Zen Moments

I wouldn't call it a New Year's resolution but more of a temporary habit:  I decided to take pictures of the morning sun from the Back Forty.  A blazing orange sky is a Zen moment.  A rainy day is a Zen moment.  A Zen Moment gives me pause, a time for reflection.

Everybody has their own personal definition of Zen and it's all right. What is right for me isn't necessary right for you.

The other morning, I went out to the yard to take a picture of the sun. When I turned around to go inside, I saw the moon setting. The sky was pink and rosy.  A beautiful Zen moment.

They were moments of stillness, of peace and harmony, moments of gratitude-- Zen moments for me. They were fleeting moments when I felt connected with nature and a higher power.

Blessings.

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Yellow Mellow Corn Soup

In he heat of the summer, corn is plentiful and inexpensive.  We found it easier to buy fresh corn at a Farmer's Market than to grow the pale Silver Queen in he garden that takes up a lot of space and a lot of effort.  For the best color for this soup, use yellow corn.

Here is a Yellow Mellow Cool Corn Soup recipe for the summer and any other time for that matter:

3 ears of fresh corn, shucked
2 tbs (un)salted butter
1/2 cup minced yellow onion
1 tsp minced garlic (two cloves)
2 cups of broth, more or less
1/4  tsp Kosher salt or regular salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
2 tbs oil
1 tbs white vinegar

Directions:  Mix onions and garlic with butter in a pot and let it cook until they are somewhat soft.  Add the broth.  Add the corn.  It doesn't take long for the corn to cook.  Let it cool and when it is cool, puree in  a blender, a little at a time depending on how coarse you want it.

The soup may be served cool/cold garnished with a few leaves of sweet basil, bits of bacon, green or red peppers.

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Xanadu

According to a dictionary, Xanadu is a place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment.  From time to time, we all need a place like Xanadu to escape to and collect our thoughts, rest, and meditate.  Perhaps a place in the garden will suffice.  

In my Xanadu, the weather is warm;  the sun is shining; and tropical philodendron growing; and there is always a gentle breeze bringing rain from the ocean to my garden.

Enjoy the first part of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Kubla Khan:

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles under of fertile ground

And there were gardens right with sinuous rills,

Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;

And here were forests ancient as the hills,

Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

Thank you for visiting my Xanadu on Back Forty

Support the Wildlife

You've heard it:  let's support the wildlife, let's throw a party!  Maybe you have even attended one or two.  But on a more serious note, there are a few simple things that we can do to support the wildlife in our own backyards.



To sign up for the Certified Wildlife Habitat sign by National Wildlife Federation, I agreed to provide water for the wildlife. 

We have two bird baths strategically placed on the Back Forty.  We also have a small pond.

It is also important to provide water for our winged pollinators by setting out a shallow bowl with rocks for them to land on.  Bees, for example, are not good swimmers.


I also agreed to provide food for the wildlife.  There are so many blooming plants bushes, and trees providing nectars.  In addition, there are seeds in the garden from vegetable plants that I let go to seeds.  There are small insets and even rodents available for birds of prey and snakes.

Another  provision is cover to hide under and to raise the young.  This may consist of a pile of branches and leaves.  A designated area in the yard may also suffice, an area that does not get mowed.

Some supporters of wildlife may even put up birdhouses.  I have found that the birds make better bird houses than I.

Finally, ban pesticide from your yard.

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A Simple Vinaigrette

Is there such a thing as a simple vinaigrette?   It seems to me that I may add herbs and spices that I have available and like to jazz up the vinaigrette. The herbs may be fresh and finely chopped but dry herbs will also do well.

I am so happy that I finally am able to make a simple vinaigrette and dress it up to my liking.  I may have been intimidated by the name.  I am glad that I no longer have to buy dressings for my salads.

I use what I have avaible in my herb garden or spice rack.

My vinaigrette:

1 tsp mustard (Dijon, if I want to be fancy)
1 tsp finely minced (fresh) garlic or finely minced scallion or onion
3 tbs champagne vinegar ( if I feel extravagant) or rice vinegar or any available vinegar in the fridge
1/2 cup cup canola oil (my choice)
Kosher salt or Sea salt and pepper to taste
To add fire to the vinaigrette, I add about 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

You know how it is:  now I need a pretty bottle or jar to store my vinaigrette.

