have chosen to answer that no, I am not nervous. I am:

....Creative

....Excited

......Beautiful

........Intelligent

.......Personable


......A risk taker who knows my boundaries

And, who wouldn't hire someone with those traits? It doesn't matter that I might piss my pants tomorrow when they ask about my weaknesses. At least, I am confident now.

Poop on Santa

2010-12-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry but I am having a really tough time focusing on the holidays this year.

Usually I am so looking forward to decorating the house and giving gifts but this year I have too much other stuff going on to really care (and it might happen to do with the fact I have a raging headache but hell, I live in the moment). I don't have or need a tree and I told T I will be purchasing my own gift. Such a romantic, I totally know.

Although I might be the Grinch, I gotta say, I can't wait to see family (my baby sister included) and eat, drink, and be merry until the fucking cows come home.

So....this post is to warn you all of something. Something that may ruin your Christmas season and for that I am sorry (if I cared enough to be sorry).

The M/H Household holiday letter/card that makes your season a little brighter will not be coming to your house this year (and if you never got it, it is a gem). I don't have the energy to write it and I have addressed too many damn invitations and thank yous this year. I can't make myself look up your address one more time. I can't decide on which stamp to buy at the post office (although it is the arabic stamp year). I can't make myself force T to help me any longer.

I am so sorry you won't see my babies and hear them tell you about their year. They are all tired too. Every time I try to ask Stanley want he wants me to write he begins to say, "Please tell everyone about my new pink coll..." Then he continues with, "Hiss, spat, hiss, fuck you Simon!" I turn to Buk and ask what he wants me to say, "Mah, can I go sit on the couch? Sam gone and sit on my bed. (paw on my lap) I sweet." When I try to ask Sam, he just walks away. Don't even get me going on Simon, he talks at about 100 words a second and the only words I can make out are "ball" "outside" and "piss smell good". He has been diagnosed with many learning disabilities and several behavioral issues.

So please just read through this blog for all the highlights of 2010. There were many but I would like to end the year sitting on my couch (attempting to finish homemade gifts) and watching Mad Men. Please don't make me feel obligated to tell you again how I am going to be a farmer and how much I enjoy being married now, blah, blah, blah.

I know you will understand dear friend.

To leave you reminiscing about my past letters and hopefully forgetting that I ain't spreading holiday cheer, here are the pictures from the past M/H holidays together:


2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

College Credit Closer to Farming Major

2010-12-06T22:55:00.000-08:00

T and I just had our last Farm Class.

I have mentioned before that we had a class we were taking to learn about farming. It was a WSU class, so I guess I am a Coug now. Must run in the family. (but no, I didn't give a rats ass about the apple cup.) Anywho, after about 10 weeks or something crazy long (but didn't seem crazy long) we have more knowledge about farming and how that plays into our farm and what we want to do with our lives in the future.

Farming can be a job but is definitely something that consumes you whether you make it full time or not. So we contemplated how we see our lives and our land in the future.

When I began taking the class I decided I would never quit my job and become a farmess (female of farmer) because a) T makes me weed b) I don't know very much and would need lists c) T and I would be working together 24-7, good? bad? I don't know but we are newlyweds d) I like canning and canning doesn't make you money. But...after some awesome classes, guest speakers, and farm tours, I decided that maybe someday I will make farming a full time thing or at least own a restaurant. We are talking 5 - 10 years though.

Last week T and I had to prepare a presentation (he wouldn't let me make a video. ie middle school george washington report...god, I wish I had a video to post here). We made a pretty nice power point and told our class that we are planning to go to Ferndale Farmer's Market next year and then proceed to increase our own business in the future.

So there you go, we are going to Farmer's Market!

I still do see T being more of a farmer than me but at least now I am excited for my part in all that. He will need me.

Although, I haven't gotten my boots yet and I refuse to do any weeding, sowing, trimming, mowing, pruning, planting, and so on and so forth until I get dem boots. And they must be pretty.

Being Thrifty

2010-11-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

In 2007, 2008, and 2009 I braved the mornings of Black Friday.

