Showing posts with label drying herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drying herbs. Show all posts

9.03.2012

Monday Randomness

Isn't funny when you are looking forward to something and can't wait to do it, but then when it is there in front of you, for what ever reason you don't?  That's the story of my life (for the most part.)  Lots of wants, lots of plans and not much time to do them.  So this morning, a beautiful cloudy morning, I decided to step out to the front porch with coffee on hand and sit on my not so new bistro set.  Something I had been planning for years!  You see, since the first day I saw our house I fell in love with its lovely front porch.  I totally pictured myself sitting there enjoying my coffee.  Forward 9 years later and a constant search for the perfect bistro set, I finally found one.  Mid summer.  The perfect one, just like I had envisioned it.  Only problem?  I've only sat on the lovely cushioned chair- once! 


So this morning while the kids were watching some t.v. I escaped for a few minutes and walked out to my front porch with coffee and sat there...just watching...and listening...to the birds chirping, the squirrels running up and down the trees, and the light drip drop of the scattered rain.  Still for a moment. A simple little moment of enjoyment. A moment for me.  


Then I came in and the doing began once more...


Sprucing up my son's art shirt/smock for school.  I used the same technique as the wearable art shirts (tutorial here).  On this shirt though, I also added some puffy paint.  When done I'll write his name below the scary (not!) alien to help my son find his art shirt in class with ease. 

Other randomness:


I'm in love with the sweet lemony flavor of this herbal honey with a hint of thyme.  Perfect in our tea.


Cutting more herbs to dry and freeze.  Yea, that is the fist time I'll be freezing basil.  A couple of days ago while at Trader Joe's I came across basil in the frozen isle.  Well, I can totally do that!  Can't believe I never thought of it before.  All you need to do is puree the basil and put it in tiny ice cube trays.  Pop them out after frozen and place them in a container to use later.  


While cutting around my herb garden I also came across these lovely little flowers.  Can you guess what plant they are from?

 

Chives!  I know, pretty right?  I had never let my chives bloom.  This year I decided to let them and I love them.  I made sure to cut them all before they drop their seed though, I don't need more chives growing than what we already get (and that is a lot!)


I got the kids a game of Gobblet Gobblers, it is so much fun to play! We've spent hours playing the other day.  Imagine tic-tack-toe but with a twist:  You get to gobble up pieces! 


She's good!


The other night my chiquita came in to the kitchen and announced she had made lots of headbands.  One for me and her friends.


How do I look?


Wishing you a great start to your week!

6.06.2012

Gardening: Outside, Inside


One of the things I love this time of year, is the planting and gathering of our garden goods.  And that is exactly how we've been spending our days, gardening outdoors a bit here and a bit there and then bringing in doors some of that beautiful nature and sprinkling it through out the house.

The herbs I planted last year are coming back beautiful.  I think this year I'll actually be able to dry enough to gift during the holidays.  (To see how I dry them click here.)  The basil though (an annual) I have been watching grow patiently, since I decided to start it from seed.  It is taking its time, soon enough  we'll be enjoying the lovely flavor it gives to our food.

Do you see some Calla Lilies peaking through?  I am super excited about them.  They are one of my favorite flowers.  I had been meaning to plant some for a long time and finally this spring I did!!!  Oh I just cant wait to see how beautiful they look when they bloom!

Aside from planting lettuce in our usual veggie garden out back, we decided to plant some in planters and keep on the deck for easy access.  Well, it is doing great and we've been eating salad galore around here.  Did you know that if you cut the leaves and leave a bit on its trunk, it will continue to grow through out the season?  Indeed it does.  So don't pull that whole thing, out, leave some and you will see how you have lettuce all summer long.

My hydrangea bush is doing amazing once again this year.  It if at it's fullest.  Filled with vibrant ocean blue flowers.  I plan to clip some and use them to decorate a bit during the kids annual b-day celebration, next week.  On the mean time, I have gathered some and placed them indoors.  Aren't they just breath taking?  They make me happy just looking at them.

The kids and I have also been crafting with some of the nature we've brought indoors.  Have you tried using a leaf as a transfer?  Just place the leaf on the bottom of a blank piece of paper, then rub a crayon (laying flat) over the leaf until you see all the beautiful details on the paper.  How about drying out leaves?  Super simple to do.  You can place them in a leaf and flower press like I've done above (I bought mine on clearance several years ago from a local craft shop), or you can place it between the pages of a large book.  The hard part?  Hearing the kids ask over and over, "Mami, is it dry yet?"  No chiquitos, it is not...not for a week or so.

Hope you are enjoying the out doors and sprinkling bits of it indoors.