Promise of Spring

This little pot of bulbs..I can almost convince myself it will be warm again soon.
Seed catalogs are stacked next to my chair in the living room and I make lists and try to imagine
what the coming gardening season will bring. We have had a terrible time the last couple of years here in our little corner of the Garden State. Neighbors down the block behind us planted shade trees a few years ago and they now shade our garden. :-(
Ground hogs, bunnies and various other "neighbors" have been pilfering what does grow in the meager sunshine.But last season I did manage to finally get a luffa to grow. I will post pics soon...I am so behind.

Spiderman Trilogy Blue Ray Giveaway

In anticipation of the summer’s biggest blockbuster, The Amazing Spider-Man, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Walmart Stores, Inc., and Marvel Entertainment have teamed up to present the ultimate Spider-Man experience at Walmart Stores nationwide. You can have the chance to win the Spider-Man trilogy on Blu-Ray! Sounds good , right? Want to win . . just leave a comment here....yes..you need to leave a comment. I cannot use my "spidey" senses to know you want a copy!!

Just leave a comment any time from today, until June 15th at 9am when we will pick a name out of a hat. Good Luck!!

The Spider-Man truck is making the following stops in NJ. For a full list of locations, check out www.walmart.com/spider-man

6/6/12		4:00pm-	7:00pm		4900 Rt 9 Howell NJ
6/7/12		11:00am-	2:00pm		326 W Main St Freehold NJ
6/7/12		4:00pm-	7:00pm		1126 Rt 9 Old Bridge NJ
6/8/12		11:00am-	2:00pm		1501 Rt 22 Watchung NJ

The cherries are coming

See the big tree in the middle? My Princess is right under it...Need to look closer? Can you see them? Not all of them are red yet, but the ones that are..

They are beautiful!

They are so delicious too...if you can reach them...

If the birds and squirrels get to them before we do, well, we'll just hope we get some plums first. ;-)

The plum is a dwarf, and we can all reach up and pick from it, the cherry was here way before us, and

it is not a dwarf variety. It is also on it's "last legs" according to our arborist, but neither of us can ever

bring ourselves to cut it down. Yes, it shades the tomatoes and such, but it is so pretty, and we always have high hopes that we will get to the cherries first. When we do, it is so worth it!

Memorial Day Weekend

There will be a lot of picnics and parties this weekend as folks around here usher in the Summer season. The beaches will no longer be free, and soon won't be empty either, summer clothes will all go on clearance, and there will be parades. But I feel it is important to remember that
Memorial Day is about honoring all those men and women who have died in all wars.
We have a few picnics to attend and we will be having some fun right here in our own backyard as well. We will also take a moment to remember those who gave their lives, not just for our freedoms and rights as Americans, but for the rights and freedoms of citizens all over the world.

In my family, my Grandparents often spoke about my Grandmother's younger brother who died in Korea. His purple heart sits with a stack of his letters home from basic training in a cedar chest at the end of my bed. I never knew him, but I still "remember" my great Uncle Eddie as a hero.
I hope you will all take just a moment to remember all those men and women who have given their all for all those back at home.

Hunger Hits Home

Today I am writing to share information about a very special documentary and to ask your help in spreading the word about this important film. In an effort to support and fight against childhood hunger, Food Network in a partnership with Share Our Strength will air a special 1-hour documentary titled HUNGER HITS HOME on April 14^th at 8pm/7c. The documentary offers a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the parents, children, activists, educators and politicians on the front lines of the battle. The program takes us to the heart of the matter with a focus on families from New York to Texas who struggle with hunger and the community leaders who are taking direct action to fight it.

Join me, and watch the documentary on April 14^th , host a viewing event with friends/family/colleagues, using the specially prepared viewing guide to spark discussion and action in your local community. http://nokidhungry.teamdigital.com/No_Kid_Hungry_viewer_guide.pdf

I also invite you to post, tweet, pin and email your network about this upcoming screening – all it takes is a click of a button from the documentary home page: www.foodnetwork.com/hungry

As someone who went to bed hungry as a child, I ask you to help me end childhood hunger in America.

Donate Now.

5 F a c t s A b o u t C h i l d h o o d H u n g e r

i n t h e U . S .

