05 March 2012

Is this thing on?

I am returning to the online world. After a move 40 miles north of Nashville, we discovered to our dismay that while our new home fulfilled almost every desire, easy internet access was not one of them. At least not without a hefty bill to bury cable down our quarter mile driveway. Thank goodness for tax returns!

There have been a lot of changes in my life since we last saw each other. I have discovered the woes of working for a large corporation, particularly in a severely under-staffed restaurant. I see my current position as the equivalent to a fry cook. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful. It is steady work, overtime is available, and the bills are paid. I just feel that my potential is wasted, and my skills go unnoticed. However, in this economy, anyone should be so lucky to get a paycheck.

I have rediscovered my passion for reading. Oh, I cannot tell you how much time and money I have spent at McKay's! Our bookcases are overflowing. There have been several books that have impacted my views on food, and I cannot wait to share some reviews with you guys! The fiction section has not been neglected either. March 23rd is reserved for The Hunger Games. I cannot wait to see the Capitol inhabitants in all their garish glory on the big screen.

Since we now live in a rural area, the social life has dwindled. But that leaves more time for hobbies! I have tackled canning and preserving. I have knit half of a poncho. I learned how to make wreaths and dream catchers with wild vines on the property. Me and the hubs have been sewing. Well, I mostly fumble around until I request his help. I picked up the viola. And, of course, turning our house into our home has been an ongoing source of enjoyment.

The current project is THE GARDEN. It is huge. Really, much too big for a beginner. But I am stubborn, and my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. The plot is tilled, and a quarter of it is hoed, raked, and seeded. Seedlings are scattered about inside. I am nervous and thrilled at the same time. On the agenda is beets, carrots, peas, green beans, tomatoes, cukes, bell peppers, okra, watermelon, pumpkin, onion, lettuces, and a slew of herbs. I initially resisted zukes and eggplant, because I am the only one who will indulge in these toothsome veggies, but I think they will make their way in at some point. If I can handle it, some berries will join in as well.

As you can see, my passion for baking has expanded. Maybe fine-tuned itself is a better way of putting it. Cooking and baking good food is not enough anymore. I want to raise it, or at least know how it came about, hopefully receiving it from its caretaker. This has really expanded to everything. I told my mom yesterday that I really just wanted to live out Little House on the Prairie. Ultimately, it is more about ownership. This is my life. I am going to enjoy it, dammit. I am going to make mistakes and triumphs, and they will be mine! I will take responsibility for my body and what I put in it, what I surround it with, and what it creates and destroys.

There is this huge homesteading/survivalism movement going on. I really just want to dive right in and submerge myself. I hope you readers can enjoy this rebirth of Fuin Around. I will be baking, oh yes, but so much more. I hope to share my journey. Share information, whether it is a failure or victory. And I hope to learn from you, too. I am certainly no expert. I don't think novice or even amateur even come close. Stumbling, stubborn dork, covered in dirt and flour. That's me.

So let's have it!

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