The chicks have arrived!

This morning I got the not-so-long-awaited phone call from the nice man who sold us the chicks. They hatched yesterday (8/21/10), and he felt he had observed them long enough to know that they are all healthy little chicks. R & I drove out to his house, which is just south of Raleigh, and picked out our chicks.

Now originally we wanted 3 chicks. On the phone the other day this guy convinced me to get 4. By the time we had picked out our 4 chicks and were getting ready to pay (a whopping $1 per chick), he had decided we needed at least 5, so he tossed in a 5th chick for free. These are our little ladies in their brooder, which we set up yesterday with the materials we had acquired (see previous post).

Settling in to their new home!

L-R: Theodora, aka Theo (Silkie); Suzie (Araucana); Lucy (Araucana); nameless, for now (Barred Rock); Napoleon, aka Nappy (Silkie)

The Silkies are a Bantam breed, which means they'll be quite small--only 1.5-2 pounds when fully-grown. The others are standard breeds, so they'll be around 5 pounds fully-grown. Right now the Araucanas and the Barred Rock are just 1 day old, and the Silkies are 2-2.5 weeks old. The farmer suggested that we get Silkies that are a little bit older, so the standard ones don't trample the bantams.

The girls are adjusting pretty well, and the dogs don't seem too curious about them yet. Here are a few photos of the newest members of our household in wine glasses. (Don't call PETA on me, they were only in there for a minute or two.) I think it turned out pretty darn cute...

Theodora, aka Theo, 2.5 weeks, Silkie

As yet unnamed, 1 day, Barred Rock

Lucy, 1 day, Araucana

Suzie, 1 day, Araucana

Napoleon, aka Nappy, 2 weeks, Silkie

All 5 chicks in a row! Lucy, no-name, Theo, Nappy, Suzie

Chickens!

So, it's been a while since I've posted because I've been traveling, moving, and getting settled. However, this is a pretty exciting post--my roommates and I are getting chickens! Laying hens, to be exact, and we're pretty excited about it.

For those of you who know me, you are probably not surprised that I want to have laying hens, but you might be wondering about the logistics of this proposition given my current pets--2 Border Collie/Cattle Dog mixes who love nothing more than chasing birds (ok, maybe chasing squirrels, but birds are a close second). Well, our lovely little laying hens are going to live in their own fully-enclosed "chicken tractor", which will have a roost, laying boxes, and a run. The exact design is yet to be determined, but I do know that it's going to be on wheels so that we can move it around the yard every week or so. The tractor will keep the dogs out, as well as other predators, like hawks and foxes.

With the help of Craigslist we found a farmer just outside of Raleigh who has chicks for sale. He has a group that will be hatching tomorrow or Monday, so we'll be driving down there Monday or Tuesday to pick out our four little babies. He has several varieties, but we're planning on getting at least one Ameraucana (also known as an Easter Egger, since it lays blue/green eggs) and at least one Bantam (a small breed that lays eggs 1/3-1/2 the size of an average egg). Beyond that we're going to talk to the farmer and just see what he has.

So far our purchases for the new arrivals have been the following:

-Chick Feed (un-medicated), 5 pound bag, $6
-Chick Waterer, 1 quart size, $2.50
-18 Gallon Plastic Container (this will serve as our "brooder", home for the chicks for the first 6-8 weeks), $6

Things we had at home were:

-Lamp suitable for keeping the chicks warm (my Ikea drafting-table-style lamp, which has a shiny metal shade to amplify the heat from the bulb)
-Incandescent light bulb (gasp!)
-Food dish (ie, a small plate)
-A shelf high enough to keep the chicks away from the dogs
-Newspaper (bedding)

Once we get the chicks in place I'll post some photos. I'll also be sure to post photos of the chicken tractor as we build it.

And now we wait with bated breath for a phone call from the farmer with good news!

Crazy Green Lady Goes to Russia, II

So, we've boarded the luxurious Volga Dream river cruise ship, and we are having a lovely and relaxing time taking in the countryside and listening to lectures by our hosts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Harvard Alumni Association, the Wellesley Alumni Association, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. I can't post pictures because the ship's internet does not support Macs, but I will add them when we get home.

Yesterday we had a private tour of the Kremlin that started an hour and a half before the museum opened. We toured the armory with no one else in it! The armory was full of coronation gowns, carriages, Faberge eggs, gifts to the czars, and the crowned jewels. The coronation gowns were fantastic--hand sewn with fabric made of silver! Sadly the silver has tarnished with age, and it is too delicate to clean, so they didn't shine like they did on the coronation days. Also interesting were the crowns, which had fur on the bottom.

We also walked around the Kremlin grounds, which has 5 churches. Following that we drove to the convent where Peter the Great locked up his sister Sophia, to keep her from stealing the crown from him. Finally, we visited the National Cemetery, which has graves of many famous Russians, as designated by the Russian presidents.

