Yes, this IS the name of the new CD - but it also pretty accurately describes how winter looks around here. We don't get over to the garden much, except to check on the solar connections once in awhile. Most of our time is on the Hawthorne side of the road (Nammah and the power are on the sunny side of the road in Oakland.) 
We continue to eat well, thanks to Nammah - and to stay warm, thanks to our supply of wood harvested from the property (and gifted from neighbor Bob).We have had a lot of freezing and thawing including some 20 and 30 below zero temps. with little snow. It makes me wonder if the perennials have enough cover to keep them through the winter. The blueberries have pine needles, the raspberries a combination of straw and leaves, and the strawberries have straw (of course)!
The weather has also wreaked havoc on my bathwater luminaries this year. I have replaced the ones to the sauna three times now! I take plenty of baths so that is not a problem, it just gets a bit discouraging when they continue to melt! Some think me crazy for making my luminaries out of bathwater. To me it is the perfect use for this greywater that isn't even that grey!
A sampling of our winter foods includes a variety of pizza. The pesto with slow roasted tomatoes is a personal favorite. This picture is of the squash with roasted beets and goat cheese (no we don't make this cheese. There are no goats in the neighborhood)!
A different squash lovers favorite is to make the sauce out of squash, with parmesan cheese and milk from Dottie down the road plus some garlic and dried herbs from the garden. It is best over noodles. Something about the squash sauce on top of squash noodles seems wrong - like mad squash disease or something!
And what else to do in winter but to strain and organize the variety of schnapps we have been making over the years. Infused vodka that is...blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry, chokecherry, wild plum, apple, jalapeno and hot pepper PLUS some interesting herb experiments including anise hyssop and lemon scented geranium. It appears that we make more than we drink...of THIS anyway. I also brew beer with my pal Julie; much more popular and does not require sipping.
Soon it will be time to tap the maple trees and plot out Nammah 2013! I have some new hoop house plans in the making - thanks Mother Earth News for the inspiration! I read that magazine with each issue and marvel at how much of it WE already do...plus have jobs! Summers off DO make the full time job of managing the 18 - 8x4 foot raised beds PLUS another 20x30 foot squash plot AND potatoes, raspberries and orchard outside the fence...possible. I read, though, about the people who make a living with this same life we are making here. To figure out how to generate some income, beyond our own sustainability, seems to be the key. A CSA is not appealing to me - the food is more valuable to me than people could possible pay! Plus I would worry that the wonder and fun of it all would dampen if it became income. My harvest would become an expectation instead of a gift! The other issue that no one talks about in the magazine is health insurance. Though, according to midrash, Nammah was Noah's wife, she does not come with insurance benefits!
Hannah sends her greetings (I'm sure Eva the cat does too, though she is being aloof next to the fire, and thinking that this whole blog concept is only for needy attention seeking...dogs!)
