So many things just out of reach....

The downside to being on all kinds of E-mail list is hearing about all the fun things going on that are too far away/too expensive for me to indulge in.

Current examples include the Kneading Conference in Maine. Lots of cool wood-fired baking workshops. *whine* Lots of topics I'm interested in. Though I'm guessing that "small scale grain production" refers to commercially farming smaller plots and marketing grain locally - rather than a 10'x10' plot in my backyard. And the attendees might be a bit hippy-dippy for my comfort level. Still.

Also a stumpwork embroidery seminar out in Cali. With Jane Nicholas! *pout* *whine* *stomp*

Ah, the shackles of adult responsibility.

Other things I'd still like to do at some point

Put together a "Grainaissance" festival event - a celebration of Beer and Bread. Classes on brewing, baking, raising grains on a small scale, milling, malting, and kilning. Ideally, someplace that would allow and have enough clay available to do a demo of a wood-fired oven on-site. Preferably be able to pull in a keynote presenter - even a mundane expert in the topic.

Actually, it would be keen to be able to BUILD a wood-fired oven that could be more or less permanent. But I'm not sure how THAT would work out. I'd have to think it over.

Get to another (or be part of hosting) a KW Costuming Symposium.

Host or go to a Germanic/Low Countries themed event/symposium. Sort of a "special interest group" educational event.

There's still the Other Matter that I'm inclined to pursue, at least by feeling out people to see if there's enough support for the idea to really start making waves about it. I have yet to see a good argument against it that doesn't amount to "because that's how we've always done it." Which, as a few other people have pointed out locally, often seems to translate more as "Because that's inconvenient for me personally, and I'm going to tell you to shove off because I can."

Tomorrow's plan - Feast of the Strawberry Moon. Probably fairly early on, before it gets too warm. Hoping to maybe find some willow. Promised Tracey I'd look at skunk hats for her FIL. Hopefully the girls will behave better. Rori spent the afternoon acting like she didn't GET a nap. And Anneliese has been in full bore "Let me show you every Autistic quirk I have" mode - everything from self-trauma to lying on the floor and kicking her feet. Hope this in not indicative of how the summer will go, in general. But I think it's time to lay down the law with her, foodwise. She's been so unwilling to eat at all that we've tended to let her have her way (She's about 4'3", and weighs under 50#. However, now that I know she WILL eat a lot of things she tends to refuse, it's time to make it a matter of eating what's set in front of her, rather than trolling the pantry. And Rori - only wants to eat what Anneliese has. Which is sort of handy at the moment.

My week:

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