Top of the Mornin'

Wheat generally gets a bad rap. For many, wheat represents "too healthy", "too heavy", "not tasty". I get these kind of comments when I try to serve whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, etc. There are few times I never get comments though...whole wheat bread, whole wheat cinnamon rolls and whole wheat pancakes. My husband thinks these WW pancakes are far tastier than their white counterpart. That is his opinion, judge for yourself.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

This recipe is great because you make a big batch of mix, then just stick it in your freezer and use as needed.

You start by combining WW flour, sugar, powdered milk, salt and baking powder.


Mix them all together until all ingredients are well incorporated. This is your base mixture. Use what you need, then store the rest in the freezer or refrigerator.



In a separate bowl, add an egg, water and oil.




Whip it up until it is nice and frothy. By doing this, you add lightness to your pancakes...tricky isn't it :)!




Now mix a portion of your dry ingredients with your wet ingredients.

Blend until just mixed.

Throw them on the griddle and wait for the magic!

Watch for the bubbles to appear...then flip!

Nice golden color...you are wanting to take a bite right now aren't you!

AAhh, the finished product. So tasty, so good for you, so easy! Whip some up this week!

Whole Wheat Pancake Mix

8 cups whole wheat flour

2 1/2 cups powdered milk

1/2 cup sugar

4 teaspoons salt

5 tablespoons baking powder

Mix all dry ingredients. Store in refrigerator or freezer.

To use mix:

1 1/2 cup mix

1 egg

2 tablespoons oil

3/4 cup water

Beat egg, water and oil, then add mix.

Makes approx. 8 medium sized pancakes

Martha Stewart Cookie Jar

I saw these cookies in the latest Martha Stewart Food Magazine and just had to make them. I mean, they had whole wheat flour in them! If you can't make it up the canyon but are craving some S'Mores...this is for you!!

S'MORES COOKIES

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour (spooned and leveled)

1 cup all-purpose flour( spooned and leveled)

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (a great addition to this cookie!)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup light-brown sugar

1 large egg

8 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, cut into 30 squares

15 large marshmallows, halved horizontally

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse oats until finely ground. Add flours, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; pulse to combine. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, scraping down side of bowl. With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture just until combined.

Drop dough by tablespoons, 1 inch apart, onto two baking sheets. Top each with a chocolate square. Bake until just lightly golden, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Remove sheets from oven ; heat broiler. Top each cookie with a marshmallow. One sheet at a time, broil until marshmallows are lightly browned, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.

Makes 30

My cookies were a bit too big...the cookie should only end being a little bigger than the marshmallow, but they still tasted good and it was fun for my kids to "roast" marshmallows in the oven! When forming your dough balls, keep in mind that these are "bite sized" cookies.

Enjoy!!

Wheat Week

I love using freshly ground wheat flour. I started using it slowly, mostly just in bread making, but over the last few years I have started to use it in almost everything...almost :). This week I thought I would post a few of my favorite recipes using whole wheat flour.

30-Day Bran Muffins

This is a favorite year round. You mix up the batter of these tasty muffins and let it sit in your fridge for up to 30 days. So when I want a muffin or two, or twelve, I just pull out the bowl, fill up a few muffins tins and 20 minutes later...viola! Wonderfully, healthy bran muffins!

Here is a little play by play.

Here is the muffin batter...I would have taken pictures of each step of preparation, but you would have gotten a little bored...it is SO easy!


I scoop a bit of batter into each baking cup and then fill them up with blueberries (you don't have to but in berries if you just want a nice, plain muffin). Summer is high season for berries, so watch for them to go on sale at the grocery store, unless of course you grow your own. This batch of blueberries only cost me 99 cents for 6 oz. (if you are worried about stocking up because you can't eat them fast enough, just stick them in the freezer...they will stay good for months, at least for use in baking!)

Look at those berries...Beautiful!!

I scoop a little more batter on top so the berries are nice and nestled.

Then smooth it out on top and stick it in the oven.

At the end of it all, I am rewarded with this! Look at how those blueberries exploded! Aagghh...I can't wait to have a bite! Make some today...you will be glad you did!!

