Sekiu Halibut Trip 2015

Well, it wasn’t the best halibut trip, but it wasn’t the worst either. We certainly didn’t come home empty handed, the weather was great, and the company fantastic! I managed to sprain my pinky tossing a football around on the last evening…. besides natural clumsiness, my dear friend Sailor Jerry was also involved in this debacle. Suffice to say, it hurts to type. I think we’ll just do pictures and captions today, sound good? Ok!

The water was consistently rough most of the trip. Here’s where it got to be to chaotic to fish….

Here’s me hanging on for dear life!

Our sweet sweet ride for most of the trip.

Aptly named… This is Bob, owner of the Bobber and Mountain Man’s dad.

Sadly, the only halibut we caught all weekend.

But we were happy to be catching cod too. This is Mr. Awesome enjoying bringing in his catch.

Oh my Cod!

So many boats!!

One of my highlights was driving the big boat!

After halibut closed, we did a quick run for sea bass off “The Caves”. It’s like fish in a barrel. We caught 12 in a little over an hour. Easy peasy. A great morale boost for the less fruitful trips.

The main cave of “The Caves”

These are also considered part of the “The Caves” but I think they should be called “The Toes.”

He is so cool! Love my MM ❤

When we weren’t on the boat, we were here, at Van Ripers.

Me and Mrs. Stout cutting loose. They brought this fantastic redneck board game. Hilarious!

The fat sea lions come strickly for halibut season. They eat all the carcasses, mate, and are gone with fishermen once halibut season closes.

Excuse me, I think someone broke the dock… lol

Carne Asada

Carne asada essentially means grilled meat. Well that’s not very specific now is it? Upon further research as to what makes an authentic Mexican carne asada the expectation is this: practically paper-thin steak marinaded with citrus and other traditional Mexican flavors. Well that still gives a ton of leeway right? This is one of those meals where there is no real correct way to make it. Trust me, I’ve looked around. There are tons of recipes out there and they’re all different. So I figured I’d add one more to the mix right? A little finagling and viola! Perfect, flavorful, delicious carne asada. Epic on tacos, nachos, burritos, whatever! A great summer meal!

A few tips before we begin:

1. Skirt steak or flank steak is often what recipes call for. I like getting the meat pre-cut from the butcher. WinCo usually has ready to go packages which is totally my style of convenient! You can try to cut the meat yourself but it didn’t work out too well for me. I’m just not that talented. I’d recommend letting the pro’s handle that part. Most small business butcheries and some grocery stores will slice the meat for you upon request. You just have to find what works best for you.

2. Marinade for 3-5 hours. That was plenty of time for the flavors to sink in. I think if you marinated it overnight it might be ruined since the meat is so thin.

3. Prep everything else you’re serving before you put the meat on the grill. It takes less than 10 minutes to cook and you’ll want to be near your bbq while its on.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb steak sliced paper-thin – see tip #1 above for details.
• 1 gallon zip storage bag

Marinade:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 lime juiced
• 2 tsp taco seasoning
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ¼ yellow onion
• ½ bunch cilantro
• ½ bunch oregano
• ½ jalapeno seeded
• 2 tomtatillos
• 2 garlic cloves

Instructions

Pull apart individual slices and place meat in gallon zip bag.

Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, orange juice, lime juice, taco seasoning, pepper, and chili powder to the bag.

Using a food processor, finely chop onion, cilantro, oregano, jalapeno, tomatillo, and garlic. If you don’t have a food processor, just mince very fine. Add to the bag.

Flatten and seal the bag. Refrigerate for 3-5 hours.

Remove steak from bag and grill on medium heat for 3-5 minutes on each side.

Chop into strips and serve immediately.

Meanwhile, Back at the Garden…. May 2015

Things are finally starting to happen! Sprouts, buds, flowers, shoots, all waking up!

