Long Day & Silliness

I just got home from bingo. My shoulders are so tight.... You can tell that the full moon is upon us.... as everyone at bingo tonight was wound up. I'm happy to be home in the comfort that is mine. Today we found out that Grim can pick up his new bike on Friday! He is one happy Monster! Yep, I think I neglected to share that fact with you that Grim is a monster, the last of his kind!

You see once upon a time I was a great and valiant monster hunter! I hunted them for years. I searched high and low! I found them under beds and in closets! They were always hiding where they were not wanted. And being the good hunter that I am,everyone that I killed, I ate.... Never let it be said that I let anything go to waste! Then one night as I was searching I stumbled across the biggest, silliest monster of my entire life.... He charmed me, you see as he is a smooth talker don'tcha know!

That's how we ended up with the little monsters. I always wanted them to know even though they aren't 100% they will always be monsters to me... LOL!

But on to real life stuff...I found lemon balm, pineapple mint and spearmint to replace the ones that didn't want to come back. I am very happy... I plan to try and do a bigger harvest this year, maybe two. That way I have plenty for teas.

I don't think I told you the grapes are showing signs of life.... I hope since this is the third year that I will get a bunch or two! The apple and the pear are both blooming.... I am so excited...Apple bloosoms... Now hopefully, that will mean apples!

Hey does anyone know when I grind my wheat berries am I suppose to sift out the hulls or do I just leave them in? Any help would be most appreciated!

Gotta Run
Yart

Beltane!

Blessed Beltane, Happy May Day!!! I think that May 1st is more the first day of Spring for us here in the Northern Hemisphere. We have had some signs of Spring but from here on out the weather should just continue to improve! I had not thought about the date when I scheduled the Moderation Nation get together. So here I sit waiting for family and friends to show up and the dietitian to arrive. There is 7 minutes to countdown and no one is here. Sometimes my family.....ahhhhhhhhh! No point in finishing that sentence, you all know cause you all have family.... LOL!

My bleeding hearts are bleeding.... I didn't even consider them coming back but they did! And oh, so pretty!

Picky wanted to plant flowers up front this year, I picked her up pansy's. Purple and yellow! They were on clearance at Lowe's for $5 a flat. I couldn't pass it up as they are like $12 a flat for the really healthy ones. These just need a bit of TLC and they will be fine.

My tulips are budding up and one is almost ready to open. This is my first time with them. So I am really excite to see them grow. The lilacs are doing really well. The one in the back is full of blooms but the one in front only has a couple. I think this year I will get enough blooms to bring some in to the house.

We are going to start the Harry Potter Marathon tonight... Part 1 here we come.... They were such babies when the movies first came out! I know we should be watching the Pirates movies as the new one comes out May 20th... But with Grims work schedule, we need to pick one over the other...LOL!

I'm adding two songs here that I have just come to like.... This way I can keep track of them with out having to install one of those automatic music things to the site.... If you want to hear them great and if not I won't subject you to my music choices!





Gotta Run,
Yart

Spring Cleaning

I have started my spring cleaning... Even though it is like only 45 degrees right now. No I mean that is what I have been doing the past couple of days. I am hosting a Moderation Nation from Hershey's party on Sunday. I hate cleaning to begin with and couple that with having people over and a complete stranger... Stressed doesn't even begin to describe it.

With all the cleaning I thought I had a doctors appointment tomorrow. You know to get my blood work redone to see how my cholesterol is and to show the doctor that I have lost 18 pounds. Yeah, well, I guess the appointment was actually this past Tuesday. They didn't call to do a reminder.... so I have to call tomorrow and reschedule. No big deal.

I got out when the weather was still good and planted yellow and red beets, multi-colored carrots and red onions. I wasn't going to plant a ton of different things this year. Just tomatoes and squash and beans. I know I am a renegade....LOL! I can't even follow my own rules. Not a problem, though! I am going to be building my mom two 4x12 raised beds for her house. I will plant lots of stuff over there. She only wants some tomatoes, what a deal. More room for me and a few tomatoes for her!

I also went to the farmers market ~ plants ~ only. I picked up a tomitillo. Just one, it is sitting under the grow light with the rest of the seedlings. It is just still way to cold to put tomatoes outside. I need to wait at least 2 more weeks. Mother's day weekend, should be good.

We picked up paint for the garden fence! It is yellow and aqua. Yep, part Polish and Proud of it... LOL! Now if the rain would just go away so the fence can dry out that would be great. I still need to finish weeding out the last 3 beds. That is a job that will have to wait.

I am working on socks with double pointed needles. Needless to say there is a class, I will be taking it. It is 3 weeks long and I hope they can help me. Either with the needles or teach me how to do it in the round. You knitters know what I'm sayin'. The lady that taught me to knit is no longer in business, Diana would have been able to teach me. I hope these new ladies can help!

It's getting late!
Gotta Run,
Yart

Back to Normal (almost)

I am getting ready to take the monsters to school. It is always bittersweet. I love having them home but I enjoy them leaving also. As soon as the littlest one is out of the car I will head for the gym. I need to go, my body is craving it.... LOL!

There are a couple links I want to share. The first one got me thinking. It is for Pickled Eggs. She offers several different recipes. Simply Recipes. I cracked up a few and put them in pickle juice. So we will see how they turn out. Hopefully, the monsters will like them.

Home Storage Skills offers the Ultimate way to season cast iron here. I need to get some flax seed oil.... I have two pans that have been waiting for me to have time to do them. Well, I guess I was just waiting for the right time and now the right technique!

