the hectic eclectic girl

And also...

2011-10-28T10:54:00.001-04:00

Some buttercrunch lettuce and mustard greens.

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Today's garden bounty

2011-10-28T10:46:00.001-04:00

Cherry tomatoes (of various types), jalepenos, bright lights swiss chard...

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No Tv challenge...

2011-09-02T21:53:00.001-04:00

So....for reasons I'll explore more later, september is officially no tv month at our house. Day two and the boys are using one of their exceptions to watch a movie with my mom, and the camp guy and I are using one of our exceptions to watch a movie, since the boys are not here! Hmmmmm.....

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Sourdough

2011-08-21T01:41:00.001-04:00

Yea! The sourdough turned out great, and the rest of the starter is happily ensconced in the fridge. I'm also happy to report that the yogurt cheese turned out ok, too. I added some fresh herbs, cumin, salt & pepper. It was good, but still pretty tart, so I'm gonna keep working on it. I found a recipe to make ricotta with the leftover whey, and tried it, but I pretty much just ended up with a bowl of warm whey. So that one was a fail! Two out of three's not so bad, right?

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Fresh cucumber salsa!

2011-08-19T17:31:00.001-04:00

Not much bounty from the garden this year, but today I made this delicious, spicy salsa with two cukes, some red and yellow tomatoes and a handful of jalapenos from the garden. I added some onion, salt and a splash of lime juice. Turned out pretty well. Hope it's good enough to make up for the really stale chips!

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Making yogurt cheese!

2011-08-19T12:59:00.002-04:00

I've missed you! And to celebrate my return to this blog, I'm making yogurt cheese! (And also, because I wanted to experiment...)
My cousin gave me a gift certificate to King Arthur Flour for my birthday, with which I purchased some sour dough bread starter and a yogurt maker (because I need another kitchen appliance like I need another hole in my head). SO, I made the yogurt, and now it's hanging in this lovely bag in my kitchen, to let the whey drain out of it. Hopefully, this will then produce a cream cheese like substance called yogurt cheese.
I'm curious if any of you have done this before. How did it turn out? What did you add to it after this (salt, herbs, spices,...)? Did you keep the whey and do something with it?
I'll keep you posted on how mine turns out.

Holy Gingerbread, Batman!

2010-12-09T21:55:00.001-05:00

Is it December already? Where does the time go? And speaking of flying time, Biscuit (our oldest. The nickname is a story for another day.) turned NINE today.

Nine.

n. i. n. e…..

*sigh*

We did have a fun day, despite my resistance to the idea of him being NINE.

(did I mention that he turned NINE?!)

We went to a gingerbread competition that was sponsored by the school, which turned out to be more of a craft/game/gingerbread fest. My big concern was getting the houses there intact, which we did manage to do! Their big concern was winning, which we didn’t manage to do. We did, however, manage to have fun and make some new friends!

I really loved looking at all the houses and seeing how differently the kids interpreted the idea of a gingerbread “house”. Here are ours.

One with grass, swimming pool complete with diving board and marshmallow gingerbread swimmer, and campfire. One with a moat and people climbing the outer walls of the house. I’ll let those of you who know my kids guess whose is whose! ;)

One of my favorites was sort of a diamond in the rough. From the front it looked sort of lumpy and gray. Then I looked at the other side and it made total sense.

It was the bat cave, y’all! I didn’t meet the boy who made it, but his creation was a big hit with my boys. Kudos to you, mystery gingerbread artist! Love the creativity.

By the way, people, if your kid is in a contest like this, don’t do it for them. It’s way more fun to see what they come up with!

Happy December, everybody.

Do you need a better reason…

2010-11-24T22:44:00.001-05:00

to take care of your mother? I read today that we lose an area of rainforest the size of Atlanta every 25 minutes. EVERY 25 MINUTES, Y’ALL. That’s messed up.

These pics aren’t of rainforest, but they are in some places that sure are amazing! Did you know that the water from the Rocky Mountain snow, ends up in 80% of the water supply of the United States? What other things are connected that we never think about?

Tomorrow, let’s all say a little prayer of thanks for this awesome planet we’ve been given.

Enjoy the pictures!

Hope you all have a wonderful, joyous Thanksgiving!

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-18T19:25:00.000-05:00

I know I've missed a few Thursdays lately, but I'm thankful that you'll forgive me for that!

There are so many things I'm thankful for this week...

*for gatherings that support and encourage - it has been a great week, and I'm so grateful for the chance to be here and for these people. I've also been fortunate to spend some time with my brother and his family, who I see far too rarely.

*for the beauty of the Rocky Mountains - I love Georgia, but the scenery here is stunning. We went back to Rocky Mountain National Park this morning and it took our breath away. I'm also tickled that we got to see some elk up close, a coyote, and various and sundry other wildlife. The camp guy and I also had a chance to spend some time with a friend we don't see very often. Thanks for joining in on our adventure, K.

*I'm thankful for cameras - I've been acting like a crazy tourist all week snapping a multitude of pictures. Sometimes I take them for granted, but I love that I'll have photos to show the boys when we get home.

What are you thankful for this week?

Travelling

2010-11-16T16:09:00.000-05:00

We haven't really done a whole lot of travelling the last few years, so it seems strange to tell you we're on another trip this week, when we just had a trip last month, but here we are! We're in Colorado this week for a conference, staying in the mountains, which are GORGEOUS! I'll post some pics later, but just know that you ARE going to be jealous.... at least until I tell you we've been out walking around from building to building in the snow and lots of WIND.

Even though this is a working conference (yea, camp!), the people here are folks who get together once a year to laugh with and learn from and support each other. The camp guy comes every year, but this is the first time I've been able to join in the fun. It's a really great bunch and I am so thankful for them, for the ministries they do, for the faith with which they move through their lives and ours.

Bless one another, folks. Be real and honest. Live with grace and love and humor. And if you know anyone who works at a camp or retreat center - let them know how much you appreciate what they do. That encouragement means so much!

Jean

2010-11-06T15:17:00.001-04:00

I think i like violet flavored candy about as much as i like lavender cookies. *blech*

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T22:09:00.001-04:00

Thankful Thursday….errrr, Friday!

2010-10-29T22:52:00.001-04:00

Ok, so my latest installment of Thankful Thursday is happening today instead of yesterday, but better late than never, right?

We spent yesterday on the road, and I am thankful, once more, for safe travel. We had to replace the radiator in the van while we were gone, and I’m thankful that we found out while we were there and NOT while we were on the road!

I’m also so, so thankful for moment like these. Grab them while you can, my friends. They are SO precious.

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-21T11:30:00.001-04:00

Aaaaaaand - here is is, our first installment of Thankful Thursdays. I'd really love for you to help me think of a better name, too. Glimpses of Gratitude? Grateful and Glad? Thankful and ....Therrific? .... Yeah, that's why I need your help. Send me some ideas - please, if not for me, for your own sake - so you limit your exposure to my cheezy ideas!

All jokes aside, the things I am truly thankful for this week are...

Safe Travel - We drove to St. Simon's today. Every time we get on the road as a family for a trip like this I am keenly aware of how blessed we are to make it to our destination safely. (and how glad I am that our old van made another trip without something needing repair!)
Family vacations. We don't get these often enough (does anyone?), but I so enjoy them when we do. The camp guy is actually working for part of this trip (it's work trip that we've extended to make into a vacation), and of course, the boys and I will be doing school work, but Mimi and P-pop are joining us the day after tomorrow and we're going to make lots of time to just have fun together.
My family. All of them. They drive me crazy sometimes, but when it comes right down to it my family rocks. I'm so, so lucky to have them.

What are you thankful for today?

Love Y'all!
Jean

Gratitude

2010-10-18T23:18:00.001-04:00

I got a few more apples processed today. Still have lots left, but I’m whittling them down a little at a time. It’s harder to do a large batch in the middle of the week when we’re doing school and, well, you know – life!

While I had a moment today, I read an article in the latest Mary Jane’s Farm magazine, about a couple who have built a whole business around the idea of gratitude. It struck me, because of the content of the article, but also because I had just read another article about changing your attitude from one of questioning to one of recognizing things to be thankful for. I love this idea, by the way – the notion that we, ALL of us, have things to be thankful for, if only we take the time to recognize and identify them. Not that everyone’s life is just peachy every moment of every day, of course. It’s just that, in the midst of even the worst tragedy or the most difficult times, there are small comforts, or people who care for us, or even just beautiful sunsets that we can appreciate and for which we can give thanks.

That’s why I thought I’d start a new weekly feature! From now until the end of December, we’ll be celebrating Thankful Thursdays. Every Thursday, I’ll list the things I’m most thankful for that week. I’d love for you to join me, and list what you’re most appreciative of that week as well.

Even though is isn’t Thursday yet, I’ll go head and tell you that I’m ALWAYS thankful for you! I don’t know why you listen to all my ramblings, but I’m so glad you keep coming by. Thanks for supporting this hectic eclectic girl.

Applesauce Prom

2010-10-17T01:29:00.001-04:00

It’s apple season, y’all! This week we went on a field trip to an orchard, and Mom and I came back with apples. The lady that we spoke to was kind enough to show us the “2nd grade” apples that she uses when she’s making sauce. For $12/bushel (vs. $26 for the ones with no blemishes), we decided on three bushels of Mutsu, Golden Delicious and Winesap for applesauce and canning.

When we got started on our project today, my Nana said, “You know… there’s this company called Motts…” which of course the Camp Guy thought was terribly funny! I have to tell you, though, with no ill will to Motts, they never had so much entertainment in the kitchen as we do!

Here are some of the Mutsu and Golden Delicious in Mom’s sink. You can see some of them have a few have spots, but even though we were not shy about cutting them out, we lost very few apples. I will definitely go this route again next year!

This is my apple peeler, corer, slicer. I don’t know how to tell you how much I love this thing. Many, many thanks to Aunt Jane for spending so much time working on it today.

Here is small portion of the apples we did, soaking in a lemon juice solution, waiting for their turn in the pot.

After cooking and a trip through the food mill, here is… TA-DA – Applesauce! At one point, as I was stopping again to take another picture for you we started joking about posing, to which I replied, “It’s not prom!” Aunt Jane immediately declared that yes, it was indeed – Applesauce prom! I have no idea what that means, but being a bit giddy from hours in the kitchen makes many things funny, thus Applesauce Prom was born.

We ended up the day with 22 quarts and 7 pints of applesauce, plus a gallon size bag of apples that went in Mom’s freezer. PLUS, I still have just under half of the apples left! Guess I know what I’ll be doing tomorrow…

A little visitor

2010-10-16T23:56:00.001-04:00

showed up in the yard the other day. The camp guy obliged the two VERY curious boys and caught our lucky (unlucky?) visitor, so that they could get a good look at him. He’s now back in the woodpile so he can keep hunting. Quite a fine specimen of a garter snake if you ask me – very handsome in his yellow stripes and checks.

Autumn's Spell

2010-10-11T23:36:00.001-04:00

The moon tonight is a somber, orange sliver of itself.

There's a wisp of a cloud in front of it,
making it look as if the man in the moon is speaking.

I imagine he's speaking to me -
some ancient wisdom of fall, of leaves and harvest
and crisp, cool weather.

His voice soothes and enchants me.

It mingles with the music of the coyotes, singing in the distance.

Once again,
I am under Autumn's spell.

My other new adventure

2010-08-30T13:52:00.001-04:00

I’ve also started another project, since I’m no longer working. I’m now an Avon lady! I think the camp guy is happy, too, since I’ve actually been wearing makeup lately.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what I’m learning about the company - not that I thought they were bad, but they’re making a real effort to be a socially conscious company. They are huge supporters of the fights against breast cancer and domestic violence. AND more pertinently to this blog, they have a new line of products that are made with FAIR TRADE ingredients!
You can check out my Avon site at HERE. Right now, all my new customers get FREE shipping! You know you want to buy something…
Jean

edited to add - I fixed the link, so you can now actually get to my Avon site.

