My middle child has many strengths, and many talents. Somehow, over the last year, she has established herself as the dilly bean queen. Her sour, garlicky, delicious specialty has quickly become legendary among our friends and family. She's pretty proud of it, and she has been scoping out my garden waiting for the arrival of these:
And this:
Friday, June 28, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
The Best Things You Probably Aren't Eating Yet: Garlic Scapes
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Homesteading in the Suburbs - A Guest Blog
I am fortunate to be blessed with very talented friends with a wide variety of life experience in many different areas. One of my friends is passionate about the homesteading arts, and I really admire her persistence, her knowledge, and her skills. I'm becoming more and more obsessed lately with making the most of our yard, planting edibles and incorporating them into the landscaping, and I often turn to this friend for her opinions and advice. Urban and suburban chicken coops are becoming kind of a hot topic around here lately, and I know this friend has plenty to say about it, so I asked her to write a guest blog about homesteading in the suburbs, especially raising chickens. I hope that it will inspire you like she inspires me!
Homesteading in the Suburbs
Homesteading in the Suburbs
If you are fortunate enough to own a home in the suburbs, you
have a plot of land. Some get acres, some get a fraction of a single acre. Most are fully covered in sod. Sod or grass requires mowing. Some
homeowners, like myself, choose to edge, spread fertilizer, and treat for weeds
to make it look nice. All of us are
given a great opportunity: a plot of land.
A plot of land used to mean opportunity.
Now, to the average homeowner, it means (yard) work.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Lilacs Lilacs Lilacs
I love lilacs. A lot of people that I know love lilacs. I think it's hard not to. They are purple, which is one of my 8 favorite colors. They smell divine. And when they appear on their bushes, you know that summer is on its' way.
My personal love of lilacs may slightly have been influenced by the town that I grew up in: Lombard, Illinois. Otherwise known as the Lilac Village. And let me tell you, they are very VERY serious about lilacs. Hardcore. I'm talking a Lilac Ball, a Lilac Queen crowned, and even a Lilac Parade. It sounds like something you'd find in a quaint country town...and it feels like it too...but it's smack dab in the middle of the suburbs of Chicago.
My personal love of lilacs may slightly have been influenced by the town that I grew up in: Lombard, Illinois. Otherwise known as the Lilac Village. And let me tell you, they are very VERY serious about lilacs. Hardcore. I'm talking a Lilac Ball, a Lilac Queen crowned, and even a Lilac Parade. It sounds like something you'd find in a quaint country town...and it feels like it too...but it's smack dab in the middle of the suburbs of Chicago.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Shroom For More
Would you believe me if I told you I had a hot veggie side that you can throw together in 5 minutes? with only 3 ingredients? Because I do.
Even better than that, if you know someone who's not a big fan of mushrooms, this could possibly convert them. It did for me. I still wouldn't consider myself big on mushrooms, but I do enjoy them this way.
I got this method from a vendor at Green City Market in downtown Chicago. He had a bunch of mushrooms cooked up this way and managed to charm my friend and me into trying them. It was eye-opening. They almost tasted like little bites of steak! No kidding, that was my mushroom epiphany right there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)