tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148757322024-03-23T13:48:20.297-04:00AVOCADO FEVER<img src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/Michelle31/Avocado007.jpg">Guacamole!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-54525537454059741142010-09-06T20:58:00.003-04:002010-09-06T21:06:38.899-04:00I've been a bad blogger, but I do have something to show for it!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">I know I have been really bad at blogging, but I've been busy -- really! And I do have something to show for it:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Ali_Baba_Watermelon-1565-66.html">Ali Baba Watermelon</a>! That's Jonah's foot next to it for comparison.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOovuNjLzpZNcvhiWB8Saa5fec-Zrk7imZBYJ9KvKAesW_bcjCr1uTDznpDPaasAPEvjoi2YuFwEgNZA1-c9EgDkp0N_iKlwrbimlVMq_IBQlJemgKs8N2JZt0vQAq3qFqvzjf/s200/IMG_9436.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 216px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513970946694522370" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">This is delicious! We got 4 big ones this year -- one I picked before it was quite mature -- it was light pink inside with white seeds but still good -- my nieces, nephew and son loved it anyway. One we gave away today, one is still growing, and the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">other one is this -- so yummy! </span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlzfDCVhjTAzPCg6NYGVTDhDXO7zkru0P_Bdc9fd3LkJ120-WvOlLgpdwyV8uZ4q52B7ayWo7k67WtAtgVdIqp_y0gtW0a4QhyS42SCHktk1Gl5LROzxDymjf3Xo3agghXuu3/s200/IMG_9437.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 216px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513970937055029442" /><div>I cannot wait to weigh the one still in the garden, it is HUGE!</div><div><br /></div><div>We have 2 little ones growing too, but I don't think there is enough frost and cold-free time left for them to make it to maturity. If I have the space, I will definitely grow this again next year. </div><div><br /></div><div>And seriously, the seeds are half the fun -- we were cracking Jonah up today as we practiced spitting them across the yard. We're not very good at this skill...yet.</div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-2614148963187061702010-06-30T21:11:00.003-04:002010-06-30T21:19:45.065-04:00Garden updateI went out to take some pics of the garden this morning and didn't even notice Thumper sitting right in front of me, enjoying the view as well.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpLI4UjYGWVq-IjPhqZIGrURCLcmcAdGwHRoLDUuBk92XUJKu_6acNo8l79rGPnBeBPJZRqU_DeZaJscMUvupjgjJ3BLFsFtrdSEGPHqiRb_o7gAGTiBXd5xTLnsMxqKypdio/s200/6.29.10+(2).JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740406209109170" />The zucchini plants are getting HUGE - no fruit yet, thought.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefP4pkpwTituZPhWT2ieMzwVAB4KpweXO2MWiJnwXawFFEW3b9AIAfy_VifmarfZ_KTPyxRiF04POMr58IHEYVqulGHIanPA7R_KKZDYZDeWzqMGMgcziYdh0aA64Wupkng3O/s1600/6.29.10+(3).JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefP4pkpwTituZPhWT2ieMzwVAB4KpweXO2MWiJnwXawFFEW3b9AIAfy_VifmarfZ_KTPyxRiF04POMr58IHEYVqulGHIanPA7R_KKZDYZDeWzqMGMgcziYdh0aA64Wupkng3O/s1600/6.29.10+(3).JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefP4pkpwTituZPhWT2ieMzwVAB4KpweXO2MWiJnwXawFFEW3b9AIAfy_VifmarfZ_KTPyxRiF04POMr58IHEYVqulGHIanPA7R_KKZDYZDeWzqMGMgcziYdh0aA64Wupkng3O/s200/6.29.10+(3).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740556106858050" /></a>Delicious!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbS8FYMgsW02imWLNiItEf64nTUbyqi-DVtxe4DyqKJnxGN3e5cnqqWdvECpxgVcqTj9DRbZhn70h0Qbs87GkR7jtQtvS9eCYnKVkOd72gAC5q-pTzK1scbrXEyf6jIxL6R1f/s1600/6.29.10+(14).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbS8FYMgsW02imWLNiItEf64nTUbyqi-DVtxe4DyqKJnxGN3e5cnqqWdvECpxgVcqTj9DRbZhn70h0Qbs87GkR7jtQtvS9eCYnKVkOd72gAC5q-pTzK1scbrXEyf6jIxL6R1f/s200/6.29.10+(14).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740396130521154" /></a>Corn not looking too bad, but way smaller than that of the "real" farms around here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0seegoOjOr7Y0FMrzb4jGi76HFn2zMpsTvAerGtbteJSy1tOrXc8bpiUuJsj5pfwniQ91_KLOCnEznD1gRQjWS4B2oxqexbCCm1M4Ur71bLcz2C4mo_3tcWOG0T4d0P4anVp/s1600/6.29.10+(8).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0seegoOjOr7Y0FMrzb4jGi76HFn2zMpsTvAerGtbteJSy1tOrXc8bpiUuJsj5pfwniQ91_KLOCnEznD1gRQjWS4B2oxqexbCCm1M4Ur71bLcz2C4mo_3tcWOG0T4d0P4anVp/s200/6.29.10+(8).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740386947527522" /></a>Sungold cherry tomato ready to eat!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI9bHZFp8r2NYsLdB3TiGvmAbqR_4CaHLwFUnkdlC23FCzWGJx3AYGpui8VK38jFmV5yq8daBaHHrhx6wQRYDfgwqYsFtE_3-49wIRfm9yl3-T7_LDOvy3OiZoARpfH_K_RzR/s1600/6.29.10+(6).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI9bHZFp8r2NYsLdB3TiGvmAbqR_4CaHLwFUnkdlC23FCzWGJx3AYGpui8VK38jFmV5yq8daBaHHrhx6wQRYDfgwqYsFtE_3-49wIRfm9yl3-T7_LDOvy3OiZoARpfH_K_RzR/s200/6.29.10+(6).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740380461511778" /></a>Garlic just harvested -- I waited a bit too long for some of them, but there are lots more in the ground, not quite ready to be picked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeE-Q15BHADtdzubvYAHW9xAaGyYbSrmg41PQ6jddTbmlJI83SeWYSyI_f0xNrG8dal9RTzUJNpHJbOvqFUrTRTpd20BaOd9jxzcgBL5fyIa6bRP_Qst5cNz47HpYfkX02UJG/s1600/6.30.10+(5).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeE-Q15BHADtdzubvYAHW9xAaGyYbSrmg41PQ6jddTbmlJI83SeWYSyI_f0xNrG8dal9RTzUJNpHJbOvqFUrTRTpd20BaOd9jxzcgBL5fyIa6bRP_Qst5cNz47HpYfkX02UJG/s200/6.30.10+(5).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488740370377125170" /></a><br /></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-16805939638775909602010-05-07T21:31:00.005-04:002010-05-07T21:54:09.832-04:00A little bit of payoffWe got some very early love from our garden today -- radishes! This little baby practically jumped into my hand, it was so ready for harvesting. <div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706925778820882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjGWESBqamiyhuDFv4f9aeqrUvB6QAYA4kEJfbjY7qikXrXj_u4ey_BZdSXL-LD8faNB9gYhhOttWURIAiTPDmqgbAnJTEb7_cXLSBU_3ieW4I7ZUCKDkdMbcXLgT-QYWXgbT/s200/5.07.10+(15).JPG" /></div><div>These are Saxa II radishes that I bought from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/">Baker Creek</a>. There are a bunch more out there just about ready -- I'd been doing many successive radish seedings throughout the early spring.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706971128442866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAMjfohRLXxQuy56snvXKxSQRLKU4GoTsegR7WuQkZqnPQPk6mRpdgrBtnAxGtLFSExZWBmlSe3hAedSyS3wa8X-zOrlAU0-4QOJ3S_GKqw66EPeJ3lKT6M_K4agwkeBnlThu/s200/5.07.10+(24).JPG" /> <div>My little garden helper even ate one...except that he spit it out after chewing it for about 20 seconds proclaiming, "It's spicy! It's spicy!"</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706943429308738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtysouzBoO_JPg3HiIzXC5cP1bYa2VapyMS6HCIyQBz2kweH16hw8qaVU3ioOmBXkz9qVmYCjW1Gu0o0qc0eRtjrZKCVYHJDXmhvb6kz7ZtsWRnOYNrCOUVJ19r2a1THDZv6I/s200/5.07.10+(1).JPG" /></div><div>Speaking of harvesting, apparently it's morel season around here.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468710829555680674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CIhAyxs3R7zlQjVp2W50BpJoUDHpBmezRi50I9eBa1K2zxC0CB1vJJkdfOsfKA5gCOd34-exbCVX3A_Fgf3UWrJkM-CTTVr43vFWbs5-Koo0oNHYADndqZMbKi6rmJBMHUnt/s200/5.4.10+(1).JPG" /></div><div>Jonah and I found this one on a walk the other day. It was delicious! I'm going to try to find some more tomorrow to share with Dave, now that I survived eating a wild edible.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468710816006957970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmEaDyghaGd6OEDFlTyh2s0T0ceHEvlPI0cjbe7NOIia_WEUuYcDsf-0mVjg3j0-vaRariZJHBggdY7qLHLiBSlmL5-PFRvzhnbibX0_BW2TIHCzcqabc1C0sRyDXO8bDVksm/s200/5.4.10+(2).JPG" /> Other stuff is happening, too. The parnips are getting big, it's about time to thin them out. Can you see the big bushy green thing at the end of the parsnip row? That's the sage I planted last year, it is getting HUGE and starting to flower. I'm not sure if I should let it or not, because it might affect the quality of the leaves...but I think I will because I want to see what it looks like and we don't really use all that much sage around here.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468707464071267890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGrWsWkrZjcfAkPJqQnYQU_6IJeZy-NMPhdCmYUKI4sNZ7RcegzvEiyrJo0t9TGyT4iLP4flZL4iCk0q20Ghvgav_Kfnql1mhoqyLHclhL23BEu7XDO_tRUetqsBUkenXaHy6/s200/5.07.10+(19).JPG" />Blueberry bushes are blooming.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468707443888367666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrnpyYSf5OhmQTrP9aUZvHW75CemHhWIkF-Q6OIutFWJlPb6yaQwdHFOLB35txLh1mHS5EmqnjXwMf2ZzMdm6Q62x4tnsA-bFRvziii6tGVUR8faVpsqyg7pvdv3GAMg77-5_/s200/5.07.10+(6).JPG" /></div><div>Potatoes are sprouting!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468707439094780002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpcj6RtL9vCAgGbTGyOptl4N92NkQ58dmy7JJIAYzQLVdqBBUppS4ISw-pke_paV0YK4h3kp256eQ0dHesfBH6DASkkE3nzr7V4672QnuOMgnvqloBHqKlgpmNz0VrJpVwwCx/s200/5.07.10+(4).JPG" /></div><div>Asparagus is getting taller.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706910821641282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HWYoet-Oo8omhDbk43_PJyQJVJCSZ-wiQmEGcZVXg2eZcoQdq73NnqzUtLbGpgmNKTEip6Oj1g4OsBrDhf0C7qBFaO3v7uC8YNb31RPUNecuOE7pR-aNPQENyXyMD1Z9zeZa/s200/5.07.10+(20).JPG" /></div><div>We planted 4 short rows of Rainbow Inca Sweet Corn today.