tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492463827737926072024-03-06T03:43:42.970-05:00able-bodied girlAble-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-34758188263357650022012-09-16T16:00:00.000-04:002012-09-22T21:27:33.588-04:00new horizons, new toothpasteI abandoned you this summer, dear blog, didn't I?
Rather than being too busy to think, I've had plenty on my mind and plenty to say. Plenty of moments, lost in thoughts, lost in concerns, lost and looking for an outlet. Alas, it hasn't really been fit for public consumption. Rightly so.
Anyway, it is time for some items of note to be published...
I have moved. I, alone. Without Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-59494336731667146172012-07-30T13:00:00.000-04:002012-07-30T13:00:03.098-04:00and here we go again...
What is it about summer that makes it impossible for me to post regularly?
I visited Barnhenge Mama (and her adorable new Boob Monster) yesterday, taking a moment to breathe and enjoy. Florence and the Machine were the soundtrack of my day, pulling at the depths of my soul to rip the music lover out of hiding, watching a spontaneous dance by a whimsical pre-schooler. A beautiful day to justAble-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-83101547526266545922012-06-29T12:30:00.000-04:002012-06-29T13:16:26.727-04:00i let you slip awayBob Wheeler passed away suddenly on Thursday. I never met him, but he was one of those people you just knew was making a difference out in the world. Smart and strong and inspirational. A community is in mourning.
I've been thinking a lot, even before this, about those in my life. Friends. Family. Old and new.
But mainly, those I've lost touch with. The once-besties, now facebook friends. Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-35401868861648743732012-06-10T11:31:00.001-04:002012-06-10T11:31:52.536-04:00gardens done-ish!
As you may recall, this is the Before of the "Corner Garden"
And this is the After!!
Imagine it with these flowers (cuz the roots have been planted in there!): Cote d'Azur Pinks
Also, the blackberries are starting to turn!
Whatcha got growin'?
Much Love,
Able-Bodied Girl
Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-8097436826368876912012-06-01T18:00:00.000-04:002012-06-01T18:00:07.921-04:00legends of the fallA legendary fail.
You may recall that back on New Years Eve, the Great Appendix Escape occurred. While I wasn't out of commission for too long, I did have to take it easy on my body for a month or more.
A month or more. Of not working out. Of getting out of the routine.
I went eased back with Gentle Yoga classes for a while, then graduated back into my regular Yoga Renew.
I Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-79160900970822813702012-05-30T19:56:00.000-04:002012-05-30T19:56:00.638-04:00outside my comfort zoneFirst things first. Thank you to all my readers, friends and random folk alike. Able-Bodied Boy (aka Manuel) has passed along all your encouragement and love, and I was shocked to hear so many random acquaintances and friends of friends of friends have been following along. Glad to see the blog has reached outside it's own "comfort zone"... certainly not a bad thing :) Thank you. Your Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-59820848343530893322012-05-12T11:24:00.000-04:002012-05-12T11:24:06.245-04:00how do you solve a problem like spring greens?Especially when Able-Bodied Boy is out of town that week....
So the 10 heads of Pak Choi was really about 8 small heads of Pak Choi and another 6-8 small heads of Bok Choi. We got two turnips, but no additional bunch of "Asian Green".
So....
I turned the bunches of kale from last week and this week into a yummy veggie lasagna. Sort of a combination of my BLE and the Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-13137841224071321232012-05-01T19:59:00.000-04:002012-05-01T19:59:22.567-04:00first CSA of the year (don't be jealous!)Saturday night we got an email... our first CSA pickup would be ready for Tuesday May 1st! WHHHAAAAT? So sooooon?!?! Yay!!
