Garden Friday

Welcome to the first Garden Friday of the New Year!

 A couple of weeks ago,
the garden was hibernating under this.
We haven't had snow since,
but temperatures have been consistently bitter,
in the teens overnight 
and hitting highs in the high 20's to low 30's during the sunniest of days.



 

 Before the onslaught of the chill,
the garden was restyled,
to make it easier for me to cover it during winter's frigid nights.
The pots were rearranged to make them more compact,
and rabbit fencing was added to the perimeter of the tallest plants.

 
The whole kit-and-kaboodle is covered with white sheets
anytime it is below 32 degrees.
For now, it's the best I can do,
as I have no row cover.
When temperatures in the mid-to-high 30's grace us for the day,
the sheets are lowered so the veggies can get some sun.
The pots on the outside of the cage are covered with inverted pots
and a brick placed on top.

 

 Before the chill hit, I was able to check on a couple of crops.
The broccoli is almost ready for picking.
Small shoots can be spotted underneath the main head.
This is the Pacman variety.
It's been great not having to worry about bugs
because of the colder temps.



 The Brussels Sprouts are starting to bud.
This is the first time I've tried growing these,
they are just so much fun to watch.

 We also have carrots, beets, kale, leeks,
and more broccoli starts out there.
Not knowing much about growing in a true winter climate,
I will be pleased with any produce we can grow.

What are you growing this winter?




Saturday Blog Link Party

Banana Nut Muffins (df)

Something I strive for in my daily living
is to avoid wasting food.
So, when bananas get too ripe for snacking on,
I whip them into a quick bread or muffins.
This concoction is dairy-free,
as it uses olive oil instead of butter.
It's also short on sugar,
as the bananas boost the sweetness on their own.
This easy recipe will help you 
use up all those overripe nanners,
so nothing goes to waste.
Don't forget to compost the peels!

Banana Walnut Muffins

1 1/2 C unbleached flour

1/2 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

3/4 C sugar or sucanat

2 overripe bananas, mashed

3/4 C light olive oil

1 egg

1/2 C walnuts

Combine bananas, sugar, oil and egg in small bowl.

Mix well and set aside.

Add dry ingredients to medium bowl and sift with whisk.

Add wet ingredients and then nuts,

and mix until just combined.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake 12-15 minutes (for muffins),

35-45 minutes (for loaf),

turning pan around midway.

Cool on wire rack.

Enjoy!

Makes 1 dozen muffins or 1 loaf.

Saturday Blog Link Party

Be Blissed!

This phrase came to me recently.
I not only want to remember it for myself,
to keep in mind that we are meant to be blissful,
but also to share this intention with others,
so that they may experience their own bliss.

Often folks around here will say,
"Have a blessed day",
which may appeal to some people,
but not so much to others.
I admit, I used to feel defensive when someone would say it to me,
as if they were trying to push their religion on me.
Now, I've come to realize that any blessings sent my way
are more than welcome.
Whatever the foundation,
it's a positive force of energy being aimed at me,
and I'll take all the blessings I can get.

Saying, "Be Blissed!" is akin to sending a blessing
in that I am intending for that person to reach their state of bliss
in their current circumstances.
Someone may misunderstand me and think I am saying
"Be Blessed!",
and that's okay too.
As long as the loving energy is getting out there,
that's all that matters.

Along with wishing others well,
this phrase reminds me to focus on living in the moment,
appreciating each experience as a vehicle to reach my personal goals.
I am hoping to add a lot more fun and smiles
to my life this year.

This mantra will keep my spiritual intentions in check,
so that the world can see the best of me.
So that I can give the best of me.
Because that's what it's all about.
Be Blissed! 

Saturday Blog Link Party

Garden Friday

 We had a bit of winter weather in the last week,
although it's officially still autumn.
This is what our garden looked like for a few days.

 After the snow melted, the pots were uncovered during the day,
so that the seedlings and crops could get some much-needed sunshine.
The inverted pots worked exceptionally well,
and no signs of freeze damage were found.
Here are the plants that sailed through the bitter cold.

Broccoli is still flourishing,
and I actually sampled a bite yesterday.
SWEET!

The Brussels Sprouts are starting to bud out on the main stalk.

Both of the kales seem hardy enough.
This is dino kale, and below,

 Vates curly kale.
These have been munched on many times.

The leek have no trouble dealing with frigid temperatures.
They snuggle together in their container and continue to thrive.

The shallots also have a deep bin in which to grow.
All of the crops seemed to drink up every drop of sunshine and heat.

Surprisingly, even the youngest seedlings
have gotten through the snow and freezes.
I simply covered the whole lot of them with an overturned pot. 

