Beware Vampires! I've harvested my organic garlic.

It seemed to be too early, only 6/19/12, but the outward signs made be believe it was time I harvest our garlic bed, which I had planted last October. This was my first year growing garlic. I tried Spanish Roja, German Porcelain, Musik and Elephant garlic.

The Spanish Roja seemed to take a beat down. It was on the south end of the bed, and I think we had one too many wind storms. It was completely blown over. I didn't expect to have anything, but to my surprise, I was able to dig up bulbs. They're smaller, with red skins.

The German Porcelain came out great. It's really white. I will plant this variety again.

The Musik also looked really good. I wish I had planted more of it. I had only planted 6. Next season, I will definitely plant more!

The Elephant was fun to watch growing. It was so much larger than the others. It resembled corn plants. (I threw my toes in the photo for scale.) It has little, fresh looking cloves on the bottom so perhaps I harvested these plants too soon. I will have to taste it after it cures before I decide whether I grow Elephant again. It was fun, but it does take up a lot of space.

I will cure the garlic in our garage for a week, remove some of the stalks and roots and cure for another 2 weeks before moving into storage. It will be difficult to save some bulbs for replanting this fall. I will want to eat them all!

For my records, I purchased these starter bulbs at Jung Garden Center.
From left to right: 2 rows of Spanish Roja (looks dead), 2 rows of German Porcelain, 1 row of Musik, 2 Elephant garlics

Decompressing

I'm in decompress mode. I've been so busy, and I seem to be having more days where I end up lacking energy. I'm reaching the point where I need to STOP and CHILL before I over stress and make myself sick.

People were bringing me down. That's another sign I know I need to STOP and find my inner peace. A customer was really rude to me. I recognized she was stealing my joy, but I also realized, I'd rather she yell at me than have her treat someone else so poorly. I can eventually shake off her negative energy when I turn my focus elsewhere. Maybe this was why she was placed on my path? Because God knew I could rise above her brokenness and see past it.

I've been trying to get ready for the Dirty Girl Run, or as I prefer to call it, the Dirty Girl Hike. My sister has been a tremendous support for me. Others have not been so supportive. I've been told flat out, "You can't do this." I suppose this is because they look at my body and see only fat. They don't know this fat girl can walk over 3 miles, no problem. Thankfully my sister reminds me we are in it together, and we'll take as much time as we need to finish, and then I feel more encouraged. I will never be a runner. I'm just too well endowed. I can hike though, and I can hike for longer distances now.

The garden has been a good stress reliever. I probably should be weeding a little more, but I have been faithfully watering and picking off harmful bugs. My baby spinach bolted almost immediately, but I am still being rewarded with my favorite garden candy, Sugar Snap Peas. For some reason the Swiss Chard is really slow to grow this year, but my spaghetti squash is looking fabulous. Hard to believe after buying those sad looking plants at the nursery. The melons all look really good too. The potatoes have me wanting to keep building the raised bed even higher. Maybe I'll just try the straw cover at this point. The last time we raised the sides of the potato bed it took so much dirt to fill it. I cut the scapes off of the garlic and the leaves are turning brown. I think I will harvest it in 2 weeks time.

I was caught up in the idea we should have a summer bucket list. I kept asking the boys, "What should we do? What do you want to do to make this summer memorable?" We had a hard time coming up with answers and then one day I decided to stop worrying about it. I spent the day making silly videos with them and had a blast. It dawned on me, this is our summer bucket list goal. Just have fun and don't worry about planning so much.

I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my family. We'll take DH out for Father's Day. I don't have gifts yet for him. A few things have been ordered, but they won't arrive in time. Instead I will focus on just giving him a good, weekend experience since he works so hard all week. We'll have lunch out on Saturday at "The Lob" as the boys like to call it. (Red Lobster) On Sunday we're planning a hike in the woods in Troll country.

One more thing I want to mention. My sister has inspired me to create a safe, calm, sanctuary spot in my nest. We're both frustrated we're not dropping much weight despite how much walking we've been doing. My doctor said, "Your heart sounds excellent, but after 40, its very difficult for women to lose weight, even if you eat right and exercise. Try add weight training."  I also read about how stress will prevent you from losing weight. Toxins are stored in your fat. When you are stressed, your body already has enough toxins to purge through. It doesn't want you to burn fat releasing more toxins to the mix. My sister and I both plan on making meditation and stress release a daily part of our routines. I also took it as a sign when I opened my Dove chocolate and the wrapper read, "Create A Happy Place."

