tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48213792157964115942024-03-05T17:24:14.740-06:00A compendium...kəmˈpendēəm; a collection of things
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-50638164473824851272014-11-28T10:25:00.000-06:002014-11-28T13:15:25.987-06:00Not tonight, dear, I have a headache. <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: blue;">After we let the chooks out yesterday morning we played "Easter Egg Hunt" for a little while. We came up empty-handed, but I know there is a pile of eggs waiting for us out there somewhere! Since the chooks all free-range, sometimes the girls get the idea they can lay eggs wherever they want. If that happens, they can often be retrained by keeping them cooped up for several days in a row.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">As we were hunting for our diamonds (they have 40 acres over which to roam, but they keep it within about five acres), I glanced over at the run and noticed there were seven girls in the pen with No Roosters. Aaha!! That was half of the girls, so I shut them in the run and we started looking for the other hens. One by one we got them back in the run with nary a rooster. Man, you could tell they sure enjoyed meandering about in the run without being hounded by "the boys"! Here the girls are enjoying a peaceful breakfast. Rare indeed! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj1VTiJfNYaGapxSTSLRI73Iquj2R0nmMAN9ZFf3lWVCLea6FQOc8KFtN_1-ZRKde72uj3v5SmsHyY6kAaABwqcEPEi0KOjZu4NzfOVT77Bu075h4diAIMpx_gWaryuPfmFKhqir48X2h/s1600/IMG_4895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj1VTiJfNYaGapxSTSLRI73Iquj2R0nmMAN9ZFf3lWVCLea6FQOc8KFtN_1-ZRKde72uj3v5SmsHyY6kAaABwqcEPEi0KOjZu4NzfOVT77Bu075h4diAIMpx_gWaryuPfmFKhqir48X2h/s1600/IMG_4895.jpg" height="200" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottoms Up!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: blue;">I think I've discovered where the toast "Bottoms Up" came from! </span>Hopefully a relaxing day or two sans roosters will help the girls remember where their egg home is.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Below are most of the boys, outside looking in. Missing their girls. :) They hung out there All Day. It's almost sad. Almost. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Boys" worrying about their girls.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-41678857016014587512014-11-16T14:49:00.000-06:002014-11-16T14:56:47.394-06:00This is simply for the birds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m having a much appreciated day off. It’s just this side of bitter cold outside, and that often turns my mind to the birds and the bees and what I can do to help them out through the winter.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXU0MegEknFxN4behk-DaiNztgRue7Y3aqQfkbE74sygHiUM1y4yWEj9D9eB9MdDWifyQlOzS0pT2Vu-IQHCskaA-CjPL7H9qStEj0nijg8mg8g90X7D3l4xS3DPn-O86kWDjRhVL7Uz6/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXU0MegEknFxN4behk-DaiNztgRue7Y3aqQfkbE74sygHiUM1y4yWEj9D9eB9MdDWifyQlOzS0pT2Vu-IQHCskaA-CjPL7H9qStEj0nijg8mg8g90X7D3l4xS3DPn-O86kWDjRhVL7Uz6/s1600/IMG_4532.JPG" height="200" title="Suet ingredients ready for the freezer." width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me back up a bit. All year long, I save for the birds. If I have something suet-ish that is starting to get stale, <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I tuck it away in the freezer, anticipating winter and its lack of available bird food resources. Because I’m over 50 in people years, I try to remember to label everything - because if I sleep, I will forget. When I’m ready to cook up a batch of suet, I know it will help me remember that what I’m looking at in the freezer really is saved for the birds.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, on to suet making. It's been a long while since I made suet and I don't have a saved recipe, so I turned to that handy dandy what-would-I-do-without-it internet and did a quick search for some suet recipes. Every one I read was different, so I decided just to wing it. Kinda appropriate, since this is for the birds, eh? Heh, heh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I won’t know for a while whether I have enough of the binding ingredient, lard or peanut butter, but if it is an utter failure, I have chickens. They will be very happy chickens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here we go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gather your ingredients. Much like some of the soups I make, this could just as well be called refrigerator suet. I used the freezer ingredients I had set aside but then I just starting shopping for anything that I thought the birds might like. This batch I used: peanut butter, lard, graham crackers, cranberries, prunes, chicken scratch, cornmeal, oatmeal, and tortilla chips. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZVlWrVqI8cWjg_LzoiT6VWA_W3WUqmdP8x5o0g4WZngedMkdr_NiLdTqi-6T9LK-Y_dEZyrseL4W0jYW54DovuAckHVv5rvGaBiGwA6wkdrfJ1gSXcWoMttrLxevvCl2SQNTiff8yFbR/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZVlWrVqI8cWjg_LzoiT6VWA_W3WUqmdP8x5o0g4WZngedMkdr_NiLdTqi-6T9LK-Y_dEZyrseL4W0jYW54DovuAckHVv5rvGaBiGwA6wkdrfJ1gSXcWoMttrLxevvCl2SQNTiff8yFbR/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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D<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">id I say popcorn? No. Remember my forgetfulness? Guess I'll use that in the next batch . . . if I don't forget!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Time to assemble. Start melting the oil-based ingredients. I added the peanut butter and lard and some Crisco to the pan on a very low heat. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_elpvVIRn3_U-f-gGSQ4x0W1WbeJi9pefJzFthcda5lUHzVUBHitv9ISvzIcgffaxDtovaEJbpafXe10ft1AlituI8NZ4wU-rGibQ-MMmi1hchbzKai4CJQGUVEzQyoJPN0VCI5GIOaGZ/s1600/IMG_4510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_elpvVIRn3_U-f-gGSQ4x0W1WbeJi9pefJzFthcda5lUHzVUBHitv9ISvzIcgffaxDtovaEJbpafXe10ft1AlituI8NZ4wU-rGibQ-MMmi1hchbzKai4CJQGUVEzQyoJPN0VCI5GIOaGZ/s1600/IMG_4510.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I actually had some real-live lard saved some from a roast I had made several weeks earlier. It was excessively fatty so I started removing the fat to throw away but decided “Hey! I can use that for something!” Today it got used. Woo hoo! I love it when a plan falls into place. Yes, it’s the little things…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After that, it’s just a matter of throwing everything in there, stir it up, and press it into a parchment-lined pan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUR9HnpAGCR3wgIZrcYdCn85vHdFLf-dMy7AcoxTjl_Xc9tmOtYO-WAb54SWxDQNeE_sAwWiYnwEp84AmLFEWjqDEfgREN0GG6Zmk63UX1fum844sGTlzgGdl6p7eyxylB8M-NAnBHfWP/s1600/IMG_4521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUR9HnpAGCR3wgIZrcYdCn85vHdFLf-dMy7AcoxTjl_Xc9tmOtYO-WAb54SWxDQNeE_sAwWiYnwEp84AmLFEWjqDEfgREN0GG6Zmk63UX1fum844sGTlzgGdl6p7eyxylB8M-NAnBHfWP/s1600/IMG_4521.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I pressed everything down really hard with the back of my spoon and then got the brilliant idea that I should press one pan into the other. I got another piece of parchment and put on top of one pan, then squnched one pan on top of the other, pressing down on all sides. </span>That helped a lot, but I still went over it again with my hands, especially on the corners. I figure they will be vulnerable to crumbling.<br />
