Independence Days – Weeks 23, 24 & 25 November 2, 2009

Three weeks on one post… sheesh!  Things have been crazy for me the last three weeks.  Rick has, of course, been hunting which has left me with my hands full with the boys and not a lot of time for sane blog writing.  I’ve also been working on my childbirth educator’s certification, and am very close… this weekend is my workshop, and then I should hopefully be able to take my test and be certified.  Trying not to stress about this, but I am getting down to the wire a bit. 

We did take a trip to the pumpkin patch, which I posted about, but I wanted to make sure you saw the great photos Rach got of my boys… particularly the one of Emmett!  *Swoon!  Is he not the cutest!??!  Her awesome patch pics start about half-way down the post.  Isn’t she just the craftiest!

Of course this past weekend was jam-packed, what with Halloween and Henry’s big 3rd birthday party at the Colorado Railroad Museum.  We took about 200 photos of the weekend festivities, and Rach was there and caught her own 500 or so!  Check out her latest post… that last pic of Henry is so great!

Then, this morning I woke up to one dead chicken and one chicken missing.  I thought Lavender, our grey chicken, had flown the coop… I saw what I thought was her jump over the back fence.  When I went out to investigate, she was nowhere to be seen and still (as of 7:00pm) has not come home.  Unfortunately, we don’t expect her back, as one of her Rhode Island Red comrades was lying dead (and partially dismembered) in the yard. 

Josie was trying to help herself to chicken for breakfast, but we don’t think it was her that did the killing.  There are fox tracks all over the place and I had only just let Josie (who has never tried to attack the chickens before) outside.  I didn’t hear a ruckus of any kind, and she didn’t have any blood on her.  But you’ll not catch her saying no to a free chicken either.  

We’re a bit bummed on that front, as it means we’re back down to only five.  And oddly (or maybe not so oddly) I’m not too sad about the dead red-head, but I have a bit of heartache about Lavender… this is why you don’t name food.  She was one of the originals, and though she was meanest and leanest, she laid a white egg everyday and was fun to watch. 

So anyway, here’s the dirt on Independence Days.  All in all, not the most successful three weeks since we’ve started this.  Stay tuned for b-day and Halloween pics to come later…

Plant Something –  um, none.

Harvest Something–  Rick successfully harvested a doe!  Eggs from just the young chickens, as the older hens are molting and looking quite pitiful.  A very large bunch of kale (and gave the Spicy Kale and Potato Soup a second – and much more successful- go ’round). 

Preserve Something – venison and elk in the fridge, potatoes to the basement, carrots to the freezer.

Waste Not – I really think we had a big FAIL in this category.  The upright freezer door got left open a crack and we lost a bunch of food in the door.  The stuff in the body of the freezer stayed frozen, since it was full, but we had a mad rush to eat some pork chops and beef remnants.  The rest had to be tossed. 

Want Not/Prep & Storage - nothing new

Build Community Food Systems –  we were able to share a few veggies this past week, but I didn’t get to the last of the farmers markets to get those apples I wanted. 

Eat the Food – mmm I.O.U. some recipes.  Not in the mood to type recipes right now, but I will say that we’ve been eating venison, practically finished the pork completely, enjoyed some tomatoes and chiles for a pot of home made green chile, eating potatoes, and peaches.  We did share a few of our preserves as well… mostly as gifts to my awesome bro-in-law, Dan. 

Thrifty Thursday: Warranties and Repairs October 29, 2009

This tip came to me from Genny, former TTT girl and blogger, and oddly at  a time when my other friend, Jenny, was sharing similar events with me. 

Taking advantage of warranties.  Genny recently had an immersion blender stop working.  But instead of throwing it out and buying a new one, she called the company.  For a small fee they shipped her a new part, and the blender was able to be repaired. 

