11 Thursday May 2017
Posted in environment, garden, garden meditation, home, life, Lifestyle, Poetry, spring, sustainable lifestyle
Tags
garden, home, inspiration, life, poetry
“I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large garden.”
– Abraham Cowley, 1618-1667, English poet
10 Monday Apr 2017
If you are a homeowner, April not only brings spring flowers, but lots of chores…check out this link below…just click the photo:
Yesterday was the second time I mowed this month…and edged, and weeded. Sadly, it appears that I will be fighting wild violets again this year in the turf…Boo! Although violets (not the edible violas or Johnny Jump Ups) are pretty, they will spread rampantly and kill all turf in its path. I learned the hard way…last season. I am not a fan of turf, yet since I own 3000SF, it must be cared for. Since the use of chemicals is taboo here, one must be extra clever to stay ahead of undesirables that blow in and take root.
I dream that my gardens and turf look like this, yet alas.
My neighbor’s field is awash with wild violets and the explosion of seeds manages to permeate my stand of thick cypress trees and attempts to conquer my tidy gardens. Last year I resorted to drastic steps. Did this fix the problem? One stroll into the turf last week, showed a healthy stand of the dastardly plants…all abloom and happy. Oh how lawn care products lie!
Three years ago, I nicknamed my house “the needy box.” This month marks sixteen years here (where does the time go??) and always, always, there is something to do. Can one actually divorce one’s home? IF so, I want one…a divorce.
IF I continue to stay, most of my major improvements since 2001 will need a redo beginning in six years. I admit, I am not ready, willing, nor is my pocketbook. “I ain’t in love,” as some country song wails. With real estate currently a seller’s market, I regularly fantasize about moving, even catch myself steering the car into new parts of the county…looking for eureka! Yet the dilemma remains…where to? Little real estate remains affordable in the US (under 300K), and regional taxes or health care deficits can take a bite out of the relocation dream.
When I shop for converted warehouses around the country, they are there. But who wants to live in the snow belt? If the warehouses here in my area are ever converted, they will become, as most other real estate here, half-million dollar abodes.
So for now, I remain on my little half-acre, not far from town, where birds, flowers, quiet, and sunshine are regulars. Deep in my soul, I wish for continued inspiration and stamina. Today, the growing season begins again…in central Virginia, zone 7a.
Let it be gentle.
A rare daffodil in my gardens…Thalia
This is Honeymoon, a fringed tulip which customers fight over at market
And this is a newbie to my gardens…Akebono, a Japanese double tulip. I had high hopes for this beauty, yet the stems don’t seem to support the peony-like blooms.
So I am off to open closets, vacuum velvet and linen draperies, wash cabinets, and polish silver whilst thinking of Cinderella when she “…wakes to find sunshine bright and all the meadows white…”
What does spring look like in your part of the world?
Copyright © 2017 By Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
19 Sunday Mar 2017
I see from my stats that my followers are reading through the thing about challenge…great! Remember to click “older posts” too as there are about a dozen thing posts…
Now that we are on the cusp of spring, I submit another blog post regarding how to shop farmer’s markets…enjoy! Mining older posts are a good thing, right?
https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/how-to-shop-at-your-local-farmers-market/
Posted early on Sunday, or it was early before the time changed…who likes time change???
This tulip is called Honeymoon. Pretty fabulous, yes?
22 Sunday May 2016
Posted in environment, farmer's market, garden, home garden, Lifestyle, season, spring, spring garden, sustainable lifestyle, Virginia
Tags
Albemarle County, Central Virginia, garden, life, nature, spring, Virginia
Normally, May is one of my favorite months as a gardener. Normally, the gardens burst with color, texture, and fragrance. Normally, May is a time for celebration and a time to bid farewell to the cold of winter. To date friends, 2016 weather continues chafe the best of my patience and optimism. Is it time to throw in the towel?
First, late killing April frosts affected many precious plants. Early tender perennials became steamed lettuce mush. Can you imagine?
Relentless May rains saturate even the best soils, threatening bulb rot and setting the stage for massive fungal issues in coming weeks. Harvesting six-hundred stems of heirloom peonies while dodging rainfall is, at a bare minimum, unpleasant for both me and my flowers. So much for garden delight. Rain days at the farmers market greatly reduce revenue, as only the hardy shoppers appear, and they typically are not in the mood for delicate stems. So much for my May cash crop. Currently, my flower fridge is overflowing and another few hundred stems beg to be harvested. Do you feel my pain?