30-Day Bran Muffins (Favorites Cookbook)

4 cups All-Bran cereal

2 cups boiling water

1 cup butter

2 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 quart buttermilk

5 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

5 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups Bran Flakes cereal

Pour boiling water over All-Bran cereal and let sit. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs then dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk. Mix in All-Bran and water mixture. Last of all, stir in Bran Flakes. This batter stores in the fridge for 30 days and makes dozens of muffins! Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes in greased or paper-lined muffin tins.

A Few Deals

• I am not lost...it is just summer and we are just going with the flow a bit. I am actually terrible at "going with the flow", so I am practicing! My posts may be a bit inconsistent during the summer months, but then again, I might get on a roll, who knows, but don't forget me...I am still here and will be continuing to post.
  
  I thought I would let you know about a few good deals going on this week...
  
  Smith's
• 10lb. bag Russet Potatoes- $1.79 (quick and easy dinner!)
• Fresh Wild Caught Alaskan Keta Salmon (whole or half)- $2.49 lb (great for now or freeze for later!!
• Kroger Cottage Cheese 16 oz.- $1.00
• Kroger Veggie Dips 16 oz.- $1.00
• Dasani Water Bottles 24 pk. (limit 8)- $2.99
• A&W or Sunkist- 4 for $5 and when you buy four you get a FREE 1.75 qt. of Private Selections Ice Cream when you use your FV card. (Have Rootbeers Floats this weekend, then reuse the bottles for water storage!)

Dan's

• WF Medium Cheddar Cheese 2lb Loaf- $3.99 (can freeze for later use)
• WF Sour Cream 24 oz.- $1.19
• Saturday, June 20th Only...Marinated In-Store Petite Steaks-$1.99 lb.

Your 3-Month Supply

Like Organic foods? Click HERE to get coupons for Stoneyfield Farms Products.

Enjoy!!

Tips From the Moon

I haven't had the chance to try out these recipes yet, but they are definitely on my to-do list! I'm not one to make a totally separate meal for my toddler, so I love the recipes that I can make for everyone. Here's a few that I thought sounded good! These recipes are all from

Annabel Karmel's The Fussy Eaters' Recipe Book.

Annabel's Secret Tomato Sauce
1 T. olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 leek, carefully washed and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 medium carrot, chopped
1/2 medium zucchini, chopped
one 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2/3 cup vegetable broth
3 T. tomato paste
1 t. superfine sugar
1 T. torn fresh basil leaves (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onion and leek for approximately 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the bell pepper, carrot, and zucchini, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, and sugar, and stir for approximately 1 minute. Simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in the basil leaves, if using. Transfer to a blender and blitz the sauce to a puree. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Orzo Salad
1/3 cup orzo
2 T. peas, cooked from frozen
1/4 cup drained canned corn
1/2 cup cubed cooked chicken
Dressing
1 T. mayonnaise
1 T. sour cream or Greek-style yogurt
1 t. water
1/2 t. white wine vinegar
1 1/2 t. snipped fresh chives

Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and mix with the peas, corn, and cooked chicken.
Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing and toss with the salad.

Mummy's Ramen Noodles
2 1/2 ounces Chinese-style dried thin egg noodles (lo mein) or use bean thread (cellophane) noodles
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 t. soy sauce
1/3 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup drained canned corn or frozen corn
1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/2 t. cornstarch
1 scallion, thinly sliced

Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Put the broth, soy sauce, peas, corn, and chicken in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
In a small cup, mix the cornstarch with 1 teaspoon cold water and add to the contents of the pan, then cook, stirring, for another minute or until the liquid thickens slightly. Add the noodles and scallion and reheat briefly, stirring. Transfer to a bowl or small cup to serve.

A Few Tips and Recipes (age 6-9 Months)

Introducing your baby to solid food can be a frustrating experience. With each bite, more food seems to come out of their mouth than stays in it. One good thing about homemade baby food is the flavor, babies actually like to eat it, so eating time is a bit more enjoyable.

