High Altitude Gardening

Wordless Wednesday: Megan's Morning Shower

2012-05-30T12:15:00.001-06:00

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The Tiresome Trifecta with a Totally Tasty Plan B

2012-05-25T12:46:00.003-06:00

Thunder, lightening, drenching rain.

This trifecta can only mean one thing ~ it must be Memorial Weekend!

Like clockwork, every year, the teasing warmth of an early summer disappears at the precise moment I start dusting off the camping gear.

I've been prowling the nurseries. Drooling over the new flowers they have to offer.

But, I leave my purse in the car so as not to be too tempted too early.

And, I keep my big mouth shut when strolling past the happy lines of optimistic shoppers, scooping up cheery flowering baskets, tender annuals ~ giddy over the great weather we've been having.

I do not utter a word about how they're jumping the gun and Mother Nature has one more trick up her sleeve.

Because, nobody likes it when you rain on their parade. Including me.

So, I'm working on a Totally Tasty Plan B ~ Dry Rub Ribs for this Ultra Iffy Memorial Day BBQ. These cook better in the oven than they do on the grill.

* First, baste the ribs with 3 tbs fresh roasted garlic (those jars you buy in the supermarket) and 2 tbs spicy brown mustard. Then sprinkle the dry ingredients onto the ribs. Bake @ 300 for 2-3 hours. This recipe is good for 3 pounds of ribs.

Dry Rub Ribs

2 tbs roasted, ground cumin
2 tbs dark brown sugar
2 tbs smoked paprika
2 tbs onion powder
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tbs salt and 2 tbs pepper (or let your guests handle this when you're done cooking)

Have you ever wondered why BBQ joints

feature dancing piggies in their logos?

If I were the piggy, I'd be making a quick exit from this party.

Wordless Wednesday: Mystery Wildflower

2012-05-22T16:36:00.000-06:00

Can you guess the name of this wild flowering bush? Hint: It's a native to the desert southwest.

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Weeding Frenzy

2012-05-21T14:48:00.001-06:00

I'm a sucker for heirloom Bearded Iris

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity." ~ N. Lellande

I'm good for 30 gallons.

What does that make you think of? Gas? Beer? Iced Tea? Iced Cream? Well, I could go for at least a gallon of that to-die-for Chocolate Hazelnut variety but, alas, it's not about any of these things.

Windflowers

It's about weeds.

One weed, in particular. The dreaded Bermuda Grass that has taken hold of the Big Rock Garden. The 30 gallons is the size of the barrel that sits in the garden and that's the daily tally of Bermuda Grass I've been pulling up by the long, long roots and tossing into the barrel. For the last 3 days. All the while griping, moaning, complaining + trying hard to find someone to finger for this disaster.

Other than myself.

Linaria

Last summer, my ~~traitors~~ tenants ~~had the audacity~~ to politely request that we remove some of the flowers on their side of this duplex and replace said flowers with [say it isn't so...] a new lawn.

Apparently the kids need something to play on. Now, these kids haven't played on anything other than an X-Box for as long as I've known them but... that's the wonderful thing about parents. Optimists to their dying day.

Flowering Almonds are not supposed to grow here but they don't seem too unhappy.

So, I ~~bitched royally~~ pondered the subject and decided to ~~evict them~~ cave in. Because, after all, they're nice people even if they don't appreciate my flowers.

I know nothing about grass. Other than how to kill it.

When I purchased this home it had a 12,000 square foot Kentucky Blue Grass lawn. (In a desert environment. Go figure.) It's down to 2,000 square feet, now, which is still plenty of room for Bad Dog to enjoy an afternoon nap. And, I'm quite proud of that water-saving, back-breaking effort.

Now, I tried to do right by this grass idea. We cleaned the area of weeds and leveled the land because I paid an arm and a leg for certified, weed-free, screened top soil. Only this certified weed-free super fantabulous top soil wasn't weed free at all.

And, they brought me twice as much as I needed so ~ in my infinite wisdom ~ I decided to use the rest of it to amend the hard as can be clay soil in the Big Rock Garden.

Which brings me to another favorite quote of mine:
Right when you think things are going your way... something is falling apart and you don't even know about it. Yet.

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Wordless Wednesday ~ The Wildflower Ride

2012-05-09T21:23:00.001-06:00

*It's not this summery in Utah. Not yet, anyway. :) These pics taken at Acacia Riding Adventures, in San Acacia, New Mexico.

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Search and Rescue

2012-05-03T09:16:00.001-06:00

I don't do windows. Obviously! But, looking at this picture has prompted me to find someone who does.

Enough about my lousy housekeeping ~ meet my $5 bargain. Do you recognize what's taking over my sunny window? It's a Clematis. I've got 8 of them growing in my living room and may I just say? It's a jungle in here!

I was picking up supplies, over at Walmart a couple months ago, when I spotted a rack of little green bags. Nearly dead Clematis roots inside. One enterprising little plant had wiggled her way through a hole in the green bag and was sprouting. So, naturally, I had to rescue her. And, then I went back and rescued all of her friends.

