Traveling Abroad the Fence

I.

This blog is titled "Traveling Abroad the Fence" which means you can travel anywhere!

[If you haven't read this blog for a while, you may begin to notice that certain themes appear and we deal with them for a while - say over a couple weeks or a month. Themes that are not always clear or straight forward themes; but, like some of us, are good for thinking about problems or opportunities; they develop in us over a long time.]

Being from Gulf Of Mexico/Mississippi River Bottom culture - we stew everything a long time.

This week, as the season got frosty for us (lows 49' F - 10' C) we started using our big Crock Pot as an ambient heater. The idea of greens in a pot is quintessential southern Autumnal food life; sweet potatoes, green and cabbages - all these point to changes of season on our food calendar.

We cooked Beans, eggplant dips, and sweet potatoes literally for days: Leaving a simmering pot of cinnamon potatoes cooking is so much nicer than just burning gas or electric!

Turn your crockpot into a RockPot of good tastes this winter and reduce your heat bill!

We decided long ago that when we got back to the USA after a ten month round-the world adventure we would adopt a mantra of traveling in your own backyard. The truth for us was that even as we have passed through and visited the furthest foreign lands; we did not want everyone to set their expectations that high. We do not expect everyone to have the possibility to travel as we have. We want to share our experiences and help others gain some lessons if they are interested. Food and lifestyle are very natural places to start. Living in Louisiana we can be engrossed in our native cooking styles. However, for the most part, our ideas of food all come from somewhere and were imports like all of us living here.

In addition to fine local sweet potatoes, we have been eating rice. We have not given up pasta, tortillas, or bread - though we are eating much less; but, the world eats lots of rice. We like rice. If you eat rice, you eat what most of the world eats (including south LA.) It is easy to make; and leftovers keep well. So, we bought the 25 lb. bag and are happy. We are also eating most of our meals (not po-boys) with chopsticks. For me, chopsticks slow down eating helping to savor food.

Here are some fun crockpot recipes to get your winter home-cooking season started.

[Save your rice. You can make delicious rich rice pudding with cardamon like we have done with cardamon we brought back from the Himalayas; or, even more authentic, make some Creole Calas - foods sold sweet on the street and one of the ways during New Orleans' 'code noir' law these famous calas helped many slaves who bought their freedom.]


II.

What is travel after all? Traveling is experiencing something new, in a way you have not known it, from a point of view you have not yet discovered it. By this definition, we can very easily travel by choosing to do things we have not done before; and, by being intentional to enjoy their newness and appreciate what we are learning in the process.

So, I have tried this concept on. I have visited some places that had been right in front of me. And,
I have scheduled or begun the planning to visit other new and obvious

And when I write about these markets as I already have, I get great feedback and new ideas like these great green market and collective farming ideas from my dear mother-in-law in Oregon.

Shopping is a very easy way to make a sustainable idea a reality. When we support local markets, we realize our connectedness to what we are buying. It degenericizes life!

This blog reminds me that the internet is such a fascinating way to visit places (virtually), to make long-distance 'pen pals,' and to learn about foreign places. We have many friends who would love to connect with you. If one of the countries we have visited or written about particularly speaks to you, please write us - we can put you in touch with one of our friends who would likely love to learn about you.