So, I started cooking

I just pickled 5 jars of chard stems and multicolored beets. They are so pretty. It does feel good to be able to immerse yourself in a project. Despite feeling like arse, I have been a paragon of patience with nearly-constant nose-blowing, tired boys who seem hell bent on keeping up a regular routine of love and bickering, and the fact that at least 6 times I've asked them NOT to use my basket of clean laundry as a hiding place.

Lest y'all think I'm turning into a depressive, farm-type of wife, I'm not. A) today started out with some heavy reading after a fitful night of sleep due to the nose sitch and B) the Arts Market is less than a month away, so I need to keep making my goods.

And, I do want to praise Tom's hard work, because it is lovely to be served this cup of coffee each morning.

Goats as weed whackers

I like goats because they are cute, their milk is tangy and makes great cheese and I find their climbing skills both amusing and impressive. In addition to these qualities, I also love that people are starting to use them as alternatives to weed whackers and other lawn- and/or overgrown land management practices.How environmental! How delightful to watch cute animals eat copious amounts of scrub rather than listening to and smelling the exhaust of landscaping machinery! If you don't believe me, check out Environmental Land Management's website; it's a group based in southern Cal.

Sinus infection, news from NY

Most unfortunately, I have one of the 3-4 sinus infections I get annually. So I'm not sure I'll be doing much today besides being grateful that my MIL wants to come play with the boys this afternoon and reading in bed. Nonetheless, a note that Em-i-lis Recipes just reached 75 delicious ideas, many of them simple. So fear not, jump in, pick one and have fun.

Also, did you see that NYC just decided to mandate sex-education? By this I mean real sex-ed, none of that abstinence-only BS that does not work. So, yay for you NYC. What a bastion of progressive thinking you are: gay marriage, sex-ed. Cheers!

I will attempt to rouse myself later, but you might just get pitiful musings on my sorry nose, aching face and irritating cough.