I would not have guessed that dead, dry Clematis roots could make such a fab comeback but if you look.... real.... close... you'll see that she's budding!

* Safe planting date, at my elevation, is Memorial Day so it won't be long until I can set them free.

Wordless Wednesdays: A May Day Walk in the Garden

2012-05-01T20:35:00.000-06:00

Heirloom Daffodils

Soon to be Lilac Blossom

Flowering Plum Tree

One extra early Tulip ~ jumpin' the gun.


Don't forget to pet the pony!

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10 Hard Working Perennials for Mountain Gardens

2012-04-29T11:54:00.001-06:00

Primrose is a very early bloomer, loving cold temperatures.

Bright sunshine inspired a whole lotta work in the gardens yesterday ~ in spite of the fact that it was blustery and cold... Sitting here, this morning, tired, and sore, happy as all get out. Having dedicated an entire day to playing in the mud.

What's your favorite time in the garden? Mine is right now. When tiny green shoots are poking up all over the place, promising pretty things to come.

Sad to say, it's too early to plant. And, of course, that makes me itchy. Trying desperately to avoid the local nurseries, tempting me with new flowers that will surely freeze ~ should I lose control and jump the gun.

So, while I'm spinning my wheels, waiting ever so impatiently for Memorial Day to come, here's a salute to the 10 hardest working perennials in my waterwise gardens. These gals bloom for at least 8 weeks, some 12 or 16 weeks. All are drought-tolerant, much-loved by hummingbirds, butterflies, and most everyone who bikes past the Street Garden.

May Night Salvia

Salvia x superba

Flowers: June - August, with deadheading

Full sun
USDA zones 5-9

Tickseed Coreopsis

Coreopsis lanceolata

Flowers: June - September, with deadheading

Full sun

USDA zones 5-9

Munstead Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia

Flowers: July - October

Full sun

USDA zones 4-10

Bellflower Deep Blue Pearls

Campanula carpatica

Flowers: June - September

Full sun

USDA zones 3-8

John Cabot Roses

Flowers: June - October

Full sun

USDA zones 3-7

Johnson's Blue Geranium

Geranium himalayense x pratense

Flowers: May - September

Full sun
USDA zones 4-8

Redbirds in a Tree
Scrophularia macrantha
Flowers: June - September
Happiest at 6,000 feet or higher
Full sun
USDA zones 5-10

Six Hills Giant Cat Mint

Nepeta x faaseenii 'Six Hills Giant'

Flowers: June - August

Full sun
USDA zones 4-9

Jupiter's Beard
Centranthus Ruber
Flowers: June - August, with deadheading
Full sun
USDA zones 4-9

Corkscrew Ornamental Onion

Allium senescens 'Blue Twister'

Flowers: June - September

Full sun/Loves clay soil
USDA zones 3-8

Do you have a love affair with 10 special flowers? Do tell!

A Brief Interruption

2012-04-28T07:46:00.001-06:00

After a deep, drenching, rain I woke to a temporary drift of snow. And, while these stops and starts to the garden season can be annoying, I'm not terribly unhappy about it.

Glory of the Snow (early spring blooming, naturalizing bulb)

This high up in the mountains, things are different. When it's raining on your garden, it's often snowing on mine.

I don't mind and neither do my flower bulbs. To me, snow is just a happier form of much-needed moisture.

People run when it's raining. They slow down when it snows. They linger, perhaps even to the point of admiring the artistic beauty of a snowflake, or two.

Oh, I know my attitude doesn't sync with most gardeners. They want spring to come early, with no interruptions.

Crocus

Where I live, that's just never gonna happen. So, perhaps it's a blessing in disguise. My hard work will begin soon enough.

More Crocus!

* If you live in the mountains, you've probably already figured out that bulbs are a gardening girl's best friend. Bulbs add bright, beautiful color to the garden right about the time you're convinced that spring will never ever arrive. In my crazy, micro climate gardens, Crocus and Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) get the party started. Next up: naturalizing Blue Siberian Squill and, with any luck, some perky yellow Daffodils.

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Wordless Wednesday

2012-04-18T14:38:00.003-06:00

* Don't ya just love a nursery with a sense of humor?

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Seeds, Bulbs and Other Cheap Thrills

2012-04-17T19:35:00.003-06:00

A good month behind kinder climates, Daffodils are threatening great things.

Half my yard is celebrating springtime, and therefore so am I. In spite of chill winds, freezing rains and unwelcome snow... heirloom bulbs in the sunniest spots are determined to put on a pretty show.

I dig through the filthy remnants of winter, exposing green shoots, in search of the first perky primrose and tiny grape hyacinth. So sweet to be playing in the mud again.

All the trappings of a farm girl summer are getting a jumpstart in my sunny window. Planting from seed saves me a bundle plus it adds 30 days to my too-short growing season. Look closely at those green leaves. Can you tell what's sprouting here? Hint: It's a super popular perennial.

