Blog Archives - Changin' Thymes

Walk On The Wild Side

3/31/2015

There's nothing like a good night's sleep. I was awake at 6:00 a.m. and feeling much better than yesterday. I'm so glad my stomach feels normal-I'm almost afraid to eat any breakfast for fear it will all start again. It could get close to 70 degrees today and it's really important that we get the gardens opened up and compost and/or manure tilled in. It's supposed to rain Thursday and Friday and if everything works out we'll be able to plant part of our vegetable garden next week.

Today I'm tilling compost into the herb garden and planting cilantro, dill, nasturtiums, calendula and peach vine. Actually, I have some volunteer cilantro coming up in the veggie garden that I'm moving to the herb garden and I will finish off that row by planting cilantro seed as well. My dahlias came in the mail a couple days ago and I need to get them in the ground. I'm still deciding where I want to place them. Oh, and there still so much more raking and clean-up to be done it's unbelievable. The irises need cleaning out and that's got to be at the top of my list due to the fact that they are an early spring bloomer. So much to do - so little time. Isn't it wonderful?!!!
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T-I-R-E-D!!!!! Oh my gosh, I did get so much done in the herb garden today. Not nearly finished but what a beginning!! If I was any happier I wouldn't know what to do. I also rolled out my plant stand from inside the house and let the plants get some "real" light. I put them in a location where the wind wouldn't topple them over and left them outside for a little sunshine.

Hubby tilled our vegetable garden - twice!! I was close to ecstasy. I slipped off my garden boots and socks and went for a walk on the wild side - straight through the middle of the freshly tilled vegetable garden. Oh it was wonderful!!! Gotta do it folks. Every year you have to test the freshly tilled garden and the only way to do it is in bare feet!!! It was heavenly!

So, anyway, back to the real world. I'm tired, yes, but I feel great. Tomorrow is when it will hit me. I probably won't be able to move - BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!!

Rockin' and Rollin'

3/30/2015

Hi folks. It's been a beautiful day today but I've been kind of squeamish feeling all day. My stomach has been rockin' and rollin' and I've been short of worthless. I went out to work in the herb garden and ended up back in the house within an hour. Not been one of my better days. Sorry about having nothing to type. There are just those days you can't seem to pick one foot up and place it in front of the other and so I'm just going to rest a little today and hope that tomorrow I'll feel better.

The chickens gave me 7 eggs and hubby is busy right now turning the manure pile over to sort of let it dry out. When he got home from work tonight he went out and tilled some areas up in my herb garden. He knew I wasn't feeling all that great and was trying to be helpful. He's a pretty good guy!!

Look what he brought home for me. He is as excited about my new venture of cooking outside over an open fire as I am!

Talk to you all later. Stay well!!

Fire Ring

3/28/2015

Today is looked so beautiful outside but let me tell you, it was cold this morning! It was 18 degrees when we got up and it's only 28 degrees right now. The sun is fierce though and makes it look sensational and when you're standing in the sun it feels wonderful! Hubby went out this morning and started a fire in the fire ring, made himself a cup of coffee and went outside to sit by the fire. Since the ring is directly in the sun and the sun's rays are bouncing off the lake it's actually fairly nice as long as you stay close to the burning embers.

Me? I could use a little extra heat myself! I'm not a cold weather person - but I'm thinking positive and I'm positively sure it just HAS to get warmer!!!

My guests have not arrived yet but I really can't wait. I've done all I intend to do so I am patiently waiting on my herb-loving niece.

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We've been having such a good time today. It's chilly but we've still managed some fire time. Have a great week-end!

Today I Cook!!

3/27/2015

Today I cook!! I got up at 7:30 a.m. and got started. I'm having company this week-end and I want to make things as easy and simple when it comes to preparing meals as is possible. Since I prepare most of what we eat from scratch, cooking is capable of taking up a lot of valuable time that I want to spend with my company. Of course, I can't honestly say I'm not enjoying myself. I love to cook! Anyway, the first thing I fixed was Taco Dip. I'm now fixing my infamous chicken salad. Then I'll probably get going on the Cranberry Tart and the potato salad. Once those things are accomplished, I'll probably quit. This week-end is being spent with my niece who likes to cook as well so I want to save a little to do together too. She's requesting Creamy Nettle Soup and I am so excited. It's nice to have someone to share my love of herbs.

