Rest In Peace Muffin 1992 - 2013

December 9, 2013


Today we lost our dear sweet Muffin. She was with us 21 years. We found her on the soccer field when Natalie was in kindergarten. Someone had dumped this young kitten and how could we leave her there?  Muffin was a beautiful tortoise shell color with a long silky coat.  We brought her home and she never gave us any trouble. She adapted to all of our moves, from Ventura to Bakersfield finally to Tehachapi. Not to mention all the climate changes from the Coast to the heat of Bakersfield to snow - she experienced it all with aplomb.  Over the years she had several health scares but always bounced back.

And how about all the other pets that she accepted in to our family - Heidi, Bo, Lady, Annie, Stella, Sophia, Roman and Meri - did I forget anybody? Muffin accepted all the changes that came to her and never lost her sweet lovely spirit.  We are so thankful that Muffin passed peacefully in her sleep.  We will miss you Muffin - you were a lovely part of our family.

  

Beekeeping 101

19 May 2013

Our continuing adventure in Beekeeping . . . We picked up two nucs today - A nucleus consists of 3 to 6 frames of bees, including a Queen, workers, brood in all stages and honey stores.  This is the third
year we are attempting the art of beekeeping. They are wonderful, fascinating creatures - but as
we attempt to manage hives, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Some of those being disease,
starvation, extreme weather, swarming to name a few.

We picked up our bees today from Bill Lewis of Bill's Bees. Bill is a commercial beekeeper that
has a gift for teaching and mentoring those of us who want to take this challenge on. There were approximately 50 attendees at the class today, many of them picking up nucs.  We went through
our nucs locating the Queen (Italian), eggs, larvae, capped brood, nectar, capped honey, and pollen. Some of the nucs had more honey than others, some more brood - each colony is unique.

Italian bees are known for being very gentle - Bill is wearing only a veil and hat - most everyone had their full gear on.

Each year's Queen is marked with and international identification - the red dot you see below. When the Queen slows down her production - this makes it easier to spot your Queen and "cull" her if necessary.

You can also see nectar in the cells in the above picture. The bees will "fan" this nectar with their wings, causing dehydration. When that point of dehydration is reached, they will "cap" the cells with beeswax. Nectar is 80% water and honey is 14 to 18% water.  The bees know exactly when to "cap" the cells - thus providing and ideal storage system.

Bill's dog, trying to go for a ride with us.

Roe v. Wade at 40

26 January 2013

Every Child A Wanted Child

Every child a wanted child. That is the mantra I heard growing up in the 60’s. It sounded so noble. Even though birth control pills were readily available it wasn’t enough so we legalized abortion in 1973.  And what has that done for us?  Aside from the fact that approximately 55 million babies have been aborted - is every child a wanted child? How many of these babies are girls? These babies will not be “empowered” women able to be lawyers, doctors, scientists, teachers, mothers and wives. The news every day seems to have stories of battered, dead children - mother’s and father’s killing their children. I contend that abortion (and 55 million dead babies) hasn’t produced “every child a wanted child” - instead it has dehumanized life at it’s most innocent and vulnerable state. And what of the women who are the victims of abortion.  Many women experience depression, regret, nightmares for years after their abortions - did we "empower" them with this "choice"?  How noble are we?

Why Italian Garlic?

28 November 2012


I had ordered some garlic from a wonderful company  Seeds From Italy. This is the second year I have planted the variety Rossa di Sulmona.  Rossa di Sulmona is a variety of garlic known for it's pungency. You can use half the amount called for in any recipe. There is no bitterness which is also a plus. I can attest to all the claims - this garlic is delicious. The flavor is richer and fuller than any other garlic I have used before.  Although I am getting a later than recommended start, I did plant my garlic last December and was able to harvest in May successfully.  I'm planting double the amount I planted last year so I don't have to fear running out of my stores.

I'm trying a new variety also, Bianco Francese - a soft neck variety which produces large white bulbs. I can't find out any other information on this variety - but I will keep you posted.