My Sis and I had a kick-butt system to know what we wanted, get what we wanted, and managed to spend less than 45 min in a store. Boo-yah!

However, after a couple years of trying to buy things with a) less packaging b) not from China c) less plastic d) lightly used and being saved from a landfill, I decided to forgo Black Friday for 2010. Sis was in California anyway but I knew Ma was up for the challenge if need be. Alas, I didn't have to desire to shop. I really didn't need anything and I am really trying to buy clothes used. I don't need brand-spankin' new clothes (only shoes).

When Friday afternoon rolled around I was chillin' at home HOME (with the rents) and got the itch to shop. I guess being home and it being the Black Friday made me get the fever.

It was decided that Ma and I do a lil' shoppin'. (after she took her afternoon nap.) We chose to go to Salvation Army (everything 50% off!) and Joann Fabrics to get supplies for homemade Christmas gifts. So it was a very Emily 2010 shopping trip. We ended up getting bags of clothes, home decor, and other misc stuff at SA for $44! Seriously, at a "real" store all that useful shit would have cost well over $200.

So we Ma managed to spend a whopping $60 on Black Friday. I got about 6 items of clothing and great home decor.

I even got a new tv stand on Saturday!! (Not really a black friday special but all that purchasing got me wanting a new tv stand.) $50 Ikea TV stand/entertainment center on craigslist. Bye Gramma's oak entertainment center. You served us well. You will go to a great college student home after we post you for free on craigslist. (Free because it is ugly AND we managed to shatter one of the glass window things upon removal from the living room to the garage, that shit was heavy.)

All in all it was a great Thanksgiving weekend with family, shopping, and food. (I made pumpkin pie from garden squash, mushroom/potato casserole, vegan cranberry "jello", and a cheeseball. It was good.)

Rediscovering Ginger

2010-11-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

I am rediscovering ginger.

Not this Ginger....

....but this Ginger

I am sure you know all about ginger and the health benefits of ingesting it. It helps digestion, upset stomachs, and dizziness. It probably makes you smarter too.

I was using ginger a lot in my cooking a couple years ago because it is in so many Asian recipes and I LOVE Asian food. Ginger is also used a bunch in "whole food" cooking, which I was doing a couple of years ago. However, this year I kinda stopped buying it and wasn't using it in dishes. I think it may be because I have so many go-to recipes now that I just plain forgot to add ginger. It wasn't part of my main shopping list.

Alas, I used a recipe two weeks ago and lo and behold it called for ginger. I realized I had missed ginger....a lot. I also learned a new way of cooking it....when you are cooking/frying your onions at the beginning of a recipe, throw in the ginger. It will be crunchy and delicious by the time you are done!

Now I am using ginger in so much food (stir fry, veggie dishes, sushi). I am sure my digestive system loves it.

Here is a helpful hint if you want to use ginger. Buy a big tuber (that is what they are called) and cut it up into various sizes then stick it in a baggie and put it in the freezer. It will last FOREVER. When you want to use it, take out the size piece you want, peel it (one side may have a little freezer burn but just cut/peel that off), cut it up and perfect. You have ginger that is in great shape and didn't go bad after a week of buying it.

Sunday Breakfast Menu

2010-11-14T14:42:00.000-08:00

I have really been thinking about this farm business.

While I am not a farmer, I am a "chef". I put chef in quotations because I think I can cook, and cook well, but I feel like a chef is someone who went to France and learned how to cook duck. I am more of an amateur.

I have decided that I want to start a restaurant in Ferndale. I am giving myself 8 years to do this. I was thinking the other day that Ferndale is pretty boring. There is bowling (good place to see old people), Hovander park (good place for minors to drink in the brush), Lake Terrell (good place to get shot), and Chihuahuas (best Mexican in Whatcom Co). However, there isn't a good local food restaurant, kind like Boundary Bay or something similar. There is no place for people to go listen to coffee house music or no place for teens to hang out in the evenings. Sure, we have Woods Coffee but 1) there coffee is bad 2) there don't actually have any cool things going on there.