I checked on this parsley that was started from seed.
It had been transplanted to a bed in front of the house earlier in the fall, 
and I was happy to see it doing well.

This shot makes me smile.
This is our collection of pumpkins from the beginning of fall.
If we were still in Florida,
they would have long been rotted by now.
We delight in the preservation powers of the cold.
Hmmm, maybe it will do the same for me?

 I have no idea what kind of tree this is,
but it is something to behold.
Each one of the golfball-sized seed pods
hangs from its bare branches like ornaments on a Christmas tree.

 What a unique gift this tree offers.
Just a quick shake of the pod
results in endless potential.
Mother Nature never stops providing.

 This week I have marveled at the brilliance of the blue skies,
and been grateful for the returning sun.

There is so much beauty around us.
Every day is another chance to show gratitude 
for this magical world in which we live.

Crockpot Turkey Breast

With the holidays looming,
turkey is on the menu for a lot of folks
who can't get enough of the stuff at Thanksgiving.
Our Thanksgiving meal is usually pretty simple.
As it's just the three of us, (and one of us doesn't eat meat),
it doesn't make a lot of sense for us to buy a whole turkey,
so we make a few side dishes and enjoy the day together.
To make the preparation even easier,
we have enlisted the assistance of the crock pot.
It couldn't be simpler to make a moist, juicy turkey breast
with enough leftovers to satisfy the natives.

The turkey breast is washed and dried,

then placed into the crockpot.

A dry rub is used to coat the bird.

No water is added to the pot,

but it comes out moist and tender.

This meal is so easy,

it's worth making more than once a year!

Crockpot Turkey Breast

One 3-5 pound turkey breast

2 t salt

1 t onion powder

1 t Italian seasonings

1 t paprika

4 cloves garlic, smashed

Place turkey breast in crock pot

and season with dry rub.

Add garlic cloves to pot.

DO NOT ADD WATER OR BROTH

Cook on high for 6 hours,

or low for 8-10 hours.

Enjoy!

Snow Fixation

"Snow provokes responses
that reach right back to childhood."
~ Andy Goldsworthy

 When researching a quote to express my feelings about snow,
this one was spot-on.
I don't know what comes over me.
When enveloped by the white stuff,
I am six years old again.

I grew up with snow.  Lots of snow.
Living in the suburbs of Chicago as a child,
we were inundated with snow almost every winter.
It was enchanting then, as it is now.

 Perhaps this love affair will fade over time,
as winter continues
and is more a factor in our daily lives.
But I'm thinking 
that because I was deprived  of this spell-binding precipitation for forty-odd years,
it will remain something wonderful 
for the rest of my life.

 It humbles me, to know that God created this beautiful winter blanket,
to transform the Earth as we know it,
into a sublime spiritual sanctuary.
What a gift, this season.

During the holidays,
when things get frantic,
it's almost as if the Universe gives us permission
to slow down, take a deep breath
and savor the wonder of it all.

 Majestic views surround us,
with white-tipped trees and bare branches 
giving us a new look at the forest in our back yards.
It's easier to see the birds' nests at this time of year,
and reminds us that Mother Nature is taking care of Her charges, 
even in the harshest of weather.

It always seemed curious to me 
that some grown-ups liked winter.
Most adults I know feel that it is a nuisance,
something that is wished away,
anxious for milder conditions.
But now, having experienced snow again,
I can see the magic in its properties.
When it snows, I am transfixed.
And I hope that never leaves me.

Upcycled SnowPeople

When we moved into this house in summertime,

we acquired styrofoam in some of the packages we received.

Unfortunately, it is all too often the choice of packing material,

and it doesn't sit too well with my Earth-lovin' self.

I reasoned that if I could reuse it for some purpose,

having it around would be better than sending it to the landfill.

(I also listed it on a local Swap site,

hoping that maybe some art teachers could find a use for it.

So far, no takers.)

With a few other materials,

the winter project was begun.

The white strofoam reminded me of snow or ice,

so I thought it might be a good idea to fashion snow people out of the remnants.

Using a pencil, details were outlined on the foam,

and then traced over with markers and paint.

These skewers were used to attach the heads to the bodies.

If you have toothpicks or small dowels,

that would work too.

I'm no artist, but am happy with the results.

A white blanket acts as a snowbank,
so these two will be right at home
for a good, long stay.
We may be getting a dusting of the white stuff tomorrow!
That is so exciting to someone who spent over 40 winters in balmy Florida.

We will be hunkered down for the next few days,
enjoying our cozy nest and (hopefully) getting some holiday baking done.
What do you like to do on cold, (almost) winter days?

bucket o' "snowballs"