JANUARY 2015, ISSUE #164

Despite frigid January temperatures, we still managed to eat well, party hearty and complete a few outdoor projects. This is perfect weather for writing, and both Bob and Camille have been working on their first books.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

20150101SpotZiola  20150101SpotCharlotte

20150101SpotMcMullanFamily

Spot made some new friends at our annual Hoppin’ John Party on New Year’s Day.

 

FRESH FROM THE BACKYARD

20150105PreFrostHarvest  20150107OysterMushrooms

Parsley, beets, greens, leeks, daikon and oyster mushrooms. They didn’t last long, because we ate them right up!

 

SHINING IT UP

20150112CleanRings

Bob had our rings cleaned by a nice lady in town. Thanks for the recommendation, Tami!

 

AUTHORS!

20150131CamillesBook  20150116BiodieselBob

Camille wrote Two Brauds Abroad with Stephanie De La Garza, and Bob wrote Backyard Biodiesel with Lyle Estill. Camille holds two books side-by-side to show off the front and back cover featuring a photo Bob took of a broke-down taxi on the road in front of our house in Ghana. Bob holds a jar of backyard biodiesel made next door and a knowing smile – the perfect photo for his author bio.
You can buy Two Brauds Abroad on Amazon or on their Website. Backyard Biodiesel will be available in April. Or, if you Kindle, get a free kindle version of Two Brauds Abroad for a limited time. Offer ends Thursday, February 5th!

 

 PIEDMONT TROPICALS

20150106Greenhouse

Malcolm and Bob completed the skinning of the greenhouse where Bob will soon be cultivating ginger and turmeric as Piedmont Tropicals.

 

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

20150130GreenhousePipeErnie  20150130GreenhousePipe

Bob and Ernie (pictured) have been digging a trench and laying electrical conduit in a pipe to bring electricity to the greenhouse.

 

TOPSIDE

20150121PoleBarnRoof  20150121PoleBarn

At the other end of the property, the pole barn has received a new roof which will preserve the newly built stairs below. FAC (Friday Afternoon Club), anyone?

 

A HOME TO WRITE HOME ABOUT

20150131DougBetsy

We hope Betsy and Doug write a book about the house they are building. Obviously not interested in sticking with straight lines, they went for the rounded-line, sunburst/shipwreck look.

____________________________________________________________

THIS MONTH’S QUOTES:

“The worst feeling in the world is the homesickness that comes over a man occasionally when he is at home.” Edgar Watson Howe

“But then I think — well, I’d like to like Bach’s music more than I do, and I could probably make myself like it better if I tried, but I don’t like having to try to make myself like things. I want to spend more time on the things that I already like.” – Gretchen Rubin from The Happiness Project

“When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth. – Kurt Vonnegut”

____________________________________________________________

SearchBinoculars

The best way to locate a page or photo from past issues is with this handy Search Engine

PFA Banner

Get the back story via our blog at Plastic Farm Animals

____________________________________________________________

[Troutsfarm] * [January, 2015]

____________________________________________________________