So, I have decided to open a local restaurant that serves fresh, gourmet-y type food but that also doubles as a coffee shop with local music (totally Jazz on Thursdays) and hell, maybe even a poetry reading or two.

In order to do those things though T has told me I have to talk to a local and see if there has ever been a place that tried to do what I want to do and failed. I should probably find out if I am the only one who thinks my idea is brilliant. Maybe I am the only Ferndalian that wants local food, jazz music, board games, good coffee, and art without having to drive to Bellingham.

Anywho, to jump right into it here is my Sunday Breakfast Menu:

French Toast choice of vegan or not

Chicken Fried Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy

Breakfast Sandwich choice of bacon or tofu

Tofu Scramble

Oh and everything comes with a side of home-fried potatoes

Coffee from Moka Joe

I would have a somewhat specialty restaurant with an emphasis on vegan/vegetarian food but daily specials of meat products. Open for breakfast and dinner on the weekends. Open for lunch and dinner during the weekdays. Appetizers only after 9p - 11p on Friday and Saturday.

You know, initial plans. Oh shit, I forgot vegan cinnamon rolls, that would be on the breakfast menu too.

Skype Business

2010-11-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so, what is all this "skype" business?

About a month ago, I was really perplexed on what all the hype was about. Nothing sounded worse than skyping. It's like talking on the phone, blegh, but the person you are talking to can see you?! Gross. I don't want people to know I am rolling my eyes, planning my week, eating spaghetti, and watching a movie all while talking to them.

As I am sure you realize, talking on the phone just isn't my cup o' tea. I'd rather see (and by see, I mean hang out once a month) people or email. Seriously, I know emailing is lame but I just don't have the desire to talk on the phone for 30 minutes. I am a serious multi-tasker and talking on the phone while doing the dishes is really hard. Plus, people do always know when you are going to the bathroom and talking on the phone at the same time. I'd rather just save myself the embarrassment. On the other hand, emails take like 5 minutes, you get straight to the point and move on to other important business. Like You Tube dances.

I recently found out that my sister started using skype with her fiance while they are in different states. Okay. Cool. I suppose that is a pretty nice thing. But what really got me understanding skype was that I heard soldiers use it when they are on deployment to communicate with their families. Now that is cool. It is free and easy to use.

My mom on the other hand doesn't use it because she can't get passed the sign up phase. They ask for her name.*scammer alert*

So although I think the US military has got a great way to communicate with family, I think I will stick to just not talking to people.

Granola

2010-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Let me just take a moment to distract all granola/hippy jokes. Yes, I eat granola. Yes, I drive a Subaru. Yes, I eat organic. Yes, I recycle. blah blah. Funny, funny. There.

Anywho, I used to buy granola every week because I love it on my morning cereal and on my yogurt. However, granola, locally made, is $6.29/lb. Granola is pretty heavy stuff too. After ranting about how much T's cereal was, I realized I should probably take into account my granola. I figured it couldn't be hard to make.

Turns out making granola is hella easy to make and totally NOT expensive. You just have to figure out what kind of granola you like...dry, kinda soft, chunky, not chunky, etc. I really like chewy, chunky stuff with peanut butter, nuts, and cinnamon. So I took some recipes online, tweaked things here and there, and now I make granola weekly.

Granola
This recipe lasts me a little over a week

INGREDIENTS

1/2c sesame seeds
1/2c chopped almonds
2T dried fruit
1/2c flour
1/4c whole wheat flour
1/4c ground flax seed (I use an old coffee grinder to grind my flax)
4T butter
2T coconut oil
2T olive oil
1/3c honey
1/3c peanut butter
2 1/2c oats
2t cinnamon
2T milk (I use vanilla soy)
salt
agave

METHOD

Preheat oven to 250.
1. Melt your butter and honey and coconut oil.
2. Soften your peanut better.
3. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. I use my mixer bowl.
4. Mix all ingredients together, minus the agave, (using your paddle attachment on a stand mixer) on a low speed until well combined.
5. Spread onto an oiled baking sheet. If you like somewhat chunky granola leave some chunks together.
6. Bake for 10 min. Then take out and lightly squirt agave onto top. Not too much though or the agave won't bake into the oats. Turn everything over.
7. Bake for another 10 min.
8. Take out of oven and let sit on the pan until cool.