The Hectic Eclectic Family’s New Adventure

2010-08-25T13:43:00.000-04:00

We have embarked on a new adventure, and I wasn’t sure if I should tell you about it or not. It’s not a secret, it’s just that this is not really that sort of blog. Since I tell you all about my antics, though, and since this is such a big part of our lives now, I’m not going to be able to NOT talk about it so here goes….

We’re homeschooling! Well, err… sort of. The program that we’re in is actually public school, at home. Think of it like a hybrid – the support and resources of public school with the flexibility of homeschooling. We have a designated curriculum, but I get to supplement as I see fit. We’re assigned to a certified teacher for support and guidance, but I’m their learning coach. The lesson plans are done for us, but we decide the schedule.

I won’t bore you with all the details, but we’re starting week three and we’re starting to settle in. I’m excited about the possibilities that this holds for us – and still a little terrified about implementing it all, but that gets a little less each day.

I’ll keep you posted!

Jean

ps. if you want more information about the program we’re in, check out Georgia Cyber Academy.

The squash bugs are mocking me…

2010-08-20T13:43:00.000-04:00

They have now eaten every bit of squash and squash plant out there, and while I’m not really mourning the loss of the squash plants at this point, they have turned their attention to the other plants in the garden.

I would like to be able to do a second planting of some things without them being overrun, so I finally broke down and pulled out the sevin dust (seven dust?). I marched resolutely to the garden, not proud that I was breaking my no pesticides rule, but determined to solve the squash bug problem one way or another.

I found several large groupings of bugs and murderously poured large amounts of the dust on their little buggy heads. They, instead of following the script and politely keeling over, frolicked in the “snow” and laughed at me.

Then, it rained, and I thought any remaining chance I had at the dust actually doing its job was gone. Two days later I went down there and I can still SMELL the stuff, but the squash bug population is thriving.

They’re down there mocking me right now.

O Squash, how I loath thee…

2010-08-15T13:40:00.000-04:00

I’ve baked, fried, grilled, grated, chopped, peeled, dried, frozen squash until I don’t even wan to see squash anymore!

It’s seriously become like an episode of Iron Chef around here, with squash as the surprise ingredient. I have squash in the fridge, squash on the counter, squash on the floor in a basket. I can’t give it away because everyone I know is as sick of squash as we are. I’ve hidden in chili, tossed it with pasta and put it on pizza.

We had a cookout with some friends and I made mixed veggies to put on the grill (with squash, of course). Our friends brought pasta salad with chopped squash. Then the camp guy requested a patty pan dressed for the grill. WE HAD SQUASH ALL OVER THE PLACE!

So now, the beautiful lush green squash plants that I’ve been so in love with all summer, are looking bad. You know something?

I couldn’t be happier.

Today’s Lunch and Yesterday’s Harvest

2010-08-09T13:58:00.001-04:00

mmmmm…. BLT with organic baby spring mix, lemon boy tomatoes from the garden, thick cut bacon and homemade bread with just a hint of ranch dressing. It was so good, I barely had time to take this picture before I ate it all!

The garden is looking pretty sad and wilty, and I’m need to get in there and start pulling things out to make room for a second planting, but it’s so stinkin’ HOT. Some things are still producing, though – this is what I got yesterday. There are still more red tomatoes out there that I need to get, but my basket was full!

How’s your garden? Is it surviving the heat?

Eating Locally

2010-08-06T22:34:00.000-04:00

Check out this article from Eat Local Challenge on Five Steps to Local Eating. The Eat Local Challenge blog is written by a group of folks who are committed to the idea of eating local, sustainably grown food. You can find TONS of info on farmer's markets, how to eat locally, sustainable agriculture, and cooking what you find.

If you want to learn more about eating locally, you can also check out the 100 Mile Diet blog here.

I can't quite commit to eating ONLY locally grown foods, but I pay much more attention to where our food is coming from, and have made a commitment to step up my local choices and cut back on the non-locals. And I know that every time I make the choice to purchase locally grown food, I help my local farmers, and our environment. And that's a choice I can live with!

love y'all!
Jean

My July Mini-Sabbatical

2010-08-04T22:57:00.002-04:00

Sorry I’ve been absent so long, but here’s my proof that I haven’t been completely lazy! I’ve been canning like a crazy lady… if crazy people canned… which since I have been, I guess they do!

As you can see, the pantry is full, and my counters are overflowing, but all that summer goodness, squirreled away for the winter…. It’s so beautiful!

How has your summer been?

Love,

Jean

Have I mentioned lately…

2010-06-30T00:18:00.001-04:00

that these kids make me all goofy feeling? I really love them. Especially when they make funny faces in the pool.

Sometimes God sends us people...

2010-06-29T00:07:00.001-04:00

when we don't even know we need them.

The Camp Guy and I took the boys on a day trip the other day. The boys were delighted to go, but they were not SO delighted with each other. After listening to them argue and argue and argue and argue and... well, you get the picture,

the Camp Guy. had. had. enough.

"I am going to stop this car every time you two start arguing, and it is NOT going to move again until you stop." comes his frustrated but ever-so-patient pronouncement.

And so we do stop. and go.

and stop. and go.

and stop. and go.

AND stop. by the side of the interstate. And not 30 seconds later, here come the flashing lights. The Camp Guy just sighs and rolls down the window.

This young policeman walks up, peers into the back at the boys and then up at us in the front. "Is there a problem?" "We have two boys in the back who will not stop arguing with one another," I reply. "Hmmm," he says.

He then repositions himself towards the back of the car, "Boys, You done got the PO-lice involved now. That's serious. You best stop arguing, and let your daddy drive."

Their eyes as big as saucers, they reply politely, "Yes, sir!"

He quietly grins at us, tells us to have a nice day and a safe trip, and walks back to his car.

The Camp Guy and I grin at each other, and I say a private "THANK YOU" to God for sending us that particular policeman, at just the right moment.

And we go...

The Old Commode. No, not that one!

2010-06-25T01:06:00.001-04:00

We have an old piece of furniture that used to belong to the camp guy’s grandparents. It is, according to my Nana, a commode – the shelf that the wash pitcher and bowl sat on, complete with towel bar. I’ve always wanted to paint it, but never wanted to mess up the antiqueyness of it. (Yeah, I did just make that word up. Brand spankin’ new word – just for you. You’re welcome.)

ANYWAY – the camp guy and I talked about it again recently, since neither of us like the color. Some parts were obviously old (the drawer), but parts looked like they had been replaced (the doors and back are made of rough plywood), so we decided to paint it guilt free.

The paint job isn’t really the greatest, but I think it looks pretty good, and I LOVE the color! And now, instead of hiding in the bedroom, it’s flaunting it’s beauty in the kitchen.

What do you think? Did I mention that red makes me happy?

Oh, Hail!

2010-06-23T23:35:00.001-04:00

We had a pretty decent storm here about a week ago, with a good bit of hail. My beautiful squash leaves have been really beat up. Look at all those holes in the leaves – all from being pelted by the hail!

We had some praying mantis babies hatch somewhere nearby, and several of them have taken up residence in the garden. They’re finally big enough to really be tackling some of the regular garden pests, and I found this one today busy eating a cucumber beetle. Go, baby, go!

Squash Bonanza!

2010-06-18T12:29:00.001-04:00

Lemon Balm

2010-06-17T12:18:00.003-04:00

The lemon balm has taken over, so I’ve been cutting it back like crazy and it’s hanging all over my kitchen drying. Makes the kitchen smell nice…

In case you’re wondering what it’s hanging on in this photo – it’s a wine rack that I got at a yard sale that holds my rolling pins. The one in the middle isn’t much to look at, but the one on the top and the one on the bottom were made by hand by my great uncle, who is a wonder at that sort of thing, and they’re just to beautiful to be left in a drawer – hence their place of honor on the wall (well, when they aren’t covered up by drying herbs!).

Jean

Yo-yo mania!

2010-06-16T15:00:00.000-04:00

I’ve set a completely random goal for myself this summer to make 1,000 yo-yos. Not the walkin’-the-dog, around the world type yo-yos, but the little quilty variety. I have no rhyme or reason to size or fabric choices, just a need to use up a lot of scraps, and a hope that at the end of the summer, when faced with this pile of yo-yos, I’ll be inspired to do something with them, and well on my way to having enough to do it!

I’ll keep you updated with a little sidebar here on the blog.

If you have any brilliant ideas for what to do with them once they’re finished, I’d love to hear them!

Jean

mmmm… summer bliss

2010-06-15T00:04:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I’m sorry for my pity party the other day. Little bit is better, big’ un is home, the camp guy is feeling better, and I am slowly becoming less gimpy! The dishwasher, alas, did NOT make it.

But, my mom and cousin went down to the garden yesterday and picked a bunch of cherry tomatoes, and I managed to pick a handful of basil leaves today and chopped them both up with some fresh mozzarella and a liberal sprinkling of kosher salt.

The smell and the taste of this, delicious! And how pretty is it? And despite how easily distracted this will make me sound – it makes me happy!

What’s your favorite fresh from the garden recipe?

Jean

the week in review...

2010-06-11T22:08:00.000-04:00

Big stuff went to camp. I had big plans to get things done around the house while he was away. Then...

Little bit went to day camp for two days until he got sick. He is STILL running a fever.

The Camp Guy has been having another bout of his intestinal stuff so he's been sick most of the week.

I've developed a bulging disc in my neck, so can hardly move my arm, back and neck, so I am out of commission for a little while, and on a lot of drugs that make me giggle.

My dishwasher is now officially out of commission, too.

Guess what I've gotten done?

Hope y'all had a good week!

Today's collection...

2010-06-07T12:28:00.000-04:00

4 patty pan squash
5 yellow squash
2 handfuls of beans (most of which the campers ate while we were still in the garden!)
several cherry tomatoes (most of which were also eaten)
a few strawberries (all eaten)
a bunch of red leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce
one small onion

They really enjoyed being out there today. It was fun walking them through and seeing their fascination with the growing things. I even got them to pick a few slugs for me!

How's your garden coming?

Some stuff from the garden

2010-06-07T00:21:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share a few things I collected from the garden this weekend. The big purple bowl is a salad I collected for the high school campers.

I also got at assortment of beans, strawberries and green tomatoes (and one little red cherry tomato!). I fried up the green tomatoes and they were delish! We also had the first patty pan squash, which I sautéed with onion, olive oil, salt and pepper – yummy!

I love summer!

Jean

Plant Markers

2010-05-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to figure out how to clearly mark all of the plants in the garden, so that the counselors and campers can see them above the edge of the raised beds, but so we weren't spending a fortune. This is what I came up with...

You can sort of tell if you take your magnifying glass and check out the bottom corners of this photo, that I glued the popsicle sticks to small dowels, so that they will stand up and out of the plants a bit more. And best of all, they were cheap-o!

I’ll get some more pictures of the garden for you this week, once I’ve put these out so you can see how big things are getting.

How’s your garden comin’?

Happy Friday, y'all!

2010-05-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

It was the last day of school today! We are all pretty excited about it here at our house. The boys, for obvious reasons, and the camp guy and I because we are now officially relieved of our PTA/classroom volunteering responsibilities! Whee! Why does it take summer to give us the excuse we need to slow down and be less harried? For the camp guy summer is especially a busy time, but it's busy in a different way than the rest of the year.

I hope that you get a chance to slow down at least a little this summer. Write back and let me know what you do to take things just a bit easier this season. Or if you don't get to take the summer off, how do you make the most of your weekend relaxation?

________________________________________________________________________________

Blog Hopping Again!

Caterpillars and chiggers and slugs, oh my!

2010-05-19T23:05:00.002-04:00

The last few weeks, the camp garden has become overrun with pests! And by overrun, I mean, I couldn't even walk down there without having chiggers all OVER me, the cabbage is covered with little green caterpillars, and there were more slugs down there than... well, there were a LOT of slugs. You're just gonna have to trust me on this.

