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Flips (46) Picks (42) Clicks (28) Chicks (19) Digs (19) Trips (18)

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

All Hail the Hosta

Hosta Heaven.
That's what I'm trying to create here at the chicken farm.
I really like them.
They are just so....interesting.
They like the shade that we have a lot of around here.

Here's my blue one.
(I've told you before that if you want the real technical names for plants...this is not the place.)
It looks so cool and collected.


This is a transplant from last year.
(It's a green one.)
That is the really great thing.
Once you get these babies going, you can divide them and put them everywhere.


If you look closely there is a bloom shooting up.
Oh yeah, and they bloom.
Another hosta bonus.


Here's my chartreuse baby.
Don't tell the others, but this color is my favorite.
Also a transplant to the back yard.


Another beautiful baby.


So here are the original big daddies.
We planted these about six years ago.
They are looking great.

I like these two colors together also.
These are in the front yard and we are dividing them to add more to the back.
(When I say "we" I mean Daddio.)
See?  It is a plant investment.  Buy the original and they make more for you.
Wow.



A few days later...the little bud I showed you above?
Now a real bloom.
So pretty, just like a snow drop.
Does snow drop? 
Anyway, you know what I mean.


Oh, my gosh, I love plants!
Gorgeous!


And look, my rosie bush is blooming.
Yeah, this has nothing to do with hostas, but I was walking by and it was begging for a pic.

So try some hostas, they are very low maintenance.
I mean, I'm growing them, so you can too!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Ugly Strawberry Salsa

Gardening is rewarding, relaxing, tiring, dirty, heart-breaking, frustrating,
and sometimes smelly (fertilizer, you know).
This morning I trucked out there in my pajamas to pick some cilantro (you'll see why in a minute).
It smelled like heaven.
It was all wet from the dew and with Daddio's latest fencing techniques,
I had to trudge through the whole thing. 
(I need to talk to him about that.)
It smelled like earth and plants and food-to-be.
Good way to start the morning.


So, with that great lead-in, here was yesterday's garden harvest.
Somewhat disappointing, but hey, better than nothing.
Sugar snap peas are just getting going, yum!
Those went in the fridge to await some more of their buddies.
Oh, and some really ugly strawberries.  Hmmm.


When life gives you ugly strawberries, make strawberry salsa.
I saw this recipe in the Prevention magazine
While I was looking up the above web address for you, I saw another salsa recipe.
Check out the one below.
It has a Balsamic and mint twist.
I love twists.



Are you seeing this?
Red, green, white.
Beautiful food.
Like I need another reason to love food.
It is so pretty.


Squeeze the lime.
I love lime.


Dribble the honey.
I love honey.


Mix it all together.
I love mixing.
(I'm detecting a pattern here.)


Serve it up.
I love...yeah, yeah.
I dipped with the good ol' tortilla chips.

Okay, so see my new dishes?
I love dishes.
They are my newest acquisition from Pier 1.
They make my strawberry salsa look even better.
Heap it up tall, for a great presentation.
It's all about the presentation.
However, I would eat this stuff off the rug.
It's good, really.

Well, I don't know about you, but I do not keep agave nectar around, so I went with the honey. Maybe someday I will try the nectar. Sounds good.  I have seen it at Whole Foods. I will use any excuse to go to Whole Foods.
http://www.wholefoods.com/



Strawberry Salsa

Ingredients:



Serves: 6
Prep: 7min
Cook: 0min Total: 7min
NOTE: Ingredients for a changed serving size are based on a calculation and are not reviewed by the author or tested. Please also consider scaling up or down cooking containers as needed.


•1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
•2 tbsp chopped cilantro
•1 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
•1 tbsp chopped jalapeno
•2 tsp finely chopped shallot
•1/2 tsp agave nectar


Directions


1.Combine 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries, 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro, 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 Tbsp chopped jalapeno, 2 tsp finely chopped shallot, and 1/2 tsp agave nectar.