Store in ziplock bag or glass jar.
Play with the recipe though or look at others online and see what you think.

Whoa is Me

2010-11-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

I am tired. Seriously. Tired.
I am disappointed.

This election business has me pissed right off. I am a very rational person and I believe in democracy which is why I put my signature on petitions when people want things on ballots. I believe that if we vote on things, democracy will stand. That's cool with me.
However, what I am not cool with is lying. Yea, I used to do it when I was little, like all.the.time. But when I got caught enough times riding in my friends' cars *gasp* (even though I was 16), I stopped. This is why I have a problem with this 2010 election, some politicians just didn't stop, and still haven't.

I feel like people don't look at all the facts or research things for themselves. Rather, they read the voter pamphlet exclusively or listen to tidbits of things here or there. I mean, that is what happens, people don't have time to research everything and that is why I am frustrated with the bended truth.

Here is my beef:

Republicans were running on "big spending" "huge deficit" and "employment rates". When I heard Republicans saying Obama has raised the deficit and all that shit I seriously turned to T and said. Wait, what?! That is NOT true. Seriously. Bush created a bigger deficit when he was in office and there are MORE jobs today than there were at the end of the Bush administration. Why are they saying that?! I swear to you, I honest to goodness do not understand why everyone is talking about liberal politics when things are actually improving. Oh and don't even start me on the health care bill where 90% of Americans agree with the individual policies but when you ask them "do you agree with the Obama Health Care Reform", 75% of them say no. Does that make ANY sense?! People think the insurance industry shouldn't be allowed to deny people health care. Der.

To me it sounds like people are so divided because of the words Democrat and Republican which is why I would be upset when some people are just saying things to get votes and make one party distrust the other. Granted, this time around, no one really voiced the opposition to the fluffy lies. Some did try to explain that they inherited this mess (totally true) but they didn't do a good job explaining that things are getting better. Alas, people don't listen though when the TV highlight of the night is Sarah Palin strutting her stuff and using swear words to get those white middle class folks pumped up. (I do it to be funny. SP is NOT funny.) It makes me barf. Can we please get real information?!

I just want a world with health care for everyone and services for people in need and equal rights for everyone! I don't care if I am taxed to help people. I believe that there are great programs out there. And yes, I believe in the government, businesses, and non profits. I don't need $200,000 to be happy. I do believe that regulations need to occur because not everyone has good intentions and people should be held accountable. Yes, I voted for people of both parties in 2010, I saw good and non-bullshit from both parties. But, I am pissed. All I hear on the radio (I don't have TV) is how we will turn around the deficit and blah, blah. For CHRIST SAKE, the national deficit is NOT higher than what was inherited from 2008/2009 (same fiscal year)!! Perhaps you think things should have turned around faster but really? Really? Do you remember how ridiculous things were at the end of 2008?!

However, if you did vote on other issues though, its cool. I just wanted you to know that some headliners were complete crap. Stinky crap.

I feel a little better now and I hope things will get done in the next two years because I think we were just starting to get some good momentum going.

Girl Power

2010-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

This isn't my normal witty post* but it is my inspiring "teach the children well" side.

I am a huge proponent of girls growing up with positive role models to make them feel loved and heard. I was raised almost perfectly, there was that time when my mom made me dislocate my elbow because she wanted me to do the spider crawl damnit, the crab crawl was not cutting it**. I had loving parents who made me feel like I was smart, pretty, and good at sports. Not all those things were true all the time but I did have a pretty good self confidence.

This article is about girls and what you should do to inspire them today, tomorrow, and this weekend. Girls really do need women to be positive role models and encouragers. In high school, I definitely had a fair amount of meat on my bones, I could have used an eyebrow pluck, and my hair was god awful but I didn't really realize any of my "flaws" until I was older and on my own with no one reminding me daily that I was fine the way I was. During high school, it was the women around me who made me feel like I was perfectly normal. Granted, someone should have stopped me from eating Jack in the Box three times a week and I am glad I changed my eating and exercising regimen in adulthood.

blegh of 2001

I would like to add though that if a girl is unhealthy (as in eating shit), it is also important to to teach her how to respect her body. It is important to introduce girls to physical activities and stimulate her mind. Not all of it is about looks....but it is a lot.