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A Utility Cart

There are so many things that need to be fixed in our yard and garden on the Back Forty.  There are a trellis or two that always seem to need repair or adjustment and it is time consuming to look for the tools.  The hammers and clippers are always needed and so is a bow saw for trimming branches.  We have the tools in the utility cart for easy access.

The utility cart for the tractor is always in use, it seems.  We use it to haul limbs, branches, and roots to be hauled to the landfill by sanitation workers. We set the debris out in designated areas by the road.

We use the utility cart to carry heavy sacks of fertilizers from car to shed; we use it to transport plants; and we use it to haul compost from one area to another. 

We also use the utility cart to load up on garden tools such as rakes, shovels, and buckets to carry to our work areas.

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Tomato Seeds and Plants

Early this spring, a friend suggested that I sow tomato seeds in a pot so that I could set out the seedlings when the weather got warm.  I scoffed at the idea but promised to give it a try especially seeing the price of tomato plants at garden centers.

I filled a clay pot with the best soil from the compost pile and went to the local market and selected a large and nice looking heirloom tomato which I sliced when I got home. 

I put the slices on top of the soil in the clay pot and covered them with additional soil.

When the weather was sunny and warm, I left the pot on the porch, even when it rained.  I could always take it inside if the weather got too cold. 

I left the pot alone and nothing happened for the longest time but eventually tiny seedlings emerged.

The seedlings grew and I was able to transplant them into the garden, water them and fertilize them. They are growing!

I will do this again next year and learn more about what kind of tomatoes I select for the garden.  This year, it'll be a surprise.

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Sleepy Time with Banana Tea

Sometimes I have trouble going to sleep.  When I lay down in bed and close my eyes, I wait for sleep to come.  The longer I wait, the more alert I become.  I finally get up and make myself a cup of Sleepy Time Tea.

The other week, I picked up a pamphlet at the doctor's office and there was this interesting but funky recipe for Banana Tea.  Here is how to make it:

While waiting for 2 cups of water to come to a boil, snip the ends off a banana but leaving the skin.  When the water is boiling, add the banana (skin and all), let it come to a boil and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Remove from heat and remove the banana (save it for the compost).  Let the tea cool to your liking.

Drink and enjoy it.

Good night.

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Rootabaga Stories

I wish there were more story tellers but let us go to the Rootabaga County and find out about a few stories by Carl Sandburg.  The Rootabaga County is filled with trains, farms, and corn fields according to Wikipedia.  It sounds like the country side of Chicago, the Mid West.  In the Village of Liver and Onions, the Potato Face Blind Man tells the stories.  Take a listen.

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Quick Shrimp Saute

On the way home from Mayport the other day, we stopped by the fish market to buy a few pounds of sweet fresh shrimp.  As soon as we got home, I cooked the shrimp in water mixed with apple cider. It didn't take long for the shrimp to turn pink.  I let them cool underrunning water rp stop the boiling and then peeled them, wrapped them up, and put them into the fridge for tomorrow's Quick Shrimp Saute.

Needed for the Quick Shrimp Saute

about a pound of shrimp (in my case, the shrimp is already peeled and cooked)

a small bunch of green onions (scallions) chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

1 tsp dried basil leaves (or fresh, if available in the garden)

Also, mix together 1 cup of plain yogurt with 1 scant tbs all-purpose white flour.  Set aside.

Directions:  In margarine or canola oil, saute onions  and garlic for a few minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients and lastly add the yogurt and flour mix.  Heat, but do not boil.

Serve over Jasmine rice and enjoy.

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Preserving Pineapples

The other week, we went to the local market and almost stumbled over boxes and boxes of pineapples.  Good looking juicy pineapples were everywhere and at a price that we couldn't resist.  We ended up with three (3) fresh  pineapples for two people.


We got home and wondered what to do with the pineapples.  We can't possibly eat all three.

I ended up making a light syrup from 1 cup of sugar and 3 cups of water (adjust) with two slices of lemon, a cinnamon stick, and a few sprigs of mint from my herb garden. I heated this solution until the sugar melted.

