Still here..

Yes, a few years have passed... not sure if I'm smarter or just older. I'm thinking of maybe blogging some thoughts again, though I'm not sure if anyone is still following this. Nothing in my world is 'one thing', but it is an assortment of things and thoughts - of course! Ubuntu and the World Socialist Movement have crossed my path in the last few years, and daily activities frequently include 'weed salads' since most of my yard is 1) edible 2) un-mowed. I justify the second one by the first one... my neighbors love me? I'm curious as to what the purple-flowering weeds are now, and will have to research them. https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ is a good site to start with.


There is some irony (and possibly iron) in realizing the weeds of my yard are likely higher nutritionally than the lettuce and spinach at the store; they're also free, which is a price that's hard to beat. Dandelion, plantain, Lady's Thumb and lamb's quarters are growing thick and green; I chop them up as a bonus and add them to a regular salad. You can't buy these in a store, yet they've been a food source in salads or soups for generations. I should dry nettle and yarrow soon, and the raspberries are beginning to ripen. Smashed raspberries on toast... yum! I have been using the bread machine because it so easy: toss ingredients in, 3 hours later, take out the bread. I can handle that! I've had sourdough going since January, but I haven't made bread with it; I add flour and water, then use about 2 cups of it for pancakes. Now that I'm working overnights, I frequently take a peanut butter pancake, folded, as a breakfast snack until I'm home again. It's neat, filling, and not fussy.


That's just average stuff around here, while my mind tangents off on why we feel worse accidentally driving over a baby bird than a toad. The toad tends to gross us out more, speaking from a single female perspective, but the baby bird makes us sad. From the toad's point of view, we're a bit species-prejudiced. Talking of toads, I dreamed something either like a toad or slug was on my foot; I woke up frantically kicking my leg to shake the thing off, then realized it was just a dream. I have no idea why such a dream would occur, nor do I have any thoughts on analyzing it.


Irony... I'm eating weeds, but the stray cat has learned that if it can look in the window at me, I'll set out some store-bought cat food. It visits here, then wanders off; I have no idea if it has a home nearby or where it comes from. It's a regular visitor now, looking in the window to see if I'll get up...


If anyone reads this, drop a note to elainekain@gmail.com
 I might just start blogging my thoughts again, if only to see where they lead!