When I wake to those late season snows, I can't help but dream of Hawaii, my most favorite place on the planet. The closest I'll get is this pretty Plumeria ~ a refugee of my last visit there. (Plumeria is surprisingly easy to grow indoors. Phosphate encourages plentiful blooms.)

The fact that she's blooming is one undeniable sign of spring. And, here's another...

"Honk, honk, honk," cry the Canadian Geese.
"Not again!" grouse those cranky Sand Hill Cranes.
"Harumph!" grumbles a Bull Elk as he rises to his feet and saunters away from the trespassers...

Early this morning, I opened the blinds to discover a hot air balloon, blown off course, bouncing across the Swaner Nature Preserve. (Across the road from my house.) What does this mean? Why, the tourists have returned, that's what!

I live in the strangest place. But, somehow it seems to suit me.

Quick Growing Veggies I'm starting, from seed, for my Mountain Veggie Garden:

Cocozelle Bush Zucchini: matures in 50 days.
Thessaloniki Tomato: matures in 60 days.
Oxheart Carrot: matures in 65 days.
Lemon Cucumber: matures in 70 days.

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Blood from a Turnip

2012-04-10T17:51:00.009-06:00

"We've squeezed as much blood from this turnip
as we're ever gonna get."

And, with that, my tax guy handed me a pile of forms and a big, fat bill and sent me on my way.

Each year, it's the same old story. I show up with a stack of receipts 12 inches thick and then the battle begins. If it were up to me, I'd write off everything as a business expense. Including the bike I peddle to the Fed Ex box.

Bill, the tax man, is a turnip lover. (Yet another reason to distrust him.) Turnips are a love 'em or hate 'em vegetable. Mom forced me to eat them as a child and I loathe them to this very day.

That's because she made me eat the wrong part.

Tubbed, rubbed and scrubbed. Isn't she a beauty?

Turnip roots have a radish-like texture, slightly peppery. Not my cup o' tea. But the above-ground leaves, the turnip greens, are super tasty! They're also loaded with vitamins A and K, important ones if you're searching for that proverbial fountain of youth.

Turnip greens make a delightful hot salad. Immerse the greens in boiling water for just a few seconds. Pat dry. Saute olive oil, bacon, shallots, red pepper... add it to the greens, and voila! A healthy side dish that would have Bill, the tax man, grinning from ear to ear.

Hmmm... If I blog about them shouldn't I be allowed to write off turnips as a tax deduction?

The Avocado App

2012-04-07T10:19:00.008-06:00

* The Avocado App: Were you thinking this was a gadget for your iPhone? Nah. I was just trying to get you to read my post. :)

What are YOU wearing to the Easter Parade?

Last year, the biggest hit at my Easter Dinner was the ultra-easy appetizer vs. the ham and side dishes that I slaved over for hours and hours and hours. (Isn't that always the case?) Green Eggs and Ham recipes abound but this one is absolutely to die for.

Tips to Make it Totally Tasty:
Pah-leeeze! No creepy, toxic green food colorings, por favor. And, let's skip the frozen spinach while we're at it. Too yucky. Plus, it's lost all of it's nutritional content. (Which is a Godsend, if you ask me. I hate that stuff.)

Thoroughly mix in the Avocado and your Deviled Eggs will look greener.

√ This deviled egg recipe calls for fresh avocado.
√ And the lighter [than bacon] flavor of crumbled, crispy-cooked prosciutto.

Green Eggs & Ham Recipe:

Boil a dozen eggs. Yes, it seems like a lot but you haven't tried this recipe ~ yet.
Crisp-cook about a half dozen slices of prosciutto and crumble. Use it as the garnish. Chopped tops of green onions are a great second garnish.
Slice the eggs in half, smoosh up the yolks, stir in a full, fresh avocado and light mayonnaise. (I like to add a little lemon pepper and some brown mustard to spice things up a bit.)
Then borrow the coolest deviled egg platter you can find...

And, voila! Your guests will be so delighted they'll be back at your dinner table every single Easter from here on out. { Uh. Oh. }

* Leave it to our beloved Doctor Seuss to inspire kids to eat Deviled Eggs. This recipe adapted from a bunch of different recipes found on the web. Those geese were posted on my timeline on Facebook and I thought they were so delightful I had to share. Happy Easter!

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Advice on Peas? Pretty Please?

2012-04-05T06:44:00.004-06:00

Got a note from Dave, the pea lover, wondering what's a good variety to plant and is there such a thing as a safe planting date in the mountains?

First, the easy question. There is no safe planting date up here in the mountains. However! My neighbors have learned that the last hard freeze of the winter ALWAYS happens the week AFTER I plant MY veggie garden. So, if you wait until I screw up you should be in pretty good shape.

If you're more of a leader than a follower, here are a couple of options:

1) Sow by seed quick-growing peas that mature in 65-80 days.
2) Or, start them indoors. I plant mine in 16 oz plastic drinking cups so they develop long, strong roots. They grow on the deck for the month of May (so I can haul them indoors on an exceptionally cold night.) I plant them in the soil around June 15th.
* This is sadly abnormal in comparison to lower elevation veggie gardeners but mountain growing seasons are on a different timetable. We get started later but we can usually harvest later, too.