So I bought some diatomaceous earth, ordered some beneficial nematodes, and did some extra companion planting to discourage the bugs. Two bags of food grade diatomaceous earth later, the chiggers were under control (I can't tell you how happy I am about this!). Today, the summer staff came up to the garden to get oriented, and I put them to work doing a few small projects, including picking slugs and tossing them into soapy water. AND, while they were working, the UPS man delivered the nematodes - hooray!

So this evening, I watered them in and whispered sweet nothings to them, in the hopes that they will put their voracious little appetites to work REALLY SOON!

I know, I know, they just moved and I'm not giving them ample time to get settled in, but they'll get paid in a large bonus of bug food, so don't feel too sorry for them... I'm counting on them, and their millions of microscopic children, to be my main line of pest defense!

I'm hoping that between them, the D.E., and herbs planted strategically around the garden (ie. dill next to the patty pan squash to keep squash borers away) that we will be covered totally organically in the pest department.

In other news, the dandelion wine is progressing nicely. Remember when I told you that it was AWFUL smelling? It's been sitting in the fridge "settling", and once a week I take it out, filter it again, and put it back, and it actually smells like... ta da, WINE! It's still pretty murky looking, but getting a bit better. I'll keep you posted.

Have a lovely week!

Jean

Blog hop!

2010-05-17T17:23:00.001-04:00

Have a blog, website, or etsy shop you want to promote? Join the blog hop! Thanks to Trendy Treehouse who started this blog hop, and to Santa's Gift Shop where I found it...

to the jerk in the big truck...

2010-05-16T23:24:00.001-04:00

I WAS actually trying to rescue the turtle from the middle of the road today, and not just point him out for you, so that you could swerve into the middle of the road to hit him on purpose. You'll be happy to know, I suppose, that you accomplished your plan. Not many things can survive that sort of damage. That's all I can say. There's a lot more I'd like to say, but, unlike you, I have some restraint.

'kaythanksbye

*edited to say that I have no problem with trucks, just with jerks*

Moth

2010-04-27T12:23:00.001-04:00

The camp guy found this great moth yesterday, and I had to share a few pictures with you. These pictures really don’t do him justice – he was really striking.

old journal entries, part 3b - bonus!

2010-04-26T21:50:00.000-04:00

whoops! I lied - there were 4!

O God, you know the events of our lives before they unfold. You understand things that our perspective simply can't or won't. Things like children with serious medical problems.

I understand, God, that because of our disobedience and faithlessness we messed up this perfect world you gave us - we embraced imperfection. I confess, though, that I will never understand babies with terrible illness. I know you don't cause such situations - and I do NOT believe that moments like that are part of some grand design of yours. My understanding of your providence makes such a belief impossible.

It's devastating. And it's not even my child. But you tell us to love one another - to be in community with one another - and so we ache when another part of our community is hurting.

Yet we know that even in these moments - perhaps especially in these moments - you are with us. Comforting us through the community that surrounds us, and through the presence of your Holy Spirit.

Surround them. Comfort them. And whatever happens, give them a measure of your peace.

Amen.

old journal entries, part 3

2010-04-26T21:39:00.000-04:00

thanks for being patient with the ramblings...

O God, you created us with a desire for connection with one another. But it's more than just a desire isn't it? It's a need - an innate longing that will be satisfied by nothing less than community. Was this intentional? I think it must have been. You knew, even as we were being developed how much we would need to be accountable to one another - and how much better our lives would be if we would seek each other out. And you didn't stop there, either.

You made that need for connection even deeper. Not only do we need connection with others, we also must have connection with you. In the absence of that relationship, we fill the void with other, varied things, that may make us happy briefly, but never ease the ache of that absence. You can provide us comfort from our anguish - both in our connection to you and with our community.

Why then, are some, when they need that community most, separated? Not even intentionally, but through circumstance. How do we provide community support to them? How can we provide support to those who don't wish for separation or isolation, but are so broken, that they see no other way?

Help me, God, to honor and uphold my own connections that I am so thankful for. And help me most of all to be a loving presence to those who need one most - whoever they may be.

Amen.

old journal entries, part 2

2010-04-26T21:17:00.001-04:00

Old journal entry #2...

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? I guess I'm somewhere in between the God as puppet master in the sky and everything is random. I understand the attraction to the notion that everything is part of a larger plan - that all things have purpose. It makes hard things make more sense than if they were just things that happened for no apparent reason. But the trick to that is, that then you must believe in a God that does bad things to people for some unidentifiable and mysterious purpose. And even if it is supposedly for "our own good", that's really hard for me to swallow. I might buy the God as parent rationale for that except that that's pretty limited. There are some things parents just don't do - even for teaching or disciplinary purposes. And I don't think God does them either. I think that God can work through bad things for our good, and that she does - but not that she causes bad things to happen. And I do believe that there are things that God does, in working in and through our lives that we aren't meant to understand.

Mystery befuddles us doesn't it? Oh, we like it well enough - but only in the context of trying to solve it. We're fascinated with the unsolved, because of our innate desire to solve it... but maybe there are some things we're not meant to really understand - at least not yet.

And so, I guess, faith in God's providence and an acceptance of God's presence - even in the most difficult times - will have to serve me for today. And while it won't make me stop asking questions that can't be answered, I'm ok with it.

some old journal entries

2010-04-26T20:43:00.000-04:00

In an effort to clear some clutter in my house, I'm going through old papers and I found an old journal with exactly three entries.... SO.... I'm going to post them here and throw out the journal. Thank you for your support of my wierdness about throwing things away, and your patience in reading my old ramblings!

The sand on my feet is therapy. I love going to the beach anyway, but it's always especially nice when I'm stressed. It's a sort of sensual experience - when I go, what I love is the sand between my toes, the ocean breeze in my hair, the smell of salt and water all around me and the constant noise of the waves. And, of course, the view -

Today we went and the boys played and I enjoyed just listening and watching - like a sponge, trying to absorb as much as I could.

I'm so worried and compressed by what's happening around me, but I go to the beach and for one moment I am free...
the breeze blowing where it will
the gull on the wing
the water relentless and untethered...

I look at the sock lines around my ankles and think they are a metaphor for this moment at the beach.

My socks, like the world, can restrict and contain me.

Thanks be to God that I have these moments to lose them both and I can be loosed from the constraints of worry, doubt, fear...

and yes, even socks!

Garden Pictures and Wine Update

2010-04-24T01:33:00.001-04:00

Here are some pics of the camp garden that I took the other day during a break in the rain. It’s really coming along! I picked some lettuce and spinach and a few chives for a salad to go with dinner the other night. It’s SO satisfying to be able to go pick something and take it right to the table!

Strawberries, Spinach and Onions

Cherry and Roma Tomatoes and Lettuce

Bell Peppers, Lettuces, Onions, Herbs and Cherokee Yellow Bush Beans

This is the same bed as the previous one, just a bit closer.

Patty Pan Squash and Variegated Oregano

This picture is the dandelion wine, now strained, but still murky… I am unsure about it’s color, but am pleased to report that it at least has begun to smell like wine! I think I’ll strain it a few more times with some coffee filters to see if I can refine it bit more. I have not been brave enough to taste it yet! Maybe tomorrow…?

Garden update

2010-04-20T16:23:00.000-04:00

I got out yesterday and worked in the garden for a few hours. I planted a few more things and just cleaned up some of the empty pots and loose straw that were floating around. We now have the following planted in the camp garden:

Tomatoes (Early Girl, Lemon Boy, Mr. Stripey, Big Boy, Roma and Husky Cherry Red)
Onions
Lettuces
Cabbage
Spinach
Strawberries
Yellow Cherokee Bush Beans
Kentucky Blue Pole Beans
Potatoes (Yukon Gold and Red Pontiac)
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Bright Lights Swiss Chard
Broccoli
Yellow and Zucchini Squash
Triamble Squash (Many thanks to Novella over at Ghost Town Farm, who sent me the seeds. I can't wait to see how they turn out!)
Assorted herbs

If it stops raining long enough, I'll go out and get a picture for you. Until then, I'll keep the laundry going... wheee!

the Zombies are attacking!

2010-04-16T23:13:00.001-04:00

We went to the F.I.R.S.T. World Robotics Championship today with our elementary school's Lego Club, and this was one of the things we saw. I'm pretty sure it's someone's Lego recreation of the Zombie apocalypse...

Garden Update and Adventures in Winemaking... sort of.

2010-04-14T23:36:00.000-04:00

The garden is nearing ~~completion~~ a stopping point, ~~all~~ the vast majority of the dirt is dumped/mixed/ammended, and ~~all~~ MOST of the plants are in. It's really taking shape! Now to ~~sit back and relax~~, ~~enjoy the fruits of my labors~~, mulch between the beds... I'll post pics later so you can see how it's going!

Another wild hair that I had was to try making some dandelion wine. Actually, I had this idea last year, but had no idea the sheer VOLUME of dandelions needed for this process! Plus, then someone told me it was not a good idea, which just meant that I HAD to do it this year... FYI - telling me NOT to do something does not always work to your best advantage people!

SO, this year I convinced (by way of bribery!) the two small people that live in my house to help me pick the many, many flowers we needed. And my Mom and my Nana said, "don't bother, it's gross!"

Which means, of course, that I must proceed with my diabolical plan...

SO, I boiled water, poured it over the washed flowers, and let it sit. Today, I strained it through cheesecloth, and while it looked rather murky, it didn't smell unpleasant, just sort of reminiscently grassy. Then I added the other ingredients that the recipe that I'm using called for (some juices, sugar and yeast) and stirred and frankly, now it smells...GROSS!

Like some horribly yeasty weed juice, which, I guess, it is...

It has to sit for a week to ferment before it can be bottled. Bottled?! It better smell a WHOLE lot better by the end of the week for me to go that far!

Just don't tell my mom, ok? ;)

The Camp Garden

2010-03-20T12:54:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, the Camp Guy asked me to work on a project for summer camp. He wants a vegetable garden as a source of fresh eats for the kids, but also a place where the kids can come and learn about growing their own food. A place that would serve as a jumping off point, if you will, for talking about bigger issues, like environmental stewardship and the importance of knowing where your food comes from.

The Camp Guy and I walked around camp talking about where to put this garden, and found a few promising places, but non that worked better than where our garden had been before (plus that spot was already approved by the Corp of Engineers!) so… that’s the spot we decided on. It gets great sun, has easy access to water, is close to our house (which is nice, since I’ll be taking care of it!), and it’s close to the shop, where the tools will be anyway!

So, I wrote a letter and took it to our local Home Depot, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, and two local farm supply stores. I also mailed it to several national gardening/plant supply companies. And boy, did they come through! One of the local places supplies 5 flats of lettuce and cabbage, plus a few pounds of onion sets. A box arrived in the mail from Burpee – no letter, but FULL of seeds! And our local Home Depot went above and beyond – they worked with their vendors (Bonnie and Miracle Grow) and got us two pallets of Garden Soil, hoses, tomato cages, and a LOT of plants!

I also got on the phone and had a bunch (140!) bales of straw delivered by a nice man who gave us a great price. Aunt J and Uncle P came over this morning and we hauled straw and bags of dirt around until now, it looks like this…

As you can see – there’s a LOT more to do! We’re using raised beds because, even though we’ve added some amendments in our previous gardening attempts (I say attempts because it’s always ended up being a salad bar for the deer! more on that later), it’s still mostly clay. So in order to maximize our amendments, and make some easily workable spaces for the kids, AND not run afoul of the Corp, we’re opting for the raised beds out of straw. The pathways in between, plus a walkway around will eventually be mulched, the beds will be filled and planted until they’re overflowing.

And the deer? The Camp Guy has plans for a temporary fence… but if doesn’t work, you’ll be able to find me camping out in the yard all summer to keep this project from getting eaten!

