28 July 2010, by gj
Part 2 of 3
Five Years Later (The Aftermath)
Please read Part 1 here
1. I would learn something new, really really new
As I mentioned, the fiddle (or violin, different names, same instrument) is considered the hardest instrument to learn. I refused to give up; though I admit there were many times I wanted to throw it out the window. I couldn’t play along with Mandolin for a long time because I (stunk, squeaked, played the wrong note…pick one, they all fit). So I ended up learning to play an Irish drum or Bodhran (pron. Bo-ron), the guitar, the concertina (just a small 20 button), and the soprano ukulele (I won’t mention the Tin Whistle or Baby Harp at all). Yeah, it’s the personality thing: take it to the extreme 
2. I would do something totally altruistic
I have since thrown another, more successful fundraiser; bringing in over $5000 for an individual’s unexpected funeral expenses at the sudden loss of her husband at age 53. I feel like maybe the first one was the dry-run, it gave me a chance to learn what I needed to do when perhaps it meant more.
3. I would do something I never thought I could do
I play in public all the time now. I’ve taught guitar to a few seniors and run a chorus and band at a local senior center. Mandolin and I play Traditional Irish around St. Pat’s and hold Open Sessions at a local pub. I still get nervous, but it is getting better. (I no longer have the false ‘vibrato’ AKA hand shaking on the fiddle bow). It never ceases to amaze me how this one thing has made such a difference in my life, how much happiness it has brought.
4. I would do something I always wanted to, but never did
I recently added to the tattoo.
It’s too funny. Ten years ago, if you told me that I would have quit smoking cigarettes, be playing and instrument in public and singing, and would have a tattoo…I would either have sat you quietly down (and called the police) or would have checked your veins for holes.
5. I would take one aspect of my life, and make a leap of faith
I love my job. I admit, if I could garden for a living I’d be out of there in a heartbeat, but I couldn’t expect a better job than the one I have. The bad parts are pfff, no big deal; the good parts are way better. And it pays for my gardening addiction
now this is, afterall, a gardening blog; so since I had no pic that fit the content, I chose this one of my fridge...see the bottom 2 drawers stuffed with onions, the colander full of green peppers and the radishes? Oh, and that's Killian's Irish Red on the top shelf getting cold for my birthday Wait- hold the phone- that looks like it has been opened!
So now what? Now I am about to start my 55th year, I will on the occasion of my 54th birthday. No more ‘early 50’s’. Another time for some reassessment and to reinvent.
Again I want to choose 5 things, 5 similar but different things.
For this occasion they will focus more on time passing:
1. Get older, not old
2. Make a difference, a real difference
3. Simplify one aspect of my life (like this is possible?)
4. Plan as if I’ll live to be 108
5. Do the one thing I know I must do
(the particulars coming soon)
the song reference
Categories: herself, keeping up with the joneses, special holiday posts
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26 July 2010, by gj
some of what you'll need
and a nice radish if you have them
This is a bit of a variation on a recipe we used to prepare at the restaurant. If you are lucky enough to have some home grown (or farm grown) radishes, use them! They have a distinct spicy taste, similar to horseradish.
If you don’t have them, you may want to increase the amount of horseradish you use.
Here is the recipe, followed by some How-To pictures:
4 small or 2 medium cucumbers, sliced very thin (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 large fresh radish, grated (about 1/2 cup)
1 onion, sliced very thin (about 1 cup)
1 Tbs. dill weed
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. prepared horseradish (we use extra hot)
1 cup sour cream
Slice cukes and onions very thin. Grate radish. Add remaining ingredients and stir to coat.
Makes about 5 cups. Enjoy!
slice those cukes thin
are your eyes tearing?
grated radish
red onion, cucumber, radish
a sprig of dill or a dill flower makes a nice garnish
Categories: cucumbers, horseradish, onions, radishes, vegetarian, you grew it - you eat it
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25 July 2010, by gj
The hot temperatures continue, though we were fortunate to get a little rain this week. Not much was done outside because of the weather, though I did plant some carrot seeds.