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhzc065y0tPrIEzv14o851iri9MsDCPeaJNVygPYIlzNkzma8DvJEZyjoAMiCkuOckRi-SB-7kV45_Fw4eC7-0T6MJbWICevGcEb_Tyc8Su5gf1uSY5SIhD6qEAyZKytHEZb8/s1600/5.07.10+(10).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468707452227330162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhzc065y0tPrIEzv14o851iri9MsDCPeaJNVygPYIlzNkzma8DvJEZyjoAMiCkuOckRi-SB-7kV45_Fw4eC7-0T6MJbWICevGcEb_Tyc8Su5gf1uSY5SIhD6qEAyZKytHEZb8/s200/5.07.10+(10).JPG" /></a> It's still about a week too early to put in the tomato seedlings, however this one took a major beating in a surprise windstorm a few days ago so I just put it in the ground to see what would happen. It's a Dr. Wychee's. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706933377350098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9idJuWcqh0owR_2pBthuIhANfGBSR2zNVRvqOPn_ASAmMlT8KmGRxRAnlMYDCG3QvuGLdDqIyVfO_7IiQgbpIUwwTPd-gT1EssC6bitkXNEj-KnqRxs_L3Xepq2nwx0sgjIs/s200/5.07.10+(14).JPG" /> </div></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-3539005381491286822010-04-18T22:18:00.003-04:002010-04-18T22:34:20.164-04:00Pretty stuffDaffodils and tulips make good partners.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-igHyPnjbF6LTYnPJbRulTBFCzmnQNOUhRN4WnCt-ye6IambIfZtraPWpRV1Uf6Ghrk1qyXsBw71zPUUad-ddgzHjIB-w-StYcNNwgXymmXQTrkVCUI7ewxO9oAjtkW3F-QNN/s1600/4.18.10+(4).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-igHyPnjbF6LTYnPJbRulTBFCzmnQNOUhRN4WnCt-ye6IambIfZtraPWpRV1Uf6Ghrk1qyXsBw71zPUUad-ddgzHjIB-w-StYcNNwgXymmXQTrkVCUI7ewxO9oAjtkW3F-QNN/s200/4.18.10+(4).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461668186314302066" /></a>I seem to have succeeded at planting the bulbs in some sort of a straight-ish line along the driveway last Fall!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDOnzTaglsVQjec2FVaZh_qVhO2GogKOrjeYExC0WVz2OwINgPkb4ibJ6YXBLFMSdHPSTz-N_bklCWEOuVWB32awqau4BE4BywabIpuoc53C4R1x0eYRW-9CY5jkKkNS-10dk/s1600/4.18.10+(2).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDOnzTaglsVQjec2FVaZh_qVhO2GogKOrjeYExC0WVz2OwINgPkb4ibJ6YXBLFMSdHPSTz-N_bklCWEOuVWB32awqau4BE4BywabIpuoc53C4R1x0eYRW-9CY5jkKkNS-10dk/s200/4.18.10+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461668183026126146" /></a>Garlic getting bigger with peas to the right of them. I don't really like peas but for some reason they are exciting me -- I don't think I've ever had them right off the vine and that is rumored to be a real treat. And they are something green to grow in April!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0XY4dQpor1xv1rPFX4qPwbZfk7NM5NY8_gfEDvYHjofQk5GqIo9eSMIcr5wBGBqzpwaOFvKgIio3hHxLp7PuwUIe9ohuPo4Av1PjL93LEOTY4nQRTVjkVRGFEAW_vdvY4QwX/s1600/4.18.10+(10).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0XY4dQpor1xv1rPFX4qPwbZfk7NM5NY8_gfEDvYHjofQk5GqIo9eSMIcr5wBGBqzpwaOFvKgIio3hHxLp7PuwUIe9ohuPo4Av1PjL93LEOTY4nQRTVjkVRGFEAW_vdvY4QwX/s200/4.18.10+(10).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461668176424128114" /></a>I think some spinach is coming up, too, but I'm not sure if it's actually spinach or just grass. They look similar. And are so small. I've never been able to grow spinach before.<div><br /></div><div>There are so many little asparagus shoots begging me to eat them, but I won't, I won't! Next year!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKEjSUrFDSnjUQNQZbOZ4bK8RwvY-OSLsS25ZY4G9zPJPfTz2t3BVAVt9pfBHUcLX-K61Ki8CdtaG3NKdm5pfE2H8VZuV8jYKBbHA_34dHff2ZGREwlvXGN5WD4S7GwfO7J70/s1600/4.18.10+(8).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKEjSUrFDSnjUQNQZbOZ4bK8RwvY-OSLsS25ZY4G9zPJPfTz2t3BVAVt9pfBHUcLX-K61Ki8CdtaG3NKdm5pfE2H8VZuV8jYKBbHA_34dHff2ZGREwlvXGN5WD4S7GwfO7J70/s200/4.18.10+(8).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461668165452740562" /></a>The giant sunflower I grew last year seems to be extremely proficient at multiplying.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNpjarfJd-oxAU36XvkU2Sl4Ws4dAsPjrhNKf-KkPpYW444ePatMxWMIvp_IB-vROjK_1aX62Bcs3iXdREqKcW6JDiu0KNZUEbXo4t1AZkg57k08JtWSyHmrFlvdJrxWld9_Q/s1600/4.18.10+(1).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNpjarfJd-oxAU36XvkU2Sl4Ws4dAsPjrhNKf-KkPpYW444ePatMxWMIvp_IB-vROjK_1aX62Bcs3iXdREqKcW6JDiu0KNZUEbXo4t1AZkg57k08JtWSyHmrFlvdJrxWld9_Q/s200/4.18.10+(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461668157228542258" /></a></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-13905780969378878402010-04-06T16:35:00.001-04:002010-04-06T16:49:46.646-04:00It's happening!The asparagus are showing their faces! I know I can't cut them until next year to make the plant stronger, but it's tempting...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457126078120050850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSlahUGpu0GzjtFVHXns9KE6Y2hW9sK3tRMo5RX8qu2Qb5lyAYuSxLnx3bzve40m3AGBT9R-1knswTJHJNCIW8bL2pmcSTX5HRDfUCh2XZrL7xX_WLLQsX5XjNIQRNrzWehYn/s200/4.6.10+(8).JPG" />And here come the pea shoots, finally! You can also see how tall the garlic is getting in the background, and if you look carefully you'll spy some daffodils blooming!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457126088442763954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3GfdoryVZNOtbF6c2sHKJ7_CD9Cgoa_0Ckq9zhSS40BDBqdF8kl7ZKbiV5DWK92lvQ3TgEL5PmjmZ7AJOhnPADabnDdPGg8nLe5mNuxTLgQvnnMg0DlhJIud5CvbRcFBmXBt/s200/4.6.10+(11).JPG" />Strawberry patch is looking good, too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_Y0XFfLuQV2UGMGQjR6vdONrB0NFbN9J6yH2MsLQhPKp5rQcmg2gYFHlQgrDiut54iP_2XuliL0525ewhKlGYth9VljiywA5_WJIwIPnv8QbjD3rJOk2GE_2yI_i-6SmqN8z/s1600/4.6.10+(6).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457126107514074770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_Y0XFfLuQV2UGMGQjR6vdONrB0NFbN9J6yH2MsLQhPKp5rQcmg2gYFHlQgrDiut54iP_2XuliL0525ewhKlGYth9VljiywA5_WJIwIPnv8QbjD3rJOk2GE_2yI_i-6SmqN8z/s200/4.6.10+(6).JPG" /></a>Raspberries are gathering strength to bombard us with their yummy goodness!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ9qQm2CZ9DPm-Vf5ALvhNVRW8SMa4vGfq1B-5MpVaCDslN_a8YNaP8kW1iSR1lAkHSsqVHgbYC7S72oVflTlhTGmLzOLPQyNb7t6GfZkzdV1iEvX21oGk_OKgNGVAEmHrruP/s1600/4.6.10+(4).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457126100763682594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ9qQm2CZ9DPm-Vf5ALvhNVRW8SMa4vGfq1B-5MpVaCDslN_a8YNaP8kW1iSR1lAkHSsqVHgbYC7S72oVflTlhTGmLzOLPQyNb7t6GfZkzdV1iEvX21oGk_OKgNGVAEmHrruP/s200/4.6.10+(4).JPG" /></a>And radishes are working their way up, too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N4EkKfTXDBpKq8h4ydoy4KsUGu8zexoVd2EroGBf3puYUXF7fe84OT-_9W7Dx5he1ExgWNdLW5vZ_Xil_SnaLI-jDlNv8NBiFh2ExoFwaKBSnXCxBFRW3959n7__VNxqOMKV/s1600/4.6.10+(1).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457126092435870290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N4EkKfTXDBpKq8h4ydoy4KsUGu8zexoVd2EroGBf3puYUXF7fe84OT-_9W7Dx5he1ExgWNdLW5vZ_Xil_SnaLI-jDlNv8NBiFh2ExoFwaKBSnXCxBFRW3959n7__VNxqOMKV/s200/4.6.10+(1).JPG" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-25652377930537836502010-04-01T16:03:00.003-04:002010-04-01T16:15:04.853-04:00I love this weather!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPsJ5yBnkRxlEedvWIWzQGlX6U2lipzOuBCs9Xr4uA4WfP7bR_AX01zbOvJKLkMIOfpdRvIqxFNlAB5Pevt4hpkWEwUGNUp5bGlMvQnN8W82ZKeMPl_CEndYzxMfqft7KVnkS/s1600/4.1.10+(4).JPG"></a> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455263718216311202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReO6b14notxSeDDKmJyEky-o57LaUj3dn8J8GSjRmxuGZdvGv7YOisuz2h3nc8uSIYZTh5QGggTtKQpO3pi9MV8XLz4GhrmTaw6Cw53j_vMfUmzyxM9a2NVOQ7dY5r53udG17/s200/4.1.10+(7).JPG" />A lot of the pansies I planted last spring came back this year. Also blooming in my yard are crocuses! Hyacinths with be next, with daffodils not far behind, and some tulips as well. Spring has definitely sprung, and the forsythia are blooming everywhere on my street!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BpLL4RxIohmOl0XdeUbeEgq8jN2iNRo41tOmjuBIUbR5eTNZwtUDT7jotW9L79EJ6SGQyRdGlgwilJM-Sv312i0J3CKMkaOymui-rPnOIkoRPymjulpve4ItOaBkXPLJg-nY/s1600/4.1.10+(6).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455263747253127266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BpLL4RxIohmOl0XdeUbeEgq8jN2iNRo41tOmjuBIUbR5eTNZwtUDT7jotW9L79EJ6SGQyRdGlgwilJM-Sv312i0J3CKMkaOymui-rPnOIkoRPymjulpve4ItOaBkXPLJg-nY/s200/4.1.10+(6).JPG" /></a> The garlic is getting taller.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7N9mm0_unvxqZDxUdXlAhi3nBuAwnH8k6JtcNqgJlJKDodHO_SnANtVX1qn9B_HqjrDtDFDsao5jdqoGgrd6w7hLFYZaE9IBgF3dUMAAV94_qjyok17WWtEV_WApen_QzIS/s1600/4.1.10+(5).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455263738119604354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7N9mm0_unvxqZDxUdXlAhi3nBuAwnH8k6JtcNqgJlJKDodHO_SnANtVX1qn9B_HqjrDtDFDsao5jdqoGgrd6w7hLFYZaE9IBgF3dUMAAV94_qjyok17WWtEV_WApen_QzIS/s200/4.1.10+(5).JPG" /></a> I planted some more tall telephone peas peas, parsnips, cilantro and Saxa II radishes in the garden today, as well as transplanting some Sanguine Ameliore lettuce I had started inside from seed. We'll see how it does. It's too early to move anything else outside and I am finding that I am not really following the garden plan I had laid out in the winter. I can only plant the early crops at the fringes of the garden, since I didn't till it yet and have to do it by hand. I didn't want to plant right in the middle of the untilled garden where the plants will be difficult to till around when the time comes. So things are going in a kind of mish-mosh row. I've got to stop now though because the next row back is for summer squash and watermelons, and that's the best place for them!