tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581280414814999672024-02-20T11:37:03.549-08:00The extra-textual adventures of a book geek girlChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-66668882527993460982012-05-01T10:00:00.001-07:002012-05-01T10:00:35.115-07:00Kaying Kenai Fjords, Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the second part of my series on our Kayaking trip in Kenai Fjords National Park last summer, with <a href="http://kayakak.com/" target="_blank">Kayak Adventures Worldwide</a>. See Part 1 <a href="http://bookgeekgirl.blogspot.com/2012/04/sea-kayaking-alaska-day-1.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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On the second day of our trip, we spent the whole day on the water in the kayaks.We woke up and had a leisurely breakfast, then headed out into the lagoon to explore the glaciers. It's hard to get a sense of scale in our photos from this trip, because everything is just so massive in Alaska. The glaciers in the picture at the top of this post, however, are still several miles away from us.They're the same glaciers you see in the closer-up pictures below. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0Nyzm1DCiE/ToXUhS0rcXI/AAAAAAAAA3w/8-pfNIoHwNs/s1600/IMG_0097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0Nyzm1DCiE/ToXUhS0rcXI/AAAAAAAAA3w/8-pfNIoHwNs/s400/IMG_0097.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of Ogive Glacier </td></tr>
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Josh and I paddled a tandem kayak, as do all guests on KAW trips, and I was perfectly happy with this. It's easier, for one, to have someone to share the paddling. Plus, tandem kayaks are very stable, which is important when you're literally paddling in ice water. Our guides talked to us about what to do in case we tipped, but the water was calm, and I was never worried about it. <br />
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Weather in the Fjords is wildly changeable, as it is in any
marine environment like this. You can have perfect sunshine and blue
skies, or you can have pouring rain and whipping winds. We got a little good, a little not-so-good on our trip, but we could not have asked for better weather on Day 2--
bluebird skies, and warm enough that I got away
with just an ultra-light base layer for most of the day. The outfitter provided pogies for our hands, which are neoprene mitts that velcro around the paddle to keep your hands warm, but we didn't need them much this day, and my thick fleece and rain layers stayed safely tucked inside a dry bag. <br />
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Over the course of the day, we got up close to the the multiple tidewater glaciers that feed into
Northwestern Lagoon. A tidewater glacier is one that flows directly into
the water (vs. being up on a mountaintop somewhere). What is really
amazing about tidewater glaciers is watching them calve. Glaciers are in constant flux. When the pressure of gravity and melting
gets to be too much, pieces at the foot of glaciers break off and, in
the case of tidewater glaciers, come crashing down into the ocean. These pieces can be massive -- the size
of houses -- so you need to keep your distance, so as not to be
swamped by the resulting wave when a piece comes crashing down. The
absolute closest you would want to get to one of these glaciers is about
a quarter of a mile, and more often, you'll stay back a third or even a
half a mile, depending on the height of the glacier and other factors.
Our guides with KAW were very well-versed in safety issues, and kept us
at a respectable distance. We felt small swells when large pieces of
glacier came crashing down, but nothing that made me nervous at
all.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp_fYRb-X1U/ToXUWXivuqI/AAAAAAAAA3A/LCFCH_-jvdo/s1600/IMG_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp_fYRb-X1U/ToXUWXivuqI/AAAAAAAAA3A/LCFCH_-jvdo/s400/IMG_0095.jpg" width="400" /></a>Watching glaciers calve is up there among the
coolest experiences of my life. I think I tend to feel like the ground
we stand on is pretty stable and slow-changing, but seeing something
like this, it really strikes you just how changeable our world is.I
was also really fascinated to hear our guide, Dave, talk about where
the glacier had come out to in the lagoon when he first started guiding
10+ years ago, compared to where it's at now. It's shocking
how much the glaciers have retreated in that time, and it really brings
the abstract idea of global warming home. (I felt the same thing, by the
way, when we drove out to Exit Glacier in Seward after our kayaking
trip. There, you drive along the road and pass signs marking where the
glacier was 10 years ago, 30 years ago, 100 years ago, etc. It kind of
blew my mind.)<br />
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We also had the cool experience of paddling through ice fields in the water. As the glaciers calve into the ocean, they break apart into
both icebergs and smaller bits of slush. The water temperature is so
cold that this ice doesn't melt right away. In the photo below, the ice we were paddling through is relatively dispersed , but we also paddled through much thicker patches of slush. You can see a bit of that thicker slush in the background of the iceberg picture below. As you
move thorough the slush, it crackles and hisses like something alive.
It's like nothing I've ever heard. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvYRUq2a8_Y/ToZQx_pNkaI/AAAAAAAABCM/3qfHkxglQyo/s1600/kf-6458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvYRUq2a8_Y/ToZQx_pNkaI/AAAAAAAABCM/3qfHkxglQyo/s640/kf-6458.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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There were larger icebergs in the water, too. Looking at them reminded
me a bit of looking for shapes in the clouds -- That one's shaped
like a dragon! And there's a sea horse! It was a little disconcerting
when the kayak bumped up against them, though. We weren't really going
fast enough to do any damage, but it was hard to keep thoughts of the <i>Titanic </i>out of my head in those moments. Sadly, when we were going through the icebergs, there was some cloud cover above, so most of my pictures are a bit dark. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdP1GKBszOI/ToXUK4N5-AI/AAAAAAAAA28/LYVCXq9tQOQ/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdP1GKBszOI/ToXUK4N5-AI/AAAAAAAAA28/LYVCXq9tQOQ/s400/IMG_0093.jpg" width="400" /></a>I didn't manage to get any pictures of them, but there were also tons of seals in the water around us. They'd occasionally pop up their heads to check us out, and we also paddled past large groups of them hauled out on ice floes. Our guides had us give these groups pretty wide berth. Not only is it law that you mustn't harass the wild life, but it was also molting season, I believe. Though the seals are built for icy water, when they're molting they're apparently more susceptible to it, so you don't want to startle them and make them dive into the water unnecessarily. <br />
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Overall, we paddled several miles on Day 2, though it didn't feel like it. We wound our way through icebergs and sat for hours in front of three different calving glaciers. Josh practically had to be dragged kicking and screaming away from them at the end of the day. What an amazing day! <br />
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<br />ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-65947350604882217342012-04-26T11:51:00.000-07:002012-04-26T11:51:50.716-07:00Farm Box: April 18, 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3v8btDBsNs/T5mYIe9g54I/AAAAAAAACjY/pQGCq5BapuE/s1600/January+2012+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3v8btDBsNs/T5mYIe9g54I/AAAAAAAACjY/pQGCq5BapuE/s640/January+2012+034.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Dog Farm Box: April 18, 2012</td></tr>
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This weeks' box had:<br />
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<b>Asparagus</b> -- A huge bunch, some fairly fat, other stalks pencil-thin. <br />
<b>Beets </b>-- Teeny tiny red ones with super-vibrant greens<br />
<b>Spring Onions -- </b>Basically, an XL version of the green onions you get at the grocery store<br />
<b>Braising Greens</b><br />
<b>Bok Choi </b>-- I have to admit, I am not a huge bok choi fan. I don't hate it, but it's also not a go-to green for me. We will gladly eat several bunches of kale in a week, but bok choi has a tendency to yellow and wither before I get around to using it. <br />
<b>Bunch of orange carrots</b><br />
<b>A few loose yellow carrots</b><br />
<b>golden turnips</b><br />
<b>spinach</b><br />
<b>Cilantro</b><br />
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And here's what we made with it. Farm box ingredients are in bold.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VLzBePajfM/T5mYO6ueztI/AAAAAAAACjg/POL_PlytgHs/s1600/January+2012+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VLzBePajfM/T5mYO6ueztI/AAAAAAAACjg/POL_PlytgHs/s320/January+2012+036.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicoise Salad (sorry for the awful cell phone pic!)</td></tr>
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<b>Wednesday</b> -- Sort-of-Nicoise salad. Mixed salad greens from the farmer's market, topped with seared ahi tuna, hard boiled eggs, olives, steamed <b>asparagus </b>(green beans are traditional in a nicoise salad, but asparagus is what we had), and boiled potatoes. The dressing was a generous amount of dijon mustard, olive oil, a touch of white wine vinegar, <b>green garlic</b>, and salt/pepper. <br />
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<b>Thursday</b> -- Salad again, this time topping the greens with steamed <b>asparagus</b>, olives, and poached eggs. I had a late soccer game, and needed something super-quick. Poached eggs are often my go-to in this situation, since you can make them in 5-minutes flat and they seem much fancier than they are. <br />
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<b>Friday</b> -- Soba noodles with sesame sauce. I stir-fried some chicken marinated in soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and rice vinegar. Steamed some<b> bok choi, spinach</b>, and <b>carrots</b>. Boiled soba noodles. All tossed together with a sauce made of tahini, rice vinegar, soy sauce, <b>green garlic</b>, and sesame oil based on a recipe from Mark Bittman. garnished with a generous handful of chopped <b>cilantro </b>and thinly sliced <b>spring onions</b>. <br />
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<b>Saturday</b> -- Hamburgers on the grill, with grilled <b>asparagus</b>, <b>carrots</b>, and radicchio (an impulse purchase at Whole Foods). After the carrots came off the grill, I tossed them with <b>cilantro</b>, lime juice, and salt. <br />
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<b>Sunday</b> -- Chicken and Rice. This is one of our go-to meals, because you can make it in endless variations. This version used <b>green garlic</b>, <b>spinach</b>, <b>bok choi</b>, <b>spring onions</b>, and some <b>braising greens</b>. The sauce used <b>green garlic</b>, shallots, whole-grain mustard, capers, white wine, veggie broth, butter, and a bit of flour to thicken it. <br />
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<b>Monday</b> -- We had baked sausages, potatoes, and broccoli for dinner. Didn't use a thing from the farm box because Josh was really in the mood for broccoli and so he bought a bag from Trader Joes.<br />
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<b>Tuesday</b> --Roasted Veggie salad. Mixed greens from the farmer's market with a mustard-spring onion dressing. Topped with roasted <b>beets</b>, <b>turnips</b>, <b>carrots</b>, and <b>garlic</b>, blue cheese crumbles, and a couple poached eggs. <br />
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So, at the end of the week, we still have: half a bunch of cilantro, the beet greens, half a bunch of carrots, half a bag of braising greens, and one head of bok choi, Hmm . . . we didn't do so well on using up everything this week. Tonight's dinner, whatever it is, needs to use lots and lots of greens :-)ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-29702439425448073532012-04-23T13:13:00.001-07:002012-04-23T13:14:36.907-07:00Sea Kayaking: Alaska, Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of National Parks Week (and Earth Day), I'm finally getting around to posting about our big trip to Alaska last summer. We spent 2.5 weeks up there at the end of August and the beginning of September, doing a kayaking trip in Kenai Fjords National Park and a backpacking trip in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning sky over Resurrection Bay</td></tr>
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We started our trip with 4 days of sea-kayaking in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm" target="_blank">Kenai Fjords National Park</a>. The Kenai Fjords lie at the edge of the Kenai Peninsula, about a three hour drive south of Anchorage, and the big draw there is the glaciers -- more than 40 flow from the massive Harding Ice Field down toward the ocean. You can drive to and hike around some of the glaciers, like Exit Glacier, but the best way to see this park is to get out on the water. Most trips start from Seward, and go out through Resurrection Bay and into the smaller bays and lagoons nearby, including Aialik Bay, Cataract Cove, and Northwestern Lagoon.<br />
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Unless you're a very experienced sea kayaker, you can't rent kayaks to do your own trip. We went with an outfitter, <a href="http://www.kayakak.com/" target="_blank">Kayak Adventures Worldwide</a>, and it was absolutely the right move -- the conditions in the fjords can be unpredictable and even dangerous, and it was reassuring to be with folks who knew the area inside and out. We had two guides on our trip: Dave, the company owner, and Jamie, an experienced guide he was training to lead this particular trip. Both were warm, enthusiastic, and super-knowledgeable.This company works hard to be environmentally aware, and to educate as well as lead fun trips. The night before our trip, we had an orientation meeting, in which we talked about gear and safety, got set with PFDs (hardcore life jackets), spray skirts, etc, and chatted with the guides about what we hoped to see (me: Orcas, Orcas, and did I mention orcas?! Someone went to Sea World a few times too many as an impressionable kid :-) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W96YYbVFziM/ToXRlRBovTI/AAAAAAAAA1w/crcrjr_3sQE/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W96YYbVFziM/ToXRlRBovTI/AAAAAAAAA1w/crcrjr_3sQE/s400/IMG_0020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aialik Glacier. Notice the bits of ice floating in the bay. </td></tr>
