In Summation

2010 went by in the blink of an eye, or so it seems. Time passes faster every year that I'm alive. I feel like I was a kid for a hundred years, a teenager for fifty, and a young adult for only a few months. I guess I was a bored kid.

Despite its speediness, 2010 holds many memories, both good and bad. This year, I said good-bye to two of our pack members, Malakai the cat and Logan the ferret.




Losing Logan was particularly sad. I've experienced plenty of pet deaths, just because I've had plenty of pets. Losing family dogs (Lady, Barkley) and cats (Chessie, Lucky, Tiny, Mr. Big) was always tough, but they were primarily my mother's pets. I didn't have a huge attachment to them, and they didn't pay too much attention to me (I was an obnoxious kid). I've owned a guinea pig, lizards, fish, and (tons of) hamsters, but their life expectancies were short. Though I cared about each one immensely, they were but little creatures with little lives.

The ferrets, on the other hand, were the first high-maintenance, long-lasting pets that I owned. You get pretty close to an animal you care for every day for five or more years. Logan had an especially distressing end (Adrenal Disease), and a 2 AM euthanasia wasn't how I thought I'd say my first real good-bye. I don't know how I'll manage losing my other pets. I don't even want to think about it.

Onto more cheerful memories! In January of 2010, I upgraded to a more expensive DSLR. I took photos with it all year long. I love capturing so many memories. I also bought a waterproof point-and-shoot later in the year, to capture what the DSLR could not.

This past summer, I moved out of my parents' two-family house, and into a house about thirty minutes away. I don't know how long I'll be here, as I pine for a less urban area, but it's been a learning experience thus far. Mostly, I've learned that I am a bargain-hunting machine that managed to furnish most of our place from Craigslist finds.

This year, I've met so many new people and have made lots of new friends -- mostly thanks to Dexter. I took my first dog-powered ride through the Pine Barrens. I've spoken to dozens of mushers and learned so much about dog sledding. I bought my first dog cart, and I'm looking into my first sled.

2011 holds a lot of big plans and expectations. I'm planning my first vegetable garden for the spring, and looking into preserving as much food as I can for the colder months. It's a small step towards homesteading and being more self-sufficient, but you've got to start somewhere. Backyard chickens and a bee hive will have to wait until I've got more land and the appropriate livestock laws.

I'll be adding dog number two in 2011, one way or another. I've got my sights set on a planned breeding for this spring (a Seppala racing line mixed with a champion show line). My modest little sled team may not win the gold, but they'll provide enough dog-power to keep me entertained. And who knows, if I luck out and finagle a way into the mini-farm of my dreams, maybe I'll have the resources to add two or three more dogs.

I'll end with my "resolutions", as it seems pretty appropriate to mention them.

1. Buy less, recycle and reuse more.
2. Replace store-bought groceries with home-grown and home-made food as much as possible.
3. Travel. Before I tie myself down to a farm that I'll be afraid to leave.
4. Exercise. Duh.
5. Read. I got a Kindle for Christmas -- I have no excuse not to use it.
6. Create. Learn to knit and crochet. Grab a sewing machine and reconstruct thrift store clothes. Draw! Paint! There's so much left to learn.

So ends another year. Thanks for reading. If you're a friend of mine, thanks for being one. If you're a stranger, why not drop me an e-mail and change that? Seriously. If 2010 has taught me anything, it's the importance of learning from others. So in the spirit of Jagazine (rest in peace), dare to share. Let's do a blog link exchange and make an ever-expanding network of ... well, whatever we want. The sky is the limit.

27-Inches

The final snow tallies are up, and it seems our town was buried under about 27-inches of the white stuff. I didn't go in for my weekly office shift today, as the road was still a mess when I woke up this morning. Plus, our shovel was held captive by our upstairs neighbors, so there was no hope for digging out the van.


Unlike those who quickly succumb to cabin-fever, I've been perfectly content stuck at home. To be honest, I spend most of my time at home -- I do work here, after all. But when I can't drive, I avoid making stupid purchases and wasting money. I have no choice but to make due with what I have, and that's a good lesson.

Speaking of sustainability lessons, I've been reading Jenna Woginrich's Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life. So far, it's a great read, and I'm not surprised. I've been following Jenna's blog for a few months now, and she's been a huge inspiration for my own goals. She wrote this book a few years ago, so I know how a lot of things have transpired for her. What I didn't know, was how her journey began -- and that's where this book starts out. Jenna's book gives me a lot of hope -- as well as very practical reference materials, recipes, and guides. She began her farm while working a nine to five office job every day (coincidentally, she's also a graphic designer). I already have the advantage of working from home -- a luxury that will definitely make homesteading a little easier once I get into the thick of it. I will start planning my spring vegetable garden now. I'm going to start with strawberries, zucchinis, and tomatoes. My mom has grown these every year with ease, so I'm hoping my first round of crops will be just as successful. I'm hoping my next big move will allow for a small flock of chickens and a bee hive. Then I'll really be in business.

