tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71336519896521961142024-02-02T08:57:37.844-08:00Off-Grid Home Sweet HomeSome people may not know what off-the-grid or off-grid means, so here it is --- The term off-the-grid or off-grid refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities.
Off-grid living is no longer a one room log cabin in the woods. It's energy independency. You don't have to rely on utility companies, you create your own power. Today, there are more than 180,000 off-grid homes in the US.Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comBlogger563125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-74557935596074692842023-10-17T19:34:00.005-07:002023-10-17T19:34:48.938-07:00Living With The Threat of Wildfires…<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">7:30pm – 53 degrees – scattered clouds…</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">A few years after we moved up here, Tony had a DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Fire Forester come out to look at our place and let us know how we would fare if a wildfire came through. The outcome of that visit was the knowledge that we would be on our own. We were told that ground fire crews would not be sent out due to the steepness and inaccessibility of the mountain ridge we live on. They may send out an aircraft to drop some fire retardant on our house but that’s about it. On the positive side, the DNR guy did say that we had a great start on the defensible space around our home and had the right to stay and protect it. Before he left, he gave us some information on how to make the defensible space around our home even better.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; max-width: 1000%; text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-3431" data-attachment-id="3431" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="082012-005-email" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=898" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg" data-orig-size="898,600" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/082012-005-email/" height="600" sizes="(max-width: 898px) 100vw, 898px" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=898" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg 898w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=150 150w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=300 300w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/082012-005-email.jpg?w=768 768w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="898" /></figure><div aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">If you are not sure what ‘defensible space’ means…it is an area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure. It also reduces the chance of a structure fire moving from the building to the surrounding forest.</p><div class="wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular" data-carousel-extra="{"blog_id":224458286,"permalink":"https:\/\/offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com\/2023\/10\/17\/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires\/"}" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px auto 1.5em;"><div class="tiled-gallery__gallery" data-jetpack-block-initialized="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 0px; width: 453.234px;"><div class="tiled-gallery__row" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; width: 453.234px;"><div class="tiled-gallery__col" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-basis: 37.8011%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin: 0px;"><figure class="tiled-gallery__item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 152.99px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 169.949px;"><img alt="" data-attachment-id="3434" data-comments-opened="1" data-height="681" data-id="3434" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="zonesmap" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg?w=750" data-link="https://offgridhomesweethome.com/?attachment_id=3434" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg" data-orig-size="750,681" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/zonesmap/" data-url="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg?w=750" data-width="750" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/zonesmap.jpg?strip=info&w=750 750w" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 169.938px;" /></figure></div><div class="tiled-gallery__col" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-basis: 62.1989%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px;"><figure class="tiled-gallery__item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 152.99px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 279.285px;"><img alt="" data-attachment-id="3432" data-comments-opened="1" data-height="413" data-id="3432" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="miracle-house89d2" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg?w=750" data-link="https://offgridhomesweethome.com/?attachment_id=3432" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg" data-orig-size="750,413" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/miracle-house89d2/" data-url="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg?w=750" data-width="750" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/miracle-house89d2.jpg?strip=info&w=750 750w" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 279.281px;" /></figure></div></div></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">We are very aware of the danger from wildfires, and so far, we have only been in various levels of ‘evacuation zones’ a handful of times – several times we had our rigs all packed and ready to go, and we have actually evacuated twice when the fires have gotten a little too close for comfort.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; max-width: 1000%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-69" data-attachment-id="69" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="20231005_215150-1" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=1000" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg" data-orig-size="1807,1205" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=69" height="1205" sizes="(max-width: 1807px) 100vw, 1807px" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=1000" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg 1807w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=300 300w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=768 768w, https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231005_215150-1.jpg?w=1024 1024w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="1807" /></div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;">This wildfire last fall was less than two miles away from our house and we did end up evacuating.</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">Over the years, we have had a few wildfires that were very visible from our house. During the day we could watch as water and fire retardant was being dropped from airplanes and helicopters, and during the night we could see the glow of the raging fire, on the next ridge line over from us.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">Last night we had another scare with a fire that was about 3/4 of a mile from our house. Usually when there is a fire, or visible smoke within 5-7 miles of us, our phones blow up with calls and texts. However, yesterday it had been raining hard all day, and it was foggy with low clouds, so no one saw the smoke or fire. It wasn’t until it got dark, the rain stopped, the clouds lifted a little, and then you could see the orange glow from the burning trees.</p><div class="wp-block-jetpack-tiled-gallery aligncenter is-style-rectangular" data-carousel-extra="{"blog_id":224458286,"permalink":"https:\/\/offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com\/2023\/10\/17\/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires\/"}" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px auto 1.5em;"><div class="tiled-gallery__gallery" data-jetpack-block-initialized="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; padding: 0px; width: 453.234px;"><div class="tiled-gallery__row" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; width: 453.234px;"><div class="tiled-gallery__col" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-basis: 53.6434%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin: 0px;"><figure class="tiled-gallery__item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 312.474px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 241.456px;"><img alt="" data-attachment-id="3437" data-comments-opened="1" data-height="1175" data-id="3437" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="snapchat-1027187874" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg?w=783" data-link="https://offgridhomesweethome.com/?attachment_id=3437" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg?w=230" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg" data-orig-size="899,1175" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/snapchat-1027187874/" data-url="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg?w=783" data-width="899" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/snapchat-1027187874.jpg?strip=info&w=899 899w" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 241.453px;" /></figure></div><div class="tiled-gallery__col" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-basis: 46.3566%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px;"><figure class="tiled-gallery__item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 154.184px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 207.779px;"><img alt="" data-attachment-id="3438" data-comments-opened="1" data-height="1430" data-id="3438" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="20231017_121459" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?w=1000" data-link="https://offgridhomesweethome.com/?attachment_id=3438" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg" data-orig-size="1905,1430" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/20231017_121459/" data-url="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?w=1000" data-width="1905" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=900 900w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=1200 1200w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=1500 1500w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=1800 1800w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121459.jpg?strip=info&w=1905 1905w" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 207.766px;" /></figure><figure class="tiled-gallery__item" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-grow: 1; height: 154.29px; justify-content: center; margin: 4px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 207.779px;"><img alt="" data-attachment-id="3436" data-comments-opened="1" data-height="1440" data-id="3436" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="20231017_121425" data-large-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?w=1000" data-link="https://offgridhomesweethome.com/?attachment_id=3436" data-medium-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?w=300" data-orig-file="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg" data-orig-size="1917,1440" data-permalink="https://offgridhomesweethome.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/living-with-the-threat-of-wildfires/20231017_121425/" data-url="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?w=1000" data-width="1917" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg" srcset="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=600 600w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=900 900w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=1200 1200w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=1500 1500w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=1800 1800w,https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231017_121425.jpg?strip=info&w=1917 1917w" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; width: 207.766px;" /></figure></div></div></div></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">When we first saw the hillside on the ridge across from us ablaze, and we hadn’t heard anything about it, we went with assumption that no one knew about it yet and went into evacuation mode – sent a group message to our neighbors to inform them of the fire that was in close proximity, called 911, and started packing our rigs in case we needed to leave.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">Within a half hour, Tony and Jack had their fire equipment pack and went to inspect the fire, we had our rigs packed and ready to go, and another neighbor had contacted DNR. That’s when we found out that the fire had started out as a planned controlled slash burn that had gotten out of control when the wind unexpectedly picked up to 30+ mph wind gusts which caused the burning slash piles to jump to the surround trees.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6a6c6e; font-family: "Quattrocento Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: justify;">Thankfully they got the fire back under control, and no structures or people were hurt. But it was still a bit of a stressful night as this has been the closest fire to our house to date.</p>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-87936121734893149942023-10-10T15:08:00.004-07:002023-10-10T15:08:41.208-07:00Winter Prep | Car Emergency Kit...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1:50 pm - 49 degrees - drizzling...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When my siblings and I started driving, our parents made sure we all had emergency kits in our cars, and we have all continued with that habit. Now that our kids are at that stage in their lives, we make sure they also have emergency kits.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Really everyone should have some basic emergency kit in their car - they come in very handy when on road trips and even in daily life. Anything is better than nothing, and it's always good to be prepared.</span></p><p><!-- wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- /wp:paragraph --></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now that fall is here, we're starting to do our winter prep because snow is right around the corner... which for us means winter storms, and possibly getting stuck in the snow until we can get dug out. So I'm checking what I have stored in my SUV and restocking as needed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcoDmpZjjFDBi2ZVU9z0SJh-35ml3pj60F5CKwRB1xQbNczdbnTyVb63x47g79sOxvlptkJNCrnFYqwRM49dhIBn64gk7bTPmlWoxDwhzQsN1JlwN18NQewnSZoEh2WWoDuzuvytwaA9z63fQnfpyWPnJYw2VHvVIMbBhb3Roo6XblwwSthxggcemE0LEI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcoDmpZjjFDBi2ZVU9z0SJh-35ml3pj60F5CKwRB1xQbNczdbnTyVb63x47g79sOxvlptkJNCrnFYqwRM49dhIBn64gk7bTPmlWoxDwhzQsN1JlwN18NQewnSZoEh2WWoDuzuvytwaA9z63fQnfpyWPnJYw2VHvVIMbBhb3Roo6XblwwSthxggcemE0LEI=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Love that my Telluride has this storage compartment where I can keep everything out of the way and organized. </span></div></figure>
<!-- /wp:paragraph --></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqsmvcxaAd-bOvCwE6Gw7h13TnYCs1MubuV2CkpWHpW_aKg4FDnm7Qaq-28dBQMk-vW_fwnn1zPfEcuJ4ofZPLT7ChE4Sy4nOGf1HvSjAW_zNrAS_UsQ-QZsXMalCvTqAxnmjVpqXnT1PGMX_nORndflFA5urIHz-czqCbztwDAtmvOEP7iJo1mOwEIfU/s4032/20231007_150515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqsmvcxaAd-bOvCwE6Gw7h13TnYCs1MubuV2CkpWHpW_aKg4FDnm7Qaq-28dBQMk-vW_fwnn1zPfEcuJ4ofZPLT7ChE4Sy4nOGf1HvSjAW_zNrAS_UsQ-QZsXMalCvTqAxnmjVpqXnT1PGMX_nORndflFA5urIHz-czqCbztwDAtmvOEP7iJo1mOwEIfU/w400-h300/20231007_150515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The black bag is for random tools and misc. items - zip ties, fire starter, knife, matches, compass, mirror, handwarmers, duct tape, etc.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl0rYD4yoBaE-qEd8uw0e8ADc43kmIxKXPUh0x3pGzVkZ22R9Q4mzXDFONxcK7eXxxAP3viz9M32JRDP2T_wlU6IRlSGyUgbwDiK0fd6hpcMHJ4TpUn5LRvM5-WA-LysTc1EvoJ8kyVMSE1zYLo1TCsXx8w76A1kay1S89WiBLh7EMHw6KoiwZuiS5UML/s4032/20231007_150518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl0rYD4yoBaE-qEd8uw0e8ADc43kmIxKXPUh0x3pGzVkZ22R9Q4mzXDFONxcK7eXxxAP3viz9M32JRDP2T_wlU6IRlSGyUgbwDiK0fd6hpcMHJ4TpUn5LRvM5-WA-LysTc1EvoJ8kyVMSE1zYLo1TCsXx8w76A1kay1S89WiBLh7EMHw6KoiwZuiS5UML/w400-h300/20231007_150518.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The red bag is for first aid related items - band aides, gloves, tweezers, gauze, pain killers, etc.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEwubuz059nNKO5doIwE8w6LRzf7iHkbGcxyUabFMi2SF21QA2u9nnx1S9bmRHqm9jxwsEK4VOn7OpHNCU1BXJedmkpyne4W1lTGRsm8GXiG-0HMxhXdgWsr_nh_SpJLHXMq8YqcuKjHflzv-dHDsJunN2aw47Q7PB_3rQx_SsXGd43jnPle_XeyBgN1s/s4032/20231007_152119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEwubuz059nNKO5doIwE8w6LRzf7iHkbGcxyUabFMi2SF21QA2u9nnx1S9bmRHqm9jxwsEK4VOn7OpHNCU1BXJedmkpyne4W1lTGRsm8GXiG-0HMxhXdgWsr_nh_SpJLHXMq8YqcuKjHflzv-dHDsJunN2aw47Q7PB_3rQx_SsXGd43jnPle_XeyBgN1s/w400-h300/20231007_152119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Between the back to chairs, I have a basket full of snacks, that gets regularly refilled. (Please excuse the dirty car - we live the mountains, and it is impossible to keep a clean car!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a list of what I have in my car...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Benadryl, Ibuprophen (Advil)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bottled water</span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3F1Zqf8" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Car Safety Tool</span></a></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3PDJHHV" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Emergency Mylar Blanket</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First Aid bag</span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/48F0nYg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Hand Warmers</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hand sanitizer</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hats, gloves, warm socks </span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3EZj6A7" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">LifeStraw Water Filter</span></a></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/46bViF7" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Nylon Rope</span></a></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3PImzs0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Outdoor Edge Knife Set</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Snacks</span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZH1WkD" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Storage Bag</span></a></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/46vHUf1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Portable Solar Wireless Charger</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3RNZRkZ" target="_blank">Rechargeable Flashlight</a> </span></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3PCdwZz" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Rechargeable LED Emergency Road Flares</span></a></p><p><a href="Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit Multipurpose Bag, Premium with Battery " target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: verdana;">Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wipes</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zip ties</span></p><br /><p><br /></p>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-24783987169925395792023-10-10T10:22:00.004-07:002023-10-10T10:22:34.726-07:00Lemon Blueberry Bread...<div class="separator"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6:50 pm - 60 degrees - lightly scattered clouds...</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a new family favorite. Moist, flavorful, delicious, and can be served for breakfast, snack, or dessert. I also love to make it in <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q7Ir17">patterned bundt pan</a>.</span></div><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-2629" height="266" src="https://offgridhomesweethome.files.wordpress.com/2023/10/20231008_150318.jpg?w=1024" width="400" /></figure><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></figure><p></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">~ Lemon Blueberry Bread ~</span></p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} -->