Was it cold at your home today? It was 28 degrees when we got up this morning. Everything was covered with a thin frost. I'm kind of in a panic because I didn't cover the strawberries with straw, but what's done is done. Hopefully, they survive.

The chickens are giving me eggs galore and there are no complaints here. My pantry is beginning to show signs of actual use. The shelves are emptying out. By the time canning season gets here I should probably have plenty of room to store freshly canned veggies. I've been pushing canned goods on Hubby and he keeps eating them but I'm running out of new ways to fix them. There's just so much you can do with canned green beans or canned squash, ya know?!

Well, I'm going to call it a day. See ya!

Tomato, Pepper and Basil Seedlings

3/26/2015

It was sprinkling rain as I went out to feed the chickens and horses this morning and by the time I'd finished it had turned to a fairly steady rain. It rained almost all night here as well. It's not too very cold but it's not going to get too awfully warm either. I'm glad I didn't rake the herbs completely clean yesterday now more than ever. They are even calling for snow. Aghhh!!!

My tomato, pepper and basil seedlings look really healthy and FINALLY, my pimiento seed has sprouted. Notice I said seed (singular)? Only one came up. I'm leaving them covered and keeping my fingers crossed. I only planted 3 so I need them all to sprout. None of my Tulsi Basil (Holy Basil) sprouted so I will have to plant that straight into the garden. It will be later than the rest but I've got to grow Tulsi. The eggplants look great but the cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage are an embarrassment!! I just don't grow them well and it's so very frustrating!

I woke up hungry this morning. Ever do that? I'm not a crazy breakfast person and yes, I know it's supposed to be the most important meal of the day; but I have a really hard time pushing food down before 10:00 a.m. After 10:00 a.m. I could eat a bear!! I decided this morning to make brunch. I had some sausage so I crumbled it up in a pan with half an onion, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons butter. I stir fried that until the sausage was done and then scrambled up 4 eggs and poured them in with the sausage and cooked them in. I then threw on some shredded cheese, put a lid on and waited for the cheese to melt. That was so-o-o-o-o good stuffed into pita pockets and drizzled with hot sauce. So good!!

The tomatoes are looking really healthy.

Closest of Friends

3/25/2015

Good morning!! It's 9:30 a.m. here and I've been out in the herb garden since 8:00 a.m. I'm tired but I certainly do feel good!! I was trying to clean up the herb garden without totally raking it clean. We still may have some cold weather and I do not want to completely uncover all my plants. A lot of my stuff was not bothered by the Winter this year, except for my tarragon, which completely died out and I only have one salad burnet plant. BUT . . . one plant is better than no plant. The parsley looks fantastic. Of course, this is its second year so I have to remember it will bolt fast. So I need to cut it fast. I raked everything away from the Egyptian Onions. They look fantastic as well!! I'll be eating off them this week. The nettles are just doing what nettles do!! My niece and I will take care of this first batch of nettles this week-end. We're going to be making Creamy Nettle Soup. Then I'll start drying them and enjoying tea with them. Of course, the Garlic Chives and the Onion Chives are ready to eat. Echinacea, valerian, catnip, oregano, thyme, ladies mantle, savory, bee balm, yarrow, lemon balm, tansy, and some more of the mints are all up, just to name a few. I keep looking for my Wood Poppy, that I planted last year but no sign of it so far. My sage looks weak. I'm a little worried about them. Oh, I surely would hate to lose them. They are over 20 or 30 years old, same as the lavender. It may sound silly but my herbs are a little like my closest of friends.

I finally got the Red Raspberries cleaned out. Gosh, they look pretty good. I'm hoping for a bumper crop this year. Last year was a so-so crop so I'm hoping this year will be a good one. I want to dehydrate some raspberries for tea. I'd never really thought much about doing that until my son was talking to me last night telling me how much better one of my homemade teas would taste with actual red raspberries in them and why didn't I put some dried ones in there. He's right!!! So along with jams and jellies I'll be adding teas to my need for red raspberries.