Spurge blossoms

This is one of the four perennial starts I got at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. All 4 have little leaves coming through, I can’t wait to see them bloom 🙂

Most of the dahlias have poked through.

My lettuce plot, I just threw a ton of seeds in there and we’ll see what happens. That’s kind of been my attitude about a lot of things in my garden this year. Apparently the weeds have the same idea. Sigh, the never ending gardeners battle.

The carrots were also simply scattered in their respective buckets. I’m loving how they burst through the soil like tiny fissures in the ground erupting green goodness.

Cucumber on the left, zucchini on the right. So cute!

Now on the the challenges and learning portion of the post. First up, peas… WTF!?!? Peas are the easiest thing to plant! I have never ever ever had a problem with growing peas until now. First, I purchased garden twine, which apparently is very soft and after a few rains, snapped and fell apart. Totally annoyed. What is the point of twine that doesn’t stay? I don’t get it. Second, the plants were getting munched on! At first I thought maybe it was bugs but then I found slime trails. Slugs? I’ve never had a problem with slugs going after my peas. Squash, sure, but never peas!

Ah, much better. Sisal twine and a healthy dose of slug bait. Now can we have some growth please? K thanks!

Drat,  my impatience always bites me in the butt! This is one of my very sad tomato plants. I put them out too early and the cold mornings killed off most of their lower leaves. I was about to call the whole thing a wash when MM’s mom came to visit and coaxed me into saving them. The tops are healthy and you can see there are little sprouts coming in where the lower leaves died off. Still I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket, no sir! I’m curious how well they will produce but I’m not confident in their yeild.

So I got rid of two that were beyond repair and purchased 3 very healthy looking plants from Freddy’s. Mr. Stripey… I had to, the name made me giggle. Now I have 6 plants, half mine, half people who know what they’re doing lol. Either way, there will be tomatoes, oh yes, there will be many tomatoes!

My annuals are doing fantastic. I can’t wait to put them out front in my homage to Grandma Bev. Still waiting on the daffodil foliage to die out but a few of the pots and hanging baskets have made their way out front. For more information on annual flowers, check out this post:

Fun with Annual Flowers

Every once in a while Home Depot will surprise me with a unique plant that I just have to have. Meet Lewisa. She is so pretty! The flowers come in tones of pink and orange amidst long slightly succulent leaves. I love it! Now to see how it behaves over time.

I’ve also recently replenished my succulent bowl. See the rock smiling at your? That would be Mountain Man’s contribution to the garden art.

My first bearded iris bloom of the year. This thing is HUGE! Bigger than a soft ball. I can’t wait till it’s friends pop open. Maybe a week or two?

How are things going in your garden?

The Top 10 Things My Mother Taught Me

Happy Mother’s Day all! This one is for my miraculous Mommy! I love you so much! Everything you’ve done and continue to do for me I appreciate from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being so awesome! 

Readers: Each part is a song title and the links take you to the song, maybe even a music video 🙂 Also the numbers are of no particular value since these are all priceless lessons she’s taught me. Enjoy!

1. Amazing Grace:

AKA: Kill them with Kindness… and forgiveness. When someone is sucky to you, take the high road, rise above. Always be kind, always forgive. Have you ever had some road-rager flip you off and felt the urge to yell in all sincerity “Have a great day!” Well that’s kind of the point. A little snarky I’ll admit but it was funny at the time. No, the point is, kindness is infectious and it’s really hard to be a jerk to someone who constantly forgives you and rises above negativity. I’ll admit I don’t always do this, grudges do occur. But I try to turn it around and make it right eventually. I’m a big fan of God’s forgiveness for our sins. That is one of the keystones to my faith. It’s exhausting trying to be perfect, I get exhausted watching people try! We’re human which, at its core, is imperfect and messy. Give forgiveness and ask for forgiveness, it will make your life a whole lot simpler.