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<p class="has-text-align-center"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 cup unsalted butter (melted)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup granulated sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 teaspoons fresh grated lemon zest</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tablespoon all-purpose flour</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">~ Lemon Glaze ~</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} -->
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 table spoons butter (melted)<br />1/2 cup powdered sugar<br />2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice<br />1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Instructions:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with parchment paper or a bundt pan lightly greased with butter.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking power and salt, and set aside.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, blend together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While slowly mixing, alternately add in the flour mixture and milk - add some flour, then some milk, then the rest of the flour, then the rest of the milk. Stop mixing as soon as its just combined.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a small bowl toss the blueberries and 1 Tbsp flour. If using fresh blueberries, rinse the berries off, so they have a bit of moisture on them so the flour will stick. This flour coating will help prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of your mixture while baking.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Add the flour coated berries to the batter and gently, but quickly, fold the berries into the mixture.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Immediately pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool bread in the pan for about 30 minutes, then move to a wire cooling rack with a baking sheet below (to catch the glaze you are about to add).</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="text-align: justify;"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- /wp:image --></p>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-44741070850440404172023-10-06T10:12:00.003-07:002023-10-06T12:43:30.937-07:00Harsh Truths About Homesteading and Off-Grid Living...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">10:12 am - 65 degrees - clear sky, 24+ mph wind gusts...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">First things first - you need to realize that the "simple life" isn't so simple. Too many new homesteaders fail to realize that a simpler life does not mean an easier life. In many ways, you will be working harder than you ever have before.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With that being said, if this lifestyle is the right choice for you and your family, all your hard work will be more than worth it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are a few harsh truths that we have learned along the way...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>A lot of family members and friends will think you are nuts.</b> -- Get used to it. Some people just will not understand or embrace your lifestyle choice. They may even try to talk you out of it. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's okay, just keep doing what you are doing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Instead of getting defensive, or frustrated, try to stay focused and positive. Try to surround yourself with supportive people who can help you achieve your goals.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><b>Homesteading is unpredictable.</b> -- </span>Often times you are dealing with the whim of Mother Nature and she cannot be controlled. Not enough rain, and your garden or crops suffer, or the threat of a wildfire gets high. Too much rain, and it ruins your garden or crops, or your road washes out. Crazy howling wind (which is a normal thing here) causes its own damage. And snow... trying to keep our driveway/road open is a full-time job and makes all the chores 10 times harder.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqv6nqOuAGDXpgDa1_lOmZWMygJlVhVdyAsWp0nsnnUB4dUgrEHOw_Z0HV-qG1CPNinQQGeGbxm8ko3KnW0L_y7oNKLIPFzTKdyf9p_F-R164sMCvW-ZJ1AYeEw9X8am6lNXxjcPQq0AxQdVs7edSWfhduH3M4Ut8gBzoz7e6TwwgYE4rWfG5phg4oEnh/s1807/20231005_215150.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1807" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqv6nqOuAGDXpgDa1_lOmZWMygJlVhVdyAsWp0nsnnUB4dUgrEHOw_Z0HV-qG1CPNinQQGeGbxm8ko3KnW0L_y7oNKLIPFzTKdyf9p_F-R164sMCvW-ZJ1AYeEw9X8am6lNXxjcPQq0AxQdVs7edSWfhduH3M4Ut8gBzoz7e6TwwgYE4rWfG5phg4oEnh/s320/20231005_215150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Forest fire about 1.5 miles from our home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2724" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz12x7YBpNWlBE62i4OQrY0i5vSUS0a3zPr15UaFgFZBKFamdn9NFDbxoOpMCinMVaJehHljswGn4ql6hRMu4A4AD9W5lxGlGn6SAHf2HDiDzLsa1w9enOSCHfCoiVF3BZtceHQ8EwfQh3_MTlJ24BVpz3tN82qOlWvk156JgAjmxMHA-ijPIThYUZJ2sU/s320/20231006_092907.jpg" width="213" /></div></div></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Besides Mother Nature, you also have to deal with whatever Life throws at you. Every year is different. Every year has its own difficulties, hardships, and rewards.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQkNxgdKDhSSWIKZF5ZWd7LKQXmP8C08h1y2THgyaItE0MPsWl5OkRP1FZ146JG1Zz1bMoTXBiMK4zr8ZhYG927upbaXP7SMSC2nybtL0X5igTZx7JC0WvIggig8PR21JHMIpKUGNBwjmvuYkcqiA22qRM-YCAVh_DMHgV0ZmfSDqvQlom0MhNcoTXB5t/s1079/Screenshot_20231006_100437_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1079" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQkNxgdKDhSSWIKZF5ZWd7LKQXmP8C08h1y2THgyaItE0MPsWl5OkRP1FZ146JG1Zz1bMoTXBiMK4zr8ZhYG927upbaXP7SMSC2nybtL0X5igTZx7JC0WvIggig8PR21JHMIpKUGNBwjmvuYkcqiA22qRM-YCAVh_DMHgV0ZmfSDqvQlom0MhNcoTXB5t/s320/Screenshot_20231006_100437_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Homesteading and off-grid living is year-round, long hours, and hard work.</b> -- Homesteading is 365 days a year... in sickness and in health... sunshine, rain, howling wind, and snow... and often involves long hours with hard work. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRUHHnfTX5xMcbXUCaEPkC0BCQ9pNsnTpqm981DnMdg7XrnqOKcJpf8TFAtItMYfzw378W4QaUThQzoj48AB6dOCp92Tv9EEPuwgcuy9Cr2IVRoRITz106O1OCkpzVOs3UbPXH6HsxXX3n0dBil1ZoCYU7uEj4plZj3cw7-YltCj3OSjccjwgX2EuWYzr/s2420/20231006_093308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRUHHnfTX5xMcbXUCaEPkC0BCQ9pNsnTpqm981DnMdg7XrnqOKcJpf8TFAtItMYfzw378W4QaUThQzoj48AB6dOCp92Tv9EEPuwgcuy9Cr2IVRoRITz106O1OCkpzVOs3UbPXH6HsxXX3n0dBil1ZoCYU7uEj4plZj3cw7-YltCj3OSjccjwgX2EuWYzr/s320/20231006_093308.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKBCLXPe_WGaFes6yYLfvyR57Nn1yUqp6mwViyISAQLQu8Q85UZl3p3YX_4TGbCxr7HFxycgkBNcFnjj_kwu-vSchNtalFknmWBLZB7yW8Uijjrlz6-zHQThF-kggw6H3N3NDFPcoD4JKgBsNVlu5o32hrWq0wuJXZ_PFK2wzu7oNDEANqjoM8zk-316u/s320/082711%20002%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2xFVliU1lDOmZpbhl7Hvq0O0d57NFUhGqH-pp3pUwkuBP9GsLDtlwpFZRTN9UbTgezd5W3x8aW59Jf3ABMOQXHlyOTgo7IV052gO8UxddhhV7-kijPBB4h9zVBdiwBOigzMVkjvc9QVQoz1r8ymxu_3yv0xLfNbVywHOC70nsTIXP4C0siZyZrLuuFYa/s320/121912%20032%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2NKStapOL7TQMlIM0W8UgFOPW5eNEclc-U9SDf_5RMpRTz0pJvyyu9ukX_-QxsSJgj70bPweYHcUmDbJ5TQRWt3f5zns13xQvEVEwn28fEFU3_wMBHANIYwIYCJ-H1PYQKIEcvucA5QLpZldzndRWRsdvUuRj42iVUN5WKRiK-Xp5avTBDHdJ8Yq50YE/s320/20231005_202435.jpg" /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is also hard to get away. Want to go on vacation for a week... a weekend... or even an overnight trip? Who is going to take care of the animals?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFFKupMUcusJD2lSTcLVWFxkRrq1CVWswE5-PgptbLLEc-ibFkiYvgrt3-75kVtr534DZAkRnLswrj3XZCf6Qsb9B_hoSUBcjrbh8vsH5Hcz_mOw7cdgQz6AY8x-Ayl1MRhqLlvh65-SmyeiYE_xtXBSAd3wkM85RUEbLhKB8LmQTOgioskhtZJCvwma7/s1346/Screenshot_20231006_100347_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFFKupMUcusJD2lSTcLVWFxkRrq1CVWswE5-PgptbLLEc-ibFkiYvgrt3-75kVtr534DZAkRnLswrj3XZCf6Qsb9B_hoSUBcjrbh8vsH5Hcz_mOw7cdgQz6AY8x-Ayl1MRhqLlvh65-SmyeiYE_xtXBSAd3wkM85RUEbLhKB8LmQTOgioskhtZJCvwma7/s320/Screenshot_20231006_100347_Facebook.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">The Rules Of 3.</b> -- </span>Everything takes 3 times longer than expected. You think building the chicken coop will take 1 week to build - wrong it will take 3 weeks to build. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3 regularly used items will break within a week of each other. The washing machine will die, then the next day the power inverter just stops working, then a several days later something breaks on one of the cars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And finally, the top <span style="font-family: verdana;">3 - </span>time, money, and healthy - one always seems to be missing when you're getting ready for a big project.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b>Both Homesteading and off-grid living cost money.</b> -- </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some people may choose to develop a sustainable income from this lifestyle, and some may choose to continue working their traditional jobs. Either way is great, just choose whatever works best for you and your family. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just keep in mind...</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">you will still need some sort of steady income.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This lifestyle is not free, in fact, sometimes it is quite costly. You will need financial resources to pay taxes, insurance, purchase equipment, medical expenses when they occur, and any other supplies you may need. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just try to take things one step at a time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDft3eyroErnUIljdNj4Q5uuDmHD128_hgDPjw92YPUZj3bHLhUa48-Yn7G2iRQWM5qWpWrcrGymWVQ7l6DJCh4z_Z7SW-YocY59TdL76rpg6lxmiKYAhls_U7Q2B0g5SCekOGgiPDfQuXJ0jNOPhkXuWgb8blxvqvL5rlaeMt0IBty0th5xcIKVFqQesF/s320/092712%20001%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1YmXeCHy3ckszsyuhdHCw6Ayb60RhPwMfjlaEHly21xAhP0ph9dwAFmYt7tVkiZtURkbnZ_F92ZRuS7N9Z-4XWgEaI9ye_pVs6ipe4pKL6Fv-b4i6G_qlUpw0UL3WZ3TrcIfZFkSAh0fMQTSUBAZAWNGT2bpD-uVbWixEU_IyHGPuKWcMvhXeNqJ1FU6/s320/050612%20001%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUU9iUPfBAMe_hPQikvDzNA2liyHtKIiZ5eO9SoYatDiULdlqqa39-LCIluzkCwYgFEav8JQwzs2nkvaSYLInO6UnbhM10gBlIv1TAFZcbjgF4Uj0IG0pVGZiG7mgqk-Kau6EMaYg-Kvc0OuAd5B96wvK8fUt_ly_ToEe08RzpetU0Ro5HL5UJGoPEyHt/s320/031013%20014%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">This lifestyle is not for dummies.</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> -- In reality, there is a drastic learning curve for beginners. Unless you grew up with this lifestyle, you will find yourself looking up how to (fill in the blank) quite often. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you want to grow your own food, you will need to learn how to garden, and how to properly preserve that food. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will need to learn construction, plumbing, and electrical work. You will need to know how to build a chicken coop, or raised garden beds, or how to build a fence, or how to build a shed or barn, or how to wire your off-grid power system, or how to plumb your garden's irrigation system.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The vast amount of knowledge, over a wide spectrum, that you will need is sometimes daunting, and much of your education will be in the form of on-the-job training, and learning as you go.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWt8zja1a9_OPM-8a7UBj7JOWVPeZaVagJpEfRSv0E8u-4Rn2bPJUeHhupBqCJednsjnWHYTY8ByRvhDEBmnvQqIGnqrnFtZprvjC8V-M8FqeSRkAT32CNRIfsFQQMIDhyphenhyphenfsZz9jhsuZLN8bNF_0jd0mA_OFQqRiMlwNWP1yGRL1Ya3R573RjjsdWNU1Z/s320/103013%20002%20(email).jpg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLF-v6P-NAp16WaWCTcZbzZVpaINkxELYyNCal4hbfETL5j8jBhcRG-NTkjHbOz0Lq7UM1liEOpNonTtwqIEZEYa4KXUMTVJS6xo3s0U7PFAJcnw159Nvwkt8HKRC32uvH2n52_KXEldA-Ck0Kt66ncFVcB6WTZs4-NF7DZGkkvrCACxfRakm0cfrRrP/s1079/Screenshot_20231005_211116_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1079" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLF-v6P-NAp16WaWCTcZbzZVpaINkxELYyNCal4hbfETL5j8jBhcRG-NTkjHbOz0Lq7UM1liEOpNonTtwqIEZEYa4KXUMTVJS6xo3s0U7PFAJcnw159Nvwkt8HKRC32uvH2n52_KXEldA-Ck0Kt66ncFVcB6WTZs4-NF7DZGkkvrCACxfRakm0cfrRrP/s320/Screenshot_20231005_211116_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwd7LccR14HcscwgP6Ea6DsbEgLfC_Z1d3TCa0ImW2xUWjG8frx-NkyEqbTGM0C7Vd_odjieHsYjb93H-KLWe1AegzWiqEmofGW6TdCJ4Wk0EUk_1KrTHqdlU-BJbvEx6x2ODs62ZQr1NDLq4cQl9gnA1dTUEJfds2TpG-X8K7JYP01QU3LdKr7qw5dCv/s1079/Screenshot_20231005_211209_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1079" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwd7LccR14HcscwgP6Ea6DsbEgLfC_Z1d3TCa0ImW2xUWjG8frx-NkyEqbTGM0C7Vd_odjieHsYjb93H-KLWe1AegzWiqEmofGW6TdCJ4Wk0EUk_1KrTHqdlU-BJbvEx6x2ODs62ZQr1NDLq4cQl9gnA1dTUEJfds2TpG-X8K7JYP01QU3LdKr7qw5dCv/s320/Screenshot_20231005_211209_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KjeXQXv9lmp671gQragzwdNOypQV6t-gP35U0A6bGPsE6cxuZUe62q9BCLVo-2lE4x4VqdBunIpDHLTVTSRqcJGbMno47P-BmRwJpGSGb4OKAlNEea29S1xmwDOE02HVBF1LV8Yx1AalZnOoY26uOGMcfYCdP-x9eDyA6o9inyqHj0Ku-BlarxRlAREI/s1079/Screenshot_20231005_211348_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1079" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KjeXQXv9lmp671gQragzwdNOypQV6t-gP35U0A6bGPsE6cxuZUe62q9BCLVo-2lE4x4VqdBunIpDHLTVTSRqcJGbMno47P-BmRwJpGSGb4OKAlNEea29S1xmwDOE02HVBF1LV8Yx1AalZnOoY26uOGMcfYCdP-x9eDyA6o9inyqHj0Ku-BlarxRlAREI/s320/Screenshot_20231005_211348_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><b>You won't always be able to do everything yourself. </b>-- Regardless of how hard you try to do it all yourself, sometimes you will need help. Whether that help is in the form of barter, trade, paid help, or simply getting advice from someone with more experience - it is nice to have a network of like-minded people who you can look to when needed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-esF4vlaz3A9h8d40D7afBTcQPzdcZ-AC-X-yKxxVhZr-__Y4nbpp35Z6LJwlr9riKQbr4xK4gsIui2lZigllBBnZj0_LfLpQ_SE4lPBhPwBgy0nBgkA7pvyDlTMDqxhG8q2qXj1hZCEi-bXZjGc48xu2DYxMC1PhhT28YITD6h5UHkZ4msSzu29grn5/s1816/20231002_121300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-esF4vlaz3A9h8d40D7afBTcQPzdcZ-AC-X-yKxxVhZr-__Y4nbpp35Z6LJwlr9riKQbr4xK4gsIui2lZigllBBnZj0_LfLpQ_SE4lPBhPwBgy0nBgkA7pvyDlTMDqxhG8q2qXj1hZCEi-bXZjGc48xu2DYxMC1PhhT28YITD6h5UHkZ4msSzu29grn5/s320/20231002_121300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>You are going to fail at some things.</b> -- Some of your failures may not be pretty. And some may result in should of, could of, would of moments.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This lifestyle is going to have its major ups and downs. Your farming equipment may fail. Your snow removal equipment may break during a snowstorm. You may run through your savings more quickly than you thought you would.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But if you try to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, you will hopefully maintain a healthy attitude.</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Wind storm broke our first solar panels" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotMz8CzTAtgyLJ2eensFbqi_sq6sM8z8g4CMlPJqst_xtCJRorZZ_7f4c8E5QhIRN6ApTTXvl0BRNvSH_fNW8_RA3mCBS5JHAZPI64LDrhz7jqBaqgzt3d4eHMaNXgxxxWnTZiKkv2jIDRdJrq9t9bMjpTs4KV2T17Jv6rGBmyhKBHlYdAI9_pt0cZAAI/w320-h213/120915%206375_1%20(email).jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;">Windstorm broke our first set of solar panels.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>You may occasionally have a love / hate relationship with this lifestyle.</b> -- You are going to have times of frustration, disappointment, failure, and ask yourself "what the heck are we doing?" "Why isn't anything going as planned?" "What have we gotten ourselves into?".</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You will also have feelings of accomplishment, appreciation, and sometimes awe - which, at the end of the day, somehow makes all of the chaos worth it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw9-Dxhr9d-tR0vZIQThygqnD76QF4-1Iovqz0zJt_yH3CXRx5bo0KZZTW_bbYeg_nlUXhMAq7RAjHv9wqccw3vbGFBPkhC2wWJOuH8ef8xJgo2RsPyld7zA5IxxrjwjyrYjrrugkJWONq-0oxjQCjE-UEdzwau4PSl95tWhk-f98tHirJXvK4UV2PttZ/s1079/Screenshot_20231006_100503_Facebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1079" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw9-Dxhr9d-tR0vZIQThygqnD76QF4-1Iovqz0zJt_yH3CXRx5bo0KZZTW_bbYeg_nlUXhMAq7RAjHv9wqccw3vbGFBPkhC2wWJOuH8ef8xJgo2RsPyld7zA5IxxrjwjyrYjrrugkJWONq-0oxjQCjE-UEdzwau4PSl95tWhk-f98tHirJXvK4UV2PttZ/s320/Screenshot_20231006_100503_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These harsh truths are not to discourage you, but to hopefully help you. With some advance planning and forethought, and by learning from other homesteader and off-griders' mistakes, you will be able to weather through the initial rough periods. With each passing year, you will gain more experience, more knowledge, and more confidence to handle the inevitable problems that </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">come with the territory. You will also gain the satisfaction of living out a rewarding lifestyle that you and your family enjoy.</span></div>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-56315411109373822112023-10-03T18:36:00.003-07:002023-10-03T18:41:19.120-07:00Self Reliant Living...<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6:35pm - 56 degrees - scattered clouds...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the thing... I'm a bit of a worrier. I find that when I'm worried about something, being able to take a positive, substantive action, makes me feel like I'm a bit more in control. This is true when preparing for the harsh upcoming Winter season. This is true when preparing for natural disasters - both small and large. It's true when dealing with any medial issues. And it's true when fretting about the economy. With the world in a bit of a turmoil these days, it seems that there's a lot of worrying going on, and not just in my own head.