Showing posts with label Garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garden. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wordless Wednesday - Got Carrots?
I think I need to buy stock in ranch dip
(WWBBD - What Would Bugs Bunny Do?)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wordless Wednesday - One Day's Tomato Harvest
one plant (Early Girl)
...a few more (some German Queens and Bush Goliath)
needless to stay, I will spend significant time making sauce and other goodies
...now off to harvest the miniature tomatoes (cherry, grape, golden pears etc.)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Random Tuesday Thoughts - Where the Hell Have I Been
If you are normal and like to hear about butts (or even if you are abnormal and don't like butts) be sure and stop by The Un Mom
Okokokokok...ok...so where I've been. Not anywhere special, just incredibly busy and had family needs and unexpected events that required my full attention. My father gave me three pearls of wisdom to use to guide my life: 1. Be positive 2. KNOW what your priorities are, and 3. Be spiritual. Number two came up and required my focus to be elsewhere. I realize that I left everyone hanging in the middle of my weight-loss series, but I will pick it back up this week. Hopefully, you will grant me the benefit of the doubt and help me get back into the swing of blogging.
Luckily, I squeezed in time to read your blogs and found new sources to appreciate which helped me relax during the most intense parts of my absence. Those of you who write faithfully (and some of you who don't) kept me sane and I want you to know I truly appreciate your writing.
So, on with the random, after all, it is Tuesday.
I just received my dog's license renewal in the mail. It lists her as a pit bull. OMFG! She is NOT a pit bull! She is a lab/jack russell mix (we are assuming lab mommy/jack russell daddy lol). Whoever pushed the pit bull button at the county office made an error. I feel compelled to correct it.
There's snow in them there hills! It snowed in the Sierras yesterday about an hour from me. It's the middle of May, wtf Mother Nature? I think this has been the weirdest winter since I moved here eight years ago (my how time flies).
The garden is mostly in. Peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, onions and herbs are already producing and being harvested. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, okra and strawberries are going strong and are on schedule. My fruit trees have fruit on them though the plums and nectarines are still small and green. My orange tree is just now blossoming and it smells so heavenly.
My birthday is next week, 45 will be the new number. I'm gonna put on my tiara, prom dress, stripper boots and glitter on my face then head out to my favorite dance bar with my hubby and good friends. It's how I roll on my birthday; I let my freak flag fly high!
I learned a new little trick. My daughters love the rotisserie chickens at the grocery store. I usually use up any meat, that is left over from rotisserie chicken, in soups, salads and other dishes. But on a whim one day, I decided to see if I could make chicken stock from the leftover carcass and guess what? It makes a great stock that is perfectly seasoned. As one who is frugal and always looking to cut costs in my home budget, I'm delighted to make something that I use so frequently and often pay $2.00-$3.00 per quart to purchase at the store. Try it--just fill a stock pot with water, add the chicken carcass and bring to a boil then simmer on medium until you have a thick golden broth/stock. Strain to remove the remaining chicken parts, skim the fat off the top, store the broth/stock and use as needed. I freeze mine in quart containers.
Whew! It feels good to shake off the dust and get back to blogging. To my faithful followers, I owe you my heart for your patience. Tomorrow will be Wordless Wednesday, then Thursday will be the next installment of "I've lost, but look what I've gained". Stay tuned!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Great Interview Experiment Hosted by Citizen of the Month - My Interview
As most of you know by now, I signed up to participate in Neil Kramer's Great Interview Experiment (GIE) over at Citizen of the Month. Danny Miller of Jew Eat Yet was my victim and then I had the tables turned on me by WordNerd of words...thoughts...nonsense. I hope you found Danny's answers to my goofball thought-provoking questions entertaining and insightful. Here is WordNerd's interview of me.
WordNerd: One of the first things I noticed in reading your blog is that you seem to have really mastered the art of Everyday Bliss. Your title seems like a pretty apt description of what your life is really like. What does your IDEAL day look like?