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J. had done a trip with KAW a few years ago, to Aialik Bay. This time, we went to Northwestern Lagoon, which is farther out in the Fjords. Josh thought both trips were wonderful, but I'm glad we went to Northwestern. Since Aialik is a shorter boat trip from Seward, it's where most kayaking and tour boat trips go. Crowded isn't quite the right word, but you're certainly not alone . Northwestern, on the other hand, is spectacularly isolated. We were out for four days and didn't see another kayaker.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58NdA7u4iYw/ToXTIZjtUrI/AAAAAAAAA2M/VRXDzzlarhM/s1600/IMG_6465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58NdA7u4iYw/ToXTIZjtUrI/AAAAAAAAA2M/VRXDzzlarhM/s400/IMG_6465.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the water taxi, heading into Cataract Cove</td></tr>
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Our trip began with a water taxi ride out to Northwestern lagoon. Getting out to the lagoon took about 4 hours o, but that was with stops to look at wildlife (Humpbacks! Puffins! Otters!) and drop off other kayakers in a different location.The boat captain knew so much about the area, and was sure to point out all the sights. We even slowed down at one point to allow Dall's Porpoises to frolic in the wake of the boat, while we laid flat out on the ramp at the back of the boat, mere inches from where they surfaced out of the the water. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dall%27s_porpoise" target="_blank">Dall's Porpoises</a> are a type of porpoise that looks a lot like a miniature orca, and apparently they love playing around slow-moving boats. Unfortunately, the little guys moved so fast I wasn't able to get a good picture of them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kUn2NSHeqE/ToXT3CrDUsI/AAAAAAAAA2s/HvuZVhuHAf8/s1600/_MG_6503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--kUn2NSHeqE/ToXT3CrDUsI/AAAAAAAAA2s/HvuZVhuHAf8/s400/_MG_6503.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayaks pulled up on the beach in Northwestern Lagoon</td></tr>
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The water taxi dropped us off at a beach where we would camp for the
first two nights of our trip. In the shadow of several glaciers, our camp was stunningly beautiful. Perhaps the most gorgeous place I've ever camped, though there are some places in the high Sierra that give this site a run for it's money.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite on Northwestern Lagoon</td></tr>
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All night, we could hear the crack and thunder of glaciers giving way and tumbling down toward the water. Usually, by the time we looked, we couldn't even see the slide that had made the sound, though. Out in the bay, seals glided by, occasionally popping their heads up to check us out. We called them the spy seals, and as soon as we spotted them, they'd quickly slip back under the water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqUQUjRKDAI/ToXTdzGuINI/AAAAAAAAA2c/TIIhXu-qoi8/s1600/IMG_0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqUQUjRKDAI/ToXTdzGuINI/AAAAAAAAA2c/TIIhXu-qoi8/s400/IMG_0065.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking across moraine to the foot of a glacier. </td></tr>
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On the first afternoon, after being dropped off by the water taxi, we did a short paddle out to the end of the lagoon, where we could hike to the foot of a glacier. For those of you not up on the geology, a glacier forms when the melting of snow and ice (called ablation) is less than the accumulation over a long period of time (centuries, even). Glaciers are made up of densely impacted ice, which gives them their often turquoise color -- that's the only spectrum of light that can get through the ice.<br />
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Glaciers are not stationary objects. They move, due to the slope of the surface and the pressure of snow and ice above. Sometimes from a distance a glacier will look almost like a river -- you can actually see the pattern of the flow. In addition, glaciers retreat over time, or grow smaller, a process that is rapidly accelerating in the modern world, thanks to global warming. As glaciers move, they pick up gravel and huge boulders from the earth beneath them. This gravel is left in the wake of glaciers as they retreat, in the form a moraine -- gravel and boulders. That's what we're walking across in the photo above. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZymgvIGLjFk/ToYnClXYWtI/AAAAAAAAA5k/grL_hiYmWeM/s1600/_MG_6518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZymgvIGLjFk/ToYnClXYWtI/AAAAAAAAA5k/grL_hiYmWeM/s400/_MG_6518.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nose of the glacier, up close</td></tr>
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Although from a distance it had looked like the edge of the ice came right down to
the moraine, once we were close, we could see that it was, instead, a
high cliff. Notice the hiker to the left side of the frame, for scale. <br />
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After our short exploration, we came back to camp, made dinner, and had a relaxing first evening. This was the view from our first campsite at twilight. Even in late August, and fairly far south in Alaska, darkness comes late, and twilight seems to linger forever.This picture was taken at probably10:30pm. </div>
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The following day, we paddled out into the lagoon and got up close and personal with some calving glaciers. More on that soon!ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-65498624026113112172012-04-20T10:37:00.000-07:002012-04-20T10:37:25.167-07:00Farm Box: 4/11/12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week's box had:<br />
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<b>Fennel</b> I love fresh fennel. The subtle anise taste is just lovely in so many dishes, and it pairs perfectly with leeks. <br />
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<b>Asparagus. </b>Nice fat stalks -- perfect for grilling! <br />
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<b>Tangerines. </b>I love that we get citrus fruit in the box all winter, but honestly, I'm always getting tired of it by this point in the year. Bring on the strawberries! <br />
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<b>Green Garlic. </b>I love green garlic, but whew! It makes my car REEK just in the 5 minutes it takes me to get it home from our farm box pick-up location. <br />
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<b>Leeks. </b>These were ridiculously huge leeks, bigger around than my wrist. Too big, actually. I think they're better when they're smaller and more tender. <br />
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<b>Carrots. </b>Tried something new with the carrots this week -- grilling. I peeled them, and cut the ends off, then rubbed them with a bit of olive oil and salt. Grilled for 15-20 minutes, then tossed with lemon juice and a bit of chopped up fennel fronds. SO good!<br />
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<b>Savoy Spinach. </b><br />
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<b>Lettuce. </b>This lettuce was delicious -- so sweet! It made for wonderful side salads for lunch most of last week. <b> </b><br />
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We're starting to get into the real spring crops now, which I always look forward to. I can't wait for the English peas, which are my all-time favorite! And here's what we did with all this lovely produce: <br />
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<b>Wednesday: </b>Baked sausages and potatoes, with our homemade <b>sauerkraut</b>, made from <b>cabbages </b>we got in early winter farm boxes. Since it takes a few weeks to ferment, we make big batches all at once -- 10 or more lbs of cabbage, and then it keeps forever in the fridge. <br />
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<b>Thursday: </b>Ate a burrito on my way home from my whitewater kayak rolling class.Not exactly healthy or useful for using up farm box stuff, but it was 9:30 at night and I was starving! <br />
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<b>Friday: </b>Ate out at our favorite neighborhood place, <a href="http://sidebar-oaktown.com/" target="_blank">Sidebar</a>. If you're in the Oakland area, go there! We usually sit at the bar and share a huge bowl of mussels, a chopped salad, and a couple glasses of wine. They also make a stunningly good burger, with house-made pickled cukes and onions. <br />
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<b>Saturday: </b>Grilled tri-tip, with grilled <b>asparagus </b>(made with the same recipe I posted last week), grilled <b>carrots</b>, and potatoes. For the potatoes, I cut them into large chunks, then boil them till they're just starting to get tender. Then, I toss with chili powder, harissa, olive oil, and salt and we finish them on the grill.If you don't pre-cook them, they take forever on the grill! <br />
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<b>Sunday:</b> Spring green risotto. Made with shitake mushrooms from the farmer's market, <b>fennel</b>, <b>leeks</b>, and <b>spinach</b>. I meant to add <b>green garlic, </b>too, but I forgot. Usually, we use our homemade chicken stock for risotto. This time, we were out, so I used mushroom flavored Better than Bullion. I can't recommend that particular flavor, though -- it's SO salty. <br />
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<b>Monday</b>: Meatloaf patties made with leftover tri-tip whirred in the food processor with bread crumbs and a bunch of other stuff that I don't know -- J. made them! On the side -- mashed potatoes and our homemade <b>sauerkraut, </b>again. <br />
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<b>Tuesday</b>: Fried rice. I had a bunch of odds-and-ends I wanted to use up, and fried rice is a really good way to do that. This version had <b>leeks</b>, <b>green garlic</b>, <b>spinach</b>, leftover baked tofu, and <b>carrots</b>.<br />
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We did good on the farm box this week -- all that carried over was a stalk of green garlic. Much better than we did all winter, when I really struggled to use up winter squash, turnips, and parsnips!ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-39409288192285029282012-04-04T17:18:00.000-07:002012-04-04T17:18:57.437-07:00Farm Box: April 4, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWWBzuh-pTg/T3zhYR_R9bI/AAAAAAAACjA/QpSAz-YRcbQ/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GWWBzuh-pTg/T3zhYR_R9bI/AAAAAAAACjA/QpSAz-YRcbQ/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><br />
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Trying to get back to doing regular farm box updates. We've been doing the CSA for almost 16 months now, and it's been a huge success, for the most part (although almost all of our winter squashes moulded before we could use them).<br />
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Here's what was in this week's box, along with my plans for using it up:<br />
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<b>Mixed Tangerines / mandarins.</b> I cannot get enough of the Murcott tangerines -- that's the little shiny one on top of the stack. They're teeny tiny -- I can fit 2 or three of them in the palm of my hand easily -- and SO sweet. Almost like candy. Abundant citrus is one of the things I love about living in California. This week there were just a couple murcotts. I think the rest are another variety.<br />
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<b>Green Onions. </b>These will end up used here and there throughout the week -- in scrambled eggs, sauces, as garnish for soups and baked potatoes, etc.<br />
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<b>Parsley</b> -- Planning to make <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chimichurri/" target="_blank">Chimichurri sauce</a> tonight, since I have cilantro left over from last week's box. We'll eat it on simple grilled chicken, served with wheatberries and grilled asparagus.<br />
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<b>Carrots -- </b>Our farm has the BEST carrots! This will probably become either carrot-miso soup, using t<a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2012/01/carrot-soup-with-miso-and-sesame/" target="_blank">his recipe</a> from Smitten Kitchen or <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/dining/253mrex.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Carrot-Miso-Ginger salad dressing</a>, like you get at Japanese restaurants. I absolutely ADORED that stuff as a kid, when we went to the local Benihana-type Japanese steakhouse for special occasions. It's perfect on light greens, like butter lettuce, and I also really like it on chicken. And, if I'm being honest, I'll also happily eat it right out of the bowl with a spoon :-)<br />
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<b>Asparagus</b> -- Last week's asparagus became today's lunch. I tossed it with olive oil and salt, roasted it at 400 for maybe 30 minutes to cook it. Then, served it on toast for lunch -- rub toast with a cut clove of garlic, lay the asparagus on top, and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and some cheese (Trader Joe's Cheddar-Asiago in this case, but Parm or goat cheese would also work well). <br />
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This week, we'll do it on the grill, following <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/smoky-glazed-asparagus" target="_blank">this recipe</a>. I am NOT a mayonnaise fan, but the mayo mostly cooks off on the grill, leaving behind a tangy, smoky flavor. You do need to make sure you use smoked paprika and not the normal stuff, which is sort of blah. I find smoked paprika in little metal tins in the spice aisle at Whole Foods or Berkeley Bowl. The brand is <a href="http://www.hotpaella.com/Products/Smoked-Paprika-Tin__SP004.aspx" target="_blank">Chiqulin</a>. It's actually cheaper in local stores than at that link, though. More like 2.99 or so. We don't bother to peel the asparagus, just cut off the tough ends. Farm fresh asparagus usually isn't tough enough to bother. <br />