The evening ended on the ship, where they greeted us with an ice cold shot of the best vodka I've ever had and a piece of a welcoming bread. Our ship is delightful, and offers a reprieve from the heat in Moscow (it reached 100 degrees F our last day in the city!). There is a lounge with a live pianist in the evenings, 4 decks, a library, a dining room, a snack bar, a gift shop, and 2 bars. Our rooms are small, but feel quite roomy.

This morning we went through a lock (after going through several overnight, which I slept through), and it was really fun to watch the water level drop before the gate opened. The countryside is very beautiful, and is dotted with summer homes. Evidently about 50% of Moscovites have a country home, and we are passing by a lot of them over the next few days.

Later this afternoon we will visit the village of Uglich, which is known for it's souvenirs. Shopping here I come!

Crazy Green Lady Goes to Russia!

Let me preface this by saying that there is nothing particularly sustainable about this trip. What can I say? We all have our indulgences.

And what an indulgence this trip has been so far! Yesterday I celebrated my birthday, which was absolutely wonderful. We started the day with a walk around Red Square, where we saw St. Basil’s Cathedral. The colors and shapes of this traditional church are fabulously whimsical, as you can see. 

Following that, we visited the Ostakino Palace, which was built by the Sheremetev Family in the 1700s to serve as a theatre and entertainment palace. Much of the palace has been restored to its original glory, including the theatre itself. It was fabulous!

At lunch I was surprised by a HUGE poppy seed birthday cake, made especially for me by the hotel’s pastry chef. It was filled and covered with a chocolate whipped cream, which was topped with glazed mixed fruit. It was fantastically messy and enjoyed by the whole group. After lunch we opted for the subway tour, where we got to see 3 very different stations, each elaborately decorated. We even got to rub the nose of the lucky German Shepherd Dog statue.

           

The highlight of the day was a behind the scenes tour of the Old Moscow Circus. Technically this tour was meant for the 18 and under crowd, but they had a few extra spots and let the birthday girl join them. It was by far the coolest tour I’ve ever been on. We got to stand in the ring, pet the animals (not the tigers), see dressing rooms, and meet some performers. The end of the tour was spent with a clown and a hoola-hoop acrobat getting a circus lesson. I hoola-hooped like a pro, and even managed to “juggle” 2 clubs. Dima (Dimitri) the clown was very patient with all of us, as we sent clubs, rings, and balls flying around the room. Photos will come later, they are on my mom’s camera…

After the tour, we joined the rest of our group to watch the Old Moscow Circus’ (in)famous performance, which was absolutely spectacular. There were clowns, dancers, tumblers, acrobats, a strong man, dogs, seals, ferrets, a fox, and tigers.

We finished the evening at a very nice restaurant, Barashka, where we were served by a waiter that I would like to put in my suitcase and bring home with me. He speaks (some) English, and Mom even approved! :)

Needless to say, it was the absolute best birthday I have ever had, and certainly one I will not forget. What a start to this trip!

 

PS: When we returned to the room today there was a gift from the hotel staff on the table—fresh fruit, a box of chocolates, and a bottle of champagne! It’s a day late but not a dollar short. 

Greening Your Move

Moving is hard. It is stressful. It is exhausting. It is not sustainable.

However, there are several things you can do to have less of an impact as you cart your material belongings across the country, across the county, or across the street. The best news about this? It will probably save you some money, too.

• Rent boxes. Yes, you can rent boxes for your move, and return them when you're done to be used by the next person. Check out Rent A Green Box, who rents plastic tubs made out of recycled materials. They have other moving supplies made out of recycled materials, too, like zip ties, paper, and other fillers. (Full disclosure: I have never tried this)
• Re-use boxes. You can get gently used boxes from liquor stores, big box stores, and websites like Freecycle and the free section of Craigslist. Reinforce the tape and you're all set.
• Use your paper recycling bin to pack your stuff. I find myself with copious amounts of paper to be recycled as I prepare for a move. Use this paper to layer between plates, wrap picture frames, and ball up to fill space in boxes. Not enough? Ask your neighbors if you can go through their recycling bins, too. Also, check your local coffee shop an hour or two before closing. They often have stacks of newspaper from the day that they will give to you.
• Hire a green cleaning service. Your home will be full of dust, bits of packing paper, and who knows what else. Hire a cleaning service that uses green cleaning agents. Not sure what they use? Just ask. Look/listen for key words and phrases like "non-toxic", "chlorine-free", "Green Seal Certified", and "Green Clean Institute Certified".
• Get a one-way moving truck rental. Even if your move is between neighboring cities, a one-way truck rental can save a lot of gasoline.
• Buy offsets for your travel. Several websites offer carbon offsets for travel of all types. Try Carbon Fund or Terra Pass.
• Don't trash your boxes. After your move, put your boxes on Freecycle or the free section of Craigslist. Someone will come pick them up and use them for their move. Your boxes aren't in good enough shape to reuse? Gardeners often use cardboard to start new planting beds. You can also recycle them in most cities.