Not a really clear pic but this is our heron. He has been here almost every day for a week. He's huge!!

Doesn't look like much now but these Red Raspberries are going to be pretty yummy this Spring!

The nettles are really strong this year. I'm excited about such a great crop!

A whole lot of Egyptian Walking Onions (multipliers) came up this year.

Everything always looks so bare in the Spring. The before and after is amazing.

Parsley looks good, huh?!

Jerusalem Artichoke

3/24/2015

Well, I made it to herb club last night and I'm really glad I went. Now that I'm retired I don't have nearly as many outlets to see all my friends, plus this particular outlet has been Hubby's saving grace. At herb club I can talk herbs all I want and while it doesn't get it ALL out of my system, it at least lowers my level of excitement and frenzy, Hubby gets some peace and quiet from the constant babble, and I have willing listeners. IT WORKS!!! Next month is our plant exchange and one of the girls wants Jerusalem Artichoke. Can you believe it? I questioned her to make sure she knew what she was asking for and sure enough she did. Jerusalem Artichoke is very invasive but it's a beautiful wild flower. You can eat the tubers, fresh like a wild chestnut or roasted and also in soups. I have or at least had quite a few so I will check my garden and be glad to share!!

If it doesn't rain today, and it actually is supposed to, I'm going to cook outside over the campfire. I want to clean the shelter house out and while working out in that area, it would be a perfect time to try my new cast iron pot outside. I think I'm just going to make something simple. I've still got some fresh carrots in the basement frig, a few leftover white and sweet potatoes from our garden, some frozen sliced red and green peppers, an onion and some Polish Kielbasa. I have some leftover beef and chicken broth if it gets too dry, but I am tossing everything in olive oil and some herbs, of course, and salt and pepper. That ought to be pretty tasty!!!
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It's raining!!! It's also still pretty chilly out too so I've decided to do everything today-tomorrow!! Instead today Hubby and I cleaned our vaulted ceiling windows and also the fan hanging from the vaulted ceiling. That, in and of itself, was a job!! I did the grocery shopping and did laundry today instead of tomorrow. So while I didn't do today what I'd liked to have done - I still managed to make it a productive day.

I was bummed about not cooking outside and decided to fix it in the oven. Hubby was kind of excited about the whole concoction. I don't like Polish Kielbasa so he doesn't get it very often. I have decided that when I do get to cook this over an open fire I'm going to add about a half of a head of cabbage cut into wedges as well. This is one of those dishes you almost can't go wrong on. You can just about put anything in.

I cannot believe I forgot to take a picture of this dish. It was beautiful!! Hubby ate 3 helpings and just not little baby helpings either. LOL!!

This is all that was left. We both ate like piglets. I'll never lose any weight eating like this - but the food was pretty healthy other than the Kielbasa and I didn't eat that!!

A Queen Can Dream!

3/23/2015

First line of business to get out of the way. The crockpot pizza was good, but had too much breading in it. It cooked up like it was supposed to but it hit our stomachs like a rock. Just way too much breading. Like I said, tasty; but what's NOT tasty that has masses of cheese, pizza sauce, sausage, pepperoni, etc. I think in the future, though, I'm going to stick to the crockpot pizza that uses noodles. If I want breading I'll eat a REAL pizza!

I don't know what the day holds for me but I'm chomping at the bit to get outside!! I do have an herb club meeting tonight. We are supposed to be bringing a dozen of something tasty that will go with tea. I'm in a terrible dilemma. I don't know what to make!!