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPe3nYaygkNYlyzRCu7MDfGoyctZPlF2t0O3Sx2b0yGz3XedDdIgh_O8lqH00_oD3QW5GZlAE9h4EXeVoblx-S2jQPa2SBJMvWhzUGFrozFmK8CQQF-Q5sHaoioYsTU7jYMS3Q/s1600/4.1.10+(10).JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455263727285763122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPe3nYaygkNYlyzRCu7MDfGoyctZPlF2t0O3Sx2b0yGz3XedDdIgh_O8lqH00_oD3QW5GZlAE9h4EXeVoblx-S2jQPa2SBJMvWhzUGFrozFmK8CQQF-Q5sHaoioYsTU7jYMS3Q/s200/4.1.10+(10).JPG" /></a> I moved my "greenhouse" outside for a bit of sun today.MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-36454563427739685892010-03-21T20:32:00.004-04:002010-03-21T21:10:31.356-04:00Garden update and buttery goodnessWe spent this beautiful day outside. I gave the compost bin a big turn, and then spread some of the good stuff from the bottom over the garden. When it's tilled, the compost will mix into the soil and make good things happen.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd2UAgYXHTFg9zOswmrNU5yY3U6ydfAQpk6LMpIP9-YKYoLe6_8BFnsJudJxVH67y1nfpQ9krgGVjEOULb8vdeMU0JeNF68RgWwR_zyCR1Mbl9HgIMnHO4KgUiWJAuZJRVhe8/s1600-h/3.21.10+(1).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd2UAgYXHTFg9zOswmrNU5yY3U6ydfAQpk6LMpIP9-YKYoLe6_8BFnsJudJxVH67y1nfpQ9krgGVjEOULb8vdeMU0JeNF68RgWwR_zyCR1Mbl9HgIMnHO4KgUiWJAuZJRVhe8/s200/3.21.10+(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451250661990153266" /></a>The strawberry patch looks pretty good, and the plants are starting to produce new leaves. We should have fruit in 2 months -- if the creatures don't eat them first!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nym0W73eDRjaha8Vf41R2aHRKPpae30RHFxQ8_W_CnwYk30MrPNOh6uRetxUkmObYlqmpwr9GuP54dQ776Z3CqZ1m07Ib2rN8DOS1ZXNtgQSpW_ScapoRzOlfesrcMSteNaB/s1600-h/3.21.10+(4).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nym0W73eDRjaha8Vf41R2aHRKPpae30RHFxQ8_W_CnwYk30MrPNOh6uRetxUkmObYlqmpwr9GuP54dQ776Z3CqZ1m07Ib2rN8DOS1ZXNtgQSpW_ScapoRzOlfesrcMSteNaB/s200/3.21.10+(4).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451250655932747858" /></a>Dave had the brilliant idea of moving this portable greenhouse into our "screen room." It keeps the seedlings warm and collects lots of light. I was so happy to discover how warm this unheated screen room gets in the sun, it is the ideal place for growing seedlings and it has given me hope for starting my plants from seeds!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADB0UsPR_raYGqA9PPMR2QorsH2vvpE55qIawuZ41ccTa7DUaXKvjBhDQFXTf9f8vWl6nJzSTscjry4kn_Fe943f_obPL1YGp9wlk4rLwcqR9G0yN-8unSFh8oVf92LmkovT1/s1600-h/3.21.10+(5).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADB0UsPR_raYGqA9PPMR2QorsH2vvpE55qIawuZ41ccTa7DUaXKvjBhDQFXTf9f8vWl6nJzSTscjry4kn_Fe943f_obPL1YGp9wlk4rLwcqR9G0yN-8unSFh8oVf92LmkovT1/s200/3.21.10+(5).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451250649190262306" /></a>You can see some lettuce sprouts here. The basil is coming up, too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqB50Hc5RSm1cZOz0icCaP5hVXGI3fBpYMIg9ecOeORbJXoHa_Uh0S-oyTDr5RTa3FRFuuQ_1M8S3Yt0qAC2Go8uGCAJFApn7WrwA8tt3HXTRYpG0TuV8oYL5GrIqPWTkXL8H/s1600-h/3.21.10+(6).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqB50Hc5RSm1cZOz0icCaP5hVXGI3fBpYMIg9ecOeORbJXoHa_Uh0S-oyTDr5RTa3FRFuuQ_1M8S3Yt0qAC2Go8uGCAJFApn7WrwA8tt3HXTRYpG0TuV8oYL5GrIqPWTkXL8H/s200/3.21.10+(6).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451250639787849906" /></a>This pine tree is huge and old but it's going to be leaving us. Goodbye, pine needles, hello sunshine!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVortWyf63yofJ88dsQGggU1PF7ZgEtI9LEICNnwRiMG5Sx3bfJmhspZYaCTzz_-olRxmuurNGfmfZZNrc7ggzjctR5S2Q3R_LSuqtZWTcc_7HHH8qdAwN5lOwPIJM41VGW5Zx/s1600-h/3.21.10+(7).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVortWyf63yofJ88dsQGggU1PF7ZgEtI9LEICNnwRiMG5Sx3bfJmhspZYaCTzz_-olRxmuurNGfmfZZNrc7ggzjctR5S2Q3R_LSuqtZWTcc_7HHH8qdAwN5lOwPIJM41VGW5Zx/s200/3.21.10+(7).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451250636628748898" /></a>On another topic, after a day of gardening I made butter out of some of the raw milk I brought back from Uppingil Farm. At least I think it's butter. It tastes like butter! It took a lot of shaking to get there!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gMF3_PHdNnmK_GS09SehbRIKqSQdFQBBjz5PDbWoBWWW3ufqmXUPsQWZCR8FyOlgCX9HW8OwGmaFDsjOuJtuhH4T9UpoG4xTWroXIaop92bSv8wJRDXhODIpvFXatPDRdEey/s1600-h/3.21.10+(4).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gMF3_PHdNnmK_GS09SehbRIKqSQdFQBBjz5PDbWoBWWW3ufqmXUPsQWZCR8FyOlgCX9HW8OwGmaFDsjOuJtuhH4T9UpoG4xTWroXIaop92bSv8wJRDXhODIpvFXatPDRdEey/s200/3.21.10+(4).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451249793500482754" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-73547565460880393082010-03-20T21:14:00.003-04:002010-03-20T21:32:02.546-04:00The Big CheeseToday my friend Kim and I took a cheese making class from Cliff at <a href="http://www.upinngil.com/">Upinngil Farm in Gill, MA</a>. Here is a view across the street from the milk house.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890209121894386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QofVSNsqx_Tk1uM1oU5gZxzTUQk2xSev44gKFD32FMdZi99WclFBo8_rnvY6FK7q6KpCcoRRdoo5kY542TRAWptjq5AYjxwlqC8g1_daj1Y4OY2CIm_mUmfxMDbDFp3Qq5rA/s200/IMG_8009.JPG" /><br />We learned about ripening, setting, curds, whey, acidity...lots of technical stuff about all the work that goes into yummy cheese.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyV0Hpsgsb_YKpt_vku73btFNVmzCtXiIBv7An4Rh_ZP_AKvrzjGAOmmYLI8Cv5ZN3M-gFd_STLN_QglfjDWnkSNXeagyGZy86QTRmiwExiRktxxy3eTubdXGWDglurrKbSOT/s1600-h/IMG_8053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890250614121138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ9gIfPf2eog2hgDdJnc8vP_ux9tmoEb8UCGg-Zz8QNYFblP9q9EYgrdobbzkG_R5ghtlbY_dtjXD_HyX9oK9_lN0bdaoj5-tS3BuL4dhtX0LrB23L96nTP70CRnd_J0ce_3C/s200/IMG_8051.JPG" /></a>Here I am, checking out the double-jacketed kettle containing the curds and whey.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890227706690610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sEfWuo_BZYlyHLvubsSTcMM_6p_TWLFCGxgEP50ceg_f7geLisvePdS31CnKeCsTaQ-aQvdbtvM8ugA9BYcZRhK6usgVL8YqupizFmA2jJUQ-_WxjUmzBRvnu82r9q9Bu1hm/s200/IMG_8035.JPG" />Kim salts the Camembert.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890766792535890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWqsnl3cRj_rU76wHdFqJn_jp236ngB_TsZngmi_04b0gUArcZ_byeTV_i_qB8KRf2VfVpw3ONTasi8OG8KPH4oxy83BHOBkAjD0hjlsdtn2ee7uK0yV-0sHHTiDYqA17VpjC/s200/IMG_8078.JPG" />Cliff apparently thinks that the aging blue cheese is very funny.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890776504271346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyV0Hpsgsb_YKpt_vku73btFNVmzCtXiIBv7An4Rh_ZP_AKvrzjGAOmmYLI8Cv5ZN3M-gFd_STLN_QglfjDWnkSNXeagyGZy86QTRmiwExiRktxxy3eTubdXGWDglurrKbSOT/s200/IMG_8053.JPG" /> I took a turn salting the cheese.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCl5fpbJciEwKaO0PqoM2x5daQIR7lfhTziwxYEQfhKXc_hjHxIIqDjVtqQlU3v0nPsWEYynDV056PREvY692fxy63h9jSJgVenefi9Dj59YI9C8f0o6ZaxrCuXK-zW33mT5m/s1600-h/IMG_8080.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890758758634402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCl5fpbJciEwKaO0PqoM2x5daQIR7lfhTziwxYEQfhKXc_hjHxIIqDjVtqQlU3v0nPsWEYynDV056PREvY692fxy63h9jSJgVenefi9Dj59YI9C8f0o6ZaxrCuXK-zW33mT5m/s200/IMG_8080.JPG" /></a> Vat o' yum.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnRaemHLAJ1N8r_P4O99AC4QfrjjLce7dLWCXVqq6YhnxrCdXRwunH1Xl0sgAILRgqcQfYiicDMIuq3oD-ZVuV8-q9dc31DNVxfgWaByD2js-CTnO_lBwuCfSSSx0R_W_pPcX/s1600-h/IMG_8040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890239210718450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnRaemHLAJ1N8r_P4O99AC4QfrjjLce7dLWCXVqq6YhnxrCdXRwunH1Xl0sgAILRgqcQfYiicDMIuq3oD-ZVuV8-q9dc31DNVxfgWaByD2js-CTnO_lBwuCfSSSx0R_W_pPcX/s200/IMG_8040.JPG" /></a> Standing over the Camembert forms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuIsErbz-6DU01wRtUNwig7ofNzO4X5VH4G6_PGKK58yw9FgnJoui40lKNx9Ns4s85Z22uo5gkK68efI3KTSYX7jEh09v5NIa0dA_XklGQyESKt_Byk7JGppAFeKivjMZUBS/s1600-h/IMG_8024.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450890215267395394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSuIsErbz-6DU01wRtUNwig7ofNzO4X5VH4G6_PGKK58yw9FgnJoui40lKNx9Ns4s85Z22uo5gkK68efI3KTSYX7jEh09v5NIa0dA_XklGQyESKt_Byk7JGppAFeKivjMZUBS/s200/IMG_8024.JPG" /></a> I don't think I'll be trying to make cultured cheeses at home any time soon, but I did bring some yummy raw milk back with me to either drink or make ricotta.MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-22294268008564276132010-03-16T21:21:00.003-04:002010-03-16T21:23:49.255-04:00Nobody home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIwOnR5fG9KJo8mHkxLZ5wY5HDh7lguv_HMrrV_WhOGNki6ZBHcLLpguzPfc12WdG590qOXgeJuzLIGu6uWyUe-qALKXkdF72H5_CFir4GZdQ2sC7MEyqDfw6d1Ud_Qbv6COx/s1600-h/3.16.10+(1).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIwOnR5fG9KJo8mHkxLZ5wY5HDh7lguv_HMrrV_WhOGNki6ZBHcLLpguzPfc12WdG590qOXgeJuzLIGu6uWyUe-qALKXkdF72H5_CFir4GZdQ2sC7MEyqDfw6d1Ud_Qbv6COx/s200/3.16.10+(1).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449407138096464274" /></a>I don't see any residents in the bat house yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HmlYwpPFL5zVInj-nkQpyzT0MTB43iC86qCDoglgpU7wXy7CtG087-8d_p8ag7Kdk4TAInhFfnGi7A3-vocxHJ6n-c5DlKz3xu8Dq4TsdvT_AwTfOvBYbfArVMyFAnWrk9XS/s1600-h/3.16.10+(2).