tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504239866740277822024-03-12T23:26:22.938-05:00The Adventitious RootUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-33609974918060129072022-08-05T18:07:00.011-05:002022-08-05T20:01:30.865-05:00Broken ankle<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">It's been awhile. The big news is I broke my ankle on July 2 and have been fairly inactive (outside of work and basic activities) for several weeks. We did manage a trip to St. Cloud to visit family in early July, however. I'll show a photo of my psycho-looking sister as proof.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLgvFKEsjbxXD0Qc4JCYeRfzfDF4kdJFQ0MV4PwAGTI9XDv8ZbHO7V9MitPx1KFRYpITMowm1CWJvCEuakJ6Dd6J4bQuvte5hRTvcbs5jGCn85KjtoTghnhZ01MDoBuF_ToigKMXE7pdQpva7o5GhfQqTl6kM9E_9WmiEv9sptNNeZkJnCcSdivB5dw/s807/PXL_20220710_032959575.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="807" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLgvFKEsjbxXD0Qc4JCYeRfzfDF4kdJFQ0MV4PwAGTI9XDv8ZbHO7V9MitPx1KFRYpITMowm1CWJvCEuakJ6Dd6J4bQuvte5hRTvcbs5jGCn85KjtoTghnhZ01MDoBuF_ToigKMXE7pdQpva7o5GhfQqTl6kM9E_9WmiEv9sptNNeZkJnCcSdivB5dw/s320/PXL_20220710_032959575.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">She'll love seeing this.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">We also got to see G play the lead in his school's one act play. He's just graduated, so this was the last play of his high school career. The play was about the tragedy of memory loss, and he played an old man with Alzheimer's. I had to fight back tears, watching and imagining my son old and ill and unhappy. I wanted to rush the stage to comfort him. B told me later he felt the same way.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLOaH18Jf2gllFYTYFzexhB2Lm4i0IagD5c_XgnEKx8IECl-y_aZDOGRN2n8tyomS875RbCMVUdBiqIJOnSn1BHzaDaIb8Dq25cuseA_kl0jZxXtV0Ai7Sg9NYcOfGN5FXjQCMy1fVPZWaIOP5ZD_Nx6VeJuB1_izvk-GvhNe1Qh1iKp-DxEnWUrSLw/s2976/PXL_20220716_004428842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2558" data-original-width="2976" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLOaH18Jf2gllFYTYFzexhB2Lm4i0IagD5c_XgnEKx8IECl-y_aZDOGRN2n8tyomS875RbCMVUdBiqIJOnSn1BHzaDaIb8Dq25cuseA_kl0jZxXtV0Ai7Sg9NYcOfGN5FXjQCMy1fVPZWaIOP5ZD_Nx6VeJuB1_izvk-GvhNe1Qh1iKp-DxEnWUrSLw/s320/PXL_20220716_004428842.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I've continued to work while injured, hobbling around in a boot and on crutches. Nothing exciting to report on the work front. We've had problems with raccoons in the campground so have been doing some live trapping and relocating.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTbVqqdwKnVuOoJRm_nnoeUtnTBL-4pVmYB9Jb-gMYns-2S90JzqDYDhZd_2BP_k7ry6LJCq-Ke2K13upgfyMrFv0n_y0aG9VaGdAp5AtQuF-p2sXRdR6uZ8JSWdXCmw-jFW2Lf43K0qaybs7VNRMC7tPGzlusY7kVSOsHGz7JG3UbRVPrtU5xqOng/s4032/PXL_20220730_133834353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZTbVqqdwKnVuOoJRm_nnoeUtnTBL-4pVmYB9Jb-gMYns-2S90JzqDYDhZd_2BP_k7ry6LJCq-Ke2K13upgfyMrFv0n_y0aG9VaGdAp5AtQuF-p2sXRdR6uZ8JSWdXCmw-jFW2Lf43K0qaybs7VNRMC7tPGzlusY7kVSOsHGz7JG3UbRVPrtU5xqOng/s320/PXL_20220730_133834353.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">In preparation for G moving to his first college apartment, I've gotten a few things from online auctions. Chairs, utensils, bowls, pots, pans, etc. A big score was buying this china teapot in a lot for $11. It sells on ebay for $180.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuM3S6GKXCvBZtGHOKNAm9HCj7r5jJqO07kQaMptzTR8CHszIDv8MzvRfeEWqMrDZpq86y5YebtD7v4OAqQkgH_usioUc-PCbrtwu_U0qY_gVi76rg4wJW3NvxCPjjE-QwdAe8VfwxetRhf4bcJxdDx4Vx3daHug5JG0Zq0_b5eTQqB2d11ryApEf0w/s807/PXL_20220721_023652797.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="807" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuM3S6GKXCvBZtGHOKNAm9HCj7r5jJqO07kQaMptzTR8CHszIDv8MzvRfeEWqMrDZpq86y5YebtD7v4OAqQkgH_usioUc-PCbrtwu_U0qY_gVi76rg4wJW3NvxCPjjE-QwdAe8VfwxetRhf4bcJxdDx4Vx3daHug5JG0Zq0_b5eTQqB2d11ryApEf0w/s320/PXL_20220721_023652797.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">We moved G into his apartment a few days ago. To mark the event on FB, Hubby put together a collage with various old photos plus one of G at his new computer desk. G enjoys streaming games and loves the high speed internet he gets in the city. The big TV is an old cathode ray tube, an absolute necessity when you're speed-running old console video games. Or so I've been told.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvsumMWhNo7C4VEP5aWd_c_LUK-YMvCP7jXy9ZFzrbpRj5sieKCec0AP1WJ3cNQ2r0z4sHz4cI9MefS3YOF_TxgGXPGfuMdD8TnFVWnhp1Nk7uL3bLck3CcaJlT4Om2_aGCecyx5rS0MHAQ0jWIOuqEYKsO3KvidKSek6fzw5Of5OVJy_amiPUiWDJw/s854/Graham%20college%20collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="854" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvsumMWhNo7C4VEP5aWd_c_LUK-YMvCP7jXy9ZFzrbpRj5sieKCec0AP1WJ3cNQ2r0z4sHz4cI9MefS3YOF_TxgGXPGfuMdD8TnFVWnhp1Nk7uL3bLck3CcaJlT4Om2_aGCecyx5rS0MHAQ0jWIOuqEYKsO3KvidKSek6fzw5Of5OVJy_amiPUiWDJw/w400-h271/Graham%20college%20collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">My garden is doing well. Lettuce and strawberries are done and we're swimming in tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, mint, basil and summer squash. Beans are just starting and we've picked a few bell peppers. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">The sunflowers, cosmos and asters are blooming madly and t</span></span>he carrots are looking great. And we should be able to harvest the garlic and onions any day. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">That's all for now. The ankle is slowly healing and I can now walk clumsily in the boot without crutches for short distances. I'm looking forward to returning to my normal speed, and returning to my normal activities.<br /></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-38763045401600758462022-06-27T18:56:00.005-05:002022-06-27T18:57:05.733-05:00Good and bad things<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHUfdmHeRqLjhrO4qTQ-7znw1e-banzTXaeFHsb_9BjVydsGWnFhnHRMSV18Q1x4eWaa9k71PBdysuDECbJdlZyT6P4oCv3LFQ05Xhu8GvqQO-4o-x_f1CxqKpjCv-isvqLe3HRFHJJuJmWQx0iEdKy8g-xsHhqRiRHcQKpJp-U7ULg6v8ifnkeLv7Q/s1008/289821789_5229138330511997_5700078448502272146_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHUfdmHeRqLjhrO4qTQ-7znw1e-banzTXaeFHsb_9BjVydsGWnFhnHRMSV18Q1x4eWaa9k71PBdysuDECbJdlZyT6P4oCv3LFQ05Xhu8GvqQO-4o-x_f1CxqKpjCv-isvqLe3HRFHJJuJmWQx0iEdKy8g-xsHhqRiRHcQKpJp-U7ULg6v8ifnkeLv7Q/s320/289821789_5229138330511997_5700078448502272146_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Today's harvest - three romaines, three stalks of kale, three cherry tomatoes and three pints of strawberries. Good things come in sets of three.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Another good thing - a fully weeded garden. It took Hubby and me three hours, but the thing she is done. Just need to thin carrots and mulch and maybe fertilize. And figure out what to do about those nasty cucumber beetles I found out there, the first time I've seen any in all my gardening years. Gah. Bad things come in swarms of beetles.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR9p77Q15hrruwcSHogLUS4RXkWS6C0wb_B953SC-N5U1JHlEGepvi5wRRxsXsj0rujrMeDAOhmZjz1KX7YZv3_kgH-OeUGKRjx-mPcPzXyxn0Nw6lWk_jGpudeIbPaqkPjsByjDYClCaM_RcF309RElwS5MpT0z_lNZdywSM5THRDO95zFA29f9oag/s560/striped-cucumber-beetle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="560" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR9p77Q15hrruwcSHogLUS4RXkWS6C0wb_B953SC-N5U1JHlEGepvi5wRRxsXsj0rujrMeDAOhmZjz1KX7YZv3_kgH-OeUGKRjx-mPcPzXyxn0Nw6lWk_jGpudeIbPaqkPjsByjDYClCaM_RcF309RElwS5MpT0z_lNZdywSM5THRDO95zFA29f9oag/w200-h200/striped-cucumber-beetle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-29150177845735874812022-06-27T00:55:00.006-05:002022-06-27T11:38:31.286-05:00Gardenfest<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">As part of my Master Gardener duties, I volunteered to help out with Gardenfest - the city garden tour put on by our county's MG group. Five gardens are selected for the tour which was held last Thursday evening. I was stationed at one of the homes, greeting visitors and signing their tickets. On Tuesday we had a pre-tour visit at all five gardens. Here's a few photos I took along the way. <br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr8oR136foc_EyKuCOmmQyP0HPFjL8akQfilvmlZhsiuHb9quwg-4OdOiVtaLTyqCsvhTKKo4BwMBxVmPBGi21ZgY43OOkNJE2-6ojCAAqh4Xpah9_ZKE6-V_tJgLpZJbUN4xBnGsjdEzi-eqAUjoIqhUF4-mqlUjRZf8p32cEd7bGcYigv5FiZ5StQ/s1008/289600924_5403005589749476_1751482598122366940_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxr8oR136foc_EyKuCOmmQyP0HPFjL8akQfilvmlZhsiuHb9quwg-4OdOiVtaLTyqCsvhTKKo4BwMBxVmPBGi21ZgY43OOkNJE2-6ojCAAqh4Xpah9_ZKE6-V_tJgLpZJbUN4xBnGsjdEzi-eqAUjoIqhUF4-mqlUjRZf8p32cEd7bGcYigv5FiZ5StQ/s320/289600924_5403005589749476_1751482598122366940_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might get a birdbath just so I can plant moss roses in it<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">After seeing these immaculate, weed-free (mostly) beautiful creations I was humbled and shamed. My own garden is full of weeds, and the wild vegetation around my house could hide Sleeping Beauty's castle. Ugh. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNWi1M7BYdt-hDgXniguz-8SJs4FhjS6SlWknvXiDLJ34nTZHDUIw897OEDL4qXghwbe2wwxddpfs_aRRvMcDWheZ9k2Yy_npq64z1OLpesQ5qsgZBAOyYzwfgh7NjPjl35uK-rOsu9H8-2mMWV2_du-VNL8Mry2gOp8Ovb8mrlNtkG6qCxUgbP3j4A/s1008/289779961_762845071398226_6071460795461957091_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNWi1M7BYdt-hDgXniguz-8SJs4FhjS6SlWknvXiDLJ34nTZHDUIw897OEDL4qXghwbe2wwxddpfs_aRRvMcDWheZ9k2Yy_npq64z1OLpesQ5qsgZBAOyYzwfgh7NjPjl35uK-rOsu9H8-2mMWV2_du-VNL8Mry2gOp8Ovb8mrlNtkG6qCxUgbP3j4A/s320/289779961_762845071398226_6071460795461957091_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the rough stone design of this garden<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I have the next three days off. I am resolved to get rid of the weeds in my raised beds. I have asked for Hubby's help, and he has foolishly agreed. If we get control of the raised bed situation, then we can move on to the landscaping in the yard.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhRXJn8YvsPRGyDZSBf1ZcqtkgLQVdyaynsdSHQv_SvVg1atm67DMJnreZNlKc3Ab2JUMc9DA0qfFmNzFwPvogYqJodO0u0lm6bHcSjALaTaUJptKUhUfl4DDUfQTFisTsQPyGJFL55IN0hHEOpugLP6GmZahm-yEhgMJiwVH9HERqhv6mJa-VojMDQ/s2016/289406319_5389658571129569_2301360725934700878_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhRXJn8YvsPRGyDZSBf1ZcqtkgLQVdyaynsdSHQv_SvVg1atm67DMJnreZNlKc3Ab2JUMc9DA0qfFmNzFwPvogYqJodO0u0lm6bHcSjALaTaUJptKUhUfl4DDUfQTFisTsQPyGJFL55IN0hHEOpugLP6GmZahm-yEhgMJiwVH9HERqhv6mJa-VojMDQ/s320/289406319_5389658571129569_2301360725934700878_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture perfect<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">We haven't had any measurable rain for two weeks now, and Hubby and I have spent at least an hour watering the beds every other day. The heat is relentless, as are the gnats. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_gpvA30pBKhsu_ooZWpCMzNOXNcxBCzyXTR--iOREGtxF2-5gmitMQi4lOBoOXLWR3AkuoV7on7VI4NjUbnOw5NU9O5t0gjEwpmRk4giSZjcxSFVO1mCDwrwmtVbyz-r7LodbjguOdIt1jP7UaGd81g20F8eCwQTJwDgGJosHOagYiGGA19vT7XMBg/s2016/290272874_399643625475363_5318905675725446566_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_gpvA30pBKhsu_ooZWpCMzNOXNcxBCzyXTR--iOREGtxF2-5gmitMQi4lOBoOXLWR3AkuoV7on7VI4NjUbnOw5NU9O5t0gjEwpmRk4giSZjcxSFVO1mCDwrwmtVbyz-r7LodbjguOdIt1jP7UaGd81g20F8eCwQTJwDgGJosHOagYiGGA19vT7XMBg/s320/290272874_399643625475363_5318905675725446566_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet William flowers. Must get some seed.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">We're still picking strawberries every few days. And my lettuce is finally ready for harvesting. Maybe I'll broil some chicken and make a strawberry chicken salad tomorrow. With pecans and feta cheese. That sounds tasty.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Crv4dXY-nooC2VrICovAFnHR76b5BETh5hPZkH4vyVwiWeNtyNijxPEFpwahx11jOCEVzygcht7Jl-FRHwwEVcj43l5EEeSYqmD5sWLOOGn7_ckHU9adDPmKt1VIZvG2x0luBhWyL-T1LW2TUhbT4_cFVbvKG9IHLsK0f18wdnlA8lxwsc-BVpsE3Q/s1008/289854438_399901115522535_8288587184264338090_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Crv4dXY-nooC2VrICovAFnHR76b5BETh5hPZkH4vyVwiWeNtyNijxPEFpwahx11jOCEVzygcht7Jl-FRHwwEVcj43l5EEeSYqmD5sWLOOGn7_ckHU9adDPmKt1VIZvG2x0luBhWyL-T1LW2TUhbT4_cFVbvKG9IHLsK0f18wdnlA8lxwsc-BVpsE3Q/s320/289854438_399901115522535_8288587184264338090_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such beautiful brassicas<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><br />For Gardenfest, the home where I was stationed had both a flower patch and a vege patch (above). It was owned by a cheerful couple, Denise and Mark. Lovely people. Denise tended the flowers and Mark tended the veges. In the course of our pre-tour conversations I learned Mark was a big fan of radishes - he succession planted from early spring to early fall. So on Thursday I brought a packet of Daikon radish seeds that I had saved from my 2021 garden. I hope they grow well for him.</span></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-33060136887521744042022-06-21T00:43:00.000-05:002022-06-21T00:43:09.217-05:00Berries<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NjdrldaqNJUlyfk5ScpZ8stOVvtvFbQCB8d7wye69WBhqWoXhSQd1K1Cp05DObL_Nu0ctdxGdUS6iVeraDQoA6pLt7ypO2pJkhSl8CvWf090OWq9wOcFqbWruiEHtngamO8U0MTQuBNes6B-HgwYVBt3QQ1FF7D1DT5LeZX51rmV1TbnmaVzbmssUg/s1008/289074333_3258306581055047_7977516222943014964_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NjdrldaqNJUlyfk5ScpZ8stOVvtvFbQCB8d7wye69WBhqWoXhSQd1K1Cp05DObL_Nu0ctdxGdUS6iVeraDQoA6pLt7ypO2pJkhSl8CvWf090OWq9wOcFqbWruiEHtngamO8U0MTQuBNes6B-HgwYVBt3QQ1FF7D1DT5LeZX51rmV1TbnmaVzbmssUg/s320/289074333_3258306581055047_7977516222943014964_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">The strawberry harvest has begun. Yesterday we had strawberry milkshakes to celebrate. My favorite way of eating the berries is with cream and a little sugar sprinkled on top. So yummy. Maybe someday I'll make it to Wimbledon and watch the match eating strawberries and cream. And if I do I'll toast a Pimm's drink to my parents - they both loved tennis, loved Wimbledon and loved England. </span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-80731391765298206932022-06-13T18:02:00.005-05:002022-06-13T18:26:08.778-05:00Hermann and the Heat<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">It's another warm day. Tomorrow will be warmer, into the 90s. We may hit 100 on Sunday.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I really really don't like the hot. It goes against my Viking blood.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">We went to a grad party on Saturday at Hermann Heights. It was a nice shindig, with friends and family and ice cream and hot dogs. The grad party in the other gazebo had rented a taco truck for their event. Holy moly, how much do people spend on these things? I never had a grad party when I was finishing high school, and I'm not holding one for my kids. They just seem like a not-so-subtle way to have people give you money. We'll throw a party for G sometime this summer, but nobody will need to bring cash. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I think the heat is increasing my cantankerousness. </span></span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo8E0WXfSh1AGtYPh8qlyuoFxfYIU11c4FItWqfXm7l4TlE5GRaUw3zxElKq01Y3P2hsUpwXusoEgVvhClBLTfe8MrqWwnDOmSNw28OA7nkSqLpUWa3cYOQWehbh_U9KmsiOtRkky9jqLXvFkQaoS2pUWV3IVpLy98aqihmqQFOvyvmPHRNBuqxc5vQ/s2016/287288436_3236451349936117_461889780851717560_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfo8E0WXfSh1AGtYPh8qlyuoFxfYIU11c4FItWqfXm7l4TlE5GRaUw3zxElKq01Y3P2hsUpwXusoEgVvhClBLTfe8MrqWwnDOmSNw28OA7nkSqLpUWa3cYOQWehbh_U9KmsiOtRkky9jqLXvFkQaoS2pUWV3IVpLy98aqihmqQFOvyvmPHRNBuqxc5vQ/s320/287288436_3236451349936117_461889780851717560_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>During the shindig G and his friends climbed up the Hermann Monument and stood admiring their vast domain. All three of them are going to the same college this fall, plus a few more of G's friends. I'm glad he'll have folks to hang with. </span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7G4yj32VkXQKZyuWSMIbBe5-BGd2BM9nC11a3r7MXFWt1XYlqLY-e3IenpGYVKkvsZb6x9TeH-I2XZHsJWy7t2VcErDAJX-AYTdCEti7owewk2N_k61av-W9Gm-z6DnzJIr3Hoy1GA3pu5GN4ykum7L7MqQekesJ2kk5QzExuDKjRTkVMr4kuDeqeQ/s2016/287635242_1314810645594684_2091453988164774163_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7G4yj32VkXQKZyuWSMIbBe5-BGd2BM9nC11a3r7MXFWt1XYlqLY-e3IenpGYVKkvsZb6x9TeH-I2XZHsJWy7t2VcErDAJX-AYTdCEti7owewk2N_k61av-W9Gm-z6DnzJIr3Hoy1GA3pu5GN4ykum7L7MqQekesJ2kk5QzExuDKjRTkVMr4kuDeqeQ/s320/287635242_1314810645594684_2091453988164774163_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I watered the garden after work in prep for the heat and wind wave tomorrow. And found the first few ripe berries of the season, surrounded by fringes of dill. Yum.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So after I typed this blog and decided on the title, I thought 'Hermann and the Heat' was a fairly good band name. A mix of Herman's Hermits and Canned Heat? Maybe not. Anyway, I searched for the name on YouTube and found something worth listening to on a hot June day. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iPTqwJVal6k" width="320" youtube-src-id="iPTqwJVal6k"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-86895059472337136142022-06-11T12:49:00.003-05:002022-06-11T12:50:57.481-05:00The beds<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">A garden tour commences. It always looks fairly nice in mid-June before the heat and bugs of July make garden work miserable, and the weeds take full advantage. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Lettuce - Grandma Hadley's romaine in front and loose leaf in back. My lettuce is really behind - I should be harvesting by now. Our spring was very cold and wet.<br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve-Zw_VeLEyQUiP_TnLzEl32f-tVc96brpY2M0NByAVJeLwz0jkePMfN0XfFNOJpnKUic50UuZi2_UgbalkatNeQhQg80uUTvTTwWAjlSnJnIUfuGsLh9YuuU7dP1uTAfZYURAUKDhSv8m7gMbTL3e-PdaD9txMBcFDPYMwhGVjY8A6bX6yXhD8XIXg/s2016/286347755_555229849440446_7680234157090121120_n.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve-Zw_VeLEyQUiP_TnLzEl32f-tVc96brpY2M0NByAVJeLwz0jkePMfN0XfFNOJpnKUic50UuZi2_UgbalkatNeQhQg80uUTvTTwWAjlSnJnIUfuGsLh9YuuU7dP1uTAfZYURAUKDhSv8m7gMbTL3e-PdaD9txMBcFDPYMwhGVjY8A6bX6yXhD8XIXg/s320/286347755_555229849440446_7680234157090121120_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">One of two garlic beds. </span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wpl3eFVkjdwgtBbSdOgr2G_lZKFd8uNtVLuEi6_TAC8nr-1N9gLa8Cb5Qr660lsJaKzu7haYLcpHt4IctUgfk31BQaDMfwLt42_D5ObCHnc33CMTrMYSmS-B6WzgMAffxnLOBNRF6c0vCjw9QTX3GfwsH_bhYBKUi-Q_1yOBUSTdy7pBYmiSEm2b8A/s2016/286507848_401921468527536_3498172922929892959_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wpl3eFVkjdwgtBbSdOgr2G_lZKFd8uNtVLuEi6_TAC8nr-1N9gLa8Cb5Qr660lsJaKzu7haYLcpHt4IctUgfk31BQaDMfwLt42_D5ObCHnc33CMTrMYSmS-B6WzgMAffxnLOBNRF6c0vCjw9QTX3GfwsH_bhYBKUi-Q_1yOBUSTdy7pBYmiSEm2b8A/s320/286507848_401921468527536_3498172922929892959_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Our bed of sunchokes, transplanted last fall.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_1LyNz4gVPUwd097kictuUxuxp3odxk03Ow2RyvBHnYER7ZOt1yG-_jRSXEV0NFSCTULF9WDBdtEivJ2hsYtAhn06JaaqgV9pxmmPeB696VPIhhdw2P97g8LW-iagZMvSYx8Doomesj_sOzzbKh0wpIFDTsJ_DxDHHuzLNg6ZdqsVjB0CkSpoy9MHw/s2016/287103755_432583705034012_308201254467614066_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_1LyNz4gVPUwd097kictuUxuxp3odxk03Ow2RyvBHnYER7ZOt1yG-_jRSXEV0NFSCTULF9WDBdtEivJ2hsYtAhn06JaaqgV9pxmmPeB696VPIhhdw2P97g8LW-iagZMvSYx8Doomesj_sOzzbKh0wpIFDTsJ_DxDHHuzLNg6ZdqsVjB0CkSpoy9MHw/s320/287103755_432583705034012_308201254467614066_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Gita yard-long and ideal market snap beans in the back, prizm kale in the front. </span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqY39WzIJJsJhzF-t7qhvFWlmJCUkMgKlV2xe6PNE4Lj2bDD023Heu78JDibarF1k_fEF9uKzJ0AyO_-V0Jo1N_9PoTJ7Qo-ROQ8pIsoIw1Q8zk54RAa2Suj6_F4HAyovbbyXCTfi44NqGZY21hNhaCt0wxRwBrlPNxYq_88ouPbx6Poo5ekX-LGkIw/s2016/286710288_736112074202732_326615501248969865_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqY39WzIJJsJhzF-t7qhvFWlmJCUkMgKlV2xe6PNE4Lj2bDD023Heu78JDibarF1k_fEF9uKzJ0AyO_-V0Jo1N_9PoTJ7Qo-ROQ8pIsoIw1Q8zk54RAa2Suj6_F4HAyovbbyXCTfi44NqGZY21hNhaCt0wxRwBrlPNxYq_88ouPbx6Poo5ekX-LGkIw/s320/286710288_736112074202732_326615501248969865_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Cherokee purple tomatoes in the back, California wonder peppers in the front, plus a few marigolds. My peppers are also behind, they should be twice as tall as they are.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U0wAJSNwQBXlRr88_DnwyJAI-VVFsBKxcTz9jqEI8pSHfi2SjDa5bQw7LNrtPOmkBFcybvTMQ9zVwbLcAWwA8A5kl6MGq8pIjO7YAwxOs4a9kjkhIk7VUv-WhY_QHYmDfFTpEoYTJB98iJyIzoix6j-Fk_hTgCESHStqBB-ccj3U_2DG60QRMHnVHw/s2016/286876412_425766766215029_4520142038391581383_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U0wAJSNwQBXlRr88_DnwyJAI-VVFsBKxcTz9jqEI8pSHfi2SjDa5bQw7LNrtPOmkBFcybvTMQ9zVwbLcAWwA8A5kl6MGq8pIjO7YAwxOs4a9kjkhIk7VUv-WhY_QHYmDfFTpEoYTJB98iJyIzoix6j-Fk_hTgCESHStqBB-ccj3U_2DG60QRMHnVHw/s320/286876412_425766766215029_4520142038391581383_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Strawberries! We've got one bed of cavendish and three beds of flavorfest.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT3h1sW36sepRPUCMMn8zcfvQZac4pHWdb8AkAbL6E7n4BIYOSwpRYl_rXs-TFwwgkfDy3uy2TS0MquaDXGiAaRywRKWtTq-jEU7pUz5RJ9S4powse1aA3v-xsk0vVtidQei3rKlJIwL2Y4LuJrnhFq7XGGZtBDzGXxBzah6_mzqYdFFMWgOY6hW0Ew/s2016/286956526_700182394406471_6847680785175079208_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT3h1sW36sepRPUCMMn8zcfvQZac4pHWdb8AkAbL6E7n4BIYOSwpRYl_rXs-TFwwgkfDy3uy2TS0MquaDXGiAaRywRKWtTq-jEU7pUz5RJ9S4powse1aA3v-xsk0vVtidQei3rKlJIwL2Y4LuJrnhFq7XGGZtBDzGXxBzah6_mzqYdFFMWgOY6hW0Ew/s320/286956526_700182394406471_6847680785175079208_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Marketmore cucumbers in the back and Waltham's butternut squash in the front.