Me: My ideal day is a day relaxing day at home and I have it most Sundays. I am a true homebody. Our family is like most other families, and we are constantly on the go. I try to complete chores, cleaning, errands and other tasks Monday-Friday. Saturdays are often spent away from home. On Sundays, if I'm able, I wake up early and have coffee on my patio if it's warm outside. Then I usually read, do needlework or putter around the garden. If it's cold, I drink my coffee inside, sometimes in front of a fire in the fireplace and read or do needlework. When my family wakes, we do relaxing things--watch movies or sports, play games, cook together, make crafts. I try hard not to leave the house and to have our family together. I believe it gives us all a chance to relax and become energized for the week ahead. It's not always possible, but most Sundays are like that for me. So when I have a peaceful Sunday like I've just described, that is my ideal day. The only way it could be better is if my other children and grandchild lived nearby and could join us.
Wordnerd: Tell us what it was like to lose close to 150lbs? (how long did it take, what motivated you, how different do you feel, etc)
Me: The weight-loss was a significant turning point in my life. From my surgery until my final end point, it took just over a year. I had been struggling with my weight for a long time and there was a genetic component to my obesity. What motivated me to choose the surgery was that after struggling for so many years, my health was really beginning to suffer. I took several medications and had chronic health problems. Now, I don't take any medication and my former health problems are completely gone. I do take vitamins and supplements. Now, I feel great and very healthy and am much more active. I'm currently training for a 5K charity race on Thanksgiving. It's also been surprising to realize how much discrimination I experienced when I was overweight. I was aware of it before I lost the weight, but after losing weight, I've noticed a significant difference in how people respond to me. I'm currently working on a blog post with more details about my weight loss, and I hope to get it up soon. It will probably be a short series of posts, because I want to share a lot of information about my experience.
WordNerd: You are an amateur organic gardener. There seems to be alot of buzz about organic food in the media yet there is also alot of skepticism because of price, etc.. Why do you think people should make an effort to eat organic food? And, what should people start with?
Me: I am a biologist and have been environmentally conscientious since my childhood. I also grew up with grandmothers who were avid gardeners and I learned a lot from them. Having access to fresh foods from their farms and gardens meant that I learned to appreciate quality food early in life. As an adult, I learned that food grown in my own garden could be harvested at the peak of ripeness. There is a noticeable taste difference between fruit and vegetables that are harvested when they are ripe verses those that are harvested before they are ripe. As I began to practice gardening, I read a lot of gardening literature and determined that I personally felt it was safer to not use chemical pesticides and insecticides. Unfortunately, because "organic" has become trendy and controversial, it's often difficult to determine if you truly are buying an organic product from a retailer.
As for organic food being more expensive, that is another reason why I grow my own produce. I'm a frugal person and by planting my own garden, I saved my family approximately $800.00 this spring and summer and that's after expenses. I also buy produce that is in season locally. I found that if I buy organic produce at a farmer's market or CSA (community supported agriculture), the cost is almost identical to what I would pay for nonorganic produce at my local grocery store. But, even when it is more expensive, I think it's always best to buy the best quality food that I can afford. I think I owe it to myself and my family for optimal health.
My suggestion to begin eating organic is to grow something of your own. Tomatoes are easy and can be grown in a container if you don't have a yard. Herbs are also easy and can be grown in small containers indoors. If you absolutely can't grow anything yourself, farmer's markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) are the most economic places to buy organic products--based on my personal experience.
WordNerd: A lot of different countries are mentioned on your blog, what was your most memorable trip and why?
Me: I haven't traveled as much as I would like, but of the places I've been, my trip to France in 1982 was the most memorable. It was my first time to travel abroad. It was Easter and I saw some amazing things. At that time, I had studied French for three years and was thrilled to actually have a chance to communicate with french-speaking people. I love history and visiting historical places. Getting to see the chateaus of the Loire Valley was exciting. Paris was everything I imagined and more. I attended Easter Mass at Notre Dame and the Bishop of Paris gave the mass. The Louvre and Versailles were incredible and breath-taking. Angers and St. Malo were wonderful places. Mont St. Michel was fascinating. I should probably write a blog post in detail about that trip.
WordNerd: What is the first thing you do when you get out of bed and the last thing you do before you get into bed?
Me: This is something that is a little embarrassing for me, but I want to be honest. The first thing I do when I get up and the last thing I do before I get into bed is the same thing. I check my cell phone for messages. My husband is a night owl and comes to bed long after I do, so I kiss him goodnight before I go to bed and then I check my cell phone. I'm sure many people do this, but somehow it feels like my priorities are askew.
