Inside the Mind of a Freelance Writer

Saving money on laundry

2010-03-17T16:07:00Z

Saving money on laundry, another small place that can eat a lot of cash.

For those who are not insane or do not have the time to wash clothes the old fashioned way (yes, I do mean washboard and hand scrubbing):

Avoid the hype about brightening your clothes. The chemicals used to do so leave a coating on the fabrics that absorbs the light to give the appearance of being brighter. Expensive additives that will damage your clothes.
Use cold water for most of your laundry. Remember if you are using bleach for your whites hot water will actually make the bleach more potent by forcing more chlorine molecules to join together creating a stronger acid. Bleach will "eat" your clothing.
Buy laundry soap in bulk or switch to using washing soda and borax. 1:1 ratio (I need to double check that before making my next batch) of each ingredient. Environmentally friendly, inexpensive to make. 1/4 cup in the wash does the trick.
Hang to dry, harder for apartment dwellers but you can come up with creative ways to line dry your wash.
Vinegar, 1/8 cup per load, as a fabric softener and deodorizer.
Small more frequent loads. You use less water with small loads of laundry which also saves energy. If you are on public water there is energy expended to process the water, the less you use the less water needs to be processed.

For those who are as crazy as I am, I have never professed sanity in any form, innocence maybe sanity never.

Purchase an old fashioned washboard, you can find them in junk/antique shops all the time.
Purchase a round water trough from your local feed supply place and a stand to place it on.
Purchase gloves to protect your hands, rubber if you have to or an environmentally friendly equivalent.
Wash small loads at a time to save your back and shoulders. Using homemade or eco-friendly laundry soap you can use the left over water in your garden, often referred to as gray water.
If you are lucky enough to find one and wringer washer works well too.
Remember to wring your laundry out a bit before hanging it on the line.
Hang clothes to dry, don't forget to add vinegar to your rinse water to keep towels and other heavy fabrics soft.

Hand washing your laundry can be time consuming and hard work, however, you will use less water and energy by doing so. Remember to do it early in the morning, use the rule of thumb that if laundry is on the line by noon it will be dry before the sun goes down. Hand washing your clothes will help them last longer.

Light and Love!

Gas Saving Ideas

2010-03-17T14:08:00Z

Warm weather slowly creeps back into our lives bringing with it the temptation to get out and go some where. Then you arrive at the gas station. You stand there looking at the pump in utter dismay. As the number of gallons slowly creeps upward and the cost speeds by at the speed light you take a deep breath and re-plan your trip. You think well maybe I do not need to fill the tank all the way. Go ahead and fill it up, you will spend more to add that little bit more later on.

Here are some tips to help make that house payment worth of gas last a bit longer:

Take care of your car by keeping up with regular maintenance such as oil changes and tune-ups. Rotating your tires, keeping them properly inflated help as well.
Obey the speed limit, every 5 MPH over 60 costs you roughly 25¢ per gallon.
Aggressive driving can cost you up to 33% more in fuel.
Do not let your car idle for long periods of time. During extreme hot and cold weather it is tempting to turn the car on to warm up or cool off the interior before getting in. You get 0 MPG when you let your car idle.
Use cruise control on open roads. This helps to maintain a steady speed.
If you have overdrive available in your car use it. Your engine speed isn't as fast and it saves wear and tear on it.
During the summer time fill your car in the evening when it is cooler. Basic scientific theory: molecules spread further apart and move faster the higher the temperature with the opposite being true in lower temperatures. Translation if you fill your car during the heat of the day you are actually getting less gas than when filling in the cool of the evening.
If you are stuck in traffic, roll the windows down and turn of the AC during hot months. This prevents your car from overheating and lowers the amount of gas you are using while idling. During those unfortunate gridlocks when you realize you will not be moving any time soon, turn your car off. Please don't get out of your car that would still be dangerous.
Combine your trips out. I tend to start with the errand furthest from my house and then circle back.

Keep in mind you don't have to travel to go on vacation. Think of ways to turn your home and backyard into your vacation spot. Look for places close to home that offer what you are looking for in a vacation get away. Many places now offer "locals" a discount in exchange for their patronage.

Light and Love!