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4bbE1INJYyAjpAhP9mLW47agP1HR6wqSF3-eETORZOXP8DxyUmuFRpEPcuSkALOAiI9tPSk9eZsIz27VMu5s_qbUsloWcLNG4RAd37RxmhT7if3DIoVhpQmCohMSpyypFt0SRe5K1mzxhJDv6f4jy92MO1_YUU1AiKFk7BToB_ngV_w2zThIHmZTwg/s2016/287068836_474789750776060_1589719854257701087_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4bbE1INJYyAjpAhP9mLW47agP1HR6wqSF3-eETORZOXP8DxyUmuFRpEPcuSkALOAiI9tPSk9eZsIz27VMu5s_qbUsloWcLNG4RAd37RxmhT7if3DIoVhpQmCohMSpyypFt0SRe5K1mzxhJDv6f4jy92MO1_YUU1AiKFk7BToB_ngV_w2zThIHmZTwg/s320/287068836_474789750776060_1589719854257701087_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Picotee Cosmos in the back and China asters (UMN seed trial) in the front. And weeds scattered throughout.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOExbJ3DUv66NIgDZkoQz72GRmxBQq7gdZ-LdHJfKXr84qAuOuKF5JPvHZlDYBv1Nw7_qR_538AOe4NzKCFNTdclzZGPuOxbNtnbbFMnALE9MJYePTm_gimO4JZAPlsMGNh7NP_Z_FIqN4cE1Xe0AsPgWV9FaGBWNtpd8JIoTKCiSl0YR3cNdwiponvA/s2016/287089766_331119999200303_6516633922034700514_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOExbJ3DUv66NIgDZkoQz72GRmxBQq7gdZ-LdHJfKXr84qAuOuKF5JPvHZlDYBv1Nw7_qR_538AOe4NzKCFNTdclzZGPuOxbNtnbbFMnALE9MJYePTm_gimO4JZAPlsMGNh7NP_Z_FIqN4cE1Xe0AsPgWV9FaGBWNtpd8JIoTKCiSl0YR3cNdwiponvA/s320/287089766_331119999200303_6516633922034700514_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Sunburst patty pan squash. I ran out of straw half-way through. We'll see if mulched or un-mulched are more productive.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i4ulUFLEntdzU2kiX-pr_CYqgyP_1zh6ncPu-YxRpqF-C8b9lBssxpvrQVywFvbj3Z1Qq803oXqJSv5lk5LgmsPfLEXXrP-kVEeyGe8l9MEkwZeK9NmgOnG3miRGZv5_MMkbZMRIQODu7RrtNHfeHycFMjbvCqDamZfg_O8uQP7qtno_LDvVRMJDVQ/s2016/287305546_730170924877033_8081385191569525716_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i4ulUFLEntdzU2kiX-pr_CYqgyP_1zh6ncPu-YxRpqF-C8b9lBssxpvrQVywFvbj3Z1Qq803oXqJSv5lk5LgmsPfLEXXrP-kVEeyGe8l9MEkwZeK9NmgOnG3miRGZv5_MMkbZMRIQODu7RrtNHfeHycFMjbvCqDamZfg_O8uQP7qtno_LDvVRMJDVQ/s320/287305546_730170924877033_8081385191569525716_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Dwarf sunflowers (UMN seed trial) in the back, more Waltham butternut squash in the front.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW62WpSC2vKW27_FWcn_5KLDl0a0bdFW79MgUIoShNCRILNYqD4b4HB1MbfYMCL1ZNsZ7vrjHluiAFJw2H54v6LIwgMEfl5N7sEma6_5ZNQ_xf9noWKvofqYFlrafR4ZMDKeo1R-Jj6-SeAWoZ4Ot4NR64QlVA74dlhZrDQYY9gV45WnuX3DIVebTvtw/s2016/286863442_756895722340011_8247898325632099814_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW62WpSC2vKW27_FWcn_5KLDl0a0bdFW79MgUIoShNCRILNYqD4b4HB1MbfYMCL1ZNsZ7vrjHluiAFJw2H54v6LIwgMEfl5N7sEma6_5ZNQ_xf9noWKvofqYFlrafR4ZMDKeo1R-Jj6-SeAWoZ4Ot4NR64QlVA74dlhZrDQYY9gV45WnuX3DIVebTvtw/s320/286863442_756895722340011_8247898325632099814_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Calendula back left, basil front left, black Krim tomatoes on the right.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiwfw01ezbQinfpccid4vRcrxo8Pwb9lk4ikVS8Rav9yp2Bz7KA4clw5MQHST0C96BTRYf0ORE4UpWoHkVJf4_87z4rO7bPJVQqBO54kZn6sBj4L9Zr1qt4eANC-a3_jlQuNR2fuO2UEP7A-IrenG-X-iOrYcHPYbnTMIZUZDvWSh16LDci5YLfl4XQ/s2016/286469094_428997772417433_4631736932548271949_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiwfw01ezbQinfpccid4vRcrxo8Pwb9lk4ikVS8Rav9yp2Bz7KA4clw5MQHST0C96BTRYf0ORE4UpWoHkVJf4_87z4rO7bPJVQqBO54kZn6sBj4L9Zr1qt4eANC-a3_jlQuNR2fuO2UEP7A-IrenG-X-iOrYcHPYbnTMIZUZDvWSh16LDci5YLfl4XQ/s320/286469094_428997772417433_4631736932548271949_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And finally, photos of hubby's yesterday project - transplanting some of our golden raspberries. Our old raspberry patch has gotten out of control and filled with brush, thistle and weeds.</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZdGgbac68HrqwASZYdsS6aj8ljpJszV1rA498X4FiHIlSozzTnhpKBDzx9OQAd_D01WkaDhaFliXQQJr6gC17vio6fOcamWYCv6Dt_ayqZve2mgBcthaz9S0NRqkA0sPqNq2Ao3oruEs05vGW_syNS4U2lnuT00DEanZCcddsKTU5N6PLF6w9cO9hQ/s2016/286958905_5068198829945092_6620746789163916106_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZdGgbac68HrqwASZYdsS6aj8ljpJszV1rA498X4FiHIlSozzTnhpKBDzx9OQAd_D01WkaDhaFliXQQJr6gC17vio6fOcamWYCv6Dt_ayqZve2mgBcthaz9S0NRqkA0sPqNq2Ao3oruEs05vGW_syNS4U2lnuT00DEanZCcddsKTU5N6PLF6w9cO9hQ/s320/286958905_5068198829945092_6620746789163916106_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">He's transplanted 30 young canes to a new area and surrounded them with fabric and wood chips, in hopes to make things easier. We'll cut down the old bed soon. I hope this works!</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdlb4GahtCtXF2cb5aZ0B_kImCqDElQ5RtIagB4t5_8ZP8Wrhp73MQeFc9t5M9jxrAkAYGEvx5I0mczDbw1pTG5KJr9K66gX15qiQ5yH59UffW9K1Q6Gg2gSPY9zUiNOYgq7os0jone_ZJdwMOArUP7CF8qnkarWv8gqyteFpAtIi8xPCvzXkp8FC5A/s2016/287371711_513200293869368_1881893842403120708_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdlb4GahtCtXF2cb5aZ0B_kImCqDElQ5RtIagB4t5_8ZP8Wrhp73MQeFc9t5M9jxrAkAYGEvx5I0mczDbw1pTG5KJr9K66gX15qiQ5yH59UffW9K1Q6Gg2gSPY9zUiNOYgq7os0jone_ZJdwMOArUP7CF8qnkarWv8gqyteFpAtIi8xPCvzXkp8FC5A/s320/287371711_513200293869368_1881893842403120708_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Not included are a bed of rutgers tomatoes and ailsa craig onions, a bed of jade cross Brussels sprouts and Burpee's golden zucchini, and various other things planted in pots near the front walkway. I've planted a lot of summer squash this year. Last year my zucchini plants withered in the drought and I was totally bummed. I love grilled zucchini. So I'm making up for it with tons of plants this year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Next week we're getting temps in the high 80's and 90's, so we'll see how things fare. As long as the rains are steady, I'll try to keep up with the weeds.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-38255606719982486042022-06-07T22:30:00.007-05:002022-06-08T15:08:23.849-05:00Failure and success<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I've had the itch to make some soap recently. I get the itch several times a year, and over the course of a few days/weeks I crank out 4-5 batches. I make far more than we ever use, so the extras are 'gifted' to unsuspecting family members. They say they enjoy them, but they don't really have a choice now, do they?</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLh6CC4cjEik-1GRoWMUVDCOEX67ELmmKGAwatHMrl3giWVoA7iz-ewtMdv4KpYdB_p-GD0jSbFYoAC_2fI9QgCrs-e8qFqFdjFUygSAnYhTCjHUUg4XAORqflntFpnHwjpHbZ4Z1NwJnHPOhOi3qatKPMQRxIdKOandaTqeHPgyxIfhPZ4VCLNG6pA/s2016/48184480_212469849672902_165189351351779328_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLh6CC4cjEik-1GRoWMUVDCOEX67ELmmKGAwatHMrl3giWVoA7iz-ewtMdv4KpYdB_p-GD0jSbFYoAC_2fI9QgCrs-e8qFqFdjFUygSAnYhTCjHUUg4XAORqflntFpnHwjpHbZ4Z1NwJnHPOhOi3qatKPMQRxIdKOandaTqeHPgyxIfhPZ4VCLNG6pA/s320/48184480_212469849672902_165189351351779328_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large batch of coffee<span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> soap fro</span>m several years ago<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">So on Sunday I made soap. Or rather, I tried to make soap. I devised a 5-lb batch using my normal recipe, and was intending to split it into 8 different colors to turn into soap dough (kinda like play-do but used for soap crafting). However, my best laid plays went a-gley.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMVOQ3grxLOcKyUkR9XZHd2vHMeXzxwzLNpahCsRMqDjgWTnYN8Bcw6qyY5C1quwtBK3wcqgx9R6nzJYnUxTmUZ3troKZYhINeNu2wtL97zBxW9bVnyxh1SKIL1AHmS_6qqdzOQHvSLIkd3Og6KkQ56cAvlfWu1OCxTXUmkknyr6GJ-KQcVx2dFDxOg/s1914/soap%20dough%20gnomes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1914" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMVOQ3grxLOcKyUkR9XZHd2vHMeXzxwzLNpahCsRMqDjgWTnYN8Bcw6qyY5C1quwtBK3wcqgx9R6nzJYnUxTmUZ3troKZYhINeNu2wtL97zBxW9bVnyxh1SKIL1AHmS_6qqdzOQHvSLIkd3Og6KkQ56cAvlfWu1OCxTXUmkknyr6GJ-KQcVx2dFDxOg/s320/soap%20dough%20gnomes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Soap dough gnomes from Sorcery Soap</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Long story short, my lye was old and had lost its efficacy. So the chemical reaction that turns oils and water and lye into soap didn't happen. Of course I didn't realize this until an hour or two into the process, when despite my best efforts at mixing my soap batter it never emulsified.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDnYd8ZZej636pcFQqfU53oJYnUKVjLf8GSW3uvSAzJ4lyCAabPd2pVjy8LnwvxPglC7FUMHw0bmROlQJbdvbDe2nPsKZJxMI6AWAxhlz7ZZ2Iru8CBGE2P1MSYbCmLPsQk_9d9lMZ0tp0BsJMuvmPG2z3RPoawihlaHjbijSp6U2fUBcndtqdA3QeA/s1008/285456193_394267325985453_87728329544880775_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDnYd8ZZej636pcFQqfU53oJYnUKVjLf8GSW3uvSAzJ4lyCAabPd2pVjy8LnwvxPglC7FUMHw0bmROlQJbdvbDe2nPsKZJxMI6AWAxhlz7ZZ2Iru8CBGE2P1MSYbCmLPsQk_9d9lMZ0tp0BsJMuvmPG2z3RPoawihlaHjbijSp6U2fUBcndtqdA3QeA/s320/285456193_394267325985453_87728329544880775_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icky soap batter separation<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">To a soap-maker, emulsification is key - it's the point where the chemical reaction kicks into gear and all the base ingredients combine into happy soap soup. But if you get your measurements wrong, or if your ingredients aren't up-to-snuff, then bad things happen. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">After Sunday's failure, I was a bit down in the dumps. But I still was feeling the itch. So on Monday I made another batch. And not just any old soap recipe, but something I've never tried before - liquid soap. I found a couple of tutorials on YouTube and decided to give it a go. Our big bottle of store-bought liquid soap was empty, so I figured it was a good time to try.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlahJbF8TXUI8Bd2a_8I7UE8lHqzuTjjDdd9G3XrzQvdtPzUP2Q_LGTbkWQAtIANtfju2HWZ-AJUGUz6mIDzIifDjcIuPBwzEWyUhX_gUarORW5dKwdVr3UmR1j0YPECmHEF1q7fup1dHMxVgodOTOMMRFKnBjKiF2b6wvQbbvgYpLx0noO7DL96Oqw/s2016/286051431_3342347456088255_2337569393597374777_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlahJbF8TXUI8Bd2a_8I7UE8lHqzuTjjDdd9G3XrzQvdtPzUP2Q_LGTbkWQAtIANtfju2HWZ-AJUGUz6mIDzIifDjcIuPBwzEWyUhX_gUarORW5dKwdVr3UmR1j0YPECmHEF1q7fup1dHMxVgodOTOMMRFKnBjKiF2b6wvQbbvgYpLx0noO7DL96Oqw/s320/286051431_3342347456088255_2337569393597374777_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gelatinous mass of soap batter cooking on the stove<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And it worked! The liquid isn't as clear as it should be, but it's the right pH and it suds well. And most importantly, it cleans well. I scented it with lemon and lemongrass essential oils. It smells heavenly. Homemade liquid soap is thinner than store-bought, but it's fantastic stuff. And I've got enough to last a while. Not too much, however - sorry unsuspecting siblings, no liquid soap for you!