Have a look and then go visit CropLife America

Thanks goes out to crystal.cattle for posting this video on her blog. I’m just re-posting it on mine because the information is so relevant!

So, procrastination and second guessing being firmly pushed to the side, I bring you the first installment of “Dating Whoa’s: The Saga”. Whoa # 1.

I’m starting with one of the more recent date requests. I think I’ll digress into this meandering tale of whoa’s, that way I can really relive my past horrors.

Ball Cap. Seriously. I’m opening this story with those two words because frankly I don’t think it’s exactly my lucky penny accessory. Nothing good has ever come out of a date request, when I’m wearing a ball cap. I think from now on I’ll just wear a ball cap in order to add more stories to my already embarrassing list of “Whoa” date moments and keep the laughs coming.

On an idol Thursday evening in the early spring of this year, shortly after the closing of the ski hill and prior to the real start of fly fishing I decided I needed a few items at the local Target. Now, I don’t normally shop in Target unless it’s for beauty products or Giada De Larentiis kitchen products. Sometimes Target will have lower prices on items in other areas of the store that I may need, so I usually do a quick run through looking for lower prices, and this is how I found myself in the “Automotive” aisle, scanning the prices on car care products. Engrossed in my price comparisons, I vaguely realized the same guy had walked by the aisle four times and it wasn’t until his fifth trip past that I became aware of his scrutiny. Now, from a side view he was good looking, but had a bit to much of the shaggy boy look going on, even under the knitted ski hat. About this time I’m done looking at items in the automotive aisle, and move towards the beauty products aisle, and I can hear footsteps behind me. I start to walk faster and still, footsteps following me. I’m waiting for the scary Frankenstein music to cue, the lights to go off, and thunder to start crashing around me.

Eureka! I almost shout, upon reaching the Almay aisle. I figure I’m in the clear because not to many guys are going to be willing to be seen pacing the main aisle in front of the makeup aisle, right?

(to be continued…)

I’m leaving you with my version of Iced Tea.

(I’m not entirely and ogre and leaving you with no goodies after starting a story…)

Mini Skirt Iced Tea

1 quart size jar (Mason, Ball, Kerr…)
3 Good Earth Original Sweet and Spicy Tea and Herb Blend (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY OTHER BRAND OR FLAVOR OF TEA)
Hot water, almost boiling, but not yet boiling water
Cold water
Mineral water (San Pellegrino is the brand I prefer)

Place the 3 tea bags in the jar, leaving the tags hanging over the side. Make sure you have the proper lid and band for your jar.
Pour the hot water in the jar, filling three quarters of the way. Let the tea bag steep for about 3 minutes and then finish filling the jar with cold water. Put the lid and band on the jar and set outside in the sun for a few hours. Then, bring inside, remove tea bags and chill in fridge.

When ready to server, place ice cubs in a glass, and fill glass about 1/4 full of mineral water, and then add desired amount of tea. You may have to adjust this ratio to your tastes, but this is the ratio I prefer. I love the effervescence of the mineral water, and the clean sweet, spicy flavor of the tea. Enjoy!

Have a Mini Skirt of a Day!

So for starters, here’s the paint color I want to pain on one wall in a distressed worn paint technique.

Then, it’s onto a new sink. I love this hammered copper sink. It’s somewhat modern, but at the same time traditional and very cowboy’d, which as many of you know, my house is based on this style of decorating. I try to incorporate a mix of traditional modern and a lot of cowboy.

Now, we’ll add bin pulls. These are PERFECT!

And a fridge. I LOVE THIS! I found this fridge a here.

Here are some other accessories I’m looking at.

Oh wait, maybe, many of you are not aware of my other obsession. Yes, I have more than one. UBetcha T-Shirts. My “shop behind the house” business. I create classy, sassy, rough, tough, rugged, t-shirts. Cowgirls/Cowboys + Buckarettes/Buckaroos + Attitude = UBetcha. If anyone has a chance, check it out. I’ve got some great t-shirts for that special lady in your life. Order yours in time for Mothers Day, May 10th, 2009.

UBetcha Ad in the AgriBusiness Directory

I really hate to waste things. Sort of makes me want to cry. Unfortunately, as far as food is concerned, it’s difficult to know when something is safe to eat or it’s better to throw it out. Things in the fridge, I throw when they get a couple weeks past their “Use by date…”. All of those “Use by date…” and “Sell by date” can sometimes be confusing. So I did a google search and tried to find a good reference site to help with the issue. This is what I’ve found.

Best if used by and use-by date: This basically means that the product will start to deteriorate after this date, but will probably still be good for awhile after the date has passed.

Expiration date: If you haven’t used the product by this date, toss it.

Sell-by or pull-by date: This is usually used by a store as far as a “get rid of this item” date. Milk, for instance, has a sell by date, but is still probably be good to use for roughly a week after this date.

Guaranteed fresh: This is usually used on baked goods, and is guaranteed fresh up until this date. Item is still probably good to eat after this date has passed for at least a couple days.

Pack date: This is when the item was packed/canned. These items are usually good for roughly 6 months after the code that is stamped on the can.

Peach can label

To be continued…

Just three days ago it was sunny, warm and looking like we were heading into spring. The garden bug was starting to bite and green skirted Martha was getting excited

Today?