The History of Irish Cuisine

2010-03-16T13:58:00Z

When we think of Irish Cuisine today we think of Saint Patrick’s Day, green beer and corned beef and cabbage. Green beer is a very modern thing and not actually part of Ireland’s traditions at all. Corned beef and cabbage was a rich man’s delight. However, your average person did not eat it, not even on Saint Patrick’s Day. The rich humor and colorful stories that have been told and re-told for hundreds of generations are a prime example of the island’s people themselves. There is a strong movement to regain many of the old traditions and ways of life. The Gaels are a simple people, tied strongly to the land and their beliefs. Many of the traditions being brought back to life around the world pre-date Christianity. Much of the Gaelic culture is found in their stories, ballads and poems.

Little is recorded in the history books about the early Celtic civilizations. It is believed that they were predominately hunters and gatherers. It was approximately 5000 years ago that the Irish began to cultivate and domesticate animals. There were great social changes occurring at this time as well. They began to clear forests and collect edible plants. Rural controlled grazing of animals also brought about dramatic changes and stabilized family units. The increase in food production removed many of the constraints of population growth, such as disease and starvation.

Potatoes were not always a mainstay of the Irish diet. Meat, cheese, milk, grains and some vegetables were the main focus of the Irish. Coastal areas used a wide variety of shellfish as their main course. They added seaweed and herbs and vegetables to make a soup or stew that simmered for hours, many times it was served with bread. The inland communities cooked much the same way however, they used meat and game. There 8 types of grains known and the use varied from place to place. Oatmeal and porridge were commonly eaten.

The Gaels are known for their hospitality. It was dishonor and disgrace if you did not feed a stranger at your door. It was normal to feed someone first and then ask their business. And if there was something at all to celebrate a feast was held. The days of the great feasts where every one served according to their station in life was a way of life. However, as the Normans invaded and major socio-political changes took places this changed forever. The natives of the little island went from being land owners to tenants. There diets began to change as well.

The discovery of the New World brought about the introduction of the potato. The potato quickly became a staple food of the Irish. This brought about another change in their diet and a rise in population. It was quick and easy to grow and as cereal prices began to rise the potato stood ready to take its place.

During the 18th century, as the potato replaced cereal and sugar replaced honey and tea replaced ale, the new Irish cuisine began. This is the food that we are familiar with today. Because the farmers became so dependent on the potato as a cash crop and a main source of food when the potato famines began to strike it was devastating to them. Not only were they no longer growing a wide variety of vegetables or raising as much meat, they were suffering from a loss of their main food source.

There isn’t another country in the world that has been so changed by the introduction of one food. However, Irish Cuisine remains unchanged now since the introduction of the potato. These recipes date from the 1800’s. Hopefully one day more of the recipes that were used prior to the potato will be available.

The following recipes were submitted by James Byrne, a rather jolly fellow that I have unfortunately lost touch with. They have been left in tact as he submitted them; recipes, humor, and all that is Irish. James is a resident of Ireland.

I added 4 simple trad. recipes that haunted my family home throughout my internment there in.

The ingredients are simple and easily accessible here I would imagine more so in North America I hope ye find them useful and if not that they at least give you a giggle.

Coddle:

These are all evolved from hotpot cooking from the 1800's. When food was scarce anything you scavenged would be thrown into the pot that was always kept cooking over the hearth.

Ingredients:

1½ pints chicken stock
1 lbs bacon slices (we call them Rashers here)
1 lbs breakfast sausages (we just call them sausages because we don`t get any other kind here)
3 lb potatoes -- peeled but unsliced
2 large onions -- peeled and sliced
2 carrots -- peeled and sliced
Pinch of Rosemary, thyme and parsley
and 1 LARGE pot.

Instructions:

Boil potatoes for 20 mins,
Add chicken stock
Peel and chop the carrots and onions
Separate the sausage links
Add them all to the LARGE pot along with the rashers.
Add the herbs and cook for an 1 hour over moderate heat; do not boil.

Serves 4 family members or whoever comes over to eat until its gone.

Irish Stew: Another hotpot dish. This was invented to make use of the tough mutton of an old ewe.

Ingredients:

1 ½ of mutton
2 pints lamb stock
3 lb potatoes -- peeled but unsliced
2 large onions -- peeled and sliced
2 carrots -- peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons pearl barley
Pinch of Rosemary, thyme and parsley, black pepper and salt
and 1 LARGE pot!

