Thursday, April 30, 2009

Yummy

This is my new favorite blog.
http://scanwiches.com/

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Zip-lock of Destiny

This story started about a year and a half ago when Ian brought over a whole squid to add to the grilling surplus at Bronwen’s first birthday party. At the end of the party he left at our house a large zip-lock bag filled with squid for future use. I promptly threw it into the abyss that is the freezer and never saw it again until last Friday when, while digging around for something to defrost for dinner I happened upon a rock solid, frozen bag of squid.

“Do you think I should throw this out?” I asked Dan.

He scowled at me, so I walked out to the garbage bin and tossed it in and promptly forgot it.

The next weekend some friends came over for dinner and kept complaining about the stink coming from the garbage bin.

“Yeah, we forgot to take it out last week,” I apologized, not even thinking the bag of squid could have anything to do with it.

Yesterday as I was wheeling in the garbage bin I was perturbed to discover that the bin, although recently emptied, still reeked. I lifted the lid and saw a scrunched-up zip-lock bag at the bottom of the bin. I reached in to pull it out for closer inspection. That is when I realized that I was standing in the middle of my driveway with a zip-lock bag full of swollen wriggling maggots.

Disgusted, I dropped the bag back into the bin and continued dragging it towards its storage place. The stink was even worse when I parked it, and as my flip flop slipped and my barefoot squished into rotting squid flesh that had somehow ended up on the ground behind the garbage I had the sickening realization that I would never be able to eat squid again.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Shoeless Shiitake

Kickball started out on the wrong foot this evening. As I stepped out of my car to walk down to the field, I realized that the reason I felt so comfortable was that I was wearing my flip flops. With only ten minutes to the start of the game, and no one to fill in for me, (we'd have to forfeit if I couldn’t play) I whipped out my cell phone and rang Dan with an urgency of one trying to make the deadline on tax day at the post office.

“Dan, get my sneakers, socks, no it doesn’t matter what kind, and get over here as fast as you can!”

I waited in the parking lot, counting down the seconds. As I saw my coach climbing the stairs to look for me, Dan finally did a drive by and tossed my socks and sneakers out the sunroof. I grabbed and ran.

It wasn’t until I was standing in the dugout flinging my flip flops, keys, cell phone, and water bottle on the ground and scrambling to get my damn shoes and socks on that I realized that the both teams were on the field watching and waiting for me so we could start the game.

Fortunately, thing improved from there. I got on based every kick, and despite a number of errors on our part we came away with a 9-3 win over the Fighting Christians.

Go Shittake Kickers!

Urban Farming

I spent the day yesterday planting and I am exceedingly impressed with the results. Here is what I planted: tomatoes (5 different types), peppers (5 different types), eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, peas, string beans, carrots, zucchini, herbs (mint, cilantro, basil, dill, parsley). I also planted peonies, coreopsis, and other flowers. I am very pleased with my little urban farm. Next comes the goat!

As I was huffing and puffing away I imagined the day when I would cook up an omelet with peppers, tomatoes, and herbs, and slices of fresh watermelon for dessert. It is immensely satisfying to be able to produce you own food and I can’t wait to start reaping the benefits.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Chickens Have Arrived

I was nervous when we pulled into the parking lot of the Farmers Feed and Seed in Kernersville NC. I was sure I would be ejected as a farm ignorant city dweller, that the people working there would snigger at my questions about chickens, and that I would generally embarrass myself. No body made fun of us and the staff at the feed and seed store was wonderful.

We first considered the chicks in the back warehouse. There were little white chicks and fluorescent orange ones. Both required time under a heat lamp as they were too young to live directly outside yet. Dan didn’t want the hassle of the heat lamp and all that, and I agreed, so another gentleman walked us across the street to a fenced in area behind an old store front. This fenced in area was lined with hnadmade rabbit cages filled with tiny bunnies, and at the far end I could see chickens milling around inside a large coop. My initial nervousness on entering the store was nothing compared to the way my stomach sank when the gentleman helping us opened the rickety coop and I spotted the largest chickens I have ever seen. (I am pretty sure I have never seen chickens up close before, so it is hard to say how these chickens really compare to all chicken breeds.)