Jenny’s story: someone had bought her daughter a toy for her birthday.  Jenny didn’t get around to putting batteries in it to properly try it out for a couple of months, when she did, she discovered that it didn’t work.    She tried to take it back to the store with the gift receipt she had, but too much time had passed and the store would not take it, and it was no longer stocked there.  They told her to contact the manufacturer.  When she did, the manufacturer (Hasbro) agreed to send her a new toy.  She expressed her that it was a defect in the toy (since the store no longer carried it), and Hasbro agreed to send a similarly valued toy for the appropriate age of her daughter.  At no charge.  She did not have to send anything to them, or pay any shipping. 

And as I write this I realize that I’ve had similar experiences myself.  Once with a part for my pressure cooker, and once I broke one of the crystals on my chandelier in my bedroom.  Both times the makers sent me the pieces I needed for little or no charge. 

So a great way to save money – contact your manufacturers, save those warranties, and make those repairs.  Much less expensive than buying new!

Handmade Christmas October 24, 2009

Can I just say that I am so over Christmas.  Not the holiday itself, but I’m over the tons of money spent and agonizing over gifts and superfluous presents that are really simply filler because of the ridiculous pressure of I- have-to-because-they-got-me-something. 

Last year was by far the worst Christmas for me in this department.  I am quite happy with what Rick and I and Santa got for Henry, but aside from that…. it kinda stunk.  Henry got so many presents that I could not remember who gave him what, mainly from Rick’s family. 

We actually went into debt to buy gifts, and Rick and I did not give each other anything.   Thankfully, my family runs much more low-key. They are older and tend to value the time together -and the food- more than the presents.  But it just isn’t enough.  We will never go into debt for Christmas again.  And we’ll never skip giving our spouse a gift again either. 

This year we are proposing drawing names to Rick’s side of the family, for the extended relatives (as it stands, we buy gifts for all the aunts and great aunts, uncles and cousins, grandparents and great grandparents, and it’s really too much).  But whether or not the idea gets vetoed, we will be giving hand-made gifts this year.

This summer we made a few things here and there, but now that we’re deep into October, it’s time to get serious.  I went to the fabric store twice this week to get pieces I needed for gifts.  We’re not being strict about hand-made Christmas… we can give store-bought items too, but it’s a goal.  We are going to try to make, sew, cook, bake or otherwise hand make the majority of the presents we give this year. 

I’m quite excited about it.  It’s inspiring some of that long-lost creativity I used to have, and I’m actually excited about the gifts we’re giving this year (as opposed to last year when I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge).  I’ll try to keep you updated on the gift making progress as much as I can (some of my readers are receiving the gifts though, so I might have to be vague).  But expect a full report at the end of the year after the gifts have been received. 

Here’s a blog I ran across (actually my friend Annie linked up), and it was quite inspiring too.  What about you?  Do you make anything for Christmas gifts?

Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting… October 18, 2009

I love fall and all that comes with it, but why does it all have to come at once?  Henry, Emmett and I joined some friends at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield pumpkin patch and festival today.  Rick was hunting in Kremmling.  He always seems to miss the trip to the pumpkin patch.  Thankfully, both of these major fall events were successful so far:  Rick got a doe today and Henry picked just the pumpkin he was after, one about two and a half inches in diameter! 

   

 

    

Here are the pictures I gathered today, which weren’t many.  I was sort of lamenting not sending the camera with Rick, but I think I’ll have him take it up next weekend with him.  He still has two elk tags to fill, and we will *only* be pumpkin carving. I love the fall.

Otherwise this weekend, I’ve caught up on some reading, and Henry and I have been trying to do some fun things, like pizza and root beer and a movie on Friday, and a new board game tonight.  Tomorrow I plan on making a big pot of green chile and then I will have to head up the mountain to bring the mighty hunter and his meat home.  Henry will love this, since he loves driving in the mountains. 

