Snow Days

I apologize for abandoning descriptions of our journeys to growing and raising more of our own food.  Life has been busy, and crazy, and at the same time, routine.

Early in the day, as snow accumulates.

Neighbors.  Guineas.  Problems.  Enough said.

We lost a rooster.  I still don't know why.

Our dog, Hope, still steals the food of our cat, Andromeda, at every chance she can.  Hope now howls when a particular train rolls past with its whistle tooting.  I could do without this quirk, thankyouverymuch.

During our unusually long and bitterly cold cold snaps, I struggled to keep water thawed and clean for the chickens.  We switched to hanging waterers with nipples, which has helped in all but the longest and coldest stretches.  Sometimes I still carry out hot water to pour in basins several times a day.  Tomorrow will likely be one of those days.

Kids and snow!

James is building a mini greenhouse and a meat chicken coop.  Pictures will eventually appear here on the blog!

There has too much illness and death in our extended families and acquaintances.  Perhaps it is our age or our awareness, but I feel a little as though are a collective Job!

God has been good to us.  We have avoided major illness in our immediate family.  We've ordered seeds for the summer garden, and plenty of new fruit bushes and plants to fill the insatiable hunger in our children for fruit.  We are at that time of year in which I will only buy a few fruits from the store as everything else is too expensive or disgusting.

Avalanche off the white whale.

It had been snowing all day.  We have over 6", and the snow is still falling.  Since we need moisture, we are praying for several more inches.  (At least I am.). Today is a snow day.  Tomorrow will be as well.

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Newest Member of the Ranch

I'm hoping James will tell the story himself (SOON!), but until then...

As it always works with James, he:

• needed a trailer for the tractor he was receiving as a birthday present.  Driving down the road on the way to purchase the tractor, he found a trailer that had been set out for sale less than an hour before.  He bought it at a great price.
• went shopping Labor Day weekend.  All tractor stores were closed for a long weekend.  James knocked at the door of his preferred store, was greeted by the owner, and bought a tractor from a closed store.

Awesome.

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

The morning after...

the driveway

tomato damage

smithereens of rainbow swiss chard

pounded cukes

luffa

sweet potato

OUCH!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

Making Homemade Vanilla

Although this won't make a lot of vanilla extract (8 ounces... the recipe has it scaled to 1 gallon of vodka).

In six months, I'll let you know how it tastes!

Until next time, remember, this is not paradise.  It's Purgatory Ranch.

... say a prayer for my godfather, who is on his deathbed.  I was blessed to have a chance to say goodbye to him yesterday.

PR vs. The Bureaucrats

This evening, the cruel gauntlet of Bureaucracy smote the collective soul of Purgatory Ranch a mighty blow.

To spare the technical details, PR is not large enough in Nanny County to build two domiciles. It needs to be rezoned and replatted. This evening, in a glorious 5-0 vote, the Planning Board of Nanny County denied our rezoning request. This is a separate procedure from the replatting request which hasn't been made yet. The rezoning was denied on account of the replatting. Assuredly, if they were considering our platting, they would have denied it based on our rezoning. Confused? Yeah.

Here's what I was reminded: don't ever tell anyone with the government any more than the bare minimum to extricate from their grubby clutches what you and you loved one's need to thrive/survive.

We are back to the drawing table. All bets are off, or on as the case may be. Additional purchasing, conniving, and /or groveling may be in order.

As James remarked, following our bitter denial, evidently God wanted us to tweak our plans. After fuming on the drive home, I have accepted this as true. Fiat! I am now eagerly anticipating the dawning moment when the purpose of this obstacle shall be revealed.

Despite the technocratic rebuff, the trees and potatoes continue to grow, and someone someday shall live in Purgatory. Ranch, that is...

--D