I’ll post pics as we get more things done. In the meantime, I’m sending happy spring and garden thoughts your way!

Jean

He's BAAAACK!

2010-03-18T14:42:00.001-04:00

ok - I know you've been holding your breath to hear the latest in the crazy bird saga! no? well, this is a full service blog, so I'll tell you anyway!

A while back, I told you about the strange cardinal that kept flying into our bedroom window in order to attack the "other"cardinal he kept seeing in there! The camp guy, in a moment of frustration, decided to hang a bed sheet out the window, to just cover it entirely. It worked! But, sadly, it meant we had a bed sheet hanging out the window! We didn't even see him for weeks, much less hear him at the window, so a few days ago, the camp guy took the sheet down.

Can you guess what happened next? Oh... I think you can...

He started back gradually, with a fly-by peck, but like someone with a desperate addiction, he's here today, crashing into the window, over and over, and sitting on the window sill pecking at and TRYING TO BITE MY WINDOW! He just can't get enough... anyone up for a birdie intervention?

Jean

mmmmm…..Mints!

2010-03-16T00:05:00.001-04:00

Growing

The mint family is a large and diverse group of perennial plants that include some well known favorites such as peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) and some others that are perhaps less well known, like pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). They are hardy in many climates, and like rich, moist soil in full sun to partial shade.

Mints are easy to grow, but unless you take some precautions, most of them will take over your garden quickly and prolifically! One of the ways to keep them contained is just to keep them in a pot, but I’ve seen creative gardeners keep them in check in a variety of ways. One lady I knew in Kentucky kept hers in a “raised bed” made from old tires. One gardener plants bottomless pots in the garden (so that the edge of the pot is just a few inches above the soil) and plants his mints inside the pots – that way the roots have plenty of space, but the runners are restrained. This method would not keep them back indefinitely, but would slow them down enough for you to keep them cut back.

One summer I had a spot in the garden that seemed particularly attractive to the ants and I couldn’t get rid of them. Since it was a garden of edibles, I didn’t want to resort to pesticides (but I was really tired of being bitten!), so I planted a single SMALL pennyroyal plant right in the middle of that spot. The ants moved, but I spent the rest of the summer doing battle with the pennyroyal!

All that to say, be thoughtful about where you plant mints, and use their efforts to dominate to your advantage! Have a partially shaded spot where you’re having trouble filling in? Mints are your answer! Want a fast growing ground cover that smells great? Try a mint! They really are fun to grow.

Harvesting

You can pretty much harvest mint however you want. Need a little, cut a little, or pinch a little off. Need a lot? Cut it way back! Mints don’t mind. They’re very accommodating that way! You can use them fresh, keep them in the fridge (where they might even sprout roots, if you keep them moist enough), freeze them or dry them.

Medicinal Uses

From The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses, regarding peppermint:

A decongestant, strongly aromatic, bitter herb. Relieves spasms, increases perspiration, improves digestion, and has antiseptic, mildly anesthetic effects; acts mainly on the digestive system, especially on the lower bowel…. [Used] internally for nausea, morning sickness, indigestion, gastric ulcer, gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, colic, influenza (especially in the feverish stage), and colds. Externally for upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, mucus, asthma, itching skin conditions, burns, ringworm, neuralgia, rheumatism, and as an insect repellant.

Wow! And that’s just peppermint! As with all herbal remedies, though, you need to do your research, and seek the advice of a medical professional or certified herbalist. Mints have been known to cause some reaction or irritations, and peppermint is not suitable for babies.

I will share with you, though, a large part of my love affair with the medicinal qualities of mint…

He’s six, and has struggled for the last 4 1/2 years with an undiagnosed tummy problem. We’ve been to several doctors, and two years ago he had an endoscopy and colonoscopy done to try and figure out what was going on. What we learned was that he has some inflammation in his stomach and some bumps (lymphonodular hyperplasia) and ulcers in his colon. What we also learned is that they have a lot of speculation, but no definite explanation for why he has those things. We were told to wait and see – that things would either get better as he grew, or worse. This, of course, was an incredibly frustrating thing to hear! One of the things that we’ve discovered over the last four years, though, is that when he is having an episode of cramping and pain, a cup of warm peppermint tea with a bit of honey always helps. It’s not a magic cure, but it soothes the tummy a LOT, and the warmth and the minty smell soothes his little spirit, too, and helps him rest. And it’s not bad for Mom, either!

Cosmetic and Other Uses

Mint oils are used in toothpaste, mouthwashes, perfumes and potpourri. I like mint in bath products, too. One of my most popular soaps is Rosemary Mint.

I make a nice bath tea with oats and mint. I put several cups of oats in the food processor and just whirl them around a few times, so that they are a bit smaller. Then I mix in about a cup of dried mint leaves and whirl things around again (more pulsing than anything – I’m not trying to powder stuff!) and use the mix to fill large tea bags about halfway. I seal the bags with an iron, and then when I want a refreshing and skin soothing bath, I toss one or two in the tub while the water is running, and let it steep for a minute or two before I get in. Wonderful!

This recipe is great for hot, tired feet in the summer time! It comes from Casey Kellar’s The Good Earth Bath, Beauty and Health Book.

Citrus/Mint Foot Cooler-Deodorizing Mist

1/4 cup distilled water

1/4 cup witch hazel

3 drops lemon fragrance oil

3 drops grapefruit fragrance oil

2 drops wintergreen essential oil

2 drops peppermint essential oil

Mix all together. Pour into sportier and store in the refrigerator. Shake well before using. Shelf life: Approximately 2-3 weeks.

Culinary Uses

Mints are great for teas, both hot and cold. They are also yummy for liqueurs, juleps, candies, jellies and of course – mints! But mints can be used in a huge variety of dishes other than drinks and desserts, too. They can add interest to salads, peas, potatoes, squash, fruits, tomatoes and most meats. They also pair well with many other herbs, such as summer savory, scented geraniums, sage, oregano and rosemary. The most common mint in the kitchen is spearmint. Here is a recipe for Fresh Mint Chutney from The Herbfarm Cookbook by Jerry Traunfeld. Have I told you to buy this book yet? Seriously.

Fresh Mint Chutney

(makes one cup)

2 cups fresh spearmint leaves

2 green onions, coarsely chopped

2 TBS. coarsely chopped fresh ginger

3 TBS. freshly squeezed lime juice

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1-3 tsp. seeded and coarsely chopped jalepeno pepper to taste

3-4 TBS cold water

Process all the ingredients except the water in a food processor until finely chopped. Add three tablespoons water and puree until smooth, adding additional water as needed for a thick sauce consistency. Taste and add additional salt, jalepeno and/or sugar if needed. The chutney has the brightest flavor if it is served when freshly made.

And here is a link to The Herbfarm. I wish I lived close enough to pay them a visit… or maybe a few!

Go people, and grow some mint this summer. And send pictures! (please?)

Happy Gardening,

Jean

An Important Public Service Announcement - and a pledge to be a better driver!

2010-03-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

Last December my friend Rob updated his facebook status with an urgent prayer request for his sister-in-law, who had just been in a car accident. As we prayed and waited, the story slowly unfolded. Kristin and her husband Chris were in a head-on collision with another driver who was texting while driving (and thus consequently lost control of her vehicle). Chris (34) and the other driver (18!) were both killed in the accident, and Kristin was badly injured. Fortunately, their daughter was not with them in the car that day.

Kristin has written a post on her blog here, urgently asking people to STOP driving while distracted. You can also read more about her story and her life in the aftermath.

I am guilty of using my phone while driving! I know it isn't safe, but it's expedient. I don't text (I'm barely coordinated enough to do that when I'm NOT driving!), but I do talk on the phone. This post, however, is my pledge to STOP. Not only for myself and my family (and my KIDS!!), but for the other folks on the road and their families, too. I hope you'll pledge this with me - stop driving while distracted! Let's make the road safer for all of us.

Be safe,
Jean

No herbs yet, just eggs…

2010-03-03T22:28:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I know I owe you at least two installments of the weekly herb series, and my only excuse is… life (It’s not called the HECTIC eclectic girl for nothing, people)! Truthfully, we’ve been busy with a little boy birthday and stomach bugs, and … well, you get the picture. And I’m not going to pass on any herbal wisdom today either, but I just couldn’t go another day without posting something. That is why I’m going to leave you with this short clip of me talking to my preschoolers about the eggs we are now incubating. I love the way these look – so pretty and colorful and natural looking (maybe I’ll paint my house these colors?). They loved this and the other short videos I made, but the thing that got them the most excited? My voice on the videos… but y’all can just concentrate on the eggs!

Why do I fall for it every time?

2010-02-26T00:07:00.000-05:00

Lately, just about every night, Daisy waits until I'm almost asleep and then whines and paces and jumps on the bed like she really has to potty. I tell her no, because I know she just wants to go bark at the deer, but eventually, I give in because I don't want to clean up a mess if she really does have to go out. Then commences the great deer chase, and me standing outside in the cold, yelling and waiting for her to get tired and come back, before I can climb back into my warm bed! Do I bother with the leash? no... that would be way too sensible.

I must really love that dog.

Snow Day

2010-02-24T20:09:00.001-05:00

Thyme

2010-02-16T00:44:00.002-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to get this one posted, but here, finally is thyme! (I can think of so many puns right now, but I’ll spare you – aren’t you glad?)

Growing

Thyme is a low-growing, woody perennial. Although the upright varieties grow to around 12 – 15”, some varieties are creepers, and very low growing. It needs lots of sun and very well drained soil. It makes an excellent edging for borders, or in between stepping stones. The smaller varieties handle foot traffic well, and can even be planted instead of grass in certain areas of your landscaping. You can get a variety of “flavors” and colors, ranging from yellow to grey/green to bright green. Thyme blossoms are tiny and happy and one of my favorites in the herb garden – they’re just so stinkin’ cute!

Harvesting

Cut small stems from around the plant – just take care not to cut all the leafy bits from one stem or area or your plants will start to look sparse and sad! If you give your thyme a “haircut”, without cutting the whole stem, it will keep growing nice and full. It will keep nicely for over a week in the fridge if you keep in sealed baggie. Thyme, though, is one of the best herbs for drying because it doesn’t lose its flavor in the drying process. You can harvest in small bunches and hang to dry, or you can try drying it on the stem in a food dehydrator, which I’ve had good success with. You just need to make sure the temperature isn’t set too high.

Medicinal

Thyme has antiseptic and antifungal properties, and is used frequently in salves and teas. It has been used to treat everything from depression to asthma to spastic colon! However, since this is not a medicinal herb site, and I am not an herbalist, I’m going to leave all of the prescribing for someone else to do. I will leave you with this recipe that I use. I found this in a forum years ago, and can only give credit to the forum member who posted it – thanks, Soraya! This is her post, so the “I” in this recipe refers to her…

Soraya’s Raspberry Sore Throat Elixir
Proportions are not too critical in this…so you don’t have to be too precise.
Red Raspberries (fresh or frozen, no sugar)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Thyme (fresh or dried)
Honey
A glass (not plastic, not metal) container.
Put raspberries in container and then cover completely with enough apple cider vinegar. (I use a glass pitcher for this, normally pouring the cider in to go at least an inch or two over the top of the berries.)
Add a good amount of thyme. (I normally use fresh, and use about one whole small plant say, 1 cup leaves (and all but the very thick stems) loosely packed.)
Give it a good stir and place in fridge for two weeks, shaking or stirring once daily. (Now, if you want to get magikal here, while you are shaking it, you could repeat a short charm or verse of your liking, or even direct simple healing energy into it. You Reiki folks might use that?)
After it has seeped for the 2 weeks, take it out and strain into a saucepan. Heat to a simmer (DO NOT BOIL) while adding the honey to taste. (This really doesn’t taste to bad to begin with, and honey does have anti bacterial properties…so be liberal with it.)
Funnel into sterile jars and store in the fridge. (I’ve kept a jar up to 18months, but I like to make this yearly if possible.)
For use, gargle every 4 to 6 hours the first tickle of a sore throat (for 45 seconds to a minute at least.)