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I don't get as excited about asparagus as lots of folks do, but these two recipes keep me pretty happy. We also often use it in risotto (cut into small pieces and toss it in at the very end so it stays semi-crisp and bright green)<br />
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<b>Mei Qing Choi.</b> This is basically baby bok choi. Good stir-fried with oyster sauce, although I'll confess that this is not my favorite green. It often goes a bit yellow before we get around to eating it.<br />
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<b>Leeks. </b>I recently learned that you can freeze leeks, which has changed my cooking world. I just pre-slice and wash them, then spin them dry in the salad spinner. Toss 'em in a big ziploc and lay them flat to freeze. Then, you can just grab a handful whenever you need, without all the fuss. We got a LOT of leeks this winter, so I was getting really behind on using them up until I learned this trick! Also, one of this week's leeks is literally as big around as my wrist!<br />
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Honestly, I thought this week's farm box was a bit light, compared to what we usually get. And I was sad there wasn't spinach or other cooking greens, since we can easily go through three bunches of those a week.ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-60028665882796795752011-02-08T10:04:00.000-08:002011-02-10T17:17:11.095-08:00Farm Box: Week 5<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWD2Fr1buE0/TVSM7KD4MJI/AAAAAAAAA0c/jk1_1xRmzLU/s1600/_MG_4575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWD2Fr1buE0/TVSM7KD4MJI/AAAAAAAAA0c/jk1_1xRmzLU/s400/_MG_4575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572233586904936594" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>This week's farm box contained:<br /><br />3 lbs Satsuma Mandarins (Much better quality again than a couple weeks ago)<br />2 lbs Navel Oranges<br />1 bu Carrots<br />1 bu Collards<br />½ lb Romanesco<br />1 lb Broccoli<br />1 bu Scarlet Queen Turnips with greens (these are the small red ones that look like radishes)<br />3 lbs Assorted Roots (this included parsnips, rutabega, and large white turnips, all without greens)<br /><br /><div>The romanesco was gorgeous. It tastes like a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, and has this amazing fractal pattern. Like this: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TVSN1RU0W6I/AAAAAAAAA0k/xicjF2mPUt0/s400/_MG_4598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572234585287449506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br />It was a tough week for using up the produce for a few reasons. First, 5 lbs more freakin' oranges! I hadn't even finished <span style="font-style: italic;">last </span>week's oranges! I love getting fruit in the box, but I kind of wish I was getting a mix of citrus or some apples too, instead of all oranges. Also, Josh was out of town for 3 days. And the weather was really warm, which made me not want roasted veggies -- not so great for a week when the box had a ton of root veg.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday</span>: We had stir-fry, based on this recipe from the Pioneer Woman, using <span style="font-style: italic;">broccoli </span>from the farm box, along with some <span style="font-style: italic;">carrots</span>. The broccoli this week was absolutely delicious. Very fresh and so green tasting. Yum! I ate this stir-fry leftover for lunch the next day, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</span>: I was feeling a little under the weather Thursday, so I made healthy comfort food -- greens and broth. I sauteed <span>thin ribbons of</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>collard </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">turnip greens</span>, and then tossed in homemade veg broth, cooked white beans, some parm cheese rinds, garlic, and ginger. Let it all simmer for a while and then slurped it up. It was exactly what my body needed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday and Saturday: </span>I confess, I didn't touch stuff from the farm box either of these nights. Friday I was really craving <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/rigatoni-with-spicy-italian-salami-cherry-tomatoes-olives-and-capers">this pasta,</a> which I make with pork sausage rather than the spicy salami. So I made that for dinner Friday night, and ate it as leftovers for Saturday lunch and dinner, with salad on the side. Carbo loading before my big race on Sunday!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday dinner</span>: I ran a half marathon Sunday morning, so I was pretty freakin' exhausted by Sunday night. And since J. wasn't home from Aspen yet, I was on for my dinner. I had roasted <span style="font-style: italic;">romanesco </span>from the box (tossed with olive oil, salt, sumac (which has a lemony flavor), and a touch of chili powder), a Trader Joe's chicken sausage and a salad. It was all I could manage.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday dinner: </span>We did roasted lamb sausages with a root veggie gratin (<span style="font-style: italic;">potatoes </span>from a couple weeks ago, <span style="font-style: italic;">turnips</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">rutabaga</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">parsnip, </span>all sliced thin, parboiled, then combined with garlic, onions, milk, flour and cheese. Baked at 400 or so for 30 minutes. YUM! ) and also sauteed kale, since J. had it in the fridge already.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday dinner: </span>Red curry noodles with <span style="font-style: italic;">broccoli </span><span>and </span><span style="font-style: italic;">collards </span><span>along with other veg I had around the house -- mushrooms, shallots, garlic</span>.<br /><br />This week, we still have a lot left over from the box, unfortunately:<br /><br />-- Nearly all of the oranges from last week<br />-- about half of last week's root veggies<br />-- 1 or 2 scarlet queen turnips<br />-- nearly a full bunch of carrots<br />-- That cabbage from a couple weeks ago</div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-42208410117667725962011-02-01T22:39:00.000-08:002011-02-04T10:03:51.863-08:00Farm Box Week 4, updateAlmost time for our first February farm box to arrive. But first, here's an update of what we've done with the rest of our last January box.<br /><br />Leftover:<br /><br />2 potatoes<br />a few carrots<br />1 green cabbage from a couple weeks ago<br />1 lb broccoli<br />a crapload of mandarins and navel oranges (and I'm getting 5 more lbs tomorrow!)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday Lunch: </span>Leftover risotto from Friday, which had <span style="font-style: italic;">Rapini</span> from the farm box, formed into patties with some bread crumbs and lightly pan-fried.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday dinner: </span>J. was up in Tahoe skiing so HE had In N Out for dinner. I had poached eggs, polenta, and <span style="font-style: italic;">chard</span>. My whole meal turned a lovely pink color from the brightly-colored stems of the chard.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sunday lunch: </span>More risotto cakes, with a big farmer's market salad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday Dinner: </span>Roast chicken with <span style="font-style: italic;">potatoes</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">carrots. </span>These carrots are seriously the best I've ever eaten. They get so sweet and rich when you roast them that I'd just about stab someone with my fork if they tried to snatch one off my plate. Kale on the side for Josh, salad for me (I was craving crunchy greens).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Monday Dinner<span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Butternut squash</span> soup<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span>with parmesan toast</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span>This has become a real staple this winter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday Dinner: </span>Scrambled eggs and toast, I'm afraid. I had a late meeting and just didn't have the energy to cook by the time I got home. The eggs were doctored with frozen kale from the freezer and the toast was served with my own home-made marmalade, at least.<br /><br />We supplemented the farm box this week with 1.5 lbs of salad mix from the farmer's market (we go through a LOT of salad between Josh and I), a bunch of dino kale, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. Oh, and bananas. Those aren't exactly grown locally!ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-9151873141219006382011-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:002011-01-29T13:48:01.997-08:00River Dog Farm Box, Week 4<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TUR8RjamDWI/AAAAAAAAAzg/6PLQsPCHWXc/s1600/_MG_4514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TUR8RjamDWI/AAAAAAAAAzg/6PLQsPCHWXc/s400/_MG_4514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567711680343182690" /></a><div>On week 4 of the farm box experiment, already, and I just re-upped for next month. We've really been enjoying the veggies and I'm amazed each week by the wonderful variety get, even in the dead of winter. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leftover from last week: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">a few carrots<br />1 delicata squash (from a couple weeks ago)<br />4-5 mandarins and one navel orange<br />2-3 parsnips<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This week's box contained:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 bunch carrots</span></span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 lb Broccoli. </span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It must be hitting good broccoli season here, because the broccoli was just lovely this week. I think it's probably going to go into a broccoli-potato soup, but it looks so lovely, we might just steam it and eat it with a squeeze of lemon and some salt. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 19px; font-family:Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TUR8SrZwMvI/AAAAAAAAAzw/FERjzfEcqME/s400/_MG_4527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567711699667006194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><b>1 bunch Rapini</b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The rapini was also really lovely this week. Very fresh and green, and we got a huge bunch of it. The cold weather a couple weeks ago really sweetened it up, so it was hardly bitter at all.<br /></span></b><div><br /></div><div><b>3 lbs Satsuma Mandarins<br />2 lbs Navel Oranges</b><br /><br />Honestly, I'm getting tired of the mandarins. Last week's were kind of manky -- too big and starting to get really tough membranes and lose their super-sweetness. That meant that I didn't even finish eating last week's and was a little dismayed to see a whole new batch to eat through this week. I might just squeeze them for juice tomorrow morning and have fresh juice with my breakfast. </div><div><br /><b>1 bunch chard</b></div><div>The chard this week was <i>stunning</i>. Just look at it: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TUR8SM_-_KI/AAAAAAAAAzo/ErkYc3Twhac/s400/_MG_4551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567711691505859746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Chard is actually not my favorite green. I'd usually much prefer kale. But this particular variety turned out to be just as delicious as it was beautiful. Hurray! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><b>1½ lbs Yellow Creamer Potatoes</b></div><div><b><br />1 Butternut Squash</b><br /><br />Although I've been really pleased, overall, with the variety we're getting in the box, we still haven't gotten any beets -- none for the entire month -- which is kind of disappointing. I will say, though, that those are really the only thing that I expected to get in my boxes that I haven't yet gotten. And so far, we've only gotten one thing that I didn't really like -- the bok choi a couple weeks ago. I'm just not a huge bok choi fan.<br /><br /></div><div>With the CSA I was a member of in Chicago, my pick-up site had a "trade box." Basically, if you got something you weren't especially fond of in your box, you could put it in the trade box and take something that someone else had put there. I wish that my pick-up site for River Dog had this. Mostly, I wouldn't use this option, but I would gladly have traded away that bok choi a couple weeks ago for another bunch of kale.</div><div><br /></div><div>An overall note on quality. Mostly, I've been very pleased with the quality of what I've gotten in my boxes. It's been very fresh and delicious. There have been a few minor exceptions: As I mentioned above, last week's mandarins were less-than-stellar, and one navel orange was totally rotten the day after I got it -- yuck! Some of my first batch of broccoli had also gone rotten.<br /><br /></div><div>Anyway, here's what we've done with this week's veggies so far: </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tuesday dinner: </b>The night before this week's box came, I used up most of what was left of the veggies from last week. I roasted <i>carrots</i>, <i>turnips</i>, and <i>parsnips</i> together with a chopped up lemon, olive oil, and a bunch of spices, then served it over quinoa. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wednesday dinner: </b>stuffed chicken breasts over polenta, based on <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001964012">this recipe,</a> which has become one of our favorites. We sauteed <i>leek </i>from last week's box along with mushrooms, garlic, and some of that lovely <i>chard</i>, then folded it inside thinly pounded chicken breasts along with some fontina cheese. Yum! We served it over polenta and it was just delicious. This was also Thursday lunch for me, as leftovers. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Thursday dinner: </b>I was on my own for Thursday dinner, since J. was at work late, so I made a simple meal -- leftover polenta, served with some of the <i>rapini, </i>which I blanched in boiling water for just a couple minutes and poached eggs. Super-fast and healthy, yet satisfying. </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Friday dinner: </b>Last night we made risotto with <i>delicata squash</i>, mushrooms, <i>leek</i>, and the rest of the <i>rapini</i>. I cut the squash into small cubes, then pre-browned it in butter on the stovetop, and blanched the rapini, before adding both at the very end of the cooking process. (If you add them too early, they just disintegrate before the rice is done. Used my home-made veggie stock, and basically followed Mark Bittman's directions for risotto from <i>How to Cook Everything</i>, which has been my go-to cookbook for years. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for everything else, I suspect the squash will become soup, and the potatoes and broccoli may, too. Or, the potatoes and carrots might end as roasted veggies alongside our usual Sunday night roast (chicken or pork loin most weeks). </div><div><br /></div></div></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-87918081147936203452011-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:002011-01-24T10:30:36.615-08:00River Dog Farm Box, Week 3<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TTfMfdZ213I/AAAAAAAAAzA/itr2ZqgkGHw/s1600/_MG_4467.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TTfMfdZ213I/AAAAAAAAAzA/itr2ZqgkGHw/s400/_MG_4467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564140705480628082" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Week 3, already, of my farm box experiment. Today was lovely because I worked from home, so I actually got to walk down to my pick-up site at lunchtime to get my box. It was was one of those gorgeous Bay Area winter days that feels like May in any place else I've ever lived: 65 degrees, softly sunny, the smell of damp earth in the air. The not-quite-a-mile walk to my pick-up site was just wonderful.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leftover from last week: </span></span><br /><br />Mostly, we just had odds and ends leftover, with the exception of the delicata. But those will keep forever, so I'm not worried about it. Here's what was left:<br /><br />1 watermelon radish<br />A few leaves of Kale<br />A few broccoli leaves (we ate all the heads, though)<br />2 delicata squash<br />A couple red radishes<br />1 mandarin orange<br />1 carrot<br />2-3 parsnips<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This week's box contained:</span></span><br /><br /><b>1 very large </b><a href="http://www.wendyvanwagner.com/2009/02/11/move-over-turnips-its-celery-root-time/"><b>celery root </b></a><b>(also known as celariac)</b><br />I've never actually cooked with celery root before, so I'm not entirely sure what to do with it. I've read the flavor is something like celery crossed with parsley, and that it mellows as it cooks. I'm thinking maybe a potato-celery root soup or maybe a gratin with potatoes and leeks? <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TTfM2pTnqXI/AAAAAAAAAzI/ZvtZTjED0PE/s400/IMG_4496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564141103812684146" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It's a bit homely looking, no? </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><b>1 large bunch collard greens</b><br />Again, not something I've ever cooked with before. However, Josh and I both adore dark greens and eat at least one bunch, if not two, of kale every week. Usually, we saute it in a hot pan with a bit of water and salt and then spritz it with lemon juice right before serving. I'm guessing I can cook this in a similar manner and I'm sure we'll enjoy it.<br /><br /><b>1 bunch Tokyo turnips</b><br />These are the small, smooth white turnips that look like overgrown radishes, not the big purplish knobbly ones. I don't dislike turnips, but I don't ever really buy them. I suspect these are destined to be cut up and eaten as snacks, with blue cheese dip. If I make a gratin with the celery root and potatoes, maybe I'll add these. Also, my farm box said you can eat the greens, as well, just like any other dark green.<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TTfPS01f8LI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/FN4yN5X9SVk/s400/IMG_4488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564143786967167154" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 bunch carrots</span><br />The carrots from my boxes have been so lovely. Fat and sweet and perfectly formed. I think winter carrots are SO much better than summer ones! These will get snacked on and a few probably roasted, as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 green cabbage </span><br />Frankly, I was a little dismayed to see this in my box, as Josh and I currently have a monster-sized batch of sauerkraut fermenting and a huge head of cabbage left over from J's accidental over-buy for the sauerkraut AND half a head of purple cabbage in my fridge. Luckily, cabbage keeps pretty well, so if this sits in the fridge for a few weeks before I use it up, I'm sure it'll be fine. Anyone have any good cabbage recipes?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4 leeks<br /></span>These are such a staple, I'm sure I won't have a hard time using them up. I use them in eggs, soups, sauces, etc. Also, I save the tough darker green bits to use to make broth. I just keep a baggie in the freezer for odds and ends like this (mushroom stems, leek greens, chicken bones, etc) and when I have a bunch saved up, I make my own stock. So much better than anything you can buy in the store, and practically free, since I make it mostly with scraps. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 lbs navel oranges</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> AND 3 lbs satsuma mandarins</span><br />Glad there are some navels mixed in with the oranges this week. It's nearing the end of peak Satsuma season, I think -- they're starting to look a bit knobbly and faded. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Here's everything from the box, all laid out<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TTfKbWFIIlI/AAAAAAAAAyw/5ogSzIMkfFE/s400/IMG_4479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564138435771900498" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div>I have to say, I'm not as excited about this week's box as I have been about the past two. The food all looks great, it's just that none of my favorites were included this week. I was hoping for a nice bunch of beets and more kale and winter squash. Anyway, here's what I'm thinking (farm box ingredients in italics):<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Lunch:</span> This lunch was all about using up last week's odds and ends before going to pick up this week's box. Luckily, I worked from home, so I was able to make a more elaborate lunch than usual -- my own version of the <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/04/peanut-sesame-noodles/">Peanut Sesame Noodles</a> from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a>. I discovered this recipe a couple of years ago, and it has become one of my staples. It's easy to whip up fast for a weeknight, it's healthy, and it allows for infinite variation -- I almost always have the ingredients for it in the house. Today's version had: shredded red cabbage, thinly sliced <span style="font-style: italic;">radishes</span>, thinly sliced and blanched <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">broccoli leaves, </span></span></span></span>blanched ribbons of <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">kale</span></span></span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">bok Choi</span>, and shredded <span style="font-style: italic;">carrots</span>. All but the cabbage were left from last week's farm box. I also often toss in some tofu (browned in a dry pan) and some frozen peas or Trader Joes frozen "Soycatash."<br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday Dinner:</span> <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/lively-up-yourself-lentil-soup-recipe.html"> Lively Up Yourself Lentil Soup</a> from <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/">101 Cookbooks</a> (a great resource for healthy, veggie-heavy recipes). I used a combination of greens -- the <span style="font-style: italic;">greens from this week's turnips</span>, a couple leaves of this week's <span style="font-style: italic;">collards</span>, and the few leaves that were left from last week's <span style="font-style: italic;">kale</span>. I never would have thought to eat the turnip greens, but the newsletter from Riverdog said you could use 'em like any other green. They were actually milder than I expected -- I guess since turnips have a sharper taste, I was expecting the greens to have the same.<br /><br />Other plans for the box include some sort of gratin with the <span style="font-style: italic;">celeriac </span>and some potatoes, <span style="font-style: italic;">collard greens</span> as a side dish, and snacking on the <span style="font-style: italic;">turnips</span>. This week will be a bit more of a challenge, so I'll let you know where I end up.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDT to add:<br /><br /></span>Here's what we've done with the rest of last week's farm box<span style="font-weight: bold;">:<br /><br />Thursday Dinner: </span>Baked tilapia, served with sauteed <span style="font-style: italic;">collard greens </span>splashed with lemon (it did taste pretty much exactly like kale, only a bit less tender), and mashed potatoes and <span style="font-style: italic;">celery root</span>. This was my first time using celery root. I found that it tastes a bit like very mild celery crossed with artichoke heart (it leaves that same sort of sweet and tangy aftertaste in the back of your throat). It was delicious boiled and mashed with potatoes, butter, sour cream, and a bit of salt and pepper.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Friday: </span>We actually went out for dinner on Friday night, a rare occurrence since I've been trying to save my pennies for a big trip to Alaska this coming summer.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Saturday dinner</span>: One of my favorite quick meals, rice bowls. Locally grown brown rice from <a href="http://www.massaorganics.com/">Massa Family Organics</a> (the best rice I've ever tasted!), topped with seared ahi tuna marinated in a little soy sauce, fresh ginger and garlic, then sprinkled with sesame seeds, lightly sauteed farm box <span style="font-style: italic;">carrots </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">turnips</span>, plus some sauteed kale we bought to supplement the farm box. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Bold" title="Bold" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 3);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Bold" class="gl_bold" border="0" /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sunday lunch: </span>Pasta salad with orzo, farm box <span style="font-style: italic;">carrots</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">turnips </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">leeks</span>, kalamata olives and feta. This will also be lunch for a day or two this week.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sunday dinner: <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>We made our common Sunday night roast pork, this time with a gratin on the side, made with <span style="font-style: italic;">celery root</span>, potatoes, <span style="font-style: italic;">leeks, </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">delicata squash </span>(from the Week 2 farm box). The gratin was totally amazing -- I could have eaten the whole pan on my own! <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><br />What's left: </span>As of right now, Monday mid-day, we have the following left from the boxes:<br /><br />-- a couple parsnips (from 2 weeks ago)<br /><br />-- 4 or 5 carrots<br /><br />-- the entire cabbage<br /><br />-- 1 delicata squash from a couple weeks ago<br /><br />-- a few oranges, which will easily be eaten before this Wednesday's box arrives.<br /><br />-- 2 turnips<br /><br />-- 2 leeks<br /><br />The carrots, parsnips, and turnips will get eaten tonight -- we're making sausages, roasted veggies, and eating the first of our home-fermented sauerkraut. God only knows what I'm going to do with that freakin' cabbage!<br /><br />Other than that, I ended up throwing away what was left of the bok choi from a couple weeks ago, but other than a couple rotten oranges, that's the only thing I've tossed from the farm boxes. This is a HUGE change for me -- I'm notoriously bad about over-buying produce and throwing away half of what I buy. Since I started the farm boxes, the only produce I've bought is a bag of farmer's market salad a week and a couple extra bunches of kale. I've also cut my food spending by 30% (!!!) from my typical expenditures. This isn't just due to the farm box -- I've also been much more aware of my spending in general, but I think the farm box has helped. Anyway, I'd say that so far the farm box has been a resounding success. I've already sent in my check to sign up again for next month. <br /><br /></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-15030557167488540612011-01-12T13:57:00.000-08:002011-01-17T09:15:16.763-08:00River Dog Farm Box, Week 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TS-8UjnqQ1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/TE95C3bRmqQ/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TS-8UjnqQ1I/AAAAAAAAAyo/TE95C3bRmqQ/s400/IMG_4451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561871126170846034" border="0" /></a><br />This is the second in my series of posts about my new membership in River Dog Farms' CSA. The first one can be found <a href="http://bookgeekgirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/river-dog-farm-box-week-1.html">here. </a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Left from last week's box:</span> 1 small head cauliflower, 2 potatoes 1 carrot. Everything else got devoured, and it pretty well lasted me the week. I supplemented with salad greens and a bunch of kale from the farmer's market and also an acorn squash I already had.