Henry’s also missing Rick terribly (so am I, and it’s only a weekend… I’m such a wimp!).  I was so thankful for Rich at the pumpkin patch, who took him all around to find that perfect pumpkin.   Today he also was playing with one of his stacking cups, tooting into it, making a perfect imitation of Rick’s duck call.  Rick will be so proud of his mini-hunter son. 

Independence Days – Weeks 21 & 22 October 12, 2009

Wow twenty-two weeks at Sharon’s Independence Days already.  It’s been fun and eye opening to track all these little baby steps each week and see how they are adding up. 

We had the first frost of the year last week and therefore had a mass exodus of produce from the garden.  5 gallon size bags filled with tomatoes went into the freezer and lots of winter squash went down to the basement for storage.  There is a lot of damaged squash that we’ll be cooking up this coming week, turning it into puree for soups and bread recipes. 

Look at the last of the garden goodies:

That of course doesn’t count the spinach, radishes, chard and kale that is still growing despite the weather.  I don’t think that the beets or lettuces pulled through though.  Next year we will have to put in those for winter a bit earlier so they can get better established.    Also, the potted herbs I brought home a few weeks ago bit the dust, besides the rosemary, which seems hardier and possibly strong enough to survive my kitchen gardening “techniques.”

Also, after the awesome compost class that Rick and I took in September, we’ve been working on the big compost remodel… first moving the chicken coop, then deciding on a plan for the space then collecting materials.  Rick was able to dig up some pallets from his work, so the biggest part of the bins will have cost us nothing.  Yay! 

So down to the nitty gritty:

Plant Something –  none

Harvest Something –  all the acorn squash & butternut squash, the pumpkins, all the tomatoes & zucchini.  Eggs.  Also Rick & Henry got a dusky (blue) grouse, and Rick brought home a mallard drake as well. 

Preserve Something –  Potatoes and winter squash to basement, froze tomatoes, froze the duck and a second grouse that Rick’s uncle gave us, made a double batch of curried carrot-leek soup for the freezer.

Waste Not – Lots of “new” clothes for me from my sistah.  Rick brought home some pallets from work to use to build our new compost bins. Also traded a large propane tank for a smaller one that will fit our gas grill. 

Want Not/Prep & Storage - besides items added to freezer, nothing to add to this category.

Build Community Food Systems –  posted on craigslist for the Englewood Farmer’s Market.  Ordered the hog that we’re splitting with friends.  Checked out another market in Littleton, will be going back to get apples this coming week… refrained from buying honeycrisp apples brought in from Washington at Costco for only $0.50/lb, even though the Colorado ones are $2.20/lb at the farmer’s market.

Eat the Food – ate the grouse, used some frozen peaches for a tart (yum!), butternut squash, spaghetti squash, zucchini bread, pickles (they turned out!  Yay!), potato soup, potato-leek quiche… lots of yummy things these last two weeks.  Here’s an old Field & Stream recipe for awesome duck breasts:

Doug’s Grilled Duck Breasts
Marinade for 4-6 duck breast halves:
1 T olive oil
2-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 T fresh sage, chopped
2 T fresh parsley, chopped
6 oz teriyaki sauce
1 oz +/- Jack Daniel’s
salt & pepper to taste

Place duck and marinade into a ziplock bag in refrigerator and marinade for 2-4 hours.  Heat charcoal grill.  Place duck breasts on grill when flame has died and coals are hot.  Cook for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes on each side until rare or medium rare.  Let rest 1 minute.  Serve.

*note that duck is a red meat (not like chicken), and can safely (and deliciously) be eaten rare.

Thrifty Thursday: Eating-Out for Less October 8, 2009

Ever heard of Restaurant.com?  This is a great little site that has reviews, menus, websites and makes reservations for all kinds of different local restaurants in every city.  But the best part of the site is this:  you can buy a $25 or $50 gift certificate for only $10-25 bucks!  That’s right… Pay ten bucks, get a $25 gift certificate to eat out.  This is a great way to try new local places, and save some dough doing it. 