Cosmetic

Thyme oil is used in many things from cough drops and toothpaste to detergent and perfume. It is also said to be good for treating dandruff and oily hair, and for treating wrinkles! As with any essential oil, though, use caution – essential oils, especially thyme oil, are very potent and should only be used after diluting in a carrier oil, such as apricot kernel or olive oil. Do your research or speak with an herbalist to determine the strength you need.

Culinary

“English thyme is indispensable when making stocks. If you leave it out, it’s like making a cake without vanilla – it tastes okay but a bit flat, and you know something is missing.” Jerry Traunfeld, The Herbfarm Cookbook

Thyme is one of those herbs that fits well with many, many things. Great with meats and vegetables, it also goes really well with cheeses and eggs. It’s even used in some wines! One of the herbs in bouquet garni (with parsley and bay), it goes well with many other herbs such as rosemary, oregano, chives and sage. Unlike some of those herbs, it’s hard to get too much thyme in a dish, so you can be a little more liberal with it than you could, say, rosemary. One of my favorites is lemon thyme (see photo above), which I use quite often to flavor chicken and soups. Get several varieties of thyme and have fun experimenting!

Jean

Beautiful, Bountiful Basil

2010-01-29T19:03:00.001-05:00

Nothing says summer more than beautiful, bushy basil plants in varying shades of green and purple. Lush and fragrant, it lives its life to the fullest, in the short time it lasts. Not many things taste better than basil fresh from the garden, so it was another “no-brainer” for this must-haves list. I apologize for the lack of photo here, but apparently I’ve never taken a picture of basil growing in my garden, and I didn’t want to steal one! I will take a picture this summer and post it. If you don’t know what basil looks like, I suggest you Google it and check out all the lovely varieties.

Growing

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is wonderfully easy to grow. It’s an annual, originally from India. It’s pretty simple to start from seed, so you can grow lots of varieties this year, or try different types every year, without a lot of expense. It needs full sun and well drained, weed free soil. If you start it from seed, you can thin seedlings after they get their first set of real leaves. It’s also a great candidate for containers.

If you live where it’s good and hot in the summer, basil can get “leggy” and go to seed rapidly. It sends up a long, slender set of blossoms. If you just keep pinching these off whenever they appear, your basil will continue to grow lush and leafy, and not get bitter (as it tend to do once it begins to blossom). In the hottest parts of the summer, it needs to be watered every day (at least where I live), or it wilts. Did you know that the best times to water your garden are before 10 am or after dusk? You should NOT water during the heat of the day, or you may end up cooking your plants (although if you are somewhat erratic about watering, like I am, and your choice is water NOW or watch the plant die in the next hour, choose NOW)!

Basil also makes a great companion plant for tomato, improving flavor and helping to repel flies. For more on companion planting read Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte or go here.

Harvesting

Basil should be harvested sparingly until plants get pretty well developed, but if you’re growing several plants, you can pinch several leaves off of each, and have plenty for dinner! Once plants are larger and well established, you can cut entire stems. In the late summer, early fall, you can cut plants back completely, since they won’t last the winter anyway.

Many people dry basil, but I don’t bother. It loses it’s true flavor in the drying process, and has but a shade of it’s summer glory. If you really want to save some for use during the winter to remind you of those warmer garden days, I suggest freezing it. An ice cube tray works great for this purpose. Place a few leaves of basil in each space, and cover with cold water. Freeze, then remove from the tray to another container. These little cubes of basil are great for tossing into soups and stews, or can be thawed and put into many other dishes. It’s not quite as pretty as fresh, but it’s still quite good! (Many thanks to the folks of the Garden Thyme Herb Club for teaching me this trick and countless others. You will always hold a special place in my heart!)

Medicinal

Basil is highly prized as a medicinal herb in many parts of the world. It is very high in antioxidants and has a high levels of another compound that improves circulation and respiration. According to an article by Juniper Russo,

One of the primary medicinal uses of basil comes from BCP, or (E)-beta-caryophyllene, a natural anti-inflammatory compound also found in oregano and medicinal cannabis. BCP found in basil may offer an alternative to medical marijuana, because it offers the same anti-inflammatory effects without the mental and neurological side-effects of illicit drugs. BCP in basil is believed to combat bowel inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.

Read more at Suite101: Basil's Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses: The Amazing Healing Powers of a Common Culinary Herb http://herbal-properties.suite101.com/article.cfm/basils_health_benefits_and_medicinal_uses#ixzz0e2ZRIAx1

Basil tea is commonly used to help aid or ease digestion (it is a member of the mint family, after all). It is also said to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. The scent is also very rejuvenating (try a few drops of essential oil in the bath for a “wake-up” soak) and is supposed to be good for alleviating headaches. Need a pick me up in the garden? Plant basil along the edges, where you will be sure to brush up against them, which will release that awesome basil fragrance!

Culinary

Basil is an extremely versatile herb in the kitchen. Used for many dishes you immediately think of (spaghetti, pizza and pesto), it also goes just as easily with fresh veggies, meats, and fruits. Here are a few recipes.

Classic Basil Pesto

(from the Herb Farm Cookbook, by Jerry Traunfeld)

2 cloves garlic, peeled

3 Tbs. raw pine nuts

1/4 tsp. salt

3 ounces stemmed sweet basil leaves (about 3 cups gently packed)

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

[In a food processor] Process the garlic, pine nuts, and salt until finely ground, about 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves and process in spurts just until no whole leaves remain. With the machine running, pour the oil through the feed tube in a steady stream. Stop and scrape down the sides, then process for several more seconds. The mixture should be ground to a pastelike consistency but a little of the leaves’ texture should remain. If necessary, quickly pulse the mixture again. Add the cheese and pulse until just incorporated.

Makes 1 cup, enough to sauce 1 pound dried pasta.

Cinnamon Basil Jelly

from Cookin’ Thyme, the cookbook of the Garden Thyme Herb Club.

1 1/2 c. cinnamon basil leaves

2 1/4 c. cold water

3 T. Lemon juice

3 1/2 c. sugar

1 pkg. (3 oz.) liquid pectin

Finely chop the basil and place in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a full boil, cover, remove from heat and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Pour the mixture into a jelly bag or fine strainer and let it drip. There should be about 1 3/4 cup of basil infusion. Put the infusion into a large saucepan along with the lemon juice and sugar. Cook over high heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a full rolling boil. Boil for one minute, then remove from the heat. Stir in the pectin and ladle into sterilized half-pint jars. Wipe the rims and seal with proper lids. Makes 4 half-pints.

Hope you include basil in your garden this summer. If you do, send pictures of it growing, or of the things you make with it! I’d love to see them, and hear your ideas. And be sure to come back next week for the next installment of herbs you must have in your garden – Thyme, Glorious Thyme!

Happy gardening!

Mandy

2010-01-29T09:31:00.002-05:00

So yesterday, in a moment of frustration, i texted my good friend mandy that "husbands should come with instructions!" Her response? "shake vigorously before use!" She's just that good...

The Overuse of Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Is Killing Us | Personal Health | AlterNet

2010-01-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

The Overuse of Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Is Killing Us | Personal Health | AlterNet

No, you’re not dreaming…

2010-01-25T23:20:00.001-05:00

it really is cinnamon raisin bread. This loaf has been out of the oven for about 40 minutes – still a little warm, but cool enough to cut it. Sadly, this piece on the end has been separated from the ~~herd~~ loaf, and will have to be eaten… immediately….

Turkeys on Parade

2010-01-21T20:35:00.008-05:00

I'm home sick today, but the camp guy came in and woke me up this morning and said, "You HAVE to see what's in the front yard!" So I got up and this is what I saw! We've seen turkeys out here before, but only in small groups. We've never seen a group this big! It was impressive. Sorry about the quality of the video, but the camp guy was trying to get out the door and video them all at the same time!

Enjoy!
Jean

Rosemary

2010-01-20T19:56:00.003-05:00

There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember.

- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, IV, 5

Rosemary has a long history of use as a culinary and medicinal herb. It happens to be one of my favorites, because I love the smell and the way it looks in the garden, so when I was thinking of the herbs I would use in this series, there was no question that this herb would be on it! This Mediterranean herb is one of the herbs/essential oils I use the most in my soaps and bath products.

Growing

Rosemary (Rosemary officinalis) is a perennial, although in many parts of the U.S. it would actually be more appropriate to classify it as a tender perennial. My larger bushes survive the winter pretty well here in northern Georgia, where we live, but they have been a bit “burned” around the edges by ice. Smaller plants should come indoors, even here in zone 7. For those of you in zones 9 and 10, you could keep rosemary in your garden as an evergreen! Those of you in colder climates can move your rosemary in and out, or you can grow rosemary in a pot, provided you give it soil that drains really well.

Although, many herbs are quite easy to start from seed, Rosemary is one that I suggest you purchase as a plant. I’ve never actually tried starting it from seed, but someone I know who is a better gardener than me, said it was difficult, so that was good enough for me! Buy at least two plants, since you won’t want to harvest too much from either one until they get bigger. There are many varieties of rosemary, from large, shrubby types to lower, creeping types. Do some research and decide which one works best for you and your garden.

All rosemary varieties love full sun and well drained, slightly alkaline soil. One of the dangers of growing rosemary here in the south is the moisture… plants do well without a lot of water, and are good for southern garden that way. The problem comes, if they are planted too close together, or if leaves or mulch are allowed to stay too close to the plant. If that happens, then during our wetter springs and winters, rosemary becomes more susceptible to fungus and powdery mildew. If you live in an area that is very wet, try growing plants in a raised bed for better drainage.

Harvesting

Harvest sprigs of rosemary with clippers or a sharp knife. Rosemary will keep in the fridge for a week or two, if you store it in a re-sealable bag or small, airtight container. It’s also an excellent herb for drying, because it retains its scent and flavor. There are several ways to dry it, but the easiest and best is to clip several sprigs, tie them together at the base and hang them upside down until they’re dry. It also makes your kitchen smell great in the process!

Medicinal Uses

Rosemary contains powerful anti-oxidants, and has properties that according to many herbalists relieve pain, aid digestion, relax muscles, ease depression and more. Rosemary should NOT be used medicinally by pregnant women. It is good for use in the bath to soothe sores, and ease and rejuvenate tired muscles.

Tired Muscle Bath Salts
2 cups Epsom salts
1/2 cup dried rosemary
1/2 cup thyme
1/4 cup lavender
1/4 cup mugwort (for EXTERNAL USE ONLY)
Mix. Add one cup to running bath water and soak!

Cosmetic Uses

Rosemary is used in a variety of cosmetic products, like soaps, bath salts and bath teas. It is especially useful in hair products, like shampoos and hair rinses, as it conditions and tones hair and skin. It can also be used as an astringent.

Rosemary Hair Rinse
Pour 2 cups boiling water over 1/2 cup dried rosemary and let steep. When it’s cool, strain and use as a hair rinse for darker hair. (Lighter haired folks can use the same recipe, substituting chamomile for the rosemary).

Cooking

According to Jerry Traunfeld in The Herbfarm Cookbook, rosemary has been historically used as a marinade for meats, “not only for its flavor but also because, like sage and thyme, it has antibacterial and antioxidant agents that prevent fat from turning rancid – it acts as a natural preservative.” Great for meats and potatoes, it can also be used in smaller amounts in baked goods! Rosemary goes well with other herbs, too like thyme, sage and oregano, is great with lemon or orange flavors on chicken, and pairs really well with garlic.

