Nature

                                                           

Contemplation

I have held the belief that a nation which cannot look honestly at itself, at the bad, along with the good, is a nation which will never evolve. The past couple of days have cemented this point of view.  

Smell the roses while considering this. 

A Little Cuteness.

Another photo of the pampered pup.

They had a nice time up there in the northland. Now back to the hustle and bustle of life.

No hustle and bustle here. It's hot and humid, which means it's yuk. 

Little Miss Suzy Sunshine signing off.

Too Much Information?

I know I've posted this photo a couple of years ago. I am going through photos to clear a bunch of them out and I saw my truck. We are not people who buy new things when the old is working just fine. My 1997 Chevy one ton diesel dually works as well as it did in 1997. It was primarily used to pull a horse trailer and to pick up grain so the milage is relatively low, especially considering it is a diesel. 148,000 miles. With the price of diesel I am very happy it is now used to pick up grain and little else. Young men nearly swoon over this truck. It really is sort of humorous.

My bedroom furniture, minus the bed, is from the mid 1960s. My living/dining room furniture is from 1981-82. I have many furniture pieces which have passed down a few generations. I'm the last stop for those items. My son has no interest. I don't replace if I don't need to. I've even hung onto Mark!

Here's a real surprise. When my mother died I inherited her car, a 2005 Buick LeSabre (my parents would only own Buicks). I had a 1997 Jeep that is still in very good condition and now belongs to neighbor Bill. The Buick has 48,000miles on it. Yep, you read that right. It looks new. 

Now you know another of my proclivities. Or is it peculiarities?

Is it possible to have too much Homer?

I thought not.

They are going Up North for a weekend cabin stay on one of the seemingly million lakes we have in Minnesota. New York says Up State. We say Up North. Which for me, probably not all of us, means the eastern part of the state along Lake Superior. Likely because, except for a few exceptions in adulthood (am I an adult?), that is the only part of North I knew, including Canada. I've skied in Canada often. I went to the Arabian Canadian Nationals, which was held in Regina. It got moved sometime in the 2000s. I had to look up where it is now. Brandon, Manitoba. 

I certainly got off topic. So, as long as I went there we will jump from Homer to Zing (WF Last Roses) and his trip to Regina. He did very well considering he probably was the only horse in the ring who wasn't owned by a person with wealth. Which is a problem, likely in all breeds but this one in particular is dripping with $$$$. One of the judges was a performance trainer who liked him very much, which made him a contender. I bred for beauty AND athleticism. This was the 3 year-old futurity. He came in 5th out of the Top Ten.

Anyway, this is what I used to do for a couple of decades. Sorry, Homer. I didn't mean for you to share the stage.

***His name comes from his dam, who died at his birth. Her name was LF Diamond Rose. He was her last. Zing came from her habit of 'zinging' her teeth on the stall door bars when she wanted something. I called her 'jailhouse mama'.***

Shrub

Not the bush…..

a kind of fermentation.

A much younger long-time friend old me about this a week ago. Where has it been all my life? Delicious! I made mine with dried mango and it is so good. I use sparkling water only, as I cannot have alcohol due to medication. It is so good. I also tried with tap water and this is also good. I have read it may be used as a vinaigrette using a couple of spoons-full added to olive oil.

Fresh or frozen fruit:

Shrub

A dried fruit shrub is a vinegar-based syrup made by rehydrating dried fruits in a mixture of sugar and acid, offering a deep, concentrated flavor. Also known as "drinking vinegars," they serve as complex, sweet-tart mixers for cocktails, mocktails, and sparkling water. [1, 2, 3]

The Dried Fruit Method

Unlike fresh fruit shrubs, dried fruits need time to absorb liquid to release their sugars and flavors. Because dried fruits are highly concentrated, they require slightly more liquid in your recipe.

• Base Ratio: 1 cup dried fruit, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 cup vinegar.
• Method: Combine the dried fruit, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10–15 minutes to soften the fruit and dissolve the sugar. Once cooled, stir in your vinegar. Let the mixture steep in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, shaking daily.
• Straining: Strain out the fruit solids using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, pressing gently to get the last drops of syrup. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Flavor Combinations

Certain dried fruits pair beautifully with specific vinegars to elevate your beverages:

• Dried Figs & Balsamic: Creates a dark, earthy, and rich syrup that pairs perfectly with bourbon or drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
• Dried Cherries & Apple Cider Vinegar: Produces a bright, tart, and fruity profile ideal for gin or seltzer.