As I mentioned before, we have opted to change over to Adi Farms this year, which is 30 mins from home (or a 90min bike ride - one way). A little out of the way for us, but we're hoping that good produce and convenient hours are worth the trip. If you check out Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-43986591531052450962012-04-30T12:45:00.000-04:002012-04-30T19:28:48.574-04:00food coma: vacation to home
We were on a cruise a couple of weeks ago. You know... unlimited food at all hours? Well, we did not too too bad with the eating, and we managed to make 95% of our cruise only using the stairs (we were on deck 11, the buffets and sundecks were 12+, and most of the food and bars and fun stuff were on decks 5/6). I also jogged three mornings (got up to 2 miles, and forgot how much I loved jogging!Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-37517906442230662562012-04-29T17:37:00.000-04:002012-04-29T17:37:20.331-04:00sewing and photosNote the odometer? 122 and it's not even May!
After forgetting to take photos of the last sewing project, I figured I'd make a better effort with the latest one. This was the big-brother project, making 4T garb. With every project, I try to do something new and challenging to improve my skills. For the top, I decided to use bias tape as trim since I couldn't find a nice narrow trim to match the Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-70732880697055306872012-04-10T18:00:00.000-04:002012-04-10T18:00:02.298-04:00the most beautiful sewing you won't get to seeI made garb for a friend approaching her due date, who loves her some Renn Fairs :) Since her and her man got married in garb, and her son pretty much constantly wears some combination of dress up (pirate shirt and tu-tu? skeleton suit and cowboy hat? sure!), I thought they might appreciate a little garb for the wee girl.
I neatly layed out my latest sewing project for photography, right before Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-6069667069588963072012-04-08T09:28:00.001-04:002012-04-08T09:28:53.213-04:00canning planningSheesh, I guess time has gotten away from me...
Not much new on the home front. I've been working on a sewing project that is finally completed and should be posted soon (completely for showing off :) ), with a thousand more sewing projects planned. Able-Bodied Boy has already been mowing the lawn and planting seedlings. Looks like beans, peppers, swiss chard, carrots, and beets this year.Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-29819780286063196182012-03-17T08:37:00.003-04:002012-03-17T08:37:48.189-04:00r.i.p. macMac succumbed to her wounds last night.
You were a great layer of huge eggs, a beautiful Barred Rock, a true friend to Ginger, and a brave brave girl. May your next life be surrounded by clover pastures and a feast of meal worms. RIP friend.
Sadly,
Able-Bodied Girl
Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-24345143846924729832012-03-15T17:30:00.000-04:002012-03-16T08:23:49.435-04:00smokin', slicin', and pricin' baconSo, now you have a salty slab o' meat, right?
Smoke it!
There are plenty of smoker boxes on the market for all sorts of grills, as well as a variety of types of wood chips. There are also stand-alone smokers specifically for smoking, but I don't think we're quite that serious about our smoking just yet.
So, here are the basics of smoking your belly:
Get the chips wet
Heat them on high heat Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-71500413802361952732012-03-12T17:30:00.000-04:002012-03-12T17:30:00.464-04:00playing chicken doctor5:45 am on Thursday, I woke up to pee. I do this most mornings before the sun comes up. It's annoying. But I digress...
5:45am, I've stepped away from the sound machine which keeps me asleep all night. And then I heard it. The screams. Of chickens.
I ran stumbled down the stairs, Bella bounding after me. In the dim light of pre-dawn, I could see the chickens flying around the run, in a panic, Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-86341971927484317902012-03-11T10:00:00.000-04:002012-03-11T10:00:06.118-04:00green eggs, or how dr seuss came to town
Able-Bodied Boy sent me this picture last week while I was at work.
Bunty had laid her first egg, and it was GREEN!
Isn't it adorkable how much amusement these chickens bring us?
Much Love,
Able-Bodied Girl
Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-24473054680628317752012-03-06T18:00:00.000-05:002012-03-09T16:34:22.656-05:00w/mo2h #5: curin' baconOk, so now that you have your pork belly...
What do I need for curing?
Salt (Kosher salt is best)
Flavorings (optional)
Maple syrup (the real stuff, for the love of nature!)
