tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9508729399854218582012-02-01T10:11:18.103-05:00The exploration of living a modern life in rural America.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.comBlogger3421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-90857209087020299472012-01-29T10:37:00.000-05:002012-01-29T10:37:37.536-05:00

Last weekend I spent my Saturday afternoon on the computer. That's not out of the ordinary, but what I did was a little different than usual. Instead of writing for one of the blogs, or researching recipes, gardening techniques, or homeschool resources, I watched TED cover "Changing the Way We Eat". I didn't get to watch the talks in their entirety, but what I did see got me really excited.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-43097951438101658642012-01-27T13:34:00.000-05:002012-01-27T13:35:13.940-05:00

This week I got my annual supply of meyer lemons from the Lemon Ladies out in California. No it's not local, but neither is the rice that I use on a regular basis. They are, however, fed with organic fertilizer and grown here in the States - as opposed to being imported from Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa .... In spirit of all this lemony goodness, I thought I'd revisit some of my previous

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-8861847118817217162012-01-23T11:57:00.000-05:002012-01-23T11:57:21.518-05:00

Last week at Not Dabbling in Normal I posted about our choice to educate our daughter at home. I thought I'd share some of my resources because, well, homeschooling can be expensive. I'm starting off this short series with some online resources, which I'll follow with a list of some wonderful blogs and then some really, really great iPad apps. All of these resources are something that I or

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-71184247233457462142012-01-08T10:10:00.000-05:002012-01-08T10:10:42.778-05:00

Realization has set in that we're going to be in this rental for a while. Our house in Tennessee is still up for sale, but the market is such that we'll have to recoup what we've lost before we can get into another more permanent location. That means it will be a while before I have hens again, or get goats and sheep, or even a full-fledged garden. I do very much miss my farmette and all the

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-24938645695936723472012-01-02T16:14:00.000-05:002012-01-02T16:14:11.291-05:00

I continue to be amazed at the quality of food that our friends we've made through the Dark Days Challenge keep making. When we began this challenge, I honestly expected to see lots of cheese, eggs, and canned items. But no! These wonderful people are sending me links of restaurant quality food! Thanks to our holiday scheduling, we've got a few weeks of recipes to catch up with. I hope you enjoy

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-50196160613741867742011-12-21T15:36:00.000-05:002011-12-21T15:36:47.121-05:00

The Kid and I are crafting up a storm today! So far we've made borax crystal snowflakes, added some more parts to clothespin ornaments (photos to come!), and made up a batch of squirrel suet. While adding some dried fruit to the suet, I remembered the sugar plums I made last year from Use Real Butter. It seems I can't get my mind off those yummy things and may have to pick up some dates to make

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-15712258387147600162011-12-19T14:19:00.001-05:002011-12-19T14:19:15.744-05:00

Just a quick note today! I've got a freebie pattern for the gift tags in my previous post over at Not Dabbling in Normal today. Save yourself a few bucks and head on over to get 'em! - Jennifer

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-6243832768248418242011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-18T06:00:03.860-05:00

As the holidays quickly approach, I find my days getting busier. Having an active (almost) 8 year old will do that to just about any household. But at Christmastime, it's a blast. The days go by quickly and are filled to the brim with cooking and other fun activities. My daughter's birthday follows Christmas by a mere three days, so we kind of get walloped here at the Pack household. We end up

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-2118272520142705022011-12-11T07:30:00.000-05:002011-12-12T08:56:19.551-05:00

While about half of the 130 bloggers participating in the Dark Days Food Challenge are being highlighted over at Not Dabbling today, I'm going to share some highlights of my groups progress here on my blog.I am so impressed with what everyone has been up to, and you can bet I'll be marking these as recipes to try in the future! Our newest author over at NDIN, DeeDee, has been lucky enough to

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-10258348691467273412011-12-09T10:14:00.001-05:002011-12-09T13:43:39.660-05:00

We've encountered an unseasonably warm autumn here in Michigan. Everyone has warned my husband and daughter about how cold it's going to be and how much snow we'll have compared to what they're accustomed to in Tennessee. So instead of watching the snow fall, we've been watching the squirrels stuff their bellies. They come to forage in the pots I've failed to put up, looking for soft roots and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-40831680472139047682011-12-04T12:03:00.001-05:002011-12-04T13:09:32.055-05:00

Things have been crazy here getting the holiday season kicked off in addition to the Dark Days Challenge over at Not Dabbling in Normal. I've been creating and cooking quite a bit (and video gaming, and pinning, and Christmas listing, and spending time with friends and family, and enjoying my homebrewed hard cider in my downtime) so I have lots to share ... all in due time. First off, I've

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-62847103656631145582011-11-14T16:02:00.001-05:002011-11-14T16:22:19.502-05:00

Today I'm over at Not Dabbling in Normal with instructions for making your own extracts. Though I didn't want to take away from that post, I did want to share a few other odds and ends that I'm brewing here at home. In addition to the vanilla extract and mint extract that's steeping, I’ve also got several batches of vinegar brewing. Cider, raspberry, blueberry, and red wine vinegars are

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-44409544234976834392011-11-09T09:26:00.002-05:002011-11-09T09:26:39.166-05:00

