Self interest

How many ways do you like to eat cauliflower. While I was planting these babies on Monday I kept thinking about curry...and mashing them like potatoes...and soup...and more! I am crazy for cauliflower. Some of these babies are gonna be orange coloured...just for fun!

How selfish of me.

So much has been happening in my life in the last two weeks and I have yet to share any of it.

Well, it's not as if you haven't had plenty happening in your life over the Christmasextravaganzaness of your life.

I am sitting in the newly tidied and re-purposed office of our beautiful home. We took great advantage of the rain storms and dove in. Picture this, a crackling fire and order on our desktops. Really great for the end of the year. When we moved in we focused most of our attention, and still do, on the farm. The office is in what normal people would call the living room! We are so not normal around here, thus the creative space of an office where most people would sit for hours on end watching mind-numbing television.

We have enjoyed a respite from the crazy pre-Christmas rain. On Christmas Day we planted some food. That's a first. Usually we sit around eating all day. Then on Monday and Tuesday we planted some more. We were being inspired by yet another storm system headed our way. This is a great way to get us motivated! We are all set for a few days now. Good thing that! The ground is completely saturated and all the rainwater is headed into the creek. We filled our rainwater catchment barrels two weeks ago! Need a cistern!

I have decided to open the membership for the CSA again. We have a goodly amount of food growing now that we can share more with our friends. Fantastic.

So, off I go to write some thank you notes for good measure. You like getting them.....admit it!

Love is everywhere.

Serendipity

These photos show the before and after of the compost process. We take 5 gallon buckets and spill them along the bed. Then the tiler runs across the bed to mix it all up...not too much though! Delicious...

I can plan things really well. I have an eye for logistics. That said, all of the pieces have to fall together with grace when we are asking other people to jump in and assist too. When I don't have a hand in all of the components I allow serendipity to do her thing.

This week was full of crazy important have-to-do-them-now tasks. All week long we were racing the rain. We were also relying on our friends to let us use their trucks to accomplish the major tasks.

Wednesday we emptied a pickup truck full of compost onto all of the beds. Food for the hungry soil. Thursday we rented a rototiller and tilled the compost into the soil. Raking the beds was the next step. Friday we watched in wonder as the rain began to fall and the farm had its arms outstretched in great anticipation.

See why I haven't posted????

Looking back and writing about it days later adds a detached perspective. While I was in it I felt the whole activity of it humming around me in a glorious melody. It all fell into place in a lovely way.

We are happy for help from the lads, however much they offer. This last few months the farm has turned into our place, Scott's and mine. I think Joe is over it, as far as daily support. He's on for special projects. Sam, has his own projects and that's a whole different set of issues. Lily is great at making plans elsewhere and being snarky (sometimes) about getting the eggs. Whatever.

This is a team effort and it's how we are eating better food all the time. We shop less and eat more salads.

Perhaps the truth is that this is our farm now and they are on to different things. Looking at a new vision of it will help us with our next steps. Classes and tours are on the horizon.

The view across the San Luis Rey Valley today is so splendid that I can sit here for long stretches and stare. The tapestry of farmland shows shades of green that, under the dark gray clouds shrouding the De Luz hills, boggle the mind. The rain then blows across obscuring the longer view. Tremendous.

What a week

It was a stellar week. One for the journal/diary of perpetuity.

There were meals of delicious food with such tremendous company that I am wondering if I am awake. Is this a dream? Were those oysters with champagne granita the most sublime thing I ate? Or was it the ravioli? The pinot had notes of spices that just knocked my socks off.

I shared a table with 13 astonishing people Saturday night. We are planning great things for the future of farming and sharing the knowledge of good farmers with eager younger farmer wanna-be type folks.

Heady stuff this.

The setting was a grand manse high above the Pacific shore in La Jolla. The players food enthusiasts all. Farmers, a farmers market entrepeneur, foodie magazine publishers, educators and lots of lawyers. The conversation was so exciting and full of potential.

I love living my life with such richness.

Step back to Monday night and there I was at yet another delicious meal. Jump forward to another night during the week and I found myself wondering why I go the the trouble of caring about the quality of the meal that I am preparing. What is it that moves me to make such an effort?

Please bear in mind, dear reader, that I have just completed a three week course in patience as each lunch and dinner that I prepared was covered, and I mean covered, with Tapatio sauce. Even the spaghetti. Not my family members, mind you.

His initials are JCC. He worked hard and I am grateful.

Bless him....a weed free garden....all old plants pulled.........bless him.

Anyway...

I feel a great strong momentum forming. I have been jettisoned forward and all I can do now is sit in the present and go about my tasks....one by one.....until I am ready for a new list of tasks.

Life, please keep bringing on the great meals and stimulating conversation. Someone take me to lunch, tea or dinner. I could use some more conversation. The food is a great bonus.

Breathe.

Sing.

Deck your halls!

Burnin' down the house

Today's theme song, courtesy of David Byrne and Talking Heads:

Burnin' Down the House.

Mean Mr. J's house was burned down today. The dude was depressed to think that all of his possessions were gonna get toasted. A hoarder with so many things that he may not have remembered exactly what he had. Except for the highly explosive materials that could have blown a hole in Highway 15. Crazy! Glad for a prevailing wind that blows towards the east. Otherwise I would have been breathing all that stuff. High Drama!!!

Last night we had an impromptu dinner party. I always cook for a lot of hungry mouths anyway so there were no surprises there. Nothing on the table was from the farm and yet a great time was had by all. Our new friend Scott W. dropped off a load of compost and got here right in time to break bread with the family, Juan Carlos and Cyrus, who had just dropped by to get his CSA basket.

When I have an open heart and an open door the Good that comes into my life is overflowing. Great company, funny stories and lots of dirty dishes!!

Juan Carlos found the culprit that has been munching on my carrots and tonight is all our warfare....eco-agriculture style.

First, clear out the weeds near the remaining seedlings. Second, get out the Bacillus Thuringensis and blast the hell out of them. Next, replant the carrots and pour boiling water on the seeds. I know that sounds crazy. I was thinking that the seeds would be freaked out. But, apparently they crack open more quickly and bring forth their bounty faster! I am all for that. It's gonna be hot this weekend and I need the assist!!

Juan Carlos has been here for 18 days and has made a gigantic contribution to our success. Thanks so much for all you did. Thanks for living in the chilly cabin/vamper and hanging out with our boisterous family. Brave soul. He's moving to a beautiful organic citrus and avocado ranch/dressage horse training facility in De Luz. The area is one of the most picturesque in the area. The guy is blessed. And so are we.

Hasta La Vista JC!

Gotta go wrangle some worms....bastards!

May they come back as higher beings.

Eat. Eat some more. Or maybe less!...Nah!!!

It's the season to eat splendid meals, party, celebrate, watch parades. Not that I require a season or a reason for all of that.

I'm breathing for heaven's sake!

Do you remember that old Andy Williams recording of "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year?" I sang it in high school, so the lyrics are buried in my brain. It played on Pandora's Swinging Christmas playlist the other day. I had a great time singing along. Thankfully, I had reached a place where I was ready to hear it and partially agree.

Really, the whole year is wonderful for me!!!

This last weekend was the kick off. Two parades on Saturday. yippee!! That's a pic of the lowrider club guy that did two donuts on three wheels. Oh! my!!!

I big blow out holiday party at Stone World Bistro and Gardens. My eldest, Joe, is a lead busser there. He LOVES his job, by the way. We are the beneficiaries of his love of beer and have learned a lot and had quite a few tasty beers over the last few months..thanks Joe.Imagine my delight when he invited me to be his date. We have a great time together and love good food and good beer. Perfect combo!