This introductory time, 6-9 months, is also a great time to introduce lots of new flavors as babies tend to be more open to change (everything for them is new). The more flavors they are introduced to, the better chance you have of them not being picky eaters in the future.

I started basic...First Purees

Carrots

Apples

Squash

Sweet potatoes

Peas

After a couple of weeks I introduced more fruits and vegetables...

Potatoes

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Berries

Bananas (not suitable for freezing)

Mango

Avocado (not suitable for freezing)

I steam all of the fruits and veggies that require cooking. Here is a general cooking guide.

Apples-8 min.

Pears- 3-4 min.

Carrots, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash,

and Pumpkin- 15-20 min.

Tip: Add some leftover cooking water to the steamed fruits and veggies

to thin them out while blending.

Just add it slowly until you have reached your desired consistency.

And don't blend potatoes in a blender or food processor as the mixture will become

starchy, use a food mill instead.

I usually spend one morning, once a month making baby food. Once I start, it is easy to whip up a nice array of food. Even though my baby is now 9 months old, I still like to freeze simple, first purees and then mix them when I warm them up. Carrots are a great combo with Peas because the sweetness of the Carrots balances out the strong flavor of the Peas. Apples and Pears go great together as do Green Beans, Corn and Carrots, and Broccoli and Potatoes. When babies get older, you can also make up and freeze a great cheese sauce which goes GREAT with veggies!

Here are some of my baby's favorites...

Apple and Pear Puree

Ingredients

2 eating apples (I use Gala)

2 ripe pears

4 tbsp pure unsweetened apple juice or water

Generous pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Put the fruit into a saucepan together with apple juice or water and pinch of cinnamon (if using), cover and cook over a low heat until tender (about 6 to 8 minutes). Blend the fruit to a smooth puree.

Suitable for freezing




Vegetables and Lentils

Ingredients

2 T butter

1 1/2 cups leeks, finely sliced

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1/3 cup red lentils ( or any color you have)

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped

2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped

1 bay leaf

2 cups vegetable stock or water

Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the leeks for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes. Add the lentils, saute for one minute, then add the sweet potato and bay leaf and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables and lentils are tender. Remove the bay leaf and blend to a puree.

Suitable for freezing
MAKES 6 PORTIONS

The BEST Oatmeal!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup quick oats

6 ready to eat dried apricots, chopped

1 large ripe pear, peeled, cored and cut into pieces

Put the milk, quick oats and chopped apricots in a small saucepan, bring to the boil and then simmer, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Puree together with the chopped pear in a hand blender. (You can also add the pear to the oatmeal mixture during the last few minutes of cooking if you want a thinner texture).

Suitable for freezing

MAKES 4 PORTIONS

all pictures and recipes courtesy of annabelkarmel.com

Tips From the Moon

While we are waiting for "Tips from the Coop" to return...I thought perhaps we would like to hear a few "Tips from the Moon"...Moon being my sister Marianne...funny nickname, long story!

FUSSY EATERS

I have two fussy eaters...one is three years old, the other is eight months old. They are obviously fussy in different ways, but both often make eating time a bit difficult! I really tried to feed my three year-old a variety of things so she wouldn't be a fussy eater...either I didn't do a good enough job, or it just didn't work. She will not eat any fruit unless it's in the form of a fruit snack. She will eat some vegetables but is very picky. I continue to try to introduce/hide new foods to make her diet a bit more well-balanced, but it is not easy! My eight month-old has major texture aversion. I know that she is young and can grow out of it, but add to it that she has a very sensitive gag reflex, and I am dealing with a lot of throw up when I try to introduce chunkier foods. Hence, eating time is a bit difficult.

I just picked up a book from the library by Annabel Karmel called The Fussy Eaters' Recipe Book. I've only had it for a couple of days, but I like the information I've read thus far. Some of her tips that I think might work for me...

• Make healthy junk food. I've got a hot dog, corn dog, chicken nugget lovin' kid. This book has some great recipes for homemade pizzas, chicken nuggets, and even ramen noodles.
• "Disguise vegetables by blending them into a tomato sauce and serve with pasta. You can double-bluff by leaving a few chunky vegetables in the sauce for your child to pick out, then he'll never suspect that ther are still some in there." Brilliant!
  
