Day 5 of hard rain and crazy cold.. It was close to freezing last night at there was snow all around us in the hills, .. Everything is starting to get water logged and mold.. In keeping with that were on a fermented food kick.. Totally by accident, i might add.

It all started with natto.. The japanese fermented soybean 'delicacy' . I say that in quotes because to soem folks it tastes like old socks. I love it.. But then again. I love old socks. I had a bunch of natto during my trip to japan earlier this week. After i mentioned to my friend Nobu-san that I liked natto.., he disappeared into a convenience store and came back with a bag of dried natto. .. Ive been eating them since i got back.. I like them.. Bit no one else in the house will touch them… They say they taste like rotten soy beans .. Which they do.. But its ok, .. More for me !

Fermentation food number 2 come up by coincidence.. We dropped by to hang out with our friends tom and beth in essex. Tom built an old fashioned icehouse a few years back,. we were down there looking at the ice.when he reached in to a box a d came out with two jars.. One deep purple and one florescent orange..He's been making his own kim-chi.. A potent fermented cabbage product. The stuff was really tasty .. Especially if you like rotting cabbage… Which i do ! We had some then. And had some for dinner.. Yum.

Speakig of dinner.. All that kimchi talk got us hankering for hot dogs with sauerkraut.. Another rotting cabbe product… But one more culturally familiar, i suppose.. Diane got out the grill and cooked hot dogs for gabe And luke… And soy dog s for us.. And we covered them … With kraut..

We also dolloped on live culture probiotic yogurt… And then i washed it down with fermented grapes aka wine..

,our internal floran and fauna are rejoicing now.. I swear, en my mind feels better..

Im feeling kinda… I dont know… Kinda cultured i guess 🙂

(Groan)

Ok .. More tomrrow..

speaking of tomorrow.. In case you didn't see it on Facebook. We will be marking what would have been Sam's 21st birthday tomorrow with a low key gathering The invite is here Were going to attempt to climb bolton mountain at 2 pm… Then all come back here to the house at. 5 for a potluck.. Please come help us remember our beautiful boy…

https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/506985722683934?aref=2&ref=bookmark&__user=642051370

Nite sll, nite sam,

-me

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Our friend Barbara passed away Thursday at age 90 after a short illness. She'd been a friend and up the street neighbor for many years. She was a wonderful free spirit. She was full of stories from her long, active and adventurous life.. She traveled the world as a stewardess (she never liked the title flight attendant) and saw history unfold with the jet age.. She flew with princes and tycoons and was always good for a story. She was always game for anything.. Jen just found these pics of Barbara at a zoomba class with her, diane and hannah a year or so back.. She always was wearing this same smile

What a great lady.. We'll always remember her with that smile…

Nite all, nite sam

-me

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Cold and rainey night here in the 802.   We had terrible flooding last night. So bad that Gabes school was canceled today. Route 15, the main route north on this side of the mountains was closed last night due to flooding and soem folks in Underhill had their house foundation washed away.  Just found this picture of route 15 near the high school.. Yikes !

Weather says we may even get a few inches of wet snow on the hills behidn the house…   But.. truth be told, I love this weather.. I’ll take this over high 70’s and muggy anyday.. I love where we live…

Rainy and cool suites my mood right now. I’m feeling a little jetlagged and.. and quiet..

Next week we will mark what would be Sam’s 21st birthday..   We’re having a quiet potluck gathering to honor him on Monday night.. Invite is on Facebook for those who’d like to join us.

OK.. I’m going to go sleep until the rain stops..

nite all, nite sam

-me

Jampacked day today as I caught up from being gone. It's almost 1 AM and I'm not tired, I just realized I'm still jetlagged.… Or what's the opposite of jet lag? Jet Lead ?

One thing I noticed that was noteworthy today is that the Boy Scouts of America finally overturn their outdated ban on gay kids in scouts. I think that's a really positive development. No policy based on intolerance is justifiable even in a group that has as good intentions as the scouts.

I'm a big fan of Boy Scouts… It was important part of my growing up and a great bonding with my dad. I enjoyed doing scouting Stuff with Max when he was a kid. In fact when I did the colony TV show, I had to it meant that many of the skills that I used on the show I had learned when I was a Boy Scout back in the 70s. There are so many positive things about that organization and the lessons it teaches to kids.

For years I have done several volunteers science shows a year for various Boy Scout groups in the area. I've also done mentoring for various science related merit badges. It was a way to pay back the organization all it has given me in the past.

More recently, though I decided that I could no longer reconcile my support of the scouts with my belief in inclusion of people of all types. The scouts ban on gay Scouts and leaders just doesn't fit in my personal beliefs. How can an organization that Intends to teach Fairness and respect not show that fairness and respect to all people?

Because I could not resolve those views, I began declining invitations to work with Scouting groups. It made me sad to do so, because I believe in most everything else they do. Still I felt it was my only way of voice displeasure was with my time. I wrote the local scouting council with my reasoning and got several respectful answers back. All made the argument that this only hurt the kids… Which I respectfully disagreed with because of the volunteer work I do in schools reaches the same kids But does it inclusively.

I was really happy tonight when I got a twitter message telling me that the band and then overturned at least as far as the scouts themselves were concerned. From what I understand there is still a ban on gay leaders… Which continues to trouble me… But I believe that too will change with time. I'm still pleased that the organization has Recognized that it Must include everyone when they teach to respect and honor others.

I look forward to working with them again in the near future. At the same time I think the public should still work hard to convince them to change their remaining views on inclusion in their leadership.

Okay… I got to go to bed now just like this kicking. More tomorrow
Night all, might Sam
– Me

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