BROWN'S BARNACLES

Uncooking Adventures

2011-08-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

It is 1 in the morning, I should be sleeping, but I have all this energy from a new food lifestyle. Anyone reading this who knows us, knows we have been vegetarian/vegan for quite a few years. I have wanted to do raw food since 2003, but have been too intimidated to take it beyond enjoying gourmet raw at raw restaurants. We have, of course, have had lots of raw included in our diet by way of salads, guac, etc. This takes it to a whole new level! We finally took the plunge a few weeks ago to give it a go. What a success for me! Devin will be doing 80-90% raw, but needs the extra umph of some cooked foods. I am feeling great again. It is just what my body was begging for. I am now entering a 21 day cleanse, which I will follow with a repeat of the 28 day transition. I don't know why I was so intimidated, it has really been easy with the help of this program, www.thegardendiet.com. My body is alkaline, which means less inflamation. My clothes fit and my skin is glowing. I am stronger than before. I know I probably look better with a few extra lbs, but I sure do NOT like the way I feel. I will keep you posted as to the progress. In the meantime, I am finally interested and having fun again with cooking, er, um, rather NOT cooking.

Where Does The Time Go?

2011-07-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, I cannot believe it has been almost a year since I have updated our blog. So much has happened since the last time weupdated! Our garden is back into full swing, with even more glorious sunflowers, vegetables and fruits than the previous year. Devin planted some different crops this year and we have plans on adding others next year as well. The garlic we harvested already is unbelievably fantastico! We added a new family member (no, not from Natalie and Patrick this time! Although, we WILL be adding a new Russell in February 2012, congrats to Pat and Nat). Yahzi, our plotthound mix was adopted last winter. She is such a sweetie. She has brought much joy to the both of us, and Ian is kinda fond of her too! Speaking of Ian, he is still attending Northern New Mexico College and will be starting his second year this Aug. He is visiting his Sissy in CA until then. I went to CA with Ian in May to see my daughter Stephanie graduate magna cum laude with a BA degree from Dominguez Hills. Yes, I am a little proud of her! We had other wonderful milestone events in May as well. Another niece on the Brown side.....Genevieve was born to Leah and Casey Brown, Devin's brother and sis-in-law. "Neive" joins that gorgeous kid on the right of our blog, her sister Lilikoi. We shall see how she keeps up with her big sis! I also got to see my brother Paul and for those of you who know, this was HUGE. He almost died this past year. If anyone could pull out of it , it's Paul and he did. Devin and I took a trip to TX to see the Russell clan down there. I miss the little guys so much and they are so cute! We had a great trip and stayed at our usual spot intown, the Lodge. Little did we know that would be our last stay there, as there was recently a fire that took out our unit. Patrick is a volunteer fireman for the town of Tolar, TX. He called us that night and said, "Mom, I was standing on the roof looking straight down into the living room of the unit you used to stay in." Ya just never know. Oh yes, I almost forgot....Devin is the proud bird papa of 24 chickens! We just finished a temporary home for them, they grew fast. We will be building an ample sized coop for them which should be done by the end of August, definitely before the cold. Stay posted for further additions......hopefully two top bar beehives and possible a goat. I am still wanting a goat. You'd think after all the kids I've raised, I wouldn't want another kid. I have a feeling this one will be easier to raise! So, "life on the farm is kinda laid back, there's nothin much a country boy like me can't hack. life's just nothin but a funny, funny riddle......thank God I'm a country boy." (John Denver) We are enjoying our farmette. We are going to name the farmette.....we are open to suggestions if anyone has one. So far, we have thought of our blog title as a good farm name: Brown's Barnacles. Let us know what you think. Enjoy the pictures and until next time, wishing you green pastures.

HOW ABOUT AN UPDATE!!!

2010-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Life on the farmette has been slow, however job changes have kept us in overdrive. So many events have happened since our last post! Babies being born, Gavin Blaise Russell August 3, 2009 and Genevieve (Nevie) Brown born this July! Kids graduating and getting married. Ian graduated this past June and is now attending Northern New Mexico U. Kyle and Miranda were married August 22 at the Lodge in the mountains of Santa Fe. Devin and I work for two holistic MD's who specialize in cardiology and pain management. A visit from Devin's mom and dad, and all of my children together once more for Kyle's wedding was a treat for us! WOW, a whole lifetime passed since our last post. Now, back to the farmette. Devin's garden....such a beautiful endeavor! Still we are enjoying his delicious bounty. He is definitely in tune with his plants. I will let him take over this blog post......take it away Devin!

Devin here. Getting ready for fall!!! Planted different varieties of lettuce, radishes, peas, carrots and beets as well as rhubarb, mustard and collards in a separate location. Seed saving time also. Fermented tomato seeds in order to save them for next year. I will have pictures of that process in future posts. Just made pickled quail eggs. We have 3 quail left out of 9. I had to cull 5 roos or they would kill each other and the 2 hens. Shortly after the culling process a raccoon got hold of one of the hens. Now I'm down to one :( That about sums it up. Can't wait for my garlic to arrive!! Should be here soon...time to get back to work. Here are some pictures of my pickled quail eggs and of my remaining 3 quail.