I've got another exciting announcement this week - The other gals and I over at Not Dabbling in Normal are joining (not so) Urban Hennery for the 5th Annual Dark Days Challenge! It's all about eating local throughout the darkest days of winter. The goal is to prepare one, ONE, meal a week out of completely local ingredients. Think you can handle it?! Since this has gotten so big for Laura

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-42149849347938966302011-11-06T10:46:00.003-05:002011-11-06T11:18:44.461-05:00

I'm really looking forward to these next two months over at Not Dabbling in Normal. We've got new writers and we have several themes we're working on. One is still a secret (shhhh!), but the first we're announcing has to do with crafting, creating, cooking and the holidays. I just hope my friends and family don't read the blogs because we have lots of fun ideas that we'll be posting for

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-52608766813938856552011-10-31T10:29:00.002-04:002011-10-31T10:29:14.827-04:00

Happy Halloween!   -Jennifer

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-45138008243039129192011-10-26T21:29:00.000-04:002011-10-26T21:29:59.107-04:00

"...the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared, in response to a federal suit by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, that we 'have no absolute right ... to any particular food.' The strong message is that the government is the final arbiter of which foods are safe and unsafe." Would you, could you go as far as Michael Schmidt, of Canada, who is going on a hunger strike, just to talk

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-66519149487587075452011-10-24T10:07:00.000-04:002011-10-24T10:07:37.365-04:00

Unlike the long, hot summers, or the even longer cold winters, spring and autumn signify change. I think that's why I love those seasons so much. It's the act of shedding winter coats and feeling the warmth of sun on your arms, or donning thick sweaters for the first time in several months - those things make me excited that something different is about to happen. Then there's the colors!

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-36702629124943413382011-10-21T22:20:00.001-04:002011-10-21T22:22:51.736-04:00

When a recipe calls for two whole ingredients, and both of those ingredients come out of a box full of other ingredients, does it really add up to two? Please don't put that stuff in your bodies thinking it's a treat. They really aren't "yummo" or "delish" but an amalgamation of processed junk that you're feeding your only self.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-50488212296634705392011-10-20T12:38:00.002-04:002011-10-20T13:06:38.760-04:00

One of our autumn projects this week was creating these nifty painted leaves. I found this awesome tutorial via Pinterest, created by Little Wonder Days. We had all of the items available in and around our house and it was completely doable for a 7 year old with minimal guidance, and easy enough for preschool age. Of course we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. But as we were looking at our pile of

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-35186056019675355722011-10-17T22:22:00.000-04:002011-10-17T22:33:26.487-04:00

Even during our busy school schedule, I'm still putting up some goodies for winter treats and hassle-free dinners. In the past two weeks alone I've put up some concord grape jam, chow chow, and sweet peppers. I hope to can some dried beans this week just for convenience sake (since I can never seem to start them early enough in the day).  I've frozen extra raw milk and prepared a small jar of

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-72282816456310453982011-10-13T22:20:00.002-04:002011-10-13T22:20:27.674-04:00

Now that fall is fully settled in, home school is going full force. This year we're following a history-based curriculum and we're both thoroughly enjoying it. Dinosaurs, the Field Museum, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... need I say more? The Kid is so proud of her progress and constantly reminds me that she's now in second grade, and so much smarter than she was a year ago. With all

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-10932819902244485032011-10-06T13:47:00.000-04:002011-10-06T13:47:14.528-04:00

Since pumpkin season is upon us, I thought I'd throwback to a previous post. And since the weather is unseasonably warm today, the Kid and I will be dreaming of pumpkins ... at the beach! *** Originally posted on 11/12/2010 - Baking Pumpkins I've got pumpkins galore thanks to Mom and the fruit stand. (My poor garden did not produce a single female blossom this year.) What was I thinking

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-69343757483045543242011-10-01T12:38:00.003-04:002011-10-01T12:52:08.649-04:00

This month I've taken a couple of challenges. Along with the gals over at Not Dabbling, I'll be joining Andrew Wilder of Eating Rules with his October #Unprocessed Challenge. The goal is simple: avoid any foods that are processed. Since everyone seems to have their own ideas of what a processed food is here's his definition: "Unprocessed food is any food that could be made by a person with

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-81599093124061919922011-09-30T13:54:00.000-04:002011-09-30T13:54:15.670-04:00

Since the move to Michigan I've questioned just about everything that is part of my life. I've thought hard about getting back to the country or to stay in town when we move again. I've doubted our homeschooling endeavors, whether I want to continue blogging, and questioned my sanity. Yep, the past two months have been a doozie and I believe we've all gotten through it in one piece. We've

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-5870742245780080242011-09-11T12:07:00.000-04:002011-09-11T12:07:34.657-04:00

As I was writing the post for Not Dabbling's "Ten Years" (and trying to not cry), I came across this post in NY Mag. It still doesn't bring full light to the magnitude of the effects of 9/11, but it does help reveal just how tremendous and far reaching the events of that day has been. 9/11 by the Numbers Death, destruction, charity, salvation, war, money, real estate, spouses, babies, and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-45276820529220892732011-08-16T10:06:00.000-04:002011-08-16T10:06:46.563-04:00