Instructions

Wash the meat and trim off excess fat,
cut it into medium sized chunks then braise in the LARGE pot
Add the stock, Onions, potatoes and carrots to the pot making sure everything
is immersed in stock and simmer for 30 minutes;
Add the barley, herbs and salt
continue to simmer for another hour or until the potatoes are cooked.

Once again it serves 4 family members or whoever comes over to eat until its gone.

Crubeens: This is one of my mother’s old timey favorites. Crubeens are traditionally eaten with the fingers when you've come back from the pub after a feed of pints, (you'll know why when you read the recipe)

Ingredients:

12 pig's trotters (from the hind legs)
2 large onions -- peeled and sliced
2 carrots -- peeled and sliced
Pinch of Rosemary, thyme and parsley,
1 tsp of black pepper
1 LARGE pot...

Instructions

Put the pig's feet, onions, carrots, herbs and black pepper in a LARGE pot and cover with water.
Slowly bring to the boil and simmer for at least 3 hours.

Best served hot but beware! the fat from these usually ends up dripping from your chin onto your shoes.

Serves 4 or who ever's brave enough (or drunk enough) to eat them with you

Irish Soda bread:

This was my fathers favorite and second only to Guinness in the manly strength giving department.

Ingredients:

1lb coarse wholemeal flour
6 oz plain white flour
1/2 teaspoon bread soda
3/4 pt buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
Small drop of fresh milk
1 rounded teaspoon Bextartar (raising agent)
25g/loz. sugar.
1 LARGE pot...

Instructions

Heat the pot and grease with a little lard.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a basin and make a well in the centre.
Pour in nearly all the milk and egg;
Gather in the flour and mix to a loose dough, adding more milk if necessary
With floured hands, knead lightly on a floured board or table and flatten out.
Cut a cross on the top.
Place dough in pot and cover with a heated lid.
Place the hot coals on top to give all round heat.
Bake for about 45 minutes, until the bread is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the base.
Cool on a wire rack, wrapped in a clean tea/dish towel to keep the crust soft.

The memory of my mother making this and the smell of fresh bread still feeds

my soul today.

Crubeens horrified me as a child but I grew to love the mess I made eating them. Ye might try them out on your own to see what reaction you get.

Baking Breads

2010-03-16T13:00:00Z

One of my favorite scents from childhood is the smell of fresh baked bread. My mom and my paternal grandmother were always baking fresh bread. A daily chore actually to feed the ever growing brood. We lived close enough to grandmom and granddad to visit almost every day and help with the truck garden, the animals and of course the cooking. Daddy's family is a pretty big gregarious Irish clan. Food is one of the things always available.

Some of the bread baking tips that I have picked up over the years serve me well these days.

On a cool day get your kitchen nice and warm. Yeast loves warmth.
Proof your yeast. Put it in warm water and allow it to become frothy before adding to the flour.
Make sure there is enough humidity in the kitchen by placing a large stock pot full of water on the stove bring it to a boil and then let it simmer. This helps heat up the kitchen as well.
If you have AC on during the summer set a large deep baking dish in your oven and set your oven to 180 degrees F. Once the oven reaches this setting turn it off. You have just created the perfect environment for your bread to rise.
To keep the crust soft always butter it.
You can substitute equal amounts of honey for sugar and the yeast will still rise perfectly and gives a sweet taste to the bread.
You can use a bread machine in place of a Kitchen Aid to get your bread through the first rise. Just use your dough setting.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day Iris Soda Bread

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

    * 4 cups all-purpose flour (you can use 2 cups of whole wheat and 2 cups of all-purpose flour)
    * 1 cup white sugar (replace with honey if you do not wish to use sugar)
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 2 teaspoons baking powder
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 3 eggs
    * 1 pint sour cream (plain yogurt works as a substitute)
    * 1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.
2. Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, sour cream and raisins and mix until just combined.
3. Distribute batter evenly between the two pans.
4. Bake loaves at 325 degrees F for 1 hour.