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89cyu42FMurUKn7FoMIvcRlNDBuFrPkm2VS_VE9FiRw5HBqz81idWBCJZQm1L0bHsWdtrR8923JZ6P1FipjFZuzhcDvEaNMJ4fFqsnvBGJCRx53F9sUZZbfiyqjXjEA3O7RAGF9DcHqSTkEiWA4D17WQa1dzgSZbGfN83v5WhduYSi0FbH3DnDQnMMg/s2016/286348623_1621863601528810_891653706439915944_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89cyu42FMurUKn7FoMIvcRlNDBuFrPkm2VS_VE9FiRw5HBqz81idWBCJZQm1L0bHsWdtrR8923JZ6P1FipjFZuzhcDvEaNMJ4fFqsnvBGJCRx53F9sUZZbfiyqjXjEA3O7RAGF9DcHqSTkEiWA4D17WQa1dzgSZbGfN83v5WhduYSi0FbH3DnDQnMMg/s320/286348623_1621863601528810_891653706439915944_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enough to fill my empty bottle</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-3290874182403605062022-06-05T22:16:00.003-05:002022-06-05T22:16:37.311-05:00Birthday supper third course<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZe_d4mgqwPqa2hPBu13UtVAgH5Ba-TL-KG3ImZth3IAORxz5LeSHY9tV53YoYLS9v4SvQ8xutK44fEqsrXixzlHtmtxJMSJMSVshCGCMGGioSP5qghliyAhkksm2LXMJUNL5LoVTtqtQikFBXgXb1wITvmQXCcU2JNhrF13918IcUzh0j7AwgM21sA/s1008/285864178_572571871208158_6919941645988869431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZe_d4mgqwPqa2hPBu13UtVAgH5Ba-TL-KG3ImZth3IAORxz5LeSHY9tV53YoYLS9v4SvQ8xutK44fEqsrXixzlHtmtxJMSJMSVshCGCMGGioSP5qghliyAhkksm2LXMJUNL5LoVTtqtQikFBXgXb1wITvmQXCcU2JNhrF13918IcUzh0j7AwgM21sA/s320/285864178_572571871208158_6919941645988869431_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Poor man's black forest cherry cake. Devil's food cake mix with cherry pie filling and fsssht on top. A yummy ending to a pretty great birthday observed. </span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-17736812892751157222022-06-05T18:58:00.003-05:002022-06-13T18:16:11.057-05:00Birthday supper second course<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_u4V43ABex5Q78hOO5zQvOc33k7GzL_Ghv7Jcwy1IgTBbFyP63g_JSRsFI286EcuALrmN7LAz_TabrNXQGbF2LzIpgg5KnwQJkyfPJTEQBFcAeCPk6zUuSYRqpYb8k4lcAVwFjywy5t_7MfEgdXc18J4OR944NRbRg-E0Qms12vWCFhyF36NqIpWTw/s1008/supper%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_u4V43ABex5Q78hOO5zQvOc33k7GzL_Ghv7Jcwy1IgTBbFyP63g_JSRsFI286EcuALrmN7LAz_TabrNXQGbF2LzIpgg5KnwQJkyfPJTEQBFcAeCPk6zUuSYRqpYb8k4lcAVwFjywy5t_7MfEgdXc18J4OR944NRbRg-E0Qms12vWCFhyF36NqIpWTw/s320/supper%2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli. The rib roast came with our half-beef, so what would cost $18 a lb at the store only cost us $6. We told the boys tonight's dinner would be about $60 in a nice restaurant. They seemed impressed. </span></span><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-70397358216414197222022-06-05T18:32:00.001-05:002022-06-05T18:32:30.704-05:00Birthday supper first course<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsaBGW0ao70PdSqtni-1iMlvfauvkvZNi6iVTae87lEzoEQgRYdU5Ol2kMchA8xw1tB8FM-lVYxk4_5tmmFgTnGAyVrxz8vgW3s3OQu8y8zHcCzCVNFsibMWdEZDU_SYIzex61eS3WNCv6k02smeaZUeIoEoTlmh85BEIl5H9vKrKvuBChg9LsL5dcA/s1099/supper%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1099" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsaBGW0ao70PdSqtni-1iMlvfauvkvZNi6iVTae87lEzoEQgRYdU5Ol2kMchA8xw1tB8FM-lVYxk4_5tmmFgTnGAyVrxz8vgW3s3OQu8y8zHcCzCVNFsibMWdEZDU_SYIzex61eS3WNCv6k02smeaZUeIoEoTlmh85BEIl5H9vKrKvuBChg9LsL5dcA/s320/supper%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing, balsamic reduction and bacon pieces. We reduced the balsamic this afternoon. Sooo tasty. My hubby is a fantastic cook.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-65461364634093722102022-06-05T11:34:00.006-05:002022-06-05T11:34:54.897-05:00Birthday breakfast<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfI-LZNMCpQveWnXDBt4jSYhlKjtT3QpNooy8wA4-U5kMCCUBEsQ1hM4bfxpgWeaqsUSoamYdYgmvo5IzHAXLyRLPmUXT3hymMemPieYDQcVT-RYX13wzl-rOJPFz6ZlbwvhB7OiS1soduSaF9O_Ba3JqDklMDQaZB7MI5dBVxvvfioQQ8rnro3fHHw/s1008/brkfast%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfI-LZNMCpQveWnXDBt4jSYhlKjtT3QpNooy8wA4-U5kMCCUBEsQ1hM4bfxpgWeaqsUSoamYdYgmvo5IzHAXLyRLPmUXT3hymMemPieYDQcVT-RYX13wzl-rOJPFz6ZlbwvhB7OiS1soduSaF9O_Ba3JqDklMDQaZB7MI5dBVxvvfioQQ8rnro3fHHw/s320/brkfast%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Nothing brings me back to England faster than a grilled tomato.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-72148786269750247062022-05-30T19:28:00.005-05:002022-05-30T19:28:56.653-05:00What I see<div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"> G is all like this now:</span></span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf-e_v2VRc8y287EPAysC-Q3ruNUmsT5-Af0F15BHnK566LFs3flhZiLxreQVX79YVtPRUMkOmvkDh95JGRL-m-dPJU15j34fPwG_iP4fLBnHsFSim_XKWzjda8h7e8aNsWNOxEEuR00CMBFcvmP3UUTCTnZoYZTFOA_JEp8Xvl2hnYU2V1EvqVdkow/s2016/graham%20grad%2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf-e_v2VRc8y287EPAysC-Q3ruNUmsT5-Af0F15BHnK566LFs3flhZiLxreQVX79YVtPRUMkOmvkDh95JGRL-m-dPJU15j34fPwG_iP4fLBnHsFSim_XKWzjda8h7e8aNsWNOxEEuR00CMBFcvmP3UUTCTnZoYZTFOA_JEp8Xvl2hnYU2V1EvqVdkow/s320/graham%20grad%2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And this:</span></span><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ0PlgyPSzOgpzkrPlDOAaodxGhNdA1wpG0iScnWCgBTpr20cpOoKEknv32N9sEwc8RiINp5AJWSDEzy_LZteNdnpbRBhwve2acsFpSYaIW9FODPYh99M0zBg-713qAvo3lB9kFyK2dHoGa6KEjAWM3o7HAmqYb7zjWx-CgSp_LA6HX4cs7o_M8pLnA/s2016/graham%20grad%2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ0PlgyPSzOgpzkrPlDOAaodxGhNdA1wpG0iScnWCgBTpr20cpOoKEknv32N9sEwc8RiINp5AJWSDEzy_LZteNdnpbRBhwve2acsFpSYaIW9FODPYh99M0zBg-713qAvo3lB9kFyK2dHoGa6KEjAWM3o7HAmqYb7zjWx-CgSp_LA6HX4cs7o_M8pLnA/s320/graham%20grad%2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And this:</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI15hIp00Q06fv31e54Xi9SGBpxC0oJBa0HxAzJX3KtcwrT9VAmnH-PQmAebTKJ4wJm7KxIvnarM5mWe9jCZKACPiF7txw4A-3rxtlGnJBZ_njjbc4nSR3_SI2NIoCqlSJ62Z09FM6auSGNCnUTjL33M5vdT6d6Xyv9SVUwVdepKb49_K3YoyvuXJsg/s2016/graham%20grad%2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI15hIp00Q06fv31e54Xi9SGBpxC0oJBa0HxAzJX3KtcwrT9VAmnH-PQmAebTKJ4wJm7KxIvnarM5mWe9jCZKACPiF7txw4A-3rxtlGnJBZ_njjbc4nSR3_SI2NIoCqlSJ62Z09FM6auSGNCnUTjL33M5vdT6d6Xyv9SVUwVdepKb49_K3YoyvuXJsg/s320/graham%20grad%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">But all I can see is this:</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mH1egCc5xTxss3bPvAsgN-5hPXn05x69vBTEnn7GyJXF3dDp3Ew3Y-FCPoQbqV9pyvEi6Otalo0Abfm-XTIOMne80PxV0HmSr048bl6-1EwjAMi6H7rA-cZfs0682L_KOhKJKqVt55ib0Gijtfd5jVeIEqMKc3P4QTc2QBoBdho1qhggY98I8jibzw/s2560/P7300332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mH1egCc5xTxss3bPvAsgN-5hPXn05x69vBTEnn7GyJXF3dDp3Ew3Y-FCPoQbqV9pyvEi6Otalo0Abfm-XTIOMne80PxV0HmSr048bl6-1EwjAMi6H7rA-cZfs0682L_KOhKJKqVt55ib0Gijtfd5jVeIEqMKc3P4QTc2QBoBdho1qhggY98I8jibzw/w320-h240/P7300332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVikM90aW0Moym9-i6PFW9UWhhw_Gf1q1uqyPcOc_4c1I0GIaOEfUMZSCCbhCh9Zuk_M8d22cUQOlG3zsIan9jMhzlWd3cSFyE-8RgA-iOUQ5qf-8kPlsNustmEftIWTpLDxqVyJG-yRmkMj4m31JFqBP2jDtfJzFHVfH7SrcK7suuMdTppD3nHPJVCg/s2560/P8150045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVikM90aW0Moym9-i6PFW9UWhhw_Gf1q1uqyPcOc_4c1I0GIaOEfUMZSCCbhCh9Zuk_M8d22cUQOlG3zsIan9jMhzlWd3cSFyE-8RgA-iOUQ5qf-8kPlsNustmEftIWTpLDxqVyJG-yRmkMj4m31JFqBP2jDtfJzFHVfH7SrcK7suuMdTppD3nHPJVCg/w320-h240/P8150045.JPG" width="320" /></a></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-xq9t7c6RClLHAvs8uL29gGAWxz4-7J2_s-UkA4k96ZAsWgkLFAYbHxSASgBP13k3fqeG2N6j19PijLny12FRyFi9gJy6WCIeLORI-A4iK6sqH7w9gHylNDDQQMKVTVxkRb6dGgkITVyKJWPe6HchNIej5m7ywTlcnUMYtAZwWR0jq0OQhBiFyqijg/w320-h240/P2240020.JPG" width="320" /><br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And this:</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pdw7khiQSSeeYgUvexab961TApUU4yO7WhSoJdMFnz3f9zlw36HUmt9XoE5nN3xJIogsQ5RyLH0XaE_IXKp1F2A1yht8iXXqy0yFTFMJoWIHm3BHV_SOFOEEJMk6zVEz1b7MtropPDidLF-AVv_2Y9QUaY-Vx6KOJr0tMe-FqBPeOzbEvrgkC7kcTw/s2560/P7070279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pdw7khiQSSeeYgUvexab961TApUU4yO7WhSoJdMFnz3f9zlw36HUmt9XoE5nN3xJIogsQ5RyLH0XaE_IXKp1F2A1yht8iXXqy0yFTFMJoWIHm3BHV_SOFOEEJMk6zVEz1b7MtropPDidLF-AVv_2Y9QUaY-Vx6KOJr0tMe-FqBPeOzbEvrgkC7kcTw/w240-h320/P7070279.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAQX3dJ0joRhNppsrM9oOdTmdK-8tfOSkDFjGvFHJW_nObWNXY--QPJbxCEjIWrFDZSVihYuNqn98ghoY5rPdKF6BWH9ghwWLpfeTWvLWGC2acY0J9CQ9whxFVJ-TmsFn7EECynZHlI98-2rbFq4odvlKO8_1TQgErioZ0LiZllGPIQgYiHrooDwhEA/s1819/P1010093b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1819" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAQX3dJ0joRhNppsrM9oOdTmdK-8tfOSkDFjGvFHJW_nObWNXY--QPJbxCEjIWrFDZSVihYuNqn98ghoY5rPdKF6BWH9ghwWLpfeTWvLWGC2acY0J9CQ9whxFVJ-TmsFn7EECynZHlI98-2rbFq4odvlKO8_1TQgErioZ0LiZllGPIQgYiHrooDwhEA/w320-h219/P1010093b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl8oPJnMOyEjr5xrHiykg2mt514fzgcSC0M0C-3wHLe0_bRQF5G5Gl9oT2ut1CGwWU2I7gEk739qZZ8bQqdKh0ZtCoelNUe4s3q5YLOwlhIw7eig5Qj79aNW8B_VaYw-pi97BX6tIwmrs1OkJECvus731c3Truk-MSgSQMQPB1BIp2gfh0-WK0ZaWcg/s2560/PC180013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl8oPJnMOyEjr5xrHiykg2mt514fzgcSC0M0C-3wHLe0_bRQF5G5Gl9oT2ut1CGwWU2I7gEk739qZZ8bQqdKh0ZtCoelNUe4s3q5YLOwlhIw7eig5Qj79aNW8B_VaYw-pi97BX6tIwmrs1OkJECvus731c3Truk-MSgSQMQPB1BIp2gfh0-WK0ZaWcg/w320-h240/PC180013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">And this: </span></span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0BKRwN7GVsOFNXIj0sGzAIxJEKJzVn7HT3ykxVX4GwUJFu3vUnbDo38jy4XLCPNS-YeQC5qyc6dVnEUn9Oq-Ko0RZsk-y5P-IXzWCBAtxvAGVobnC0pWK8iywGfCjCpK4jIEbydzYZXbjb174RUQ2bfR4BA-lKA0wTcCc-7ifNCspeIorHmpfF6I2A/s1468/P4220115b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B_48liHkn2J9cX_qo-wdU4ST1R7VFzFSKWqeUvaaV2UmLzNzKVb_0ZQ90SsQ0BTHiiVAoO-YPDPd0TdYlCUCyZqrUeiLRfoOt-FJOp03azgnXdfAYBGbv5ZByTmbRoOBYA9bDEmtYZuNbt_0NwVJ6fKNtpHnoS5vyR_qBAaFi4tftIY2e7R6M5D8nA/s2560/P1010037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B_48liHkn2J9cX_qo-wdU4ST1R7VFzFSKWqeUvaaV2UmLzNzKVb_0ZQ90SsQ0BTHiiVAoO-YPDPd0TdYlCUCyZqrUeiLRfoOt-FJOp03azgnXdfAYBGbv5ZByTmbRoOBYA9bDEmtYZuNbt_0NwVJ6fKNtpHnoS5vyR_qBAaFi4tftIY2e7R6M5D8nA/w240-h320/P1010037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1468" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0BKRwN7GVsOFNXIj0sGzAIxJEKJzVn7HT3ykxVX4GwUJFu3vUnbDo38jy4XLCPNS-YeQC5qyc6dVnEUn9Oq-Ko0RZsk-y5P-IXzWCBAtxvAGVobnC0pWK8iywGfCjCpK4jIEbydzYZXbjb174RUQ2bfR4BA-lKA0wTcCc-7ifNCspeIorHmpfF6I2A/w320-h270/P4220115b.JPG" width="320" /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJNBeFKzq9E3Z-MOgd9lmsADycmCcq2wiLy1jEviDt7FCK0rzoriJTIbZTe5Z3OWJnIKoDOXs2fFaK0_jMDLayhDcraf0Xob2oif3PB9Jw7ZwRll7M52AacbloHB3jspv6vpF8Qz6Ge08tvkFx7VD5dwAkD65A1ObBQwXWrEGwXQ7nFwBRiFeeFN7QQ/s640/Gr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJNBeFKzq9E3Z-MOgd9lmsADycmCcq2wiLy1jEviDt7FCK0rzoriJTIbZTe5Z3OWJnIKoDOXs2fFaK0_jMDLayhDcraf0Xob2oif3PB9Jw7ZwRll7M52AacbloHB3jspv6vpF8Qz6Ge08tvkFx7VD5dwAkD65A1ObBQwXWrEGwXQ7nFwBRiFeeFN7QQ/s320/Gr1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-91220895519677084582022-05-26T13:37:00.010-05:002022-05-26T23:49:48.898-05:00Auction treasures<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Remember my previous infatuation with an online auction? Well, it happened again about a month ago. I found an online auction in St. Peter about 45 minutes from us. It was an auction from the estate of Beverly Gustafson, an elderly widow who had spent a lifetime of learning, traveling, collecting, teaching and raising a family. The auction items painted the story of a rich life shared with her husband - boxes of sheet music, instruments and textiles from around the world, sheds of furniture waiting for repair, cedar chests full of fabric and linens, paintings and pottery galore.