It's not officially summer, but it's absolutely strawberry season here in central Indiana! My 5 year old and I picked strawberries yesterday afternoon at a local place that charges $1.49 a pound for u-pick. We ended up spending about $8 and getting over 3 quarts! That much would have cost $14 if we bought it from the farm stand, so that's a great deal.
Today, we're going to make strawberry jam. You may recall that I'm not really a fruit person, but I do love to make jam....so off we go!
ps- The jam turned out perfect! All but one jar sealed (thank you, inversion method) and it set up just like it's supposed to. Love making jam!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Aerogarden...aka, Fun With Hydroponics
I bought myself a used Aerogarden Classic 7 from a dude on Craigslist. Best investment ever! Well, not really, but probably a close 2nd to the Prius....
These are my new tomato babies growing in the light of the dome at just over 2 weeks old. So cute!
More on this topic as things develop...
Monday, May 3, 2010
Clean Energy....WIND!
I am obsessed with wind farming. Even the name of it seems whimsical, and yet it provides such a vital service, that calling it whimsical is almost insulting. For those who haven't seen the beauty of a wind farm first-hand, I'm including some pictures I captured yesterday of what I believe to be a portion of the Meadow Lakes Wind Farm off I-65 in Indiana.
Achieving commercial operation just recently in October 2009, the wind turbines in Meadow Lake can generate enough clean energy to power 60,000 average Indiana homes each year. How freaking cool is that?!?!?
And mostly, I just like looking at them. Which is why I think I should be a *passenger* next time we head back to Chicago....because I can't take my eyes off them!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Meal Plan week of 4/4/10 & a clothes line
Spring!! Yippee. I will keep saying that for at least another month, until it gets hot and muggy and then I'll be complaining about summer and wishing for fall!
I've been a little off my game lately, and I blame spring fever. LOL! I'm getting back on track and back-to-basics, so let's start with a meal plan for the week....
Sunday: Corned Beef Rubens
Monday: Turkey Chili (a la Homemade Gourmet)
Tuesday: Taco Soup (a la Homemade Gourmet)
Wednesday: Gumbo & Rice
Thursday: Spaghetti & homemade Meatballs, salad
Friday: BBQ Smokies and Coleslaw
Saturday: leftovers
So the part about being back-to-basics refers to the sad, sad state of appliance affairs at my house. Murphy's Law, as it were, has decided to wreak havoc over here. My microwave went out last week, so I've been heating coffee (and everything else) on the stove or in the oven. Then yesterday, my clothing dryer decided to stop heating. ACK! So I asked DH to rig up a clothes line for me...which I've actually been wanting for a while now. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I now have a clothes line hanging off my lower deck.
It's actually pretty cool. The clothes do dry out there pretty quickly, but I was only able to get 2 loads done yesterday due to extended drying times. So that's a bit of a drag, considering the dryer can dry double that in the same amount of time (at least). But I LOVE the idea of saving resources and being a little more green whenever possible.
Yes, I *am* going to have my dryer fixed...but not the microwave. At least not for a while. It's an interesting experiment to see how I can adapt to a way of living that is not unlike the way I grew up. We never had a microwave at home as a kid. Nor did we have a computer, cell phones, dvd player, video game system, bread maker or any of the other things I sometimes feel I "need". I will admit, we did have a dryer...cause living in the Midwest is a tricky proposition for trying to dry clothes in between rain and snow storms!
So for now, that's my story. I planted spinach outside yesterday and I'm looking forward to more blogging later this week.
I've been a little off my game lately, and I blame spring fever. LOL! I'm getting back on track and back-to-basics, so let's start with a meal plan for the week....
Sunday: Corned Beef Rubens
Monday: Turkey Chili (a la Homemade Gourmet)
Tuesday: Taco Soup (a la Homemade Gourmet)
Wednesday: Gumbo & Rice
Thursday: Spaghetti & homemade Meatballs, salad
Friday: BBQ Smokies and Coleslaw
Saturday: leftovers
So the part about being back-to-basics refers to the sad, sad state of appliance affairs at my house. Murphy's Law, as it were, has decided to wreak havoc over here. My microwave went out last week, so I've been heating coffee (and everything else) on the stove or in the oven. Then yesterday, my clothing dryer decided to stop heating. ACK! So I asked DH to rig up a clothes line for me...which I've actually been wanting for a while now. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I now have a clothes line hanging off my lower deck.
It's actually pretty cool. The clothes do dry out there pretty quickly, but I was only able to get 2 loads done yesterday due to extended drying times. So that's a bit of a drag, considering the dryer can dry double that in the same amount of time (at least). But I LOVE the idea of saving resources and being a little more green whenever possible.
Yes, I *am* going to have my dryer fixed...but not the microwave. At least not for a while. It's an interesting experiment to see how I can adapt to a way of living that is not unlike the way I grew up. We never had a microwave at home as a kid. Nor did we have a computer, cell phones, dvd player, video game system, bread maker or any of the other things I sometimes feel I "need". I will admit, we did have a dryer...cause living in the Midwest is a tricky proposition for trying to dry clothes in between rain and snow storms!
