• Blog - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: garden update edition

    July 1, 2014 - By 

    T stands for Tuesday_200This edition of T stands for Tuesday is all about my garden….my edible garden that is.20140701_5614First we have the obligatory beverage. In my case, this morning, it’s still coffee resting along the deck rail. I have three boxes of herbs here and two really sad looking pots behind me in the photo. They are so scraggly and pathetic that I am ready to throw them out. 20140701_5621My raised bed is doing really well this year. I think having some tree limbs above it trimmed has really helps get the needed sunshine.20140701_5618Some of my lettuce is ready for a sandwich or salad. I’m thinking I need to boil some eggs for an egg salad sandwich…oh yum. 20140701_5619This year I decided to plant more than one cucumber plant since in previous years I’ve had such poor production. I also changed the location. They seem to be loving it here. Hopefully I’ll be seeing lots of little cukes from all those blossoms real soon.20140701_5622My “big garden” has tons of green bean plants that are covered in blossoms and lots of tiny beans beginning to form.20140701_5626The tomato plants in this garden aren’t looking so great. These are my large red variety vs the small yellow pear shaped ones in the raised bed. Hopefully they will produce some tomatoes.

    In addition, I have 4 plants at my in-laws house…2 of each variety.  Big J is mowing their lawn this summer so I took them up on the offer of using some of their garden space.

    Our CSA farm share has been pretty meager so far. The weather here in MN has been less than ideal. So many fields are under water. What we’ve gotten from the farm share has been good quality…just not much in the quantity.

    Another busy Tuesday for me…I’ll be around to visit as soon as I can…

    What are you doing today?

  • Blog

    T Tuesday: beach edition

    June 24, 2014 - By 

    I’m very late getting to my T stands for Tuesday post.  I really wanted to get a workout in this morning…then there was grocery shopping to do.  After that we had a date with the beach. I, of course, had my trusty water bottle with me…20140624_5413

    Our local beaches had been closed for a few days due to exceptionally high lake levels. All the area lakes are “wake free” zones.  No speed boating, trolling for fish, jet skis or anything that moves enough water to create a wake….that’s the V-shaped pattern in the water behind a boat for those of you without lots of water around. 20140624_5403The sand beach usually goes out to where the kids are playing.  They don’t’ seem to mind though. There were still tons of families out enjoying the day.20140624_5402It was just perfect.

    Now since I’m well hydrated but still a little thirsty…20140624_5412

    I think it’s time for one of these.

  • Blog - Kitchen

    T Tuesday: shrub edition

    June 17, 2014 - By 

    Good morning…welcome to T stands for Tuesday.  shrub mocktail

    Today I’d like to share my new refreshing summer drink with you….in my favorite glass, of course. I love this glass so much.  Recently I had a nightmare that I broke the top off it in a wickedly jagged form…I was very happy to wake and realize it was just a bad dream.

    So what’s in the glass?? It’s a shrub or drinking vinegar.  Ok…not as gross as it sounds. In fact, quite tasty. The first I ever heard of a shrub was from Kim over at art in red wagons.  Recently, I’ve started out the morning drinking a tablespoon or so of raw apple cider vinegar in a glass of water usually with a touch of honey or molasses.  I know…a little wacky but I like tart flavors and the health benefits are great.

    This brought me back to thinking about a shrub…then we got our first CSA box this past Wednesday.  Not a whole lot in it since our growing season has been less than ideal so far. The was rhubarb though. I’m the only one in the family that likes it. I started searching recipes on Pinterest and a shrub recipe appeared. shrubMaking a shrub is not an exact science. Here’s what I did.

    I chopped approx 2 cups rhubarb and a half dozen or so organic strawberries into a glass bowl.  Then sprinkled 1 cup of sugar over top and shook it around to coat. This mixture went in the refrigerator overnight to macerate.

    I poured everything into a clean dry canning jar..it was approx 2/3 full at this point. I then filled the jar to the neck with raw apple cider vinegar. I labeled it and let it sit on the counter, giving it a shake everyday. The recipes I found said to let it sit for a week before draining off the liquid and storing it in the fridge but I was very anxious to try it.

    Making the shrub is very simple. I poured approx 1/4 glass of shrub syrup over ice then filled the glass with club soda. It was slightly tart, slightly sweet and bubbly. Very refreshing.

    What do you think? Would you try this? Does it sound appealing at all?