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With the rising costs (which everyone is feeling the pinch) I started wondering about the people who survived the Great Depression. My grandparents were teenagers during that time, and I've listened to their stories. But I still wonder... in hindsight, how would they have prepared themselves for such a tough time. If their parents, my great-grandparents, had known what was coming, what would they have done differently? What did they wish for in the midst of their survival efforts? What would they have deemed mandatory survival needs?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm a voracious reader... and once I'm interested in something I seek out every resource I can find to learn everything I can about a topic. And maybe I've been reading too many apocalyptic novels lately, but these are questions that are concerning to me.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These days, we're so conditioned to jump in the car and run to the store whenever we need (or want!) something. What would our world look like if you weren't able to do that as often, or possibly not at all? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this day and age, we also heavily rely on the internet. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">During a power outage, or when the internet is down, you can't Google, or ask Alexa, how to do something, or look something up. That's why it is </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">essential to have physical resources to turn to when digital isn't an option.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being prepared for when times are tough is an exercise in self-reliant living. Getting through tough times - whether it is nature related or man-made related - will be easier if you have skills. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Knowledge is power, especially when the unexpected happens.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRoEtxtykPjnN9EV_FpPsETjLGAXZ4jLjvu225WZSZZnuFe6E1_OCYFepwiB5bZlA_mmjZRF_Xh5e8yrC31gh_iFOLmwpeDi3iGY1BVSqkXRL_P-l0uRhrOLsbNfuxDHULhYauXVmpGPbnhMu3ROzOCIEp5Akqv188TEzZ-V6BZQy_v4YBLU-oXWsHPsO/s1920/IMG_1696286678702.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRoEtxtykPjnN9EV_FpPsETjLGAXZ4jLjvu225WZSZZnuFe6E1_OCYFepwiB5bZlA_mmjZRF_Xh5e8yrC31gh_iFOLmwpeDi3iGY1BVSqkXRL_P-l0uRhrOLsbNfuxDHULhYauXVmpGPbnhMu3ROzOCIEp5Akqv188TEzZ-V6BZQy_v4YBLU-oXWsHPsO/s320/IMG_1696286678702.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are some invaluable books you'll want on your shelf to get you started... </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3LLABb6" target="_blank">Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills, Third Edition</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZIRc51" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://amzn.to/48uinoa" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://amzn.to/46doifX" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3PBqqqN" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use</span></a> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3F0I4zd" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3PZN2CF" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">The Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/48FsOpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">The Survival Medicine Handbook</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZMryMP" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">The Vegetable Gardener's Bible, 2nd Edition</span></a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3RIUfrR" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 9th Edition</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/45gqiCE" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://amzn.to/46zjS2Q" target="_blank"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana;">Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook</span></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">...then you can continue to add to your collection - cook books, gardening and wild edibles specific to the region you live in, bread making books, animal husbandry, general food preservation, herbalism books - really the list could go on and on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would absolutely love book recommendations, and I encourage you to let me know your favorites in the comments below. </span></p>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-48632312237790396812023-10-02T12:34:00.005-07:002023-10-02T12:36:19.885-07:00Bridge Repair...<p>12:26pm - 47 degrees - scattered clouds...</p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">It's that time again... replacing the wood decking on the bridge on our driveway. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH_nPtigsgBgiDez8PZL_rirHGRO4NCbCLALJSQOUzMhaodXxb4gpqKyVZuELrchPV1m_y4RTKO4R3erVxb5iKoJBdqmhP364o9Q4Ca0xMwXFobPuiMsYmiMUf2jS7-nq1U6V4MunYVGBEaVU9b1e2smRMyTnAiIgVzEKKr84bFLie7WTno23ErQ7Kgqs/w266-h400/20231002_122436.jpg" width="266" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">First all the old decking had to be removed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2925" data-original-width="2925" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IzKUeAOOCozzyQibjPad4Fz2WwLmGPqgZmOrl5aRBzRfswhyphenhyphena6VoKRGZDN_gTRBGfvJQMhfNwoniGp5ZKxuIX0oQ5Wf-bFLghLmezxLTZKM8RL2lBG6JDnbMnpGJTdAVyHz8ZdVRTtnhBrHnua2YXIeh-LTgUB-GmiNkriocMq1WPiK6F9id1kS-toCd/s320/20230713_191249.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoQ9pX-_QGqwpm0fjmpv2D8KphM62Sfrie5K2mQyjofnoF_3qdDIRhKQMuYiFezdRWWugKIwJprYTL9Qi21gnnkbv2B0OwbddENRENzycKpENizuuy6W_nN4YD3ZW6PPk1VAr2z8JI7CUgyHOcw0GVhRi_qPdLHwpiv3IMCGQGKgpdc4QfUGfiQCclqkR/s320/20230713_191410.jpg" width="320" /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdRie5NFACIPllKUtUf_QMHCgc6eK-8cKpnwJNizsFT2Mat9RusXtutzaJr0CBK1zDHtWg6D3pJBJfX1GFVhhnYjpFLphVrq0GXaHODXX8hS4IconIUrIIWHQkVQmFo1SklcrQuWul8ueNDvaSDKE5NzdpWRFv5i0BvOX45LM9Bt6wyAl5xlm27IX1aB9/s1816/20231002_121518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdRie5NFACIPllKUtUf_QMHCgc6eK-8cKpnwJNizsFT2Mat9RusXtutzaJr0CBK1zDHtWg6D3pJBJfX1GFVhhnYjpFLphVrq0GXaHODXX8hS4IconIUrIIWHQkVQmFo1SklcrQuWul8ueNDvaSDKE5NzdpWRFv5i0BvOX45LM9Bt6wyAl5xlm27IX1aB9/s320/20231002_121518.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Then all the new decking had to be put into place and secured.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUw7swr9ujoWTh-az1Nlu5oSGNdpK18jQPmunsEfVEBFGz9dC_-ZtNWNE9kitBWu13gvJxMTNMjCKcy6si9y_AiUAvGgia_HQdPpRLkdEZa4fgGXY-ue7NZ9oZ7Qcciubx4DnVr0m3f_petWb0WDSAH9Vw-pJ4BP_wN-tcxqMuQDOWLqr-JO6FiLlpLXX/s1816/20231002_121452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUw7swr9ujoWTh-az1Nlu5oSGNdpK18jQPmunsEfVEBFGz9dC_-ZtNWNE9kitBWu13gvJxMTNMjCKcy6si9y_AiUAvGgia_HQdPpRLkdEZa4fgGXY-ue7NZ9oZ7Qcciubx4DnVr0m3f_petWb0WDSAH9Vw-pJ4BP_wN-tcxqMuQDOWLqr-JO6FiLlpLXX/s320/20231002_121452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrm9zkV4vTmOPzcj-Z2wS2QrBnqDJaL-MA_p3GyP0xZB32gIdlarKb1ISSiN3IW9UM3k5LKDjVQApfQpFs2itz36YxoEwR6OSyaDb8n1D2beJkTsiXq1Q3-cBAKhIRBblvhloZi-3l0Dl14zu6d_drm26kyrFi2PzkBFKOBY5Rt8pX1K-i3az7MGrNhjK/s1816/20231002_121431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrm9zkV4vTmOPzcj-Z2wS2QrBnqDJaL-MA_p3GyP0xZB32gIdlarKb1ISSiN3IW9UM3k5LKDjVQApfQpFs2itz36YxoEwR6OSyaDb8n1D2beJkTsiXq1Q3-cBAKhIRBblvhloZi-3l0Dl14zu6d_drm26kyrFi2PzkBFKOBY5Rt8pX1K-i3az7MGrNhjK/s320/20231002_121431.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We went from two wood decking strips to the whole bridge being decked. Turned out so nice! Thankfully the guys got this done before the weather turned. We're just over a week into fall, but now it's time to prep for winter because snow is right around the corner.</div><p></p>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-88829361598493985322020-05-11T14:03:00.003-07:002023-10-03T18:38:10.588-07:00We Moved Our Driveway...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">2:03 pm - 68 degrees - watching thunder clouds roll in...</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">We finally did it! We moved our
driveway over and made a parking area that is big enough to turn a trailer
around. We have been wanting to do this for a while now, and I am so excited
that it's almost done – all we have left is to finish planting out all the dirt areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">From the main driveway, you
were able to see down into our place, the house, the yard, the cars,
everything. In the dry summer months, when someone drove by or it got windy,
the dust would roll on down into our place. So with moving the driveway over, building
a burm across the old driveway entrance and planting it out, it will give us
that extra bit of privacy and hopefully keep the dust out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Last fall, Tony roughed in the
new driveway and was able to get some base rock down before winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Then in early April Tony
started cutting down trees, this was originally to expand our wildfire
defensible space around the house {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2020/04/wildfire-defensible-space.html" target="_blank">click here</a>}, but it evolved into a much larger project...</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">After a few of the trees came down and we picked up the mess, we walked around our driveway (new and old) and started tossing around ideas of how we wanted to get rid of the old driveway entrance, and just how everything would lay out and come together. Then Tony suggested that we could take some dirt from over here and put it over there and voila, we could have a really large parking area. I said let's do it!</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">A few weeks went by and then I came home to a big surprise! Tony was in the excavator and a friend was in a bulldozer and they were moving a TON of dirt! I was giddy with excitement that the driveway project was actually happening!</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">From the time Tony started moving dirt, it took 3 and a half days (over a week and a half time period) to complete the driveway and parking area project and since Tony was able to reuse the rock from the old driveway in the new parking area, we were able to save about $2500 because we didn't need to buy rock - I really loved that part!</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">I could not be happier with how this project has turned out, it's even better than I anticipated. Now we just have to finish planting out all of the dirt areas.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEehJFhCxx-lQSX53-_nNT7tIVUZVFC11mKBUGQBvbckhL2kjqd4vaEbLYK1UW7vVCHOMN5jD85L9N5EA3pbkjvQghrwZbxCDisPAdKbclHdUU7MqrIQMitIMd2goD1D9ExnuTmzBU9xyh/s1600/20200511_130819+Parking+Area.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEehJFhCxx-lQSX53-_nNT7tIVUZVFC11mKBUGQBvbckhL2kjqd4vaEbLYK1UW7vVCHOMN5jD85L9N5EA3pbkjvQghrwZbxCDisPAdKbclHdUU7MqrIQMitIMd2goD1D9ExnuTmzBU9xyh/s400/20200511_130819+Parking+Area.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">New Parking Area</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6ceCrO1nyedhY5w_Mh8H8Y2qoDfL1uwtf7OK8vHsyZNEgRK1Kks0IUmMDmzDKGxlqkFBhvFDdf4okd_EuEPcGX8b_zXSsfX2We68PPs8qn0jw9KufbNg2cIGbEfJKfsUviNzhGMH38NT/s1600/20200511_111139+Parking+Area.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6ceCrO1nyedhY5w_Mh8H8Y2qoDfL1uwtf7OK8vHsyZNEgRK1Kks0IUmMDmzDKGxlqkFBhvFDdf4okd_EuEPcGX8b_zXSsfX2We68PPs8qn0jw9KufbNg2cIGbEfJKfsUviNzhGMH38NT/s400/20200511_111139+Parking+Area.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">We can park cars/trucks - 6 wide, 2 deep.</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Just above the row of boulders on the middle terrace, we planted some Everybearing Strawberries. I know we're taking a bit of a chance having the strawberries out in the open like that, but hopefully the deer will leave the majority of them alone and they will spread and creep around and down the boulder wall.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2EYA_cbwGhyJp87f5zTQAf4_ZT0B6HUlmOodDdWJjB_Z8QfLUmOeJJ8who7ibC06FnCxI_Vm9Lv_HFO5zw2UlwN6gmLEGEH2AmxYRPQbssvepdUH6tuhsb8s_BbWoIT4Clar1mIkk3qA/s1600/20200510_164855+Everbearing+Strawberries.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2EYA_cbwGhyJp87f5zTQAf4_ZT0B6HUlmOodDdWJjB_Z8QfLUmOeJJ8who7ibC06FnCxI_Vm9Lv_HFO5zw2UlwN6gmLEGEH2AmxYRPQbssvepdUH6tuhsb8s_BbWoIT4Clar1mIkk3qA/s320/20200510_164855+Everbearing+Strawberries.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Everbearing Strawberries</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">About 6 feet behind the strawberries, is a row of Cascara trees, and right behind those are two rows of Redstem Ceanothus.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJFtNtsZzhFTDi8g34_iRj9pqAzUn1m6giC7djaqdn44CKb-85oAEfSkgtdV-03qBfB7SvflGNmO60jku4-pivvVOgGbhD8Rn49PP0eyGV31YCj1hXi6xvptOhr2_KqQE_xdErQM5MRYs/s1600/20200511_125827+Cascara.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJFtNtsZzhFTDi8g34_iRj9pqAzUn1m6giC7djaqdn44CKb-85oAEfSkgtdV-03qBfB7SvflGNmO60jku4-pivvVOgGbhD8Rn49PP0eyGV31YCj1hXi6xvptOhr2_KqQE_xdErQM5MRYs/s320/20200511_125827+Cascara.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Cascara <br />(Rhamnus purshiana)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-QRpXZYQf9pZq9eRJuLyvyjnEeD1PB6HxyYbb8jCNlI0i9_rF7LTvzLpQMrV_bR_u5aWkrYm8H9GCVA-wmTsJNS6X6gwfgzIUEeZS5kFABjt8pyAUiFewraFnKIP9zXCcOZV2w9T-lvP/s1600/20200511_130738+Ceanothus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-QRpXZYQf9pZq9eRJuLyvyjnEeD1PB6HxyYbb8jCNlI0i9_rF7LTvzLpQMrV_bR_u5aWkrYm8H9GCVA-wmTsJNS6X6gwfgzIUEeZS5kFABjt8pyAUiFewraFnKIP9zXCcOZV2w9T-lvP/s320/20200511_130738+Ceanothus.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Redstem Ceanothus<br />(Ceanothus sanguineus)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc73gkwv-zjzMibehfbg3PACAy36UlBvNwxAxw3ebwdwGgxyygutPiMRkcLMEEGhoZVI7ur6YUB64xCmpe3ea8pYtQeflDXPTz3LU4MVYrLafCuI7ylRwPPn6WfmIzDOW51ujK_9bWq9ST/s1600/20200511_130857+Upper+Terrace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc73gkwv-zjzMibehfbg3PACAy36UlBvNwxAxw3ebwdwGgxyygutPiMRkcLMEEGhoZVI7ur6YUB64xCmpe3ea8pYtQeflDXPTz3LU4MVYrLafCuI7ylRwPPn6WfmIzDOW51ujK_9bWq9ST/s400/20200511_130857+Upper+Terrace.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;">Going up the back wall of the burm that blocks off the entrance to our old driveway, we have several rows of Redstem Ceanothus, followed by several roes of Western White Pine, one row of Rocky Mountain Maples, and two more rows of Western White Pines. On the very top we have a row of Cascara trees and below that, on the main driveway side, is a row of American Cranberries. We will be adding some more mature Vine Maples and maybe a few Noble Firs on the top to help block the view a bit more until everything else starts to grow up.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvopxlkTksfIKS6t50EG_E1IHo1W_hs3ImfucBm0d-8jSLQhqQW_cF3Kz-yWFRbtlnFgOhCsK-ThpCeIieXlf4ey0ufUuf-Ej3dJAWy_3rRbRraJCOq7Xz7lie-GmTbh_XPHzdizo4YKl/s1600/20200511_130115+Western+White+Pine.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvopxlkTksfIKS6t50EG_E1IHo1W_hs3ImfucBm0d-8jSLQhqQW_cF3Kz-yWFRbtlnFgOhCsK-ThpCeIieXlf4ey0ufUuf-Ej3dJAWy_3rRbRraJCOq7Xz7lie-GmTbh_XPHzdizo4YKl/s320/20200511_130115+Western+White+Pine.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Western White Pine<br />(Pinus monticola)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W0-U1omOW6Dt77NQkeV6wpqpK7CZghoS0g67LOJF7wq_MKCZEawWSaMf1FO0cMCDykcISMpKpi0Mrb67Z3BxaUHxNpEsh1QYuwmcqAaYDKBaEkvMKQWBTcfGMBE7DrLarstz4EYwXesJ/s320/20200511_130050+Rocky+Mnt+Maple.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="214" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Rocky Mountain Maple<br />(Acer glabrum)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W0-U1omOW6Dt77NQkeV6wpqpK7CZghoS0g67LOJF7wq_MKCZEawWSaMf1FO0cMCDykcISMpKpi0Mrb67Z3BxaUHxNpEsh1QYuwmcqAaYDKBaEkvMKQWBTcfGMBE7DrLarstz4EYwXesJ/s1600/20200511_130050+Rocky+Mnt+Maple.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="669" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JvLTLVffJ10Be0o1HkodklleZrWOn7HlGiDhg70B-baYLGPWw5g5Rl9OfIU0AH7MZDMQn1uidy2PyUP3zk-99usnBzXy8u8NLPk5dWxzAQxZ5fXfiOv0URkrVPA2nrqz_z0g3rqIUPW9/s320/20200511_130148+Amer+Cranberry.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="214" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">American Cranberry<br />(Vaccinium macrocarpon)</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">And finally back towards the house I built a stone retaining wall to make a flower bed where we planted some Kinnikinnick.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHo1R9krtVKrNm-gkUKssdxsg2eymKr8lsUbFuZTKhijY-wt9xNL6199TZeSl_UUwxPEm2XSXJryM3es9BrusKC2iWEWFSrDyGRYo9UjZW7oUC0Bwsscewpn9he_yHR32KA60bu0Xuzxa/s1600/20200511_135441+Rock+Wall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHo1R9krtVKrNm-gkUKssdxsg2eymKr8lsUbFuZTKhijY-wt9xNL6199TZeSl_UUwxPEm2XSXJryM3es9BrusKC2iWEWFSrDyGRYo9UjZW7oUC0Bwsscewpn9he_yHR32KA60bu0Xuzxa/s400/20200511_135441+Rock+Wall.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDFwbr0VtDR0MLzBdb0yI7PaNZ-GypCN4h17ahPElACLVA7g_NweKADcbHV9yDpVs2OstbgMFLmc0jKdvcmZkgnvlu0HL2Jnb8vI-V0fOmdZEyDK4qWLnzf5OaO1iGkOgcHEiSrJKJQIN/s1600/20200511_135414+Kinnikinnick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDFwbr0VtDR0MLzBdb0yI7PaNZ-GypCN4h17ahPElACLVA7g_NweKADcbHV9yDpVs2OstbgMFLmc0jKdvcmZkgnvlu0HL2Jnb8vI-V0fOmdZEyDK4qWLnzf5OaO1iGkOgcHEiSrJKJQIN/s320/20200511_135414+Kinnikinnick.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Kinnikinnick<br />(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><u>Current Plant Count:</u></b></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">15 American Cranberries</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">14 Cascaras</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">26 Ceanothus' </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">50 Everbearing Strawberries</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">7 Kinnikinnick</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">15 Rocky Mountain Maples</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">43 Western White Pines</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">In addition to all of the baby plants we are putting in, we're also going to throw down more grass seed to help stabilize all of the dirt. I am so excited, I can't wait for everything to grow up. </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><u>Still Need To Plant/Transplant:</u></b></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Evergreen Huckleberry</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Kinnikinnick</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Noble Fir</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Oregon Sunshine</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Pacific Crabapple</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Ponderosa Pine</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Thimbleberry</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Vine Maple</span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-86421299843483875712020-04-11T08:28:00.004-07:002020-04-11T08:34:46.299-07:00Wildfire Defensible Space...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; text-align: justify;">8:29 am - 39 degrees out - clouds are moving in...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">The last several days we have had
sunshine! The nice weather was needed after several weeks of rain and snow.
