My kitchen smells like Roasted Garlic.
and I LOVE the smell of Roasted Garlic.
My bosses came to dinner last night. J invited them to celebrate their engagement. Good times! I now have a HUGE lasagna for leftovers. One thing I love about dinner parties: all the leftovers. I'll separate it out tonight into containers. That should last us a little while for lunches :)
There really isn't anything new and different going on here. J's working an insane number of hours, but he's happy. I'm getting stuff done around the house, so I'm happy... I finished painting the walls in my office! I still have the floor boards to to finish, and then install shelves and move everything back in. This weekend was supposed to be THE weekend to finish, but a head cold knocked me out for all of Saturday. Literally, I did Nothing on Saturday. I slept and ate, and that was it. Of course, I needed it - but I don't really Like those days. I like being productive and feeling like I've done something. J and I did finish rearranging the basement this weekend. We bought a few posters from the local beer store (AMAZING PLACE), and we didn't have a good spot to hang them. So, we tweaked the bar area of the basement and voila! Poster space! Don't worry though - we did class them up a bit with frames, so the basement doesn't look like a frat house... hahaha!
And my brother is in town for a few days! He's relocating to Cali, so he had a few days of leave and opted to come hang out with his family! Of course, his girlfriend is graduating from school this week - so it helps that she's within driving distance of here... Still - its nice to get to see him for a little while.
Oh!?!?! And can we chat for a minute about the Panthers? I mean - What in the WORLD is going on? I'll admit - I am now willing to have a losing season if it gets us Cower. I'm very frustrated that we traded our 1st round draft pick to San Fran in 2010. Especially since they need a QB almost as much as we do. But I'm glad our OL and DL are strengthening up. I do believe 70% of the issue is coaching. And letting our OL Coach go to Denver!??!?! REALLY!?!?!
Sorry, I'm done. I get very frustrated.
The leaves are changing in Charlotte now... I love rainy summers because the fall leaves have such rich colors after. There is tree outside in our court that has blood red leaves right now - and it sits within the line of sight of a tree with canary yellow leaves. I literally smile every morning when I'm getting into my car because of those trees. I definitely see God in the changing of the seasons.
And in food.
Especially in Roasted Garlic.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The gorilla is off my back...
Hello everyone! I'd apologize for the 10 days between this and the last post, but why? You're over it.
I watched Marley and Me last night, but I left when things started to get bad. I know what happens and would rather not see the end. That's all.
I also watched Gosford Park when I was kicked out of work on Monday. Great movie. Helen Mirren is a genius.
I took a sick day on Friday, and was kicked out of the office on Monday (my boss didn't want to get sick). I came back to work on Tuesday to find my boss had come down with a head cold already. We're a hilarious pair this week.
The farm is coming along nicely. We've laid a clover crop on the land for the winter months to help restore the nitrogen levels in the ground, and to get things started for the spring. Basically, it is a lot easier to get crews out there for leveling, discing, tilling, and the like in September when the weather is nice than in January/February. Now that the clover is down, we just have to get our trellis system ready to be installed (February), order rhizomes (January, for March/April delivery), and put together our pulley system. That's not so bad, especially since we're starting on an acre or so. :)
We'll spend the early spring and summer months designing and building our drying system. Hops grow on bines (like vines, but with one root ball) and look like little green pine cones. Once they're picked, they need to be dried quickly and at a constant temperature... think of a kiln room. The drying and pelleting processes are going to be the hardest part of this endeavor (assuming we can keep downey mildew and crazy pests off the plants) so we're devoting the actual growing season to researching and building a phenomenal and scalable system. By the time harvest season comes around (Late August-October) we'll be ready to go. I'm sure we'll have some inefficiencies the first year or two - it'll take time to work the kinks out - but I'm okay with that. So, if you are thinking about being in the Charlotte area in the coming years during August-October... plan on coming out to the farm to help with the harvest! I'll even make apple cider and some nomzy foods to keep us going!!
