I'm back!!

Hi Everyone, I was taking a small blogging hiatus to get connected back with Harland... but since it is back to his real job tomorrow this is a good time to spend some time blogging!

We did a lot of things when he was home on break. We visited his family, went to the farm, spent time in DC and other local places.

This past weekend we went to Baltimore to see my cousin Bob and his lovely wife (who I am really enjoying getting to know... they just had their 1st wedding anniversary this month).

Before Harland left to go to Iraq he bought us a new camera so he could use the other one. It has an aquarium setting and I was excited to see how awesome these shots came out!!

So now I'll let you see what I saw (The Baltimore aquarium is my favorite!!).

Potato Harvest Day!

Today was the potato harvest day over at the farm (tomorrow is too, so if you you want to go, you should!).

Okay so here are some pictures! I went potato picking first, then had pancakes. With the farm's blackberry syrup. Super Ymmy.

Here are some pictures from the potato field. They had a tractor that would go thru and plow some up, then you could scamper out and just grab those on top. I hear after a few days you need a shovel, but on the 1st day, you just walk around and pick some up!





Here is my haul, I'm letting them dry out before I put them in the crisper. It's a pretty good haul, and I can hardly wait until I'm hungry enough to cook one. They say these potatoes taste a whole lot better than store ones. Did you know that potatoes in the stores are up to 10 months old?


While I was waiting in line for the pancakes (it was a long line) I was watching the animals, I wish I had gotten a picture of the goats in the tree house. They have this tree house that is so far off the ground. I had never seen them up there before, so that was a treat.

The baby Emu (it is an emu, I thought it was a baby ostrich, I was wrong, they look alike as young un's) had a rest. Although I realized their knees went the other way, when they sit down it is very easy to notice.

The chicken laid an egg.

It was a beautiful morning on the farm. I hope all of you are having a good long weekend!!

Easy Poblano Peppers

I made some rather yummy and easy peppers the other week.
Here is the recipe I made. It's easy and fast enough to make even when the working day is done!

Here is what you need (you won't use all of this, it depends on how many you make):
1 can black beans
1 jar of salsa
1 package of shredded cheese
1 bag of flavored frozen rice (I used Trader Joe's Chimchurri Rice) It's pretty spicy.
Poblano Peppers

1. Wash then cut peppers in half and clean out the seeds and ribs.
2. Throw in some cheese, rice, black peppers.

3. Then cover in salsa (I added some more cheese to make it look pretty).

4. Put in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes! Eat!

Long time no post

Well I haven't been up to much that is post-worthy... just waiting for my guy to come home. It's soon. But not soon enough.

I got a Hamster about a month ago. His name is Lou.



He grew about an inch. He doesn't fit in the bubble like he used to. He used to be able to stand up in here, now he can't. And he can't even squeeze himself in there, his little feet dangle out.


But he is still really tiny. He doesn't weigh enough to make the ball roll unless it is on non-carpet.



This picture is funny because the background blends in. It looks like Thing from the Addams family is holding Lou.

Sketchbook Saturday

I haven't blogged lately, because I really have not been up to much these days. I should be cleaning right now, but I'm feeling a little like having a lazy evening.

So today I decided to take my sketchbook over to Manassas National Battlefield Park... one) because it was way too hot to do much walking and two) because I had nothing to do this afternoon, so why not?

And I now know, if I ever am feeling lonely to take my sketchbook out and about. Everyone will stop and talk to you. I have no idea why. People will even take your picture even if you're just wearing a hat, a Cottonmouth Hockey t-shirt and shorts. Apparently novice artists are a hot commodity or something. I had people talk to me about their mother/brother/friend/person- in-an-article-they-read who are/were artists. I had people tell their kids to talk to me about art classes. One sweet little girl even gave me a flower.

People went out of their way to walk behind me so they could see what I was painting! One person wanted to see the rest of my sketchbook! Haha! I felt like a big fraud, because it isn't like I'm some kind of "real artist". I just like to mess around. But even though I told that person I just started this year AND this was just my sketchbook, she would hear nothing of it, and declared it all "hang on the wall" worthy. Maybe she was just being nice since I let her look.

Anyway, since I don't have anything to report, I decided you can see what all the fuss was about (which is not much!!).

Hope you are having a good summer, and have some time to be lazy too.
P.S. these are a teensy bit blurry. Whoops, I forgot i was taking them up close, I should have had the macro lens on.

CSA Tuesday

Such a curious bunch you are!
So the question is, what do you get in your box?

Well it all depends on the week. Here is what I got this week:
Cucumbers, zucchini, beets, apricots (I had 4 but one squished on my ride home), peaches, an herb (is this cinnamon basil? I don't know!) and plums. These tiny little plums are to die for. I've already eaten four.



The beginning of the summer season was a bit lighter... as not as much stuff grows then. But I am sure it will pick up in July and August. I'm excited to see what is next. It's like veggie of the week club!!

Great Country Farms

So as I mentioned before, this year I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and bought a half share, which means I get a box of veggies each week. The farm I belong to is not terribly far from my house, and also has a vineyard and winery.

I hadn't had the chance to go (it seems to rain every weekend I have free)- but finally on Friday I did. Every week, along with your box of veggies you can also pick a certain amount of something else that isn't in your box. This week it was English peas and black raspberries.

Anyway, Here are some pictures from the farm, and I wish I had kids to take them here. They have a ton of kids activities. If you come my way at all this summer or fall, and you want to go, just say the words. It was a fun day and very relaxing.

Here are some pictures from the Black Raspberry fields (and me hard at work):




Here are some random pictures of the farm:





Here we are on the way out to the pea field...


On the way we saw the zucchini's getting ready... they look lovely. The farm is 300 acres.


Here is the pea field.


After picking we had some lunch and visited the petting zoo.

This poor duck has a third leg, see it in the back? I wonder if he uses it to steer?
They also had some baby annimals... and the cow and the donkey were pregnant.



After our "farming was done" my friends and I decided to go to the winery. They have a lovely tasting, and I came home with some wine. (Don't worry Mom and Dad, one bottle is coming your way). The winery is wayyy up this huge hill. I know the grapes grow better up there, but I have to admit I did not realize it was going to be such a hill. The view from on top was spectacular. They say on really clear days you can see the Washington Monument.



Saturday I spent de-cluttering, putting things in boxes to sell at a yard sale and getting rid of a bunch of things we don't need/want. A one-bedroom clutters up easily and I couldn't take it anymore. I want to be one of those people that other folks can drop on by at anytime and see a clean house. Not that anyone will likely come out to where I live just to drop by... but still. It's nice to live in an uncluttered place. It's taken me the last two weeks to really make a dent. Now I have to go through a few piles I created in the dining room. It's the last to do besides the closets. I've made a lot of progress. Today it is chilly and rainy - so it makes a good day to clean. Hope you have a happy 4th everyone!