Occupy

The "Occupy" movement has pretty much taken over anyplace that's someplace.  We have our own "Occupy" movement here on the Croft.  It's called "Occupy Tom's Lap". Lady is protesting something (we're not sure exactly what) and keeps occupying Tom's lap.  Or mine. Or the lap of anyone who might care.

Lady at "Occupy Tom's Lap"  The protests are getting intense.

But, seriously, we DID check out "Occupy Boise".  Our friend, Troy, decided to set up a 'tent' and serve hot chocolate  and the Word to the Occupiers protesting in Boise.  A bunch of us went with him and effectively took our Bible study group to downtown Boise.  We did some sharing, and listening and cocoa drinking with the folks we met and had a surprisingly wonderful time.  Here are some pics from our adventure...

Setting up 'camp'.  Tom on the left.

Hoyt, Molly and Jodi. Hoyt looks like he's undercover.

Putting a tarp over the bamboo gazebo.  That's Tom steadying Christopher in the middle of the picture.

Schedule of events....

something for everyone

Okay...so where's Brenda?

Our Organizer

Cold. Very Cold.  When we packed up our bags and left  California last June, it never occurred to me that I'd be listening to Union Organizers on the front steps of the Ada County courthouse on a COLD November day.  Sometimes I surprise myself.

What did YOU do last Sunday afternoon?

Hoophouse and "He-hen"

This winter is our first time using a greenhouse to grow veggies. Our greenhouse is a PVC and film hoophouse. It's design allows it to handle snow and heavy winds without falling apart, caving in or blowing away. So far, it's holding up beautifully...and we've had some pretty blustery winds here on the Croft.  The first bad wind we had here this fall (gusts to 40mph) caused our party tent to disappear one night.  Tom found it resting on top of our neighbor's corn. We had to disassemble the tent in situ which was an adventure we'd rather not repeat. We drug the remains back home and it is lying, folded up in some corner, a reminder of what can happen to anything that is not securely anchored.

We've been enjoying the fruits of our labors:  fresh salad greens, ruby red beets, spicy cilantro, pea pods, and soon...broccoli, turnips and carrots.  And of course, kale and chard.  I'm a big fan of kale.  Did you know that kale is one of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet?  Seriously...you need to eat your leafy greens, especially kale.

Here's some pics of the greenhouse:

Beautiful broccoli

Cilantro.  The black stones absorb heat during the day and keep the cilantro cozy and night.

Pea pods

Baby spinich plants and romaine lettuce

so pretty!

This 55 gallon metal drum was sprayed black and filled with water.  It absorbs the heat during the day and releases it at night. It's an inexpensive way to keep the veggies from freezing when the temperatures drop at night. We currently have two of these drums, but I can foresee the need for at least two more. 

This strawberry plant thinks it's spring!

This is Manly.  Manly is a rooster. When we bought him, we were told he was a 'she'. We noticed that he was bigger than the other pullets, but we thought he was just a little older. We realized she was a 'he' when we heard a strange chicken sound coming from the chicken yard the other day.  Tom and I looked at each other. Was that the sound of a rooster?  In with our chickens??? Manly's first attempts at crowing were a little pathetic. We weren't sure if we were going to keep him, but now that he has a name, I guess he's staying.

Manly and a couple of his girlfriends.

Snow

Soooo...what have we been up to here on the Croft?  Well, Ariel had her first choir concert, which was wonderful, delightful and first-rate and we can't wait to hear the Christmas concert.  I'm sure that will be fantastic, too. Christopher is making $Bling$ working at Trinity Trailers. He just bought himself an Isuzu Rodeo.  Sweet ride!  He and a buddy have plans to rent a place closer to Boise where Christopher works. That will free up a Guest Room for anyone so inclined to come visit our neck of the woods. (Hint, hint.)

Tom has a new love...a diesel generator purchased off of Craigslist. Tom is in "Guy Heaven' taking it apart and doing whatever guys do to machines they love. It's all very mysterious to me and I'm not sure whether to be jealous or not.

I spent the month canning, gardening, attending our church's women's get-away in McCall, cleaning, sewing, the usual.  My parents made an all-too-brief visit to the Croft at the end of October and we had SUCH a nice time being together! They are avid thrift store shoppers, and since the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree, I took them to some of my favorite haunts.  We also enjoyed  breakfast at the Greenleaf Cafe which is an experience not to be missed should you make a trip to Greenleaf. While Mom and Dad were here, we took the opportunity to have our Thanksgiving Dinner a couple weeks early which was a great idea.  One can never be too thankful or eat too much turkey. I'm so glad my folks could make the drive out from where they live in Minnesota.

Last Saturday, I helped with the Quaker Hill Auction....making Maple Bars....yes, the very same doughnut delights that can sweetly kill you.  They were AWESOME!  It's a good thing that the Auction is only once a year.  That's all I have to say on that subject.

On Sunday, we woke up to a dusting of snow which brought back memories of my childhood in Minnesota and the same experience of waking up to a hushed world of white. There is something magical about that first snowfall that sweetly transforms the world into a fairy land. It's a good kind of sweet.  Not like Maple Bars.  That's all I have to say on that subject.

Enjoy the pictures!

The view from our driveway

Hen house

Hoop house.  The inside of the greenhouse still looks like summer!

Confused chickens.  (Sounds like the name of a rock band.)

We love our license plates! See the 'Happy Farm'? See the snow? See Spot run? (Just kidding about Spot.)

Ariel and friend, Naomi, hot tea in hand, checking out the snow. Lady is checking out the yogurt parfait.

I'm not sure what this is, but it's cool.

Literally.