RESOLUTIONS.
I've seen stats that say anywhere from 50-80% of resolutions are broken by the end of January. That's pretty significant––significant enough to think maybe everyone's first resolution should be to keep their resolutions. So I'll start there - that Hannah and I are serious about our resolutions this year... even if one of mine is actually to be a little less serious.I resolve to be less serious (meaning, less knee-jerk reactions and opinions; to seek more perspective), to be more engaged in conversation and work, and to cook more diversely. I cook every day, but Ive always been perfectly content to simply cook the same basic meal––a starch, a protein, a vegetable––and I'd like to change that. I'd like to have more recipes for the blog, and for our family. I'd like to use more spices and more involved preparations. Ok, and while I was sick recently I was inspired by a movie we found on Netflix––Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle––about a Korean family's struggle to keep their restaurant alive amidst a country-wide kimchi competition... and their food looked amazing. (Full disclosure, we have not seen Le Grand Chef 1.)Hannah says she's going to paint more and focus more on her artwork in general - we have lots of exciting projects and products in the works! She wants to keep progressing with her knitting and maybe even shear a scraggly Bugtussle Farm sheep so she can start to practice spinning. She wants to master the art of baking bread in the wood cook stove, expand her bee hives, and have a more POSITIVE attitude.As a team, obviously starting the new farm and finishing the cabin will be our biggest focuses for 2013, but there's no need for a resolution there––those are goals, and ones we're thrilled to be able to have! We do resolve to maintain the blog, though––it's been such a great source of inspiration, motivation and support for us we don't want it to get left behind!So thank you all for helping us survive a lively 2012, and here's to an even better 2013! Happy New Year!- Jesse.
THE LUXURY OF CITRUS.
Since coming back from our holiday break, Jesse has been a bit under the weather. He hasn't had a lot of appetite - but has been craving fresh juice.We don't normally buy things like oranges - simply because we try to only buy local and in season - but we have been stocking up this week. It is quite a luxury for us to enjoy a treat like citrus - which is one of the best things about eating the way we do. It is a lovely life when something like an orange or a banana or a simple trip to the movies is something special. I hope we never take these things for granted.HAVING SAID ALL THAT - we do have a bit of a dream to grow our own citrus some day! While you may have never heard of Kentucky oranges, there is a variety - called Trifoliate Orange (or Flying Dragon) - that grows in more northern climates. We plan on buying some plants from Hidden Springs Nursery (where we bought our blueberry plants and fig trees in October). Also, our friends Paul and Alison of Au Naturel Farm have given us hope in our citrus ambitions - they've had success growing oranges, lemons and limes in their high tunnels. If they can do it in Bowling Green, then surely it is possible in Bugtussle! Now if I can just figure out how to grow an avocado tree....- Hannah.