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This weeks' box contained: </span><br /><br />3lbs Satsuma Mandarins<br />1 lb Watermelon Radishes (3 big ones) (They look like <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/ingredient-spotlight-watermelon-radish--106793">this</a>, for those of you who aren't familiar)<br />1 lb <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/ingredients-vegetables/seasonal-spotlight-parsnips-072477">parsnips</a><br />1 huge heads Bok Choi<br />1 bunch <a href="http://www.finecooking.com/articles/kale-at-the-market.aspx">Red Russian Kale</a><br />1 bunch Carrots<br />1 bunch Spinach<br />1 small bunch Red radishes<br />1/2 lb broccoli (3 small heads, lots of leaves and stems, small heads)<br />3 Delicata Squash.<br /><br /><b>Wednesday</b>: Beef Stir fry with Bok Choi and Broccoli. Based on this recipe from The Pioneer Woman, which is utterly delicious and SO quick. Delicious and easy (I managed to successfully cook it after a wee bit too much wine at happy hour :-) I didn't even use half of the bok choi for it, though - there was so much. <div><br /></div><div><b>Thursday:</b> Mandarin oranges as snacks, red radishes in my salad at lunch. Dinner will be lamb sausage with roasted potatoes and cauliflower (leftover from last week), plus spinach and mandarin salad with <a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,161,154161-250205,00.html">this dressing</a>.<br /><br />This weekend, we'll probably make a pork roast with <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Honey-Glazed-Roasted-Carrots-and-Parsnips-233404">Honey-Glazed Roasted Carrots and Parsnips</a> and sauteed kale.<br /><br />I'm sure the oranges will get eaten, no problem, as I ate every last one from last week's box (other than the two that were rotten inside - ick!) Not quite sure what to do about the watermelon radishes. They'd be good in a cole slaw with red cabbage and maybe pecans, but that's not really very wintery. If I don't use 'em by the end of the week, I'll make them into pickles, maybe with that leftover cauliflower from last week, which I need to use up before it starts to go all spotty.<br /><br />I'm thrilled, though, to see that it's mid-January and I still have quite a wide variety of produce coming in my box this week. That's pretty wonderful, and one of the joys of living in CA. The boy tells stories of going out with a steel gardening fork to dig out "winter carrots" from the garden as a kid (he grew up in Pennsylvania). I feel very fortunate that we don't have to do that!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">********<br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDT to add</span>: Here's how we've continued to use up this week's box.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday</span>: Roasted <span style="font-style: italic;">squash </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">cauliflower </span>soup</span>. I peeled, chopped, and roasted half an acorn squash I had in the fridge, along with a delicata from this week's farm box and the last of the cauliflower from last week's box in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes or so, then sauteed some garlic and onions in a stockpot with 1 tbs butter. Added 4 cups home-made veggie broth and the squash / cauliflower. Cooked for a little bit, then blended with an immersion blender. Served topped with crumbled bacon and a swirl of greek yogurt, bread on the side. Delicious, healthy, and super easy!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday:</span> Spaghetti and sausage with farm box </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">kale</span> </span>on the side. We love, love, love kale and it could not be easier to make. Just pull the leaves off the tough stems, and saute in a hot pan with a bit of olive oil and water. It tenderizes quicker if you cover the pan. At the end, sprinkle with salt and lemon juice. YUM!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sunday:</span> Pork Loin roasted with farm box </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">carrots </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">parsnips</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">salad with <span style="font-style: italic;">watermelon radish. </span></span>We used <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spice-Rubbed-Pork-Tenderloin-with-Roasted-Baby-Carrots-352090">this recipe</a>, originally from Bon Appetit, which has become my absolute favorite pork recipe. Instead of the baby carrots, we used full-sized carrots and parsnips, cut into long skinny quarters. Also, I usually skip the jalapeno in the carrot part of the recipe, in favor of using extra-spicy chili powder and some smoked paprika. The carrots and parsnips were amazing -- super-flavorful and sweet, a little bit caramelized from the long cooking time. Delicious! Leftovers of this, along with salad from the grocery store, will be my lunch for the next two days.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">As of today, Monday, I have left from the box:</span> 1.5 watermelon radish (part of which I'll eat at lunch today), 3 parsnips, 1 or 2 carrots, 1/3 of a bunch of kale, 2 delicata squash, 1/2 bunch bok choi (which probably won't get eaten. I've learned that I strongly prefer baby bok choi -- the big bunches are a little overpowering for me.), a few mandarins, a few broccoli leaves (which will probably go into my next batch of broth). <br /><br /></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-52642725415374718912011-01-07T13:35:00.000-08:002011-01-10T13:43:17.906-08:00River Dog Farm Box: Week 1<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>For the month of January, I've signed up to get a weekly CSA box from <a href="http://www.riverdogfarm.com/index.html">River Dog Farm</a>. For those not in the know, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically, small farms sell "shares" in the farm and when you buy one, it entitles you to a large box of produce from the farm each week.<br /><br />Most places I've lived, this has been a sign-up-by-the season deal. For example, when I lived in Chicago, my roommates and I paid a few hundred bucks in advance for a share in a farm for the whole season. We got a box each week from the start of the season (May, if I'm remembering correctly) through mid-October or so. Here in the Bay Area, however, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing family-run farms, so the options are much more varied and flexible. I found that most CSAs here run year-round and offer much shorter-term options -- anywhere from just needing to request a box the week you want one to committing to a few months at a go. I signed up just for the month of January to give it a test run, and it cost me $20 a week.<br /><br />Every Wednesday, a box of delicious farm goodies gets delivered to a house in my neighborhood along with boxes for several other people. I just have to pick it up by 7pm on that day each week -- easy as pie. What you get in each box depends entirely on what's in season and ready to be picked, which is perfect for a non-fussy eater like me. That's pretty much what I eat, anyway, although I do give in to the occasional all-the-way-from-Chile indulgence at the Berkeley Bowl.<br /><br />I picked up my first box a couple of days ago, and it was really lovely. Here it is.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TSjd65VtI_I/AAAAAAAAAyg/AQFQ3IPpWWY/s400/IMG_4434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559937743882888178" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"></span><br />It contained:<br />1 bunch rapini<br />2 big leeks<br />2 lb gold finn potatoes<br />1 bunch carrots (SO sweet, thanks to the chilly weather lately!)<br />4 small heads romaine lettuce<br />2 small heads cauliflower<br />1 large grey Kabocha squash<br />3 lbs satsuma mandarins (which is AWESOME, as I am utterly addicted to those babies right now)<br /><br />I haven't added it up precisely, but that's certainly at least $20 worth of food at the grocery store or farmer's market. Especially since it's all organic. So far, here's what I've done with my produce:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday dinner:</span> We made <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-rapini-with-orecchiette-and-white-beans-116870">pasta with Rapini and white beans</a>. Although the recipe doesn't call for it, I also sauteed one of the leeks and added that. Also, I used my own homemade veggie stock, which I make from various veggie scraps (mushroom stems, the green parts of leeks, parsley stems, etc) that I save in the freezer till I have enough for broth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</span>: Mandarins, mandarins, mandarins as snacks. Plus a couple of the carrots and for dinner the leftovers from Wednesday, supplemented with some roasted brussels sprouts that I already had in the fridge . Yum!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span>: More snacking on the mandarins and carrots, a salad with the romaine for lunch, and roasted squash soup for dinner (I also used the other leek in the soup). <div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span>: Leftover squash soup for lunch and . . . ?<br /><br />The potatoes will get used, no problem, as Josh and I usually eat potatoes at least once a week with roast pork, chicken, or sausages. Potatoes are also part of one of my key "emergency meals" -- poached eggs over pan-sauteed potatoes and greens with lots of salsa.<br /><br />As for the cauliflower, my inclination is to use it for an indian-style curry, with chickpeas and carrots. Josh isn't a huge indian curry fan, though, so it may also end up in some kind of soup or just roasted with some spices as a side dish for some meal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDT to add:<br /><br />Saturday: </span>pork chops with my own homemade apple-thyme jam and mashed CSA box potatoes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday: </span>Chickpea, cauliflower, and carrot curry from <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001041866">this recipe</a>. The original recipe doesn't call for any veg other than onions and chickpeas, but I've discovered that you can pretty easily add other sturdy veggies to the mix. Also, it's way better if you make it with ground cumin and coriander rather than whole.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday: </span>Lunch was left-over curry and the last of the romaine from the farm box. Lunch tomorrow will be the same.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Will I use it all? </span>For those of you keeping track, as of midday Monday, I have left 1 small head cauliflower, a couple potatoes, a couple carrots, and some mandarins. I'll eat the potatoes with eggs for dinner tonight, finish the mandarins in the next couple of days, and probably blanch and freeze the cauliflower if I don't eat it tomorrow as a snack (cauliflower and blue cheese onion dip is delicious!). A pretty good use of all those lovely veggies! I supplemented with a $3.00 bag of salad greens from the farmer's market and also gave into the temptation to buy some kale there, which I'll eat tonight with my potatoes and eggs. Can't wait to see what I get in this week's box!<br /><br />So why did I sign up? Well, I already eat plenty of produce, for the most part. But I tend to WAY over-buy in the produce department at the grocery store, and a lot of what I purchase ends up going to waste. I am hoping that having my veggies delivered to me each week will mostly keep me out of the grocery store. I figure that if I only need to buy staples like eggs, milk, and dried goods, I can probably get away with only going every other week. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I like the challenge of coming up with something to do with the wonderful produce I get. For some people, this might be stressful. But, as I said, I have pretty much never met a vegetable I didn't like if it was cooked properly (other than lima beans and their awful chalky texture - gross!) And I feel like getting surprise veggies each week is sort of like a creative writing prompt -- the parameters make me feel MORE creative rather than less. Like that rapini. I can't remember the last time I bought rapini, but it ended up being the first thing I used from the box. It just looked so vibrant and delicious, and I found a great new recipe that will definitely be added to my regular rotation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I really love the idea of supporting a small, relatively local farmer really directly (these guys are in the Capay Valley, maybe 80 miles or so from where I live). I'm lucky enough to get to do most of my shopping already at farm markets and Berkeley Bowl, where many of their suppliers are small and local, anyway, but it's nice to know that my money goes directly to the farmer, no middle man.<br /><br />Right now, I'm looking at this as an experiment. Some things I'm trying to figure out:<br /><br />-- Will I be able to use all the produce each week before it goes bad? I suspect that this will be more an issue in the summer, when produce is more perishable, than now. Potatoes and squash and that sort of stuff stores very well. Tomatoes, herbs, lettuce, and that ilk, not so much.<br /><br />-- Will I still have to supplement with the grocery store or farmer's market? (I'm almost positive that the answer to this is yes -- I'm going to want more salad greens than I'll get most weeks, and lots of extra fruit in the summer especially.) If so, how much? And am I ultimately saving money on groceries by doing this?<br /><br />-- Is River Dog the right CSA for me? I also looked at several other farms, including <a href="http://www.fullbellyfarm.com/">Full Belly Farm</a>, <a href="http://www.terrafirmafarm.com/">Terra Firma</a> (appealing because I actually used to live within a few miles of this farm), and <a href="http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/index.php">Farm Fresh to You</a> (which is mostly Capay Organic). I chose River Dog because the price was right, they get good reviews on Yelp, and they also raise pigs and chickens. I'd love to also start purchasing sustainably raised meat direct from the rancher at some point, so that seemed like a good reason to start with River Dog for my CSA.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll keep y'all updated on how it goes, but I think week 1 was a sure success.