February 9, 2010

Kids & Worms

Posted by Kathie under Cottage Industry, Gardening, Montana, Vermicomposting
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Last spring, I was invited by the ”Friends of Library Association” to present at a free gardening workshop they were putting on for the community.  I talked about vermicomposting and it was a ton of fun.  I met a lot of great folks and learned a ton from the other speakers, too.  A few weeks back, one of those folks contacted me about presenting at her daughter’s elementary school. 

She had written and received a grant for $500 to buy two worm bins and four pounds of worms (and a few books as well).  The small, rural school houses grades kindergarten through 6th and has a total of 24 students.  It’s a two room school and they already have a school garden.  The worm composting systems will be put in place to deal with their food waste and produce valuable compost for the garden.  I jumped at the chance to go talk to these kids. 

Yesterday was the day and oh my it was so much fun!  The kids had already toured the local land-fill and their vermicomposting system and had another speaker last year who demonstrated her own bin, so they had a good base of knowledge in place.  They were incredibly interested and attentive.  I also can’t say enough good about the teachers, parents, and principal because those women were fantastic!  Amazing, the whole experience.  They’ll be using the worm bins in a very scientific manner, weighing everything that goes in and comes out and using it their garden, of course. 

I think the whole idea is just wonderful and I can’t wait to hear about their progress and visit their garden after the snow melts.  Honestly, how did I get so lucky?

 

February 8, 2010

Random Weekend Tidbits

Posted by Kathie under Crafty, Friends & Family, In the Kitchen, Unburied Treasures
[6] Comments 

It was a quiet, yet slowly productive weekend around here.  We canned black beans, baked some of the peanut butteriest peanut butter cookies I’ve ever made for a peanut butter lover, and generally puttered around.

I also had the chance to watch and read over at Cooking Up a Story.  I happened across the show on Hulu while watching something else completely unrelated a few weeks back.  I was instantly in love and am glad that I bookmarked their site for further exploration.  It’s a good site with lots of good interviews, videos, essays, and recipes.

Over the weekend, I also finished up a knitted blanket.  I used up bits and pieces of bulky yarn that I had used to make Christmas hats.  I made a few mistakes, but overall I’m pleased with how it turned out.  I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it now, I’m thinking of donating it for a charity auction, but it is small and as I said has some mistakes.  I enjoyed using up bits of yarn this way and can imagine that I’ll do that again in the future, but I still think I’ll quilt more blankets than I’ll ever knit.

 

February 5, 2010

Seeking the Light

Posted by Kathie under Montana, Of A Spiritual Nature, Quotes
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There are two kinds of light – the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.  ~James Thurber

There’s a saying that if you don’t like the weather in Montana, wait five minutes.  Yesterday that was pretty much more accurate than any weather report you’d ever read.  The morning started out a bit rainy, then it snowed those big, fluffy, cotton-ball like flakes with overcast skies, then it was damp, grey and cold, finally the sun broke through the clouds and it was just amazing.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.  ~Maori Proverb

The alpinglow simply took my breath away while reminding me that I should seek the light more often.  It reminded me that I’ve been neglecting my prayer and meditation and that I shouldn’t let happen.  I hope I can make the lesson stick and change my neglectful ways.

Also, the view is from my commute – seriously, I have the best commute in the world. 

 

February 4, 2010

Surprises

Posted by Kathie under Crafty, Friends & Family, Gardening, Home
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Well, I survived the dentist; despite being so nervous at one point that I thought my heart would beat right through my chest.  I do like my dentist and his staff they are quite good with cowards like me.  Still its a nerve-wracking experience that leaves me sick to my stomach before the appointment, oddly energetic when its immediately over, and completely worn out from the roller coaster long before my normal bedtime.

I was blessed to come home a bit earlier than usual and found a couple of surprises that just made the day a touch better.  First there was an envelope from Thomas with some lovely seeds enclosed!  I can’t wait to try them out in a few months.  Thank you Thomas!   

The next surprise, was walking into the kitchen and seeing the light streak through my handmade curtains.  Curtains that I haven’t been 100% sure about since making them.  Now, I know they’re perfect.

Have you had any surprises lately?

 

February 3, 2010

Choosing to See the Good

Posted by Kathie under Books, Canning, Enjoying the Everyday, Feline Love
[7] Comments 

My days for the most part are fairly mundane and routine.  I like that, there’s a certain rhythm that hums in the background and I’m quite accustomed to the pace at which it and our lives move.  Rarely are there big or grand events, rather most days are made up of similar things repeated in slightly different ways.  Most days are an exercise to live simply in a lifestyle that is on some occasions anything but simple and even more rarely easy.  Yet, its all wonderful and its all good, even when its not; because we choose to see it that way.  Its good to remember that we choose to see it a certain way.  So even when the cat jumps up onto a counter, he’s not supposed to be on; and in the progress knocks over an unopened jar of home-canned pears, shattering said jar and spewing glass shards, pear chunks, and extra-light sugar syrup all over your freshly scrubbed floor; you don’t go completely stark-raving mad.  Yep, its good to choose to see the good.