2. Don’t Worry, Be Happy

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I can’t tell you how many times my Mother has said this to me. This is answer for all the “What if” moments in your life. Children ask this ALL THE TIME! I know I did. I get it from my students every other day! There are so many variables in life we have no or little control over. If you “What if” about each possible problem, your wasting valuable time and probably missing the good stuff! If S*%$ happens that you have no control over, deal with it after it happens, you’ll figure it out, you always do, right?

3. Patience

It’s a virtue. Whatever! I know it is and it beneficial to have it and my Mother tried to drill it in my head but I still don’t have much of it. If something breaks, I fix it, or get a new one immediately. If I’m excited for something, like transplanting my tomatoes plants that I grew from seed out to my garden, I’ll probably do it sooner than needed…. I did, and I’m regretting my lack of patience. Feel free to say “I told you so,” Mom…. she did, ugh!

4. Don’t Speak

AKA: If you don’t have something nice to say – Don’t say anything at all. There is just no room in my happy world for put downs. I don’t tolerate them and tend to stand up for people who receive them. I learned this one at an early age and am a firm believer in its power. Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me? Nope! Not true. Words hurt, often worse than sticks and stones so why would you do that to someone, friend or stranger? I got put down a lot throughout my life as an underdog of society so this one totally works for me. Thanks Mom!

5. Independent Women

When this song came out, it was like listening to my Mother rap! I’m sure Beyonce’s mom and my mom must have hung out! They had to! Let’s review: “Always 50/50 in relationships, The shoes on my feet I’ve bought it, The clothes I’m wearing I’ve bought it, The rock I’m rockin’ ‘Cause I depend on me.” But let’s be real “Ladies it ain’t easy being independent.” Now I’m not all high and mighty/too good for a man, no sir! But I was taught to have my own career and make my own money. Everyone needs to know how to survive in this world on their own. You never know when the pooh might hit the fan. Contingency plans are a must. That’s how my Mom raised me and I’m glad for it.

6. No More Drama

I know, the video is a bit much but it completely encompasses what this section is about. My Mom could always single out drama with two words: Red Flag. Ugh! I hated the red flags! Red flags are the equivalent of deal breakers. All those negative and toxic aspects of a person that you can’t and shouldn’t have to deal with. Don’t get me wrong, we all have problems and we all have flaws, I’m loaded with them! But if they cross your line in the sand, it’s a red flag.  It drove me batty when I was dating! Every time I’d bring home Mr. Wrong, she’d point out to me the next day all the “red flags” with raised eyebrows and a shaking head. Of course, I got defensive and defiant every time it was brought up, but in the end, she was always right about Mr. Wrong.  Ugh, I hated that! Still, it sunk in, and when I start to notice them about a new person in my social world, I keep an eye on it. Sure enough, the more red flags, the less I want to make that person a permanent instalment in my life.

7. I’m Not Big on Social Graces

Yes, I know that’s not the title of the song, but it’s more to the point of this section. BTW, wasn’t that video great? I thought it was the coolest! I know she wishes I was bigger on social graces, I can be quite crass. But she did teach me the proper way of things: how to dress professionally, be polite, mind my P’s and Q’s (what the hell does that mean anyway?) . Fortunately I have no problem switching on the well-bred button when needed. However I love turning it off even more lol.

8. Come Together

Mom has always been great at entertaining. We would host family and friend parties often as I was growing up. I loved them. So much fun having a community based on love and friendship. When I became an adult I discovered I have a knack for rallying the troops for adventures and parties. I was able to systematically prepare for a gathering and keep my wits during it while still having a good time and making everyone feel welcome. I’m certain this talent was bestowed on me via osmosis and helping my Mother over the years. Entertaining is an art!

