Sprouting Sprouts

I have been growing my own sprouts this summer.It is easy. They taste fresher. I can make my own mix! I prefer radish, broccoli, lentil and alphalpha, with a little mung and sunflower for texture..
It is great on salads and sandwiches and I also like to float them on cool summer soups.

Creamier Texture

This time when I made cheese.
I added a pint of heavy cream to the mix.
It has a much creamier texture!

More Peppered hearts

Louisiana Moon

The Louisiana Moon
smiles down at me
through the
tall sugar pines.

It laughs
silently
at my wanderings.

"Be still."
it whispers.
"Listen".

The cicada
symphony
begins.
Rising and falling
with a steady rythm
like waves breathing.

The breeze
broadcasts
the amphibious
choral responses.

The moon
laughs again.
The breeze returns
and persists.

The pines dance.
"Stay".
"Listen."

The night is alive
in a joyous
celebration of life.

Life on the Road

Life on the Road is a blur...
a highlighted,
marked down the middle,
following the stars.
blur of scenery...
waiting to stop
with the moon.

Cumulonimbus

The gulf clouds are beautiful this time of year and the air is so much softer and cooler with moisture. These are some views from our daily drive.

Sprouting Sprouts

Been growing my own sprouts again- radish, broccoli, alphalfa, mung, sunflower, lentil mix. So delicious and filling when they are fresh- so easy to sprout too!

Bison burgers

We made ground Bison burgers last night. The dogs guarded the stovewhile it was cooking and barked when it was done. It is so lean. I added rice, wheat germ, fresh cilantro and egg to the mix as well as peppers and cooked it slowly on medium heat-Serve it on whole wheat- with fresh farmers cheese and basil from the garden it is so delicious!

Low salt fresh farmers cheese

Made some fresh cheese last night- had it today with fresh tomatoes and basil form the garden on a few crackers.. delicious and creamy- low salt. The kitty-cats came running for the whey, with the geese not far behind them..

weathervanes

We lost our woodpecker and rooster weathervanes in Katrina. We replaced the rooster on the roof with a reindeer( see older blog posts below)- the pinwheels in the garden have replaced the wooden woodpecker that we had before.

Samaya Tara Yogini -Green Tara Garden

It was time to freshen up the paint on our drab little garden godess- so this year- I looked in our paint box- and all we had was chrome and green - The new color adds a nice "patina-ed" look to the old brown paint from before. We named her Tara after the Green Tara Bodhisattva. Tara, whose name means "star" or "she who ferries across," is a Bodhisattva of compassion who manifests in female form. In Tibetan, Tara is known as "Dölma" (Sgrol-ma), or "She Who Saves." In particular she represents compassion in action, as she leaves her lotus throne in order to help sentient beings. Tara is seen as a savioress who helps with material threats such as floods, crime, wild animals, and traffic accidents.To learn more about her and hear Green Tara meditations- click on the title above or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU1La7k-ajs
http://www.wildmind.org/mantras/figures/greentara

Electron- My Red Irish Rose

I wasn't sure about this rose when I bought it - But it has been a fairly steady bloomer- and although it does not cut well- but it adds such beautiful crimsons to the garden. evidently it was named as a promotion for an electric power utility!?!
Name: Electron
Synonym: Mullard Jubilee
Class: Modern large flowered Hybrid Tea Rose
Hybridizer/Date: McGredy, Northern Ireland 1970
Parentage: Paddy McGredy x Prima Ballerina
Awards: Royal National Rose Society Gold Medal 1969, The Hague Gold Medal and Golden Rose Of The Hague 1970, Belfast Gold Medal 1972, Portland Gold Medal 1973, All America Rose Selection 1973
click on the title above to learn more.

Rio Samba is blooming again

Morning sun

Clematis terniflora

Sweet Autumn Clematis
Clematis terniflora
is blooming everywhere right now. The honey bees and bumble bees are dancing daisy on the blooms and it adds such nice contrast to the garden right now.

Liriope muscari

Our Liriope muscari is finally blooming in force- we haven't seen it this happy in 5 years!

Hawk Hunting from a Tall Pine Tree

Nacotiches noisettes

After the nice rain that we have been getting each afternooon- the garden is much happier. The Nacotiches noisettes are blooming again.

Cleaned out the fridge today. Yay!

Keeping the house cool

I have spent the last few days trying to keep the cool air in and the hot air out of the house- I have spent a few hours making an attic stair tent and also placing insulation on each light switch, and electrical outlet. It has made a tremendous difference. These are available from most hardware stores and home improvement stores and they Do make a difference in preventing heat sinks and moisture sinks from your attic. The less moisture and the less leaks from outside- the better. It will also help keep the house warmer in the winter.




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Cheesey Links!

My Favorite Cheese Making Sites:
http://www.farmersmarketonline.com/howto3.htm
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Cheese/Cheese_5_gallons/CHEESE_5gal_00.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2030588_make-cheese.html
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/cheeserecipes.htm

Mainly Mozzerella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXbiT5a3P0&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QguIRhE6t80&feature=related

Cheese vid

Another great you tube video for simple cheese making

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBPYopcoeqs

Finished Goat cheese

I like to cover mine in black and red peppers.
and wrap it in parchment paper.
A nice gift to share with a friend.