• She says that the key to getting your child to like eating salad is to have a good dressing. There are some great dressing recipes that even sound good to me!
  
• "Children like eating with their fingers, so serve vegetables such as corn on the cob with melted butter, or baked potato wedges." That is so true about my child!
  
• Tying right in with the "being prepared" theme of this blog, she also recommends getting your kids involved in growing a garden as they may be more interested in eating foods that they watched grow. I've seen first-hand how Jac's kids are interested in the food from their garden!

As for my baby, I did have a small success the other day. Thanks to Jac's inspiration, I also make my own baby food. The purees are always a hit, so I ground up some cooked chicken and mixed it in with carrots and sweet potatoes and she had no idea that it was even there! I may get her to chew food without gagging yet!!

P.S. Annabel Karmel has some great baby food recipe books too, and I just saw a recipe for pureed lentils and vegetables that actually looked good. Yahoo for food storage and homemade baby food! I've never felt so resourceful!

Homemade Baby Food

I know this post does not apply to everyone...but I just think it is a very "provident" thing to do, so if you have far surpassed needing baby food, pass the info onto a friend.

I personally started to make my own baby food this past year. My motivation was a financial one and I knew I would save TONS of money making my own rather than purchasing it....so I went to the library, checked out a few books on the topic and was well on my way.

I started simple, just copied the "Gerber 1st" Foods and the results were amazing. Not only did I save a lot of money, but my baby LOVED to eat it! This food actually had flavor! I have been just kicking myself that I didn't make my own baby food for my other children.

Here are the basics of what I do...

Steam the fruits and veggies until they are cooked through, puree them up in my blender, and fill up ice cube trays full of food to freeze until a later date.



Once frozen, I label and date a freezer bag and fill 'er up.

I then put my nicely labeled bag into a plastic container that is already full of other labeled bags and stick it back in my freezer.

When I am ready to serve it up, I take one serving (2 food cubes, this is potatoes and carrots) and warm it up in the microwave until it is nice and steamy. Then I just let it cool on the counter for awhile until it is just slightly warm. (Although this picture does not show them slightly warm...more like totally frozen, but you get the idea :)!)

Voila! Lickity split! Yummy, tasty baby food.

This week we will be talking tips, recipes, fussy eaters, etc. So come on back now ya hear!

P.S. Joey, if you are out there...we are missing Tips From The Coop! Come back soon!

A Little Freebie

So this may not be exactly everyone's idea of a 3-Month Supply item, but for my husband it is!




Every Friday through September, Mars is giving away coupons for free chocolate bars (I just had a couple delivered this week!). They offer 250,000 each Friday with a limit of 1 coupon per email address and 4 coupons per household. You must also be 13 years or older to enter.

Click HERE to get your coupon!!

Here's to filling up our food storage and our stomach with rich chocolate!!

What to write...

I am sitting here staring at the computer screen, wondering what to write about. My brain is somewhere else...I need to adjust my focus. In the meantime, when you have 9 minutes and 18 seconds, check out this YouTube video on Gathering your 3-Month Supply.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqUSUx_mZyA

Your 3-Month Supply

Well, I am breathing again. I made my last call to the automated jury duty lady and was told I was not yet needed, so we will wait until my next summons...until then, let's talk about the ultimate 3-Month Supply...gardens!!

Remember this picture...

I was so excited because my sugar snap peas were finally holding onto the trellis! Unfortunately it was short lived because I think the next day the wind blew it off.

I ended up having to take matters into my own hands and tied a few of the vines to the trellis. After that they took off and they are growing like crazy! Here is the proof...

A future pea...the heavens are singing!!!

Beautiful aren't they. A mother's love.

Although it is too late to plant these beauties, why not consider these...(I am speaking directly to my sisters who need to get cracking on their gardens!)

A lovely yellow squash perhaps...grown vertically of course.

What about a cherry tomato plant in a "Topsy Turvy". I have always been curious about these things, so when I saw one at Home Depot I had to give it a try. As you can see my tomato plant is very confused and is desperately looking for the sun. I think it might have been too small of a plant, but we are going to give it a go. That is if it can ever straighten itself out.
To be continued...