Snowing? CHECK. Cold? CHECK. Miserable? Almost!

So much for starting to plan. I won’t be building raised beds for at least another three weeks, so I decided to appease my inner Martha and look at seeds and plants. I stumbled upon (almost literally) a site by the name of “Heirloom Seeds“. I’ve been doing a little research on growing a garden from heirloom seeds. I’m coming to a bit of the conclusion that I haven’t the facilities to grow one at this time as I have a bit of a makeshift garden and I’m putting in the first raised beds this year. But in the near future, I will be growing from heirloom seeds.

Anyway, I came across s section on “Victory Gardens”. Curious, I researched farther. (or is it further?) Victory Gardens were planted during WWI and WWII as a means of reducing pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. Labor and transportation shortages made it hard to harvest and move fruits and vegetables to market. It is approximated that nearly 2o million American answered the call to produce their own fruits and vegetables. It is also estimated that 9 to 10 million tons of produce were harvest, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. Apparently, the program made a difference. It’s also interesting to see that after WWII, in 1946, the government wasn’t continuing it’s Victory Garden push, and many people did not put a garden in that spring. Consequently, the country experienced some food shortages, because agriculture had not yet geared up to full production for grocery stores.

Heirloom Seeds offers these seeds as “Victory Garden” seeds.

BEANS (6 varieties): Black Turtle, Bush Blue Lake, Commodore, Fordhook Lima, Old Homestead Pole and Pencil Pod Black Wax
BEETS ( 2 varieties): Chiogga and Early Wonder
BROCCOLI (1 variety): De Cicco
BRUSSELS SPROUT (1 variety): Long Island Improved
CABBAGE (2 varieties): Early Jersey Wakefield and Red Danish
CARROTS (2 varieties): Amsterdam Minicor and Autumn King
CAULIFLOWER (1 variety): Early Snowball
CELERY (1 variety): Golden Self Blanching
COLLARD (1 variety): Georgia
CORN ( 1 variety): Golden Bantam
CUCUMBER (2 varieties): National Pickling and Tendergreen Burpless
EGGPLANT (1 variety): Black Beauty
GOURD (1 variety): Ornamental Small Mix
KALE (1 variety): Dwarf Blue Curled
KOHLRABI (1 variety): Early White Vienna
LEEK (1 variety): American Flag
LETTUCE (5 varieties): Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Freckles Romaine, Gourmet Salad Blend, and Mesculin Mix
MELONS (2 varieties): Jenny Lind and Sweet Passion
MUSTARD GREENS (1 variety): Southern Giant Curled
OKRA (1 variety): Clemson Spineless
ONION, BUNCHING (1 variety): Evergreen White Bunching
PARSNIP (1 variety): Hollow Crown
PEPPERS (4 varieties): California Wonder, California Wonder Gold, Jalapeno and Long Red Cayenne
PEAS (3 varieties): Early Frosty, Mammoth Melting Sugar and Sugar Daddy
PUMPKINS (1 variety): New England Pie
RUTABAGA (1 variety): American Purple Top
RADISH (2 varieties): Easter Egg and Crimson Giant
SPINACH (2 varieties): Bloomsdale Long Standing and New Zealand
SQUASH, SUMMER (4 varieties): Dark Green Zucchini, Golden Zucchini, White Patty Pan and Yellow Crookneck
SQUASH, WINTER (2 varieties): Butternut and Spaghetti
SWISS CHARD (2 varieties): Lucullus and Ruby Red
SOUTHERN PEA (1 variety): California Black-Eyed
TOMATO (6 varieties): Besser, Big Red, Giant Beefsteak, Homestead 24, Pink Brandywine and Roma
TURNIPS (1 variety): Purple Top White Globe
WATERMELON (1 varieties): Sugar Baby
HERBS (10 varieties): Basil, Chives, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Summer Savory and Thyme

Interesting. I’ve never even thought to grow about half of the fruits and vegetables on this list, however, it does give one food for thought. I may not eat them myself, but could grow several of them and trade other gardeners for them. Or sell them at a farmers market. Of course, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing the whole Victory Garden set any time soon, but it’s a good list to keep on hand. Especially with the hard times we may be facing…soon.

Our Food Is Fighting

Let me introduce my friends (well it’s really me) “The Skirts”. The Skirts are a bit like a sorority, in the sense that we all come together to make this unique mess.  Me!

Almost Betty – Red Skirt. Almost Betty is my inner Betty Crocker. She’s basically bursting at the seams to bake, cook, fry, saute and generally be in the kitchen. This is the me that wears the apron.

Almost Martha – Green Skirt. Almost Martha is my inner Martha Stewart. She’s the green thumb, jack-of-all-trades, crafty gal who can do it all. At least I think I can

Almost Laura – Orange Skirt. Almost Laura is my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder. She’s my inner child, story teller, writer, thinker, player and the one with all the fun stuff.

Almost Jeanette – Brown Skirt. Almost Jeanette is my inner Jeannette Rankin. My inner politician, fighter, and “I want to help change the word” me. Military and Liberty!

Basically, that sums it up. I have ideas for other skirts, so we shall see what the future brings. For now, four is probably more than enough to unleash on all the innocents of mankind. Mixed in with all of these you’ll find flights of fancy and some hard-knock lessons.

Soon to come – Almost Fanny. She’s a rip-roarin good time!