With this gorgeous weather, we have taken full advantage and have been busy outside
working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Tony cut down some more trees
to help improve our defensible space around our home. A few years back we had a
DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Fire Forester guy come out to look at our
place and let us know how we would fare if a wildfire came through. The outcome
of that visit was the knowledge that we would be on our own. We were told that
ground fire crews would not be sent out due to the steepness and
inaccessibility of the mountain ridge we live on. They may send out an aircraft
to drop some fire retardant on our house but that’s about it. On the positive
side, the DNR guy did say that we had a great start on the defensible space
around our home and had the right to stay and protect it. {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/search?q=defensible+space" target="_blank">Click Here</a>} to read
more about that visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Down came six small Alder
trees and one large Douglas Fir tree, and it took us two days to get it all
cleaned up... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ydV2rodBX8ZfF0k1JO6fWPcROBBB87DW4iSUFmF15GqLd0a-XiNyRrxqhcrwm5rMummDDnXYbEzh-ULqId81mcOYihxo3ugIKMCI-tzJhvIczjIbJIa6ze8rmsIzIEMRV1Ev8GHDr6Rh/s1600/IMG_20200409_203112_085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ydV2rodBX8ZfF0k1JO6fWPcROBBB87DW4iSUFmF15GqLd0a-XiNyRrxqhcrwm5rMummDDnXYbEzh-ULqId81mcOYihxo3ugIKMCI-tzJhvIczjIbJIa6ze8rmsIzIEMRV1Ev8GHDr6Rh/s320/IMG_20200409_203112_085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">...well almost all cleaned up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We still have the large rounds in the driveway that need to be cut up
and split into firewood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Even though we are tired and
sore from working nonstop for the past several days to get the trees down and
cleaned up... progress feels good!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-18396216615771727352020-03-27T09:21:00.000-07:002020-03-28T12:50:30.113-07:00Homemade Waffles...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">9:20 am - 33 degrees outside - snowing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
morning our kids asked for waffles, so homemade waffles it is. These waffles
are so good, and very filling!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy-59GlxmAO_2eAK5AKeg7PXgv9R4lWVAPG9xXCLo6pXXTORbsfTCmbmPuvo-5Z-W4-KuhhkDnKnxY1XA4eQdr8NlZ26ho_9B-SxPdKq3NwD4SaJOX8J9JmR78H0eUZHuDuCjV0O8sbvR/s1600/20200327_082722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy-59GlxmAO_2eAK5AKeg7PXgv9R4lWVAPG9xXCLo6pXXTORbsfTCmbmPuvo-5Z-W4-KuhhkDnKnxY1XA4eQdr8NlZ26ho_9B-SxPdKq3NwD4SaJOX8J9JmR78H0eUZHuDuCjV0O8sbvR/s320/20200327_082722.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Homemade Waffle -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup all-purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 Tbsp granulated sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 ½ teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup whole milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 egg, separate whites and yolks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 Tbsp butter, melted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOEVgSp7GhvkNaT_SHSOzKxzf2b5dS1r1n-J6hbi4XO50qUOv2fOYDtp78EPjP_IP7iDjGlOkgghMLgAW9Ke0dif6XMHB6OkzgLhgBz3YknFxLQKtk93TcVOIxF6fRcbvXMZdEf1ISNEX/s1600/IMG_20200327_081114_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOEVgSp7GhvkNaT_SHSOzKxzf2b5dS1r1n-J6hbi4XO50qUOv2fOYDtp78EPjP_IP7iDjGlOkgghMLgAW9Ke0dif6XMHB6OkzgLhgBz3YknFxLQKtk93TcVOIxF6fRcbvXMZdEf1ISNEX/s320/IMG_20200327_081114_016.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Preheat waffle iron.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt
in a large bowl.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whisk milk, yolks, vanilla, and
lemon juice together in a second blow, then add to dry ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blend just until moistened (batter will be
slightly lumpy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stir in the melted
butter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beat whites to medium peaks in
a bowl with a hand mixer, and then gently fold into the batter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To cook, pour batter into the waffle iron and
cook according to waffle iron instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freeze extra waffles for up to
two weeks, and then recrisp in a toaster on low heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yields:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>three 7” round waffles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Total time:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 minutes plus cooking</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-35015055981001429872020-02-26T20:07:00.002-08:002020-02-26T20:07:41.475-08:00Starter Dough Bake Off - Part 3...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8:06 pm - 34 degrees out - calm night...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10 days ago, my daughter challenged me to a bread bake off and here is the first one...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItWliwUjCNq3fLmUCcPPdniPoy1nqD7RaGqHDo9IYEVfcvj1P31XS7h4-u7w7M9pKggIg0CknBfNFhkQbsKKJgJxwGsnuQg49BlYgOjyaX2ZWqq46oG0i6H3a35lJ8ouhk2IU-97IvB1r/s1600/IMG_20200226_195129_557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItWliwUjCNq3fLmUCcPPdniPoy1nqD7RaGqHDo9IYEVfcvj1P31XS7h4-u7w7M9pKggIg0CknBfNFhkQbsKKJgJxwGsnuQg49BlYgOjyaX2ZWqq46oG0i6H3a35lJ8ouhk2IU-97IvB1r/s320/IMG_20200226_195129_557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Using the Amish Friendship Bread started that I started 10 days ago, I divided it into 5 bags - 1 went to a friend, 3 went to the freezer, and 1 went to make this delicious Cinnamon Bread, which everyone loved!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh-F5YfSWGkjRYzvyov20W-cSt8lFyjvHCrxel_7PxlEyUD97p80yBYIF2xE7sjRurLkAbM0GzvwVkX4n0NAedZ94o4rZdP1IoXu-EmnPRkAIURBjv1_0mi1bN0HKN1xwR_QojfjbBHWZ/s1600/IMG_20200226_195129_546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh-F5YfSWGkjRYzvyov20W-cSt8lFyjvHCrxel_7PxlEyUD97p80yBYIF2xE7sjRurLkAbM0GzvwVkX4n0NAedZ94o4rZdP1IoXu-EmnPRkAIURBjv1_0mi1bN0HKN1xwR_QojfjbBHWZ/s320/IMG_20200226_195129_546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Caitlyn's recipe is more complicated than mine, and she'll be baking her bread tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is the recipe I used:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Amish Friendship Cinnamon Bread</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups flour</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 eggs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup oil</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup milk</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup sugar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon baking soda</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons cinnamon </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons brown sugar </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Preheat over to 350°. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mix everything together (minus the cinnamon and brown sugar). In a separate bowl, mix the cinnamon and brown sugar. Grease 2 loaf pans. Pour about half an inch of batter into each loaf pan, then top with a light layer of the cinnamon mix. Pour another batter layer, followed by a light cinnamon mix layer. Continue to do this ending with cinnamon mix layer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bake for 1 hour or until done.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-47258608952156814202020-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:002020-02-18T11:17:00.904-08:00Starter Dough Bake Off - Part 2 – Amish Friendship Bread Starter...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">11:17 am - 33 degrees outside - blue sky, sunshine, 3-4" of snow on the ground...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Who can make the better bread
starter...? That is the current question right now in our house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I want to make sure that our
kids know how to cook, so they pretty much have free reign to experiment in the
kitchen – as long as they clean up after themselves! Our daughter has been on a
sourdough bread kick lately, and that somehow got turned into a challenge of
who could make the better bread starter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Caitlyn chose a sourdough
starter that she found on the <a href="https://homesteadandchill.com/make-your-own-sourdough-starter/?fbclid=IwAR3j4TYFec10E0x9ZkMzVPps0GeGSQpLObSTjP1-eUhEDjdJ8vwocAY-8T0" target="_blank">Homestead and Chill</a> blog - recipe posted on
Starter Dough Bake Off – Part 1 – Sourdough Starter {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2020/02/starter-dough-bake-off-part-1-sourdough.html" target="_blank">click here</a>}. Caitlyn chose
this starter recipe because it had good reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I chose an Amish friendship
bread starter that I found on <a href="http://www.thebensonstreet.com/2014/06/19/amish-friendship-bread/" target="_blank">The Benson Street</a> blog – recipe posted below. I
chose this starter recipe because I’ve made Amish friendship bread ages ago and
once you have the starter you can add in different flavors to switch it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In 10 days, we will be turning
our starter doughs into bread and have a blind taste test where the guys will
decide which starter is the winner!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JlgWFPQzIbadFozQsGUs1xR87ltjpNj5295_zYV5aP8n84jD4QpIcvJlUQ1rGI8Sq6l_qfU3ezWVD5oJ1Or3G7LJHA1gf1o69iQUgPsofGzJ7d7GhALgMsUxODK2TZfR6H5ZIaA49A48/s1600/20200217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JlgWFPQzIbadFozQsGUs1xR87ltjpNj5295_zYV5aP8n84jD4QpIcvJlUQ1rGI8Sq6l_qfU3ezWVD5oJ1Or3G7LJHA1gf1o69iQUgPsofGzJ7d7GhALgMsUxODK2TZfR6H5ZIaA49A48/s400/20200217.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Caitlyn's starter is on the left, and my starter is on the right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">by The
Benson Street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Bread Batter Start: Mix 1 cup
flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar in a gallon sized plastic Ziploc bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Do not use a metal spoon or
bowl for mixing. Do not refrigerate. If air gets into the bag, let it out. It
is normal for the batter to rise, bubble and ferment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the day you either make your bread
starter (1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, mixed and stored in a gallon Ziploc
bag) or you receive bread starter from someone in which case, you do nothing
with it other plan place it on your counter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 2:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 3:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 4: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 5: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 6:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar
to the bag and mush it thoroughly together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 7: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 8: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 9: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mush the bag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Day 10:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pour starter mix into a large bowl and add 1
cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup sugar. Stir and put 1 cup of starter into four
separate gallon sized Ziploc bags. Keep one for yourself and give the other
starter bags to friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to make
Amish Friendship Bread once, you’re done. But if you want to be able to bake it
whenever you’d like, save an extra bag for yourself and either toss it into the
freezer until ready to use or start the process all over again, treating Day 10
as Day 1. The starter tastes better over time, so rather than making it fresh
whenever you want some Amish Friendship Bread, consider keeping a bag on hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">And now its time to bake it!
There are so many uses for the starter, and here is just one of them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Amish Friendship Monkey Bread<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Dough:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 cup Amish Friendship Bread
starter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2 cups self-rising flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 cup milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3 tablespoons sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 egg<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">½ cup shortening<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">½ teaspoon baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Gooey Cinnamon Mixture:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2 cups brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 cup butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2 tablespoons cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Dry Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1 cup white sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3 teaspoons cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Directions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a large mixing
bowl, combine starter, flour and milk. Mix well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Set aside at room
temperature overnight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next day,
preheat oven to 350° F (175° C).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stir the starter
mixture and add the remaining dough ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pour onto a
well-floured surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knead until dough
is elastic but no longer sticky. Add flour as necessary but be careful not to
over knead as it will make the dough tough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shape dough into a
large ball and let it rest while making the gooey cinnamon mixture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Add the gooey
cinnamon mixture ingredients into a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until
sugar has dissolved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grease or spray
Bundt pan, then pour a thin layer of the gooey cinnamon mixture to the bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The dough is ready if you press a finger into it and it
springs back. Pull apart about 40 dough balls, approximately 1¼" in
diameter. For an extra cinnamon-y hit, roll each ball in the dry cinnamon-sugar
mixture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">11.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Layer the dough balls to the pan and pour the remaining
gooey cinnamon mixture on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and
bubbly on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">13.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allow to cool for 5 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">14.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take a plate and place it upside down over Bundt pan.
Flip right side up onto plate. If desired, use a vanilla drizzle on top before
serving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 22.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="letter-spacing: 0.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">15.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; letter-spacing: .75pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ENJOY!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-86081375781262729792020-02-18T10:26:00.001-08:002020-02-18T11:17:27.759-08:00Starter Dough Bake Off - Part 1 – Sourdough Starter...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">10:25 am - 32 degrees outside - blue sky, sunshine, 3-4" of snow on the ground...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Who can make the better bread
starter...? That is the current question right now in our house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">I want to make sure that our
kids know how to cook, so they pretty much have free reign to experiment in the
kitchen – as long as they clean up after themselves! Our daughter has been on a
sourdough bread kick lately, and that somehow got turned into a challenge of
who could make the better bread starter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Caitlyn chose a sourdough
starter that she found on the <a href="https://homesteadandchill.com/make-your-own-sourdough-starter/?fbclid=IwAR3j4TYFec10E0x9ZkMzVPps0GeGSQpLObSTjP1-eUhEDjdJ8vwocAY-8T0" target="_blank">Homestead and Chill</a> blog - recipe posted below.
Caitlyn chose this starter recipe because it had good reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">I chose an Amish friendship
bread starter that I found on <a href="http://www.thebensonstreet.com/2014/06/19/amish-friendship-bread/" target="_blank">The Benson Street</a> blog – recipe posted on Starter
Dough Bake Off – Part 2 – Amish Friendship Bread {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2020/02/starter-dough-bake-off-part-2-amish.html" target="_blank">click here</a>}. I chose this starter
recipe because I’ve made Amish friendship bread ages ago and once you have the
starter you can add in different flavors to switch it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JlgWFPQzIbadFozQsGUs1xR87ltjpNj5295_zYV5aP8n84jD4QpIcvJlUQ1rGI8Sq6l_qfU3ezWVD5oJ1Or3G7LJHA1gf1o69iQUgPsofGzJ7d7GhALgMsUxODK2TZfR6H5ZIaA49A48/s1600/20200217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JlgWFPQzIbadFozQsGUs1xR87ltjpNj5295_zYV5aP8n84jD4QpIcvJlUQ1rGI8Sq6l_qfU3ezWVD5oJ1Or3G7LJHA1gf1o69iQUgPsofGzJ7d7GhALgMsUxODK2TZfR6H5ZIaA49A48/s400/20200217.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Caitlyn's starter is on the left, and my starter is on the right.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">SOURDOUGH STARTER <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">by
Homestead and Chill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">500 grams of organic white
bread flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">1 large apple, grated (keep
skins, but avoid the core)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">360 mL room temperature
filtered water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Large glass air-tight container<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Digital kitchen scale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a large mixing bowl, weight out 500 grams
of organic white bread flour. Different flours weigh varying amounts, so it
must be weighed to be accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 2: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grate your large apple. Keep the skins, but
avoid the core. Add the grated apple to the bowl of flour. Some homemade
sourdough starter recipes do call for flour and water only, however, flour and
water can be pretty sterile. With the addition of apple, it basically stacks
the odds in your favor that your starter will get active! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 3:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Measure out 360 mL of room temperature
filtered water. Add this to the bowl of apple and flour, and mix thoroughly. Avoiding
chlorinated water is pretty important when it comes to any fermentation
process, including making sourdough. You will likely need to get in there and
use your hands to do so, so wash up really well first! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 4: Dump, pour, or
otherwise scoop the flour, apple, water combo into an air-tight container. The
container needs to be large enough to allow for at least doubling in size, if
not more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 5:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to close the container up and watch
her rise! But first, using some kind of washable marker that writes on glass,
draw a little line on the side of your container at the top level of the
mixture – this is so you may monitor its growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">The mixture will now sit for 3
days. Keeping it in a spot that is about 70° to 75° degrees is ideal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">DAY
FOUR</span></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"> - (72
hours after Step 5) After 3 days, the mixture should be a bit bubbly. It most likely
has risen, and should smell sweet and tangy, sort of like apple cider vinegar!
