Our version of retirement: Living a childhood dream

Gary, you must have told us but sorry I don't recall- how far do you have to drive for supplies in winter? I admired your anti-bear shed you built to protect your trash cans, but where do you empty them?
 

RadishRose said:
Gary, you must have told us but sorry I don't recall- how far do you have to drive for supplies in winter? I admired your anti-bear shed you built to protect your trash cans, but where do you empty them?
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50 mi to the city
25 mi to the transfer station
We make the trip every two months in summer
Zero times in winter
We get religious about not using plastic and such in winter
Garbage cans become recycle cans, of which has been 3 cans of smashed tins and such the last three winters
 
One more question!

Do you live in a community of off-grid back to the land folks?

I've noticed references to folks up the trail and was curious if they are in fact up the trail of if that is just an expression.
 

Aunt Bea said:
One more question!

Do you live in a community of off-grid back to the land folks?

I've noticed references to folks up the trail and was curious if they are in fact up the trail of if that is just an expression.
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They are getting closer
Gunfire is getting more audible
I can see one cabin from our meadow
It's disturbing my comfort zone, but learning to live around it
I guess it is becoming a 'community'......shit

I s'pose it'll be a good thing as we age

When we first moved here, we 'hiked' to the nearest neighbors
Not so anymore

Four wheelers and ATVs are getting more common on the weekends
 
Gary O' said:
They are getting closer
Gunfire is getting more audible
I can see one cabin from our meadow
It's disturbing my comfort zone, but learning to live around it
I guess it is becoming a 'community'......shit

I s'pose it'll be a good thing as we age
Click to expand...

It could be.

It could also be a pause in your journey to find the good life. Helen and Scott Nearing spent 20 years experimenting in Vermont before they finally moved to Maine. If you haven't read their books it's worth a google, they were very interesting people.

Good luck!
 
Aunt Bea said:
It could be.

It could also be a pause in your journey to find the good life. Helen and Scott Nearing spent 20 years experimenting in Vermont before they finally moved to Maine. If you haven't read their books it's worth a google, they were very interesting people.

Good luck!
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We have all their books
They were gods

We are eyeballing some land about 100 miles from us, higher in the mountains

but

Not so sure I have it in me to start over

Maybe a getaway from our getaway.....
 
...might be a repeat....but a good'n.
tom-cheney-did-management-say-you-could-go-off-the-grid-new-yorker-cartoon_u-L-PI489Z0.jpg

"Did management say you could go off the grid?"
 
My lady made bread yesterday
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In this, no less
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Happy

So’s the chippies
They get the last of the PB
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And, my little fractured family of tiny beings are learning to dine together
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Life can be savory

If you dine on the moment
 
Oh, it was good alright…..was

One loaf had big swirls of cinnamon, nuts, raisons, and other sweet stuff

lightly toasted
I’m having the last two slices as I type

Yes, Jim, butter, lawwwtza butter

I’ll work it off today

Showed my lady the slippers

I may be wearing the next loaves
 
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Aunt Bea said:
Could you provide us with a few lessons on baking in the gas grill, please!
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Get your temp stabilized (she uses 350°)
To do this, she plays with how many burners, and how high, to steady the temp

She places her bread pans on the top rack, and the rest on the bottom where there’s no flame

She checks periodically to see if any spots are getting too brown
If so, she turns the bread pan around or puts foil on

What she’s been baking of late (white bread) takes 40 minutes

....eating a fresh loaf takes around 10
 
Gary O' said:
Get your temp stabilized (she uses 350°)
To do this, she plays with how many burners, and how high, to steady the temp

She places her bread pans on the top rack, and the rest on the bottom where there’s no flame

She checks periodically to see if any spots are getting too brown
If so, she turns the bread pan around or puts foil on

What she’s been baking of late (white bread) takes 40 minutes

....eating a fresh loaf takes around 10
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips, this could come in handy!!!

Man does not live by bread alone, better add one of these to the honey-do-list!

http://buildnaturally.blogspot.com/2013/06/build-clay-cob-oven-in-your-yard.html

making+pizza.jpg
 
Stood on the porch this morn, yawning until the coffee flushed away the cobwebs
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Got most everything tightened up for winter.

I think I’ve been working around wood a bit too long

I find myself staring at the sight of a rick of rounds like it was a stunning edifice
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Anyway, I now have a chippy (golden) friend

I’ve always been able to come near my little chickadees and nuthatches
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but the goldens, chippies, and squirrels have been skittish

until, today

I can easily come within arm’s reach of this one

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I must say, those fingers kinda creep me out

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guess he decided to be my pal

Actually, he comes right up to me when he sees I’m laying food on their plates

Tomorrow I’m gonna attempt to hand feed him

If y’all don’t hear from me for awhile, it’s ’cause I’m in the hospital recovering from Lyme disease or rabies

....or, I've joined the squirrels

the top of the wood pile seems better than the porch

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