Archive for the ‘random’ Category

21 May

Garden in Review: What do May flowers bring? Pilgrims.

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: , .

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR

i am very excited to introduce you to Hungry For Living’s newest member!!
~*Farmer-T*~

i have mentioned him in numerous posts in the past, but starting today he is going to be making his very own contributions to the BLOG

to get started, he’s updating us on HIS garden… hopefully we’ll be hearing from him LOTS more – beer reviews, recipes, and other bits of the craftiness he is up to

take it away NEWb!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

This year’s predominant theme is a combination of intense companion planting in combination with the methodologies (or lack thereof) I’ve studied over the winter developed by Masanobu Fukuoka. Throughout my reviews you’ll notice I don’t regularly weed or regularly till. Things may look in disarray, but there is a methodless method to it all.

A couple noticeable improvements have been made since last year. The size has almost doubled to include a field for various grains, popcorn/sorghum in the summer and barley in the winter. But more importantly, this field will employ the Three Sisters approach of companion planting (corn, beans, squash). Also, an 8 ft tall cattle fence trellis for pole beans, melon, and cucumber has been installed to replaced the previous nylon trellis netting.

Using the PlanGarden, I was able to better get an idea of what should go where based on the complex companion planting relationships. Here is a look at my overall plan…My Garden Design:

Here is the video review of my current set up:

Here are some pictures of onions from last year, this one is going to be huge and is also about to flower. After its done flowering, I’ll pull it and make it into a tasty treat:
20120517-101343.jpg

The cauliflower from last year is starting to come to a head. This plant takes so very long to grow, I’m wondering how anyone gets a crop in one season since it’s a cold weather crop:
20120517-101544.jpg20120517-101836.jpg

Lots of blueberries are almost ready to be picked. The type I have are Bluecrop, Chippewa, and Elliot. This is their third year, once they have fully matured I should expect to pull a pint a day from the eight plants during their peak:
20120517-101906.jpg

Here is some rutabaga, not having so much luck with the cabbage moths murdering them. But it is interesting to see how some plants prosper, but others don’t. Perhaps I will let this one go to seed since obviously something is going on that makes it better than the rest:
20120517-105121.jpg

Last year’s attempt at potatoes wasn’t so impressive, but I learned a few things since then. Looking very healthy this year. Better seed stock, starting with deeper soil, and planting at the right depth. The plan here is to start with two tires high, then when they are strong and ready to be hilled, add the next tire, then fill with more soil. I expect to yield 25 lbs per stack. Here I have Red Norland, Yukon Gold, and Austrian Crescent Fingerlings:
20120517-105200.jpg

First year for peas. Last year I started them indoors, not a good idea. Then planted them too late and they burned up. Recently, at the base of these I planted cucumber, melon, radish, carrots, and pole beans. This year I found an interesting pole bean cultivar called Cherokee Trail of Tears, supposedly it is the same bean the Indians carried with them during that historical trek. They are good fresh and also dry, so we shall see:
20120517-105240.jpg

~Farmer-T

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

THANKS for dropping a line BRO!
we are all interested in what’s to come. welcome to the blogging world!

~Mel

30 Mar

attack of the cute

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: .

… friday funnies …

~*HAPPY FRIDAY*~

21 Mar

the lost hump day

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: .

OOPS! Wednesday seemed to sneak away from me…

here’s my excuse :0)

2 Mar

oh, the places you’ll go

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: .

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

inspiring and encouraging children to read with his witty rhymes and colorful characters :0)
and def the first author i fell in love with!

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
― Dr. Seuss

~*HAPPY FRIDAY too*~

9 Feb

fun with words

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: , , , .

straight from the birthday girl to my inbox – a little FUN with WORDS
(thanks D and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!)

The  Philosophy of  Ambiguity

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY, AS WELL AS THE  IDIOSYNCRASIES OF ENGLISH:

Please enjoy and understand the following

DON’T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON’T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.

ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS & APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS & APES?

THE MAIN REASON THAT SANTA IS SO JOLLY IS BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BAD GIRLS LIVE.

I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, “WHERE’S THE SELF- HELP SECTION?” SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

IF A DEAF CHILD SIGNS SWEAR WORDS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO “GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?”

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

WHY DO THEY LOCK PETROL STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

IF A TURTLE DOESN’T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON’T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE..

DOES THE LITTLE MERMAID WEAR AN ALGEBRA?

DO INFANTS ENJOY INFANCY AS MUCH AS ADULTS ENJOY ADULTERY?

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD ‘LISP’ TO HAVE ‘S’ IN IT?

WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED “HEMORRHOIDS” INSTEAD OF “ASSTEROIDS”?

WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN’T SHOOT AT THEM?

WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

21 Dec

holiday cupcakes

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: , , , , .

keeping up the holiday spirit i got started yesterday – check out these cupcakes, almost too cute to eat… almost
*<:0)

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30 Nov

coneheads & puns

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: , .

hey look, its the Headless Horseman! no wait, that’s just Buddy with an E-collar on… poor guy :0(

he injured his tail, so to let it heal without him constantly nibbling on it, the collar has to be used. its kind of funny at times, watching him knock all over the house, he’s become our personal furniture re-arranger. but also kind of sad looking at the same time – look at this mopey face!

B: "My head's heavy, my tail's heavy... I don't like this at all"

lightening the mood, a total Mel-ish email was forwarded to me the other day, i think i cracked up out loud at just about all of these :0)

ALL PUNS INTENDED

1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was excellent.

2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”

3. Two peanuts walk into a bar and one was a salted.

4. A dyslexic man walked into a bra.

5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: “A beer please, and one for the road.”

6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: “Does this taste funny to you?”

7. “Doc, I can’t stop singing The Green, Green Grass of Home.”
“That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome.”
“Is it common?”
“Well, It’s Not Unusual.”

8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, “I was artificially inseminated this morning.”
“I don’t believe you,” says Dolly.
“It’s true; no bull!” exclaims Daisy.

9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you’ve heard this bull before.

11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn’t find any.

12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, “Doctor, doctor, I can’t feel my legs!” The doctor replied, “I know, I amputated your arms!”

13. I went to a seafood disco last week…and pulled a mussel.

14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, “Dam!”

16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Not surprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can’t have your kayak and heat it too.

17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse. “But why,” they asked, as they moved off. “Because,” he said. “I can’t stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer.”

18. A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt , and is named ‘Ahmal.’ The other goes to a family in Spain ; they name him ‘Juan.’ Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, “They’re twins! If you’ve seen Juan, you’ve seen Ahmal.”

19. Mahatma Gandhi walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (oh, man, this is so bad, it’s good) … A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

20. A dwarf, who was a mystic, escaped from jail. The call went out that there was a small medium at large.

21 Nov

patiently waiting

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: .

i know it happens every year… what store is going to be the first to break out their Christmas/Holiday decor, sales and deals?! is it going to be right after Halloween, or maybe they’ll sneak it in right after Labor Day and no one will know the difference.

i dont know about you, but i kind of like enjoying the harvesting time and the thanks and grateful-ness that falls around thanksgiving season

ill admit it though, no sooner am i making a leftover turkey sandwich for lunch on the friday after thanksgiving are the boxes being pulled from the attic so i can warp into turbo-decorating mode for the day…

but for now, i am patiently and gratefully awaiting the arrival of my favorite holiday of them all, when i get to:
spend the morning baking and preparing food for the evening’s affair
all while catching glimpses of the Macy’s parade, you are never too old to enjoy it
oogle over the beautiful dogs on the National dog show
spend the afternoon and night feasting on great food
in the company of wonderful family and friends
and taking some ‘breaks’ with a cold one to catch up 0n the football games

what is there not to LOVE about this day?!

18 Oct

more healing foods

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: .

along the same lines as yesterday’s post on fall foods that can alleviate seasonal allergy symptoms, i found some foods on the web that not only taste great but are shown to boost your immune system

boosted immune systems = less colds and flus and feeling like garbage
who want to feel crummy when there are holiday parties to attend, pumpkins and apples to pick, presents to shop for?!

try adding some of these foods to your diet this season for a great immunity BOOST:

Brazil Nuts
contain lots of selenium, which boosts production of T-cells production, a type of white blood cell that fights infection (ie destroy bacteria and viruses)

Chicken Soup
blocks the migration of inflammatory white cells
contains the amino acid cysteine, which is released from chicken during cooking
the salty broth keeps mucus thin

Fish
also contains selenium
rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation

Kiwis
contain high levels of vitamin C, which helps increase your resistance to disease and keeps your defenses strong

Garlic
contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria
contains polysufides (a class of sulfur compounds) which combat bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses

Oats and Barley
contain beta-glucan, a type of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities more potent than echinacea

Oysters
high in protein, iron, calcium, and zinc

Shiitake Mushrooms
contains beta-glucans which boost your body’s immune response

Sunflower Seeds
contain lots of vitamin E, which also boosts production of T-cells

Sweet Potatoes
contains beta-carotene – an necessary antioxidant especially for your lungs and digestive system, which your body converts to vitamin A, that protects the thymus gland (where T-cells are produces)

Tea
contains the amino acid L-theanine

Yogurt
contains probiotics which are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs

15 Sep

truths

Posted by Mel in random. Tagged: , .

an email fwd from a funny lady friend:

1. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Google Maps really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.
13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
23. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

:0)

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