I'm Ba-a-a-ak

Well I can't let Joanne have all the fun. ;-

When I came to my dashboard to update this blog, I saw that the last time I posted was for the 2010 3 Day.  I've walked 2011 since then, and am training for this year's. (so please give!)

So I figured the blog would be a good way to document that, and also my summer garden and canning adventures.  It turns out I may have a bit more free time in the immediate future.  So the blog is a great way to get back to writing.  I can test out my novel ideas and snippets on all y'all.

First, the garden!

I took the opportunity when we had those warm days in March to clean up, fertilize, and turn over the bed.   Last fall I ripped out the huge St. John's Wart plant, and the peppermint that was taking over everything.   Here's hoping I can keep up with keeping it gone.

 

Here's what left of the perennials:  chives, sage, and Greek oregano.

I am a big proponent of sustainability, so when I heard about Husdon Valley Seed Library I knew I had to order from them.  (BTW I heard about them from The Daily Grommet - very cool site.)

They package some of the seeds in "art packs".  I bought heirloom variety cucumbers, beans, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, and cilantro.

Here they are planted in my ghetto homemade seed starters.

Two weeks later:

TADA!

Stay tuned for updates. :)

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.