A Brief Hiatus

I am taking a brief hiatus from blogging...I think. The reason for my indecision is...I have been confirmed for JURY DUTY this week! AAGGHH!! I am SO STRESSED! It is like my worst nightmare...my own Friday the 13th, Halloween 4, you name it, I am experiencing it! I have to call each night and listen to a lovely computerized voice tell me she "did not understand" me and could I repeat my juror number and then wait...wait for the dreaded words that I have been called up and I am supposed to meet someone named Eddie on the 2nd floor of the Justice Courts or something. I seriously cannot concentrate on anything. Not dinner, not cleaning, nothing! Am I a freak? Yes! But I have seriously been dreading this since I was 18 and a registered voter!

So, Provident Living is taking a bit of a back seat, just until I can pull myself together. That might be tomorrow, it might be Friday, it might be Monday (which is when my breathing will hopefully return to normal).

Until then...bake some bread...it is the Provident thing to do.

Your 3-Month Supply

Container Gardening

Introducing my new baby...my container herb garden! It sits right outside my kitchen on my very ugly patio. My trellis' have taken a bit of a back seat while I am waiting for things to grow, so in the meantime I am giving most of my time and attention to this beauty. I have always wanted to plant some sort of produce in a container, I just haven't gotten around to it. But this was my year! I chose herbs because 1. I like herbs and 2. I have heard that if you grow your herbs close to your kitchen you are more likely to actually use them in your cooking.

I have planted herbs every year, down in my grow box, and they just grow and grow all summer...that is it. Just grow. I never seem to use them, I guess I am just too lazy to walk down my back steps to get them. So, I thought I would try something new.

What I needed...

1 big container (I got a great wood one from Home Depot for under $25)

1 bag of potting soil ( I used one, 2 cubic foot, bag)

Plants (this year I planted basil, thyme, rosemary, Italian parsley, and a green pepper plant in the middle)

That's it!

If you are interested in a container herb garden I found some great information on the USU extension site. They talk about what herbs grow well in containers, what size of containers you will need, and the best way to plant and care for your herb garden. Click HERE to get to their site.

And I came across the most fantastic bread recipe the other day that uses herbs. Just wait until you see it! It is seriously the coolest looking loaf of bread I have ever seen! My rosemary will be spectacular in this thing! When you click the link, scroll down a bit to get to the bread.

Here is the link...http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/the-bread-in-his-words/

Enjoy!!

Baby Steps Part 3

Tip #3

You are not doing this alone.

Not only are you one of MANY who are trying diligently to build up their home storage, but there is One who not only wants you to succeed, but will help you succeed.

Big thanks to Julia who left a comment yesterday and included this verse of "How Firm A Foundation"

"Fear not, I am with thee

oh be not dismayed

for I am thy God

and will still give thee aid

I'll strengthen thee,

help thee,

and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand."

There is nothing that brings more peace than the knowledge that the Lord is with us and will help us. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished.

Amen :)!

Baby Steps Part 2

Tip #2
Set Realistic Goals and Continue To Build On Those Goals

I have been reading a book entitled "Food Storage 101, Where Do I Begin?" by Peggy Layton. In it she discusses taking particular steps in a particular order when obtaining your food supply. It starts with just simply finding a place to store, then it moves on to creating shelving, then obtaining alternate cooking equipment...finally leading to a home grocery store. It is not done all at once, it is done step by step.

One thing I have done is take a good look at what I have and decide what areas make me feel vulnerable. I have a great space, I have some good shelving (although I need a few more shelves), I have a decent supply of food but I haven't stored "meals". That is something I need to work on. I also need to purchase some canning equipment that will help me convert my summer harvest into winter eats. I also need to store garden seeds.

This is what I am going to focus on for the next few months. There is A LOT more I need to do, but this is a good start and gives me the satisfaction of "moving forward." I believe these are realistic goals and when I have accomplished these ones, I will move on to the next.

Like I always say...two steps forward and one step back is still progress.

Such is life!!!