I'll end this post with a video of our very happy dog in Narnia, also known as our backyard.

Cheer

Another Christmas has come and gone, and everything was pretty much perfect. Our festivities started with Christmas Eve Eve, the annual party I've hosted for the past seven years. It's been our tradition since I was a senior in high school! This was the first one to take place away from South Plainfield, but I think it still went well. I made sausage and peppers, baked ziti, and cookies. My family brought food, including my dad's famous lasagna and my mom's Swedish meat balls. On top of all that, Rob made hummus, Bryant made mashed potatoes, and lots of people brought desserts and drinks.

The only mishap of the party wasn't even really a mishap. Around 10 PM, right as we were about to open the gag gifts, the police knocked on our back door. My initial thought was a noise complaint. Then I thought, maybe all the cars were going to get ticketed for technically being illegally parked (no one seems to follow the signs on our road, though).

Luckily, it was neither -- they were looking for our upstairs neighbor. We unlocked the front entryway for them, and they proceeded to pound on our neighbor's door for awhile. Eventually, he did come down and they dealt with him. I still don't know what he did, but it makes me a little uneasy about living beneath him.

After that, the gag gift ritual continued without any other problems. My favorite gifts were Alex's boyfriend pillow (with his face printed on it) and Bryant's Do-it-Yourself Appendectomy Kit. My friends are too clever for their own good.

Clean-up only took a few hours, and by 2 PM on Christmas Eve, we were off to my parents' house. We dropped off all our stuff, pets included, and headed to Branchburg for my Aunt and Uncle's pasta party. Afterwards, we headed back to my parent's and played Wii games until midnight or so. Finally, Rob and I retired to the pull-out couch in what used to be our part of the split-level house, and went to sleep under about a dozen blankets and all our pets.

Christmas Day was a little chaotic. It began with my dad backing into my parked car and leaving more than a mark. It seems to be repairable, so hopefully it won't be too much of a problem. I remedied the stress and anger by presenting my parents with their brand-new, 40-inch HDTV. Thank goodness I had that -- I think my Dad's head was almost ready to explode.

As usual, my family went above and beyond with gifts, as did Rob. My parents got me a new flash for my camera, boots, snow pants, a purse, jewelry, candy, and lots of other goodies. Rob bought me a leather jacket, a printer, and a white, 3G Kindle. I also bought him a Kindle, along with a case (that I have to send back and replace with one for the latest generation Kindle -- not second generation), a remote control helicopter, and a Star Trek Enterprise pizza cutter. I got my sister a new purse, and my parents the aforementioned HDTV. Dexter even got spoiled this year with a new tug-toy, treats, a DVD (yes, a DVD), and a doggie back-pack. All in all, a pretty good haul for everyone.

After the usual gift opening, we cleaned up (both ourselves and our wrapping paper) and headed out to see more relatives. My aunt and uncle provided an awesome ham and turkey dinner with all the fixings. After eating, we rushed off to Rob's Mom's house to spend some time with his family.

The weekend winded down yesterday, as the blizzard raged through our state. I stayed at my parents' a bit longer than I should have, which made the drive home a bit treacherous. What would have usually taken 30 minutes took well over an hour to traverse. I was surprised to find that even in a blizzard, some jerks still had the audacity to tailgate me. That's OK -- they can drive like maniacs if the want. I was perfectly happy rolling along at 20 miles per hour.

Today we're slowly digging ourselves out. Our street was plowed late last night, so another half foot or so is still in our way. So begins our winter!

Up To Our Knees

First big snow of the season, and I'm soaking up every minute of the chaos. Except for the terrifying drive from my parents' house to our apartment. That I could've done without.

For now, we're snowed in and all is well.

Anatomy of Dexter

Yep, that about sums it up.

Exercising

Please enjoy the cheesy stock photo I have selected to accompany this entry. This will have to do, because there is very little photographic evidence proving I have ever worked out.

It's not that I'm lazy -- spring through fall, I do all sorts of physical activity. I hike and bike every chance I get. But then winter shows up and suddenly all I can do is collapse in a heap under mounds of blankets and pets. Unless it's snowing. I like snow, and will play in it for hours. However, we don't get much snow -- just lots of icy cold, windy days that make your bones hurt.