The move has been a complete success! The three of us (and two cats) are officially Michiganians. It's been an interesting ride so far and we're loving all of the new experiences. We're slowly settling in and getting used to town life once again. The Kid doesn't have memories of living in town, with the exception of a floating hot air balloon, so this is all new to her. She's learning about

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-74543531476070800542011-07-22T09:08:00.000-04:002011-07-22T09:08:42.847-04:00

Having recently returned from a short stay in Michigan, I had to make a visual check of my garden. I'm so happy to say that we'll enjoy at least an ear of corn each before we move! I was able to pick a good gallon and a half of green beans to can, two huge pickling cucumbers, a large (but bitter)slicing cucumber, and two handfuls of miscellaneous peppers. Not bad for 5 days absence. It was

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-92009178551841145712011-07-03T09:45:00.001-04:002011-07-03T09:46:09.076-04:00

There's been a lot to say, but little time to post it. We've got some really exciting news, and I've been waiting for an appropriate time. We're moving to Michigan! Hubby accepted a job two hours from my hometown and I couldn't be much more thrilled! So over the next month I'll be packing, painting, moving, organizing, and getting to know the new hometown. I've got some really big decisions to

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-22747957449275436542011-06-18T09:34:00.000-04:002011-06-18T09:34:47.853-04:00

I've found the best way to save money on produce is to either grow it yourself or buy it seasonally - preferably local. The closer the item grows to you, the less gas it requires to get to the store (and the less "ethanol" it takes to grow, then to use up to transport that tiny 1% that actually gets used....). And if you're purchasing seasonal crops grown in other nearby countries (i.e. Canada

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-75297487229614153192011-06-16T10:00:00.000-04:002011-06-16T10:00:20.070-04:00

Earlier this year I happened upon a local farmer that raises pastured meats for a CSA. Our entire family has been in love with his products since the first day. This month's visit was the first trip that it didn't rain, and I was able to take a few photos of some of the critters. I'm so glad to have found a farmer who's not afraid to show us how he raises is animals, and lets us

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-65776548929177574102011-06-15T11:44:00.001-04:002011-06-25T08:45:39.518-04:00

It has been an extremely busy month in the garden. We've had the first of the harvests; we're still planting corn, beans, and okra, as well as getting transplants in; and I'm already behind on weeding. With the lack of rain the last three weeks some things are just going to be left out this year. Since my last garden update I've donated a good handful of French Breakfast radishes and some

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-9944046821505596142011-06-11T18:06:00.000-04:002011-06-11T18:06:18.480-04:00

I'm using up all the elderflower and gooseberries I have access to currently. The hardest part is holding back on picking elderflower blooms to save some for my delicious jelly! But last night I found the perfect answer in a cookbook my sister lent to me. I've had the book for ::cough:: a year now. I should just break down and buy my own copy because it is so very worth it. (Cooking with

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-81249116713768576632011-06-09T10:38:00.000-04:002011-06-09T10:38:26.473-04:00

... so I finally have some time to spend indoors. I haven't completed all of my gardening projects. In fact, I'm not sure the last few rows of corn and beans will even sprout thanks to the lack of rain and all of this heat. There's only so much I can do when watering by hand. It's worth it coming inside though. I'm at the height of scented floral season and OMG, my house smells amazing!

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-54211338732282988612011-06-05T08:29:00.000-04:002011-06-05T08:29:36.422-04:00

Yes, my friends and family, I am still alive and well. But so incredibly busy!! We've had friends stay with us, gardens to plant, camping, eating, cooking, experimenting and so much more. I've missed posting on my own "Unearth a Garden" this week, but I will catch up. Things are finally really moving in the garden - part of what's keeping me from spending time inside on the computer. I suppose

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-75018204117440947672011-05-26T14:04:00.000-04:002011-05-26T14:04:58.467-04:00

I've gotten a few emails and a phone call from Mom asking for my Hot Cocoa ice cream recipe, so here it is! Hot Cocoa Ice Cream 2 cups cream 2 cups whole milk 2/3 cups (dutch processed preferably) cocoa 2/3 cups sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 1/2 cup mini-marshmallows (optional) On low heat, warm sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, and half of the cream until combined. Allow to cool

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-46740708326699951742011-05-21T09:51:00.000-04:002011-05-21T09:51:02.564-04:00

It's a party today. We're having brother-in-law come over to help till the garden since both Hubby and I are pansies. Brother-in-law is a professional tumbler and monkey and is a couple of years younger than us - basically he's in better shape. I'll work on planting our corn and cover crops/chicken feed and hopefully finish painting the second poultry tractor as well. Later today we're having

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-70060397827862417972011-05-15T12:06:00.001-04:002011-06-25T08:40:26.630-04:00

It's time to check in with Unearth A Garden. I think I've gotten quite a bit accomplished in the last two weeks. How 'bout you? I've been able to share just a few strawberries as they're the first of our good harvests of the year. This morning I sent over a pound or so to my mother-in-law and this week I hope to see at least one of the homeschool students in our local group. His mom says he's

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-21907139920878683122011-05-11T09:41:00.000-04:002011-05-11T09:41:18.467-04:00