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'll be doing my best to create one myself.

I'm reading Better Than College, How To Build A Successful Life Without A Four Year Degree by Blake Boles. I love books that make me think. What are you reading this summer?

Why am I so afraid to go and get my haircut?

Strawberry Sorbet

Description:
Ending up with sore stretched legs after all that strawberry picking was well worth it. I'm wishing I would have picked more so I could make several more quarts of this sorbet to get me through the summer.

This was so delicious and easy, I fell in love with my ice cream maker once again.

I've seen recipes for strawberry sorbet where you strain and remove the tiny seeds. I'm too lazy for that. I didn't mind the seeds at all. The texture was still smooth enough for me.

The next time I make this, which I assure you will be very soon, I will try dissolving honey instead of sugar and see how it tastes.

Ingredients:
Fresh strawberries, washed and stems removed, about 4 1/2 cups
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of sugar

Directions:
Bring the water to a simmer and then remove from the heat.

Stir in the sugar until it is dissolved.

Fill your blender with strawberries and the sugar water and puree.

Chill this mixture, or if you're impatient like me, start off with already chilled berries.

Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and let the appliance do its magic.

I have a Cuisinart and had perfectly frozen sorbet in only about 15 minutes. It took all my will power to only enjoy one half cup serving and then freeze the rest in a quart container.

Strawberry Picking June 1st, 2012

Its strawberry picking time here in Southern WI. It arrived a little sooner this year, but I'm up for it. I love fresh picked, local berries!

They are a little smaller this year, but my mom was right. Smaller berries taste better than larger ones. I think the strawberry flavor is more condensed in smaller berries. The larger ones we buy in the supermarket don't taste nearly as good.

If we don't eat them all up immediately, I will freeze some for smoothies. I still have jam left from last year, so there's no need to make jam this year. We will probably go back next week and pick more if I can find storage room.

I've always wanted to grow strawberries, but it seem like a lot of work. The plants in my area aren't cheap either. I tried to grow strawberries from less expensive roots, but they didn't grow. I spent $7 on this 4 quart bucket. I think I'll just keep picking from our local strawberry farm.

What's Been Happening In My Life, May 2012

Our weather has been very summer like and that means I've been outside gardening rather than inside blogging. I do want to take some time to jot down a few notes on what's been going on in my life recently. With my memory, I have to make a point to journal or I will forget.

Mother's Day ~ We spent the day in Kenosha visiting with DMIL. We browsed some interesting antique stores, walked along the lakefront and enjoy a late lunch/early supper at Kaisers. My boys gave me a Lady Antebellum CD and a stability ball. I'm really enjoying both gifts.

The following weekend, DH & I met DMIL at ElkHorn,WI for a morning of antique flea marketing. We found an old soda pop bottle crate for the boys' coke bottle collection. We thought it was cool because it has Kenosha painted on the side. Kenosha is where my husband's family originated from. Most of the other antiques were over priced, but it was still fun to enjoy a stroll in the sun looking at interesting items.

Later that week, my parents arrived for an extended weekend visit through Memorial Day. (Photo is of my dad and DS13.) For our anniversary they gave us a new de-humidifier for our basement. I didn't think our basement was that humid, but the machine is pulling out over a gallon of water every 12 hours. I've been using the water for the garden. We could hook up a hose and drain the appliance, but I like giving the garden the free water.

The garden is coming along nicely. I have planted the following this year: Roma tomatoes, Grape tomatoes, swiss chard, spinach, beets, sugar snap peas, garlic, potatoes, popcorn, cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli, Italian broccoli, sugar baby watermelon, french cantaloupe, and a honey dew melon. I've run out of room for the carrots and more popcorn, but my boss and my neighbor have offered me garden space if I want to use it. Another neighbor shared with me both garlic chives and regular chives. I planted them near the garlic. The garden is keeping me very busy.