There are tons of pea varieties - English peas, snap peas, snow peas (edible pods) and, the most misunderstood of all, the Black Eyed Peas. These are considered beans if you live in the north, or a highly entertaining band if you're younger than me.

Kelvedon Wonder ~ one of my favorites. It's a fast growing, tasty variety that shrugs off pea wilt and other disasters. Matures in 65 days.

Sugar Ann and Sugar Mel ~ (Don't they sound like the cutest couple?) Quick, crisp and delicious. Ready for picking in about 60 days.

Alderman (aka Tall Telephone) ~ the yummiest pea you've ever gobbled. They say this big guy requires 75 days - but it's closer to 100. Start him indoors and gift him with a tall fence. He'll climb 8 feet if you let him.

Sun-kissed, vine-ripened, fresh-picked, barely fertilized:

Peas produce their own nitrogen but they'll love you forever if you give them an extra shot of phosphorus.
Peas are a cool season veggie. Cool, not cold. Dave's overly-anxious neighbor pushes aside the snow to plant seeds directly into the ground very early. But, here's the deal. Peas need warmth to sprout so... sure! You can plant them super early but it won't make a bit of difference. They'll wait for warmer soil temps to germinate.

Give Peas a Second Chance!
Saving pea seed is simple. Allow the pods to dry until brown on the vines. Hand shell them and plant the following spring.

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Caballos del Sol

2012-04-03T12:36:00.005-06:00

Arizona wildflowers ~ Interesting how they bud pink and bloom white.

Wow! What a week. I could probably get a month's worth o' mileage out of the happenings of The Vacation. But, since it was compressed into 6 short days perhaps I'll try to compress it here, as well.

I'm reluctantly coming back to reality after a week long vacation with our horses at an event called the Caballos del Sol benefit trail ride. It benefits horse organizations. But, mostly it just benefits horse lovers like me who get to saddle up and disappear from reality for awhile.

More Arizona Wildflowers (I don't know the names ~ do you?)

Gracie

Ever experienced that feeling of dread at the end of a super-fantabulous vacation?

On the last day of a blissful week, not connected to voice mail, email or any other aspect of the workaday world...

I petted sweet Gracie and kind of wished this week would never end.

That I could really and truly just ride off into the sunset.

Karen and her Mustang, Red. That's Al in the background: 75 years young.

Toward a 5 star spa, of course, because one week of camping is plenty of hardship for this lazy butt. My hard-working horse could benefit from a massage, too.

This was my 3rd year on the Caballos del Sol trail ride. And, good luck finding out anything about it. There's no website. No contact info. Half the people submitting applications get turned away.

That Rental RV in the foreground was mine, all mine. (For the week. :)

It's a super secret horse affair. A tiny postcard shows up around Christmas time hinting at the location.

Come March, we're given directions to a private ranch somewhere in Arizona, where we set up an RV city and ride the Apache Wilderness. Each morning, heading out on a new trail, prettier than the one the day before.

We laughed non-stop for 5 fab days.

Then we packed up the horses and reluctantly headed back to civilization. Where the second I reached a cellphone service area my poor little gadget practically exploded... with hundreds of emails, cranky voice mails plus a few texts that made me absolutely batty:

Text #1: I need a place to stay ~ can I spend the summer with you? (Huh???)
Text #2: Your dog has been barking for 2 solid days! (Whaa??)
Text #3: I borrowed your car. Man! It's fast! (The nerve.)
Text #4: I think something is broken; there's water gushing all over your basement. (Argh.)

At which point I turned off the phone. Sigh.

"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once." ~ Jennifer Unlimited

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* Caballos del Sol = Horses of the Sun

Friday's Freebie: Sunset! Saved the Best for Last!

2012-03-23T08:53:00.071-06:00

I'm giving away a copy of the fabulous Sunset Gardening Book.

Devoted the whole of last night to packing. I'm heading out on a week long horseback trail ride tomorrow morning (at 4 a.m. Good Lord. Who's dumb idea was that...?) And it never ceases to amaze me just how much packing is involved when you travel with a horse. Saddles and blankets and bridles and hundreds of pounds of hay. Don't forget those carrots. Wouldn't kill ya to bring a bag of apples, too. Seeing as how I'm doing all the work and you're just sitting up there in the saddle...! {That's my horse speaking.}

Sable, Phantom and Ginger. My riding friend & I have look alike Appaloosas!

It's so cute when you pack for a horse trip. They lean against the gate, excited... anxious to go. Not the slightest bit curious as to where we're going. It's off to Sedona, AZ for an ultra-civilized benefit trail ride. Have been working like a little fiend getting ready for this.

Taking care of everybody's needs first (why, oh why, do I do that?) So, now I can take care of me.

And, while I'm gone......

I thought y'all might want to arm wrestle for The Ultimate Gardening Guide!

This week's Freebie is The {New} Sunset Western Garden Book...

