Pesticides.

Environmental Working Group has some good information. Choosing organic foods is important to me, but sometimes they are not available, the quality is poor or they are too expensive. They’ve compiled two lists: the dirty dozen (only buy organic) and the clean 15 (lowest in pesticides). Here is a link to a printable guide of their list.

Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides

Dirty Dozen Clean 15
Buy these organic Lowest in Pesticides
1. Celery 1. Onions
2. Peaches 2. Avocado
3. Strawberries 3. Sweet Corn
4. Apples 4. Pineapple
5. Blueberries 5. Mangos
6. Nectarines 6. Sweet Peas
7. Bell Peppers 7. Asparagus
8. Spinach 8. Kiwi
9. Kale 9. Cabbage
10. Cherries 10. Eggplant
11. Potatoes 11. Cantaloupe
12. Grapes (imported) 12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

Robin.

robin

My newest peeping Tom - or Tomasina.

Starting seeds.

We have a little farm in our basement. I started with sweet peas figuring that if I am successful with this lot, then I will start other plants from seeds as well. In early February I began my search for the most beautiful and lovely scented sweet peas. I ordered peas from Enchanting Sweet Peas, Fragrant Garden Nursery and Renee’s Garden Seeds. Plain and simple, I ordered too many – close to 300 seeds. So far, Enchanting Sweet Peas wins for most beautiful packaging. Planting 300 pea seeds all over our yard was challenging, however, I kept a record of which seeds I planted where so later I can judge flowering quality. Peter Rabbit mowed down about 2 feet of new plants a week ago even though I thought I had them well protected with little wire cages. Grrrr…

pea seeds

Purchasing and soaking seeds before planting.

After I soaked the peas, I used the sharp corner of a fingernail clipper to nick a little hole in the seed coat. Some of the seeds were so hard, I could not nick them. I put them to sprout in a separate tray and they did just fine, in spite of the “Bad Peas?” sign I posted.

sprouting peas

It didn't take too long for these seeds to sprout. Then I put them under grow light bulbs.

hardening pea plants

After the 3rd set of leaves emerged, I took a few days to hardened the plants to the cooler weather outside.

planted peas

One of the numerous places in the garden.

Quince.

We have a 3 types of quince in our yard. One never blooms because it is in shade and it is impossible to move.Another quince is a new red-flowered bush that will help cover our back hillside. We have five of those. This year I noticed that our double-salmon flowered quince has one branch of double-cream flowers. It is so beautiful. It must be from the root stock? I had nothing to do with it other than to notice.

white flowers on salmon quince

white flowers on salmon quince

double salmon quince

the original flower

double cream quince

the rogue double cream quince

red quince

The standard red quince, soon to cover our hillside.

Peeping Tom.

I felt as though I was being watched.

King Louis

The neighbor boy.

Delicious lemon steamed pudding from the book The Craft of Baking by Karen DeMasco & Mindy Fox.

Delicious lemon steamed pudding from the book The Craft of Baking by Karen DeMasco & Mindy Fox.

Leo Laundry.

Leo helps with the laundry. Always.

Leo helps with the laundry. Always. Nothing better than warm socks dropped on your head.

This can be dangerous if your eye is too close. Its okay for glasses wearers.

This part can be dangerous if your eyes or fingers are too close. Its okay for glasses wearers.

 

He will nail your toes too if he gets the chance.

He will nail your toes if he gets the chance...

...or the camera cord. Whoa.

...or the camera cord. Whoa - look at that speed.

Portland.

This is our Christmas gift - what a great idea!

This was our Christmas gift - what a great idea! Look closely at the dates on the bottles.

Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood from the car window

What a delightful weekend from beginning to end. Staying at McMenamins Edgefield near Portland,Oregon was a wonderful destination. An incredible soaking pool – huge, beautiful gardens, entertaining murals on every wall of the old poor farm – way too much to include here. I suggest scheduling a massage right away so you get a full hour. Our half hour set the stage for a great day. The food is okay and their beer is great. If you’ve never had milk-chocolate stout, this is the place. I wish I had taken pictures of us playing darts. I didn’t do too badly – actually had a sore arm the next day. HA! For brunch one day I was able to connect with a dear friend, whom I had not seen for 20 years , which was an added plus. On Saturday night I had the best Southeast Asian food I have ever eaten atPok Pok Restaurant in Portland. We lived in this city when we were in our 20’s, so we had to drive by the old abodes. Nothing stays the same, but it brought back great memories. On the way home we stopped at the FishTale Brew Pub in Olympia. Good food, great brew. We picked up a couple of growlers for the Super Bowl Game. What a weekend.

 

Ruby's spa at McMenamin's Edgefield

Ruby's spa at McMenamin's Edgefield

our first Portland apartment missing the leaded glass windows

our first Portland apartment missing the leaded glass windows

our first house - not the same anymore

our first house - not the same anymore

fellow travelers

fellow travelers

Fish Stew.

This is Real Simple smokey fish stew from the January 2010 magazine of the same name. It was delicious. Served with crusty parmesan baguette and a crisp 2007 Albariño (Torre Fornelos).

fish stew

fish stew

Forrest

Forrest

drinking

drinking

...because it was 18°F and his favorite watering hole was frozen over.

...because it was 18°F and his favorite watering hole was frozen over.

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