I made bite size chunks from one peeled and cored pineapple and put the chunks into clean Mason jars and poured the water/sugar solution over the chunks leaving a scant empty space at the top of the jars for expansion.

Time for the bath.

I covered the bottom of my large stockpot with a cloth and put the two jars of pineapples on the cloth to keep them from rattling; filled the pot with water to a few inches above the jars; set it on the stove; and let it come to a boil, 

When it was boiling, I turned the heat down and let it simmer for 15 minutes, turned off the heat and let the jars cool in the pot.  I had a few chunks that didn't make it to the jars with the syrup that I tasted and they were pretty god.

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Orange Blossom

I was sitting out in the garden just minding my own business and enjoying the sunshine when all of a sudden the wind would stir ever so gently and bring with it a waft of this unmistakenly pungent aroma from the orange blossoms.  It would pass as quickly as it had come.

The aroma is so fleeting and sweet but it lingers in the orchard.  It is impossible to describe this wonderful smell--pungent may not do it justice.

The blossoms will soon be gone and hopefully the winged pollinators has spread the pollen around to aid in the fruit production.

We still have a long time to go before the trees will bear fruit usually in time for Thanksgiving.

The blooms don't last very long so the aroma may as well be enjoyed.  For me, it is an acquired taste.

O is for Tuesday for the April 2018 Blogging A to Z Challenge.

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The North Pole -- the True North

This is such an inspiring and compelling adventure story about Sean Swarner who had cancer and fought it valiantly with sheer grit and determination. With part of one of his lungs missing, he makes a trek to the North Pole and I recently saw this grueling event on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).  He has also done other remarkable quests but this one was to find his True North.

Before his journey, he undertook a strenuous training regimen not fit for the weak at heart or with  other ailments.



For example, he pulled a string of massive tires to simulate the sled he would pull to the North Pole.  He even pulled a Jeep Wrangler and it is a heavy vehicle but Oh! so fun to drive.  I have a stick shift Wrangler and it has been in the garage for more than a year now.



I have endometrial (uterus) cancer that has spread and I am undergoing chemo therapy at this time.  Previous chemo treatments damaged my nerve endings in my legs and feet.

I hope eventually to find my True North but I must confess that I wobble and fall a lot.  I would be very happy if I could walk with my Rollator up the 400-yard long street that I live on without crossing another street.

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Hope you play this inspirational trailer.

Mayport Boat Ramp

Mayport is a small fishing village in NE Florida.  There is nothing quaint about it:  it doesn't have any boutiques selling cute tank tops and sea shell.  It's a place where fishermen live and work.

In Mayport, there is a much liked and much used boat ramp.  It is used by small craft fishing boat and for families who like to go fishing in St. John's River.  The parking lot overflows on weekends.  It is a popular place.


The St. John's River is tidal.  The tide goes out and comes back at a clip of 6 to 8 knots.  It is fast and furious. 

Heaven, or the Seatow, help you if your motor on your boat cannot handle the tide.  There is no going with the flow unless it's on purpose.

There are two pilot boats tied up at their own pier within sight of the ramp.  A pilot always has to be on board a ship to guide it into Jacksonville or guide it back out to sea again.


There is one spot on the River that makes a sharp turn.  This same spot is also extremely narrow and a pilot is surely needed.

When we want to get away after working on the Back Forty, we go and pick up a pizza and a soft drink and take them to the boat ramp in Mayport. 

While we are feasting on our pizza, we are overlooking the River watching for shrimpers to come in with their load while others are heading out.



We watch for the dolphins that usually go out with the tide and return with it.  We watch the pelicans take flight or preen themselves on the sandy shore.  We are mindful of the seagulls looking for scraps that we might throw out.  We don't and they leave us alone.

It is time to go home when the loon starts watching us and even laughing, I'm sure, before he takes a dive under the boat ramp.

Are we there yet?
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Living Green Daily

In our way of gardening on Back Forty, we take great care of using heirloom seeds; we do not use herbicides or pesticides; and we care for the wildlife, including the winged pollinators, and the environment.  We tend our garden mindfully.