... which tips the scales at about 10 pounds.

Sports thousands of gorgeous photos. A full encyclopedia of any and all flowers you could ever hope to grow.

Plus (be still my heart) great native plant info and tasty veggies that do well in our western soils.

They should come up with some sort of Perennial Pulitzer Prize for books like this. It's just that good.

Sunset gave me this book and I really should have kept it. Because there I go again! Give, give, give. Why am I such a giver? But, I digress...

Sunset gave me this fab book to read and review. I give it 2 thumbs up and now I'm giving it to you.

But, ya gotta work for it...... leave a comment and DIVULGE.

What's the one garden flower that you simply cannot live without? Leave it in a comment. Bonus points for telling us why. Triple bonus points for Latin! (The scientific flower name.) For instance, I love Baby's Breath but true flower geeks aka those who speak Latin call Baby's Breath ~ Gypsophila paniculata.
* It will be way easier to find those Latin names once you win this book.

The New Sunset Western Garden Book:

Get plant ideas for any type of garden.
Ultra-helpful tips on making the most of a micro-climate.
Details on heirloom veggies and how to improve your harvest.
Plus, some very cool garden projects.

And - Sunset has also launched a new Plant Finder Database which is very cool. Click here to check it out.

See ya in a week.

Belated Bloom Day Orchid Show

2012-03-21T16:43:00.002-06:00

Re-Blooming Butterfly Orchid #1

I'm so happy.

Re-Blooming Butterfly Orchid #2

Like sliding across the kitchen floor in my stocking feet happy.

Re-Blooming Butterfly Orchids #3, 4 & 5!!!

The sun is shining. The snow is melting. Could it be? Could it be?

Is it finally springtime? Garden time? Playing in the mud time? I certainly hope so. Because I'm so over winter it's not even funny.

My Christmas Cactus is still hard at it.

Could kick myself for being so absent-minded. Completely forgot about Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. (Held on the 15th of each month.)

Kalanchoes

And, I was soooo looking forward to showing off the Orchids. They look pretty enough to be store bought beauties. But, I assure you they are not. These are all re-bloomers.

I almost always have one Orchid in bloom. But, this year they took pity on me and my cabin fever. All of my girls decided to flower at the exact same time.

Say a cheer for springtime... Here's today's moment of Zen:

Screamin' Deals, Kleinfeld Brides, and NYC

2012-03-17T12:07:00.004-06:00

The Pond, in Central Park

Ah.... springtime in New York. Daffodils blooming, Central Park bustling...

Daffodils peek through the filthy remnants of winter.

But, there's no time to dilly dally.

Cheerful beds of Crocus greeted us along our Central Park stroll.

We're 6 months out from Ms. Peanut's (aka daughter L's) wedding day and we've already exceeded our unlimited budget.

That's a joke.

In fact, that's the running joke around these parts since every aspect of the wedding IS on a super tight budget.

No such thing as privacy in Central Park. I crashed this photo shoot. :)

But, I have frequent flier miles. AND a Priceline account. Plus (this is always surprising to people) I practically lived in New York in my younger years. And, while I find certain aspects of NYC hugely intimidating... shopping for a bargain is not one of them.

You'll find the prettiest things in the dirtiest places.

It's fun strolling along Canal Street while thieves lean in close to me and whisper words like "Channel... Dolce.." indicating designer brands are tucked in a truck in the back alley.

We did not go into the alleys. Nor did we buy any hot merchandise (much to my chagrin.)

However! I did score a stunning ~ and quite possibly not illegal ~ handbag for $38 bucks. In one of those Canal Street shops that aren't much bigger than your closet. Would have cost me $200 back home.

Way more fun than I thought it would be.

And! We said Yes to the Dress.

Have you seen that t.v. reality series by the same name? I haven't watched the show but we made an appointment there, more out of curiosity than great expectations of finding a fabulous gown.

It's called Kleinfeld's Bridal and it was every bit as cliche as you could imagine. Complete with bored cameramen, lounging in the lobby. And, mean ass Jersey girls. Oops! I mean brides to be, sending us death glares while waiting for their on-camera moments.

I'll take the solid gold apartment, please. Provided you let me garden on the roof.

It was so over the top. Felt like a huge waste of time to me... Right up until Ms. Peanut tried on what we knew instantly was The Dress. Picture perfect in every way (we're talkin' oodles and oodles of lace.)

And, now hear this! It was half the price of the dress we'd sort of liked, back in boring old Salt Lake City.

Last bastion of civility. The Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park.

I suppose you're wondering why I'm spoiling my daughter rotten flitting here and there looking for the perfect gown. Well, that's an easy one to answer. I didn't grow up in the kind of family where anyone did anything nice for me. Ever. And, so, when I became a Mom, I decided to change all that.

* 'Peanut' was my daughter's nickname when she was a little girl. I still use it, now and then, just to ~~piss her off~~ make her roll her eyes. :))

Friday's Freebie: Who Wants a Truly Fabulous Cookbook?