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And that’s it! <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now to let it sit and dry for several hours, then cut to fit the suet hanger and I’ll be making some birds happy in no time! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwosdVsSwcjNQc3ztC9pBfZTDGKYmEMnn8DQOLFKpYrtDZYQUeaDfWb7HUJ1Nn-ZOGze6NVLuE-OtnEG5MXd86MJ5CGhebBqcAXjouqW8yB7cUT7GKa-ZZJ2YJSX9IoInkCw5cq6DvFM3/s1600/IMG_4525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwosdVsSwcjNQc3ztC9pBfZTDGKYmEMnn8DQOLFKpYrtDZYQUeaDfWb7HUJ1Nn-ZOGze6NVLuE-OtnEG5MXd86MJ5CGhebBqcAXjouqW8yB7cUT7GKa-ZZJ2YJSX9IoInkCw5cq6DvFM3/s1600/IMG_4525.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Back in the ‘80s I took a college class that taught the pros of being an advocate. It seemed a silly assignment to me at the time, but I dutifully followed this particular homework instruction and wrote a letter to the organization of my choice about something I believed in. That was about as constricting as the assignment was. Full range of options there. Seemed no way to fail but to not write the letter. I wish I could remember that teacher’s name, because she did me a good service. I did indeed learn that if I had a strong feeling about something, it was probably worthy of a letter and the input more valuable to the company than I realized.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">About 15 years ago, the hubs and I moved onto our 40-acre slice of heaven and began gardening on a very small scale. Still, we had surplus food so I taught myself to can. As one who cans (and is a rather obsessed recycler), I covet glass jars, especially those that can be used for canning. And so developed my allegiance to Classico pasta sauce. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I had been using Classico pasta sauce long before I canned, but I had noted way back then that the jars they used were an official canning jar. I always thought that was trè cool. So it made sense that I would purchase their product when I wanted a quick and easy pasta sauce that was in all actuality quite good. (This is Not Yo’ Mama’s Pasta Sauce! Ugh; I remember those paltry, pitiful, barely palatable offerings of yore. Bleeyuck.) Well imagine my shock and horror when they changed their jar after lo’ these many years. WHAT? A standard canning lid will no longer fit this heretofore perfectly usable canning jar???! Removing fractions of an inch from the neck of the jar and the cap probably saved them tons of money, but in this day and age of “recycle, reuse, repurpose,” what the Heck were they thinking?!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, I wrote them. I fussed and fretted and explained that they had effectively in one swell foop lost me as a customer and added dramatically to the landfill. I was truly shocked at what seemed senseless to me.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Weeks later, I got a letter from Classico with free coupons for my anger. Sorry, guys, I ain’t that cheap. I tore up the coupons and threw them away.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Well much to my surprise, some months later, I received another letter from Classico. And guess what they told me? They were changing back to the old style of jar with the standard canning lid neck! How awesome is that?! Plus, they sent me another coupon for a free jar of pasta sauce.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSzC0nEbbBe79TXJfE8Teay1HxA5EN4KuvpyyovM2jb2FEkH6kSBuYE7OEvfLp13FqsaJhjO9zGELPlKBUMLCcFu_yiXrmAGDgIJ1kRlyxt6-PXBGPJV5QGYNOTtVA4JhutE1leHPClS/s1600/IMG_4014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Power to the People! :)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSzC0nEbbBe79TXJfE8Teay1HxA5EN4KuvpyyovM2jb2FEkH6kSBuYE7OEvfLp13FqsaJhjO9zGELPlKBUMLCcFu_yiXrmAGDgIJ1kRlyxt6-PXBGPJV5QGYNOTtVA4JhutE1leHPClS/s1600/IMG_4014.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" title="Classico Canning Jar Letter" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m guessing I was not the only customer they were doomed to lose due to an idiotic change that probably seemed brilliant at the time. Their executives are smart. They tried. They failed. They listened to their customers and they changed. That’s a pretty decent company, if you ask me.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And now . . . I get to use that coupon! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-77782500497965524712014-09-01T08:48:00.000-05:002014-09-01T22:24:33.419-05:00Let's talk about sex.<h4>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Guinea fowl are a bird that is difficult to sex. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C3rsr1rn9QsPGNjVdkFiYmEAUU8aUDba28XHOlqHjsXXrJgsZBanX-toniItlZ5hZaC42GguJ3WFEhK05ZccBLtJLcNlSMQWnXtupH3Ovcv7g3puvW7D8vuAwBeX4MeICwk75seNFajM/s1600/guinea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1C3rsr1rn9QsPGNjVdkFiYmEAUU8aUDba28XHOlqHjsXXrJgsZBanX-toniItlZ5hZaC42GguJ3WFEhK05ZccBLtJLcNlSMQWnXtupH3Ovcv7g3puvW7D8vuAwBeX4MeICwk75seNFajM/s1600/guinea1.jpg" height="174" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This means it is difficult to determine whether one is a male (cock) or female (hen). As keets (babies) it is nigh on impossible to tell. And there are only a few
clues as adults. By about eight weeks of age, sometimes you can tell by their helmet and wattle. Sometimes. On the male, both the helmet and wattle are usually larger and a tad more vibrant. I have read in a few places that you can identify by feather growth as a keet, but I have yet to substantiate this. As an adult, it is possible to sex by their vent (where the egg comes out), but the nearly sure-fire way to tell the sex of a guinea, once it gets its "voice" (again, at about eight weeks of age), is by their distinct calls. Although the female can imitate the male on occasion, her call is distinct. Some folks say it sounds like "buck-wheat" or "per-quack." That is all in the ear of the listener. But I like to go with what my friend's daughter calls it - "pot rack." Listen to the video below and you can decide for yourself what "Virguinea" is saying. But, one thing for sure, she is a she.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have yet to capture the sound of the male. Stay tuned for that exciting post!</span></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyK9tvkZ43L0Owk6FMOT51wOZXTihGxXeXV1CzM3x1w5houFq4agIkvzB4DcceDbKK4UDAw3oKal9XFHIsykw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-34620694683335525022014-08-03T08:14:00.003-05:002014-08-03T08:14:42.311-05:00Life with David<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I broke my scale yesterday morning. Waaaaaa. I didn't think to mention it to the hubs, as I am the main user of it. </span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCK-j-kgNiwVSUB5vFGPs9iR1Xb_Ig1NuuUjkafcBi5s_P9PntyUEnxhCzvkRek7V3D9o0C3gAmMIdV61beDcOdhNM0nMiEUZXxQ_JTEZ3IblwBSNhYCwFcRXBstQGnfvSwZytuXjKAET/s1600/IMG_3104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCK-j-kgNiwVSUB5vFGPs9iR1Xb_Ig1NuuUjkafcBi5s_P9PntyUEnxhCzvkRek7V3D9o0C3gAmMIdV61beDcOdhNM0nMiEUZXxQ_JTEZ3IblwBSNhYCwFcRXBstQGnfvSwZytuXjKAET/s1600/IMG_3104.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">After work yesterday I had to run an errand, which meant I would be late preparing dinner. Trying to help expedite things, David called and asked if I wanted him to slice the onions for the tomato pie. Onions make me cry like a baby and don't bother him much, so he is the Onion Slicer in the family. I was thankful he was planning ahead (or his tummy was) and I told him sure, slice about a pound. When I got home and went into the kitchen to start sautéing the onions, there was a HUGE pile on the scale. Had to be at least 2 or 3 pounds. I lifted it and said "Wow, that looks - and feels! - like way more than a pound. " It was then I realized he had been using the broken scale. I told him I had broken the scale that morning. He proudly announced that he had realized it was broken but had fixed it. I was still staring at the huge p</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">ile of onions, but I could feel him behind me beaming at his accomplishment. Then he said, "I wondered why the needle hardly moved on the scale."