So now you knowway more than you ever wanted a little more about what makes me tick. Many thanks to WordNerd for interviewing me.
WordNerd: One of the first things I noticed in reading your blog is that you seem to have really mastered the art of Everyday Bliss. Your title seems like a pretty apt description of what your life is really like. What does your IDEAL day look like?
Me: My ideal day is a day relaxing day at home and I have it most Sundays. I am a true homebody. Our family is like most other families, and we are constantly on the go. I try to complete chores, cleaning, errands and other tasks Monday-Friday. Saturdays are often spent away from home. On Sundays, if I'm able, I wake up early and have coffee on my patio if it's warm outside. Then I usually read, do needlework or putter around the garden. If it's cold, I drink my coffee inside, sometimes in front of a fire in the fireplace and read or do needlework. When my family wakes, we do relaxing things--watch movies or sports, play games, cook together, make crafts. I try hard not to leave the house and to have our family together. I believe it gives us all a chance to relax and become energized for the week ahead. It's not always possible, but most Sundays are like that for me. So when I have a peaceful Sunday like I've just described, that is my ideal day. The only way it could be better is if my other children and grandchild lived nearby and could join us.
Wordnerd: Tell us what it was like to lose close to 150lbs? (how long did it take, what motivated you, how different do you feel, etc)
Me: The weight-loss was a significant turning point in my life. From my surgery until my final end point, it took just over a year. I had been struggling with my weight for a long time and there was a genetic component to my obesity. What motivated me to choose the surgery was that after struggling for so many years, my health was really beginning to suffer. I took several medications and had chronic health problems. Now, I don't take any medication and my former health problems are completely gone. I do take vitamins and supplements. Now, I feel great and very healthy and am much more active. I'm currently training for a 5K charity race on Thanksgiving. It's also been surprising to realize how much discrimination I experienced when I was overweight. I was aware of it before I lost the weight, but after losing weight, I've noticed a significant difference in how people respond to me. I'm currently working on a blog post with more details about my weight loss, and I hope to get it up soon. It will probably be a short series of posts, because I want to share a lot of information about my experience.
WordNerd: You are an amateur organic gardener. There seems to be alot of buzz about organic food in the media yet there is also alot of skepticism because of price, etc.. Why do you think people should make an effort to eat organic food? And, what should people start with?
Me: I am a biologist and have been environmentally conscientious since my childhood. I also grew up with grandmothers who were avid gardeners and I learned a lot from them. Having access to fresh foods from their farms and gardens meant that I learned to appreciate quality food early in life. As an adult, I learned that food grown in my own garden could be harvested at the peak of ripeness. There is a noticeable taste difference between fruit and vegetables that are harvested when they are ripe verses those that are harvested before they are ripe. As I began to practice gardening, I read a lot of gardening literature and determined that I personally felt it was safer to not use chemical pesticides and insecticides. Unfortunately, because "organic" has become trendy and controversial, it's often difficult to determine if you truly are buying an organic product from a retailer.
As for organic food being more expensive, that is another reason why I grow my own produce. I'm a frugal person and by planting my own garden, I saved my family approximately $800.00 this spring and summer and that's after expenses. I also buy produce that is in season locally. I found that if I buy organic produce at a farmer's market or CSA (community supported agriculture), the cost is almost identical to what I would pay for nonorganic produce at my local grocery store. But, even when it is more expensive, I think it's always best to buy the best quality food that I can afford. I think I owe it to myself and my family for optimal health.
My suggestion to begin eating organic is to grow something of your own. Tomatoes are easy and can be grown in a container if you don't have a yard. Herbs are also easy and can be grown in small containers indoors. If you absolutely can't grow anything yourself, farmer's markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) are the most economic places to buy organic products--based on my personal experience.
WordNerd: A lot of different countries are mentioned on your blog, what was your most memorable trip and why?
Me: I haven't traveled as much as I would like, but of the places I've been, my trip to France in 1982 was the most memorable. It was my first time to travel abroad. It was Easter and I saw some amazing things. At that time, I had studied French for three years and was thrilled to actually have a chance to communicate with french-speaking people. I love history and visiting historical places. Getting to see the chateaus of the Loire Valley was exciting. Paris was everything I imagined and more. I attended Easter Mass at Notre Dame and the Bishop of Paris gave the mass. The Louvre and Versailles were incredible and breath-taking. Angers and St. Malo were wonderful places. Mont St. Michel was fascinating. I should probably write a blog post in detail about that trip.
