My Days Are Full
Right now I think a lot about how I might reinvent myself to restart a cash flow once we get to the other side of the virus. But it doesn’t stop me as there is lots to do. My days are full of cooking, baking, weeding and planting. It’s a rhythm I know well–one remembered from my thirties and forties when I was deep in my dream of being as self-sufficient as possible. I learned back then that a self-sufficient kind of life is a lot of work, and an expensive life style to keep if you don’t have a trust fund, which I didn’t have. I did as much as I could during those years to eat food from farms in my area and also from my garden which was 25 feet from my kitchen. I worked as a piano teacher to bring in the cash needed to pay utilities, taxes, and insurance. It was a good life. What I learned then is serving me now.
I’ve worked hard investing in family and land and continue to do so, and saved, saved, saved, tucking away little bits here and there, when I could, for a rainy day which apparently is now here. My son Duncan lives next door with his girlfriend Olivia. There is enough land here to grow food, not to feed us completely, but definitely enough to supplement what goes on the table. I sprouted peas for stir-fries and planted them tonight on the north fence line of the garden. Olivia transplanted a young Comice pear tree to be in front of their house, carefully sighting it so it will keep the stellar view of Hurricane Ridge from being blocked when it is mature. I hope I’m around to harvest some of its sweet fruit as it grows.
A few months back, I ordered up a new stainless steel sink to replace the one that had been here for about 35 years…so old that the drain catch had rusted through so it was just one big open hole to the drain pipe that I had covered with a mesh basket. Duncan installed the new sink for me yesterday. I love it. I feel so uptown and stylish washing my hands and dishes. This afternoon he started work to replace all the rotted out posts and boards of the old garage at their house, using supplies he has traded and bartered for. No question in my mind where he learned to do that. The sun has now set and they’ll be heading over for cornbread and black bean soup soon.
A friend gave me some of his sour dough starter today. He got it in Alaska and has cared for and fed it for 35 years. It was about 90 years old when he received it. That makes it about 125 years old by my count. I’ve got sourdough bread started and even though I can’t eat it when it’s baked, because of my intolerance to gluten, Duncan and Olivia can. Gifts from my heart and hands. That’s my love language.
This is my day in this little corner of the northwest. I am grateful to be alive and look forward to another.
Love to you all,
Kate
Thank you for your post, so happy you have family helping. I am also so grateful that I have family helping me as well. Wish everyone was as fortunate. Take care and be safe.
So true Shirley. Thank you for the very important reminder that there are many out there who are alone, and less fortunate. May we find ways to help everyone.
Your words convey so much warmth. Thank you.
Thank you dear friend. Stay well and be safe.
So what dough do you. Ale for you to be able to eat your delicious recipes!
I do make many things gluten free. For pies, I have a number of GF recipes here and an entire free video series on how to make a GF pie from start to finish. Many of my recipes were created before I learned that I was not able to eat gluten. Now, I create my recipes GF and then turn them into gluten-full recipes after.
Being self-sufficient is a worthy but exhausting goal. I’m very proud if you + your family for doing all that you do, to accomplish that goal.
Your post made me pause as I am not, nor ever had been self-sufficient. I’ve never had much & could never find a way to be more than I am. So I definitely understand your post – it’s true value.
I am so glad that you have a new sink- & your son is diligently working to restore his property. Kudos!!
Always enjoy your 0osts, your podcasts and your books! Much love
Thank you so much DC! xo
Love your new blog. I really enjoy be at home. .of course Im worry.
Send you hugs and love dear Kate.
Home is where my heart is. Thanks for checking in, Gloria. xo
I shared this on my FB page
https://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2020/02/17/gluten-free-yeast-baking
I look forward to your short check ins during the day…If i can remember the time difference!
I have no lack of imagination when it comes to isolation. My knitting, baking and internet entertain me.
An excellent resource and I’m glad you are keeping busy. I’ll be doing a check in today.
Kate, I appreciate your posts – I attended your pie class a few years ago and can see in my minds eye the charming pie cottage, beautiful views and outside greenery. This was before you bought the house next door. What a blessing to have Duncan and Olivia nearby. Stay well and thank you for allowing us into your life and home.
I remember and here you are!
When this is over, I hope you will come and visit again.
Kate, I appreciate your posts – I attended your pie class a few years ago and can see in my minds eye the charming pie cottage, beautiful views and outside greenery. This was before you bought the house next door. What a blessing to have Duncan and Olivia nearby. Stay well and thank you for allowing us into your life and home
I follow Vanessa Kimbell for sourdough and she studies how many of those with gluten and wheat allergies can actually consume sourdough because it’s gone through a long fermentation period. She runs the Sourdough School site 🙂
I’ve done some long rise fermentation before, but I’m always open to re-trying to see if it works for me. Thank you for the recommendation of Vanessa.