The party was incredible. Team Stone was celebrated with delicious food, a rockin' cool beer list, a great jazz trio playing in the brew room. Best of all for the servers...a catering company that served them! I overheard quite a few people saying that it was great to be served by someone. Hmmmmmm!

Serving...

Last night was the Slow Food San Diego Natale dinner. Paolo is the empresario/owner of the trattoria. The menu was sensational and the flavors were tremendous. So grateful to share the table with terrific company and out of this world food. The other photo is a wheel of Grana Padano cheese that is being warmed to "finish' the risoto with radicchio. That was the simplest, dish of the evening. Needless to say, I left the event quite sated.

So, the month of revelry has begun.

Bring it on. I am ready.

And on another note....I am ready to have a crop of carrots sprout and grow. I know how to do this.

Thanks for the lessons carrot devas.

Enough already.

I've got kids to feed!!!!!

Moving towards the light.

Salad daze

Yesterday was so much fun. We had major garden goddess energy here at the farm. The gifted-to-us plants are headed out to gardens at schools in Fallbrook. The lovely ladies who grow healthy food...rather than the "ladies who lunch"...came to fill trays with transplants. The love energy and fun energy was vibrating baybee. What a great morning. I propelled myself into my work here with that great energy. Leeks and red pac choi are settling into their new places and look quite happy today!

We have this joke in our family. It goes something like this. When Scott met me I ate salad. Sure, I did. My salad was the lettuce, onion and tomato between the bun and the burger. The dressing...well, you get the picture.

Is there a jingle running in your head from a worldwide homo-menu-ish Scottish restaurant? Or some kind of faux royalty?

Today, a whole different picture has emerged. I am CRAZY for salad. I am especially crazy for the lettuce-from-my-garden salads. The leaves are multi-coloured and there is not a leaf of iceberg anywhere nearby. Perish the thought.

The week after thanksgiving is my week to run away from carbs-screaming. Or is it a mantra that I am chanting? Funny enough, I am highly disinterested in eating any. Or very many anyway.

So, there you have it. It's gonna be love-my-salad-month in December. Dee-licious-ember!

My friend calls it Now-vember. It was a daily reminder to be in the NOW. Thanks for that.

It was a fabulous month.

I'll Be Here Now...How about you?

More plants than I can believe

The greenhouse is packed with plants. It looks like the greenhouse of my dreams! We have so much food in there that I am giddy with excitement!

The greenhouse is attached to the front of the house. It's a temporary structure and sort of modular so that we can move it when we move. It has a new roof today after we attached a new-to-us piece of plastic to it. Our friend at a local greenhouse gave us a big piece of plastic to re-cover the structure. We rescued this plastic from the local landfill and re-purposed it. We're really good a that!! Scott has such a talent for designing these things. He surprises me all the time.

Now that cool little structure is full of our winter veggies. Cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and so much more.

The other photo shows a really posh shot of the front of our house from the east side. It looks like a real estate brochure.

I dressed one of the palms with the new lights and it looks great. The street is really dark so the neighbor's lights and ours are quite charming.

Bring on the holidays. All of 'em. They will be a delight this year. I can feel it!

Living in gratitude

Not even a minute to get to the blogosphere yesterday.

It dawned on me on Monday that I would be well served to start cooking on Wednesday. Good call Laura!

Yesterday I made the gravy....don't be shocked! It's delicious. I'll enhance it after we roast the turkey today. Lily made a gorgeous apple pie and I made two fresh pumpkin pies. Sam and I grew 4 sugar pie pumpkins this summer and we'll see how sugar and pie they really are! The potato casserole is started and now I gotta get on the rolls so they have time to rise.

It occurs to me that I was slipping into a weird funk last night and I am pulling myself up to a different place today. So I am gonna count a few of my blessings here. The ones that I am willing to make public.

Some others I will take to a silent place for a few moments before I jump into day two of prep for the feast!

I am so profoundly happy and thankful to be living in this beautiful house with my family. The farm that surrounds it is a beautiful canvas for my art and it is humming in anticipation of the coming weeks' activities. I am thrilled to have the friends, loved ones all, that fill my life with laughter and great company. I eat food that I have the ability and desire to grow. There are baskets of yummy foods all over my kitchen. The bounty that surrounds me is amazing. It doesn't have anything to do with 5th Avenue, the Associated Press, activities in the nation's capitol or the latest fashion trend. It is a creation directed by the Divine. Nothing could be better!

I love Thanksgiving. It stands apart for me as my fave holiday. ALl across the country we gather around the chosen table to feast together. Somewhere between Norman Rockwell and yesterday's LA Times political cartoon Wherever that is! We all think, maybe a little bit or a lot, about what we have. We break bread. We laugh. We nap! It's heaven!

So Happy Thanksgiving All. May the bounty of Life bless you and your kin.

Next phase

Tomatoes. Eggplants. Peppers. All gone.

We pulled all of the last of the summer plants yesterday. It is the big autumn turn for our urban farm. You know how you hope and wish that the weather will hold on to give you a few more fruits? I am an optimist and waited long after there was any hope of more fruit. So silly!!

We have been joined by a farmer from Peru. He is staying with us for a while and helping is to push the farm forward for the winter. We rocked yesterday and got so much done. It would have taken Scott and I days to do the same amount of work.

In the process of that work and connection yesterday I am feeling restored. I love my work outside and relish the experiences. As I work I feel information and guidance come to me about what I am to do next. I have been taking my ideas in one direction and telling myself a story about too much shade here in the winter. Well, yesterday turned the page for me. I am working with new eyes on the possibilities. Juan wants to assist us in cutting the ginormous eucalyptus trees that cast so much shade. That opens up a whole new set of ideas for what we can do this winter.

If you can see the photo well enough take a close look. This is part of the bounty shared with us from a local organic greenhouse. Last week we got that wonderful call. "Come and pick up the plants before we throw them out"!

Bonanza for us. For Fallbrook Organic Gardens. For the Temecula School Gardens sponsored by Slow Food Temecula Valley. So many winners here. Hundreds of plants. I love in an abundant universe and my gratitude is deeeeeeep!

Ahhhhhh!

I am grabbing a quick minute to share some love.

To do list is waaaaaayyyyyyy toooooooooo loooooooonnnnnnggggg.

So...

I am happy to greet today with my sweet husband returned from his trip to San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland. Blessed am I to wake up with him.

We had a blast last night. The "power" company traded LED christmas lights for old style incandescents so we went to get that done.

(How to not feel badly about bringing in the light during the holidaze).

We cruised the Oceanside Sunset Market and had a street vendor dinner. I had pancit and lumpia.....yuuummm! Sitting on the curb enjoying the crowd. At that level you get to say hi to all the kids in strollers and the dogs!

It was fun because we have been spending most of our time being business partners....that is good for us, mind you. We get to create a balance of other types of fun, you know? I wonder what we'll do next. Our friends just went on a zip line....hmmmmm. Do I have that kind of whimsy/courage.

Sam got the chicken pasture planted yesterday. He broadcast the seed and covered it with the straw mulch from our friend's lasagne garden. Full on organic matter. The chickens will be thrilled to eat it.

Last week we lost two hens to the racoons. This is the strategy that the girls, and possibly a couple of guys, have adopted to ensure their survival. They are all sleeping in the tree above the chicken area. At sunset they all line up and jump up onto the branches. They snuggle up and off to sleep they go.

Yes, we have a plan to build a bigger cage for them. That will happen...maybe even next week.

Livin' the dream....waitin' on the rain.

What's on your to do list.....

Be Love....pass it on.....

Dewey morning

What dressing? Why dressing? When I have a salad full of tasty lettuces I just want to eat it without anything on it. I would just gobble that up. I am taking my place in line, like a good gurrl, because that basket has lettuces destined for three kitchens. Grateful loving and precious members/friends of my farm have been patiently awaiting those heads of yumminess!