2012-03-09T12:02:00.011-07:00

Book Give Away! Do you own cast iron cookware? That's about all I use in the kitchen. If you're a fan, you're gonna LOVE this cookbook. With recipes like... HOT LAVA CHOCOLATE CAKE what's not to love?

Veggies, eggs & more are hiding 'neath the cornbread.

A few years ago, when I was struggling with anemia, I tossed a question out into the blogosphere, asking people for advice.

Some brilliant commenter suggested I try cooking with cast iron skillets, claiming that simple switch could help my condition.

An easy enough experiment, I had plenty of cast iron cookware packed away downstairs, with the rest of my camping gear. Though it had never occurred to me to use these skillets in the kitchen.

I've always felt warm and fuzzy about cast iron cookware. It's kind of a throwback to Grandma's kitchen. Which is how I inherited mine. So, I gave it a shot. And my anemia disappeared ~ though I don't really know if it's because of the iron in the cookware. Or, the fact that the cookware inspired healthier eating. I spent way more time in the kitchen, concocting all kinds of yummy dishes. (This Cornbread Breakfast Skillet is my fave.)

The LODGE CAST IRON Cookbook
A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious, American Dishes

As fellow bloggers, I imagine you're experiencing this, too... Every day I receive an email from some company asking me to read and review their product. Now don't get me wrong. I LOVE the fact that bloggers are finally getting the attention they deserve, but some of those requests are downright ridiculous...

That is not the case with The Lodge. I can (happily) sing their praises because these cast iron skillets are the same quality as the crème de la crème Le Creuset ~ for a fraction of the cost. (And, I'd be lost without 'em.)

Leave a comment if you'd like to be included in the drawing for this delightful cookbook. But, don't come crying to me if you gain weight when you win it. :)

HOT LAVA CHOCOLATE CAKE
Not just for campfires any more.

2 oz. square semisweet chocolate
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 confectioners' sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
9 teaspoons flour

Melt chocolate and butter, stir in the sugar. Add eggs; then flour. Spray a small cast iron skillet (so this delightful mess doesn't stick.) Pour in this ooey-gooey goodness. Bake over hot campfire coals for 15-18 minutes. Or, in the oven at 350 (F) for approximately the same amount of time. (Use a toothpick to determine if it's done.)

Serves 4 normal people, or one uncontrollable choco-holic. {That would be me.}

-----------------
The Lodge gave me this cookbook to read and review and now I'm giving it to you. Leave a comment here, on Facebook, or on Twitter to be entered into the drawing.
-----------------
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Mish Mashin' Monday and a Marvelous Meme

2012-03-05T12:53:00.011-07:00

On Mondays, my Orchids enjoy a 30 minute soak in the kitchen sink.

Even when it's 30 degrees outside, I'll have my morning coffee out on the deck. (1)

Sagebrush, asleep in the snow.

There's still loads of snow on the ground and stalactite size icicles droop from the roof. But there's also a change in the air. A little warmth, a lotta melt, plus the cheery celebration of songbirds. Oh, how I love these subtle signs of spring.

Copper Moose Farm had a seed starting class on Saturday. I don't even know why I went to that. Well, actually, I do. I was so hoping it would be a loosely managed class where I could ditch the discussion and snoop around their gorgeous greenhouses. Yes, houses, plural, those lucky ducks. {Drool.} I wish I could clone myself and work for them.

Those who can't teach, do. {That would be me}
It was a very informative session, and yet another reminder of how I'm the Queen of Cutting Corners. (2) For instance, the proper way to start seeds is to begin with egg carton size thingies, then transplant them into bigger containers. Water at least twice a day during germination.

OR!

Buy those Red Solo Cups ~ popularized by gardeners long before Toby Keith admitted his drinking problem. They're 16 ounces large, so bouncing baby seedlings can produce long, strong roots.
* Poke holes in the bottom. Loosely cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in that, too. Bada Bing Bada Boom, you just created a teeny, tiny greenhouse that you only have to water once a week.

This is NOT a store bought Orchid! She's re-blooming like this!!!

I'd like to consider myself an efficiency expert. But, the truth is I have the patience of a flea. (3) And, I have the documentation to prove it! Verbatim, that sentence appeared in the very first performance review my mean-ass boss ever conducted with me. (4)

My daughter gave me these cheery Tulips. It made my day.

That's why I landed on the 16 oz cup planter idea. I do not love repetition ~ or, laborious practices of any kind. (5) Why re-plant baby seedlings in different size containers when once is enough?

This is my pet peeve, with respect to gardening books, (6), because I worry that if we make things complicated, we'll scare away first-time gardeners, thinking these chores are too time-consuming.

Poinsettia plants are reverting back to green..

Which brings me to my meme.
I'm only 3 weeks late getting on this but that's actually pretty good! Considering I'm also known as the Princess of Procrastination (7.)

Thanks, Patricia!!

THE VERSATILE BLOGGER MEME:
This was awarded to me by my friend Patricia Tyron of Picturing Plants. Check out her blog, it's chock-full of good stuff.

