That Crazy Girl on the Subway

As my friend so delicately put it, "Christmas threw up on this city." The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas ads were everywhere, and it got me thinking. This year, I want my holiday to feel a little less commercial and a little more homemade. 

I spent Sunday at the Jersey Shore with my parents, and just as we were leaving the beach, we stumbled upon a HUGE pile of starfish (a rare event at a beach better suited for finding trash and syringes). I decided it was fate, and I would make all my Christmas ornaments out of starfish.

Problem was, I had to catch a train back to the city, and I didn't have time to let them dry. I ended up riding the subway back to my apartment carrying a garbage bag full of starfish and a large birdcage (I'll explain later).

You know those crazy people you always see on the subway? I think I just joined their ranks. 

Sheep and Wool

Just a few of my new friends from the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. I wonder if I could raise any fiber animals in my apartment. Angora rabbits maybe? 

Thanksgiving: Take 2

Thanksgiving lunch was a hit! I gave up on soup and made squash sandwiches with goat cheese and onion. They were so well received, my mother let me in the kitchen to make the brussel sprouts for dinner. Those 2 dishes, plus my grandmother's home-grown cherry pie meant that Thanksgiving at our house contained more local dishes than ever before (a huge accomplishment given that my parents are addicted to Costco). 

Progress. 

Giving Thanks

Bless this food we are about to eat. To those who hunger, give bread. And to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice. - Latin American Prayer

Thanksgiving: Take 1

My parents usually have Thanksgiving at their house, and this year I'd really like to help make the dinner (I want to learn my grandmother's stuffing recipe). Unfortunately, my mother's typical response to inquiries about how I can help is, "you can help me by getting out of the kitchen so I can finish. Go watch the parade." 

Instead of getting in her way, I decided that I could prove my worth in the kitchen by making Thanksgiving lunch. I starting searching for a pumpkin soup recipe that I could make almost entirely out of local ingredients. I figured soup would be something light, so it won't fill everyone up before dinner, and it can be prepared ahead so it'll keep us from interrupting my mom in the kitchen. After weeks of searching for the perfect recipe, I made this...

...and it was crap. My devoted taste tester took 1 bite and said "I love you, but please don't make people eat this." He spent the rest of the day referring to the soup as "poo food" - a delightful little nickname referring to its color and texture. 

I haven't given up on the idea of Thanksgiving lunch, but if I try to serve my family "poo food," I think I'll be banned from the kitchen permanently. So for now it's back to the drawing board.

The Squirrel

For those of you who have never been to New York, you should know that we have squirrels. These are not the cute, fuzzy, little creatures from my childhood backyard. No, these squirrels are different. I've seen a squirrel run up a tree with, not acorns, but an entire slice of stolen pizza in its mouth. These squirrels are bigger, bolder, and hungrier.

Last year, my garden was regularly invaded by a squirrel that had taken up residence on my fire escape, and it had no mercy. I tried everything. I was told that sprinkling cayenne pepper would deter him, but he just thought it made my tomatoes taste like salsa. I planted peppers so the smell would drive him away; he ate those too. I hung CDs to reflect light - nothing. I used dog hair to create a "predator smell" - nada. I sprayed him with water, and he just stared me down. That squirrel was determined.

This year, maybe I'll take a different approach. Instead of wasting my time fighting a losing battle, I think I'll just plant a little extra, and plan on sharing. After all, I'm trying to invite more nature into my life, not scare it away.

If you can't beat 'um, feed 'um.

Guerilla Knitting

A little bit of knitted graffiti I stumbled upon a few months ago. 

Last Year's Garden

This photo is of the sad little "garden" at my last apartment. 

Despite being tiny, windy, dark, and squirrel infested, this little fire escape was able to provide a surprising amount of food. Throughout last year's growing season, I was able to produce lettuce, peppers, cherry tomatoes, swiss chard, mint, basil, cilantro, chives, and a small sunflower. Granted, some of my attempts were more successful than others, and most of the produce was eaten by squirrels, but it did grow. I have pictures to prove it.