My tooth is healing. I had a crown put on. The drilling and sensitivity has really upset my nerves. Dealing with increased grass pollen this year is also not helping me feel any better. It is slowly healing and getting better. I'm now only taking Advil every 12 hours instead of every 6. It has really slowed me down though. I'm looking forward to feeling better soon.

While my parents were here, we had several cookouts and meals with extended family. They also took us out to lunch. Its going to be a challenge to get back on track eating more healthy.

I also need to punch up my exercise routine because the Dirty Girl Run is a little over one month away. My sisters and I are getting excited, but I will admit, I'm starting to get a little nervous. I know I can hike a 5K no problem, but honestly, I've never done so covered in mud. I mentioned to my sister I may just bring a change of dry socks in a zip lock baggie to change into after the first mud hole obstacle and she said if I do that, she will push me back in. LOL! My son will probably shoot video, so I'll be sure to share that.

Speaking of the boys, they are doing great. DS16 has been working on several filming projects, some for fun, some for business. DS13 is learning more and more about bike repair. He's been riding quite a bit and of course, things wear down or break, so he's been learning how to make repairs on his own to save money. I suggested to him if the police officer plan doesn't work out, he could always end up running a bike repair shop. He's still planning on being a police officer.

I've been inspired to begin an Artist journal - not an art journal. An Artist journal has of course art in it, but it also can become a personal journal, noting details of daily life. I've always hated the way I draw and I think I just need to stop thinking that way and start drawing. I will improve over time or learn to love my unique style.

I really have to take the time to stop and journal more frequently. I really can't remember things very well, certainly not dates, so keeping notes really helps me.

My body has confirmed it. Mother Nature is ahead of schedule. Sticky, scratchy eyes, runny nose, aaachoo..aachoo...those white fuzzies floating around in the air usually don't start here until the first week in June, but here I am mid May in full allergy mode. The past few years, it hasn't really bothered me, but this year those white fuzzies are making up it. Curse you Cottonwood tree!

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms! I'm so grateful for my children, who've allowed me to claim this role and my husband who helps and supports me. I can remember being a little girl, dreaming of the day I'd be a real mom. Motherhood is such a blessing! I'm also very grateful to have been given a wonderful mother who has inspired me to love, laugh and be strong.

My Soul One

Its very difficult for me not to miss him terribly today. The calendar date reminds me, we belong together. Our celebration will have to wait for a day/night we don't have to work.

26 years ago today, he picked me up for our first date. I waited for him outside, playing catch with my older brother. I think my brother wanted him to know, I had an older brother. :)

I was a senior in high school and weeks earlier I had decided I was not going to stress over having a boyfriend anymore. I was just going to make friends and have fun with my life. God had other plans for me.

I first saw him years earlier at school, but I always thought he was an upperclassman. At my large high school, you rarely mixed with anyone not in your year. Plus, why would someone so cool want to get to know me?

My senior year rolled around and he was still attending my high school! I figured out he was in the class behind mine. I also discovered my friend worked with him at McDonald's!!

I wrote him a note, "There is something about you," and left it at that. (I was inspired by a song at the time.) He wrote back asking for my phone number.

7 years later, I marry him, on the anniversary of our first date. That was 19 years ago.

It doesn't feel like we've been together 26 years, married for 19. Simultaneously it feels like a quick 26 years, yet also eternal, like time didn't exist until May 8, 1986. I can't explain it. My love for him is eternal and I think this is why it feels timeless. 

We had our growing together pains. I imagine most young adults who stay together go through this. Who you are at 17 is not who you are at 18, and every year you age after that. Just when we'd feel pretty solid, a bump in the road would make us jump. Thankfully, we've always landed together. We're at the point now, having jumped so many bumps, that our kangaroo marriage legs are pretty strong.

I can't feel I had a life before he was brought to me. He woke up my soul, and I found what life was really about, love. He is my Soul One, and I don't want to ever be parted from him.

WPA Homeschooling Conference 2012

Friday we left for Oshkosh, leaving the roofers to make noise without us. We picked up DH from work and headed off on our road trip.

Oshkosh, is not our favorite city. Years ago the Wisconsin Parent's Association held their yearly homeschooling conference in Stevens Point, WI. We love Stevens Point and miss it. Oshkosh just doesn't hold the same appeal for us. Its become our family's inside joke, reasons we don't like Oshkosh. Here's this year's list;

1. Road construction - There is always road construction in Oshkosh. They've put in the most dangerous roundabouts ever.

2. Five inches of rain within 24 hours created major flooding the day before we arrived. It also left the town smelling of backed up sewage.