RAIN!

Early Tuesday afternoon the sky opened and gifted us with rain into the evening. It made nature and me very happy. The unhappy part is the heat and humidity coming our way. 

My prednisone induced mojo has somehow disappeared. Not fair. Now I must put forth effort to maintain even the slightest bit of what I had for a week. Not fair. I guess I feel the need to do some whining, or is it just kvetching? We'll go with that.

Let's talk about one of the easiest meals to prepare. Cajun shrimp. I looked up a recipe, something I very rarely do. Other than cooking the rice, it took maybe five minutes. I made the seasoning per instruction. It had a kick! This will be on my quick and easy dinner list.

Now off to search the corners for some motivation. 

He Wanted ALL the Biscuits

This showed up in memories yesterday.

Howard B. Hound

2007-2017

He was a very opinionated basset hound. He grew up with a couple of greyhounds, a yellow lab and a German Shepherd/Afghan Hound cross. Yes, that is an unusual cross. He was 100 lbs of attitude.

We are hopefully going to have a rainy afternoon. I will gladly give up my outside work for more rain. I'm generous like that.

Aroooooo Howard. 

Relish the Day

My burly son's dog, Homer, wishing all papas out there a lovely day.

 

It's Their Day Once Again

Frieda is my doppelgänger in cat form. We both carry the same 'you lookin at me?' face. Mark and Matthew have often commented on the look, they especially freeze when the eyebrow goes up. But, as my lovely Frieda would say, we are just a couple of kitties. 

Frieda does carry extra weight but not like it looks. That enormity is a belly flap. She has the largest I have seen. When she trots away it's so large it literally sways from side-to-side enough to touch her body. She was a unbelievable jumper when younger, which is the point of the flap (primordial pouch).

It wouldn't be a proper Saturday without Gatto. The boy loves a box, whether opened or standing on end.

 

We've thankfully had a couple of rainy days. Everything is green and lush. Last evening the wind picked up to a roar and took down a tree in the east pasture. It's not on the fence so it can wait. Kind of like all of the others. Yes, there is a small note of complaint in that last sentence. If it is dry enough by afternoon I will continue with my weed trimming.

This is why I have a cupboard of pasta. There are days I have no cooking mojo but we are both hungry. Solution? Egg noodles, garlic, butter or olive oil and pecorino romano. Does the trick for us. 

Enjoy the day. With or without cats.

Wiped, Not Whipped, Out

There is something to appreciate about a two-legger who doesn't put things away.

I didn't realize I had exhausted myself but it seems I had. I slept twelve hours last night. Twelve. I guess I exhausted Jigs, too. We had overnight rain with more coming later this morning so I won't be whipping weeds and grass for a day or two. Thor decided to give me a break, while still doing good for us all with much needed rain.

I have accomplished about a third of my trimming, which pleases me no end. It's amazing how much is improved when there isn't shaggy grass bordering everything that has a border.

Do what brings you contentment. Even if it is whacking grass.

Toiling On

Good Monday Morning

My new tool. I used it a few days ago and am happy with it. It will take a few days to be done, but I'm glad I can get to it. This also has a substantial saw blade I'll be able to use to go through all the scrub that grows wildly in unwanted places. A bonus.

We went to Fleet Farm for grain yesterday. Mark went to the grain, I went to the garden center. I found another eggplant so I now have my customary two plants. I also got fennel, the herb, for seeds. Fennel seeds are a favorite.

Otherwise, nothing much going on. Which is not a bad thing.

Gatto Day

Is it Caturday yet?

I prepped and painted the "veranda" floor Thursday. Now I can get the porch furniture out there. I did some mowing yesterday, but partway through my body said that's enough and I quit for the day. My weed cutter with wheels arrived, which means once I get it assembled I will start cleaning up the untrimmed areas. It's been untrimmed way longer than I'll admit. Neighbor Bill has had our push mower for a long time. It has something needing repair, but Bill has not been himself for sometime now. I finally made the decision to buy this contraption. If I feel I need it I will buy a lawn mower after trying this.