</span></h4>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-49663230231628306542014-07-30T12:21:00.000-05:002014-07-30T15:26:15.961-05:00A "sign" that you're in love...<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Everybody loves to hate pithy sayings. I've got the humor level of about a first grader, so I almost always love pithy sayings. They are clever, succinct, and always contain some level of truth, from very little to completely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What I love to hate are some of those pithy Facebook postings (aka memes). Oh yes, they have a place. I post many myself. Guilty as charged. But sometimes some of them just make me mad, and I have to shake my marbles and say "Really?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Today I saw a post that, in quite the Pavlovian manner, prompted an immediate head tilt and eye roll. Here's the "pithy sign," and then I'll extrapolate. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiEaXvx326fQf2G2EBQY1KvEHQMT2fdfYzcZZ8nwfBSKzjJ2xAquYvje3Xm4qQrSj_LwXJB5wx2J_1HBfECX0hlbf6OQm-4S-xmFw54cSjBlxvrVpmLKoQvtlvG46kNxFNpADDuI0r6hV/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiEaXvx326fQf2G2EBQY1KvEHQMT2fdfYzcZZ8nwfBSKzjJ2xAquYvje3Xm4qQrSj_LwXJB5wx2J_1HBfECX0hlbf6OQm-4S-xmFw54cSjBlxvrVpmLKoQvtlvG46kNxFNpADDuI0r6hV/s1600/IMG_2928.JPG" height="248" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Makes me <i>happy</i>??? Who out there, as did I, rolled your eyes when you read this? You're out there, I know you are. Come on, raise your hands. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I know this sounds cynical, but </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">I just somehow don't feel that </span><i style="font-size: 16px;">happy</i><span style="font-size: 16px;"> is a significant part of the description of love. Contented? Yes. Certainly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Though it would make the Facebook list of the Top 10 Never "Liked" Signs, here's how I think the last part of that sign should actually read: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love is about being with a person who....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...drives me crazy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...infuriates me</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...makes me want to scream</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...makes me look at how I need to change</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...makes me learn to communicate better</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...makes me learn not to pout... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> ...makes me ... makes me ... makes me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Makes you happy in a way nobody else can" sounds like the perfect little dream world, doesn't it? Oh what a lie we tell ourselves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Consider these definitions (thank you, Merriam Webster!):</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Main Entry: <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hap·pi·ness</strong> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pronunciation:</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><span class="pr" style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">\<span class="unicode" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ˈ</span>ha-pē-nəs\</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1</strong> <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">obsolete</em> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> good fortune <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> <a href="http://i.word.com/idictionary/prosperity" style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">prosperity</a> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 a</strong> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> a state of well-being and contentment <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> <a href="http://i.word.com/idictionary/joy" style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">joy</a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">b</strong> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> a pleasurable or satisfying experience. <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3</strong> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> <a href="http://i.word.com/idictionary/felicity" style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">felicity</a>, <a href="http://i.word.com/idictionary/aptness" style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">aptness</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Main Entry: <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">content </strong></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Function:</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">verb, </em><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: italic;">transitive verb</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1</strong> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> to appease (quiet) the desires of <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2</strong> <strong style="font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">:</strong> to limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">To me love isn't about being "happy." Happy is fleeting. Adulthood and responsibilities and different personalities jump in and take Happy by the horns and shake it to the ground and wrestle with it. Thirty-four years into marriage, I have had to embrace what I was taught through counseling: Sometimes love is simply a decision. (Wow. Not what i pictured at age 18.) I don't always "feel" happy. I don't always "feel" loved. But I said "I do" and that is a commitment I have had to stand by when Happy was hiding and Grumpy and Downright Angry took over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love is struggling through a marriage - a partnership - through thick and thin, and coming out of the battle with an intimacy and friendship and bond that is unknown to most. Unless you make the decision...</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-13609985104842745772014-04-07T10:24:00.002-05:002014-04-07T10:25:47.075-05:00Cloning a peach tree.<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I bought a cloning kit years ago and then promptly hid it from myself. I unearthed it a few weeks ago, so I put it out in a visible location (read: I will trip over it daily) so I would remember to try this technique this spring. What is so neat about cloning is that it is a fast-forward time machine. If you start a tree from seed, it will probably take a minimum of three years before it sets fruit. If you clone an item, you automatically have a plant the same age as its parent in just a few short weeks.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This technique is a variation of asexual propagation called “layering.” Layering allows roots to form on the stem first and then the stem is cut off. The result is a new mini tree that is ready to plant. How exciting is that?! The process should take 6-8 weeks. It is Day One and I already want to go out and see if roots have formed. Waiting is not my strong suit.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">In the picture here, I am cloning a dwarf peach tree, Red Haven, I believe. The peach tree is of fruiting age, so I should have fruit this year from this cloned tree specimen.