Happy Hungry Hummingbirds

Okay, first things first, since I have been so sporadic with my posting lately,

be sure and go over to the right and sign up for an e-mail notice when I have a new post.

That way when I finally get around to it, you will know and you won't have that disappointing

blog check that you have already seen before.

Now down to business.

Hummingbirds and what to feed them.

If you live in Oklahoma, you will see our little hummingbird friends from about late March to September/October.

That's when you will need to put out your feeder and keep it full.

If you put out a feeder keep it full.

Oh, did I already say that?

That's because the little guys rely on you, so don't tease them.

Alright, let's make some hummingbird grub.

4 parts water to one part sugar.

So that means 4 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar or any variation thereof.

I'm pretty sure I have never used the word "thereof" until now.

The water is brought to a boil to get rid of all contaminates.

I add the sugar after boiling, but you can just pour it all in at once

and microwave until boiling bubbles appear.

My microwave boils 4 cups of water in about 8 minutes.

Easy and brings lots of hummingbird porch moments that you will enjoy.

I wish I could say that this guy was on my back porch, but no.

This is one of the giant hummingbirds we saw in the rain forrest.

They were very people friendly and allowed some great photos.

Check them out below.

These hummingbirds were at least twice, if not more, as big as the ones I see on my back porch.

Watch out!

Coming in for a landing.

That was the other cool thing about their feeders in Costa Rica.

They provided the little guys with a perch.

So, the old rumour that hummingbirds never perch, untrue.

Now I just have to go on Costa Rica Amazon.com and find one of those

perchy feeders and we will be all set.

Try it for yourself, I promise you won't regret it.

Garden Goodness

Daddio asked 2Groovydude to help dig potatoes on Father's Day.

Of course, 2Groovydude had to accept, since it was Father's Day.

Nice and sneaky, Daddio.

So, here you have them.

This year's crop of potatoes.

Up close and personal.

Red, white and purple.

Too cute.

The only logical thing to do was make green beans and new potatoes.

And these babies are new.

Like from yesterday.

They have barely seen the light of day.

Which is bad for potatoes anyway, so cook 'em up.

This recipe is really so easy.

I had never made this until this year.

Wow, what I've been missing.

This is a tasty little dish that I found the recipe for on

The Food Network.

Southern-Style Green Beans with Bacon and New Potatoes on the Food Network

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/southern-style-green-beans-with-bacon-and-new-potatoes-recipe/index.html

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!

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

http://recipes.prevention.com/Recipe/strawberry-salsa.aspx

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.

http://recipes.prevention.com/Recipe/sweet-and-spicy-strawberry-salsa.aspx

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.

http://www.pier1.com/

http://www.pier1.com/catalog/browse/0401.dinnerware

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.

2hipchick 2010 Year in Review

Well, here we are at the end of another year.

I have been watching all the year-end top countdowns for 2010

and decided to do my own.

(Click on the links below the pictures to see the complete post.)

2Groovydude at his artsy-fartsy class

at Gilcrease Museum.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/family-art-class.html

What else would you be inspired to make at the cowboy museum?

Cow skulls.

The mind of a little boy always amazes me.

Rainy day shot of Gilcrease campus.

My artsy-fartsy project for Daddio's birthday.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/daddio-gift-for-fathers-day.html

He is still at those lessons.

We actually recognize the songs he is playing now.

Okie sunset.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/beautiful-sunset.html

My favorite veggie dish.

Yum!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/roasted-veggies.html

Dan and Jeff getting the projects done on our

Down Home Ranch

mission trip.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/down-home-ranch.html

2Groovydude on his bunk at the ranch.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/down-home-projects-pics.html

Daddio and the 2Groovydude taking a break in the giant boot chair.

Rhubarb really loves to help with the gardening.

Crocus means spring!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/signs-of-life.html

2Groovydude likes to help me cook.

We have made lots of great goodies together this year.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/2hipchick-and-2groovydude-bake.html

For all of our favorite treats click on Flips.

Mmm....chocolate!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/coop-has-arrived.html

Now, I would have to say that the arrival of our newest family members

has been quite the project and oh, so much fun!

Baby chicks!

You can't beat 'em.

So fluffy and cute.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/2new-chicks.html

Of course, they are all grown up now, but I'm sure we will have more new

babies this spring.

We are hooked on our pet chickens and the eggs are a pretty nice bonus also.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/daddios-chili.html

Since Daddio can also cook, I give him a little blog time.

Right now, with the cold weather would be a great time for

Daddio's famous chili.

Give it a try.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/scrumptious-tea.html

I have been hitting the tea pretty hard this week.

Warms you right up!

I discovered a new tea company this year that's worth a look,

if you are a tea lover.

We got in on a church ramp project that turned out to be a lot of fun.

This group really worked together well.

Snap, snap it was done in half a day.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/04/ramp-it-up.html

2Groovydude really gets into these projects.

He's a hammering fool.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-bees-knees.html

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot about these new pets.

The Mason bees should be coming around in a few months to

pollinate our garden.

Thanks Bees and Lulu!

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/04/chicky-update.html

The chicken whisperer.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/hummingbird-haven.html

My hummingbird friend.

I still can't believe my luck.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/dewey-destin-seafood-paradise.html

Fun family trip to Destin, FL

And as always a stop at Dewey Destin for our favorite food.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/florida-finally.html

Fun at the beach.

Can't wait to go back.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/down-by-bay.html

My tiny children.

Our newest human family member, Cole.

Baby Belle.

Our new puppy.

She's five months old and (I'm knocking on wood, here.)

hasn't had a pee-pee in the house for about a week now.

Rhubarb, Rocket dog.

http://2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/2010/12/spooky-shmooky.html

Tales from the Crypt, I mean Neighborhood.

I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year

with joyous memories to come.

Keep up with the 2hipchick

http://www.2hipchick-2hipchick.blogspot.com/