Busy, Busy, Dreadfully Busy....

I read an e-friend's blog where she made her own mozzerella...this interested me so I gathered the ingredients and decided to make some, too! So here are two pics, imagine a gallon of milk being the before...

This is the curd separating from the whey...

The finished project...(I know you're hungry!) with a tomato from Farmer Julie's farm, and basil from my own garden. Tomorrow, some good EVOO with a dash of freshly cracked pepper...

Today I canned some beets, again from Julie's farm.

I have a huge amount of squash that I will can as relish pretty soon....probably Monday afternoon. I just need a couple more ingredients.

I ran out of dishwashing soap today, so I substituted it with a couple of tablespoons baking soda with about a teaspoon of Mrs. Meyers Lavendar all purpose cleaner - it worked great! I have been trying my best to use all natural cleaning products, so I may switch to that. For general cleaning, I have been using a solution of 4 parts water, one part vinegar, and a squirt or two of Dr Bronners Peppermint. It works really well.

I have to git...bedtime!

Because I needed MORE to do....

I participate in a local CSA (oxymoron???) - CSA is Consumer Supported Agriculture. There is a very lovely local farmer, who for the last four years, has been farming more than just row crops (like wheat). Row crops were becoming less and less profitable, meanwhile, they were discovering that people were becoming more and more interested in what they put into their bodies, as well as eating local, seasonal foods. She and her husband discovered that they were making decent income just from people who stopped by to purchase their corn. One thing led to another and their former family garden has become a 35 acre vegetable farm! I have been a member of this CSA, meaning I pay a monthly fee and receive a bag of fresh veggies once a week, for about a year. I must tell you that the vegetables are absolutely wonderful. They are picked right before distribution, so members get the freshest possible. The family also sells their goods at farmers markets throughout the area.

Yesterday, the farmer sent out an email asking for help on the farm. She needs help with things like picking, mulching, weeding, etc. I answered, asking about hours, if I could bring Little Guy, etc...and we made arrangements and I worked today! D was a trooper, and I got three hours of good picking in. I picked about 20# of green beans (I don't know how good that is, but for a first day, not too bad). I made a little cash, got some hot TX sun, and fell in love with farming.

I have been reading blogs, articles, and more, about being a localvore, and now I feel very encouraged to pursue this....to eat locally, and to support our VERY HARD WORKING farmers.

I gained such an appreciation for the life these folks live and the living they make.
And now, I am tired and sore, and looking very forward to tomorrow. I feel so blessed and thankful to be involved in this.

You have to watch this.

I was reading Eugene Cho's blog and he had this video featured. Wow. Please watch - you won't regret it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs

Haiku

Olivia wrote me a Haiku poem for Mother's Day...

Look in the garden

I see my mother in there

Planting many seeds

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I love being a MOM!

To all you Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day! May it be a day filled with love, happiness, and peace.

PLAY!

Go to http://www.freerice.com/index.php and play the vocabulary game - for every correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated to people in need. It's really fun, too!