We're also looking for a graphic designer to help us with logos and the like. I know a few of you out there are OMG talented, so let me know if you've got some free time and would like to do some discounted work. :) We know a few people in town who also do incredible stuff, but I'm always a fan of utilizing people in my "network." I consider it to be the same as buying local. Other than that, we're actually ahead of the game. Woohoo! Oh, and we do have a name and everything picked out. I'm waiting until we have a website up to release all that: I want to have something to show everyone!
I have to admit: I felt a huge relief when J and I decided that we're moving out to the farm area in 2011. Now, I do LOVE living in the city and being able to hop on public transit, or go to one of a million restaurants, or be a part of a place that buzzes with excitement. But I can't wait to get out of it. This town was significantly smaller when I was a kid, and I miss it. Besides, we won't be that far from CLT. And I'm only going to be 15 minutes away from a major mall and retail area. So yes: we are moving out to a cute neighborhood surrounded by pick-your-own-berries farms and cow pastures... and I can't wait. I'm tired of always being on the go and having some place that I have to be. I want to just be HOME. I want to have a real veggie garden that is actually IN the ground and that produces enough for a summer of fresh foods and canning for the winter. I realize that living out there is not going to be all peaches and daisies. And I realize that I am going to have a bit of an adjustment period. But I've been here for as long as I can remember. I'm 2 freakin' miles from my parents - just 1 zip code away. I need to spread my wings and explore and do something different. Heck, I even went to college in the same city. So, not only is this farm something I want - this move is something I can't wait for. I love my friends, but I know that we'll only be 60 minutes away. I mean, really.... 1 hour is NOT that far. So, yeah.
Sorry for the rant. I just decided that I needed to get it all out there.
I hope you all are well. I'll be back soon with some fun updates - hopefully :)
I watched Marley and Me last night, but I left when things started to get bad. I know what happens and would rather not see the end. That's all.
I also watched Gosford Park when I was kicked out of work on Monday. Great movie. Helen Mirren is a genius.
I took a sick day on Friday, and was kicked out of the office on Monday (my boss didn't want to get sick). I came back to work on Tuesday to find my boss had come down with a head cold already. We're a hilarious pair this week.
The farm is coming along nicely. We've laid a clover crop on the land for the winter months to help restore the nitrogen levels in the ground, and to get things started for the spring. Basically, it is a lot easier to get crews out there for leveling, discing, tilling, and the like in September when the weather is nice than in January/February. Now that the clover is down, we just have to get our trellis system ready to be installed (February), order rhizomes (January, for March/April delivery), and put together our pulley system. That's not so bad, especially since we're starting on an acre or so. :)
We'll spend the early spring and summer months designing and building our drying system. Hops grow on bines (like vines, but with one root ball) and look like little green pine cones. Once they're picked, they need to be dried quickly and at a constant temperature... think of a kiln room. The drying and pelleting processes are going to be the hardest part of this endeavor (assuming we can keep downey mildew and crazy pests off the plants) so we're devoting the actual growing season to researching and building a phenomenal and scalable system. By the time harvest season comes around (Late August-October) we'll be ready to go. I'm sure we'll have some inefficiencies the first year or two - it'll take time to work the kinks out - but I'm okay with that. So, if you are thinking about being in the Charlotte area in the coming years during August-October... plan on coming out to the farm to help with the harvest! I'll even make apple cider and some nomzy foods to keep us going!!
We're also looking for a graphic designer to help us with logos and the like. I know a few of you out there are OMG talented, so let me know if you've got some free time and would like to do some discounted work. :) We know a few people in town who also do incredible stuff, but I'm always a fan of utilizing people in my "network." I consider it to be the same as buying local. Other than that, we're actually ahead of the game. Woohoo! Oh, and we do have a name and everything picked out. I'm waiting until we have a website up to release all that: I want to have something to show everyone!