9. Take it easy

Number one quality a teacher must have: be flexible. Mom always told me this. She was a teacher, my sister is a teacher, as am I. My sister and I are often complemented on our abilities to adjust, evolve, and thrive in such a chaotic field. My response to such applause has always been:  “I came from good stock.” Meaning my mom was a bad-ass teacher and I learned so much from our dinner table conversations and observing how she handled the most challenging hurdles in life and career.  Even thought I had no desire to become a teacher in the beginning of my career quest, when I finally gave in to her nagging and pursued it, I was a natural. And I LOVE the work. Still it always returns to that go-with-the-flow attitude that keeps me afloat even in the direst of circumstances.

10. Hawaiian Cowboy

The video accompanying this section is of my Great Uncle Sol K. Bright who wrote this famous song. My grandfather was also a famous musician in Hawaii and I glow with pride every time I tell people this. My Hawaiian roots and culture are very near and dear to my heart. My mother and her mother and father made damn sure my sister and I knew our heritage. I think this window into self-identity may supersede all the adjectives that describe me since it has always been a constant in my life. Or, at least, somehow is included in all that makes me who I am. Gardener, Hawaiian, Cook, Hawaiian, Writer, Hawaiian, Teacher, Hawaiian. It has been a connection I’ve shared with so many people. It is my culture and I love the Aloha Spirit!

Happy Mother’s day to my mom and all the mom’s out there. Teach your children well. Remember that you are mentoring them every minute of every day. Thank you for all you do for us.

Astoria Revisited

Astoria, Oregon. If it’s known for anything, it’s the setting for the classic 80’s movie The Goonies. Apparently this summer it it’s 30th anniversary! Where does the time go?

For me, Astoria has always been a dumpy town that my family drove through, and never stopped in, but quickly passed on our way to the resort towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach. So when Caliente invited me out to spend the weekend with her and her boyfriend, Handro, I snarkily replied “Why would I want to go there??” Her big push was to go play at the beach. Since I couldn’t imagine we’d want to spend anytime in a town full of decrepit buildings and sketchy individuals, I immediately pushed for driving out to Cannon Beach to play there. I was promptly shut down by Handro and the rest of our party on account it would be an additional hour drive after already driving for 3 hours to get to his home. I could see the logic but just could not imagine why we would want to hang out in Astoria. What could this shady, dying town possibly have to offer?

A lot, actually. But first a brief historic review: Astoria is located at the mouth of the Columbia River as it flows into the Pacific Ocean which, one hundred years ago, would have been a pretty great place to set up shop. The river was easy access to the interior of the Oregon and Washington and became a popular port town in the late 1800’s. Commercial fishing, fish processing, and lumber, made this an invaluable keystone of the Pacific Northwest for over a century. Eventually the town was eclipsed by the rise of metropolises like Portland, Tacoma, and Seattle. In the 1980’s the canneries, saw mills, and eventually railroad service closed their doors and turned their backs on Astoria. Like so many towns deemed obsolete as technological advances improve, little thought was given to the future welfare of the city. This would explain the dilapidation and disarray that was Astoria when I was a kid cruising through on my way to a  beachy vacation. What I did not know was that in the late 1990’s there began a renaissance of art and reclamation of the town as a whole. This renaissance has continued to grow over the years turning this home of industry into a historic monument and fun tourist stop for several cruise ships. Suffice to say, I was pleasantly surprised to enter downtown for the first time in eons, greeted by novelty shops, art galleries, and historic buildings with fresh coats of paint granting them the chance to once again shine as they had during the town’s hay day.

A quick round of hugs and bag dropping at our host’s home and we were off like a shot! Handro’s first destination on our tour was to Fort Stevens State Park. This park is seriously HUGE! A long stretch of beach where you can walk or drive next to the surf for miles and miles, big grassy dunes riddled with bike paths and a campground that boasts tent sites, cabins, and yerts. BTW, yerts are weird looking! But back to beach.

Seriously, how gorgeous is that??

I couldn’t believe how blue the water was here. It almost looked tropical.