Typically, June brings relentless heat and humidity to my Virginia gardens, seasoned with biting midges, ticks, and mosquitoes…for months. May is normally the time before June’s wickedness — inviting blissful strolls, the discovery of transcending scents, and the ability to see the fruits of my labor. Ha! At least my automobile is not floating down some side street, as Texans endure the spring from hell.
Ok, enough misery.
Is it time for the “For Sale” sign? Or shall I persevere? My inner voice whispered many times recently, “if it ain’t fun, don’t do it.” Well, I ain’t havin any fun as a gardener so far this year. Yet I am not ready for a condo. Been there, done that.
Do I publish this or press delete?
How about some comments from my followers?
From a drenched blogger/gardener in central VA.
Is it time to hang it up?
06 Thursday Feb 2014
Tags
bird buffet recipe, easy recipes, feeding wild birds, how to make organic wild bird food, NON-GMO, spring, Virginia, wild bird food, wild bird food recipe, winter
Those of you who follow my blog realize how I adore hosting wild birds in my central Virginia gardens. With frequent coaching from a local naturalist and a bluebird guru, I confidently care for wild feathered visitors year round.
This handsome Red Bellied Woodpecker dines regularly at the Yankee Seed Saver feeder. It really enjoys the LaSauce Buffet Recipe.
Being a long-time foodie, I could not resist reinventing a wild bird banquet recipe found in The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide.
I confess, I am suspicious of any food that is genetically modified (GMO) and seek organic foods for both me and my food clients, so why not for the birds???
Also an avid label reader, I find most bird foods do not list country of origin, date of production, nor GMO ingredients. Therefore, I avoid all commercially produced mixes.
Suet (the hard fat surrounding the kidneys and loins of beef and mutton) is another concern, as I strongly suspect that its source comes from beef feedlots in the midwest US. Again, I do not condone industrial meat production. When I inspect suet block labels, nada, no information there. When asked, retailers do not know origins either. Call me a fanatic, yet until there is definitive, credible proof that GMO grains and feedlot suet are safe, I will avoid them like the plague.
nestling bluebirds day nine ~ Swallowtail Cottage. Would you feed them GMO food?
LaSauce Recipe for Winter Wild Bird Buffet ~ Swallowtail Cottage
In a medium saucepan set over low heat, melt:
Why chop/grind ingredients, you may ask? Considering birds have only one tool (mandible) to process edibles, and a few toes, so I decided to make their dining experience in my gardens a wee bit less labor intensive.
Wild birds expend tremendous energy simply surviving single-digit temperatures and deep snow during winter months. One simple human step added to the bird banquet becomes a precious energy-saving step for the birds. Furthermore, serving large, whole seed with husks leads to overall food waste, as many wild birds fly in, grab a morsel, and fly off to a twig where they pound/peck seeds into manageable sizes, often losing bits of goodness during the process. Make sense?
Other favorite bird foods:
The attached recipe is gobbled up by at least eleven overwintering species of wild birds in my central Virginia gardens. Additionally, I put millet out in a separate saucer (in the bottom of a vintage parrot cage where wild birds fly in and out) for those birds who enjoy that seed.
Mealworms are another treat for many birds, yet NEVER feed those freeze-dried worms! They too are from CHINA, and we have no idea what standards apply there. I order insects year-round from a reliable US company at http://www.grubco.com. Live mealworms are essential food/protein for bluebird nestlings and they are simple and fun to care for.
add a small water heater to your bird bath during frozen winter days
NOTE: Please keep a source of fresh water available year round during daylight hours. This is critical during winter months when creeks and streams are frozen solid. Thirsty birds could easily drink from a salt-laden or antifreeze puddle that would cause an agonizing death. I place a small water heater (designed for this purpose) in the bird bath on days when temps do not rise above freezing.
Virginia bluebirds dine at LaSauce buffet
So there you are fellow bird lovers…consider this winter recipe for your feathered friends. And if you want a refresher course on clean food, view the documentaries,
Food Inc. and King Korn. My case rests…
Disclaimer: thoughts published here and throughout this blog are mine and in no way do I benefit from businesses/publications mentioned within.
Want my spring buffet recipe?
LaSauce Spring/Warm Weather Wild Bird Buffet Recipe is a combo of shelled sunflower seeds, dry currants, ground eggshells, and sunflower oil—plain and simple.
All ingredients are purchased in bulk at my local health food-minded market.
Simply whirl two cups of seeds and one-half cup of berries in a food processor until slightly chopped, about three seconds (remember this saves the birds labor and morsel loss).