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiNi0DT-wgSBNuoes4Nfb0_H3aYWoeXSm7haCg7vCJOA9caO6CV-eaOd4-M6e_TygQ94lx-L8ESxFeXlwM3KRkVp8pArgrldF3mfwonG1lP1ePjBQoVEmbWrEoZGueme_MayvbHDkvrJa4HUpT_Kq3S8obycW5XqFiEQlfmpjtItaf49gO5f0Q6d8Kg/s1024/4bdd2d39049fc16ade6107ae74970539c706ac31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiNi0DT-wgSBNuoes4Nfb0_H3aYWoeXSm7haCg7vCJOA9caO6CV-eaOd4-M6e_TygQ94lx-L8ESxFeXlwM3KRkVp8pArgrldF3mfwonG1lP1ePjBQoVEmbWrEoZGueme_MayvbHDkvrJa4HUpT_Kq3S8obycW5XqFiEQlfmpjtItaf49gO5f0Q6d8Kg/s320/4bdd2d39049fc16ade6107ae74970539c706ac31.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I was originally interested in getting basic household items for G's new apartment. And I was successful in that regard - silverware, plates, kitchen utensils, towels, etc. But I also spotted something that piqued my personal interest - cookbooks. I'm a sucker for old cookbooks. And not only were there cookbooks, there was an old recipe box stuffed full of recipe cards and clippings. I'm astounded some child or grandchild hadn't snatch the box up as a treasured memento of family suppers. But their loss is my gain.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN79i5jArObFHI5Drtzo0erFBlxvN_380iqVssQKxOp_M_KY_K74WAxanP625KiqBOTYu158SR7Meh_ww_xgwjOohIDgZhw5MpYNdmDVsNkUO1Kb0Ql5jUVKNyccc1QsCE8LiC8Kz0Q-RuCsgylGA1qWqfkn0mF24Ze1oJf7ij6D89QG4bOBFKQ-tQQA/s888/PXL_20220427_013910125(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN79i5jArObFHI5Drtzo0erFBlxvN_380iqVssQKxOp_M_KY_K74WAxanP625KiqBOTYu158SR7Meh_ww_xgwjOohIDgZhw5MpYNdmDVsNkUO1Kb0Ql5jUVKNyccc1QsCE8LiC8Kz0Q-RuCsgylGA1qWqfkn0mF24Ze1oJf7ij6D89QG4bOBFKQ-tQQA/s320/PXL_20220427_013910125(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">It's obvious this woman loved to cook. And she was an adventurous cook - dishes from different regions, cultures, cooking styles. She clipped recipes from magazines, newspapers and food wrappers. She collected cards from friends and family members. I spent a good hour going through them all, keeping the ones that looked promising and tossing the others. The box itself is a little beat up, but with a bit of glue and TLC it should be right as rain.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CA2v7X6BZUjQqzC77GvTfWyysadEIG5GgkWIoGTDXjI3BpygINCYD8BZmFbxHb7bmqQn-PNi305g0A0RizhzHqDuaGUOWuLvTiRtqdpfDiP8Wx6SQ6xhwx7T722bMEeKCDbLMxmQg-r_HvpN9JSOznxWqjnmaJDQ1WzowdoXZLHGg6LqHL5kM4Anuw/s888/PXL_20220427_014235246(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CA2v7X6BZUjQqzC77GvTfWyysadEIG5GgkWIoGTDXjI3BpygINCYD8BZmFbxHb7bmqQn-PNi305g0A0RizhzHqDuaGUOWuLvTiRtqdpfDiP8Wx6SQ6xhwx7T722bMEeKCDbLMxmQg-r_HvpN9JSOznxWqjnmaJDQ1WzowdoXZLHGg6LqHL5kM4Anuw/s320/PXL_20220427_014235246(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Her cookbooks are a history in themselves. She took copious notes of the dishes she tried, and the adjustments she made to the recipes. She was big on flavor - her main critique for a bad recipe was that it was "bland." She wasn't afraid to make changes, adding or subtracting amounts or ingredients. And she dated most of her trials. I found recipe dates going back to the 1960s.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCBAWDZEuAUE3a3OIUbeGl0aT8RECNPrDDliuTY6gRJLYWPn_eV970bk9uPJQhbEW93IlrCHxFXKvnE0n4J-emKQPIFNtQHjKzLz0teC7W0I_F0aDfDHOntefof7NYkwkx0kLnfZNW96WLxtY2B8VtOnDlmJAfg4fDLZ2dfo8eL4uL_E2xYyPxJ7Q4A/s888/PXL_20220427_013935884.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCBAWDZEuAUE3a3OIUbeGl0aT8RECNPrDDliuTY6gRJLYWPn_eV970bk9uPJQhbEW93IlrCHxFXKvnE0n4J-emKQPIFNtQHjKzLz0teC7W0I_F0aDfDHOntefof7NYkwkx0kLnfZNW96WLxtY2B8VtOnDlmJAfg4fDLZ2dfo8eL4uL_E2xYyPxJ7Q4A/s320/PXL_20220427_013935884.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I got a kick out of this cookbook title - "All This, And Rye Bread Too." The lady on the cover seems very ... alert. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvZoKB09szd06Oe3BxoGMNX8-dl2AuCTt8FiIGJZyGuXYwzYawby53vXQofkfOMsbSbZ9ol4-Lps1cpnFs4j1EUJVCcSwJCYdiiw-7n7y1tPluKm_qpLD9v16urjZeSh4aJ1dpTsk4G1J1evdV-aAUnX4lX6N75Db9nUmtEISnORhnzGErsVGa68Mfw/s888/PXL_20220427_014004054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvZoKB09szd06Oe3BxoGMNX8-dl2AuCTt8FiIGJZyGuXYwzYawby53vXQofkfOMsbSbZ9ol4-Lps1cpnFs4j1EUJVCcSwJCYdiiw-7n7y1tPluKm_qpLD9v16urjZeSh4aJ1dpTsk4G1J1evdV-aAUnX4lX6N75Db9nUmtEISnORhnzGErsVGa68Mfw/s320/PXL_20220427_014004054.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">After reading the introduction, I learned Evelyn was the Director of Food Service at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter for many years. She was known for her boundless energy and enthusiasm, volunteerism, sharing her Swedish heritage, and of course good cooking. She was beloved by students and staff alike. Her rye bread recipe was apparently world famous. I share it with you here, at the risk of copyright infringement. I've not tried it myself, yet. But it must be good - Beverly seems to think so.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i3H2s_7-uPQ7q6RQ-RpAI3vAHT6VaY4laXnpM8XWe0lm_SiUO-NO4IaDb-4DRPc_FaZQa1kSqYa-MvBo4FSwpUDNhD_SX45l1U1yTQVL39wZESOiGSX5LYRTQWJniweL3M-PAvjEY4R_QIAjWv_CjmWVwBlHNdJFZhkXWJ2LRvZEEUwcfFuyzfUWkw/s1008/283758901_5374830749204286_4496006511021196506_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i3H2s_7-uPQ7q6RQ-RpAI3vAHT6VaY4laXnpM8XWe0lm_SiUO-NO4IaDb-4DRPc_FaZQa1kSqYa-MvBo4FSwpUDNhD_SX45l1U1yTQVL39wZESOiGSX5LYRTQWJniweL3M-PAvjEY4R_QIAjWv_CjmWVwBlHNdJFZhkXWJ2LRvZEEUwcfFuyzfUWkw/s320/283758901_5374830749204286_4496006511021196506_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Some of the kitchen gadgets that we got threw us for a loop. Neither Hubby nor I had ever heard of an "Ah So" for opening wine bottles. And we didn't think we'd have any use for an Oregon Bean Spoon. This decorative tray was intriguing, so I looked it up on the googles. <br /></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_v5hSlogMj0Kqz2OsGCY2uWHRztVqsdtrnbnyhBD7ZjoMeLw_gA8Bk4oY41BQMVy6F8GLwWoN9M71Le5jTsUamtBD7K26Oi7ZMwxAkgTC1BtdXWz5F-S5TGgUgs4rOvK-GcgsmO_CzlfMY0QTIAJIkCwMgTe9kc5RxPNz3TEGtxScQzwN0jaY7ubog/s888/PXL_20220427_013828140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_v5hSlogMj0Kqz2OsGCY2uWHRztVqsdtrnbnyhBD7ZjoMeLw_gA8Bk4oY41BQMVy6F8GLwWoN9M71Le5jTsUamtBD7K26Oi7ZMwxAkgTC1BtdXWz5F-S5TGgUgs4rOvK-GcgsmO_CzlfMY0QTIAJIkCwMgTe9kc5RxPNz3TEGtxScQzwN0jaY7ubog/s320/PXL_20220427_013828140.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><br />It's a Streamline Adler Ware meat platter. Apparently you put your sizzling roasts on the tray and the tree indentations catch the juices. An interesting bit of culinary weirdness, but not something I see myself using. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Overall, it was a successful auction haul. Especially since I've gotten to know two very interesting ladies and fellow cookbook enthusiasts, Beverly and Evelyn, along the way.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-82275966197682361542022-05-23T21:44:00.000-05:002022-05-23T21:44:32.815-05:00Garden work and a bunny squatter<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I had the day off today (after working seven in a row) and, eager to take advantage of the cool dry weather, hubby and I worked several hours in the garden. It's shaping up nicely, and the new raised beds are providing an abundance of space. Today I planted my peppers, cosmos and sunflowers. All I have left to plant are cucumbers, zucchini and winter squash. I have a bit of unclaimed space and I'm toying with either watermelon or cantaloupe. I've had more success with watermelon, so I'll probably go that route.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyIt1Ovvf9oa7El5FfZ2c_enxTQtxCe4O97XSSY-xQHNva6lMYHAyKUCoK8PeZm4Au8Q8LFcd4IlHfnpSLCmIYdYWo7ltkXgKu8H5pvqJqw86scjDZtfP6QVLxdJunGLyjGR8ooxTY6oSLtsKANDXTQLwAURzQ4z5sh_pBjHDk4bayS7mRRQb0CsuqQ/s980/lettuce%20rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="980" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyIt1Ovvf9oa7El5FfZ2c_enxTQtxCe4O97XSSY-xQHNva6lMYHAyKUCoK8PeZm4Au8Q8LFcd4IlHfnpSLCmIYdYWo7ltkXgKu8H5pvqJqw86scjDZtfP6QVLxdJunGLyjGR8ooxTY6oSLtsKANDXTQLwAURzQ4z5sh_pBjHDk4bayS7mRRQb0CsuqQ/s320/lettuce%20rose.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rosette of romaine<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Almost everything is looking good thus far. It usually is this early in the season - by mid-July weeds will have taken over. The only iffy bits are my onions. They are very short and spindly. I have to decide whether to let them grow and hope for the best, or use the valuable space for something else. It shouldn't be a hard decision, but I'm a soft touch and hate pulling out plants. Thinning carrots is physically painful for me. We'll see what happens.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">While hoeing beds a few weeks ago I discovered a nest of young bunnies hidden under last year's straw. We have a crop of buns nearly every year. Again, a soft touch, I let them be for a few weeks until they're big enough to hop away on their own. </span></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuERbwcp_xoEi4Gn6MxhfOlJyxFQ7-Osk12Rb4il5kTQRX44LhsNPIr892UB92u3erOpJLq1QlWYsAEPcmIKlrxySQgRqUUzabliJD4fyGBf7169TQQ5ZLzhVUcW13p3IZVAdkJtJMFjKB1FI6aZ_JVY_nHgolHuug8jy7IB5GhruSOt9a5rOcxzv1w/s717/bunny%20nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="717" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuERbwcp_xoEi4Gn6MxhfOlJyxFQ7-Osk12Rb4il5kTQRX44LhsNPIr892UB92u3erOpJLq1QlWYsAEPcmIKlrxySQgRqUUzabliJD4fyGBf7169TQQ5ZLzhVUcW13p3IZVAdkJtJMFjKB1FI6aZ_JVY_nHgolHuug8jy7IB5GhruSOt9a5rOcxzv1w/s320/bunny%20nest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">Yesterday while watering I had spooked the current clutch from their nest, and watched them bound away through the tall grass. However, one of the young-ins stayed inside the raised bed, hunkering down in a corner and watching me. I gave her a wide berth while I finished watering. I hoped that she would leave on her own overnight, or that momma bunny would bring her to safety.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">No such luck. She was still in the bed this afternoon. Hubby and I took pity and gave her some salad fixings (carrots, celery, lettuce) to munch on. Hubby even stroked her head a bit with a gloved finger.</span> </span> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnhPDPrjZgUUTWal_HJOYb5eXUAxGQnb75IRdWENGLE-MM05AVI98maXQMFQewfi6Ts-TSwRTqsIf2PAcsm9mA1lYsHpH4Qak4xUkHX9Ar50VSQAIt6yK1zvfpMjyx96LtweUDTn7hQN1woBUzBFCgW1IqHjQdjW0my2dHS5ExAj7y07GXX8Lcyge1Q/s1440/baby%20bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1440" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnhPDPrjZgUUTWal_HJOYb5eXUAxGQnb75IRdWENGLE-MM05AVI98maXQMFQewfi6Ts-TSwRTqsIf2PAcsm9mA1lYsHpH4Qak4xUkHX9Ar50VSQAIt6yK1zvfpMjyx96LtweUDTn7hQN1woBUzBFCgW1IqHjQdjW0my2dHS5ExAj7y07GXX8Lcyge1Q/s320/baby%20bunny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">If she's not out by Thursday, we'll have to evict her ourselves. She's occupying prime cucumber real estate. Don't feel too bad, our back yard is prime bunny habitat with a huge brush pile, tall grass and young shrubs. We have a healthy population, hence the need to fence in our garden beds.