<br /><br /></div></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-3281952775843453822010-12-20T14:10:00.000-08:002010-12-20T14:14:27.937-08:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #791. Last week, going for a twilight run around Lake Merritt: Candy-colored sky, crisp air, sparkling "necklace of lights" around the lake.<br /><br />2. The dog running down the street ahead of his owner last night. He was wearing a jingle-bell collar and it totally sounded, in the dark, like a reindeer was trotting down the road toward me.<br /><br />3. Trivia night!<br /><br />4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Incarceron-Book-1-Catherine-Fisher/dp/0803733968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292883162&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Incarceron</span> by Catherine Fisher</a>. I whipped through it in a day and wish I had more teens and pre-teens in my life to give it to. You'll love it if you like the Suzanne Collins <span style="font-style: italic;">Hunger Games</span> series.<br /><br />5. Hand-made knit goods winging their way to family and friends across the country.ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-14155005319922202182010-12-07T11:11:00.000-08:002010-12-07T11:16:18.321-08:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #781. Random late-breaking brilliant bursts fall color in Northern California (the first year I've been here that there's really been any color at all!)<br /><br />2. The new (or, rather, beautifully refurbished) swimming pool on my way home from work, the <a href="http://www.richmondplunge.org/history.html">Richmond Plunge</a>.<br /><br />3. My awesome running partners.<br /><br />4. 23+ miles of running last week -- the most I've ever run in a week and with no pain!<br /><br />5. The hundred plus kids' books (publisher's samples) I was able to donate to Children's Hospital Oakland last week. I'm glowing with the idea of sick kids having this huge stack of new books to choose from to keep them occupied in a hard time.ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-6028499852446549572010-09-14T16:31:00.000-07:002010-09-14T16:34:42.565-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #771. Three backpacking trips in 4 weeks (Desolation Wilderness, Point Reyes, and the Trinity Alps).<br /><br />2. Planning a trip back east for some real autumn for the first time since 2004.<br /><br />3. Cupcakes with sprinkles on the icing.<br /><br />4. This video:<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/14235967" width="400" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/14235967">Magic- A Belly Grows</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1426423">The Panic Room Videos</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>5. A life full of really wonderful friends and family. <br /></p>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-88986096229854869632010-08-25T08:10:00.001-07:002010-08-25T08:14:58.745-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #761. Finally, a summer night warm enough for a sundress, no sweater (literally the first one all year!)<br /><br />2. Walking around Berkeley after dark, in a sundress and sandals, eating popsicles.<br /><br />3. A cool shower before bed to make a hot night more comfortable.<br /><br />4. Someone else making good, strong coffee for you in the morning. <br /><br />5. Feeling like all is basically right with the world.ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-10949487628810551382010-08-24T05:53:00.000-07:002010-08-24T08:13:02.596-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #751. A rope swing out into a lake. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/THPBndzyncI/AAAAAAAAAx8/yeEeKRpWh-g/s400/IMG_3261_3_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508959652965162434" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div>That is obviously not me on the swing -- it's my crazy boyfriend. I was either too wussy or too smart, depending on who you ask, to do it. That swing was HIGH. (For Bay Area folks, it's at Bass Lake in Pt Reyes. Be prepared for lots of skinny gay men in their skivvies hanging around the swing if you head out there :-)<br /><br />2. Summer in the Bay Area, finally. Last night, I ate dinner on my porch in short sleeves and got to sleep with all the windows open and just a thin blanket for covers for the first time since last September. Seriously.<br /><br />3. A Saturday afternoon spent canning, which led to a pantry full of delicious homemade pickles (dill and bread-and-butter) plus organic blackberry jam. <br /><br />4. The glow of sunset on a bluff above the ocean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/THPDa2Ke6nI/AAAAAAAAAyE/_rMGcmEfbdk/s1600/IMG_3321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/THPDa2Ke6nI/AAAAAAAAAyE/_rMGcmEfbdk/s400/IMG_3321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508961635187747442" border="0" /></a><br /></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-28117516372354180292010-08-16T18:11:00.000-07:002010-08-16T18:40:18.237-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #74<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Weekend backpacking trips in the mountains <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desolation_Wilderness">(Desolation Wilderness</a>, in this case. Stunning.) </div><div><br /></div><div>2. Wildflowers</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TGnnOo-FBkI/AAAAAAAAAxk/kNIyjs-8hZU/s400/_MG_3246.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506186258139121218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>3. Clouds at sunset</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TGnoR55m-eI/AAAAAAAAAx0/GFvBs_RvCT4/s400/IMG_3152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506187413735012834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>4. Icy cold dips in alpine lakes. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. Finally getting the hang of taking pictures of people: </div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TGnmdDaKHBI/AAAAAAAAAxc/-SRS2JnY28Y/s400/IMG_3164.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506185406242757650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div> </div></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-21821389389641064762010-08-05T14:28:00.001-07:002010-08-05T14:34:10.712-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #731. A first-thing-in-the-morning email that makes you feel all glowy inside.<br /><br />2. Drinking good wine and chatting while someone makes you a delicious dinner. <br /><br />3. Black on the outside, red-on-the-inside plums.<br /><br />4. The glow in my limbs that lasts for hours after a cold swim in the ocean. <br /><br />5. This song: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s_b0I4KVpFk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s_b0I4KVpFk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /></span>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-40705751625411518452010-08-02T13:55:00.000-07:002010-08-02T14:02:05.639-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #72<div style="text-align: justify;">1. A gorgeous 25 mile bike ride in Petaluma, followed by wine tasting at my favorite winery. <br /></div><br />2. Wild blackberries at the side of the road, warm in the sun.<br /><br />3. My "baby" sister, who turns 25 today. I left home for college when she was only 9, so it took me a long time to feel like I really knew her as anything more than a sometimes annoying little kid. But I'm so proud of the wonderful adult she's become.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-style: italic;">Charlotte's Web</span>, which makes me bawl my eyes out every single time I read it (which is a LOT). And while I'm at it, other books from my childhood that still alternately utterly charm me and make me bawl: <span style="font-style: italic;">Tuck Everlasting</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Red Fern Grows</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Bridge to Terabithia. </span><br /><br />5. Quinoa and summer veggie salad (corn, beets, kale, tons of fresh herbs, local olive oil and vinegar, fresh mozzarella). Yum!ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-58165541828845830942010-07-30T10:32:00.000-07:002010-07-31T14:13:18.034-07:00Home on the Range<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSJxZg7owI/AAAAAAAAAwU/H6mIP6Pmrc4/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSJxZg7owI/AAAAAAAAAwU/H6mIP6Pmrc4/s400/IMG_2610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500172526681826050" /></a><br />I'll admit it. I've got an odd obsession with old buildings. Especially weathered, falling-down barns. To me, they always feel full of potential, like they have an untold story that you can almost hear on the breeze. And if old barns are your obsession, Wyoming isn't a bad place to visit. The wood buildings weather beautifully in the harsh climate, and the buildings look amazing against that huge Western sky.<br /><br />In Grand Teton, there's an area called Mormon Row that blew me away in this regard. This is the area where a small enclave of Mormons first settled in the 1890s. The barn at the top of this post was part of the the Thomas Murphy Homestead, and was built sometime in the 1920s. I love that the barns were more elaborate and larger than the houses, which were often simple log cabins. Some were even ordered directly from the Sears and Roebuck catalog! <div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSL40k7dTI/AAAAAAAAAws/vHgzjYxv4o0/s400/_MG_2572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500174853228688690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>This home was, if I'm remembering correctly, also a part of the Murphy homestead. In the mid-50s, the homes were abandoned when the land was aquired in order to expand Grand Teton National Park although I'm not sure why. Anyway, they now lie on National Park land, a few remaining barns and homes sinking slowly sinking back into the Wyoming dirt.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSN1JUbk7I/AAAAAAAAAw8/RgSPaxRndQQ/s400/IMG_2612.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500176989100413874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>The barn below was a part of the Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSL4Kvb2GI/AAAAAAAAAwc/seoc6ROP6_A/s400/IMG_2585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500174841998465122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">And a barn from the Thomas and Lucille Moulton Homestead, built in the 1910s. I suspect that this one may have had some sort of refurbishing done on it, since the wood seems an awfully bright color for something that's been weathering the Wyoming elements for 100 years. But perhaps it's just the type of wood used to build it? </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSN0QbI_0I/AAAAAAAAAw0/QJick_kUZYU/s400/IMG_2519.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500176973827735362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span>Seeing these old buildings really took my breath away. The sky just seemed so huge over them, and the mountains so towering. I imagine living out here must have been lonely, in some ways, even as the scenery was spectacular. It can't have been anywhere near easy, though, in a time before the modern conveniences we all depend on so much. In any case, only one of the old homes is still occupied by humans (as a bed and breakfast), but animal inhabitants are everywhere. We saw plenty of the ubiquitous bison. Also, pronghorns. This is also where we saw the baby coyote and great horned owls from my last post. </div><div><br /></div><div>And it's not just in the park that these old houses can be found. After leaving Grand Teton, we saw this amazing old house somewhere in Idaho. </div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSPRQTF7vI/AAAAAAAAAxM/VPV8Yr3qJ08/s400/IMG_2823.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500178571521814258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>I made my traveling companion pull over so I could take approximately a zillion photos. Apparently, the inside of the place was a wreck from being used as a party house by local teens. I didn't bother to look inside, though. I prefer the romance of the outside.<br /><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSPR5HbqRI/AAAAAAAAAxU/juZNaZFTYJI/s400/IMG_2810.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500178582478760210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I mean, seriously, doesn't it just make you feel lonely and breathless from the beauty at the same time? Look at that SKY! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TFSPQrEiusI/AAAAAAAAAxE/e0r09r2Pi3U/s400/_MG_2815.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500178561528675010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span>Finally, on a side note, I think part of my old barn obsession comes from spending summers near this barn: <a href="http://www.pennalaphotography.com/-/pennalaphotography/gallery.asp?photoID=8530208&cat=120012">DH Day Barn</a>, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore. It's actually not falling-down at all. It's beautifully maintained. But it's certainly the most gorgeous barn I've ever seen. It's like something out of a fairy tale. I secretly kind of want to live in it!<br /></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-45165023117704672392010-06-29T21:07:00.000-07:002010-07-11T19:39:58.410-07:00So, what have you seen?<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>When you're traveling in Yellowstone, the first question you get asked by fellow travelers is "So, what have you seen?" Don't be fooled; they're not asking about the scenery. In Yellowstone, "What have you seen?" really means "What <i>animals</i> have you seen?" The bigger, the better. The proper response is, of course, to rattle off a list of all the big game you've encountered in the park. Extra points for wolves, grizzlies, or a close encounter while hiking. It reminds me a bit of kids collecting baseball cards -- I have a Mark Maguire, a Johnny Damon, and so on -- with a whiff of both childlike excitement and competition to it. <div><br /></div><div>Anyway, in the spirit of competition, which I never have been able to resist, here's my list. All photos were taken with my Canon Rebel XSi (pretty much the best Christmas / birthday present ever, from my awesome family), mostly with a 300mm zoom lens. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Black Bears</b>. This was the first bear we saw. I spotted it right after Mike bragged that he was going to kick my ass at our who-can-spot-the-big-animals-first contest. (For the record, I <i>totally</i> won.)