It is so wet outside that I am gonna wait to harvest the rest of the shares. The fog last night dropped enough water along the walkways (and the veggies) that my wellies came in handy. I got 'em in Alaska almost on a whim. everyone was wearing wellies in Homer. Major fashion statement. The ones I bought are perfect for my climate and I just love them!

When we have wet nights like that I think about the next level of water catchment. Fog traps. In Chile's deserts there are fog traps the collect gallons of water from the atmosphere every night! Astonishing! Yep, that's another project. It will sit on the bottom of the list while I have the luxury of water delivered in pipes!

I must take my leave and deliver Lily to her appointment with her teacher.

Carpe momentum.

More rain's a'comin'!

Picture me scurrying about the next few days. With yet more rain in the forecast I plan and move and make ready all of the rain catching projects.

It rained 2 inches on October 19th. With that moisture we roto-tilled the 5 beds that are now planted with some delicious winter items. Why does that matter? Well, when the soil has a little bit of moisture we can use it to our advantage as we continue building the soil strength. Organic matter, like compost, can be more easily tilled in and distributed to the places where the plant's roots can pickup the nutrition. Healthier soil equals healthy food.

The rain has been plentiful this autumn. Two more storms came through after the mid October rain. Unlike years past when the Indian Summer was in full regalia. The hillsides around us are green. It looks a lot like March or April, but for the position of the sun in the sky and the short days! I am glad that I am human and can sort-of figure this out. If I were a tree I would be thinking about putting out flowers....hmmmm.

So, we capture the rain off the roof as best we can with the materials that we have collected from various places. We have watered the citrus trees with it. We have used it to water the houseplants. We even capture some of the mosquito larvae to feed our fish. Its' not for drinking. That would require some major infrastructure.

I added some pictures from yesterday's walk. Gotta love public art!

Enjoy.

Garden Update

It's time to write about the garden again!!

We have been scurrying about at the business of growing food and my head has been all over other places.......Thinking all the time. That is why I have been writing about life's questions and such. We have time to chat and think about life as we tend to the tasks in the beauty that is our sweet little farm.

Yesterday I was thinking about the simplicity of all the growing that is done around the world. Particularly the small-sized family farmers who grow for their local markets and their own families. The satisfaction of planting those seeds and harvesting the crops is a feeling that I share with millions of people around this planet. I love this work. How would it be to further simplify my life and let go of the complications of the modern existence. Will I get to that in my lifetime? Hmmmmm.

Last year we had about half of the farm developed. As we headed into fall we scrambled to find sunny spots for growing. We did pretty well, considering. Now we have a large section that gets sun most of the day. Those beds were planted over the last week and they look great. There is a great feeling of satisfaction. I am gonna dwell in that today and corral the thoughts of worry that try to override the Good. I prefer the power of the positive.

The citrus trees are full of fruit....almost overloaded actually. We took great care to get them fertilized and with the abundant rains that Sam captured they have had plenty of water. More about that another time. I am stashing glass jars to freeze the juice...only if we don't drink it all right away!

The greenhouse has new transplants going. I can get some pictures ready to share. It's a miracle every time the seeds sprout. Every time. The combination for forces has to be right on, you know?

This Sunday we will be joined by a farmer from Peru. He will live with us for a few weeks and we are THRILLED. This means that we have extra support for some infrastructure projects that have been pushed down to the bottom of the to do lists.

Colour me happy......

i thank you God for this amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of the trees and for the blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes.

ee cummings

What is going on?

Finally feeling stronger today.....time for a walk.

Don't talk myself out of it. Just go and go and go.

One lovely hour cruising through the hood. Started off on the quiet streets and saw my friend's (adopted) dogs sniffing around for some fun. Skittered past 'cuz I wasn't interested in company today. I would have taken Bandit if that was the case. Don't follow....don't follow. And they didn't.

Yeay!!

Sometimes I head out thinking that I will think some things through. It is not always the case, though. My mind races to make to do lists. I want to find some answers today. Not give myself more to do!! Gracious sakes.

I'm more interested in the deals and agreements that I have made with myself that got me to today. Right here, where I am in this seat with this glorious view across the valley. Do those agreements serve me....and the greater Good. Or am I kidding myself and headed back to the drawing board. Well, I am at least headed to my journal pages.

I am content. I am happy. I am in love. I am healthy.

I want to say again that I am healthy. So that the idea is flowing through my bloodstream, breathing me and expressing in my cells.

There......done.

I love the colour RED.

Family

I am crazy in love with my family.

We live in a beautiful place. Physically and mentally. And spiritually.

Our year has been one amazing day after another. Living in the grace of the Divine Presence. I keep seeing one thing after another showing me that God is in everything. Everything. If you don't like the word God...put in your own substitute. Life. Oneness. Love.

That's what it all is anyway. Love.

The love in my family gets kinda heated sometimes. We are a passionate brood and we get into heated conversations and exchanges. The thing that is always there, though, is the deep and profound love that we have for one another.

Our lives are moving in a lot of directions and the thing that keeps us grounded is this beautiful farm. This sweet piece of ground that has blessed us with bounty after bounty of delicious fruit and vegetables.

So, my call today is to remind you of the sweetness of your life. Look, seek and find those treasures. They are large and small. Wrap your consciousness into the sweetness. Savor it.

Slowing down

Sometimes life can just creep up and push me over. It happened to me this weekend. I thought I was experiencing some kind of allergy symptoms and I don't like the idea of having any allergies so I guess that means I'm living in denial about it. I live in a beneficial universe so why would anything be against me, right? Well, whatever this "thing" was...it knocked me over for the whole day yesterday. No desire to get anything done or to go anywhere or to talk to anyone!

I sat under my favourite blankie all day long. It was great to sit still and allow myself to heal. I love that blankie. It's from Ikea. It was in a flier that came in the mail years ago and fell in love. A gotta-have-it kind of love. So, when it cools enough to put that blankie on my bed I get a happy feeling. Odd? Maybe. Whatever, you have something that makes you that happy. I know you do.

We are planting some yummy winter crops that will be so delicious to eat and really fun to watch grow. The broccoli is from a fine young man who was at Esalen for a while. He's a Permaculture God in California. We are aspiring to the permaculture model here. It will take some time and I am not sure how long we will be at this lovely place. Therefore we go in baby steps and do what we can. Soil building is crucial at this point. We are giving the soil strong nutrients to feed the plants. Before we arrived it was a race track for my neighbors. Golf carts, small trucks and motorbikes. I prefer our use...

Give yourself a nice deep breath. And maybe a good cup of tea!

Love love love

Electorating

I took Lily to the polls today. It is an exercise in imprinting that Scott and I have done each election year since the proj were young. We go as a family to vote. It occurs to me that that is how we teach the youth about the responsibility of the thing! Today it was the girls in the morning and the guys in the afternoon.

Gracious, though, I am not happy with how these election months go. I am blessed to be TV free so I am not inundated by too many ads. Instead, the time that I spend on the internet is the place to be whacked upside the head with these ads. Pandora must have made a ton of money because the ads came on just about every other song! Yikes.

I live in the land of possibilities and positive thinking. I have been having fun imagining if the politicians lived here too and how they would run their campaigns. For one, it wouldn't be a campaign. Then, we would have....what would it be called? They would not be battling it out. It would not be a match up! Just remove all the words and phrases of war and violence and what would you have? A whole new paradigm, a new era for this fantastic experience of life. See, possibilities! I love it.