For this post I’ll let the pictures lead:
a friend in the garden
can you see the baby eggplants?
this radish will be part of todays lunch
I see canning jars in my future
cabbages under attack - GJ to the rescue
cantaloupe fresh, with vanilla yougurt, or as spiced melon balls
heirloom squash Delicata should be a nice sub for my failed sweet potatoes
the onions are falling down faster than I can pull them up
careful where you step! the vines are in the pathways
colorful summer squash
won't be long until baby corn and beans
strawberry runners filling in the gaps, should be a good crop next year
saute swiss chard with onion and garlic for a delightful main or side dish
the basil is growing as fast as the weeds
lunch waiting to happen
Categories: garden planning, jonesen', summer
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24 July 2010, by gj
Part I of III
On the day of my 49th birthday, the start of my 50th year, I decided to mark the upcoming special occasion by doing 5 things.
I felt like turning 50 was a kind of Do-Over Time, a time to change what I wanted to change.
I didn’t know what 5 things, but 5 for the big 5-0 seemed appropriate. Over the next week or two I chose the following:
1. I would learn something new, really really new
2. I would do something totally altruistic
3. I would do something I never thought I could do
4. I would do something I always wanted to, but never did
5. I would take one aspect of my life, and make a leap of faith
Little by little the particulars started to fall into place. The course of the year yielded the following results to each aspect:
1. I would learn something new, really really new
I bought a fiddle and started to teach myself how to play. As a little kid I had a handful of piano lessons from my grandfather, and in college my future husband showed me how to play a few guitar chords. Otherwise I really didn’t play an instrument. But Mandolin did. I thought this would be something we could share. I had no idea that the violin is considered to be the hardest instrument to learn, and I’m glad I didn’t know.
2. I would do something totally altruistic
For my 50th birthday party I threw a fundraiser for a local volunteer fire department: “Hot Wings and Cool Music”. Unfortunately it hit 97 degrees that day and the firehall was not air conditioned. The turn out was light, but all was not lost. The company was throwing a farewell party the next night for one of their members who had enlisted in the service. There was plenty of food and beverages for them to enjoy- and nobody had to cook in the heat. I actually liked that better.
3. I would do something I never thought I could do
At the fundraiser I played a song on my fiddle and sang two songs, in public take note. Just two years before I had directed a musical show at a senior center. I was so shy I didn’t even accept my flowers on stage. When I was in high school I had been in a few of plays and a couple of musical performances, but never got positive feedback. As an adult, I had played a few small parts in dinner shows at our restaurant, against my better judgment (I was so nervous , my hands would shake terribly).
So for me to perform, of my own accord, especially to sing and play an instrument was a giant step. More, as it turned out, than I could have imagined.
4. I would do something I always wanted to, but never did
I got a tattoo.
5. I would take one aspect of my life, and make a leap of faith
I chose my work life. Although I had a good job, I wasn’t happy at it. I thought maybe it was time for a change. An opportunity arose and I interviewed. In total I interviewed three times, as they narrowed the field. I was going to take a leap of faith and let that decide what I would do. As I went through the interview process I realized that I actually did like my job more than I knew. I decided instead of leaving, I would adjust it where I could; adjust ME where I needed to, and make my job one I would like more.
I didn’t see that one coming that’s for sure. I was soo happy when I didn’t get hired! It really ended up being a leap of faith.
Parts II and III coming by 8/1/10
Categories: herself then, special holiday posts
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23 July 2010, by gj
first snow
We’ve had our rescued lab/Dane mix puppy, aka ‘Mandog’ a little over a year now. He can reach all but the highest places in the house and loves to chew. Just about anything.
I should say here that of course anything he has gotten is our fault, he is just a puppy and whatever is within his unusually high reach is fair game.
He is especially fond of wood and wood–like items, and bread. He loves to lick plastic cheese wrappers and plastic bread wrappers.
Fortunately he doesn’t ingest anything inedible, he just tares. To shreds.
