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Weekend Miracles

2011 February 27

Behold,  11 small miracles on the last weekend of February:

Every single last antler was taken (details to come Wed.).

I realized that I am completely unfazed by the sounds of a small child pooping on the potty while I roll out pizza crust for dinner.

Totally local pizza with pesto, roasted tomatoes, roasted peppers (from freezer), and raw homemade feta. Word.

The 3 dozen cookies we made last Tuesday lasted until Saturday morning.

Chocolate chip, almond, raisin, peanut butter - nothing local about them.

We remembered to get three growlers at the start of the weekend. And Carvers has lowered their price so they’re cheaper than a six pack. I love you, Carvers brewery.

Saturday morning breakfast included our first cold frame harvest: a power-packed handful of spinach and cilantro.

We left the county.

"It's not spring up here," Col says.

But back at 6512 feet, there are signs of life.

chives, boldly growing.

parsley scrapping it out

We had a fine turnout for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

See that bright red house finch upper right? And more in the feeder above.

The chickens got a frozen meat popsicle.

Dan and I had a marvelous date (thanks Cody and Lianne).

Ponderosa pines being amazing.

And, Rose let Col brush her hair.

And you? Any small miracles around your homestead this weekend?



39 Responses leave one →
  1. February 27, 2011

    Oh, your cold frame makes me drool. Small miracles around here? Juniper fell asleep tonight without nursing–after an hour of flopping around on the bed and saying, “baby? ball? bird?”. Finally I told her the baby, ball and bird all went night-night.

    Also, a huge miracle: I made dinner, started laundry, read June bug some books and played outside in the snow all before noon. My husband actually called me “super mom” tonight. Really.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      May it be a new tradition Juniper!

  2. February 27, 2011

    I am excited by your bird count. The small miracle here? I ate a lot of sugar and knew why WHILE I was doing it. This seems like it will have to shorten the duration of the sugar fest, don’t ya think?

  3. Ami permalink
    February 28, 2011

    OOOOooooh !!! Did I really miss the bonanza entirely? Please let me know if you ever have any antlers for grabs. I didn’t get on it because I was busy cleaning up my hub’s drool all week while he walked around pestering me to call your shipping co…. ah… sigh…
    ON a less selfish note… I love seeing those little green things pushing up through the soil! So endearing, promising and encouraging, you know? I don’t really get that around here… things stay green and growing – so it’s really nice to see!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Ami, I will have a talk with Dan about drool and antlers. I think he will understand your situation.

  4. February 28, 2011

    My miracle: I went for a run. Hallelujah! Of course, I should be asleep now, but I’m still high on endorphins …

    PS: Bird feeder and feta: jealous!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Ooh, anytime a Mama of 3 gets to herself is a small miracle, bonus to spend it healthfully!

  5. February 28, 2011

    OK, your pizza sounds so good. And I can’t believe you had cookies in the house that long. Ours never last that long. And you already have a harvest? Man, I need to get off my tush and get my garden planted!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      If you were to do some cookie math, it wouldn’t actually be that impressive, but, homemade cookies feel so healthy somehow, so sure you can have a cookie after breakfast kids!

  6. Chi-An permalink
    February 28, 2011

    I actually did some sewing this weekend and finished two little baby hats for friends who are due next week (speaking of small miracles). And cleaned up my daughter’s room!

    Off to find the next miracle I can make happen- thank you for sharing.

  7. February 28, 2011

    My miracle, just tonight: A recent cold front brought a low of -10, a high in the teens and a biting wind that made me want to shake my fist at the sky. Then I took the trash out to the driveway tonight, and the temperature had gone UP as the sky had darkened. It was a balmy 35. I felt like a death row inmate with a last minute reprieve from the governor. Can’t wait to see my chives!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Love how a cloudy night can soften the blow.

  8. February 28, 2011

    Here’s a good one: I took a 48 hour break from the computer and loved it. I can’t wait to do it again.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Nice one. It’s always amazing to me how life just keeps humming along fine even if I don’t check my e-mail.

  9. February 28, 2011

    In the miracle lineup: things are growing again here too! We’re lower, altitude-wise, but still: violets everywhere (and now in my salads), flowering quince, and all kinds of buds too. Bright, happy sun, and ripe citrus on treelets that wintered indoors. Friends. I read a book (Paul Auster). Um, I don’t know if I could make it to 11. But I’m happy with this little list. (PS if you like lemon, have I got a recipe for you. Come on by!)

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Flowers? THAT sounds miraculous. I read a book by Paul Auster once, good and weird. And I love lemons, I will come by.

  10. February 28, 2011

    You know, those small miracles are just the best.
    The other night I sauteed local onions, kale, tossed in a splash of homebrewed white wine. When the kale was all wilted I made little holes, broke eggs into them and lightly poached them. Served alongside roasted (local) potatoes. I thought of you…. I’m sure you can imagine why :)
    {PS – that might be my new favorite dinner!}

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      That is totally my kind of meal. Yum!

  11. Melissa permalink
    February 28, 2011

    We finally packed, which was an important miracle, as the movers are coming at 8 am tomorrow . . . my mom came to help which was so necessary! We also brought about 25 boxes to the house, which looks so pristine and lovely without all our stuff in it!

