Chicken updateduck ? lame duckchicks appearing ? natural rearing with their mothers/surrogatesLotteLotteProduce update - 3rd summer * tomatoes * garlic * onions * potatoes * carrots * peppers * beans * peas * zucchini (courgette) * berries * grape vines * water tankSome of the harvestAJ visit to EnglandWork on houseMortgage (short), good interest rates, buffer against future disastersEnvirofoam ? basement insulationEcowater ? water softenerNew windows (energystar rated)Non-house things things (which will not add value to it) tooNew sofas and other furniture2 new netbooks after various laptop disastersFuture worksNew roof, skylights, verandah restoration, kitchen door, carpet, flooring, bathrooms, closets, insulation and dry walling. Work on wiring happening in next few weeks. But probably not solar panels for now.Bad things AJ ? his father's deathMatt ? the economyGood thingsAJ ? Lotte and turning 40Matt ? Skype, white woodwork, clean water, lots of produce, rainwater harvesting.

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This week's podcast studio (photo from Feb)Chicken update6 boys rehomed. Egg production is up. Celebrating by recording in the greenhouse ? the chickens' winter home. HarrySad news is that Harry died. Luckily Chloe recovered after a night in the vets and anti-biotics. We got another cat with undue haste as we were worried about Chloe. Caden has now joined the family. Harry had an amazing character the short time we had him ? he was a beautiful loving, affectionate naughty cat. We miss him a lot. HarryCadenAJ's garden masterclassWeekly tea, cake and gardeningStarting to plan the seasonSome seedlings being planted, getting ready for the snow to melt to start work. Also want to tidy some of our woods. ProduceQuince jelly, mango chutney, curries, naan, yoghurt ? making so much from scratch. Some days I have had a 100% homemade lunch ? soup, with homemade bread, followed by homemade yogurt with homemade jam in it. Almost as nice as last summer when our meals were often 100% garden produce. Bad thingsMatt ? tax returnsAJ ? preparing receipts for taxesGood thingsMatt ? sunshineAJ ? Springhttp://www.downshift.me.uk/podcasts/downshiftmecom68.mp3

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Visit from CarolynWas great to see herCheck out www.frugalandgreenish.com ? her well written blog about all things greenish and frugalish.ChicksHatched, grown, flourished ? almost as big as their parents now. 5 boys to try to pass on.RecessionDownshifting is very ?in? now ? TV programmes have gone from Property Ladder to The Home Show - all talking about making do. Living within your means rather than on credit.Growing food, knitting, making gifts.Jeep sold truck boughtOur own little bailout of the auto industryEnerguide surveyGot results ? not much hope of any grant money ? scored 57 pointsPlans for 2009Work on the houseBuild AJ's businessGrow even more vegetablesOptimistic about itNew TVFlat screen ? we have been really consumerist ? works with our UK DVD player ? great picture and right size ? it is our main form of entertainment. Works with our resurrected laptop.Matt been to PEIMatt ? NS, NB, PE, ONAJ ? NS, NB, AL, ONBad thingsMatt ? TVAJ ? power outagesGood thingsMatt ? lifeAJ ? 6 months free Sirius satellite radio

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