I’m choosing to see the good in this afternoon’s scheduled root canal, too.  It’s something I dread, but which must be done.  It’s something that will make me healthier in the long run.  The two hours in the dentist chair will also allow me to listen to Alan Alda read me a book.  That can’t be bad, right?  The expense, well; I can’t find much good about it beyond the health factor.  I’m choosing to see the good and I’m going to do my best to keep that focus.

How are you choosing to see the good these days?

 

February 2, 2010

Sourdough Carob Coconut Muffins

Posted by Kathie under In the Kitchen, Recipes
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Over the weekend, I made these muffins and I must say they are mighty yummy.  They’re also a great way to use some of that sourdough cast-off.  If you don’t like carob, these won’t be for you as the flavor is quite pronounced.  We like carob here and not as a chocolate substitute but for its own wonderful taste.

Sourdough Carob Coconut Muffins

  • 1 Cup Sourdough Cast-Off
  • 3/4 Cup Carob Powder
  • 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Cold Coffee
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
  • 1 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

Grease a muffin tin and preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift together the carob, salt, flour, and baking powder.

Whisk together the sourdough starter, applesauce, sugar, and coffee.  Fold in the sifted dry ingredients.  Add the coconut and mix until thoroughly incorporated.  Divide the batter among 12 muffin cups.  Bake for 18 – 20 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

 

February 1, 2010

Walks Around Home

Posted by Kathie under Feline Love, Home
[6] Comments 

The last few days have just been goregous here in northwest Montana.  Oh, it snowed abit yesterday but overall its been clear, bright, and rather wonderful for late January.

We made sure to take full advantage but getting outside as much as possible.  The cats always close behind at home.

There was plenty of indoor work, like scrubbing the kitchen floor; but it was those moments outside that made the weekend so special.

What made your weekend special?

 

January 29, 2010

Friday Favorites :: 1/29/2010 Edition

Posted by Kathie under Friday Favorites, Unburied Treasures
[3] Comments 

Some recent favorites, in no particular order I wanted to share:

  • I’m thinking I need to make some fabric pom-poms to adourn a window or two for some winter color.
  • I’m Kathie and I have Barnheart.
  • Apparently I also have Farm Fever.
  • I have about 2 months until it time to tap my maples, but in the mean time I’m collecting all the information and tips I can from others on the topic.
  • Zombietopia, doesn’t sound so bad… if only whatever comes our way can turn out like a well-written feel-good novel.
 

January 28, 2010

Dinner & A Magazine

Posted by Kathie under Uncategorized
[8] Comments 

I’m not very good at relaxing.  I tend to push myself alot and I always feel like there’s more to do.  Its something I’m always trying to balance out.  In yesterday’s mail my copy of Cook’s Illustrated arrived and I decided it was time to relax.  We had a dinner of homegrown and frozen snow peas with some other veggies and brown rice, which I enjoyed while paging through the new issue. 

How blessed am I that I’ve had several family members give me a continuing subscription to what has turned out to be my favorite magazine? 

What are you doing to relax these days?

 

January 27, 2010

Kitchen Happenings

Posted by Kathie under Uncategorized
[13] Comments 

I wanted to continue the kitchen theme today to show you a bit of what’s been happening in the Two Frog Kitchen lately:

Most meals start with the chopping of garlic, I only have one whole head left to last me through the end of the 6 month no grocery challenge at the end of March.  I know we’ll run out, in fact we would have a month back had we not recieved some as a hostess gift from some dinner guests.  I should have been more miserly, but we like garlic and its just how I start most meals.  We were close to running out of onions too, but received a big bag from friends who decided to go to California for an extended vacation and gave them to us to avoid spoilage. 

We enjoyed the heck out of this apple crisp.  I used some of the apple pie filling we put up in October, oats, butter, and a touch of brown sugar to make it.  So yummy and knowing that the apples came from our own tree, just makes it all that much better. 

This batch of coffee liqueur had been steeping for some time.  I finally strained out the vanilla beans last week after which we put a little into some hot cocoa.  It was quite a treat before bed!

Over the weekend, I made an oatmeal sunflower seed bread that has turned out to be quite yummy.  It doesn’t photograph well at all, however; of cours its the bread not the photographer.  I’ll be sharing that recipe soon, I’m hoping I can get a photo that at least looks appetizing. 

What’s happening in your kitchen these days?  I’m always looking for a little food inspiration.

PS: I’m over at Homemakers Who Work today, too, talking about my 365 Project.

 

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