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies (from Cookin’ Thyme)
1 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3 cups flour
3-4 tsp. fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Thoroughly combine the butter and sugar. Add 2 1/2 cups of flour and mix. Turn out on a board floured with the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Knead in the rosemary along with the flour until the dough cracks on the surface and doesn’t stick to the board. Roll it 1/4” thick, then cut into desired shapes. Bake on an ungreased cookies sheet 50 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes 72 1” cookies.

There are many, MANY more things I could say about rosemary, but since this post is already so long, I’ll stop here – except to say, grow this herb!

Jean

next week: Beautiful, Bountiful Basil

New Series - Herbs!

2010-01-18T21:00:00.000-05:00

The seed catalogs have started arriving! I love it – just the point of winter when it’s actually cold here, and here come the catalogs full of seeds, plants and other garden goodies, to make me dream of warmer days… and so I have been inspired to bring you a new series – the 10 herbs everyone should have in their garden! I’ll highlight a different herb each week, and tell you what I know about its properties/benefits, how to grow it and give you some ideas on what you can do with it once it's harvested.

Come back tomorrow for the first installment - Rosemary!

Biscuit, part 1

2010-01-18T01:23:00.001-05:00

Our oldest son, Biscuit, has had trouble with his ears since he was small. He had round after round of ear infections, with round after round of antibiotics. Our first set of ear tubes made a huge difference! He was still 2, I think, at the time, but he was more cooperative, and less frustrated about things, and the number of ear infections was dramatically reduced, so we were happy that things were going well.

They came and went as they were supposed to, and his ears being what they are, we ended up with a second set. We felt good about them, too, until they fell out after being in for less than 6 months.

Then we began to notice that he was having more difficulty hearing. Our nurse practitioner recommended a new ENT, who removed his adenoids and introduced us to t-tubes. The standard tube used for myringotomy (ear tube surgery) is a small, straight tube. However, after you've had straight tubes, or have had trouble keeping them in, your next option is a tube that is shaped more like a "T". They stay in for an average 2-3 years vs. the 8-12 months span of the straight tube. Because they stay in longer, they also carry a higher risk (about 20%) of "perforation", which is when the tube leaves a lasting hole in the eardrum. He also had an appointment with the audiologist at this point, during which we were told that already had some mild hearing loss due to the scarring on his eardrums from the repeated infections and the previous sets of tubes. It seemed important to not have to KEEP repeating the regular tubes, so we agreed that it was time for the t-tubes. And for almost 2 years, he had VERY few ear infections (for him!), and no real problems, ear-wise. Yippee!

Then his eardrums began to reject the tubes. With ever-widening holes in his eardrums, and tubes that were about to fall out, our ENT had no choice but to go in and remove the tubes, and "clean up" the edges of the holes, in the hopes that they would repair themselves. It wasn't very long before we were BACK in surgery to put in paper patches to help close the holes. They appeared to be working, and things were looking good. But, this summer, he had ear infections that pretty much just blew everything out and now the holes are larger than ever before. And then he failed the routine hearing screening at school.

So back we went to the audiologist, who classified him this time as having moderate hearing loss, and the ENT, who suggested hearing aids and tympanoplasty. Tympanoplasty involves making an incision behind the ear, lifting the ear forward (basically flipping it over, like turning the page), and then repairing the hole in the eardrum with a graft of skin. This seems like a much bigger deal to me than simple tubes, so, as you can imagine, I'm not in any hurry to do this unless it is absolutely necessary! And also, we have no "hearing aid coverage" according to our insurance company (like we just didn't have the forsight to include this in our policy!), and those things aren't cheap!

Thankfully, someone we know recommended her daughter's ENT, and we went this past week for a second opinion. Not because we have a problem with our other doctor, or because we didn't want to take her advice, but just because this seemed like something we needed to be really sure about. And I'm really glad that we did.

His advice, after seeing Biscuit's records, and looking at him (and BEFORE hearing our opinions on the matter) was that he doesn't believe Biscuit to be a good candidate for surgery right now.

SO... hearing aids here we come.

Anyone wanna ~~rob a bank~~ hire me to do some odd jobs?

Jean

I'm watching CNN and I'm a mess...

2010-01-15T00:29:00.002-05:00

about people I don't even know, but whose tragic experiences have touched me. I'm simply going to pass along to you a portion of a post written on another blog that I read(see Bruce's blog here).

January 14, 2010
Presbyterian Church (USA) Prayer for Haiti
Sometimes in the face of tragedy and feelings of helplessness, all we can do is pray. Then there is the opportunity to offer our prayers, resources and actions when we, together, can be a divine presence of peace and healing. As the global community rallies around Haiti this day, let us begin the journey. Below is a prayer offered up by a few leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) by myself, Linda Valentine, Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council and Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.

We Pray for Haiti

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:

God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.
(Adapted from Book of Common Worship)

-Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine

Happy National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! No, really...

2010-01-10T11:00:00.003-05:00

it really is an official day. I'm not making it up! So, in honor of National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, I went in search of some practical and easy ideas for doing just that. And who doesn’t want to save money AND help the environment at the same time? And you know I want things to be easier! This is what I found…

· Have a professional check out your HVAC to make sure it’s working correctly and efficiently. Also, clean your air filters on a regular basis, which not only increases your HVAC unit’s functional efficiency, but it also improves the air quality in your home. It wouldn’t hurt to check your insulation, either!

· Unplug! Your cell phone, your small kitchen appliances, anything else that you can stand to plug and unplug regularly will help (or try plugging things into a power cord that can easily be switched off). Appliances that are plugged in still draw a certain amount of power, even when they’re turned off, and in doing so, generate added heat. This includes turning your computer off at night.

· Switch out your light bulbs. I know we’ve talked about this one before, but compact fluorescent bulbs use less energy and generate less heat than incandescent bulbs.

· Wash more clothes in cold water. Apparently, a good portion of the energy used to wash clothes is spent on heating the water!

· Turn off the “dry” option of your dishwasher. Your dishes will dry on their own, and this cuts the power usage of your dishwasher. And while we’re at it – if you can dry clothes on a clothesline, think how many trips through the dryer you’d save your clothes – AND your energy bill!

· Use a manual option vs. an electric one – things like can openers, mixers, etc.

· Use your blinds or curtains to your advantage. Open them to let light in for added warmth, or conversely to keep light out, for easier cooling.

See? Easy, practical, (mostly) cheap AND environmentally responsible!

jean

ps. My 8 year old just admonished me because I didn't include - "turn things off when you leave the room" which is what I'm always fussing about at my house! Good to know he's hearing that one!

Carnation Instant Breakfast Bread…

2010-01-09T21:32:00.001-05:00

Just to show you that I really am ~~an idiot~~ the hectic eclectic girl, I’m going to tell you a story…

It’s a story about a girl who got an awesome bread cookbook for Christmas, and who was ready to try a recipe RIGHT NOW! Can you guess who this girl was? And in my her excitement and haste to make this recipe, I she somehow missed the fact that it called for POWDERED milk. AND in my her excitement and haste to make this recipe, I she somehow missed the fact that it called for powdered milk, AFTER I she had already added the water, and when it was too late to somehow slip it into the sponge (where the water went).

So here’s me this unfortunate girl, searching around the kitchen for something that resembles POWDERED MILK (which was not, of course, in the house)… and then I had an idea (oh, come on – I know you know it’s me!) – I have some Carnation Instant Breakfast in the pantry! It’s mostly milk, right? It was even vanilla flavored! So I added it, instead of the prescribed milk, and voila, BREAD! It was actually really good – and you couldn’t even tell that I had gone crazy with the instant breakfast!

So take heart! You, too, can make ~~random substitutions~~ intentional adjustments to your recipes successfully!

Happy Baking!

This good deed is for the birds...

2010-01-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

So the boys and I made some homemade "suet" treats for the birds, since we're having this really cold weather (insert jokes about southerners who don't really know about COLD here). These are a mixture of peanut butter, bacon grease, crisco, bird seed, oats, dried cranberries and breadcrumbs. We put some on a pine cone, and the rest went into the muffin tins to be hung, or put in the suet feeders. Definitely NOT suitable for anything but this cold weather, as they'd melt easily, but they work well for now, and the birds seem to be enjoying them. They were all over them about 5 minutes after we hung them up! I looked out the bedroom window this morning and the suet feeder there had 3 little birds right on it - 2 tufted titmouses (titmice?) and a chickadee.

We're enjoying the snow. We went down to the lodge and the labyrinth today to check out the snow, and eventually made it down to lake, but we didn't stay out since it was about 12 degrees here. Daisy really enjoyed the romp in the cold, though. While we were trudging along all bundled in sweaters and coats, she pranced and ran and went "crazy dog" all around us. The boys got really tickled at her. And me?

I got really tickled, too, because I got to spend some time with my handsome camp guy, my amazing kids and my darling dog in a beautiful setting on a snow day!

Life in the Hundred Acre Wood

2010-01-03T12:02:00.000-05:00

As, I think I've mentioned before, we live at a camp. DH is the camp guy, and the boys and I get the added benefit of being able to live at camp! We (and by we, I mean the camp, who leases it from the Corp of Engineers) have a hundred acres of mostly woods, with cabins, pool, lodge and more. And we're surrounded by a lake and by more Army Corp of Engineers property which is also mostly woods, so we see lots of deer, wild turkeys, snakes, birds, the occasional fox, and various and sundry other wild things. This is something for which I count us extremely lucky.

Most of our encounters are viewings from afar, but sometimes we get a bit closer, like the time Jack (the cat) brought me a small, but still quite feisty rattlesnake! Or the disappearance of the other Jack, whom we suspect was taken by the coyotes. Not all of these "up close and personal" encounters are dangerous, though.

Outside our bedroom window, there is a large bush that houses a pair of cardinals and their nest. It's lovely to look out the window and see those flashes of his brilliant red and her more muted, but still beautiful brown and red. Lately, though, he has discovered his reflection in the window, and has gone to war with that stubborn bird who refuses to leave his territory! All hours of the morning, noon and early evening we hear, "thunk, thunk, thunk!" on that window... We've put the blinds up and down and different times, thinking that might help, but to no avail. I'm not sure what else to try, but I'm starting to worry about him! Can birds get brain damage from repeatedly pecking at the window? And how do I convince the female that it's in her (and her future babies) best interest to convince him to stop being such a bully to the handsome bird in the window? Or will he eventually decide that it's not a good nesting spot and move? I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you may have!

J

Tonight we're gonna party like it's...

2009-12-31T22:38:00.000-05:00

um...2009? Here's to a new year full of promise and new beginnings for those who need them and for continued happiness for those who need that. Best wishes to y'all for 2010. Love ya'!

j

Merry Christmas, Y'all.

2009-12-24T13:39:00.000-05:00

I hope that this finds each of you enjoying the peace and blessings of the season. I wish for each of you a very, merry Christmas.

Jean

Christmas Contest Winners!

2009-12-22T20:55:00.001-05:00

Well, I had a team of unbiased judges standing by and a computer set to randomize the entries and a team of lawyers to make sure that the results were determined fairly.... ok, not really. BUT, since there were only three of you that entered, that means it was pretty easy to determine the results. So actually, it was really not even a contest - it's more like I'm just giving stuff away to everyone who comments. I'm practically Oprah! Are you amazed by my awesomeness yet?

Ok - enough about me... congratulations to Dawna, Kristen and Devilish Southern Bell on your ~~gifts~~ winnings!
Thanks for commenting. I hope to hear from you again, and I'll be in touch about your prizes!

Merry Christmas!
Jean

Little Papers, Christmas Soap and Christmas Contests!

2009-12-12T13:04:00.002-05:00

First, some exciting news! The hectic eclectic girl is now listed in the Best Green Blogs guide at http://www.bestgreenblogs.com. This is a great place to go and find blogs geared toward green parenting, green living, gardening and more. Thanks to Timothy Latz, the editor of BGB for including us!

Second - I should've included a link in my Healthier post to the Slim Shots website. Their website is https://www.slimshots.com/ver11/index.asp.

Third - Christmas Soap!

