Ten Degrees and You Want Me To What?

2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

What's left of the punching bag Lance worked out on

Unbelievably cold temps lately. Frank and I moved in last January, and I know for sure it never got this cold. I look out at the orchard and wonder how on earth those trees stay alive. They certainly look dead. The grass in the yard crunches under my shoes in the early morning - can't be good for it. The empty garden is so sad looking  with the cold lumpy dirt.

Meanwhile, keeping active this time of year is more difficult. Some of us have more ambition than others. We have equipment on the back porch but I can't bring myself to brave the cold to lift weights. My fingers are getting more workout on the laptop. Does that count? I painted most of the wood trim today. I'm counting that since my back is feeling the pain.

We've sent off the proposed plan to get a quote for the watering system we plan to have in the spring. Last year we operated on the flooding system. Crops were planted in raised rows and the trenches on either side were flooded. This causes massive amounts of weeds in the trenches and was near impossible to keep up with. The new system would be flat hoses that have holes. The flat hoses can be buried under the soil on each side of the plants. No raised rows needed. The water would go more directly to the plants and should help the weed problem. In addition, plastic can be laid where the plants are not. I had the job of primary weeder so I'm rooting for this new plan.

Our crops will be fewer this year. For our own consumption, we're only planting what we like to eat. No corn this year, not as many patty pan, no cauliflower or leeks. We found some veggies produce so much per plant that we won't need as many. So far (seeds not bought yet) it looks like tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, patty pan, butternut squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, cucumbers, radish and a variety of herbs. For commercial purposes, we're concentrating on one crop. Frank and Lance are the leads on that. When it's all in place, I'll unveil the great plan!

Who's Your Muse?

Muse Monday
I've heard artists of all sorts talk of their muse. Many of my writer friends will reference their muse when a story or inspiration for a story comes to them. I usually couldn't add to the conversation because my muse has either not shown herself or maybe I've not been assigned one. There may only be so many to go around, and my name hadn't been drawn. I'm not sure I'd know her if she walked in the door anyway.

What exactly does a muse look like? I checked the dictionary and generally a muse is a goddess or power that inspires. Pretty cool having your own goddess. But then there are numerous cases of the muse being anything but a goddess. Picasso had Marie-Therese Walter. Lucky Patti Boyd was muse to both George Harrison and Eric Clapton.

Since I've never had writer's block, and there is a general belief that one's muse has gone AWOL when this affliction strikes, then my muse must work overtime. She's obviously too busy to even introduce herself. I picture her cooped up somewhere in a miniscule cubicle of my mind (soul? heart?), dipping her pen into the inkwell, jotting down bits and pieces of ideas on translucent paper that she then crumbles into sparkly dust and blows into my mind (soul? heart?).

I'm afraid I'm letting my muse down lately. She might even be the one who feels abandoned and in need of inspiration. What must she think when my life has been too crazy for me to put in my normal hours of writing, letting her great ideas and inspirational sound bites languish in piles of sparkly dust? I know I'm getting pretty antsy. First the holidays and now baby preparations - grand baby that is. Happy times even though my writing is taking a backseat.

Hopefully, she'll hang around. And if she should decide to take a vacation, there's a pile of ideas to last me until she returns.

Soggy Cabbage Anyone?

2012 Somewhere in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

 

December 2012

Like I've said numerous times, this last year was a learning season. Not too long ago, Lance spoke to the man who owns Whipstone Farms in Chino Valley. When Lance stated his feeling about this past year, the farmer told him to expect to never quit learning. On one hand, sounds like there will never be a dull moment. On the other hand? Tires me out to think about it.

 

One thing we learned quite a bit about was preserving our harvested veggies and fruits to get us through the winter. Canning results showed their faults quickly. Each time a batch of three to five jars was finished, we could tell what needed to be adjusted. Some of those early jars are not full to the top. Recipes too were adjusted or tossed aside for different reasons. Christie found a great tomato soup recipe that didn't require the tomatoes to be peeled. Big time saver. And once she discovered the soup could be used for everything from soup to pasta sauce to Mexican dishes, she put more jars up.

Freezing results didn't show as quickly. We used freezer bags and sucked the air out before freezing. They looked vacuumed sealed and we got a lightheaded rush doing it. Our efforts didn't last long. We learned freezer bags are not as air tight as advertized. Many of our frozen veggies have frost bite and suffer from too much moisture. Many vegetables are supposed to be flash boiled before freezing. This is trickier than we thought. If it isn't processed very quickly, too much water is absorbed which equals soggy veggies when thawed. Cabbage is particularly susceptible to this problem.

 

An annoying but then again comical problem we encountered with freezing was the size of the bags we used. We often used the gallon size. It seemed reasonable to us that we could take out a meal portion from a large bag as we needed. Wet vegetables stick together - like in solid blocks. So we find ourselves chopping and hammering off the amount we need for a meal. Meal size bags might have been a better choice!