</div><div><br /></div><div>ETA: I am told by my father that this bear is, in fact, a grizzly, and not a black bear. Apparently, you can tell by the hump in the shoulder area. So, I guess I saw both black bears AND grizzlies, after all :-) </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvhHyaH57I/AAAAAAAAAt0/C6m2AnO-Ijk/s400/IMG_1253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488728094787758002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bald Eagles</b> nesting! Almost as soon as we drove into the park, but I didn't get any good pictures. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Moose. </b>One male, with a full set of antlers, plus several females, including one feeding with her baby right next to the trail while we were out hiking. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwJZmBhohI/AAAAAAAAAus/-AnvI2W9gVc/s400/IMG_1477.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488772381166117394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Who knew that baby moose were so darn cute? </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwO3xDlO-I/AAAAAAAAAvM/HHGb932MnS0/s400/IMG_2320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488778397081746402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><b>Osprey </b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvjZeo-KEI/AAAAAAAAAuM/SeRlafyOmLs/s400/IMG_2784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488730597742225474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, <b>o</b><b>sprey nests</b> aplenty. Their nests completely crack me up. Look at this:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwT4IOILOI/AAAAAAAAAv8/-FtJAkTDksc/s400/IMG_2787.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488783900858133730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>How is it a good idea to build your nest like this, all exposed to the elements and other birds? Does the Osprey have any natural enemies? Also, this nest is built on top of a platform clearly man-made for this purpose. We think it's to keep them from nesting on top of telephone and electrical poles. Not so good if repair work needs to be done -- ospreys aren't the kindest birds ever. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Ravens</b>, nesting on the side of a cliff</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvmT1z4MpI/AAAAAAAAAuk/qxj4sK5F2z8/s400/IMG_1322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488733799417655954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Pronghorn</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwQwemAoqI/AAAAAAAAAvc/AIEnm3GzzCY/s400/IMG_2396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488780470890046114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><b>Elk</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mule Deer</b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bison </b>Too freakin' many to count.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvmTChGaxI/AAAAAAAAAuc/xXATQPfDSIQ/s400/IMG_1285.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488733785648687890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>(FYI -- this picture was <i>not</i> taken with the zoom lens. They tell you to stay away from the Bison, but the damn bison aren't so great at staying away from <i>you</i>!) Honestly, we were really excited about the bison at first. But after about your 100th bison, they stop being so exciting. Well, except for the ones that walk right through your campsite:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwT3umhlVI/AAAAAAAAAv0/mn7rFFpDEug/s400/DSCF6020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488783893981140306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>And the ones that hold up traffic for several minutes. Look at that adorable baby! You can't see it in this photo, but he's looking very nervously at a line of about a dozen cars waiting for him to cross the road. Right after I took this picture, daddy came up behind junior and nudged him the rest of the way across the road. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwUwTtCHaI/AAAAAAAAAwM/rAi5yex6p7g/s400/IMG_1830.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488784866013224354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pika</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwO4ZXC2PI/AAAAAAAAAvU/t5LKQEvE9OU/s400/IMG_2372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488778407900797170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Yellow Bellied Marmots</b>, which make me laugh every single time I see one. There's something so . . . earnest about them. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvjZ7-taZI/AAAAAAAAAuU/A4wTaLcBnRY/s400/IMG_2731.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488730605618030994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Zillions of <b>ground squirrels</b> and <b>chipmunks</b>. I have no pictures of these, although one climbed right up on Mike's lap in an attempt to steal his granola bar one afternoon. Couldn't get my camera out fast enough to capture <i>that</i> Kodak moment. </div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of <b>garter snakes</b> and a <b>racer</b> or two. Also no pictures. They move too fast. We didn't see any poisonous snakes, though, which is a good thing in my book. Mike has that quintessential boy quality of always wanting to <i>touch</i> things that are squirmy, slimy, and generally icky. And, I gotta say, there's a lot I'd do for my friends, but sucking the venom out of a snake bite is <i>totally</i> not on that list. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Great horned owls</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwQxv9SkqI/AAAAAAAAAvs/Wfjb0YNkWnA/s400/IMG_2551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488780492730962594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><b>Coyotes </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCrJCySYjUI/AAAAAAAAAts/TWopClhXKfg/s400/IMG_1117_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488420145600171330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Including a totally coo-worthy baby. Mama was nowhere to be seen with this little guy. Also, he was hanging around right underneath the owls we saw. Perhaps hoping for a baby to fall while it was learning to fly? </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvhI8VQByI/AAAAAAAAAuE/VLWTfQEEZbQ/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488728114631542562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beaver dams</b> (the first I've ever seen). No beaver, sadly, although we stood and watched for a while, hoping to see one poke its head out. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwQw-Q7aqI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Uw7SGQsPdDg/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488780479391558306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>We could also see where the beavers had been hard at work chewing down new trees. Ambitious little guys, huh? </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwT4vdNQdI/AAAAAAAAAwE/7YAdE1Eztj0/s400/IMG_2412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488783911390364114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Not pictured is the jumping mouse we found in our tent one night. I was too busy shrieking like the girl that I am to get my camera. I totally made Mike get in the tent and chase the little guy out. </div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond that, we heard <b>wolves</b> from a distance while we were backpacking near the Lamar Valley, but we didn't see anything other than the entrance to a den. We also didn't see a grizzly. We DID see this, though: </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCwO3d7aMXI/AAAAAAAAAvE/m5jUsVQT-5A/s400/IMG_1915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488778391947194738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></b></div><div>I wanted to bring it home SO bad! I think next to Hawaii, where they threaten you with Pele's curse if you so much as think about taking any lava rock home with you, Yellowstone does the best job of anywhere of keeping people from taking stuff like this home. How is it even possible that this amazing skull is still out there and that no one has snuck it into their car by now?</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I'll tell you what. The wildlife certainly has right-of-way in Yellowstone, and they're not afraid to use it. In addition to the "bear jams" when someone spotted a distant animal and pulled over to see it, I saw wildlife crossing the road and stopping traffic many, many times while we were there. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCvhIebZvnI/AAAAAAAAAt8/RyxeM8Bz748/s400/IMG_1121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488728106604281458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div>It's sort of funny, though, that I write about the animals first, as they were not at all my favorite part of this trip. I mean, the first few times we saw a big animal, it was kind of exciting. And it would be impossible to go to Yellowstone and not have a lot of animal sightings, unlike other parks I've been in. But the thrill wore off fast for me. Later this week, on to our other adventures! </div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-86161537286064113882010-06-27T19:07:00.000-07:002010-06-27T19:28:50.362-07:00Yellowstone, last minute<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCgGuxBY1QI/AAAAAAAAAtk/t7d7suIQYZM/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TCgGuxBY1QI/AAAAAAAAAtk/t7d7suIQYZM/s400/IMG_2143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487643546453857538" /></a><br />So I spent the last week in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Totally spur of the moment. My good friend and frequent camping partner, Mike, called me up a couple weekends ago, told me he was taking this trip, and invited me. I said no, initially, thinking there was no way I could get time off work last minute, but it turned out that this was actually a perfect week to take vacation. So off we went. <div><br /></div><div>We left the Bay Area on Friday afternoon and drove straight through. Took us about 17.5 hours. Drovee across the Nevada desert in the dark, taking turns at the wheel while the other drove. Stopped sometime in the middle of the night for coffee at a McDonalds in Lovelock, Nevada (creepy, creepy, creepy), where we went through the drive through behind a couple of meth-head girls getting a huge bag of food, on foot. Had breakfast at 5 AM at a tiny diner with a super-friendly waitress in Twin Falls Idaho. And washed up in West Yellowstone somewhere around 11 AM Saturday. I can't say I recommend the driving straight through thing -- I was pretty beat all day on Saturday. The good thing about is that we didn't actually have to see Nevada because it was so dark. Mike says I'm exaggerating, but I think pretty much the entire state of Nevada is creepy as all hell. It's utterly beyond me why anyone would want to live there (sorry Amy, if you're reading this). </div><div><br /></div><div>Since the whole thing was very last minute, we didn't do much planning. I was a bit nervous about getting campsites last-minute in the park, and we were prepared to camp on National Forest land outside the park (like Yosemite, Yellowstone is surrounded on all sides by National Forests). But it turns out that we were there just before the busy season, so it wasn't an issue. We camped in either Yellowstone or Grand Teton every night except our last, including one night backpacking in the Yellowstone backcountry. Spent 4 days in Yellowstone, 2.5 in Grand Teton / Jackson Hole. Did lots and lots of hiking, animal-viewing, photo-taking, and, yes, driving. Had a lovely time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, over the next couple of weeks, I plan to post pictures of the trip a bit at a time. I took over 2000 photos (!), most with the amazing DSLR camera my very generous family gave me for Christmas last year. But it's gonna take me a while to sort through them. Stay tuned. </div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-57649769080517452992010-06-11T08:29:00.000-07:002010-06-11T08:29:37.977-07:00Memorial Day: Canyon Creek<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJU9MiXFlI/AAAAAAAAAtU/bgDdvH6VHTs/s1600/IMG_0959.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJU9MiXFlI/AAAAAAAAAtU/bgDdvH6VHTs/s400/IMG_0959.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481537106777413202" /></a>So for Memorial Day, I headed out on my first non-snow camping trip of the year. Usually, I'd have been on several trips at this point, but triathlon training has definitely occupied a lot of my time this spring. Now that summer's here, though, and the snow is finally melting in the Sierras, backpacking and camping are back on my priority agenda.<br /><br />Anyway, Memorial Day weekend morning, K. and I headed north. We took the back roads to avoid the I-5 misery (a good plan, as I can only amuse myself by identifying the fruit and nut trees in the orchards that line I-5 for so long). We didn't have much of a plan - basically knew we wanted to go somewhere in the Whiskeytown area, since neither of us had been there before, and we figured we'd sort out the camping thing one way or another. The nice thing about California is that there's tons of national forest land here, and it's almost all open for "dispersed camping." Basically, you can pull off the road and pitch a tent almost anywhere. It's my secret for always finding a campsite when I go to Yosemite (Stanislaus National Forest, yay), and it has the added bonus of camp without a single RV, boombox blasting Lady GaGa, or drunken frat boy in sight. Woo!<br /><br />First stop was Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Whiskeytown Lake is astonishingly beautiful -- I really had no idea. It's go the same clarity and blue-ness of Tahoe, although it's smaller, nestled in the hills with snow-capped mountains framing it. It looks like something out of a storybook.