Which leads me to the first Christmas contest...

I am going to have several contests this month to help us all celebrate Christmas, because I love getting free stuff, and I'm pretty sure everyone else does, too! The generous folks at Write on Main (http://www.writeonmain.com/) were nice enough to donate some Little Papers card sets to the endeavor (thanks, S!), so be sure to check them out and let them know they are appreciated!

So... your prizes for the first contest are a set of Little Papers cards with envelopes and a bar of Christmas soap from moi! Three winners will be selected from everyone who responds with an answer to these questions...

Since we are talking about free stuff.... What are some ways that you control spending during the holidays (or DO you)? And what are the best (and cheapest) Christmas gifts you've ever made or recieved?

Comments must be recieved by midnight on Monday, December 21st to be entered into the contest, but I'll be glad to read and enjoy later comments, too! Winners will be notified Tuesday. December 22.

For an additional entry to this contest, please become a follower of this blog! Leave a comment that you have done so, so I can be sure you get your extra entry.

I'm looking forward to hearing your budget saving ideas!

j

Healthier

2009-11-28T07:33:00.000-05:00

Ok - I admit it. I joined the healthy you challenge and promptly did.... nothing. Well, not entirely nothing, I have been watching what I eat a little more closely, but, let's just say... the gym and I are not on a first name basis!

Several weeks ago, though, I had my mirena removed. I feel TONS better, have more energy than I've had for a long time, and I lost 7 pounds without even trying!

So... I am recommitting to my health challenge. I am relearning my way around the gym and I have started taking slim shots to help control my appetite.

I should say here - I am not a diet fad/ diet drug/ what have you kind of person. Slim shots seem to be more natural than some, and I had heard of them, but was undecided about trying them. When they offered me a chance to try them out for a review on this blog, I knew that this was as good a time as any to test them.

I have actually been pleasantly surprised! It's not the best taste in the world... something between chocolate and a really oily sunflower seed. But added to another drink (I put mine in a small glass of milk) it's fine. The meal replacement shakes I've tried have been MUCH worse. And if I take it in the morning, after breakfast, it actually does control my appetite for the rest of the day. Which is helping me control what I eat at mealtimes, and especially during those times of the day when I just crave snacks.

Maybe now, with my renewed energy, and slim shots and my friend Gym, I can really make some progress toward becoming a healthier me! If I can just steer clear of those Thanksgiving leftovers...

j

Some local items on our Thanksgiving table

2009-11-26T01:40:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying, there are many things that could be on this list and aren't.... Many people who choose to focus on local foods have pretty stringent guidelines about what qualifies as local, and strive to be exclusively local. I applaud this committment.

I also know, however, that many people make changes in baby steps. Rather than skip the idea of including local foods because you see it as too difficult or restrictive, try starting with a few ingredients and commit to only buying those locally. Or choose to have at least 1-2 local items per meal.

I have joined an eat local challenge, and I really wanted to buy a local, heritage turkey for our meal. But I am feeding 19 people today, and heritage turkeys were not even close to being in the budget. So this is what I am doing... on our table today the following local ingredients will appear in key and supporting roles in one or more dishes...

cornmeal
carrots
pecans
green beans
herbs (dried and fresh)
crabapples
squash
apples
peppers

Try it out! Not only does it save gas and result in tastier produce that was picked at its peak (instead of early so it could travel!), it's satisfying to know where your food comes from, and who grew it. And the more connected to our food we are, the healthier we - and our planet - will become. And that will truly be something to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving! and welcome back, me.

2009-11-26T01:17:00.000-05:00

On the eve of this year's day of thanks, I pause for a moment in the chaos that has become Thanksgiving, to be truly thankful. What am I most especially thankful for this year?

That my family has once again, managed to come together in body, if not entirely in spirit, to have a good time, to reconnect, to laugh and sing and play and BE together. And that this family has come together from near and VERY FAR, safely.
That we have another Thanksgiving with my Nana. Truth be told, I'm thankful for her every day.
That, financial struggles and all - we will still have more than enough to go around tomorrow.
Tha t I am finally back to this blog! and boy, do we have a lot to talk about! Here is the flash update, to be discussed in more detail in a day or two... slim shots, healthy you challenge, local food, bad mirena, soap!

Stay tuned, dear reader, stay tuned. And know that I am thankful for you during this season as well... and
please let me know - what are you really grateful for this year?

j

Broccoli with pumpkin seed and oregano spread

2009-10-27T17:40:00.000-04:00

For dinner tonight we had pork loin, potato with onion (home fried, really, just baked instead of fried), salad, and broccoli with a really yummy garnish that I used in a not-so-garnish sort of way (I just mixed it right in...). I went looking for some pumpkin seed recipes, since I just roasted some yesterday, and found what I was looking for at Cookus Interruptus. Their pumpkin seed garnish recipe calls for parsley, but mine is long since done in the garden, so I used oregano, which is still going strong. It was delightful - AND the camp guy and the kids liked it, too! I ground up about a handful of the seeds in the coffee grinder, then added them to the bowl with some garlic, salt, oregano (finely chopped) and olive oil. Mix it up and toss with the warm broccoli - YUM.

Thanks to the folks at Cookus for the inspiration and the funny video...

Jean

2009-10-19T08:09:00.001-04:00

So we were at Animal Kingdom yesterday, looking at birds and the camp guy turns to me and in a serious voice says "Do you think parrots are narcissistic? Everyone's always telling them they're pretty... "

I love that guy!

Resources for a healthier planet

2009-10-15T23:58:00.001-04:00

Since we're being so healthy this month, here are a few ideas for a healthier planet... and budget!

Try these free publications from Energy Star to help you save resources and cut your energy bills. There's even one for kids! And they have a kids page, to help you start teaching your children about good resource management.

Take the GE Lighting Pledge and get some free coupons for energy saving bulbs. The statistics about if we all changed our light bulbs are pretty amazing!

Stay healthy!
Jean

2009-10-05T14:38:00.001-04:00

Really, target?
Really?!
I'm sitting in the carpool line looking at your weekly ad flyer and turn the page to halloween costumes...
What has happened to the idea that gender stereotypes are bad? Can't we see some chef or dr costumes, please?

Ten reasons to eat local food

2009-10-04T12:00:00.015-04:00

Here is a list that I totally stole from the Eat Local Challenge website...

"10 Reasons to Eat Local Food

by Jennifer Maiser
Eating local means more for the local economy. According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction. (reference)
Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer's market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value which declines with time.
Local food just plain tastes better. Ever tried a tomato that was picked within 24 hours? 'Nuff said.

Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit does not have to be "rugged" or to stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them, figs that would have been smashed to bits if they were sold using traditional methods, and melons that were allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine.
Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate creates environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic. (reference)
Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.
Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story. Whether it's the farmer who brings local apples to market or the baker who makes local bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.
Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination. (reference)
Local food translates to more variety. When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high-yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket. Supermarkets are interested in selling "Name brand" fruit: Romaine Lettuce, Red Delicious Apples, Russet Potatoes. Local producers often play with their crops from year to year, trying out Little Gem Lettuce, Senshu Apples, and Chieftain Potatoes.
Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.
Download a printable version (pdf) of this guide.
Originally published by Life Begins at 30, August 2005."

Thanks to Life Begins at 30 and the Eat Local Challenge website for this handy list!
Jean

Happy October, y'all!

2009-10-02T23:27:00.003-04:00

I told you that I joined the Healthy You Challenge, so I thought we'd spend some time this month focusing on health, since that's what I'm thinking about, and this is my blog....m'kay? And ladies, since we're talking about being healthy, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'll go ahead and remind you to do your monthly check of the girls. If you're as helpless at this as I am, I suggest you find a doctor/website/friend that can give you advice on how to do it properly! But it's important to give yourself a "baseline" of how your breasts normally feel, so that you can notice any changes more promptly. Guys, I'm not leaving you out - you can remind the women in your life to take care of this simple step...

October is also the month for the Eat Local Challenge. What does eating locally have to do with being a more healthy you? Well, for me, when I pay attention to where my food comes from, I eat better and appreciate it more. We'll talk more about the benefits of eating locally, and get some handy tips for incorporating more local foods into your regular menu in some upcoming posts.

On a more personal level, I did pretty well with my own healthy challenge today. All except for the birthday cake...

Baby steps.

Jean

Goodbye, fatty boombalatty....

2009-09-24T22:39:00.000-04:00

Alright folks. I am officially joining the Healthy You Challenge in an effort to GET HEALTHY. This is it - the end of the proverbial road. I am giving notice to chin number 2 and arm flab! My main goal is not a weight loss number, but a general state of health and energy that has long been lacking. I'm also hoping to regain some control over this wonky heart rhythm, which should also help with the energy reserves. I'm resolved. So resolved that... I'm going to bed before 11 o'clock! Healthy sleep is one of my goals, after all.

Good night dear readers. I hope tomorrow is a healthier day for all of us.

Jean

2009-09-18T14:12:00.001-04:00

I'm getting a pedicure right now.
Right now.
I'm getting a pedicure AND blogging.
I'm just that dedicated...

You're welcome.
Jean

I have issues.... and a contest winner!

2009-09-17T22:45:00.004-04:00

Attention all waitstaff….

I know that you sing happy birthday at least a zillion times a day.

I understand that you don’t know any of those people, that you aren’t
hired for your singing voice, that it can be embarrassing singing the
crazy song in front of the whole restaurant. I get it – I do.

But I went to dinner last night with the camp guy, and we sat and listened
to some of your peers do their birthday chant twice for different
diners and it was…. Well, let’s just say it sounded by their tone like
they were actually singing something resembling, “Happy Birthday,
loser, you don’t have anything better to do on your birthday than have
total strangers sing this stupid song to you….*gah*”

I guess what I’m saying is, we know it’s not your favorite thing. It’s
really not ours either, but it makes our friends and families happy,
and us a little bit, too, so could you just PRETEND to be a little bit
excited? Just for us?

Cause after all, it is our birthday.

Jean

Ps. I told you I have issues…

Pps. Congrats to Chuckles66, the winner of last week’s contest! Your soap will be in the mail this week!

Ppps. What is with the formatting on this post? I cannot figure it out!

What's in a name?.... and my first contest!

2009-09-10T20:53:00.003-04:00

I had the great fortune to be a summer camp counselor for several years when I was younger and made some great friends in the process. Some I still talk to pretty regularly, and some not as much, but they all still hold a fond place in my heart. One of them got married last weekend and when her invitation came in the mail, it had, of course, her given name on it, instead of the name we know her by. "Bacon" is a nickname whose origin I don't know, but which has stuck with her since way back when, and has just sort of become her name to us. Of course we knew her actual name, but it was just a name. The girl, the person, was Bacon. And I got to thinking about other people I know with nicknames like that.

I had a nickname with my family growing up, but my friends never really called me by it. And today, only a handful of my friends even know that it was ever my name. Only my sisters ever call me Bean anymore. But I know other people like Bacon whose nickname has stuck with them. People like Scooter, Spam, Moose, and Grits. And although some people have unfortunate nicknames that they don't like, these people are, for the most part, happy with theirs. And I will probably still call them these names when we are old, and trying to be dignified, because, in my heart, that is who they are. And because I'm a little bit jealous of them...

SO, that said, here is the contest. I am offering two bars of Jean's Garden Soap to two lucky winners, selected randomly. To enter the contest, you must:
1. Become a follower (not in an existential way, just click that you want to follow the blog, if you aren't already)
2. Leave a comment telling me some fun nicknames you know - they can be your own, or your friends or loved ones, or someone you don't like, but you think they have a hilarious nickname.....
3. Do both of those by midnight, Monday, September 14th, because that's when this contest closes!

Thanks!
Bean

Asparagus, dressed up

2009-08-25T23:50:00.001-04:00

mmmmm.... the asparagus at Publix today looked so good I couldn't resist it. really. i tried, but I honestly have no willpower when it comes to that sort of thing.