    Your pizza looks so amazing. xo

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Melissa, I am so excited for you. Soon your pristine house will be filled with little bibs and diapers and books and toys and it will be even more lovely.

  12. February 28, 2011

    Well, we survived the bad storms that rolled through here at 3 in the morning. There were super sever winds (60+ mph reported), lots of lightning, quarter sized hail, flooding and a few confirmed tornadoes. I feel very lucky that we got through it with our apartment in tact and not a single dent on our car. :)

    Also, tasty, tasty cheesecake.

  13. February 28, 2011

    One of my weekend miracles: forsythia blooming in the park! I’ve heard reports of crocuses in the neighborhood, too, so the Critter and I will be going out in search of them, despite the rain here in NYC today.

    The Critter thought that your chickens were pigeons. Time to visit a farm, methinks.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      Forsythia blooming! That is tremendously miraculous. How wonderful. Col once spent ten minutes fawning over pigeons in Oakland, California. “They’re so beautiful,” he sighed.

  14. February 28, 2011

    Our miracle? Rain, nearly all night, and it did not melt the snow. We have a good amount of moisture stored up for spring now.
    Another, my Valentine’s carnations are still fresh after two weeks and survived one knock down by a cat who needed greens, or thought she did.
    And today we have abundant sunshine. And if I want to see sunshine in Durango I can view the Fort’s webcam or downtown. Love it!
    No little ones in this household, just good memories of two lovely daughters who hug me everyday, one by phone and one for real!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      So sweet: the daily hugs, the rain followed by sun, and some blooming life in the house.

  15. Barbara permalink
    February 28, 2011

    Jenin pooped on the potty all by herself several times :) That is a big miracle around here because it’s been a long haul. AND we had a lovely brunch with lovely friends and made it to the park :)

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      *sigh of relief* from mothers everywhere.

  16. Ellen permalink
    February 28, 2011

    A California miracle — plentiful local asparagus in farmers markets and produce markets generally. Along with all the daffodils, this is a clear sign that spring has arrived (despite the unseasonably cold weather).

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      February 28, 2011

      California seems to have cornered the market on small miracles of the produce variety. Enjoy!

  17. February 28, 2011

    oh wow rachel. i’m catching up on your last few posts after being off-line for a week.

    i don’t even know where to begin…there is just too much goodness here. i love it all!!!

    xoxo

    ~e

  18. March 1, 2011

    Oh, I love those little green bits shooting up and welcoming spring!

    Our miracle (although I’m not sure I should say this out loud yet. Hopefully typing doesn’t count): Annabelle has had a before 9pm bedtime every night for several days now. I think they call this a “schedule.” It seems to be working out quite well!

  19. March 1, 2011

    Those are some lovely miracles!

    Here in West Michigan…
    I finished TWO sweaters, we got to move our moving date up almost 2 months, and, while knocking snow off the RV yesterday (the new house! geeked!), I saw the leaf of an iris wending its way out from under our 3 feet of accumulated snow! So exciting!

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      March 1, 2011

      Those are some sweet miracles worth celebrating!

  20. March 1, 2011

    I spent all Sunday knitting. Ah – that was really nice. We also had lots of quality family time – no running around, just chilling at home. That in itself was a miracle. xo

  21. March 1, 2011

    Homemade feta, Rachael? You are a badass! I enjoyed your contribution to the Rhythm of the Home website…all that garden lushness….

    Our small miracles…we made it to Saturday evening dinner with friends ON TIME! The temperature on Sunday went from -15 to 28 by afternoon and allowed to us get outside and release some pent-up-craziness!

  22. March 1, 2011

    i’d love your pizza dough recipe (sorry if you’ve posted and i missed it). i have a few that i rotate but lately i’ve been lazy and have been relying on our local Sprouts market for pizza dough. cheap and easy, but not the same as homemade. i need some new inspiration.

  23. Molly permalink
    March 2, 2011

    I finished making cot sheets for L’s daycare, 4 strips of elastic on each of 12 sheets, and my sewing machine didn’t like it one bit and it took an hour and a half to relearn how to thread the serger. The blender broke and I got an immersion blender and made some mayo. I gave away my bread machine AND committed to making homemade bread consistently – 2 weeks in, going strong. I entered my fourth week of pretty much not eating meat, because asking for the pedigree of what I’m served is not appetizing to me and we don’t have a hunter/fisher person in the family – yet. We’re making plans for relaxing next week while L’s daycare is closed and a dear friend I haven’t seen in 4 or 5 years has popped up as a staff member at a Buddhist retreat center not too far away, and is coming for an overnight visit. We’ve also kind of adopted a darling very young person who brings herself and a friend or two to my house for cookie and pizza making from time to time, to feel homie and share her youthful energy. Endless gifts.

    • 6512 and growing permalink
      March 2, 2011

      That is a seriously impressive list Molly. Oh how I love homemade mayo. I’m always so surprised when I make it how easy and delicious it is. And yay for the darling young person, it takes a village!

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