Add ground organic/cooked egg shells (2 T), then toss with a tablespoon of sunflower oil to moisten. The oil helps the egg-shell powder stick to the seed, yet will not choke the birds. Portions are approximate and easy to make. Birds are not picky! If I notice one ingredient being consumed faster, I add more of that next batch.
a photo of the warm weather mix. Wild birds flock to the feeders for this nutritious food. Happy feeding!
Happy birding!
Any questions? Just post them to the comments link located in the top right of this page.
Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
22 Thursday Aug 2013
Posted in easy recipe, edible flowers, Food, garden, healthy food, herb bed, home, landscape design, Lifestyle, quick meals, recipes, spring, spring flowers
Tags
chive artichoke pesto, chives, easy recipes, edible flowers, herb garden, nourishing herbs, pesto, quick meals
There are many presumptions regarding herbs—chives in particular.
Many see them as a garnish, and push them aside.
Yay whoa, let me share the reasons why this little herb belongs in your belly.
First off chives are:
Low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium
High in dietary fiber, vitamin A, C, K, B6, Riboflavin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Thiamine, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Phosphorus, and Zinc!
So there!
Ready for a tasty, nutritious, signature recipe for chive artichoke pesto? OK!
When I bought my first patch of land back in 2001,
one of the first plants chosen for the herb garden was chives!
humble chives harvested and rinsed and ready for a spin.
edible flowers first thing in the spring!
cut rinsed and spun chives into 2″ lengths–easier for the processor to handle
drain and rinse canned water-packed artichokes
Rinse and spin equal amounts of curly parsley and pack the bowl of your processor with equal portions of chives and parsley. Top with one cup of raw walnuts, cup of drained artichokes, 1 rounded teaspoon kosher salt, juice from 1/2 a fresh lemon, and 6 glugs of virgin olive oil. Process until smooth, scraping bowl a couple of times during processing. FYI, a glug is a free pour out of a spouted olive oil bottle, counting up to six as you pour. My food processor bowl is 7 cup size, so make allowances if yours is larger…
finished pesto divvied up into 8 OZ deli containers, ready for chill down, then freezer for up to six months. By the way one 8 OZ container dresses one pound of pasta beautifully–just add a touch of hot pasta water, 2 T sweet butter and pepper of choice.
You may be saying, “where’s the cheese?” Most of my pestos are sold, therefore
I do not add cheese now as it does not freeze well and many of my patrons are lactose intolerant.
Cheese may be added when preparing pasta or when using as a spread in a sandwich.
When using this pesto for the base of pizza crust, no cheese is necessary.
after processing all the herbs, if you have a bit of pesto, say 3/4 cup, left over in the processor, add a peeled, seeded ripe avocado, spin then use as a dip! Deelish!
Have I convinced you to grow/eat chives?
As I frequently say, “there is more to life than basil pesto!”
Check out the YouTube video from Moss Mountain Farm!
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
26 Friday Apr 2013
Tags
high tech farming, hot house, mealworms, Mennonite nursery garden, morning in the country, nature, nesting bluebirds, open house nursery, plants
Last night the moon was splendidly full yet overnight temperatures dipped to 34F again. For the end of April in central Virginia, this is cold.
Dogwood in full bloom
The nesting female bluebird survived freezing temperatures last week and was quick to find their private feeder full of mealworms this morning—ordered in specially for her, her mate, and the soon to be nestlings.
Freezing temperatures often limit the number of edible insects bluebirds require, therefore human intervention can aid the overall success of the pair and brood.
The order of 5,000 mealworms arrived this morning. After three days in the post, they are hungry and thirsty. Notice how they converge on the kiwi fruit for moisture. Organic lettuce leaves and the bed of organic oat bran provide food as well.
Knowing that both bluebirds were in good feed, I joined a neighbor and her darling daughter on a visit to a nearby Mennonite garden nursery. The sun shone brilliantly burning off any chill from the night—good day for an open house.
These fields are serious business for a man, his eight children, and many grandchildren.
High tech farming practices in place along the sleepy foothills of the Blue Ridge
Tomato plants already in the ground.
Inside the fragrant hot-house, the annual plants display row after row.
A pre-schooler learning the wonders of plants. A white petunia she had to have.
Little Abby back home from the nursery already in a farming mood!
While snacking on a freshly made donut, still warm from the kitchens, I managed to part with a few dollars for annuals that will go into the butterfly garden.
Abby inhaled two donuts, never blinking twice. Ah to be five again!
Another great day in the country, yet time to return to my kitchen as Saturday market will be here soon enough.
May you all have a splendid weekend.
