The weekend is a good time for grazing. This is a summary of some of the delightful Blog articles I have been reading during the week. I invite you to graze through these, and also through the archives of the creative writers who have written about appetizing recipes, food preparation, gardening, canning and preserving, aspects of nutrition, homesteading and life’s choices, hopes and lessons.

You can access the entire Weekend Highlights series to date by clicking on that category in the sidebar at left.

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In The Democratic Coop, Pluck and Feather writes, “A vegan friend of mine recently shared that she understood and respected my effort to reduce consumption of factory farmed animals by raising my own… She pointed out that hatcheries are factory farms so purchasing your chicks from them defeats the effort…”

This great, thought-provoking article (in a very gentle way) applies to so many situations where opinions and beliefs clash and tempers flare. It reminds us that it all boils down to attitude. With an attitude of mutual respect, divergent points of view become a source of inspiration for sharing deeper thought, rather than a reason for confrontation. This requires great composure. It also requires we never lose sight of our deeper connection with others and that this is the root of the matter, isn’t it?

[Read Full Article]

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Remember High Heels to Hay? Young couple living on a farm for a year and then returning to city life, and the emotional shock of reconciling the nature-lover with the urban roots? I seem to drop in on them just about when there is a big shift taking place. Those of you who have a small, commercial farm will fully relate to the very important and life-altering adventure that is taking place here.

“When we moved back to Minneapolis,” writes the author in New Year. New Farm!, “We envisioned digging up the backyard, side-yard and front yard to grow as much food as possible for ourselves and maybe a few neighbors… Then, just as we were getting our hands dirty splicing up the backyard… we received a call… it’s vital for us to integrate into the neighborhood, to become a part of the greater whole…”

[Read Full Article]

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To add to your list of good reads: Just a Smidgen, “An intentional celebration of everything that is beautiful in my life,” writes the author.

“Smidge” appeared at Granny’s Parlour a little while back and I am grateful that she did. As time goes by, I find it increasingly difficult to zero in on three or four articles to share each weekend. I began this review about mid-week and soon came upon a stumbling block. How to choose? So many points of view, so much creative thinking, so many words of wisdom, delicious and unique eats and, most of all, so much passion and enthusiasm. What to do when you cannot choose?

The answer came moments ago when I came upon these words: “If a sound wave is divided again and again the harmonic pitch rises, higher and higher, still… on a diminishing curve. Sometimes it feels like my time is being divided and divided and divided until it approaches “zero”…

In Harmonic Inclination for Honey Roasted Potatoes, the author’s poetic account of deciding who to be when faced with indecision and doubt reads like a wave that inches its way ever so gently onto shore until it reaches further. Each wave embraces the shore a bit more and in doing so grasps its full essence over time, as though the wave were a hand that discovers the world by touch. And then it finds a resting place, the right place, in a feast. This is a reminder to act with intention and awareness.

[Read Full Article]

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How about three snap shots to round-up the day?

In Like a Lion at The Flying T Ranch – “I said to myself, “Self, this is not a day to spend writing about serious things.”  So, my wife and I put our winter chore clothes back on and headed out to play with the kids.” [Read Full Article]

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Wanted a Moat but Settled for a Fence at Chateau de Vie – “I’ll admit that I Googled ‘moat diggers NC’ before deciding on a fence for our property. My inner child was convinced that a moat would be a fantastic idea. However, the Mr. told me that the piranhas wouldn’t make it through the winter…and no moat of mine will be piranha free. So, a fence seemed like a logical second option.” [Read Full Article]

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Tough Break, Charlotte at The Middlest Sister – “When Charlotte fractured her leg, she got no sympathy from any of us. If she had BROKEN it, we would have given her lots and lots of pity and attention, but a fracture?” [Read Full Article]

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Thank you for stopping by to read this Weekend’s Review. Please take a moment to leave a few words on the Blogs you enjoy, if you feel so inclined that is.