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrlUKxNYRgVdsjrR3dWjWdhVqKAG96voY5iMnMoS6bg-qTDNLZhkMRdtgIY-WZPq0lwl6DBTFkFnv71M8eLk7gcaoecc6QLuq502iO1K5MyWoQNFUcYp8gSj4xI9w-1CVGlQbqeALDgWN/s3200/IMG_0978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrlUKxNYRgVdsjrR3dWjWdhVqKAG96voY5iMnMoS6bg-qTDNLZhkMRdtgIY-WZPq0lwl6DBTFkFnv71M8eLk7gcaoecc6QLuq502iO1K5MyWoQNFUcYp8gSj4xI9w-1CVGlQbqeALDgWN/s3200/IMG_0978.jpg" height="197" width="200" /></span></a></h4>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">1.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;">Cut a ring through the bark and remove bark. Should be about 1/2” in height. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">2. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;">The end result: cup in place and branch is </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">tied</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> to hold cup as upright as possible, which keeps water in cup. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;">L</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;">ayering cup. The bottom inch is a water reservoir.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> 4.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Tools needed - sharp knife, rooting hormone, soilless rooting mix, and layering cup with lid. The directions say to moisten the mix after you put it in the cup. I wet it down first so it would be good and moist. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">5.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Applying rooting hormone.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> 6.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Mistakes happen. The branch on the right side was too close for the cup to close. You need to have about an inch and a half of clearance under the cup. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">7.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Prune your mistake. Don’t you wish life were that simple? </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">8.</span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;"> Filling cup with soilless mix.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> 9. </span><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px;">Lid is applied and secured through slots in the cup. Tada! After assembling all the items it took about 5 minutes to do this. Now the wait… </span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I checked and this kit is still available. I purchased it from Lee Valley Tools. I don't remember what I paid but 5 cups cost $15 now, about the cost of one fruit tree. I see there are new options since I originally purchased it - a watering syringe and the rooting hormone. It is called the Rooter Pot. <a href="http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=46938&cat=2,47236" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see it.</span></h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-6127014547611922832014-04-06T15:04:00.001-05:002014-04-06T15:04:54.989-05:00The beauty of ornamental kale.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkbiEf0LYww-qJXa3jRW-OcKTFr2CkQi1bcGebrD6dUIGJE9GiIvISCZlk_tu1kXgVBFkcGlYHK9EKLKEX4svemwdREdzmOXr3GogwpD03tgGe8GphWbFYJVtJPuWG-YiDV_2Qeo7u2oV/s3200/IMG_9017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkbiEf0LYww-qJXa3jRW-OcKTFr2CkQi1bcGebrD6dUIGJE9GiIvISCZlk_tu1kXgVBFkcGlYHK9EKLKEX4svemwdREdzmOXr3GogwpD03tgGe8GphWbFYJVtJPuWG-YiDV_2Qeo7u2oV/s3200/IMG_9017.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale after a frost.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnUKy7hNC0Ix4JLuyDpzK9MGVEMRl2tZ2WcWyuk7jy8HM2ntj7_3GLqSKduopCkNCiYGOT7TPVw_ZYo8BlynGHhtCcKvCsXepqx0SofZFZ1hyMa5TgnZvjOVsY8CCrebXk2gSW2SOc9e4/s3200/IMG_0934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnUKy7hNC0Ix4JLuyDpzK9MGVEMRl2tZ2WcWyuk7jy8HM2ntj7_3GLqSKduopCkNCiYGOT7TPVw_ZYo8BlynGHhtCcKvCsXepqx0SofZFZ1hyMa5TgnZvjOVsY8CCrebXk2gSW2SOc9e4/s3200/IMG_0934.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale bolting.</td></tr>
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Ornamental kale. It fascinates me. It is a relative of cabbage (both are brassicas) but it doesn't form a head. Yes, you can eat it, but it is more bitter than the "edible" kale. It is a great plant for the winter, providing beautiful color when little else is even alive (left photo), much less thriving. But kale will be there, in all its glory. I took the photo on the right this morning. This is kale blooming (beginning stages). A biennial, it is going to seed and then will have completed its life cyle. If it is anything like turnip (another brassica), it will be great forage for my bees and they will go hog wild for the blossoms. The kale blossoms, in fact, look very similar to a turnip blossom. I can't wait to see what the bees do with this. Every year I find something else to strew around our property. Turnips, clover, dandelions, buckwheat, sorghum. This fall, I feel quite certain I will be adding kale.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-64039332911905090282014-04-02T09:00:00.000-05:002014-04-02T09:00:33.388-05:00Today I felt like a beekeeper.<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Learning beekeeping has been quite the process for me. I would have loved to have had a local mentor; I didn’t. Thank goodness for online mentors. They saved my honey on more than one occasion. I do have a few local folks I can ask questions of, plus I read a lot about beekeeping. None of that, however, takes the place of a stand-by-your-side mentor who will come to your apiary, or allow you to go to hers, and take you step-by-step through the process of everything involved in this awesome and wondrous craft. It is possible to learn beekeeping without a mentor (I did), but it is a much slower and more risky (to your bees) path. In the realm of beekeeping, that is most definitely not the best thing.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’ve been keeping bees for four years now. Every year I have learned a little more and every year I become more comfortable with the tasks at hand. I am learning to take notes. I say “am learning” because this does not come easily for me. It goes completely against my ADHD bent. But man, has it been invaluable. Duh. So I am learning to be methodical. Yes, me. Organized and methodical. (You would laugh sometimes at what that actually looks like, but this too progresses.) Sometimes it is several weeks between times I get into a hive. How the heck could I expect I would remember what I had done the last time I was in a hive? Can’t. Not gonna happen. I have five hives (soon to be seven!). Imagine if I had hundreds or even thousands of hives. Oy! Notes are imperative, truly. Get in the habit if you are not already.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It is said that an inspection will set the colony back for days. After all, I am disrupting the everyday workings of thousands of bees. With this in mind, I try not to go to my apiary without a plan. What specifically do I want to accomplish when I get into a hive? If I know this, I keep their disruption to a minimum and they can get back to collecting nectar and converting to honey, or repairing what I’ve just torn asunder. With notebook in hand, immediately after an inspection I write down the state of the hive, is there brood, did I see the queen, are there honey stores, is the hive testy? If I see something that needs addressed the next time, I write what I anticipate I will need to do during the next inspection. Before my next inspection, I pull out my handy dandy notebook, refresh my memory with the anticipated necessary tasks, and in one glance I can then set forth to gather any equipment needed for the inspection I am about to undertake.