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBGsUMcUsFI/AAAAAAAAAsU/lYLv70fBOAA/s400/IMG_0872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481351684423987282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span>The day we were there, we saw dozens of sailboats gliding across the surface of the lake, which is a little surreal when they're framed by snow-capped mountains in the background. We tried to do a hike to one of Whiskeytown's supposedly spectacular waterfalls, but were stymied by overflowing streams (200% of normal, as we later saw on a sign in Trinity National Forest). We hadn't brought hiking poles or water shoes with us, so we ended up having to turn back because we felt that the stream crossing simply wouldn't be safe. And K. has been airlifted out of a hiking once in his life, so no need to risk a repeat. K. did spend a while teaching me how to take great water pics with my Christmas-present DSLR that has been sorely neglected this spring. I now know how to blur water artistically, which is fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBGutqU_-ZI/AAAAAAAAAss/-sE36aEnDA8/s400/IMG_0909.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481354320966318482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><br />All the campgrounds at Whiskeytown were full. Unsurprising, since it's one of the biggest camping weekends of the year. But what was surprising was how uncrowded it felt, despite that. I think this area is a bit of a secret. Folks from the Bay area and Sacramento tend to head East or South, to Tahoe and Yosemite and Big Sur, and they forget all about this area. I'd rather be here than Tahoe, though, anytime. No cheezy motels and casinos, no crowds, much more unspoiled beauty.<br /><br />Anyway, we pressed onward into Trinity National Forest, where they allow dispersed camping (unlike the National Rec Area, which has protections in place closer to what you'd see in a National Park). K. is a bit of a map geek, and had figured out by looking at topo maps that this area was likely to have great river-side places to camp. And boy was he right. After poking around a bit down some dirt 4WD roads, we discovered pretty much the perfect campsite, right next to Canyon Creek. You just won't get a campsite this ideal in a campground.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBGusz_1eLI/AAAAAAAAAsk/XU1vf7_Bx_I/s400/IMG_0897.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481354306382035122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span>Before we found this perfect site, we first pitched our tent in a wooded area nearby. It was lovely, but the mosquitos were BAD, and there wasn't a great swimming hole. So when we went out for a walk after setting up camp, we decided to move. . . . but we really didn't want to take down the tent and put it up again . . . leading to this: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBGsUg6byfI/AAAAAAAAAsc/s5xPTUMHW_c/s400/IMG_0894.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481351689918990834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px; " /></span></div><div>Is this the oddest thing you've ever carried on the top of the 4-Runner, K? </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, the tent made it safely to our new campsite, where we spent the next 2 nights relaxing and taking icy cold dips in the creek. I've swum in some cold water in my life (Lake Superior -- brrr. Or San Francisco Bay, anyone?), but nothing could compare to this. I'm pretty sure the water we were swimming in had been snow about 5 minutes earlier. Anyway, swimming might be a bit of an exaggeration. It was more of an ohmygodthisissofreakincold jump in, squealing, go under, and get the hell out kind of thing. No photographic evidence, I'm afraid. I was too busy shrieking like a girl to even think of the camera. </div><div><br /></div><div>Canyon Creek is a tributary, I believe, of the Trinity River, and it's pretty much gorgeous the whole way along. All weekend, we were surrounded by scenery like this: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBGuuF99T1I/AAAAAAAAAs0/BzZCvN7xKI4/s400/IMG_0942.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481354328385867602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span>Or this: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJU-AruhMI/AAAAAAAAAtc/UX52lPbRa7A/s400/IMG_0947.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481537120775341250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>We hiked in the Trinity Alps, and K. took what might be my favorite picture of myself ever. </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJU7yUOoZI/AAAAAAAAAtM/33ENMJbTE-c/s400/IMG_0976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481537082558947730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Plus the dogwoods were in full bloom up there. Just lovely.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJS_L0ivjI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Ah63zvM5UVY/s400/IMG_1019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481534941921721906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span>Monday, on our way home, we took a detour in order to drive along the Trinity River. I rafted on the Trinity last year, when the flow was quite low. This year, it was ridiculously high. So high, in fact, that we didn't even see any rafters out there at all, I suspect because the conditions were so fierce. But the river did hold one final surprise for us. As we were driving along 299, we saw 2 bald eagles sunning themselves and fishing from a cliff above the river. With the help of my awesome zoom lens, Ken caught this amazing picture:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TBJS-YF3MII/AAAAAAAAAs8/xMc4jc7qIcY/s400/IMG_1076_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481534928035721346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-32208289184185202972010-06-06T19:04:00.001-07:002010-06-06T20:21:35.481-07:00Triathlon, Take 2<div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday, I ran my second triathlon, the Tri for Fun at Rancho Seco Park in Herald, CA. This was originally meant to be my first race, before I decided to do Napa last month. And a lovely race it turned out to be. Although first I had to get over this:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxdEYl9brI/AAAAAAAAAqw/vzN-t-awfqY/s400/DSC_0594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479857176505577138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div>Why, yes, those ARE the cooling towers for a nuclear power plant. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Seco_Nuclear_Generating_Station">Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station</a>, to be exact. It's actually decommissioned, and has been since 1989, but there's still something more than a little surreal about swimming in the shadow of those towers. In fact, the lake we swam in was actually built (or expanded from a small pond) to act as an emergency water source for the plant, should there ever be a fire. On my way out to the first turn buoy in the swim, I was actually sighting off the towers. So if I have 3-eyed babies someday, y'all know why!<br /><div><br /></div><div>(This and all the other photos included in this post were taken by <a href="http://kenemanuel.blogspot.com/">Ken Emanuel</a>, who played personal photographer to me for this race. He rocks, huh?) </div><div><br /></div><div>This race was another "sprint" distance triathlon, which is basically anything under "Olympic" distance (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, 10K run). In this case, that meant a half mile swim, 16 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was very, very nervous about the swim. I am still a relative beginner as a swimmer, having only learned freestyle in October, and the swim was mentally brutal during the last race I did -- so cold and crowded and adrenaline-soaked that I completely panicked and nearly got bailed out by the rescue kayakers. This one, by comparison, was a breeze. For starters, the water was so much warmer. Warm enough, even, that my friend Emily and I posed for pictures in the water before the race:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxdE4p0T7I/AAAAAAAAAq4/GBXPnvi6ETM/s400/DSC_0598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479857185111691186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>There were plenty of people without wetsuits, but I wore mine, since that's how I'd been training (and it's a nice security blanket to know that your wetsuit will keep you floating even if you completely freak during the swim). Anyway, I felt strong right from the start (I think I'm somewhere in this picture!): </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxeak-1PEI/AAAAAAAAArA/As_glxd_iF8/s400/DSC_0604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479858657299872834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 133px; " /></span><div><br /></div><div>I felt strong in the middle: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxgYKTr4jI/AAAAAAAAArQ/BLj8UCUkPD8/s400/DSC_0631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479860814803100210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And I finished strong, too: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxgYh3iGaI/AAAAAAAAArY/zNUqH0vmvJE/s400/DSC_0638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479860821127469474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>took 5 minutes off my swim time from the last time around, coming in at 23 minutes. I'm certainly not going to be winning any swim races anytime soon with that time, but it's not far off what I would do in the pool, so I'll take it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Next was the bike. 16 miles, gently rolling hills through farm country. Please notice that I am riding a beastie of a hybrid bike. It weighs an absolute TON. Clearly it wore me out, since in both of the pictures Ken took of me coming in from the bike ride, my mouth is wide open as I gasp for air :-)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxhfvo_tGI/AAAAAAAAAro/onn_IDdYAr8/s400/DSC_0654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479862044595303522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, the run. Heading out, and feeling great! (Especially when I saw Ken, cheering and taking pictures!)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxjR72XjFI/AAAAAAAAArw/d9lmSR67xl0/s400/DSC_0665.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479864006377704530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Look at the spring in my step here: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxjSdLuUoI/AAAAAAAAAr4/Zv1WNFT5ToU/s400/DSC_0668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479864015325647490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is actually kind of bad running form, so don't tell my coach, okay? I'm supposed to be working on NOT being so springy when I run! Anyway, this was about 20 seconds in, when I was still really psyched to be on the run. In reality, though the run ended up being the hardest part of this race (unusual for me, as a life-long soccer player). It was HOT by the time I got out on the run, which followed a red dirt road out into the hills for 3.1 miles. I was pretty much dying the whole time. Even had to walk up a couple of the bigger hills, which frustrated me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was SO happy when I saw that finish line, I totally sprinted to the end.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxkWOKlWLI/AAAAAAAAAsA/5QtvKQVQtGA/s400/DSC_0674_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479865179525437618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And I finished! Again! I guess this means the first time wasn't just a fluke, huh? I'm a real, live triathlete. Go me! (BTW, my actually time was closer to 2 hours, since I started the swim in the 5th wave, so the clock had already been running for 20-25 minutes). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxkW85pYyI/AAAAAAAAAsI/TmTWNiAnL4E/s400/DSC_0680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479865192070865698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span><div> Anyway, in closing, this little girl's sign is <i>awesome</i>. And true, true, true. This triathlon thing has definitely not been easy, but I'm so, so, so glad I jumped in and decided to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAxgZaQA5iI/AAAAAAAAArg/XxFIf1U6FIw/s400/DSC_0652.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479860836262536738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></span></div></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-758128041481499967.post-42880164353603343742010-06-01T15:35:00.001-07:002010-06-02T07:58:26.612-07:00Daily Dose of Gratitude #71: Trinity National Forest Edition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAXtAz-BFPI/AAAAAAAAAqo/A9UunW7dhKw/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAXtAz-BFPI/AAAAAAAAAqo/A9UunW7dhKw/s400/IMG_0867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478045119972185330" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>1. Whiskeytown Lake. Just as gorgeous as Lake Tahoe, and with the added bonus of no casinos, cheesy motels, or massive vacation homes on its shores. How have I never been there before?<br /><br />2. The perfect campsite: secluded, right on a gorgeous river so you can fall asleep to the sound of water rushing by, the scent of pine trees and clover.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAXsYkg4EBI/AAAAAAAAAqg/vDUFFVeHXB8/s400/IMG_0898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478044428628660242" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span>3. And while I'm at it, the most comfortable camp bed I've ever slept in. (Don't tell anyone, but I maybe dragged my down comforter and my feather pillow out to the woods with me. And I didn't regret it for a minute, either!)<br /><br />4. Washing off the sweat and grime with icy dips in a river flowing with water that was literally snow less than 24 hours ago.<br /><br />5. Seeing neither hide nor hair of whatever left this beastie of a footprint a little up the river from our campsite. (It's hard to see scale in this picture, but the print was bigger than the palm of my hand. Don't worry, though, Mom, I'm pretty sure it's <a href="http://http://www.wildernesscollege.com/coyote-tracks.html">coyote</a>, not mountain lion -- you can't see the claws in a mountain lion footprint. Well, unless they're really, really angry ;-)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9tOZ7UxmVl0/TAXsX7rud8I/AAAAAAAAAqY/21Apk9MRVg0/s400/IMG_0890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478044417668315074" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div>ChrisChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05863961610245368033noreply@blogger.com0