Pasture Pleasures

Hi there! It's been a few weeks. How's your Shelter in Place Life going? We're hanging in there, here on the farm. Let's not discuss the Governor shutting down schools for the rest of the school year literally an hour before Spring Break last Thursday. Struggling with that one... BUT... on a happier note, we let the alpacas out on the pasture yesterday. Their rejoicing was great! Unfortunately, the video is not playing nice on Blogger, so you'll have to take my word for it. I didn't take a still picture this time.

The Farmer mowed the lawn and our new pasture addition for the first time this year yesterday afternoon. The new pasture came in SO NICELY! We are so happy to finally have this project out of the way. Fencing is next. You can read about our toils with the back here and here. 

Thinking of all of you, and missing everyone lots. One day at a time, and we'll make it through this weird time. Peace, Hope, and Love to all of you.

Stay Alkaline

One way I'm trying to stay healthy is by choosing foods that have an alkaline property. Viruses and bacteria do not like an alkaline environment and cannot survive in such circumstances. Since last summer, I have been following the smoothie ideas on Green Smoothie Girl and have enjoyed the flavor and healthy results. For me the key is adding fruits that lend sweetness like banana and apple. Here was my breakfast smoothie from this morning.

It made about 4 cups. On a normal school day where I am actually going to school, I put all the ingredients in one of the smaller take-away containers the night before and then blend it quickly in the morning. We recently got a Ninja blender, and it is awesome!

Smoothie Recipe
1 Banana
1 Apple
1 Clementine (This is actually not an alkaline fruit, so use sparingly.)
3/4 cup Gooseberries, frozen from the garden
1 rib Celery
handful of Kale
1 Garlic clove
1 Ginger piece, one square inch
1 Tbsp Flax seeds
1 tsp Olive oil (to help digest vitamins that are fat soluble)
1 c Water

Now to convince the Farmer that he could get over his awful cold faster by eating more of these foods. He wants me to find peer-reviewed scientific articles. I sent him to Google! We're having fun together, and eating very well. Hang tight, it might be a long haul...

Oh, Heeeey There, COVID-19...

Well, here we are, hunkering down, self-quarantining, cooking food, and hoping for the best. My orchestra classes have moved online, and I am hoping my internet doesn't crash. I'm trying to stay as positive as possible, for which a late afternoon walk and a home-cooked meal of Hoppin' John were just the ticket.

The pussy willows have begun their new season of sprouting. Dinner was yummy. Recipe from the Pioneer Woman. 

Happy New Normal, 2020. Stay strong and kind, friends.

Eight Years of Laying

Heinrich does it again! Year 8 of laying eggs started yesterday! Feels good to have a small food source in these uncertain times. Go wash your hands and wipe off the door handles. Till soon. School is out until at least April 13, so I'll be checking in more regularly. 

Stay healthy, positive, patient, and kind. Sending you all love.

No Movement

I was ready to post this picture for last month's Yarn Along, and alas, the progress remains unchanged. I fear that the garments (which were supposed to be sent for Christmas) will be too small soon. Also, it is no longer going to be that cold for long, and I have no time to finish these masterpieces... 

The patterns are Street Vest and Storytime Scholar, both highly recommended for cuteness and interest. I would like to start this lovely sweater for me next. A girl can dream!

My reading is stealing time for tips about hiking the Coast-to-Coast Trail in England. I am also reading "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" by Rachel Joyce, which (spoiler alert) is about a man walking across England to see a dying friend. Fingers crossed that I will be able to travel to England in June. Wash your hands, friends!

Check out Ginny's March Yarn Along; so many fun projects already posted! Till next time!

02022020

I've missed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years, but I wouldn't miss blogging on this millennium's Palindrome Day! I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful 02-02-2020. The date even works in countries that flip the month and day. Incidentally, today is also the 33rd day of the year, with 333 days to go. 

In other news, I got another fantastic pair of hand-knit socks from my mom. I can't bring myself to wear them yet. I don't want to wear out that new-sock softness. They also remind me of the colors in the West, especially Colorado in winter. I'll admire them for another week, then enjoy.

 

If the Knit-Along returns on Wednesday, I will show you some actual knitting. You know, a Christmas gift that is still not finished... 

Pumpkin Patch

Happy Fall (maybe early winter?), friends! My social media feed was recently filled with pictures of families at pumpkin farms and picking apples in orchards on beautifully sunny days with perfectly colorful maple trees in the background! A celebration of color and festiveness! I was particularly taken by the display at Trader Joe's a few weeks ago. Shortly after, someone posted a photo of a knit pumpkin, and I simply HAD to knit one too.

My amazing friend Carol had a birthday in mid-October, and just decorated her house for Fall beforehand. I knew she would get a kick out of a knit pumpkin. I knit her a pig a few years ago as a Christmas tree ornament, but it's out year-round, so I thought she might want something special for her birthday season as well. It was so adorable that I made a second one for myself.

Carol was delighted, and I kept knitting... I will make a few more to complete our Thanksgiving decorations this year. I have some yellow yarn that I could mix with the green to recreate a Delicata squash, my new favorite squash to eat. 

The pattern I used is Knit Pumpkin by Katrina McNerney. My Ravelry notes are HERE.

For reading this month, I am listening to "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell, and recently finished a dark but worthwhile novel, The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead. It was based on real events, and my take-away is that we have a long road to travel to overcome racism.vI am adding this post to Ginny's monthly Yarn Along HERE. I have already been so inspired by others' projects and book choices; its worth a look! Till next time, enjoy the fall weather and frostiness.