Spring Equinox.

Equinox means "equal nights" in Latin. I had no idea. The days and nights are now equal. I have been reading this article, Vernal Equinox Marks First Day of Spring Today , from the Space.com web site. Quite interesting. I wished I would have taken Astronomy at River Falls so I would know a bit more of what is all out there. However, life is all about learning. I am constantly learning and I love it. Perhaps even more because the learning is done on my own and not required for any class. To me, this is more exciting and allows me to pursue any topic or subject I would like.

Today I picked up a trip at work for a flight to Chicago - Midway and back. My crew was quite surprised I picked up a trip worth so few hours, but everything adds up, especially when I have picked up three extra day trips this month. All of which goes above my guarantee pay! Plus, living so close to the airport allows me to only drive about 30 miles round trip, which is one gallon of gas in my little Dodge, not too bad of a trade-off for my day of work. I saw downtown Chicago from the sky, floated above the puffy clouds for quite some time enjoying the view from my jump seat, and the sunshine was bright not only above the clouds but on the ground as well, today was definitely a happy spring day.

More reasons why today was a happy spring day:
Three little birdies pecked away at open ground in the backyard as I watched them through my basement window, my shoes picked up slush along our walkway creating mini sand puddles in the foyer, my sunglasses were needed driving to and from work, I got all green lights driving home and to the grocery store tonight, my new shorter hair cut was complimented on right away at work, I breathed in cool, crisp air walking back to my car leaving me with a refreshed feeling, and to end it - I ate so many fruits and veggies today I lost count. 

Happy Spring. 01 02 18

Part Three: Fruits & Veggies.

Saturday mornings are a time I enjoy being home. Well, to be more specific, I enjoy being around a TV. Why? Because the KARE 11 Grow with KARE segment is always on with Belinda and her dad. I love those two. Last Saturday, I learned that our gardening season here in Minnesota is 110 days - I have always estimated May through October, which is not correct. There was also advice on reading seed packets, but this year I am not buying any seed packets! So happy about this! I have saved seeds from all the fruits and veggies last year that I grew and will be growing those downstairs soon. Hmm, wait a second, I take that back, I will be buying a few seed packets! I don't have any zucchini seeds or sunflower seeds. Alright, I'll be a buying a couple. So now I'll mention the advice that was given: to look at the maturity date.

The maturity date is the key piece of information on a seed packet. With such a short growing season here in Minnesota, growing anything that takes longer or close to our growing season just makes no sense. Even the cantaloupes were tough last year as frost got the best of them come September and October. I feel confident with my choices this year, including a couple new ones to try (supposedly eggplant is harder to grow - but I shall conquer this!)

Continuing this Part Three from my garden series (yes, I called my blog posts a series - see Part One and Part Two for more garden pictures) the focus is on the fruits and veggies from last year. Pictures below.

Part Three: Fruits & Veggies. 

The Garden. Summer 2012.

Cantaloupe growing! These guys spread like no other, be prepared.  

A little friend I found while planting the gladiolas. He's currently hiding under the chive plant.

What a cutie.

This side of the garden included (from L-R):
Radishes, Lettuce, Green Peppers, Beets, Cantaloupe, Squash, and Pumpkins

  

Tomatoes! I grew three varieties:

Big Boys, Yellow Pear, and Sweet Cherries

So proud. All from the garden.

There's a taste of garden-grown veggies you can't get at the stores.

The pumpkin starting! So fun to watch these guys grow.

And leaf lettuce! A bit too much dirt to wash off for my liking, this year I plan on growing cabbage instead!

I had about six good cobs of corn before the critters got the rest. Corn takes a lot of care and a lot of water I learned. The dried stalks were great for Autumn/Halloween - worth the work:

I tied the dried stalks to our pillars out front and here is my brother and I with the pumpkins from the garden. (the little pie pumpkins that is!)

This sunflower was picked clean by the birds.
Luckily, I had five others to choose from to gather seeds and roast them.
Even threw them in a pot I made in ceramics class from school!

The little pie pumpkin that grew! And squash on the right.

Loved seeing this little guy in the yard.

And there you have it! The majority of the garden. What you didn't see were cucumbers (which are on the side of the house), garlic and onions in the ground, and the beans. I am already looking forward to the sweaty weed pulling this summer. Let this growing season begin!

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Part Two: Garden Blooms.

While fruits and veggies are ideal since they are edible, I adore flowers. Like I said in Part One: Tilling the Garden I grew up in an apartment. Yet, being on first floor I did dig up the area outside my window (at the time we knew the management real well) and planted gladiolas each year. One of my favorite flowers right next to carnations. These easy bulbs to plant come up no matter what the condition is you plant them in, I swear. Whether the soil gets bone dry or watered too much, these bulbs still come up. Hardy. And beginner-proof. (Note that future first gardeners!). And gorgeous I might add.

I have also planted tulips around a small crab apple tree at the apartment many years ago, but they never came up come spring. I was disappointed and discouraged to try again. Well, my mom planted tulips two years ago here at our home and last spring we had tulips! I cannot take credit, because I still have not had success, but I am hopeful for the future. This past fall I planted lots of tulips in the back yard (I think...) and the front yard. Fingers crossed they will be coming up with the next couple of months. I will be giddy with joy if they come up. Me and bulbs have our moments. Gladiolas I can do - tulips, a bit tricky for me. I also tried forcing tulip bulbs this winter inside, I have one sprouting right now, but the other two, completely dormant. They must really like sleeping.