It's that time of year where I try to take advantage of every ounce of sunlight. This year I'm a month behind because I didn't turn my beds at the end of the year, and now I'm paying for it thanks to Bermuda grass. And now I have triple the garden thanks to a neighbor, and longtime family friend. Yesterday was particularly insane because we had a bee swarm. The swarm capture didn't go as

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-53933581957519371112011-05-03T09:33:00.000-04:002011-05-03T09:33:03.742-04:00

I'm really looking forward to this month over at Not Dabbling in Normal. Our focus is "REAL Clean", whether it be personal products, cleaning products, routines, and so forth. I've got a few recipes I'm concocting and playing mad scientist with ::queue maniacal laugh:: and cannot wait to start my own little experiments. For the last six months or so, we've been making our own laundry detergent

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-51198831133820181732011-05-01T10:37:00.002-04:002011-06-25T08:42:39.766-04:00

For most of us, gardening is just getting under way. There's little to share but seeds and knowledge. But those seeds and knowledge can go a long way if put in the right hands. This year I'm helping my sister out again when possible. She's got some gluten and dairy issues, so food can be expensive and a bit of a hassle for her. I met up with her last weekend and gave her some of my seed

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-34874970074469370992011-04-29T15:50:00.000-04:002011-04-29T15:50:47.986-04:00

It's been a busy week of catching up here. The Kid's been sick, Hubby's been sick, and now I'm sick. Bleck. Not one of us has been sick all year now that we're not in public school. I also believe it's because we've moved to more and more organic foods with less pesticides, antibiotics, and who-knows-what-else in them. At the first sign of a cold I take a big bowl (hot pot) of udon noodle soup.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-38377390723970271952011-04-26T21:55:00.000-04:002011-04-26T21:55:33.776-04:00

Easter weekend has come and gone, and with it: my parents. Every year for quite a while they've made the annual trip, and I've hosted the Easter feast in the "House of Heathens". I love their visits, and even though I'm in my mid-thirties I still tear up when we part. If it wasn't for "weather, bugs, snakes..." and a few other things I'd think they'd move down here! Oh yeah, I suppose my

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-90411092199691175222011-04-20T17:25:00.000-04:002011-04-20T17:25:34.788-04:00

This last month I let my Flickr account slip, and therefore all my uploading has been behind. Because my uploading has been behind, so has my photojournaling here and on myfolia. What's worse is that I've probably taken quadruple the photographs the past month than I did over the entire winter so I've had a really hard time getting them ALL uploaded. It's called snowballing. So here's what

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-61184426140913729452011-04-16T23:54:00.000-04:002011-04-16T23:54:13.710-04:00

What the difference is between a bean and a pea? Simply put a pea has tendrils and has a hollow stem. A bean does not. Botanically speaking, the pods of most beans and peas can be eaten. Beans come from the Phaseolus genus of the Fabaceae family, while Peas the Pisum genus. "Green" beans aren't necessarily a variety of bean so much as immature beans that are eaten. A "pulse" is an

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-31662028288256718192011-04-14T11:51:00.001-04:002011-04-14T11:51:57.813-04:00

Last year I was so inspired by all of the gardens I saw sprouting up all over the countryside. Huge gardens everywhere! People had gardens in neighborhoods of all types. Families started replacing shrubbery with tomato plants, signs for "homegrown" or "organic" vegetables started popping up on the sides of roads everywhere. And yet I was surprised to see so few community centers lacking in

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-76851621433241240352011-04-13T10:36:00.000-04:002011-04-13T10:36:35.638-04:00

The race is on to get the garden in motion and planted. Because we contemplated moving closer to my hometown, I lost at least two week's time of preparation. That's a lot of work this time of year. We start 99 percent of our plants from seed, so instead of huge, beefy plants, my seedlings are just being planted up for the first time. This year we're also investing more money and energy in

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-40067956563047429372011-04-09T10:00:00.000-04:002011-04-09T10:00:37.356-04:00

I've woken up two hours prior to the rest of the household this morning and have been enjoying the solitude. It's something I don't get too much of, even living out in the country, but I don't mind as long as I get snippets here and there. This morning I'm enjoying REAL coffee, with caffeine, and am catching up on Google Reader. Life's kept me occupied so I've fallen behind on visiting all my

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-88512790498533349142011-04-07T11:12:00.000-04:002011-04-07T11:12:42.520-04:00

The weather is warming up again and I've been taking full advantage of it. Well, we've also been running into town every day to take care of poultry! The first batch of chickens has settled in nicely and they now have neighbors. Turkeys! I was hoping to breed some for keeping, but no luck. These are hybrids meant for ::cough:: harvesting in about 4 months time. They can't reproduce on their

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-78409056406467496952011-04-05T10:27:00.001-04:002011-04-05T10:28:08.325-04:00

The Kid, Hubby and I spent the weekend on our first camping trip of the year just off the Natchez Trace here in Tennessee. Oh! the nights were cold even curled up under lots of blankets. We survived and had lots of fun. I think we all needed the relaxation and the chance to get away from all the chores that have been piling up at home. Now there's just a bigger pile now that I've got all

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-11962519023719427242011-03-31T15:24:00.000-04:002011-03-31T15:24:22.384-04:00