So read the article and go make a girl feel lovely. It doesn't even have to be a young girl, all women could use a feel good moment about their appearance.

*It wasn't supposed to be a witty post but apparently I can't help myself.
**Mom, I love you lots, more than my cats. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I don't even remember the pain or anything. Plus, you know it is kinda funny. And...you are a parent, things happen and then your children get to remind you forever. You'll have a second chance in toddler class with the grandkids.

New Brother or Sister?

2010-10-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

I was thinking that Buk, Sam, Stanley, and Simon needed a new brother or sister. But even after typing all those names, I realized that probably is enough. Anyway, we were thinking that maybe Buk needed a new sibling pup to wrestle around with and Simon could use a younger doggie to pounce on. Since Gus left, we realized that maybe the babies were sad. So we started looking on the Humane Society website. Daily. I emailed T about twice a day with adorable dogs AND cats that I wanted to snuggle.

Then Gus came to visit (and will be back next weekend). Gus came inside, loved Buk for about 2 minutes and then went outside to play and came back within 10 minutes and had rolled in something dead. For christ sake! T and I ended up giving the boys cousin baths.

Although we love Gus like our own and he is SO precious, I decided we don't need another animal. That same week, I ended up taking Simon to the vet for shots and Stanley to the vet the day after because his face was puffy. Over $150 later (which isn't that much for animals) I decided our family was happy enough.

story of our lives; Simon trying to be funny and everybody else just pissed.

I don't need another dog to train and another bed for Simon to piss on.

Plus, Simon and Buk have become best buds and started sleeping/wrestling together. That then got Sammy's underoos in a twist and he sleeps with Buk on his bed now too. They are too sweet.

Don't judge me. on so many levels

Fall

2010-10-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the fall.
But, I say that about every season when it comes.

I am glad I live in a place with seasons.

I love the autumn because I eat more, cook more, read more, and craft more. I try to gym more.

It is about time to redecorate the house with those fall/winter items.
It is about time to start thinking about hosting another dinner party.
It is time to start knitting (and finishing the projects started from last year).
It is time to doing those DIY projects, or at least give them to T to do in his winter time.

It is time to go to the gym at least 3 times a week (usually 2) to burn off those cinnamon rolls or heavy creams that go oh-so-well with soup.
It is time to sit on the couch, after cleaning the house of course, and read under a blanket with the fire place (I say fire place because we have a gas one, boring, I know but you get what you get and it is better than nothing) going. (who knows how many times that will actually happen)

If I get to do all that, then I am so happy. If I get to do some of it, I need to take more Vitamin D supplements. If I don't get to do any of it, you will find me in my bed at 1pm curled in a ball.

It will be time to make these styrofoam peanut garlands soon enough.

All photos courtesy of Real Simple DIY projects

Hair Roll

2010-10-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are interested, I am going to post what I have been doing with/to my hair and the results that have occurred each day:

- Day 7: Hair washed (with baking soda and acv rinse) last on Day 6. Put hair into pony tail. Later in the day I had to meet family and wore it down. The pony tail made my hair really flat, which was new. Tried to curl my hair and it didn't really hold. Not good in the end. Lesson learned: with no hair regimen, hair can gets straighter after pony tail.

- Day 8: Washed hair with 2 Tbs baking soda/water mix and rinsed with about the same amount of apple cider vinegar. Put the flax seed hair gel in my hair and blow dried (is that a word?) until semi dry. Let the rest air dry. Spent the next 5 hours outside in windy conditions. Needless to say, my hair went a little frizzy. Wind, no "real" hair products, and curly hair mix not. Flax hair gel is pretty sweet.

- Day 9: Went to the gym in the morning. Apple cider rinse after work out. Put in Flax hair gel and blow dried (again word?), then curled the pieces that looked like shit. Good hair day in the end.