Sometime this week, I need to clean the house for company visiting us this week-end. I've also been wanting to clean out the chicken coop but it's still getting cold at night and I don't want to push it. Perhaps I'll clean out their run and wait just a wee bit longer on the coop. Cleaning the shelter house out is still looming over my head. Oh, how I hate to even start. This is one of those jobs I dread. Then I still have to clean the raspberry bed. That is a big, tedious job that needs to be accomplished soon. After all the above is finished I will be in better shape . . . but oh my. Keeping a place together isn't always fun and you don't necessarily get to do what you want to do. Sometimes you simply have to force yourself to jump in, like it or not, and do the job. That's kind of where I'm at - I've just got to make that initial jump!!! It would be nice if it was a minor matter of twinkle-toeing out to the herb garden and pinching off flowers and leaves for tea, dancing around making a cup, stirring in honey, humming a happy tune and sitting all prissy-like in the herb garden gazebo like a queen - BUT IT AIN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL. Ah, well, a Queen can dream, can't she?!
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I didn't get a thing done today. I managed to develop a whopping migraine headache and that kind of fixed my day in stone. I went ahead and made a Grandmothers Pound Cake for herb club and reached into the cabinet and pulled out the self-rising flour which did not end well when the pound cake spilled over the sides of the pan and smoked up the house. Obviously, I threw a tantrum that no one could hear but started another pound case with all purpose flour this time. Talk about feeling stupid!! Meanwhile, my head is REALLY pounding now!! Geez!!! I may have to forego herb club tonight. Bummer!!! Talk to you all later - I'm going to try and ditch this head of mine.

Strawberry Bed

3/21/2015

Today we prepared the strawberry bed. Hubby tilled it and then I dug composted chicken poo and we spread it out in the raised strawberry bed and hubby tilled it again. We waited for the sun to dry it just a little and then I planted 25 strawberry plants. Then we tilled an area in the herb garden and put some compost on it and I planted 50 gladiola bulbs. I then planted 9 crocosmia corns in the kitchen garden and planted the rest in front of the hops in the herb garden. Hopefully I will have some beautiful, colorful plants simply for cutting flower arrangements.

Eggshells have lots of calcium in them and they are supposed to be great for repelling insects in the garden so I sprinkled a bunch on the strawberries. Supposedly worms love eggshells too! Also, I've read that it takes a year before they break down and release their calcium so this time next year my strawberries will be in fine shape!!

I am so happy!! This is the first time this season that I made it into the herb garden to really start cleaning it up. I actually weeded a few areas. The nettles are up now and Monday I'll be trimming them back and will be able to have some nettle tea or maybe some nettle soup. We also put the old bench back out in the garden. That's a must for tea time!!

I then came in the house and put together a crockpot pizza. This is another/different recipe called crockpot pizza. I like the one I made with pasta but this one uses biscuit mix and I've wanted to try it now for awhile. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I've been saving egg shells all Winter!

I ground the eggshells into a powder and put them on the strawberry garden.

Here's the crockpot pizza! Looks good, huh?!

The daffodils are beginning to bloom!

Sausage and Egg Casseroles

3/20/2015

No rain today and this morning it was 40 degrees. I was drinking my first cup of coffee after stumbling out of bed and said to Hubby, "Would you listen to all that noise?!!" There were so many birds singing outside you could hear them inside with no windows open. It just sounded like the outdoors was alive with thousands of birds. I could see just a few when I opened the door but oh my, the sound was gloriously amazing. I could have listened to them sing all day!!

I honestly don't know what I'll be doing today. I know I'm going to prepare a couple sausage and egg casseroles for the freezer but other than that . . . well, we'll see.
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Four wood ducks, 2 male and 2 female, flew onto our lake this morning. It was an absolutely beautiful sight. I wanted to get a picture of them but they stayed on their side of the lake and it was obvious they preferred I stayed on mine. TeeHee!!

The casseroles are finished and in the freezer and I decided to have soup in our bread bowls tonight. Hubby is exhausted from working so many hours and doesn't need to eat to heavily and, well, I don't need to eat!! LOL!! Oh - I'm quite a funny girl today!! NOT!!!

I spent a lot of time reading on herbs today. There's never enough time in a day to study herbs and I always feel like I should be doing something constructive instead of rummaging through articles, books and looking up stuff on the computer. I enjoy it so much I feel like I'm playing and that makes me feel a little guilty. Still, I need to get as much stuffed in this brain as I can because once nicer weather gets here there'll be no more time for research.

Author

My name is Nina. Southern Indiana has been my home since 1952. I've been a legal secretary most of my adult life and for my leisure time I enjoy everything connected to the world of herbs and cooking is almost like a "fever". I am also quite opinionated but try not to push my opinions on others. My family is grown and I'm left with a wonderful hubby sharing life with me. I'd guess you'd say my passion is living that life to the fullest.

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