WordNerd: What is the first thing you do when you get out of bed and the last thing you do before you get into bed?
Me: This is something that is a little embarrassing for me, but I want to be honest. The first thing I do when I get up and the last thing I do before I get into bed is the same thing. I check my cell phone for messages. My husband is a night owl and comes to bed long after I do, so I kiss him goodnight before I go to bed and then I check my cell phone. I'm sure many people do this, but somehow it feels like my priorities are askew.
So now you know
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Random Tuesday Thoughts - As Random As It Gets
Keely is deep in
There's been a whole lot of random in my life lately so get ready for this roller coaster ride!
This week (and for one week only) I am dominating The Momspective II Fantasy Football League. Yeah! Go me go me! uh uh uh...uh oh, flagged for excessive celebration. Believe me, my celebrating will be short lived. MadMom is sure to kick my @ss in our upcoming matchup. Even if she doesn't, Boston Babe, AlliC, Felicia or Annalise will probably win and eventually, we'll all be tied again and then they will pass me and leave me in the dust. But for a few sweet days, I OWN THEM, YEAH!
Miz Julie is out and about AGAIN! Julie you is my travel
Citizen of the Month is holding his third annual Great Interview Experiment. I signed up this year and am very eager with anticipation to learn what WordNerd wants to know about me and what
Yesterday was a typical Madness Monday. So at the end of the day, I happily joined my husband in the hot tub (yes, we get in nekkid). As we were getting out, Sarah Dog came trotting over with something hanging out of her mouth. I was sure it was some dead animal, ewwww. I told Sarah to drop it, which she did immediately (then she slunk guiltily away). My husband turned on the back patio light and discovered that it was not a dead bird or lizard, but a CARROT! My dog dug up a carrot out of my garden. What can I say, she does love carrots, AND tomatoes which she picked off the vines and ate all summer. So for those of you who lament that your dog or cat brings you dead animals, my dog kills produce and eats it (there's got to be a Cain and Abel reference there somewhere but I just can't figure it out yet). I'm just so proud.
Sunday, I made a double batch of pear crisp in an 11" x 13" pan. My husband ate-the-whole-thing! Yesterday morning, the empty pan was sitting in the sink. Okay, okay, I'm secretly pleased that he loves my cooking, but you know I must pretend to be indignant.
Shhhhh, don't tell my youngest children (17 & 14) but we are taking them to see Wicked as part of their Christmas gifts! I can't wait, I've never seen it. I miss my Kennedy Center membership something fierce.
I was so impressed with Kirstie Alley's nontoxic cleaning solution (cheap vodka) that I ran right out and bought four big bottles for uh...uh...cleaning, yeah that's it. Now, now, I do NOT pour some on my cleaning rag and then take a swig. I do love to make my own nontoxic cleaning products. Vodka, vinegar and lemon juice really do work. Also, for those of you with young kids and animals that might accidentally get into the toilet to play and/or drink, Tang breakfast drink makes a great toilet bowl cleaner. It's also great for sprucing up your dishwasher (just add a scoop to your dispenser and run it through a cycle without dishes). Vinegar and boiling water are also great for killing weeds that grow in the seams and cracks in sidewalks and driveways. Last but not least, all of this stuff is much cheaper than commercial cleaning products.
If you want to read a good blog that will make you think and up your intellect significantly, check out my buddy Brian's blog Life of Brian. He has great ideas and information, and he really keeps me on my toes.
Tonight, Hubby and I are going to the first game in our season ticket package to see the Sacramento Kings. Go Kings!
Congrats Tonoogle! She just met a goal and completed an EA Active Sports 5K this weekend. She is also a worthy adversary in our Fantasy Football league (I bow, I bow). She gets her Random on too--check out her site.
I confess with some trepidation that I love opera. I love Mozart operas the most, but I'm an equal operatunist.
Thus ends my random, tune in next time when grandpa says "check out Captain Dumbass and say hello food porn!" (That one is for you Hee Haw lovers, you know who you are)
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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