Trip and Climb

It has taken some time, but I’m back! The post-vacation vacation is officially over, and it’s back the the grindstone for me. The garden mostly survived my absence, leaving me with lots of arugula and nothing to go with it…the hens are still happily laying, and there still hasn’t been any rain to speak of. I have seeds piling up for planting, but am waiting for rain to minimize watering and wastage. The peppers, tomatillos, and zuchinni are bravely soldiering through the drought – with a good bit of assistance – and are flowering but not yet bearing.

The “big” piece of progress on the Nid this week was a “real” ladder to the loft, a simple wood ladder crafted from 2×4’s with 2×6 steps. A pretty basic carpentry project, made ever-so-easy with a router to cut the joints. Having the rungs set into the uprights removes all stress from the fastenings, creating a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing piece. Beats the aluminium step-ladder of the past year, at any rate!

The culinary quest of the week was Mofongo, a ridiculously tasty dish commonly found in Puerto Rico; fried (or boiled) plantains mashed with olive oil and raw garlic, filled or topped with roast pork, steak, or baccalou (codfish). Heavy, filling, and delicious. In my first attempt, I definitely over-cooked the plantains, leaving them crisp, dry, and less-than-mashable, so while the flavours were good, there was much to be desired in the textural plain. Great excuse for further experimentation! I do not take photos of the less-than-perfect.

So, Puerto Rico. I was obviously inspired by the food (that’s most of the point of traveling), but also spent a great deal of time completely lost, driving winding mountain roads seemingly to nowhere, and coming upon startlingly gorgeous views with usually no pull-offs. My days spent wandering the streets of Old San Juan were pleasant, though I quickly discovered that once you’ve walked around the entire (tiny) “city” there’s little to do but eat and drink. Come to think of it, I’ve found the same thing in the cities that I’ve lived in…

Back to St Croix…life goes on, and so does the baking! This week the special will be our signature Artisan Foccaccia with rosemary and sea salt for $10. There should also be something banana on the menu if you drop by our roadside stand on Wednesday, 2:30-6:30pm.

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