growth

Well, it has been a beautiful 38 degree winter day and wouldn't you know it... it's a holiday. I spent the first half of the day on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting the delivery of the rest of my supplies but then realized it was MLK day. Silly me. Luckily UPS still delivers because my eucalyptus oil arrived... now hopefully the tea tree will arrive tomorrow and I can make my first batch of soap. Woohoo!!!

Today was spent doing odd work around the house, my sweetheart built a door for the breezeway to our house (I am so proud of him, it was his first exterior door and it's not too shabby, if I say so myself), he is working on closing up the breeze way and installing a wood burning furnace. We are about 60% done, he has been working hard! We are also painting and wallpapering a window frame to use as art in the house. I am looking forward to finishing it so I can post a picture!

I also organized our seed collection and took stock of what we have and don't have for our summer garden. It's almost germination time! Ahhh... so excited! We will be growing pickling cucumbers, roma and beefsteak tomatoes (hopefully I can convince my hubby to forgo the cherries, I despise picking those!), green beans, carrots, cantaloupe, onions, watermelon, roman broccoli (I can't wait to see those fractal designs!), and a variety of herbs. It will be my first official herb garden, I'm anxious to start seeds now and see if I can get a harvest by summer... we'll see! 
Speaking of gardening, we have a surprisingly successful indoor tomato garden. Brad built a frame to hold 5 gallon buckets and transplanted some volunteers from our garden last year. We have been watering them and he meticulously pollinates the blooms with a toothbrush, and this has been the result:

  You can also see our gorgeous cactus and wildly successful aloe vera plant. And a puppy and fuzzy tailed kitten. :)

 Tomatoes that I actually like to eat! 

We have both been a little sniffly lately and can't seem to kick it, I acquired some dulse seaweed from an acquaintance and have been waiting for a chance to use it. Seaweed is rich in iodine and minerals and is great for a healthy energy boost. It is something that I don't know much about, it is on my list of things to research this week. I plan on reporting back in a few posts with more than enough information for y'all though! 
This acquaintance used to prepare a seaweed broth and mix it with sesame oil and miso as an afternoon snack when he needed a boost. That is what our dinner tonight will be - healthy, light, and full of nutrients. I was also given dulse seaweed granules that I have used in soups and gravies to give us an extra boost, it looks like pepper and adds a great flavor when used like this! I will take pictures the next time I use it in this manner, y'all won't even notice it. :)

Boiling seaweed.

 The entire process, start to finish. The rehydrated seaweed can be used in pickling - YUM - but I put it aside to feed to our worms. I can only imagine how healthy the soil they leave behind from it will be. Here is a link to a great seaweed resource.


With that, I will leave you all. Make yourselves a warm cup of tea and curl up by a fire tonight, and be well. :)