My shopping habits have changed since moving to the country. First of all, shopping requires planning because it involves a trip to town. Sure it’s only 20 miles to Coeur d’Alene, but it’s not a trip we like to make more than once a day or even a few times a week, so we cram in as many errands as possible. Last week, one trip included Lowe’s, the credit union, North Idaho Post & Pole, dinner, and voting.
I used to shop at places like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples, and Macy’s. Now, I shop at Tractor Supply, North 40, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and North Idaho Post & Pole. We are building a new 30×30 garden area, so we needed fencing. Who knew there are so many options for fencing? What diameter, length, wood type and treatment should the poles be? (We went with 4″ diameter, 12′ pine, untreated poles.) What material should the fencing be? Do you need a scoop of pine shavings with that? Why yes, we do.
Most Idaho businesses fly the American flag, and many also fly the state flag. These specimens are on the small side.
Getting a side of pine shavings
The corner poles are set in the new garden plot
Voting in Idaho was a new experience. I’ve only gone to a polling place once to vote; after that, I voted permanent absentee in California. I assumed I would get a sample ballot in the mail, but that was not the case. So the day before the election I was scouring the internet trying to figure out what I was voting on. It was not easy. Once I found the sample ballots, I had to figure out which one applied to me by party and precinct. On election day, Shawn and I headed over to our polling place 20 minutes prior to closing. Our town of Worley has a population of 257, and we were voters numbers 215 and 217 (Shawn got chatty with the senior ladies and someone slipped in between us). The volunteer asked for my name, party affiliation and ID then handed me a color-coded card with my party designation. I took two steps to the right and gave my card to another volunteer to receive my ballot.
We voted at the Worley Community Center which also does double duty as the library, senior center, and city offices
Our vast Worley government complex
Last week, we went to The Backyard Butchery in Cheney, Washington to pick up the rest of the pig that Shawn had learned to butcher. Shawn’s instructor, Adam, had a litter of week-old piglets (also known as a drift or drove, I just Googled that). We will be getting two when they are weaned at the beginning of July.
The drive from Cheney to Worley was beautiful. The rolling hills were covered in short, green wheat fields and wildflowers were blooming along the side of the road. We stopped for dinner at the Harvester Family Restaurant in Spangle, Washington. I had the epitome of comfort food: chicken fried steak with garlic mashed potatoes.
The only restaurant for miles
Happenings around the farm
The grapevines are alive! I wasn’t so sure when I pruned them in March.
Two tiny birds are making a nest in Tito’s mouth
Waiting in the rain for the chickens to go to bed
Making chicken stock after processing the last of the Frankenchicks
What your husband comes home with from the farmers’ market when you let him go shopping by himself
Chickens being chickens
Unloading the pine shavings and making walkways between the garden beds
Getting the propane tank leveled and filled
Mowing the grass in the sudden downpour
The weather went from 74 and sunny to 60 and pouring in minutes
First dish made from our homegrown non-GMO, antibiotic-free Frankenchicks. Sliced chicken breast over parmesan risotto with pesto and fresh tomato.
Life is good…