My favorite part of the park was the shipwreck. The Peter Iredale was a four masted sail boat cruising in from Mexico when it was run aground due to high winds during a storm in 1906. The boat was supposed to be repaired and returned to the water. However, in typical Northwest fashion, the weather would not cooperate and by the time it did, the ship had sunk into the sand beyond the point of retrieving. So there it remained, most of it getting sold for scrap.

This is all that’s left 109 years later.

It’s amazing to walk around this hunk of extremely sturdy metal and ponder it existing for as long as it has in the salty sea air and tides.

I love old stuff….

And the people who hang out with me near old stuff.

L to R: Caliente, Bestie, Mr. T, and Handro

Feeling thoroughly windswept and hungry we decided to venture into downtown for drinks and snacks. Our first stop was the Buoy Taproom. The restaurant building was once a cannery 90 years ago and sits atop restored (Thank God) pilings. It was a beautiful space and made me thankful that there are still individuals in this world who appreciate historic buildings and are willing to restore and preserve their story. Beyond the incredible ambiance, the food and beer was damn good as well! Oysters were the talk of the day. When in a port town, chances are you will find it’s quality of seafood unparalleled. I, for one, was completely uninterested in trying oysters, gross! Nor was Caliente. But with sufficient pressure from our peers we gave in and tried a few. I was certain it would be salty, chewy, rubbery, yuck! I was pleasently surprised to find them tender, mild, and delicious! They came served with goat cheese and pepper jelly. Yummy!! We also enjoyed their deep fried cheese curds and spinach dip. Mmmmm snacks 🙂

 Another charming feature of The Buoy is their plexiglass section of the floor in the middle of the restaurant. Why? Well if there’s one thing Astoria has in spades, it’s sea lions. Big, fat, loud, sea lions.  Furthermore they love to hangout and bask on the piling and connecting planks all along the pier. I’m sure it was on purpose that a large inviting plank was located just under the plexiglas. Sprawled atop said plank laid a fine and rather imposing specimen. It almost felt like I was in a zoo, for a moment, looking through glass at a giant animal I would hope to never come face to face with. But there he slept and jerked in his dreams just below my feet. It was daunting to stand on the glass even when logic tells you it will be fine. I didn’t even realize I was avoiding it until Hando laughed at the four of us as we cautiously stood on the precipice of the view. 

Our stroll continued in and out of a town that has painstakingly preserved it’s history and heritage.

Trolly rides for a dollar!

When did the Roebuck get dropped I wonder….

Each trash can uniquely made to look like a product one of the local canneries used to produce. Seriously, this place is cool.

They also had real working pay phones which I found hilarious!

After a fantastic evening stroll we decided to head back to Handro’s house for a board game and some giggles amid a pristine sunset.

The next morning, we strolled past some fantastic historic buildings.

Mr. T remarked how amusing it was that the old jail still looked like a jail. Upon consideration, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a historic jail look so much like its former self.

Caliente thought this one looked like the Addam’s Family mansion.

A coat of black paint would do the trick.

Breakfast was served at The Labor Temple Diner. Delicious food, huge portions, and a fantastically friendly staff. Their menu had a great story about the building so rather than me rattle off to you about it, I’ll let you read it from the horses mouth. 

To walk off our gut-bomb breakfast we visited some of the local art galleries and shops.

Riversea Art Gallery was truly impressive. A large gallery with artists spanning every medium and genre imaginable. There was something for everyone! If you’re an art lover like me, you’d be daydreaming about being rich enough to have on piece from each artist adorning your soon to be extremely eclectic home.

I really enjoyed Stacy Polson’s needle felted/Japanese inspired wall hangings.

Roger McKay’s use of classic paintings with modern childhood heroes was certainly intriguing to say the least!

And Jud Turner’s bio-mechanical art was sensational!

Last on the tour was Phog Bounder’s Antique Mall. What a fantastic place! The top floor (and ceiling) adorned with great finds for all likes. The downstairs was more of an upcycled artisans mecca, I was in heaven. The had a whole corner practically dedicated to Ball mason jars lol. Loved it!!

