Aloe Vera Experimental Plant For the New Greenhouse

A giant pot of aloe vera (last pic) was gifted to me. It was pretty overgrown amd I basically have no experience with succulents or aloe , but I fivided it up to see if I can get them to perk up. Made a mixture of about 3 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite, and 1 part sand with a handful of osmocote slow release after letting the divided pups dry out for a day.  Ended up with 13 4" pots , 1 6" pot and 1 8" pot. 

They will be one of the first plants in my new greenhouse ($120 overstock purchase).  Greenhouse in July in Alabama might be dangerous, but I have it opened up for ventilation. 

Now I realize this isn't the prettiest greenhouse, but it's definitely about the cheapest. And it was easy to put together by myself,  so I call it a win so far. It's pretty light weight and doubt it can handle a serious storm but we shall see. I have been obsessing over a greenhouse for years now , so at least I finally took a step :) and the aloe will be the experimental plant in there. Seems like it can handle it it. Let's hope 🙏 

This last picture was when I was half way through before realizing I had done it all wrong (after many many curse words) and had things propped up every which way. I took it all back down and started over, paying closer attention to the poor directions, and then it was a breeze :) 

Summer Tub

This summer, I decided to extend the fish aquarium hobby to the outdoors with a summer tub (thanks to inspiration from Rachel O'Leary and a local hobbyist, Susan Core). It has been a success,  all things considered. Originally set this up in Central Alabama May 14 with some guppies that turned out to be all male. I added females 6 weeks later and almost immediately noticed babies. Also the hardy lily has consistently produced flowers and the frogbit doubles in size every few days.  Frogs and tadpoles also recently showed up. So love this little tub 😍 . Such an amazing little ecosystem and so vital!

Hello Fresh - Dinner 1

All in all it was good. My son, who is a very picky eater, liked it (minus the cream sauce which I didn't care for either). I didn't even know I liked radishes and would never have thought to stick pickled radishes and cucumber on a taco. But this wouldn't cost $18 if I bought it at the store. Here's my break down:

• 6 flour tortillas - $1.32 ($2.20 for 10)
• 10 oz ground beef - $3.10 ($5/lb)
• 3 radishes - 50 cents ($1/bunch of 6)
• 1 Persian cucumber -$1
• 2 scallions - 17 cents (50 cents/bunch of 6)
• 5 tsp white wine vinegar - 50 cents
• 4 Tbsp sour cream - 30 cents
• Chili Flakes 20 cents ($1/bottle)
• Garlic Powder - 10 cents ($1/bottle)
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil - 15 cents ($3/bottle)
• 4 oz shredded cabbage - 45 cents($1.80 / 16 oz bag)
• 2 tsp Sriracha (although I skipped this) - 4 cents ($3/bottle)
• 2 tsp soy sauce - 10 cents ($3/bottle)
• small bunch of cilantro (80 cents/bunch)
• TOTAL: $8.73

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Trip Idea

One day at cotton wood camp,
two at angel creek,
one at Indian garden,
one at top

Quote by Antoni Gaudí: “Nothing is invented, for it's written in nature...”

Drift Off to Dream - Adaptation

This is an adaptation of the Travis Tritt song. 

Imagine "not country music" though 

I sit here surrounded by people and lights

Alone in my thoughts , drifting afar

You've been here forever, so clear in my mind

I just don't know where you are

I know I'll find you but boy'til I do

This is my love song for you

Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon

While the wind in the trees will play us a tune

We can lie on the trampoline, out back in the yard

And look into the past at a faraway star

You'll feel the passion as time after time

I press your sweet lips to mine

Then we'll dance to some music, right up until dawn

Until you drift off to sleep in my arms

You might be hundreds or more miles away

Or you might be just down the street

But there'll be a hunger deep in your eyes

That I'll notice as soon as we meet

It might just take hours or it might take some years

But this is the song that you'll hear

Let's hold hands on the porch swing, under the moon

While the wind in the trees will play us a tune

We can lie on the trampoline, out back in the yard

And look into the past at a faraway star

You'll feel the passion as time after time

I press your sweet lips to mine

Then we'll dance to some music, right up until  dawn

Until you drift off to sleep in my arms

Children

On Children

 Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Raising Swallowtail Butterflies from Caterpillar

Have been hoping to watch the metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly for some time, particularly so my 4 year old son can observe. Looked online, and the cooler caterpillars (monarch, lunar moth)  are upwards of $25 a piece. Expensive! But today, we lucked out and found 2 Swallowtail Caterpillars on my parsley plant (note to self, just plant parsley if you live in Alabama and want to try this project).

They're so pretty (at all stages) & can't wait to watch the process.

More info: http://texasbutterflyranch.com/2014/07/01/how-to-raise-eastern-swallowtail-butterflies-at-home/

This is what they look like now (still pretty small)

They should get a lot bigger (They eat a lot apparently)

Then into a chrysalis that looks like this

The female eastern black swallowtail butterfly. Sooo pretty

Comparison At Different Stages of Development (we got ours as a 3rd instar)

Male (bottom left) vs Female (top right) Swallowtail Butterfly

If you gently touch them, these slimy antennae shoot out for a couple of seconds and you can smell something funny (defense mechanism)

All settled into their new cage with a couple of parsley plants (one mostly eaten already), and a damp sponge

Their names are Renato and Figaro (thinking Italian food critique since they're busy getting picky about their Italian parsley)

Rosemary Chicken & Rice

• Bone In Chicken
• Chicken Broth
• A Few Sprigs of Rosemary
• Sour Cream
• Cherry Tomatoes (or Sundried Tomatoes)
• Spinach or Kale
• Mushrooms
• Fresh Garlic

Saute mushrooms until brown and add to crock. Saute garlic, add to crock. Dredge chicken in flour and garlic salt and brown the skin in a skillet (meat inside doesn't need to be cooked properly), add to crock. Add enough broth to cover the chicken. Add a few spoonfuls of sour cream (to desired creaminess level. keep in mind it will look less creamy after it cooks a while). Add rosemary. Add a container of cherry tomatoes (or desired amount of sun-dried tomatoes). Cook for a few hours. If sauce isn't think enough, add a few spoonfuls of flower. A few minutes before you serve, chop some spinach or kale and add to the mix. Serve over  rice. Salt to taste. 