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HmlYwpPFL5zVInj-nkQpyzT0MTB43iC86qCDoglgpU7wXy7CtG087-8d_p8ag7Kdk4TAInhFfnGi7A3-vocxHJ6n-c5DlKz3xu8Dq4TsdvT_AwTfOvBYbfArVMyFAnWrk9XS/s200/3.16.10+(2).JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449407042095496530" /></a>But we have our first crocuses! These are at the back of the house, they have been showing up there since we moved in 3 years ago.<div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow I'm going to plant some more spinach and lettuce as well as peas!</div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-81031377997026589402010-03-12T13:29:00.002-05:002010-03-12T13:31:09.322-05:00Garlic Shoots!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiFMUTg7-zk4gXGlwjVrYlBCgZ9s4SX9Ax4WNlimzWpUl6QacOPHXzWOl6Fau3LVzmekk9hAg_S6f486pAkdWIq03XC3qazOLfSIO7ZuJmBOuC1BDYIzUoSEYyd2EpCT4ycVJ/s1600-h/Garlic+3.12.10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiFMUTg7-zk4gXGlwjVrYlBCgZ9s4SX9Ax4WNlimzWpUl6QacOPHXzWOl6Fau3LVzmekk9hAg_S6f486pAkdWIq03XC3qazOLfSIO7ZuJmBOuC1BDYIzUoSEYyd2EpCT4ycVJ/s200/Garlic+3.12.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447816259321593666" /></a>I raked aside a little bit of the straw mulch covering the garlic plot this morning, just to see if anything was happening...and it is! The shoots are coming up! They're almost an inch high now. I loosened up the mulch a bit to make it easier for them to push up through it, but left them covered to keep them warm -- at the advice of my friend <a href="http://redcloverblossom.com/">Kim</a>, and expert garlic farmer.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-88446328514268732632010-03-08T14:55:00.005-05:002010-03-08T14:59:20.497-05:00To the Bat Cave!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCyW2PKIWQzmcibIDZaM1YTZNASmf9MRgFwXlVpl8xP9gxzvDMRkn4b4O4FSBiAQ3RY-HaRtX9uxQB7by8KUvo_ayH5nnBruHTy2nGmOENx5xeuXCqaCbsxQOTCSrd91-rWGv/s1600-h/Bathouse+3.6.10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCyW2PKIWQzmcibIDZaM1YTZNASmf9MRgFwXlVpl8xP9gxzvDMRkn4b4O4FSBiAQ3RY-HaRtX9uxQB7by8KUvo_ayH5nnBruHTy2nGmOENx5xeuXCqaCbsxQOTCSrd91-rWGv/s200/Bathouse+3.6.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446354732403781938" /></a>Between the two of us, Dave and I managed (barely) to put our new bat house up on this pole in our back yard. Neither of us loved climbing the 6' step-ladder, but we did it. Hopefully there will be some mosquito-eaters moving in soon, although I've read that it might take at least a year to get residents. No comments on the not-so-completely pounded in nail heads sticking out of the top of the house, please...<div><br /></div><div>Here is another pic of the garden where I planted some lettuce and spinach seeds. After softening up nicely for about a week, the ground all froze up again! And after some gorgeous spring-like days, too. What gives?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXXksW3qkm-xX0XiLETBu3fWDZMVd1KLl6Z0xVyFAyssGg8BdUtgDwTrX7VqIWwG2GQ-0Upgp_bIDGrV6qDJRSlQ-mF-yn4mi1thpATK-xkEl08tNp8obHzLVthFAruOGUTGX/s1600-h/Garden+3.6.10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXXksW3qkm-xX0XiLETBu3fWDZMVd1KLl6Z0xVyFAyssGg8BdUtgDwTrX7VqIWwG2GQ-0Upgp_bIDGrV6qDJRSlQ-mF-yn4mi1thpATK-xkEl08tNp8obHzLVthFAruOGUTGX/s200/Garden+3.6.10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446354679465795938" /></a><br /></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-89556892340413011452010-03-06T15:02:00.009-05:002010-03-06T15:35:35.005-05:00Swear to be betterLet's see, it's been over a year and a half since my last post...I feel like I'm at confession. So much has happened since the July 2008 harvest that I just don't have to energy to go over it all, so I'm going to pretend I don't have a 36-month hole in my posts and start up again today.<div><br /></div><div>This is turning into more of a gardening blog than the fiber one it used to be, largely because it is very difficult to knit or spin with a 2 year old and also because I have become addicted to gardening. It's also something that the whole family can participate in one way or another. So what follows is my gardening life...</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445617926732139170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrGL_xwt_FGo_35La14bki-MQBqn2LaEtNdry2FpNQlXca8QC-D8xz5XPuuchCqHuuTKSxxR6SSDAq7aD3BzZtYJ0BTfj03E33PGfBa6XjcwkE9enrQAa-6z2NvXmqPeT4W9a/s200/3.05.10+(1).JPG" /></div><div>I am dying for spring to come, and this warm sunny weather is a great sneak peak. Just yesterday I planted a few spinach and lettuce plants -- <a href="http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Bloomsdale_Long_Standing_Spinach-891-94.html">Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach</a> and<a href="http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Gotte_Jaune_D_Or_Lettuce-1080-110.html">Gotte Jaune D'or Lettuce</a> from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/">Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds</a> and some <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/product_details.aspx?item_no=PS15434">Viroflay Spinach</a> seeds I had left over from last year from <a href="http://seedsofchange.com/">Seeds of Change</a>. Maybe it's a bit early to be planting outside, but I only planted a few to see if they would take. The soil was only workable for about 3", and then it's still frozen, but I think that's more than the seedlings need to start out.<br /></div><div>I would have loved to start them indoors but our indoor sunshine spots are non-existent. That doesn't mean I'm not going to try with some other seeds that don't like the cold weather as much as spinach and lettuce. Jonah and I already started some tomato and eggplant seeds in soda bottle greenhouses that I've been moving around to various windows in the house as the sun makes its way through the sky, and we have some sprouts, which is very exciting for both of us. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445618545444166594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWn9G2_z4LeE56dMiDsRdFVqSXfBnj6ye6kOD0gYTa8dFpcP4b0LxkC9NAsuW8sAHOUOIlyxErpMNY0dw7AdJ-D8s_6GUbSlDAAMuoH8ZiZgekOXSrtVF2SD2BTucJTsInKVC/s200/3.6.10+(2).jpg" />We planted <a href="http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Louisiana_Long_Green_Eggplant-1183-114.html">Thai Long Green Eggplant </a>and <a href="http://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Dr_Wyche_s_Yellow_Tomato-365-46.html">Dr. Wyche's Yellow Tomato</a>, both from <a href="http://rareseeds.com/">Baker Creek</a>. I think the sprouts are the eggplant, but I'll have to wait to see their true leaves to know for sure. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 199px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445618551436010354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW7ds989LzLdoRW4W8xhlAQ5aNCUJEY8ITMVqNwvTJ_wEEEWCHA-TshV0K7OF100TZyB9sA5snRcj-Q1dDnEW2XQ5oXB3lMFjnhDpSgbMGs_BKqzItsTbQn5uDegZow3XqRTZ/s200/3.6.10.jpg" /></div><div>I'm interested to see what happens in the strawberry patch I dug behind the house last year. I'm not sure if it gets enough sunlight or not, but the plants seemed to do pretty well their first year as far as growing and branching out. Hopefully we'll get some fruit this year.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445617932078337730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86RYayICetnb5B9fsvBZKQ_DbtwFgu5FLVVsFvuvG1pJixjwbg6zfqwTG_v6x_FlWipKtp7TwGuDv3FzQmLAnFVs5liQ0fdb4EFdBPIt7jujbSa0GFA10EOUNqx_zv0iYf7aC/s200/3.05.10+(3).JPG" /></div><div>And of course, the crocuses, tulips and daffodils are starting to peak up out of the ground. Yay!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445617935940582754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgLiS56yJF4PrINo5aBY1eBU6XRcP71r-Rw3_ulF40zuTqAXii-h32z21fAzvHjiyI0f0gOKgeDlVCqJYnsCdiwDsm-TgqsJ3NwREcPRo9BCqT828gFbR698Jlicy2dLX05Ke/s200/3.05.10+(8).JPG" /></div>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-80418219185580049932008-07-17T20:58:00.003-04:002008-12-08T20:22:31.635-05:00A little bit of harvest fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgGkOGbDgqSpUSLFu3_Xa5Y_JEcTIwurrPJNVI20Wf1NbdL4gekLWJiLEIxOrMZ4joHg3CbWzcDTCKk6zVB8ZpVHIiqjIVhm_zhMltSFiVo-f767zPdfjWGztlPov0atx7gAl/s1600-h/First+bounty.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgGkOGbDgqSpUSLFu3_Xa5Y_JEcTIwurrPJNVI20Wf1NbdL4gekLWJiLEIxOrMZ4joHg3CbWzcDTCKk6zVB8ZpVHIiqjIVhm_zhMltSFiVo-f767zPdfjWGztlPov0atx7gAl/s200/First+bounty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224152449279970738" border="0" /></a><br />We grilled veggies for dinner tonight, all from the garden (we just added some purchased broccoli). Even the herbs I used in the marinade were from the garden, including parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. No lie, my life is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_Fair">a ballad</a>! We ate garden-fresh eggplant, peppers, yellow and green squash, cucumbers, and green beans. And for dessert...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUMGohb9odQRq4H_QX5cLIbUf3EIrn3efY8gy6-2miuhQFiLcWVu0eoELnJnw-FihsDhQc3Q_EcbmeuolykWjOI4oiXI7D5dhGRc_XCSao3vVWQIBBbENyUVIHTS_y_WjtW2G/s1600-h/Raspberries.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUMGohb9odQRq4H_QX5cLIbUf3EIrn3efY8gy6-2miuhQFiLcWVu0eoELnJnw-FihsDhQc3Q_EcbmeuolykWjOI4oiXI7D5dhGRc_XCSao3vVWQIBBbENyUVIHTS_y_WjtW2G/s200/Raspberries.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224152452052477730" border="0" /></a>YUM!<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-46598350320527050242008-07-13T19:59:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:22:31.691-05:00Vampires Beware!