So I brought it home with me, just in time to scramble around for dinner. I washed and trimmed it, tossed with a generous amount of olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice, and then sprinkled it with some kosher salt, some garlic, and some parmesan cheese and broiled it for 5 little minutes. Voila!

Some leftover pork roast and a little mac and cheese later and what a yum dinner, in practically no time at all!

Which was good because it left me a few minutes to deal with the mountain of pillows and blankets that the boys had piled up in the room to make jumping off the top bunk "safe"....

Fish

2009-08-15T12:48:00.001-04:00

Christianity...but not the way you think.

2009-08-12T22:23:00.004-04:00

Get ready people.

*she clears her throat and climbs Mt. Soapbox*

I think it's time for us to clear up a few things, but in order for us to do that we're gonna have to put on our big girl panties (or big boy pants - whatever. i don't judge.)

I have heard and read a lot of discussions about what it means to be a Christian in my lifetime. A lot of them. Many of the ones I've seen lately have centered on how bad we are, or how wrong we are, or how politically in one direction we are, or how hypocritical we are because our lives aren't perfect OR because we don't accept someone else's imperfections. And while I agree that SOME Christians are hypocritical to the extreme, and SOME Christians are extremely political, and SOME Christians... (insert offensive example here)... I certainly don't believe we can be all lumped together like one giant brain.

So... that said, there a few things I would like to say...

1. Christianity is not charm school, business school, marriage counseling, parenting classes or Gold's gym. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We screw up. We cheat. We go bankrupt. We have imperfect relationships. This does not mean that we don't try. Christianity is not a magic pill of perfection. It is a lens through which we see the world, that colors our response to the way things are and our motivation to try and be better than we are. Are some of us more well behaved than others? Yes, but...

2. Christianity is not a get out of jail free card. Our lives do not instantly become perfect the moment we learn the secret handshake (ok. there is no secret handshake. but you want there to be one now don't you?). If you don't believe me, see number one, above. We are still responsible for our own actions. If I do something I know to be wrong, I still have to live with the consequences of my actions, and hopefully the people around me will lovingly hold me accountable. Let me say that again. Christians are supposed to hold each other lovingly accountable. That doesn't mean we don't screw up. It doesn't mean we don't have to live with the consequences of our bad actions. But it also means that we should love each other around those problems (or at least try!). That all people are worthy of our effort and love, whether they are capable of good choices or not. This is NOT EASY.

3. Faith does not equal religion. Religious people have faith (one would assume!), but faith is a belief while religion is more of a construct (I know someone is going to come along and tell me that I am not using this word correctly. I defer to your supreme intelligence and say that my only excuse is... well, it sounded good to me). The church at large (whatever that may look like to you) is not the full extent of what our Christianity can be. It is made up of imperfect people, therefore, must be limited as an imperfect grouping. However...

4. Faith does actually equal religion in some respects. Or perhaps they lead into one another? I know better than most, the imperfect nature of the church, and because it is full of imperfect folks, the priorities of many congregations/denominations/communities can become skewed, or misaligned with what others in the community might think is best. And that the church can sometimes be an "institution", with the same self-preserving concerns of other institutions. But I have been a witness to the power of the church community. Both on individual lives, and on the lives of communities. Churches provide community support, food, shelter, water, time, money, education, housing and so much more, to many, many people around the world. And we, as Christians, are supposed to be a part of that. If you are a Christian who snubs the church, then what are you doing to help your fellow man? How do you worship in community or educate yourself about your faith? You can do some of this on your own, but Christian community is one of the most powerful tools around. Think about it. As my, oh so wise husband once told me, "It much harder to change a thing from the outside, than it is from the inside."

5. All Christians are not members of the religious right. (Seriously people - did I really need to say this?) But even members of the religious right, or religious left or religious somewhere in-between(although that does NOT have the same ring to it!) have a right to be a part of the political process. We're trying to change the world, remember?

6. Why are you listening to me anyway? (We do have the best music, though, religionally speaking.... i'm just sayin'....)

play nice, people.

love,
thehecticeclecticgirl

Free Food!

2009-08-10T19:44:00.001-04:00

ps. Speaking of giving away food, if you're like me and the camp guy and you love free stuff (well, who doesn't?), you may want to check out this offer from Schwans...

http://www.schwans.com/promos/freefood/freeFoodBegin.aspx

Food, Glorious Food

2009-08-10T19:12:00.008-04:00

A few days ago I had the privelege of making a food delivery to The Good Neighbor Shelter. The camp guy and I had been cleaning out the lodge kitchen, and were trying to figure out what to do with the extra (and there was a good bit of extra!), and thought about them.

Now, I'll be honest people - I have been to the Open Door, and to MUST Ministries, but I had never bothered to find out much about the homeless shelter that's LESS THAN 10 MINUTES FROM MY OWN HOUSE! But we had all that food and it didn't seem right to drive right by it to get to one out of town.

So I called. After some discussion and directions, I loaded up the van with this...

....and headed over. The shelter is relatively new, built in the mid-nineties, and relatively small, but makes a big difference for those in this community that need it (and beyond - while I was there they had a call from someone on the other side of Atlanta). The fact that it looks like a house, and has a large eat-in kitchen makes it feel more like extended family area than "hotel" or "shelter". And of course, as so many important programs do, it needs donations. If you live in the metro-Atlanta area, I encourage you to look into the Good Neighbor Shelter, and see if you can help them in some way. Or for those of you farther away, look into the shelters in your area and lend them a hand, or some groceries. Even if it's just some extra bread and cereal from camp.

love,
thehecticeclecticgirl

2009-08-06T14:51:00.002-04:00

I have two frightening words for you - car pool! (Ok, i think that's one word but it sounds more dramatic with the pause in the middle). More specifically, first day carpool, but that's like 3 or 4 words- either way, it is scary!

The End of Summer

2009-08-05T00:21:00.001-04:00

We had an event tonight that signals the official end of summer for us - dinner with the summer staff! They are headed home tomorrow, which means that the camp guy will be home a bit more often now - hooray! (Have I mentioned that I really like that man? All in all, it's been a good summer here.

Here's hoping that yours was a great one as well.

Weird Events...Big Changes

2009-08-04T00:00:00.001-04:00

We had open house today, which is a nicer way of saying, we milled around in a school full of people, none of whom had a great deal of direction. I think the reason for this is that although everyone thinks that open house is a good idea, and wants it to happen (knowing who your child's teacher is going to be and starting a relationship with them is important, after all) - no one really knows what to do.

Or what to say.... *awkward silence*

But it's good to meet the teachers, and get information about other school stuff, so how about some open house mixers?

Like, "all the parents of a second grader in the middle!" or "if you did NOT go to the beach this summer, put your hand on your head?" Or even, "You put your right hand in...."

No? Too much?

On a more serious note, this child is starting Kindergarten THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW! He's so BIG. (Have you noticed I like WRITING IN CAPS TODAY FOR EMPHASIS?) When we were getting ready for open house, he put on a pair of jeans that fit him just right this spring and today they were at least an inch too short. Has he grown that much in just a few months? Oh, little man, I hope you love big school. Good luck, buddy. I love you.

Herby Wheat Bread

2009-07-31T21:19:00.013-04:00

Made some really yummy bread yesterday. I used a basic honey wheat recipe and added some extras.

First you add 2 1/4 tsp. of active dry yeast to 1 cup warm water in a large bowl. Let it sit while you work on the next part (for at least 10 minutes).

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup milk, 3 TBS. olive oil, 2 TBS. honey, and 2 tsp. salt. Heat to a simmer, and then cool to 110 degrees F.

Pour the milk mixture into the yeast mix, and then add 2 cups organic white flour, and 2 cups organic wheat flour, 1 tsp. black pepper, 2 TBS mixed dried herbs (I used rosemary, lemon thyme and oregano). Mix to form the dough.

Turn the dough out on the counter and knead for 5 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the dough bounces back after you press on it. Rinse the large bowl you had from before, dry it, and coat it with olive oil. Turn the dough around in the bowl until it's coated with oil. Cover the bowl with a towel and let rise for 2 hours, until it doubles in size. (This picture is when I first placed it in the bowl. By the time it was done rising, it was to the top of the bowl.)

Punch the dough down, and split into two pieces. Knead again for a few minutes and shape into 2 loaves, and place into loaf pans that have been buttered and floured, or shape into round loaves and place on a cookie sheet. Cover and let rise again for another hour.

Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Leave in the pans for 5 minutes, and then turn out onto wire racks to cool. Enjoy!

World on Fire

2009-07-23T13:30:00.003-04:00

So the last few weeks I have been in Montreat, NC. An amazing places that hosts 6 weeks of youth conferences every summer (in addition to MANY other great conferences). The theme this year is "World on Fire" which deals with the issues facing the world today, and what our response to them as Christians should be.

I'm not really someone who journals on a regular basis, but I ALWAYS do when I'm in Montreat. So I sat down with my journal several times over the last few weeks and here is one of my prayer excerpts -

God, we live in world of isms...

racism.

sexism.

egoism.

absolutism.

a world on fire! full of
hatred.
greed.
self interest.
self importance.
violence.
injustice.
hunger.
poverty.
pestilence.
apathy and indifference.

and so many more of those words we are only comfortable talking about in conversations like, "wouldn't it be nice if someone somewhere would do something about that!"

we agree that they are problems, but are hardly willing to even really discuss in depth, much less willingly face our complicity in.

we live in a weary and beleaguered world. a world that is burning - and we're home and acting like we can't hear the fire alarm.

what is it going to take?! to get us to be

alert.

aware.

awake to the plight of our neighbors?

I hear stories all the time about people who climb out of the comfy padded room of their lives and face a new, dangerous and exciting world. a world of hopeful possibilities where the idea of people having what they need is not just an impossible ideal, but a goal to be worked toward at all costs. a world where injustice is not to be tolerated, and tolerance for differences abounds.

How do I become one of those people? How do I gain the courage to take the leap out of the box? I mean, it's not that I don't do anything - I do. I give alternative Christmas gifts. I support fair trade. I buy organic and turn the lights off when I leave the room. And those things are important.

But are they enough? are they REALLY the only changes You are calling me to make? Can I honestly convince myself that there's not more to be done?

O God of All Creation, give me the courage to use my life more for others, and guide my efforts.

Help me.

Help us.

Amen.

Have any earth day plans?

2009-04-21T23:56:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is Earth Day! Do you have any plans for celebrating? Or for being more earth friendly?
Let me know what you do tomorrow. I'll be celebrating with the preschool, so I'll post some photos of our festival. I hope, if nothing else, that you'll at least take a moment and appreciate this home that we've been given.

Lavender Castille Soap

2009-04-07T16:18:00.003-04:00

Made some lavender castille soap last week. This is one of my favorites, wonderfully fragrant and very mild. It's also a nice hard bar that lasts for ages. My two boys, who have sensitive skin, can both use this in the tub. My friend's girls call it their princess soap, because it has lavender blossoms all over the top!

There are really two trains of thought about castille soap. Traditionally, castille is made entirely of olive oil from the Castile region of Spain. More modern soap makers, have added other oils and butters, to make soaps that still contain a lot of olive oil, but that make more suds, or contain more moisture, or [insert desired effect here]...

I, myself, am a castille traditionalist, I suppose - not in the sense that the olive oil must be from Castile, but in the sense that the oils used for the soapmaking process, but be exclusively olive. Feel free to disagree. I am not suggesting that soaps that contain olive oil blends aren't great - I make several myself. I'm simply saying that it really is a different type of soap. Soap that is simply olive oil is SO mild and wonderful, that it just seems like it should be in a category by itself. Does it lack suds? Yes, but the "slip" that replaces them, makes it a great shaving soap. My suggestion? Try out some different types of "castille", blends and not, and decide for yourself. Whichever you choose, there is sure to be a soapmaker nearby, willing to supply it for you!