tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287925192024-03-23T12:44:57.050-05:00Homestead HarvestThis blog began several years ago as a narrative of our efforts to lead a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle in the middle of our city. It still is, although our city has changed from Raleigh to Boise and we now are working diligently on restoring the family homestead in Montana.
The blog is also a chronicle of our lives together as a married couple, marriage being a sort of homesteading in itself.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-2594197313428199272010-09-09T14:41:00.006-05:002010-09-09T14:54:11.530-05:00Family Reunion 2010Labor Day Weekend 2010 Kate and I hosted the Saturday festivities of our family reunion here on the Albrecht Homestead 4 miles south of Bridger, MT. Great food and Great times were had by all!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WU_t79NgBKbBT1nEbURM6ujjCcjdC-sXrcocstpzy2fmWXRGsi5jaKMiCyuWppPJzAtIwoRhvqkJrUiwWe6X5A3rcrqVjqp8JaWAwwU_6YsWVssgQ2UhA8-MhJlSRRv7RKXkHg/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WU_t79NgBKbBT1nEbURM6ujjCcjdC-sXrcocstpzy2fmWXRGsi5jaKMiCyuWppPJzAtIwoRhvqkJrUiwWe6X5A3rcrqVjqp8JaWAwwU_6YsWVssgQ2UhA8-MhJlSRRv7RKXkHg/s400/DSC_0165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002361677641074" border="0" /></a><br />Margaret and Mary<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ0NOTnayGYflU25VuDJ0BUglCSmfHZiEOh0tuuscJU9fZnAgOfuAvEL5G3YqsNtqmN0_qFuKIwV7d7yJ1bYYeLBPRVC2v2xTdXObYca9-YXz5eLJnyDZck6419VUFwC6CQev8Q/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJ0NOTnayGYflU25VuDJ0BUglCSmfHZiEOh0tuuscJU9fZnAgOfuAvEL5G3YqsNtqmN0_qFuKIwV7d7yJ1bYYeLBPRVC2v2xTdXObYca9-YXz5eLJnyDZck6419VUFwC6CQev8Q/s400/DSC_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002354041489794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p2NJjH84G_iojJWfoUYj0jQG-p4jfx3VpCluU7K1nmuHSDoy3RhInNKlTllvePUa0rdJ3NDFx-IqADGchmKQMrdCW0K6VsiM9RiSfnlYzQJNYGMEUC7CxmtIZ6dh30jIYkyR6g/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p2NJjH84G_iojJWfoUYj0jQG-p4jfx3VpCluU7K1nmuHSDoy3RhInNKlTllvePUa0rdJ3NDFx-IqADGchmKQMrdCW0K6VsiM9RiSfnlYzQJNYGMEUC7CxmtIZ6dh30jIYkyR6g/s400/DSC_0155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002342025951634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH-Q-RYYEexFOXh9h-58VFppSBSr1Iu7JBkjMS8tPo2LrhVaUTOUxlGVgAd0oQnHM7PfjmPoV7t5zvBFHo4_mpAtw9vYEouM23qMi9NPbwoJ4OhxC8yrPOHb78uuECsHKTgW5hw/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH-Q-RYYEexFOXh9h-58VFppSBSr1Iu7JBkjMS8tPo2LrhVaUTOUxlGVgAd0oQnHM7PfjmPoV7t5zvBFHo4_mpAtw9vYEouM23qMi9NPbwoJ4OhxC8yrPOHb78uuECsHKTgW5hw/s400/DSC_0169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002995903270818" border="0" /></a><br />Tammy, Shirlee, Jeanie<br />Steve, Sharon, Janet<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfnQzGdZ3iVHG8rOtXegzHbMScxMM7PMhHADlN5Y9rzyt7jL7NKRWqiGYSxZTgcaYToNoIslTAD6B8iMvhcPnhOVkSA91XbsmDomN8YZTCzBcw8jp8t7ySG-_9j02lAdf0eVSNw/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfnQzGdZ3iVHG8rOtXegzHbMScxMM7PMhHADlN5Y9rzyt7jL7NKRWqiGYSxZTgcaYToNoIslTAD6B8iMvhcPnhOVkSA91XbsmDomN8YZTCzBcw8jp8t7ySG-_9j02lAdf0eVSNw/s400/DSC_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002330001060770" border="0" /></a><br />Jim and Jeanie Mullins<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvt9M3uv0w61yfgL4s_0LoAjpWS008grEp_OS1fXKRKS7H6cr3XV7UwnucSJutVH8iOYzMd3tiFY2keC5GqPzNp9oWramAYVo5Qb5VSGUCrMx1BKMLm-YAwHr888KNG4CwISjlg/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvt9M3uv0w61yfgL4s_0LoAjpWS008grEp_OS1fXKRKS7H6cr3XV7UwnucSJutVH8iOYzMd3tiFY2keC5GqPzNp9oWramAYVo5Qb5VSGUCrMx1BKMLm-YAwHr888KNG4CwISjlg/s400/DSC_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515002323987976482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalK4yQVimQjxi-jZXnqHXTfzzdhKId2WvuWX_u8xWlgLVJictYNJhX5Mz6VDEJ-w6CdwB0x_P8MrXVlQpnE6NrjsE0CWjdm5pP3Tw_CvRYpdyqCLXNWE3Yd6zgLTCQBSy4me4mA/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalK4yQVimQjxi-jZXnqHXTfzzdhKId2WvuWX_u8xWlgLVJictYNJhX5Mz6VDEJ-w6CdwB0x_P8MrXVlQpnE6NrjsE0CWjdm5pP3Tw_CvRYpdyqCLXNWE3Yd6zgLTCQBSy4me4mA/s400/DSC_0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515003004278290770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHULNPAG1p7ViiTIB4laXIdS8mPceoHIYtYCsw3viNFActgxIj4jq_5hOB2Lx363TmbJqpJlY0vYr9cUPtMqM0Ue7bY5CGy989sIAFB8qzTgpgO6TsKQop9pwPog8XqSMe5p6Zcg/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHULNPAG1p7ViiTIB4laXIdS8mPceoHIYtYCsw3viNFActgxIj4jq_5hOB2Lx363TmbJqpJlY0vYr9cUPtMqM0Ue7bY5CGy989sIAFB8qzTgpgO6TsKQop9pwPog8XqSMe5p6Zcg/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515003012316772754" border="0" /></a> Thanks to all that attended and we can't wait for the next reunion!<br /></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-53693334756448717412009-12-10T12:32:00.000-05:002009-12-10T12:33:11.621-05:00Take a moment to vote!<a href="http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/780913?src=embed"><img src="http://a3.chase.contextoptional.com/images/vote_for_us.jpg?1260432578" /></a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-57540062554859023302009-12-10T12:22:00.001-05:002009-12-10T12:27:40.291-05:00Wednesday Freeze-festMy Wednesday evening ride with Team Heinous. Holy crap it was cold.<br /><br /><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20332186">Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-73079842578549257262009-07-27T12:24:00.010-05:002009-07-27T13:21:36.474-05:00Deadman's Basin Reservoir<span style="font-family:verdana;">We took the weekend off and headed two hours north of our place to Deadman's Basin Reservoir for some fishing and camping with Jon's sister and family. Approaching Deadman's is like any typical drive in the country until you turn down a dirt road and crest a hill to find a giant lake nestled in between farm houses.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaIKexNg8gA_S-vhrfssmzkUazPzBNwg9nbamLG349jnMJprw6P8RW7HantzetdIsz24lxnAgsPZ3iQ3WBHPijJ18j2Vw7uJ5m8LdLXJix4QA_Wl5WURD9bE9suUj-oC-RSLN/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaIKexNg8gA_S-vhrfssmzkUazPzBNwg9nbamLG349jnMJprw6P8RW7HantzetdIsz24lxnAgsPZ3iQ3WBHPijJ18j2Vw7uJ5m8LdLXJix4QA_Wl5WURD9bE9suUj-oC-RSLN/s400/Ranch+July+2009+114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363195759300859490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We thought we had the place to ourselves but on Saturday morning, we acquired neighbors on both sides. On our right, the jet skiers who insisted on riding directly on top of our fishing lines - thanks! On our left, the drunks with a boat. They were piss drunk at 9:00 am when they pulled up. I was expecting high entertainment, and hoping for no fatalities. There were neither.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When we returned, nobody asked if we had fun. They only asked, "Was it windy?" This particular reservoir is notorious for wicked storms that whip out of nowhere, capsizing boats and not too infrequently, drowning people.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The answer? I'll let you judge for yourselves.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK-5TG0jGU28rSILl6BGlQ-Zm8YVlhXqc7bUH5RFrO5J7TBb368mYIXUuzC71eCfz1wunF6Bz7inBS4n8pdNci7nuWa_FEGYK1yhJ97PUo_yV2ZRAf70Yhq_Xt9j8wh_gFK1p/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK-5TG0jGU28rSILl6BGlQ-Zm8YVlhXqc7bUH5RFrO5J7TBb368mYIXUuzC71eCfz1wunF6Bz7inBS4n8pdNci7nuWa_FEGYK1yhJ97PUo_yV2ZRAf70Yhq_Xt9j8wh_gFK1p/s400/Ranch+July+2009+119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363199161338977026" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5Df5VV7tbelJPvvHBE-OFkMxWQ4J1JEE5NPT8INHRNyOnVH7TKNJ9RPAGAhO2TcdHfRF11Ra7NtFxcpbgrbbXyvmm031ojLG8kV1NGEjXrMCz2SBIKSFOYeo_M0cK0pBwmNB/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5Df5VV7tbelJPvvHBE-OFkMxWQ4J1JEE5NPT8INHRNyOnVH7TKNJ9RPAGAhO2TcdHfRF11Ra7NtFxcpbgrbbXyvmm031ojLG8kV1NGEjXrMCz2SBIKSFOYeo_M0cK0pBwmNB/s400/Ranch+July+2009+117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363195767445010290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Saturday night, a storm did roll through. We hastily gathered everything in camp, stashed the chairs, weighted down our camper awning with massive logs, and took shelter.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKilnFFWRfCaMjSfCBgGDzToB60PSyz_auMiPvm7jJQVOAE6rv0YvNcfUNaB5PLo81Ua5hbNjsn5n7Oe8qyd5a3b_RgUn65HQhkUwCp9B5n3I4SMkcap9avajmwcY3_hJPoFh/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKilnFFWRfCaMjSfCBgGDzToB60PSyz_auMiPvm7jJQVOAE6rv0YvNcfUNaB5PLo81Ua5hbNjsn5n7Oe8qyd5a3b_RgUn65HQhkUwCp9B5n3I4SMkcap9avajmwcY3_hJPoFh/s400/Ranch+July+2009+121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363202053977604226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We fished for salmon and trout, but caught a fair share of suckers and carp, which are junk fish.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMKhz7l349hTirNrqvGikBFg0MyQqolGnyCQMV7lBRAdGh1F758Zq-2N2ncYzx33ZWjqWwbOuY4LQDRQHoB1s8akGM2jsu1hYppe0WtpKi07rsJnQS_8_k5wvXqvK6mXd33PN/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMKhz7l349hTirNrqvGikBFg0MyQqolGnyCQMV7lBRAdGh1F758Zq-2N2ncYzx33ZWjqWwbOuY4LQDRQHoB1s8akGM2jsu1hYppe0WtpKi07rsJnQS_8_k5wvXqvK6mXd33PN/s400/Ranch+July+2009+129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363204409042724930" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoON04o2H9GHCUmJWgqXLwkwGdqnPiMK-2BLZYYvoTEDiYTRSpKDKk1Su2auiUkIcy5vxKACKodKGgV0_ap18OQ7gX-UW8g1AwOlP_F7wijarCGmY_UZsP5_u4w20_cOGZTPUI/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoON04o2H9GHCUmJWgqXLwkwGdqnPiMK-2BLZYYvoTEDiYTRSpKDKk1Su2auiUkIcy5vxKACKodKGgV0_ap18OQ7gX-UW8g1AwOlP_F7wijarCGmY_UZsP5_u4w20_cOGZTPUI/s400/Ranch+July+2009+126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363204402820077730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We learned that Gus is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >fanatical </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">about going after your fish as you reel it in. That dog has a serious chasing issue: squirrels, mice, rabbits, horses, sheep, cows, and now fish. Thankfully, he leaves the neighbors' cats alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every time someone got a bite, he raced over and plowed into the water to attack the flailing fish. This is fine unless you like teeth marks in your dinner and digging fish hooks out of your dog's paw - which did not deter him, I might add. I only had one bite the whole weekend and I lost the fish because Gus tore the line as I was reeling it in.