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2 bunches Japanese Turnips (+Greens)
2 bunches Yellow Carrots
2 bunches Yellow Chard
1 lb Sugar Snap Peas
2 bunches Collards
2 bunches Kohlrabi (+Greens)
2 bunches Broccoli
2 bunches Beets (+Greens)
=23#

Eagle-eyed readers will observe that up there are 10 sets of greens. Phew! Last night I used the chard in a slightly modified recipe from preraphaelite which was yummy. Planning on beet/carrot/kohlrabi shredded salad (as described here. Yay veggies!

2 bunches Red Russian Kale
1 lb Sugar Snap Peas
2 bunches Red Chard
2 bunches Red Bok Choy
2 bunches Raab
2 bunches Chioggia Beets
2 bunches Carrots
2 bunched Fennel
=18.5#

Phew, this is a big share! Given how well the grilling worked last week plus how hot it is, I'm planning to once again do a miso glaze for the boy choy, fennel, and carrots tonight. Some of the chard went on a pizza last night (had to get that made before the heat wave) and I need to decide if I will make the kale chips of awesomeness. (RRK is not the best type for them, but they're never bad. :) We've all been munching on the snap peas raw, of course, and I'm thinking shredded beet salad for the chioggias. ETA: The grilling happened as planned (more or less -- the tank ran dry in the middle and I had to swap it out which resulted in some uneven, but still yummy, results) but I also ended up making a massaged kale salad with avocado, carrots, beets, and sunflower seeds. Nomnomnom.

2 bunches Cilantro
2 bunches Japanese Turnips (with hefty greens)
2 bunches Baby Carrots
2 bunches Baby Bok Choy (8 heads total)
2 heads Red Leaf Lettuce
2 bunches Pea Tendrils
2 bunches Chard
2 bunches Arugula
=??#

D'oh, forgot to weigh it! Ah well. It's a lot, anyway! Last night, I made awesome mashed turnips and a very nice carrot-bokchoy slaw (also used stuff from

ceelove's garden). Tonight will also be salad (of course) and I plan to grill the remaining bok choy as well as some asparagus we have from a few days ago. As always, feel free to make an offer if you see something you'd prefer to something you got in your own share. (I may not accept, but I'm open to being asked.) And on that note, does anyone want cilantro?

Back when, I posted some photos from my old neighborhood in Brooklyn. There was the Yom Kippur set and the Sukkot edition. I ended up spontaneously snapping a few pics this weekend, too. (If I'd thought to do it sooner, I'd have more fun ones. Next time!)

( Carlos & Gabby's )

( Delicious Bris Package! )

( Convenient reminders )

( Of course nobody agrees on everything... )

( Pickles! )

Zoe's funeral is Saturday but unfortunately we can't make it there. There will be balloon launches there as well as various other places in her memory. We will be doing one at noon at Lexington Park. Everyone is welcome to join us. Arrive a little bit before then, since we plan to launch at exactly noon.

If you want to participate, attach a note (in a zip-top baggie) to your balloon that includes the URL of Zoe's web site ( http://www.teamzoecancersucks.com ).

October 22, 2011 - April 1, 2012

ETA: Her web site for the whole story.

With obligatory cuteness...

See ya on the flip side! Have a great night and weekend and further. :)

In case you haven't heard, Lowes recently decided to pull their advertising from the reality show "All-American Muslim" in response to a campaign by a group of bigots calling themselves the Florida Family Association. I just wrote to Lowes (via their web site) to let them know that for kowtowing to and thus endorsing that sort of ugliness, they will not be getting any more of my business.

You can write to them here if you'd like.

Here's one article about it, but you can find plenty more.

Winter is coming.

Ah, the late-season veggies. And second-to-last week. Blah. The farmers market will continue for another month, anyway, and then there will be the winter market, but still, winter.

Last week I made mashed turnips as well as sauteed turnip greens, which worked rather nicely on a plate together with some quick gravy. There will more of the former soon, but alas, no greens this week. Still have some leftover marinated kale anyway, and I hope to get more to do at the FM today.

Now might be a good time to make some pot pies to freeze. And the squash situation is like whoa. There should be soup asap.

2 bunches Carrots
2 lbs Turnips
2 lbs Beans
4 lbs Potatoes
2 Butternut Squash
2 Buttercup Squash
8 lbs Golden Delicious Apples
=~37#

Not much to report since the last post. These apples are huge and delicious.