It is satisfying finishing a long awaited job. I'll do the ceiling this autumn. It should be done first but my neck just isn't up to looking up for that long. If not better by autumn Mark will need to do it. Mark does not paint.

That's it from my little patch of this earth for now. Happy cat day!

Title? What Title?

We got rain! The storm part of it was to the east, but it rained. The downside, why is there always a downside, is 90 F/32 C and smothering humidity. I usually don't remember dreams but I have a vague memory of yard work and satisfaction. Starting tomorrow as we cool down.

Wildflower seeds are showing life, yippee, so I'll place that in the for-now-win column. I plan to paint the veranda (Mark insists it's a veranda) floor tomorrow. I've planned to do this since 2020. Can't jump into these things you know.

I pulled myself out of the cooking rut yesterday and made broccoli chicken with brown rice. It was good. One of the things I miss about St. Paul is the authentic hole-in-the-wall Chinese pick-up restaurant and the upper end authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the neighborhood. Nothing beats the egg roll.

 

Monday

Good Monday Morning

 The last bearded of the season. 

We had a light overnight rain. Not enough but welcome anyway. Another hot, humid day on the way. I got the rest of my seeds strewn, maybe the light rain was the weather gods' gift to me for that.

I do try to stay away, as much as possible, from the insanity of my country....but. I saw the clip of the trumplodite's interview on NBC. May I say, quite presidential of him. Odin help us.

Another Day in the Life

Good Morning

We have a bright sunshiny, humid day ahead. In a bit I will be heading to the nursery to break my pledge to not buy annuals. I need some instant gratification. Peonies are in full bloom at the moment. I have about 20 plants, some added in and others splits from those already here. It's not right that iris and peonies bloom only once and not for that long. 

The wildflower seeds I sowed last week are germinating, as is the basil. I have a large area I plan to simply toss the seed onto and see what happens without any prep. When we have a cooler day I'm going to drag Mark around to dig up red cedar to plant in formations on that large carpet of grass in the front. I know, riveting!

 

Just because it's what I do, I'll leave you with a simple but satisfying dinner had a few days ago. Flowers. Food. The only thing missing is a cat.

Frieda is here to serve.

Photo Centric

My pain is decreased. The prednisone is helping. Prednisone has an energy bunny effect on me, so I have been more active, for me, these past couple of days. I'm attempting to walk as much as possible so I took my phone for a stroll around the parts of the property that were safest for me.

Any photos I post are mostly of the yard and flowers. I thought I'd go to my version of the forest. The parts I had somewhat solid footing. 

We got another wild flower spot prepared yesterday. We have a little over an acre of lawn, the front being most of it. I have never liked the large expanse of grass, so after 32 years I've decided to break it up some. Wild flowers will be dispersed in several areas suited to them. Red cedar sprouts up everywhere so we will transplant some to various areas. I'm on the look for maple saplings to place alone the drive where three have died over the years. There used to be many but so far no luck. I intend to get as much done as possible while I have the prednisone induced energy.

It rained overnight, a much needed rain. I'll sow some more seeds and see what else I can get done. 

More Medical Mystery Tour

 

Good Tuesday Morning

Yesterday started early with a medical appointment. The clinic was very busy so my wait was long. I found the root cause of the extreme pain I associated with the sciatic nerve. It's this: 

The L4 nerve root is a major spinal nerve in the lower back that branches off the spinal cord and exits between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. It controls sensation and movement in the legs, and irritation or compression here commonly causes lower back and leg pain. 

I've been having some of the worst pain I've ever had. My right leg came close to being unusable. Actually more than close. I am now on prednisone and a nerve relaxant. I felt a difference yesterday afternoon. I woke up with pain but not as intense.

More adventures for me. As usual, it's playing catchup time again. If you don't hear from me this is why. For some reason the song "don't worry, be happy" just popped into my head. Okay!

Caturday Everyday

I do think the kitties know it's HOT.