Ruby Sipes

Well it has been a while but life gets busy. So just as we were getting comfortable with our super mild winter... this happened. The snow has melted some and we had some freezing rain overnight. The ice on the car is crazy. This is the layer of ice on top of the snow. The dogs were frolicking in the backyard. Asrtid loves it. Oliver not so much.  I am just looking forward to spring and getting into the garden. Shane has some of the seeds started and we have the bees hive and bees ordered.

Last weekend We were able to get the backyard really squared away. It has a direction if not a completely finished appearance.  It is a very eclectic look.  We recycled alot of the materials in the yard. Planters and fence that existed before. An unsightly tree Shane cut down. We are hoping to get the greenhouse started next weekend. This should use the majority of left over lumber from various projects. We have most of the windows free from craigslist. Still need a door and another window to open. The picture to th e left shows the more or less finish section of the yard. Outdoor dining table. We have already used it more than the one in the house. The sod I layed makes the yard look finished. I worked on weeding the patio.  Oliver didn't understand what I was donig to his space but likes where I put the hammock. He can better survey his lands. I used the branches from the cedar, cherry and alder to make Astrid free zones. She is a digger and can't be trusted good...

We've been working in the garden with all of our free time.  It seems I have a never ending job of digging.  Here's some updated photos.

I think it has been a month but we had a nice weekend and I spent it cleaning up the yard.  I burned alot of the left over scraps from the remodel (3 days of burning), moved a mound of dirt that I dug last year, Shane cut down the alder that he hated, I made a planter out of it, Shane transplanted the blueberries and the apple tree, pruned the cherry tree, mowed the front and back yard.  I know there was more...

I have been working on ways to have healthy ready to eat food for our busy week.  I did what any computer literate person does Internet investigation.  I found information on mason jar cooking. My favorite idea was the chicken pot pie.  I looked at many recipes (mason jar and otherwise), and decided to wing it.  I can't remember the last time I had a pot pie.  I made chicken for Shane and vegan for me. Recipe: Makes 6 Chicken and 6 Vegan wide mouth half pint mason jar pies. Filing: 3 chicken thighs 1.5 c soy curls 1 c celery diced 1 c carrots diced 1 c onion diced 1 leek approx 1/2c chopped 1.5 cans coconut milk 22.5 oz 3 russet potatoes 2 tbls olive oil 2 tbls flour 1 tbls better than boullion no chickn base 1 tbls herbs de provance 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp white pepper Pinch of salt Fresh ground pepper to taste Because I am making this for two different diets I cook the chicken away from everything.  Boil chicken in salted water for 10 to 12 m...

Having spent the last week selfishly eating everything I am going to miss next month/year. I am ready for the juicing to commence. Iambic planning on starting my daily food log, weight, mood, hours of sleep, as well as when I am sleeping. Last time I found while juicing my energy went up and I slept very few hours. FOOD: This is one of the healthier days in 3 months... sad... 3 eggs, fried potatoes, asparagus, green onions, salt and pepper scramble. (Homemade) Small soy pumpkin spiced latte. (Dutch Bros) 1 candycane 3 slices of Shane's apple cake 1 bowl homemade tomato soup w 2 slices of French Batard bread 1 vegetable and cheese pasty from pacific pie co WEIGHT: 208 (really bad but 13lbs less than the start of last year) MOOD:I have been lucky enough to still be pretty positive, generally. SLEEP: I slept 5pm-7pm, got up for a little while and then slept 9pm-7am looks like 12 hours to me. This is not typical was working overnights whither less sleep the 3 days previous. ...

I have a problem and it is called cheese. For the last few months I have ignored my bodies protests to my over consumption of lactose based food products. Paying with physical discomfort, weight gain, and exhaustion. So today Christmas 2012 I am going to start the dairy cleanse by eating a bunch of brie. Ok today is not actually the start it is the end of my indulgence.  Mmm... brie. So starting tomorrow I will be reducing my intake of food in general and starting on January 1st be on a fruit and vegetable based diet. No not vegan. I  am hoping to do a daily documentation of what I am eating/drinking and how it is effecting me. I am really not one for New Years resolutions but a new year is a good starting point for change.