15 Mar

Starting ‘Em Early in the Adirondacks

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

It snowed this morning.

A little. I don’t mind. It was melted and gone by afternoon, and I still went outside to do early Spring things. I shoveled some extra crushed stone I had sitting around into the wheelbarrow and took it over to fill some ruts in the driveway. Took the Christmas lights off the spruce trees, now that the cords are not buried in ice. I took some time to notice the robins and chickadees that have returned. The day lilies are poking up on the sunny side of the yard. The rhubarb is peeking out. Soon I’ll be raking the thatch out of the grass in the side yard, and planting new seed in the front.

Seems like it’s about time? Not so. Not way up here. Plants peeking up and birds returning in mid-March is highly unusual. It’s nice to see the plants coming alive outside, but my March gardening efforts are mostly concentrated indoors.

I started seeds indoors today – just the medium-to-hardy veggies. Spinach, swiss chard, carrots, peas, lettuce. The less hardy warm-weather stuff will go directly into the garden.

Didn’t exactly have a panic attack over it, but I ended up getting such conflicting advice, I decided to hedge my bets. One very experienced friend says never to start peas, beans, chard, corn, radishes, lettuce. Another says that because mine are in individual peat pots (and their roots won’t be disturbed), I’m fine.

So, I started half the seed, and saved the other half for later. If the starts are fine, I’ll have seed to plant for a second crop. If the starts are a disaster, I still have extra seed to direct sow. At any rate, they’re planted, for better or for worse.

Like most things, I think this Adirondack cold-weather gardening thing is going to come down doing a little experimentation and finding what-works-for-me/you.

12 Mar

Soup in the Key of B-flat

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , .

I adore this soup. As it’s going to make up our main meals during this musical weekend, I thought I should assign a key to it. Something warm and not too too dark. I decided on B-flat Major. Maybe E-flat if you let it cook a little longer. If you take a taste and you’re only up to F Major, put it back on for a hour or so.

I know that I’ve posted it before, but I’m posting it again. TriCollie and I were talking yesterday, and we both adore this recipe. It’s super easy, it’s a one-pot wonder, and it’s one of the few recipes I make that give me that “I can’t believe how good this is” feeling when it’s done. Even when I end up leaving out the Worcestershire sauce. I always forget we don’t have any Worcestershire sauce. Perfect for leftovers too – we usually have the stuff over rice later in the week. It’s really that good. So come on now, make the soup. It will make me happy. And you too.

I’m going to be playing shows all weekend, so I wanted a heat-and-eat ready to go. If you need me, I’ll be the one behind the bass clarinet in the pit at Saranac Lake High School.

Great Northern Bean Soup (Lots of it.)

  • 2 lbs package dried navy beans
  • 12 cups water
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 small can tomato sauce if you want it more tomatoey
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped (or 1 tsp celery seed)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (or 2 tsp garlic powder)
  • 1 pound chopped, cooked ham or bacon
  • 3 cubes chicken bouillon
  • 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • 2 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot; place bay leaves on top, bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for two hours. At this point, add carrots if you would like. Simmer for an additional two hours. Discard bay leaf. Add additional water to taste and strength/consistency desired.

* * *

And as a bonus – an easy basic custard recipe. It’s fairly bright, but not too much so. I’d say it’s probably played in the key of D Major. And to take the point even further, I think a nice, light D Major is an excellent compliment to a hearty main course in B-flat.

Basic Custard

  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (omit if using a strong flavored topping)

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients. Easy. Cover and process until well blended. Pour into a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 325° for 55-65 minutes or until custard bounces back when touched in center. It’s so easy it’s not even funny. Serve warm or chilled. Eat it plain or top with fruit, marmalade, or a fruit syrup. Or caramel. Or hot fudge.

10 Mar

Spring Surprises

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , , .

I’m kinda getting into this videoblogging thing, aren’t I?

Spring continues to arrive – even via the mail!

9 Mar

Mud

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , , .

It’s muddy. And warmish.

Yes, yes, I’m obliged to repeat “of course it’s going to snow again,” and “we’re not out of the woods yet,” and all manner of Spring naysayings. You’re not really allowed to mention nice weather around here until well into May. (Someone actually sort of freaked out on me a little bit when I said, “This warm weather seems to be sticking.”) However, with the next two weeks forecasted as sunny and headed for 50F, why not be an optimist?