 

Before it's time to harvest and freeze this year, we'll invest in a proper system for freezing.

 

This years favorite Christmas present - the dinner bell

We're finding ways to use those soggy veggies. For instance, tonight's meal (besides steak on the grill) we had cabbage and onions from the freezer. I sauteed them in a little olive oil for a very long time until the moisture cooked out and they browned slightly. The okra was dipped in milk and mixed with cornmeal and also sauteed for a considerable amount of time. It clumps together but eventually gets crispy. And we had canned potatoes which have a unique flavor.

 

The learning curve? I kind of think it will keep on curving!

What's The Size of His...Publisher

MUSE MONDAY
Not too long ago, I was at a conference and went to a workshop on publishing. The speaker was a traditionally published author who's decided that we authors don't need publishers. He went on to talk about how great it is to be an author right now because you can self-publish. Part way through his presentation, he told us about the publishing company he's started and some of the authors he's publishing. What?

It's wild and wicked out there in the trying-to-get-published world. On my first Muse Monday, I thought some might find the topic interesting. Or at least my take on the publishing process.

At times, I wish I'd started writing many, many years ago - before ebooks and small publishing houses existed. There was a time authors could approach the big New York publishers with less effort than now. But then there were fewer publishers and only one avenue. But then there were fewer authors. But then your books, if published, would always end up in bookstores. But then the Internet now makes it possible for virtually unknown authors to be found. But then...and so my inner debate goes on.

I've published three books, various lengths, and a stand alone story as well as two stories in an anthology with two smaller houses. The Wild Rose Press is out of New York (like the big guys) but is at heart an e-publisher who also sells hardcover books. They're a large romance e-book house. Melange Books is in Minnesota and is also an e-publisher who will also sell hardcover books. This size of publisher is approachable by authors directly. Meaning, I can submit a manuscript to them, on my own, without an agent's introduction. There are pluses to working with this size of house, and I am going strictly on what I'm told as I can't compare from my own experience. Smaller houses are easier to communicate with, you have more hands on with your book decisions and overall it's a more personal experience.

I've been very happy with my publishers, but because of their size, certain results of being published are not readily available for my books. For one, readers cannot walk into a bookstore and buy my book because they are lured by the way it looks on the shelf or by the "feel" of it. The store can order my book in for you, but if you don't know me...well, the obvious. Many authors don't feel this is a problem. With the Internet, readers can go shopping and may just find their book on a virtual shelf. I do have my books in a few stores, but that happened by me going into the store and asking if they would carry a few copies.

An agent can gain entrance into the big publishing houses or at least get an author's foot in the door. I signed with an agent last year. Personally, I'd like to try traditional publishing and see my book on a shelf in a bookstore that I didn't have to go into and sell myself to. The process had just started when it was stalled by Hurricane Sandy then the holidays. Now, I wait.

At least there are options. I'm not giving up on small publishers. Just like I haven't given up on brick and mortar book stores. I love ebooks. But I love holding a traditional book too. 

Burn and Turn

2012 Somewhere in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

What's in store for my Discover Yourself blog in 2013? Until now, I've blogged sporadically about my life on Tortuga Flats Farm. In 2013, I'm dedicating Thursdays on a regular basis for farm life talk. Muse Mondays will cover the other half of my life as an author. An occasional guest blogger will show up from time to time with something of interest.

Today is the launch of Tortuga Thursdays. We're in the cold, brown days of a prairie winter, which means we're also in the planning stages for next planting season. Our plans are extensive and intensive with a few secrets I can't reveal - yet.

Before the temps dropped too low, we bought a blow torch to burn off the dead vines, plants and weeds. Frank took care of step one. Then the planning continued.

We didn't intend on growing much beyond our own needs the first year, but we managed to do much better than that. The food bank and relatives received our overflow. We're ready to begin the expansion and turn this little farm into more. Our first step - the tractor. Remember, we're doing this on a shoestring budget. After much research, we ended up buying a 1943 Ford. Yeah, I had the same reaction - 1943?! But the reputation of being a workhorse and still going strong is true. Lance cleared and plowed all of our land in one very long day.

We've had the meeting on what to plant next year for our own consumption and what to plant for profit. Oh - there's an important word. We haven't purchased seeds yet. Our last frost isn't until the middle of May so there's no great hurry.

What we do have to do is get the greenhouse built. That's the next step and next expense. We want to have it built and ready to go by the end of February.

Meanwhile, Lance is studying seed catalogs, I'm painting walls inside, Christie is getting the baby's room ready and Frank fishes whenever he can.

A New Old Tradition (and S'mores!)

An era ended and a new one began on 12-21-12 according to some interpretations of the Mayan Calendar. We're all still  here so I'm going with that. A new tradition started in our family which rings in a new era for Tortuga Flats Farm.

