The Little Homestead Year In Review, Dark Days Meal, Fascinating 1920's Family Food Supply List

Happy New Year!

Vintage Farm Equipment Photo From 1920's

The Little Homestead Year In Review-
We're having a quiet evening tonite, as usual. We're not into the boozing, partying New Year's thing. Haven't been for years. When the kids were still home, I'd make a special dinner and a midnight dessert. Well, maybe 11:30, for the youngest. We'd watch the ball drop, shoot off some firecrackers and off to bed. Now, with the two of us, we just relax, have dinner, watch the show then- it's off to bed to sleep in. No hangover, no cleanup! I'm taking down the Christmas stuff today, and the tree tomorrow, another tradition. New Year's Day ends fresh, clean, and decluttered (for me). On the year's when I went back to work the next day, it was all taken care of. This year I go back on the 6th, what a treat! And so it goes... We added fresh bedding to the coop today too, so the girls will have a clean New Years as well. Anya is loving us both being home this last week. She loves to snuggle.

Life seems to have lots of twists and turns.  I have lots to do, all the time. I work full time, and am grateful I have summer, winter and spring breaks. I get a lot done then. Still, it seems there's always more. You never ARRIVE. I like the famous quote by Lao Tzu- A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. It's a good reminder to me that's it's not always about doing. You have to stop and smell the proverbial roses, and just BE. Hopefully on death's doorstep (someday) I won't be thinking about all the stuff I didn't get done, but about the people I have loved and who have loved me. I include my pets :) And hens. The places I've gone, and the things I've learned with a little wisdom thrown in. Hopefully.

So here's a look back at....

What we (Dave and/or I) got done this last year-

*Rebuilt the coop, a big project, this spring. Came out great!
*Planted more foods and a pear tree
*Tried new varieties of veggies, to find what works best
*Harvested a great crop of apples, nectarines, Choke cherries and summer veggies
*Looked at how we can grow more food in the front yard. Come spring we'll re-do a perennial flower bed.
*Looked at expanding our backyard plot, will increase space a lot! Since we had our big tree trimmed a couple of years ago, we have a LOT more sun. More sun= more food we can grow!
*Got a good deal on new replacement for dead AC/Furnace
*Offered a part time job of the blue (very high pay) that funded the above. Only a few hours a month, and on call.
*Did a fair amount of food preservation, despite being gimpy.
*Caught up on thrifting after surgery!
*Letting go of more stuff, good to do. I will not be a hoarder/over decorator! I've seen some homes where every square inch is covered with stuff. That makes me claustrophobic, and makes me think of unhappy people trying to shop their way out of a bad situation.
*I'm trying more alternative things for various medical stuff. Acupuncture for my asthma is next. Kefir Water, (you can make you own)  and Kombucha are up and coming. They may both help my food allergies and acid reflux. A friend got some locally and swears by it for her tummy issues. More is in the media all the time about how w need more healthy flora in our stomachs to help with all kinds of issues.

The Chinese Garden in Portland

Various good things that happened-

*Eldest daughter got married to a great guy! Wedding came out great, even on a frugal budget.
*It snowed, several times. I love snow. I even had 1 "snow day"!
*Both cars working great! One's paid for :)
*I have medical insurance that covered most of my surgery, awesome!
*Went to Portland, Oregon to see family, missed the terrible weather by one day! It was all ice and snow the  day after we go home.
*Shopped at Traders Joe's and Ikea while in Portland. What a treat!
*Trader Joe's was built in Boise, and is about to open. I love their healthy foods at low prices.
*Visited the gorgeous Chinese Garden in Portland too.
*Realized how lucky I am to have a job, that I love. My new boss seems great, that was a big worry.
*Went to my first Highlands Games and Celtic Festival in years and years.
*Too much medical stuff for me this year, OY. Glad that's over!

Anya making sure I kept my foot propped up

The not so good-

*I had so many plans for the summer- then overdue foot surgery. I watched TV like a mutant slug, not able to get out much. At least I had a wheelie cart thingy for 1 good foot! Then a LONG recovery period, with concrete floors at work covered by thin carpet, ugh. I'm hoping I won't have to have the other foot worked on, doing some alternative stuff.
*The lower back really suffered, then recovered from limping for so long (a year).  PT fixed that over time. That hurt.
*Then sciatica last month, ugh. Luckily I had the sense to get some acupuncture, all gone! 
*Two rounds of a cold/cough this winter. Doc got me on a nasal spray for allergies that nipped this round in the bud! Who knew!
*Lost another hen
*Winter came early, so the garden suffered a bit. Couldn't do the major pruning with a major cold snap, then snow.
*Thank god for hubs, or the wheels would have come off the cart. Being limited physically not only sucks, but your other half has to try and pick up all the slack. If things still don't get done, life goes on. You just have to suck it up.

Dark Days Challenge Meal- Out!
After I had to go to work for a couple of hours, Dave and I went and had a local lunch out, at a Basque place, Bar Gernika I had a wonderful local, free range, organic, spicy lamb grinder. Oh my! So good!!! I know- I didn't cook, I know, but hey it was local!

1920's USDA Food Supply Sheet

Fascinating 1920's Family Food Supply List-
If you REALLY read this it's fascinating. Look at the wording: "depended on .... and if made from whole grain, for mineral substances and vitamines" (typo I know). Fascinating, that even back then they knew the value of whole grains!

Another list- Interesting how limited the types of fruits and veggies there were. You ate what was local and in season, only.