Thought it was about time for another video blog. Nothing much going on. Oh, wait! I almost forgot – a blog renovation. Thought something cheerier might usher in Spring nicely. Hope you enjoy the redesign. Check out the Gallery – I changed the pics, and the new template allows me to post bigger photos. You know, I thought my link list of friends was a bit long and maybe out of date. So, as I try to do every week or so, I visited every blog on the list, stopping to chat at many. Know what I realized? I really am in touch with each of those bloggers! Awesome.

As for the vidblog – Mud, a visit with the chickens, a few Spring plans. You have a great day too!

8 Mar

Sure Signs

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , .

Well, we may very well indeed get another snow storm to round out the Winter.

But yesterday, in this little village in the Northern Adirondacks, it was undoubtedly Spring. There’s no arguing the point. What else am I to think when all the obvious signs are in place? The driveway is clear. It’s over 40 degrees, the Sun is super bright, and I had a need for sunglasses yesterday. The snow is melting, and the grass is showing. Sounds like Spring, no? Further evidence? Isn’t it Spring when the first hotdogs start showing up out in the yard? Well, there wasn’t a grill, but there was a helluva hot dog. This is what I saw when I looked out my window yesterday afternoon.

5 Mar

A Seed Solution

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , .

Happy Sunny Days, Friends!

Super sunny here all week, and whether this is a fakeout or a true prelude to spring, I’ll take it. With all this sun, my thoughts turn to planting and digging in the dirt. I suppose that’s not really news lately – I’m totally crazy for the garden this week. However, the following is news -

I’ll bottom line you first – Hometown Seeds looks pretty awesome. You might remember our previous chat about the difficulty of finding non-Monsanto, non-genetically engineered seeds. Well, folks, here they are. Hometown’s seeds are non-hybrid and none of their product has been genetically modified. Good solid seed stock, and no sterile seeds. Save away. Bonus – Their website is clear and concise, easy to understand, and easy to look at. I like a tidy site. Anyhow. There’s a special going right now – Almost a pound and a half of seed in 16 varieties for $39.95. (That’s enough seed to plant 3/4 of an acre.)

My only quibble would be that the site uses phrases in the descriptions & benefits like “GMO-free” and “non-hybrid.” If I were a beginning gardener, I wouldn’t know what those things mean.

But.

Neat company. Awesome. They have plenty of annuals and perennials and such as well. Please do check them out. I’ll also put the link in my Homesteading links section to the right.

So there you have it. I’m going to be planting Hometown seeds this Spring. And if I can bring myself to do it, I might even throw my Burpee seeds away.

3 Mar

Creative Vegetablazation

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , .

For myself, Spring means that I can start seeds indoors and go outside without a heavy coat. 30s/40s. My Spring is more of a state of mind. A prelude to Summer. Therefore, even in the frozen North, I will be celebrating the official First Day later this month.

So there.

I took a walk around the joint today, thinking about what I might like to plant where. In about two weeks, I can begin some of my indoor seed starting. I remembered that I hadn’t shared any pic of the place in quite a while. Being as we still have 3′ snow drifts, I didn’t exactly have unprecedented access. But I got a few snaps in.

This is the “Community Fence” the neighbor and I put in together. (Her place is on the other side, on the left.) I put a few salvaged day lilys in under the fence before winter, and I was thinking that my sunflower forest might be awesome behind the fence, stretching off to the right, some vegetables at their feet. I’m totally into doing the whole vegetables-as-ornaments thing this year.

I planted a ton of lupins (or, lupine) up on the little hill, behind the carriage and the trees. Rhubarb too. Hopefully it will all come up nicely, along with the mint that was doing well last season. The mint did very well in the dappled shade, so I’m thinking of trying some other shade-friendly herbs back there this season.

This pile of 120 year old salvaged logs and beams (we found the base of a log cabin under the old house) needs to become a pole barn. I’d like something more barn-like for the hens, and I need storage space besides. I’m still trying to decide whether I want to do it myself, or have a Pole Barn Raising.

Need to get some more trees put in too. This is the view from the street side. (Although the street is about 30 feet behind where I’m standing.) I’d like to bring that line of trees around front – enclose the property a little more, so it’s not so completely public.

Our little copse in the back corner. The neighbor and I started cleaning this up some last year, cutting brush. I took some firewood out last month. But I’d like to clean it out some more and get a bench back in there. Make it nice. And those dead tamaracks need attention.

That’s the plan so far. I can start seeds in a few weeks, so that’ll occupy me. How’s things at your place? Any garden plans? Up Next – A blog feature on a really neat seed supply company that I found!

* * *

Miss Mona wants a new barn!

1 Mar

A Seed Saga

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , .

I know I’m not supposed to be buying Burpee and Ferry-Morse seeds. But, I do.