Why not buy a gift certificate or two on pay day to save for later on in the month for a date night with the hubby or as a gift for a friend.    Yum!  I love ways to get treats (like eating out) for less!

Wordless Wednesday: Dusky (Blue) Grouse October 7, 2009

Click images for best view…

    

  

 

Buy Local/Eat Local and the Big-Box Ban of 2009 October 4, 2009

Last Tuesday marks four months since we last made a purchase from Wal-Mart.  We can’t yet say the same about Target or Costco or some other big-box chain stores.  But it’s a start.

About a month ago, we watched “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price” (good flick, check it out).  Many people know the reasons we should avoid shopping at big-box chains; artificially low-prices, low wages and benefits for workers, killing local businesses, but I was surprised to learn about other concerns such as global economies, surrounding property values, and environmental impacts. 

Wal-Mart isn’t the only culprit when it comes to these issues, but they are among (if not THE) worst.

To us, it seemed like the next logical step in our lifestyle changes… buy local means buy local, right?  So we should avoid buying products from national big-box chain stores that don’t support local business owners, and often don’t stock any products even made in the USA. 

But it gets tricky.  I mean where do you find alternatives?  And with the box store’s buying power, they really DO have lower prices, so will I have to pay more?  Well, there are alternatives, and yes, you might likely pay a bit more.  But you can be comforted knowing your extra few pennies or dollars went to support a local business or family, not line the overly large pockets of the Walton family. 

Here is the list of store Rick and I are avoiding:
-Wal-Mart & Sam’s Club
-Target
-Home Depot & Lowes
-Sports Authority & Dick’s
-JoAnn’s, Michael’s & Hobby Lobby

So where can you shop instead?  Well, we recently got canning supplies, pieces to repair the sprinkler system, a yellow jacket trap and a shower organizer at A&A Tradin’ Post, a local hardware store.  Instead of getting bike accessories/locks/inner tubes/helmets at Sports Authority, we shop at Treads, Arapahoe Cyclery or Campus Cycles.  I get fabric from Denver Fabrics and scrap booking supplies from locals as well (though I have to find a new store since Scrapbook Destination closed down ). 

I wanted to add Costco to the “do not shop” list as well, but we are still taking advantage of our membership there at the moment.  Though I do hope that we can eventually eliminate that as well, we just need a local store that stocks organic cane sugar in large quantities for canning season.  We generally avoid King Soopers and Safeway in favor of the slightly more local Sunflower Market to buy our milk and grains (and we usually buy Colorado products over organics), and try to grow/CSA/farmer’s market all the rest. 

What about restaurants?  There are so many great local places to eat instead of typical chain restaurants.  And the food is almost always, fresher, tastier and prepared to order.  Instead of ordering from Pizza Hut or Papa John’s, try that little pizzeria (we recently ordered from Frank the Pizza King here in Englewood, and often miss Sal’s up in Thornton).  Instead of Panda Express, spend a few extra bucks at Heaven Dragon (our fave!).  Don’t get steak at Lone Star or Outback when you can try Bastien’s Steakhouse or The Capital Grill.  Why eat at Old Chicago, Chiles or Applebees when you can get better eats at Pearl Street Grill, Wash Park Grill or The Hornet.  Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill can’t hold a candle to Undici down the street.  And Mile High Coffee (or Stella’s or Kaladi Bros.) brews a tastier and less expensive cup-o-joe than Starbuck’s ever could.  And seriously, I-HOP can NOT compare to Toast or even The Breakfast Queen.

These are, of course, baby steps in supporting the local movement.  And it does take some extra effort.  Sometimes we do without for a while until I can locate a local source for what it is we’re looking for (I want some storage tubs, but I don’t want to get them from Wal-Mart or Target, for example).  And sometimes we have to come up with creative alternatives (like using repurposed cardboard boxes instead of those tubs).  And, yes, sometimes it costs a bit more.  But I don’t mind paying more than rock-bottom prices, if it means supporting my local economy, neighbors and community.  Do you?