MOVING ON AND CATCHING UP

2010-02-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Wow! How time flies!! In a nutshell: Devin's mom and dad came to visit.....was a WONDERFUL time and so good to see them! The weather cooperated and we got to see some sights. I am hoping they had just as good a time as we did and am hoping they will be visiting us much more often....LAND IS CHEAP here and the weather is good, hint hint. I travel so poorly no matter the mode of transportation. I think National Geographic was published just for me. I did finally muster up the courage to trek to Granbury TX and see my kids (grand)......all three of them!!!! The trip down was excruciating, back was not too bad. It was so worth it, the time there was exciting and fun, I loved the visit with Patrick and Natalie, their home is beautiful, warm and happy. I am so proud of them and my grandkids.....they are growing, so fast. They have wonderful personalities, so different from each other but reflective of mommy and daddy. I have no doubt they will be wonderful as they grow.
Ian will be graduating HS JUNE 4......hard to believe, hopefully he will stick around at least a couple of years and take advantage of the NM U that is right around the corner from our home. No matter what he decides to do with his life, college can only help! We are planning a tent BBQ out back on our 1/2 acre...we are inviting all who may read this or receive a grad announcement. Always room here, even if we get crowded, always room!!!
We have great plans (still) for the farmette, but slow in progress. Watching the home channels of "do it yourself" has made us realize it will be years before this is our "home" . So, for now, the carpet is up, the bathroom is half painted, the seeds are here waiting for spring, we have inherited an array of outside kitties and life is good! Happy St. Valentine's Day to all I love.......to be continued.

Happy Birthday, Liam!!!

2009-10-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

Here they are, just two of the many great loves in my life I am lucky to have!!! Liam and Grady. Liam's birthday on October 22! Looks like the tent was a hit, and big enough for two little boys!! I wish I could see them much more often. Maybe I will just have mosey on down to Granbury and see the family!!!

Other news: kitchen is painted, with the bath and bedroom to follow. Some fall planting done, and hope to have pics of our home soon!! Devin's parents will be on their way to come see the homestead. Safe journey to them. We can't wait to see them!!!!

Beautiful little Lili

2009-09-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

I can't get over how beautiful Devin's niece is! Her name is Lili, short for Lilikoi. She is 3 years old. Her parents are Casey and Leah Brown, Devin's brother and Sister-in-law. Now, I think I have the most handsome grand-boys in the whole world, but when I saw Lili's photo....such delicate beauty, she truly matches her name......Just HAD to share her photo!!!

Playing catch up

2009-09-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

A little background for any of you who have found us recently. We moved to New Mexico in November of 2006. We could not have picked a better place! Patrick had married, moved out and started a family and a farm in Texas. His crops are growing and so is his family!!! Check out The Russell Chronicles. You can google it. Stephanie moved out as well and is working on her bachelor's degree for TEASL (teaching English as a second language). She hopes to teach abroad in the very near future. I am so very proud of her! Kyle moved out too and joined the Army and is now here and working at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, NM and will be married in Sept of 2010. Congrats to Kyle and Miranda. Ian is still at home and finishing up his senior year of hs and is in JROTC and loves it. Yes, it was the mass exodus of most of mine for me! All of a sudden, there was Devin, Ian and me, all alone!! All of a sudden I was FREE to do what I wanted. (What a realization.) Seal Beach was wonderful, but I knew I could actually be healthy somewhere and had to get out of the moisture and pollution. I thought Devin and I would settle in Flagstaff, AZ because I could breathe there and it reminded me of Lake Arrowhead. But, we kept going......and going. We did not like Albuquerque very much at all and I was thinking NM was not the place for us, until we came up over the I25 and saw Santa Fe layed out before our feet, like a welcome mat. Welcome Home. Three years later....we own a home, a farmette so to speak, north of Santa Fe in a beautiful, green and lush valley. A desert it is not! Pure country with a place to call homesteading.! We are fixing the place up before we start in with the animals and crops and with winter closing in fast, we are hoping to have our home projects well under way and resume planting in the spring. We work hard as phlebotomists at the hospital working 10-12 hours per day. It is rewarding work tho and keeps us real. We are very lucky as we see those who are truly suffering in all kinds of ways imaginable come through our hospital doors everyday. Now, that is it in a nutshell, but we have stories already of living in the country! Two stray kitties we call Sweetie and Tuxedo. A rattlesnake that almost bit me, but Devin killed it, skinned it and cured it.....ready to mount on the wall. (Won't do that agin, will it?) Many more to come. Please leave us a note if you're here under comments and let us know how you are doing. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

The very first post

2009-09-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello all
Our first post....new to blogging about us, but not new to blogging itself. We thought it might be a good idea to keep a journal of our news for friends and families. At first I didn't want to do this, making me feel a bit vain. Thoughts through my head of "who would want to read about you anyway?" However, after reading and keeping up with my own family and the great videos, pics and news of everday stuff....seeing old friends I have lost touch with and catching up in an instant has convinced me to blog. Maybe friends and family will get a glimpse of our wonderful life on the "farmette".