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrTYc2lNJ1E9WNNuGbAmkFltoVPbBMQ8Eyt6Sz-KCoifTKFTZsqlqFsPqJXrLLIUa3ZxhKSMebj9u9nwVAYvyQC4siPprLvv_AGTEaf3USCpmuK4j82UkIlXQ7LTADs-GzbWe/s1600-h/7.11.08+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrTYc2lNJ1E9WNNuGbAmkFltoVPbBMQ8Eyt6Sz-KCoifTKFTZsqlqFsPqJXrLLIUa3ZxhKSMebj9u9nwVAYvyQC4siPprLvv_AGTEaf3USCpmuK4j82UkIlXQ7LTADs-GzbWe/s200/7.11.08+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222653367073327810" border="0" /></a>We harvested ALL of the garlic in our garden this week, and we consumed it all in the form of mighty mighty garlic bread. Originally I intended to cure some of it, but the crab grass was intruding mightily on the garlic patch, and all of the nutrients were being stolen away from my little bulbs, so I decided to just yank them all up and enjoy. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn-VGGufMADlp82hyphenhyphenbpbTxqgzbDRicECwPoK42geGO6Elq2FxNdFlVv5pLtDGEw5Pqrj8jzyTHfanE0cey5dhhyphenhyphenF1b58LaRHls13QN667sY93d7mFFuWW-ZJwBETg-FaVBvrp/s1600-h/7.11.08+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn-VGGufMADlp82hyphenhyphenbpbTxqgzbDRicECwPoK42geGO6Elq2FxNdFlVv5pLtDGEw5Pqrj8jzyTHfanE0cey5dhhyphenhyphenF1b58LaRHls13QN667sY93d7mFFuWW-ZJwBETg-FaVBvrp/s200/7.11.08+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222653379151789954" border="0" /></a>There weren't that many bulbs and most of them were not that big anyway, but they were delicious!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeSyD7ieJI1AZ_KCd6j3_HW571Gx3fXAx6peXEdUZL0wkc-w70SCF0lt6T-aeThv_ofFclNuvqcae-wMWZUpIMk7p6wvSzVtZl6kEKWCf9L5SYhHy2oW2tlG3isDeuVC1pJa1/s1600-h/7.11.08+%283%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeSyD7ieJI1AZ_KCd6j3_HW571Gx3fXAx6peXEdUZL0wkc-w70SCF0lt6T-aeThv_ofFclNuvqcae-wMWZUpIMk7p6wvSzVtZl6kEKWCf9L5SYhHy2oW2tlG3isDeuVC1pJa1/s200/7.11.08+%283%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222653380882662050" border="0" /></a>Next year we'll hopefully be rid of the crab grass and I can plant more garlic and do a better job of caring for it. Seriously, though, I had no idea how crazy the crab grass could be!<br /><br />Besides garlic, what I am loving right now is an unending supply of raspberries. Pictures to come, but we've been eating them as fast as we can pick them so I haven't gotten a chance to take many photos. We had raspberry pancakes this morning, tomorrow I'll make raspberry scones, and I even tried to make raspberry jam last weekend but that didn't go too well.MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-91464536394782274932008-06-22T20:14:00.007-04:002008-12-08T20:22:32.615-05:00It's Working!!!I always had my doubts that the plants in our garden would grow. Insert seed, cover with dirt and voila, you've got food! -- it seemed like some sort of magic that had to be smoke and mirrors. I wanted to put all of my faith into it and believe, believe that it would work, and deep down I did but I still had my doubts. I didn't want to find out that vegetable magic was a bit like the Christmas Magic of Santa Claus. And it's not! Look at our garden -- it's a wonderful true bit of sorcery!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3iDYcx7jKBe3QUHSmPVcnviko0g51wdRz7lGIs5TG3CmOymzHnc3UZpAnkVrsdGnC6GDJFtacX8gSuyoEb5NcgPCz38Eywm22HGta9uBdvAcf7q9SH6ddvvQE5i-yOu57CMd/s1600-h/Front+view+6.22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3iDYcx7jKBe3QUHSmPVcnviko0g51wdRz7lGIs5TG3CmOymzHnc3UZpAnkVrsdGnC6GDJFtacX8gSuyoEb5NcgPCz38Eywm22HGta9uBdvAcf7q9SH6ddvvQE5i-yOu57CMd/s200/Front+view+6.22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214866634411619058" border="0" /></a>Everything is HUGE and blooming or fruiting! Cucumber blossoms,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3ouW0spA13InJok5JV6HUR3eJ5IBhlkdewh3EpckTbpSNTS-8gPwlbvpp6xMYIRhUe_wQdsn1wOTWM6XDavPA4GHr7IsExkNmUBYcN4NiT4I_YXAaX-AWzMJRLSNahsvfxGh/s1600-h/Cukes+6.22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3ouW0spA13InJok5JV6HUR3eJ5IBhlkdewh3EpckTbpSNTS-8gPwlbvpp6xMYIRhUe_wQdsn1wOTWM6XDavPA4GHr7IsExkNmUBYcN4NiT4I_YXAaX-AWzMJRLSNahsvfxGh/s200/Cukes+6.22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214867208728863362" border="0" /></a>tomato blossoms AND fruit,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoTLNKluTGvogHLWf-hwGKwv-DDrwHRdznLEpQhFnPQE2A8m39v3hyaGh1BD4h_H3P9e-5s3i69PMm8tsK7S4yVIoRHN6-pWgETevoYGRyUBiAQCKN-9OGJlPNriqht0Zz8y0/s1600-h/Cherry+tomatoes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoTLNKluTGvogHLWf-hwGKwv-DDrwHRdznLEpQhFnPQE2A8m39v3hyaGh1BD4h_H3P9e-5s3i69PMm8tsK7S4yVIoRHN6-pWgETevoYGRyUBiAQCKN-9OGJlPNriqht0Zz8y0/s200/Cherry+tomatoes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214867212097475218" border="0" /></a>raspberries (the bees love them!),<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASJEFMIDIxTLScuxV-wJMcXVJb1eFsQ_q7HcYIC0KLeyPL6XVb8_bl3d6XEIbE6da3dfs2rcqX118Ge_YceUW8Vqho2m1yek0xLmm7n-3yfDcXHt8BVjnL7EmKQt5T_1_PXBz/s1600-h/Raspberries+6.22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASJEFMIDIxTLScuxV-wJMcXVJb1eFsQ_q7HcYIC0KLeyPL6XVb8_bl3d6XEIbE6da3dfs2rcqX118Ge_YceUW8Vqho2m1yek0xLmm7n-3yfDcXHt8BVjnL7EmKQt5T_1_PXBz/s200/Raspberries+6.22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214866637786594690" border="0" /></a>adorable string bean babies,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG38IfpVVRaosrlrgyk_V5uP2AufSex_AwccZZz61G4h7v0MuBK7UBQPpPe3ibBZ2UhAyOT1CPutk7wvsH6dU5T7eoG03-l0sdhK6AKtvQQgSyGuH8T1zhXyYmuH4fxaRwt2lh/s1600-h/String+Beans+6.22.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG38IfpVVRaosrlrgyk_V5uP2AufSex_AwccZZz61G4h7v0MuBK7UBQPpPe3ibBZ2UhAyOT1CPutk7wvsH6dU5T7eoG03-l0sdhK6AKtvQQgSyGuH8T1zhXyYmuH4fxaRwt2lh/s200/String+Beans+6.22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214866630444840498" border="0" /></a>and eggplant and pepper blossoms, too. The strawberry plants are putting out runners, all the squash varieties are expanding mightily, the corn is getting high (as an elephant's eye), and the tomato vines are becoming unimaginably HUGE -- I need taller stakes and more cages! But I'm especially proud of this one, that I started from seed:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVvD8lX8PB2c62EB4I9gaqJgvl5C5WvvDqTdxLfYb3ZGged4T6al5rrPz3ESSOJvJxdZ-JxDXx9odXeB42mzqCGVj8BDaAvh8w5oafiPN57wQRsw4IGPlgft6mWFzmV2DmXD5/s1600-h/From+a+seedling%21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVvD8lX8PB2c62EB4I9gaqJgvl5C5WvvDqTdxLfYb3ZGged4T6al5rrPz3ESSOJvJxdZ-JxDXx9odXeB42mzqCGVj8BDaAvh8w5oafiPN57wQRsw4IGPlgft6mWFzmV2DmXD5/s200/From+a+seedling%21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214867208372123186" border="0" /></a>Tomato plants have a smell that takes me back to my mom's garden of my youth. I wasn't really too interested in it then -- I mean, what kid likes to eat vegetables? But now I'm glad I have such an experienced gardener to call on for advice.<br /><br />Here's something else -- today Dave and I built our own compost bin! OK so it's not beautiful, and a pack of cub scouts could probably do a more symmetrical job, but it's functional and made of 100% re-purposed materials (except for the nails). I just hope that it doesn't attract the bears. Because bears are not a make-believe boogey man, I've seen them here on more than one occasion.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cOkHaWfz1TUyxgAJfpzyUTJK_swwiDxFFYnROUUuHnbZ0jBCUYSAoRv85ESbvfz-0bcHxMMZwcsv963zVrQhMIsRrCVEyeWSN9W5f1ZtdswNbZijBnMDqbm-RVJ7yMlk5Sqx/s1600-h/Compost+bin.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cOkHaWfz1TUyxgAJfpzyUTJK_swwiDxFFYnROUUuHnbZ0jBCUYSAoRv85ESbvfz-0bcHxMMZwcsv963zVrQhMIsRrCVEyeWSN9W5f1ZtdswNbZijBnMDqbm-RVJ7yMlk5Sqx/s200/Compost+bin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214867213370177634" border="0" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-67036531093045016652008-06-04T15:49:00.004-04:002008-12-08T20:22:33.839-05:00I'm a lonely little tomato in a tulip patch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9h_H9WVsA2BrQppS9xbxjTfSxLfAOShfpM_jc0d3-8YZAISOQZG8-ANYqn8u2xlrnZngUxdFwkEkyAVlUK7QVHbb4sf03zCcs5dZOR-WpxhKA2usHNET5jR1vRkozQDg6rhW/s1600-h/Front+View.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9h_H9WVsA2BrQppS9xbxjTfSxLfAOShfpM_jc0d3-8YZAISOQZG8-ANYqn8u2xlrnZngUxdFwkEkyAVlUK7QVHbb4sf03zCcs5dZOR-WpxhKA2usHNET5jR1vRkozQDg6rhW/s200/Front+View.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116362445539810" border="0" /></a>Our garden is pretty much planted and ready for the season of growing! I am so excited -- every morning, one of my favorite things to do when Jonah takes his first nap is to go out into the garden with a cup of coffee and survey the progress. I'm especially excited to see new seedlings come up and increase in size, like here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHGCorZVLlC0Hlh6RducwBnRpLyYFozrXKJGy0mUTo2u9xvxYqvEPskVJw7dRiTtM-A6IhhYy_IiQ-rGSRgw4RQPOL-OVIG0DIFVonsXGI0HPbu1EXEX9wmQm4A6Ukh4sxfos/s1600-h/Squash+and+corn.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHGCorZVLlC0Hlh6RducwBnRpLyYFozrXKJGy0mUTo2u9xvxYqvEPskVJw7dRiTtM-A6IhhYy_IiQ-rGSRgw4RQPOL-OVIG0DIFVonsXGI0HPbu1EXEX9wmQm4A6Ukh4sxfos/s200/Squash+and+corn.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116558791451714" border="0" /></a>On the box in the left are corn and sunflowers -- about half the corn is from seed, the other half I bought as seedlings from <a href="http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farm.php?farm=1436">Meadow View Farm</a> in Southwick, MA, about 15 minutes from here. I love that place! It has mad crazy amounts of plants, and is only open May and June. I was so sad when most of my seedlings kind of dwindled off -- my visions of having a "from scratch" garden full of heirloom varieties were going up in smoke. But I learned lessons from this -- like not to leave little seedlings out overnight when the temperatures are low, even if the days are sunny and springlike. And little seedlings need lots of sunlight, something we don't have a ton of in our house -- I'll have to figure out a solution to that for next year. But anyway, I remembered that this is a learning year, and I still wanted us to have some veggies to harvest, so I gave in and bought a ton of seedlings. Happily, Meadow View had lots of heirloom tomato varieties.