stream of consciousness
I was going to take a day off today, but I thought I'd just type some random stuff here instead.
If you hate random stuff, feel free to take a day off of reading my blog.
I'll understand.
I've been a little behind with my blogging this week because Mr. FG has been home sick.
I'm enjoying not having to get up super early or go to bed super early. But of course, not being up early means that my usual blogging time is gone.
I figured out how to make form emails in Outlook so now I can quickly respond to some blog related emails. I have one for advertising requests and guest post requests, and I even have a politely worded response to send to people who are pea-brained enough to think that I would like to advertise for stuff like payday loans.
I'm excited because this will save me from retyping and retyping the same old stuff. Yay!
On a related note, I never cease to be amazed at how people will click on the Contact page on my blog (which clearly says that I don't accept guest posts from people representing companies) and then email me asking if I do.
I am also amazed at how many typos and grammar errors are usually in those emails, especially when they're from someone who apparently makes their living by writing.
Oh dear.
Then again, I wrote yesterday that I bought expensive sheets when I really meant to say that I bought INexpensive sheets.
Then again, I've never claimed to be a professional. Or detail-oriented.
We've been eating a LOT of blueberries.
I also froze a bunch and made a batch of blueberry jam. Interestingly enough, I read in the packet that crushed fruit produces better, thicker jam than fruit processed in the food processor. I crushed my blueberries by hand, and the jam does seem to be thicker this time.
Blueberries are sort of hard to crush, but I think strawberries and raspberries and peaches would be easier.
Every single person in our family has gotten this yucky cold so far (the kids are mostly recuperated now), but I haven't caught it.
Yet.
I'm feeling a little doomed, though, considering that I sleep with one of the sickies.
Go, immune system, go!
I went to the gym yesterday after not having gone for almost a month (bad me!). I did the weight circuit, and then when I came home and was all sweaty and disgusting, I decided to just go outside and work on spreading some of our wood chip pile into beds in the yard.
Might as well get really dirty when you're sort of dirty, I say.
I loaded up the wheelbarrow multiple times, but it's shocking how small of a dent I made in the wood chip pile.
What is not shocking is that I'm pretty sore today. I expect to feel even worse tomorrow...good old second day soreness.
Mr. FG found out that someone keeps bees only a few miles from our house and sells the honey. I'm going to stop by and buy some from him this morning. I'm pretty sure that'll count as local food.
I think that's all I have to say today.
Tomorrow, I should have something more coherent in this space, provided that I'm not too sore to get out of bed. 😉
Great post! Keep the Henry Milleresque writing coming 🙂
Local honey-so wonderful. I still miss my father-in-laws bees (well, not the bees themselves but...).
Typos-brain working faster than hands. Isn't that the sign of intelligence?
PS hope everyone feels better soon. Load-up on zinc lozenges.
I must have accidentally copied him because I don't even know who he is! =P
Local Honey is wonderful stuff, especially if anyone in the family suffers from Hay Fever. The honey helps build up your immune system during the year so that come pollen season, you've been having a little bit every day and so shouldn't react as badly.
I recently bought 5 kgs of raw local honey. I'd love to see you post ideas and recipes of how to use it up!
Mmm, honey cake... I think I got my recipe from the Test Kitchen folks. Or maybe not. But delicious.
Kristen's whole wheat bread is a great use of honey!
I love the stream of conciousness post. It makes me realize that others think like I do -- random thoughts that are not necessarily related all going through my mind at once. So here are my thoughts on your thoughts....
Yea for form emails! Anything to make that part of the job more efficient, right?
I made blueberry jam a few weeks ago. It was a fail. Way too sugary and the sugar did not dissolve very well. I've had success with strawberry, so I'm not too upset. We're using it as pancake/waffle/yogurt topping instead.
I have second-day soreness myself -- shin splints. Ugh. I forgot how much I hate those. One of the downsides of running outside.
I'm heading to one of our farmer's markets this morning and they usually have a guy who sells honey -- I may have to get some. I have terrible spring allergies. Thanks for the tip Margaret!
