Sisyphus Acres

A Bright start to New Year

Well, This year is the beginning of the rest of our lives here at Sisyphus, and we are going to try to make more of them ~ not by cramming them full of things, but by slowing down to really appreciate what is going on around us.

Last night Hannah and I had our Family Night, and instead of our devotions and games, we went to see a movie at our local Cinema, the chronicles of Narnia.  We still had our special dinner for the evening, and last night it was Chicken Delight subs ~ YUMMY! (recipe follows).  The Cinema was celebrating its 75^th anniversary, so the movie was 75 cent admission ~ what a deal!  The theatre sold out, which is a big deal here in the Great North Woods, and the movie was absolutely incredible!  We came home pretty tired ~ Hannah went up to get ready for bed while IÂ’ll did the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, got the cats fed, the usual.

Tonight I have a Historical Society Meeting to attend, and IÂ’d like to get another wall painted in my folks bathroom ~ want to have it finished before the weekend so I can begin the upstairs hallway.  The bathroom is coming out nice, but I donÂ’t like the color they picked, so it is hard to get excited about it J.  I have to run some laundry and fold some already in process and give a quick clean up to the living room, and then run some bills.  This weekend, I have a bit to sort out in my room and in the office ~ declutter some more.  Hannah has to straighten out her room; a week with a friend over has surely taken its toll.  I have some quilt repair, as well as some mending to get to this week.

In our bid to reduce waste that we produce, I have been sewing some cloth napkins, as well as a coordinating quilted tablecloth.  And this has been going well, but I did find a real deal this week at Wally world ~ Christmas cloth napkins, 4 packs, $1.30 each, so I bought 3 packs to start, 12 napkins for $3.90.

I have my seed, berry and tree orders ready to send out.  We are creating edible landscaping, and also growing a garden to hopefully provide for our family 75-80% of our own fruits, veggies and jams over the next 5 years or so.  Also weÂ’ll be planting an herb garden so I can use the herbs in cooking as well as prepare my own teas ~ perhaps to sell, if I get enough going.  I am also going to try to learn how to save seeds this year.

Our 2+ acres were nothing but field brush and lawn when we arrived in 2004; we spent the first year clearing the property of most of the brush.  This past year while my father finished the brush work, I planted the garden ~ which did remarkably well.  We also planted some apple trees, a pear tree and a peach tree.  We pruned the crabapple, and rescued the struggling blueberries.

This year we are planting a windbreak of sugar maple, red oak and blue spruce.  The maple wonÂ’t be able to be tapped for a long time, but my daughterÂ’s children will be able to enjoy making their syrup, while I supervise J.  We are also going to plant some cherries this year, and hopefully a plum tree, we have to get another pear for pollination.  We are also getting more blueberry plants, blackberries and rhubarb.  We have a grapevine started on the arbor and hoe plant a second this year.  So we may have a few more years of picking, but in time we should have more than enough for ourselves.  My garlic is in the ground already, and hopefully has and will survive the damp autumn we had.

Hannah is very active in the garden, once we hit the planting stage.  Right now, at 10 years old, the planning doesnÂ’t quite interest her.

Well, thatÂ’s all for today I think,

HereÂ’s the recipe for chicken delight, enjoy!

-v-

Chicken Delight

White meat chicken, cut into 1 inch chunks

Salad Dressing (Creamy Italian, Creamy Caesar, or Ranch)

Lite Soy Sauce

Whole Wheat subrolls

Cheese (optional)

Veggies (optional) onions, mushrooms, peppers (to cook with chicken), lettuce, tomatoes, pickle onion (for the bun)

Mayo, Mustard (optional)

Marinate Chicken in Creamy Italian, Creamy Caesar, or ranch dressing for at least one hour.  Use just enough dressing to coat the chicken.  If using, chop veggies.  Prepare sub rolls.