This one's for you, friend

After much prodding from a roommate that recently moved out of state, here's a bit of news about life at the Farm. It'll be a good reminder of things that often seem crazy, even to me.

Ironically, what finally spurred me to start this blog business is being AWAY from the farm. It doesn't take too much time in the city for my sense of perspective to get all out of whack. I've clearly forgotten that despite my snazzy new digital camera and fantastic color printer, I have no computer at home. Alas... I already spend so much time at work, why not a bit more? Being in the city, even for these few days HAS found me plotting the purchase of a new laptop and cell phone.

I will say, though, that I've been excited about cheesemaking lately, mostly due to the enthusiasm of my work buddy who has started a staff rotation of yoghurt and cream cheese production with our excess, unsaleable milk. Mmm, the first time he made cream cheese, I ate almost a whole pint AND had to stop at the co-op to get bread on the way home so I could justify eating even more. Given my general lack of enthusiasm for purchased Christmas gifts, I thought homemade cheese would be the perfect solution--something tangible to hand-out to all the relatives to demonstrate that I'm not THAT delinquent. Homemade cheese would be interesting, unusual, etc, etc, etc. So, in addition to 2 live lobsters, 30 oysters fresh from the river and scads of imported chocolate, I lugged my little wedges of homemade smoked Gouda and Cheddar, a half dozen little rounds of spiced Neufchatel and a tub of cream cheese all back to my parent's house for Christmas, only to be greeted by unsure rounds of "gee...thanks" from my extended relatives. I forget that not everyone thinks about food the way I do. My sweet grandmother did achieve Valiant Effort points, though, with her gift of bulk granola from her local co-op and cranberry honey mustard.