</span></span><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1XCE4CjSH3T1USsrIKqMJs56nqWTgXbpgBZqu8dmTzBZZ8OE_hGHMtZHv6jkzEY5hF6E47UaNwvfoi6ZZt9hFLGh-LpYr9e3G_cl7SljMxhHj6UENWIRMN0tul2ag4GxR8LqyUqTpzoeXx-xuMeteXwyzSmhOBVeW-fheCTfp6sFk62PQaiLwiObRQ/s1008/strawberry%20promise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1XCE4CjSH3T1USsrIKqMJs56nqWTgXbpgBZqu8dmTzBZZ8OE_hGHMtZHv6jkzEY5hF6E47UaNwvfoi6ZZt9hFLGh-LpYr9e3G_cl7SljMxhHj6UENWIRMN0tul2ag4GxR8LqyUqTpzoeXx-xuMeteXwyzSmhOBVeW-fheCTfp6sFk62PQaiLwiObRQ/s320/strawberry%20promise.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry promise</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I harvested another full armload of asparagus today, which we had with supper. There's enough leftover for tomorrow's supper as well. O and E will be coming over for their weekly visit tomorrow evening, laundry in tow. E has requested one of her favorites: Cajun chicken pasta. It's also one of G's favorites, so it gets made fairly frequently in our house. It's a knock-off recipe from an old dish served at Red Lobster years ago. They've got something similar on the menu these days, but I've heard it's not nearly as good.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkPCp3RdqngHvNPUbqMy9QnHp95feIfi1VvqCdurqbRoCjC2-9wDDs_QUc602yfSZ8MkMXZbPD7mYs58N5bCWx43uRtVHXSvJBpTiAFELV1XZpXawxT6TrhX_4L5mQiAgAjCOg5ivqB6xbA2IjxZEDUzvB_7pkN2sCIV1la9g7GT4wAOzxqzi5614_Q/s1008/cajun%20chicken%20pasta%20recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="752" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkPCp3RdqngHvNPUbqMy9QnHp95feIfi1VvqCdurqbRoCjC2-9wDDs_QUc602yfSZ8MkMXZbPD7mYs58N5bCWx43uRtVHXSvJBpTiAFELV1XZpXawxT6TrhX_4L5mQiAgAjCOg5ivqB6xbA2IjxZEDUzvB_7pkN2sCIV1la9g7GT4wAOzxqzi5614_Q/s320/cajun%20chicken%20pasta%20recipe.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well-used and well-loved<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-22947694389015034392022-05-22T22:35:00.004-05:002022-05-22T23:04:44.610-05:00Another quilt post<p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I went to a church garage sale a week or so ago, looking for things for G's first apartment. He starts college in August and we've signed him up for a studio apartment close to campus. Much cheaper than using the dorms.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOvcbwV3VOQ1kJhiUb2pEW-tZ0bf7G8GP0MEqe5pafWpd6SlIAgVCd-UY0kWChlhgjDq0onmJTKqQveK7U6cXdsDWAxJSqCOPnPJ9PY_hYHwiXVECkN6yd6cSwOjZR81jC3Ppel7rImnGno4COMtlLUpJVgzoAV75EULDAXVVxEhYAd665bNvXxpdVQ/s1008/new%20quilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOvcbwV3VOQ1kJhiUb2pEW-tZ0bf7G8GP0MEqe5pafWpd6SlIAgVCd-UY0kWChlhgjDq0onmJTKqQveK7U6cXdsDWAxJSqCOPnPJ9PY_hYHwiXVECkN6yd6cSwOjZR81jC3Ppel7rImnGno4COMtlLUpJVgzoAV75EULDAXVVxEhYAd665bNvXxpdVQ/s320/new%20quilt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">I found a few things for him - mixing bowls, cake pan, hand mixer. But my big score was a king-sized second-hand quilt in pristine condition for just $10. It's not homemade, but it is pretty. Our current bed quilt is about ten years old and is beginning to fall apart. One of our cats has the icky habit of throwing-up on the bed, which means we've had to send the quilt through the washer every week or so. Washing machines are rough on quilts. And I'm not sure why, but hubby's side of the quilt is in much worse shape than mine. I think he chews on it in the middle of the night.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjFjETWcjc1WEBKoOStd-WdiezQ0MfZgxA-pQIHwru1hOv3RBbGfA00HCvKqWDmzAQtUtWC28czquoeeAzPLqMjJ6p31znYV04hWMTFW_efPnz0PcF6wD_JL0wsBTfgxGR3douhOY_tqUhbFFq4TulLrIoLffrbOyKvmPd_E5FPbIOlHRgt-075dHGQ/s807/new%20quilt%20corey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="807" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjFjETWcjc1WEBKoOStd-WdiezQ0MfZgxA-pQIHwru1hOv3RBbGfA00HCvKqWDmzAQtUtWC28czquoeeAzPLqMjJ6p31znYV04hWMTFW_efPnz0PcF6wD_JL0wsBTfgxGR3douhOY_tqUhbFFq4TulLrIoLffrbOyKvmPd_E5FPbIOlHRgt-075dHGQ/s320/new%20quilt%20corey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;">The cats inspected the quilt as soon as I laid it out. And then proceeded to lay on it for the rest of the day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhvF7e86XWZyrnoR0X1P9HVZP26xUDJVv4dA0P_GypCoeKok4jR0I9P5ogXRv8c9aY5rbi4GeloBiK8-fwJ08idiI3HpTwHSFQ_sHot7GZtiigKROo0hHq8oHiiTAE6mytQzz6kfbqDhVasa1pBCNppSugQKOrgV4Wx0OVnX2xPRYwC6rZSJbYh7z-Q/s968/new%20quilt%20kelly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="968" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhvF7e86XWZyrnoR0X1P9HVZP26xUDJVv4dA0P_GypCoeKok4jR0I9P5ogXRv8c9aY5rbi4GeloBiK8-fwJ08idiI3HpTwHSFQ_sHot7GZtiigKROo0hHq8oHiiTAE6mytQzz6kfbqDhVasa1pBCNppSugQKOrgV4Wx0OVnX2xPRYwC6rZSJbYh7z-Q/s320/new%20quilt%20kelly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: EB Garamond;"> I guess cats like quilts too.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-19588660205376683662022-05-18T21:51:00.004-05:002022-05-18T21:54:51.662-05:00Post-Covid crap<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">It was a long day at work today. Long and busy. May and June are the busiest months of the year for me. A combination of getting everything (campgrounds, trails, waterlines, etc.) running in a short amount of time, plus hiring and training new and returning staff, plus monitoring budgets before the end of the fiscal year (June 30) spending as much as we have but not too much. Throw in a couple of prescribed burns, acres and acres of invasive species control, a dozen project proposals and a potential boundary expansion and I've got a full plate.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpED6RJb_KSZ3QeyQ7DSH6CKC_LVNtUeq2dsX_qN79LoWtlu4YUAMiSmG5XupQCXL2q3Al6TFZFWr2RQ2bSmqUCnKf-MaRKZp5QLkE0Nx5VEFu5Y2QIqxGGfBUzIyqHpIIFXiV5O6ZrKuiRGxqMnz0LFE4_Xjlgukv27VAqltYgrzRayd-zFlvFh69hg/s1879/31381287_1939535012787985_7883305342438735872_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="1879" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpED6RJb_KSZ3QeyQ7DSH6CKC_LVNtUeq2dsX_qN79LoWtlu4YUAMiSmG5XupQCXL2q3Al6TFZFWr2RQ2bSmqUCnKf-MaRKZp5QLkE0Nx5VEFu5Y2QIqxGGfBUzIyqHpIIFXiV5O6ZrKuiRGxqMnz0LFE4_Xjlgukv27VAqltYgrzRayd-zFlvFh69hg/s320/31381287_1939535012787985_7883305342438735872_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pasque flowers from early April.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Anyway, after work Hubby, G, B and I drove to Mankato and met O and E for supper. After supper we took a quick trip to Fleet Farm looking for a flannel shirt and light jacket with zipper pockets for B. After striking out at Fleet Farm for both items (seriously, no flannel shirts at Fleet Farm?) we headed back home, turning into the driveway just as the sun was setting. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">My comfortable cozy bed is calling to me, but I wanted to put together a quick post before changing into pajamas and settling down with my IPad to watch an episode of Russian Doll on Netflix. I've got a few things to catch up on.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">There was a long break in my blogging from last summer to this spring. Like I've said before, sometimes I lose motivation to put words to screen, time goes by quickly and soon months have passed. Truth be told nothing really remarkable happened over those months. Perhaps the only major thing that happened was COVID hitting our household last fall.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrjUKzGEKBSs_3FqZsx0T5FA1iCLpxTtFQyGnQsM0zWo09zes72co0VRz1P58E1-NAc_LUrCUZTEl2O3d4yjFGmn5R4arMIexgPol2pKYlMkUx3IwMdsr88bwunQDQ7PgCufCMDg0HRnUa8ahnJQLMVQu7IG-tMH0LRkrAIHkqC_hU7AhslUcKtKjmw/s1210/bloodroot%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrjUKzGEKBSs_3FqZsx0T5FA1iCLpxTtFQyGnQsM0zWo09zes72co0VRz1P58E1-NAc_LUrCUZTEl2O3d4yjFGmn5R4arMIexgPol2pKYlMkUx3IwMdsr88bwunQDQ7PgCufCMDg0HRnUa8ahnJQLMVQu7IG-tMH0LRkrAIHkqC_hU7AhslUcKtKjmw/s320/bloodroot%2001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Bloodroot from mid-April.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">We think G brought it home from school (thanks NU High School for your lack of masks!) in mid-October. He was sick for a day and a half, with the main symptoms of a headache and very dry mouth. We didn't realize it was COVID until Hubby got sick a few days later and decided to test himself. Hubby had only mild symptoms, as did B when he got it and I soon thereafter. We all thought we had dodged a bullet.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">However, about four weeks after that I fell ill again. What I thought was just a cold turned into something much worse. High fever, swollen throat, wheezing and rales, horrible sinus pressure. I lost my voice and popped an eardrum. My blood oxygen levels dropped and my digestive system took a holiday. Doctors put me on albuterol nebulizers and oral prednisone. I was bed- and couch-bound for several weeks, concentrating mainly on taking one breath after another. It was terrible, the sickest I've ever been. As an added bonus my blood sugar levels shot through the roof, putting me squarely in Diabetes territory where I hadn't been before.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">The docs never tested me for COVID with the second sickness, so it's possible I became reinfected with the new Omicron variant in December. It's more likely, however, that I was/am one of the many many people dealing with post-COVID complications. I've just read that 75% of people dealing with post-COVID crap had very mild illnesses to begin with. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHQmdpYktD1i-sgdOouteuiogNYnv5pyuykvOvQtLN0Kf430s-JnqIuGitaSbQSnmcwhKhWX_zThQ6aD9dL1t_sp2act-n0ivcLbH7br1uOMrQ73Pyp9kLAnjt-lDZClxQraySzxxWvGBBCYhKawaDuUmlwkUT2aujjyoifAxSnL8w8jw5bR1cVGLOw/s910/hepaticas%20B.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="910" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvHQmdpYktD1i-sgdOouteuiogNYnv5pyuykvOvQtLN0Kf430s-JnqIuGitaSbQSnmcwhKhWX_zThQ6aD9dL1t_sp2act-n0ivcLbH7br1uOMrQ73Pyp9kLAnjt-lDZClxQraySzxxWvGBBCYhKawaDuUmlwkUT2aujjyoifAxSnL8w8jw5bR1cVGLOw/s320/hepaticas%20B.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Hepaticas, also from mid-April.</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Fast forward four months and I'm mostly better now, but I find myself a little slower on the uptake than before. Making more stupid mistakes in my paperwork, taking longer to think of the right word when talking, losing track of what I'm doing in the middle of doing it. It could just be old age, early Alzheimers, or general ineptitude, or it could be the covids. Hard to say. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">My blood sugar levels have retreated, but I'm still in the pre-Diabetes range, so the docs want me on metformin for a few more months. I'm doing better with my diet, but comfort food is just so, well, comforting. And I do really like the comforts, both with food and with my comfortable cozy bed, to which I'm heading shortly. Gotta get the sleep for another long, busy day of work tomorrow.