Category Archives: growing

New Chapter take 2

I began this entry on April 16 and finally got around to finishing today…
Yesterday morning I had fresh thoughts of a new entry. My husband began his internship at the hospital yesterday. It is quite a change from the white collar office job he had for the past 10 years, but strangely as we get wiser, happiness is the goal in life. And working in an office just wasn’t doing that for him anymore. He wanted to help people, make a difference and be happy. He definitely is happier now 🙂

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On a gardening note, I invited a couple friends over last weekend to enjoy the celebration of my husbands new job. I have been holding out on pulling beets and carrots until the perfect occasion. Although the temptation was strong to pull at times, I’m happy I waited. The veggies were beautiful and tasted amazing after being roasted with garlic, and new potatoes.

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I also pulled out all the arugula that went to seed the past couple weeks. They grew 6 feet tall! Amazing and at this size…BITTER and SPICY!

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Happy Monday everyone! Here’s a little love(ly) rose to start your week off positive…stop and smell the roses…

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No. 25

I can hardly believe this is entry 25! The past few months have really flown by filled with emotions, happiness, sadness and with life lessons along the way.
This is me doing the the celebratory No.25 dance…

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Jazz hands in full effect…
As for the ‘costume’ it’s from one of my recitals from 35 years ago. So if you are wondering, yes I am a packrat. I was trying to organize my craft closet when I saw the neon hot pink ensemble and had to share it with you guys!

The past few weeks have been really great…Spring has sprung in the Bay Area. It caught me by surprise. I was just feeling the blah ness of Winter in full effect when I woke up to sunshine and a bird orgy outside my window. Literally hundreds of robins, larks and finches in one tree having a blast! So if that’s not a sign of spring in suburbia I don’t know nothing!

My winter garden keeps producing, there’s enough kale to feed the dachshunds, in laws and us, along with the beets and carrots ready to be pulled, although I am secretly treasuring their snugness in the soil.

I started my seeds a couple of weeks ago. This year I will only grow limited amounts of veggies as I typically go overboard by wanting 15 types of heirloom tomatoes and overcrowding prevents me from enjoying the bounty. I will plant tomatillos, 3 types of organic, heirlooms, zukes and 2 types of cucumbers.

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I am still bent on building a chicken coop and raising some chicks for eggs and companionship.
I came across a great sounding pickled egg recipe for Bantham eggs the other day. Bantham chickens are a bit smaller and their eggs are perfectly single sized.

My IBS has been controlled the past two weeks and I haven’t had much upset. I really have been eating only at home with clean simple tasty meals.
While I still have cravings of bread, crackers etc. I know eating any thing with gluten just is not worth the gut ache. I continue to make pots of homemade broth weekly. That seems to anchor my diet and makes me feel normal.
Last weekend I ran the Oakland Team Relay. The weather was perfect, I ran the hardest part of the marathon, uphill for 5 miles, and sustained my energy throughout. I even ran an extra 2 miles afterward! I was so careful and mindful the entire week before about what I was putting in my body. Such diligence really paid off as I ran my best pace ever!
Here’s a pic of me with my newest addition to my medal collection!

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So life is going, which is a good thing!
Happy Spring everyone!

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February is Fabulous

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First, has anyone ever had a dog that absolutely loved kale? As you see here, my 2 doxies are extremely anxious to get these greens…licked lips and the stares! Crazy pups!

I have been knitting…not as focused as I would like but have been knitting. On a recent TEDtalk I viewed the other day Matt Cutts talks about doing something for 30 days. It could be anything…but the end result will be something learned, happiness and motivation will result…interesting talk and here’s the linkTry Something For 30 Days

I would love to knit an Icelandic sweater or lopapeysa. See here from Wikipedia…

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I’ve been eyeing them all over ravelry. The use of colors and patterns strike awe and delight when I catch someone wearing one. So for 30 days I will work on my lopi sweater. If I miss a stitch I will rip out until perfect. I have a bad habit of knitting as I go, however it turns out should be fine. However, since following a pattern with various bobbins of yarn throughout the pattern must be followed to arrive at the final result…So here I go…lets lopi!

Hello Baby

Organic and mellow colored. Meet my baby butternut.
My summer garden was a BUST this year, except for this beauty. I’ll be making Chaana Masala with her.
I put in kale, beets and carrots for my winter garden. I also started a lettuce box also. There really is nothing like going in your yard and picking fresh herbs and veggies to consume. I am a believer in growing something even if its in a bucket or on a windowsill. It feels good to grow food and to share your bounty with your neighbors doesn’t hurt either.

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