Polyface Farm

Way back in March I purchased tickets to tour Polyface Farm. This is the farm featured in Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and Joel Salatin, the farmer, is also featured heavily in the documentary Food Inc. Anyway, after reading about the farm I knew I needed to go to there.  And it was every bit amazing as I it seems in the book.  Our tour was given by Joel himself and he was incredible.  He is a teacher at heart, for sure, and clearly passionate about what he does and educating people about how healthy food can be raised in mass quantities without factory farming.  The farm is completely open to the public, because he believes that all the secrecy surrounding food is one of the big problems with our industrialized food industry (you know, like listeria outbreaks and mad cow disease).  Anyway, not only was it incredibly informative but it was so beautiful too.    All in all I am VERY glad I didn't miss this opportunity before we moved.

We started our day in picturesque Staunton and ate a bit of lunch and a bit of gelato.

These cows live on the range and are moved around in order to harness the maximum amount of energy and keep the grasses alive and well.  Joel Salatin also talked about how they use the theories of natural selection to keep a strong stock.  It was a very educational tour, and he was a great teacher.

Joel demonstrating the health of the cows "salad bar"

These are the laying hens, foraging on bugs and grass, and protected by geese.

These are the broilers that live in these portable pens so they too get to forage on grubs and grass and fertilize the massively healthy pastureland of the farm.

The dumb as rocks turkey with their portable roost in the background.

The pigs get to forage in the woods, which helps the forest rejuvinate and stay healthy and makes the pigs fat have the same nutritional benefits as olive oil!  The pigs were entertaining as they tried to knock Joel over.

And the scenery, oh the scenery.  Simply amazing.  

Conference Weekend

Cinnamon rolls (one of my all time best batches) and lounging around in pajama's all day.  What could be better?

Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center

I suppose I should add some commentary.  It was good.  Really good, but the production wasn't as spectacular or goosebump inspiring as the original.  I still haven't won Rob over to musicals.

MIss Steph's Dance Class

Clara took a fantastic dance class from the wonderful and talented Steph who has a dance studio here in Warrenton.  She also happens to be my Visiting Teacher and works in primary with Clara and is a really terrific person.  Anyway, Clara loved the class.  I loved it becuase they actually danced and didn't do the typical "how to dance sexy even though you are only 4" thing. On the last day we got to go in and watch and I was laughing so hard as Clara was continually distracted and absorbed in watching her reflection.  So funny.  We will miss Steph a lot.

Fall Soccer

We signed the boys up again.  They are on the same team.  And I feel super bad because they barely have enough players on their team and we are leaving before the season is over.  I can't talk about it.  The closer it gets the harder this is getting.  Anyway, they've done well.  Tucker has played keeper and loves it and has gotten better.  

Virginia Geography Project

On Diets

Do you see this picture?  This picture is my inspiration.  Why?  Why would this horrific picture of me be inspirational?  What is inspirational about a chubby lady pushing a stroller, with humidified fluffy hair, in a wretchedly fundamentalist outfit?  Well, when I saw this picture I was gobsmacked, (and I also threw that shirt and skirt out immediately).  I mean I knew I'd gained some weight (and to be fair anyone standing next to Whitney is going to look slightly chubby even if they happen to be Kate Moss) but, I had turned into this?  Really?  When did this happen?  

Back in the day I fit easily into a size 6 (before size 6 was really a size 8)

 And so when we got back from Utah this summer I decided it was time for some drastic measures.  And so for the first time in my life I went on a diet.  I was inspired by Rob and my friend Challey who had decided to count calories and had lost substantial amounts of weight.  So here was my plan.  No more dessert, period.  The reasoning behind this was sugar supresses the feeling of being satiated, and truly I am a bottomless pit when it comes to food. And it worked, after I got over the hard part of craving it constantly). And I limited my calorie intake drastically and kept track of every bite I took on livestrong.com's daily plate.  I also have been going to lots of these classes:

 And lots of these classes which have taught me coordination isn't really my thing (not that I needed to learn that.  I already knew I couldn't do any kind of complicated sequence involving my feet):

And the good news is, I am seeing results.  I've been working out nearly daily for about 4 years now, and I haven't ever lost weight.  But now, with the diet, it is working.  Which is exciting and motivating.  But did anyone see last weeks Modern Family?  (And if you aren't watching Modern Family than you need to be.  It is maybe the funniest show ever.  Seriously.)

Anyway so Mitch and Cam are on a juice fast.  And they go to a work charity fundraiser and Mitch's boss tells a story about a seal that died because a plastic bag that strangled him and Mitch bursts into hysterical sobs, because he is slightly unhinged from his diet.  Believe me it was hilarious. I could relate so well.  I am not starving myself by any means but most nights all I want to do is eat a stick of deep fried butter.

Okay, not really.  That is sick!  But it turns out food is my favorite thing in the world.  I love food.  Food makes everything better.  Eating good food while traveling is one of the best parts of traveling.  And all events are made better by food. Especially food made with chocolate, and any kind of cheese (except velveeta), and french fries.  Seriously.  And key lime pie.  And homemade ice cream.  And Courtney's whoopie pies.  And gruyere and ham panini's with plenty of butter.  So even though I religiously pass on cheese deliciousness and all kinds of fabulous desserts I confess that most of the time I daydream about this:

Not sure it is worth it.  Except when I look at that first picture....and then I think, okay maybe it is worth it.