Seeds in the Sunlight

I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to starting seeds indoors. Luckily I know a lot of experienced gardeners and I have some really great reference books. The past two years (my first two years of gardening) I have only direct seeded into the garden. However, this is slightly limiting because there are many types of plants that like to be put in the ground while it's still cold outside. So this year I will add to my garden selection kale, fennel, cabbage and leeks. They are supposed to be planted indoors in flats and placed in direct sunlight or under a grow light 4-6 weeks before the last frost. They will go into the garden just before the last frost because they like a little chilly weather.

I also found my gardening journal tucked away in my office. In most gardening books they express how helpful it is to keep track of what goes on in your yard year after year. This is so you don't make the same mistake twice. I didn't enter anything in it last year, which is not very helpful, so this year I'm picking it back up. Here are a few entries from my first year gardening...

These are two of my favorite reference books.

Here they are! All ready to get to growin'!

i carry my heart

I decided to make a few Valentines at the very last minute for my family. I've never carved anything out of Linocut rubber stamp so I was a little shaky. But I think it turned out pretty cute. Happy Valentine's Day!

Me and my Valentine, Chris.

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) E.E. Cummings

Buon appetito!

My best friend, Josh, taught me how to make pizza dough in my food processor and it's SOOO easy! I've been experimenting with different toppings. Here's the recipe for the pizza dough. Hope you have fun trying it out!

Super Easy Pizza Dough

3/4 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

1 packet dry yeast

Combine these ingredients and set aside for 10 minutes.

Place 2 cups flour in the food processor and combine with 1 tsp salt.

Next, pour the yeast mixture into the food processor and whirl to combine with the flour mixture.

Then slowly drizzle 1 Tbsp olive oil and whirl for 1 minute.

You should have a warm ball of dough ready to be topped!

Tip: After you roll it out make sure to put flour or cornmeal on the cookie sheet or pizza stone so that it doesn't stick.

These are Nameko mushrooms that were grown locally at Wakarusa Valley Farm.

This is what the dough looks like after you mix in the water/yeast mixture.

And this is after 1 minute of whirling with the olive oil. A warm gooey ball of dough!

I don't have a rolling pin so I just stretched it out.

This pizza had mushrooms, garlic, white onion, walnuts, gorgonzola and olive oil.

This one had pesto, bacon, white onion and sun dried tomato. Mmmmm!!!

Have fun with your toppings!

I also recreated a delicious steak rub that I bought last year and ran out of. I thought it looked really pretty and just had to take a picture. That's salt, pepper, rosemary, onion, paprika, thyme, red chili flakes and fennel.

Snow days!

My story is not original because everyone across the country was experiencing crazy weather. But here are a few pictures of the snow that we got here in Kansas and what I did on my day off from work.

I watched the snow pile up with my favorite kitty cat, Bella.

I drank champagne and made some jewelry.

And marveled at the huge amount of snow.

Visions of veggies dance in my head

It's the dead of winter and it's time to melt the snow with thoughts of delicious heirloom vegetables and herbs growing in my garden. It's a known fact that in January people start getting amped up about Spring (and sick of Winter) and they start planning their gardens. I'm doing exactly that. The new Seed Savers Exchange catalog is gorgeous and has my gears turnin'. This year I'm going to start plants indoors in the basement under a grow light. This will allow me to grow some things that I haven't been able to in the past--broccoli, kale, leek, etc. Speaking of the basement, you can check out what Chris has been up to this winter here. It's nice to have Spring as a deadline for projects.

Look at those unusual carrots! Perfect for rocky soil.

Contrast

The long awaited mobile.

For the past two holiday seasons I hung glittery, brassy ornaments from a branch above the dining room table. Well, in between those two Christmases I had every intention of hanging something else from the branch. I was thinking of maybe some cool candle holders. But alas, the branch sat empty for an entire year. As soon as our decorations came down this year I was determined to get my project going as quickly as possible. The following pictures are what I came up with and I have to say, I really love it.

That's the centerpiece on my table right now which has two rabbit furs and some Himalayan salt lamps.