I am headed to Phoenix today for my last farm inspection trip of the year. Thankfully I did not have to go through a scanner at the airport. Scott did it earlier this week when he flew to Sacramento. I am thinking that my airline travel days will be a less frequent thing in the coming years. Mainly because I do not like the idea of walking through the scanner. So intrusive, so horrid. Really people? Are you serious. The alternative is....a pat down. UGGGH!

OK,

'Nuff about that.

It's an historic day in California and my prayer to the Creator/Infinite Wisdom/Oneness is that the great state of California thrives.

Give a smile.

Lovely day

Get up, stand up.

Get outta bed.....even if it's 50 degrees outside. You have to get Sam to the train.

Wait....he's not even up yet!

Oh! yea.....Monday morning after a great weekend. Here I am looking at the week ahead knowing the best place to start is with a walk. Usually I would walk right into the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee. Today, it's a new chapter. Walk first. Then breakfast.

I have thought that it is silly, just plain silly, to drive to a place to go for a walk. I am changing my tune about that. If I walk near my house I can get onto some trails and some areas without lots of cars zooming by. If I drive a little bit I can get to some places with incredible views, birds and cleaner air. Besides, I am already in my car delivering a college student to the cool public transportation vehicle.

This morning Lily and I started a commitment to walk/hike three days a week. If I get this going, I will be on top of the world. I love how it feels and I know it keeps me strong for the long work days ahead. Lily took the photo at Guajome Lake this morning...with her iPhone! Stunning! We have been enjoying this park for many years. We've camped here, had picnics and lots of homeschool park days. The Guajome Marsh is beautiful and the trails are a good level for me to begin this commitment. Guajome is the Kumeyaay word for Frog Pond.

We live in the San Luis Rey Watershed. What's your watershed called? Forget the road names for a while.

We rototilled on Saturday. Right after a lovely rain shower that gifted us another quarter of an inch of rain. It rained a few weeks ago and the ground was absolutely saturated. IT seems that all the forces are in play to continue the successful venture of farming this coming winter! The sunlight is an issue on this north slope so we have a whole new section ready and I am feeling great about it. Broccoli, cabbage and kohl rabi plants will be ready to go in next week.

YUMMMMMM!!

Be love.....pass it on.

Transitions

Wednesday is harvest day. Again!!

Today, Lily and I were on our own, so to speak. Over the last year I have learned to prepare my crew. Telling the progeny about what we need for the farm is the best way to get the results train on the right track. So last night I told Lily that we were starting the harvest early. All the menfolk are busy today!! It's actually kinda mellow around here.

It didn't start off that way.

My first warning should have been heeded. It was the song of the coyote around 5 this morning. Then, the crack of my neighbor's gun. I think its a warning shot that he fires. He's pretty consistent though. I hear the song and then, after this guy bolts outta bed there's the shot. POP!

I wonder if he know it is a felony to kill a coyote. I wonder if he keeps the gun by his bed. Maybe he is just a really early bird who has had way too many cats disappear over the years. Anyway, I am laying there in bed and thinking by some telepathic connection I can tell the coyote that the chicken cafe at the north end of the farm is off limits. No way Jose!

Some time later, after the taxi ride for Sam to the train, I head down the feed the flock.

This is a process that takes some time. We keep the food in a roofless shed, so the steel trash can with the feed inside has to be opened whilst keeping the morning dew off the feed. Two hands...put down the coffee mug!! The flocks are of different ages and are separated so as to avoid the pecking order while they nestle in for their sleep. 5 separate areas in fact. Two gates to open, fill two feeders. Phew....haven't even done the water yet!! Just forget the hot coffee Laura!

OK, now for the pallet cages. We have re-purposed 18 pallets and made 3 cages out of them. THat's Sam putting the finishing touches on one. Pretty smart of Scott and the boyz. One hitch is that one of the pallets has a gap that is not chicken friendly. Three chickens were stuck in that part of the pallet and not too happy about it. I think the coyotes scared them into this jam. Poor dears. I let one loose and it was miffed. The second one was in a worse place and Lily and I had to tear one of the oak planks off the pallet to free it. The third, our treasured Buff Orpington, part of Scott's Folly Flock, (pictured) was already on her way up the spiral. Destined to return as a higher being.

We send blessings for her transition. I think it was a female. I don't know yet because the three remaining Buffs are not clearly showing gender yet.

So, there is more to tell and I just want to keep it a bit shorter for today. I realize that I have some other things that I want to share.

Be well. Be kind.

Share the road!

Feeling a bit like England

If you ever wondered what it feels like to be in England the weather today is a great example. Wet soil, moist air and of wellies! Maybe you call them rubber boots.

I'm checking out Jamie Oliver's beautiful cookbook called Jamie At Home. He has great photos of his lovely garden. I doubt that he has much time to tend it himself. It looks lovely and I wonder if I am headed back to England soon. I am sooooo ready to be there! I'd love to retire there. Or........maybe just visit. I think there is a grand upheaval coming to their lifestyle. Blessings to them while the changes happen.

I walked down into the garden to close the chickens in at about 1 this morning and was in wonder at my life. I wasn't feeling tired or worn. You just have to do what it takes to support all of the activities. Sam had a late late shift at work and required a ride home. Two movies released with midnight showings. 'Tis the season to be scared outta your wits people. (My reality is good for that.....only the tiny little bit that I let it be anyway)! The parking lots at the movies were packed. Who are these folks and don't they have jobs that start early in the morning???

I had an adjustment yesterday with my beloved chiropractor and fell like all of the tension that I have been carrying in my shoulders has dissipated. Don't have to be invoking Atlas! He's got it all handled! I love how it feels after I'm all aligned. All is right in my body.....a nice big sigh of energy release and replacement.

So, here we are. On the brink of the weekend with lovely autumn weather. I'm not sure when the soil will dry out enough to rototill that compost in. Patience. Plenty to do inside the house.

Dear Universe,

Thanks for today's sunrise and the sweet singing of the birds. I'm happy to be a part of it all. Send me the wisdom and knowhow that I require to rock my day in a fabulous way.

Your devoted daughter,

Laura

Home busy home

We arrived home from Florida last night to a fantastic rain storm. From humid, hot and buggy to real autumn weather. It rains in San Diego County in October. Or, we have crazy storms of wildfires. I'll take the rain. Even if it means that my plans for the garden may change drastically over the next few days/daze.

I harvested eggplant and green beans today while there was a slight drizzle. So odd in my realm of experience. Most days I head outside to get it all done early enough to beat the heat!

Now I am thinking that I should just pull the pepper plants and the beans because I may not get any more production from them. Checking the weather forecast Lily says that we could have high 70's next week. That could be worth the wait for more of those "summer" foods.

Ahhhh! Help me Gaia. What will ye have me doin' out there on yer fertile soil?? Send me a sign.

I am so glad for the rain!! Check out the rain gauge from this morning! It's the most it has recorded since it was placed there. And just in time to pay the latest water bill!!

We have 4 baby chicks. I heard one of them making quite a loud noise for that little tiny body. It had gotten out and was shivering in the cold. Adventurer chick needs a name. Apparently it has been doing this escape thing for its short life.

I want them all to be female, OK Gaia?

Our first flock is molting and not laying any more eggs. I don't want to feed them any more because the organic feed is expensive. Anyone want some non-laying elderly hens? Call me.

Living on the right coast for a few days.

Scott and I traveled to Vero Beach, Florida on Thursday. Southwest Airlines likes to give people the opportunity to visit a stop-off airport along the way to the East Coast. We chose St. Louis. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sitting in the airport for a wee bit of time. I was delighted to have a bruthah barista at sbux. It was a blessing for me.

We are preparing for Scott's best friend's wedding on Sunday afternoon. I am the officiant. I am the wedding planner. I am the caterer. Great gig, right? Right! I have been having a fun time.