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For most of the weekend, Gus stood a few feet offshore waiting for a catch.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLvMjEb7ofFsALpKzOelISbbZlTsrFn9Z-tHO4Jaz1UP05Jz6_lYshDqIj_kTiYtr_qwebL6UuuQJ20z_pVGYNIE-Wfhd4nDU4bO_IOhcOy7X2UBaliey0hkIpLuZIS2W01ui/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLvMjEb7ofFsALpKzOelISbbZlTsrFn9Z-tHO4Jaz1UP05Jz6_lYshDqIj_kTiYtr_qwebL6UuuQJ20z_pVGYNIE-Wfhd4nDU4bO_IOhcOy7X2UBaliey0hkIpLuZIS2W01ui/s400/Ranch+July+2009+132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363199169525435218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Falcons brought their canoe and did a good bit of trolling in it. Taya, my niece who has the entire family wrapped around her five year old fingers, caught more fish than any of us! Not wanting to miss out on anything, she would yell, "ARE YOU GOING ON A BOAT RIDE?!?!" anytime we came within 20 feet of the canoe.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYNxcUM247jsOUflFn3wCYBpx6QWMfuP3hk9QtHC2-_30YV8u5Dgg8mw4tW0AuWtdSWsTPS8j8Yz2_-mh69kg53Z047-epibwg3vLPf6XAsISkIiiEV9d-rRiIty9SFvWagEQ/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+137.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYNxcUM247jsOUflFn3wCYBpx6QWMfuP3hk9QtHC2-_30YV8u5Dgg8mw4tW0AuWtdSWsTPS8j8Yz2_-mh69kg53Z047-epibwg3vLPf6XAsISkIiiEV9d-rRiIty9SFvWagEQ/s400/Ranch+July+2009+137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363204396365198850" border="0" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-91769283923560369332009-07-24T10:41:00.008-05:002009-07-24T12:29:20.207-05:00Laying Pipe<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm3FhqmeiIgql8Wb7gHJrJ5qGVgFKcStp838GsEwdbqhur9G0UV1Z5W80jPrh3W0rTKdkiAzU3BHUwii0dWkrMCvjHDMYxIYtFjqmIFEBRen-AClijOJ-HnmKZSA5yyNHqMCI/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm3FhqmeiIgql8Wb7gHJrJ5qGVgFKcStp838GsEwdbqhur9G0UV1Z5W80jPrh3W0rTKdkiAzU3BHUwii0dWkrMCvjHDMYxIYtFjqmIFEBRen-AClijOJ-HnmKZSA5yyNHqMCI/s400/Ranch+July+2009+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362055138725584194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the irrigation methods used by farmers in these parts involves 20-odd foot sections of gated, 10-inch diameter PVC pipe. In the summertime, Jon and I often help our neighbor Josh put out pipe. If we are lucky, Josh comes to get us in the cool evenings and not in the heat of the day. Jon and Josh are just six months apart. Three generations of Josh's family live on our lane and so they grew up together - they will surely be lifelong friends.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For irrigation, water is diverted off of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River and into the irrigation ditches that snake their way through the farmland. Having irrigated pasture is an expensive, but critical piece of farming out here. We are fortunate enough to have about half of our acreage irrigated and we pay dearly for it. While we don't farm our ground, we irrigate the fields to grow grass that we then lease to a rancher that runs cattle on our place. That money then pays for our shares of the irrigation ditches. Rinse and repeat, every summer and fall.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Farmers route the water into this pipe which has lots of little "gates" that they can open and close to control the flow of water. The gates are spaced on the pipe so that they flow perfectly in between the crop rows.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The pipe is heavy and takes two people to manage. First, you hook up the pipe trailer to the truck or the tractor. Then, if you are me, you get distracted by the old buildings on the farm and wander off.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMUv-3Go_ASojt8kqCSlGzXzCsEY5Y8EiFgd7hgUfJE4EcbqlF7EAiVf7WBGjTHxSnhfqE80BsOIqWe8Rzc5Bno0LjrHAxADpJItXYUd8xwcD6SG_B4hGYiwuxQ1UNq4Fmo65/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMUv-3Go_ASojt8kqCSlGzXzCsEY5Y8EiFgd7hgUfJE4EcbqlF7EAiVf7WBGjTHxSnhfqE80BsOIqWe8Rzc5Bno0LjrHAxADpJItXYUd8xwcD6SG_B4hGYiwuxQ1UNq4Fmo65/s400/Ranch+July+2009+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362064415013496882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This doesn't happen to Josh and Jon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh right, we're loading pipe. I supervise while Josh and Jon load the pipe onto the trailer and then we pile into the vehicle and drive to the field.</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wv8PFPlpcZZbkveWrOA6lksPqwjuO_4sEtFxYlw2xD8nfQzmwIFT_fvgp6Icbzbwj6yMHUiyACYbZYbrSEh1KnPkI4fM3s2dadQYaphJFXe-j1eWdqfFaWjTq2PsZ5z-Vlw/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1wv8PFPlpcZZbkveWrOA6lksPqwjuO_4sEtFxYlw2xD8nfQzmwIFT_fvgp6Icbzbwj6yMHUiyACYbZYbrSEh1KnPkI4fM3s2dadQYaphJFXe-j1eWdqfFaWjTq2PsZ5z-Vlw/s400/Ranch+July+2009+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362064423450091698" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bNjGJnspLbMOr5A47CJMIth2-dAdhgKe0AGsVIvnppBY_YBMAU1wi7vYu5vjIK_Yj1_7ggpzohGhX-AsEPmlTyoFMo07pZVHdxCtS9VkWhQIUt0c3mD3d1MS71bSx0ulngTc/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bNjGJnspLbMOr5A47CJMIth2-dAdhgKe0AGsVIvnppBY_YBMAU1wi7vYu5vjIK_Yj1_7ggpzohGhX-AsEPmlTyoFMo07pZVHdxCtS9VkWhQIUt0c3mD3d1MS71bSx0ulngTc/s400/Ranch+July+2009+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362064427685730210" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPepWZyTE-afwasX0Z4Xtpb-x3mjtUZ7Z_Sbm2wUIEPysDMRZk0-wqbOzjL8Z-rSep_tVf4Z3cz5D2VJkepSlCVT0P7jfHxgOFDojIqzQtcxGCLf37iHEv_qPjLQbMmw-gWvU/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPepWZyTE-afwasX0Z4Xtpb-x3mjtUZ7Z_Sbm2wUIEPysDMRZk0-wqbOzjL8Z-rSep_tVf4Z3cz5D2VJkepSlCVT0P7jfHxgOFDojIqzQtcxGCLf37iHEv_qPjLQbMmw-gWvU/s400/Ranch+July+2009+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362071553806902002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you are lucky enough to have three people working, one drives the truck while two pick the pipe off of the trailer, lay it down, and connect it like lincoln logs. The driver creeps just far enough forward so that the trailer is positioned exactly where the next pipe needs to go. It's a well-oiled machine.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO6Rs_DwVi3XQwg580ZmOS0YvNZgpv7euAQPLcm0Aun01MfTKjwCh_yn68PTCImzhM2ocbTd4VbUhWvhii7DKBH9D5Fmzkp4VaKs1x06WKuMLrJP2Qaxuxnti4TwrBRKbIZLL/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO6Rs_DwVi3XQwg580ZmOS0YvNZgpv7euAQPLcm0Aun01MfTKjwCh_yn68PTCImzhM2ocbTd4VbUhWvhii7DKBH9D5Fmzkp4VaKs1x06WKuMLrJP2Qaxuxnti4TwrBRKbIZLL/s400/Ranch+July+2009+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362071573041942242" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfiXvQRR447hLfe3Ghazl51R7Fjg4hVdVH3TG9IprWtBj_Y9cnMTnnbPR9EGByuhHhKSzQUgsoF7HXvY95HjFC2MEhx0WDf08OMbx_8MYFpgKM8_TuteK8d_OI7FtEVsncVvN/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfiXvQRR447hLfe3Ghazl51R7Fjg4hVdVH3TG9IprWtBj_Y9cnMTnnbPR9EGByuhHhKSzQUgsoF7HXvY95HjFC2MEhx0WDf08OMbx_8MYFpgKM8_TuteK8d_OI7FtEVsncVvN/s400/Ranch+July+2009+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362071580906772434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's a big help to Josh to have the extra hands for laying pipe, but to us it is just an opportunity to help out. The work isn't hard. It's a good time to socialize and it feels right to foster the sense of community we feel with our friends and neighbors.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4l0EPzUCTyQlvTyxPqgPPBqa_aBCZk81nAboc4pk2MWWGVdfoI3NjkDyxiObChjbnJTeBViEB0dyXdxkpGjXPmi5A_PlD1KJjuRQUa8zyW4G81P1BC1P5NIn2iCG24RfasyS/s1600-h/Ranch+July+2009+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4l0EPzUCTyQlvTyxPqgPPBqa_aBCZk81nAboc4pk2MWWGVdfoI3NjkDyxiObChjbnJTeBViEB0dyXdxkpGjXPmi5A_PlD1KJjuRQUa8zyW4G81P1BC1P5NIn2iCG24RfasyS/s400/Ranch+July+2009+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362071565512091314" border="0" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-10027547242444904532009-04-28T11:40:00.005-05:002009-04-28T12:26:20.248-05:00Droopy Things<span style="font-family: verdana;">While doing my morning walk in our Boise yard today, I noticed the number of plants abloom with hanging flowers. They are quite pretty. Their languid posture belies the fervor of spring.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are currant flowers. Our two bushes are loaded with flowers this year, along with our gooseberry (we planted last spring). I had to move to Idaho so I could grow these -- they are outlawed in North Carolina because they are a possible vector for some pine tree disease.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MchzkFwB02N_2BYgcxtWlJSuJDUGH1aDyPsEgN5R97QcaKSOA3_kcTEz3j0zArLsE1vtNg3LPtdTRuAX7jSZPWgFyzyjLbqJmyd2vI9BC4bAQKvqhYKnKzysCcdA12fBVJy/s1600-h/April+2009+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9MchzkFwB02N_2BYgcxtWlJSuJDUGH1aDyPsEgN5R97QcaKSOA3_kcTEz3j0zArLsE1vtNg3LPtdTRuAX7jSZPWgFyzyjLbqJmyd2vI9BC4bAQKvqhYKnKzysCcdA12fBVJy/s400/April+2009+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329788643375763010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is our Harry Lauder's Walking Stick tree, also know as curly filbert.