Today I turned 40 years old with a bottle of champagne and my family on a summit overlooking the North Cascades. We kicked off the weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail at Harts Pass near Canada. The PCT was the first “big girl” trail I hiked after moving to Seattle in 2013. Spending time in complete silence (for hours) was a first for me. It truly changed my life. When I finally grew comfortable paying attention without immediately reacting, I was really able to listen and see life around me in a way I never had before. If someone asks what really led to the end of my career, it was an internal shift I have a hard time describing but ultimately resembles self-awareness, and it probably began on the PCT. I met several through hikers this weekend who started at the Mexico border and were almost done. I asked what they planned to do after such an accomplishment. “Go home and get back to work,” most said. At first it seems anticlimactic but I remember Trent Peterson, a young man whose story I told years ago, as he rode wild mustangs along the PCT. He used to say that the PCT is just a trail, what matters is that we slow down, pay attention and see clearly whatever path we’re on. I looked up a quote from that report to share with you all.
“This isn't to advocate for the PCT. The PCT is just a trail. Get out of the rat race and slow down. Pay attention to the little things, not just the big things, because it's the whole picture we need to be aware of," he said.
I have used this bread recipe so many times, I could make it in my sleep now. I got it from The Sweet Simple Things website but I changed honey to maple syrup. I’ll put their link in the comments. I have a sourdough starter ready to go, so I will be moving into sourdough territory soon. However, this is a great, simple and quick recipe if you need bread within a few hours. If you have bread recipe you use often, please share in the comments! Also I am looking for an easy sourdough recipe for freshly ground whole wheat flour.
You can even spread your fermented cod liver oil/concentrated butter oil on a piece of your fresh bread and maybe it will balance the taste a little. Protect those chompers so you can eat more than bread for years to come. (And… Let me know if you try spreading it on your bread!) Use promo code “ALISON” for 10% off at check out. https://greenpasture.org/
Our Nigerian dwarf goat, Lucy, teams up with me every morning to make my iced Matcha latté. Straight from the goat into the glass. Doesn’t get any fresher!
I love goat milk because it’s higher in potassium than cow milk and Lucy’s milk has such a high cream content, you can’t really even tell the difference. Dairy from a goat or cow out on forage eating greens is a great way to get Vitamin K2, which your body needs to utilize Vitamin D. Another great product I take for Vitamin K as well as A & D is the fermented cod liver/butter oil from Green Pasture. I used to get chronic cavities and I finally got clean reports from the dentist when I started taking it 15 years ago, long before I cut sugar. If you grab some, use “ALISON” as your promo code at check out and you’ll get 10% off. https://greenpasture.org/
We moved Peter and Tod to a new pasture and with them, the bachelor pad they call home. Lynn put skis on it so he can pull it behind the tractor.
I was a little nervous when we first set out the shelter for them that Peter wouldn’t let Tod inside but the two share quite well. Someone once told me you can’t put two intact bucks together or they’ll kill each other. Our boys had it out the first day but since then have been the best of friends.
Did you know goats only have teeth on their bottom jaw up front? They have top and bottom molars in the back. I fixed my battle with chronic cavities by taking the fermented cod liver/concentrated butter oil from https://greenpasture.org/ which is packed with vitamins A, D & K along with omega 3s. The butter oil and the fermentation process are what really distinguish this from other fish oils, many of which do nothing. Use promo code “ALISON” at check out for 10% off.
