Last week in our house Joachim went running to Ben saying, “moo”, “cow” in an excited panic. There was a very loud rumbling coming down the driveway and that was the only explanation he could think of. I’m not quite sure how he got the cow association, it was in fact, Uncle Chris and cousins coming to plow a small field for alfalfa. We all watched entranced as the tractor tore through the clay. Joachim is WAY into tractors right now which is pretty good timing, because we will see a LOT of them throughout the spring.
Those are bags of mulch, just to clarify.
I can't resist posting some lyrics to this great country song. Whenever I feel like I'm missing out on city life I remind myself we never have any traffic here. The only things that slow us down are tractors and trains. (
International Harvestor by Craig Morgan
...I’m a God fearin’ hard workin’ combine driver
Hoggin’ up the road on my p-p-p-p-plower
Chug a lug a luggin’ 5 miles an hour
On my International Harvester
Three miles of cars layin’ on their horns
Fallin’ on deaf ears of corn
Lined up behind me like a big parade
Of late to work road raged jerks
Shoutin’ obscene words flippin’ me the bird
Well I know you got your own deadlines
But cussin’ me ain’t savin’ no time hoss
This big-wheeled wide load ain’t goin’ any faster
So just smile and wave and tip your hat
To the man up on the tractor...
And then we went to the backyard and dug up the rest of our carrots. Joachim was very involved in the carrot collecting and sorting them into groups of "baby" and "big". If we had mulched them they might have survived the winter and little better, but as they are they're still edible, just a little dry. So far we've made a stir fry, a soup and some unsuccessfully glazed carrots.
Last week in our house Joachim went running to Ben saying, “moo”, “cow” in an excited panic. There was a very loud rumbling coming down the driveway and that was the only explanation he could think of. I’m not quite sure how he got the cow association, it was in fact, Uncle Chris and cousins coming to plow a small field for alfalfa. We all watched entranced as the tractor tore through the clay. Joachim is WAY into tractors right now which is pretty good timing, because we will see a LOT of them throughout the spring.
Those are bags of mulch, just to clarify.
Alexandra is a brilliant woman and a world-traveler who is now a treasure tucked away in these mountains. It was such a privilege to have lunch with them and listen to their family stories. Joachim, on the other hand, discovered a passionate interest in identifying cow poop, he's now an expert.
One week ago we celebrated Joachim's 2nd birthday. This year was just a family affair much like last year and it was festive as ever, although next year I do hope to have a true kid party for him. I tackled my greatest culinary challenge yet and created a gluten/dairy/egg free gingerbread cookie train. It’s difficult because rice flour dough never really rolls out and crumbles after it’s baked (no glue-ten) and without egg in the icing it never really hardens and it’s not that strong. Nonetheless, here is Joachim’s allergen-free train:
It was all worth it for him to enjoy his birthday dessert, and thanks to our casein/gluten free friend Rhetta, we also learned about “Coconut Bliss”, a delicious coconut milk chocolate ice cream (note to orthodox: it’s also a great Lenten treat from Vitamin Cottage that surpasses soy and rice creams).
Joachim was very pleased with the present opening (initially more so than with the presents) and as usual he loved sharing his goodies with cousins and soaking up all the attention they lavished on him.
God grant him many years.