- Day 10: Took a shower at night on Day 9. Didn't use baking soda or acv. After shower put in the flax gel. Slept on it. In the morning, it was super curly and only needed a couple pieces curled. Best day so far. We will see how long it lasts.

- Day 11: Hair lasted 14 hours yesterday. Didn't look superb by the end but it didn't look awful either. Hair in pony tail today, husband wouldn't go to the gym in the morning and told me to go back to sleep instead. I did. Then I didn't wake up in time to take a full, hair-washing, shower.

Overall, I really don't feel like my hair is much different. I don't really notice I am not shampooing my hair. I like it.

The Side Project - No Shampoo

2010-10-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 2 a good friend of mine, N.M. (Natural Mel), sent me an email. She explained that because I am a tree hugger and a cheapskate, she had an idea for me.

The idea: wait for it, wait for it.....*No Poo*.

Now, before you get too gross out, let me explain.

"No Poo" is short for "No Shampoo". It is a movement for people to not use shampoo and use natural cleansers and oils instead. This doesn't mean you don't clean your hair, let me repeat, this doesn't mean you don't clean your hair...the difference is that you don't clean your hair with shampoo because people argue that shampoo has harsh chemicals, such as sulfates, in it. It is true that some/most shampoos on the market have sulfates, however; I already use shampoo without sulfates so I was not sure that this experiment was really for me.

Instead of shampoo, you are supposed to give yourself a baking soda scalp massage (which some hairstylists use on scalps to get rid of hair product build up anyway) and rinse with apple cider vinegar (you know that is my favorite thing!). But, instead of embracing NM's suggestion, I wrote her an email back pretty much making excuses about why I couldn't do it right now. But, I knew I was making excuses and that bothered me.

So to make myself feel better, I did some research because I was curious/nervous about hair products. Could I still use them? I have frizzy (which no poo is supposed to help) curly hair and I was afraid that during the "transition period" (more to come on that), my hair would just be a shit show. After some research, I found some pretty interesting natural home recipes for hair gel, which I used and like so far. Turns out you can still put that regular hair product stuff in your hair, the baking soda will take it all out, but of course all the hippy dippies don't think you should use it. Which I think I will embrace.

My other excuse not to do "no poo" had to do with the transition period. Websites say that it will take 1 - 3 weeks for your scalp to stop overproducing oil. I guess because we dry our heads out with shampoo, our oil glands make up for that by producing a lot of oil. So when you decide to go No Shampoo, the first couple of weeks your head still produces that oil and then it finally settles down and gets into a natural rhythm. I told NM that I didn't want greasy hair at work but then after thinking about it, I don't wash my hair that frequently anyway (about 3 times a week because I don't want to dry it out) and I will just have to wear pony tails before revealing my new luxurious hair styles which really isn't so bad.

As you may have guessed, the day I got the email and told NM I wasn't going to do it, I started doing it because I couldn't not try it. It is too environmentally friendly and if it really improves my body, I HAVE to try. I am all for being healthier and not having so many chemicals in/on my body. So, Saturday night 10/2, I washed my hair to get all the crap out of it and now I am on day 7.

Day 2 - oh yea, I got my hair cut off too

Turns out my hair never, or hasn't yet I don't know, gone through a greasy period, it just is a little more limp/not as curly. I think I never had greasy hair to begin with. I wasn't one of those people that ever looked like I had greasy hair. My hair just used to feel dirty when it had product in it.

I am hoping that within a couple weeks my hair will be more curly and look better. Right now, I am trying to get used to working with it (it doesn't help that it is rainy). I still pretty much do the same thing but it does act a bit differently so I am seeing if that works out all right because, yes, I like having my hair look good. sorry.

I am also wondering what this will do for my scalp. During the winter my scalp gets really dry and itchy (I know, gross but you can't tell or anything) so I am curious if this will help. We shall see.

But, for a while, I am going to give little updates hither and tither about the process.

Who knows, maybe it will inspire you.

Day 5 - couldn't get my bangs to work that day