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PCWKkiggsIU5Psbb4xuKwmuDBG69AJNy30Qhm9b7JJ4OfC-90-ebYrrmxDVi-sUfZg3hWPUDO_Q-n05ikJSHWBfYmzECG0J-tTQNqGTBqrhWEywLkfV2SFWkNoawUV4AYAeYuXSlde0L/s3200/cart+right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PCWKkiggsIU5Psbb4xuKwmuDBG69AJNy30Qhm9b7JJ4OfC-90-ebYrrmxDVi-sUfZg3hWPUDO_Q-n05ikJSHWBfYmzECG0J-tTQNqGTBqrhWEywLkfV2SFWkNoawUV4AYAeYuXSlde0L/s3200/cart+right.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My inspection back on March 10 noted two things in my notebook: a possible queenless nuc and another nuc that had tons of brood. With those notes, I could think about my options: I might be able to simply add a nuc box to the booming colony or I might prefer to take it from a nuc to a full hive. I gathered both kinds of equipment - standard hive bodies (several, just in case), all the necessary frames, and a few nuc boxes in case I went that route. (I use almost exclusively 8-frame medium equipment, so any frame can be used in any box - nuc or hive body or super, which is a medium hive body.) I keep a tool bag that houses my hive tools, brush, frame holder, etc., so that is always at the ready and always goes with me. For transporting all my equipment, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">hubby yet again tolerated all my wants and needs and bought me a really cool dump truck sort of cart. It’s not too big, not too hard to pull, and it can hold a lot of equipment, minimizing my back-and-forth trips to the house for something I need but forgot. If you are like me and have your hives near your house, it’s a worthy purchase for around $100.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">March 30. I decided to address the booming nuc colony first since it would be the easiest. All my hives got checker boarded on February 18 and I was hoping that did the deed to prevent swarms. I had planned on getting into this hive a week ago, but as often happens, something came up. Delayed maintenance can often spell loss of lots of bees by way of a swarm. I was thrilled to see when I opened this nuc that there was not a single swarm cell! Was it the checker boarding? I just cant’s say for sure, but I’ma thinking it was. And brood - oh my! NOTED: Temperament was excellent and a potential hive for making new queens. Yeowza! This is what you want to see! I quickly took it to a three-high full-sized hive from a three-high nuc. Have you ever taken a plant and transplanted it to a new, bigger pot and then looked at it in its new, bigger pot and wondered how on earth it was ever making it in the size it was in before? That’s exactly how I felt with this colony. Man, it filled two boxes to the brim, full and fat. I added an extra box for honey, hoping with all my might my girls will do as well with nectar gathering as they are doing with expanding!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTZjR5bZDqvZZ7ClPEdkpmRaGzDdcRBV3TtOmweMOvf-2FABYFpEe9qHyBL1cQC9OZrYQJSKatHmAB3dELUMbZYCTo_B9KtYJIWtjgndH8qH3gdtfz2NEgGKMxXZHKJdY4P17DNlnQf3O/s3200/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTZjR5bZDqvZZ7ClPEdkpmRaGzDdcRBV3TtOmweMOvf-2FABYFpEe9qHyBL1cQC9OZrYQJSKatHmAB3dELUMbZYCTo_B9KtYJIWtjgndH8qH3gdtfz2NEgGKMxXZHKJdY4P17DNlnQf3O/s3200/IMG_0892.JPG" height="140" width="200" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now it was time to address what I suspected was a queenless nuc. At the entry, the bees appeared lackadaisical - a sure sign something was probably amiss. Watch the outside of your hives, it gives many clues to inner happenings. Inside, sure enough, no brood, no queen. But, thankfully, also no laying worker yet - woooo hooo! That made me happy. My task at hand now was to find a frame of brood in another hive and insert it into the nuc. Not just any frame of brood, however. This needed </span>to contain eggs that were 3 days old or younger so they could make a queen. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">There is a hive adjacent to this nuc hive. What was its condition? Could it spare a frame of brood? NOTES! Oh thank goodness for notes. I checked my notes from the previous inspection; not stellar notes, but it did say this hive had a queen and eggs and brood were seen. That should not have changed and if not I could steal from it. Now here’s the tricky part. Stealing eggs is simple. But you must steal eggs and not transfer the queen with said eggs. You have to find the queen first and then put her elsewhere. Amazingly (to me!), I found the queen rather quickly. I looked on the frame she was on and there were freshly laid eggs - a perfect frame to steal. I must admit I could have handled removing her a bit better. I kinda “shooed” her off the frame to a frame below. I was afraid to touch her. Afraid I would damage her, hurt her, drop her, squish her - a million thoughts ran through my mind. So I shooed. “Shoo, Queenie, shoo!” Her Majesty deserves better. I will work on this. Did I mention - she is F A T ! Fat must mean happy, right? So my queen is Fat and Happy. I retrieved the frame of eggs, inserted them into the nuc, sealed it, put an empty frame in where the stolen frame was and put that hive back together. Done!</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Having notes told me what to look for on this inspection. I went prepared to do just that. I expanded one hive, I found the queen so I could egg a queenless nuc, and I got Humptys put all back together again. When I was done, I was quite proud of myself and felt I had handled this inspection in quite the beekeeperly fashion - something I often feel is sorely lacking. I went with a mission and mission was accomplished. If I hadn’t taken notes, I surely would have been quite helter skelter. If you are not a note taker, I strongly encourage learning this habit. In the apiary, it will save you major effort and take your beekeeping to a more efficient level. Bee well!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-89885319112781102582014-03-24T09:13:00.002-05:002014-03-24T09:13:16.893-05:00Don't kiss your ashes goodbye!<div style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The last hurrah of winter has almost come. You've burned wood. You have ashes. Now what? </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Don't Throw Them Away!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wood ash, also known as potash, is an excellent, organic amendment for soil. It is full of micronutrients (calcium, zinc, and magnesium, to name a few) and is an effective and organic way to raise (make more alkaline) your soil's pH. And it's free! This makes wood ash an excellent resource, providing your need soil needs a bit of alkalinity.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wood ash is a form of potassium. Reflecting on that lovely Table of Elements chart from Chemistry 101, you may recall that the chemical symbol for potassium is "K." This is the K in the NPK ratio on those fertilizer bags. Potassium is a much-needed nutrient for plants, enabling them to use water more efficiently, resist drought and disease, and simply strengthens them overall.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPT7xdcpePUk-YmCCAZtnNpthP0n11izxna94u0kTHHVoGN3qQ633u18GMXEu6SPjknGB73mrA9v0GCucg-PJ8eAyGVzDdnxUWsDZRtRgGFDqOiEBlnts3tYDnHmGHTUWeSzw2vtyyqUv/s3200/photo+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPT7xdcpePUk-YmCCAZtnNpthP0n11izxna94u0kTHHVoGN3qQ633u18GMXEu6SPjknGB73mrA9v0GCucg-PJ8eAyGVzDdnxUWsDZRtRgGFDqOiEBlnts3tYDnHmGHTUWeSzw2vtyyqUv/s3200/photo+copy.jpeg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There are only a few caveats to using leftover wood ash in your garden. Wood ash as a soil amendment specifically means ashes from wood you have burned, not ashes from your charcoal grill. Think 'tree only,' and this means as it fell; no treated wood. Also, if your soil is already quite alkaline, forego the wood ash. (What?! Too alkaline? How do I know this?! Now might be the time to become friendly with that soil testing kit you've been threatening to purchase.) And while potatoes may appreciate a good dose of potassium, too much wood ash can cause scab. So use with caution around potatoes. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Understanding pH</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In the world of pH, 7.0 is neutral. Soil that registers lower than 7.0 is considered acidic. If the level is higher, it is considered alkaline, or sweet. Most plants appreciate a nearly neutral soil pH of about 6.5-7.0, but some thrive in an environment that is more acidic. I</span>t is critical to know the pH requirements of your plants and how your soil registers. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If you apply wood ash willy nilly to your garden, it could mean impending doom for some plants. Raising the pH of your soil is great for tomatoes, for example, but it would be disastrous for acid-loving blueberries or azaleas.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>How to apply</b></span><br />