I could have bought everything!!! Alas, I was frugal and only got two rectangular medicine bottles to use for flower vases and a couple of small glass buoys to put in my larger planters. I am so coming back here with more money!!

As you can see, my tune has changed dramatically about the little port town of Astoria. I highly recommend visitation to anyone traveling through. This town has so much to offer! I can’t wait to go back again.

Better Than Take-Out Sweet and Sour Chicken

This is the best sweet and sour sauce and the best Asian style deep fried chicken ever!! The sauce is easily made and full of the tangy goodness you want and none of the yucky additives you don’t. The chicken is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Served with rice, egg rolls, noodles, or by itself, this is the recipe you’ve been waiting for!! Believe me, I’ve tried everything, the buck stops here, and the buck is good!

I have a few simple principles when it comes to eating out:

1. If it takes all day to make and your happy with the take-out version, do that. Pho for example. I am not going to go to the butcher, get bones, make broth etc etc. Not to mention all the herbs! Ugh effort! Especially when I can get perfection for less that $10 down the road. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do. Fortunately, sweet and sour chicken only takes 30 minutes in your kitchen, hooray!

2. If you have a recipe you make at home that you love, never order it from restaurant. You will consistently be disappointed. I used to always order fettuccine alfredo and french dips at restaurants. But now that I’ve perfected my recipes (check out links above), I never do. Trust me, nothing is more disappointing that expecting your personal best and getting someone else’s conveyor-belt version. I’m pretty certain sweet and sour chicken is now added to this list. It may still be my go to when I am taken out for Chinese but it will never be the same now. But I’m ok with that. I always feel so satisfied when I exceed my restaurant expectations. Winning!!

Ingredients:

Sauce

• 1 8 oz. can pineapple juice
• 1 can (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits
• 1/2 diced green pepper (optional)
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup  apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Aloha Shoyu (or soy sauce if you can’t find it at the store)
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 3 Tbsp  Cornstarch

Everything else:

• 3 cups vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 chicken breasts
• Cornstarch as needed (about 1 1/2 cup)
• 2 tbsp garlic powder

Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2

Instructions

In a saucepan over medium heat whisk pineapple juice (from the can) , vinegar, shoyu, cornstarch, and sugar until smooth. Really squeeze every last drop of pineapple juice out of the can.

Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.

Turn heat down low and add 1/3 cup of pineapple tidbits and 1/2 chopped peppers to the sauce.

Preheat the oven to 300.

To prepare the chicken: click here

Once the chicken is initially fried, put it in a baking dish.

Ladle out nearly all of the peppers and pineapple tidbits out of the sauce with a slotted spoon.

Toss to coat.

Bake for 15 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked through.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Extra sauce can be poured over sides or used for dipping.

Steak Salad with Chevre and Pears

Summer is right around the corner which means salad season! Salads make great meals for the summer when it’s too hot to cook. Just throw your meat on the grill and toss with your favorite greens and other treats. Done! Dinner in less than 20 minutes that tastes great on your patio! Steak may not be a typical meat  considered for a salad but man does it rock! The savory flavor blends well with sharp cheeses, tart fruits, and leafy greens. In this case, pears and goat cheese or chevare. Tossed with my favorite balsamic vinaigrette, this meal is sure to please.

I love having salad for dinner. It really helps with cutting back on the carbs but staying satisfied with the meal. In our home, we try to have salad once a week for dinner for that very reason. Since we have salad for dinner so often, getting creative and trying new assortments is key. I enjoy the classics; Chicken Caesar, taco salad, and Italian chop salad. I have recently been working on my own collection as well which includes Bacon Blue Chicken Salad, Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing, and now this! If you’ve never had a salad with steak, you need to try it. It’s fantastic.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb tri tip steak
• Steak seasoning – My absolute favorite is from the Savory Spice Shop – Hudson Bay Beef Spice. There may be a store near you or you can buy online. Seriously, if you grill steak often, you need this stuff!!! Another good store-bought option would be McCormics Montreal Steak Seasoning.
• 1 12 oz bag of spring salad mix
• 1/2 cup chevre, crumbled
• 1 pear sliced and chopped into bitesize pieces
• 1/3 cup candied pecans, chopped
• 5 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette – I recommend Lighthouse brand

Instructions

Season steak and grill to medium done.