For the past few weeks, I've been feeling like a pile of organs sewn up in a sack. People make the false assumption that because I'm skinny, I must be healthy and/or work out. Sadly, this isn't the case. At least, not in the winter. My daily routine has consisted of sleeping, eating, and all the activities I can quickly squeeze in between them. Walking the dog around my neighborhood has become the most athletic task I do all day.

As of last night, I decided I need to make a change. I came to the conclusion that my persistent ailments were the result of my body folding in on itself, my blood festering, my muscles deteriorating, and my bones being reduced to a fine powder. This might sound dramatic, but for once I need to be dramatic -- or I'm going to die, like, tomorrow.

So I made the most out of the feeble exercises I could muster. Jumping-jacks, squats, push-ups, crunches, and various other weird moves I made up. Afterwards, I definitely felt a bit better. Take that, festering blood!

Hopefully, I will continue this trend and improve upon it. I would really like some weights so I can work on building up my noodle-arms.

Seasonal Stress

I woke up this morning in a sort of panic. I guess it was the realization that Christmas is next week and I still have a lot to do. The upcoming weekend is already jam-packed, so that leaves me with lots of late night work to do. I've got presents here to wrap, presents to wrap at my parents', and more I still need to buy. I've also got some party planning to work on for next week's Eve Eve party.

It will all get done. It always does.

My job was also giving me a headache this morning. It's kind of lame, but I tend to freak out when I'm given lots of work all at once (and by "freak out", I mean stew quietly while in my head, I'm yelling, "FUCK!"). As usual, I powered through the assignments in just a few hours without any problem. Why do I panic? What do you call the opposite of a procrastinator? That's what I am.

The best part of today was my walk with Dexter. I didn't realize until we got outside, but it was snowing big fat flurries. They didn't stick and it stopped shortly after we got back, but it was fun while it lasted. Snow is my favorite precipitate.

Jingle Bell Time

We're about 99% done with Christmas decorating. The remaining 1% is the star for atop the Christmas tree. In our college days, our tree donned the Death Star. I'm not sure what we'll do this year. The tree itself is lovely. We bought it from a little florist shop a few blocks away. The ornaments are a mixture of old and new, including about a dozen tiny dogs -- all gifts from my Aunt Cathy. She has sent me a Hallmark ornament every year I've been alive. Some are still at my parents', but that's OK -- they'll be hung on their tree.

I've been running around a lot the past few days. This past weekend, we stayed in Asbury Park for Grappler's Quest. My friend, Dan, took home the gold for his division (yay Dan!). Monday night, I stayed at my parents' while they were away in Atlantic City. This weekend, we're celebrating my Dad's birthday, and hopefully I'll get some training in at the Pine Barrens.

Other than the chaos of responsibilities, commitments, hobbies, and adventures, things have been pretty quiet around the house -- well, until today. Our water pressure started to go down this afternoon, and we discovered our front yard (more like patch of grass) was spewing water into the street. The landlady and her son have both been over to express their sincerest apologies, even though it's not their fault. A guy from the city came by and told us they would fix it tonight (unlikely) or tomorrow morning (slightly more likely). So, we'll see how that goes. Before long, we will be out of water. Our heat relies on water. It's going to be well below freezing tonight.

Let the bundling begin!

Off to the Races

Last Saturday was the Dick Dalakian Memorial Sweepstakes Race, hosted by the JSSDRA. The mushers I usually train with were there, along with new folks from the surrounding states. I took photos at the event, since I wasn't competing. I also tried to soak up all the knowledge I could from everyone -- so much experience all in one place! I spoke to a few people about upcoming litters, so hopefully by next year, I'll have a pup to train.

Along with meeting mushers, Saturday offered the opportunity to look at a ton of dogs and several different rig styles. While the hound mixes and Alaskans are awesome athletes, I don't think they're what I want in a dog. I love the fluffy, show quality Siberians. I also really like the historic, racing-line Seppala Siberians. I foresee my future team being a mixture of the two. And Dexter, of course.

As for rigs, my little green cart will suffice for now. In the future, I can see myself splurging on an Outlaw rig, or a Greiner-Hahn rig, since the guy who makes them mushes with us. I better start saving now.

---

I'd like to take a moment to stop talking about nerdy, dog-related things for a little while. I've been thinking about the future a lot. I'm always meticulously planning every detail of everything, so it's no doubt the next few years hold a lot of expectations.

As of right now, my goal is to survive as a freelance designer and photographer. To get to that point, I need a solid resume and a killer portfolio. Working at my current job is building both these things. While the company itself isn't a household name, the brands I incorporate into my work are huge -- Nikon, Samsung, Canon, and Sony, for example.

