Just We Three - CSA - January 12, 2011

 What's in the Box?

Limes, cilantro, parsnips, carrots, beets, eggs, pumpkin bars with pumpkin seeds, Queensland Blue Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Swiss Chard, red onions, Potatoes, and garlic. One of you will get relish, the other will get salsa.

Coming soon:  Tangerines.  They're on the tree, but they just aren't ripe yet.  We need a wee bit of warmer weather.  50 degrees would be good.

The grass is growing so fast, I can here it in my sleep.  It's overtaking the strawberries and I must weed!  I have just finished the seed inventory and we have about 300 kinds of seed.

2011 Pre-Planning:

Artichokes, Asparagus, Fava Beans, Green Beans, Dry Beans, Lima Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Corn - Sweet, Posole, & Polenta!, Cukes, Garlic, Greens-Asian, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Cress, Kale, Lettuce.  As well as Leeks, Melons, Onions, Okra, Parsnips, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rhubarb, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes and Watermelons!  There will be a lot of new varieties of beans, peas, cukes, etc.  It's going to be a good year.  Sign up early.  Reserve your spot today with Leo or Mike.  I will begin planting seeds for spring this weekend!   

When Good Quilts Go Bad

Rain, Rain, Rain

Well I can't farm, so I might as well sew. About 20 years ago my sister made Leo and I this quilt when we got married. Which was a good thing, because at the time we were living in the barn, and it was cold. But after 10 years on the bed and 10 years on the couch, this good quilt had begun to show it's age. It was coming apart at the seams.


Well about 5 years ago I took an needle and thread to it and made repairs. After all my sister had hand quilted this king size blanket! Sheer Martyrdom. But even that didn't last. So I took it to my local quilt shop, Material Pleasures, and together we decided to try to repair it by applique.

They very nicely used their die cutting machine to whip out these flowers for me. I peeled off the back and ironed them over the holes. Kind of like giant iron on patches. I then spent the afternoon quilting around them. Now this quilt can go back to the cabin and live for another 20 years.

I kind of like these flowers. They remind me of the 60's, when my sister plastered these flowers all over anything that didn't move.

Just We Three - January 6, 2011

2011...Sounds like a Science Fiction Title

It looks to be a very good year.

To the left 5/30/2006
The cabin kitchen. Note the extensive counter space and the beautiful
wall paper. Fast forward to 2011. Yes, that's 5 years in the making.


Many hours and all our vacations and countless dollars...don't ask I don't want to count them.

Let's see, the new windows, the bees in the walls, the insulation, sheet rock, electrical, plumbing, cabinets, lighting, sink, faucet and appliances. Let's not forget the bead board and paint.

If I had an hour for every minute I spent at the hardware store, let's just say for awhile my sister thought I was having an affair with some one at Home Despot. There were days when I thought I'd go mad in the plumbing department while Leo fished through bins of things that all look alike to me.

I measured this kitchen about 10 times, just to make sure it was right. I went through three kitchen designs, which Leo would find fault in. One day we went into Ikea with the cabinet list at 9am. When we finally got out with the cabinets, hardware, sink and counter tops it was after 6pm.

From 2009-2010 there was no kitchen sink. With much debate, Leo put a utility sink in the bathroom. He didn't think I'd need it but really everything takes more time and costs more money than you will ever think.

And then there was the building inspections and the electrician. A modern kitchen needed an entire new outlet box and a new drop from the power line. There are some things that even Leo and I won't do.

We still have the trim and the bar top left, but it's a fully functioning kitchen and now that Zack and Casey live there year round, well they are very happy to have a sink in the kitchen.

All right enough with how I spent my Christmas vacation and let's get on to the CSA...
What's in the Box?

Carrots, Parsnips, Potatoes, Beets, Squash, Onions, Garlic, Swiss Chard, Eggs, and muffins.

Happy New Year to all of you.
And though it's muddy here, I can't even find the rhubarb or berries at the cabin. New Years brought a new batch of snow.