1. More than 16 million kids in America live in households that struggle to put food on the table. That’s 1 out of 5 kids.
2. There were also over 16.4 million children in America living in poverty in 2010. That’s almost 1 million more than in 2009.
3. 9.8 million kids get free or reduced-price school breakfast on an average school day, more than ever before…but 10.5 million eligible kids go without.
4. Only 1 in 7 kids who get free and reduced-priced school lunches receive summer meals.
5. Almost 45 million Americans used SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) during 2011. Nearly 75 percent of these are in families with children and more than a quarter are in households with seniors or people with disabilities.

Happy Easter

The weather was perfect to enjoy a cup of coffee outside today in my little corner of the Garden State.

Farmer Dad and I sat and enjoyed the flowers blooming all around us...

Then we got busy transplanting some swiss chard,kale and lettuces into the garden and

some other seedlings into larger pots inside the mini greenhouse.Between working, enjoying the view,and chasing the frisbee around with our Princess, the

day passed quickly. Soon it was time for Momma to head inside to start Easter dinner.

Good music and a glass of wine are a must for me. I made a loaf of bread in the morning, so I passed

on making rolls or biscuits for dinner.
Lamb Oso Bucco,Greek potatoes, asparagus and a cabbage salad.

What did you celebrate this weekend? How did you celebrate?

I hope you are all enjoying the spring!

In my garden

Have you all been enjoying your time in your gardens so far this spring?

We sure have in our little corner of the Garden State!

I have peas, lettuce, mustard greens,spring onions,arugula,radishes,carrots,beets,fennel,broccoli rabe, swiss chard,kale,asparagus,garlic, and onions in the ground.

I have broccoli,cauliflower,brussel sprouts and potatoes ready to go in.

I love being in the yard during spring..all the trees are flowering and lovely.

What do you have started? Planned? Planted?

Thanks to my friends at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festivals,  I have 2 tickets for the 19th Annual Spring Sugarloaf Crafts Festival being held March 9,10, and 11th at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey.
I know, they are so good to me! Want to hear even better news?? I have two more to give away !!

The hours are Fri and Sat 10-6, and Sun 10-5.
Children under 12 and parking are FREE.

There will be over 250 artisans  displaying and selling their jewelry,fashion,home and garden accessories and furniture,glass,photography,pottery,and sculpture.

As always, there will be live music and children's entertainment. 

Just leave a comment by Wednesday, March 7,2012 at 10am and I will pull a name out of a hat at 10:30am and announce the winner!!

 

 

Garden State Depression Glass Club Sale Show

The Garden State Depression Glass Club is having their 32nd Semi-Annual
Depression Glass Show and Sale on March 3rd and 4th 2012.
The Show/Sale is held at the Lakeview School at 10 Oak Drive in Edison, New Jersey.
The school is located behind the lake in Roosevelt Park.
Show Hours are  11am-5pm on Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sunday
Admission is $5.00 

There is a club display, this year it is milk glass!  (my fave)
The raffle prize is for a service for 4 of green "Block Optic"

There are always light refreshments available for sale.

The show is presented by The Garden State Depression Glass Club
If you wish to contact them for more information you can do so at P.O. Box 344, Metuchen ,N.J. 08840
Telephone (609) 240-3765
thelegantable@verizon.net

 The show features Depression Era Glassware,Pottery and China.
My Princess loves talking to the vendors about the pieces they love the most and we always find something we "need" to add to our collection. ;-)

Snow Day 2012

We finally got a snow day here in our little corner of the Garden State.It was far too cold outside for me to enjoy playing, so I made donuts and hot apple cider

Farmer Dad took our Princess outside to play while he shoveled the driveway.

We stayed in for the rest of the day,watching movies on Netflix and eating
 Croque Monsieur and homemade New England Clam Chowder.

Snuggled under blankets keeping warm, taking turns picking our favorite movies.
How did you spend your snow day? Didn't have snow? How was the weather in your little corner of the world? I must admit, I had a pile of seed catalogs tucked next to me to flip thru as we hung out.
I am excited for spring..big dreams of big changes here..how about you?

SOPA STRIKE

If you haven’t heard about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) so far you are bound to notice today when you are unable to get to many of your favorite sites from Wikipedia to Reddit to WordPress to Mozilla to Craigslist.
Think it doesn't matter? Watch this

I am unable to black out....but do wish to show my support to the cause I believe in.
Please protect our internet freedoms
Click here

I find myself with not quite enough time to blog as I would like of late.

The holidays came and went...I hope yours were lovely.

Then we have had the flu or a bad cold...I am not sure.

It is cold out. The house needs a good disinfecting and I can't find time to get my morning

yoga in, let alone blog. I miss you all. I will be back soon.

Hoping to do more of this soon!