<br />Anyway, I digress. In the box on the right are varieties of squash -- about half from seed and the other half from purchased seedlings. We've got butternut (from <a href="http://www.townfarmdairy.org/">Town Farm Dairy</a> -- I saved the seeds from their squash last fall and dried them out), zucchini and yellow squash in there.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XIJn1DhRXJfW758vFNJto-wDMM9ZBaJyLApg7DLfbp3zYXTBWDiZ9XMobECdlIaRvs40_w7f6yyABKDPyq25z8Mq6bIfJY0Wwy69Z4EtDL_pGEsrUpsbmMRiQ0637SrydKU6/s1600-h/Back+view.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XIJn1DhRXJfW758vFNJto-wDMM9ZBaJyLApg7DLfbp3zYXTBWDiZ9XMobECdlIaRvs40_w7f6yyABKDPyq25z8Mq6bIfJY0Wwy69Z4EtDL_pGEsrUpsbmMRiQ0637SrydKU6/s200/Back+view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116347784255346" border="0" /></a>The jungle-like bushes you see are raspberries, which were there when we moved in.<br /><br />With the garden being quite full, I still had a few semi-decent sized plants that I grew from seed that may or may not be hearty enough to make it this season. I didn't want to throw them away, so I started planting them in random places around our yard. Here's the tomato amongst the tulip leaves:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KakF30orM9-Nj-T_pEjhVTxCkfRDkg70AV_fP_SS30qwjQHXNfvst_lOIIh8lRq0MzKFoTj62-c51VAfN0SEeFkMKu0yQahem-PX5A6UNYyAnkzV0CB6VleLO12kc6Oej5jD/s1600-h/Tomato+in+the+tulips.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KakF30orM9-Nj-T_pEjhVTxCkfRDkg70AV_fP_SS30qwjQHXNfvst_lOIIh8lRq0MzKFoTj62-c51VAfN0SEeFkMKu0yQahem-PX5A6UNYyAnkzV0CB6VleLO12kc6Oej5jD/s200/Tomato+in+the+tulips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116557980819346" border="0" /></a>And a pepper plant with the pansies and catmint.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dDX9YsWy3qKMFJr5OwRmNBEhVKekT7h1hoCulz2cFvF6gIwWYBdc-MQrJOJu8zBZrBGtd4_PQMy2jH5MtLnXWhbkdLjHFRQ4SISfhy1oeUkk5CgPLEk7ZrAMDfufa_xNPO2Q/s1600-h/Pepper+in+the+tulips.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dDX9YsWy3qKMFJr5OwRmNBEhVKekT7h1hoCulz2cFvF6gIwWYBdc-MQrJOJu8zBZrBGtd4_PQMy2jH5MtLnXWhbkdLjHFRQ4SISfhy1oeUkk5CgPLEk7ZrAMDfufa_xNPO2Q/s200/Pepper+in+the+tulips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116549648679938" border="0" /></a>Three of the first radishes are ready to be harvested! Dave ate them tonight and said they were way better than store-bought -- the highest compliment to me! I tried them, but don't really like radishes anyway.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbRBZ6z3rUnjtoSnqRq7UV6JwtXKTHb3oAaQW2J0V2vAjO49Y9IvRPBqE8GFPgPd0P2tZA7MmV1H7scIK1C1fz1iBKUNM4xavTNGKiT8kKiFPfIu3JsJ43nZZPL5al0hg1CL-/s1600-h/Radishes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbRBZ6z3rUnjtoSnqRq7UV6JwtXKTHb3oAaQW2J0V2vAjO49Y9IvRPBqE8GFPgPd0P2tZA7MmV1H7scIK1C1fz1iBKUNM4xavTNGKiT8kKiFPfIu3JsJ43nZZPL5al0hg1CL-/s200/Radishes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116556057477890" border="0" /></a>I planted a new patch of them about a week ago, and they're starting to sprout too (they're the little green things in front of the mature radishes).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBiJC549czQwI0l8qUHM64apB0EN4ZCELWs-qI8V2Q5qd7atbIBnjtwpcOAQMR0Zk4tQSOGR0FIWjLIfsSMfkHK0EwDBsAxaMdr-j2AO4auJy-wKpBPza6u0IhKSRjAdi66h8/s1600-h/New+radishes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBiJC549czQwI0l8qUHM64apB0EN4ZCELWs-qI8V2Q5qd7atbIBnjtwpcOAQMR0Zk4tQSOGR0FIWjLIfsSMfkHK0EwDBsAxaMdr-j2AO4auJy-wKpBPza6u0IhKSRjAdi66h8/s200/New+radishes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116367029473842" border="0" /></a>I had direct sown a lot of seeds in the garden, but hardly anything was coming up. So when I decided to plant purchased seedlings, I covered up a lot of the garden with salt marsh hay to keep down the weeds. But I think I was too impatient -- a bunch of cucumber sprouts started poking through the hay, so I cleared the area and stuck stakes next to them so we wouldn't step on them (since they were in the middle of the row!) We are going to have so many cucumbers, because besides the ones that sprouted from seed, my mom gave me a bunch of seedlings that she grew from seed. So we have about 10 cucumber plants!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3kMPTUv65JJQaoaES2RHv3WOPnSEAULAjYVPE1HOLWZrdI6TkxFtzd9lJ6t46RzIK8x7zxbrv8RMpuz882EZc8akggPGRx41Hn63-x6ru1r8cHeoCgGM8cK-YTI1Zab9vE8_/s1600-h/Cukes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3kMPTUv65JJQaoaES2RHv3WOPnSEAULAjYVPE1HOLWZrdI6TkxFtzd9lJ6t46RzIK8x7zxbrv8RMpuz882EZc8akggPGRx41Hn63-x6ru1r8cHeoCgGM8cK-YTI1Zab9vE8_/s200/Cukes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116346619769170" border="0" /></a>We put down the hay to keep the weeds away, and to help the soil become more fertile next year, after we till everything into the ground at the end of the season. And it's not just weeds that the hay keeps away, it's grass -- since this used to be part of our lawn, lots and lots of grass keeps trying to grow where we tilled. We could really use this grass in other parts of our lawn, but it insists on growing where we DON'T want it. See it starting to surround the garlic?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAmE_xz2MjZVTrb5MrYRVeYiElAMAp5Pjh1jwiEN7exy5u9Eg2KlQNh08PXKifVUFU8YtMl4nUxu_H6G8ykdfTrwtCEEPCP9WYR7dRuYwz5Y40DmTU4gB0w7EYWl8BYklFcNB/s1600-h/Garlic+and+radishes.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAmE_xz2MjZVTrb5MrYRVeYiElAMAp5Pjh1jwiEN7exy5u9Eg2KlQNh08PXKifVUFU8YtMl4nUxu_H6G8ykdfTrwtCEEPCP9WYR7dRuYwz5Y40DmTU4gB0w7EYWl8BYklFcNB/s200/Garlic+and+radishes.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208116360244757970" border="0" /></a>This fall we'll cover the entire garden with some sort of mulch after we till everything under. That should help keep some of the grass away.<br /><br />So to sum it up, from seed we planted butternut squash, zucchini, radishes, garlic, lettuce, basil, corn, cucumbers, sunflowers, basil and a few tomato plants. Okay we initially started with more vegetables than that, but those are the things that seem to have a chance of having one or two plants make it. The raspberry bushes were already in place, so we didn't have to do any planting with those. From purchased seedlings we planted zucchini, yellow squash, corn, pumpkins, strawberries, peppers (yellow, red, green and scotch bonnet), tomatoes (MANY varieties, including yellow and cherry), eggplant, and a whole mess of herbs. And my mom gave us some cucumbers and string beans that she grew from seed.<br /><br />Can I just say a fews words about my mom here? She is awesome. She totally made this garden possible. She spent many hours either weeding or occupying Jonah so I could weed/plant. She brought me tons of lilies and cosmos, and even planted the cosmos for me, in a semi-border around part of the garden. Not to mention the from seed plants she grew and brought me. I'm so lucky to have her! Thanks, mom, you rock!<br /><br />Oh, and in case you haven't checked out Jonah's blog lately, here's a picture of him practicing eating (so that he can have all of those yummy vegetables...maybe next year!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtwsEErp4RNY3W55vg9HuPa0xDpQNitFHzAxCYhOv1gRxfoGdAGypg3w9VU-JKuKI8iKJ1cwX6ajWkRtHuX0a34w4a4kL_W83Er_vtPZano_rJZFdauutuJmzSzUYPPCuOOM/s1600-h/First+Solids+7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtwsEErp4RNY3W55vg9HuPa0xDpQNitFHzAxCYhOv1gRxfoGdAGypg3w9VU-JKuKI8iKJ1cwX6ajWkRtHuX0a34w4a4kL_W83Er_vtPZano_rJZFdauutuJmzSzUYPPCuOOM/s200/First+Solids+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208181468809327170" border="0" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-2691946829798781852008-04-27T17:40:00.003-04:002008-12-08T20:22:34.176-05:00Lots of GrowingBesides having <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com">a growing baby</a> in our home, we're also growing lots more plants! I was so excited to see the flowers we had planted as bulbs in the fall start springing up all around the yard. I think that I didn't really believe that it would work -- this is the first time we've ever had a yard to plant anything in, so I was skeptical that those brownish-yellow bulbs would ever actually yield anything like this!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqjwXY9T0JqmzIhdDYJut9-ZQBL4sobD_TFYtBlS90P5szBp7jWDJ5lVtfLeTjHwRf86AidGLYHqlsLTjc54-YfC2pTldHvXv8AMYJBWdvB85DHPTbXtHrKbt-FIspYL8YpDk/s1600-h/Front+Flowers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqjwXY9T0JqmzIhdDYJut9-ZQBL4sobD_TFYtBlS90P5szBp7jWDJ5lVtfLeTjHwRf86AidGLYHqlsLTjc54-YfC2pTldHvXv8AMYJBWdvB85DHPTbXtHrKbt-FIspYL8YpDk/s200/Front+Flowers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194044540891750434" border="0" /></a>Also, I transplanted a lot of the vegetable and herb seedlings into bigger pots.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Dt6W-nMWl4uzgEjA0_bauycSRpxft13pAtm3uIq9alRnHgggiZsR-57m3JwtXUR5g-1U3mXm7T6l4rT8OAPll8bitXjd5L5TvWsX0H2bxzMmFRQ7FFowo17U2Mi5dXyw-vV/s1600-h/Pots.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Dt6W-nMWl4uzgEjA0_bauycSRpxft13pAtm3uIq9alRnHgggiZsR-57m3JwtXUR5g-1U3mXm7T6l4rT8OAPll8bitXjd5L5TvWsX0H2bxzMmFRQ7FFowo17U2Mi5dXyw-vV/s200/Pots.