3. Bug swarm - Oshkosh does have a free, cute little lakeside park and zoo but we couldn't leave the car. I'm not sure what kind of bugs they were, but they looked like mosquitoes on steroids.

4. The near deadly Jimmy Johns delivery driver - The conference takes place on the UW Oshkosh campus. As we walked through the parking lot, we were nearly mowed down by a Jimmy Johns delivery man going 90 mph. Yeah, they're freaky fast alright.

We hosted 3 family friendly workshops. Friday night we hosted Apples To Apples for over 40 people. The room they put us in this year was too small for so many people. Saturday morning was Letterboxing, another popular workshop. To save gas, we did not travel to Oshkosh ahead of time to find hiding places. We spent Friday afternoon setting up hiding spots. I think it all worked out. We had several families report back to us that they had a great time. Saturday afternoon we hosted an Artist Trading Card workshop. That went well too, although it seemed to go by too quickly. Many of the kids didn't want to stop creating art cards.

We came home road trip weary but we overall, had a great time. We've volunteered for WPA by hosting workshops at the conference since 2006. WPA has worked very hard to maintain homeschooling freedoms in Wisconsin. Its our way of saying thanks for protecting our family's lifestyle.

 

Choosing A New Roof

Its difficult enough for me to choose paint colors. Choosing a roof color is daunting because unless a tornado rips it off, I won't be changing it for over 30 years!

Our house is a light yellow cream color. I personally like living in a yellow house because it reminds me of a Blind Melon song that also reminds me about homeschooling with my boys. Click Here to hear the song. My husband likes that we live in a yellow house because its his favorite color. We most likely will always keep the house yellow if we upgrade the siding.

Our existing roof is very worn. It was a light brown, reddish color I think, but its so worn its difficult to tell.

At one point I thought a blue roof would be fun, kind of Swedish actually. My husband liked the idea of a green roof with the yellow siding. There are other yellow houses in the neighborhood with green roofs that don't look so hot. I worried about how a colored roof would hold up. Eventually that dye in the shingle will fade from the elements.

I know I didn't want black, but I didn't want to go too light either. A black roof would get too hot in the summer and since snow covers our roof in the winter, it wouldn't help during that season either. Light roofs don't look too attractive to me though.

We decided to try and stay in the gray family, but you wouldn't believe how many different shades of gray there are! We've gone back and forth for weeks now, but I think we've finally found our roof color.

I present to you..... Georgetown Gray. When I look at it closely, I can pick up shades of slate and sage.



I hope it works out, but I suppose until its up there on the roof, we really won't know. There are no other houses in the neighborhood with this roof as far as we can tell, so we're taking a risk, but then again, I like having something different than everyone else. Our subdivision is very cookie cutter.

This is not a photo of my house of course, (I wish!) This is the photo from the shingle manufacturer's website.

Someday I would love to add stone detail to the front of our house. All of the newer homes built in the cornfield next to us have a certain percentage of brick or stone along with siding. If we add this detail, it could help our home blend between the two developments.

I'll be sure to take a photo after the roof is on and you can tell me what you think.

Potatoes are planted. I decided not to build a potato tower but use an existing 4 x 4 bed and add support boards as the plants grow, adding in more soil & compost for more potatoes to grow in. Harvest time, we'll just have to get our hands dirty, but that's part of the fun, right? I wonder how many potatoes we'll end up with.

The Day I Was Suppose To Win A Chevy Sonic

Does this look like tailgate food to you? When I'm invited to a tailgate party, even if its at a modern hotel trying to be swanky, I expect grilled meat patties or links and potato salads.

My name was drawn at my local dealer to be a semi-finalist in the Chevy Sonic Badger giveaway. The deadline date on the entry form was my dad's birthday so it gave me a feeling I was going to be lucky. The car was painted white and red with a big Wisconsin W on the hood and Bucky Badger on the side. I really wanted that car!

Names were drawn all over the state so I was one of 40 some finalists, invited to a tailgate party at the Hotel Red, which is directly across the street from Camp Randall stadium. I had never been in this newer hotel so I was curiously looking forward to this tailgate party.

