It's not easy being green

Sunday morning, I went out early to get groceries, because, duh, Sunday at Roche Bros.  But first, I stopped at Tangerini's to pick my "share".    The spring share is really great, because you can come whenever you want and pick what you want.  And it was so nice to be out in the field by myself, the scent of the fresh dirt, recently plowed and soft under my sneakers was sweet and natural.

Green leaf lettuce was ready, and we got to take 2 heads so I did that, then a pound of spinach, some mustard greens, baby salad greens, and a bunch of kale.  So yes, I'm learning how to prepare greens in various ways.  Tonight I think the mustard greens are going to become acquainted with some bacon and onions.  Last night, I took a page out of this month's Food and Wine and grilled kale!  It was really good.

Today I was charged with the task of getting my own produce planted.   I researched on the Farmer's Almanac that my carrots could've gone in the ground weeks ago.   Unfortunately all that work I did in March to get the garden ready was wasted as it was now weed filled, and I had to pull them out and turn things over again.  But the carrots, radishes, and potatoes are in, and the cukes transplanted outside.

 



<------ Cute Cukes.

The chives are just about to bloom.  I'm going to add some rosemary and thyme this year because the ones I planted originally didn't make it.

Now, the potatoes are planted in this cool little product from the Gardener's Supply catalog called what else but, a potato grow bag.    I guess the material is made to allow proper soil containment but drain etc.  And apparently, my potato failure from last season was because I failed to read all the details about planting them.

I just buried them under dirt and called it day, but you only cover them with a little soil, and as they grow you add more soil to cover what's exposed.

Makes sense actually when you think about it.

 So, like I posted on my facebook page, I'm tired.  But I don't smell anymore, I showered.

Grub and booze

I’m trying to decide between cleaning the house, and walking 10 miles. I suppose I could clean the house first, then walk, but that’s only marginally less taxing on my body and psyche. I also need to come up with a design for my “team” tee shirts, and get in touch with Wendy, my lone teammate. Not too mention fund raise more. Crap it’s only 6 weeks to the event!

We went to a wine tasting last night to benefit the library. Maintaining the town library has always been important to me. It always seems to be the thing that has to take cuts, and has been asking for upgrades for ages and never gets approval. It was held at Oak Grove Farm, and pretty much everyone there was as old as the historic farm. After tasting six or eight wines, of which three were decent, we high-tailed it over to our favorite bistro for an little shot of martini vitality. And a lobster fig pizza. Seriously good stuff.

Here are some wine rec’s, some from last night, and a few that I’ve read about and had recently.

Crios Torrontes-2008 from Argentina, a nice rich white that would pair well with appetizers and a seafood dinner. $12

Pine and Post- a Washington state label- This is a bargain. It’s a $9 3 for $25 special that pretty good, especially for the party/BBQ season. Try the Chardonnay and Merlot.

Altovinum Evodia 2007: is 100% Spanish Garnacha grape, and for $12 another really nice drinkable red for steaks, burgers, etc.

Sleeping on the interstate

Training for this walk is time consuming. Walking miles and miles can be very boring. You do some with friends, but even your closest, physically fit friends don’t want to go 8-10 miles with you.

Even with the music going, your mind has little to do but think about things. I spend many mornings pondering what I have to do once I get home and shower. I mentally tick off a grocery list. Then there is the introspection that comes with solitude, which isn’t always wanted. I get to obsess over how I’m ruining my kids lives, why aren’t you writing or blogging anymore, blah blah.

I have to try to plan my walks so every 3 or 4 miles I pass somewhere to pee, or buy more water if I am out. Usually I make Dunkin Donuts the last stop before home so I can grab an iced coffee for the last mile and a quarter.

One thing about walking around town is that you notice more things than you do driving. I’ve enjoyed people’s gardens and the seeing different variety of flowers. I’ve discovered houses I never new existed set way back off the road. Unfortunately I’ve seen more roadkill than one person needs to in a lifetime, a gross variety of flattened garden snakes, squished chipmunks, skunks in the middle of the road… I wonder who cleans that up? Or does it just sit there until the wildlife takes care of it?

Speaking of wildlife, our neighborhood has a coyote. Fun huh?

See this is why I’m not writing or blogging. This post is supremely boring. Bonus points for the song the post title comes from.