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3gKjkTumwhBWdAkCpQvJGW-zwV57Im9fjPn-8JMzO1borgeQG1RPcItU80KyTGW5ROJaVIiGQTmMog87ANldahyphenhyphenyR_hyGVECFvfckzVnDEIzhdX0Oifaohti-zSUc7d9ctFU/s1600-h/April+2009+058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3gKjkTumwhBWdAkCpQvJGW-zwV57Im9fjPn-8JMzO1borgeQG1RPcItU80KyTGW5ROJaVIiGQTmMog87ANldahyphenhyphenyR_hyGVECFvfckzVnDEIzhdX0Oifaohti-zSUc7d9ctFU/s400/April+2009+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329788657929209506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have lovely, massive bleeding hearts in our front yard.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wI0yHOD1IUkU1dpMEAwJQEq3s2nJ6thRzJlEyrvkFB1zYwK7hBbrCnVXfAnaHddafUJIRGFLeuuYD-W0rp-0sqZodftcfCdIqIWpOgQya06h4wiBGkzuOADjtmcviIu_f4C6/s1600-h/April+2009+054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wI0yHOD1IUkU1dpMEAwJQEq3s2nJ6thRzJlEyrvkFB1zYwK7hBbrCnVXfAnaHddafUJIRGFLeuuYD-W0rp-0sqZodftcfCdIqIWpOgQya06h4wiBGkzuOADjtmcviIu_f4C6/s400/April+2009+054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329788648398144258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not a plant, but just as pretty. A Buddhist prayer flag that hangs in our backyard.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5VVA7th-RU2ZX3uPdTYmTpu42n8CQHiSq8UvN5JIown0NJPaE-dtu-F05tiONXtvYFOBbNFfJefbVpX7fJHKCBM-eQAuuFKUf3eTpM-XhJEDD8kZ4W0eJSD-OgY30nnU_65R/s1600-h/April+2009+060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5VVA7th-RU2ZX3uPdTYmTpu42n8CQHiSq8UvN5JIown0NJPaE-dtu-F05tiONXtvYFOBbNFfJefbVpX7fJHKCBM-eQAuuFKUf3eTpM-XhJEDD8kZ4W0eJSD-OgY30nnU_65R/s400/April+2009+060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329794723398177218" border="0" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-51696617895898900942009-04-21T15:09:00.009-05:002009-04-27T15:43:05.523-05:00Spring Break Retrospective: Fire and Ice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUf4hZgvf1gC_txdXUbpr-3JXeafrW7qT8FbbeoMtQpArC_St8KcT9G8TvWHtTk8M6A-LByyp_ACK7kpXA1pJl8ukHKRJSqKWlg3Du2QT_Prn_9rZdsw6yLToUwvzwj_7OxtZ/s1600-h/IMG_1328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUf4hZgvf1gC_txdXUbpr-3JXeafrW7qT8FbbeoMtQpArC_St8KcT9G8TvWHtTk8M6A-LByyp_ACK7kpXA1pJl8ukHKRJSqKWlg3Du2QT_Prn_9rZdsw6yLToUwvzwj_7OxtZ/s400/IMG_1328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327240236922686450" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Turns out that the woodpile we stacked (I use the term "stacked" loosely) last summer became a hovel for mice. All of the dogs were extremely interested in the mice, but only our blind dog Cash pursued the mice with the intensity and focus of a Buddhist monk. He barely left that woodpile during the entire trip which was good because we needed someone to, er, watch the fire. Winds can pick up in an instant out at the ranch.</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEbtkD7-5bu6L7PN_donxXdNgGyWs20CcU4MuoYBwokmvWFe1Z4Dqg40smQ9Ro7Dw8whyphenhyphencpjQwsLNZKMcmaZytiu4Nh14VNvNQFkjRHzj5A56DNZsLvr2pGpGZFiWlQr3f2wJ/s1600-h/IMG_1333.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEbtkD7-5bu6L7PN_donxXdNgGyWs20CcU4MuoYBwokmvWFe1Z4Dqg40smQ9Ro7Dw8whyphenhyphencpjQwsLNZKMcmaZytiu4Nh14VNvNQFkjRHzj5A56DNZsLvr2pGpGZFiWlQr3f2wJ/s400/IMG_1333.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329469220420028178" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ98daviJZSKiraKO8NUQEGJlH5aXeAXc0G01Eza7SsXRd_Efwc_bo57G-PzRQZTc06tltu8a6Qt6fWa2IzgTewXyfrmmi8Sx_ycKvmVBHDmh_fVT5L1UNKPcGrd5qaIDhhkE/s1600-h/IMG_1330.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ98daviJZSKiraKO8NUQEGJlH5aXeAXc0G01Eza7SsXRd_Efwc_bo57G-PzRQZTc06tltu8a6Qt6fWa2IzgTewXyfrmmi8Sx_ycKvmVBHDmh_fVT5L1UNKPcGrd5qaIDhhkE/s400/IMG_1330.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329469213861946114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We choose carefully when to have fires and we watch carefully for flying embers and increasing wind speeds when the fire is burning.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YX54L8fa6YYQ1goXogkyt-DUqM6-Bj742lMWXKMLTVCnzc9KH7nxyyaKhIh4kBeUsdDC-BTD_VOaRnL8wcMoZfPGxELe7-wYYxqBzgtH5Zi3LvypmD7uHg781gjPQAQ1N77r/s1600-h/IMG_1336.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YX54L8fa6YYQ1goXogkyt-DUqM6-Bj742lMWXKMLTVCnzc9KH7nxyyaKhIh4kBeUsdDC-BTD_VOaRnL8wcMoZfPGxELe7-wYYxqBzgtH5Zi3LvypmD7uHg781gjPQAQ1N77r/s400/IMG_1336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329469221832937346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Not only can winds pick up faster than you can say snap, severe weather changes are to be expected in the west. This same night it started snowing on our way into a movie in Red Lodge. When we got home, we lit the fire again to have a beer before going to bed. It was so cold outside that our beers were turning to slush in the bottles. The next morning we woke to this scene:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz3rmqqiZFo-vHFuJQ4Gu8dbUiNsKDqLH_M9S31XkXMjp841TJXXK-7Q9hD29Lk4ceM2T8-t_H4Cn1JQpE0zwiOx8vIE4rBvVEhilJntfNDa0d07qwFgEnnkzmyzpEi93rU9X/s1600-h/IMG_1350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz3rmqqiZFo-vHFuJQ4Gu8dbUiNsKDqLH_M9S31XkXMjp841TJXXK-7Q9hD29Lk4ceM2T8-t_H4Cn1JQpE0zwiOx8vIE4rBvVEhilJntfNDa0d07qwFgEnnkzmyzpEi93rU9X/s400/IMG_1350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329473282161611858" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD6GD2L_fceyHJ1PjAm243tWl5My0jOa5hR0BxcbCg-tBv1JgWz4joXabn6IK8yc_jx-CvtZfgDDKL7UjCeM8JA0kz3W9TyUFEKnT2FKbogxlxSU6_3EfzGM3e9gGNefT5XYv/s1600-h/IMG_1351.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD6GD2L_fceyHJ1PjAm243tWl5My0jOa5hR0BxcbCg-tBv1JgWz4joXabn6IK8yc_jx-CvtZfgDDKL7UjCeM8JA0kz3W9TyUFEKnT2FKbogxlxSU6_3EfzGM3e9gGNefT5XYv/s400/IMG_1351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329473769736411298" border="0" /></a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-40461835349614448382009-04-10T12:09:00.007-05:002009-04-10T13:21:53.039-05:00Spring Break Retrospective: Wood you?<span style="font-family: verdana;">If there is one thing I have learned about farms and ranches, it is that there is an unending supply of firewood and only a limited time of the year when you can burn it. For us, this fact is compounded because the people who rented the ranch for the past 20 years that we had to evict through a year-long battle in the Carbon County Court system didn't, um, clean up after themselves. Or their cows. Cows are rough on everything--they lean against and scratch themselves on trees, fences, and buildings. The result of slobs + cows = wood scraps scattered </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">everywhere</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">. It sometimes feels like all we do is move wood from pile to pile.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQRULPKwbDxwPw00D6KUSsaWyy1kr7wgOPUr5cTzplC33pE-zMsieVVdp1bYFnOVCItirH7Azr6z27kvWbt9rCpf8zpLdCUNBBQIiDdWY83yjdMKI1Pz_Qz00WATPJllo75xl/s1600-h/IMG_1338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQRULPKwbDxwPw00D6KUSsaWyy1kr7wgOPUr5cTzplC33pE-zMsieVVdp1bYFnOVCItirH7Azr6z27kvWbt9rCpf8zpLdCUNBBQIiDdWY83yjdMKI1Pz_Qz00WATPJllo75xl/s400/IMG_1338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323119315928782674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are piles of lumber scraps.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdAvD4WNvFswdEwEcBctdgWb8fqLi5T4VmjANfPl72KUqfKVMceIZkcjD-R5FCKXMuzGX6hfBF6jGp5uPcuXdxfydbCkhaEAixv9OmfTXI-fOaBgSN4hIH2rg4FQUCGX415Xn/s1600-h/IMG_1337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdAvD4WNvFswdEwEcBctdgWb8fqLi5T4VmjANfPl72KUqfKVMceIZkcjD-R5FCKXMuzGX6hfBF6jGp5uPcuXdxfydbCkhaEAixv9OmfTXI-fOaBgSN4hIH2rg4FQUCGX415Xn/s400/IMG_1337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323119325372427058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are piles of lumber.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx55vF6evAUKn6PDwavWzljI9UxJjbUJ-wrhqpj-sZro8JRi2Z615ntNHc_5K2BHNBjNki3_SIrJYyDYruyyFOrQM2iaucMY5e6iheqXxjCorKR-MwvIy3RiAGLo-kR6X97OQD/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx55vF6evAUKn6PDwavWzljI9UxJjbUJ-wrhqpj-sZro8JRi2Z615ntNHc_5K2BHNBjNki3_SIrJYyDYruyyFOrQM2iaucMY5e6iheqXxjCorKR-MwvIy3RiAGLo-kR6X97OQD/s400/IMG_1344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323121362618810450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are piles of brush and branches.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeCNv_o4pr53f4FrFWMpWwPN8QNjNWRLZ4_cxSAhwRiVw3DXQvKRWX-qpeGc3qcRnmU80C3YWXqNmlbe0qYuM6IQ9-M8q_5aMzkdvCiDWu1cj4D49i9Urxz34evKjIeaV6OgM/s1600-h/IMG_1342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeCNv_o4pr53f4FrFWMpWwPN8QNjNWRLZ4_cxSAhwRiVw3DXQvKRWX-qpeGc3qcRnmU80C3YWXqNmlbe0qYuM6IQ9-M8q_5aMzkdvCiDWu1cj4D49i9Urxz34evKjIeaV6OgM/s400/IMG_1342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323121370736449042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mixed piles of fencing, tree stump, branches, and an unidentifiable metal and concrete object.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Skbln0y76ecyJcnkoAMQWmnHm5NKqKaK_D_IEzdGSWA4097b06eFPey0OfBZa8QZcuBVSeSRCQTi_ZUK5CBBg3q-MRIYbaWIpvkfs69ecDaw168aBpiwnT2tqK44bwAvYJoO/s1600-h/IMG_1339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Skbln0y76ecyJcnkoAMQWmnHm5NKqKaK_D_IEzdGSWA4097b06eFPey0OfBZa8QZcuBVSeSRCQTi_ZUK5CBBg3q-MRIYbaWIpvkfs69ecDaw168aBpiwnT2tqK44bwAvYJoO/s400/IMG_1339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323126732752229650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then there are the gigantic tree stumps that are too big to move.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's when I call for reinforcements.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoA_wjUpHdd6pAJ7R2otEAMQ-IAzZQmkfc4fEeeUdH8luxLYoqNPfs2ONvYH2NmPfx5WX3HDSFPbWZD7vfaJF0CMhkCg_DiWEGp_fjNhGbk77kAk8t4uWKF8KdyZn7eC95sBf/s1600-h/IMG_1345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoA_wjUpHdd6pAJ7R2otEAMQ-IAzZQmkfc4fEeeUdH8luxLYoqNPfs2ONvYH2NmPfx5WX3HDSFPbWZD7vfaJF0CMhkCg_DiWEGp_fjNhGbk77kAk8t4uWKF8KdyZn7eC95sBf/s400/IMG_1345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323126741628258482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Here come the reinforcements.