Garden surprises

When we first started planting a garden several years ago, we just thought everything would grow just like the photo on the seed pack, but that just didn't happen. We had immediate success with some things like green beans, and then there were other things, like broccoli that just never seemed to mature and grow for us. It just immediately went to seed and produced a few little loose tops -- never enough to eat.

Later, we found that things like broccoli and Brussels sprouts had to be planted in the fall (in Georgia) if you wanted to produce a harvest. We didn't find out about that until this year. We did plant some Brussels sprouts and we just gave up on them. I haven't even looked at them for awhile. I don't think I have fertilized them or sprayed for worms or anything for some time. I just assumed we wouldn't have them this year. Good try but it just wasn't our year. We planned to plant more this fall and baby them through the winter for a good spring crop.

That is why I was totally surprised when my husband sent me this photo of our Brussels sprouts. I guess even though the conditions aren't perfect, you just can't stop some things from growing, if they want to grow. I don't think we are "supposed" to have them. We did plant plants, rather than seed in the early spring and I know they do take a long time to mature. I was just shocked that after the very warm weather, that we had anything like this at all.

I don't think we will have as many as if we had planted them earlier and I also don't think they will be as large before they seed, but I am very encouraged. What do I know? From what I have read, they aren't supposed to produce in a heat wave. Perhaps we are doing some things right to have something we aren't supposed to have. I am very thankful for this little surprise.

My Revue on Bruce Springsteen's Album Born To Run!

This morning I was trying to figure out what album to do a revue about. So I decided to do one on this album. This is one of Bruce Springsteen's early albums. This is a really good album and I really like this one. It is something about his voice that I really like his music.

This album went to number three on the charts and it sold over six million copies in the United States alone. On the professional charts this album has five stars. This album was remaster in 2005 as a box set with a concert DVD and a production diary DVD.

This is what I think of each of the songs:

Thunder Road- I love the piano in the beginning and the harmonica. This song I really like.

Tenth Avenue Freeze Out- This is a good song but I think it is to slow of a song for him. I like his voice in it and the music.

Night- This song sounds more like him. The sax at the beginning with the drums I love it. This makes me want to dance to the song.

Backstreets- I really like this song with all the instrumental. Just sitting here listening to it I can't believe how much I am getting into it.

Born To Run- This song is my favorite on the album. The title track and it makes my leg move while I am listening to it. If you can't get into this song with the music.

She's The One- The drums start this song out then you hear the piano. This song you can get into but it is not one I really like.

Meeting Across The River- This song on the album just flows right into Jungleland. It is a good song but it more of a ballad.

Jungleland- This is a good song but really not one of my favorites.

That is my revue on this album and I am going to leave you with a video.

Strange House in Cudahy!

I seen this house on the way to Milwaukee Friday. I just couldn't help but get a picture of this. I know some people would say this looks trashy but I think this it is really neat for someone to do with an old car. The strange things you can see when you are going for a car ride.

Why life should be like T-Ball

I had the opportunity of going to a number of my little grandsons T-ball games this year. While I was sitting in the stands, cheering him on, I thought how nice it would be -- just occasionally, if life was a little more like T-ball.

Here are the reasons why.

1) You always get to play. No one gets out and you run the bases every time.

2) No one loses in T-ball. No one is there to keep score. It really does only matter that you play the game and not if you win.

3) If you get nervous about batting or fielding, a parent or adult will stand beside you all the way to tell you how to hit the ball or when to pick the ball up and throw it to first base.
 

4) If you get distracted by an airplane or want to throw your glove up in the air and catch it, no one yells at you. In fact they just think you are cute.

5) If you fall down, you don't get anything worse than a carpet burn because the field is carpeted and padded.

6) If you do get a boo-boo, either your mom or the coach will kiss it and make it feel better. Even if it is between home and first base.

7) Everyone, on both sides is cheering you on. People don't yell at you just because you aren't on their team. You regularly hear those encouraging words, "Good job."

8) Every player gets to keep their uniforms and wear them wherever they go until they outgrow them.

9) At the end of each game, you get a snack.

10) Everyone gets a trophy.

My Boyfriends Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BOYFRIEND! 

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces  orzo, preferably whole-wheat
1 cup  water
1/2 cup  chopped sun-dried tomatoes, (not oil-packed), divided
1   plum tomato, diced
1 clove  garlic, peeled
3 teaspoons  chopped fresh marjoram, divided
1 tablespoon  red-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon  extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4   boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed (1-1 1/4 pounds)
1/4 teaspoon  salt
1/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
1 9-ounce package  frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1/2 cup  finely shredded Romano cheese, divided


DIRECTIONS
1. Cook orzo in a large saucepan of boiling water until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse.
2. Meanwhile, place 1 cup water, 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, plum tomato, garlic, 2 teaspoons marjoram, vinegar and 2 teaspoons oil in a blender. Blend until just a few chunks remain.
3. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent burning, until golden outside and no longer pink in the middle, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate; tent with foil to keep warm.
4. Pour the tomato sauce into the pan and bring to a boil. Measure out 1/2 cup sauce to a small bowl. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes to the pan along with the orzo, artichoke hearts and 6 tablespoons cheese. Cook, stirring, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide among 4 plates.
5. Slice the chicken. Top each portion of pasta with sliced chicken, 2 tablespoons of the reserved tomato sauce and a sprinkling of the remaining cheese and marjoram.


SOURCE

Chicken Breast

The East Washington Street Garden

Every day when I go to work, I drive down East Washington Street. Very recently, I noticed that alongside the road there is a small corn, watermelon and pepper garden. It is just off the pavement and along the side of the road beside an embankment. It is very simple -- just a row of corn with some melons and peppers planted here and there.

What I noticed the last couple of days, besides the fact that the corn looks very healthy in this hot weather, is a "Corn" Santa is guarding the little garden. It looks like an old Santa, or at least an elf standing guard over the corn, protecting it from critters, I suppose.

He might be a Santa that has fulfilled his purpose in December and is looking out for children the rest of the year by saying "Eat your vegetables, please." He hasn't chosen a very hard task because corn and melons are pretty popular with the young (and young at heart).

The watermelon vines certainly do look good. I think a good harvest is very likely.

I am just amazed by someone who isn't limited by space. No room for a traditional garden? You, too could make it happen in a little strip of sunlight along a busy road. That is ingenuity, determination and ...

should be an inspiration for anyone who doesn't have the space, or the time ... but does have imagination.