Baby Steps

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. Nothing specific...just a lot of little things that have left me emotionally tired. So it didn't help when I was watching "NIGHTLINE" the other night and watched a story on a "Doomsday Lady". This particular woman, by her own admission, believes that we are at the beginning of the end. She no longer drives a car because she doesn't want to be dependant on gas, she heats her home with one small wood burning stove, and she tries her best to live off her land so she is in control of her own food supply. She is an extremist. She knows it. I know it...but it got me all worked up and nervous.

Then, I went to the grocery store on Saturday and as I filled up my cart...thought of my own dependency on the grocery store and felt those twinges of panic. Unfortunately, I let those feelings fester through the night..."Can we truly store ALL we will need?", "I don't have an endless supply of money, I am limited in what I can purchase each month...what if I run out of time?", "When it really comes down to it...do I really know WHAT we need?", "THIS IS SO OVERWHELMING!!" Have any of you had these thoughts? Does "getting prepared" seem so overwhelming and impossible at times that you just do nothing? You are not alone...I feel that way at times. And it is at those times I have to take a step back and breathe...and come back to reality and remember that I can only do what I can do...and that is enough. Truly.

Due to the fact I am currently refocusing myself...I thought I would devote a few posts on how to get back on track when you become overwhelmed.

Tip#1
Keep reminding yourself of the goal. It is so easy to lose our focus. Our lives are busy and with all we have going on it is easy to get focused on other things and lose sight of the goals we have set for ourselves. If you set reasonable goals and keep those goals in the forefront of your mind (and maybe a post it note on your fridge) you will not only slowly be able to build up a supply, but will be filled with a sense of satisfaction each month as you accomplish what you set out to do.

Giveaway Winners!!!

Thanks to all that entered!! Let's get right to it!

Giveaway #1 Winner (the bread making products) is...

Comment #2

"Marianne said...
I am going to try and expand my garden this year!"

Giveaway #2 Winner (the all-in-one bung wrench)

Comment #10

"Suzanne said...
My goal is to try and become a regular bread maker! And I'm trying to build up the basics of my long-term food storage."

Giveaway #3 Winner (the garden trellis)

Comment #5
"Blue said...
oh, ps: i am already a MAJOR follower your blog. as you are aware. i'm also a MAJOR fan of that emma. as it turns out. ♥"

Oh goodness! I can't stand the thought of anyone not winning something, so...Superhey, Andrea and Danielle...you have all won a homemade batch of tasty whole wheat cinnamon rolls. Made with love by ME! They will be hot and ready Saturday morning! Email me with your Saturday schedule so we can coordinate! Except for Danielle of course, who will be dining on fine hospital food and looking at her new baby! I will bring yours over next week!

Seed Sale

With the weather warming, the window for planting lettuce, spinach, arugula, radishes, etc. is closing (until late summer), but there are still so many things you can plant...

Squash, Tomatoes, Beans, Peppers, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Onions, etc. And whereas I like to transplant Tomatoes and Peppers already in their "plant" form, I have just within the last few days, planted the rest of my produce from seed.

The good news is, Smith's has ALL of their seeds on sale for 50% off until Saturday. I went and stocked up on a few last minute seeds today...namely, cucumbers and grabbed a few packs of lettuce, spinach and arugula that I will plant again come September. You also might want to consider getting some seed packs to store for a rainy day. Seeds stored in your freezer can last anywhere from 10-15 years.

That is peace of mind.

The Rocket Has Landed!!

I am not the type of person that tries something new and succeeds the first time around. My life seems to be a lot of trial and error...is your life like that sometimes?

It is for that reason I am singing at the tops of my lungs today because MY SNAP PEAS HAVE GRABBED ON TO THE TRELLIS!!! My maiden voyage with vertical gardening has seen a glimmer of success. Oh the possibilities!!

I thought you might want to see what is making me sing...

Beautiful isn't it!? I have sat there and stared all day at this amazing feat!

So the moral of this story is...if I can do it, you can do it!

GO VERTICAL GARDENING!!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway...we are giving away a Garden Trellis! Just think of all the singing you will be doing!