Avoid windy days when working with wood ash and be sure to use protective gear. Gloves, mask, and eye wear are all de rigueur. The easiest way to incorporate wood ash into your soil is to compost it. Be careful, however, not to mix in too much at one time or you will skew the pH and scare off those beneficial worms at work. Add a thin layer alternated between those leaves or kitchen scraps. You can also lightly sprinkle wood ash directly on the soil, which will also function as a slug deterrent. If you miss the soil and it finds its way to the leaves of your plants, wash off the leaves to prevent burning. If using for slugs, reapply after a rain.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>It's the Bee's Knees</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Beekeepers should especially take note – wood ash is excellent for that clover yard you have been coveting. Clover thrives in a pH of 6.5 to 7. If your soil leans toward acids (very common in these parts), it will thank you for broadcasting a light layer of wood ash and repay you with oodles of happy little clover plants. </span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If your soil could benefit from a little pH adjustment, now might be a great time to address that issue. So be sure to save those ashes and do some down-to-earth recycling. And, ya can't beat the price!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-46656310157441410172014-03-05T08:35:00.000-06:002014-03-05T08:35:16.471-06:00Seed Starting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdSuxyBhGmMiORSBGGLaev9iDskQWwgwscthSnffIsMcT3t1pLGiRG5awz-tvsjkxoVo6nWhScSP3qKcy3qLIe2Jjq62pwRsnjvcRCfvwCu0jg6hQHd4R4cSewoo9Vl7zfdIz2uL_CRDX/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdSuxyBhGmMiORSBGGLaev9iDskQWwgwscthSnffIsMcT3t1pLGiRG5awz-tvsjkxoVo6nWhScSP3qKcy3qLIe2Jjq62pwRsnjvcRCfvwCu0jg6hQHd4R4cSewoo9Vl7zfdIz2uL_CRDX/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got a late gardening start this year for starting seeds, so when I placed my order I splurged and bought what I've been wanting for years - a seedling heated mat (left).</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYXyi8fwh1Q_BiVCJc4Wz4y8D2Gi3apf7Yss4LyXU0NAebQJsolRF9dUJrSuCgG_txjl-aGIYVF_qs-JMbrC85iwWCOm41He_HC0n6wK7hEIJyxfMmj0k3gOgog0LnKuoMKa1Igi4oEZk/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYXyi8fwh1Q_BiVCJc4Wz4y8D2Gi3apf7Yss4LyXU0NAebQJsolRF9dUJrSuCgG_txjl-aGIYVF_qs-JMbrC85iwWCOm41He_HC0n6wK7hEIJyxfMmj0k3gOgog0LnKuoMKa1Igi4oEZk/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG" height="320" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thyme, Basil, Beets - bottom to top</td></tr>
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</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heated mats are supposed to give a germination advantage by a few weeks (in addition to better germination), so I rationalized this would take me back to a mid-February start date. That is certainly worthy enough for purchase justification!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So far, I'm loving it. I started these puppies (shown on the right) on 3/2/2014. These sprouted in just 3 days! That's pretty impressive!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What have you started so far?</span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xrqvU1N-6Jc%2FUxcxejVY56I%2FAAAAAAAAAFw%2Fp3bCM69VOkQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0466.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdSuxyBhGmMiORSBGGLaev9iDskQWwgwscthSnffIsMcT3t1pLGiRG5awz-tvsjkxoVo6nWhScSP3qKcy3qLIe2Jjq62pwRsnjvcRCfvwCu0jg6hQHd4R4cSewoo9Vl7zfdIz2uL_CRDX/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-74983198653599502202014-02-09T07:22:00.000-06:002014-02-09T07:22:28.926-06:00Chickens - Again!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hubby and I have had chickens almost since we bought our 40-acre farm. But one by one we lost most of them. Now, 14 years later, we are down to two, third-generation roosters. We decided to wait<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>a while to <span style="font-size: small;">get a new <span style="font-size: small;">batch</span> of chicks </span>so hubs could re-work the existing coop and try to make it more safe from predat<span style="font-size: small;">ion</span>. We are vulnerable to racoons, hawks, skunks, and even the occasional mink.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not much progress has been made in the area of re-vamping the old coop. If I could show you my tapping foot, I would . . . because I am so anxious to get a new crew of chicks. But I do try to be patient<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">with my husband's limited supply of energ<span style="font-size: small;">y and the oh-s<span style="font-size: small;">o-many tasks on his "to do" list.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As it happens, yesterday, my son, who works at Sam's Club here in our fine city, sent me this picture of what they had just received in stock. It's called a Chicken Chalet. Man-o-man did that get my "I want new chickens" juices flowing! As soon</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj76Bc7rQXEPSwD7XsbIgvy2wzEptSxgK2TyPG4zHqTBwNc6H20Y853BVM59cNn5G43bGF6KMIK7LaVaiDoXMgUgaQm0GynWq0s1E2RJmn2JYMNbEre9ir5msuPFPs6n7LwadaTOClYwPZ/s1600/chicken+chalet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj76Bc7rQXEPSwD7XsbIgvy2wzEptSxgK2TyPG4zHqTBwNc6H20Y853BVM59cNn5G43bGF6KMIK7LaVaiDoXMgUgaQm0GynWq0s1E2RJmn2JYMNbEre9ir5msuPFPs6n7LwadaTOClYwPZ/s1600/chicken+chalet.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> as he sent me the picture, I went online to my local store and ordered one for us to pick up. We have to wait two days before we can go get it. Again, I'm trying to be patient. More waiting. Oh boy. (Is this what they call a recurring theme?) In the meantime, while waiting patiently, I will refresh my memory on tending baby chicks and do an inventory of what existing items we have, what might need mended or replaced, and I will make my list of things I need. Plus! - I get to study what breed of chicken I will order. I am beside myself with anticipation. While this coop will only hold 4-6 chickens, it still means I can get started again this spring with at least a few chickens. Who knows, maybe I'll order more chalets and sprinkle them about the property!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-77403305276118088072014-02-06T06:51:00.001-06:002014-02-09T08:08:08.145-06:00Karen's haiku. Winter winds blowing -<br />
Nightly the flash dance begins<br />