I thought that this was just neat and wanted to share.....
Encouragement for the Doers

You can even make healthy soda pop.... Yep, healthy!
Kefir Soda Pop

Have you ever thought of making homemade sanitary napkins? I know I have, but never got around to doing it. Well, there is a place here on line called Lunapads, they offer a selection of washable sanitary napkins, in several styles. Nope, I'm not getting anything from them... this is just a "hey I found this and you might be interested", type of thing.

Now I've cleaned up all my open windows, by sharing! One more thing accomplished!!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Beautiful Sunday

I hope that the Easter Bunny came to everyone's house in the wee hours of the morning... LOL! He made a stop here for the monsters! I like the fact that they do get some candy it's not a ton....LOL!

So this weekend we had wonderful weather. And with that Grim and Teenage Monster built me a fence and gate for the garden. They worked like dogs.... the first post hole was dug pretty quick... all sand... the other three were all clay.... so it took forever and they were sore and beat after the holes were dug. But they persurvired and got the whole thing done for me last night. I am so proud of both of them. They put in a hard days work for me! Now the dog can't get in and wreck my plants anymore!!!

My chives are going crazy! This year I am going to make chive vinegar.... Not only is it pretty to look at. Since I haven't made it before here are the directions and pictures of how kewl it is!
A Garden for the House

My strawberry patch kind of looks pathetic. It will fill in as the season goes. I have alot of new strong growth. So we should get a nice crop again this year.... Since we were all outside yesterday, I thought that I needed to be weeding. So I got 9 of the 12 beds weeded. While I was weeding I found that a few things wintered.... I have 4 Swiss chard and 3 brussels sprouts.... Who knew.... and of course as I'm weeding what do I find... carrots that I planted that did seem to grow. They did I had some huge ones that I dug out.... if only they would have shown some growth above ground last year. I know what your thinking, how did I miss them.... they were growing under the straw. I won't make that mistake again this year.

Today I made potato salad, macaroni salad, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, ham, potatoes, corn, deviled eggs. It was just the 5 of us and my mom. I like having just us for meals... Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having a house full of people, but not all the time. It use to be here that we would have 30 people for holiday meals like today. Alot of work and even more of an expense. I even had time today to sit out in the yard and enjoy the sunshine. After the winter we had I am soaking it up... LOL!

Oh, I almost forgot... Picky monster got picked for a scholarship, won for girl's high game and got top girl's spot for the singles tournament. So one plaque, one trophy and a certificate! She is so looking forward to going to the summer league, so that she can get better... So Proud!!!

Oh, did you notice I found the cord to the camera....?

Gotta Run,
Yart

Homestead Happenings

How is everyone doing today? Good I hope! We are all fighting off a little bug, nothing major, just annoying. Grim, was home most of the day today. So we went to one of the area parks, it is a metro park... Now it's not a State Park or a County Park.... But you have to pay to get a membership for the year. They have nature centers and walking/bicycle paths. Wooded nature walking trails are what we hit today. There were tons of deer. They kept hopping out of the bush onto the trail right in front of us. Very Kewl!

Then since we were already out it was time to see if my farm markets were open yet. Nope, not till the end of the month. But I did stop to see the old farmer.... he usually has stuff to sell. I wasn't dissappointed. I got foodhook, italian rose beans and purple hull beans. I also got a flat of romaine lettuce. After we got home I had to get off my lazy butt and clean out one of the beds. So now that is done and the 24 heads of romaine are planted. In about 3 weeks I will go back and get another flat for another box. That way I can stagger them. I know what your thinking why not grow them from seed. Lettuce hates me. I have tried before and I will try again at another time. But since I want lettuce I need to buy starts. Where else am I going to get 24 heads of lettuce for $8.99.

Tonight I needed to do some sewing. There was a fitted sheet that got a tear and Grim's jammie pants ripped ( cheap store bought ones), anyways.... As I was sitting here sewing, I thought how lucky I am. Yep, lucky to be darning. I feel that way because I had the forthought to learn how to do it. I have the ability to put that knowledge into action. And that I have the tools at my disposal. It makes me know that know matter how good or bad things get there is still a basic knowledge of simple survival in me. Kewl, huh?

Grim and I will be going tomorrow to get the supplies to put up the fence and gate to keep the gaurd dog from using my garden as his personal potty! It is just 4 posts and wire fencing. I would so love to go and get a couple of chickens to toss in there but my neighbor would complain to the city, I'm sure! Since we will be at the big home improvement store I think I will get the lumber to make a couple raised boxes for my mom, a gallon of paint to get the dining room done, and the chair molding to keep all the scratches off the newly painted walls. Oh, and I need to look at a new fan for Mouthy's room.

Now I'm tired so I'm off to bed!
Yart

Recipes

I found these recipes and thought that some of you might enjoy them also... so I will share!

These first two are from clean eating
Baked Barley Casserole with Mushroom and Squash
Steak & Farfalle Pasta Creamy Tomato sauce

The next 2 are from Jamie Cooks it Up!
Teriyaki Chicken and Noodle Bowl
Soft Jumbo Pretzels

These next ones are from Babble.com
Homemade Reese Peanut Butter Eggs
Disappearing Marshmellows: Resurrection Buns
Pumpkin Guinness Gingerbread
Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream
Hasselback Potatoes
Carmel Macchiato (starbucks copycat)
Shamrock Shakes
Poptarts (clone)

See what happens when I don't have a clue as to what to make for dinner... LOL! I find all kinds of stuff!

Here is the absolute best looking recipe for the day!
Easter Creme Brulegg
I really hope the Easter bunny brings me some Cadbury eggs so that I can try this... YUM!

Gotta Run,
Yart