It may have also darkened in color a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 6:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to do the first discard. To
discard, first stir the mixture to knock out any air to let it fall back down
to a more condensed state. Then you want to discard half of that amount (you’ll
find out what to do with the discarded portion towards the end of this post).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 7:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After you discard, now it’s time to “feed”
your starter. With your 3-day old sourdough starter, mix in another 250 grams
of bread flour and 170 mL of tepid filtered water. Mix thoroughly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 8:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Re-mark the top of the mixture height on your
container if needed. Now let it sit for another 2 days or 48 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">DAY
SIX</span></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"> – (48
hours after Step 8) There should be a lot of activity and small bubbles now. It
has most likely risen even higher than the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 9:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat Steps 6 and 7 – the discard and feed.
After mixing and discarding, add the same 250 grams of flour and 170 mL of
water, and then a few extra splashes of water – maybe about 30-40 mL more –
until the desired consistency of a “wet, sloppy dough” is reached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 10:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cover the sourdough starter and let it sit
out one final time. This time is only for 24 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">DAY SEVEN – If you starter is
bubbly and active after those last 24 hours – congrats, you did it! You now
have a sourdough starter that is ready to bake with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Step 11:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You bake with it! Here is a Simple No-Knead
Sourdough Bread Recipe {<a href="https://homesteadandchill.com/simple-sourdough-bread-recipe/" target="_blank">click here</a>}.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">What to do with discarded
sourdough starter? So many options! If you have chickens, they really enjoy
eating the discarded starter. It is full of healthy probiotics for them. Some
people make pancakes, pizza dough, muffins or all sorts of things with it.
Worst case scenario, throw it into your compost and bury it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-55271674055806133662019-04-05T09:09:00.000-07:002019-04-05T09:09:03.343-07:00Landscaping The Backyard...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9:08 am - 44 degrees - raining...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is Spring Break right now, and we decided to stay home to get some projects done around the property.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every year after the snow melts away, we are left with a mess! There is a 14'-16' swath of rock that is scattered in the grass alongside the driveway from the snowplow and snowblower. There are broken branches and twigs scattered all over the place. And the grass and all the plants are matted down and just look blah. I cannot wait for everything to perk up and start greening up!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHgVTjdGHtp0Kya50S1Xq6gFRaFnA14Dgu5IDb42CkB2bblZAhWv2IrL2eFvptk4BVo2hlUe2uCJFcI0mNffZzMY7B4m02beRlsI8RDrYGDb9scT6gMwGSV5bsWT_uizRaDy9uyDIC4bi/s1600/IMG_20190403_151424_077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHgVTjdGHtp0Kya50S1Xq6gFRaFnA14Dgu5IDb42CkB2bblZAhWv2IrL2eFvptk4BVo2hlUe2uCJFcI0mNffZzMY7B4m02beRlsI8RDrYGDb9scT6gMwGSV5bsWT_uizRaDy9uyDIC4bi/s320/IMG_20190403_151424_077.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All this rock had to be racked back into the driveway.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that the majority of the snow has melted I wanted to take advantage of the time off and get some work done around the house. So this week I have been cleaning up and burning in between rain showers.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm34mugEuV5vAqg3LgJfRJUbjX6Y4qESsTvBu6umM0Luh8Ita00-NwXCwd88LPd9LhHyYREZBQ1hRwDtgW2zy2oPOLGHTMlYkqM9KDjh1YjGm-I_ppraouiEfuY1nbXFYgcT3ABKt2atBB/s1600/IMG_20190403_165101_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm34mugEuV5vAqg3LgJfRJUbjX6Y4qESsTvBu6umM0Luh8Ita00-NwXCwd88LPd9LhHyYREZBQ1hRwDtgW2zy2oPOLGHTMlYkqM9KDjh1YjGm-I_ppraouiEfuY1nbXFYgcT3ABKt2atBB/s320/IMG_20190403_165101_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burning yard debris.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday there was another break in the rain and I decided to get rid of one of the many rock piles we have scattered here and there - we have very rock ground. About a year and a half after we moved up here, Tony and I used up some of our excess rock to build a couple of rock stars {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/2011/08/landscaping-backyard-part-2.html" target="_blank">click here</a>}. After we were done, we intended to transplant plants around the stars... but we never quite got around to it. So fast forward to yesterday and I decided to add a third star.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I printed off my original grid star design that I made (each star is 12'x12'), grabbed my gloves, a tape measure, marking spray paint, stakes, and twine. Next I measured out where my stakes needed to go, strung out my twine, and marked my lines on the ground with my marker spray paint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I started to fill in my star outline with rocks. I found the best angled rocks for the star points, then made my rock outline, and lastly filled in the center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After my star was completed, I raked around all three stars and just cleaned it up a bit because this year I AM going to plant around the stars and get that flowerbed finished!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN0x73wjYs1G2rqtA54sAvrYB9Gvs4GCkfgrVJVzDTvDs-iXftIn0RLR1WIi8sYvJgcptQvvyseYzLKkwJ5dFrACZKDIbUMvEwCIZZfQfI_hMOLFoA3bA5YOin6luXJh78G6HYICiyBBX/s1600/20190404_142351+%2528rc%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1600" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN0x73wjYs1G2rqtA54sAvrYB9Gvs4GCkfgrVJVzDTvDs-iXftIn0RLR1WIi8sYvJgcptQvvyseYzLKkwJ5dFrACZKDIbUMvEwCIZZfQfI_hMOLFoA3bA5YOin6luXJh78G6HYICiyBBX/s320/20190404_142351+%2528rc%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it turned out pretty good. The whole project took me about 4 hours, and I already had all the supplies so it cost me nothing!</span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-81877375864429699592019-04-02T09:38:00.001-07:002019-04-02T17:39:01.373-07:00American Chinchilla Road Trip...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9:38 am - 51 degrees - overcast, light wind....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last weekend Caitlyn and I went on a road trip through the beautiful Columbia River Gorge to pick up a few new additions to our mini-farm we seem to be starting. Where were the guys? They stayed home and worked on the chicken coop. I'll post about that soon!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qrHIbjuosdikNxdhffU2_Wul6sogpFeluwRGSy6l1tCmwCjXsMJdqRU6vhSHTL8LChYD7BT6-kFNgW64PhYQKJMEBpZxDj5Oq0YWCjyTA3RNeFUkEyQXcgzMGMLiQhq4jzA_Le5toSfW/s1600/IMG_20190330_093052_091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qrHIbjuosdikNxdhffU2_Wul6sogpFeluwRGSy6l1tCmwCjXsMJdqRU6vhSHTL8LChYD7BT6-kFNgW64PhYQKJMEBpZxDj5Oq0YWCjyTA3RNeFUkEyQXcgzMGMLiQhq4jzA_Le5toSfW/s320/IMG_20190330_093052_091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off for a fun 9-hour road trip!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love the drive along the Columbia River and through the Gorge because of the ever changing landscape, so many breath taking sights and views! We also lucked out and had gorgeous weather the whole trip.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN88Q40QHnJcehZ4s8qUrXz8d8ltyHR180LY8HCMq-yRWX8MZo9phrzBt0J1l-0nqrDbh6TKOcWVjRKklRIhe9MTirXrPOOYvjbrPN9-9MzjxLk5Bc5QAZGgYQWKR-G529FhYvUIES0PF/s1600/IMG_20190330_151429_596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN88Q40QHnJcehZ4s8qUrXz8d8ltyHR180LY8HCMq-yRWX8MZo9phrzBt0J1l-0nqrDbh6TKOcWVjRKklRIhe9MTirXrPOOYvjbrPN9-9MzjxLk5Bc5QAZGgYQWKR-G529FhYvUIES0PF/s320/IMG_20190330_151429_596.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These wind turbines are HUGE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to stop at Stonehenge.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meet our newest additions - a breeding pair of American Chinchilla Rabbits! Aren't they just gorgeous... and huge!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hAVIXMuHF58KSkrLO0FP9fVMQCCNqGxaQ-hlGRUekpp0eryvxCTMOZriocusCQuyki1IPZbdQRjao8y5B98YADPkKyVY9UQuLywthJdC30qA7Ew2mzR9CxRAZSaN54V8VgIO7fQr0S3j/s1600/IMG_20190330_152145_185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hAVIXMuHF58KSkrLO0FP9fVMQCCNqGxaQ-hlGRUekpp0eryvxCTMOZriocusCQuyki1IPZbdQRjao8y5B98YADPkKyVY9UQuLywthJdC30qA7Ew2mzR9CxRAZSaN54V8VgIO7fQr0S3j/s320/IMG_20190330_152145_185.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trixie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3wkueKRq1I1qdIKPvGCSyKkAYF-WtVKSRcGA0U8FcP0P6_e5R8zUyCj-NO1cLcFAWcdnQdG1uhxgSLVGbh-oe3eNvahqkwgBWtRnNsvOCG7q2fe8g9KuMOvnvI1WZnGoLNFhO9a1h3y/s1600/IMG_20190330_152145_186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNW3wkueKRq1I1qdIKPvGCSyKkAYF-WtVKSRcGA0U8FcP0P6_e5R8zUyCj-NO1cLcFAWcdnQdG1uhxgSLVGbh-oe3eNvahqkwgBWtRnNsvOCG7q2fe8g9KuMOvnvI1WZnGoLNFhO9a1h3y/s320/IMG_20190330_152145_186.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuben</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reuben is 3.5 months old and weighs in at just over 5 pounds. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trixie is 11 months old and weighs in at just under 10 pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When they are full grown, Bucks will weigh between 9-11 pounds and Does will weigh between 10-12 pounds. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1zwm7ynONRQ-36USlSCFGmsNRQlKI9CGmtB9l999Kb0Y4rO8PnNhzaGeimgpyNV6OrdH4BQJGe7QlCSkUdcunRMrSX-ZVcYCjkNeHiz3H9S0EIZnkno3zheDSl7ST7bhxhBntsPsZc1s/s1600/IMG_20190330_152145_191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1zwm7ynONRQ-36USlSCFGmsNRQlKI9CGmtB9l999Kb0Y4rO8PnNhzaGeimgpyNV6OrdH4BQJGe7QlCSkUdcunRMrSX-ZVcYCjkNeHiz3H9S0EIZnkno3zheDSl7ST7bhxhBntsPsZc1s/s320/IMG_20190330_152145_191.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuben</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvDyGX786GOu-avhYuQ4DMdnfH0X-wIU1n3vApWbJH8KP5FPqI7t34FSBIrXQiZQu9BjW7LI1KkcLAwUsT7kY1azIspRuf11SewrJeFKoKfTMez7p2ro-TItRoJVX7S9gqnnFoZkZPGZ7/s1600/IMG_20190330_152145_199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvDyGX786GOu-avhYuQ4DMdnfH0X-wIU1n3vApWbJH8KP5FPqI7t34FSBIrXQiZQu9BjW7LI1KkcLAwUsT7kY1azIspRuf11SewrJeFKoKfTMez7p2ro-TItRoJVX7S9gqnnFoZkZPGZ7/s320/IMG_20190330_152145_199.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trixie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Trixie and Reuben, who are very soft, sweet, and cuddly, did great on the car ride home and are settling right in. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDYs_pyEhojJm080Ni_7Wj-_QY4umLCCJMuDx25iT1YeuV8VbzMwOZcQq6qb7g8GdPjWRJQNAiAuKtrU_VteK3lXf9d8l9JhdvHyw8XwhoW4_2J7GsmJk7IoD7c1yiJzrq6tncgQuTPP6/s1600/IMG_20190330_152145_194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDYs_pyEhojJm080Ni_7Wj-_QY4umLCCJMuDx25iT1YeuV8VbzMwOZcQq6qb7g8GdPjWRJQNAiAuKtrU_VteK3lXf9d8l9JhdvHyw8XwhoW4_2J7GsmJk7IoD7c1yiJzrq6tncgQuTPP6/s320/IMG_20190330_152145_194.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Click {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/p/american-chinchilla-rabbits.html" target="_blank">here</a>} for more information on American Chinchillas.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-11375733964432266082019-03-07T14:48:00.001-08:002019-03-07T14:57:44.036-08:00DIY Faux Shiplap Walls...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2:48 pm - 31 degrees outside - snowing, foggy...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A while back I decided that I
wanted to finish out all the closets in our home with a wood planking look –
aka shiplap. So far I have finished out both of the kids closets {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/search?q=shiplap" target="_blank">click here</a>}
and I think they turned out great! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I make a decision I usually
jump with both feet, while Tony thinks things through a bit more. So Sunday
night I decided that I wanted to finish out our linen closet in the master
bathroom and tore everything out of the closet so I would have a clean space
and be ready to get started the next morning... after I ran to Lowe’s to get
supplies that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Real shiplap is more than I
wanted to spend, but that’s the overall look I’m wanting in all the closets – it’s
a nice neutral texture that can be added to any space and can be styled in a
lot of different ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A popular technique to get the
shiplap look at a lower cost is to cut a piece of plywood into strips that you
nail to the wall just slightly spaced apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will save you a few bucks, but on the down side you have to rip
plywood into perfectly straight strips and balance coins or spacers between
boards to get the perfect spacing which would make the project a lot more labor
intensive than I wanted to attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndvMh7a4Gr5KIA3FdSt1WQNFVVdutuPPIhX0QWiiOBWQ6dUbCWbHJnA9IN5FgBx63F2OQaghhv8ocLDFemhMk2RXMDl1kmY_JKY2X8nJXXYYK8NPxSsIZhdozO4jVEPaijQYZS7wKfQLj/s1600/Wall+Planking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndvMh7a4Gr5KIA3FdSt1WQNFVVdutuPPIhX0QWiiOBWQ6dUbCWbHJnA9IN5FgBx63F2OQaghhv8ocLDFemhMk2RXMDl1kmY_JKY2X8nJXXYYK8NPxSsIZhdozO4jVEPaijQYZS7wKfQLj/s320/Wall+Planking.png" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So the best solution, at a
reasonable price, that I found was to use tongue and grove planks. This is what
I used in the kids closets, and it is so incredibly easy to install, yet it
still gives me the look I’m wanting.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altogether - planks, wood
filler, sandpaper, paint, and boards for shelving totaled $126 and the project
took about 4 hours spread out over three days to finish. Three days was to give
enough time for the paint and stain to dry properly – otherwise it would have
been all done in one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here is what I used...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd/EverTrue-3-5625-in-x-8-ft-V-Groove-Gold-Pine-Wall-Panel/3056263" target="_blank">4 packs of v-groove pine wallplanks (6 planks to a pack)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Miter Saw<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tape measure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Level<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Brad nailer with nails<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wood Filler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Putty knife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sandpaper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Paint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wood Stain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_XUSZoxMsxCO8KlojqKJ7mfj0zx-qZBXzDK2c0-o4J2ml4Ug18z0cpGK57qiOnhKZnWdOuFpPQEBCwrpY0N3Gt1KpZU_by17OEpTYbmNXkF4tRqIFuozhPHQgSipeHKMwiaOk9_py7Df/s1600/IMAG7967_1+%2528email%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_XUSZoxMsxCO8KlojqKJ7mfj0zx-qZBXzDK2c0-o4J2ml4Ug18z0cpGK57qiOnhKZnWdOuFpPQEBCwrpY0N3Gt1KpZU_by17OEpTYbmNXkF4tRqIFuozhPHQgSipeHKMwiaOk9_py7Df/s320/IMAG7967_1+%2528email%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" width="319" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kuPse7v4nFg9pDvwnz2vLkqsZGsASEj1d5g5monuyscw2Kn5z4OylTz5CpNRlYv69LTyTEs-DVNj4tGTrRe8w8siOFt2BJETgtwmDuwLJhihtVpEynBaxvABnd8AbDscz1-byGC-7CK/s1600/IMAG7987+%2528email%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7kuPse7v4nFg9pDvwnz2vLkqsZGsASEj1d5g5monuyscw2Kn5z4OylTz5CpNRlYv69LTyTEs-DVNj4tGTrRe8w8siOFt2BJETgtwmDuwLJhihtVpEynBaxvABnd8AbDscz1-byGC-7CK/s320/IMAG7987+%2528email%2529+%25282%2529.jpg" width="316" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The linen closet is 44” wide by
2’7” deep with a back wall + slanted ceiling measuring 6’10” –-- soooo... there
was a lot of measuring and cutting involved.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I started the first board in
the bottom left corner, used the level and a scrap piece of sheetrock to keep
the board half an inch off the subfloor (the spacing will allow for the future
installation of flooring) and nailed in the board using the brad nailer. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It took me somewhere between
one and a half to two hours to get all the planking up.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80OOcpBMhPMBW9Z_Dcu1600s2_04_UduroB-5KY1DkHEEm8l_lHzRz0iYGsfxMJXQi-6vEQ5M0fPv-MbSeCzcW-4ZMWt5RhNCWD3x2yI0MMv-2W5Avxow3JVQIpx1azt3GiTXlM-aPNnV/s1600/IMG_20190304_185222_726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80OOcpBMhPMBW9Z_Dcu1600s2_04_UduroB-5KY1DkHEEm8l_lHzRz0iYGsfxMJXQi-6vEQ5M0fPv-MbSeCzcW-4ZMWt5RhNCWD3x2yI0MMv-2W5Avxow3JVQIpx1azt3GiTXlM-aPNnV/s320/IMG_20190304_185222_726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the boards were up, I went back and
filled all the nail holes and smoothed out any seams or knot holes with wood
filler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the wood filler had time
to dry, I went back and sanded all those spots smooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then paint!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I used less than half a can of Valspar “Snowcap White” (one heavy coat +
touch ups).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsdjXNPkAfv1XqONIZalI_5CcXtlhkSVatl_7FRbR_PrcfR2GkW36yrpkwTFOQiJbVMIfoYud0Z5lZsxiPV0eTpIxVIBaHYmqDihFe108qRj4XvwEYF8TbtghvZFyz7rZKFLNPVT5XJM_/s1600/IMG_20190306_161320_703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsdjXNPkAfv1XqONIZalI_5CcXtlhkSVatl_7FRbR_PrcfR2GkW36yrpkwTFOQiJbVMIfoYud0Z5lZsxiPV0eTpIxVIBaHYmqDihFe108qRj4XvwEYF8TbtghvZFyz7rZKFLNPVT5XJM_/s320/IMG_20190306_161320_703.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Next, I figured out where I
wanted my shelves to be at, measured and screwed in sidewall supports for the
shelving to sit on. I cut each board, made sure that they fit properly, then
stained them with Varathane Wood Stain “Kona”. After the boards were dry, I put
them into the closet, and voila, all done!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70-xMKXaor8t4dRD1raIXrNGuO_2v9AkBOzILfqT9lasyQhPmvtEJ2TcfwZPfFMQagpcpr-tsZNSOnnRVGhZGGoG_PV7y-gs8uAHO9XQR98ocP312OCrRP9eCPB1gyE0v6NqszYsX2h9d/s1600/IMG_20190306_174520_963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70-xMKXaor8t4dRD1raIXrNGuO_2v9AkBOzILfqT9lasyQhPmvtEJ2TcfwZPfFMQagpcpr-tsZNSOnnRVGhZGGoG_PV7y-gs8uAHO9XQR98ocP312OCrRP9eCPB1gyE0v6NqszYsX2h9d/s320/IMG_20190306_174520_963.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I absolutely love how it turned
it. Now 3 out of 4 of the upstairs closets are done! I love progress!</span></div>
<br />Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-29799180144706088292019-03-03T16:31:00.000-08:002019-04-02T18:26:36.743-07:00A Few New Additions...<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4:30 pm - 43 degrees outside - blue sky, windy...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back in mid-November we adopted
this cute little guy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jzDl69pRYW0c2mcHDunneg4yg0X-BOOFOfzIqujcPJ4oNlh7PNyEWwSjGl9gamcFVt1zjS3FfJtci0mNdBharssUZvdm4NdaB1ULXbYSavhTQ7K8I6xTGojzBAWZK30xs1olGebQepOG/s1600/IMG_20181117_070755_153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jzDl69pRYW0c2mcHDunneg4yg0X-BOOFOfzIqujcPJ4oNlh7PNyEWwSjGl9gamcFVt1zjS3FfJtci0mNdBharssUZvdm4NdaB1ULXbYSavhTQ7K8I6xTGojzBAWZK30xs1olGebQepOG/s320/IMG_20181117_070755_153.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger - 8 weeks old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GQvAljY_3IfAvKajPYDcNcnIKM8ccEHfVPHuSqw9aZPyAfO2ALYJq7P70L-dMjpKDICgkX3Bq0iaVsqTplOzXD5oLekBkVo25coxhQlUvKLfxAk8YOymUPsFvyciJPonO-9k79GCqHl5/s1600/IMG_20181206_113109_019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GQvAljY_3IfAvKajPYDcNcnIKM8ccEHfVPHuSqw9aZPyAfO2ALYJq7P70L-dMjpKDICgkX3Bq0iaVsqTplOzXD5oLekBkVo25coxhQlUvKLfxAk8YOymUPsFvyciJPonO-9k79GCqHl5/s320/IMG_20181206_113109_019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger - 10 weeks old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Everyone automatically thinks Ranger
is a little black lab puppy and I have gotten tired of saying “Nope, he’s a McNab,
Border Collie, Catahoula, and Kelpie hybrid. No, he’s not a mutt he was purposely
bred that way.” So I have started saying “Nope, he’s a McBorder Catahoupie.”
