Vacationing at home: Day 2

Yesterday we woke up early, and as Rob took Pippin for his yearly check up and shots, I took my quiz for the on-line Permaculture course I am taking.

Pippin is healthy and happy to be back home. He isn't really fond of vet visits...

And I passed my quiz. All that is left now, is to finish the design I am working on for our home, yard, & garden and turn it in.

We also went down to the True Value Hardware on Hamilton Street to find some jars to store the new flours we ordered. We bought some great canning jars that are 1/2 gallon size - perfect for storing flours and grains! I have all the supplies I need now to start mixing and experimenting with the different gluten-free flours.

All of the flours, Xantham Gum, and Coconut oil

Awesome and very useful jars
Tapioca pearls, Coconut flour, Tapioca Flour, White Rice Flour, Buckwheat
Xanthan Gum, and Coconut Oil

While we were watering the veggie beds, we pulled out one of the Purple Dragon Carrots to see how they are doing... and they are almost ready to can - although I have read that they turn a really interesting shade of brown when they are canned. I guess we'll use those in stews  =)

Purple Carrots have the same anti-oxidants that are in blueberries and are delicious!

    

Vacationing at home: Day 1

Day 1:

Having this week off from working at my job, and the free time it creates - gives me much time to relax. I slept in over the weekend and really rested, and today, when I woke up I found that the projects I wanted to get done are slowly getting started.

The end of Summer creates a long list of things to do to get ready for the winter.  Well, let's be honest about it - I always have a list of projects I am working on. Today all of the different flours I ordered arrived - so the rest of this week will include some new gluten free baking.I also have the measuring tools, etc. that I ordered to work on my Permaculture final of designing our house and land to be sustainable. Once that is done and uploaded, I will be certified in Permaculture.

Today, we took a little vacation trip in Worcester. We went down the hill and caught the bus up to Lincoln Plaza. It's truly a beautiful (almost autumn-like) day and after we got off the bus we browsed around Target, but didn't find anything we needed. We went to Barnes and noble and got a double espresso, bought a movie on sale and a book called Vegetable Literacy that groups plants together by family for growing and cooking.

After the bookstore, we walked over to the grocery store and I found a bread to try with gluten-free ingredients. I want to try the bread so I know if the flavor is something I really want to duplicate by figuring out recipes for gluten-free breads.  We picked up a couple of other things at the grocery store and headed back home on the bus.

What I realized is that when there is no hurry, time slows down so much. Waking up is just waking up, brewing coffee is brewing coffee and it's all enjoyable because time has slowed down. Being rested is the most noticeable difference - oh, and the stress level is non-existent.

When we got home, we relaxed for awhile, and then set up a Bagster to get rid of some broken lamps and an old bed, etc. Nothing that can be salvaged or donated.  The shed is almost empty now, and ready for the firewood we will have delivered for winter. This has been on my mind because it is only August and already heading into the 50's. Autumn seems pretty close right now! We set up the screenhouse to sit in while we are home this week.

After a dinner of delicious leftovers from dinner last night - I planted a new Sage plant and we watered the garden, and it's only 7:00. My natural flow of interests now moves to write, study the Permaculture course and work on my final design.

There is also more than enough time to wash the few dishes we use and do a load of laundry while I study. Time spreads out and is more than enough for everything. If I change my mind and decide to pay guitar or clean the basement - it doesn't matter. When there is time, everything gets done.

It feels like a vacation to wander in bookstores unbridled by any time constraint and let creativity flow in a natural way. By the end of this week the stack of projects - that sit in the back of my mind during a work week - will be done in a relaxed and fun way.

Bagster bag full

Vacationing at Home

Vacation is this week from Saturday the 3rd through Sunday the 11th.

I wasn't really counting Saturday or Sunday for activities and projects, we just had a nice relaxing weekend.

Saturday we went for lunch at the Boynton and then hung out with our friend Bob to watch the final 4 episodes of Season 2 of Game of Thrones. Great company, great show and a great kickoff for the week. Bob just bought a house nearby and it's so cool to have another friend nearby.

Sunday was our 18th Anniversary so we took it easy, no projects or anything. Just a good amount of rest and dinner out at the 111 Chophouse - which was amazing and a fun way to celebrate!

This weekend was fun for me also because I had some sightings of things I haven't seen before in our yard/neighborhood...

I was sitting in the back garden on Saturday morning and a Hummingbird came up to some flowers about 5 feet away from me. It was the first time I have seen one in our yard! They are so amazing.

Saturday night at Bob's we were walking outside to see the yard and the pear tree and after we went in side we looked out the window and saw a wild rabbit hanging out in the yard. Luckily we have not personally seen rabbits in the our garden. It was really neat to see the rabbit roaming around his yard.

Saturday I also heard a different bird song outside the window and looked out to see the Goldfinches on the Sunflowers. This time last year, as the Sunflowers and Jerusalem Artichokes were blooming, the Goldfinches came around. So beautiful!

One decision my husband and I have made is that we really don't need to exchange gifts anymore. I can't think of anything more that I need and we both prefer a nice dinner out together - rather than gifts we don't really need.

Lemon Sorbetto with a special message from the waitstaff