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9nEcUB1JRV1C6u7AfOBl6z3v9vzU7XjcOQyN4mzwAU4zNUqadKk53nYGVBEOTE-fql6M4-Kfk6-m-tJrHq_Ibfa8LK-DcBAzJh3A6a_RN2CD5qLUSVcx9lKYUNCXVJvOh8CX/s1600-h/IMG_1349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9nEcUB1JRV1C6u7AfOBl6z3v9vzU7XjcOQyN4mzwAU4zNUqadKk53nYGVBEOTE-fql6M4-Kfk6-m-tJrHq_Ibfa8LK-DcBAzJh3A6a_RN2CD5qLUSVcx9lKYUNCXVJvOh8CX/s400/IMG_1349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323128364481716018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">I feel safer already.</span><br /></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-38816473905506785522009-04-08T16:30:00.010-05:002009-04-08T17:11:42.070-05:00Spring Break Retrospective: Prelude<span style="font-family:verdana;">We got a little distracted over here when </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2009/04/jon-and-i-raced-home-from-montana-on.html">a gigantic tree fell on our trucks</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> on the day we arrived home from Spring Break 2009. (Spring Break means nothing unless you or yours are in school. Since Jon is still enrolled in Boise State's nursing program, school breaks are our only opportunity to take a lengthy vacation together.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">To back up even further, I was in California the week before Spring Break with these juice box junkies while their dad was </span><del style="font-family: verdana;">cavorting</del><span style="font-family:verdana;"> working in Germany. The best and worst part was that my company's headquarters is nearby so I was able to work during the week while in California. I didn't have to use my vacation time, but I got a good taste of what it is like to be a working parent in the San Francisco Bay area: stressful. Commuting sucks. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VEsLe343iMsfPDW1aX4z8zzdHPwpl0vQxEmhkSdnRDRxEzzMcoQCxRky_NWe8tIzVVBydLl3PnHvlONMqgS9hHGKIS2DpNzL7GOaD8uojq97Y-N6EUsICDFZzckvr-_7MNWt/s1600-h/IMG_1327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VEsLe343iMsfPDW1aX4z8zzdHPwpl0vQxEmhkSdnRDRxEzzMcoQCxRky_NWe8tIzVVBydLl3PnHvlONMqgS9hHGKIS2DpNzL7GOaD8uojq97Y-N6EUsICDFZzckvr-_7MNWt/s400/IMG_1327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322441908001054162" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFqkTi027rx3NcAfiugQuFzc6NOag_zGRXL-SKZUlhfYi3M5kKjQ0j8hLE4sLfDwm4buah42v2qrLRuu22uvf9JErDmhvHCDAMsezWjZH4JX5LNnkvd3X4lTm0WXdVslERGfi/s1600-h/IMG_1325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFqkTi027rx3NcAfiugQuFzc6NOag_zGRXL-SKZUlhfYi3M5kKjQ0j8hLE4sLfDwm4buah42v2qrLRuu22uvf9JErDmhvHCDAMsezWjZH4JX5LNnkvd3X4lTm0WXdVslERGfi/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322441446852102098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I played Mr. Mom, a.k.a. Dad, a.k.a. Auntie, helping my sister-in-law out so she wouldn't have to be a single parent for the week. We split up the drop-off and pick-up duties (two different schools), meal preparations, discipline, and bedtime stories. I wiped noses, wiped butts, wiped floors, and wiped out. It was all together one of the most exhausting and gratifying experiences I've ever had. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I also got immense satisfaction from turning the tables on my brother: telling </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >him</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> all the insanely cute things </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >his</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> kids were doing instead of the usual other way around. I can understand now why people like to talk so much about their kids! It was so fun and I miss them so much now!<br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-23693823655243309802009-04-02T08:55:00.003-05:002009-04-02T09:29:58.359-05:00April is Autism Awareness Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSDttgi6nbvvMRhta6sAk3Yprkuo-9i1M2-gkwJpn_RIvCa_yTnInvwRm62MaCsF2dOYvvBTZmt2mmlZmLQFgoDpsB942HX8mPzL6U8GbQfJJkB5lXfwe2nyfGhY9VXVuOJQf/s1600-h/autism-logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 84px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSDttgi6nbvvMRhta6sAk3Yprkuo-9i1M2-gkwJpn_RIvCa_yTnInvwRm62MaCsF2dOYvvBTZmt2mmlZmLQFgoDpsB942HX8mPzL6U8GbQfJJkB5lXfwe2nyfGhY9VXVuOJQf/s400/autism-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320092671454131042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I never thought about autism until a few years ago when a dear friend's child was diagnosed with it. As is often the case, I didn't know what autism or autism-spectrum disorders were until someone close to me was affected by it. Since then, I have become quietly passionate about the topic: reading books, articles, websites, and shushing anyone around when the subject comes up the radio. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I won't go into the debate about the causes of autism here but I will say that my friend and her family have seen a </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >remarkable </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">improvement in her child's symptoms as a result of diet and supplement intervention. It is remarkable, too, that when my friend's child gets a fever, the autism literally </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >goes away</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. And so it is also immensely frustrating that although these things actually repeat themselves over and over amongst autistic children, many in the medical and research communities dismiss them as anecdotal. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I found Paul Collins' book </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-Even-Wrong-Adventures-Autism/dp/1582343675">Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to be a joyful, well, adventure. In it, he talks about both the diagnosis of his son with autism and his research into the history of autism and historical autists. He doesn't rail against the medical community or his son's diagnosis but approaches it with a sense of wonder about what it is instead of what it isn't:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Autists are described by others--and by themselves--as aliens among humans. But there's an irony to this, for precisely the opposite is true. They are us, and to understand them is to begin to understand what it means to be human. Think of it: a disability is usually defined in terms of what is missing. A child tugs at his or her parents and whispers, 'Where's that man's arm?' But autism is an ability and a disability: it is as much about what is abundant as what is missing, an over expression of the very traits that make our species unique. Other animals are social, but only humans are capable of abstract logic. The autistic outhumans the humans, and we can scarcely recognize the result."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As an avid cook and foodie, I am always on the lookout for recipes that fit my friend's child's diet: gluten, dairy, and soy products exacerbate the autism. Today, so many people are either vegan, intolerant of gluten, or have soy allergies that entire cookbooks exist on the subjects. My search, though, is for recipes that don't require special ingredients or techniques; recipes that fit the lifestyle of a very busy, two working parent, three child household. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I came across </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/apartmenttherapy/thekitchn/%7E3/IWhdWZO8--E/internet-sensation-the-noflour-nobutter-peanut-butter-cookies-revisited-080693">this recipe</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> that fit the bill. Click the link for a devastating picture.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family: verdana;">Sensational Peanut Butter Cookies</strong> <em style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />18 cookies<br /></em><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 cup peanut butter</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3/4 cup natural cane sugar </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 cup brown sugar </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 egg </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 teaspoon baking soda </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">additional sugar for rolling </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees°F. Mix all the ingredients up in a bowl. Roll walnut-sized pieces into balls and roll balls in the additional sugar. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten slightly with a fork in a crisscross pattern. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool before removing from baking sheet. </span><em style="font-family: verdana;"></em>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-78715572932430250892009-04-01T15:54:00.006-05:002009-04-02T09:33:01.626-05:00Spring: In Like a Lion<div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jon and I raced home from Montana on Saturday to beat the impending winter storm. We were worried that it would compromise the roads and that we would get stuck or worse. We arrived in Boise on Saturday around 5 p.m. and after unloading the Suburban, we hopped into my truck and headed to the </span><a href="http://tavernatbown.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tavern</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> for dinner.<br /><br />In the still-dark Sunday morning, I awoke to what sounded like a train whooshing by. I got up, looked out the window into the backyard, and listened as hail began to fall, eventually falling back to sleep. The next morning we rolled out of bed and headed out the front door to get coffee and a bagel (we really don’t eat every meal out, it’s just that we had no groceries in the house yet after being gone for over a week).