Most people haven’t heard of most of those breeds anyway, so... oh well, it’s
easier to say.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPmyz3ZY_CLvAX4WbGt9sMjJwURwtlRmRAcqPCfqda1KL_NQBzNRct_l5aGjmXQecN5keOmLizMXv2WuCrxLtea54goKNRLI6MpwIOlIpUFIIDecPGHP4miE3ivBKHhyphenhyphenXZJ-944qF9vYH/s1600/IMG_20190106_124041_809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPmyz3ZY_CLvAX4WbGt9sMjJwURwtlRmRAcqPCfqda1KL_NQBzNRct_l5aGjmXQecN5keOmLizMXv2WuCrxLtea54goKNRLI6MpwIOlIpUFIIDecPGHP4miE3ivBKHhyphenhyphenXZJ-944qF9vYH/s320/IMG_20190106_124041_809.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger - 15 weeks old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBwot79H4_C1BIXbJqX03sZ-scMANf0eqLMb0SU40qtUN6JzpWoPrGNv39m9b_xiizu96acBcVMQtdNf2RHfO1xv1N084oHqM97rZxZ-E3thI_ZszMZXlV-sIOZcF3Ls4qPIrd64i7Txt/s1600/IMG_20190108_085519_465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBwot79H4_C1BIXbJqX03sZ-scMANf0eqLMb0SU40qtUN6JzpWoPrGNv39m9b_xiizu96acBcVMQtdNf2RHfO1xv1N084oHqM97rZxZ-E3thI_ZszMZXlV-sIOZcF3Ls4qPIrd64i7Txt/s320/IMG_20190108_085519_465.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKIDZT1pMQLkhaQzdKpCzs8k5UdEVtMk9x9saIakHAbcpWLo7ErSQkgq39rl6lwsKmoj66A0e7bK3SMOGb6BTLJHPbYN_k3TZky9gvO0hxln24io8Dw8jvVx8MLJOK0H_-yHPaU79tifl/s1600/IMG_20190217_074351_329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKIDZT1pMQLkhaQzdKpCzs8k5UdEVtMk9x9saIakHAbcpWLo7ErSQkgq39rl6lwsKmoj66A0e7bK3SMOGb6BTLJHPbYN_k3TZky9gvO0hxln24io8Dw8jvVx8MLJOK0H_-yHPaU79tifl/s320/IMG_20190217_074351_329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ranger - 5 months old</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to mid-February
and we picked up 6 cute little chicks. We specifically picked out chicks that
will grow up to look different from each other; it will make it easier to tell
who is who.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzSFSNaFCbNgcpCOI-0RNkUo34r110mLV1M_UPDWVJE6v2MC-Hl6sFcB3UbETdUW5Wxv7qMCj10tF-Yl3bXKHsmWWeRQQDkWNF5ir3zcPW1t4A_bzbVT_7g89ssMTiBRXNSohbBHfCY81/s1600/IMG_20190214_120319_397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzSFSNaFCbNgcpCOI-0RNkUo34r110mLV1M_UPDWVJE6v2MC-Hl6sFcB3UbETdUW5Wxv7qMCj10tF-Yl3bXKHsmWWeRQQDkWNF5ir3zcPW1t4A_bzbVT_7g89ssMTiBRXNSohbBHfCY81/s320/IMG_20190214_120319_397.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From top to bottom:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Milo – Mottled Java<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Opal – Olive Egger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bella – Black Sex Link<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bessie – Blue Wyandotte<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rosie – Rhode Island Red<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scarlet – Sicilian Buttercup</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaxb0BFiHIrQG6pPyBsAP3I1OjeXWg0p2Vdi36xpWZ3oJRkEnWs_tEruugu81jAVYxPzRnXC6ImkZ9Ye_guTgECjFm4JvajyxKCzXBcH1siFddowAV-aTkpwZ6y9ZnAFCTC32lH70p4Cy/s1600/IMG_20190215_120304_647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1080" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaxb0BFiHIrQG6pPyBsAP3I1OjeXWg0p2Vdi36xpWZ3oJRkEnWs_tEruugu81jAVYxPzRnXC6ImkZ9Ye_guTgECjFm4JvajyxKCzXBcH1siFddowAV-aTkpwZ6y9ZnAFCTC32lH70p4Cy/s320/IMG_20190215_120304_647.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ranger isn’t sure what to think
of these tiny, noisy creatures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIY0IbrS_8BIIMpmuPyWJCSCYz0swpfE6xYElHR_Ndwo_PUiXfj0r2YHtjrPxCkhilbMVHyvDfrilgFu7QtmWE7pgDzmfqXxzbZtaqDK8yHlk64ZSnc9VpCjOk3fD59q1-vJTQHWH9foU/s1600/IMG_20190214_131710_594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIY0IbrS_8BIIMpmuPyWJCSCYz0swpfE6xYElHR_Ndwo_PUiXfj0r2YHtjrPxCkhilbMVHyvDfrilgFu7QtmWE7pgDzmfqXxzbZtaqDK8yHlk64ZSnc9VpCjOk3fD59q1-vJTQHWH9foU/s320/IMG_20190214_131710_594.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uI3kvwy9OIXRFcImH1ZZ3VQwxCD5b4bBTS1BTDNlAEc_yE5p2K46Gu9hXAaqGoRFf_wuWvL8gScTx-tdopiuaRoNuriEUzcN8WsycKfj06XXxw7N9GZcl-bBZ_9TyUvuNlCPYSK0E1OX/s1600/IMG_20190226_182032_092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uI3kvwy9OIXRFcImH1ZZ3VQwxCD5b4bBTS1BTDNlAEc_yE5p2K46Gu9hXAaqGoRFf_wuWvL8gScTx-tdopiuaRoNuriEUzcN8WsycKfj06XXxw7N9GZcl-bBZ_9TyUvuNlCPYSK0E1OX/s320/IMG_20190226_182032_092.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The chicks are currently in the
house. We have to wait until the snow melts so we can finish the chicken coop.
But in the meantime, our cats are enjoying the coop. I wonder what they will
think when it’s done and full of noisy chickens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4pgQCe0MTAFTYskkN3-s0Gmk2-MDyjvrc5mRCIjWmZ6Eof0yllydeXT5WUs7nJoijm4lMDwDsres6jPkaoecPA7AwSITH3iTGEZPNbXXU71xfmBv0C2Ut1WvuqFYN7mUlkw4vBXkX41A/s1600/IMG_20190221_102323_837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4pgQCe0MTAFTYskkN3-s0Gmk2-MDyjvrc5mRCIjWmZ6Eof0yllydeXT5WUs7nJoijm4lMDwDsres6jPkaoecPA7AwSITH3iTGEZPNbXXU71xfmBv0C2Ut1WvuqFYN7mUlkw4vBXkX41A/s320/IMG_20190221_102323_837.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Coming soon... we have to wait
until the passes are clear so we can take a road trip (about 3 and a half hours
each way) so we can go pick up Reuben & Trixie, our breeding pair of American
Chinchilla Rabbits! So excited!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWf6JD1fOwOxCUO4xB_CVeN2yNwOicp8gmTS3z9NzgeNBEEJ8cOsJgwduPpcAcA-gaH2rJy5VMF6D7Z1Zxf2LBCJRd_nxoPt0Am5Y2jFwlan5HeGZpaTNflUlTqSqlpFHFViODE575Tuo/s1600/20190301_095206+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="776" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWf6JD1fOwOxCUO4xB_CVeN2yNwOicp8gmTS3z9NzgeNBEEJ8cOsJgwduPpcAcA-gaH2rJy5VMF6D7Z1Zxf2LBCJRd_nxoPt0Am5Y2jFwlan5HeGZpaTNflUlTqSqlpFHFViODE575Tuo/s320/20190301_095206+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">O</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">h, and we still have to build
a rabbit hutch for them too. Just waiting for the </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">snow to melt!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">So now we have 3 cats, 1 dog, and 6 chicks plus 2 rabbits on their way. Our little mountain homestead is slowly growing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">For more information on our animals click {<a href="https://offgridhomesweethome.blogspot.com/p/on-homestead.html" target="_blank">here</a>}.</span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-7730910741863076142018-08-30T13:16:00.003-07:002018-08-30T13:16:49.630-07:00Caramel Apple Butter...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US">1:16 pm - 60 degrees outside - cloudy, overcast...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US">Last weekend I picked up a 30 pound box of Gravenstien apples at a local farm - these apples make great applesauce, pies, cobblers, crisps, and so on - they are great for baking. </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj6wrf0Y4nvhWgU6mt_4qMq6Ux9yniFr4A0HiByRG3ZDB050q4KIHnYRiopf0uTIekadlqPPLCGWVtEKUf-fG9ujevoyBwFDn_B2FNcSbDH-GzaNjZSdcf61ilGlqpkL2WMafFvQck2wH/s1600/IMG_20180830_103459_669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj6wrf0Y4nvhWgU6mt_4qMq6Ux9yniFr4A0HiByRG3ZDB050q4KIHnYRiopf0uTIekadlqPPLCGWVtEKUf-fG9ujevoyBwFDn_B2FNcSbDH-GzaNjZSdcf61ilGlqpkL2WMafFvQck2wH/s400/IMG_20180830_103459_669.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last 12 lbs of apples are going to be canned as apple pie mixes!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So far I have already used 10 pounds to make applesauce, another 8 pounds to make this absolutely delicious Caramel Apple Butter, and I'm going to use the last 12 pounds to can apple pie mixes. But first, I wanted to share the recipe for this amazing Caramel Apple Butter.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCfJhIAXjQNKgFq4LrDimAySZBHmkleuTJvh-Gl-5gow9gNKQu8KWg1J2SV3eZZn-QmP_TlzNeGAMWs0R7inGKpgKMCfRb013DKUZ17DfiCXslMLaKTGM8CoNXRbzppA1qd-uiS_AlHwR/s1600/IMG_20180829_224502_908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCfJhIAXjQNKgFq4LrDimAySZBHmkleuTJvh-Gl-5gow9gNKQu8KWg1J2SV3eZZn-QmP_TlzNeGAMWs0R7inGKpgKMCfRb013DKUZ17DfiCXslMLaKTGM8CoNXRbzppA1qd-uiS_AlHwR/s400/IMG_20180829_224502_908.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>CARAMEL APPLE BUTTER</b></span><span lang="en-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">INGREDIENTS:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">15-16 medium sized apples (about 8 pounds—yielding 16 cups of peeled, diced apples)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup brown sugar<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.5 tsp cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3/4 tsp ginger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3/4 tsp ground cloves<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 tsp vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">30 unwrapped caramels (most of an 11 oz bag)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(NOTE: this recipe filled about 11 half-pint jars)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DIRECTIONS:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">1.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Prepare your jars and lids by washing in warm, soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. Place jar rack into water bath canner, set jars in the canner, add water, and boil jars for 10 minutes to sterilize. Warm your lids in a small pot over low heat. Keep jars and lids warm until ready to use.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">2.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Peel and dice the apples (you should have about 16 cups of apples), and place into large crockpot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">3.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Mix in the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Cover with lid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">4.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Cook on high for 6 hours. Occasionally stirring apple mix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">5.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Blend the apples until smooth. You can use an immersion blender, potato masher, chinois and pestle, hand mixer, or food processor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFpDxVJxqTxwsM7IM5GNJTxiQkWT0H4KiUGaKU0NnM_-Gh0xBmsHcqcg6GFm3WKsu_m1opnmxWG_SupixG0bu9RVBitOAI7owciW4m0uI0Dsoi3p3ch0GnhzKq6vsY7Oz_Pa9zQb3sk5-/s1600/IMG_20180830_125454_257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFpDxVJxqTxwsM7IM5GNJTxiQkWT0H4KiUGaKU0NnM_-Gh0xBmsHcqcg6GFm3WKsu_m1opnmxWG_SupixG0bu9RVBitOAI7owciW4m0uI0Dsoi3p3ch0GnhzKq6vsY7Oz_Pa9zQb3sk5-/s320/IMG_20180830_125454_257.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to use this chinois and pestle set. <br />Very easy to use and I love the resulting texture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">6.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Return apple mixture to crock pot. Stir in vanilla extract, and caramels. Replace lid, but put it on crooked so air can vent. Continue cooking on high for 1-2 more hours until mixture starts to thicken (it will get even thicker when it cools). Occasionally stirring apple mixture, making sure the caramels are melting and getting mixed in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">7.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Spread a kitchen towel on the counter. Use your jar lifter to remove warm jars from canner, drain, and line up on the towel. Use your canning ladle and funnel and add caramel apple butter to warm jars leaving 1/2inch headspace. Wipe the rims. Use your magnetic lid lifter to lift lids out of the warm water, center lid on the jar, and screw on band until it is fingertip tight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">8.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">At this point you can store the caramel apple butter in fridge for up to 2 weeks, freezer for up to 6 months, or continue for canning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">9.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Using jar lifter, place jars carefully into canner leaving space in between them. Once jars are all in canner, adjust the water level so it is at least one inch above the jar tops. Add more boiling water if needed so the water level is at least one inch above the jar tops. When adding water, use the hot water from the small pot your lids were in. Pour the water around the jars and not directly onto them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">10.</span><span style="width: 9.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">Cover the canner and bring to boil over high heat. Once water boils vigorously, continue boiling pints for 20 minutes at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft. (add 5 minutes processing time for altitudes between 1001-3000 ft.). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">11.</span><span style="width: 5.25pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">When processing time is complete, turn off heat and allow the canner to cool down and settle for about 10 minutes. Spread a kitchen towel on the counter</span><span lang="el">; </span><span lang="en-US">remove the cover by tilting lid away from you so that steam does not burn your face. Use a jar lifter to lift jars carefully from canner and place on the towel. Allow the jars to cool for 12 to 24hours. You should hear the satisfactory “ping” of the jar lids sealing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">12.</span><span style="width: 5.25pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US">After 12 to 24hours, check to be sure jar lids have sealed by pushing on the center of the lid. The lid should not pop up. If the lid flexes up and down, it did not seal. Refrigerate jar and use up within a few days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
- Enjoy!</div>
</span>Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-69714102576020601262018-07-20T16:25:00.000-07:002018-07-20T16:25:08.458-07:00Banana Bread...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4:25 pm - 71 degrees outside - blue sky, light breeze...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a nice cool 71 degrees out right now - we're in between heat waves at the moment, so I'm taking advantage to do some baking! Fresh banana bread, yum! This is my grandma's recipe and one batch usually won't even last 24 hours. It goes quick!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUjJsoZYLSt2qZwUiWDfNnZwyffNRDhtnYlIm1sPEiziyexq43UdXNArt_eCUXu_phd0L7bk69pgZog2cok4PkUfcaar9qEOhco0TlSc5bZ8wQPwOKN5pCWUWU8AdcBGpqFSGWWZRxmMT/s1600/Banana+Bread+-+OffGridHomeSweetHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUjJsoZYLSt2qZwUiWDfNnZwyffNRDhtnYlIm1sPEiziyexq43UdXNArt_eCUXu_phd0L7bk69pgZog2cok4PkUfcaar9qEOhco0TlSc5bZ8wQPwOKN5pCWUWU8AdcBGpqFSGWWZRxmMT/s400/Banana+Bread+-+OffGridHomeSweetHome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~ BANANA BREAD ~</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>½
cup shortening or butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1
cup sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 over ripe bananas, mashed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2
eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1
teaspoon baking <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>soda<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1
Tbsp sour cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½
teaspoon salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1
½ teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups all-purpose flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mix
all ingredients thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put into a
greased loaf pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bake at 325°F for 1 hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">{Note: I like to use oven-safe paper baking pans which will make 3 small loaves instead of 1 big loaf. They seem to last a bit longer, which isn't much, but you don't have to grease the pan, you don't have to flip the bread out, and it's easy to serve out of. Just a lot easier for me.}</span></div>