Loved hearing about what you had been up to... get well soon Mr FG
I have some blueberries - reckon they are going in a cake later... not in the mood for trying out Jam today. Reckon custard may be on the cards also...
I have a great recipe for cornstarch pudding that would be a nice switch from custard. Very homey.
Hope you all feel better! I love random posts!
Random responses to random thoughts:
1. The best way to get over DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness, aka second day soreness) is a smaller amount of what made you sore in the first place.
2. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and getting exercise all help keep one healthy. So keep up the good work helping your immune system.
3. I use a potato masher to mash blueberries when necessary. But I've found that when I summer blueberries in sugar, they burst of their own accord.
I can second the notion of doing a maller amount of what made you sore in the first place to get over DOMS
I triple it... definitely makes a difference
Well, pooey. You mean I have to go mulch more today??
A. I heart stream of consciousness writing. That is soo me!
B. Local honey REALLY does help with allergies and immune system boosts!
C. Drink lots and LOTS of OJ. (when I'm sick I love microwaved OJ with honey stirred in)
D. Exercise and Echinacea are GREAT when your about to get sick!
Kristen, I love your blog...thanks for putting it together everyday! Praying for healing for your family! Have a wonderful day!
I love this as it gives a clue of how you go about your day. I am always wanting to get insight into how others go about their days to get stuff done and in a frugal way.
I read the typo about the sheets and was puzzled BECAUSE I could see you doing either one for a very good reason. So thanks for clearing it up, but I think I could have given you a justification either way.
I hope you all feel better. That picture of the blueberries is so clear I can almost taste them.... Yum.
You know, I'm so used to you doing things IN-expensively that I read about your sheets for your vacations exactly how you MEANT to say it. I guess mine eyes are trained to the way you think! 🙂
Enjoy that local (and I hope raw?) honey. Use some of it to make Mr FG feel better.
I enjoyed your rambling post!! Good find on the honey. I found some at a Farmers Market our area has every Saturday morn. A very small Farmer's Market. There was a couple people selling honey, maple syrup, soaps, some bake good, and a few other odds and ends. No produce yet though. The honey is from a town only 15 miles away, so I was happy for that.
So, about that honey... I've seen a lot of jarred honey in the store in flavors. Since you happen to have oodles of blueberries right now, any way to make it a flavored honey? Or would that have to be done during a comb process? (tho, I wouldn't at ALL be opposed to honey drizzled over blueberries, over some yogurt or a pancake!).
Did the woodchips come from the fallen tree? Or the neighbor? Can't remember! 🙂
I have no idea how they make flavored honey. I imagine they must just mix the honey up with some fruit concoction. Hmm.
The woodchips are from the fallen tree...so they weren't exactly free, but there was no extra charge for keeping the chips.
I always find rambling posts interesting.
One good way to use some of that local honey to boost your immune system is to create a hot drink in the morning of half a mug of hot water, half the mug of orange juice and a good bit of honey stirred in. My midwife suggested it to me when I kept having terrible colds while pregnant with my second little one. It's my go to ever since then when I'm expecting to get sick!
Love the rambling post. 🙂 My favorite. Also - where is this local place to buy honey? Perhaps maybe possibly towards the city...? Or is it further south?
Hey Kristen, just happened through.
Honey and lemon is *the* cure for sick family members. Make a hot lemonade with honey instead of sugar and spoon feed. My mother used to give that to me - always made me feel better.
Love the post! Isn't second (or sometimes even third) day soreness the pits? I usually end up walking around like Mr Tumnus (the fawn out of The Chronicles of Narnia) after a big squatting sesh! I also second the calls for OJ - does wonders for a cold! Hope the family's feeling better.
I can answer the question about flavored honey! I keep bees in Minneapolis, MN. Honey flavors like clover, basswood, wildflower, alfalfa, etc mean that those are the flowers the bees gathered nectar from to make the honey. The honey itself will have a different taste in these situations, but it's still the flavor of the honey itself. Usually when I see "flavored" honey, it comes in the form of these little sticks which have flavors added to the honey.