What a beautiful, positive approach to life! In the heat of day to day live many of us often forget that there is little we actually need.
Thanks for checking in, Saskia! The words “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” are so true. Maybe we should amend that to say “…the love you bake…” 😉
Thank you for sharing. It’s very inspiring.
Stay healthy
Xo
You are so welcome, Cynthia! Be safe and stay healthy!
Be safe!
And you and yours, too, Gretchen.
LOVE YOU!!!
And I love you too, dearest Bonnie!
Thank you for your loving and positive words and image.
Caring for one another is the best way to fight COVID-19 and to live our lives in general.
God bless and be with you and yours!
Oh Judy, thank you so much for your kind words. Blessings to you and yours, too.
Thank you for your posting on what you are doing. I am doing much the same with innumerable “to do” items on my list. I remember so many stories that my grandparents and parents told of being self-sufficient on their farms in the midwest during the Great Depression. They spent all their time at home with rare visits to town. So, I figure if they could do it, so can I.
Yes we can!
As we self-isolate in SoCal, the photo of Greta Pie at the gate reminds us that our animal friends can be great companions during this time. My calico cat, Scout, has hardly left my side for days, and right now sits curled up on my desk in-between me and my computer as I write this. I send stay safe wishes to you, Kate, your family and all your readers!
Thank you so much Stevie. Much love to both you and Scout!
Would love a photo of the sink! 😊
Beautiful shepherd!
Hope to take a pie class with my husband one of these days!
Stay well.
Here’s my new sink. I love it!
Oooh, nice, how fun!
Didnt realize Greta pie was a shepherd until Steve commented.
Made your blueberry pie two days ago and enjoying it immensely. Thank you!
Pie On, Jan!
I’m from RI, but just now am on West Coast time, as I’m visiting my son, my DIL and my granddaughter in CA. As I drifted off to sleep last night, I saw a photograph of Pie Cottage and clicked on your recipe for scones. The combination of them brought sweet dreams and I jumped up this morning and made the yummiest scones we’ve ever had! Many thanks and best of health to you and all your nears and dears.
Hi Wendy! Those scones were featured in Home Cooking, my second book, and I just love them. I’m glad that you do, too!
Always enjoy reading your posts. Your words are calming like the rhythm in the garden these days. Sunshine peeks out from the clouds and I dash outside to scatter some flower seeds I found while cleaning out a cabinet yesterday. I’m thinking of what to bake next as I procrastinate. I’m grateful for a few writing assignments that I still have (I’m a freelance writer) but tell myself there is plenty of time to write while something delicious is baking in the oven!
I have this quote written on a board in my kitchen and want to share it all with you:
“We must have pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of pie!”
Stay safe and healthy.
Such true words, Monica. I think what we are doing to get ourselves though this is comfort baking, therapy baking, and my fav…procrastibaking! Keep enjoying that sun. Are some of your pieces online for us to read?
Procrastibaking!! Love it. I’m going to use that.
Some of my stories are online via the Bay Area News Group. I write for its real estate section about multi-million dollar homes for sale throughout the Bay Area. (That’s just about every home! ) I also write marketing brochures etc for several local realtors. BUT I also work at our local farmers market each weekend selling fresh bread and pastries baked by Starter Bakery in Berkeley. I enjoy seeing our regular customers, being around baked goods, local farmers and organic dairies. My friend and I may even do our own pop-up (pies, cookies, breads, etc). Of course, we now have to wait for the world to get back to some form of normal.
BTW…love your sink. It’s beautiful. I just got a new pulldown faucet after almost 30 years. No amount of crazy glue was going to keep it together. Hope you’re having a few sunny days as well.
Someday…pull down faucet.
P.S. I didn’t originate the term procrastibaking…it’s been around for a while. 😉
Hi Kate,
Just a moment to say thank you for the post and reaching out to all of us. I live in WI in Door County which is a peninsula. We are surrounded by the Bay of Green Bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other. We are in the “Shelter in Place” mode in the state and doing well. Hope all is well in your beautiful part of the country, someday I plan to visit your state.
Our son’s dairy farm is keeping my husband busy. We are still a good month or more away from spring planting. Spring is a wonderful time or renewal and rebirth on the farm.
Wishing you and your family happiness and good health in the days ahead.
Dear Peg, Thank you so much for checking in! Thank you for your good wishes and thoughts. Stay busy, keep well.