noche vieja

For noche vieja (new year's eve) we had a par-tay at our house. We invited our spanish group and did spanish customs, as well as played games. We played apples to apples, chess, naipes and a mexican bingo called "la loteria" . We even ate the grapes, which is a custom in both Spain and Mexico, to each a grape for each dong of the clock at midnight. It was a great evening of sugar filled bellies and fun times. ¡¡¡Feliz año nuevo!!!

auntie met baby G (baby grace)

My journey up to see baby G was great, the other cars all the way up were sparse, it was sunny (or partially cloudy) and it was a joy. I got up there and held that little bundle of loveliness and visited with my family then I headed out at around 5:30 in the eve. I thought I would never make it home.

All the way from Olympia to Portland we drove in single file down the three lane highway because it was so stormy/snowing/icy that no one could see anything but the lights on the car in front of them and the storm itself. We drove that whole way at a speed around 30 mph the whole way. Sometimes down to 25, others up to 40....insane. It took me 4 hours to get back down to Portland (that usually takes about an hour and a half).

The storm wasn't letting up, and made PDX travel yucky. Finally around Salem/Woodburn it was better....or so I thought. I happily drove and then my car started cutting out...I looked at the gas gauge and I was empty. I ran out of gas. I was thankful to have AAA...but I got a novice who had only been doing it for 2 days. He arrived, without a gas can and therefore had to tow me to a gas station. It took him about 45 minutes to get the car hooked up. I got the gas and was on my way. I am getting really grouchy just thinking about it. So I am going to stop now, after telling you that today, during daylight hours Brad found a brandnew six-inch long crack on the windshield. YAY!! We know the novice AAA guy did it, it wasn't there before that. Okay....lets not think about it right now.

At least baby G was super cute, amazingly sweet and calm and I got to bring her her eggplant hat I had been working on, and a supa-sylin' pair of kickers! Fun stuff.

bungaree renegades

christmas at grandma canfield's casa

good times, just sitting around, eating, enjoying that we were with family

a and I had dueling flashes

you'd never guess it, this was the favourite gift out of all the Christmas gifts this year,
"skulls" we bungarees call them, uncle a's mom sent them for the boys.

knitting for baby girl

I have been really into knitting...I am working on something for the newest addition to our [non-immediate] family, my niece baby girl grace. To me making things for people is not about saving money, or giving people ugly Christmas sweaters that they won't wear. I like knitting because I love giving gifts that are not just last minute thoughts, but things that I have worked on and loved on. I get to see baby girl tomorrow!!! yipEEEEEEEEEE!

ps I will show you what this is after her parents see it....until then don't let your imaginations go wild, just sit tight.

bungaree garden

How does our garden grow?

the juiciness of fresh tomatoesdelight of zucchini
Flower and produce firstfruits
local plant nursery (Garland Nursery in Corvallis, Oregon)
the planting is done, check it out!
what we planted in summer of 2008
licorice root, a dream of mine

Preservation:
100 Foot Challenge and Back 2 the Basics Challenge

them bungaree chickens!!

For those of you who are more interested in chickens, here is some information on what we did...the process, the building, the obtaining of the birds and their care. Don't let anyone fool you, this is a messy job and when the honeymoon phase wears off the chore aspect really kicks in. Still there is something about doing it yourself, using your backyard (or front yard) to raise food for your family.

I am not the conspiracy type, but still....why are we becoming a society of "I have no idea where it comes from and don't care" when it is what we eat!! goodness.

Here is our chicken saga from the beginning:

*the dream of simplification
*checking out different designs for chicken tractors
and the different breeds of chickens
*chicken tractor construction begins!
*obtaining our local birds (partridge rocks)
*chicken tractor complete!!!
*getting and falling in love with our day old chicks
*day trip to get some EE pullets (easter eggers: the ones that lay green, pink and blue)
*our day olds getting bigger
*partridge rocks named!
*moving babies outside into the grass
*the death of a chicken
*our first egg!!!!!!
*chicken pictures: New Hampshire Reds and EEs or Amerucanas
*soaking in the sun
*STAR, my favourite chicken
*Amerucanas FINALLY laying at 31 weeks!! (blue and green eggs!!!)
*chickens and snow
*TONS of eggs!!! (help!?)

bungaree crafting (any craft is crafty enough)

knitting:
granny washcloth/dishcloth pattern
warm cowl/ neck warmer pattern
fruit hat pattern


embroidery:
jesse tree ornaments

bungaree recipes

Simple Meals:
Tomato Bread Pudding
Tortilla Española
egg, tomatoes and homemade bread
Pizza!
Barley lentil (and whatever else) soup
Old Fashioned Sour Dough Pancakes
Dutch Baby or Oven Pancake

baked goods:
(chocolate)zucchini(cake) bread
Danish Braid
Corn Chips
Scones
Dutch Baby or Oven Pancake
Oatmeal Cookies with a Purpose

International Delights:
Samosa (Indian Dumplings) recipe



How to:
Canning: Apple Butter
Cook a Squash