Dark Nights & Fresh Yoghurt
6Saturday 07 December, 2013 by Uncle Spike
Now there’s a daft blog post title if ever I saw one – see, I know what you’re thinking…. 🙂 Anyhow, here’s a simple post about some simple thoughts, on simple things, about my country life; thing’s from the last hour in fact.
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1 – Do I miss the simplicity of natural gas heating?
Funnily enough, no. Whilst 24×7 instant heat has it’s obvious benefits, there is something kind of ‘decent’ about lighting the log burner downstairs of a cold winters day. I also really don’t get too bothered about lugging 25kg sacks of coal around and then manually lighting a pine cone and brushwood fire to get the coal boiler into action for hot water and a few upstairs radiators.
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2 – Street-lighting… What’s the point?
I’ve lived in towns and I’ve lived in cities, so I know all about street-lights and how ‘dark areas’ signify potential dangers and whatnot. However, out here, I find the occasional street-light almost an intrusion. We have no lights where we are, just a few dotted around the village, but I have to walk 200 metres at least to find the dirt road lit up at all. At 6.30 tonight, I walked a couple of farms up the road to get something. It was pitch black (new moon and all that), and just the stars to light my way. I never carry a torch; why, it’s a rocky track we live on, but I know the road well enough, there is no traffic, and the farm dogs along the way know me and just bark but don’t follow.
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3 – Fresh farm produce beats all.
My little 10 minute walk each way was for a simple purpose, to get some milk and yoghurt. Still warm from milking as I arrived at the neighbouring farm, an old 2.5 litre Coca-Cola bottle of fresh cows milk awaited me. It’s now boiling on the stove for its ritual 10 minutes so it can be cooled ready for our family Sunday breakfast in the morning. And to go with tonight’s home-made curry I just slapped together… that’s some fresh yoghurt from the farm in that yellow dish.
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A little slice of heaven
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FRESH MILK, HOME-MADE SOUP, HOME-MADE CURRY, AND FRESH YOGHURT
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Country life has it’s inconveniences, even the odd hardship you could even say for Clan Spike; but on the other hand, these few simple little things like I’ve mentioned above do make one realise how wholesome life can be…
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Uncle Spike's Adventures 
It does sound very peaceful Spike. The idea of growing so much of your own produce and walking to get what you need is very appealing.
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It’s a ‘different’ life I guess.
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We (well I) make yogurt too, it’s so much better than store bought.
One of the best things about the wilderness trips I used to take my daughter on was the stars (and the northern lights.) Living in the city, I’m like lucky to see 4 or 5 constellations. If only we could turn off all the lights in Chicago for one hour, when the Milky Way was overhead!
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I’ve always lived in the country…no street or yard lights. I find the dark comforting…even the mid-night walks with the dogs is full of adventure. It is also fine tunes your senses.
Well, done! Uncle.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
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Thanks Linda… not many can appreciate my thoughts…
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Yea, I remember what it was like to get that fresh milk. And the darkness was always actually comforting. Lights are, as you say, like an intrusion, in certain places.
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