We took the train to Portland last weekend, the first Amtrak train trip for both Caitlyn and myself (Ian’s done most of the West Coast by train). I’ve taken trains in Europe, but this was the first non-light-rail train trip in the States for me. And I might just be a train convert. Significantly less stress than flying since there were no airport security tactics and more comfortable than driving. Caitlyn got to play with other kids on the trip down and entertain someone else’s grandmother on the trip home – all while not being strapped into her car seat. …
This has not been an easy couple of days. Our neighborhood homeowners’ association is due to transition away from developer to homeowner control, something that people have been wanting for more than a year. But, in order to do this, we need to elect an all-homeowner board. I’ve been very flattered that so many of my neighbors think I would make a good board member. I’m floored by the number of people who just randomly say, if you run, I’ll vote for you. The last time I ran for anything, I was in junior high, and I lost the election …
We’re signed up for Earth Hour: 60 minutes of lights out to save energy and try to nudge more leaders into taking climate change action. We did this last year and turned off the lights, the music, the entertainment center and most of the computers. I think Ian read by candlelight. I was probably trying to get something done (grr, deadlines) but ran the laptop off the battery. Our brother-in-law went for extremes and threw the main for his house; I’ve got too much stuff in the freezer for that, though. They are looking for 1 billion folks to pledge …
Caitlyn and I, before the end of February, planted a handful of spinach seeds and arugula seeds in one of our raised beds. After watering the seeds, we put a row cover over the bed and anchored it with rocks pilfered from the empty lot on the other side of the alley. I believe it’s snowed twice since then. But when I peeked under the row cover today, I found a small army of tiny arugula plants, all with their first two leaves. The spinach isn’t as dense, but it’s there too. Yipee! We can have new greens to eat, …
Happily, even though they’ve turned the site into a $3/space parking lot, we’ll be getting our local farmers’ market back at the end of April. And this year, I want to get our occasional chicken from the market, from a farmer I can talk to, maybe the guy who carries a three-ring binder with enlarged photos of his chickens getting pasture time. I definitely want to get more market eggs this year, which is probably going to mean two trips to the market, one for the eggs and one for the usual post-market picnic dinner. But back to the chicken. …
I bought 6 potatoes, a leek and a parsnip this afternoon, all of which were grown in Washington. It’s a moment of bittersweet pride. While I’m not absolutely positive, I believe these are the first non-animal (ie, dairy or meat), first non-treat (ie, Christmas oranges) produce items purchased since our local Farmers’ Market closed at the end of last October. We’ve been merrily munching along all winter on produce acquired at said market: dried peppers and carrots, canned tomatoes, frozen zucchini, stored butternut squash. I didn’t buy any potatoes at the end of the market since we had the ones …