The scary thing about freelancing is the uncertainty of it. What if I can't find work? My plan is to continue with full-time employment and do freelance on the side, then slowly wean myself off the full-time job. I could go part-time, then become a steady freelancer for the company, as well as taking on other jobs. Ultimately, I want to have more jobs available than I can accept.

I really just want to be my own boss. I like working on my own -- I'm a control freak and often find others to be unreliable. OK, so my people skills might need some work. I can work with others, as long as they're as motivated as I am.

I work best in unconventional ways. If I have a project, I might work on it for days at a time -- only stopping to sleep and eat. Breaking work up into 9-to-5 days doesn't always make sense, especially for artists. You wouldn't expect a painter to work every day from 9-to-5. They're in their studio when they feel like creating. Same goes for designers.

Vacations are also important. I don't like being told when I can take off. I'm not in school. This is my life, and in 60-something years, I'm going to die. Let me enjoy it while I can.

This rant sounds like I'm unhappy, and the truth is, I'm not. The work week flies by because I'm busy with holiday marketing material, and I enjoy doing it. But I don't want my life to simply fly by. It's already December! I want to savor every moment of this month, not to mention every month following.

I have an undeniable fear of growing up. I thought moving out would make me happy, but I honestly miss living with my family. Especially at Christmas time. I just want to shrink back to my 8-year-old self and play with my plastic dinosaurs in my backyard.

Dog People

My weekends are quickly becoming consumed by furry, four-legged beasts. This past Saturday, I took photos at the Howling Woods Farm clean up event. I spent the day hidden behind my viewfinder, narrowly avoiding massive dug-out canyons and poop mountains -- both products readily manufactured by the woofers.

Sunday I returned to the Pine Barrens for my second day of mushing -- well, my first real day. I borrowed Bolt and Spirit, the same two leaders as on my first run. Dexter once again took the wheel position -- this time, with no hesitation at all. Rob road with me at first, but hopped off once we hit softer terrain.

We road just under 2.5 miles in about 20 minutes, with our average moving speed just under 7 miles per hour. The lead dogs were a bit tired from their morning run, and I kept a relatively slow pace so that Rob could keep up on foot. Dex also decided he needed a poop break mid-run, so that slowed us down a tad. Our max speed was 14 and 1/2 miles per hour. The take-off is definitely the most exhilarating and terrifying part of the ride.

This Sunday, I'm going to get to the race site as early as possible and have Dexter run with my mentor's full team. I hope he doesn't mind being referred to as my "mentor" -- although, technically, everyone I've met thus far has offered lots of help and advice, and could be considered a mentor.

To conclude this entry, I will leave you with a short video from our Sunday run. This was taken by Rob as he dangled off the back of the cart, and he spent a bit too much time filming my dirty hair and goofy face -- so please, ignore that and enjoy the dog butts.

On My Way

Dog Sled Race in Flin Flon, Manitoba

February 3rd, 1954

I never thought I'd be running a team of sled dogs through the NJ Pine Barrens. But that's mostly because I didn't know people did that. It was only a year or two ago that I discovered "dry land" dog sledding -- which uses wheeled rigs rather than sleds. And I only recently discovered a group that did this in New Jersey.

On Sunday, I drove down to the Pine Barrens with Dexter and met up with the mushers. Laura, the breeder I have been talking to, was there with her team. I hope to get a puppy from her sometime next year. My real purpose for going was to meet with a man named Bryan, who was selling a used gig (cart, rig, etc.).

Let's pause for a moment. I did not intend to purchase a gig so soon. My plan was to train Dexter with bikejoring (dog + bike) and canicross (dog + hiking) for a few months, then eventually add a puppy to the mix. When the pup was old enough, I'd introduce the gig and get them started on some actual training.

Sometimes, unforeseen opportunities arise that you cannot pass up. I found the gig for sale, and for much cheaper than I was anticipating. It needs a tiny bit of work, and maybe some fresh paint, but it's just what I need to get started.

Before buying the rig, I had to take it for a "test drive". Bryan was kind enough to lend me two of his dogs to put in lead, with Dexter in wheel. He also road on the side of the cart with me, so that my first run wouldn't end in too much disaster.

The run actually went pretty well. It was very brief, just a few minutes long, but still exciting. Dex was a bit worried at first -- he kept looking back at me in a quizzical manner. The steering and breaking is a bit unusual, but I should be able to get a hang of it. I managed to avoid toppling over or steering into trees, so I'm happy about that. On the run back to the site, Dexter found his groove and started to run really hard. I'm proud of him -- he looked like a real sled dog (despite looking very little like a husky).

Dexter behaved really well in general -- very calm around the other dogs and even around the horses that passed by us. I was more nervous about his behavior than anything else -- he loves to be embarrassing in new situations. Aside from getting a bit yappy towards the end (I swear, he picked that up from the other dogs right then and there -- he's not usually a barker), he surpassed my expectations and did great.