The other day, I got an e-mail from a friend who is very much concerned about the environment and what we can do by living mindfully and thinking green.  The e-mail stated that "The increasing waste volume is a major concern for mankind.  So, the best way to deal with this program is avoiding products that generate waste materials.  Un-package your life, choose reusable, recycle, and share with friends." 

Take care and be mindful of your trash.
Live Green Every Day.

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Kindness

What the world needs is kindness, loving kindness, towards all mankind, from world leaders to the common man on the street, and you and me.

Random acts of kindness always bring nice surprises and I am always touched when the kindness is extended to me.  It may be a compliment on my messy hair, a warning to be careful going up or down ramps in my wheelchair, or somebody holding the door open for me, or my loving and kind husband making tea for me.

I read that when you are kind to somebody, particular a person you don't like very much, you are being kind to yourself.

My Loving Kindness has been compiled from various reading from books by Lama Surya Das.  I am repeating myself by publishing this prayer again but it is such a gracious prayer for any occasion, don't you think?

May you be filled with Loving Kindness

May you be Happy and Peaceful

May you be free from suffering,

Be well and filled with Compassion

May you be Strong and Healthy

May you take care of yourself with Love and Kindness

May you enjoy this special Moment.

Namaste

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You are very kind.
(God's loving kindness is borroed.)
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Jasmine Rice

This delicate long grained Jasmine Rice is mostly imported from Thailand and it gets its faint aroma from the Jasmine flower.

 I followed the direction on the smartly packed Jasmine Rice and this white rice will see me through for many days to come. 

It is important to rinse the rice so that it will cook nice and white.  The rinsing also prevents the rice from lumping and sticking together.


I stirred the rice until it started to cook, lowered the heat, and let it slowly simmer undisturbed for about 15 minutes.  The 'undisturbed' part was difficult.

The white rice looks delicious with black beans or blanched broccoli or microwaved red bell pepper or slightly cooked green peas.  The contrast makes it appealing.

I will definitely continue to use this rice.

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In the Garden

My heart fills with gratitude when I am in my garden planting seedlings, weeding, and just enjoying the sunshine, hearing the birds twitter, and the breeze play in my hair.  I feel that God is good and the garden is my sanctuary.

The other day, I was surfing the YouTube to see if I could find any tunes about gardening and I came across several recordings by country singer Alan Jackson.  I selected a hymn called "In he Garden" complete with lyrics.

Lo' and behold, my husband who was sitting in an easy chair beside me sang the words without missing a beat.  It surprised me.

Enjoy Alan Jackson's hymn "In the garden".

Blessings

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Herbal Bouquets

There are classical recipes for Fines Herbes and Bouquets Garni but I'll brake with the classical and use what I have available in my garden or on my spice rack and just call them Herbal Bouquets.

For the Fines Herbes, the following fresh herbs are used finely chopped:  parsley, chives, chervil, and tarragon.  Some add thyme, marjoram, savory, and watercress to the mix.  When these herbs are tied into a neat bouquet, they are easy to be removed from soups or stews.

They may also be dried and stored in an airtight container and used some other time.

When using dry herbs, it's a good idea to tie them up in a cheese cloth or other cotton cloth.  Some folks will add crushed fennel to the dried herbs.  It adds a distinct sweet aroma to the mix.

The Bouquet Garni is rather simple to make and consist of fresh herbs such as thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf.  It is also easy to remove when tied.

I like to use the herbs from my garden.  There is the wispy dill, rosemary for my memory, parsley, and sweet basil.  I use them fresh but if there is too much, I let them dry.

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Grape Vines need Trimming

From time to time, my husband and I visit relatives in the Florida Panhandle and once we get onto Interstate 10, it is a nice but boring ride.  The road is lined with oaks, pines, and other ever green trees and bushes.

There is a strand of grape vines that have always caught my attention near Defuniak.  It is so neat and well kept. 

In he summer time, the leaves are green and lush and in the winter time the vines are neatly trimmed.  This is a well established vineyard.

We had to stop and take a closer look.  We wanted to find out how professionals trimmed their grape vines.

It is recommended that the vines be trimmed before the leaves start to sprout.

