This post is more for me than you.  It’s hard to believe 2009 is almost over, yet we were so busy during the twelve months. In January, our kitchen was re-floored and re-insulated.  By the end of the month we installed cabinets, new appliances, and cooked our first meal in the new configuration. February saw a trip to Florida citrus groves and Maple Syrup season in Ohio. In March we built a playhouse for Lil [...]

The Rose Bowl is days away. The Ohio State Buckeyes are playing the Oregon Ducks.  Alex and I are both alumni and football fans.  We are bringing a duck confit dish to a Rose Bowl party to poke fun at the opposing team’s mascot. One of the most common complaints about duck (or goose for that matter) is that the meat is greasy or dry and unpalatable after roasting.  Usually this is a result of [...]

The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association conference will be February 13 – 14, 2009 in Granville Ohio.  I am presenting a workshop about urban edible gardening from 10:35 – 11:30 AM Saturday. The conference website is rich with details including online registration.  Full registration is $90/130 (member/nonmember); a single day is $65/90. A limited number of volunteer scholarships reduce the rate to $50. Keynote speakers are Joel Salatin on Saturday and Ann Cooper on [...]

I am reading happy Xmas posts on other blogs.  All in all I had a good day, but I am feeling a bit cursed. Between celebrations number two and three we stopped home to feed the dogs, drop of gifts, and pick up new ones.  We were headed to my parents and packed up some food to contibute to dinner. About half way through our short journey, I realized I had forgotten Lil’s stocking stuffers.  [...]

The goose was cooked and enjoyed.  Devie watched all proceedings to make sure no bit was wasted.  Look for a post later this week related to the Rose Bowl about how to cook duck and goose. After snuggles and stories, Lil went to bed. Lil’s big present this year is an indoor swing.  We installed it (well, Alex installed and I tested) between the dining room and living room. Yes, I do hope I get [...]

Tastes and smells are a necessary component to memory.  Foods bring us back to a place and time, defining everyday and holiday experiences. At Christmas time, the formal Christmas Eve dinner is that memory maker for me. The last two years we have hosted a meal for friends and family at our house, as we will again this year. The menu varies slightly each year but typically follows an old English style. Dishes are always [...]

The first real snow is finally on the ground here in central Ohio. It might be hard to think about summer produce but that’s just what small farmers are doing. Several farmers offering Community Support Agriculture (CSA) shares already have their 2010 signups available.  At least one is offering discounts for those who register and pay before December 31.  Others have deadlines in early 2010. What is so wonderful about giving a CSA membership to [...]