Surprise!

I came home from Anchor Point to find my garden is growing nicely. We had our first Harvest last night, fresh Zucchini. It was tasty!

It's amazing what you can find on the internet.

is this correct grammar?

I saw this on our way to Seward.

Boy did you miss out!

Puffs
1	cup water
1/2	cup butter or margarine
1	cup all-purpose flour
4	eggs
Fluff Filling
2	cups whipping cream
1/4	cup granulated or powdered sugar
1	teaspoon Vallette’s Vanilla extract
	Heat oven to 400ºF. In 2 1/2-quart saucepan, heat water and butter to rolling boil. Stir in flour; reduce heat to low. Stir vigorously over low heat about 1 minute or until mixture forms a ball; remove from heat. Beat in eggs, all at once; continue beating until smooth.
	On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool away from draft, about 30 minutes.
	Fluff Filling: In large bowl, beat whipping cream, sugar and vanilla; beat on high speed 1 to 2 minutes or until soft peaks form*. Fill puffs. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 3 hours. Cut off top third of each puff and pull out any strands of soft dough**. Fill puffs with filling; replace tops. Sprinkle with powdered sugar***. Cover; refrigerate until serving. Store covered in refrigerator. *I whipped the cream a little longer and it thickened up nicely into more of a custard or ice cream texture. ** I didn’t remove any of the insides, the puffs puffed nicely. ***I topped with a chocolate sauce, made of semisweet chocolate chips and chocolate syrup

Beans

I was able to move the green beans out of the window and back under the lights, they are producing quite nicely and they are wonderfully sweet. The pods are not as tough as the pea pods, but the taste is similar. I am thinking will start some more plants just to make sure I continue to get beans throughout the summer. Maybe I will get enough so I can pickle some.

This is our old entertainment center, It's been sitting in the garage for a few years now. It's been customized a few times to accommodate TV upgrades. I didn't think I would get much for it on Alaska's List, and since I am no longer permitted to even see the website, I decided to reuse the wood.

What I thought was Oak, turned out to be oak veneer over particle board. It was not cheap construction, and I bet whoever bought it first paid a pretty penny for it. But, since it was particle board my plans had to change significantly. I decided not to completely take it apart and re-cut to my design, instead I just moved parts around.
I needed the side panels to become shelve to accommodate the length of the lights. The lights also needed to be close to the plants to keep them from getting "leggy". I have it designed so three flats can go on the floor, that light (24"x24") is mounted on chains so it can be lowered/raised. It is also closest to the heater, which helps keeps the moisture evaporating. I will use this area for seedlings. The middle shelf is set up with a 4' light with 2 bulbs. I will use this to area for the second stage of growth. These two lights are wired together so its a plug and play kind of thing. The top shelf is just below the window, which I will place the more mature plants, will help when it comes time to harden the plants. That light is also hanging and can be easily adjusted.

Now I have WAY more room for my plants, and when the shelf is not growing plants, I have a nice laundry/ project table (which has been a want since we moved here) that it just the right height for me to stand at; and you know? I bet I have enough parts left to make some a few shelf units for the cabin.

Buddy if you need some plants....

This is my growing operation, I ran out of room and had to expand to two lights. Mounting one under the table worked wonderfully! What a space saver!

My beans don't look like they need a longer growing season, I probably should have waited to plant them. They are thriving on the regular daylight though, if I can just keep them alive.

My mutant Cucumber, I had to move it out from under the lights because it was blocking the light from the rest of the plants. It's five time the size of its siblings. By moving it I think I shocked it into blooming. Maybe we will have fresh cucumbers by Memorial Day!

Happy St. Parick's Day!

For those who would rather Watch then Read.... History of St. Patrick's Day.

Wasteful Spending

Daily when I drop my youngest of at school, I see a city or state employee blowing snow off of the sidewalks. This has been going on for more then two weeks, and we haven't had that much snow. Last I saw him there wasn't any snow to move. I do appreciate that the city is now keeping the side walks clear, but usually when I see him he is stopped, reading, I assume he stops for the safety of the children walking to school. Why am I paying him to sit there, he could just start work after nine. I've come to terms with that... maybe I don't know something, they do.

