Prayer flags of a different kind

My cousins stopped by my parents' house a few days ago and dropped off several boxes of baby clothes for me. I don't have kids yet, but their thoughtfulness reminded me that I am inextricably connected to my family, even if we don't talk very much or see each other very often. These are people I never really talked to (mainly due to personality and age difference) growing up, but was always around at holidays and family get-togethers. These are people who I couldn't stand until we were all older, wiser, and had started our own families.

I find it weirdly fascinating that if it wasn't for Facebook, I probably wouldn't have as good of a relationship with them as I have. I loved them because they were blood, but I didn't know them, or get along with them due to life experiences. Now I do both. Sure, we still don't talk or hang out very often, maybe once or twice a year during family visits, but I can see what's happening in their lives via social media and things like these--they show a mindfulness that probably wouldn't have been there a dozen years ago. It's probably the only thing I am grateful to the internet for; making family as close as a click-stroke away.

As for the clothes...well, I guess it's a good thing my family tends toward having girls over boys. I just hope she likes pink! :)

*Title totally stolen from my mom. ;)

AMNH: Bat Exhibit Birthday

We went to the AMNH for my birthday and saw Bats!

1 minute to change your life

Snow, Slush, and Vampire Bats

On top of Hurricane Sandy (which screwed up the subways, but nothing else in our area), yesterday we got several inches of snow which promptly turned into slush and then ice. These are from my morning walk to the subway. See all the broken branches? 

Saturday is my trip to the museum. I'm going to see 2 IMAX showings (Creatures of Light and Flying Monsters) and the Bat exhibition. Not sure if P will be coming or not just yet. Depends on work.

And Bram Stoker (Dracula) was born today. That kinda makes me giggle when I think of the bats on Saturday. :)

Through the looking glass

Have I mentioned that we really like the look and feel of living in a yurt? I don't think that's come up on this blog before. A yurt, for those who may not have heard of this before, is a semi-permanent tent-like dwelling popular in Mongolia (called a 'ger' there). In the U.S. the largest market size you can buy is a 30' which gives you about 700 sq ft. Around the size of a one-bedroom apartment. The peaked conical roof typically measures 13' and the walls are about 7' tall. Most people set-up a small loft to sleep in or use as a storage or extra living room.

We like the yurt because it allows us to blend into the natural world around us. It also, theoretically, can be moved to a different area if need be. If you leave it completely open this is much easier to do, but we are thinking of putting in walls and a proper bath/toilet and kitchen, which makes moving it more difficult. You can be completely off the grid with them very easily. They lend themselves very well to composting toilets and outdoor/separate shower and kitchen facilities.

I think, for our purposes, if we do end up getting a yurt, we will need two of them, a large 30' and a smaller, maybe 16' one for a work space/kid's room (for when they get big enough to have their own room). I found this deck design that I really like because it mimics the feeling of nature. What do you think?

If we end up in a warm climate (i.e. no-snow area) we have decided we will get one with a 'solar skylight' or 'solar arch' to allow even more natural light in to the yurt. If the roofing material was not a plastic/cloth style, I would prefer a see-through arch, but I'm nervous of damage to the roof if that was the case.

As you can see, it's not quite sea-through, but if you leave the dome as clear instead of tinted, you can view the night sky through there, which is pretty amazing. Add in glass windows at each of the cardinal points and you will get quite a bit of sun-light during the day. You really do have to go minimalist in one of these though, or have clever storage spaces built in to your furniture, as the space can get very cluttered very quickly. Space will be are biggest challenge, as we have a lot of things, mainly books, computer and kitchen equipment.

Change of scenery

I'm not really sure how to start this post, or where I want it to go for that matter. I'm just going to start typing and if it goes side-ways at any point, please forgive me.

Raw food diet for pets:

My parents have two Pomeranians and have recently switched them to a raw foods diet due to health concerns.  In a few weeks most of their respiratory problems have disappeared and they are starting to loose a bit of the fat that canned/bagged dog food (and too much snacking) has deposited on them. These are all good things.

Myself a proponent of Natural Rearing, the inquiry into the dogs health concerns sent me back to my copy of The Complete Herbal Handbook For Farm And Stable by Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Like any medical book, one needs to ask proactive questions and do research to make sure what you are reading is accurate. Personally, I scan 4-5 medical and non-medical websites and any of my other herbal books to cross check before enacting a medical plan. It is due diligence and one should not be remiss in this step. It is cheaper to spend an extra half-hour checking than hours and monies paying for a mistake.

The thing about homeopathic medicine is that it really puts the onus on the individual to manage their own well-being. If you are lazy about your research, your results will fail and potentially make you sicker. I use herbs for health all the time, but that is because my body chemistry rejects modern medicine. On the contrary, my father can only take one or two herbs, as his body chemistry is more acclimated to modern pharmaceutical drugs. It is all about knowing yourself and your bodies' preferences.