<br /></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-35437552881437762132022-05-16T23:40:00.006-05:002022-05-22T23:09:23.219-05:00Quilt fix<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">I went to a quilt show last month, held by a local quilt guild. I love quilts. Especially the old fashioned patchwork quilts made with flour sack patterns. If I had oodles of time (and significantly more skill) I'd spend a chunk of it quilting. I've got quilts from my great-grandmother and my mother, and I treasure them highly. I'd like to think of my kids and grandkids treasuring something that I'd made.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Here's a few of my faves from the show: (click on the photos to zoom)<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn_NA4A1DykYIilZESW2NJ1LukyODNZT02fmnKrgWrg9_ArSgYJavN8V2s4uXEiA4qHuq6NnJnjHmUD1inHNMB7RsyD2I65ZP_tsJswsLHxECQJLHqwEa1AJTLnDfWs4FI4TYZza0CwIN1oybkxnEczCkVX11oPK3TU0Hlm8yCDn7b3qXhadgJ-I35g/s807/quilt%20show%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn_NA4A1DykYIilZESW2NJ1LukyODNZT02fmnKrgWrg9_ArSgYJavN8V2s4uXEiA4qHuq6NnJnjHmUD1inHNMB7RsyD2I65ZP_tsJswsLHxECQJLHqwEa1AJTLnDfWs4FI4TYZza0CwIN1oybkxnEczCkVX11oPK3TU0Hlm8yCDn7b3qXhadgJ-I35g/s320/quilt%20show%2002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rWdcjI-hfjY6RK5wXlT7ql86fN5m9kpplniZrlNa_6RYxQ32p0ND6_2r3rlS1BKLqb3axdLDS0USr-e6TvGR2bM368DIkCvNRm9FEamenwRZy8bM57XOeIVd7zkcBmS7xVCX4jykkUr9yutj074z7Y8T-H3cdaF4ZFgQDEwbHris2VQhOrje_nQfDg/s807/quilt%20show%2004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rWdcjI-hfjY6RK5wXlT7ql86fN5m9kpplniZrlNa_6RYxQ32p0ND6_2r3rlS1BKLqb3axdLDS0USr-e6TvGR2bM368DIkCvNRm9FEamenwRZy8bM57XOeIVd7zkcBmS7xVCX4jykkUr9yutj074z7Y8T-H3cdaF4ZFgQDEwbHris2VQhOrje_nQfDg/s320/quilt%20show%2004.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJewKPSp0UXrSKuAL8-0drrBmLULRPqfvXmzxLmdDMUH8uo719UbR9RWwT_dxQqT-2LeDqpH9DQb-uF3n4Zu3485EyUbgyHHF7WdDTNttpuzXm5Udb9zZzkUrEXTPzwIwk-NcfsfjqrYmy3eyRcca3G2UiykjHUpSc6SDQLLhpRTciUs4G7pimFPbKSw/s807/quilt%20show%2005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJewKPSp0UXrSKuAL8-0drrBmLULRPqfvXmzxLmdDMUH8uo719UbR9RWwT_dxQqT-2LeDqpH9DQb-uF3n4Zu3485EyUbgyHHF7WdDTNttpuzXm5Udb9zZzkUrEXTPzwIwk-NcfsfjqrYmy3eyRcca3G2UiykjHUpSc6SDQLLhpRTciUs4G7pimFPbKSw/s320/quilt%20show%2005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyQmwrY1oXG9HK54Vg-nx9qZEd6q3gjonwaMIjF0PRzxJdU4VUKfj70odlazr7O2Ht0rZo-JqNcBeYTS1Cr0rfMqqK8aLg_T77G1dPrxL-6Kaq-LmSjD2OiY65_suP9KPhlMieZlmo4mnQkvpl0J1_mSxrOAW0SjcjxhBilynppG-Imwbn75C96iocQ/s807/quilt%20show%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKyQmwrY1oXG9HK54Vg-nx9qZEd6q3gjonwaMIjF0PRzxJdU4VUKfj70odlazr7O2Ht0rZo-JqNcBeYTS1Cr0rfMqqK8aLg_T77G1dPrxL-6Kaq-LmSjD2OiY65_suP9KPhlMieZlmo4mnQkvpl0J1_mSxrOAW0SjcjxhBilynppG-Imwbn75C96iocQ/s320/quilt%20show%2001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUSPwaAshLg1aYVUbTwTLR2FohpAGEcEEZMF5IdxN8M9Q5ZgMEnjaACQ1LDJO5UTyPLXdXnLu__q823NYKNXy_SI_F22PXbgxPDbcRXhHpqd0OYYoOjWE7gwa5ERVfwY8y6R2zTxuSRpsKzcBoht4sDElV5bxYnSwJG1fyUCMlD0968wxpb-gFrn1yw/s807/quilt%20show%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUSPwaAshLg1aYVUbTwTLR2FohpAGEcEEZMF5IdxN8M9Q5ZgMEnjaACQ1LDJO5UTyPLXdXnLu__q823NYKNXy_SI_F22PXbgxPDbcRXhHpqd0OYYoOjWE7gwa5ERVfwY8y6R2zTxuSRpsKzcBoht4sDElV5bxYnSwJG1fyUCMlD0968wxpb-gFrn1yw/s320/quilt%20show%2003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Now I just need to get oodles of time to do all the things I want to do. </span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-31258261509016334212022-05-15T17:38:00.003-05:002022-05-16T15:08:36.939-05:00New beds<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Because I just wasn't busy/crazy enough, I decided that I needed more raised beds. It was easy for me to make this decision, because: a) you can never have enough garden space; b) even if you have too much garden space it isn't enough; and c) I'm not the one actually building the new beds.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk5xSiL_ODxDJLaqR0MOfRdVBBQ_xuiSyAc1ca_RxP6Dn0mcpSktqL40K8lvYAUczcZsJC1qKnVsanZoG1NfWmRlXwdp4GOGrydw8Sl87OZUXTZM45Vw3tUWTRuRIdNLe4-p3gKfi3r2XrBqd2r10DU3cfP2TJ098hTQHytgjHDRY9jXJZuTA4HQ72w/s1210/new%20raised%20beds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk5xSiL_ODxDJLaqR0MOfRdVBBQ_xuiSyAc1ca_RxP6Dn0mcpSktqL40K8lvYAUczcZsJC1qKnVsanZoG1NfWmRlXwdp4GOGrydw8Sl87OZUXTZM45Vw3tUWTRuRIdNLe4-p3gKfi3r2XrBqd2r10DU3cfP2TJ098hTQHytgjHDRY9jXJZuTA4HQ72w/s320/new%20raised%20beds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cardboard covered with straw covered with dirt.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">So my husband, ever gracious, is building me six more raised beds. Which will bring our total to 18. I think maybe, just maybe, that may be enough. Besides, four of our old beds are starting to fall apart, so we'll need to spend time & money (holy cow lumber is expensive!) fixing those next spring.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHbBfKXjW7cwOYAe4Wuof47aE4mNkqtzNVdBalY9_e7ZyNm7Ygls7znWq9ub5GhUF0VtbX9lUCiNb8cNlLgUhQd1HLPVcz36fHu-LDCoL1O5SKfRd-2o9aw2LM013lEqd07xZQGRRTaf9g29jvwlO5cb6II7_03t58HhpeJRkEq50-gXpfSEv_kG5kw/s1210/chives%20asparagus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHbBfKXjW7cwOYAe4Wuof47aE4mNkqtzNVdBalY9_e7ZyNm7Ygls7znWq9ub5GhUF0VtbX9lUCiNb8cNlLgUhQd1HLPVcz36fHu-LDCoL1O5SKfRd-2o9aw2LM013lEqd07xZQGRRTaf9g29jvwlO5cb6II7_03t58HhpeJRkEq50-gXpfSEv_kG5kw/s320/chives%20asparagus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Today I made the first harvest of the year - chives and asparagus. Most of the chives will be chopped and frozen. The asparagus will be grilled and eaten with supper tonight along with pork chops and rice, one of my mother's favorite recipes.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2brLetdex9cHT-sDAi8NOQxMby8fpcEcHYuxAMj08Mc0e8Pi356RsYiXeAvnPZFe2oiTlHdAgYFr2SKNeMdPCeidj16GyEcq8xlQOs9RJL2Z_2lUqN5yq6xI49bFdn0Ac3v9kN7F_kb0b_7lfu-Evo-SV5QYazvy6gOuzDweOpufx2-bGCuteyVhqA/s906/pork%20chops%20rice%20recipe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="906" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2brLetdex9cHT-sDAi8NOQxMby8fpcEcHYuxAMj08Mc0e8Pi356RsYiXeAvnPZFe2oiTlHdAgYFr2SKNeMdPCeidj16GyEcq8xlQOs9RJL2Z_2lUqN5yq6xI49bFdn0Ac3v9kN7F_kb0b_7lfu-Evo-SV5QYazvy6gOuzDweOpufx2-bGCuteyVhqA/s320/pork%20chops%20rice%20recipe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-87987833143037983232022-05-14T22:33:00.000-05:002022-05-14T22:33:00.588-05:00Pond life<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Yesterday while at the park I walked out to the old irrigation pond. This pond was created back in 2007 when the golf course was redesigned. They dug a 15' hole in the ground, lined it with clay, and filled it with river water. A wet well with a couple of large pumps was attached at one end for supplying water for the irrigation lines. A pump down by the river pushed water up the hill to fill the pond when it got low. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">When the course closed in 2017, all the pumps were shut off. We all wondered if the pond would hold water on its own, and if/how the pond would change now that water wasn't constantly cycling in and out of it on a daily basis.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">I'm no expert, but in my mind the pond has done very well. Cattails and willows along the edge, insects buzzing around, blackbirds and kingfishers and ducks in and over the water. The loud hum of frogs singing in the shallows.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_68rL-M1ziYAuWeh_dEVBYeSuWC6t_GjVjf1gkSy3CeAEmwPW_M5xIqcm9C3Nye3gYe0ubwc44lLVVQBuHsh2vfsKtQ2eGYKPdnF2FP9fvNYtnHcp6hpuS51fSAzTXi4_EGrYcpPoOyp93hVcKknCz1FVpPzKVm4TD--Wu8naEM0AVm2Zjb7ZmVq_Eg/s4032/PXL_20220512_174842307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_68rL-M1ziYAuWeh_dEVBYeSuWC6t_GjVjf1gkSy3CeAEmwPW_M5xIqcm9C3Nye3gYe0ubwc44lLVVQBuHsh2vfsKtQ2eGYKPdnF2FP9fvNYtnHcp6hpuS51fSAzTXi4_EGrYcpPoOyp93hVcKknCz1FVpPzKVm4TD--Wu8naEM0AVm2Zjb7ZmVq_Eg/w400-h300/PXL_20220512_174842307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">I could have looked and listened all day.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">If I had millions and millions of dollars I'd buy thousands of acres of cropland. Then I'd dig hundreds of holes and make a hundred ponds just like this one. Ponds to hold the rainwater on the ground, instead of being flushed into the nearest river by the ever-increasing lattice-work of agricultural drain tile and drainage ditches. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Farmers like to say they're the stewards of the land, but most of the time that's a bunch of crap. </span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-71169378960251372272022-02-06T15:30:00.003-06:002022-02-06T15:30:34.333-06:00Germ test 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Doesn't look good for the citron.</span></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD402EjvLYqlBB72eTIGviZsl4pR0U3XmkBQxxTsyEDH7ZpcyPaRCYOFodhiHMBFhT8RzVd_FWKi9iGTZMn8k18rrzjVLfOORTNOIzv-HScbIOsGl9HpzzCaIlKdgnABOV2VmxoaZqD_kzIYOE7nCIa1WC5Z3eAS48DUal7Z7YqNeRTuJsV-2sYShL0w=s1210" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="908" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgD402EjvLYqlBB72eTIGviZsl4pR0U3XmkBQxxTsyEDH7ZpcyPaRCYOFodhiHMBFhT8RzVd_FWKi9iGTZMn8k18rrzjVLfOORTNOIzv-HScbIOsGl9HpzzCaIlKdgnABOV2VmxoaZqD_kzIYOE7nCIa1WC5Z3eAS48DUal7Z7YqNeRTuJsV-2sYShL0w=w300-h398" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p> </p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-83450512835533647422021-07-19T20:10:00.003-05:002021-07-19T23:55:02.153-05:00Differences<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">We've got house guests for the next two days. Hubby's mom and aunt are visiting from Florida. They came up north to attend a family reunion on Saturday and are making the relative rounds until they head back Thursday. I enjoy talking with them about their family history. </span></span><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B98r4zjKhgk/YPYg3liQHFI/AAAAAAAAFiU/1fMhleArlucLRIk0-f4QHBlkadV-g8M0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/Ruth%2Band%2BAlice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B98r4zjKhgk/YPYg3liQHFI/AAAAAAAAFiU/1fMhleArlucLRIk0-f4QHBlkadV-g8M0gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ruth%2Band%2BAlice.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth and Alice (Hubby's Mom)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Hubby's grandparents raised seven kids on a farmstead in Zumbrota MN. Oscar Nelson worked at the local creamery, winning awards for his butter making. Alice MacIntyre Nelson was a homemaker, breadmaker, jam-maker, etc. Hubby has fond memories of spending summers at their house, playing with a horde of cousins and wandering wild around the countryside. At night his grandma would tuck the horde into bed reading bible stories. Three to eight young boys, depending on who was staying, sharing two double beds. They'd run up the stairs to the tune of 'Shadrach, Meshack, and into bed you go!'