<br /><br />Turns out the winds I heard ripped this 50 foot beautiful blue spruce tree out of the ground and tipped it over onto our vehicles.<br /><br /><br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319830684302325346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFMC0D9pnwMTO1Si6O6gXz_l4zMcgAPGfWtuJsWda1pC0OT3JqDuRK1mrdcCZbGTIVSS3tk0vaN0M1TWaZwYebwGYVfp1FeUg8tr8L9d0fe8TrzODabCb4A-XzkTC1pW9FsPx/s320/IMG_1364.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The trunk fell squarely on the hood of my truck, the branches of one side rested on the hood of Jon's Suburban.</span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319830688363768226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxrFaLYgGcR0C4LiVaPbNQkl015Fpf63B8ey7ifGa_g_7jmdWKFZcFvsCMnlBAhMOHsViFJ6pcX6LOyWselUYP1q7p8bC5kQNj0_wELQpkERrcWGbXu9tuJGV3l-29lWfK-3G/s320/IMG_1365.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Closeup of my truck.</span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319830674572841346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPb_nBBINMJkeMJSlmCp1yUHqL77Dg7tW2Den7VvsKdUW4JaveH1Zzx7GnQdKkJrun7gHyb3nuyj4_sG4Xgio6Qahytb2b__ERieEUqfQnEa99-PZ3AoXA1G3q-SAxwGPQwD0/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Closeup of Jon's Suburban.</span><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319830691435876274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQDyGU6-Sr7Tmwb7w8E4gKxq9GRcsSp-9QogN3S8ui8kQeNX2jdJs-vzBkZPT7zxoP6l0xuJtNUmCZKyE45vHfpMMR4Uls9xs-FmUAhyphenhyphen3DlN9xBSs3umcFjVFbtxuT3nB6Klk/s320/IMG_1368.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Our house and the bluebird house were spared.</span></p>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-11806468912046705252009-03-13T11:39:00.004-05:002009-03-13T11:47:24.442-05:00Update: Lime Cilantro Slaw<span style="font-family: verdana;">I realized this morning that I forgot an ingredient in the recipe. The first time I made it, I used honey to balance the tart acidity of the lime juice. The second time, I used agave syrup because my honey was beginning to crystallize.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here is the new, improved recipe (still without ingredient amounts because I am trying to live more on the edge these days).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Lime Cilantro Slaw</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mix together, tasting for flavor:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">green cabbage, thinly sliced</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">chopped jalapenos</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">a large handful of chopped fresh cilantro</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">juice from several limes</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">a squirt or two of honey or agave syrup</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">a dollop of mayonnaise</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">a dash of salt</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was also thinking last night as I improvised lemon penne with broccoli and romano that the above slaw would be good if you grated some lime zest into it.<br /><br />And vegetarians, you know what to do instead of that pork: black bean tacos! Or burritos. </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-11487256909018401892009-03-12T15:33:00.008-05:002009-03-12T16:08:54.251-05:00Pork and Pioneers<span style="font-family:verdana;">I've recently become a fan of </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman's blog</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, which is filled with confessions, cooking, and photography among other things. One of the most alluring things about her blog (aside from the food, farm, and photography) is that she updates her blog multiple times a day. Not unlike what has been happening on this blog in the last month, er, um, anyway...</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I have had my eye on <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/08/spicy-shredded-pork/">a certain pork recipe</a> (sorry, Tricia) on P</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">W's blog. We had a visitor from Salt Lake City this past weekend and I seized the opportunity to test this out in tacos. It's sort of a Carolina pork barbecue meets Mexico recipe, minus the barbecue. I diced up avocado, fresh jalapenos, and scallions, grated jack cheese,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and served chipotle sour cream and two salsas: red (homemade and canned this past summer) and green (outed as supermarket canned salsa by our guest--when asked if it was homemade, I couldn't tell a lie). The piece de resistance, however, was a lime cilantro slaw that I adapted from a recipe I found in Bon Apetit magazine. Oh my, was it ever good!<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmiDIDsa3hF6vuCu6ozZydbdk05_ewFKzR1phgMWUyM5hMxcAnw2Sr5lmPQVOP3bl8ySYyiQwfLVTIOe5rwU37TAC0f9L3sHxWBqEj3jksZaUMe0nHrI2B7AleRsto1iHEVN1/s1600-h/Mar+2009+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmmiDIDsa3hF6vuCu6ozZydbdk05_ewFKzR1phgMWUyM5hMxcAnw2Sr5lmPQVOP3bl8ySYyiQwfLVTIOe5rwU37TAC0f9L3sHxWBqEj3jksZaUMe0nHrI2B7AleRsto1iHEVN1/s320/Mar+2009+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312407518062962578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Even after dinner for five (including three very hungry backcountry ski and snowboarders) and lunch the following day, we had plenty of pork left over which we froze in individual vacuum-sealed packages. Last night, we thawed a package while I whipped up another batch of lime cilantro slaw and we had round three of these beauties. I think they might deserve their own food group.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAf3HZWMxpOomyCPIK_W0Ws5ixlZ857LKiJ0R-_g53vju4K0L6G3RiSnoN-P4U8uRhjY7QF88ypAwe4FAze5LiC8UQ4x0JfkljJM6C9HPkQT98boJ2hAU3iXTkYi6iEdX8ukj/s1600-h/Mar+2009+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAf3HZWMxpOomyCPIK_W0Ws5ixlZ857LKiJ0R-_g53vju4K0L6G3RiSnoN-P4U8uRhjY7QF88ypAwe4FAze5LiC8UQ4x0JfkljJM6C9HPkQT98boJ2hAU3iXTkYi6iEdX8ukj/s320/Mar+2009+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312408754923095026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Lime Cilantro Slaw</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (sorry, I hate when recipes don't give ingredient amounts)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mix together, tasting for flavor:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">green cabbage, thinly sliced</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">chopped jalapenos</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">a large handful of chopped fresh cilantro</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">juice from several limes</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">a dollop of mayonnaise</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">a dash of salt</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-24091322944643870662009-02-04T15:53:00.010-05:002009-02-10T15:41:24.524-05:00Not Winter<span style="font-family:verdana;">I did an informal poll of myself to find out my favorite season.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Now in my second year here in Idaho, I have decided that winter is not it. Especially not </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >this </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">winter. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />When we were in North Carolina, I thought the reason I didn't like winter was because there was nothing to do during the cold months. I admit I like winter better here in Boise than I did in North Carolina because at least you can snowshoe or ski. The snow conditions here haven't been that great though, and we haven't had much snow. The local mountain conditions vacillate between ice skating rink and slush. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">I prefer the other seasons because some of my favorite activities are done then, like biking, gardening, and pretty much anything outside.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwIGjftgQ5nxMT3Jhi88AYc_341-_KiDnp6kK2N0KNvpxkanc4ZpHOB0D3VAq0Nma9qy4ISzA-w__bMQP3eq7TJrX5V1Si0_0qH5j20q2V1lp2uSC5auMFxZHc9WXZEHP47LM/s1600-h/crib.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwIGjftgQ5nxMT3Jhi88AYc_341-_KiDnp6kK2N0KNvpxkanc4ZpHOB0D3VAq0Nma9qy4ISzA-w__bMQP3eq7TJrX5V1Si0_0qH5j20q2V1lp2uSC5auMFxZHc9WXZEHP47LM/s320/crib.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301268377637082786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of this winter's favorite indoor activities is playing cards. Jon and our neighbors taught me how to play cribbage a few weeks ago and now the cribbage board is a permanent fixture on our dining room table.<br /><br />Whenever we have the time, we play a game, which takes about 20 minutes. We keep track of the games and the best out of ten games wins. I am 0 for 1 right now, but the first tournament I lost by only one game. Not bad for a beginner!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[photograph courtesy of www.shepshedgames.co.uk/cribbage.jpg.]</span></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-11224530070671880322008-12-30T20:52:00.008-05:002008-12-30T21:40:21.993-05:00From Tucker, Cash, and Gus<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;"><blink>Happy New Year!