After we ran, we loaded the gig up and I paid Bryan for it. I brought it back to my parent's house with their van, since I'm not sure how I'll attach it to my car yet. There's no use bringing it to our place at this point, there's no where for me to use it around here. Weather-permitting, I'll head back down on Sunday for another run. All the mushers were extremely friendly and very helpful, so I look forward to getting to know them all.

On a semi-related note, I need to move to the farmlands of south Jersey. It's so beautiful and tranquil. I don't mind the long drive to the Pine Barrens; I love getting away from the congestion of suburbia.

What's the Point?

Don't worry, this isn't going to be a self-pitying entry about my qualms with the universe. I don't mean "What's the point?" as a rhetorical question, as people often do. I mean it quite literally. What's the point to this blog?

A friend of mine has been working on a blog of his own, and has been trying to streamline his thoughts and interests into a general theme. He got me thinking about the blogs I read, and my own blog, as well.

The blogs I read have very little in common with one another. A fashion designer in Brooklyn, a dog musher in Alaska, a farmer in upstate New York, a mother and her cancer-fighting baby in Kentucky. Maybe because they're all written by strong women? They all have qualities I admire; primarily, strength and independence. Only a few of the blogs I read are written by men. (And most don't even update anymore!)

Blogs are an evolution of the personal diary; a hobby often associated with the female sex (though I'm not sure why -- is keeping a record of your day-to-day life somehow feminine?). I've always kept diaries, journals, and now, blogs. My first diary was a big, blue, spiral notebook. I mostly used it for stickers, but I did scribble out some entries. They were riddled with spelling errors and hard to read, chicken-scratch handwriting.

I went through a long phase of starting journals and then immediately destroying everything I had written. Pretty much sums up my pre-teen and teenage years. So much angst for no apparent reason.

Then came the internet. I think I have had every online journal/diary/blog imaginable. Livejournal, Deadjournal, Xanga, and more recently, Blogger and Tumblr. I know there are others, I just can't remember them all.

But what's the point? Why have I always been so inclined to record my ramblings? And publicly, no less? Part of it is to feel important, I'm sure. To broadcast my thoughts and ideas, as if they somehow matter. Many hope to gain a following, some sort of e-fame, through their writing. I admit, that would be exciting. But I've been writing for years without any clear audience, and I don't show any signs of stopping.

My blog (diary, journal, etc.) is for me, above all else. It's something to keep track of my existence -- to prove that I exist. To share what I care about to anyone who might be listening. I don't write to change anyone's mind, but to open it, if only for a minute. And while I don't write about anything earth-shattering or unique, I hope to at least offer an alternate perspective: my perspective.

So when I ramble about dogs, cooking, and hiking, I realize I may bore the masses. But one person might adopt a husky, buy a bread machine, or go for a walk in the woods. And that's all I can hope for.

My Bread Making Adventure: Part IV - Pizza Edition

A few nights ago, Rob and I were hungry, and there was nothing to eat. In desperation, I turned to my trusty bread machine. I found a very simple recipe for pizza dough, and decided to give it a shot. The first pie came out surprisingly well. In fact, it was so good, we decided to celebrate our friend Ed's birthday with more homemade pizzas (along with cookies, cake, wine, and beer).

The recipe (originally from here, by Kim):

• 1 cup flat beer (I used Pabst the first time around, Yuengling the second... no noticeable difference)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast

Throw everything in your bread machine and set it on "dough". It takes a little while, but the resulting pile of doughy goodness is the perfect consistency for pizza -- no more frozen, store-bought dough for us! By the way, if you get impatient and take your dough out a few minutes early, just be sure to have lots of extra flour on hand. It'll help make it less sticky.

For my pizzas, I sprinkled flour and cornmeal on a pan (makes the crust crispier). I stretched and flattened the dough by hand, and folded the edges for a nice, thick crust. I brushed olive oil on the crust and let the dough sit for about 15 minutes, with a paper towel covering the top. Next, I added a thin layer of Prego tomato sauce (I would love to make my own sauce next time, but Prego got the job done). On top of the sauce, I sprinkled a thick layer of mozzarella, and topped it off with some fresh parsley.

The pizza takes about 20-25 minutes to bake at 400° F -- just wait until the crust is golden brown and crispy. I added fresh Parmesan cheese on top after taking it out of the oven.

The final step: cut and consume! I'm sure this recipe can be adjusted for different pizza styles and toppings. If you try it, let me know what kind of pizza you made!

