Day 2 DP - Whoops, should have started on a weekend!

Sometimes even the best laid plans don't work very well.  I don't know what I was thinking starting this on a Monday.  Note to future self - start on a Saturday!  This would have given me time to gather and stockpile at least a couple of days worth of supplies.  Now I am stuck at work and can't do anything except think of food.  And don't get me started on breakfast today - here's a nice photo I took of my breakfast:

H2O

I managed to scrap together a small lunch which includes kale, dandelion greens, parsley, and some beans.

Backyard Kale

Ok - let's get off the negative.  On a positive note, I was re-acquainted with a small deck of cards this morning that is actually a field guide to wild edible plants.  I looked through about half of it and will study it more later.  One plant that was highly recommended to me is called "stinging nettles."  Apparently it is readily available this time of year and highly beneficial - packed with some of the highest amounts of plant protein and vitamins available.  The name itself is scary though.  Who the heck would think to eat something called stinging nettles?  The field guide specifically says, CAUTION: wear gloves whenever handling this plant - there are spines all over it and they can cause severe skin irritation and redness.  But go ahead and eat it!???  I have to be honest - when or if I find this plant I will be hesitant.  Do not eat raw - was another caution.  Apparently by cooking it, all of these little needles fall off and it is perfectly fine.  We shall see.

My Field Guide to Edible Wild Foods

Mushrooms are another thing that I have been very curious about.  However, I have read enough to know that with mushrooms, curiosity will most likely kill the cat - or me in this case.  For now I will stay far away but I will continue to do my homework.

Clam season ENDS on April 30th so if I'm going to get any I'm going to have to get out there soon.  That's only 11 more days - and counting my work days as 'non-clam days' I only have 5 potential days left.  The weather and the tides also need to be fully cooperative.  Let's check the upcoming weather. . .Tomorrow (my day off) rain and thunderstorms all day.  Crap.  This is also putting quite a damper on my primary food seasoning - salt.  The recent crappy weather has churned the ocean up quite a bit.  I like to make sea salt but only from very clean ocean water.  It's going to be a while for things to settle down.

My planning could have been a little better I suppose.  Then again, how do you plan around the weather?  All I can say is that it's going to be a rough start.

 “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”