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194044532301815810" border="0" /></a>And this is where Dave and his dad roto-tilled for a garden a few weeks ago. I think I need to mulch. Notice that you can't really tell where our lawn ends and our garden begins? That's because our yard is very very brown. I think we have to invest in some grass seed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstCt_2feDi0bripNj73zKPy6IER0nv9LpehOezG7PLKyN9Z0ojCE-ipxPj0a6Ga-LGK0zOAUUmmLgCsZ9UoyJ8Gw5-gFBU-Syk42jkWzU0Ke9zr7ZKGcPr6KYBqCxrQjM_TrE/s1600-h/Garden.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstCt_2feDi0bripNj73zKPy6IER0nv9LpehOezG7PLKyN9Z0ojCE-ipxPj0a6Ga-LGK0zOAUUmmLgCsZ9UoyJ8Gw5-gFBU-Syk42jkWzU0Ke9zr7ZKGcPr6KYBqCxrQjM_TrE/s200/Garden.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194044536596783122" border="0" /></a>Still no knitting or spinning going on here, but the Guru was here with Mr. Guru this weekend, and she was knitting a sock in all of her spare time. It really woke up my knitting bug again!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-22788025091326450312008-04-05T21:32:00.007-04:002008-12-08T20:22:35.037-05:00A different kind of babySpring has sprung, and I'm getting excited to plant my first ever garden! Last fall we put in some tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other bulb flowers, and they are finally starting to sprout up. I've seen crocuses in full bloom around town, but our snow took a looooong time to melt so I'm hoping we didn't miss the blooming season.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KCMWwfNyMtPSDOl05AtdLt6G3YfQTMMe8T-7At9KvA0FQVI3mjPpo7s5Y1FbeEAs2nVs91wO2PbZsfYs3KTQfjGbYMhLWlcsG_b6XWwHt8gu8lCHy7mBGVpO_QzrHCY9IWXX/s1600-h/Tulips.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KCMWwfNyMtPSDOl05AtdLt6G3YfQTMMe8T-7At9KvA0FQVI3mjPpo7s5Y1FbeEAs2nVs91wO2PbZsfYs3KTQfjGbYMhLWlcsG_b6XWwHt8gu8lCHy7mBGVpO_QzrHCY9IWXX/s200/Tulips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185942111041025202" border="0" /></a>We also planted some garlic, and I "think" these are the sprouts of those bulbs, although I'm not sure -- the previous owners could have planted some other bulbs in this area too. We're excited to see what comes up in our yard.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgKlm9BGRYImJtRmpw2iAEjMwUO7hc44x3lY1LSllHkZayEou_tmqnQaDZPb-YYTw3hC3JInkZ6RAty1kLsZ953c6JzaaXgmxNFJKgDcefRS6CRcq7qcpOVGNP9J6RLibLOfU/s1600-h/Garlic.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgKlm9BGRYImJtRmpw2iAEjMwUO7hc44x3lY1LSllHkZayEou_tmqnQaDZPb-YYTw3hC3JInkZ6RAty1kLsZ953c6JzaaXgmxNFJKgDcefRS6CRcq7qcpOVGNP9J6RLibLOfU/s200/Garlic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185941831868150930" border="0" /></a>We tilled a little bit by hand to plant the garlic bulbs, but in the next week or two we are going to rent a tiller and plow up some of the yard for a real garden. I started some seedlings in my "greenhouse" a few weeks ago, and as long as Kingston doesn't feast on them, they'll go into the garden and try to become vegetables. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3HVPcI2lNWADnT8S5I_0tZ-mM-Ctc4_-ils4cEq3acjNr1-tcSEa5p9ypVh4zYtNvwQj32wjkXW6zGZ5BW41sHOltopVz22MK7S4zf1m7flw4oWDtA3DuEbYDSvF045R4HEq/s1600-h/Greenhouse.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3HVPcI2lNWADnT8S5I_0tZ-mM-Ctc4_-ils4cEq3acjNr1-tcSEa5p9ypVh4zYtNvwQj32wjkXW6zGZ5BW41sHOltopVz22MK7S4zf1m7flw4oWDtA3DuEbYDSvF045R4HEq/s200/Greenhouse.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185941771738608770" border="0" /></a>Dave gave me a whole bunch of heirloom and organic seeds for Christmas. We have various types of tomatoes and peppers growing in the greenhouse, along with eggplant, basil, parsley and sage. Hopefully more will sprout soon, and then I also have many different seeds to sow directly into the ground. I'm not getting my hopes up that this year will be a perfect garden, because we are basically just plowing up the lawn of crab grass and tilling it over a few times. I know the soil will have to be fertilized to get it to the right PH level, and maybe we'll need some top soil too, but for this year, we're just going with the basic till and plant method. As one of my new friends in town, who is a for real farmer, says, "Plants want to grow" -- I hope they will!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7ybWlaiLHX2qMujLpY_-KztvjV6vnoqLx-qjNwUSsLxHuMCyhyphenhyphenjPn1tM3SdEpNz9Sd7uZ3DipqQiEgPOa_3xUCqEFJhdPeTHkGehGUlfulaGjelMKjuyxHjxvZPTSAtkPpx1/s1600-h/Seedlings.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7ybWlaiLHX2qMujLpY_-KztvjV6vnoqLx-qjNwUSsLxHuMCyhyphenhyphenjPn1tM3SdEpNz9Sd7uZ3DipqQiEgPOa_3xUCqEFJhdPeTHkGehGUlfulaGjelMKjuyxHjxvZPTSAtkPpx1/s200/Seedlings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185941690134230130" border="0" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-48361552244593047312008-02-25T16:34:00.006-05:002008-12-08T20:22:35.176-05:00Happy one month birthday to Jonah!Is anyone surprised that I haven't posted for a while? And that now that I am posting, there is really only minimal non-<a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> content? Hey, I'm a new mom, what can I say?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo83Wb6MxiUgUkfn_idicaDjIEMa0qiA8yQyLZPUtJEITPfc0L_dfN1_GcnM7Olp9gnN2ad0g6dP6QL2KulcaDOi6KcBtx1kzuJ1Q3YeHckOHOoKi5a2oD6rShEt_LKbwlE5D/s1600-h/Mom+sucks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo83Wb6MxiUgUkfn_idicaDjIEMa0qiA8yQyLZPUtJEITPfc0L_dfN1_GcnM7Olp9gnN2ad0g6dP6QL2KulcaDOi6KcBtx1kzuJ1Q3YeHckOHOoKi5a2oD6rShEt_LKbwlE5D/s200/Mom+sucks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171035441293602546" border="0" /></a>I have good news, though -- my right hand is back to normal! No more numbness! That means I can knit again -- when I get a bit of free time, that is. I really want to make an organic cotton blanket for <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a>. I wanted to do it the whole time I was pregnant, but wasn't able to.<br /><br />Here's a cute pic of <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> modeling some knitted gifts! Booties from <a href="http://www.simpleknits.blogspot.com/">Vicki</a>, and a rattle from Mary.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpHlvi1nEaSjSAIJJqrwtLpRqm2LAQFlYryGEcZepSJ4c_Wnk5P4B8fgqe7Va10-u_Z6Z2G9LEshIAnPhfIWxE7giRbeg_fjNpmoDx6hwjd11_bz909B5tCHbLdNYPl9QhKip/s1600-h/Knitted+fun%21.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpHlvi1nEaSjSAIJJqrwtLpRqm2LAQFlYryGEcZepSJ4c_Wnk5P4B8fgqe7Va10-u_Z6Z2G9LEshIAnPhfIWxE7giRbeg_fjNpmoDx6hwjd11_bz909B5tCHbLdNYPl9QhKip/s200/Knitted+fun%21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171035196480466658" border="0" /></a>I really haven't been doing much other than tending to the baby's every need. And that kind of suits me just fine right now!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-7751135457006013252008-02-07T13:39:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:22:35.361-05:00Been a little busy...I won't overburden you all with a million pics of <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> (although I could if you wanted me too -- he's really too cute to not stare at him all the time). I just wanted to post and say everything is going great so far. I added a link to <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah's blog</a> on the sidebar, so your <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> fix is just a click away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACkoYxUHWgEo8cG0zqDZGsY2J7AFE7IH1hMJkbJQyBbDRYApZD-d4A1lV3v8OYySbKJm7RX4lDZh7NDuugp_VBl0MtjsJYNGK6K75sLa2XH8LTLoNq8V8mtckEXoj1rOJR_aX/s1600-h/Frog+Pond+Gifts.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACkoYxUHWgEo8cG0zqDZGsY2J7AFE7IH1hMJkbJQyBbDRYApZD-d4A1lV3v8OYySbKJm7RX4lDZh7NDuugp_VBl0MtjsJYNGK6K75sLa2XH8LTLoNq8V8mtckEXoj1rOJR_aX/s320/Frog+Pond+Gifts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164324164567593570" border="0" /></a>Also, I wanted to share these pictures of the wonderful handmade gifts my knitting group in South Bend (aka <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FrogPondFiberArts">Frog Pond Fiber Arts</a>) sent me. It was such a happy package to receive, and right before <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> was born. It really meant a lot to me, those ladies put so much effort into these presents. You can be sure you will see photos of <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> modeling this booty in the weeks and months to come. I'm sorry it took so long to post the picture of these awesome presents, but right after I received the package, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth">stuff</a>" happened!<br /><br /><a href="http://simpleknits.blogspot.com/">Vicki</a> made the blue/grey sweater and hat on the left, along with the blue booties and striped socks. <a href="http://star-shaped.org/">Aubrey</a> made the light blue and multicolored socks. Carol made the teddy bear (the colors remind me of <a href="http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html">Eric Carle</a> -- who by the way has a <a href="http://www.picturebookart.org/">museum</a> in MA not too far from here, where we'll take <a href="http://www.jonahgino.blogspot.com/">Jonah</a> when he's a bit older) and <a href="http://clicketyclackewe.blogspot.com/">Jess</a> made the cabled blue sweater on the right. The light blue vest is from <a href="http://esknitnspin.blogspot.com/">Elizabeth</a>, and Mary made the light blue hat and the ball with a rattle in it. The very colorful blanket underneath all the gifts was made by <a href="http://moonlightserenade971.blogspot.com/">Sandy</a>, it's a stroller quilt. These gifts are all really so cute!