Sunday, August 29, 2010

Preparing for winter


This year I have a new farm for CSA, Bending Bridge Farm in Penn. I am using the newish model of paying upfront for the CSA, like normal. The difference is I get to pick out what I want every week because they are at the Bethesda Central Farm Market every Sunday. I do my shopping and they debit my total from my share. I am so happy with this model because I am not getting stuff I don't want in quantities I could never finish in one or even two weeks. If you are in a CSA, I highly recommend this new model. And my farm has great selection: red and green peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, garlic, wax beans, green beans, Asian egglant, greens, lettuce, watermelon, cantaloupe, and more.

And being at the farm market every week is great because what Audrey and Cameron do not have, like peaches, I can buy from the other farmers. I am spoiled by the peaches (at about $2.50/lb) and would like to freeze some for use later. After trying the popular cooking web sites (for example Epicurious and All Recipies) and finding them completely useless, I found some large university extension services with great resources on freezing fruit and vegetables:
University of Minn. Extension
Colorado State Extension
University of Ga. Cooperative Extension

This will be my project for the week.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Living trust and will? Done.

Every once in a while I do something that reminds me that I am 41. An adult. Who needs to handle her life like an adult when necessary. Today I finalized my living trust and will.

It has been on my to do list literally for years, ever since I bought property. One reason it took me so long is I did not really know how to start to the process*. Arlington Adult Ed can take the credit for pushing me along. I attended a class this summer about getting the will written, knowing that I need to take the first step in attaining that goal. The lawyer who taught that class was very sensible, not scary or threatening, and drove the point home to me that this is something that I need to complete.

It really was not that hard, just time-consuming. Choosing beneficiaries and executor was thought-provoking and kind of difficult. I have two brothers and I did not want to offend the one I did not choose, but in the end I know I made the right choice. And there is nothing that can't be changed if my choices are eating away at me.

So I feel a big sense of satisfaction today.

*I don't think I am alone in not really knowing how or where to begin. For example, as I was leaving the office this afternoon to head over to the lawyer's, I rode the elevator with a colleague. A very smart guy, slightly younger than me, with a wife and children. He revealed that he does not have a will. What? Dude, you have kids!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Thanks DC Blogs

for the mention last week:

http://dcblogs.com/?p=3078

It's the only time I get hits! BTW, I got a email from a knitter who read my post about the guy subletting the apartment from the psychiatrist who requires he be out of the apartment 3 days a week. She is also a psychiatrist and laughed. I thought that was a pretty good coincidence.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Time to start thinking about Christmas gifts, knitters!

Time to start thinking about Christmas gifts, knitters! I found some nice yarn on sale on Elann today, for a new scarf for my father. Thanks to the yardage estimator here and the random stripe generator here, I think I figured out the yardage and some fun stripes.

Yesterday I met-up with the DC Threads meetup for the first time. Very nice women, and a small group which I prefer. We had knitters, crocheters, and a cross-stitcher, so there was good representation. The group meets in the atrium of the American Art Museum, a very public place, and it was funny the people who stopped to chat with us. One woman belonged to a card group that has never played cards, in the 43 years she has been part of the group, so she was impressed with us actually doing what we meet to do. I made some progress on Tudora, but I realize I can't knit and talk at the same time!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Snap out of it

I found some nice buttons on Etsy today; thinking about making another Tudora so I will need another funky button. It was a fast project and I have a whole ball of yarn leftover. It will make a good Christmas gift.

I was off today, another long weekend before the end of the summer. I considered driving to the beach but the total of 6 hours driving made me think twice. I hate living so far from the ocean! It has bugged me for as long as I have lived in D.C.

This summer has been a drain on my psyche for some reason. Have not figured it out yet. I hope the reason for all of the angst and feeling so low will become clear in the coming months. I just can't seem to snap out of it. A breakthrough has to be on the other side of this.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Now that I can cable

Now that I can cable, I feel like I have a whole new world of knitting in front of me. I used to avoid patterns w/cabling, shrinking in fear. Oh no, not cables!

Here's the progress on Tudora. I am psyched about my Berroco Blackstone Tweed yarn in Salt Water. The color is great (and what a great name), I hope it translates on the Web. It's a very blue teal color, w/little flecks.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Sublet with a catch

Had the most fascinating conversation yesterday afternoon with a guy living in D.C. on a temporary assignment at NIH. I met him at the bar of a mediterannean restaurant in my 'hood.

Having the day off, I went to the spa for an afternoon facial and manicure (thanks Groupon). Feeling all relaxed and shiny clean, I decided to stop in for a glass of red wine on my way home. This restaurant has a great selection of South American red wine and I knew I could grab a mezze or two if I was hungry. I love afternoons like this and I don't have them very often.

Shortly after I sat down at the empty bar and started sipping my glass of Argentinian Malbec, in walks a regular. Ann, the bartender greeted Ron by name and uncapped a Yuengling. There was some small talk, he lives in Seattle, going to Hawaii next week for vacation with his wife who is living in Seattle, blah blah. Then Ann brings me up to speed in Ron's living situation and the sitcom they have been planning over the many weeks that Ron has been visiting the bar.

He is subletting a studio apartment in NW from a psychologist. The psych lives in south Florida, but three days a week she comes to D.C. to see patients. On those days, Ron has to put all of his "stuff" away and stay out of the apartment from 8AM to 8PM. Oh the story lines this TV show could have! We were on a roll, I just hope we can remember them all after all the wine and beer.

I love this sort of stuff. And of course he found this apartment on Craigslist. Where else!