Mud Races, fog layers, ear snippets, and chicken attacks

The cross races in Astoria were lots of fun. I love that Portland keeps the spirit alive. It feels so youthful but is adults from all across the age spectrum who participant, and sling the beer at those not dressed up. N costume was not recognized well by the orator who called him black head (he was a robot), but all of the children understood that he was a robot… his original costume was more obvious but when it impeded his ability to see, we had to modify…

We woke up covered in fog, could not even see across the lot to the other campers.. chilly, but turned into a beautiful day.

When we got home N asked me to cut his hair. It looks very good. There was only a minor mishap, when I swear he turned his head, and well lost a little skin form the top of one of his ear… yuck. He made me finish the hair cut though… but it was challenging after that… not sure he will ask for my hair cutting services again, at least not if he knows what is good for him.

N and I have chickens. We raise them free range and organically and we use their eggs. Now at some point chickens stop making eggs, and you are limited to how many chickens you can have… so what do you do once the chickens are past their egg laying prime..? We had been debating this as ours have stopped laying for a few months now (I hate buying eggs from the grocery store they are not as good). The question is really- do we eat them, let them die, or find them a nice farm to live their duration on (I don’t think most people would take them, but you never know).

Well we were making this decision slowly, figuring there was no rush. Until N went to clip one of the chickens wings (so they cant fly out of the yard where a raccoon will eat them), and it had a heart attack. It just died while he was clipping the wings. So we had to decide right away what exactly we were going do. We have read about dismembering a bird (animal vegetable miracle grazes on it) and so that is what N did. I stayed out of it as I named the thing.

I have for two Thursdays in a row been at shindigs with the elected officials in Portland that involved in sustainability. I am now interning with an organization very much involved with the politics and local business in order to achieve greater sustainability. I find it excited. And I get to see Al Gore next week, so things are looking up.

And my niece Jaden turned one on Friday Nov. 6th. WOW

So yeah interesting week!

I promise to post pics soon.

Begin

So I have started this cause it seems the ability to keep up with and share all my random thoughts, has well, all but evaporated. Either from my lack of time or yours I invite you here to learn and share with me. I can’t promise how often I will write and that there will ever be obvious context…but, well, that’s me. Regrettably these days our best way of keeping connections is through our electronics.

I thought maybe Facebook was a good outlet for such sharing, until I realized how bombarded I was from “friend” requests. Oh sure haven’t seen you in 10 years, let me share my daily thoughts and emotions with you- not so much! But here its low key enough, why not? We’ll see…

Recap

So lately fall has reared its lovely colors. And, as per usual northwest style, the rain has come along for the duration. We had amazing summer where I gardened like a crazy person and then proceeded to freeze and can the fruits of our labor. We have been trying to be locavores, and living where we live this shouldn’t be trouble, but there are those days… we are pretty darn good about it though. We joined a CSA for the first time this summer and subsisted mainly on that and our garden. I am quite proud, but would not complain if I didn’t see kale or cabbage for quite some time, I mean WOW! There was a lot of it.

Activity

Along with these gloomy days I have been craving the usual sensations: snuggliness, good books, nutmeg and pumpkin. My lovely husband has provided me with an indoor bicycle training (okay I bothered his ass for 3 months, but then it showed up so…) I started bicycle riding a lot this summer. Since I don’t work I chose not to drive either, saving on money and wear and tear. It was great. There were a few days where I would bike 30 miles just go, get, and see everything I wanted to. But now that you cant bike without taking a shower (which I chose not to do) I am a bit more house bound, however said trainer keeps me biking. I listen to electronic music and do arms exercises with weights for like 30 minutes and them some yoga stretches, it feels so good. The sweat that happens on the trainer is sort of horrible. No wind to blow it away I guess… J

Thoughts

I have also been thinking a lot about imagination. How mine has been a little lacking lately. Not that I don’t day dream, I do, but it’s always quite close to home. So I am making it a point to allow my imaginary world take over a larger chunk of my consciousness. I like it. It goes all over the place. It helps to find inspiration. But I find it hard to feed.

Extras

I have also been reading A LOT.

I also reread A Farewell to Arms… the only book that I have ever cried after finishing, and once again, I cried. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. Am currently in the middle of three other books; Obama’s second book, an Edible History of Humanity, Julia Childs life in France, and just started Al Gores The Assault on Reason.

I installed rain barrels this summer and am monitoring them and planning my rain gardens. Here in Portland, the stormwater drains are over burdened and under supervised. They water goes straight to the riverways, which means it does not recharge the source of our drinking water (which is an amazing feat called Bullrun) so the city actually gives people money to disconnect, lower the drain burden and, hopefully, it all causes less ick to enter the water systems (not that that will help considering what’s already there…). Anyhoo, with a quarter of an inch my two rain barrels on the house fill and with an inch the garage barrel filled. So I have already stopped using city water for the garden and chickens when the clouds do break. It’s so easy and amazing to me. I think everyone who can, should give it a shot.

Next

Am camping for the weekend of Halloween, hope to come back with some shots of Nic in the mud. We are headed to Astoria for cyclacross racing (Nics in some of the pics, and if you don’t know what this is: http://www.crosscrusade.com/)… should be good and muddy… and a bit drunken… till then.