11 Goals for 2011: progress update
At the start of the year, I set myself 11 (+ another 5 subgoals) goals for the year. We’ve third of the way through the year now so I thought it was time for an update. 1. Increase the food output from our garden and make a meal only using stuff I’ve grown/foraged/caught/killed which can [...]
10 goals for 2010 – end of year round-up
So at the start of 2010, I set myself 10 goals: 1. To make a meal using only ingredients I’ve grown, raised, caught or killed myself. 2. To travel to a place on my “top ten places to go before I die” list. 3. Finish writing my second novel. 4. Learn how to make sausages [...]
Four beautiful things to end a frustrating day
1. Six are huddled together on the perches and the seventh in the nest box she’s still not outgrown. They cluck softly as I peek in to check they’re all in bed. Turn out the light. You’re letting the cold in. Go away, I’m trying to sleep here. 2. We spend a lot of time [...]
Relief, fishing for chickens, the pleasure of warmth and sugar
1. To wake up and find that after all that noise, there is no storm damage to the garden. Or rather, the only damage is both minor and desirable. 2. We drive out to see our chicken man. The views are different but as equally as stunning as they were on the balmy June evening [...]
Chicken chatter, carnival-less, lookalike
My fake definition for the word “waddy” was the winning entry on Word Imperfect the other day. Yay! 1. The chickens always chatter when I go down to see them. I imagine them like excited children, desperate for attention and to tell me about their day. 2. We stand on the undulating green lawn in [...]
Justification, ker-plosh, bwark-kuk-kuk
1. The heavy rain disrupts my gardening plans. Instead, I curl under a blanket with the dreaming dog and finish reading my book. 2. On the drive to Bingley, John makes poo-hitting-water noises and I can’t help but laugh and laugh. 3. There is just enough time between the rain stopping and night falling for [...]