cori gilkey

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cori gilkey

Sustainable Happiness

It's been three and a half months since I have journaled on this blog.  Life, as usual, had different things in store for me.  However, I am back...looking to write about my daily adventures on living more sustainably.  I have big plans....huge...and they are beginning to take shape.  Even though I am an urban dweller at this point  in time....that is not stopping me from converting my back yard into somewhat of an urban farm.  People do it everyday.  Take for instance the author Spring Warren, from the Quarter Acre Farm...she wanted to grow 75% of her families food in her own backyard.  She just published this book to document her tale.  I just bought it on Amazon and it's great.

I have my ongoing list that I am slowly hacking away at.  Take a look:

Plant three lasagna gardens- In process
Purchase 5 araucana chickens -  completed
Make a rain barrel
Order two new queens for my bee hive- completed
Order one more beehive- Completed
Order worm composter for the house
Get supplies for solar wax melter- Completed
Order new cheese making supplies
Get canning equipment
Purchase crock to make sauerkraut and pickles
Make 100% of my own cleaning products
Make candles and soap

See the list is long....extensive....there is always more...but it's such of feeling of accomplishment I tell ya!

The best thing this weekend was the acquisition of my 4 araucana chicks and 1  amerucana.  I purchased them from a breeder in Live Oak, Florida.  These chickens are so sweet and docile and they lay colored eggs, which I wanted.   Sam patiently took me to tractor supply to get the equipment to set up my brooder.  Then off to pick up the chicks.  They are adorable....their little chick peep sounds filling my bedroom with happiness.  Naming has started...Omelet and Franchesca...three more to go.

Eat Pray Love and Socks

Well tomorrow Eat Pray Love is released on DVD.  I loved this movie and book.  So much that I have investigated going to take a trip to Bali myself.  I was tickled when I saw this knitting book being released.

 I have pre-ordered it on Amazon and anxiously await it's arrival.  My goal is to have a whole drawer filled with handmade socks by the end of the year.  Maybe a pair a month?

New Yarn - Much Love

While at Rhinebeck this year, my mom and I stumbled upon a vendor that was surrounded by people.  So many people we could barely get in to see what the hype was about.  When we managed to push inside we were in awe.  It was the Sanguine Gryphon...based out of Maryland with luscious colors and cool yarn names to boot.

Their patterns are very Steampunkish.  My mom and I bought the pattern and yarn to do this shawl.  I bought some sock patterns and a few other shawl patterns..  I have started the socks, but can't tell if I like my yarn choice or not.

Sweater Success

Finally Addy's owlet sweater is done. I will never do a sweater that requires me to sew on 28 buttons again. The owls are adorable. I love owls...all 14.

Pickles

I had about nine pickling cukes in the fridge either needing to be used or composted. What the heck... Quick fridge garlic pickles it is.

Red Ape Anyone?

While shopping at Ward's last week, I finally bought a jar of

Red Ape Cinnamon 

to try.  I have looked at it many times, but 6.00 for cinnamon seemed steep.  However, I am a big fan of sustainably harvested foods and such.   Let  me tell you that it is well worth the price.  The quality is unmistakable.  The color is a lighter reddish brown...different  from the knock off stuff.  The company only uses the inner pure cinnamon bark from cassia cinnamon trees that are at least twenty years old.

These older tree have a higher Volatile Oil

 count that makes the quality of the cinnamon higher also.  Another plus is the 5% of their profits go to the protection and restoration of the orangutan habitat in Indonesia.  Bravo! Well worth the splurge.