Frugal Friday: Used Books October 2, 2009

Oops – didn’t get his posted intime for Thrifty Thursday, so Frugal Friday it is! 

One big time hobby of mine is reading.  I love to read, and of course the cheapest way to do that is with the library.  But I also love to give, loan, pass-on and collect books.  So for me the best think is buying used books. 

There are a lot of ways to get used books.  Englewood has a few used book stores, and there is also always the web.  Amazon.com has almost any imaginable book, and often times it can be found in “like new” condition for a fraction of the cover price.  BarnesandNoble.com has this feature too. 

I usually try to catch the library’s used book sale as well, but my favorite place to get used books is Goodwill (and ARC, DAV, etc.).  Though you may have to do some searching, at Goodwill, the paperbacks are always $.99 and hardcovers are $1.99, unless you go on a day where their colored tag is 50% off. 

Off the top of my head, I can think of more than twenty books that I’ve paid less than $2.00 for.  Some have been quick paperback reads that I have passed on to others, some have been parenting books, hiking guides, or books I’ve needed to complete my childbirth education certification.  I’ve gotten a few novels for Rick and even books as a gift. 

I belong to a book exchange club where every month you pass on a book you’ve enjoyed to another club member.  It great because I get to read a new book each month that I know a friend has enjoyed.  And because I have a great stash of books, I don’t mind the minor investment of passing on a book I bought at the Goodwill (plus I get to keep in touch with friends -some in other states even- in a different and creative way). 

Used books are such a great way to save money and build your reading library.  Books have so much life in them!

Independence Days – Week 20 September 28, 2009

Not much to add this week.  We had a fun weekend, but not a lot of it was spent with food.  We went to a new friend’s home for dinner on Friday night (we met through the Urban Homesteader meetup group).  They are actually neighbors, and we had a wonderful time talking natural parenting, homebirth, food, gardens. 

They are restoring their 1925 home to orignal condition as much as possible.  It was so cool to see what they’ve done and to imagine what the home was like back when it was owned by a Madam!  How cool that they know the history and are working to preserve it! We swapped recipes and pediatrician names.  I’m happy to have neighbors who are as crazy as us!

We also went to the botanic gardens (on Saturday) to see the Jurassic Gardens exhibit.  Henry liked seeing the dinosaurs and the weather was just perfect. 

We wrapped up the weekend on Sunday with the cheesemaking class, and that was really fun.  I made another batch of addicting and horribly bad for you chocolate chip cookies, and we roasted the last pie pumpkins we had.  (Only have big ones left now).  Besides a few tomatoes, we mostly stayed out of the garden this week… (unusual for us lately). 

Here’s the rundown on what we did do:

Plant Something –  none

Harvest Something–  tomatoes, zucchini, eggs, pie pumpkins at the farm

Preserve Something –  Froze tomatoes, made pumpkin butter, froze pumpkin puree, toasted pumpkin seeds…

Waste Not – I took advantage of the extra “damaged” pumpkins that were not good enough to put into shares from the farm.  These would have otherwise gone to waste.   We also saved the whey from the cheesemaking class… some for the chickens, and some for our friends who use it for grains. 

Want Not/Prep & Storage - nothing to add this week.

Build Community Food Systems –   I hosted a cheesemaking class in our home on Sunday.  It was cool to learn how easy it can be, plus, I got to meet a few more ‘Urban Homesteaders’ from the meetup group. 

Eat the Food – mmm… we opened the dill pickles we made earlier this summer…. YUM!  I’m so glad they turned out well, since we have quite a few quarts of them! 

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds:  Rinse seeds and spread on a kitchen towel to dry most of the way.  Mix 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp sugar.  Spread the seeds on a baking sheet, and sprinkle spice mixture over them.  Stir the seeds to make sure they are all covered with the spices.  Place in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Stir the seeds and roast another 10 minutes.  Check them frequently so they don’t burn.