</blink><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZWsPc3Vte39fZAJg9nUImlQOS73vjp3UTGTLzoO_gYniNYIQ7NnyiqJvj5gh-tOd0ILxVoANdAGbVJjjf0V5tLYy-rMhV99Q8sbMVod42wvM95vf3myrc-JtKzcOEHEnAAlJVw/s1600-h/IMG_2162_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZWsPc3Vte39fZAJg9nUImlQOS73vjp3UTGTLzoO_gYniNYIQ7NnyiqJvj5gh-tOd0ILxVoANdAGbVJjjf0V5tLYy-rMhV99Q8sbMVod42wvM95vf3myrc-JtKzcOEHEnAAlJVw/s400/IMG_2162_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285767710326097554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcuKTLsCpr3A4pUXvfsGkrjYWJV8tRNswjSc64wOZw_CCOYxN-SyARBijUxhxJj7ThDXj1AYqPz5IPO23Shr0GiVgc5wGpdtb8NCDFa02N-5_oDUjmc2lnwI7XoOeOpfxFwFRCQ/s1600-h/IMG_4367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcuKTLsCpr3A4pUXvfsGkrjYWJV8tRNswjSc64wOZw_CCOYxN-SyARBijUxhxJj7ThDXj1AYqPz5IPO23Shr0GiVgc5wGpdtb8NCDFa02N-5_oDUjmc2lnwI7XoOeOpfxFwFRCQ/s400/IMG_4367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285767708755619906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Ua8ukFg9_nfF3QzspedPtRgQLghm9CghRDaraXtjd17Np3O0q9WG8InHcyOYM4U6EegQewcqb_bJTusmM3fB3zmxJ0d8b7srlsdPK7BKAB_cA37cJj7ffAaDe6m4zLXK1AtoA/s1600-h/IMG_1295.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Ua8ukFg9_nfF3QzspedPtRgQLghm9CghRDaraXtjd17Np3O0q9WG8InHcyOYM4U6EegQewcqb_bJTusmM3fB3zmxJ0d8b7srlsdPK7BKAB_cA37cJj7ffAaDe6m4zLXK1AtoA/s400/IMG_1295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285767716342892178" border="0" /></a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-83968506280902544832008-12-28T19:18:00.008-05:002008-12-30T21:43:16.481-05:00Winter Playground<span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I found this picture of the homestead in Montana and thought I'd share it with everyone.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > </span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlBg3iy_4wnln1a_TY7V3WXxeqYVr0MU2HAZ33VPOlUgJ3f55QpOfdrFcXD9PoIJnHHG5qCSMQUJN1CMZZ3jqgNG8mh6EmJcT0R5p1Xs61r_LCx92dfRMUSgSh2ujfZUMW3Hf_Q/s1600-h/IMG_0941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlBg3iy_4wnln1a_TY7V3WXxeqYVr0MU2HAZ33VPOlUgJ3f55QpOfdrFcXD9PoIJnHHG5qCSMQUJN1CMZZ3jqgNG8mh6EmJcT0R5p1Xs61r_LCx92dfRMUSgSh2ujfZUMW3Hf_Q/s320/IMG_0941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285001973965741410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Kate and I have been doing a bit of construction around the Boise homestead since we returned from our Florida getaway. Our landing in Boise was uneventful even with 3 inches of snow on the runway! In the parking lot we were shocked to find 5 inches of snow covering Kate's Dodge Dakota. It snowed most days we we're away and has since snowed most of the days we've been back. Today was different though with 57 degrees most of our valley snow is gone. In the past week or so we've managed to do some snow construction in the front yard, snowshoe in the valley and at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bogusbasin.org/">Bogus Basin</a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >. There has even been time for skiing and snowboarding! A bit of our handy work is pictured below.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazgVVRpvv8V5Tc4lZlPS0mt5ov2wHN6mgL-7NKM0L98aEFUVuF3tcwDVpzRzrGStJsC2wbPEVtCwbRTYpVzgdk20Zh451Qw2ndT1Q3sNGY4vcsvOZ2qDxGZScwd9DPL6pQsOmUA/s1600-h/IMG_1265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazgVVRpvv8V5Tc4lZlPS0mt5ov2wHN6mgL-7NKM0L98aEFUVuF3tcwDVpzRzrGStJsC2wbPEVtCwbRTYpVzgdk20Zh451Qw2ndT1Q3sNGY4vcsvOZ2qDxGZScwd9DPL6pQsOmUA/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285001982776690882" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7MuiiFtppUurqFSpmBsMptp41sQIUM9ZREvRQvhFOnkjqKTX5FgBzwIsZ0rnNJCGZMb-LFMdXjI_V5uUpOdPO1AxtkKyU7mCRyjqG7xysQSFWw-n2BCxj3UDRrTP9SB9yX_ovw/s1600-h/IMG_1268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7MuiiFtppUurqFSpmBsMptp41sQIUM9ZREvRQvhFOnkjqKTX5FgBzwIsZ0rnNJCGZMb-LFMdXjI_V5uUpOdPO1AxtkKyU7mCRyjqG7xysQSFWw-n2BCxj3UDRrTP9SB9yX_ovw/s320/IMG_1268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285001992348500514" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqUPsqhxTRx_LLc_0v8iO1xNWDqbLT3OrHxo4Y9St34ofxl7fcuEE-TjDUkodpIuWrru1mdl6ITVPgeZLuSkH-hiwqitwc48y4_VHLrR0CIywBb-bPoOEXNWAtoD7KEX-Cjr5HQ/s1600-h/IMG_1288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqUPsqhxTRx_LLc_0v8iO1xNWDqbLT3OrHxo4Y9St34ofxl7fcuEE-TjDUkodpIuWrru1mdl6ITVPgeZLuSkH-hiwqitwc48y4_VHLrR0CIywBb-bPoOEXNWAtoD7KEX-Cjr5HQ/s320/IMG_1288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285002009632628290" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x9IzfmdMU4vX3kJSGm2Fba3CmXOLdQGuaZYtyKmDQp1pjdQUgf2gPzGGcsgpVga6h0i83bHYRddJUJG4Jiinrh_CwxR3tTAcNFQ9dyOnFBc8Ci0h8B6keadcA1t6lDuMjgyGsg/s1600-h/IMG_1284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_x9IzfmdMU4vX3kJSGm2Fba3CmXOLdQGuaZYtyKmDQp1pjdQUgf2gPzGGcsgpVga6h0i83bHYRddJUJG4Jiinrh_CwxR3tTAcNFQ9dyOnFBc8Ci0h8B6keadcA1t6lDuMjgyGsg/s320/IMG_1284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285001997903147570" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xZOnLNMYkTHMQDlHnXhrjN40kh6rbxUiH73E45vne2ctMMoQbTJuSQgj9jnn5J04LAdSWux2MVSeSbMMG_n0dTQehZu1Lf3OG0tLVtTmberYOPNgZH4EHsKkTqcoas83-BkKOw/s1600-h/IMG_1273.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xZOnLNMYkTHMQDlHnXhrjN40kh6rbxUiH73E45vne2ctMMoQbTJuSQgj9jnn5J04LAdSWux2MVSeSbMMG_n0dTQehZu1Lf3OG0tLVtTmberYOPNgZH4EHsKkTqcoas83-BkKOw/s320/IMG_1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285004701978873074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >We spent a few hours preparing for a snow battle that never happened. It's always good to be prepared isn't it?</span>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-22696462456164738632008-12-10T10:04:00.010-05:002008-12-10T11:20:42.205-05:00The Year of Bad News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRC_7jl531ecNOVVbFu5LTbi655UHf514lTTWjdkVLvlADJPpeiUq5G5I0sBxTbp3J_lBBkdHUCoBLJ3WdE7-S71q9qXdXfwfMHQh3ZlhT3ZYepzVsMMgtEReWxRYT3DVysTP/s1600-h/dotsmith.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRC_7jl531ecNOVVbFu5LTbi655UHf514lTTWjdkVLvlADJPpeiUq5G5I0sBxTbp3J_lBBkdHUCoBLJ3WdE7-S71q9qXdXfwfMHQh3ZlhT3ZYepzVsMMgtEReWxRYT3DVysTP/s320/dotsmith.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278191774529009186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This morning we received word that our former neighbor in Raleigh, Dot Smith, passed away yesterday. This marks yet another death in our lives this year. We stopped counting when the numbers reached 10.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When I bought the house on King Charles in the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.longviewgardens.org/">Longview Gardens neighborhood</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> of Raleigh in June 2004, the first neighbors I met were Dot and Henry Smith. Dot and Henry were a couple in their 80s that you couldn't help but meet; Dot and Henry were outside working in their yard every day. And when they weren't in the yard, they were busy with their children and grandson, delivering meals on wheels, and active in their church and the neighborhood association. Dot and Henry led very full, very rich lives, and were very proud of their family. Dot and Henry built their home in Longview Gardens in 1951 and lived in it ever since.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It wasn't long before I was out in the yard all the time, too, and often worked alongside the Smiths. We helped each other trim trees and bundle yard waste, Dot helped me identify plants in the yard, and they both shared stories about the previous owners and the neighborhood. My favorite stories were about the pony that the Smiths kept in their backyard while their girls were young.<br /><br />As the renovations on my house convened, Henry would pop over every day or so to see what was going on. I took great pride in showing Henry the changes in the house because he seemed to be so proud of the effort I was making. One day Henry showed up with a gift for me: it was a Craftsman hand tool he called a maddox. It is a long handled yard tool with an axe blade on one side and another blade on the other side, turned 90 degrees. He told me it would become the most useful garden tool I owned and he was right. Every time I use it, I think of Henry. In fact, Jon and I just used it a few months ago to grub out gigantic crab apple tree roots here in Boise. I remember saying at the time, "it's a good thing Henry gave me this, huh?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Henry passed away just a few months after Jon moved into the house and Jon too, quickly grew to love the Smiths. I think Henry was pleased to have another tinkering man around. Henry passed away shortly after stubbornly trimming crepe myrtle trees in the front yard...with a chainsaw. I was a wreck at the funeral, but the Smith family was calm and composed because they have a strong religious faith and were secure that Henry was in a good place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I truly loved Dot and Henry. After Henry died, we really looked out for Dot and did whatever we could for her, which wasn't much. She was very capable. Jon would use the weedeater on her trees and bushes because her riding lawn mower didn't get close enough. She let us pick figs and cherries from her fruit trees and we were grateful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dot had an awesome, underutilized four-string </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2006/09/favorite-things.html">clothesline</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in her yard that abutted ours. I asked her if I could use it and she agreed. It wasn't long before she was back to using the clothesline again, and we spent many moments chatting while hanging and folding laundry. Later on, when Dot sold her mother's house to a fantastic family with a gaggle of kids, the Culpeppers used the line too. Even our neighbors <a href="http://www.adventuresintheoakcity.blogspot.com/">Jer and Selina</a> on the other side of us, not even next to Dot, used it. It became the social hub of all our houses. Bored? Check the clothesline. Anyone out there?