Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Time flies!

Wow, long time, huh? Sister-in-law brought it to my attention that I've been utterly slacking in the blog department lately. She's right. I guess it just didn't cross my mind that there are actually people out there who want to read my drivel! So, here we go! More drivel!

The days up here on the farm have been hectic busy interspersed with rain. Lots of rain. And on rainy days, I really have no idea what to do. Sure, I could clean up the house, or unpack the rest of the boxes, or start more seeds, or any number of other very productive things...but mostly I sit and wonder what I should be doing. I've been doing a bit of baking (and my bread is coming right along!), some candlemaking, and a bit of other making-of-things, like laundry soap and dish detergent.

It's ridiculously easy. seriously. And for two gallons of laundry soap I paid approximately...one dollar. I'll post a recipe in a few days. Now, my laundry situation is probably a bit different from the lot of you. I don't have a washer or dryer. I knew this when I moved up here and I figured I'd just truck it down to the ol' laundromat once a week and knock it out. Wrong. Never have I been to a more soul-killing, mind-numbing, beige place in my life. I went twice. It was all I could take.

I'm not sure what exactly it is about the laundromat that wreaks such havoc on my psyche...but, man, I just can't deal. So! I've been handwashing our clothes for the last few weeks. And boy, that takes some getting used to. I haven't really established a system as yet. I've just been tossing everything in the tub (or the sink for the unmentionables) with some detergent; soaking for a bit; agitating (elbow grease, people, elbow grease!); draining; refilling; rinsing; wringing; hanging to dry. But! The universe took a shine to me this week and I found this post on one of blogs I read. This woman is an inspiration. And her laundry post was so freaking timely! I now have an idea brewing on how to actually make this handwashing laundry thing efficient. Now, if I could find a wringer, I'd be in business!

What else...hmmm. I mentioned the ridiculous number of chickens we got a couple weeks ago. Well, we still have em. And as nature goes, they're getting HUGE. They'll be moving out of the well-house into a temporary shelter B conjured up for use until the proper and fine (read: made of pallets) hen house is ready. There have been a few losses, which I think is kind of inevitable when you have that many babies. While sad, it's part of the game up here...you know, making food.

Speaking of food, the garden is rocking right along. the squash and cukes have their flowers, the strawberries are jumping out of the bed begging to be smashed and boiled into jam, the peas are out of control, everything is looking good...and my tomatoes haven't died yet! I haven't mentioned it yet, but sometimes (every year) I have problems with my tomatoes...they just don't seem to want to stick around. So far, so good though!

So, life is good up on the ridge. Spring has been magical; I've danced around a fire under the full moon; I've seen so many shades of green it's mind-boggling; I've walked on carpets made of moss; heard Mother Nature cry out her welcome in all the voices of the forest; and gone to sleep under the stars.

Blessings to you all!

3 comments:

  1. Yes I do love to read about what you are up to, it is interesting and you are such a good writer. Glad things are going well. As a woman who does about 7-8 loads of wash a week I would slit my wrists if I had to do it all by hand. Also we would wear a lot of things 3 or 4 times I think. We gave away 7 pallets on CL, and now I know what people might use them for :) Love that I feel like we are in touch across the continent, but don't blog on my account!

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  2. I was telling B yesterday that I was glad you called me out on it. I really do enjoy it. It's cathartic, or something. But it's one of those things that, even though you enjoy it, if you don't make a point to do it, it falls by the wayside.

    So, thanks for calling me out :D :D

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  3. About time!! Dang!! Thanks Michelle!

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