Clean House Love

I'm in decluttering mode tonight, prepping for a co-worker's garage sale that's coming up in 2 weeks. I cannot wait to get this stuff out of my house! And I'm looking forward to passing stuff along to somebody that actually wants it and can reuse it.

And I have to give a shout-out to Miss Niecy Nash and the Clean House crew. I don't watch a lot of TV, but this show...it is turning out to be one of my all-time favorites.

My only issue: Because it's on during the evening, it makes me rip the house apart and declutter right before bedtime.

Planted today!

It's not pretty...but it's ours. Today, the family planted:

• 6 bush pickle (not likely I will pickle them, we like them raw)
• 3 cucumber
• 2 cherry tomato
• 2 pear tomato
• 2 heirloom tomato
• 2 bell pepper
• 4 purple cauliflower (my first time with cauliflower)
• snap peas
• green beans (took seeds from last year's pods - not sure about this...)
• rosemary
• parsley (organic seeds)
• basil (organic seeds)
• Raspberries are getting their blooms.

It might be too late for some of this stuff. Especially the snap peas & cauliflower. Fingers crossed! Let me know if you have any purple cauliflower tips - I could use them. I think they can get wormy? I have no idea.

I used lots of hay and mulch in the garden this year, hopefully it will help with our annual major weed issue.

I then promptly took Advil. It's my gardening secret - always strike preemptively.

Here's my pretending-to-be-a farmer-but-sooo-not self-portrait. My friend Kenny commented the image of me with a pitchfork would be an interesting one to ponder...so Kenny - this one's for you.
My Key West, FL straw hat has been repurposed.

Here Weeds Are Again

Another year, another battle with the garden weeds. No planting yet. So far, I've had 4 serious session with a pitchfork, turning the soil and pulling the buggers out. I need to call in some serious machinery to finish the job.

Luckily for me, a co-worker is bringing hay tomorrow so I can cover up the offenders and hopefully suffocate them. My first year using hay - I'm hopeful.

I plant later than most. Not because I think it's wise - it's mostly because I am too lazy to get it all done in one shot.

The kids (3 & 5) are finally not shrieking at the site of worms. They both enjoy holding them in their hands. The kids get "chore points" if they help mommy pull weeds. Chore points equal money at the end of the week (Preschooler payday).

Our 5 year old helps pull weeds. Our 3 year old would rather hold worms.

Kickin' It Old School: Organic Lemonade

OK, I’m not sure exactly how “old school” this lemonade method is, but when I made some this weekend, my mother told me “This is how I remember lemonade USED to taste!” REALLY good stuff.

I used organic lemon juice that I bought at Costco. It's a huge bottle, so what to do?

If you’d like to make old school lemonade by the glass, try this lemonade recipe.

If you’d like to make it by the pitcher, try this other lemonade recipe.

Want to use real lemons? One lemon equals 2-3 tbsp lemon juice. Use more for a cup of lemon juice. Something like that...

The simple sugar syrup is easy to make - just water and sugar on the stove (see the above recipes for tips). Here's a picture of it boiling. Stir constantly to make sure you don't burn it!

Keep the sugar syrup in the fridge until the next time you make a glass.

OK - tell me. Does lemonade go with brownies? I think it does. Some disagree. I'm *this close* to making an Alton Brown brownie recipe to go with this lemonade.

I just realized - the previous statement sounds like a threat.