Yesterday was the first day for Stone Crab season and we headed to Tony's Fish Market to pick up our weekend feast. We got a lot of pre-wedding food for our pleasure.

Stone crabs are caught off the coast and their claw is taken off and they are thrown back into the ocean to regenerate a claw. It takes 18 months! Amazing. Sustainable fish. It's tasty. Tonight we had the "rehearsal dinner" and it was soooo delicious. Salad with seared scallops. Outstanding! Last night we had real Gulf Shrimp, wild of course. Thanks to the fishermen for feeding us.

I prepped a lot of the food tonight so I can concentrate on being more present to the ceremony tomorrow. I am crazy about food so if you are reading this and wondering why all the attention to the meals...you knew that already, silly.

Scott and Richard have been friends for decades! Richard is Sam's godfather. He has a very special place in our lives. He found his beloved MaryJane and the miracle of love is expanding through them.

Our conversations are all over the landscape around here. Politics takes a big space. Sports a wee bit. Family and food...lot's of that!

That's my intention for this blog.

It is about

Family

Farming

Food

The three "f's" of my life.

Oh! And fun....anytime, anywhere, anyhow!

So, thanks for enjoying. This is the life I have been longing to live. It is going on beautifully.

Blessings. Tell someone you love them.

Tententen-an homage

Love is in the air.

Wedding bells, DJs, caterers.

I officiated a wedding on Saturday in the Temecula Valley Wine Country. The couple is so beautiful that I am sharing a photo for your pleasure.

I didn't really get to know them very well. It was a rather quick courtship, ours...not theirs! I was there to be of service. To serve those who serve. Just make it a short ceremony please!

Marines in Dress Blues. Those young men looked so sharp and were covered with medals. That was an incredible honor for me. I was impressed, humbled and awed. The bride, well, she is absolutely gorgeous.

My Dad was a Marine. The ethic lives on in him. He is a strong man. Full of determination. Oh! yes! and he's stubborn!! That is something he passed on to me. Thank you very much.

I celebrate his birthday today. He's 73 on Ten Ten Ten. An auspicious birthday to be sure.

I love it that I was part of a Marine's wedding ceremony with on my Dad's birthday weekend. It felt like a fitting homage to him.

Happy Birthday Dad. Rock On!!!

You really want that?

I made the mistake of visiting a coffee shop for dinner. It's off Interstate 10 in Banning. Gramma had something to do with the "decor". Country kitsch. That should have been the first sign that I was headed for disaster.

I've eaten there before. And frankly everything is the same as it was then. Wasn't I paying attention then? Has my taste changed so much in a few short months? Well, yes.

The idea about eating on the road is to find the least objectionable item on the menu and just go with it. Once in a while I get a little something akin to comfort food.

Or not!

I have read way too much about the industrial food model. I grow my own (delicious) food and am learning about how to prepare it in ever more enticing ways. A coffee shop is what it is, right?

Right!

It's complicated to get into a Q and A about how the meal is prepared. Microwaved, fresh or canned, type of fry oil...See what I mean? It's out of place to broach the subject in a coffee shop.

I get to thinking about how we moved into this place, as a nation, where mediocre or worse is acceptable for our meals. Morning, noon and night. And every other possible moment in between. It's a shock. A disappointment.

I want it to be better for my fellow planeteers. Come on people. Bump it up. You're worth it.

Tonight I nurse a slight sodium headache and dream about the perfect cup of java awaiting me in the morning from the mermaid down the street.

That is gonna be good. No doubt!

Dignity

What is an American?

Geographically speaking there are two continents of folks with many countries, languages, dialects and peoples. However, the popular culture in which I find myself living thinks the USofA has all of the Americans. WRONGO BUCKO!!

Today I had the pleasure of working with an American from Sinaloa. Technically a Mexican, right? Well, that is what the snippy media would have us believe. This man was born on the American Continent, as was I! So we both are Americans!

Just sayin'!

The popular culture and media are making a different distinction for folks that live outside of the borders of this country on the American continents! Curious! Maybe not clear...but curious!

We worked on the fall switcheroo today. Tomatoes pulled out to get ready for cool weather plantings to go in. Lotsa labor for my body. My mind thinks I'm still 25 and can knock this stuff out....then I remember the reality of how I have paced myself this year and how well my body has been serving me. So, the wisdom is to find the best person possible to assist with the harder tasks. Enter Alfonso. The Universe's gift to my farm tasks today.

Hiring a day laborer is a familiar activity for North County Farmers, any farmers. We have extra jobs and need extra hands. Someone young enough and strong enough to not be cursing me at the end of the day and for three days later. Don't need that karma. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't that hard of work-just enough work!

We met at "the spot" nearby. You know the one. It's a street corner with lots of hombres standing there ready to get the job done (or not)!

We scope out the scene and get out of the car to engage with the gentlemen. We know who we want to hire. He has a bag with a snack...smart guy...and good boots. He steps forward and tells us his name.

Alfonso.

One of Lily's two Godfathers is Alfonso.

It's a sign. Say yes and see how your day goes.

I am so happy with how my day went that I wanted you to know something about it.

This post is entitled dignity because this is how we treat each other in a world that is working. The one where I live. With dignity. We work side by side, we break bread together, we have fun dancing in each other's languages and we make the world a better place.

One day at a time. One connection at a time.

All of this on my sweet granjita. My little farm.

Rhapsody 'n muse

Some days are so splendid that I just melt away into it and don't want to come out. The mood is right on. The company is right on. The weather is outstanding. All of the aspects come together to the perfect crescendo.

Yesterday was an epic day with my family. We worked together to create an experience that was beautiful harmony to my ears and my sensibilities. I will always remember it as a time where we moved to new heights together.

I have been living in a dream state of late. It seems that all of the things that I want are showing up and happening for me. Case in point...I am listening to Pandora and Rhapsody in Blue just came on my play list. Post already titled! Insane? Or....Divine....Inspired. I must stay clear and intent. That's my message! Life is listening to me and responding with the goodies!!!

This afternoon I was thinking about how my life is influenced. I mean what influences that I allow from the outside, those that I cultivate and those that I strictly avoid. Like the TV and news. I shelter my brain from the influences that I feel pull me away from my bliss. I can barely listen to the news when Scott is listening. It grates on my nerves. Don't want to be cranky about it. Simply selective! How much do I actually think for myself and how many of my ideas, notions and motivations are created by society and marketers. Curious.

I will muse further and see where it takes me.

I think the best things about this country could be expressed if people were thinking for themselves. Thankfully that's how my friends play in their lives. Free thinkers. I love how they think and where their thoughts take them through their lives. I am inspired.

Make life a masterpiece.

I sing. I love music therefore a rhapsody is more like it for me. The music of my life is glorious and melodic. My rhapsody is playing with perfection. Quiet passages and loud rowdy times. With everything delicious in between.

Be brilliant.

Be love.

Pass it forward.

An ordinary day

I wake to the strum of harp. Snooze it a few times for measure and gradually, carefully, open my eyes. The morning light was dimmed by clouds. Imagine my delight. No blazing sun to begin the day. That is merciful. Wednesday is a harvest day and I would have to jump out of bed if it was sunny with no clouds just to beat the heat.

The creator's beautiful brush strokes across the sky were the first blessing this morning. (The second blessing was that first coffee sip)! Through the day I gazed as the formations changed and danced in front of the sun. Alternating blazing heat with just the right temperature.

We go through the tomato beds and find some great treasures for our restaurant customer. Tomato fights ensue. Joe's a great shot. We toss tomatoes into the chicken's area. They think that they fall from the heavens.

