Sunday Stroll September 27: Fall Has Arrived! September 28, 2009

Fall has arrived in all its glory on our farm.  We’ve officially made the transition to this wonderful harvest season and a recent stroll around the farm vividly displays all the colors of fall . . .

Giant field pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns

Sugar pumpkins for pies

The opening of the corn maze . . .

. . . a place for family fun.

More pumpkins and the hay maze

More pumpkins . . .

Gourds galore

Indian Corn

Fall has arrived on the farm in all its glory.  What do the colors of fall look like in your neck of the woods?

To continue strolling, click on over to the Quiet Country House  for more Sunday Strolls.

Sea Glass Jewelry: Re-purposed Materials July 11, 2009

I’ve been working a bit lately with creating jewelry from re-purposed materials, namely sea glass, combined with crystals and beads,  from “used” pieces of jewelry.  What fun!  I’ve also enjoyed wearing some of the finished projects.

Here, I used some green sea glass and the coveted blue sea glass (much rarer around here) to put together a necklace and earring set, which I sported recently at a wedding we attended. I wrapped the sea glass with sterling silver wire and used some crystals and beads I had on hand.  It’s amazing what you can do with some good, little pliers! The colors were perfect with the blue/green sea shades of my dress.  I’ll apologize in advance for that bit of cleavage showing; my own kids say that no one really wants to see that!

Now that summer’s here, I hope to carve out a bit more time for jewelry making, as well as another favorite creative pursuit: writing.  What hobbies do you enjoy?  If you could do anything other than “work,” for pleasure, what would it be?

First Native Tomatoes! July 6, 2009

OK, they may not be perfectly beautiful, but they’re native!

Every year, my family has a good-natured competition to see who can pick the first native tomatoes before the 4th of July, so it looks like I won!

I guess it probably helped that the tomato plants I put in the ground were HUGE and already had green tomatoes on them!

Can’t wait for native tomatoes and sweet corn to be flowing freely, sometime soon. . . can’t beat a better summer supper!

NEWS FLASH…………..My Mom called last night to say she’d picked her first two ripe tomatoes in a neighboring town.  Told you we had a “healthy competition” going on here!  (I had given her a big plant with green tomatoes already on it for Mother’s Day, hoping she’d get some early tomatoes, her favorite food.)

2 BROTHERS, 2 TRACTORS May 31, 2009

Two brothers, two tractors, working the land . . . what a beautiful sight!

Sunday Stroll May 31: At the Beach!

I had the pleasure of strolling the beach on Saturday to help my daughter plan for an upcoming field trip for her Environmental Science and Botany classes.  We scouted the floral and fauna along the shoreline, and as  always, I learned so much for her!

The Beach Roses (Rosa rugosa) were magnificent!

Beach Rose was introduced to North America from Eurasia in 1872.  It has since escaped from gardens to the wild and has colonized beach habitat throughout New England.  The large fruits of this plant, called Rose Hips, mature late in the season and resemble cherry tomatoes.   They’re edible and high in vitamins A and C.  My late father used to swear by the benefits of Rose Hips!

Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) was also in bloom (above).  Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), below,  another invasive species, which resembles honeysuckle, added to the flora along the walkway.

Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), an invasive plant we see almost everywhere, is choking off an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), below.

Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans) was introduced by park personnel in the late 1960s as a deterrent to keep people from walking through the dunes, which causes extensive erosion.

Abbie identifies plant life as we walk along the trail by the beach.  I was delighted to breathe in the salt air, soak in the sunshine, and enjoy the view!

To see who else is strolling this weekend, skip on over to the Quiet Country Home.

And the winners are . . . May 17, 2009

Drum roll, please . . .

Actually,  I’m a bit late in posting these, and for that I apologize, but somehome “everyday” life got into the way of “everydaywoman’s” plans!

All the same, I’m delighted to announce the winners of Everydaywoman’s recent Spring Green Give-aways:

Imelda of Greenish Lady is the winner of  “Love the Earth” green, organic T-shirt!

Jena of  Married to the Farm is the winner of  “Love Her” XXL, Keith Urban organic  T-shirt.  (Hopefully, it will be just the right fit for her darling husband!)

Congrats to you both!  If the winners would please e-mail a suitable mailing address to everydaywomanusa@aol.com, these delightful T’s will be in the mail shortly!!!

Happy Earth Day! April 22, 2009

What am I doing on Earth Day 2009?  I’m actually taking public transportation with a group of people (NOT burning fossil fuel in my own vehicle) and I’m on my way to D.C. for a national educational conference.  I’m enjoying the view along the way from the train, blogging, reading, and napping a bit.  How nice NOT to be the driver (especially since I was up all night packing and taking care of last minute details!)

I agree with the Farmer’s Daughter that Earth Day should be EVERY day, not just ONE day a year!

What little kindness have you  done for the Earth lately?

Give-Away for your favorite GUY—or you!!! April 17, 2009

Seems I’m usually giving away something for the women out there, so here’s one for your favorite guy—or perhaps YOU to wear as a nightshirt, beach cover-up, etc.

Just couldn’t resist  this super-smart, 100% organic cotton “T” (design inspired by Keith Urban) with an awesome message—“LOVE HER—all people, one planet”

If you’re interested, just leave a comment below.  I’ll be raffling it off at the end of April, along with my other April give-away.  GOOD LUCK!

Oh, and just so you know, it’s XXL—I’m used to living with BIG guys!  And do you notice how green the grass is getting?—Spring has officially sprung!

SPRING GREEN GIVE-AWAY! March 31, 2009

In honor of Spring, and One Green Thing,  Everyday Woman is giving away this great, green, organic cotton T-shirt (size–large).  It reads: “Love the Earth.”

 

If you’re interested in making this your own, just leave me a comment!

Happy April 1st!  Random drawing will take place April 30th.  Good luck!

“Gratitude Sunday” March 29, 2009

Inspired by Green Mamma and Imelda/Greenish Lady, I’ve decided to do a “Gratitude Sunday” post instead of a Sunday Stroll today.  I’ve gotten away from my “Thankful Thursday” posts a bit too long.

On this gray, rainy, Sunday at the end of March, I’m extremely thankful for:

• My wonderful family who seems seems to understand and support me, even when they question why I would want to start a Doctoral Program at this point in my life!?!
• GREAT friends, who also support me and push me to think about doing some even crazier things, like doing a mini-marathon (more on that another time!)

• A job/career that I love!  Working as a Math Specialist/Teacher in elementary schools, I have the opportunity to support children who are struggling; extend students who need enrichment; and provide training and collaboration to fellow teachers.
• A lifestyle that is continually evolving, as I attempt to live “mindfully” each day, thanks in large part of my daughter Abbie, at Farmer’s Daughter, and all my GREEN blogging friends out there, including you!  You all make me think so much!
• Electronics that make my life so much easier—and more difficult at the same time!  Now that I’m so dependent on the Internet, my Blackberry, digital camera, etc., I don’t think I could live without them!
• That the hope of spring is in the air, as the snow melts and warmer temps envelope us, new life emerges, in the green of plants and within animals on the farm.

For big things and small, I am so grateful.  Thanks for allowing me to count my blessings!

What are YOU feeling especially thankful for today?