My BEST helpers.

My Vegetable Garden 2013 (Part 1)

I kept my word this year, and really did begin my garden in early March. Everything is planted from seeds except for the

broccoli,

and the red onions.

The red cabbage survived the 110+ temperatures of last Summer; and this past Winter.

One of the plots

The Turnips and Arugula had popped through the soil after only FOUR days.

Below is the first plot that I began. I originally made it circular, but later squared it.

Of course, the girls, chickens, were always helpful.

 The two lower plots.

In the meantime, the pears, peaches and plums were developing.

 The upper three plots.

Red onion after a week or so.

Sweet pea.

 Broccoli.

 I could no longer resist the broccoli. I made Broccoli Rabe with the leaves.

 I made Broccoli Rabe with the leaves.

Arugula and turnips.

 Beets or Swiss Chard

 Arugula (close-up)

Stay tuned...... There is more to come. Please feel free to comment.

A Rainy, Knitting, Sewing Saturday.

(Click on the photo above to see more photos and to view/buy this lovely handmade tote bag)

Today was ANOTHER great day for doing what I love most-CRAFTS.

Proof that is rained is shown on the leaves and branches in my yard.

Todays' raindrops/dollops on the leaf above.

Above is a strippy scrappy country themed tote that is in the works. I added some machine embroidery on some of the strips.

I actually knitted this purse today. (I hope to get it sewn up and embellished before the end of the year)

The above piece on the top will be a wristlet. I have wristlets for sale. Click on the photo to see some of them.  I love making yo-yo's. They are so simple, and can be done almost anywhere,anytime.

The captions speaks for themselves on these two.

I did get the tote below listed on Etsy this week. Woo Hoo

(click on the photo to see more photos and to view/buy this lovely handmade tote bag) 

 I loved doing the raw hand applique / top stitching on these leaves.

More proof that it rained today.

 Another yo-yo applique tote in the making.

 Applique is so easy, and so fun.

Love the batik fabric strip in there.

Everything is better with applique.

Thanks for viewing my blog. Please feel free to comment. I love comments.

To Capture a REDBIRD known as a CARDINAL

I had never realized how difficult it was to capture a photo of a Redbird/Cardinal until a few days ago, after a great Aussie buddy mentioned never having seen a redbird in person.

I had to think about it, but was pretty sure that I'd seen the little critters many times, in the trees, and on the ground of my property.

Questioning my own eyes, I then made it a point to be on the watch-out for REDBIRDS, male and female. (as though I can discern the difference)

Look closely and you'll notice the yellow and black beak trademark of Cardinals.

Seeing these beautiful creatures, and photographing them proved to be a different subject; for, they would always fly away before I could get my camera.

It happened while digging in my garden yesterday. [I had the camera outside, in anticipation of photo-ing preparations that I'd begun towards my upcoming vegetable garden] I heard a lot of BIRD-CHATTER, looked up, and there was a Cardinal amongst the crew. You betcha, he/she flew from tree to tree, limb to limb, as though he/she knew that the camera was focused on it. It took patience from me, waiting, and moving from one angle to another just to get these photos.  Finally, it remained still long enough for ME-Yeah Right!!

You'll probably notice that it was constantly moving from one pose to another. (perhaps he/she decided to pose for my camera afterall, just as a fashion model does, displaying varying angles).

Oops, the electric-wire decided to get in the photo as well!!

How 'Bout Some Chicken Soup ??

 

Oh how I realize that my blog has been so neglected the past months. Well, my New Year's resolution is to do something about that.

It all began with Chicken Soup. (I'm so tempted to use hashtags preceding prominent words. Guess I've been spending too much time on TWITTER lately).

As, Chicken Soup is a handy concoction to have around the house during the Winter months especially, the wise idea occured to me to make a potful a few days ago.

 

Wanting to make sure that enough soup would be available for the next couple of days, and, me not wanting to have to cook again so soon, I grabbed the largest boiler available, and then proceeded to make Chicken Soup. (there went that desire again to use a #).

Now, I know that the number of photos posted here is not necessary to demonstrate SOUP, but enjoy.

 

 

Can you identify the root shown here?

 

Clue: It's used daily, in its powdered form, in most Asian Indian dishes.

My ex-husband, who is Asian Indian, introduced me to the root/spice.

 How about that "cornbread"?

The "cornbread" is really not cornbread.

 You guessed it.
  It's really Soji, another fine Indian  product.

I sometimes use cornmeal; but, much prefer cream of wheat, or soji for my cornbread fulfillment.

I used an entire fully grown chicken. (I won't think about the possible chemically enhanced foods that the poor girl might have ingested, thus, traces of which might have been transferred to me). Though I do have a few chickens, they are pets, and not for consumption, though we did raise and consume chickens back in the farm days.

Notice the chunks of White Potatoes.

The only ingredient missing from the soup is, Cilantro. I absolutely love Cilantro; however, the last bunch had withered beyond human consumption decency, and wasn't usable. Aahh.