We are expecting our first rains for the next several days and I wanted to get this garlic in the ground. I enlisted the help of my wonderful hubby. We worked really hard to finish up preparing the beds.

We finished up by covering the beds with 3 to 4 inches of straw as recommended. In addition I had to cover the beds with wire to keep the chickens away.  

When we were finishing up our work hubby asked what type of garlic we were planting and I told him "Italian Garlic". What's wrong with "American Garlic",  he wanted to know.  I explained to him that when I'm using our "Italian Garlic" it takes me back to "La Bella Italia".  

I have so many memories of our trip to Italy this past May.  Most of those memories involve food. So many delicious, simple meals - created around delicious ingredients.  Olive oil, pasta, garlic, tomatoes, basil and parmesan - nothing we have can match the flavors I found there. 

La Bella Italia

Apple Season - Dries Farm

13 October 2012

I love where I live. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I live in California just 2 1/2 hours from downtown Los Angeles - yet miles away in culture, values and worldview. Most of the people that I meet have chosen to live here because they want the opportunity to live somewhere with clean air, little traffic and wide open spaces. I particularly love the four seasons we are priviledged to experience - Summer jumped from weeks of excessive heat to Winter (skipping Fall) necessitating a roaring fire in the fireplace all day yesterday - Yes! 

One of the things I tackled this summer was a small garden. I am surrounded by people with years of gardening experience and I realize how much I have to learn - but what a joy when you actually are able to harvest something and bring it to your table to enjoy or better than that - share it with someone else. With just a little bit of pride you show off your bounty and wait for the oohs and aahs!

Of course I can’t grow the variety of vegetables and fruit that we need as a family - so we must look for ways to supplement our food sources. One of those ways are from small family farms in our town.  I discovered Dries Farms this past week - It is apple season right now and  I heard that Dries had a u-pick orchard. We headed over there on a Saturday morning and walked through the different variety of trees and picked some apples. Margaret Dries also has pumpkins, raspberries, lavender. When she isn’t there she has an “honor” system to leave your payment. Being raised in a big city, I couldn’t imagine there 

were still places like this.

Spending the day picking apples with your family - priceless!

In Winter We Ate Pears

Monday, 20 August 2012

In Winter We Ate Pears, A Year of Hunger and Love by Deirdre Heeken
 A Book Review


This spring we had the pleasure of traveling to Italy - somewhere I've always wanted to see. I wasn't disappointed - in fact I fell in love, with the country, the people, the history, the music and the food - ok I was already in love the food before I got there. Since coming home, I have been watching movies, and reading anything I can get my hands on about Italy. The latest book, In Winter We Ate Pears by
Deirdre Heeken - is both memoir and cookbook. The author and her husband traveled to Italy on their
honeymoon and stayed for one year. They traveled, and learned all they could about the food and culture - they too fell in love with a country and it's people.

A Vespa - Red of Course!

 On returning to the states, they opened a bakery which evolved into a restaurant, Osteria Pane e Salute in Woodstock, Vermont. They wanted to bring the flavors and more importantly the experiences

of Italy to their home town.  This book truly was like reading a love story - I fell in love the with

villages and food as I read it. The recipes,  (as is the book) are described by the seasons - I haven't tried any of them yet - but just reading them reminded me of meals I enjoyed in sidewalk cafes - it brought the smells and sounds of a country that I can't wait to get back to. If you can't afford a ticket to Italy right now - I suggest you read this book - it is the next best thing.

                                                                     

               

Amore in St. Mark's Square

                                                     

Sunday, 19 August 2012 Heart Of Worship When the music fades All is stripped away And I simply come Longing just to bring Something that's of worth That will bless Your heart I'll bring You more than a song For a song in itself Is not what You have required You search much deeper within Through the way things appear You're looking into my heart I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it When it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus King of endless worth No one could express How much You deserve Though I'm weak and poor All I have is Yours Every single breath I'll bring You more than a song For a song in itself Is not what You have required You search much deeper within Through the way things appear You're looking into my heart I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm coming back to the heart of worship, And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus Michael W. Smith