</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhwmYa2wbH4/YPYfyWhAPtI/AAAAAAAAFiE/hhPbB84QV-MFmygIuIHZ9skO4L7xMY_9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/G%2526Gs%2Bhouse%2B01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhwmYa2wbH4/YPYfyWhAPtI/AAAAAAAAFiE/hhPbB84QV-MFmygIuIHZ9skO4L7xMY_9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/G%2526Gs%2Bhouse%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father on the stairs.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">My grandparents lived in a large house on Lake Harriet. Despite living just 45 minutes away, we only visited them a few times a year. Everything in their home was elegant and formal and tidy. We rarely spent the night, but when we did I slept alone in a small room. I don't remember my grandparents ever tucking me in, let alone reading me stories. My father was an only child, so there were no cousins to play with. I do remember playing cards with my grandmother on the living room coffee table, but most of the time I just played by myself with a few of my father's old toys in the sun room.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zw7Kd_tRjCU/YPYf2vl9--I/AAAAAAAAFiI/yTbDLsFL4Fccyd3_h2-sTrgy8hFM5kGCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1511/G%2526Gs%2Bhouse%2B02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1511" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zw7Kd_tRjCU/YPYf2vl9--I/AAAAAAAAFiI/yTbDLsFL4Fccyd3_h2-sTrgy8hFM5kGCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/G%2526Gs%2Bhouse%2B02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas, I think? My father on the right.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">I'm sure my grandparents loved me just as much as Hubby's loved him. Different families, different lives. </span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-46443492570860003382021-07-05T20:38:00.000-05:002021-07-05T20:38:05.217-05:00Totes herbs<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lVmdWnhgtDM/YOOvxvXqO6I/AAAAAAAAFg4/jnKcWiPXPHM8O10uUsPEIqCkxiuWRPYJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/arugula%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lVmdWnhgtDM/YOOvxvXqO6I/AAAAAAAAFg4/jnKcWiPXPHM8O10uUsPEIqCkxiuWRPYJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/arugula%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arugula flowering<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1XeymfabPw/YOOv8AWaK6I/AAAAAAAAFg8/l4licpEnw5kScvvDO4xz4RyXQowTj9eEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/parsley%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1XeymfabPw/YOOv8AWaK6I/AAAAAAAAFg8/l4licpEnw5kScvvDO4xz4RyXQowTj9eEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/parsley%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parsley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4R_RXLxQIIY/YOOztFVkGlI/AAAAAAAAFhM/Dm3qwZ2AY7U_o-SKyw5jah-lEyv6ZoglwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/catnip%2Band%2Bcilantro%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4R_RXLxQIIY/YOOztFVkGlI/AAAAAAAAFhM/Dm3qwZ2AY7U_o-SKyw5jah-lEyv6ZoglwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/catnip%2Band%2Bcilantro%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catnip and cilantro. And weeds.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-52425774930239948272021-06-30T23:08:00.002-05:002021-06-30T23:08:39.432-05:00Reinforcements<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Something killed eight of our hens a few weeks ago. G found the mauled carcasses in the run one night while doing chores. So in the interest of continuing to pay too much money to have too many fresh eggs available to us, we ordered reinforcements.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4t1KWMYfTM/YN0-xBUUZfI/AAAAAAAAFf8/kO8dAQIy4wIrpwYspVMnd_LO3jvk9i94ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/chicks%2B01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4t1KWMYfTM/YN0-xBUUZfI/AAAAAAAAFf8/kO8dAQIy4wIrpwYspVMnd_LO3jvk9i94ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/chicks%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">They're about two weeks old now, and growing fast. We keep them in a stock tank in our garage. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x50LMxqOTqw/YN0-6aKJUpI/AAAAAAAAFgA/Abauq4BtTEkP_pU6es3uyHXpqCKXPi-eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/chicks%2B02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x50LMxqOTqw/YN0-6aKJUpI/AAAAAAAAFgA/Abauq4BtTEkP_pU6es3uyHXpqCKXPi-eQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/chicks%2B02.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">We got a mix of breeds with this batch, including Welsummers, Delawares and brown leghorns. But I think my favorites are the light Brahmas, one of whom can be seen poking her head above the others and looking at me in the photo above. They have feathered legs.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4j7agH3oG9k/YN0--pdOv6I/AAAAAAAAFgE/k3hdI1Ay3QcvHmQyZNne2vH-TcOjG9gUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/chicks%2B03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4j7agH3oG9k/YN0--pdOv6I/AAAAAAAAFgE/k3hdI1Ay3QcvHmQyZNne2vH-TcOjG9gUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/chicks%2B03.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">In a few more weeks they'll graduate to the teenager coop in the shed, and when they nearly grown we'll put them in with the older hens. They should start laying around Thanksgiving.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-33575485670852413432021-06-29T18:24:00.002-05:002021-06-29T18:24:57.228-05:00Past prime<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">On Sunday we went to the Cities for a visit. We're all fully vaccinated now, and were itching to go somewhere and see people. So we piled into the minivan and drove north. O and E couldn't join us - they had already headed north on Friday to spend time with her family.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">We met Hubby's brother and family for lunch at a nice place called Cafe Thyme in Chanhassen. Good food, but very sloooow service - 1 & 1/4 hours from the time we arrived to the time we got our food.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">After lunch we went to the UMN Arboretum in Chaska. I love the arboretum and try to go once a year, usually when the roses are in bloom. The arboretum has many gardens, including two rose gardens, a cottage garden, Japanese garden, lily garden, peony garden, etc. Unfortunately the roses were mostly past prime, so I didn't bother with pictures.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTRxGKL3nVw/YNukJ_O5PTI/AAAAAAAAFfc/NzhAwCo_R7Q1_VKlMWlP6tOSMH37_b_kACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/arboretum%2Broses%2B02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTRxGKL3nVw/YNukJ_O5PTI/AAAAAAAAFfc/NzhAwCo_R7Q1_VKlMWlP6tOSMH37_b_kACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/arboretum%2Broses%2B02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo from last year's visit.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">My younger sister and her two girls joined us. We haven't seen each other for over a year, and her girls had grown so much! I was able to reassure them that I was still their favorite aunt. Much more favorite than their other aunt. They looked at me dubiously.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">The kids' favorite part was the hedge maze. After going through two or three times, we gathered the chitlins and made them stand still for a few moments for a photo.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-jvhXsr76U/YNuk2gdV9QI/AAAAAAAAFfk/kxp_0W8rzCQSyJaJAdadQ86FvsgUCb1SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1210/Arboretum%2Bkids%2B01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-jvhXsr76U/YNuk2gdV9QI/AAAAAAAAFfk/kxp_0W8rzCQSyJaJAdadQ86FvsgUCb1SwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Arboretum%2Bkids%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine are the middle two, G and B.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">While we were walking along, my sister's eldest daughter C (far left in the photo above) and I came up with ideas for our own arboretum. Something more kid-friendly. We'd have a zombie garden with shrubs trimmed to look like zombies. People could bring water guns to shoot water at the zombies a they 'fought' their way through. There would be an area where you could drive bumper cars on the paths between the flower beds. And there would be fountains that kids could actually jump into, instead of just throw pennies in. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">I told C that we should go into partnership together - she would be 'creative' and I would run the business. She agreed - she would come up with all the ideas and then I would do all the work. I decided that didn't sound like such a good idea after all.</span></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYgl53o0WUQ/YNurGWzr57I/AAAAAAAAFfs/N0tQ6g9cJpERrEsDgv2vZNqlzgN53fiHACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/zombie%2Bgarden%2Bgnome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYgl53o0WUQ/YNurGWzr57I/AAAAAAAAFfs/N0tQ6g9cJpERrEsDgv2vZNqlzgN53fiHACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/zombie%2Bgarden%2Bgnome.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">zombie garden gnome<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a few hours of walking in the hot hot sun we left the arboretum and drove to Shoreview to have supper with my older sister, her husband and her daughter B. By 7:00 we left the Cities and made the two-hour drive home. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Lora;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stumbling into our house with tired feet and slumped shoulders, I realized that like the roses I too am past my prime. I turned 50 a few weeks ago, so I am forced with the reckoning that I am now 'in my fifties'. I remember a time when I didn't think about my age, and 50 seemed so very far away. I seem to be thinking about it more often now.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-750423986674027782.post-1709428008448276942021-06-28T22:49:00.002-05:002021-06-28T22:49:25.376-05:00The River<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">A beautiful day today, a bit warm but not too warm. I drove out to Kettner Landing, one of the water access sites we maintain on the Minnesota. Since we're in a moderate drought the river is pretty low, but still nice to look at.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPnx5omdKps/YNqW8CPRQBI/AAAAAAAAFfI/KLwfgUYAV2wn01Reb7rKH5eM0-2LWG7egCLcBGAsYHQ/s1033/MN%2BRiver%2B01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="1033" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tPnx5omdKps/YNqW8CPRQBI/AAAAAAAAFfI/KLwfgUYAV2wn01Reb7rKH5eM0-2LWG7egCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/MN%2BRiver%2B01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Lora;">Mnisota, the name given by the Dakota, meaning sky-tinted water. Very apt.</span></span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0