Today I finally posted our experience of harvesting the hog last November over at Not Dabbling in Normal. No, I mean, I didn't harvest it over at NDiN, I posted about it over at NDiN. Squeamish need not apply. Also, I'm officially a Twit. I have the email to prove it as well as the chatter ... or twitter ... on the sidebar. Yep! Over there. Oh, you thought I meant that kind of twit. Heh. We've

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-65900063181735673092011-03-30T09:33:00.000-04:002011-03-30T09:33:09.080-04:00

It's Yin Yang here today for the "color" red. I'm bringing you two links this morning that I'm sure you'll love. First the Yin: My recipe for Red bud Crepes over at Not Dabbling in Normal. You could use any wildflower blossom (preferably one that's edible!), but I promised you a yummy recipe the other day. And boy, is it! The Kid and I had a little tea party the other day, and still have

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-2601244706890799232011-03-27T01:08:00.000-04:002011-03-27T01:08:11.346-04:00

I always wondered why the redbud was called "red" when in fact it's more of a pinkish-purple. It's one of my favorite springtime blossoming trees. We're lucky to have two of these understory trees on our property. The Cherokee would use the inner bark of the redbud tree to make a brew for whooping cough. Since I'm not an herbalist, nor do I have whooping cough, I've been using the blossoms on

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-16725919908009803322011-03-25T10:12:00.000-04:002011-03-25T10:12:26.510-04:00

Recently I switched my automated homepage from MSN (bleh - who cares what Charlie or Brittney are doing anyway?) to NPR. I actually find myself spending a lot less time on my computer clicking random links because I'm bored with the "news". Not being one to keep up with trendy stuff or over-hyped media anyway, I'm finding NPR to be my happy medium. Now I'm wondering what kept me so long. It must

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-43263435324626992172011-03-23T17:50:00.001-04:002011-03-23T17:50:31.613-04:00

Well, Horizon has done it again. In case you haven't heard, they've started adding synthetic ingredients into their "organic" milk products. How is that organic? Even by USDA standards that's not organic. And it's okay by the USDA. It seems like the USDA is turning its head every time one of these big corporations wants to make a change to their line up. First we get pushed out by Monsanto with

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-57548732238514187692011-03-22T20:52:00.000-04:002011-03-22T20:52:47.769-04:00

Mr. Don came over to check on the hives he keeps here. My hives have since gone south, thanks to European Foulbrood, so the only hives we've got right now are his.I've been watching those gals since the first warm day. They're such interesting little creatures. Here's a drone (a male) being born. ... and here's Mama. She's an old queen, says Mr. Don - almost three years. The hive's

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-15832115088126132092011-03-20T19:24:00.000-04:002011-03-20T19:24:40.596-04:00

It's here again! My favorite season. Yep, it's official. We're dating and all that junk. I've tossed out Autumn and have agreed upon Spring. Maybe I'll get a pin.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-81051629979885687402011-03-17T09:44:00.000-04:002011-03-17T09:44:10.764-04:00

We're heading home today. About six hours of straight, flat road ahead of us. Yay, Indiana! Remind me that there is more than corn.... Anyhoo, Grandmama did just fine with her surgery yesterday, and is hopefully catching up on some much needed rest. Be sure to head over to Not Dabbling in Normal today where I'll be sharing a little about my reading on sugar and its affects on our bodies. See

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-60829015563747347382011-03-14T17:04:00.000-04:002011-03-14T17:04:38.034-04:00

We've been up in Indiana for the last few days, extending stay with family. The weather up here is a couple of weeks behind what we've been used to. The trees are not blooming yet. The grass is not greening yet. The buttercups are not poking their heads out yet. There is a wonderful surprise right around the side of the house though. Snowdrops! I adore snowdrops! I love them more than crocuses

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-43606768427151453122011-03-12T16:33:00.000-05:002011-03-12T16:33:50.122-05:00

Right now I'm just thunderstruck and the immensity of tragedy that is happening in Japan. I've got family of several friends, some native, some transplants, that live over there. While I don't normally watch television, especially the news, I'm trying my hardest to avoid viewing the latest updates. It's heartbreaking and terrifying. Oh! How very fortunate we are.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-67080347942405552392011-03-10T18:36:00.000-05:002011-03-10T18:36:03.872-05:00

That's what Mom calls it anyway. We've been slowly losing our chickens to some wild creatures. At first we jokingly called it Chupacabra, but it's obvious now that it's either dogs or coyotes. Yesterday the last two were killed from inside their run while we were away. This was the worst yet, because not only were they my last two sweethearts, but I found the body of "Girlfriend" who was

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-17566755477221036982011-03-09T10:44:00.001-05:002011-03-10T17:26:13.132-05:00

Yesterday my grandmother, in a panic, contacted me about my recent organic grocery shopping list. (Yes, my grandmother is celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary, is having hip replacement surgery, and still rocks the internet like a l337 speaking tween). "Jennifer, I see tuna is on the list of foods to avoid? Why is that? I rely on it a lot [as a fish source]." Grandmama, depending on the

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-27912702662376829752011-03-08T11:13:00.000-05:002011-03-08T11:13:00.325-05:00

