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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 4, 2012 5:41:18 GMT -5
Any people group that considers the movement of paper and data more valuable than production is dead before desert. Our economy and social mindset is based on just this presumption. When you sit on your butt all day doing nothing but shuffling paper around and then you get money for it which you then trade for food/clothing/housing... your body suffers, your children suffer (don't fail to think they don't), and mankind at large suffers.
Clearly there are tolerances that allow this to occur to a point. Banking, insurance "industry", etc. But there is only so much tolerance. Where is the balance? I haven't a clue. But when the scales tip, I want to make sure that my family is no where near the paper pushers. We are in production and that has multiple advantages far beyond the fact that we will be the ones eating.
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Post by steev on Jun 4, 2012 12:08:40 GMT -5
When I first travelled in Mexico, I learned the true value of money. There often was no TP handy; always carry plenty of small-denomination bills; coins are much less useful.
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 4, 2012 18:10:57 GMT -5
Okay, today I planted fagiolini's in the rain! Yes rain, in California in June. I must be dreaming. I'm delirious. Then I danced around, through in a few more corn and marveled.
David, I totally agree with you. I am so much happier pushing a tiller than pushing international credit. At least at the end of the day, I have something to show for my work, some thoughts on how I could do better, inspiration as to how to tweek some procedure, cold hard criticism on complete failures, and some days when I have no idea what in the hell went on here.
But it's my work and I take full responsibility for it. The buck left here, because it's a farm and that's where the bucks leave from, but I'm still here, still working and singing in the rain...so cover your ears cause I can't hit the high notes....gold dust at my feet....
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Post by davida on Jun 5, 2012 21:11:22 GMT -5
Picked blackberries and made the first blackberry cobbler of the season and homemade ice cream with fresh, raw milk and alot of cream.
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Post by steev on Jun 6, 2012 0:08:14 GMT -5
That sounds so good.
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Post by johninfla on Jun 6, 2012 9:34:09 GMT -5
I got home yesterday and my wife had been saucing tomatoes all day... so when I came in from the garden with two five gallon buckets of Hawaiian Supersweet #9 she wasn't to ecstatic about making dinner. So we had Hss #9, green beans and watermelon for supper!!! I'm not complaining with a full belly!  John |
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Post by davida on Jun 11, 2012 10:14:19 GMT -5
If you have some milk getting old or just want to make a quick easy soft curd cheese, heat the milk to 190F to 200F. A therometer is not needed, just catch the milk just before it begins to boil. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar for a gallon of milk. Take off heat and let it cool. The curds and whey will seperate. Strain the curds and add salt or other seasonings, if desired. The cheese can be used as is, mixed with cream for cottage cheese, great for lasagna or my favorite is to season with garlic salt and Italian seasonings and use in a Greek Salad. Fresh tomatoes, onions and bell peppers with some olives and Italian dressing with this cheese makes a great lunch on a hot day.
The whey can be used in making bread and other recipes.
David
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 11, 2012 10:45:14 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool idea David! Milk typically doesn't "go old" in our house... will this work with 2%? Maybe I can just leave a gallon out?
My activity for the day was a fresh batch of laundry soap with lavender and thyme!
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Post by davida on Jun 11, 2012 10:55:57 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool idea David! Milk typically doesn't "go old" in our house... will this work with 2%? Maybe I can just leave a gallon out? My activity for the day was a fresh batch of laundry soap with lavender and thyme! Jo, The orginal recipe that I read used 2% milk. I have not tried it but it should work. It would be a fun activity for the boys. Bet the soap smelled wonderful. Our daughter makes the laundry soap and shares with us. David |
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Post by davida on Jun 11, 2012 11:23:42 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool idea David! Milk typically doesn't "go old" in our house... will this work with 2%? Maybe I can just leave a gallon out? My activity for the day was a fresh batch of laundry soap with lavender and thyme! Jo, The milk does not have to be "old". This is just the quick method that I use for milk that is getting old. David |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 11, 2012 11:30:41 GMT -5
I will give it a shot then. Cheese has been on my "to do" list for a long time. THANKS! =o)
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Post by steev on Jun 11, 2012 20:13:47 GMT -5
When my daughter was a tot, she was captivated when I heated milk and stirred in lemon juice to drop out the curds; she always ate all I made. Never tried to make "real" cheese that way, but I suppose it would work.
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Post by davida on Jun 11, 2012 21:35:00 GMT -5
When my daughter was a tot, she was captivated when I heated milk and stirred in lemon juice to drop out the curds; she always ate all I made. Never tried to make "real" cheese that way, but I suppose it would work. What a great memory. Either lemon juice or vinegar works. The vinegar seems to break out the curds better. David |
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Post by steev on Jun 11, 2012 23:03:35 GMT -5
Doesn't taste the same, though, and few people around here have vinegar trees. In the Bay Area, lemons are not too unlike zucchini, availability-wise.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 12, 2012 5:26:06 GMT -5
I don't know that I have EVER seen a vinegar tree! LOL Yep, I miss all the citrus trees everywhere in the Bay Area. =o(
I NEARLY forgot to tell you guys! Last week we were cruising to the park and passed a home remodel. There, under a tree (neither vinegar NOR lemon) was about a dozen sash windows. I instantly threw the ole' Windstar into reverse (Mike nearly throttled me for that later) and went to ask the crew if we could have them. They said YES! WOO HOO! All the glass panes were intact save for one. So, lots of glass, lots of wooden frames....
If you'll recall, I'm kinda desperate to make my own photo voltaic panels. My one missing ingredient is a large piece of "clear material". Think I could use all my little glass panes? I'm sure it would not be as sleek, lightweight, and lovely as something out of a factory but hey, Homesteading is not about being sleek and museumesque. It's about doing what one can with what one has.
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