The relief of rebirth

The sun has been out and the temperature has been decent for two days in a row. You might not think that is much, but I have to share just *how* important this is to me. For the fourth or fifth winter in a row, I became devastatingly hopeless, sick and tired. This wreaked havoc on my relationships, my job and my feeling of self-worth. Ladies and gentlemen, this was the worst case of seasonal affective disorder (aka SAD - a delightfully ironic acronym) in my own personal history. After being what a beloved physician calls "lower than a toad's belly" (I swear, only in Indiana...) I am taking better care of myself, I am getting treated and I feel amazingly better. Not only that, I have a proactive plan for heading this off next year. There was a song that really hit the nail on the head and helped me get through this winter: "November was White, December was Grey" by Say Hi to Your Mom. That, and Ryan's incredible understanding and patience and a surprise package of mix tapes from my friend Gavin.

A lot has changed in the past few months. I got rid of the food dehydrator. It was made of plastic and I am not partial to heating plastic with my food. If a stainless steel dehydrator ever becomes affordable, I am all in. My jam is still good. The beans are still good. Oh -- and I moved to the COUNTRY! Check out this (almost) most rural location: Erie, IN.

Ryan and I got engaged on July 25th. Before it happened, I commented that the date was Christmas in July. Little did I know he would ask the big question that afternoon!

Here is the gorgeous ring Ryan got from my mother. It was her mother's and I used to wear it in undergrad until it broke and I lost the main stone.

Along with moving to the country, Ryan and I have been spending more time in a town nearby, Wabash. Some of our new haunts are: Modoc's and Market Street Grill.

I am so, so glad to be feeling better. And with living in the country, I will have plenty of bECOming Hoosier stories. One that I wish I had photographed while it was happening was the story of our xmas tree, Murray. Yes, he has a name. Ryan took me to a tree farm so we could cut our own tree. We picked it out, had the saw ready and were about to take it down when suddenly I could not do it! I could not kill the tree. Ryan, whom I have already described as patient and understanding, indulged me in procuring a living tree, complete with 300 lb root bulb. It took all the effort of Ryan, my brother, Ryan's good friend (great friend!) Jason and (kind of) me to just get the tree into the car, out of the car and into our home. Murray never got decorated and is still in our living room. He is growing and it will be hard to plant him outside, but I know that's what's best for him. He smells great, though, and I will miss him. Here's a picture of him, although it hardly does him justice.

I will be trying to write more as the spring arrives. Thanks for reading!

Freezing in the Summer

Ryan's mom and step-dad Gene have an amazing garden this year. Ryan and I chalk that up to their use of compost, to which we often contribute. Whatever the reasons for their success, we luckily reap the benefits. Recently, Ryan and his mom picked a bunch of green beans out of the garden. I froze some last year, sans blanching, and was told that was not a good idea.  This year, I resolved to correctly engage in the bean-freezing process. Join me for the photo montage, will you...?

After washing, we removed the ends and stems.

Ryan is a snapper. I am a knife-wielder. 

Hot water blanch for 3 minutes.

Ice water blanch for three minutes.

Dry, place in freezer bags (I would love to know of any non-plastic alternatives to this!), remove all air and into the freezer you go!

This winter, perhaps we will be able to enjoy the spoils of a summer garden - complete with properly blanched green beans!

we be jammin' (adventures in canning...)

Over the 4th of July weekend, Ryan and I not only got to spend some quality time with our families, but we also bravely faced spiders, mosquitoes and thorns for a couple hours to get a few gallons of fresh, hand-picked wild raspberries. Last year we froze what we picked and gave some to Ryan's aunt Deb to make jelly. Although all of the jelly offerings Ryan's family has shared over the years have been nothing less than delectable, Ryan and I are both jam lovers. We like the seeds. So this year, I decided to try my hand at my own seedy (yet classy) raspberry jam.

For Christmas, Ryan's mom gave me some canning supplies as well as the Blue Book -- THE book for canning, freezing and drying.  I referenced the Blue Book for raspberry jam. The berry to sugar ratio was insane! (9 cups berries to 6 cups sugar) I decided to take things into my own hands and use a 6.5 cups berries to 2 cups sugar ratio. Traditionalists might get their hackles up at this and say something such as "But how will you know that it will set if you don't follow the recipe exactly?!?!" Answer: faith. And willingness to participate in some trial and error.

Check out this big pot o' hand-picked wild raspberries!

And in goes a more 'acceptable' amount of organic, natural sugar.

Steamy, jammy goodness. That set up just fine, thank you.

 Through the funnel and into the jelly (JAM) jar...

A delightful hot water bath.

The finished product! Delicious, if I do say so myself. And amazingly seedy. Come on over and try some!!

Overall, our first jammin' experience seems to have gone well. I guess the true test will be when we open a jar months from now. I think the most rewarding part of the whole weekend was getting to hear stories from Ryan's grandpa Mills. He happens to be the only grandparent either of us have between us. He spontaneously started telling us stories about when he and Ryan's grandma started dating. It was unexpected, but definitely wonderful. Hopefully we will get to hear even more another day on the Rochester farm...

I Wana Shipshewana!

It has become a yearly ritual to visit Shipshewana every Memorial Day. Shipshewana is actually a gorgeous area of farmland in northern Indiana and is known for being in "the heart of Amish country." 

Ryan and I go to the world-famous Shipshewana flea market.  We find quite a few treasures. And I tend to use my father's training a la Juarez to make some good deals. 

We have spent the night twice in Shipshewana. It is almost an indescribable experience. It is calm, small, and quiet - except for the clomping of the carriage horses' hooves. 