Colors of Autumn

After hiking six miles around the Watchung Reservation with my point-and-shoot, I can safely state that it was a solid investment. To say it takes good photos would be an understatement. It's so compact and light, I had no trouble letting it dangle from my wrist the entire time. Definitely easier on my back than lugging around my D-SLR gear.

Even the cheesy panorama setting produced some pretty awesome shots.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with my new hiking buddy. Although Dexter was a bit annoyed by my frequent stops for photo opportunities.

"Can we go!?"

My New Point-and-Shoot

Presenting my new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5. It retails for around $330-325, but I managed to nab this one for a mere $250 (plus about $8 shipping). I bought it open-box, so I saved a bunch of dough. Judging by the pictures that were on it when it arrived, I'm guessing it was B&H's floor model for a little while.

As I mentioned in my hiking post, I wanted to get a small, relatively durable point-and-shoot camera. As much as I adore my D-SLR, it can be a burden. It's big, heavy, and expensive. I can't get it wet, and I certainly can't throw it around in sand or dirt. Thus, there have been many outings where I've been without a camera, aside from my cell phone's mediocre one.

So for hikes, beach trips, rainy days, swimming pools, sledding, ice fishing, whatever... I have this little Sony point-and-shoot. It makes a decent sidekick for my D-SLR, so I'm happy. The photo quality isn't too bad, either:

I dunked it in water a few times to test its waterproofing. It's such an odd sensation -- putting a camera underwater on purpose. All my life I've conditioned myself to protect cameras from the elements. I took a few random underwater shots, without focusing or looking at the screen, and produced some very interesting results. I foresee lots of experiments with this camera in the future!

Fall's Fury

Without any warning, the weather seems to have flipped from melting-hot midsummer to damp-and-dreary, late fall. It's a shock to everyone's systems -- I lost count of how many friends are reporting colds, or just feeling cold.

Yes, it is cold. But it's not winter cold (thank goodness)... not yet. The rain and wind don't help, but believe me... come late January, you'll be wishing for temperatures above freezing. I don't really mind these dismal days. It's an excuse for extra coffee and wearing sweat pants with over sized, fluffy socks.

Inside becomes a sanctuary during the rain. I've got pumpkin spice scented candles and little bits of autumn decor around the house. I hope to gather a few more bits and pieces as Halloween approaches -- we certainly need some Jack-o-lanterns and horror-themed items.

So for those of you sick of this weather, or literally sick from this weather, hang in there. Enjoy your blankets, soup, cookies, and movies. It will pass and we'll be able to hit the pumpkin patches and hiking trails again. At least, for a little while, before winter steamrolls us all into hibernation.

The Trail

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pictures -- it's all I carry when I'm hiking.
I will be buying a durable point-and-shoot soon!
I've been more active in the past couple days than I have been in weeks. Sad, but true -- daily 30-minute walks aren't cutting it. I had Thursday and Friday off, thanks to some Jewish holidays, but found myself without anyone to share the days with. I did what I often do in this situation: I harnessed Dexter and hit the woods.

On Thursday I took a 3.43 mile baby-hike around the Watchung Reservation. Friday we doubled it with a 6.65 mile hike at Jockey Hollow. We hiked the longest trail they had to offer, and it felt amazing! I honestly could hike forever. I had Dexter attached to my waist and he's learning to walk without breaking me in half. I'll probably order a padded "hands-free belt leash" (Dan, go ahead and laugh) in the next few days.

Anyway... while hiking around Jockey Hollow, I started thinking. I'd love to do a really long, multi-day hike -- maybe through part of the Appalachian Trail. I still need to learn a lot -- especially how to pack for such a trip. I'll spend the next year or so training. I need to increase my speed and trail length considerably before I can do anything too extreme (or Xtreme). Not to mention get some real hiking boots -- I don't think Converse sneakers are doing my body any good.

One of the best things about all this hiking is that it makes for one tired dog! On Saturday, Dex accompanied me to the Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue fundraising event. It consisted of a two mile hike and lots of other dog-friendly activities. It was really more of a walk than an actual hike, but since I spent the day taking photos and Dexter spent it wrestling huskies, we were both sufficiently exhausted by the time we got home.

Sunday was also spent with canines -- this time, the Howling Woods Farm wolfdogs. No hiking was involved, though. Just taking pictures and educating the crowd. Unfortunately, Dexter had to stay home this time -- not sure my wolfy friends would appreciate his company.

I have more days off at the end of this week, and I plan to scope out some more hiking destinations. If it's cold enough, I may even bike with Dex. We'll see!

My Bread Making Adventure: Part III

First, a disclaimer: this isn't the third time I've made bread with my bread machine. I've probably made about a dozen or so loaves by now. This is, however, the third time I've blogged about it. :)

This loaf was rather experimental. I didn't have all the necessary ingredients for the recipe I was using, so I improvised a little. I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the results.