Our neighbor's turkey has been mooching for a few days and try as I might it still got back over to our side of the fence. Such a bizarre bird to watch having only raised chickens for all these years. It's slower and more deliberate with its steps. The sound it makes is hushed.

As I collect the peppers and eggplants I see the damage from Monday's heat. It was at least 108 and even though I had water going we lost some plants. It was so very dry that all the moisture was sucked right out of them. Amazing. The camellia had a bit of a toasting as well.

Just for fun I counted 10 different items for the CSA shares today. Sometimes my head says there is not enough to harvest. There is always food in those baskets though and I remember about the bounty that we are growing. (That critic again. Shh! Go away. I am doing this right).

I met a man at Lily's school's open house last night. Rather than the usual pleasantries he said "blessings". One simple word with so much energy. I carried the blessing through the night and all the way through today. I kept thinking "How am I a blessing to Life?" All day today I got answers to that question.

I live in a parallel world. Right alongside the madness, driving on the same streets, going through the same checkout lines and sitting at the same tables in restaurants, there I am. I see it all through a lens of curiosity and cooperation is. My desire is to engage in the world from a place of reverence and some kind of happiness. The contagious kind.

Blessings

Lot's of them

They are all around

...now the eyes of my eyes are opened.

ee cummings

Deep heat

Stepping out of the van in Fallbrook yesterday was a delicious experience. It was so hot that my marrow was heated. Deep heat. I stood there embracing it and breathing it in...for about two minutes.

Then I dashed into the nice cool air conditioned building. I call it the blessing of living in the first world.

We finally have some heat. The kind that makes tomatoes juicy and sweet... and drives me inside the house to my computer and note pads. Planning and recording.

Last year we slept with the slider open and one sheet on the bed for weeks and weeks. This weekend was the first time for that!

Seeds are ordered...finally! It took me two full weeks to sit down and get the order done. Do I procrastinate? Perhaps. Do I put too many things on my to do list that have priority? Oh! yes. No need to be mad at myself. I rest in the notion that all things are Good and that I am moving forward with happy little seedlings coming along in my greenhouse.

Seeds are the pure potential of autumn and winter meals! Some girls like catalogues with shoes. Some like home decor. I love seed catalogues. My mouth waters in anticipation. The experience of planting those seeds and just a few weeks later harvesting the food is beyond words.

For four years I lived in a house where my cranky landlord was not interested in having his lawn be torn out to produce food. This guy was happy to microwave his frozen dinners and deep down I don't think he had any respect for farmers. He's a plumber. Just sayin'! We all have our contribution to make.

Living in that house was the time that I focused my farming energy and picked up a lot of information from conferences and colleagues. I knew that I would find a great piece of land and make a go of it. I was yearning for exactly what we have going on now. Enough food for us, although I think that I still shop a little too much for staples, and enough for our friends and some restaurants. I just had to keep myself focused on what I wanted.

It's idyllic and it's hard work.

I love it!

Bringing it forth

My big long day yesterday kept me from writing. It didn't keep me from thinking though! I have volumes that could be written about the day. You see, somewhere in my DNA I have it is encoded to live each day so fully and completely so that not a breath is wasted or a thought unreviewed.

I own my farming business and of course I have a job. A job that supports my farming habit!

I worked at that job all day yesterday. Visiting with people whose lives are all across the spectrum of, well...life!

The common thing is that we are all seeking happiness. We just don't always get to that thought. There are way too many thoughts and activities in the way that cloud the view.

Take these two guys I saw yesterday. I'll call em Mack and Jack. Mack and Jack are deeply engrained in the conversation about how bad government and regulations are. So bad that they started giving me grief about it. Well, baybee. They had something coming if they thought that I was gonna be their punching bag or that I was gonna jump into agreement and a lousy feeling conversation about it.

So, being the polite goddess that I am I excused myself to the restroom and prayed. Oh! ya, I did! Bring it forth and let's enjoy this time together. Let's find happiness. And why not? I don't have time to be grumpy. There is an adequate amount of that going around and I can be a mighty big domino for joy.

As the meeting rolled on things were lighter and efficient...I was working you know! It ended well and I didn't get to be their enemy. We became colleagues working together to grow yummy food.

Click, there goes another domino.

Lookout grumps. I've got an army of positive thinkers in cahoots with me. We are living our own constitution......Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. This is no trivial pursuit. It takes focus!

Now, imagine this.

You move to a new neighborhood and you keep trying the key to your house. It won't work. Why? Because the houses look the same and you can't remember which one is yours!

Biggest laugh of my day.

Last breaths of summer

Dear gracious goodness.

It's on the horizon, around to corner, I can feel it.

Autumn.

Another of my favorite seasons.

This summer was tremendous. Overflowing with deliciousness, joyful conversations, rich experiences and more knowledge about how to grow delicious food.

Thank you Summer 2010. You rock.

I'm heading out the door to get some more tomatoes harvested for the Slow Food restaurant. There are a few there and still, waaay tooooo many on my kitchen counter.

Didn't get them canned yet.

Whatever!

Something wonderful is happening today.

Sam woke up to his Mr. A-Z play list. That's a good sign.

Not an underground hip hop morning.

Joy.

And he bought me a cup of Italian Roast smack-your-head-awake yumminess.

He and I had a primal bonding pioneer day yesterday that I will never forget. He is ahead of his time and a true jewel in my life. All of his passions, moods and opinions are wonderful to watch. He teaches me.

An odd thing is happening in the hood that we can't quite figure out.

We have been enjoying watching the activities on a rose nursery that is by the northeast corner of our farm. It's beautiful when all of the blooms are open. Peach, red, yellow. I like looking over there to see the staff dressed in a similar fashion to me....long sleeve shirts and wide brimmed hats. We wave and smile to each other in a kindly and knowing way. We see the beauty in each other's activities.

For three days all of the potted plants have been loaded onto trucks and off they go. What I'm not seeing are replacement plants standing in their place. That's the part that is odd. We love seeing the roses and I love knowing those lovely people are working. I want my suspicions to be wrong. What if it's closing? Did the owner sell all the plants and it's going to be a skeleton of what it once was? I haven't seen the staff for a few days. Odd. That's what it is. Kind of unnerving.

Maybe I don't need to figure it out.

Go harvest. Listen to the chicken symphony. Feel the last breaths of summer blowing across my little patch of Goodness.

My valise

I have a valise. It's virtual at this moment. It isn't something that I can carry on my arm.

It looks like an overnight bag. The most lovely one my imagination can think up.

Tan in colour.

...yes...

I know, that's a u. It's included due to my upbringing. Deal.

It's the same colour as my coffee. The valise that is. The straps allow me to carry it on my arm or my shoulder. The straps are similar to those of a satchel. There have embossed buckles, silver mind you, and they fit just so into their clasps.

Open the bag and inside there is a record, evidence actually. It's a page by page declaration of Good things. All of the times that I have been taken care of. All of the times that I have been fed...on all levels. There are pictures of how I have continually had great advantages provided to me.

The record counters all of the mind games that my head can play.

I keep this valise handy.

Anytime I am looking for something. Something really Good and juicy, I open it up.

I find just the right thing. A nibble to keep me going.

Come on imagination.....

Bring it on!

Today's the Day!

Tuesday Morning Disclaimer: This post will contain information that may be uncomfortable for my vegetarian friends to read. Just sayin'! You may not want to read today. Come back tomorrow or the next day.

OK, that said. It's harvest day. Sam has been raising chickens from, well, eggs. His first flock which began hatching over Mother's Day weekend is getting pretty dang big. So today is the day we give thanks for the abundance of the Great Creator and take responsibility for our own production.

You see, I prefer more laying hens than roosters. They are so dang noisy and aggressive. And so yummy! When you raise your own flocks you get about 50% roosters. The balance is that the roosters can be on our table or in our freezer and the hens can keep on producing eggs for us. And man are those eggs yummy!

