Santa’s Sleigh 5K

This morning the boys and I ran in the Santa’s Sleigh 5K. Braedon and I ran in this race last year, and it was cold again, although my wife says it was warmer this year because, unlike last year, she was comfortably able to stand outside during the entire race.

The picture may look bad, but before I win ‘Worst Dad of the Year’ award for forcing my kids to endure extreme environmental conditions, let it be known that , oh, no more than three strides into the race Braedon took his hat off. I told him to put it back on his head, and he defiantly told me, “No, it is better this way.” OK kid.

Somewhere around this point Brenden began laughing hysterically. I am not certain just what struck him as funny; perhaps it was his dad mumbling something about a heavy stroller and an upcoming hill.

Mom greeted us at the finish line and then we were really off to the races because we still had a full day ahead of us…

Winter Fun and Camping Chickens

Perryville has had a terrible grey streak, and over the last two weeks I think I have seen the sun shine down on only two occasions. Needless to say, we’ve experienced a near constant drizzle, and although never a downpour, a lot of water has fallen from the sky and my backyard now consists of mud, muck, and that mixture of mud and muck around the perimeter of the yard where Joe Louis races beside the fence, rooster tailing the whole way.

For a change of pace, the rain subsided to snow yesterday morning. Our chickens set up a bivouac site on the high ground of our yard. That’s right, we were fortunate to select chickens that would know how to handle the elements.

Aside from the perimeter of the back yard, neither Joe nor I were able to run as much as we’d like this week – until last night. It was fun to feel the sting of snowflakes on my face.

Dogs and Caffeine

A few weeks back I was contacted by the blogger from the Coffee with a Canine blog, asking if I was interested in answering some questions for a blog post. After consulting with my dog I answered the questions, and yesterday Joe Louis was the blog’s featured canine. Over the past weeks I have enjoyed reading about many people and the dogs that make their lives all the more interesting. Check out the Coffee with a Canine blog for some fun reading.

Buy Local Foods

My friends at the Frost Bottom Farm posted a link to the Food, Inc. documentary earlier today. Scary stuff. The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, opened my eyes to the un-sustainability of the industrial food chain, and Food, Inc. interviews Pollan as well as other people referenced in the book. I’ll try to check out Food, Inc., but in the meantime, I will continue to purchase as much locally grown and raised foods as possible to feed my family.

The Mason-Dixon Trail

I have lived in Maryland for the past six years and am still learning about the places I like to visit. This week’s revelation: the trail along the river at the Susquehanna State Park is part of the Mason-Dixon Trail System. That in itself is not very interesting, but knowing that the trail continues for miles and miles beyond the park’s boundaries, and connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail, gives new meaning to “feeling connected” when enjoying the trail. My family has taken in the serene beauty of our little section of the trail, and as recent as last weekend, Joe and I ran a few miles over it.

Me and Braedon during one of his early visits to the Susquehanna State Park

Joe takes a moment to enjoy the view across the river during our run this past weekend

Another bit of information associated with the trail that I found interesting is the Mason-Dixon Trail Longest Day 100K Challenge in which participants attempt to traverse sixty-two miles of the trail, beginning in the Susquehanna State Park, between sunrise and sunset on the longest, or near-longest, day of the year. All in all I find this event to be intriguing. I certainly have a ways to go before I can consider not only the physical demands of completing a 100K, but also navigating unmarked trails while fatigued while still racing against darkness, but it’s on my radar for future years.

The Right to Hang…Laundry

A friend of mine forwarded me this ‘Right to Hang Laundry’ link today. In addition to having chickens in my backyard (and I may be pushing the interpretations of city and county codes…), drying my laundry on a clothesline is another reason I am glad to not live in a neighborhood with a home owners’ association. While HOAs can do a lot of good for commonality within a community, levying fines against its members who chose not to use an electric or gas-heated dryer is not one of them. The aesthetic violation of the clothesline dryer is outweighed by the right, and responsibility to fellow citizens and future generations, to reduce consumption of natural resources. A clothesline dryer does not solve the issues of pollution (from mining, refining, transporting, combusting, etc.) and resource depletion; there is no feel-good silver bullet fix to the energy challenges the world will face. A change of habit can be part of the solution.

If each homeowner in a subdivision with fifty homes began drying just five loads of laundry per month (assuming 5 kW dryers, which would be very efficient, and one hour of dryer time per load), the energy savings (1,250 kWhr/month) would be enough to power another home with electricity for a month (or more). So let's take advantage of a resource that is free and constant (except at night - and I am not going to go into the life span of our sun) to do a rather simple job - dry clothes.

Moving Day

Our chickens made the big move from their brooder in the basement to their coop in the backyard today. We’ve had them since they were two-day-old baby peeps back in September. With some more TLC, they should keep us in supply of fresh eggs beginning next spring.

Today was also the first day that Joe Louis has seen the chickens. Joe has never been in our basement; not because we don’t allow it, but because he won’t go.