The original recipe was Bruce's Honey Sesame Bread, but here's what I used:

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup honey 3 tablespoons sugar (I love honey, but it just doesn't pack the same punch as sugar)
• 1 tablespoon powdered buttermilk 1/2 tablespoon powdered milk, 1/2 tablespoon plain, low-fat yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons wheat bran 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds, toasted
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

I can't guarantee that my adjustments make this bread any better or any worse than the original recipe. However, the end result came out quite tasty. The outside was flaky and crispy -- a feat I had yet to accomplish with my bread machine. The inside stayed light and fluffy, with a rich, sesame flavor. Warning: if you don't like sesame seeds, I'd avoid this recipe. Luckily, I love them.

Anyway, I hope my frequent gushing about the wonders of the almighty bread machine have inspired you to make your own breads. You don't need to be the next Rachel Ray, it really isn't even cooking. It's putting-stuff-in-a-pot-and-leaving-it-for-a-few-hours-ing.

Bread is such a staple of day-to-day consumption -- at least, for me. Being able to produce my own gives me the opportunity to save money, eat better, and get creative. So find a $10 bread machine at your local thrift store (I promise, there will be at least three at any given time) -- and get baking!

The Harvest

Yesterday we drove up (er, west, technically) to Chester, NJ to visit one of my favorite farms. I admit, it's very commercialized -- it's as much a tourist destination as it is a working farm. But that seems to be the norm with a lot of NJ farms. I guess we're lucky it's that way -- I don't know any farmers personally, so I doubt I'd get the chance to visit a farm any other way.

We picked a bunch of apples, peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, and raspberries. We grabbed some other produce, cider, pumpkin pie, pumpkin butter, and fresh eggs at their little farmer's market. I love supporting local farms. There's something comforting about food that wasn't trucked half way across the country.

Afterwards, we ended up at our usual supermarket to pick up some stuff we couldn't get at the farm. While browsing, I noticed that the raspberries they were selling came from Guatemala! It's kind of scary to think about how far our food travels. And isn't it weird that we're eating the produce of places we've never even visited? It always bothered me that all my clothes and, well, almost everything I own was made far away, in places I've never seen. But my food, too? Something that only stays in my fridge a week or two, has seen more travel than my 23-year-old body.

The only solution is to take advantage of more locally-grown foods (and anything else, for that matter), and to travel more. I need to see more of the world than my raspberries have!

Rough Times Ahead

I'm 23-years-old. I shouldn't be giving my 51-year-old father resume tips and job hunting advice. It's supposed to be the other way around.

Yet here we are. After working with The Star Ledger for, oh I don't know, his entire adult life -- they're screwing him over once again. This time, it's the last straw. I don't want to go into too much detail, as it's his business, not mine. But he's depressed, angry, frustrated, and afraid. When his personal life is so drastically effected (an ongoing thing with this job), it becomes my business.

My dad faces a relatively hopeless job market with experience from only one employer. It's good experience, it's managerial experience. But who wants to hire someone they have to pay a decent wage, when they can just hire somebody straight out of college, with fewer responsibilities, and willing to work for scraps? Hence the ongoing collapse of our economy.

I'll do everything I can to help. I may even move back home and start paying my parents rent, if things get really tough for them. I rather have my rent money go to my parents, so they can keep our house, instead of living in our new apartment. It sucks, but I know that's what I'd do.

Ultimately, my parents will end up selling the house -- but I'm pretty sure that was their retirement plan. They don't want to pull Brianna out of school and away from her friends -- not when she's so close to graduating.

I hope my dad is pleasantly surprised. I hope he finds a job with human hours (not 3 AM to 11 AM), better pay, weekends off, better management, and more respect for their employees. He fucking deserves it.

Okay, Fine, I'm Back on Blogger

Just a quick update -- you may have noticed I transferred a bunch of my Tumblr entries back onto this Blogger account. I haven't decided where I'll be settling, permanently -- heck, I might post new entries on both. I'm leaning towards Blogger, though, simply because it's more customizable and I follow more blogs on here.

So if you follow me on here, stay tuned for more updates.

A Girl Can Dream

(Photo taken at Ort Farm in Long Valley, NJ)

It’s kind of crazy for a little suburban girl to want to uproot to the middle-of-nowhere, start a small farm and train a sled dog team. But I guess I’ve never been all that sane.

Yesterday I biked around Sandy Hooky with my dad, Dan and Dexter. The weather was just cool enough for Dexter to run the whole five or six miles without any problem. It felt great to be back on my bike after a month without it (although my knees thought otherwise at 4 am this morning).