I am not gonna post photos 'cuz that's just gross and if you want to do this yourself there are plenty of places on the internet that show you how. The process is pretty easily done as long as I am organized. Well, we are organized. Sam will do most of the work and Scott and I will support.

This is a great big step for us. We have been talking about growing most of our food for a long time. We accomplished a lot this summer including growing chickens for food. This is tremendous. Our forebears thought nothing of it. Some people have been grossed out when I have told them. What's gross is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Ewwww!

Ah! yes. The industiral food model is my inspiration. Just say no and gimme some land and I will grow delicious nutritious food. Now I'd like more land. Seems I could have more families enjoying this so I am calling forth my next plot of land with water and plenty of room to grow and cultivate.

Oh! Oh! Now I've done it. Seatbelts everyone. Here comes more Good!!!

Blessings for your day and the gift of these beautiful chickens. I am grateful.

Monday-making it a fun day

Some mornings I wake up in great anticipation of the day's activities. Today was not one of those days. Maybe it's because I have so many activities thatI don't know where to start. A to do list...that'll set my head straight. And maybe another cup of coffee. Or is it a tea day? I'll put that on the list too. I am the decider today. Deciding where to go with my business and subsequently my life's activities.

Having a home based business that involves growing food seems like a great thing, right? Happy customers, happy farmer. Food galore equals yummy dinners and lunches and breakfasts. It is an all consuming thing. The food I don't share, needs to be cooked, preserved or...or what? I have platters and platters of tomatoes on the counter with slight blemishes that are wanting to be made into salsa and sauce for winter. I can get to that this week. That's going on the list.

We have finished our third quarter of growing and it was wildly successful. I am calling it that! So there! (I'm mentally spanking the voice in my head. It is never quite enough for that voice so I gotta smack it down). We grew the most delicious tomatoes and oh! man were they beautiful too. Now the peppers are bursting forth and I am blown away at how beautiful they are.

I love this sweet little farm on the edge of the city. It is lovely to be on this patch of fertile ground. Now it's time to move summer's crops out and get into the juiciness of creating cool weather crops. Thus the to do list. What do I grow? How much space do I have. How can I grow enough for all of the people that want our food.

I am stretching my imagination today. I am gonna put some wild things on my to do list. And....they will get done. I proved that to myself this summer. I am building a good strong business and it is wildly successful.

Wildly.

Time for tea. I decided.

To Market We Go

The most fun that I can have on my farm:

Showing the food off to curious children. It's a blast to see their little eyes light up and the wheels start spinning.

Yesterday my friends brought their sweet children to check out where their food grows...a little bit of it anyway. We picked their order together and everyone had a great visit. The boy wants to raise horses, goats and hogs. A compassionate farmer in the making...with deference to my vegetarian readers. Later in the evening they sent me a photo of their dinner! I love it. My family takes so many photos of our food. Glad we are not alone in enjoying sharing the fun of a yummy meal. I could practically smell it!

Girl child is cooking up her third dinner for 50 tomorrow so we headed to the farmers market today for some ingredients. We are growing so much food but its not on this month's menu. It's great to see her intuitive cooking skills come out. She'll make potato leek soup and yummy salad with her four friends and the adults will be awed.

The farmers market was a festival today. Said hi to my other fave blue eyed farmer, Peter. He raises yummy shallots and onions and was kind enough to sell us our Thanksgiving turkey last year. Kudos. We waited in a long line of cars to get into the market. How cool is that? So may cars in the parking lot means that lots of the townsfolk are enjoying good fresh local and regional food.

So, I am in an interesting place with this experience of my life. I have stepped into a quasi-public arena with this blog and I am ruminating on the purpose of it. That's my high minded way of saying that I think I have a calling to share some ideas on how to live in this modern world. So that's what you are in for. My intention is to entertain myself and if you are entertained and perhaps inspired in the process, fantastic!

My friends have been encouraging me to get this going....for years actually. They feel that I have some ideas and tidbits to share. One person's way of life that is mindful. Well, for sure my mind is full. Way too full! So, filter and process and delight and inspire. I am so deeply into my life of parenting that I must inspire! It's just a big part of what I do.

Sending love and compassion out into this beautiful diverse and magnificent world.

Dust Bunnies

The megalopolis and the ancient oaks. My preference is the latter!

I could collect the dust bunnies and turn them into something. Something valuable. Isn't that a delightful thought? Making something out of nothing. I could be doing that today...

The pope sez that the secular world needs to honor Britian's Christian roots. I think he needs a ancient history class. Those roots are pagan, man! Christianity washed up on the shores of my ancestor's motherland rather recently! Come on now! There's no monopoly for the sons and daughters of Abraham.

This week's commutes have been beautifully incongruent. I started the week in the hills with the ancient oaks. Yesterday I sat with the sad commuters on the freeways in Orange County. Yep, I'm grateful for my life. The farms I saw were in all the possible places left to grow food, given the developmentia that is the OC!

Back to the dust bunnies. My house is pretty much lived through and lived in. I have not made time to keep it ready for Martha Stewart or Betty Battenburg to visit. I've got lots of things going on. I muse that if I have 2 solid days I could rock this place to the next level. Yep, right after I can some more salsa, give a tour of the farm to some lovely children, water the greenhouse...you get the picture. So, I have a strategy of keeping the main room, the great room as it were, in some semblance of niceness....acceptability in case of drop ins. Just as long as there's a place for Betty to put her purse down and share a nice cuppa.

Figured out who Betty is? She used to be the richest woman in .....Wait! that's too much hinting!

Today I will pace myself. I will get just enough done for one day on this beautiful farm. Keep the transplants damp and get something done from my list of 10,000 things to do!

Seeds screaming "PLANT ME".

Chickens screaming "FEED ME"

Roosters just showing off!

The last week of summer is dawning and I know that the real summer heat is on its way. That's how it happens here. Indian Summer might as well be renamed SoCal summer. It's a wardrobe challenge each morning. I want to wear long sleeves and don't need 'em by 10:30! But I have to keep the long sleeves on so that my arms don't become one huge freckle! I am happy to have a great hat collection to shade my eyes.

I am headed outside for a tomato treasure hunt. The high grade fruits are gone and I get to peer through all those vines to find my gold, red and orange treasure! I do yoga and stretching while I am working on all these farm tasks. It's the only away I can get myself to exercise regularly.

I am learning how to put photos on here so you can see the deliciousness. Today's photo shows a recent harvest for our favorite Slow Food restaurant. Boxes of yumminess and potential in the hands of a great chef and his staff.

Hungry???

Tuesday the fourteenth.

Tuesday.

Note to self: You're not in Alaska so skip the socks, long sleeve shirt and down vest. Really, you won't need them!

I drove on one of my favorite roads today. It's my luck to have ancient oak trees line the narrow commuter roads of Northern-most San Diego County! I love to roll the window down and listen to all of the birds in their glory. Spectacular! Yes, I do have to work out in the world to support my farming habit. So it goes.

Summer's end is visible throughout my farm. It's turnaround time which loosely translates into lots to be done. In the late winter we planted a lot of our summer crops-the peppers, eggplant and tomatoes. Those were the days for the down vest and socks! The tomatoes need just the right amount of tending and they will kick out a tremendous crop. (I am not giving away any trade secrets here so just forget about it). Now that the colour has all gone and the vines are oh! so finished, we get to pull them out. My head is making it up as more work than the actual growing of the crop but I think I have it all wrong. I just gotta get out there and start!!

I hope I didn't miss my next canning window. I want to fill those jars with sunshine. January pasta sauce is a prize that is worth the effort. Yummy.