2 bunches Kale
2 bunches Broccoli
2 bunches Carrots
2 bunches Turnips (+greens)
2 Acorn Squash
2 Sugar Pumpkins
8 lbs Mutsu Apples
=~34#

Again, I thought I posted this the day after I posted 16, but clearly I didn't, and this explains why nobody responded to the veggie offer. (Now removed since they've been eaten.)

Turnip greens sautéed with garlic, more bruschetta with the remaining non-cherry tomatoes. ~~I really need to work on apples.~~ Big bag of dried apples! (Though actually I still have plenty more to work on.)

8 ears Corn
2 pints Cherry Tomatoes
2 bunches Raab
2 bunches Turnips (+greens)
2 bunches Cilantro
2 Sugar Pumpkins
2 lbs Green Tomatoes
8 lbs Apples
=~35#

I could have sworn I'd already posted last week's list, but clearly I didn't. I wonder if I wrote it and it got lost when my laptop crashed. Anyway, writing it up now. I've been making lots of mashed turnips lately and we had some good soup. I made (thanks to Manjula) aloo gobhi and green beans & peas. The other night DD made pizzas, which included tomato sauce, pesto, and dried tomatoes previously made by me. And of course, bruschetta (also marinated kale). Nine pints of canned applesauce plus some more in the fridge.

And I guess this is in this general category… last week I tried the pump again and for the first time ever, got milk with no pain! Yay! (I hadn't used it in months and up til now, hadn't pumped much more than what we froze at Baitcon.) My plan is to do it once a day, but so far, I've managed 3-4 times in ~2 weeks. Anyway, still something, and now there's a half-day or so worth in the freezer for the little guy if we need it. We've managed this long without it (that spoiled kid has never had a bottle), so I'm not overly concerned, in any case. Also, for Rosh Hashanah, he gnawed on an apple wedge. Pictures to come.

2 bunches Carrots
2 bunches Asian Turnips (+greens)
1 lb Beans
2 bunches Pea Tendrils
2 bunches Mizuna
2 bunches Red Russian Kale
8 ears Corn
4 lbs Tomatoes
=~25#

Meanwhile, would anyone be interested in some mizuna or pea tendrils? From last week, but still good. I just know we won't get around to finishing. Also, if you want to trade anything for (fresh-picked) cilantro and/or raab [ETA: I am offering cilantro and raab, not looking for it], let me know.

And so there was more pot pie and more bruschetta and of course straight-up amazingly delicious corn. Also mashed turnips with carrots. No soup yet, but soon. Most of us are sick right now which sucks big time, and today's big project is trying to deal with a flat tire.

2 bunches Carrots
2 bunches Japanese Turnips (+greens)
8 ears Corn
2 pints Cherry Tomatoes
4 lbs (Red) Tomatoes
2 lbs Potatoes
2 bunches Parsnips
2 bunches Celery Root (+tops (i.e., "celery"))
=30.2#

Once again, this is last week. Once again, there was more bruschetta. I also made pot pie for the first time since last winter, which was distressing in the sense of cold-weather-food, but datum, it was so SO good! Last time I made it, I was pregnant and it caused some nasty heartburn (as did many things), so it was especially nice to enjoy it without any side effects. (While pregnant, I definitely gained a new sympathy for those who suffer from chronic heartburn.)

This weekend we also did a big batch of tofu scramble with home fries from the remaining potatoes. Cooler weather does make cooking easier, anyway. I predict many soups in coming weeks.

2 bunches Yellow Carrots
2 bunches Purple-Top Turnips
2 pints Jalapeño Peppers
4 lbs Green Tomatoes
4 lbs (Red) Tomatoes
2 lbs Potatoes
2 bunches Baby Fennel
2 bunches Kale
=25#

That's actually *this week*. Woo!

4 lbs Tomatoes
2 lbs Potatoes
2 bunch Bok Choy
2 bunches Japanese Turnips (+greens)
4 Cousa Squash
6 Poblano peppers
2 bunches Carrots
2 Eggplant
=24.4#

All the book choy plus some of the turnips and carrots are currently fermenting into kimchi. Got some pears from a friend's tree frozen.

Need to get more olives to make a ton of caponata. Also gotta get more stuff into the dehydrator and probably freeze most of the poblanos, but it's so hard to get things done. If anyone wants to come over sometime today, lemme know.

(Anyone need boxes, btw? We have a ton.)

(Once again, a week behind. Sigh.)

4 pounds Tomatoes
2 bunches Carrots
2 bunches Parsley
2 bunches Broccoli
6 Cubanelle Peppers
6 Zucchini
2 Eggplants
2 lbs Green Beans
=~23#? (forgot to jot it down at the time)

Finally got the last of the old summer squash into the dehydrator. At least this week's aren't the size of kiddie baseball bats like last week. And yay for more broccoli and tomatoes!

Did a batch of roasted tomato sauce. So yummy, though it does yield much less than stovetop methods, so the grand total was a little over three quarts, mostly in half-pint jars since one of those will do two pizzas. (And some of it went on pizza at the Beach House, woo!)

Also big batch of eggplant caponata nomnomnom. Haven't yet determined if it will freeze well, but if so, more will likely follow.

And of course, more bruschetta.

I had a few minutes of time to kill on Highland and Central and was a little hungry so popped into Roast Beef and Pizza King (it was right there) to get some fries. They turned out to be the type that are all coated with crap to make them stay crunchy even when cold, but these were bad even given that. I ate a few, tried adding salt, ate a few more, and decided it just wasn't worth it.

If you know my relationship with french fries, you know that's really saying a lot.

But they were weird and greasy and gross and didn't even taste like potato. There were cups stacked by the silverware so I took one to get some water, but realized there was no water out, so I asked for a fill at the counter. The guy told me he couldn't give me water. I told him I just needed a couple of sips because I didn't like the fries and couldn't eat them, pointing to the mostly-full plate at the table. He said he couldn't give me water but offered to pack the remaining fries so I could take them home. I figured I must have been too subtle, so I said I didn't want to take them home, that I was going to throw them away because they were disgusting and I just wanted some water to wash away the taste. He said he couldn't give me water.

I shrugged, bussed my tray, threw away the food and left. Went about my business and two hours later, after a glass of water and two other drinks, I still have that nasty-ass taste in my mouth. Yuck.

(They did have bottled water for sale, but given that I only needed it because the food was so gross, I wasn't about to give them more money.)

I'm almost tempted to finally create a Yelp account just to post a negative review.

Once again, a week behind (I started this a week ago).

2 bunches Tatsoi
2 bunches Mustard
2 bunches Broccoli
2 pints Cherry Tomatoes
4 pounds Tomatoes
6 Peppers (still not ripe)
4 Zucchini
2 Eggplant (absurdly huge)
=24#

Once against, preservation was mostly on the freezer and dryer front. (As temps cool, I expect canning to become more likely, though I'm still planning to once again do a frozen tomato sauce because it was so much better than anything I've ever had out of a canned jar.) More beet burgers were frozen, the first tray of pesto packed away and another tray made (with almonds this time). More dried tomatoes and also lots of squash chips (summer, zucchini, and cousa). I'm glad to find a healthy method of preparing summer squash that makes me want to eat it. I've already made two dehydrator's worth and they're all gone. Plenty more squash to dry, though. Also processed the peaches from a friend's tree enough to be able to pack and freeze them for later use. And the rest of the tomatoes turned into bruschetta.

Last night we used previously-frozen celery, farmshare carrots & onions, tatsoi, and assorted previously-dried herbs to make red lentil soup. Is it soup season already??

[ETA: I should note that much of the above would not have been possible without help. Most notably, Mark, but this week also Cee (without whom I wouldn't have had most of the tomatoes, and much of the end result went back to her, of course) as well as Carl, without whom most of the peaches would probably would have rotted before I got to them. And D pretty much made the soup while I nursed, but I figure the work I put into the ingredients ahead of time (which also included freezing cubes of tomato paste, though not homemade) warranted it. :]

And once again, I'm way behind. :( This is last week.

4 lbs Tomatoes (yay!)
2 pints Cherry Tomatoes (once again I took 1 red, 1 sungold)
2 bunches Radishes (beowabbit?)
8 Poblano Peppers
6 Japanese Eggplant
6 Cousa Squash
6 Cucumbers
2 bunches Beets (+greens)
=26.2#

Drying has finally begun in earnest! Did some of C's tomatoes and mm.. they're like candy. Right now a batch of cousa chip is finishing and I suspect they will be gone in short order. Must make more. More beet burgers happened too (with yet more to come), baingan bharta, and I also made some nummy Japanese-style cucumbers (of which there also needs to be more).

Yesterday we had a little jaunt to a friend's place to pick peaches, so that's going to have to be a project sometime this week. Oh, and I also did a batch of basil pesto this week of which some was eaten and the rest frozen.

And there has been lots and lots of fresh bruschetta:
1. Chop tomatoes, mince garlic
2. Mix with some salt and let sit a few minutes
3. Pour on a bunch of olive oil
4. Stir in chopped fresh basil
5. Serve on toasted baguette slices
*nomnomnom*

And the nightshades are ramping up! The tomatoes are amazingly good. Looking forward to more next week, too.

2 bunches Beets (+greens)
2 pound Sweet Onions (loose)
4 pounds Squash (mix of summer and zucchini)
6 Cucumbers
6 long Italian Eggplant
6 Green Peppers (dunno if we'll ever get ripe ones :P )
2 bunches Red Russian Kale
2 pints Cherry Tomatoes (I took one red and sungold)
=25.2#

Last week there was once again awesome coconut curry into which the Asian eggplant just melted. This week I made a sort of eggplant parm casserole that disappeared pretty quickly. I'm thinking I may do some eggplant tomato sauce, which I wouldn't have thought was my thing, but I really enjoyed the one at DFP. Most of the celery from last week was chopped and frozen for cool-weather soups (it's not really a raw munching type of celery) and the rest into mashed chickpea salad. Nomnom. Most of the kale was raw-marinated and is now gone. Should probably do that with the rest. And I made a double batch if crazy yummy beet burgers. Still have more beets, should make more of those.

Kind of unbelievable that I'm managing to do any foodstuff at all (and I'm not doing as much as I want to be), but it's really only because lately Mark is here most of the time helping to entertain the little guy thus allowing me to do things like shower, cook, and maintain some semblance of sanity. I've let go of the idea of anyone else helping which makes it easier to deal with the reality of it and just appreciate the folks who at least take the time to be social with us and bring over hand-me-downs, which we dig. Speaking of the awesome little guy (seriously, how did we luck into such a beautiful baby??), he seems to be more and more interested in the things we eat. I'm not especially looking forward to having to put actual thought into what to feed him (not to mention the changes in output), but it's coming soon. (One of the bonuses of EBFing is not having to think about what or how much or anything like that.) Probably about time to start reading about BLW and search out one or more of those mesh baggie things.

Latest meltingly cute thing he's doing is reaching his arms out to me when he's done with other people holding him.

PS: Since our garden didn't happen this year (last week I finally got two of homemade earthboxes prepped and seeded some leafy greens), your extra tomatoes are always appreciated. :D

Because I'm lame, I only ended up with a half share this week, but this is a list of what I would have had, had I not screwed up. A lot more this week in the purple end of things (which in this case includes red), and next week should be even more. Kind of a sucky week for me to screw up, especially since my own basil plant died of neglect. It was also a bad week for it because we busted ass over the weekend to use up all the leftover veggies. Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

2 bunches Red Onions (+tops)
2 bunches Celery
4 Summer Squash
4 Cucumbers
6 Asian Eggplant
2 bunches Basil
2 lbs Purple Potatoes
6 Green Peppers
=~19#

Another minimal week on the preservation front. My drying plans didn't happen and we ended up cooking the cabbage. But there were many red spring onions and assorted new potatoes that were turned into caramelized onion mashed potatoes. Most of that went to a potluck and the rest I froze in muffin tins for portioned sides come winter.

( Not quite cupcakes... )

Uninspired (albeit delicious) haul this week.

2 bunches Chioggia Beets (+greens)
2 bunches Yellow Carrots
4 Cousa Squash
6 Cucumbers
2 bunches Red Spring Onions (+tops)
2 heads Cabbage
4 lbs Red Potatoes
2 bunches Asian Turnips (+greens)
=31.4#

Tuesday night I once again made my awesome go-to salad of beets, carrots, and ~~kohlrabi~~turnip. Discovering this delicious use of beets is really helping me both stay on top of the share and eat that much more raw veggies. Also did a big stir fry with black bean sauce with all sorts of stuff in it. Then Wednesday I made another one because it was so damn good and we hadn't had much left over.

The last batch of sauerkraut (two quarts) is almost half gone, so I'm going to use all or some of this week's cabbage to make more. Or maybe some kraut and some kimchi, now that I think about it. And I need to find the big jar to get some cukes fermenting. These are huge specimen, not little pickling cukes, but doing 'em sliced is just fine, too. Also considering a batch of bread&butter [vinegar] pickles.

I still have a lot of potatoes and need to decide what to do with them. I'm consider some raw potato chips, though even an entire dehydrator full of those doesn't use up all that many potatoes, really. Maybe baked fries? Though that would mean using the oven, which I've been avoiding. Mashing doesn't seem interesting enough, but maybe I should give it a go before knocking it.

Phew. Tuesday evening we made another big batch of red curry (though mostly using the remains of last week's share) and I did another shredded salad using all the new golden beets, the last of the kohlrabi, and some of the carrots. I also finally put Greens and Peanut Stew on

frog_food!

Not much else to report. It's been too hot to be productive in the kitchen, but hopefully I'll get more done once things cool down a bit. I've got all sorts of dehydrating plans!

2 bunches Golden Beets (+greens)
4 lbs New Potatoes
4 Cousa Squash
6 Cucumbers (well-hung)
2 bunches Red Spring Onions (+tops)
2 bunches Kale
1 lb Roma Beans
2 bunches Carrots (orange)
=28#

As soon as I saw this week's selections, I thought to myself, "coconut curry!" And thus an awesome Thai red was made last night. In an attempt to be proactive and have even more leftovers handy, I also put all the beets (along with the remaining carrots and some kohlrabi) into another shredded salad. Damn, but I love that salad. Or slaw. Whatever. And I steamed down all the greens for later use. It's funny how at a glance, it seems like there were no leafy greens this week, but as always, the beet & turnip tops were so voluminous and lovely, it's like extra bonus veggies.

Now I want to make the Baitcon red cabbage slaw, whose recipe will hopefully come my way sometime today. And some of those green beans are definitely going into Manjula's amazing recipe. Which reminds me, does anyone have a bean Frencher I could borrow? I know it's an obscure little appliance, but I figure someone must.

2 bunches Chioggia Beets (+greens)
2 heads Red Cabbage
2 bunches Spring Onions
2 bunches Broccoli
2 bunches Asian Turnips (+greens)
6 Zucchini
2 lbs Green Beans
2 lbs New Potatoes (Yukon Gold)
=25#

So much numiness! Except for the mizuna, anyway. Anyone want some mizuna? Also, while the parsley is excellent parsley, I'm not sure I can really use all of it. I guess I can make parsley pesto. Haven't done that in a while. But in the meantime, if you could use some parsley, let me know. Everythig else, though? Wow! Especially those peas. Haven't cooked one yet because they're so great to just munch on raw.

Meanwhile, does anyone have a mega stash of plastic shopping bags that you'd like to see go to good use? The downside of reusables…

2 heads Cauliflower
2 bunches Beets+Greens
2 bunches Carrots
2 bunches Curly Parsley
2 bunches Mizuna
2 bunches Collards
2 heads Cabbage
1 lb Sugar Snap Peas
=~24#

Last night I had two goals: use up a bunch of the beet backlog (without roasting and at least some raw) and make a non-lettuce salad since we didn't get any. So I did a beet soup with most of the red beets (turned out great and is meant to be served cold, which is convenient this week) and made a shredded salad using the yellow beets, orange carrots and (white) kohlrabi. More beet than carrot, though in the same range, and somewhat less kohlrabi. I mixed up a dressing using dijon mustard, olive oil, sherry vinegar, and a bit of s&p. The result was FANTASTIC and I plan to make it again real soon. (It was in part inspired by a salad I came up with a few years back. No apples in the house right now, so I figured the kohlrabi would sort of do that job.)

This weekend out in the Berkshires, DD and I somehow managed to prep a no-stress five-piece dinner for 7 adults (plus one baby and one dog) consisting of green salad with fresh figs, Veganomicon chickpea nuggets, stuffed shells, broccoli with slivered almonds, and garlic bread. Plus his mom made a fabulous cake and brought ice cream, so all around, quite a meal!

On the preservation front, I've got some kimchi going which is probably ready to go into the fridge.

I've got everything I need for kimchi except the cabbage! Anyone with a different share get any cabbage (ideally Napa) and want to trade?

2 bunches Golden Beets (with greens)
2 bunches Asian Turnips (with greens)
2 heads Red Leaf Lettuce
2 bunches Carrots (yellow)
2 bunches Scallions
2 bunches Kohlrabi (with greens)
2 bunches Kale
1 lb Sugar Snap Peas
= ~22.5#

As will hopefully become a habit, we cooked something using lots of the greens last night: peanut stew using the kohlrabi and turnip greens, as well as fava tendrils from last week. Which made for a huge amount even without the beet greens or kale. Helps everything fit in the fridge, anyway, and nummy. I also put in some of the carrots as well as previously-put-by jalapeño peppers, winter squash, and broth from the freezer.

No other preservation updates since last night's post. :)

And of course I'm behind already… This was last week. The only motion on the preservation front was using the cabbage to make sauerkraut. (The kale was marinated, of course.) Previously-preserved items used included tomato sauce on pizza, and, as planned, strawberry mash and blackberries in nummy frozen concoctions in the woods.

2 bunches Chiogga Beets (with greens)
2 heads Cabbage
2 bunches Red Russian Kale
2 bunches Fava Tendrils
2 bunches Parsley
2 heads Romaine Lettuce
2 bunches Chard
2 bunches Carrots
= ~20.5#

Inspired by a couple of people who wanted the recipe, I posted to my food blog for the first time in years with the awesome Stuffed Shells that I made on Friday. I have plenty of backlog to post, too, if I can remember how I made the things I took pictures of, not to mention stuff I jotted down here but never put there.

If you want to follow along via LJ, you can do so at the

frog_food feed.

Farm share started last week! Yay! This year we are back with only Parker. I think it's a much better value than Red Fire. RF sometimes has a little more variety, but the amounts are often too small to be useful, plus it's cheaper for me to just buy that stuff at the farmers market if I want it.

2 bunches Beets (with greens)
2 bunches Cilantro
2 bunches Swiss Chard
2 bunches Kohlrabi (with greens)
2 heads Red Leaf Lettuce
2 heads Romaine Lettuce
2 bunches (4 heads) Broccoli
2 bunches Collards
= 25 lbs(!)

For some items, it's great to have enough to really do a proper dish with it, but for other items, even a little bit can be too much. (*cough*cilantro*cough*) Anyone want cilantro? Either these or in the future?

Did a nummy saute using the beet and kohlrabi greens, along with some Chinese fake-meat and barbecue sauce and it was so good. Then last night, thanks to M. being over to hold J. so that I could cook while DD finished work, we had stuffed shells! It was my first time making them and I put together a plan based on a mix of recipes I'd seen. I used all the chard, plus a quart of the roasted tomato sauce I made last season (best f'in sauce ever!), as well as basil from the porch. It was SO GOOD!

Right now we're aiming to use up everything in the freezer and get a fresh start, so have been eating a fair bit of tomato sauce since I froze it rather than canning to both avoid having to adulterate its awesomeness by acidulation as well as skip boiling any flavor out. I finally canned the strawberry mash I'd prepared last year from almost two gallons of fruit, yielding a whole bunch of Strawberry Balsamic Black Pepper Jam, plus some extra mash that I'm thinking may come to Baitcon. Also canned a big batch of whole berry cranberry sauce. The ton of blackberries will be getting blended to oblivion (cuz damn, I hate those seeds) for use in something frozen at Baitcon and also roll-ups.

Other preserved items that we've used lately have included arugula walnut pesto on pizza along with rehydrated dried tomatoes and eggplant, frozen peppers in various dishes, frozen squash in greens-peanut stew, and various powders and herbs to flavor dishes.

Urban homesteading FTW!

Beautiful, healthy baby boy, born March 24 at 12:27am after a marathon labor. Multiple marathons of labor. 8lb 5.7oz, 22.5in. Nursing like a pro so far.

So grateful to both the MAH team, who rocked so hard, as well as my awesome personal team, especially DD, who was beyond wonderful. I can't imagine a better partner.

More info, details, and pics later...

[Feel free to pass it along in whatever form you prefer.]

As y'all know, I'm due any day now (or maybe not for a few weeks) and as such, have become aware of all sorts of things about which I previously had no real clue. While many of these relate to tmi bodily functions, there's also some useless stuff, such as pertussis, aka whooping cough.

Recently, the immunization guidelines for pertussis were updated and the upshot is that, unless you've had a kid recently or had it specifically called to your attention for some reason like working in healthcare or with kids, odds are good you are not up to date on your booster. (Or maybe you have a better PCP than I do. I just found out I'm out of date on the entire Tdap set by pretty much any measure, and given that I'd been seeing the same doctor for over 10 years, they were perfectly aware of that and should have told me I was due for a booster. But it seems that sort of proactivity is not very common.) I will get my booster immediately post-partum (which has become pretty standard in the wake of the resurgence).

Anyway, there are a bunch of new babies coming in the relatively near future, pertussis has become a much bigger issue than it's been in a while, and babies are particularly vulnerable. I've seen many recommendations that parents not allow anyone to even hold their baby who isn't up to date on their immunizations. I don't know that we'll go that far, but we are making sure that all the grandparents get theirs and I respectfully request that you consider it for yourself for the sake of the community. I know there are mixed feelings about vaccinations for children for various reasons, but shots for adults are a different matter, right?

If you want to know, you should be able to call your PCP and find out your status. Note that it used to be common to get a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster without the pertussis part, so even if you've had a tetanus shot recently, you may not be current.

I know several parents who've had to deal with the pain of their baby catching this (always from an adult, btw, not another kid), and while luckily they all survived, it is a serious medical ordeal in an infant that is best avoided.

Thanks.

PS: Respectful disagreement and debate is, as always, welcome.

--

And for the sake of an update: Today's checkup (38w3d) was even less eventful than the last. I wasn't offered an internal (she only mentioned it in the context of "We could do this if you want, but it won't really provide anything useful" so it didn't seem worth taking clothes off for) and situation remains at everything is good to go whenever it happens. Tadpole is chillin' out upside-down with periodic rolls side-to-side. Cop a feel if I see you tonight. ;)

Have any of you had an intervention-free birth at Mount Auburn that you're willing to talk to me about?

~~Also, if you went prepared for and with the complete intention of having one but it didn't work out that way, I'd also like to chat and/or hear your story.~~
ETA: Okay, plenty of those now, thanks. I will follow up with the folks who commented. Still looking for even one person in the first group, though.

(I completely respect the desires and experiences of those who went in with ambivalence or positive intention regarding non-medically-necessary intervention or who for whatever reason didn't even have that option, but I already have plenty of data points there.)

Comments screened by default, but I will unscreen unless you ask me to keep it private. You're welcome to point other people this way, but be careful suggesting I query someone else directly unless you know it's okay with them.

Thanks!

Something to make you smile, no matter how crappy a day it might be. (And if it's already a good day, even better.)

Introducing Arvo, my new puppy-in-law! We Skyped last night, and he was totally sweet. I can't wait to meet him in person.

I just bought myself a newer model so I'm ready to part with my previous FoodSaver. It's white, full-sized (takes up to 11" bags) but very compact, and includes the hose attachment. I'll also include a full roll of 8" bag stock and some extra pre-cut bags. Note that it is compact because it doesn't have all the features of the newest models (neither does the one I just got -- they're not all preferable) and is a little more manual. On the plus side, this translates to much greater efficiency in terms of bag usage.

If you like to freeze, one of these is especially great to have. Let me know if you're interested.

[ETA: There is a claimant and a backup. Further updates as events warrant.]

I don't often make New Year's Resolutions(tm), but I was looking back on the past few years' NYE/NYD entries and found that one year ago I posted and said, one of my goals for 2010 is to work on finally dealing and hopefully healing.

So yeah, I think I get some serious achievement points on that one! Now I'm all warm and fuzzy. :]

And in the interest of more manifesting, in 2011, my goals include creating a fabulous home with DD for us and our wonderful baby and nourishing our relationship in all the great ways we can come up with.

I already recapped the big stuff for the year in my birthday post a month ago and my list of places slept [naps don't count] is no more interesting than anyone else's, but I sorta whoa'ed at the number of places in Massachusetts that showed up, so I'll just share those, because it amused me:

Alford, Cambridge, Chicopee, Great Barrington, Lenox, Medford, Somerville, Winthrop

We still don't know what we're doing tonight (or if we're going out at all), so maybe see some of you and maybe not, but either way, have a wonderful evening and much joy and good things in the coming year!

[If you don't recognize the Subject line, you own it to yourself to listen to the song asap.]

While in theory I could still lead yoga at Arisia, I'd have to do it largely verbally, which is no problem for experienced folks, but can be challenging for the large number of newbies we tend to get there. Even if I had someone up front who was the Person to Mirror, I'm not sure it's ideal.

If you and/or someone you know are willing and able to lead yoga at Arisia Saturday and/or Sunday mornings at 9am, please contact me via email (LJ email works) with some info about your style and plan.

The following donation groupons may interest folks:

$10 for $25 worth of aid to public school projects at DonorsChoose.org! (or $20 for $50 or $40 for $100)

$15 for $25 Worth of Microloan Credit to Help Global Entrepreneurs on Kiva.org!

If I did it properly, those should be referral links, so if any of y'all are new users and buy these groupons, I'll use any credit I get to buy more of them. Which means your $10 would actually get $50 of donor credit. Woo! (If the referral thing doesn't automatically work, my groupon email is jude-group AT peace DOT net)

Not-so-secret confession time: I love receiving holiday cards. Really just irrationally adore it. I hang 'em, display 'em, and generally keep them up and out for as long as I can get away with, and when someone sends me one, it makes me love them extra much.

Every year when they start coming in, I also start to feel badly about the fact that I'm not sending any out and resolve to do it next year. This year, there was just too much else going on to really deal with such a project, but, um, next year! Yeah, next year. Well, we'll see. Anyway, as always, I try to reply to posts asking for addresses, but I figured this time around I'd jump the gun a bit, especially since my address has changed since last year and I'd hate to see cards get lost.

If you send out holiday cards and you'd like to send one to me and/or us, the address can be found here. (That filter may be somewhat arbitrary, so if you can't see it and want it, comment here with an email address. Any comments with contact info will remain screened.)

The added bonus is that anyone who sends us a card will automatically be added to our mailing list in the event we send out some sort of announcement sort of thing come late March. (Unless you tell me you don't want to receive one.) If you *don't* send holiday cards, don't worry, we'll collect more addresses later.

Or a prime, anyway. Being a perfect square had its ups and down but turned out pretty darn well in the end.

Among the major accomplishments: I ran the Boston Marathon, got pregnant, and married my soulmate & long-time love of my life (luckily the same person). Yay!

Other highlights that I can think of right now include another successful One-Acts and Big Broadcast, running great events at Arisia (including the final Summit), attending (& staffing) PiCon for the first time, lots of fun games nights and potlucks, tons of bicycle time including great rides with SCUL, and fabulous camping weekends like Firefly and Baitcon. Not to mention the wonderful time spent with friends, but of course, y'all are the reason all the of above were as great a they were. (Feel free to chime in if I'm neglecting to mention anything I ought to.)

Since DD had to go to work today (Boo!), we've headed back west for the weekend after a fabulous Thanksgiving dinners and I'm on my own for much of the day, but as it's customarily acceptable to observe this most holy day of Judeism for an entire month from the actual day on Nov 26 through to Dec 25, we'll figure something out later. (Not that I would object to heaps of love and goodness any time of year, of course. :)

I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!

Little song about a man called Gough
and a little boy who wanted to be tarred with the same brush
He learnt Latin, held his head up high
And he hated the Liberals tho' he didn't know why

There were reasons (how long have you got?)
There are always reasons (how long have you got?)

The little boy he's on the stage tonight, his name is Anthony Hayes and he's doing alright
They both went to the same local Canberra school, but Stevie was nine in 1972

What a party (a big day for both of us)
A big reason to party (a big day for both of us)

Come over have dinner with me, we'll play chess and drink claret
Walk slowly down my little street, you can bring Margaret

November 11 was Armistice Day
A bushranger was slaughtered and Gough was betrayed
November 11 - he wouldn't survive the Governor General in '75

November 11 - a big day for all of us
I said November 11 - Ned Kelly died
Shame Fraser shame and we all cried
For you Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam
You Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam

Days of wine and roses, days of wine and roses
All the artists flew in and all the arseholes flew out in '72
For you Gough you Gough you Gough
Edward Gough Whitlam

Current Mood: obscure
Current Music: Gough - The Whitlams

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CSA Farm Share 2012: Week 3
CSA Farm Share 2012: Week 2
CSA Farm Share 2012: Week 1!!!
Neighborhood Tour Continued
Balloon Launch for Zoe: Saturday at noon
Rest in Peace Zoe Faye Young
Obligatory NYE Post
All-American Jihad
CSA Farm Share 2011: Week 19
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Not a repeat customer
CSA Farm Share 2011: Week 11
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CSA Farm Share 2011: Week 3
CSA Farm Share 2011: Week 2
Food Blog is Back!
CSA Farm Share 2011: Week 1!!
Welcome Tadpole!
[tadpole] Pertussis PSA
L&D at Mount Auburn
A new member of the family
For Sale: FoodSaver Vac 550 - $35
I was cursed with a thirst that no single township could slake!
Lead Yoga @Arisia?
Donation Multiplier Opportunity
Holiday Cards PSA
Back into my prime...
November 11, 1972

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