“You don’t get a field plowed by turning it over in your mind”
I stole that little saying from my friends, B&B’s, refridgerator. I am keeping it in mind as go out today. My daughter, Karen, turned 17 yesterday and we are going out for a girl’s day, complete with manicures (for her) and shopping. You can tell Karen is my girl through and through because she asked to go to the thrift store as opposed to the mall. I’m on the lookout for real things like canning jars, heavy-duty work clothes, cast iron cookwear and large capacity food storage containers. I’ll also be looking for more hand tools. The work begins around here. Ben and Maggie will be home soon and the extra hands will make some put-off projects acheivable. The time has come to stop turning it over in our minds.
We are talking about putting real effort into a farmer’s market stand for those things we can make that don’t require a commercial kitchen to sell. Things like jams and jellies, breads and honey products are all good. I always have it in my mind that my girls need a foot in the informal economy as college is not for them. The earlier they learn the ropes the better.
This a short post as I need to get out the door. Much is going on that will be taking my attention. Our little school is back on the chopping block and only the hard work of parents and staff will keep it open. That means I’m back to having PTO meetings on my agenda. Not my favorite things but necessary even though it won’t affect my kids. It will affect my neighbor’s kids which means I still have a responsibility.
One more thing. My oil press came in. I haven’t seen it yet but my friend Barbara says it looks really well built. Now I have to consider what I can grow to keep me supplied with cooking oil. Sunflowers are high on my list. I can store the raw seeds too. I need to check the shelf life. I know oil must be rotated within a year. It will be so great if I can store a seed that will produce the oil and worry less about shelf-life. Do any of you know about this?
One final thing: If you have a chance to read Sharon Astyk’s post on her Ark story. It’s so good. I can’t wait to get to the next installment.
March 18, 2011 at 10:58 am
There is a little perminent flea market in an old victorian in Cheshire on the way to Adams ( a bit before the light and after Sheds and Stuff)…they have a good selection of things. I found two nice vices there.
Have fun with the girls day out!
March 18, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Just a general prepping observation:
I was demonstrating handspinning with my spinning wheel at a St. Patrick’s fesival last weekend. A lady with a lovely Irish accent came by and said she would LOVE to learn to do that. Another lady said “the day is coming that we’ll HAVE to know how to do that.” The Irish lady said “I know, and it’s comin’ a lot faster than people think!”
People ARE getting the message. I think most are just keeping quiet about it.
March 18, 2011 at 2:23 pm
“I always have it in my mind that my girls need a foot in the informal economy as college is not for them.”
As a special ed teacher, let me say how fabulous it is that you are planning ahead to this degree and with this much realism. Plus, it was beautifully stated, Kathy!
Best,
Diana
March 18, 2011 at 3:35 pm
No comments at all? Everyone must be out doing.
My lunch is over so I have to go back to doing, too.
Hope you and your daughter enjoyed your day.
peace, shamba
March 18, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Just curious about why you say college is not for your girls? Is it philosophical, pragmatic, or religious reasons?
March 18, 2011 at 4:32 pm
No comments showed because I wasn’t here to approve them. We had a great day. Pickings were good at the thrift store and I cold could get very used to pedicures and massaging chairs. My girls have special needs. Phoebe has Cornelia Delange Syndrome and Karen struggles with Touretts Syndrome, OCD and Bipolar disorder. Wondeful girls and we have never regretted our decision to adopt but we need to realistic about what their options are as adults.
March 18, 2011 at 5:01 pm
DebW, thanks for confirming what I’m thinking these days, that more people know about about upcoming changes in our way of life even though they don’t say much out loud.
peace shamba
March 18, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Thanks Kathy. Sorry for being nosy, I guess I haven’t been reading for long enough to have gotten that. I am in awe of moms like you who give children with disabilities a loving home.
March 19, 2011 at 5:32 am
Where do I find the Ark story?
March 19, 2011 at 7:19 am
Go to Sharon’s blog, The Chatelaines Keys. It is the top post. Finding the first installment is a bit harder. Is there a link on the right hand side maybe? Does anybody out there have the link?
March 19, 2011 at 8:25 am
Here is the link to Sharon’s blog http://sharonastyk.com
and here is the link to the first post. I found it by searching her site for Ark, had to keep scrolling
http://sharonastyk.com/2009/10/20/the-ark/
March 19, 2011 at 8:45 am
Thanks Karen. I hope this becomes a real book. It’s really hard for me to read on-line.
March 19, 2011 at 10:43 am
I am very excited today because a new flea market is supposed to be opening in our town. After getting into conversation with a stranger at the store, about the price of carrots of all things, she told me that the new market will have vegetables. So, I’m quite excited. Hoping to squeeze in a thrift store or two whilst out
.
March 19, 2011 at 2:37 pm
Hallo Kathy ,
I love your blog. It is very informative. May I ask what brand your oil-press is?
Thanks
Sabine
March 19, 2011 at 3:27 pm
I’ll let you know after it’s delivered tonight.
March 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Kathy, You asked to be informed if we heard of any pending price hikes. I saw on CNN early this morning that the price of shoes and disposable diapers were going up. Many shoes have soles made of petrolium products.
Those who use resuable diapers for infants probably already know the cost of fabric for making reusable diapers is going even higher than it already has. I thought there might be some readers who care for a bed bound adult (and use diapers for their care) that will be affected by the costs. This may possibly mean a price hike on feminine pads will soon follow since they are essentially made of the same materials.
Also I heard that the price and availability of onions may change soon due to a failure of many onion crops in India. I haven’t been able to confirm this about onions yet.
March 20, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Anita. I saw that about shoes and diapers but not about onions. Onions from India!!!! Go figure.
March 21, 2011 at 10:56 am
Kathy, Onions are the most used item in cooking in India. Onions are used even in deserts. Or so I was told. A shortage of onions there means they will be importing more from us which translate to higher prices.
March 21, 2011 at 11:08 am
Off to count my onions.
March 23, 2011 at 3:34 pm
HAD LUCK WITH ONIONS, GARLIC, POTATOES AND GRAPES, RASPBERRIES AND BLUEBERRYS IN SUBURBAN NYC………….
March 23, 2011 at 3:35 pm
FORGOT THE OLD NYC STANDBY OF TOMATOES, LETTUCE, BEANS………PERSONALLY NO LUCK WITH CORN……