BUT today I saw the sidewalk plow, was FOLLOWING the sander.... come on folks I am paying the sand guy and buying the sand just so the plow guy can blow it all in to the berm, so the land maintenance guys can come sweep and rake it out of the grass come spring!!!

Imagine of we ran our households that way??

Full Circle Farms

We joined the co-op thingy, you receive a box of organic produce weekly or bi-monthly flown in from Washington. They ship you produce that is currently being harvested; working with other farms, so you will get fruits even when they aren't in season. It's fresh, with dirt and all, organic certified. You can also order eggs and other organic food items.

Full Circle Farms doesn't use any chemicals to grow their produce and because they fly it up ethylene isn't used ***. Ethylene diminishes the nutrient value and the taste, that is why the produce at the local stores in Alaska are bland and so many of us need vitamin supplements.

The week before, you can see what they are shipping and can add more and substitute items you may not want. When the product comes into Anchorage, it is distributed to various pick up spots, I go to Kaladi on the corner, closer then the grocery store.

We received our first box, last Thursday. It was two days late, but they kept me informed the whole time. I was worried what the produce would look like being late and all, but it was in great shape. I had the BIGGEST head of red leaf lettuce, a leek, 3 zucchinis, celery, peas, broccoli, red chard, kiwis, Clementine's, Fuji apples, and oranges. I have never had an apple like that.

A small box, the size of one those cardboard file folder box, cost me $40.00 and I can stop shipments anytime, or put a hold on my box if I am away for the week. They say a small box would feed a couple (that's two) for a week. My family of five is still eating it. Someday, I will compare their price to Carrs and Costco, just to see how it compares cost wise.

I will continue getting my bi-monthly delivery's but I am thinking we may be ordering weekly, if we are as happy with the next few boxes. My favorite part... it is so much fun to play with produce I wouldn't normally buy.

Tonight I made a Stir Fry.

*** I just got this back from Full Circle Farms

Hi Heidi,

Thanks for the e-mail. We use nothing but good old fashioned timeliness and refrigeration to get our produce to Alaska in the best shape possible. We pride ourselves on being 100% organic and as sustainable as we know how from field to table. Thanks for joining!

Regards,

CSA Team

I Lost my Header

Blogger keeps erasing the link for my header???
Why blogger why???
I didn't even tinker in this HTML, what did I do??

"C" is for cookie...

Question of the day....


How many boxes of Girl Scout cookies will fit into a Town and Country Mini Van?

Up $2.00 a day!

My electric bill came in the mail and I am paying $2.00 more a day, compared to last year, for power. If Only I could get my hands on something like this, Byrd could power my whole house!

Happy Birthday Shane!

Roses are Red,

Violets are Blue,
Happy Birthday Big Brother.
can' quit thinking about you!
I am feeling a bit sad,
What should I do?

What would you be doing,
To celebrate and play?
A ride to Lake?
or just a lazy day?
What kind of goodies,
do you want us to make?

So many questions,
things I should know.
You not seeing forty,
is quite a big blow.
I'm wanting to celebrate,
but feel a bit too low.

I wish you were here,
to say it to your face.
I am needing,
just one more embrace.
You mean so much,
you I cannot replace.

I poet I am not,
In creativity I'd get a zero,
but I'd hug you, and tell you,
You are my hero!

Making Tracks

What would you think if you had come across these hoof prints?

I just now, at 11pm, let the dogs out and noticed lights dancing in the neighbors yard. I stepped out to get a closer look, what I saw was two males, equipped with head lamps and a long handled tree trimmers. The neighbor was on the deck and I asked, why so late at night?? He said the electric company is just now getting to trimming the trees hanging over the power line. I didn't notice any storm related damage over there this morning, is the call out call storm related? I didn't ask, I was to busy wondering how much those linemen are being paid and what they are going to do with the overtime pay.

I would write here, but there is not much to write. I have been playing too many video games, there's a half finished puzzle on my dinning room table, an on going painting project, and miscellaneous deep cleaning projects on my list. I am just putt-zing around and enjoying the icy rainy windy NO school days. I love January, I can just snuggle down in my warm little house, listen to the wind, and watch the neighbors try to get out of the neighborhood.... I am such a putz!

Looking Back

I had to remove the music due to copyright laws....blpppphhhh ;)'