On another blooming topic: I love perennials. A lot. Who wouldn't like plants and flowers that come up every year still looking just as great the first year if not better? Exactly my point.

Part Two: Garden Blooms.

Alright. The lilacs I collected from a walk to the river (no, I did not 'steal' them from someones' yard) but we do have two lilac bushes that hopefully will bloom this Spring or next. Bleeding hearts + a single tulip. #springtimebouquet

Gladiola time! Plus lilies that line our driveway.

My mom's favorite: hydrangeas.
Plus hosta blooms in this vase. 

This year, I will work on making the soil more acidic so the
hydrangeas are back to the deep rich blue my mom prefers.

Scrunched up sunflower + when she finally opened up. These guys grew over 6 feet tall and made the garden feel like a jungle. Truly amazing. All from one single seed. To which I roasted the seeds at the end of the season (See Part Three).

LOVE this picture. Country Bumpkin right here.
The golden color of the sunflower + blue sky gets me.

And this is why I love gardening, people.

Bleeding Hearts. One of my favorite perennials. Each year these grow larger and larger. The first time I remember seeing these was in elementary school when I was a school patrol. When I walked my one kindergarten home in the afternoon I would see these line the sidewalks of some houses.

Ever since, I love them. I still don't know if I enjoy the white or pink ones more!

More gladiolas. So gorgeous. Sturdy stems. Vibrant colors.

#summertime

I started this post by saying fruits and veggies are ideal because they are edible. Well, I know many flowers are, too. In fact, I would love to make my own candied flowers someday. In addition, to homemade tea. Here is a link to an About.com article on edible flowers for those curious.

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Part One: Tilling the Garden.

I have always dreamt about having a huge garden. An area that provides for myself and my family. Bountiful enough to allow extras to be canned to last the entire winter and spring. Yes, I did read Little House on the Prairie books when I was younger, and loved them. When you grow things yourself, or heck, even do anything yourself, there is a HUGE sense of accomplishment. This garden has been just that. I grew up living in an apartment. I have never had a yard to call my own until we moved to our current house a little under three years ago. I never knew what mowing the grass was like, I never ran a snow blower before, and I definitely wasn't able to dig up the yard. This all changed. I craved a huge garden, why start small? Go big or go home. With plenty of space in our backyard, my dad and I tilled up the yard (yes, even I took a turn at tilling) and last summer was, dare I say, a perfect first gardening experience.

The garden has been everything I had hoped. I swear the green thumb runs in my family. I am so thankful for that. Passed down from my grandpa and his huge garden up north. I always was envious of the garden my grandparents had. Surrounded with high fencing and an old door as an entrance - deer and raccoons stayed out. Providing a huge mecca of food inside. Apple trees still adorn the outside of the garden. Asparagus still grows wildly each year. I remember seeing screens of nuts drying in the screen house from the hazelnut bushes in the yard. Huge tiger lilies and lily of the valley lined the corner of the house. Eating canned bread and butter pickles was commonplace. In fact, my mom told me Grandpa just opened a canned bread and butter pickle with the date of 1999 from their cellar. Whoa.

There is something about pulling weeds on a hot day, sweat dripping profusely that is really satisfying. I can't quite put my finger on it. Gardening is a great workout and creates an outcome of produce and a pretty presentation. Gardening is an art form. So many ways to plan a garden. Placement of certain veggies that will get along such as aperimeter of onions to keep certain pests away. It's an art and a science. I love it. I crave it. And I can't wait to decide what to plant this year. For all that I planted last year, see this post.

Part One: Tilling the Garden.

Before. Grassed mowed extra short.

We decided to dig inside the fence to keep big critters out.

The rabbits and squirrels still came in, but no deer!

Ready with the rake!

This was quite the process. From renting the biggest tiller they had,

loading it on the truck and off and digging up thick grass. Worth it.

Thanks, Dad. Killer black dirt underneath revealed! Full of worms!

March 2012 - I had these tomato plants starting inside already!

01 02 18

Lentil Soup.

Guess what I wear as a hat? A lentil.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, watch this video on YouTube: Marcel the Shell.

Hopefully Marcel will brighten your day a tad.

Lentil Soup

2 celery stalks chopped

2 large carrots chopped

1 large onion chopped

1 whole green pepper chopped

3 garlic cloves finely chopped

1 tbsp salt

2 1/2 tbsp olive oil

Saute the above ingredients for 5-7 minutes (until the crunch is gone)

Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste and let cook for another 2 minutes.

Add:
2 cups dry lentils (rinse these first)

1 bay leaf

1/4 tsp black pepper

 6 cups vegetable broth
(look for low sodium broth if from the store and not homemade)

4 cups water (yes, this is a HUGE recipe)

Bring to a boil and skim off the top when needed.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes - until lentils are cooked!

That's it! Store in a covered container in the fridge.
Mine lasted a good two weeks and still tasted just fine.

Or freeze in glassware for future servings.

Optional additions:

1 chopped tomato

1/2 tsp thyme

A one cup serving is approximately 157 calories.
And you know exactly what you are eating.

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