For example, if I am getting sick, I sleep. Sleep normally fixes most of my issues within a day or two. More serious concerns for me are debilitating migraines that are typically caused by atmospheric pressure changes. I suffered very few when we lived in San Francisco due to the lack of rain, on the other hand, since we moved to New York, I get them at least once a month. Some of it is also due to eye strain from fluorescent lights and computer usage. I understand this, so I tend to prefer darker rooms and more natural light settings. Nature knows how to diffuse light through trees, good sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat help in areas of openness.

Part of knowing yourself, in my opinion, is also knowing your own failings and strengths. I tend to eat too much meat and sugar, I know this, and am working on adding more greens to our diet and only eating natural sweet products like fruit, versus processed items like chocolate. You can't go cold turkey though, or at least I can't. I find if it's not in the house, I'm too lazy to go out an buy it, so I try not to have soda or chocolate in the house. It kinda works. I also know though, that if I'm craving something weird, like chips or popcorn, it's probably an imbalance in my diet, in this case, a lack of salt (I don't cook with salt or pepper normally). Oddly enough, a pickle typically satiates the craving.

Overall I think you just have to actively watch what you eat and drink and how you generally live. I know if I don't sleep most of the weekend, I'm absolutely useless at work on Monday. Likewise, if I'm exceptionally irritable for several days running, it's time I got out of the city and sat in a park or went to the farm and got my monthly dose of 'nature'. The fact that there are so many health problems now-a-days compared to a hundred years ago, I think, corresponds directly to our lack of green spaces. I was much better when we lived in Florida or California, because every day I was outside for at least an hour, typically many more, and I tended to visit farms and shop organic farmers markets in California. Our food was definitely healthier out there.

I'm not saying I want to move back and more than likely we never will, but I will miss the "proper" food I was able to purchase. Until we have our own farm at least, then I should be all set.

On a completely different matter...

Totems-What animal are you?

Bear Totem: Industrious, instinctive, healing, power, sovereignty, guardian of the world, watcher, courage, will power, self-preservation, introspection, and great strength.

My husband thinks I'm a bear totem as I like to hibernate in bed during the winter. :)

Haven s. 3 Rocks!

We watched the latest episode of Haven season 3 last night and I couldn't stop squealing. FINALLY, Audrey and Duke kiss! About dang time too. I initially liked the AudreyXNathan pairing, but Nathan's way to possessive for me and all girls like the bad boy, especially a bad boy who may really be 'a good man'. :)

One of the most useful little books

As you know we want to homestead after we leave NY. I'm not trying to do much of anything here since we have none of the space we had in CA. Man, I do miss my porch. Anyways, one of the most useful books we own is probably The Backyard Homestead, by Storey Publishing. Why? Because the size lots they walk you through are a tenth of an acre, quarter acre, and half acre. Obviously you can expand based on what they show you, but the idea that ever someone with a tiny little suburban lot can farm...I wish more people would.

Here is there 1/4 acre plot design. Granted, house size and lot configuration will dictate a few changes, but let's use this as an example:

1) 12 beds of vegetables. That's a lot of veg if you use intensive square foot gardening practices. Add a few vertical garden plots in there and you'll have everything you need veg wise.

2) Fruits and nuts- a fruit or nut tree instead of oak or ficus in your front yard will give you all you need. Add a fruit arbor (like kiwi), some small potted berry bushes (like blueberry and strawberry), grape vines in a side trellis, and some potted mini fruit varieties like lemon, orange, pear, etc, and you'll have more fruit than you know what to do with. 

3) Herbs- everyone knows you can put potted herbs on windowsills, but if you add a few around the berry bushes or walkways you'll be able to pick as you walk!

4) Grains- if you have animals, you should grow your own feed for them. Even if you don't, a small 25x50 ft patch of wheat or oats will give you enough to add it into your breads, muffins, and cakes.

Instead of a permanent chicken coop, try a movable chicken tractor design like this one made for 3-4 chickens!

5) 12 chickens- a typical family of 4 doesn't even need this much. You can get by with 3-4 and save a bit of space for more gardening, or give it to them for exercise. Use a chicken tractor like above and move your chickens around the yard to help with insect and weed control.

6) 2 pigs, rabbits, or goats- depending on cuteness level, you'll want to pick an animal you know you can slaughter without getting upset. If pigs and rabbits don't work for you, switch to two small Nigerian Dwarf goats and get fresh milk instead; or one milk and one meat goat variety like Fainting goats! If you do this, enlarge the space a bit by only having the 3-4 chickens and switch the grain to hay to feed the goats!

7) 2 beehives- You should have at least one anyways, even if you don't harvest the honey. If you just want them to pollinate your yard, use a top bar hive, if you want honey, use the normal box style. Put one at the top of your yard and one at the bottom to get maximum coverage.

Around #3 on the picture you'll see a garden shed and compost piles. You can use a greenhouse/shed design to start plants in before transferring to the garden beds, and if open compost bins make you nervous, use a barrel style that is completely seal-able.

I like this design because you can play with what's most important to you and your family. It also allows you to get an idea on space. There are several dwarf varieties of plants and trees out there as well, so think about that if you are tight on space.