The Last Supper

I recently read a post on a blog that I love, The Kitchn (part of the Apartment Therapy family of blogs, which are all awesome), about what to have for your first meal in your new house. Most of what the commenters came up with was takeout, but there were some fun ideas in there, too. Admittedly, I will probably get takeout on my first night in my new place. However, this is one of my last nights in my old place, and I feel the need to say a proper goodbye to my kitchen.

The problem with the last meal in a soon-to-be former home, of course, is that you've emptied the contents of your kitchen cabinets into boxes. My kitchen is currently in the back of my Outback, save 2 plates, 2 forks, 1 knife, 1 travel mug, and 1 non-stick frying pan. It is with these limited resources that I made a surprisingly delicious dinner out of what was left in my pantry and refrigerator.

What did I have left?

The remains of my pantry in an empty kitchen.

1 frozen ostrich burger patty, defrosted (Birdbrain Ostrich Ranch)
1/3 French baguette, baked from frozen (Chef Charles Catering)
1 tablespoon garlic scape pesto*
1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tomatoes, grown in my front yard
1 apricot
Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt (a family favorite and a must in my pantry)
Olive oil

I put a little Jane's on the ostrich burger and heated about a tablespoon of olive oil in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Ostrich is extremely lean (40% less fat than beef!) and thus needs a little lubricant in the pan. When the pan was hot, I added the burger patty, let it cook for about 2 minutes, and then reduced the heat to medium.

While the burger continued to cook, I sliced the baguette and spread one side with the pesto. I sliced both tomatoes, and put one of them on the baguette. The other tomato I fanned out on the plate and sprinkled with Jane's. I cut the apricot in half and removed the pit.

When the burger was nicely browned on one side, I gently loosened it from the pan before flipping it. I topped the burger with the Parmesan cheese, and let it cook for another 3 or 4 minutes. I like my burgers medium or medium rare, and this is important with ostrich. Because it is so lean, it is very red, almost purple. If you wait until it is just pink in the middle (or worse, no pink at all) before you take it out of the pan, you'll have a lovely hockey puck, but not much in the way of dinner. If you are nervous, use a meat thermometer. Once you get to 160 degrees F, you're done; be sure not to exceed 165 degrees F.

Finally, I sliced the burger into thirds, laid it out on the baguette, and sat down to enjoy a scrumptious last supper with my little house. I'll miss you kitchen, it's been fun!

The Last Supper

*What is garlic scape pesto? It's a homemade pesto that I love to make in the late spring and early summer with garlic scapes in place of basil. Garlic scapes are the stalks of the garlic plant before the garlic head forms. They are a verdant green coil of delightful garlic flavor. Simply cut off the bulb end and cut into 1 inch sections to use. My "recipe" for garlic scape pesto is a handful of this and a handful of that, but it's similar to this recipe that I found at Food.com (but ignore the part about artichokes and pasta...). Make up a batch and store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. It is great on sandwiches, pasta, mixed into hummus, and anywhere else you would use a basil pesto.

Uncluttering Update

As my move approaches, I am nearly packed. I have a few kitchen items left, and a dresser full of canning and preserving equipment that need to be dealt with. Other than that, everything is in boxes and bags, ready to be loaded into my car. I have a lot of stuff, but certainly not nearly as much as I had about a week ago. By my best estimates, I have reduced my belongings by about 1/3. How?

Uncluttering, Part I

This step is based on getting rid of what is easy to part with. I am committed to living more simply, so it was not very difficult for me to identify what items I do not use, and get rid of them.

I went through each space in my home and culled out all the items that I don't use. This was relatively easy. I tried on all the clothing I owned and made a sizable pile of what I either don't wear or doesn't fit. I put everything in my kitchen onto the counter and picked out duplicates and items that I've never (or rarely) used. I did this for the entire house. Then I put some ads on Craigslist and in the local paper, emptied these items onto my front lawn, and had a yard sale. At the end, the remaining items--an entire Subaru Outback's worth--went straight to charity.

Uncluttering, Part II

This step is motivated by the fact that I have to move all of my belongings to a new house this weekend. The more I get rid of, the less I have to move.

As I packed, I asked myself whether I really needed the item I was about to put into a box. I was not as ruthless here as I probably ought to have been, but it resulted in another 1/2 car load of items going to charity this morning.

Uncluttering, Part III

This will be done in a few weeks, when I actually unpack my stuff at my new house. As I have gone through this process, I have been slowly loosening the grip of consumerism. I have been conditioned to think that I need stuff in order to be happy. I am now to the point that the amount of stuff I have is disturbing. This is a step in the right direction, but I'm not done yet.

I am pleased with the progress I have made, but there is more to be done. Thankfully, I have a 2 week vacation to reward myself for my hard work and restore my energy. When I return I will complete Part III, and hopefully be in a good position to start my new, uncluttered life.