The Versatile Blogger Award asks that you share 7 random pieces of information about yourself. So, here goes:

I am a guinea pig for asthma testing ~ been plagued with this ailment since I was 7.
I devote 4 hours a day to volunteer projects, in addition to freelancing full-time.
I'm a split personality, to say the very least. I Tivo Downton Abbey and the Walking Dead.
I once spent a whole month in a rental car in Spain tracking the life and times of Salvador Dali.
High Tea is my most favorite civilized past time and the primary reason why I think I should move out of Utah. (Since it doesn't exist here.)
I wish Twitter, Twylah, Facebook, and Pinterest would simply disappear. (At the very least, I wish people on Pinterest would stop stealing all of my flower photography and claiming that it's theirs.)
I quite often put secret little things in my blog posts to see if people are actually reading them.

Passing this meme along to:
Awake with Charm and Spirit
Canoe Corner
Garden Musings
Friko's World

* I'm only allowed to pass this to 4, otherwise there would be 100 more bloggers listed here.

Re-Blooming Pride and Joy

The Rules:

Post the Versatile Blogger Award to your post/blog.
Thank the blogger who nominated you with a link back to his/her blog.
Share seven random pieces of information about yourself.
Include this set of rules, and
Forward this award to fellow bloggers and inform them with a comment on their blogs.

* Mish Mashing Mondays was the brainchild of Monica, the Garden Faerie.

This Close to Paradise

2012-03-01T19:26:00.014-07:00

Birds of Paradise are amazing flowers.

It is a 10 hour drive from my house to the pretty side of Los Angeles, that part that goes no further 'cause it butts up against a sapphire blue ocean. And, all along the way you feel the air get warmer, the scenery turn greener, seasons morph from the dead of winter into a lively, summer day.

Imagine a gardening world where you can't keep these in check.

Flowers, sunshine, no jackets needed. Why, oh why, don't I live out here?? We had one long, lovely weekend to soak it all in before heading back to Siberia.

We took this road trip 'cause I did the coolest thing last week. Muscled my way into a Vera Wang [sold out] Wedding Dress trunk show ~ for my darling daughter. (Doesn't she look stunning?)

I know nothing about designer labels. Though I did think it was a little odd that (before hand) they refused to tell me how much these gowns cost...

And, even odder that they handed us champagne at 10 o'clock in the morning.

But, hey, I'm a pretzel. I can bend. Plus, I wasn't feeling too out of my element since the second I got us an appointment at this trunk show, I bee-lined it to the Anne Taylor outlet store, hoping to find an acceptable outfit that wouldn't instantly label me as a country hick.

I'm not fancy, I explained to the gals working there. I lied my way into this trunk show and now I need to fit the part.

They kindly looked over all my clothing choices, of black, grey, more black and promptly put them back on the rack.

Then they ushered me into the dressing room to try on outrageously colorful stuff that made me shudder. I modeled the outfits while they ooh'd and aah'd. “This looks like LA,” they finally said. Delighted with my makeover.

Which got me wondering about me as the person vs. me as the gardener. 'The Staff' outfitted me in colorful, floral tops and bright, turquoise sweaters (apparently it makes my eyes pop.) That's nothing compared to the pink and orange gardens that blind my neighbors.

I guess, as a person, I'm more comfortable blending into the wallpaper. Though I'd like my flowers to boldly stand up and say howdy.

* At the end of the trunk show, they wrote down on a business card the price of those dresses and slid it over to me. It felt dirty. Like I was in a Sopranos scene without the pasta. The cheapest was $5,000, the most was $8,000 and I know we could sew them for 2. (The only reason I'm mentioning prices is because I met a number of other Moms via blogs in the same situation. So, now we know. Gorgeous gowns. But, very spendy.)

But, I'm also wondering about dying fabric. Have you ever done so? The new look this year is 'nude' ~ how hard would it be to purchase a white dress and dye it in her favorite color?

Where there's a will, there's a way, and I know we can make this work.

Sweethearts of San Acacia

2012-02-23T09:08:00.005-07:00

I need me a pair of these...

I got a perfect score. In spite of all the silliness surrounding me this week ~ including bad moods and bitch sessions ~ I keep mulling that over in my head.

I got a perfect score.

Hank was not thrilled with his get up.

I'm a member of ACTHA - a national trail riding competition group - 6 miles, 6 natural obstacles and 6 judges watching your every move.

Been a member for 2 years but have never actually saddled up and tried my luck...

Until Valentine's week.

When I competed at the Sweethearts of San Acacia ACTHA competition on what might have been the coldest day on record, in sunny New Mexico. What a blast! (Just in case you're wondering, you get bonus points for dolling up your pony. :)

I waited a whole week to check my scores ~ first time and all, plus I never think I'm very good at anything.

Nearly fell over when I saw that out of a possible 20 points... We got 21 on the Standing Jump (which I've never done before.) 10 for me, 10 for the horse. And, an extra tie-breaking point for perfection. Wow!