Slice steak into bite-size pieces.

In a bowl add salad mix, chevre, pears, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Toss and serve topped with steak.

Springtime on the River

Yesterday was my first time back on the boat since September. It was wonderful. Cold! But wonderful. We met MM’s parents at the Cowlitz River in search of steelhead. Fall and Winter are certainly more prosperous ventures for these tasty salmonids but Spring can be surprising. Yesterday was not one of those surprising day. Drifting in and out of countless others vying for a bite can be frustrating. Even more infuriating are the crystal clear waters displaying the fish practically within grabbing distance. If that weren’t enough, watching your lure go right past their pointy snouts without the slightest reaction of interest, will certainly have you tearing your hair out. Patience is key… beer helps too.

 

After several hours of this, I lost interest and turned my attention to the scenery. The Spring green of the trees and shrubs seemed to almost glow in their newness and brightness.

The homes and cabins of the lucky few who can afford such embellishments turned on my internal “When I have a house of my own” button on and kept it running most of the afternoon with décor and DIY projects dancing in my head.

Why yes, I would love to stay in your matching guest shanty on the river!

An outdoor living room?? Snazzy!!

Undoubtedly the highlight of my day was the birds. Large and small, they were out in force. Several Canadian geese couples were cosseting their newly hatched goslings along the banks. Bright orange and yellow finches took bathes in the shallows. Hordes of sparrows circled and swooped continuously hunting for insects along the surface of the water.

Oh but the big ones were, by far, the show stoppers of the day. A family of bald eagles took turns orbiting the river and the bomb diving into the depths with a large splashy crash and then quickly soaring off with their meal.  Their great wings majestic and proud as the country they signify. As symbolic as these animals are, it was refreshing to watch them play and bicker just as all of God’s flawed creatures do.

     My kingdom for a long lens. I think I will ask for one this Christmas!Several blue heron’s soared up and down the rivers like commuter flights of the ecosystem. Their long lines remnant of ancient ancestors that once ruled the world for far longer than we can claim. From fierce, carnivorous, predators to graceful, elegant, hunters they glide in silence that demands appreciation.

The river in Springtime is such an ethereal and vibrant place.

How was your weekend? What do you love about springtime?

Zesty Southwest Salsa

Looking for a heartier salsa? Something with substance beyond tasty vegetables? Perhaps a new arrangement of flavors to brighten your next Taco Tuesday? Look no further! My zesty southwest salsa will rock your world! Corn and black beans give that robust flavor synonymous with the name as well as a protein punch to fill your belly. Tomatillos compliment the traditional tomatoes not only in flavor but in color too making this salsa not only tasty but pretty too!

I’m obsessed with tomatillos lately. I love them! Not surprising since I adore tomatoes and have since birth. The first time I utilized them last year, I figured they would behave just like regular tomatoes. When I cut the first one open, I expected the seeds and gel to ooze out like their kin. I was surprised to find they stayed intact. I was further enamored with the tart citrus flavor that was nothing like my favorite red fruit…. vegetable….. whatever! Suddenly it all came together. The green sauce in enchilada suiza, that zing in my favorite restaurant salsa, I wonder if I could infuse this in a margarita! Hmmmmm.

Ingredients:

• 1 can black beans
• 1 small can fresh corn
• 6 tomatoes, roma or vine ripened
• 4 tomatillos
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 small can of green chilies
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 jalapeno, seeded
• 1 lime juiced
• 1/4 tsp salt

 Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 8

 Instructions:

Drain and rinse black beans and corn.