I almost called it quits right there. What the hell am I supposed to do with one of those monsters? Bronwen kept sticking her head in the cage and I was afraid they would peck her eyes out. The guy helping us started on his chicken education spiel. He grabbed a dark red hen and with fingers under each wing he flipped her over to show us her “vent” which he said we needed to periodically check for lice.

“Oh, she’ll lay in the next two weeks,” he informed us and went on to describe how he could tell. The rest of the conversation was a blur.

We ended picking out two pullets (young chickens that are older than chicks but not fully mature) instead of four as I was convinced the monsters wouldn’t fit into the coop we designed, stuffed them into a very small box, picked out the rest of our supplies and headed back to Greensboro.

Harmony and Cordelia explore their new home


Back at the house, the chickens seemed instantly at home, pecking at worms and rolling in the dust. I forced myself to hold them for a bit to reduce my fear. They’re not so bad. After the initial shock and having had some time to watch them act like chickens I have decided that they are really quite cool; little dinosaurs walking around in the backyard.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Urban Chickens

So the chickens have kind of become an obsession. I find myself thinking about, talking about, or planning for the chickens pretty much everyday. I think I am starting to get burned out.

We finished building the chicken run this weekend and as of this very moment we are ready for chickens to inhabit the home we have created. There are a few more security measures that we need to take care of as I have seen foxes in the neighborhood and friends more familiar with chicken rearing have suggested some upgrades, like a secure coop door for nights.

The Todd Coop

I am looking forward to finally getting our little chicks and seeing what this chicken world is all about. I have read so much about the Urban Chicken movement; I am wondering if it really is all it’s cracked up to be.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Fort Lauderdale Airport

The Fort Lauderdale airport is deceptively small. When I arrived it seemed that the terminal was only slightly larger than the Greensboro airport. The short walk to the baggage claim was clean and the signs were easy to follow. The baggage claim was manageable, and it only took a few minutes to get our bags. It wasn’t until I was on the rental car shuttle bus, driving past terminals 2, 3, and 4 that I realized that my initial assessment of the airports size was wrong. It is quite large; the outside of the terminals reminded me of the LAX.

My return to the airport was far more exciting than the arrival two days prior. I returned my thoroughly trash filled car and followed the signs to the airport shuttles. I hopped aboard the “Port Everglades” bus, shoved my luggage on the storage shelves and sat down, feeling very satisfied with myself and my superior travel skills.

It wasn’t until the shuttle bus was leaving the airport that I realized I had gotten on the wrong bus, which is funny, because all of the signs were there way before the moment we left. Like when the bus driver shouted “Masadam is first,” I should have thought, “What airline is that? That doesn’t sound familiar.” And when we drove right by my terminal I should have thought, “Hey, I needed to stop there.” But I didn’t because I was so proud of myself for being such a great traveler; I just sat back and reveled in my accomplishments. The reveling stopped as we pulled into the docks in front of the first cruise ship.

We stopped at three cruise ships before we turned around to head back to the airport. It took about 45 minutes from the time I got on the bus to the time I was returned to the Avis Rental Car center (the driver wouldn’t take me directly to the terminal, even though I begged him and showed him my nicest smile.) I got onto the right bus, “Terminals,” and made it to the ticket counter and hour after I had arrived.

Fort Lauderdale also has the best airport food. I had a Greek Plate with dolmades, hummus, feta and olives and greek salad. It wasn't cheap ($11.95) but, it was fresh and filling, better than fast food and it was easily portable.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Shiittake Kickers Win First Game of the Season

Shiittake Kickers are back in full force last night as they whopped the Hi-Gravs with a score of 14-5 in the first game of the season . This season there are a few new teams with incredibly fun names like Where My Pitches At and Swift Kick in the Grass. But after two season of inconsistent play, the Shiittake Kickers are looking strong, with a new pitcher, a new coach and renewed desire to win!

Next game is Monday, April 6th. Come cheer us on as we battle the new team Bam!.