I've got a few projects in the works. These are sort of "getting ready for summer projects" and they are simply my own way to avoid the pressures of school work and stress. For example, I am posting here instead of writing up a triennial evaluation and summary of performance that I need for meeting today--all while watching the Celtics play the Lakers.
Project 1: My husband built me 2 raised beds for a garden last year. With all the rain and the tomato blight, it was not very successful. This year, it has been more successful already. I planted onion sets and broccoli seedlings during April vacation (and my bumpa was probably shaking his head at me from Heaven). We've already harvested half of the broc and the rest is ready tomorrow or the day after! I've got baby tomatoes and the weeds are still containable. woohoo. I'm hoping to do pickles, frozen veggie, dry some herbs and put up tomato sauce if we have a better growing season this year. Its only the week after Memorial Day but the garden is looking great.
Project 2: I love rhubarb. Of course the best way is simply dipping the stalk in a little salt and eating up. But this year, I found a recipe I just had to try--rhubarb liquor. I'm not much of a drinker, but it looked/sounded so unique I just had to give it a go. I seeped the stalks for a month, now after straining it, it has to age for a month or better. It should be ready for July 4th. I've given a taste to all visitors at camp this spring. It is fairly sweet, a pretty pink and will probably be best with a mixer of some sort. Hubby put his taste in some iced tea, and that was very refreshing. I just may expand to some raspberry rum?
Project 3: The Cake-Off. My mom, daughters, sister, nephews (and maybe more) have decided to have a cake decorating contest in a couple of weeks. My mother has cake decorating experience. I've seen it done on tv. Who's going to win? Our theme is Swan Pond and everything on the cake needs to be edible. I've got a great plan, but I have no idea how to execute it. It should be fun.
Project 4: Photography. A couple of years ago I got a new camera for Christmas. I would like to be able to take some great pictures, but have never had the time, nor, honestly the talent! My mother recently got a new fancy-pants camera. We've gone out and done a couple photoshoots. Most of the pictures have been of my two daughters. The rocks were in a stream bed at a local brook. I went to get a shot of the little waterfalls, but I love lines. This was one of my favorite pictures, not counting the seven thousand of my two girls.
I am so jealous...I cannot keep anything alive except for my orchids. I would love to grow veggies! As for the baking, you'll do fine I am sure. I love to bake. I bake when I am happy, I bake when I am sad, and if I really upset about something I will bake using ever ingredient in the house. (I baked 6 batches of cookies, made 60 muffins, and 2 pans of brownies in the week following my Mom's death.) It is therapeutic and reminds me of the countless hours I spent throughout my life shadowing Mom in the kitchen. :) I hope to pass that same memory on to my kids. This summer I plan to refinish my dining room table. I am going to stain it an espresso color; at least I hope I can. I am also re-staining a wicker sectional sofa and ottoman and will water seal it for outdoor use. I got them from a co-worker who is moving and I thought they'd be perfect to try to create the outdoor living room I have been dreaming of. (I watch WAY too much HGTV!) I cannot wait to hear about how your cake turns out!
ReplyDeleteThis picture of rocks immediately reminded me of my day. Thos e is very awesome colors and shape. I know in fact that my two year old would be thrilled with them in her hands. I clean her bedroom spic and span and probably threw 6 rocks out into the driveway. She collects them. I often find them in her pockets, in her bed, in her purse that she loves to carry. My husband returned from Haiti and brought her some interesting stones and also one from the Dominican. I was sure not to throw those out into the driveway. (:
ReplyDeleteRhubarb…. I have never had rhubarb. My grandparents used to grow it and loved it. I know that this is a northern thing because since I have been living in Florida for the past 15 years, I have never seen it. Here it’s collard greens. Everyone loves them. With butter. I have never had them either. I haven’t had the opportunity to try either. I have so much fun with my plants. I love creating many different looks with different colors. It is very meditative. I put the pool outside for my girls and just mess with my plants while they play. I’ll have to take a picture and post to my blog. Happy gardening!
It's so great to hear of your plans for the summer. You are right that it is healthy to have these plans in place. They will help revitalize and rejuvenate you for (can you believe it!) next year. It is important, especially as teachers, to take some time for ourselves to reflect and keep ourselves healthy. Talking to kids all day long isn't always the healthiest, even though we love it so much! So plans like these are great to have. Can't wait to hear how everything turns out... and a strawberry rhubarb pie sounds yummy -- have you considered making one?
ReplyDeleteYou can tell we are all on summer-mode just like you, by the amount of responses you have received to this blog, just posted less than 24 hours ago! I am not so sure about the rhubard liquor, but the raspberry one... YUM!! I completely understand your ambition to work on summer things, and the lack thereof to work on school things. We are similar to the children at this time of year, we are "checking out" just like them. But, we don't have much longer and then you can truly focus on your wonderful summer creative plans with family! I hope that when we own and no longer rent, we will begin gardening. I love the idea of composting and reducing our planetary impact, as well as having fresh vegetables! Although, I have to say that I know very little (if anything) about this, and will probably fail miserably for the first few growing seasons!
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