Dice up vegetables and herbs.

Mix beans, corn, veggies, and herbs in a large bowl.

Squeeze lime and add salt.

Stir, cover, and chill.

 

 

Veggie Plotting: Phase 2

Finally! After several very soggy weeks the sun came out and decided to stay for a while. I knew the minute I saw all suns across the weekly view on my weather app that it was time to get back to planting. I was borderline giddy when I woke up this weekend to the celestial morning light coming through the blinds. I hardly made it through my typical couch/coffee/Kelly and Michael weekend ritual before I was getting dressed and heading out the door to get a few provisions for the day. Upon returning, the game was afoot!

Carrots

I have had the worst time trying to get decent carrots to grow. The ground soil is very nutrient rich but also loamy and tends to compact too tightly for the little guys to really get deep and big. I usually only end up with about 10 out of 100 that are actually passable. Enter Mark’s Veg Plot, a fellow blogger I thoroughly enjoy following. In one of his recent posts, We Have Lift-Off he mentioned that he grows his carrots in rubbermade totes! So smart! I can use potting soil and have a mini portable raised bed!

Sooooo, I purchased a couple long, deep, and cheap flower planters. I made a 50/50 mix of compost and potting soil, scattered the seeds, sprinkled soil over them, and watered. I hope this works!

As silly as it sounds, I don’t really like carrots…. but MM does so I grow them for him. I would love to be able to pack carrots in his lunch for several weeks rather than days this season.

Cucumbers

Since I’ve decided not to deal with sugar pumpkins this year that means I get to dedicate my entire A frame trellis to cucumbers! One side will be slicers, the other will be pickling. I can’t wait for pickles! They’re like natures potato chip and I can’t stop eating them! Again the issue of soil easily compacting comes into play. So I start them off in a long mound of potting soil and compost. Once they hit the loamy stuff, they’ll be well established and loving life.

 

Tomatoes

Oh tomato, you tricky little minx. As you can see below they have out grown my windowsill lighting system. They are also fairly leggy. I’m ok with that. For a first half-assed attempt I think I did pretty good. After discussing with several gardening friends, I’ve decided that next year I will get real grow lights and keep a lot less space between the light and the plant.

Still they are viable. For the cherry tomatoes. which I hang in wooden baskets, my initial thought was to lay them diagonally so the lower stems would get buried and creat a better root system…..

But I forgot about wind and gravity. The slightest breeze and the fragile stems bent and snapped. Sigh. Physics rears its ugly head again!

However the golden nuggets apparently got the memo on what they were supposed to do so it’s not a total loss.

I guess I’ll just go to the store and get some proper starts…wait! Are those strawberries? Better get some of those too! I can never just get the one thing I’m supposed to get as a nursery. Although with a ring in at $7 this was probably the least expensive gardening trip ever!!

As for the big tomatoes, they are just great!! The early girls and beefmasters are adjusting well to their new outdoor digs. I burried them about a foot down. See all those little white hairs? Each one has potential to be a new root to assist feeding the plant. The more roots, the more tomatoes!

I got new colorful tomato cages. I just had to, they were so cute! Notice I put them in the ground pointy side down this time? I’m such a dunderhead! I assumed since they were sold pointy side up that you set them in the ground pointy side up. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why the cages weren’t very effective…. #facepalm.

Zucchini

Last but not least, the zucchini. Again, using a 50/50 mix of compost and potting soil, I made a few mounds about a foot or two apart. I figured 5 would be a conservative start since I always end up with way more than I actually need.

After mulching, it was time for a victory beer!

In related news:

The garlic is, well, perfect!!

The peas are about to begin their viney ascension up the tee-pee trellises.

The oregano and cat nip I planted last year came back with a vengeance!

    

My pretty annuals are getting comfortable in their new homes. I’m looking forward to putting them out front on display once the daffodil leaves die off.

How are things going in your garden?

What are you planting these days?