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dot was busy, but every time we knocked on her door, she always said "come in, come in." At the time we were married, she still owned her mother's house directly behind her own and she let us use it to house seven of our family members for the week. Dot talked often of her mother, which in her Carolina accent she pronounced, "muthuh." I loved to hear her say it. I loved hearing Dot call to us from across her expansive yard.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As Jer said today, "She was an amazing person that just exuded life to everyone she met, if anybody deserves a place in heaven it surely is Ms. Dot."</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-12474871579889283242008-12-02T19:14:00.002-05:002008-12-02T19:16:59.159-05:00Win the Wii!Hello fans, hope all is well. Our fellow blogger has a Christmas Gift giveaway going on. Check out <a href="http://www.losangelista.com/2008/12/los-angelista-giveaway-wii-fit.html">Los Angelista</a> for details, and you might be able to win the Wii! This is not spam, or a joke. It's the real deal and I'm sure the odds are better for you to win it than to buy it this year.<br /><br />Happy commenting!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-52517136240527545932008-11-03T13:57:00.004-05:002008-11-04T08:42:33.782-05:00I've died and gone to Sicily!<span style="font-family: verdana;">Sunday afternoon, Kate and I were deciding on our menu for the week before heading out into the wild blue grocery shopping yonder to gather ingredients. Kate suggested pizza for dinner, of course I loved the idea. If you're like me, you probably think pizza should be it's very own food group. I like all pizza; NY style, thick crust, thin crust, veggie pizza, meat lover's. It just doesn't matter what kind it is. As long as it's called pizza, I'm a fan. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pepperoni and mushroom are my standard pizza toppings, for almost every occasion. The toppings were no different last night, but the pizza was quite different. It set a new standard for which all </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_pizza">Sicilian</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> pizza will be held. The dough was absolutely perfect. It was thick, close to two inches, and soft. Edges golden brown and crunchy, the way crust is meant to be. I'll try to take a picture next time to document the experience. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those of you who have experienced Kate's culinary creations, you know how lucky I am to be spoiled regularly. I'm as thankful as you are jealous! The recipe is top secret, definitely one to request anytime you come to visit.</span>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-32556593638483881462008-10-25T08:22:00.000-05:002008-10-25T09:36:03.571-05:00Roasting Peppers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb2_rhtz9ADcH8Y4gGNzBfKEKClDLVMfphmKNsyx_w1-9RMxD4iW1z1L23sutt1G-dK_tqiqXtX6ZdxdVW38dj3h9amF_Tau05ZEKQWfleNuLMJ8upBFOGbrSChBSBKh1HzZn/s1600-h/Oct+2008+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGb2_rhtz9ADcH8Y4gGNzBfKEKClDLVMfphmKNsyx_w1-9RMxD4iW1z1L23sutt1G-dK_tqiqXtX6ZdxdVW38dj3h9amF_Tau05ZEKQWfleNuLMJ8upBFOGbrSChBSBKh1HzZn/s320/Oct+2008+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260779146907534178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2008/02/something-bad-about-boise.html">too many rounds of bad Mexican food in Boise</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">, I declared this the year of Mexican cooking. To that end, I collected and ordered a variety of Mexican chile pepper seeds that are commonly used in Diana Kennedy's cookbook <u>Mexican Regional Cooking</u>: cascabel, guajillo, anaheim, poblano, jalapeno, and pasilla. Most of the peppers I grew are designed to be used after ripening and drying; I planned to use them for a myriad of tasty meals.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This year's </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2008/10/broken-record.html">first snow</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and thus first freeze came earlier than expected in Boise, while the plants were loaded with green peppers. I harvested early (early in terms of the ripeness of the fruit, not early according to the calendar--next year I will start my seeds in February instead of March) and was left with massive amounts of green peppers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Peppers can be frozen, but I opted to roast them on the grill and then freeze them for added flavor.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJP4gxOmDuFyWHaF-bvILr9ShJjNdQe5nDa4zGxsy6wnq4qrnHEfiyL8URwIPUJYQiNZll5wtudUPiTFKnZUzS6_XJ9K3n-kK_BufNsDdJzSS63UOq2JDJZTdbWwZT61Jy5Gy/s1600-h/Oct+2008+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJP4gxOmDuFyWHaF-bvILr9ShJjNdQe5nDa4zGxsy6wnq4qrnHEfiyL8URwIPUJYQiNZll5wtudUPiTFKnZUzS6_XJ9K3n-kK_BufNsDdJzSS63UOq2JDJZTdbWwZT61Jy5Gy/s320/Oct+2008+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260779130427432530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Poblano peppers roasting on the grill.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Cxe5qrKtbbDsAmDTqKfCZuYq5wTZZ0S56dzGx7JfLBgrIb21VQgtzGoHdhq6rtVwlPtaAcVE1pkYmwuh53-UqI7YVX50tiomVgw-qruMhdOaPOpswOQv77llKibNZMfnl15X/s1600-h/Oct+2008+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Cxe5qrKtbbDsAmDTqKfCZuYq5wTZZ0S56dzGx7JfLBgrIb21VQgtzGoHdhq6rtVwlPtaAcVE1pkYmwuh53-UqI7YVX50tiomVgw-qruMhdOaPOpswOQv77llKibNZMfnl15X/s320/Oct+2008+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260779151026212178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Peeling the charred skins from the roasted peppers. Gloves mandatory, and careful not to wipe your, er, eyes.</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzPQysIJzK9kOmosm8ukviG0WfSctCccYAecgyyd3cIYGWzXETopyS5Me2xQZmjrfWelv6fNY3gsHXZ2QdAxtXjIZKlr6aMXUmoMfY6jKM-pQBdoj4A2lRU2R_FD3UmNeUORq/s1600-h/Oct+2008+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzPQysIJzK9kOmosm8ukviG0WfSctCccYAecgyyd3cIYGWzXETopyS5Me2xQZmjrfWelv6fNY3gsHXZ2QdAxtXjIZKlr6aMXUmoMfY6jKM-pQBdoj4A2lRU2R_FD3UmNeUORq/s320/Oct+2008+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260779156633012466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The finished product.</span></div>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-37767685058285343002008-10-24T11:53:00.004-05:002008-10-24T11:59:46.183-05:00Thank You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRBKBpfD5opz49nTIXTRYB1owpo9dl-YV2U3qs7HqXHPjtGLKukZ1o4DAVUSr-5fjJHbX6VlQEJ0p23LIx65g7ktzq0afMKka8JveifaTSDRvSu-4GTnWHNYKWWs3YVQWu6mL/s1600-h/Oct+2008+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRBKBpfD5opz49nTIXTRYB1owpo9dl-YV2U3qs7HqXHPjtGLKukZ1o4DAVUSr-5fjJHbX6VlQEJ0p23LIx65g7ktzq0afMKka8JveifaTSDRvSu-4GTnWHNYKWWs3YVQWu6mL/s320/Oct+2008+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260765415487683058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of two cards I did for Jon's clinical nursing class to give to the staff of the nursing home in which they worked. The white circles were cut from a letterpress card we received from a friend. I'm all about reusing, especially when it comes to paper and cards. Hopefully, the original artist would be pleased with the reincarnation of their product. </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-75267975456679425122008-10-17T10:49:00.013-05:002008-10-17T12:30:04.138-05:00Found Religion or a Table Rock Hike<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPTOY7ZBKTxix919D_31EziMNMaNM6Lz2SjHlRzIMOTqWxyIT6HedYXuXcWFJOsNyCninJeHKIEYdqezdJ9Yjhqfz1wnZ6Zo1sQlQUWTUtWMGez8a8nGVeNwpehXP-1-u2kfO/s1600-h/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPTOY7ZBKTxix919D_31EziMNMaNM6Lz2SjHlRzIMOTqWxyIT6HedYXuXcWFJOsNyCninJeHKIEYdqezdJ9Yjhqfz1wnZ6Zo1sQlQUWTUtWMGez8a8nGVeNwpehXP-1-u2kfO/s320/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258171272045297026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The full, harvest moon was on Wednesday, so last night a friend and I hiked up to Table Rock to see the sunset and the moonrise. Table Rock is, as it's name implies, a flat outcropping of rock in the foothills surrounding Boise. It provides gorgeous views of the city and I thought it would be magical to see the full moon from that vantage point. Oddly, this geologic wonder also hosts a gigantic white cross that is lit nightly, as well as power transformers and cell phone towers.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKcYMbYzlX9d1y8aMqNQrNYV6Kd7s3Qy2y7NiyUKbuia4-wD63pgWZ6rycBYIk0Sid72v-BMrXk19QAW3_Vkx0pc9Qzquv7h0f8hswsntNAGhl589UmAREGYHoh9dja_sYwXK/s1600-h/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKcYMbYzlX9d1y8aMqNQrNYV6Kd7s3Qy2y7NiyUKbuia4-wD63pgWZ6rycBYIk0Sid72v-BMrXk19QAW3_Vkx0pc9Qzquv7h0f8hswsntNAGhl589UmAREGYHoh9dja_sYwXK/s320/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258172686044547938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Neither Steffani nor I had done the hike before, but we figured we would just start at the bottom and hike the trail to the top. We were chatting and quickly out of breath, so when we came to a crossroads with the Table Rock Trail, we followed it, without looking around to secure our bearings. Turns out we were hiking away from Table Rock. Gah! We backtracked and finally made it up just after sunset.