Garden Ramble

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Momzoo

This past weekend was beautiful and unseasonably cold.

The high on Saturday was 70 degrees, about 20+ degrees below normal.

We broke record that day.

It was like a wonderful breath of fresh air!

We spent the whole day outside gardening and getting some much neglected chores done.

I love this time of year when the garden is bursting with produce.

This is a cabbage that I harvested about 2 weeks ago, there are little baby cabbages starting off the leftover stump. Usually I just pull up the stump and re-plant, but I am going to leave this one and see what happens.

The green beans are big and there are hundreds of flowers on the vine.

I planted pole beans all around the chicken run and shed, it shades the animals and makes the ugly shed look much prettier.

Here we have chives in bloom, and wild sunflower and red-runner pole beans, I love the unusual red flower of this particular bean.

I just finished reading a book called “In Defense of Food”. There are going to be some major changes in the way we eat around here. It makes me feel like all my efforts in the garden are worth it, I have healthier, organic foods at my finger tips for the cost of seed and my (free) labor.

What kinds of things are you harvesting from your gardens right now?

Family Game Night

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Momzoo

Sunday evening we had Dadzoo’s parents over for dinner and a little Birthday Celebration.

(My mother-in-law turned 68)

(I hope she doesn’t mind if I tell the world that she is 68)

(After all, 68 is the new 58….)

Anyway

After dinner was over and we had eaten the amazing birthday cake I make her (more pictures later, anyone have any idea what 68 candles look like on a cake? I do, and I took pictures of coarse!) We all gathered to play a rousing game of Settlers of Catan.

Baby Boy (really I should say toddler boy since he is 2 and a half) climbed up on Dadzoo’s lap and wanted part of the action. He was being so cute that I had to take pictures. This sequence of pictures is an illustration of what happens when a 2 and a half year old doesn’t think the game is going very well for him.

(Chadd this is for you….I wanted you to know that we are training him up right during your absence)

(gone)

(and back with his blankey)

(Fine then, if I can’t win then I will just play with Daddy’s hand)

Vodak + Vanilla Beans

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Momzoo

A couple of days ago I posted this picture with the caption:

“What is a good Mormon girl doing with a gallon and a half of Vodka!”

I got a lot of funny comments on my blog and facebook and some great ideas were thrown out. I would like to address some of those comments.

No, it isn’t for a secret night cap or to get me though the day

It isn’t for cleaning paint brushes, I didn’t even know you could do that!

No, it isn’t for our year supply.

No, it isn’t to keep on hand to barter when times get bad.

I am not making herbal tinctures (good idea though)

Several people guess vanilla extract, and they were correct.

I saw a tutorial for making homemade vanilla and me, being who I am, just had to try it.

To make vanilla extract you need a gallon of Vodka (the cheaper the better, that stuff can be expensive) and 3/4 pound of vanilla beans.

(I got my vanilla beans here)

Place the beans in a gallon sized glass jar

and pour the vodka over the top.

Let it sit for 5 to 6 months, and there you have it,

Vanilla Extract.

(sorry the pictures were so bad, it was dark outside and I just can’t get good pictures in my kitchen without natural light)

My friend Charlotte wanted to know if I felt weird purchasing the Vodka. I will be honest and admit that I sent my husband for the liquor. In Utah you can’t buy liquor at the grocery store, there are special State Liquor stores that you have to go to, and he said he felt like a fish out of water.

Also, I had to take a little sniff of the stuff, and all I can say is “why would someone want to drink it?!” It smelled so bad, like rubbing alchohol!

Now the real question: What are we going to do with the extra half gallon of Vodka!