Covers kicked quickly.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-46358563034306712302014-02-04T21:10:00.000-06:002014-02-09T08:24:09.910-06:00Roast Leg of Lamb<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">I
was experiencing "cooker's block" the other night while trying to
think of what I might cook that would fill my need for "yummy." I worked
backwards into this roast lamb, because baba ganoush and hummus kept
coming to mind. The jump to a leg of lamb wasn't a far stretch. I
luckily found one on sale at the local market - half price. How fun is
that?!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">I love to peruse recipes, so when I set my sights on what to cook, I will pull out several cookbooks and read recipes online,
and what I end up with is usually an amalgam of several recipes that
I've pulled pieces from. <span style="font-size: small;">S</span>ince I'm usually<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>tinkering with ingredients I know I like, I almost always enjoy the outcome. Here is a recent endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Herb Encrusted Roast Leg of Lamb with Oven Roasted Carrots</b></u><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reserve </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">about a teaspoonful<span style="font-size: small;"> of the herbs t</span></span>o toss with </span>the carrots<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Be sure to let the roast come to r<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">oom</span> temperature before cooking.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgFPDexBAjBmK2SFvoBY5ON50LPPGAGF8KpSt0Cg3JGmMl4dEdeNznMMAYrbEt43K3ip0Q3B3Q_ps1zsUCSub6w_5NrWmPM7FYBXCk5HTCAOv5SVQoVo2YtUOpGBtN-rP5cM4NdUC9y28/s1600/leg+of+lamb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgFPDexBAjBmK2SFvoBY5ON50LPPGAGF8KpSt0Cg3JGmMl4dEdeNznMMAYrbEt43K3ip0Q3B3Q_ps1zsUCSub6w_5NrWmPM7FYBXCk5HTCAOv5SVQoVo2YtUOpGBtN-rP5cM4NdUC9y28/s1600/leg+of+lamb2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><u><b>INGREDIENTS</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 Tbs extra virgin olive oi<span style="font-size: small;">l</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;">6-pound leg of lamb, bone in</span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />6 large garlic cloves, minced</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">3 </span>Tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary or about<br /> 1 Tbs dried<br />(2 tsp chopped thyme)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 Tbs kosher or sea salt<br />1-2 tsp freshly cracked pepper<br />1/3 cup Dijon mustard<br />1.5 pounds carrots<br />2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil</span></span></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">DIRECTIONS</span></span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">PREHEAT OVEN to 450<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Mince the garlic and chop the rosemary and thyme, if using, and combine with the salt and pepper, r</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">eserving a teaspoon or two for the carrots. You can chop your ingredients on a cutting board, whir them together in a food processor for a few seconds, or use a mortar and pestle. It's all a
matter of ease. I have even used a coffee grinder.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add the mustard to the herbs and mix well. </span>Using your hands, slather the mixture evenly over every nook and cranny you can
possibly find. After <span style="font-size: small;">you've</span> cove<span style="font-size: small;">r</span>ed the lamb evenly with the <span style="font-size: small;">mustard mixture</span>, <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">cover </span>in
plastic wrap and let it marinate in the refrigerator over nigh<span style="font-size: small;">t. If time is of the essence, let it marinate for as long as<span style="font-size: small;"> y</span>ou can sp<span style="font-size: small;">are</span>.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cook for 25 minutes at 450, then lower the heat to 350 and cook another hour or so for medium rare.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Medium rare for lamb is right at 145 degrees, if your thermometer
works correctly.</span></span>
My thermometers have never worked right (or maybe it's the driver?), and I've tried several, so I've resorted to
kicking them out of the oven and going only by time. Going by time does require a bit
of guesswork, but I've cooked many a good roast that way. </span><br /><br />Meanwhile, back at the ranch...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;">While the roast is cooking during the "first leg" so to speak, or while you are
waiting for it to come to room temp, peel and slice carrots. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Toss the carrots with the reserved herbs and the olive oil. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;">When it's time to drop the temperature down to 350, sprinkle the carrots around the roast and cook the remaining hour, basting every 20 minutes.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Remove the lam<span style="font-size: small;">b from the oven when done and set on a platter <span style="font-size: small;">to rest for about 15 minutes. </span></span>Slice and serve with th<span style="font-size: small;">e carrots.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-49935138243730094512014-01-15T15:52:00.000-06:002014-01-15T15:55:00.707-06:00Bee Basics 101I love beekeeping. What a fascinating hobby! If you have any interest at all in beekeeping, I urge you to contact your local beekeeping club (call your extension office if you are not sure how to find it) and see if they have a mentor program. Tell them you want to shadow someone for a while so you can see what you <i>really </i>think about beekeeping. S<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">tarting beekeeping</span> can be quite intimidating if you have absolutely no idea of what is involved. Since I was "that person" (the one who just jumped in, no questions asked), I have learned by the school of hard knocks. I really don't want YOU to do that. You may attempt it, fail, and thus give up on something that, done differently, you would still enjoy years later. So I started a mentoring program of sorts at our local library. Just a very casual Q & A, sit-and-chat meeting. I hope to address those burning questions that many beginners have. And since there are beginners world-wide, I recently started an online Facebook page for beginning beekeepers - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeeBasics101">BeeBasics101</a>. It's a new Facebook page, so it's dying for your input. ;) Pop in and see what you think!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-75637218959180329272014-01-15T15:46:00.002-06:002014-01-15T15:49:06.413-06:00Maybe you can force an issue...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEO07D3r57FUX_cpRIEPbIhTAKKfN6RPOsMxA4vtUViXIkR0Rm3SbnK4qHF38otJriT1UxyCTw2Ij8YyQ7NnP05u76t0wBiWH1jyheJR5_q8i8W-x3zy5AO-99TQ-rPiHb-RexgkeLsA5_/s1600/forced+crocus+blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEO07D3r57FUX_cpRIEPbIhTAKKfN6RPOsMxA4vtUViXIkR0Rm3SbnK4qHF38otJriT1UxyCTw2Ij8YyQ7NnP05u76t0wBiWH1jyheJR5_q8i8W-x3zy5AO-99TQ-rPiHb-RexgkeLsA5_/s1600/forced+crocus+blog.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anxiously awaiting forced crocus blooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
My husband is always telling me,<br />