Amish cooking is also an experience. Noodles, amazing pies, mashed potatoes... 

The Blue Gate Restaurant is a few blocks away from the flea market and has the most excellent banana cream pie I've ever had. Another thing I think is so commendable about Blue Gate is that they make an effort to use local foods for their menu offerings.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the best reasons to go to Shipshewana. JOJO's Pretzels. 

They are so amazingly delicious. I never really knew what their secret to deliciousness was. This year, the pretzels we got were so fresh, we had to wait a few minutes for them to be ready. And it was thus that the secret was revealed:

 Is that not achingly delicious-looking? Also a reason to probably indulge just once a year. 

Next on the agenda for this Hoosier-in-Training: Berry Picking. I plan to do more than just freeze 'em this time around. 

Farm Fresh

The bounty has begun!

The first offerings from Ryan's Grandpa Mills' farm included some fresh, hand-picked radishes

and asparagus!

Ryan and I grilled half of the asparagus during our Memorial Day camp-out. We had the other half roasted in the oven and served with Annie's mac n' cheese. I will let you in on a little secret: If you forgo the milk and butter and use two tablespoons of Greek style plain yogurt, you will have the Best. Mac 'n' chee. From a box. Ever.

As life tends to do, we got too busy to get up to the secret stash of morels. Sad, but like a true Cubs fan, I say unto you: "We'll get 'em next year."

Country Friendly

2496 E CR 125 N...

Just a few years ago, this combination of letters and numbers completely threw me. It seemed strange. A modified GPS configuration? Jargon? Actually, maybe a bit of both. The above is actually an address - they way addresses are written in the country roads of rural, northcentral Indiana. Allow me to translate: 2469 East County Road 125 North. The actual road is County Road 125 North. The address is 2496 East.

I have the unique opportunity of working out in the country. In the middle of farmland.

[The barn - it shares the parking lot with my office]

This entails a lot of flora and fauna - which can be beautiful both right out my office window and on the drive over.







[Lilac tree right out the front door of my office - it smells divine walking into work!]











[One of my favorite views driving to work...]












Driving on backcountry roads took some getting used to. I share the road with tractors and birds...




[A turkey vulture! One of five that I actually caught on camera.]












...as well as the deer (my biggest fear is too much "sharing" with these creatures!) and having little room for two vehicles passing each other on opposite sides. However, what is peculiar about passing other vehicles on country roads is what my everlovin' informed me as being country friendly. Whether you know them, see them regularly, recognize them or not, the folks driving country roads almost always wave a friendly hello to each other. At first I thought this was just something farm or country folks did - until I tried it myself. I admit I had to practice. You have to get the 'wave' right or sometimes it won't work. But when it does -- I essentially feel that the world itself is wishing me a good day. I can't help but smile when everyone I pass appears genuinely happy to see me.


Another thing I have noticed about driving in small-town Indiana is that there are a ton of four-way stops. This does not bother me, but rather fascinates me due to the friendliness with which people approach the courtesy of allowing others to go first. I have been given the "go-ahead" nod or wave several times at a four-way stop. As a former city-dweller who has handled her share of traffic, this was bizarre behavior. But it is so nice! One of my 2009 resolutions was to try to be the first person to wave on another at a four-way stop. It's tough - because most everyone at least seems to be trying to be first as well. It is small, and maybe silly, but every time I get to let another person go first at the stop, I feel really pleased -- like I've let a little joy into the world.


On the agenda this upcoming Sunday is going to our undisclosed, secret morel hunting location. It has been both rainy and warm - perfect conditions for those fun guys. Pictures will be forthcoming.



P.S. - This blog has been brought to you by my new-to-me iBook G4. Oh my goodness how I enjoy it!

Bring on Spring!

After the harshest, longest winter I have ever endured, I am so much more than happy to welcome spring. Having lived most of my life in New Mexico and Washington state, I never really had to *deal* with winter. However, the 2008-2009 season in Indiana has officially created a wise winter driver out of me. Having lived in mostly metropolitan areas, I used to bemoan driving a stick in traffic. Now that I have a rural commute, driving a stick is a true fortunate experience in the winter!

This will be my fourth spring in Indiana. What I am looking forward to most is the following:

Morel hunting!

(cross your fingers. Ryan -- a.k.a my everlovin'/the farmboy -- and I found three bags' worth last year, this year could be a bust...)

Berry picking!

(strawberries, blueberries and raspberries)

Gardening!

(don't know what we're going to have yet - garlic, herbs and chiles have been mentioned)

This year will be even more fun because we were generously given canning equipment and we bought a food dehydrator. Last year, through the farms and gardens of our families, Ryan and I did not have to go to the grocery store for more than a few things here and there for about six months! This year, the plan is to freeze, can and dry even more and see how we can last. I am really excited to try all kinds of what we have dubbed suburban homesteading.

Spring also means that I don't have to wait very long for Farmer's Markets.

I have one within walking distance of my apartment and one on the way to work.

I am a big proponent of the idea that people should try to eat and support local agriculture. Check out American Farmland Trust above and the 100-mile diet.

One more thing I really want to share: I said in my last post that I might not talk about my time in St. Louis because it wasn't pretty. I have to admit that it was quite difficult at times, but after publishing my first blog, my first follower was a friend I made in St. Louis, and the second comment on my blog was from another friend I made in St. Louis. I am humbled that despite my harsh words, the goodness that was part of my St. Louis experience became clear to me. Thank you, my St. Louis posse, for reminding me that I had the amazing experience of learning about new cultures, laughing 'til I cried, and got through it with you being there for me!