Here is the twisty version.  I like the whole idea.  The salt and pepper, especially.  It will be done.

Sweet and Spicy Strawberry Salsa
•2 cups frozen sliced strawberries
•1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
•1 small jalapeno pepper, minced (wear plastic gloves when handling)
•3 tablespoons olive oil
•2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
•2 teaspoons sugar
•1/8 teaspoon salt
•1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper


Directions


1.In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries, vinegar, jalapeno peppers, oil, lemon juice, mint, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Set aside for 15 minutes, or until the strawberries are thawed. Stir to mix.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Birds from the Fern

Remember the Boston Fern?

Last year I had a post about the baby Wrens(?) in my fern.
I'm not really sure they are Wrens, because I could never find a picture of the birds I'm seeing.
Well, whatever they are, they are back again this year.
I think that is so cool.


So, a few weeks ago I noticed the momma and daddy hanging around the fern.
Hmmm, I wonder if they are building a nest?
A few days later I found these pretty little eggs.
The eggs are about the size of the end of your thumb.


Another few weeks go by and baby birds!
Wow, they are so small and cramped.
I guess it keeps them warm.


Another baby shot.
All beaks, legs and fuzz.


Another week goes by and now I'm seeing feathers along with the fuzz.
They are so jammed that you really can't tell where one bird ends and the other begins.


The next week and they are even more crowded.


Now, you can see some eyes and wings and beaks.
I think it's time for some birds to jump out of the nest.
I'm sure that will be any day now, by the looks of the cramped conditions.

Now there is no choice but to buy a fern every year to keep me and the birds happy.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lazy Dog Wrestling

I am compelled to share a little portion of what my mornings are like.
Daddio takes off at the butt crack of dawn.
(I love to say that.)
I send 2Groovydude off on the bus, then it's just me and the dogs.
Here is an example of some antics they get into while I am getting ready.
I call it, "Lazy Dog Wrestling", because they are so lethargic.
No, the video is not in slow-motion.
Try not to fall asleep.
It is humorous, however.




Stars of the Show:


Rhubarb the Roughhouser

She's confident.



Belle the Fearless

She's wolfy.


Really?
Do you not wonder what's going through their mind, sometimes?
We probably don't want to know.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

CHICKS: The Next Generation

Wow, I have been on a vacation from blogging.
Another instance of life overtaking all my hobbies.
So, here we are back in the business of frequent blogging.
Sorry, if you have been missing me.
I have been missing you.
And I have been making some changes as you can see.
Hope you like them.

New babies have arrived!
Chick shipment arrived on May 4th, 2011.
It's the new batch of girls.
They are super cute, like you would expect.
This is Chocolate.
Daddio has shortened it to Choco.
I can live with that.


Now, here is where things get a little fuzzy.
Chickie fuzz and photo fuzz.
Misty is in the front.

This would be Chip.  She goes w/Chocolate.
Two brown chicks and all 2Groovydude and I
can think of is food.
No surprise.


The two babies in the middle are Lemonjello and Orangejello.
(It's a long story I cannot repeat.)
They are pronounced:
La-monj-a-lo
&
Or-onj-a-lo
Think French.


Chickies on their first venture outdoors.
They were shocked at first, then the hunt and peck instinct took over.


So fluffy, so cute!


This is Goldie.
She has fast become the favorite.
She may be my new Cluck.


Group shot.

Daddio noticed something special about Lemon.

From the back it looks like and egg coming out.
Yes, we participate in strange humor around here.
What can I say?
It does look like an egg.
We are hoping this means really great egg-layer in the future.



The baby girls did great on their first adventure.
If you are really into chicks and want to see them in action,
click the play button below.
They are so much cuter in real life.



Be sure and check back soon.
I promise not to keep you waiting for so long for the next post.
Coming up are baby Wren birds from the fern
and Lazy Dog Wrestling.
Be sure not to miss it.

Glad to be back.