Sister Arrival

It's not as if it's my stepmom is coming, it's only my sister, and her 'friend'...but I am still is a panic trying to get my house clean.  Although to be honest, at this point, it's more about getting it straightened up and things put away. There are actually boxes still in the spare room that have not been unpacked since we moved into this house, back in September 2007...but we're getting closer.  My sister has never seen the house, so I want to make a good impression.

She's never seen the house, because 'there are too many trees' up here.  She lives in the city, SF, and loves the city life.  When we were still young enough to be living with our Dad, she had a poster of NY on her wall, said she was going to go there....and she did, at 18, I believe.  The day after she graduated high school, a year early (she's a smart one) she moved to LA.  When it came time for her to transfer from the local JC to a University, her search included only colleges with 30,000 students or more...that's when she ended up back in the SF area, where she has lived for more than 10 years now.  My sister has been up to Humboldt once in that time, before we had the house, for my wedding back in 2005, but that was the last time.

Soon, and I don't know yet how soon, she is moving again, to Chicago this time.  I am sad and excited for her at the same time....Borange.  I'm going to miss knowing that I can jump in the car and a few hours later be at her place.  Although she did not come up here to visit, I went to see her a few times a year.  I often stayed at her place when I came to the city for events and workshops, I'm going to miss that!  I've never been to Chicago, guess I have the perfect excuse to go now!

Ok....off to get ready for work and do more house cleaning!

Entry from Freedom Gardens blog

Entry from Freedom Gardens blog

I bought a house a couple of years ago, yep, right before the bottom fell out of the market.  I've been lucky enough to be able to hold on to the house, but if I could manage to get more food out of my garden and spend less at the stores, that sure would help.  We have a pretty good sized yard with the house on the NE corner of the lot leaving quite a bit of land with southern and western exposure.

Right after we moved in I got "A Slice of Organic Life" edited by Sheherazade Goldsmith....it's a fantastic book full of beautiful pictures and quick, easy tips and directions for projects that help bring one's life more in line with an organic self-sufficient one.  I love it and have read it cover to cover getting all sorts of ideas....4-square gardening, worm composting, bees, water catchment, blueberries and so much more.

Then, through a friend on Facebook, I was introduced to the Dervaes Family and their Urban Homestead.  Everything I read just excited me more.  Another friend showed me the River Cottage website, another very exciting small farm/homesteading site in England.  In addition, we have a very healthy farmer's market with farmers who are more than eager to share tips and advice.

I now have a goal to do what I can to make our yard into our own little urban homestead.

I'm interested in connecting with other local urban homesteaders and folks with hobby farms.

Catching up

I don't really think it's actually possible to catch up on everything..but I'll try to touch on things from past posts at least.

Baby front - we're still not pregnant :(  Perhaps that is really why I've slowed down with the posting...that and knowing that it's really for me, the writing and posting, not one else really gives a shit and well, if I'm busy or unmotivated, no one will care, but me.  We've tried a total of 4 times now, once with the donor from the sperm bank and three times with G, who we've taken to calling Baby Daddy.  Jillian is bleeding now, so in a couple of weeks we'll be trying again.  We are really thankful that Baby Daddy is eager and willing and patient....it helps.  I've almost gotten to a place now that I'm not thinking about it too much...kind a in a wait til it happens, then I'll get excited mode.

Garden - after all the rain and our crazy mouse problem I finally was able to plant a few things in the raised beds outside on Summer Solstice, June 22nd.  We been able to harvest a few green beans, peas, lettuce, cilantro, parsley and strawberries....but to tell the truth, I don't think incorporated enough good stuff, compost, into the used soil I filled the beds with before I planted and now, the garden is looking a bit weak....we'll see.