I normally like a vinaigrette or a Caesar dressing on my salads, sometimes even just a good olive oil and vinegar; but sometimes a good old buttermilk ranch dressing is required. Whether it's for dipping veggies or topping salads sometimes ranch hits the spot, but gunky store-bought dressing kinda grosses me out. Instead I like to make a batch of homemade stuff if I have the time. If I don't

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-30424032188036976972011-03-05T16:16:00.000-05:002011-03-05T16:16:52.777-05:00

I wonder if this color is so happy because it's the first color to break the dreariness of the winter browns and grays and we've embedded it so deeply in our minds that bright yellow means the end of winter... or if it's just a coincidence.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-71257453142930093492011-03-03T13:03:00.000-05:002011-03-03T13:03:16.350-05:00

So it's the month of March and we're celebrating the Real Food Challenge over at Not Dabbling in Normal. If you're new to Real Food, basically we try to avoid as many processed foods as possible. Food doesn't have to be fancy or raw, in fact, the simpler the better! Because of the Challenge, I'm back to posting on Thursdays over at NDiN. Today I'm discussing exactly why our family has chosen

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-21588503714520168892011-03-01T11:22:00.002-05:002011-10-01T12:39:46.414-04:00

I am so thrilled to start of the Real Food Challenge this year! Today is the first day, and it's not to late to join us. In celebration of the challenge, I'm finishing up a three piece article about why organic foods really are better for us. We've been convinced that we're supposed to eat organics because of what is in them instead of what is missing from them. The summaries of food

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-41438743023452470172011-02-25T12:17:00.000-05:002011-02-25T12:17:52.369-05:00

It's Friday which means I'm over at Not Dabbling in Normal today! I've got your handy dandy March planner this morning, a week early, so we can have all of next month just for the Real Food Challenge. Be sure to join us, even if you're going to be making small changes in your food routines. Nana is officially here, and the Kid is loving the extra attention. The countdown begins to see who drives

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-68642374005815054502011-02-23T14:24:00.000-05:002011-02-23T14:24:48.851-05:00

I've been looking forward to March for several months now, and not just for the signs of spring. For those of you who weren't with us last year, March means the Real Food Challenge. Just what is the Real Food Challenge, you ask? It's a month-long celebration of eating food as close to nature as possible. It's about simple food, avoiding processed items, and learning new skills. It's about

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-90157621912796017192011-02-21T13:06:00.000-05:002011-02-21T13:06:25.851-05:00

We've been contemplating moving north, although the kid is eyeballing Hawaii. Because of this I've postponed all of my seed starting and even cancelled my chick orders. We've been preparing for Mom to come visit this week. We've been waiting anxiously for the Kid to lose her first teeth! We've been enjoying the new automobile and lamenting the expenditure, especially during the "No Buy

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-28526315393680700442011-02-15T21:05:00.003-05:002011-03-23T21:34:24.645-04:00

Going shopping is so confusing any more. It's not going up to the butcher's counter and asking for a cut of top round, grabbing a bag of onions, a few apples, a heading over to the bakery - all the while trusting your grocer to stock the most healthy food available for the neighborhood at a good price. Any more, most people don't know what top round means and there are so many varieties of

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-2663308725580782552011-02-14T17:02:00.000-05:002011-02-14T17:02:25.413-05:00

The Kid took it upon herself to give the dirty birds a bath yesterday. I'll let you all be the judge whether or not she was successful. Funny thing was - as soon as the Kid gave up after only one chicken ... er, was done ... "Wheezie" went off to take her own bath in the large pots of soil on my front porch.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-10018662271270501662011-02-11T23:20:00.000-05:002011-02-11T23:20:35.553-05:00

...so I thought I'd reassure some of you here before you got the news elsewhere - especially family and friends.  Yes, Hubby had an accident the other evening and yes he is okay. No hospital visits were required and no one was hurt except for my 10 year old Rodeo. The poor guy hit an ice patch on one of the country roads, spun around, and hit a ditch. Fortunately a small tree caught the car,

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-76850821272266179762011-02-04T10:54:00.000-05:002011-02-04T10:54:09.260-05:00

It's Friday! For most of you working types that means you only have a few more hours before you can start enjoying your own space once again. It also means that I'm over at NDiN. Since it's the first of the month I've got your monthly "Honey-Do" up and ready to go! Last but not least I got my order of Meyer lemons in yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?! I picked these up from the Lemon Ladies

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-75808917770025527062011-02-03T12:22:00.001-05:002011-03-23T21:30:33.026-04:00

So here it is. I get a lot of ribbing from some of my family and friends who just don't understand why organically grown or raised food is so important to me. Today I'm going to touch a little on different types of gardening practices and what they do to the soil and plants. As a gardener (ornamental and edible) I enjoy a variety of different plants. There are some that grow in the shade, in

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-60292558926684537482011-01-31T22:08:00.000-05:002011-01-31T22:08:25.094-05:00

When I was young I read a book called "The Simple Prince." The story goes as such: the spoiled prince has become bored with all the parties, fine foods, and dress and desires to find the simple life. During his search, he meets an older couple whom he expects to educate him on the skills of living a simple life. He snaps his fingers, claps his hands, stomps his feet - but in rural existence that