<br />Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-87855006904798383402017-11-22T09:11:00.001-08:002017-11-22T09:12:44.731-08:00Meat. It’s What’s For Dinner...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">9:09 am - 52 degrees outside - overcast, low clouds...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">It’s
that time of year again... hunting season.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Hunting
wild animals for food used to be a part of everyday life – for some it still
is. Hunting may not be for everyone, but
it’s a part of our lives. Hunting is
simply harvesting wild food, and we only harvest what our family will eat.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7Z9saWME4I6P461u8NDfWZbOIxEEiBa8D7zRM7MhyWlOTPv5k5Bc66SXQE37uXgxEz8tvPiTj-99hz0-uZyzVvhT8w_3OHxIGcCym1M4B07-iCPe-N88VJ5ZoM5EjQTqgnCwygnNlRyS/s1600/G-Grandma+early+1900s+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7Z9saWME4I6P461u8NDfWZbOIxEEiBa8D7zRM7MhyWlOTPv5k5Bc66SXQE37uXgxEz8tvPiTj-99hz0-uZyzVvhT8w_3OHxIGcCym1M4B07-iCPe-N88VJ5ZoM5EjQTqgnCwygnNlRyS/s400/G-Grandma+early+1900s+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my great-grandmother in the early 1900s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tony
hunts for deer and elk every year – one deer and one elk will put enough meat
in the freezer to feed our family for a whole year and be able to share some
with family and friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">A few
years ago, our daughter took and passed a hunters education class to get her
hunting license. Last year she got her
first buck (male deer), and this year she got her first bull (male elk). We are very proud of her, and she is helping
to provide for our family. We are also
very proud that our children know and understand where their food comes from.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BbJYC6Fi8p2O61YgvQbpKn8iPeIitSJWwY46tcazxWZS8HZDsZzgSVPFLZ6bv9dXrC1HG8b72LP0m5-ptuWXWSMIiZXLXGryiIIaZNYdYmVjggnuaS93eHUT6TNHqVew_v5l-qDyMbK5/s1600/20171105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="566" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BbJYC6Fi8p2O61YgvQbpKn8iPeIitSJWwY46tcazxWZS8HZDsZzgSVPFLZ6bv9dXrC1HG8b72LP0m5-ptuWXWSMIiZXLXGryiIIaZNYdYmVjggnuaS93eHUT6TNHqVew_v5l-qDyMbK5/s400/20171105.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caitlyn's first bull elk. Shot 2nd day of rifle elk season.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hunting
for our own food also gives us peace of mind that the meat in our freezer has
not been tainted by antibiotics, artificial hormones, pesticides, herbicides,
or unnatural feeds that are not needed and are possibly harmful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6k5lYWnSPQFFu1LOjx-6WynLaydRdHC_vE6MPOZzbFj8IQ8cqthJS-eKVeJo8AqUtjlqO6eS_7gAT_cCDfXD3kHeSc6tfdqVIhA6ffQjQgPVgJ2hV2qsMhr9c9c8Rbae-ZdVnaEP8Lc1/s1600/102313+2+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6k5lYWnSPQFFu1LOjx-6WynLaydRdHC_vE6MPOZzbFj8IQ8cqthJS-eKVeJo8AqUtjlqO6eS_7gAT_cCDfXD3kHeSc6tfdqVIhA6ffQjQgPVgJ2hV2qsMhr9c9c8Rbae-ZdVnaEP8Lc1/s400/102313+2+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKjcaJyFv6CuoZeZ8mNHgTI67cu4sM0Oj-qKs7Ni7Yj8FLnaI8RpJ9V-0GkJVupd1odwD39l2V3arK894JuIF3MRWu1-137OiIyJ_iTb07X5hKd6q0dP1bSMepbhLMuDpVjZSIATZeOsz/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="817" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKjcaJyFv6CuoZeZ8mNHgTI67cu4sM0Oj-qKs7Ni7Yj8FLnaI8RpJ9V-0GkJVupd1odwD39l2V3arK894JuIF3MRWu1-137OiIyJ_iTb07X5hKd6q0dP1bSMepbhLMuDpVjZSIATZeOsz/s400/Picture2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elk tastes similar to beef (no gamey flavor). <br />
Compared to beef, elk meat is lower in fat and higher in protein.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There
are a lot of shocking things about meat.
Sometimes I find that the most shocking thing about meat to some people,
is that meat is actually made of dead animals!
Crazy right? Sorry for my
sarcasm, but I do seriously think we maintain a cognitive dissonance between
the animals we see and the meat we eat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">One of
the problems with our current food system is that there is this real disconnect
with where our food comes from. The same
person who would squeal if they saw a farmer shoot a cow can easily buy
packages of ground beef at the grocery store...or a package of skinless,
boneless chicken breasts...or fish fillets.
While we understand what meat is in a cerebral way, we don’t really
understand what that means. We don’t
equate a dead, bleeding animal with this delicious looking meal on our
plate. We literally and figuratively
remove the life from our food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">To
hunt and butcher an animal is to recognize that meat is not some abstract form
of protein that springs into existence at the grocery store tightly wrapped in
cellophane and styrofoam. Meat is
life. It still astounds me how many
people actually believe that the meat they buy at the grocery store...is just
meat at the grocery store. They forget
or choose to forget where it really came from – a living breathing animal. In order to appreciate that slice of steak on
your plate, I think you need to also know and appreciate where it came from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-83625582596990208612017-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:002017-09-20T18:04:15.947-07:00Getting Ready For Winter – Cleaning The Chimney...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6:04 pm - 46 degrees - foggy, raining...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sunday was the last
day of dry weather before the rain came, and with it more cold temperatures.
Even though we've already had a week of cold temps, Tony didn't want to
use the fireplace until we had had a good day of rain. Everything has
been too dry and the fire danger lever has been too high to take any chances.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We heat our home
with a wood stove from roughly around September until May. This ends up being one long continuous
burning season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Having a wood burning fireplace
definitely has its ups and downs. The warm
glow of a fireplace is one of nature’s simple gifts... if you can ignore the
mess and hassle that come with their daily operation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k7cXIMRnUZR0IRtbuYYXww1yjh89EwWlZtZ5009TRtz4RuZ676HljLP49WaHVtGrrwkMTqg4zLMBnnpYnB86ld1vQar4SpK6mFDjLmFrmfdcoFHQG_ERuKXSygWc9v8Fyg3xz890Csc-/s1600/20170917_181111+%2528email%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k7cXIMRnUZR0IRtbuYYXww1yjh89EwWlZtZ5009TRtz4RuZ676HljLP49WaHVtGrrwkMTqg4zLMBnnpYnB86ld1vQar4SpK6mFDjLmFrmfdcoFHQG_ERuKXSygWc9v8Fyg3xz890Csc-/s400/20170917_181111+%2528email%2529.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Though creosote inevitably
builds up over time inside the chimney and chimney cap which can become a very
serious fire hazard, by using only properly split and seasoned firewood, you
can slow the creosote accumulation. If
at all possible, try to steer clear of the slow, smoky, smoldering fires; these
tend to create creosote rather quickly.
Clean, hot burning fires are the ones that generate the least amount of
creosote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf1uinMYg2GrvyldDoAeZ1zkDBtcfvjcj2c6Jj2Dwk-rKmlUW7Dt_CtW26l2wKIkQ097eRtbDnMzHbmaLgrm_LtvjmpPGAZjlW0tXygCOHZFoQNdM3h3jF_vAm6rlYnAvLWQf_wcSi_ie/s1600/20170917_110842+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1000" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf1uinMYg2GrvyldDoAeZ1zkDBtcfvjcj2c6Jj2Dwk-rKmlUW7Dt_CtW26l2wKIkQ097eRtbDnMzHbmaLgrm_LtvjmpPGAZjlW0tXygCOHZFoQNdM3h3jF_vAm6rlYnAvLWQf_wcSi_ie/s400/20170917_110842+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">There is no one-size-fits-all
rule when it comes to how often you should clean out your chimney. We just happen to do it at the end of every
summer, right before the cold season hits - Tony
climbs up our steep metal roof to clean out the chimney and chimney cap (which
is 34 feet up in the air) - something that we feel MUST be done before we can safely
use the fireplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-12974359222303688082017-09-20T16:50:00.001-07:002017-09-20T16:59:32.231-07:00Building A Pond...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">4:50 pm - 47 degrees - foggy, raining...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">When we were driving around looking
for property 12 years ago, we came upon this near-perfect rural off-grid
property... and we were sold!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Our property has a good amount of
acreage, gorgeous views, a nice home site, and it’s a nice distance to and from
civilization. It was perfect... except for
one small thing – it was missing a visible water feature. Yes, a river bisects our lot, but we can’t
see it from the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">I have always wanted to live on
a lake or have a large pond or some kind of water feature within sight of the
house. It's only taken 12 years, but we finally have a
visible water feature – a pond!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">A pond offers numerous benefits
for landowners: entertainment for the family, water for wildlife, aquaculture, fire
protection, erosion control, and aesthetics are but a few. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">And in our case, the pond will
also hopefully offer another source of power – hydroelectric power. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">For those of you who don’t know
what hydroelectric (or hydropower or hydroenergy) is – it’s a reliable source
of renewable energy that runs 24/7 for very little cost. Power is generated from the movement of water,
like waterfalls or streams, water that is stored in dams, as well as flowing in
river to create electricity. The water
flows through a turbine to help generate electricity; using the energy of
falling or flowing water to turn the blades.
The rotating blades spin a generator that converts the mechanical energy
of the spinning turbine into electrical energy that we can use to power our
home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Even though a pond has so much
to offer, there are a lot of factors that needed to be considered first. Factors like:</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> - </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Is the land and soil actually
suited for a pond?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> - Can we build the pond ourselves?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> - What size of pond do we want
and what size will fit?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> - How much will this project cost?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> - How long will this project
take?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">While Tony is the researcher, thinker,
and planner, I am one to jump in with both feet now. So when he told me that he was thinking that
he could put in a pond and wanted to know what I thought – my response was YES, the
bigger the better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZauLUn8_hHTe174rHuE_Y-W2hAIZtcdBLMMYewsp4Da9r5HumkRpdnmFMT2bjNk3DlGX1Ywv-7gsaUMTPe8K_NVpdwZHcmmc7cfpkZCNSJiEel3V7KW4vhEUAcEvV34Biks_bn-UHVvh/s1600/Future+Pond+Site+%2528email%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZauLUn8_hHTe174rHuE_Y-W2hAIZtcdBLMMYewsp4Da9r5HumkRpdnmFMT2bjNk3DlGX1Ywv-7gsaUMTPe8K_NVpdwZHcmmc7cfpkZCNSJiEel3V7KW4vhEUAcEvV34Biks_bn-UHVvh/s400/Future+Pond+Site+%2528email%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After walking around the
designated area he had picked out and visualizing his plan of attack, Tony started digging, and digging, and
digging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The underground springs Tony tapped into, quickly started filling the hole and eventually the big hole started to look like a pond. Before the pond got too full, h</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">e added a 4” pipe that is about 2’ below the water line for our future hydropower source.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tony also added an 18” culvert for an overflow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KWKYolVlx9cXb02ULUSStoveJKXvnTy7JmfRCOs4uQTu6qAxcy-msdezIfrKxakJdTS7N8PdchSS-Squd67YGJ8xXHehyphenhyphenb_H6swYi2tCLLXagUr7VHxAHdzTz0AXGL-KP8JEZkAO7N_B/s1600/20170916_153357+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KWKYolVlx9cXb02ULUSStoveJKXvnTy7JmfRCOs4uQTu6qAxcy-msdezIfrKxakJdTS7N8PdchSS-Squd67YGJ8xXHehyphenhyphenb_H6swYi2tCLLXagUr7VHxAHdzTz0AXGL-KP8JEZkAO7N_B/s400/20170916_153357+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After getting the edges, top
and surrounding area cleaned up, we spread grass seed covered with Turf
Mulch. The Turf Mulch is a naturally
organic product that is a ground dressing for the newly seeded area. It will help the ground retain moisture, form
a protective mat over the seed, help the grass seed germinate quicker and help
with erosion control until the grass grows in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And we now have a 10' deep by 40'x50' trout pond! The water level is currently at
the uncapped hydro pipe, which he painted black so it would blend in a little more. Tony wanted to keep
the water at the lower level until the grass starts to grow. The trout will be coming in about a month or so. So excited for this project and how it is turning out! My husband is amazing!!</span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-26917607575772062542017-09-16T20:14:00.000-07:002017-09-16T20:17:13.972-07:00Fall Is Almost Here...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8:13 pm - 62 degrees - smoky...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The nights are getting colder,
the mornings are getting darker, the kids have gone back to school, and
tomorrow the rain is supposed to return!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Where did summer go? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Weeks turned into months in the
blink of an eye, and before I knew it, the kids were back in school and we’re
busy running everyone around to soccer and volleyball practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Summer was extremely busy, and
we didn’t even get anything done on or around the house. Tony spent the summer
helping our neighbor build a 3,000+ sqft tree deck for their daughter’s
wedding. The tree deck and the wedding were both absolutely amazing!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Even though everyone was really busy this summer, we did manage to sneak in some fun here and there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The kids were constantly catching critters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We went berry picking several times and canned some freezer jam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We went hiking, canoeing, camping and fishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And we made several quick trips to the Long Beach Peninsula for more fun and surf fishing.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM0UNywe89ZBuq35tuf3cqkezPYWG537VNtr82YU4J40vwzNcxrmKQSH0olF_yCrl6-yqbC-8bCoyoTF9ORofEFs1OD06ty58YscnN53QWgfud0rHbTL6Iy1oMpxRYmFtb0j_E0F9ifyh/s1600/Beach+pics+%2528email%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1000" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM0UNywe89ZBuq35tuf3cqkezPYWG537VNtr82YU4J40vwzNcxrmKQSH0olF_yCrl6-yqbC-8bCoyoTF9ORofEFs1OD06ty58YscnN53QWgfud0rHbTL6Iy1oMpxRYmFtb0j_E0F9ifyh/s400/Beach+pics+%2528email%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They caught a crab while surf fishing for perch! <br />
The crab grabbed the bait and didn't want to let get. <br />
They let it go after we got a quick picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Although I love the warmth and sunshine of summer, and everything that goes with it, I am really happy fall is almost here. </span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-29772694152017732672017-07-20T15:31:00.000-07:002017-07-20T15:32:24.454-07:00Berry Hike...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3:30 pm - 72 degrees - cloudy...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I
love, love, love living in the mountains.