The mid-winter Solstice celebration has been around as far back as history is recorded. Cultures all over the world celebrated the darkest time of winter. Neolithic farmers were fearful that the sun and their crops might not return. Fire played a part in symbolically bringing back the warm sunny days. Romans decorated their homes with evergreen plants and had various celebrations to lift the spirits during the long winter months. Celtic traditions are many for winter and the Solstice. Native Americans had Solstice traditions. It was a time to reflect on the past year and hope for the new. Sprinkled in all these traditions across the globe were Shaman gift givers, Santas in various forms, holly, ivy, bells and all the other things we associate with Christmas.

As farmers, we decided to start our own traditions for this season. Our first Solstice included a meal with much of our own produce, a fire and reflection (and of course s'mores!) and the exchanging of gifts. I doubt the ancient neolithic farmers had s'mores but after all that reflection, chocolate and marshmallows were in order. On Christmas Eve we will have another big dinner and continue to give thanks. Christmas morning we will empty our stockings and see what Santa brought us. We'll then go south and visit the rest of our family.

We had a great time with our first Solstice. We decided it could evolve and include others in our celebration. Next year, we will for sure have one new person, my granddaughter! She won't be able to add verbally to the fire circle, but her presence will add to our richness.

If you'd like to see some more of our Solstice celebration pictures, you can go to my personal Facebook page where I've posted other shots. Click on photos and then go to the Solstice album. https://www.facebook.com/brenda.whiteside.58

And if you haven't yet "liked" my author page on Facebook, I welcome you to do so. Would love to see you there.  https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

From Head to Dirty Floors

My first prairie blog stated:

You'll hear all about our trials and misfires and what works. Maybe my glimpse into retiring with nothing in the bank but love will inspire (or scare) others in the same boat. Keep the bucket handy for bailing. Oh by the way, the retiring part is my husband. I will still be toiling away at my writing career, which is in its infancy - but I work hard!

Looking forward to more sunsets

Now, we're nearing the year mark, and I thought it'd be good to take inventory on what I discovered - financially speaking first. Maybe these money saving discoveries would work for you too. A little disclaimer here on senior discounts. I'm lucky that Frank is always able to get them but there are places that go as young as 55 for discounts. You have to ask.



Hair. Funny, my head comes first, but I've always said finding a good hairdresser is harder than finding a good doctor. After paying around $150 a visit for the last few years, I had to make some changes.
Result: Beauty school hair style $6.00 plus tip
          Drugstore hair dye $8.00
Downside: My color is not streaked and multi-shaded like I prefer but I don't look ugly either - I can live with that.

Will the Verde overflow its beginning this year?

Entertainment. This encompasses a lot.
Result: Senior movie discounts - you can't beat $5 movies
           Ask for your senior discount at restaurants. Nearly every eating establishment has some sort of senior discount. Hey a free drink is worth it!
           Hotels often have senior discounts too. Ask. If you're not a senior, then travel on the cheap days. Example: During the week, Laughlin, NV has hotels that charge $10-$20 a night compared to $45-$75 on the weekends.
           Parks, both state and federal have a couple of ways to save. Seniors get discounted lifetime passes. For $10 we get into any federal park. If you're not a senior, check on yearly passes which are much cheaper than paying for each trip.
           Wherever you go, ask if discounts are available. Often, they aren't advertised. 
Downside: None from our point of view.

Gasoline.
Result: We all look for the cheapest stations. Up here it's Maverick or Costco. Another way to get cents off is to trade at a supermarket that gives points. Safeway and Frys in Arizona do and have their own stations.
Downside: The store stations are not plentiful so you have to plan your gas filling trips.

Charge card benefits.
Result: We charge most things and accumulate points. We now have two airline tickets. On my other card I had enough points for a couple of Christmas presents.
Downside: None for us because we pay them off entirely each month. So please take caution if you choose to live this way. Don't charge what you can't pay off.

Christie, Lance, Gabby, Xena

Sharing expenses.
Result: We couldn't do what we're doing if we didn't cohabitate with my son and daughter-in-law. It's working for us so far. Financially it's a win-win.
Downside: I don't always get my way! We have to agree on what big expenditures come first, and there is compromise.

I can't do a point by point on all the other aspects of how our experiment is working. I think we've barely scratched the surface. Next year won't be like this year - the farm is expanding, a baby is coming and other milestones are expected. But here are a few observations after the first year:

I've lowered my standards on neatness, others have improved.

Frank keeps asking me what part of retirement don't I understand.

Gabby, Rusty, Xena

Rusty is so much happier with a larger pack and someone always around.

Two cooks in the house makes me happy (since one of them isn't me).

I have to be careful to command myself to write and not get caught up in ALL the farm and household activities.

Shopping is not an activity anymore.

I love eating what we grow.

"Going into town" is a real thing and not just a line off Little House on the Prairie.

So much for my wrap up. Now I'll gather my thoughts on the upcoming year and what we intend to do with it. Hint: we have a tractor! I'll be a grandma!