When we got home, we promptly went out to see what we had to trim.  It was obvious that we needed to drastically cut stems and branches to leave one main limb to climb the trellis.  From this main growth, other branches will grow and produce grapes.

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Field Peas and Pasta Salad

When the summer crop is harvested and we are in between seasons, if that is possible in NE Florida, we have been known to sow field peas or black eyed peas as ground cover to let the gardens rest and recuperate.

When the field peas are mature, we pick them, shell them, cook them, and eat them.  They also freeze well.  Some gardeners make no distinction between field peas and black eyed peas.

For a quick dish, I will open a can or two of field peas, rinse them, and dry them.  I will also cook a "cute" pasta, al dente, to mix with the beans.

I add some diced colorful peppers to the beans and pasta as well as halved cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions.

In addition, chopped, cubed, chicken completes the dish. Serve with a red vinegar and oil vinaigrette.

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Edible Weeds or Not

A prominent edible weed is the Spanish Needles.  The flowers and young tender leaves are supposedly good in soups and salads.  It is a huge favorite among bees and other winged pollinators.



The Spanish Needles are also known as "hitchhikers" simply because the black needles will attach themselves to anything that will come in contact with them.  How often have you picked those needles out of your socks and pants?
(The Spanish Needles pic is borrowed from the Internet.)




Another edible weed is the lightly purple and plentiful Florida Betony that now has found its way to South Carolina too.  It's a kin to the mints.  It may be eaten raw or cooked.  The root resembles a rattlesnake's tail.  I will also leave this spring weed for the bees.
.

The Virginia Spiderwort is a lily like weed with blue flowers and a favorite among the winged community.  The flowers and leaves are edible if you care to have them in a salad.

A few years ago, I went around the Back Forty and dug up many of these plants and discarded them.  It did pay off although I still have some coming back.

As you can see, I don't have to go far to forage for edible plants also known as weeds.

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Debris from the Yard

The sanitation workers who pick up debris once a week for our area once told us that we indeed kept them employed and we certainly have done so this spring.

We have sorely neglected the Back Forty but we have finally started to clean up after hurricane Irma who felled several trees in our yard and scattered debris all over the place.



We are supposed to bag debris or put it in containers.  The exception of course are tree limbs and shrubbery that are 4 feet; however, it should be neatly stacked.



For us who are retired it is unfortunate that the debris is scheduled for pick up on Mondays. 

In most cases, this means that the debris is out by he curb over the weekend.  For working people, this works fine; they apparently only have the weekends to tend their yards.

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Cabbage with Sausage and Tomatoes

The long lasting, nutritious, and economy friendly cabbage is still in the crisper waiting to be sliced and used in a delicious recipe.  Did I write that this recipe is so versatile?  Actually, use what you have available.

The basic recipe is as follows:

Thinly slice the cabbage and set aside
Stir fry diced Sausage with onions (peppers and celery are optional)
Use freshly sliced/diced tomatoes for this dish
Salt (garlic) and pepper to taste.  By all means, add 1/2 tsp cumin and curry, each

Directions:   For a minutes, stir fry the diced sausage with onions, pepper, and celery.  Add the cabbage, stir for 5 minutes more or until cabbage starts to wilt.  Finally, add the tomatoes and spices, cover, and let simmer for about 10 minutes until the ingredients are married. 
Plate and serve.  Bon Appetit!

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Benefits of Gardening

Gardening is beneficial to body, mind, and soul.  It provides me with healthy and nourishing food free from insecticides and herbicides.  I have fresh food from the garden to the table throughout the year.  At any given time, I know exactly what went into the soil and I'm able to nibble on the vegetables in the garden without having to wash them first.

Gardening provides me with full body exercise:  I am stretching, pulling, bending, and reaching for the various vegetables and/or the weeds.  What a better place to exercise than in the fresh air under a blue sky and letting the wind play with my hair.

Another benefit of gardening is educational.  It entails doing research and sometimes even attending seminars about e.g. attracting bees to the garden.

Gardening is to some degree experimental, trying new cultivars and to find out what those vegetables require for best growth, development, and harvest.

Finally, according to the Journal of Health Psychology, gardening is on the top of the list for improving the mood and decreasing cortisol level.  The cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone."

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