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Monday, June 6, 2016

The Universe has it in for me.

Fresh graze!
 
Soggy Nuggets

There is no use ignoring the fact that the Universe is having a great big laugh at my expense.  Thanks to changes (none for the good, I may add) in my yob, I lost any wiggle room I had in my mornings and evenings.  It (meaning farm/house to-do lists) all falls on the weekends.  Most often, my Saturdays are not my own and I am lucky if I can manage a couple of hours of item-list-checking-off-things.  This means that the burden of getting done what must be done falls on Sunday.  And, speaking of falls, you could have created another Niagara Falls with the amount of rain we got on Sunday.  I woke up to rain, so I did a few things inside.  The rain stopped around 9ish, so out I raced and struggled with a wad of Electronet to set up a new grazing area for the sheep.  This was not my netting because, if I do say so myself, I am very particular about the taking down, rolling up and storage of my Electronet fence.  Not because I am virtuous, 'cause I ain't, but because I am the one who has to face it in the spring and put it up solo.  This was donated - it's much longer than mine so I can create larger spaces for the sheep - and the person who was so kind to donate it apparently figured they'd never use it again, so what the heck.  Heck was the nicest word I used in the next two hours.  However, it was finally up and (Glory Be!) it held a charge.  The sheep trotted right inside and spent a glorious hour before the rain started again. 
 
Meanwhile, I was out in my garden.  I knew there was rain forecast, but I was not prepared for a day of monsoons.  I don't mind working in the rain - it's only water - but even I had to throw in the beach towel.  My goal was to finish planting my already-late garden by the end of the day, but it was not to be.  I was just getting ready to put in the kale and chard bed when the skies opened up and that was it.  The last thing I HAD to do was put up more fencing since we have about 234 rabbits this year and they have taken to sitting in my flower planters, chewing on anything green they can reach.  I was so sodden by the time I finished that my overalls reminded me of those cartoons where your pants fill with water and go sloshing around you.  My shoes were squishing, my BGPs were squishing.  And there was still almost a half-day left.  I was not happy.  Yes, we did need rain and I am not complaining about rain.  I am complaining about getting all the rain we haven't had for months in one day.  At least the ducks were thrilled.  I'll shut up now.
 
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Seeing that any work I had planned for outside was now shelved, I busied myself with inside work.  Laundry went up on the drying racks, rugs were vacuumed, brooder was cleaned, and all the dog toys were laundered.  Because I discovered (peeeuuuuwww) that Slimbo had been peeing in the dog toy box.  Joy.  I briefly considered having him become an outside cat.

Prep for Rhubarb Vinaigrette

One of the things I do to make myself feel better is to try something new.  It takes my focus off of my incessant whining.  Since I have a bumper crop of rhubarb this year, I made Rhubarb Vinaigrette (awesome!) and Rhubarb Brown Sugar Muffins (discovered on Mama's Minutia).  I blissfully did NOT follow her advice about not filling the cups too much and ended up with a mess.  A delicious mess, but a mess.  You will not see pictures.  It was ugly.
 
Bright spot
As the rain continued on (and on and on and on), I settled under my reading lamp with a damp Dachshund smooshed up beside me and leafed through this wonderful book, sent by my DF Sylvie.  And - speaking of mail - through a series of unexpected events, I received a box in the mail full of sauerkraut balls!  OMG.  I have not had them for years and years - not since my Ohio days.  An old flame (may I call you that, K?) got in touch recently and most kindly sent me some.  I believe he said he makes 150 dozen every year .... I don't have pictures because I immediately ate six after opening the box and had to put them in the freezer out of self-defense.  They are wonderful!  Not only were there two big bags of wonderful sauerkraut balls, but as part of the freezer 'paks' used in shipping, he included a frozen container of his homemade chicken souvlaki!

The Universe may have it in for me, but I am holding my own with the help of my wonderful friends.

P.S.  I know I am behind in the purge lists, but will catch up this week - pinkie promise!


14 comments:

Michelle said...

Strange response from blogger when I just tried to post a comment so I'm not sure it went through. Here I go again....

How I wish I could wave a magic wand and give you a better off-site job! One with excellent pay, complete bennies, little or no commute, and flex-time. Hey, is what you do something that could be done off-site, say for an attorney who works mostly via phone and internet? I don't know if any such possibilities exist; it just popped into my mind. And how about a recipe for that vinaigrette? I use all the stalks my three rhubarb plants produce, but I love vinaigrette....

Susan said...

Michelle - I am keeping my eye on the horizon - wherein my retirement lies...:) The recipe is easy - I will email it to you. It is my new favorite!

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

No stressing about purging, you'll get to it when you get to it. There are other things on your mind at this moment. Like sauerkraut balls!!!
And Rhubarb Vinaigrette.....also known as the cats meow!!!
Hugs,
Sandy

d

Michelle said...

Yummy; thanks! Oh, and I REALLY need to know about sauerkraut balls.

Susan said...

I'll have to get the vegetarian version for you!

Susan said...

Sandy - Unfortunately (or not) those sauerkraut balls are always on my mind now. And you are so right - this vinaigrette IS the cat's meow!

Mama Pea said...

Boy, I must either live in the wrong part of the country or have grown up the wrong nationality. What are sauerkraut balls? I can't picture sauerkraut allowing itself to be formed into balls.

After starting out the season so dry we were under wildfire watch, now we're floating. (Good thing we're getting back into WATER fowl this year.) So, so hard to do much of anything in the garden because it's so darn wet. I'm getting panicky about being able to get the warm weather crops planted in time. Yes, it's cold, too. Sigh.

You've done such a good job of purging I'm surprised you can find anything else to purge!

And what goes right along with the wet weather . . . don't cha just love the smell of damp dog? No, me neither. :o(

jaz@octoberfarm said...

can you post the rhubarb vinaigrette recipe? sauerkraut balls....i love them. i buy them whenever i'm in ohio but i must say the ones i used to get in southwestern new york were the best. so many readers didn't know that sauerkraut has balls! i wish we would get some rain. it spits here occasionally.

Susan said...

My brain skipped the word toy after dog thus I thought you had laundered all the dogs.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I have never had sauerkraut balls nor made them. I'll have to add that to my list for the free moment. You sound like me - still planting and it's already June.

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Maybe it's Ohio sauerkraut that so willingly (and deliciously) allows itself to form into balls. Yes, I'm glad we don't have fear of fires right now, but a nice break with dry conditions, balmy temps and a soft breeze isn't too much to ask. Is it?

Susan said...

Jaz, I'll post the recipe in my next post. I don't know about anyone else's sauerkraut, but mine have balls. All spring, the rain has fallen either north or south of us. Apparently, we are now dead center.

Susan said...

Susan - Oh, if it were only that easy....

Susan said...

Kristina - I will see if I can talk my friend into sharing his recipe. Yes, I am still planting. One raised bed, three deck pots and one deck railing planter to go.