I am extremely passionate about food. Growing it is supreme joy. Preparing it for some sort of meal is sometimes where I get hung up. I do a good job. Once in a while, though, I'd really like to hit it out of the park, you know? I love food that takes me to a new level of deliciousness. I scour my cookbooks and imagination and have a great time with it.

Tonight we ate stuffed peppers with two colours of tomato sauce, orange and bright sunshine yellow. Oh! yea.

Re-routed

I am re-wrapping my brain around my deeply ingrained Southern California sensibilities this morning. I know that I live in a crowded area full of cars and people and all that stuff. Where I am with all of this today, though is culture shock, or how did I choose this?

I was immersed in the natural splendor of trees and beautiful clouds and glaciers for God's sake!! Glaciers. I traded the trees in for cars.

Flying over LA in the daylight on a Sunday afternoon looked really gray. The sun was shining and the reflection from the ground was miles and miles of concrete. Industrial buildings and freeways. People love it there. The images always show the swaying palms in Beverly Hills. I think a shot above Crenshaw is more like the complete picture. Lots of energy of all kinds stuffed into a few hundred square miles. Its like some horrible sausage without any flavor. Blech.....

To put the smile back into my heart I just look across the San Luis Rey Valley and see the farm fields. Newly covered and ready for the fall strawberry planting. The huge tomato farm is bright green with the late crop. None of that food compares to the flavor we are growing here...it's just great to be looking at it again and growing my sweet little spot 'o God.

The progeny team did a spectacular job of keeping things rolling forward. I am crazy about them and deeply grateful to be home with them. Autumn is a magical time for renewal after all the summer's craziness.

The melons are delicious. My first foray into sweet water packages. The one pictured was split on the ground and I can take a hint!!

O! yea. So I can forget and get it over with. The Rogue was on our flight from Anchorage to Portland. That is really all I wanna say about it. Here, anyway. Buy me a beer and we can discuss!!

Peace

Liberteee

Rollin' through the Anchorage airport and it's almost Sunday here. For some reason Alaska Airlines enjoys gathering people for flight arrivals and departures after 12 midnight. Curious indeed. We are flying out when I should be dreaming. So I'll dream while I'm awake. I'll dream about getting back to Alaska for another trip. The scenery here is so extremely beautiful. The words cannot even describe the splendor. Another day to fall in love with the Creator's handiwork.

I forced myself out of bed this morning to watch the sunrise. I like the potential of being upright so early. Upright, bundled up against the cold and walking is even better. The trail was insanely steep and I was sporting my new rubber boots so it was a bit sketchy in a few spots! The glacier had been hiding all week under various cloud formations. Not today. It was splendid as the sun slowly rose above the mountains. One of the most beautiful sights of my life. Thanks for bringing me along Scott.

We grazed at the farmer's market today and had a great time watching the locals shop and chat with the growers. The food was great, plentiful and beautiful. A fiddler played a tune for us all called "Liberty". Lovely to walk through the market with sweet music playing above the din of the activities.

Liberty...a great thought on this date.

I have been considering some liberties of mine these last few days:

Driving in a car by myself, wearing my choice of head covering, eating at a table in a restaurant, separation of church and state, traveling alone, making decisions about my business, disagreeing with my husband, living spiritually rather than religiously (am I? I have to give more consideration to that thought)

Living without tyranny. That is liberty.

Sunshine and glaciers

Stepping into a library and setting off a sensor with my book. Great way to break the silence. I like a grand entrance but somehow coming into a library it just seems a bit too much. Faux pas extraordinaire. A library is a hallowed place. A cathedral of quiet. I used to escape to the library when the children were small. I had an idea that it would be the quietest place I could find to soothe my soul....of course there were always noisy children there to remind me of my folly.
Our home in Homer is a funky house with creaky stairs. The mornings are so still it is noticeable. Absolute quiet. The roosters are on the other side of the house so no morning's-a-coming warning from them. At home the roosters go off and draw me from sleep earlier than I want!!
We toured yesterday. It's a tradition with these conferences to do two long days of meetings with a tour on the middle day. I experienced a long drive listening to a wind bag guy blah blah blah for waaaay tooo many miles. Then, Scott invited him to sit with us at lunch. Great googly moogly hadn't he been bored to death by this guy as well? Fortunately for me there was a presentation about the salmon cannery whilst we dined on sandwiches...Phew, that was a close call. Small talk would have become small listening, if you catch my drift! No chance to get a word in!
Homer is a "quaint drinking village with a fishing problem". Last night we enjoyed an evening at the Salty Dawg sipping the local Scottish Ale, listening to sea shanties and tall tales from the fisher folks who make their living from these waters. I felt honored to sit on the perimeter and listen to some amazing and funny tales. We sang along since the shanties were laced with easy-to-remember choruses. It was a kickoff to the Wooden Boat Festival this weekend. A last hurrah before the cold weather comes roaring in.
The tide this morning is nice and low. I gandered along the beach to grab some video footage. There are places along the beach here that are completely covered with water at high tide, impassable. And then at low tide the shorebirds can search for clams and crabs and such. My life is spent paying attention to the moon's influence in a completely different way. I know of moon rhythym lore for planting seeds. It gets turned on its head once in a while. My Peruvian friends plant during the full moon. I skip a few days around the full as an homage, really. Isn't that how I do everything, though, as an homage?
It's New Moon now. New beginnings with the approaching equinox. Summer and her bounty are drifting away.
Bird count for Friday morning: 3 adult Bald Eagles and 1 Juvenile. He flew across my path this morning. Thanks for that gift.
Peace and Blessings from the Kachemak Bay.

Homing in

It's grand to visit somewhere far from home. A town can be full of great people and all you have to do is find 'em! I usually start at the local coffee house or eatery. If it's the same place all the better. Fill up on a good meal and some local info and off you go!
I found myself in a footwear fiasco today. The ground is so very wet and I had already put the Ugg in ugly. I hope they recover from the walks up and down the hill to our cabin.
We are visiting Homer, Alaska. Scott is conferencing and I am, well let's say today is all about dolce far niente. Doing nothing. It's a task I tell you. I have spent the last 8 months doing the exact opposite. So today I donned a new pair of rubber boots and set off on a walk around a beautiful slough. I lived near the one in Point Loma in the 80's. It's a beautiful waterway where one can enjoy the birds doing their birdy things.
I imagine this place has busier days than today. Just the same it was enjoyable. I saw swans.
Glaciers are part of the view here in Homer. Breathtaking. Awesome, yes in the real sense of the word. Great Spirit knows how to make beauty. It's everywhere I look. Just over this computer on which I type is beauty....no, not the guy....the mountains and the ocean!!
This is my first official blog post. I am encouraged by my personal queen of bloggers, Poolie. She planted this seed the other day and since then I just couldn't get it off my mind. It's been brewing in me for a while anyway.
If you don't mind (like I want your permission...) I'll be writing the things that come up to share. I'll be all over the place because I am. Physically and mentally. I'm grateful for the plae to do this and ready to roll.
We are staying at a hostel on a farm outside of Homer. It's a suuuuper rustic little, emphasis on little, cabin where we barely fit onto the bed. The view is so magnificent I will not even attempt to find the words. I can see glaciers and amazing mountains. All the while watching the tide retreat in the Kechmak Bay at a rate so fast you can actually see it happening. You see it's new moon today and the tides are so extreme that they are stunning to witness.
Yesterday, after we arrived while sharing an Alaskan Stout, Scott looked over my shoulder and spotted a Bald Eagle. He was perched not 50 feet from us and there he stayed. We watched each other on and off for a long time. On the bay a sweet otter was enjoying his supper.
All of these things happened while the world spun and people rushed around in their fast paced lives.
Marvelous,