The party wasn't a tailgate party at all. The hotel design I guess tries to be modern but it comes across feeling like a concrete bus station. The hospitality suite was really just a poorly lit room with too few cocktail tables for the contestants and their guests.

The food was crackers & cheese, a "meatloaf" slider, bacon wrapped scallop, and chicken salad in a stale bite sized crust. The 3 guests I could bring were my teenage boys and manly husband. This food was not the tailgate they were expecting. Where were the brats and dogs? This is Wisconsin after all!

When my name wasn't chosen, my dreams were crushed. DH said he really had a feeling I was going to win and he was disappointed too. We still won an autographed football and tickets to the game. We also were allowed to go on the field for pictures.


The game was fun, but it was cold! Bundled up in winter coats, it didn't feel like a "spring game." I know DS13 had the best time and at one point made eye contact with his favorite Badger player, Montee Ball.

If I would have been a finalist, I wouldn't have won because there was a trivia contest about the coach, Bret Bielema. I would have lost it on the last question, "What is Coach Bielema's favorite type of music?" I never in a million years would have guessed Reggae. 

To the swollen, lumpy, lymph nodes on the back of my neck, I don't have time for you. Settle down! I became aware of a large knot where my head meets my neck last night. Its the size of a walnut. This morning I woke up with several more, not quite as large, spreading out across the back of my neck. I don't have time for this. I cannot get sick. They are sore and itchy at the same time. That can't be normal. I'm tiring more quickly, and I have a slight brain cloud headache, but other than that, no other symptoms. I just need another 24 hours! Come on body! Work with me!

Just spoke to a very sexist man who made my blood boil. Thankfully the next man I spoke to was my husband who restored my respect and trust towards the opposite sex. Truly great men are out there, and I won't allow one bad apple to spoil my day.

What Song Is In Your Heart Today?

Every morning, when I first reach consciousness, there is a different song in my head. Well, that's not exactly true, some songs repeat occasionally.

Before we roll out of the cocoon, my husband and I share which song is with us. Some songs are favorites, but sometimes there are not favorites lingering in our heads as well. Whether they are songs we love or songs we're not too crazy about, there is a purpose having these tunes on our minds.

I'm truly amazed at the power of music. My son yesterday was asking me why I liked certain songs but not others. Some songs speak to your heart and soul and they stay with you. I enjoy a wide variety of music styles, but some songs I share a connection with.

I really don't understand why some traditional schools cut music programs. They don't understand how music strengthens the brain. Music should be a major part of our everyday lives.

This video is worth the 6 minutes it takes to watch it. Its amazing to witness the transformation music has on this man.


I hope you have a song in your heart that is always singing. If you don't, I encourage you take time to bring music to yourself and to others. "The world needs to come into music."

I can't get over how much this cat is shedding. Every time I pet her, I'm left with a kitten in my hand like some sort of magic trick.

Our Easter Weekend

I was playing with the new to me camera and I used the timer function to snap this shot. I'm still having great difficulty using this camera. Outside, in bright light, its impossible to see what you are taking a picture of and the focus seems to work only 50% of the time.

We took an Easter Day stroll through Petrified Springs with G-Ma. Before the hike, we ate out a huge dinner. In retrospect, I wish I could have reversed the order of those events. DH forgot his hat in the car and it was a little too windy for his head so I gave him the hood from my jacket.

The day before we celebrated big too, at my sister's house. I tried to take a little taste of everything but we had so many options, a little here and there quickly added up to quite a bit.

We had a wonderful weekend visiting with family and it was great my parents were able to make the trip and stay with us all week. 

We learned a new board game called Telestrations. Its a mix between telephone and Pictionary and its hilarious. Using dry erase flip boards, you take turns guessing the word or phrase or drawing a picture, continually passing the flip boards around the table to all the players. When everyone has completed drawing or guessing words, you review all the guesses and drawings and it so funny how things get misinterpreted. I think I'm going to have to add this game to our collection someday soon.

Today I need to catch up on errands and laundry before work. Its going to be a busy start of the week. Hope you all have a good one! 

Beautiful sunrise this morning. Happy Easter! Looking forward to seeing even more family today, continuing this wonderful weekend.