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-51384293686213051252011-01-31T09:40:00.000-05:002011-01-31T09:40:07.526-05:00

It seems the "organic heavyweights" are making decisions for us now. Whole Foods Market, Stonyfield Farm, and Organic Valley surrendered to Monsanto's quest to use Round-up Ready Alfalfa in the guise of coexistence. I suppose corporations do have more power that our state representatives after all. Here's the full article at Organic Consumers Association.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-12106147722498583022011-01-28T19:07:00.000-05:002011-01-28T19:07:16.665-05:00

Sleepovers are tons of fun when the kids are over 5. Especially when they're only children. Sure sometimes it's a little loud, but for some of us it's the only time we get more than 15 minutes alone. It's also sickeningly sweet to watch best friends giggle and have so much fun together, argue over which movie to fall asleep to, and make a mess while making red velvet pancakes for breakfast. YUM!

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-8712488858931500692011-01-26T15:17:00.000-05:002011-01-26T15:17:40.011-05:00

I've never been one to celebrate New Year's as a way to make life changes. I'm a firm believer that those changes can come at any time and shouldn't be put off until the first of next year. That being the case, I find it thoroughly ironic that since I've returned home from the holiday celebrations I've not done much other than purge my house and life of un-needed or un-wanted items and activities

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-32129069363663744182011-01-21T12:51:00.000-05:002011-01-21T12:51:29.157-05:00

Another week's flown past - can you believe how fast this winter is going by? I know, not soon enough for some. We're rather enjoying the days even if we're getting more than our usual share of snow this year. The Kid has been obsessed with Fantasia, watching it at least once a day. Normally I'd cut her off there, but she's been so interested in the music and the "dancing" aspect of some of

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-69820052290244778682011-01-14T11:38:00.000-05:002011-01-14T11:38:09.159-05:00

We are officially half-way through the school year here! Now I don't feel as worried (or guilty) for all of those days we took off early on. Today's Friday and I'm back over at Not Dabbling in Normal with a more serious post about the future of our food and concerns with feeding our growing population.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-1275521655735135442011-01-11T11:55:00.000-05:002011-01-11T11:55:50.223-05:00

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-10072855595452727522011-01-10T11:39:00.000-05:002011-01-10T11:39:55.913-05:00

The Holidays are finally over and I feel like I've finally recovered from all the excitement. Now to lose the five pounds I gained while traveling! I think we managed to get in every comfort and regional food while we were back in NW Indiana. And wow, the desserts and treats! Since we've been back home I've been trying to get the house and schoolwork in order. I've had to set a few things

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-14051889611291258032010-12-17T12:08:00.000-05:002010-12-17T12:08:34.656-05:00

Today I'm over at Not Dabbling in Normal discussing children and seasonal traditions. Back here in Tennessee we've been busy working on our Craft-a-day projects, enjoying the snow we've had, and spending lots of time together as a little family. The Kid and I made a Cranberry Coffee Cake (I finally used my bundt pan!) that's quite tasty. The recipe can be found at King Arthur's Flour, although

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-21102752808135358812010-12-13T19:49:00.000-05:002010-12-13T19:49:54.107-05:00

We have had snow over the past two days. Not much in comparison to my hometown, but it is enough to close down schools and businesses for a few days in these hilly parts of the south. The Kid and I have been working on a few projects. I've not been quite so hot to trot as last year, but I have to admit that this is the most relaxed holiday season I've ever had. Having Hubby work from home

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-64147202699778328932010-12-10T11:38:00.000-05:002010-12-10T11:38:00.710-05:00

The Kid and I started our Craft-a-day projects this week. This year we won't be bringing out our huge Christmas tree, so instead we created an alternative. We used three large pieces of green felt to create the "tree". Ornaments were made out of smaller sheets of felt in various colors and designs. While we were at it, she had the great idea to make a paper stocking with a front and back.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-91719836516170841182010-12-06T10:48:00.000-05:002010-12-06T10:48:27.150-05:00

Nana - Love you!

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-17133561424307915082010-12-04T18:28:00.000-05:002010-12-04T18:28:44.618-05:00

A few days ago my grandmother contacted me with great concern. "You haven't posted on your blog since the pork stint. Are you okay?" You bet. Just exhausted. We've been up to quite a bit since said pork stint. We visited some family in Georgia who run a hunting business. We girls fell in love with their birding dogs and we grown ups oohed and ahhed over the birds themselves. Hubby

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-15127601092305036612010-11-22T23:29:00.001-05:002010-11-22T23:32:47.228-05:00

This past weekend we had the opportunity to harvest our first hog. (No, don't worry - there are no gorey photos, but vegans and veggies may want to pass this post.) Overall it was a surprisingly insightful and educational weekend. I learned a lot about myself, my family, and my friends who worked together with us, not to mention just how challenging it is to eat nose to tail. The kids were

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-49434994218245901242010-11-18T16:08:00.001-05:002010-11-18T16:10:51.897-05:00