Brown Sugar
Black Pepper
Other, as desired
A non-metalic covered curing vessel
A rig for keeping the belly out of it's own liquid. We used a large tupperware, with two small lids underneath the belly to keep it out of Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-58664071025207007662012-03-04T10:59:00.000-05:002012-03-13T11:34:28.966-04:00w/mo2h #5: makin' baconYup, you got that right.
We are making bacon. And it's super easy to do, from what we are finding.
Now, this was inspired by three things. First and foremost, the blogging goddess Crunchy Chicken and her post last month about her first bacon phase. Second and crucially, the fact that we have a full-service pork store just around the corner from our house, where all manner of fresh Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-87437878104757177152012-02-22T17:39:00.000-05:002012-02-22T17:39:35.049-05:00lookie over there!! --->Just did my first cycling ride of the year :) And updated my odometer over there on the right...
I'm sooooo out of shape, but the weather was beautiful and Able-Bodied Boy was nice enough to prep my bike and my boss was nice enough to let me leave work early and OH MY GOD did that feel good.
1000+, here I come!
How have you been making the most of the early spring weather?
MuchAble-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-45435824316136897202012-02-14T18:30:00.000-05:002012-02-14T18:30:00.669-05:00smile. the rest is out of your control.This past week has been pretty rough for me, mentally and emotionally. My anxiety level has been high and I've been on the verge of tears more often than not. I'm a girl; this happens on occasion. And trust me, this used to be my normal. But in the last year, I've been happily meandering through life. That is, until this past week.
There have been a number of things on my mind. And mostly, they Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-9472065505894546382012-02-09T19:27:00.002-05:002012-02-09T19:27:46.493-05:00when teenagers get all grown up...Well, the day had to come... *snifflesniffle*
First thing this morning I found the medium-sized egg (left in photo). Which was a little wierd. Same color as Mac's usual eggs, but not her usual extra-large size. Since I didn't check on the chickens last night, the egg was laid sometime between 9a Wednesday and 7a Thursday.
This evening, I found the tiny pullet egg (Babs? Bunty?) and the Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-285494071378951982012-02-08T18:00:00.000-05:002012-02-08T18:00:06.735-05:002012 csa selectionWell, I talked quite a bit about the CSA we had last year. We shared with Purple Monkey and family, and had a pretty good experience overall with Red Hill Farm. But coming into the 2012 season, we re-evaluated and wanted to look into all of our options.
First, the pros and cons of Red Hill Farm for a second season
PRO: organic (uncertified)
CON: some of their products are less appealing (Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-14985779582045924372012-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:002012-02-05T10:54:54.547-05:00amazing breakfast oat cakesAs I mentioned at some point last year, I try to eat oatmeal every morning. It's full of soluble fiber, which makes you feel fuller for longer. And it's low in calories, which is good for the waistline.
It also sucks.
It's mushy. It's slimy. And no matter how many spices and how much honey I throw in it, it always just feels like BLAH in my mouth.
So when I said I "try" to eat oatmeal Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-13122428902687943702012-02-01T17:30:00.000-05:002012-02-01T17:30:01.063-05:002012 cycling goal(ish)Ok, I will admit I have not even started to calculate how many miles I did last year. (But I will before this post is done, cuz now I'm really curious).
But I'm thinking maybe, just maybe, I could cycle 1000 miles this year.
So let's say I get back on the bike for my morning rides of 10 miles. Let's say I start in April and go through October (same months I rode last year), averaging 3 morning Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549246382773792607.post-56634748491209473832012-01-28T12:42:00.000-05:002012-01-28T12:44:25.894-05:00bella's beautiful progressLast year, after the joy of adopting Bella, we faced the struggles of her unknown past. I haven't posted anything about her since, so let me remedy that now by telling you about her progress - both as a beloved member of the house and as a dog recovering from abandonment.
Bella learns our routines quickly, and amusingly. When we first got her, she knew that my post-breakfast glass Able-Bodied Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07794340941445601599noreply@blogger.com1