On the way down to the shore, my Dad and I talked about selling the house and moving to the country. We’d get a little house on a big piece of land, and raise alpaca. My mom would grow her fruits and vegetables on a larger scale, and my sister would make farm-fresh baked goods (pies, muffins, etc.). We’d sell our goods at farmers’ markets, or maybe in our own little country store.

I’d still do graphic design, but I’d also tend to a small chicken coup and train sled dogs. In the fall, we’d have a pumpkin patch for people to visit, and the sled dogs would cart around guests’ pumpkins. In the winter, we could pull people around on sleds. A taste of Alaska, right in New Jersey.

Of course, this is all just a fantasy. Fun to think about, but something my parents won’t really do. But that doesn’t mean I won’t. I’m looking at farms for sale right now. Much too early to seriously consider, but fun to dream. A few more years of working and building my freelance portfolio, and paying a mortgage won’t be out of the question — especially if it’s on a little farm in bumble-fudge.

In the mean time, I guess I’ll keep working with Dexter. Hopefully in the spring I’ll get another sled-worthy dog, and by the following winter I’ll have them training together. I also hope to have a successful garden next spring/summer. My own miniature, back-yard farm.

A girl can dream — even if it’s not about handsome men, expensive shoes, or designer purses.

Cats

My cats having been posing like models on my dresser, and I’ve been snapping photos. What else is new.

Furniture, Moving, Animals

I’ve been meaning to make this post for a few days now, but haven’t had time. After two weeks of sanding and refinishing furniture, packing up everything I own, and moving to a new town — things are finally starting to slow down.

First, I’ll start with the furniture refinishing. I followed the advice of The Frugal Girl (How to Paint Wooden Furniture) and decided to paint my desk and dresser, rather than buying new ones. They were always very beat up looking — well, for as long as I remember. They were previously owned by my uncle when he was growing up (he’s in his 60’s now), and he built model airplanes on them. So there was plenty of cuts, dings, scratches, and glue marks. Despite how ugly they were, I always loved them. They’re very modern looking, and really simple.

I decided to give them one last chance by repainting them. If my endeavor came out poorly, I could always just get new furniture anyway. Worth a shot, right? Here’s how the desk looked beforehand:

So Rob and I sanded, sanded, sanded, and sanded some more…

Until finally, things started looking like they were ready to prime.

So we primed and primed until my wrists were sore.

Painting took two coats over the span of two days, and involved me getting covered in paint. So there’s no photos of that step. However, you do get a somewhat crummy picture of the final product, located in my new room!

Now, onward to the rest of the house photos. These are from my first day officially living at the house — so I was doing a lot of cleaning. A lot of things have since been moved around, and I’m currently waiting on some art pieces to arrive. There’s a lot more stuff I plan on buying (throw pillows, curtains, clocks, plants, more art) but I must wait for my funds to replenish. I’ve done a LOT of heavy spending just to get everything in place, so over the next few months will come the fun, interior-design-y part.

This is our uber-floral kitchen. Part of me hates it, because it’s overwhelming. But part of me loves the kitschy-ness of it. We may opt to take the wallpaper down and just paint the whole thing white, but that won’t be for awhile. For now, it’ll be known as my Kitsch-en. (PUNS!)

Please ignore the garbage bag on the floor — we’ve since got an under-the-sink can, but need to install the slide-out tray part. The counter has room for my blender, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, bread/cheese displayer, crock pot and bread maker. Had to ditch the microwave oven (cry).

Here we have the living room — looking messy. I was in the middle of steam-cleaning our new (pre-owned) couches. Apparently I’m immune to doggy smell and didn’t realize they stunk.

Lots of odds and ends have since found homes and are no longer being displayeded on our bookshelf. The TV is now on the TV stand, but will soon be replaced with a new HDTV.

I’ll have more photos of the rest of the house, plus decor progress to share soon. I also need to get some gardening supplies and rip apart the backyard, but that’s a whole ‘nother monster.

Last but not least, I’ve got my animals here. Perry is happily housed in the living room, where he’ll once again be a sociable bun with company. Chase, the ferret, has been situated carefully in her new high-rise style apartment. I let her free to roam throughout the day, and Dexter has been very gentle with her. I realized after she got loose in my previous house and Dexter found her for us, that he wasn’t going to hurt her — he had every opportunity to, but he didn’t. So now they’re allowed supervised play together.

The cats alternate between closets and beds, staying hidden most of the time. They’re still unsure about everything.

Princess has gotten over her fear of Dexter, but still hates him. Matilda is afraid of Princess, but food overcomes all her anxieties. All in all, I think my pack is settling in quite well.