Free Range - Latest Comments

Re: The Enduring (And Ever-Evolving) Sherlock Holmes

Pamela Parker — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:06:43 -0000

I've watched a couple of episodes so far and enjoyed it but I don't know if it's going to be a "must watch" for me. So far so good, though. I loved House but also wasn't "hooked" -- I think it would be a great show to watch on Netflix or Amazon or similar.

Re: The Enduring (And Ever-Evolving) Sherlock Holmes

Shauna — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:18:28 -0000

I had no idea about House! But you're right it does make so much sense! It's LUPUS, Watson, lupus!

I am curious to see this new one, Lucy Liu is always great to watch!

Re: Cargotecture

Shawna — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:45:00 -0000

Love this!

Re: Cargotecture

Angel — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 21:48:01 -0000

What a cool space! Thanks for linking your sight. You have such beautiful photos! I'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Re: Flowering Friday – Purple Sage

Pamela Parker — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:22:21 -0000

I don't know what to call it, but Silverado is what it said at the plant store when I bought additional plants this year. I just did a search and it looks like it has a lot of different names, including "Barometer Bush" and "Texas Ranger" (http://davesgarden.com/guid... Glad to hear you're enjoying the flowering, too!

Re: Flowering Friday – Purple Sage

Marissa Little — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:26:22 -0000

Pretty! Ours are just bursting open too (I call it Texas Sage) but my flowers are a much paler color. There are so many variations in these plants - I love it.

Re: Adventures In Raw Milk

Marissa Little — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:13:48 -0000

Duh, I can't tell if my facebook comment "took"...

Anyway, I have actually been in contact with the folks at Star Creek about Dexters. Yes, we are nuts and thinking of getting a milk cow in addition to the goats! I meant to sign up for the milking class but it was full by the time I got around to it!

And I think your land might be just perfect for goats. They prefer the scrubby woods and fencing just means you invite all your friends over for beer but give them some fence posts and shovels first. You'd be amazed what gets done during a fencing party!

Re: Scenes From a Terminal Illness

Sandiholmes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:42:04 -0000

Hey Pamela: I am so sorry your Dad is suffering through this heartless disease. Peace to you and your family.

Sandi

Re: Getting Back to Beauty Basics

Pamela Parker — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:53:59 -0000

Shannon, I've been using this Crystal Roll On stuff that you recommended and it really works! I am so impressed that there is a real aluminum-free solution. It doesn't seem to work QUITE as long as the aluminum-filled stuff, but it works great!

Re: Getting Back to Beauty Basics

Shannon H — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:57:26 -0000

I'm pretty sure I've tried every single non-aluminum-based deodorant on the market (I, for one, firmly believe that aluminum is not good for us)! Almost nothing works for me. I don't know if it's because I exercise a lot and sweat a lot or if there's just something about my body chemistry that is difficult, but it's very frustrating. The ONLY thing I've used that I really like and have continued to use even during tri training is Crystal Roll On Deodorant (http://www.vitacost.com/Cry.... It's one of the mineral deodorants, but has a light scent as well. You have to make sure you use it pretty liberally in the morning and wait until it dries completely before getting dressed, but it does work with just one application.. thanks for the other tips! :)

Re: Ten Years

Pamela Parker — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:17:05 -0000

I know what you mean. I've been crying a lot, too. NPR's "September 10" feature, where they have people tell stories of what they were doing the day before, is haunting. And kids do somehow make it more intense, perhaps because you feel you need to protect them, but know you can't, really.

Re: Ten Years

gaslight — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:46:32 -0000

I remember worrying about you, probably the only soul I knew in Manhattan. I'm not sure how To feel right now. I remember being very sad and confused, and watching my friends with kids, especially Kate, be very afraid.
Listening to NPR this weekend may prove to be too much-so many personal stories of loss-I don't think it's safe to sob and drive.

Re: Ten Years

Pamela Parker — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:27:41 -0000

I keep thinking that if I dive right in, perhaps I'll get all the feelings over with and come out cleaner on the other side. As you noted, I'm looking forward to 9/12, and not just because it's my (and your) birthday!

Re: Ten Years

Liz Gumbinner — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:12:05 -0000

I have to admit, I can kind of only skim this right now. But I think we all try to exorcise our demons in our own way. You know, after writing about it today I actually felt a weight lifted. It's hard to keep it all in. Ignoring it seems futile.

Thank you for sharing this.

Re: I think it’s supposed to be a chupacabra

Justin Watt — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:00:50 -0000

I spent like 30 seconds trying to find a chupacabra in the fog overtaking Yerba Buena Island. How about iguana?

Re: Scene From a Sports Bar (A Restoration of Faith in Human Nature)

Pamela Parker — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:26:46 -0000

This was the Waterloo Ice House, Avery Ranch Location. Link to place page: http://maps.google.com/maps...