</span> <br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8HNOEOkSKYDRfSdVEcgZIBzE9he36QDjrszxE6XVjuZi19Gem34tso7Qm4n7UOnNqBMMPeIfPplST_fy0ukIux8s5XjxTlsHba0N9cOnykDNz2_ZLH-qfR2DK-Aqm_3Vzt8E/s1600-h/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8HNOEOkSKYDRfSdVEcgZIBzE9he36QDjrszxE6XVjuZi19Gem34tso7Qm4n7UOnNqBMMPeIfPplST_fy0ukIux8s5XjxTlsHba0N9cOnykDNz2_ZLH-qfR2DK-Aqm_3Vzt8E/s320/Table+Rock+Oct+2008+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258172670593727858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were others at the top, including some cars as apparently there is a road that leads to the top in addition to the trail. We waited for the moon as it grew cold, but still no moon. Then a couple drove up in an SUV, rolled their windows down, and serenaded us with merengue music. What a buzz-kill. At that point, we decided to pick our way down in the dark. Neither of us brought lights, thinking the light of the moon would guide us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The vile gigantic cross lit the way at first, but eventually the trail was just plain dark, rocky, and a little sketchy. I admit that "mountain lion bait" was in the back of my mind but I kept this thought to myself. We finally made it to the bottom just after 8:00pm. While on the trail, we saw a two-point buck and six large quail, and then saw a fox across the street from Steffani's house in the heart of Boise. The moon eventually poked it's head above the foothills on the drive home. </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-60318919202551294422008-10-16T11:53:00.011-05:002008-10-16T14:39:50.313-05:00Nancy Cooper's family: Brad killed her<span style="font-family:verdana;">The shock of seeing these words in print caused me to gasp out loud. Not because of any belief or disbelief. I can't explain why, the harsh reality just caught me off-guard.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">During this week, a trial is ongoing for the custody of Nancy and Brad Cooper's children. I have chosen to speak here only about my feelings about Nancy and her death. Even then, it has been infrequent. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the past year and a half I have learned more about grief than I ever wanted, beginning with </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2007/07/bitter-and-sweet-mostly-bitter.html">Leila</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">'s death and now with </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2008/07/shes-gone.html">Nancy</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">'s; both were tragic and sudden. I understand now that loss is a part of life. I am beginning to understand the social norms around death and the way that the grieving are expected to go inward after a period of public mourning. I understand that the ability to do so is to some observers a measure of one's success at coping. I understand that while the grief may churn above or below the surface, it doesn't go away. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For me, reading the published information around Nancy's death and the ensuing legal battles has given me a focus. Without it, I struggled to know where to focus my anger because no one has been charged with her murder. Reading the news stories, watching the depositions, reading the affidavits: all this makes me feel like I am doing something. And lacking a convicted killer, I was hoping to channel my anger at the people who are part of the public commentary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">With the same public information as the commentators but also with personal knowledge of Nancy, Brad, their marriage, and their relationships, I have been unable or unwilling to do anything but witness. I am asked all the time if I think Brad killed Nancy and while I don't mind or resent the question, I say that I don't <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span>, which for some doesn't really answer the question of what I <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span>. But I stand by the fact that I don't have enough information to decide, so in this situation what I know <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>what I think.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nancy's death, the custody case for her children, and the murder investigation have wrenched the local public into attention. I think that is good and right, but sadly, not all attention is positive. I don't know if it is the anonymous nature of the internet (comments are posted with aliases chosen by the commenter) or that access to so much information lulls people into thinking they have <span style="font-weight: bold;">all </span>of the information. Nevertheless, I am astonished at the way in which some people with less information than myself are willing to not only draw conclusions publicly, but also to personally attack Nancy and defame the character, intentions, and intelligence of her family (who I believe have acted with more grace than I thought summonable in this situation). These commenters also presume to know the emotional needs of the Cooper children. Here is a smattering of comments from the WRAL website (commenter's alias in parentheses). Note: To be fair, I should say too that Brad has been subjected to some of the same treatment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"He's the only person I can think of with the motivation and the access," Garry Rentz testified. Your lack of thinking ability is hardly relevent. (haggis basher)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Nancy's parents have the judge, Cary, police dept, etc. in their back pocket..(lilwil)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Ok Parents of Nancy, you know oohhhhh so much more then the Cary Police. Prove it. Stop watching the stupid news. Guess you believe in the 3rd world approach. Guility until proven innocent. (Morrisville)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">just because she told everyone he was a jerk doesnt mean it was true. people say mean things about their spouses when they cant have their way. THE ONLY reason her parents are doing this is to get those kids, WHO need to be with their father (Snow whites poisoned Apple)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I think her family should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, defamation, interfering with an investigation, etc. etc. etc. They are despicable and should not even be allowed to speak to their grandchildren. (tarheelalum)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the Cooper family is also confusing the girls by trying to substitute Nancy's twin sister for their mother. I still can't believe that a judge would take these children away from their daddy and let them be taken out of the country, especially when he is not even considered a person of interest, much less a suspect in the case. (Historians_13th)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The lynching nature of these attacks doesn't make me angry as I expected, so failure in the attempt to use it for my own focus. I don't begrudge people the opportunity to state their opinion, but I do begrudge the stating of one's opinion as fact. The comments defending Brad or the comments saying that he did it don't make me feel good, either. But since I started reading these posts, I am coming to the conclusion that there is enough anger around the subject without my own--and that idea gives me a measure of peace--at least for now.<br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-48531588699317941332008-10-12T09:36:00.006-05:002008-10-12T09:54:24.854-05:00Snowed In<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv6ZkmzTlKBJbBm1BavLDtof7ysTGkjLBMGUZAguXKau4ZNw7zvA1BcYhDjpuhQRrcYz34DAHy6UfItoUsZDzPeGiD5ha1QSuiE4ZWZcjeyjr1fgNhmRZAjPa34_aqF_Rmn1M/s1600-h/WUNIDS_map.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv6ZkmzTlKBJbBm1BavLDtof7ysTGkjLBMGUZAguXKau4ZNw7zvA1BcYhDjpuhQRrcYz34DAHy6UfItoUsZDzPeGiD5ha1QSuiE4ZWZcjeyjr1fgNhmRZAjPa34_aqF_Rmn1M/s320/WUNIDS_map.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256279417078219458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">South-central Montana and is getting hammered by the same storm that brought record-breaking snow to Boise a few days ago. The Clarks Fork Valley is buried under more than two feet of snow and it is predicted to continue snowing today. The <a href="http://www.redlodge.com/webcam">view from the Red Lodge web camera</a> looks pretty socked in.<br /><br />We got a call this morning from the folks that have their cows on our ranch; they are trying to get a vehicle into the ranch to supply feed (hay) to the cows. With this kind of snow cover, the cows won't be able to forage for grass.<br /><br />Carol, one of those ranchers, said that she has never seen a storm like this so early. Heavy, wet, spring-like snow will make getting in <span style="font-style: italic;">and out</span> of our place nearly impossible.<br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08014719413584266766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28792519.post-74082151191942102882008-10-11T13:10:00.007-05:002008-10-12T09:01:16.108-05:00Broken Record!<span style="font-family:verdana;">Yesterday, on October 10th, we experienced the earliest measurable snowfall in Boise, ID. The previous record was October 12th. It was just a few inches of snow, but it was SNOW! I am already in the mood to bust out the snow board. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWi6kI0Ka0MTk5WCVkqTyO21ifd-o0ZRyZHWdm5587Z9da4AqEZfNOuW4SCFIqzQHVIZeiwfa0kShVl8dVtM5HIRNSdbzkn25JBV5jr6VkisFnbdospd-nnJxiY5-pg_bw4zZ4g/s1600-h/IMG_1128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWi6kI0Ka0MTk5WCVkqTyO21ifd-o0ZRyZHWdm5587Z9da4AqEZfNOuW4SCFIqzQHVIZeiwfa0kShVl8dVtM5HIRNSdbzkn25JBV5jr6VkisFnbdospd-nnJxiY5-pg_bw4zZ4g/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255961317027676882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://homesteadharvest.blogspot.com/2008/06/and-then-there-were-three.html">Having grown up on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona</a>, Gus wasn't quite sure what to do with his first snow. Ducking the flakes was unsuccessful, so he decided that hiding under bushes was the best course of action. I hope he likes to snowshoe.</span>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15301821696895686537noreply@blogger.com1