Flower Garden

Never tried a flower garden before (besides maybe a few marigolds) until this year. Might have gotten a little carried away even. The butterflies and hummingbirds should be happy at least.

Cosmos Flower

Shasta Daisy 

Red Poppy

Cone Flower

Blue Bells

Yellow Freesia

Sarah Bernhardt Peony

Dutch Iris

Vancouver Decorative Dinner Plate Dahlia

Jimmy Rosenberg - I'll See You In My Dreams

Nothing Gold Can Last

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

-Robert Frost

Richard Meier - Douglas House - Architecture

Quote

"In attending to the mysteries of life and death, I will listen for a chuckle in the darkness"

Inspirational Quote

"Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars" - Charles Beard

Several Uses for Cabbage

Cabbage's cheap, yummy, healthy and has a long shelf life. What's not to love about it. And as soon as the fresh dark green savoy (or non-savoy for that matter) start showing up at the farmer's market, I end up in a crisis to use up all the overwhelming quantities that I buy.

Ways to use it up (because you always end up with SO MUCH, right?):

• Raw Salted Cabbage Leafs - would have never thought to do this until I saw my dad doing it. Turns out is super yummy
• Thai Larb - this recipe uses lettuce, but IMO, cabbage cups are WAY better
• Indian Spiced Curry Kraut
• Traditional Sauerkraut
• Kimchi (there are so many good kraut recipes. I could keep going here). 
• Egg Rolls
• Upgraded Instant Ramen Noodles - Add shredded cabbage, fresh ginger, fish oil, lemon juice, red pepper, thai basil, sesame oil, shrimp/chicken/tofu, small amount of soy (you get the idea)
• Vinagrette Based Cole Slaw
• Galumpkis (stuffed cabbage leaves)
• Vegetarian Galumpkis
• Fish Tacos (or any taco for that matter, just put vinagrette based cole slaw on it instead of lettuce)
• Stir Fry
• Chicken Yakisoba - I can't get enough of this one
• Creamy cabbage soup - there's a million variations of this, but basically chicken broth, whole milk, cabbage, salt and pepper alone it yummy.
• Cabbage and Kielbasa Soup: Literally delicious with just those 2 ingredients (add water and maybe pepper and salt to taste). You can sub chicken broth if you want. Add onions, carrots, potatoes, but the cabbage and kielbasa are the stars here and most anything else takes away from it, IMO. 
• Cabbage added to almost any soup, really. 

Healthy Homemade Coconut Milk Strawberry Ice Cream

Adapted from Wellness Mama

I'm far more likely to have coconut milk in the house than 3 cups of cream and 3 cups of half-and-half, so not only is this more healthy than traditional ice cream, but I actually have the ingredients too. Win win.

Ingredients

• 2 cans of coconut milk
• ½ cup of honey, sugar, agave nectar, or maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 pound of fresh strawberries

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients minus a handful of whole strawberries. Chop those strawberries in half and toss into the blended mix. 
2. Mix in ice cream maker according to it's directions

Sushi Night

Hubbies going out of town and my bff is coming over for saki & sushi night. So excited. Love me some sushi, but never made it, and must say it's a little intimidating. Just bought these online (jet.com, 15% introductory discount) and got everything for a pretty decent price. Will buy some fresh stuff the night of:

• Ricer Steamer (already had it)
• Rice Vinegar (already had it) 
• Sesame Seeds (already had it)
• Edamame (already had it) - this is a side dish
• Sushi rice (small grain, sticky) - I've never bought small grain sushi rice, but if the goal is "sticky", my rice steamer sure makes some sticky basmati rice (which I have plenty of). I'll report back if this sushi rice is all that much different 
• Bamboo rolling mat
• Nori (toasted seaweed rolls)
• Wasabi Paste
• Pickled Ginger Slices 
• San-J Shoyu - wheat soy (this is seriously my favorite soy sauce on earth and it's just mild enough for sushi)
• Mayo (already had it)
• Sambal Oelek Pepper Sauce (already had it) - another favorite sauce on earth. Recipe for spicy mayo calls for Sriracha but this so SOOOO much better as a substitute
• Smoked Salmon 

Fresh Ingredients:

• Avocado 
• Cucumber Ribbons (already had it)
• Carrot Ribbons
• Scallions (fresh from the garden)
• Roe (maybe)
• Raw Fish? (Ahi Tuna? or is smoked tuna enough?)
• Artificial Crab Meat? (california roll?)
• A few shrimp?

This is a first try, so don't want to go overboard. But it's hard to decide.

Aquascape

A fish aquarium can seriously turn into an artwork. I'm particularly inspired by these

First Blue Apron Shipment

Exciting. This is 3 dinners for 2. It looks pretty low cal too for those dieting. It was purely coincidental we ended up almost vegetarian (vegan aside from the 2 eggs, butter and catfish)

Chamomile Essential Oil

Chamomile Flowers used for Essential Oil

Uses

• Reduces stress/pain associated with child birth (clinical research)

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary Sage

Uses

Reduces stress/pain associated with child birth (clinical research)

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood Trees

About

• Latin Name - 

Uses

• Herpes  (clinical research)
• Cancer treatment (clinical research)