Sunrise...sunset

 

The Eastern sky is brilliant each morning as I return from taking the kids to the bus stop.  The school year is nearly halfway over.  My kids are fully vaccinated now, Husband and I both got our boosters, and we have all avoided contracting COVID-19.  I was able to give a presentation about COVID-19 vaccine science to the middle school.  I shouldn't have been shocked by they conspiracy theories existing in the community and voiced through the questions of children - but I was.  At least I presented the public health viewpoint for their consideration.  It is probably the only time most of them will hear it.  

Despite my training and understanding of science.  There is something almost spiritual that I continue to feel about this pandemic.  Let's face it - humans have only microscopic predators and humans are a plague on the resources of mother Earth.  In the US we approach 800,000 deaths from COVID-19 and the virus is not done evolving.  We are under attack.  

This weekend the Earth waged further war on humanity through ever more natural disasters, a cluster of tornadoes across six states in December.  Humans are going to have to start paying the debt we owe to nature - we need to plant trees, take less, live with a lighter imprint.  Our expectation that the Earth is a never-ending Giving Tree is folly.  We need a new ending.

The sun is going to continue to rise and set on this planet - whether humans will continue to witness it or if mother Nature will send us the way of the dinosaurs seems to depend on whether or not we can learn that we are not separate from Nature, but part of it.  

Each setting sun reminds us that the day is over and a long cold December night is near.  We have stored up the sun's energy so that we can live in the illusion of day long after the sun has set.  We burn wood to ensure we are warm when the temps drop below freezing.  These are gifts of nature to live in comfort when the outdoors are harsh.  But do we treat these moments as gifts or do we expect that we are entitled to these comforts as the supreme animals we thinks ourselves to be?  

Off-grid Thanksgiving

Well, we had a beautiful Thanksgiving.  I was very grateful for the sun so that I was able to warm up our pre-cooked turkey in the solar oven (I ordered Thanksgiving dinner from Safeway).  I added the turkey at around 9:00 a.m. and took it out at around 3:00 p.m. when the sun oven was not keeping as high of a temp.  Most of the day it had no trouble keeping around 350 degrees. 

When I temped the bird in the afternoon it was around 155 when I really needed to be 10 degrees warmer.  At that point we transferred it to a large pot and put it on the wood-burning stove.

I put the lid on it an it simmered there for about an hour until the temp was around 170.  The rest of dinner I ordered from Safeway was easy to warm in the microwave.  I also made a Brussel sprout and sweet potato side dish.  Dinner was amazing.

For the four days off we stayed home, played a bunch of Minecraft with the kids and just enjoyed our place.  It was relaxing and free from acquisition anxiety.  We certainly observed Buy Nothing Day.  

I was able to make a soup with the turkey carcas - it turned out really well.  I also baked a loaf of wheat bread in the solar oven.

There is a lot to be said for being thankful for the land, the sun, family and the homestead.  It was a lovely holiday!