Being able to step outside the front door and walk around our property
harvesting wild berries, is just amazing!
Now that harvest season is upon us, it’s time to go on another berry
hike and see what we can find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There
are so many different types of shrubs and trees that offer up a berry tempting
variety of fruits for our taste buds.
However, it’s always important to keep in mind that not all fruits found
in our forest are safe to eat. So after
a tasty stroll around the property, here’s what we found... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyagiKKdFVJqcWgDv3lM9FJ4Ho9hMefzJqLcY6g5Abl72HcDOaLK6i0XABdz1fhW1Im38KUufRoN_CIQFMXHX4bjR7Aw6oTKViVjeo12YG5ADQRoVbeW-j-sepyFHiBc7w0SLEC-0rfg4W/s1600/071617+Blackcaps+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyagiKKdFVJqcWgDv3lM9FJ4Ho9hMefzJqLcY6g5Abl72HcDOaLK6i0XABdz1fhW1Im38KUufRoN_CIQFMXHX4bjR7Aw6oTKViVjeo12YG5ADQRoVbeW-j-sepyFHiBc7w0SLEC-0rfg4W/s400/071617+Blackcaps+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blackcap aka Wild Black Raspberry {Rubus occidentalis}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tqCL_o5EKBtzvgNVmvDd5sBVx3tnZ47Xw_oTGeuMg82AG8x776Nbjavd1XHau2b0Ve6wVOJ7jtDSQYrcPYWpFBYMeteAA-reMMJXVdrC_ozuKpmUZxi1e2DHgke1kyMg5okz5XBvTXmm/s1600/071617+picking+Blackcaps+%2528email%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tqCL_o5EKBtzvgNVmvDd5sBVx3tnZ47Xw_oTGeuMg82AG8x776Nbjavd1XHau2b0Ve6wVOJ7jtDSQYrcPYWpFBYMeteAA-reMMJXVdrC_ozuKpmUZxi1e2DHgke1kyMg5okz5XBvTXmm/s400/071617+picking+Blackcaps+%2528email%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blackcap aka Wild Black Raspberry {Rubus occidentalis}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Blackcap or Black
Raspberries are closely related to the Red Raspberry but the black fruit makes
them look like Blackberries. Even though
many may get them confused, they have a taste that is uniquely their own and oh
so delicious!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJVI_rJkS7LorfhEt14JEApkn0Ho4Sv1mF80Fjbv3IJvBgRWLrV3rO_RYJ5SPOfciZhzFEV8B_nf3_Wd3XlnskgIXr9Fn8GUXT3mISEqiCXVBJ-RfwYnLzWlhhdQGRczIjllbGsmIpevY/s1600/072812+043+%2528email%2529+-+Blue+Elderberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJVI_rJkS7LorfhEt14JEApkn0Ho4Sv1mF80Fjbv3IJvBgRWLrV3rO_RYJ5SPOfciZhzFEV8B_nf3_Wd3XlnskgIXr9Fn8GUXT3mISEqiCXVBJ-RfwYnLzWlhhdQGRczIjllbGsmIpevY/s400/072812+043+%2528email%2529+-+Blue+Elderberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blue Elderberry aka Blue Elder {Sambucus cerulea}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whether it be red or blue,
Elderberries are easy to like. They are
user-friendly. Jam, jelly, pies, syrup,
schnapps, brandy and wine can all be made from those tiny little berries. The flowers are also edible and can be used
in pancakes and muffins or just dipped in batter and fried. They also make a nice tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaxiv0XPl1VmOL1Ko1c2hIncb8idagP9Zxvhre88q-o9OL69VFSf8rE3EKcujKP0EZgyHj1_C9ZtMyvpEHLw3mSKEbO2RG4MqF4pJdLEDsv5i_3d23-9szj608oBqQeJMwaXi4yhl9DP0/s1600/072812+016+%2528email%2529+-+Blue+Huckleberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="902" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaxiv0XPl1VmOL1Ko1c2hIncb8idagP9Zxvhre88q-o9OL69VFSf8rE3EKcujKP0EZgyHj1_C9ZtMyvpEHLw3mSKEbO2RG4MqF4pJdLEDsv5i_3d23-9szj608oBqQeJMwaXi4yhl9DP0/s400/072812+016+%2528email%2529+-+Blue+Huckleberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blue Huckleberry {Vaccinium deliciosum}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Any hiker in the Pacific Northwest worth
his or her weight in Huckleberries, know that late summer hiking has joys all
its own...of a juicy, purple/blue variety.
The wild Blue Huckleberry is a very coveted berry. Pickers often find themselves competing with
Black bears, cougars, and other native animals for the sweet, juicy
huckleberries which are just delicious in pies, jam, pancakes, muffins, ice
cream, syrup, and oh so much more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPb3f-rEidJQrR_Cy_wI4ppwfFmaCaREA5io_Y9Un6swrTpc2h7IBdXZCmnKf2JINuV3jX4fhKBMTUmtK5S7fRvDhKGV2sw_O7GztlY35Ufk-wJBNGsSXvhK3mI44UCMTytUu_07K3a86/s1600/072812+022+%2528email%2529+-+Oregon+Grape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPb3f-rEidJQrR_Cy_wI4ppwfFmaCaREA5io_Y9Un6swrTpc2h7IBdXZCmnKf2JINuV3jX4fhKBMTUmtK5S7fRvDhKGV2sw_O7GztlY35Ufk-wJBNGsSXvhK3mI44UCMTytUu_07K3a86/s400/072812+022+%2528email%2529+-+Oregon+Grape.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oregon <span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Grape {Mahonia nervosa}</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Oregon Grape is not related to true
grapes, but gets its name from the purple cluster of berries whose color and
slightly dusted appearance are reminiscent of grapes. The berries are highly acidic (sour), but
they make a delicious jam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoja7j67ZxOEgqTs22__iZxGvQdt8Xutn3fAqkx43WqrJrhdIfDKuSHd4Kw4_g6IxlYEf9J6US4KRlUNn3TPHb2riLRrAHiaawvLAXwvXGb63lJ0ko-_Yi1ATx9yLzvetQsze2gdpk0nJn/s1600/072812+008+%2528email%2529+-+wild+blueberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoja7j67ZxOEgqTs22__iZxGvQdt8Xutn3fAqkx43WqrJrhdIfDKuSHd4Kw4_g6IxlYEf9J6US4KRlUNn3TPHb2riLRrAHiaawvLAXwvXGb63lJ0ko-_Yi1ATx9yLzvetQsze2gdpk0nJn/s400/072812+008+%2528email%2529+-+wild+blueberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oval Leaf Blueberry aka Alaska Blueberry aka Early Blueberry {Vaccinium ovalifolium}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The wild Blueberries that we found in our yard are likely the most well
know berry on our list of berries we’ve found here. And personally I think they taste just as
good if not better than the ones bought in the store. I even had to pick a handful so I can make
Blueberry pancakes in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ9FxkWTQT99wV1dPZ5sXOr1moutGk-g088n36sc3R4S1rGU-33ca9ICreXe19BLpR18qzwJ4ExMbpRiE3NpPtHoR226SVBWbVj9ccGQt16n_TukZSMwK0P_kcc5hahQSzFKCx-Y44OYZ/s1600/072812+011+%2528email%2529+-+Red+Elderberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="901" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZ9FxkWTQT99wV1dPZ5sXOr1moutGk-g088n36sc3R4S1rGU-33ca9ICreXe19BLpR18qzwJ4ExMbpRiE3NpPtHoR226SVBWbVj9ccGQt16n_TukZSMwK0P_kcc5hahQSzFKCx-Y44OYZ/s400/072812+011+%2528email%2529+-+Red+Elderberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Red Elderberry {Sambucus racemosa}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some references say Red Elderberries are
edible, some say they are not. Basically
what I have found out is that if you eat a lot of raw, whole, Red Elderberries,
you will most likely end up with an upset stomach. If they are deseeded and cooked, then they
are just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXErQvidGzG1oN7j1pA9Qcs5DmGsEdya8wFI105plA5VYY234mAb8mUSpIKeYz4v1wkDh4d0kFQouQrvyl4Gdbp3R2jezJQqnqMcCBZYL8pyjUMrQTAbHCY9Uiw20vFnlamE4ykvX9ZI9/s1600/072812+001+%2528email%2529+-+Red+Huckleberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="902" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXErQvidGzG1oN7j1pA9Qcs5DmGsEdya8wFI105plA5VYY234mAb8mUSpIKeYz4v1wkDh4d0kFQouQrvyl4Gdbp3R2jezJQqnqMcCBZYL8pyjUMrQTAbHCY9Uiw20vFnlamE4ykvX9ZI9/s400/072812+001+%2528email%2529+-+Red+Huckleberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Red Huckleberry {Vaccinium parvifolium}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These delicate translucent berries have
been a source of food for generations of Northwest natives, animals and people
alike. As heavily used as they are, not
everyone enjoys their tangy-tart flavor.
It is for this reason that the Red Huckleberries are usually combines
with other berries, like the Blueberry to add sweetness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun5ThevM-PXVbD_rhROng36nThhnzUrtCVg73IXTbccQzMOyHChQJoZVHLt2hp-A-d8FlvUoQafi-sZN0rGDl_RVRXeEJrGxaPXh3fetI_ObKpX9PyZC0525S7Pp0qEzrdjwat3-SeS-e/s1600/072812+045+-+Salal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="400" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun5ThevM-PXVbD_rhROng36nThhnzUrtCVg73IXTbccQzMOyHChQJoZVHLt2hp-A-d8FlvUoQafi-sZN0rGDl_RVRXeEJrGxaPXh3fetI_ObKpX9PyZC0525S7Pp0qEzrdjwat3-SeS-e/s400/072812+045+-+Salal.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Salal {Gaultheria shallon}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Salal’s dark blue berries and young leaves are
both edible, and both with a unique flavor.
Salal berries were a significant food resource for Native Americas, who
both ate them fresh and dried them into cakes.
More recently, the berries are used in james, preserves and pies. They are often combined with Oregon Grape
berries because the tartness of the Oregon Grape is partially masked by the
mild sweetness of the Salal berries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpo3pIj7WWDTpZbhMnWwEHUTdSzBfc-0KnP7DrzUdw7in4lOBE00Y_Q8cgWmavw7cHS1G8La5cJ_KS8PZw7_guSkmlZS6ZGjhGmNm_dyPepKaUKqdL_GzsJ282v8JFym5sq7pe65tcq3Z/s1600/072812+006+-+Salmonberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpo3pIj7WWDTpZbhMnWwEHUTdSzBfc-0KnP7DrzUdw7in4lOBE00Y_Q8cgWmavw7cHS1G8La5cJ_KS8PZw7_guSkmlZS6ZGjhGmNm_dyPepKaUKqdL_GzsJ282v8JFym5sq7pe65tcq3Z/s400/072812+006+-+Salmonberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Salmonberry {Rubus spectabilis}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Salmonberry, Thimbleberry, Trailing Blackberry and
Black Caps all share the fruit structure of the Raspberry, with the fruit
pulling away from its receptacle. Books
often call the Salmonberry “insipid” but depending on ripeness and where you
found them, they are good eaten raw and when processed into jam, jelly and
wine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU3UKn2GGLLSxvlGy601baP6DCV-1dpb3LMqHrFtmKpTDsT6LrcfKn0m9EeU6bfIBLLGyZN255evpBuB8kX9DWTqiH3g0SkMcI9m-5beiR9GUTrYuYJ2lKDg3ANG1fkNHIfFXYEiraZcq/s1600/072812+003+%2528email%2529+-+Stink+Currant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="899" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU3UKn2GGLLSxvlGy601baP6DCV-1dpb3LMqHrFtmKpTDsT6LrcfKn0m9EeU6bfIBLLGyZN255evpBuB8kX9DWTqiH3g0SkMcI9m-5beiR9GUTrYuYJ2lKDg3ANG1fkNHIfFXYEiraZcq/s400/072812+003+%2528email%2529+-+Stink+Currant.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stink Currant aka Blue Currant {Ribes bracteosum}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stink Currant is named for its
skunky aroma. It’s far less pungent than
Skunk Cabbage, and the name doesn’t always translate to flavor. It seems that the flavor of these berries can
range anywhere from nasty to delicious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkizWP4Sm_Qn7HwbknFAckcOZc0HYh1Lg1fJDs-tH7OlVbGxdZSIzkUzcC3Z1CdEfIjPuTNG0kY9q7ufrZzb4H3Foljcm0K6WNuF9E7f2PIlm-l8c0T8UzvCfo7KQNGmNdwt1XAfZ9IAoS/s1600/072812+042+thimbleberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkizWP4Sm_Qn7HwbknFAckcOZc0HYh1Lg1fJDs-tH7OlVbGxdZSIzkUzcC3Z1CdEfIjPuTNG0kY9q7ufrZzb4H3Foljcm0K6WNuF9E7f2PIlm-l8c0T8UzvCfo7KQNGmNdwt1XAfZ9IAoS/s400/072812+042+thimbleberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thimbleberry {Rubus parviflorus}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thimbleberries are larger, flatter, and softer than
Raspberries, and have many small seeds.
Because the fruit if so soft, it does not pack or ship well, so
Thimbleberries are rarely cultivated commercially. However, wild Thimbleberries can be eaten
raw, dried or made into jam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7Oo0hFbtQEz-05rdmR2UXYTEaC3_xnVdAutJXP1_XUS_Du80dsXvpjXuL8lYff2kU_GgdGJnJDVMKUNIrp5QXMEcVXvCARUI-EUX3JGjM7ElnoxKAWYVETXkf9CI_Zx-TK2igvhY26I3/s1600/072812+021+%2528email%2529+-+Trailing+Blackberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7Oo0hFbtQEz-05rdmR2UXYTEaC3_xnVdAutJXP1_XUS_Du80dsXvpjXuL8lYff2kU_GgdGJnJDVMKUNIrp5QXMEcVXvCARUI-EUX3JGjM7ElnoxKAWYVETXkf9CI_Zx-TK2igvhY26I3/s400/072812+021+%2528email%2529+-+Trailing+Blackberry.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Trailing Blackberry {Rubus ursinus}</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This Blackberry is not the big brambly invasive
bully lining area rivers and roadways.
Our native Trailing Blackberry likes to spread. Instead of forming self supported brambles,
it rambles about the landscape as a vine-like ground cover, but tastes just as
delicious as the brambly Blackberry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">...we
found quite a few actually! I just love
having all these delicious wild edible berries around our home! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-1621904802884302212017-04-23T16:58:00.000-07:002017-09-21T17:08:06.313-07:00Off The Mountain Fun...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">4:57 pm - 43 degrees - raining...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Every now and then we just need
to get away from the daily grind, which sometimes means getting off the
mountain to go exploring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">One of the many reasons we love living in the Pacific Northwest is because it's one of the most ecologically diverse
areas in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Head North and you’ll run into Olympic
Nation Park which is home to the Hoh National Rainforest – the largest
rainforest in the United States. There
is also the Puget Sound which is comprised of inlets, channels, estuaries and
home to the San Juan Islands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Head west and you’ll see the
beautiful rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean that is lined with steep cliffs,
moss covered trees and enough rainy days to keep it gorgeous and green. You also have the Long Beach Peninsula which is an arm of land that is known for its continuous sand beaches which also happen to be a Washington State Highway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">Running down the center is the
Cascade Mountain range that splits the area in two from north to south. There are also a handful of active volcanoes, along with the remains from the many lahars (volcanic mudflows).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Running across the center from east to west is the Columbia River. Along the Columbia River is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area which protects the spectacular canyon where the Columbia River cuts through the Cascade mountain - with cliffs and overlooks of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">You want the high desert, head
to the east side and you’re in the Columbia Basin which is a dry, open country,
rich in stark scenery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "sans-serif";">There are so many different
options to choose from, a few hours in any direction and you have something beautiful,
different and amazing to explore and enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Still, home is where our hearts are.</span></div>
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Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7133651989652196114.post-21727905674625811912017-04-17T10:46:00.004-07:002017-04-17T10:46:55.431-07:00Learning How To Use A Crosscut Saw...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">10:45 am - 48 degrees - overcast...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While we were at Tony's parents' house, his dad brought out one of his 5' crosscut saws - he has a collection of them. Grandad showed the kids how to use the crosscut saw by cutting a round off of a downed tree. </span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ceNmD5IxGKM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ceNmD5IxGKM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the end, they were getting pretty good.</span></div>
Tony and Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192100112615999623noreply@blogger.com