When I moved to Tennessee it took me a while to get accustomed to Southern cooking. Up North we ate our cornbread sweet and topped with honey, beans were almost always baked, greens meant a salad, and BBQ sauce was tomato based. You can imagine things are a lot different down here other than our accents. Sweet cornbread is called "corn light", beans can be of any color but are usually pinto or

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-72718505732729764952010-11-17T11:59:00.000-05:002010-11-17T11:59:02.553-05:00

This morning I'm going through some photos of the family trip I took at Halloween. The orchard: A wedding: And Halloween:

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-68392730999082377532010-11-16T16:48:00.000-05:002010-11-16T16:48:50.133-05:00

Today has been a busy day, and it's only about half over. So far the Kid and I watched several episodes of Signing Time. It's been a while and we both needed a refresher course. When I had the chance to slip away I started making some chow-chow, a southern specialty a bit like a chutney. Down here we use it on top of pinto and white beans. I know it sounds weird to put a "relish" on top of

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-37715352253765636432010-11-12T11:52:00.000-05:002010-11-12T11:52:29.413-05:00

I've got pumpkins galore thanks to Mom and the fruit stand. (My poor garden did not produce a single female blossom this year.) What was I thinking ordering an entire dozen?! Actually, I was thinking pumpkin pie, pumpkin persimmon scones, and pumpkin bread! In order to have some of the pumpkin ready for on-a-whim recipes I've been roasting them and freezing. It's a really simple process. Set

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-70637394986609017822010-11-11T18:04:00.000-05:002010-11-11T18:04:51.435-05:00

Even though we're smack dab in the middle of November, our "Wintry" weather is hovering right around 75F this past week. Thanksgiving is in two weeks and Christmas is a month following that, and it feels like May. I've actually had to water my carrots and endive sprouts so they don't crisp up in our southern sun. Still, I haven't harvested too much in the past week. Instead I've been focusing on

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-14455593492323263392010-11-10T09:40:00.000-05:002010-11-10T09:40:48.254-05:00

A few days ago we revisited our friends the ducks and geese to see what changes the cool weather may have brought. They were happy to see us. Okay, so they thought perhaps we brought them a treat. Did you know geese are vegetarians? This one enjoyed some of the spinach we offered. These have to be some of the prettiest ducks I've ever seen. Perhaps next time some bread crumbs.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-55484741576066419022010-11-08T22:35:00.000-05:002010-11-08T22:35:07.374-05:00

While I was at the Museum of Science and Industry last week, I came upon this quote. Immediately my thoughts went to my relationship with Hubby. He, the scientist, and me, the artist. It's taken us a long time to get to the point we are currently. Somehow along the way we fell in love with each other again. And I think it has more to do with me facing a fear and joining him on a motorcycle than

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-69066837129237388572010-11-05T23:56:00.000-04:002010-11-05T23:56:51.589-04:00

This past week the Kid and I spent some time with my parents where I grew up. We always try to do something fun and (sometimes) educational with the kids - hey they need vacations too - and we managed to get out to the Museum of Science and Industry. A long time ago, in a place about 500 miles from here, I used to go on field trips to the fabulous museums of Chicago. The Museum of Science and

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-33170283390688659402010-11-04T21:58:00.000-04:002010-11-04T21:58:50.696-04:00

The cold weather is finally moving in down here in the South, so today I spent the afternoon preparing the garden for the incoming chilliness and picking the last of the warm weather crops. I expected a few more sweet potatoes than I dug up, but they actually fared better than most of the other summer plants. They'll spend the next week in the oven curing at 85F. Apparently they'll require a more

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-51173473763783469702010-11-03T15:36:00.000-04:002010-11-03T15:36:44.639-04:00

I've made it back home in one piece. We've had a wonderful week and a half up in Chicagoland and already miss my family. Today I'm not 100 percent, so no long post. Not even a rant about traffic on I-65 or quip about the hogs running loose on I-80/94 exit ramp. Just a photo and an "I miss you."

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-57870510378396448552010-10-27T09:57:00.000-04:002010-10-27T09:57:54.013-04:00

This week I am visiting my hometown in Indiana. The Yankee is coming out (sorry, Babe, but I will be back home with my full-on Chicagoland accent) and I've been enjoying catching up on the regional foods. We actually had the best ever polish sausage last night and I got my fill of pierogie. Next stop: Greek food! So far it's been a wonderfully relaxing visit with a lot of knitting and catching up

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-84689252396382543972010-10-23T11:17:00.001-04:002010-10-23T11:17:00.126-04:00

I'm finishing up my tour of the mountains today with the highlights of our trip. Hubby and I just got back from a long weekend in a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee. It was a much needed rest. While I'm mostly recharged, I wouldn't mind going back again soon. We are very fortunate to have had this opportunity, and it's filled us both with many wonderful memories to get us through to the next

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-950872939985421858.post-46047390591279512052010-10-22T10:37:00.001-04:002010-10-22T10:37:00.166-04:00

During our recent trip to the mountains of Tennessee, I was flabbergasted by all of the colors I saw. It seems lately our autumns have been so dry that the leaves fall off the trees before they have the chance to turn much. I saw so many yellows, oranges, and reds this year that I should be satisfied for several years to come. The goat of the manor. Ellie Mae did not like me.

Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15689606909058471691noreply@blogger.com1