Short Version – The Monsanto Company supplies most of the major seed companies in the US. (There are lists out there you can check.) Monsanto is one of the major players in the genetically altered food world. Of course, much of that genetic altering concerns bigger and better disease-resistant crops. However, it also involves altering plants so they produce only sterile seeds. No seed saving. You have to buy new every year. Sounds absurd, right? Unfortunately, it’s true. You can watch the documentary for the full scoop, if you like.

So. Knowing what I know, I continue to buy these seeds. The bottom line is that while there are alternatives to Monsanto seeds (seed-saving swap clubs and such), these things are an enormous pain, and I have enough things in my life that are an enormous pain. In the defensive department, I figure it this way – I raise happy hens and produce eggs. I compost. I grow at least some of my own food. I pump my own water. Hell, I make soap. I figure I’m ahead of the curve.

Doesn’t make it any less icky, does it? At any rate, no need to debate it too much. Just putting it out there. I buy my seeds at the store because they’re on sale for ninety-nine cents, because it’s easy, and because I like to look on the back of the package at have all the growing info in front of me. Now. What say we flip-flop this post into something fun and positive?

It’s totally going to be planting crazy around here! I can’t wait! Last Summer, I was busy tearing down our old house. (Proud of the fact that we did it, but it still sucked.) This Summer is totally going to be about planting things, having fun, and spending time in my canoe.

A sunflower forest behind the pyramids of beans and peas. Awesome. Radishes, zucchini, Simpson lettuce, Danvers carrots. New white pines and spruces added to the yard. More lupins in the side bed. Also in the food department, I’ll plant a pot full of Italian parsley and basil, but I’ll buy those as starts. Too short a growing season up here to grow herbs from seed.

I’ll be starting some of the vegetables as seedlings indoors. That will start in mid-March, each being started a particular number of weeks before planting – the first week in June.

I have a handy chart for when to start each vegetable in the most awesome book ever – Storey’s Basic Country Skills. RV living has its upsides sometimes – shallow windows surrounding the whole living room/kitchen, up high, and facing South. I think the seeds will sprout just fine. The Sun really blasts right in here.

* * *

And now, a little blog business. I’ve made some good friends via my blog, Twitter, and forums that I belong to. I’ve always found that blog and forum-like communities are very supportive. (I’m totally buttering you up.) My awesome friend Neil just started a blog, and you should read it because he’s smart, he wants to move North, and he’s real nice. It’s over here (or just look for Neil’s name in the sidebar to the right.)


26 Feb

The Power of Positive Thinking

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks.

or,  ”The Power to Completely Delude Yourself”

You might have noticed that my header image has been changed to a photo of Summer vegetables. It’s part of my plot, you see. If for the next six to eight weeks I involve myself in Spring and Summer planning, I’ll hardly notice the rest of Winter. I don’t mind Winter per se. I’m just ready for Spring.

Besides a pole barn to plan and some landscaping, I need to plan my whole new vegetable garden concept. A few more vegetables to decide on, a few lists to make. Whole different concept this year. No big raised beds. I don’t know quite why, but I hated the thing. Instead, I’m going to plant everything in individual containers (old tin washtubs, terracotta pots). I’ll have a few pyramids for beans and peas too. This way, I can scatter them around the property as ornamental plantings. A la -


25 Feb

Cottage Conceptions

Posted by smallpines in Adirondacks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

For those that are coming to the story late, I asked all my blog friends and readers to send me their idea of an awesome cottage. (I’m thinking of building on my own.) Readers here at The Pines are a pretty neat group, so I suspect that we’re going to have a virtual mini-encyclopedia of cabin and cottage designs here!

And it’s good for our blogs! Keep the cottage pics, links, and comments coming! I’ll post the links here, we’ll have a bit of a chat about them, and we’ll have a right proper Link Fest. Not a blogger? Play along anyway! Pass it on! I’d love it if you’d mention it on your blog or to friends – the more pics and links, the better!

* * *

Now, Tricollie, she’s a lady after my own heart. I could live in just about anything as long as I had one of these. Truth be told, when I was jotting a thing or two down, I actually bumped out the walls of the bathroom and took space from the bedroom, so I could accomodate a real tub. Had a link issue, but this is the sort of thing we were talking about.

Lynne at The Blue Door Blog (love that house of hers!) suggested Strawbale building. If you’re not familiar, it works like this – A foundation is built, straw bales are stacked as walls (and fortified/tied with rebar or otherwise), then plastered hard with a natural Earth plaster.

Strawbale is a relative of Cob – mud/clay building. There was a time, Awesome Lynne, when I had every book published on all this. Went to a workshop! But, with our visibility, short build season, and a potential codes battle, I decided I didn’t have it in me. Love ‘em though.

