Right Now at Bumblebee
Wednesday, December 2
I have a major work project that will be kicking in soon, so today I’m taking the opportunity to work on my loose-ends list. You don’t have any loose-ends, do you?
I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say the loose-ends involve some garbage bags and a lot of butter. It’s not what you think. Those items are for two separate loose ends.
Happy day,
Robin
Tuesday, December 1
The seed catalogs are starting to arrive. Yippee! I received a preview copy of Seeds of Change last week. Now I see the Totally Tomatoes catalog here in my box.
This year I’m starting a three-ring binder with ideas and plans for the spring. It’s green!
Robin
Monday, November 30
We had lots of relaxing and food this Thanksgiving weekend. I also spent some time trying to decipher all the buttons on my fancy camera that I’ve never used. This could take a while.
Back to work, everybody!
Robin
Thursday, November 26 – Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving!
We have a traditional feast planned: turkey and ham for the guys, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread stuffing (w/artichokes and red peppers), yeast rolls, Brussels sprouts, cole slaw, salad, chocolate layer cake and coconut cream pie.
I’ll start my day with a one-hour walk/run to add to the calories I’ve been banking all week in preparation for the feast.
Bon appetit!
Robin
Monday, November 23
A new week and it’s starting off with rain. That’ll put us behind on the leaf raking, but then there are many indoor chores to do in preparation for the feast.
I start a new exercise journal this week—just in time for Thanksgiving. I wonder if I can whittle off a couple of pounds before Thursday so I can eat with impunity?
Robin
Saturday, November 21
My only child, a first-year cadet at The Citadel, is home for the Thanksgiving holiday. I will be a cooking machine for the next few days. I will try not to be an eating machine as well though. In fact, I’m off to the gym to start a new exercise routine with a refreshed goal. The trick is to save enough energy to still get the cooking, gardening and other activities on my to-do list accomplished. Work? Oh, as in my job? I’ll worry about that on Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Robin
Friday, November 20
First thing this morning my handyman, Walter, arrived at 8:30 a.m. He only arrives at 8:30 because I told him I don’t want him here at 6:30 a.m. I don’t want anyone here at 6:30 a.m. He’s been showing up every day for about two weeks. He seems to think he has found a new full-time job.
Walter showed up a few days ago and told me he hadn’t worked in four months. Being a sensible woman, I promptly gave him my to-do list. Walter has fixed, painted, constructed and cleaned himself silly. Someone on Twitter told me today that I made a mistake feeding him lunch, afternoon coffee and cake—that I’d never get rid of him. My friend Mr. McGregor’s Daughter said it was starting to sound like Eldon on Murphy Brown.
It’s all good though. The house is fresher. Things are fixed. Walter has work and money in his pocket. And I have passed his contact information along to friends who are calling.
We all need to pull together right now, right? I figure I came out ahead here. Thanks, Walter.
Ciao,
Robin
Wednesday, November 18
Today is the day I harvest and process the horseradish. This is my first time, but I have read that it must be processed outdoors because it’s so strong. Note to self: Remember to take pictures.
Robin
Tuesday, November 17
Here it is late in the day—nearly sunset. I was able to escape outside for a bit to rake some leaves and give the chickens a bit of walkabout time. An extremely ballsy hawk nearly carried away one of the hens. Thank God T. Boone Chickens was on duty and raised the alarm. Stupid hawk sat on a tree limb not 15 feet from me while I yelled at it for 10 minutes. Thankfully, everyone is present and accounted for.
Another day at Bumblebee,
Robin
Monday, November 16
I woke up to a nice treat this morning. My friend Susan over at Garden Rant posted about garden bloggers who go off-topic and included my chicken postings category. I couldn’t resist posting a comment. “My blog may sometimes look like a chicken blog rather than a garden blog. Sometimes it looks like a food blog. But it always looks like my life.”
(Click here to see the Garden Rant post.)
I finally finish up with a major work project today, so you’ll be hearing from me this week about more food and garden activities. I’m going to be glad to get out of this office chair for a while.
Happy Monday!
Robin
Saturday, November 14
The wind and rain has stopped and the ground is covered in a blanket of fall leaves. But it’s still too wet to rake or do much in the way of outdoor chores. So today I’m writing and making treats for the man and dogs in my life.
Friday, November 13
The wind is still blowing. It’s still raining. I will probably have to work all weekend. But hey, it’s Friday the 13th and nothing bad has happened yet. Some days you just take what you can get.
The chickens have a nicely insulated house now. The insulation is safely covered in wood. Now I’m thinking I need to paint. What color would the chickens like? And after I paint, do I need to do artwork for their walls?
Have you been thinking about raising backyard chickens? I rounded up some of my favorite books on the topic. You can see them by clicking here.
Later gator,
Robin
Thursday, November 12
I am currently in serious report writing mode. (I have a real job, you know!)
In the meantime, the chickens were sitting in the cold for a bit while their house got an upgrade with some comfy, warm insulation. I’ve started stockpiling bags of fall leaves to use in their outdoor run.
As soon as the rain stops I need to harvest horseradish and plant the last of the bulbs. We’re still harvesting spinach and some lettuce. The Swiss chard is gorgeous. Beets, collards, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are also growing.
In the kitchen I’m experimenting with more bread making, including sourdough rye and whole wheat burger buns. With all the eggs in our refrigerator I really should be writing an egg cookbook.
Ciao for now.
Robin
