cafemamasarah gilbert's weblog, in which she discusses life as a mama, whether she's working, blogging, writing, marketing, reading, running, knitting, sewing, birthing, cooking or just thinkingcrafting my words at culinate . january 27 . 2008- January 27, 2008 As a teen, even in college, I took advantage of my facility with words. I'd sit at the computer (or electronic typewriter, my instrument of opportunity in high school) and take pride in the fact that I could start at the beginning and proceed through the middle, until I reached the end with barely a thought or second glance. Now though, now I have a habit of obsessively reviewing my writing, reading it over and over even after I've published it, paying attention to the tiniest word out of...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/27_crafting_my_words_at_culinate.html ham sandwich, a simple entry in the dark days challenge . january 27 . 2008- January 27, 2008 When I think of a ham sandwich, my thoughts turn dreary, riddled with visions of insipid supermarket ham, bread soaked in low-fat mayo. But that association is a mockery of what the ham sandwich should be. No, this is not the fault of the food! I am crying to think of the injustice served to such a noble character. It started with the bread, I think, the 'Wonder' of imitations, bread turned into a mockery of itself. First came the partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, then the long list of...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/27_ham_sandwich_dark_days.html simple scarf pattern (and free) . january 18 . 2008- January 18, 2008 I started this scarf as a project, an exercise, a meditation. I'll knit it when I'm waiting for things to work out, to be right, I thought. I will work out my frustration, my angst, I will change it to love. Like the little boy in Kristen Balouch's Mystery Bottle, I will breath in the wind and mix it with love and knit it into the scarf. I also wanted to make a scarf pattern to match the dulles hat, partially to make a matched set and partially as gratitude to all those who bought my pattern...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/18_simple_scarf_pattern_iad.html the work i need . january 13 . 2008- January 14, 2008 I was talking to the editor of Culinate, in Northwest Portland, only a few blocks from where (just 14 years ago) I learned to emulsify, and how to make a roux. (She is asking me to write a column on Culinate about our local foods adventure, and I think I will. Stay tuned.) I was telling her, briefly, about my plans, my limits and restrictions. "But don't you think it will be a lot of work" she asked. I said instinctively, "yes, but it's the work I should be doing, isn't it" I'd just been...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/13_the_work_i_need.html local food answers . january 13 . 2008- January 14, 2008 I am not alone. No, you all have joined me, both in my passion to create a more sustainable food life for my family, and in my quest for information. As soon as I wrote my last post, you flooded my email inbox and twitter replies and instant messaging with ideas, links, answers. Thanks to you, and the research you've inspired me to do, I have information to share. Brilliant bits of information wash over my brain, sputtering until I can taste it on my tongue, keeping me up late at night baking...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/13_local_food_answers.html local rules . january 01 . 2008- January 1, 2008 True to form I dived deeply, madly, raucously into eating local. I spent days devouring the book and then stayed up late nights watching vidcasts and surfing to discover whether Bob's Red Mill grain really is grown in Oregon (It's not, I don't think, though I may not care.) I became passionately angry about what I shall henceforward call Big Corn. I decided never, ever to eat CAFO, aka feedlot-raised meat again. Given my general predisposition toward making a challenging thing even more...http://www.cafemama.com/2008/jan/01_local_rules.html |