And, then I tanked on the Dip A Coaster ~ A steep up and down where my horse did just dandy. She got a 9. And, I got a 3. Oops. Here it is, just in case you're curious.

* These pics were taken by a horse pal o' mine, Lisa W.

Negatory.

2012-02-22T12:45:00.009-07:00

I'm looking for a dressmaker.

Over coffee, before dawn this morning, I was chuckling to myself about the massive number of blog posts I've recently written.... in my head.

Ages ago, when I began this blog, I deemed it 'My Positive Place' ~ setting a firm guideline that I could only post about happy stuff.

A bright spot: Orchids are re-blooming.

Perhaps it's the introvert in me, but I don't like it when people use their blogs as a soapbox for all the problems in their own little worlds. (I'm even less thrilled with bloggers who prescribe to that infernal ABC meme. Have you stopped to consider how tiring it is to visit blogging friends when 12 of them are dedicating a post to E is for Echinacea?? "E" is for 'enough already...')

But, as of this morning, I'm thinking if I don't allow myself to bitch a little, I may never blog again.

This is wedding year. My darling daughter is getting married. (She has, so far, not given me approval to be in charge of the bouquet, but I'm not worried. I'm highly skilled at groveling.)

The Pure White Orchid is re-blooming, too.

The thing is... I couldn't be happier!

And, yes, I know weddings are big business, they're very expensive, but I don't really care if it will take me a year to pay this off. She's my lucky charm! I want it to be a lovely day.

I'm talking in the singular because I'm happily divorced. (To be clear, that was his idea. Shocking, I know! That somebody wants to rid themselves of me...? :) And, while she has a very well-to-do Dad, he's claimed he's too poor to contribute very much to this event.

Now if that is, indeed, the case I'm actually okay with this. But, then I got his email: We are taking care of designing, writing and producing her save-the-date cards and invitations. On us.

It made me ballistic. As if somehow an hour of his time, in creating an invitation, was equal to offering to help her pay for her dress. Seriously? Writing? Ahem. "You're invited. Be there with bells on!" Whew! That tough project's done.

What do you do when you're mad? I pull weeds. Or, pet horses. Sometimes I pet horses while they're pulling weeds.

And, as far as this bitch session? Well... I just thought I'd toss this one out into the universe in case anyone has some wise advice.

* PS: I am, really and truly, looking for a seamstress who can sew L's gown. Know anybody?

Follow @Kate_HAGardens

Free-Range Chicken Gardens

2012-02-16T11:35:00.010-07:00

Sure, they lay eggs but do you know how beneficial they are to a garden?
I'm giving away a copy of this fabulous book. Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.

My neighbor owns a half dozen chickens and every one of them is named Dixie. (The Dixie Chicks, get it? I thought that was so clever.)

She also owns a turkey ~ a turkey with no name ~ and I was quite worried about his future.

She spends half her day hanging out in the coop.

When No Name Turkey waddled out of his coop, the week after Thanksgiving, I breathed a mighty sigh of relief. So, he was not intended to be dinner, after all. It sure is cute seeing him waddle about their gardens...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday's Freebie is showing up a day early this week so you can get in on the tail end of a pretty cool contest.

ENTER TO WIN A CHICKEN GARDEN KIT!

~~Cluck~~ Click HERE and enter to win a complete chicken garden start up kit!

Seriously? You're still reading?

Scoot on over there right now.

'Cause this contest ends 2/17/12

Which is... tomorrow.

Being the flower crazy chick that I am, I've been toying with the idea of raising chickens ~ though that has little to do with the delicious eggs they bring to the party.

They're all named Dixie.

It would be grand to have a free-roaming flock of colorful chickens doing battle with the bugs that plague my garden. They tend to ignore flowering plants, so I've a feeling we'd get along pretty well.

Then there's the fertilizer factor...

And, of course, the egg thing. Plenty of reasons for you to enter that contest. Or, this one. I'm giving away a copy of this book.

FREE-RANGE

Chicken Gardens

~ by Jessi Bloom

Even if you don't want to raise chickens,

you'll probably love this book.

I loved everything about it! The colorful design. (Definitely coffee table material.) The fact that I learned something new on every page. Author, Jessi Bloom's, delightful writing style. Plus, the bigger picture of what she's trying to promote: Beautiful, chicken friendly, organic gardens and the bonus of farm fresh eggs! Just by inviting a couple of cluckers into your life.

* Timberland Press gave me this book to read and review and now I'm giving it to you. Just leave me a comment if you'd like to be included in the random drawing for this book.

Follow @Kate_HAGardens

Lookin' for Love

2012-02-14T08:58:00.001-07:00

Heart-shaped rocks are more common than you'd think.

If you go for a walk today, look down, not up.

Try to find a heart-shaped rock. I've been collecting heart-shaped rocks for years! It's a warm, fuzzy feeling to spot a heart rock, just lying there, quietly, waiting to be noticed.

And, they're way more common than you'd think. I find one nearly every time I'm out exploring a hiking trail.

So, get out there! And, start lookin' for love!

P.S.

Happy Valentine's Day. :)