"You can't force the issue."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I think I'll prove him wrong. I'm going to hybridize a new flower bulb and name it "The Issue."<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-47208858793726409472014-01-13T14:58:00.001-06:002014-01-15T15:49:46.049-06:00Staving Off Starvation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6ZTcab4uvRr3IeHOy_kWiyaMg1QifFAts66eps064j2l-HhP53FZ2TlBC7vgQE4LSwx46qoVnOhMvEKuP0rDnA58neReTOpaShPLzVfuLvHmLZ0CJLgsUzYsddCs0xcwZ2LNAVwq9m8r/s1600/staving+starvation+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
We had had a week of some pretty nasty weather. Icy, windy, sleety, rainy. Near zero temperatures, an all-around nasty week.<br />
<br />
When
I wrote this, it was 39 out at 8:00 a.m. Not bad weather for you and
me, but honey bees tend to stay bundled up and inside at that temp. The
high was forecast to be 57. And sunny! That meant the bees would surely
be out. Though I knew it was a little early for them, I had peeked out
to see if there were any brave ones by the feeding bowl. Not yet. I
would be leaving shortly to go to work, but I was waiting, with baited
breath so to speak, to see if a girl might arrive before I left. Four
years into beekeeping and I still am almost as excited by my bees as the
very first day I became a beekeeper.<br />
<br />
In these parts, in the
winter, when it's going to be warm enough for bees to fly, bees can
expend a lot of energy looking for nectar that simply isn't there. So I
put out barely-moistened sugar for them to eat. Just like those who put
out food for humming birds, I set out sugar for the bees. Many bees
starve in the winter, for various reasons. This is my way of helping to
stave off that starvation.<br />
<br />
I did get lucky before I headed to work
that morning. Two girls donned a bee coat at 41 degrees to sup some
almost-nectar. It is now my day off, another warm day, and they are
coming like crazy. A very welcome sight.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkipupNzrHLP-LS7NaQ3ZhaeE8NX9SUZBTSO0W9dWW8MX5vRZutFL7C56ONz25LCosEmdqdCtORK1plEUmpCd_UfDJXigl2PEZdawT-cgtOrRfy4K5Gt1Rb6gePUXt-CJBVKw2vB6TABp/s1600/staving+starvation+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkipupNzrHLP-LS7NaQ3ZhaeE8NX9SUZBTSO0W9dWW8MX5vRZutFL7C56ONz25LCosEmdqdCtORK1plEUmpCd_UfDJXigl2PEZdawT-cgtOrRfy4K5Gt1Rb6gePUXt-CJBVKw2vB6TABp/s320/staving+starvation+blog.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-72049049923937422942014-01-12T08:00:00.000-06:002014-01-12T08:14:37.097-06:00Winter wonderland<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Though dangerous, an ice storm brings its own kind of beauty. 1/9/2014.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-49426870238423155772014-01-07T12:34:00.001-06:002014-01-15T15:51:29.827-06:00Pure isn't pure. Thank you FDA.I'm a bit of a purity nut. I never used margarine because butter is pure and natural. (Yes, I can be a contradiction here too, however, so don't call me on it when you see it!) I like my brulee plain, and my martinis old-school – rarely dirty and never gussied up. <br />
<br />
I decided to make vanilla extract last month. Fairly easy to do. <a href="http://www.beanilla.com/" target="_blank">Here</a> is a great place to get your beans, and there are <a href="http://www.beanilla.com/blog/homemade-vanilla-extract/comment-page-1#comment-365" target="_blank">recipes</a> there also. Very simple. About 5 beans to 8 ounces of vodka. Then just time.<br />
<br />
My extract had been marinating about five weeks, so I popped the top and tasted it. Hmmm. Tastes like alcohol. No surprise there, I guess. For years, people have been known to drink extract for its alcohol content. So I opened a vanilla extract I had in my cupboard. It tasted more vanilla-y; sweeter. I wondered why. Mine had been soaking plenty long enough. Two weeks is often suggested, but I wanted to go the extra mile and waited a very long five weeks. I contacted Beanilla and this is the (very helpful) response I received.<br />
<br />
<i>The flavor comes out of the extract during the baking process. At this time, the heat evaporates the alcohol from the extract, leaving behind a rich vanilla flavor. <br /><br />Store bought alcohol often contains artificial additives or sweeteners, which will definitely mask the flavor of alcohol if you are sipping from the bottle.</i><br />
<br />
Additives?! To vanilla extract? It never occurred to me. So I pulled it out and sure enough, it had glucose syrup added. Sugar! But the label said “Pure Vanilla.” I pulled out my other bottle of vanilla. It said “100% Pure.” Another taste test ensued. The “100% Pure” bottle tasted just like mine, alcohol-y.<br />
<br />
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I might not ever have thought twice about the difference between pure and 100% pure, had I not wondered how companies like Fisher can sell “pure” honey when I knew good and well it was NOT pure. I did a little research about honey and found that for an item to be considered “pure” by the FDA, it need only contain 51% of the named ingredient. Fifty-One Percent. If it is labeled 100% pure, we are to know that nothing has been added. <br />
<br />
Now, doesn’t this just chap your hide? Pure isn’t pure.<br />
LESSON: Look for 100% pure when it matters.<br />
The rest is just smoke and mirrors.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-86676415018711438952014-01-06T14:29:00.000-06:002014-01-15T15:52:29.136-06:00Polar bees?It was mighty cold out, 12 degrees when I woke up this morning; the windchill hovering at zero. I feared for my bee girls and was anxious to check on them. I keep a stethoscope on hand for just such occasions. I dug it out of my beekeeping equipment, donned it and a multitude of other winter wear, and headed to check my five hives. With much trepidation, I place the stethoscope in the upper middle of a hive box, guessing at where I figured the cluster might be. I heard a hum – or so I thought. I moved the stethoscope to another location, same hum. I just couldn’t be sure, a good scope picks up a lot of background noise. I planted my feet and stood very quietly so I wouldn’t crunch any of the surrounding leaves. I gave the hive a stiff rap. Wrrrr! Bees! My little heart went pitty pat. They survived the night. I checked all five hives and can say with certainty that 4 are humming along. At least today. They aren’t out of the woods for another 3 months, but this was certainly a test they passed. As to my fifth hive, I just can’t be certain. I may have placed the scope on the wrong spots. Maybe it’s a smaller cluster. I won’t know till it warms enough for them to fly. That looks like Thursday. And then I will know for sure. In the meantime, my heart is lighter knowing possibly all survived some bitter cold winds and temperatures. And for this keep, that’s some mighty good news.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4821379215796411594.post-3932464511481867862013-05-06T11:18:00.001-05:002014-01-15T16:05:33.803-06:00A compendium.<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A compendium</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - </span></span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">kəmˈpendēəm; a coll</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); background-color: white;">ection of things, esp. one systematically gathered. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus begins my venture into the world of blogging. When trying to decide what I wanted to blog about, I thought, "Why limit it?" I'm ADHD, and I chase many butterflies, so you can expect to see posts about recipes (I love to cook), flowers (I love to garden - organic, of course!), and I love beekeeping, so you will see posts on honey bees too! So the word compendium is such a perfect word! It allows me to follow my whims. When the mood swings, who knows what you'll see in these confines! So please enjoy. I look forward to your input!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219911861285277834noreply@blogger.com0