I have to admit: I felt a huge relief when J and I decided that we're moving out to the farm area in 2011. Now, I do LOVE living in the city and being able to hop on public transit, or go to one of a million restaurants, or be a part of a place that buzzes with excitement. But I can't wait to get out of it. This town was significantly smaller when I was a kid, and I miss it. Besides, we won't be that far from CLT. And I'm only going to be 15 minutes away from a major mall and retail area. So yes: we are moving out to a cute neighborhood surrounded by pick-your-own-berries farms and cow pastures... and I can't wait. I'm tired of always being on the go and having some place that I have to be. I want to just be HOME. I want to have a real veggie garden that is actually IN the ground and that produces enough for a summer of fresh foods and canning for the winter. I realize that living out there is not going to be all peaches and daisies. And I realize that I am going to have a bit of an adjustment period. But I've been here for as long as I can remember. I'm 2 freakin' miles from my parents - just 1 zip code away. I need to spread my wings and explore and do something different. Heck, I even went to college in the same city. So, not only is this farm something I want - this move is something I can't wait for. I love my friends, but I know that we'll only be 60 minutes away. I mean, really.... 1 hour is NOT that far. So, yeah.
Sorry for the rant. I just decided that I needed to get it all out there.
I hope you all are well. I'll be back soon with some fun updates - hopefully :)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
News?
Well hello!
I know, I was totally planning on hopping on the computer yesterday. I'm sorry it didn't happen.
So. J and I are starting a hop farm. I know, it is the most awesome news in the entire world, right? Yeah - it is :)
The land is about an hour outside of Charlotte, so when we do move (2011), it won't be far from where we are now. The neighborhood that we're looking at is super adorable, and with some great people living there.
We'll be starting with an acre this coming spring, and growing slowly from there. We'll probably stop growing around 20 acres, but we'll see when we get there... 20 acres will require some full time help during the growing/harvesting seasons.
That's the big news. Not that exciting to most people, but we can't wait :) More details to come. Right now, I have to nurse a little hangover.
I know, I was totally planning on hopping on the computer yesterday. I'm sorry it didn't happen.
So. J and I are starting a hop farm. I know, it is the most awesome news in the entire world, right? Yeah - it is :)
The land is about an hour outside of Charlotte, so when we do move (2011), it won't be far from where we are now. The neighborhood that we're looking at is super adorable, and with some great people living there.
We'll be starting with an acre this coming spring, and growing slowly from there. We'll probably stop growing around 20 acres, but we'll see when we get there... 20 acres will require some full time help during the growing/harvesting seasons.
That's the big news. Not that exciting to most people, but we can't wait :) More details to come. Right now, I have to nurse a little hangover.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Work Work Work
I have a lot of work to do. I need to finish my office, organize my thoughts and tasks, and get started on other things around the house.
I have been meaning to make a big batch of Arroz con Pollo so I'd have lunch for the week. Did you notice it is Friday? I still haven't made it.
I just can't see to get focused this week! I don't know what my deal is. The good news: I'm going to really sit myself down in my office this weekend and get it together. Seriously. No more excuses and relaxing (although I do need to relax). I really need to get stuff done.
And it is when I really NEED to get stuff done, that I always want to relax.
Happy Friday everyone. I'll be back soon...
Also - happy autumn. The nights are chilly and I need to pack my summer clothes away (for a few weeks... then we'll get hit with an Indian summer). I love this time of year :)
skbw
I have been meaning to make a big batch of Arroz con Pollo so I'd have lunch for the week. Did you notice it is Friday? I still haven't made it.
I just can't see to get focused this week! I don't know what my deal is. The good news: I'm going to really sit myself down in my office this weekend and get it together. Seriously. No more excuses and relaxing (although I do need to relax). I really need to get stuff done.
And it is when I really NEED to get stuff done, that I always want to relax.
Happy Friday everyone. I'll be back soon...
Also - happy autumn. The nights are chilly and I need to pack my summer clothes away (for a few weeks... then we'll get hit with an Indian summer). I love this time of year :)
skbw
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