Re: Scene From a Sports Bar (A Restoration of Faith in Human Nature)

Guest — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:10:55 -0000

Can you please identify this fine establishment?

Re: In Praise of Precipitation

Pamela Parker — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:26:20 -0000

I have a whole post planned on the rain barrels (which are mostly Michael's doing)! Did you catch how at the very end of the video the high-tech apparatus starts to fall apart? We haven't had a lot of heavy rain with which to test it all, though we obviously have caught a decent amount of rain (Circa 550 gallons) even in our few short showers. I went out to try and fix the guttering and got soaked! Anyway, it would be great if you could come by and see our non-urban homestead! I even made cheese recently and totally thought of you and Stephanie, of course.

Re: In Praise of Precipitation

Justin Watt — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:47:52 -0000

Whoa, high-tech rain barrels. Neato. Maybe we'll have a chance to stop by the next time we pass through.

Re: Not Eating Animals

Pamela Parker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:30:21 -0000

I liked your review! I'm a supporter of the local sustainable meat "solution," as well, but I think we also need to reduce consumption considerably -- I don't think the U.S. could produce enough local, sustainable meat to meet current demand. Hence a semi-vegetarian lifestyle. That is what I'm trying to move toward in our family, but it's definitely a process.

My Dad was an agriculture teacher, and he raised cattle for a lot of my growing up, so I've given this some thought. I agree with you that certain procedures probably make the animal's life more happy and healthy. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

Re: Food Preservation: Yellow Squash Edition

Pamela Parker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:20:59 -0000

My turning to canning may partly be based on the fact that we only have one freezer, the one that's side by side with the fridge. And it's quickly getting full, what with the whole pasture-raised chickens and the grass-fed beef. Well, that and the fact that I had it on MY LIST ;-)

Seriously, though, I agree that freezing is better for texture when it comes to vegetables, and my foray into canning is very much about figuring out what canning really works for. I think tomato sauce, for spaghetti and pizza, would be a really good use. As would jellies and other fruit preserves. Maybe salsa? But the point is to actually EAT the results, and that obviously only works when you like the canned versions of things. Thanks for the input, Marissa!

Re: Face it, We Live in a Desert

Pamela Parker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:31:53 -0000

Thanks, Marissa! We don't actually live in Austin. We are northwest of town in unincorporated Williamson County near Liberty Hill. We have a little bit of grassy area in the back (prairie?) with native grasses that we mow occasionally, and we have to mow the front to keep the property owners association happy. I don't know that I would have been able to tear out a lawn if we'd moved into a place that had one, but I'm grateful we don't have to make that decision.

Re: Food Preservation: Yellow Squash Edition

Marissa Little — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:29:47 -0000

I've done squash bread-and-butter pickles as well as pickled okra, beets, dilly beans and cucumber pickles. We also do jams and jellys (prickly pear is the best but there wasn't enough of a crop this year!) as well as tomatoes. I've found that I prefer freezing for actual 'storage' of most vegetables other than tomatoes. It's only the things that "need" canning (pickles, jelly, etc) that I go for that method.

Of course, that opinion may just very well be based on the fact that I did all the canning one summer a few years ago in a tin box with no AC. I'd MUCH rather stand in front of the freezer than go through that again! :)

Re: Face it, We Live in a Desert

Marissa Little — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:21:00 -0000

Your house is beeeooootiful! What part of town are you in? We also don't have much of a lawn, just a tiny patch of St. Augustine in the shade that didn't need watering until this heinous drought. The rest is prairie grass but my neighbors ensure that I keep it mowed and thus it's not as healthy if it was allowed to be more natural.

Great pics!

Re: Not Eating Animals

Marissa Little — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:17:33 -0000

Very interesting! I read this too (and did a tiny review). I'm glad to hear an omnivore was able to hear the message and not be turned off by some of his extreme views. I'm a vegetarian but I'm pretty low key about it. I actually believe sustainably raised meat is the answer (silly to imagine everyone will be veg.).

I hate articles railing on vegetarians for being THE PROBLEM with our food system (uh...3% of the pop.? Try the 90% that eat factory meat and junk food...). Those articles, just like articles against omnivores, are taking a stereotypical view of the diet - all soy based fake meats, heavy on grains, all from conventional farming. I rarely, if ever, eat fake meats, don't eat too many grains and a large portion of my food is locally and sustainably grown.

So I viewed Foer's book as probably being just as offensive to omnivores since not all will be eating factory meat. Also, as a person who raises livestock, I've come to realize that there will be unavoidable pain in an animal's life - just as in a human's life (vaccines, dentist!, surgery, etc). It's hard, but we do castrate, burn horns and give shots. In the end, I believe the pain is worth the outcome of healthier, happier animals. So that's where I disagree with Foer - I think it's better to put your dollars in local sustainable meat (if you like meat), than to shun the system completely.

Thanks for your perspective!