Here we are again

Well hello again internets.  Whew!  Well, I guess 4 years is long enough for some spring cleaning!

A lot sure has changed since 2011 when I stopped posting here.  Here is a quick recap:

We sold the house and moved to the PNW where we rented, rented, bought, rented, sold, and bought a house.  We changed vehicles more times then I want to count.  We are now a family of four and soon to be five.  We have new chickens, a new top bar hive, and a two box garden that we hope to enlarge next year.  Morgan is still an ICU nurse and I am now a helicopter and airplane pilot about to start with the airlines.

We are still vegetarians, gardeners, beekeeper, and tree huggers, but we are far more private about our day to day lives now that we have children.  We are protective of their privacy, both online and off. And we are the "weird" parents that won't let friends and family post pictures of our kids on social media.

I have thought about this page off and on for the last few years and I am looking forward to once again using it as a space to clear my mind.  

Cheers to you!

Spring Cleaning Time

Oh man! I can't believe how long it's been since I've used this site.  Blogger was a great tool for me several years ago that really let me develop just who I was and wanted to be.  Then, one day, I was done.  Blogger had gotten me to a point and it was no longer needed.  So without so much as a goodbye, I jammed it in the way back corner of my internet closet and forgot about it.  Now years later, it's time to blow the dust of of it and give it new life.  

Let the Spring cleaning begin! 

Bulk foods on Amazon

Did you know that you can now buy bulk foods on amazon.com? So far we have purchased, the gluten free pizza mix we like and the Yogi brand tea that I drink in the afternoons/evenings.  Not only are you able to save by buying in bulk, you can save more if you subscribe to the items.  Right now we are subscribed to buying 6 pizza mixes every 3 months and 6 boxes of tea every 6 months.  Through you Amazon.com account, you change/manage your subscriptions.

I haven't worked out the environmental benefits/hurtfulness of shopping this way but as soon as I do, I will be sure to share what I find.  


In the mean time, be sure to check out our farm blog, www.Fireflyskiesfamilyfarm.com to stay updated with our farm progress.

Grist makes link between Girl Scouts and Orangutans

This afternoon I read an interesting article on Grist.org titled, "Are Girl Scout cookies killing Orangutans?" 

The article states that Girl Scout cookies are made with palm oil and that palm oil is:

"the No. 1 culprit behind deforestation in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia." 

 The Grist article goes on to say that the Girl Scouts can switch to canola oil which is more environmentally friendly and healthier as well.  The next part of the article is what I found most interesting.  Apparently, the Girl Guides of Great Britain use olive and rapeseed oil instead of palm oil and are offering to help the Girl Scouts and Girl Guides Canada switch as well.  This little tidbit comes from the blog, "Please do not tap on the glass" 

I didn't understand why the Girl Scouts don't change oils until I read that they need palm oil to keep the chocolate chips from falling out of the cookies!  Fair enough.  However that excuses flies out the window when your sister organization comes to you and says, "Hey sis, we found another oil that works and guess what? Its more environmentally friendly and healthier then how you are currently making cookies!

So why don't the switch? Cost.  We Americans demand cheaper prices on everything which in this case leads to deforestation which leads to a lost of Orangutan habitat. 

So are the Girls Scouts helping to kill Orangutans with their palm oil filled cookies?  Yes they are.

Who else is helping? Everyone that buys the cookies.

Remember, you can always:

 

Straight Razor

 

Image from here

I think I'm finally ready to make the switch.  For the past few years I've really been bothered each time that I throw away a disposable razor.  We tend to use the mid price razor so I get a few good shaves on it but most of the time, it rips my face apart.  It's gotten to the point where I only shave in the mornings if I know the razor is still new, otherwise, I shave at night so my face has time to heal before the morning.

  I've thought about using a straight razor for some now but I guess I've been a little afraid to try it because I don't want to accidentally slit my throat.  I've gotten over my nervousness and I'm ready to give it a try.  Last night I read a great article on Mother Earth News simply titled, "How to use a straight razor."
  
The above article gives a good overview of how to shave with a straight razor, what to look for when buying a razor, and how advice on sharping storing the new razor.


I want to use a straight razor because I am tired of throwing away the disposable razor all the time.  I'm thinking that once I learn how to use the razor, it will be a win-win for me and the environment.


Let the search began!