I make white bread almost daily and have used the same recipe for ten years now.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

Easy White Bread

Ingredients:
*6 cups of all-purpose flour (you can use bread flour or mix half whole wheat and half white flour)
*2 cups of warm water (110 degrees)
*2/3 cup of sugar or honey (I cut this in half and have no problems)
*1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
*1 1/2 tablespoons of dry active yeast
*1/4 cup of oleo (oil of your choice, for a buttery flavor I use butter and cut the salt down to 3/4 teaspoon)

Directions:

Bread Machine Helper Method:

1. Add ingredients to your machine according to manufacturer instructions; mine requires liquids go in first.
2. Set the machine to the dough setting.
3. Punch the dough down and dump on to a floured surface.
4. Knead the bread for ten minutes.
5. Set up in loaf pans for second rise; takes about 30 minutes.
6. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes.
7. Set out to cool; while still warm to the touch coat with butter.

To go straight old fashioned method:

1. Mix sugar and water together, add yeast and stir gently. Set aside for 10 minutes
2. Mix dry ingredients and then add oil and yeast mixture.
3. Mix until the dough forms a sticky ball.
4. Dump dough out on a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes.
5. Lightly butter a stone or metal bowl. Roll the dough around in the butter to coat and set aside to rise; approximately 30 minutes.
Follow steps 3 through 7 above.

You can add cinnamon and raisins to this dough while mixing for a lovely cinnamon raisin bread. I use 1 cup of raisins and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

If you prefer a cinnamon or cinnamon swirl bread you roll out the dough after the second kneading session. The dough should be 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Cream together 1/2 half stick of soften butter with cinnamon and sugar mixture (1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon). Smooth over the dough and sprinkle with raisins. Roll the dough to form your loaf and place in loaf pans for second rise.

You can add garlic and Italian seasonings to make a nice lightly seasoned bread. I have also added lavender to make a lavender bread that is to die for.

Enjoy your breads!!

So much to do, so little time

2010-03-10T00:49:00Z

I know I haven't kept up with my blogging calendar the last week or so. We have been in the process of purchasing a new home. It is tiny and not on the amount of land we originally desired, however it will be ours and is a wonderful project. It has been a rental for the last fifteen years and has seen quite a bit of use and abuse. We are officially in the home and in the process of making it completely ours.

Now we loved our little beach apartment but to have a place to call our own, I don't think there are words at the moment to describe the way we feel. Well, maybe a few exhilarated, scared, over joyed and overwhelmed. This is going to be a huge long lasting project. We will be renovating the house and the land.

I will be taking pictures and keeping a video journal as we progress. This is going to be an on going project. To begin with we need to patch the flashing on the roof, replace vent caps, repair the ceiling, replace the flooring and painting. First thing is first, we are unpacking and putting everything in place. The most amazing feeling is unpacking knowing that the only time things will be moved is because I am tired of where something is located in the house, not because we have to move yet again.

There is an ever growing list of things to do and many trips to Lowe's Home Improvement, yard sales, thrift stores, Habitat Home Re-sale shop and any where we can find a bargain. Our goal is that by this time next year we will have our things out of storage in North Carolina. We are finally really and truly home.

Our neighbors are awesome in this quiet little community in Horry County, South Carolina. The kids have settled in beautifully and made new friends. I do need to bake some bread for our neighbor Eddie and his wife. He came over and offered the use of his pick up to get rid of a mound of trash left behind by previous tenants. It has been a long time since we have had neighbors that not only offer help but actually go through with the offer.

It is time to get the house moving have some errands to run in town later on. Light and Love! My scheduled calendar blogs will start up again tomorrow. I have an actual office to work in, it is so lovely!!

Wednesday and Thursday Posts

2010-03-04T15:15:00Z

We got wrapped in taking a day off to enjoy ourselves yesterday. Took the kids to the library for homeschool story time, lazed about and played Diablo II Lord of Destruction. After having stayed up half the night talking, with crazy schedules we do that from time to time. We decided to sleep in this morning. Wednesdays and Thursdays are my husband's weekend. At least at the moment, his schedule is always subject to change.

Wednesdays' Frugal Tip of the Day:

Buying flour in bulk.

Homemade baked goods always taste so much better. Mommy always said it was the little bit of extra love that goes into them. It is also less expensive and healthier for most people as well. I tend to buy flour in bulk which does create a few inconveniences, such as storage and keeping the flour fresh. If you do not have freezer space to keep flour cool, dry and fresh then you need to invest in some large airtight containers. The problem will still be the stale taste and smell that develops if it is not used fast enough. It is really quite simple, 1 bay leaf for every 5 lbs of flour. This prevents pests and keeps the flour fresh without leaving the taste of the bay leaf. I have always used a dry bay leaf, though I am sure a fresh one would work as well.