Allie from over at Good Things Challenge sent me a wonderful link! (She has a neat gardening post up, currently.) They’re planning on doing the Owner/Builder thing too, and made me aware of their go-to site, Country Plans. Via the link, I’m sending you to a particular cottage – because the construction photos were so good, they made me feel better!

Kathy sent me the link to these little cottages in Oregon. They’re absolute gems – looking at the photos of these gorgeous little things is like walking through an art gallery. Makes me wish we had more decent salvage from tearing down the junky house last Summer. (There was really nothing except some logs and lumber I saved.)

Vicki at Havenwood sent me this wonderful link. If you’re a follower of natural building methods or interesting cottages, you’ve probably seen this house. Friends and I have always called it The Hobbit House. I had somehow forgotten about it! I couldn’t do something like this around here, but it’s enough for me just to look at the thing. It’s amazing. Also, an awesome debunking on Vicki’s part – this photo circulates pretty frequently, but no one ever gives the link or location. Thanks!

Joanna at Boonedocks Wilcox is tugging at my heart strings! Oh, how I would love to build a cordwood house. I want one bad! You can likely tell from my favorite photo – they’re stacked and mortared hardwood. Two big issues for me though – I’ve never known a cordwood house that didn’t leak, and you really have to stay on top of tuck pointing the joints. There’s constant shrinking and expanding of the wood, so there’s constant pointing work. But I want one! It would be pretty safe to say that a cordwood house is my heart’s desire. I’ve studied them pretty hard, for several months last year actually. Maybe Joanna has convinced me to take another look.

To Sandy, I have to just plain say, “Thanks.” Hers are the kind of comments that make me feel like I’m not alone in all this. Sandy and her husband built their own house (over three years), and left a really lovely comment about the this-that-and-the-other thing when building for yourself. Thanks again, Sandy.

The Mac is a neighbor, they built their own home, and we share a Zodiac Sign. So it didn’t surprise me when the nicities she said I needed were exactly the things I have discovered it would be nice to have – 2×6 exterior wall, mud room, metal roof so the snow sheds itself, lots of windows! Mac also points us to the ultimate clearing house for those interested in building smaller – The Tiny House Design Blog. It wonderful. The author collects information in all types of tiny houses, and posts them for our edification on the blog.

John over at Adirondack Almanack suggests a great book (I love this stuff) called “How to Build Cabins, Lodges, and Bungalows,” a “straightforward manual details the construction process from foundation to roof, including chapters on porches, fireplaces, and furnishings.” Might be able to inter-library this one to check it out before I order one. Pretty neat – It’s been constantly reprinted. Awesome.

OldLadyMac sent me an awesome link - Shelter Kit. This is the sort of thing I love – I wouldn’t buy a kit house, mostly because … well, I don’t know why. I just wouldn’t. However, these kit house websites usually offer tons of information, and this one is a whopper. Lots of great photos, floorplans, photos. Awesome site.

Blessing the Elements send me word of a site I had never seen before – Natural Home Magazine. I think of it as more of an “inspiration site,” and frankly, I think that’s one of the most valuable components of this whole building-your-own-home enterprise. I always like to say – Take tons of time planning and dreaming, and enjoy yourself! This is a great site for that. Good reading here! Fun. Reads like a magazine. I found information here on Tiny Houses, Cob Houses, and all sorts of neat stuff. Read a great article about the 280 square foot cottage pictured.

* * *

So, where does this put me? Maybe a few soft decisions have been made. I now know that we will be either building a standard construction framed cottage, or a cordwood cottage. I know both methods. I understand them. It’s important that I feel comfortable. I’m going to go back to look at my cordwood reading again.

After looking at more photos, I know that I positively need to do a simple “Alpine” or “English Country” thing. They feel right. I tried real hard to look at other styles, but I can’t wrap my mind around putting a non-rustic cottage amidst my spruces and pines.  I really believe that in the best of worlds, the home is part of the landscaping, part of a whole. I believe that ideally, the property is one piece, not several varied components.

At the mention of all this, my mind naturally wandering towards tree and perennial planting this Spring. There’s going to be a lot of that going on soon! I do a lot of planting around here – counteracting whoever stripped the lot clean 100 years ago. I have an endless supply of free White Pines and Lupins. Wouldn’t a little cordwood cottage look awesome among a property filled with those?

While we’re in a stream-of-conciousness mood –  I found a cottage name at natural Home Magazine that I really like. “Quietude.” Isn’t that cool?

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