It's just a couple of days until I hit the ground on St Croix! This is an incredibly exciting time, after several months of plotting, planning, and (most of all) waiting. In between expelling the last unwanted items from my Baltimore apartment, I've been drawing out more detailed plans for the house, and continuing research... Continue Reading →
So here's the end product of that recycled-grain bread. It was amazingly delicious with a tangy sourdough taste and a soft gentle texture. Meanwhile, I realized that I've yet to really talk about the property where my upcoming build and related projects will be happening. Oops, huh? Well my apologies, and I hope to clear... Continue Reading →
Baltimore is snowed in today; she doesn't want me to leave. Or for anyone to leave. It provides a great chance to catch up on packing, paperwork, and cooking for the week. Left-over-grain bread is well on its way. That's bread made with left over cooked whole grains, in this case cooked barely, which is... Continue Reading →
I shall ever remember Baltimore, the city where wigs lie in the gutter, disheveled as a small animal, discarded, forgotten. This thing, of momentary fashion, fad, beauty, torn away; what does it reveal beneath? Three weeks, and I shall be leaving. This new life, this different life, this very old life. Is the payment for... Continue Reading →
So here goes my very first cheese making adventure! My heat doesn't work so well, so maintaining a steady temperature when it's only 10deg or so outside is proving to be quite a challenge. For that reason I decided to begin with the most basic farmers soft cheese, just for practice in heating/cooling, and using... Continue Reading →
I spent last week in Ohio, visiting my Grandparents. Of course I had a whole list of things to do whilst there; write a blog post, read two books, do more research on building materials, catch up on letter-writing, and back up my computer, among other things. Of course I got sidetracked on my very... Continue Reading →
As I sit here, writing, it's fifteen degrees outside, with sharp powdery snow being blown hither and yon. Zada (my long suffering, well traveled dog) thinks it's all great fun, but I can't wait to be back in the tropics! The holidays have passed, and now it's time to hit the grindstone again, so as... Continue Reading →
My days are currently spent in the hubbub of the Christmas-time retail world. The evenings are chilly, and it's dark long before I get home. Most days it's hard to re-center my mind, from selling gourmet dog supplies to doing research and laying out plans for low-cost building and agriculture in a distant place. These... Continue Reading →
The journey has begun; even before I shift an inch from my current abode. Mentally, I have already swooped down upon the sunny island of St Croix, to dig and build, to grow and cook, and to seek the harmony of a small, simple, sustainable life. Already, layers of sketches cover every available surface of... Continue Reading →
Nidulari 