being not doing

It’s only been since participating in our CSA plan that I’ve cooked whole chickens. We signed up for the chicken option since we do eat chicken, and I liked knowing that the birds would either come from the farm (laying hens) or from local Mennonites with whom our farmer has an arrangement (roasters). I wasn’t [...]

The impressively happy lavender plant by the front step. Snow-topped garlic chives and ice plant, with aster in the background. It doesn’t snow that frequently here; last year it only snowed once, at about this point in winter. Last year’s winter was hardly cold enough to be called winter, and I fretted that the bacteria [...]

Dear Whole Foods, You bust your unions. You stock Coca-Cola products. You refuse to submit your coffee suppliers for third-party fair-trade certification. Your CEO conceals his identity online in order to pimp his own stores. Do not presume to tell me which ingredients are acceptable in my bath products. Thank you, Me

Quinces from our backyard. One of the best surprises we’ve had as we’ve gotten to know our house and yard was the discovery of quince trees in the rear corner of our neighbor’s yard, along the border between our two properties. Because we are the neighbor to the south, and there are other trees to [...]

Happy New Year, all! Welcome to 2009! 2008 was certainly a full and busy year, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see the backside of it. I’m looking forward to a more steady 12 months; getting married was great, but I wouldn’t want to do it again. Ditto with all the traveling we did; [...]