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
30 Saturday Mar 2013
Posted in environment, garden, home, landscape design, Lifestyle, March, quick meals, season, spring, sustainable lifestyle, Virginia, winter
slow snow slide…try saying this fast
Yesterday marked the official end of winter in my landscape, so said I. The droopy snow slide of last week is now merely a memory. Today, with the sun blazing in all her glory, I headed out into the garden to complete yet another task on my spring checklist.
This planter, and her sister, survived many years of neglect, continuing to flourish season to season. However, during the winter, both planters collapsed, or the contents did, forcing me to pay attention.
sunken in the center
This sedum is bullet proof and flowed for years, simulating water, as the centerpiece of my restored herb bed—now it needed surgery.
with my trusty Rambo knife, surgery was successful
When I planted this container years ago, I placed onion bags filled with packing peanuts into the bottom. This provides great drainage, reduces the amount of fill dirt, and will biodegrade in a thousand years, making this process very sustainable!
a good use for those non-biodegradable peanuts
notice the peanut filled onion bags tucked into the bottom of the container
landscape cloth and good earth await
operation successful thanks to a good knife
The old flat sheet provided a great catch-all for any wandering bits…
A few fresh peanuts were added
then all were covered with a bit of landscape cloth. This prevents dirt from clogging the engineered drainage
I just adore the color of these Angelina Stonecrop ‘Sedum rupestre’ ‘Angelina’ PPAF or trailing perennial.
In no time this plant will spill over the edges of this container creating a fountain effect
meanwhile the mower charges
I repeated this surgery on the second container, then proceeded to the lower garden where the eight sections of retired sedum were re-purposed. They should do well in this hot, sunny lower area.
Virginia soil is full of clay, therefore this mortar pan is handy when adding amendments like Pro-Mix.
slave girl at work–moi!
tools of the day
time for a late lunch–butternut squash ravioli
with brown butter and sage
a tasty reward following a good afternoon’s work
So fare-thee-well winter storms and heavy snow.
This gardener is out in her domain, making a small difference in her spring landscape on a highly productive Friday afternoon.
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
24 Sunday Mar 2013
Posted in Back Yard Birds, environment, garden meditation, Hiaku, nature, photography, Poetry, spring, Virginia
Tags
Haiku, heavy heaven, mourning doves, snow daze, snow peas, spring, Virginia
mourning doves hunker down
as night falls
will peas forgive this?
cypress leaning to the ground
heavy heaven sent
hinoki matted down
the sundial sleeps
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
08 Friday Mar 2013
Posted in Dominion Power, environment, life, March, spring, sustainable lifestyle, Virginia, winter
Tags
biting insects, Central Virginia, cypress trees, Dominion Power, greenhouse effect, in like a lion, March, mother nature, power outage, snowfall, weather, winter
This week’s weather was trying—the forecast spot on—I lost all utilities for 2.5 days and hunkered down until last night, dressed like an Eskimo, sleeping in my clothes and cap. Not fun! I thought I would share my pain through the following photographs:
Tuesday night, heavy, wet, damaging snow fell for hours, and I awoke to this…
crepe myrtle pinned to ground
crepe myrtle pinata
stabbing the pile of wet, heavy stuff
cypress trees reduced in height by half
at least the oatmeal stout and porter cheese needed no refrigeration!
no doubt spring will arrive despite what is dished out of the sky
Apparently life in rural Virgina brings with it many trials. Summers are brutally hot and humid, with plentiful biting insects while wicked storms often whip through leaving residents without power for days. Now winter brings similar outages, demanding one to be resilient. Although I toughed 51 degree F temps indoors for nearly three days, when the utilities finally returned, I was totally exhausted—even resorted to sitting in the van as the afternoon sun raised her head, creating a greenhouse effect and bringing temperatures to 80 F.
Last time I checked this is the twenty-first century right?
Before retiring last night I managed a hot shower and shampoo, a load of laundry, some hot soup, before collapsing into the nearest bed.
OK Mother Nature, this gal has had enough already. You are shaking your magnificent mane again—reminding us how you always have your way with us. You entered March and got our attention. Now, PLEASE, I ask you for a wee bit of spring before the lawn demands a weekly mow? Please?
March often does enter as a lion, yet folks, prepare like a warlord.
This is my new life slogan! Yet when I remember to take a lesson from challenging situations, particularly nature, I am reminded that resilience is key and so far, I bounce back. Now headed to the terrace to have lunch in the brilliant sunshine, I will listen to the song of gurgling/melting snow as it nourishes the landscape.
Also humming “there is a legal limit to the snow here, in Camelot!”
Here’s hoping that you are warm and cozy this day. 😉
Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved
