Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wild Women Don't Get The Blues

Or at least, that's what they would have you believe... Actually, I'm doing okay. In a way, I've been enjoying my solitude. As the Junkies would say, "I kinda like that extra two feet in my bed". Grendal and I can stay up half the night and listen to the Doors just as loud as we want. But you know, it has it's ups and downs. To my surprise though, I have found myself longing so for the southwest. Maybe it's the cold getting to me and I can only remember the warmth of everything out there. The sun, the rocks, the food. Or maybe it's because Jack and I had so much fun there. It was such an adventure; at least for me.
I can still visualize and even feel, almost perfectly, the dead of night in the cauldron of Big Bend. The moon was so full and bright you could see every detail in the mountains surrounding us. And when morning came, the mists oozing silently down the slopes towards our camp. It was one of the most beautiful and horribly uncomfortable nights I have ever spent. I was terrified we would be attacked by bears. Or one of those giant spiders would jump on me right when I was trying to take a leak. We couldn't get the air mattress to inflate enough and we both kept rolling towards the center. Exasperated, Jack finally moaned, "I feel like a weeny in a hotdog bun". I guess it was the goofiness that claims you after a certain amount of sleep deprivation but we laughed the rest of the night.
I want to go back there.



In other news I have continued to work on the pantry between throwing and firing new pots. I finally got the forth shelf put up. I didn't have the bracket put on yet in this photo because I had to paint them black and it wasn't dry enough yet to touch. I have discovered one unfortunate thing about organizing your pantry though. I wanted to munch on all of the goodies I found and was relegating to various clear jars. Dried fruits and chocolate chips. Nuts and organic honey. Yum!! The third and forth shelves up have not yet been organized. Still working on that. I hope to have everything in glass or ceramic jars and out of all paper or plastic containers. I do buy some glass jars new but also pick others up at thrift stores and such. I don't care if they match as long as I can get my hand or a good size scoop inside.

I hope that after summer these shelves will be filled with my freshly canned food instead of store-bought cans. Tomorrow I hope to work on the countertop itself and maybe pouring the backsplash. Oh, ignore that awful mess on the countertop. I don't know how that got there. Probably Grendal. I have to get on to her about strewing my tools everywhere.

10 comments:

Pablo said...

Yeah, the Southwest really does try to pull you back, doesn't it? I wish I were there now.

MamaHen said...

Hey Pablo! yes, it does. More than any other place I've gone.

Caddie said...

Here I go again with synchronicity. Thinking about the Southwest for days and just posted a comment about "Border Healing Woman" that I just read. An old book but fabulous. Have dreamed for 30 years of NM and Arizona, red rocks etc. Guess I must wait for the next reincarnation to experience it - do hope the rattlesnakes aren't about then. Ye gads, I fear those buggers! Scorpions too.
Wondering if you got the flower seed I mailed.

Rusty said...

Honestly Grendal - those are NOT toys, you must be more careful.(Grinning). Obviously someone is working hard around there! (Bigger grin).

OK - I ran across a web site you may find interesting - about 'winter' farming. (No kidding - real winter. Have a look.

http://borealedgefarm.blogspot.com/

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Never been to the Grand Canyon or the southwest, but when we go we won't be camping out so no worries about things that go bump or howl in the nights. The pantry shelves are looking good - chocolates sound like good staples to me. Yeah on finding glass jars at thrift stores - do it all the time and different sizes make them much more interesting too.

MamaHen said...

Hey Sissy! yes, I did just get the seeds! I was thinking to email you soon and tell you so that's probably why we were on a similar wave. :)

Hey Rusty! Oh wow! thanks for the link and for thinking of me. I will definitely check it out.

Hey Beatrice! thanks! ya'll should definitely go out west, I think you would really enjoy it.

ezrablu said...

Looks great...I'm doing the same thing buying glass containers to put everything in....and I still ♥ your cement counter top!

MamaHen said...

Hey Ezra! thanks! yeah, I may go jar hunting a little today. :)

HermitJim said...

Looks pretty darn good to me! You just keep on surprising me, girl!

Glad you have plenty of good memories to help keep you warm!

MamaHen said...

Hey Jim! thanks man!