So for now, that's my story. I planted spinach outside yesterday and I'm looking forward to more blogging later this week.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Distractions
I'm still here!
I'm just SO distracted by Spring...I love how the weather has turned so beautiful all of a sudden.
I'll be back next week to blog some awesome stuff, but in the meantime, here's a preview!
More to come soon, just stay with me!
:)
I'm just SO distracted by Spring...I love how the weather has turned so beautiful all of a sudden.
I'll be back next week to blog some awesome stuff, but in the meantime, here's a preview!
- I bought an AeroGarden and ordered a seed kit. This is going to be SO fun!
- I have perfected my sourdough bread recipe and am working on a "breakfast bread" version.
- I'm trying to figure out how to make soy yogurt using the crock pot and my dehydrator.
- I'm getting back into sprouting seeds (to eat) and am looking into sunflower greens - yum!
- I got a new mop for the hardwood floors that I totally need to rave about, it's amazing.
- I've started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, and while I hate it, I also love it!
More to come soon, just stay with me!
:)
Friday, March 5, 2010
Free $5 at iHerb.com - love free stuff!
Have you discovered the wonders of Sweet Almond Oil? If not, you really should. I've been using Sweet Almond Oil for a while now, and I keep finding new things to do with it. My skin loves this stuff, and I bet yours will too...unless you have a nut allergy, in which case it's probably not a good idea. ;)
But the real point of this post is to share a coupon code for $5 off at www.iHerb.com which is my newest favorite online "health food" store. They have SO much stuff on this website, so be sure to check it out. You can order even just a couple small things, use the $5 credit and only pay for shipping! Sweet. Better yet, click the link at the top of the page called FREE SAMPLES and choose as many free samples as you want (one of each will be free).
I have found lovely essential oils, raw sunflower seeds, a myriad of vitamins and supplements, gluten-free products, cleanse products and melatonin...just to name a few things they offer. But again, my all-time favorite is Sweet Almond Oil. Want to know what I use it for?? I'm glad you asked.
I bet there are more ways to use this amazing, all natural stuff...what am I forgetting?
Oh yea, here's the CODE for $5 off your first order... KON547 and don't forget to add some freebies to your shopping cart! Happy Bargain Hunting!
But the real point of this post is to share a coupon code for $5 off at www.iHerb.com which is my newest favorite online "health food" store. They have SO much stuff on this website, so be sure to check it out. You can order even just a couple small things, use the $5 credit and only pay for shipping! Sweet. Better yet, click the link at the top of the page called FREE SAMPLES and choose as many free samples as you want (one of each will be free).
I have found lovely essential oils, raw sunflower seeds, a myriad of vitamins and supplements, gluten-free products, cleanse products and melatonin...just to name a few things they offer. But again, my all-time favorite is Sweet Almond Oil. Want to know what I use it for?? I'm glad you asked.
- facial moisturizer, just a few drops
- cuticle softener
- hair smoother
- eye make-up remover
- sugar scrub base (white sugar, almond oil and essential oil....divine!)
- bath oil
- post-bath body moisturizer
I bet there are more ways to use this amazing, all natural stuff...what am I forgetting?
Oh yea, here's the CODE for $5 off your first order... KON547 and don't forget to add some freebies to your shopping cart! Happy Bargain Hunting!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1st
Spring!!!
Well, ok, not really. But the first day of March always makes me feel like we've turned a corner and can really start to see the first signs that winter truly will be coming to an end soon. Since the Vernal Equinox isn't for a couple weeks, I can't get too excited about it actually being spring but I can see it on the horizon.
The snow is almost all melted (which in Central Indiana doesn't really mean much since the weather can turn on you in an instant), and I bet if I look closely there are some daffodils coming up already.
The temperatures are also steadily on the rise. Sure, it's only supposed to be 37 today...but the birds are singing this morning like I haven't heard in months! Surely, they know something wonderful is going to happen.
And lastly, today is a great day because I *think* (knock on wood) I am finally on the mend from a nasty sinus infection. It must be the pre-Spring air filling my sinuses with happiness! ;)
Happy March!
Well, ok, not really. But the first day of March always makes me feel like we've turned a corner and can really start to see the first signs that winter truly will be coming to an end soon. Since the Vernal Equinox isn't for a couple weeks, I can't get too excited about it actually being spring but I can see it on the horizon.
The snow is almost all melted (which in Central Indiana doesn't really mean much since the weather can turn on you in an instant), and I bet if I look closely there are some daffodils coming up already.
The temperatures are also steadily on the rise. Sure, it's only supposed to be 37 today...but the birds are singing this morning like I haven't heard in months! Surely, they know something wonderful is going to happen.
And lastly, today is a great day because I *think* (knock on wood) I am finally on the mend from a nasty sinus infection. It must be the pre-Spring air filling my sinuses with happiness! ;)
Happy March!
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