Thursday's Writing Update

First Gardening Book Progress:
I still have several chapters to finish fleshing out and then I will start the editing process. I am also working on diagrams to use to help with visualization of various processes.

Werewolf book:

I am still just getting words on pages. I think that it will be an interesting combination of sci-fi and fantasy. Not exactly horror though that is what werewolves are associated with most commonly. I really feel it is time that they come out of the shadows so to speak and show their heroic side.

Freelance Services:
I do offer writing and editing services for everyone. Writing services include web content, blogging, social media, newsletter and journal articles, ghost writing and resume. Editing services are pretty straight forward, if you need proofreading done on any document I can do that as well. Turn around time on any project will vary based on the size of the project.

Various and Sundry thoughts

2010-03-02T20:35:00Z

So many topics to cover by request. I think I am going to set up to do a specific top for each day of the week. Mondays gardening issues, Tuesdays Recipes, Wednesdays Frugal Tip of the Day, Thursdays Writing update, Fridays Homeschooling, Saturdays Happy News Briefs, Sundays General Life Ramblings. This looks like an excellent plan of action. I really want to go back to blogging in the mornings when I am more coherent. I will have to mark all this on my calendar so that I do not forget which days has been assigned what topic.

I had originally planned on taking the kids to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday at the local university, however everyone has been slightly under the weather and it is raining and dreary outside. Not wanting to push our luck and have icky kids are on our hand we will do our own little celebration tomorrow.

Since today is Tuesday, I might as well post my recipe for the week.

This week's new recipe was of my own making, pear, walnut cornbread stuffing.

The roasted chicken itself was not special other than the seasonings I used. I used a bit of teriyaki sauce, sprinkled with ginger and place crushed garlic cloves under the skin. For the stuffing I made fresh cornbread.

Cornbread recipe:

2 cups cornmeal

2 cups milk (you can use water or buttermilk)

2 teaspoon salt (salt can be cut in half)

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons of shortening

The oven was preheated to 350 degrees. I unceremoniously poured all the ingredients into a large bowl and mixed it together with a fork. Lumps are not an issue for cornbread.

I have a wonderful cast iron skillet that I use for making cornbread. I heated the skillet on the stove and melted the shortening, making sure to coat the inside of the entire pan. Then I poured the batter into the skillet and placed it in the oven. 40 minutes later voila fresh cornbread.

I removed it from the skillet and placed it in a bowl to cool. I then hid the bowl so that no one walked by to pick at it and eat it all before dinner.

Once the chicken was seasoned and ready to go I set it aside, in the fridge. The giblets (heart, liver, neck and I add wing tips) were tossed into a small sauce pan with half an onion, a cup of sliced carrot and some basil, oregano, sage and majarom. Covered it all with water and let it come to a boil. The mix simmered for about a half an hour.

Ingredients for the stuffing:

Crumbled cornbread loaf

1 Bartlett pear

½ medium onion

1 cup walnut pieces

2 cloves of garlic

1 stick of butter

1 cup of chicken stock

2 eggs

I peeled and cored an over ripe Bartlett pear. I cut the other half of onion into quarters and peeled the garlic cloves. Mixed the walnuts, pear, onion and garlic into a bowl and added a little bit at a time to the mini chopper, making sure that everything was finely minced.

The minced items, hot stock and melted butter are poured over the crumbled cornbread. With a large fork I mixed all of this together then added the eggs. Once everything is thoroughly mixed I stuff it into the chicken. What doesn't fit goes into a bread loaf pan.

The stuffed chicken and the loaf pan go into the preheated oven (350 degrees) for at least one hour.

Today's To Do List Accomplishments

2010-02-28T19:17:00Z

Well so far the daily agenda list has been hit and miss. Though I cannot complain too much I had just as much fun working with my husband on setting up an Ustream account and getting live music broadcasts out and about. We are going to have some weekly shows via video and live stream. We just haven't decided on formats yet.

School wise the kids vetoed science today, well officially, they have helped with cooking. However, we have started on the research writing process with our daughter. The chosen topic is the history of marshmallows. There is some pretty interesting information out there on marshmallows. However, the realization that writing a paper on them isn't going to be easy was a little disconcerting. So we are breaking it all down. Starting with how to take notes and using various sources. The internet is full of information however, we will make a trip to the library to learn how to look up books, use reference books, etc.

Our son loves mini work books so we printed out one on writing and recognizing numbers. He counts very well and can add and subtract but writing and recognizing the numbers is something we need to work on. He wrote his name on the front of the work book and did numbers one through six. He actually worked for about a half an hour. He is all of five years old and sitting still for that long is amazing. He did things happily and decided he was done. We read one of his Curious George books as well.

New background for the gift store website has been done, I just need to upload the changes. Our new mascot is in the design process and I think everyone will enjoy meeting him. We will just need a name and that will be handled with a contest. I have written out the details of the contest and will load up a page just for that information and post it on the facebook page designed for the gift store. I should do a facebook page for writing services as well. I was going to do all kinds of individual accounts but that really doesn't make sense and only adds more work to be honest. Then there is the redundancy factor of it all.

Laundry as always is hit and miss, we collected all the dirty laundry and watched as Mount Washmore grew again. It will all get done eventually and would remain done if everyone would just go around naked at least once a week.

Well off to finish up graphic work and new pages and a couple of articles to post for later.

Daily Agenda for Sunday, February 28, 2010

2010-02-28T00:13:00Z

It is really frustrating when outside forces impinge on my plans for the day. Getting the car fixed, major headache, etc. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I have several mini-projects that I want to accomplish.

Finish new logo and update gift store website
Layout contest rules for gift store
Flesh out another chapter in first gardening eBook
Write some pages in fictional novel
Science project with the kids
Article on greenhouse usage
Fix links in writing services website.
Laundry

That may not seem like a lot, just eight items, but each one actually entails quite a bit of time. Laundry can be done on the fly between projects but the rest do actually require time and planning to get each one done. Graphic work and writing are enjoyable but very time consuming. I can leave graphic work for a bit without harm to the project. Writing is another story and my family has come to realize that when I am in the middle of a project that interruptions can damage the final outcome.

Fixing links, updating info and doing background work on a website are tedious but necessary jobs. I have come to the decision that websites are never complete. They always need fresh content, always need a bug or quirk attended to and I am personally never satisfied with the layout.

School work is best done in the morning when the kids are most alert. We usually work after breakfast, though I really wouldn't call it work everyday. We are an eclectic/unschooling family. So many things can be taught through every day activities. A relaxed atmosphere allows us to work with both kids within their specific needs and learning styles. We use a combination of things with the kids to encourage their natural love of learning. Computer games, videos, television, worksheets, books, field trips, local library, etc. We get together with other homeschoolers at least once per week. Trips to the grocery store, cooking, gardening and other daily activities have provided a wealth of information on all subjects.

It is time to start our evening routine. Showers, story time or quiet reading, imaginary adventure and snuggles. Imaginary adventures I think I must explain. Our son would not go to sleep without watching television for the longest time. As he has gotten older it turned into a desire to watch just one more show and before you know it it is midnight and he still isn't in bed and asleep. So one night I said we were going to lay down and close our eyes in bed (his bed) and pretend to go some where with a favorite character from a book or show. These adventures last a really long time 5 to 10 minutes before the request for mommy song comes into play. We finish our adventure and all the characters lay down to take a nap. Song and then snuggle and the little boy who is not tired drifts off to sleep, often times mommy does as well.

Until tomorrow, light and love.

To Celebrat Dr. Seuss' Up Coming Birthday

2010-02-25T20:34:00Z

Dr. Seuss will be 106 years old next week. To celebrate we are having roasted who-beast. Plopped into the slow cooker a few hours ago with fresh garlic and onions, celery, crushed tomatoes, various herbs to season and a splash of Jim Beam. It will be accompanied by whipped garlic potatoes, peas and biscuits.

Next Tuesday, March 2, 2010 we will be at Coastal Carolina University celebrating his birthday with lots of fun activities.

Details:
Kearns' Hall (2nd floor)
Spadoni College of Education
100 James Blanton Circle
Conway, S. C. 29526

4:00 to 6:30 pm
All Children K thru 5th grade

Hosted by : S-SCEA of CCU (The Student-South Carolina Education Association of Coastal Carolina University)

Activities include:

Free Food
Free book for each child while they last
Free Face Painting
Book readings with Coastal Athletes
Free Games
Make your own books and journals

The Cat in The Hat has promised to make an appearance as well.

Spring Garden Preparations

2010-02-25T18:09:00Z

In most places everyone is getting ready for spring. Looking out the window at the brown yard, mud and barren landscape not sure where to begin.Unless you are waiting for snow to melt the first thing you will want to do is clean out and prep your garden beds. Whether you will be planting flowers, herbs or vegetables it is time to clear out winter debris.

Rake out debris that has fallen into the garden bed over the winter.Organic matter should be placed into a compost bin. Spread composted manure and lime over your garden bed, you will want it at least a half inches thick. Use a hand cultivator to mixed it into the soil. This will give you nice fresh healthy start to your new plants.

Start going through your spring bulb collection. Daffodils and tulips can go into the ground now in zones 5 through 7. Remember to plant them at least eight inches deep with the crown pointing upward. The crown is the top of the bulb. Place a light layer of straw over the bulbs to keep them nice and warm. Straw is one of the safest mulches available for natural gardeners. It provides warmth, helps maintain soil moisture and will eventually provide nutrients for the soil.

If you have a raised bed that looks like the soil has become compacted or you just need to add more, try Lasagna gardening instead. Much easier on your back and doesn't require special expenses. According to the book by Patricia Lanza, you should alternate between peat moss and organic material. What I have found is that grass clippings work just as well as peat moss and decompose faster. The rule of thumb for layering that I go by is: cardboard (if creating a new bed) composted manure, grass clippings, 4 sheets of wet newspaper, compost, grass clippings and then repeat with newspaper separating layers until I reach my desired depth of planting. One foot is optimal for most gardens. If you are refreshing a new bed skip the cardboard and just lay down 4 sheets of wet newspaper. Keep the layers wet even if you are not ready to plant. You want it to be the consistency of a wet sponge.

If you haven't already you need to get plants started indoors so that they are ready for spring planting. Most plants that you wish to grow directly from seed will need to wait until the danger of frost has passed. This varies from late March to Mid April in zones 5 through7. I am highlighting these zones because they are the most common across the United States. If you are unsure of what zone you are living in you can check out a web version at the United States National National Arboretum. The same basic rules apply for prepping for spring across all zones, the timing is different.

I will try to get in some information on early plants for everyone. What to start and when. I will discuss hardening off and other important information.

Please note most of the information I provide is based on my own personal gardening experiences.

Agenda for Today

2010-02-25T14:51:00Z

Today's agenda includes:

Fleshing out the first gardening ebook more
Researching more uses of diatomaceous earth for a friend
Writing an article on spring garden preparations
Working on updating both websites: Tammy Curry's Writing Services and The Curried Lamb
School work with the kids
Uploading photos
Complete my set up of dropbox files

That is exhausting just reading the list. However, I will have plenty of help today. Jay is on his weekend so we will do a lot of this stuff together.

Oh I did forget one thing...I will be checking out the web for happy news. I keep up with most news events but finding and reading happy news is so much more enjoyable.

Light and Love!

Diatomaceous Earth

2010-02-24T23:30:00Z

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE), a sedimentary rock has been mined for centuries. There are two common forms of diatomaceous earth pool grade and food grade. DE is widely used as an insecticide in gardens and as plant nutrient. Other uses of diatomaceous earth are toothpaste, pills, and food, normally on in ingredient labels as silicone dioxide. Diatomaceous earth is harmless to humans though it is recommended that you wear a mask to prevent irritation to the mucous membranes in the respiratory system.

Diatomaceous earth is comprised of compacted fossilized diatomite exoskeletons made of silica hydroxide. Diatomites are unicellular aquatic plant life that existed since the Lower Cretaceous age. DE is not classified as a mineral because it lacks a crystalline structure. Diatomaceous earth is a chalky, porous material, light enough to float on water and is a white gray or off white color, with a similar to talcum powder. Mined on the west coast of the United States, in Europe, and in Africa, it is then milled into a fine powder. For use in pool filtration it is partially melted, chemically treated, and then milled.

Diatomaceous earth is ground it forms millions of microscopic razor sharp edges. When it comes into contact with insects it slices through their exoskeleton. The fine dust seeps into through the cuts and causes the insects to dehydrate. When water is added it becomes a pumice like paste that will remove particles that have adhered to a surface and add a shine to metallic surfaces. As a soil amendment it helps air to circulate and acts as a capillary to draw water through soil and hold it in place.

Diatomaceous earth is used as an organic insecticide on gardens. It is effective against soft bodied and hard bodied insects. It is used with caution because it will harm beneficial insects such as honey bees and earth worms. It also adds trace silicone to the soil which is important for many plants. Diatomaceous earth is added to live stock feed as a treatment for internal parasites. Dusting live stock with DE helps to control and prevent external parasites such as fleas. Domestic pets such as dogs and cats can be given diatomaceous earth for the same reasons, to fight internal parasites, fleas, and other pests.

Diatomaceous earth is used in pool filters. The filters are similar to cartridge filters except they are filled with diatomaceous earth. They will filter the water cleaner than other filtration systems because they can catch the smallest bits of debris. Diatomaceous earth will also hold the dirt in place. It does require more frequent back-washing to clean the filtration system. Back-washing means water is run through the filtration system and then dumped.

Food grade diatomaceous earth is a component in many health and beauty products. Used in cat litter because of its absorbency and as a mild abrasive in house hold cleaners because it will not scratch delicate surfaces. Diatomaceous earth is also a component of dynamite, paper, ceramics, and paints. It does not breakdown and create waste making it one of the most environmentally friendly natural resources.

Late Start to the Day

2010-02-23T17:35:00Z

For reasons unknown I hardly slept at all last night. Tossed, turned and thrashed about a bit. I have muddled through the morning and I am now just getting to sit down and write. I am going to work on fleshing out the outline for Book 1 in Gardening the Natural Way for Beginners.

Gardening the Natural Way for Beginners will give readers a very basic step-by-step how to guide to grow anything. "Black thumbs" that seem to abound in the world will be able to use this series to grow anything. Initially I was planning on starting with indoor container gardening, however, careful thought and consideration showed me that an over all introduction to natural gardening might be in order. Book 1 will contain information on composting, vermicomposting, making your own potting soil, alternative methods for controlling pests and weeds and other information on soil, fertilizers, etc. I know many of my readers want to get out there and just start growing right away. Before you can walk you must learn to crawl, as the old saying goes. I originally was going to include conventional growing information as well. I simply changed my mind. Why should I put my time into something that I do not agree with. Plain and simple, I love natural ways of doing things above and beyond all else.

I will post some articles over the next few weeks on various plants and their care. Tomatoes seem to top everyone's list of plants to grow in vegetable gardens, so I will start with various herbs. Easy to care for species that can be grown in your window sill. The key thing to remember with all carbon based lifeforms: food and water. Without that life can not be sustained. So to all my "black thumb" friends, remember to feed and water your plants!!

Tammy

Greetings and Salutations

2010-02-22T20:25:00Z

I had taken a break from blogging and social media, now I am back and getting up to speed. I have revised, reviewed and revamped my project outlines for this year. I had to find a better way to complete all my writing goals. While reviewing what has and hasn't worked, I realized that the smaller the project that more likely I am to finish it. So each project has been broken down into tiny components.

The main projects I am working on right now:

Gardening eBook series
- Each book will cover a different gardening style
- Each book will cover natural/organic methods of gardening and traditional methods. Granted I will give more emphasis to natural/organic methods.
- There will be easy to follow instructions and pictures. Even someone with a "black thumb" will be able to grow their favorite flowers.
Fictional Novel
- Werewolves, yep they can be the good guys. I mean if vampires can sparkle in the sunlight instead of turning to ash, why can't werewolves be heroes.
- To be honest I have outlined the first book and it seems to lend itself to a series of follow up novels
- My intent is to enter a world that offers grand adventures, fantasy, romance and a bit of cultural history
- Nope, I am not letting any more hints fall out of my virtual mouth at the moment
Blogging and social media
- I really need to show off more of my work.
- I also think I am more accountable to myself and my readers when I post what I am doing and how well I am progressing
Private Clients
- I am officially offering writing and editing services via my new website.
- Tammy Curry Writing and Editing Services

My writing mini project for tomorrow:
Turn the outline of the first garden book into a rough draft.

Welcome to my new blog spot

2010-02-01T05:34:29Z

I have been quite the busy little freelancer these days. Not writing as much for content mills as I am for private clients. I love my clients, they are reasonable, fun and exciting people to interact with. My next step now is to have my old blog point over in this direction.

I will finish up the new writing services site in the next day or two. I am looking forward to displaying it for all of you to enjoy.