Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Happy Birthday!?

How on earth could I foget my own blog's birthday? I feel like such an idiot. No worries. I still would love to do a small give away probably with in the next week.
I went by Trauger's yesterday and saw people picking raspberries! I'll have to get my friend to come with me next week to pick for jam. Yum. Canning will be done a little differently this year and I hope it works out great.
Updates:
The pickles are almost gone and I have one more jar of blackberry jam in the pantry and not so apple butter, which will be turned into apple bread.
Beans are doing great! So are the pumpkins, or at least the ones I didn't plant of course.
I haven't really watched cable TV for a few weeks now so it's decided that once I move out I will not have cable.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A Sad Sad Time

One of my favorite local natural food stores is closing its doors this Saturday after almos two years of my patronage. I've come to know the owners and the workers there. They're all too kind. It's only a minute down the side walk from work and made the perfect place to drop in and get a healthy snack. Now, it's nearly gone. They're out of business sale has left almost nothing left of my favorite place. Shelves and shelves were empty of it's once nutruious splendor. It makes me sad to see it go.
Although one door shuts another opens. Right next door to my work a consignment shop is opening and I'm excited to see what they will offer. Now all I need to do is start bringing my own snacks and such to work.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Rhu-berry Pie!

For reason I can not pronounce Rhubarb strawberry pie, hence rhu-berry. I've been planning on making this scrumptious pie back when rhubarb first came in season but I somehow forgot. A week ago I remembered my longing and went on a search for late season rhubarb. After purchasing nearly two pounds on the ruby stalks from a local produce stand, I planned my pie date. Now, for this pie not just any strawberries would be good enough. Oh no! I picked my own at Trauger's. For $1.50 a pound, who wouldn't? I made the top crust myself but the bottom is a premade pie crust that was taking up space in my freezer.
The recipe that I used is adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook. I highly recommend this cookbook to anyone that likes to cook.

Ingrediants:
Pie crust enough for bottom and top
2 cups rhubarb peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups strawberries sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl mix everything together. A poor into pie crust lined pie pan. Put other crust on top and "pinch" it down. Poke ventalation holes on top. Cover edge with tin foil. Bake for 40-50 minutes taking the tin foil off for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Your end product should look something like this.



Sunday, June 13, 2010

Homesteading Fever

I've been very lazy lately. I have no idea why. Suddenly, I have no desire to cook, clean, or work in the garden. I'm calling it Homesteading Fever. It's where you stick to homesteading then slowly you begin to get tired of it then end of doing nothing. I'm trying hard to counter the effects on me. To help I made two rhubarb-strawberry pies.
It' nothing like a pie bakin' to git yer 'omesteadin' feet o gin! I'll post pictures soon. I found my camera chord!
I've been reading a lot lately, mostly trying to hid from the ugly muggy, humid weather we have been having.
I managed to plant my pumpkins and green bean but nothing else. Oh well. They say to start small anyway and after all of this year's short comings, I don't blame myself. Shit happens, right?
As much as I hate summer's mugginess, I'm going to try to keep pulling my ideas together.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Summer Conditioning


With highs reaching the mid 80s this past weekend it's time to start summer conditioning. Now, with most people this means cranking up the A/C. This is not the case here. In previous years I was in a downstairs bedroom that had A/C but in the fall of 2008 I moved up to my sister's old bedroom. When she was in this room the A/C was always cranked up and the windows closed. I'm just the opposit. I booted the A/C to the curb for a more energy approch and, besides, I only have two windows in my room, might as well make the most of it. So summer conditioning is not making the temperature suit you but making you suit the temperature. We humans are warm blooded animals and our body temperature flucuates with the temperature around us. Ever wonder why you still wear jackets in 70 degree weather? You're body has not adjusted yet.
The first step to summer conditioning is to drink plenty of cold water, ice cold if possible. We need water to perspire and perspiring is our "cooling system". Also do not wear anti-perpirant deoderant as it inhibits our natural cooling system.
Wear light clothing. For this you want to go with natural fabrics such as cotton and silk. Wearing light colors helps as well.
Open your windows and turn on fans. In my room I have three fans; a window fan, a box fan, and a regular fan that I can turn towards the ceiling in hopes of creating a cross breeze.
You have any more ideas on how to keep cool during the summer without an A/C please comment! I would love yo hear your advice!