Wordless Wednesday - Hawaii's Big Island

Be Greedy - Save the World

Is global warming real? Yes? No? Who cares?

If you said yes, then there are plenty of documentaries out there for you. If you said no or who cares, then you should check out the new documentary called "Carbon Nation."

This film is not trying to change your mind on global warming, all they take about are energy solutions, creating jobs, and saving money. Check out the trailer below.

300 years of fossil-fueled addiction

Hand Powered Espresso Maker for the Home

In case you don't know, I love Americanos.  An Americano is simply hot water added to espresso, usually 1 shot per 8oz of water.  For the past year or so I have stuck (mostly) to my pledge of not drinking coffee from a disposable cup.  This means that if I am out and about and I want a cup of coffee but I don't have my own cup with me...I'm out of luck.


Each morning, I hand grind my own coffee beans (Blind Dog Coffee - a local fair trade, organic, coffee roaster.) and then use my French Press to make my morning cup of joe.  I love making coffee this way because of the low energy impact...just enough to boil the water. 


However, some mornings I really want an Americano but I have no way to make one at home.  I really don't want to buy some huge power hungry machine so I've been searching for some sort of hand powered espresso maker...


The first espresso maker I found was the: Handpresso Handheld Portable Espresso Machine.

This seemed like a great little machine and I loved he fact that it was portable...hello camping espresso!  The downside I found to this device is that you can't use your own espresso, you have to use those little espresso pods that just get thrown away... No thanks.  Price is about $135 (price is in British pounds)


Then this morning I came across: the Presso Espresso Maker

I love this espresso maker!  Everything is hand powered like my french press and the best part is that you can use your own espresso.  This also comes with a double shot maker attachment so with this machine, I would be all set to make my own Americanos!   Price - $150


While $150 is a bit much, I think it would pay for itself within the first year.  Plus the whole thing is recyclable. 

Catching up

I love fall.  I love that the weather is starting to cool off and that life's pace is slowing down.  We are eating more soup and I can bust out my favorite long sleeve shirts.  

We've done a lot of the past month so let me catch everyone up.

My brother-in-law got sent to Switzerland for work at the end of last month and i decided to join him. I got to spend several days in Geneva while he worked at the W.H.O. and then we spent several days hiking in the alps and checking out small villages.

While I was gone, Firefly had a wood insert installed in our fireplace (we were going to do it after I got back but she wanted to surprise me)

Our Silkie hen went broody on us and stopped laying eggs and was also causing the other hens to slow down as well.  To finally break her of being broody, I dunked her into a bucket of water.  This is not as mean as it sounds.  You have to find a way to cool her off and lower her body temperature.  Dunking her in cool water on a warm day is the best/fastest way to do it.  

Firefly has finished one chair and is getting ready to start on the second one!

 

 we added a red ball and pull string after this shot so that it can be pulled around...which makes the legs move.

I have a list of projects to make for Christmas this year and I'm also thinking of starting a wood working blog/website to start building my wood working portfolio.  I really like old wooden toys and I think I might try and focus on making them.  I like that they last a long time and don't contain harmful chemicals or metals.  Maybe they'll even be passed down for a few generations.  Stay tuned for more on this.

Wordless Wednesday

Live Rescue video of Chile's Miners fron MSNBC

Click here to goto the live video link from MSNBC

Past Peak Oil - Anita Sancha

Past Peak Oil Travelling Towards Transition Animation from Anita Sancha on Vimeo.

Eww...Bacon! How bacon is made

3.19 inches

From Newsweek

Wordless Wednesday!

Wordless Wednessday

USS KIRK on NPR

Image from Kirk1087.org

If you have a little bit of time I think you should take a moment to listen (or read) about the US Navy's most important humanitarian rescue mission in history.  This rescue mission took place 35 years ago in Vietnam and save the lives of 20,000-30,000 Vietnamese refugees.

The story is told in three parts so you can either listen to them back to back or over a few days if you'd rather.

You can listen to parts 2 and 3 but have to read part 1.

1. After 35 Years, Unlikely Navy Caregivers Receive Recognition
2. 
   

   35 Years On, Vietnam Heroes Reunited, Decorated (This is the best part)

3. 
   

   At War's End, U.S. Ship Rescued South Vietnam's Navy

 

Wordless Wednesdays

Our Crazy Weather