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-90190984145391769322008-02-05T18:16:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:22:35.576-05:00I voted today, did you?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_D_r-giKtdeQJy5RPKZE4fW7Y2QqKuL5cB0wZdH5vUX4O2laDNBlLKBcVW68eF20-JCXXCZjW5tgIyWGp0kfbFmUO0NZ398VWFMgAVFpmxRva6bIE_GL2m7vjI04x5blVv6U/s1600-h/I+voted.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_D_r-giKtdeQJy5RPKZE4fW7Y2QqKuL5cB0wZdH5vUX4O2laDNBlLKBcVW68eF20-JCXXCZjW5tgIyWGp0kfbFmUO0NZ398VWFMgAVFpmxRva6bIE_GL2m7vjI04x5blVv6U/s320/I+voted.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163639701399433810" border="0" /></a>I had the funniest experience voting for the first time in our new town. I'm used to the old school voting machines with the lever, and as we went into the school gym we saw all these little boxes. I was thinking, "Cool, high tech computers for voting!" So the woman checking us in asked if we've ever voted before, and I said, "Yes, but not with these new machines." She handed me a folder with a piece of paper in it and basically said, "Take this over to any 'privacy booth' and fill in the dot next to the name you want to vote for then put it in that box over there." What??? Total regression to 1800's technology! I guess there is a paper trail, but still...<br /><br />And by the way, go Obama!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-6819151493183319552008-01-29T21:13:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:22:35.874-05:00He's here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgatpAsID94kCEPtREdsELZv76zv-zL1wBTE0IusOEPgkVf5ksfm_Q72rufgfD-hZ5_KVnx4126qgPPveO1pqM7Abu4PMrBxet5o5ufxjvhspWEH-uYA07gxTwEY9V3aLAJLjI/s1600-h/Baby+weight.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgatpAsID94kCEPtREdsELZv76zv-zL1wBTE0IusOEPgkVf5ksfm_Q72rufgfD-hZ5_KVnx4126qgPPveO1pqM7Abu4PMrBxet5o5ufxjvhspWEH-uYA07gxTwEY9V3aLAJLjI/s320/Baby+weight.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161087004766925362" border="0" /></a>We are so in love with Jonah Gino, born January 25, 2008, at 2:44pm. He weighed in at 6lbs 15oz. We're all doing great, we just got home from the hospital today. More details later!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplK5CypNz3ka1FtU5h1sEgKknLRMVI9Ew7g0CA_KyE8Nc1S_cyvQeA3wRgyJ64iLUOANMD71yoOF0pxbXnq7_QwaWvs7ilM1329I3ZXvbgs1pLrmo4B5XBcW9uJMR61DtpK3S/s1600-h/Family+Shot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplK5CypNz3ka1FtU5h1sEgKknLRMVI9Ew7g0CA_KyE8Nc1S_cyvQeA3wRgyJ64iLUOANMD71yoOF0pxbXnq7_QwaWvs7ilM1329I3ZXvbgs1pLrmo4B5XBcW9uJMR61DtpK3S/s320/Family+Shot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161087567407641154" border="0" /></a>MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-76522720837536351582008-01-23T11:03:00.001-05:002008-01-23T11:06:11.440-05:00Induction Scheduled!Just a quick update with no pics -- still no Bacon! I went to the dr's yesterday and everything is fine but that little boy is just not moving down where he is supposed to be. Man! Stubborn little baby! So if nothing happens by Sunday, we'll be induced Monday morning and Bacon will be a little Aquarius by Tuesday at the latest. Thanks for all of the comments and well wishes, and please keep on sending us those good thoughts!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-57910388906622654012008-01-16T15:52:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:22:35.974-05:002 More Days - sort of<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tTO9b04DoY2b0fyJ-JceF1I1wkwK1ks7GnsCDK55I389vaoumSOQshtDY6rCGsEL_goCvs67FYSTuDQy4MqU2REOGz8uxYRkgjxHeGhZKB6TT107fVOfc7kkaGfj0mvpF5k3/s1600-h/Hand+Cards.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tTO9b04DoY2b0fyJ-JceF1I1wkwK1ks7GnsCDK55I389vaoumSOQshtDY6rCGsEL_goCvs67FYSTuDQy4MqU2REOGz8uxYRkgjxHeGhZKB6TT107fVOfc7kkaGfj0mvpF5k3/s200/Hand+Cards.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156180896143496114" border="0" /></a>Bacon is due in 2 days, but of course that doesn't mean he'll actually be here in 2 days. So we're just waiting. In the meantime, David and I went out for a great dinner at <a href="http://metrobis.com/">Metro Bis</a> last night to celebrate my 34th birthday -- I guess I'll never be a 33 year-old mom! Also, David gave me a great present -- hand cards! I've been wanting a set almost since I started spinning. I can't wait to wash the fleece that has been stinking up our closet and prep it -- carding is so relaxing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO65fUKoQk66D0r1cBcs1-_0VncHDKa0JnQdnViIahOxl2nCvKIo4ciFqgd0d65UQc892xMJquaHeS40HG9nAEijyV0AytPRUZcXBrT1iv6zhOWRM8o8G7JAmuuL7sTcqOqI7p/s1600-h/Stew+Leonard%27s+1.14.08+%285%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO65fUKoQk66D0r1cBcs1-_0VncHDKa0JnQdnViIahOxl2nCvKIo4ciFqgd0d65UQc892xMJquaHeS40HG9nAEijyV0AytPRUZcXBrT1iv6zhOWRM8o8G7JAmuuL7sTcqOqI7p/s200/Stew+Leonard%27s+1.14.08+%285%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156181841036301250" border="0" /></a><br />I had a nice "visit" with my niece and nephew at <a href="http://stewleonards.com/">Stew Leonard's</a> earlier this week -- those kids really like the dancing chickens, man. I felt sorry for the employees working near that station, because Sam pressed the button to make them sing over and over and over and over...and then she and Brady danced.<br /><br />Any day now, and Bacon's face and name will be revealed!!!MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14875732.post-14999255205789834402008-01-03T22:02:00.000-05:002008-12-08T20:22:36.128-05:00Something knitting-related!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusO9s3hG9hw8Y_c_chhXgjXnvneAF20AhT1bGZ4zNLCDiwPKT4ROo5wE1Is2dMEe8N8u8PE2Nl8drceMqs31JslIteA22wP4qBpDUyNnCT0T4soMhAsIVIWYlGA0jXkzVajDm/s1600-h/Knitted+Gifts.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusO9s3hG9hw8Y_c_chhXgjXnvneAF20AhT1bGZ4zNLCDiwPKT4ROo5wE1Is2dMEe8N8u8PE2Nl8drceMqs31JslIteA22wP4qBpDUyNnCT0T4soMhAsIVIWYlGA0jXkzVajDm/s200/Knitted+Gifts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151454512267514754" border="0" /></a>I'm still bummed that my numb hand is preventing me from knitting at this point in my pregnancy, but luckily I have some talented friends to cover me (or to cover Bacon) in this area. I should have posted these pics a loooong time ago, because I received them all (except the socks) at our baby shower in November...but better late than never. The blue blanket was knit by my childhood friend's mom, and the colorful blanket was made by Dave's <a href="http://www.polishforums.com/spelling_aunt_polish-17_8786_0.html">Ciocia Pat</a>. The adorable and lusciously soft alpaca sweater is from <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/">the guru herself</a>, and so are the socks (but those are for me!) And of course Bacon has the knit dinos made by <a href="http://smittenwknittin.blogspot.com/">Claudine</a>, which I did get to show you a few months ago.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFDUs3FUwxSvk9rwGJFVobA2-fY-uxjEGicRl9zQN0CWbjYCKlWdQlh7PJIGbuDuCJuMWlFs42jSvC-ZESsrYVIJ_F9mt9dum-UnCYDo0p2fzKJMvvFJNQx3sU5S2ZLp5Et2Z/s1600-h/Belly+Shot+1.02.08+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFDUs3FUwxSvk9rwGJFVobA2-fY-uxjEGicRl9zQN0CWbjYCKlWdQlh7PJIGbuDuCJuMWlFs42jSvC-ZESsrYVIJ_F9mt9dum-UnCYDo0p2fzKJMvvFJNQx3sU5S2ZLp5Et2Z/s200/Belly+Shot+1.02.08+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151454851569931154" border="0" /></a><br />These pics kind of show my huge belly -- and they are also a before and after of my new haircut. Don't I look so Katie Holmes in the second shot? I'm feeling really well and just kind of waiting right now. I'm due Jan. 18, so that's just 2 weeks away. According to our dr's visit today, there is some progress in the <a href="http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/effacement.html">effacement</a> area, but that's about it. I'm very content right now, not in any rush to have the baby but very very excited to know that his arrival is imminent. I'm on maternity leave and am still surprisingly mobile and active, going out and doing errands and such rather than sitting around the house all the time. Although I do my fair share of movie watching and chilling -- nesting, reading, and trying to cook a bunch of meals to freeze so we don't have to eat take out every <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ-W7YtT5APkW8FRh6az5y8kaHNXHQ_4Eh7I9ZJAeevkN5KSjEZFhFmf_2axDxLsjppN6eoVh_n5eC7iFp6errINFVSpOkE6kYvvNzzcj3_trv4TVTogb92o-fxgJCL3C8OBm/s1600-h/PG+1.03.08+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ-W7YtT5APkW8FRh6az5y8kaHNXHQ_4Eh7I9ZJAeevkN5KSjEZFhFmf_2axDxLsjppN6eoVh_n5eC7iFp6errINFVSpOkE6kYvvNzzcj3_trv4TVTogb92o-fxgJCL3C8OBm/s200/PG+1.03.08+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151455096383067042" border="0" /></a>night after the baby is born. If we were still in NYC, take out would be a most welcome option, but the restaurants out here don't deliver and it gets COLD. We've had snow on the ground since early December -- maybe it will melt next week when the temperatures get into the 50's, but I'm not holding my breath. I like the snow, but then again at this point I'm absolved from any shoveling duties and Dave scrapes the ice off my car every morning before work -- so my take on the weather is a bit skewed by my lack of responsibility for dealing with its side effects.MUDNYChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04126380048507456282noreply@blogger.com6