Here is some of his booty to-date:
this chew toy was dispatched in quick order
all that remained
1 antique oak rocker runner (ouch)
4 loaves of bread, numerous sandwiches and bread ends (he seems to have a slight preference for homemade)
5 bodhran tippers, including 3 handmade for me (another ouch)
1 rather expensive Large Breed Dog Bed
2 containers of salt, sans the salt
Any fresh produce left unattended, including hot peppers and garlic
3 houseplants
The back of the couch, and part of the side
1 scan disk (again, he does not eat, only destroys)
1 cell phone
1 wooden chair
Gourds…numerous gourds
teething on trees
1 leash, 2 runs, 1 collar
1 large wooden swing set
1 kitchen chair seat
3 jars of peanut butter
1 canning book
1 shoe insert
1 hammer handle, 1 plunger handle
Enough cat food to aggravate the cat
3 slippers from 3 different pairs
how he responds to the command BED since he destroyed his
Several gum packs
Parts of the back of the house
A few sips of Irish Cream. Twice.
1 Box tissues, inc. the box
Assorted napkins and paper towels
3 rolls toilet paper
1 perfectly cooked and seasoned Black Angus steak, just the way I like it 
all tuckered out
This last picture says it all.
We love our rescued puppy, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you are in the market for a pet, consider adoption.
They will love you for it.
A Lovely Dog Video
Just my dog and me
Through a dog’s eyes
The heartbreak of shelters
Categories: keeping up with the joneses, mandog, mandolin jones
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20 July 2010, by gj
That was never a good thing to hear growing up, about as nasty as “It’ll only hurt for a minute”.
Today I feel sad because today is the first day The Ladies have really been contained.
roaming where the wild things are
We tried to build them a run when they first graduated to living in the coop. It wasn’t long before they found every available way out, finally just flying over the top of the fence. We knew the day would come when we had to make a more permanent structure.
Now I have to say that they did have fun roaming about when they got loose and that they were pretty good about coming back each evening. I would have liked to let them stay that way, even though I was worried that they might get too close to the road or a neighbor’s dog might get loose.
There were two other problems.
The first was the coyote puppy on our front porch last spring. I had pretty much forgotten about it when Mandolin reminded me. “It’s for their own good.” He said, referring to the new enclosure and responding to my fretting.
Then there was the bobcat kitten I saw the other day. Even as a kitten it was as big as our Fat-cat with Attitude, who did incidentally, keep it frightened under the front porch for a while. Good Fat-cat.
the Attitude is palpable
So it is for their own good, for their protection. Mandolin built a lovely 8’ x 3’ enclosure with a roof to keep them protected from the rain and sun.
I made them a new feeder (directions will be posted on the website soon!).
Today though they did not seem as happy and they certainly did not understand what happened to having the entire world to roam.
It's for their own good
So I went to the garden and picked them a nice selection of swiss chard, broccoli leaves and fresh lettuce; because I remember another saying from my childhood –
“Eat something, you’ll feel better”.
The Ladies First Day of Confinement Video
Categories: fat cat with Attitude, keeping up with the joneses, the ladies
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18 July 2010, by gj
I could not resist putting the Ladies sign over their door - don't they look like they are reading it?
This week we finally saw some rain, but still no relief from the 90 degree heat. With that combination the garden is extremely happy.
Unfortunately, that includes the weeds, too.
So this week:
I weeded the beds a lot, watered some
Discovered the first of the cantaloupes, brussel sprouts and summer squash
Laid down a lot more cardboard and mulch in the pathway to continue to combat the weeds
Dealt with the seemingly bottomless onion bed
Discovered that The Ladies will not be contained by any 5’ high fence. I also learned that they do actually return to the coop in the evening, and was surprised to see that they will come whenever I call them.
Enjoyed eating celery, radishes, swiss chard, cucumbers, a volunteer red potato, broccoli, garlic, cabbage and onions from the garden – even more so because Mandolin was on vacation and he did the cooking
So what did you do this week?
Happy Gardening!
~GJ
Categories: jonesen', summer, the ladies
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17 July 2010, by gj
You’ll know your onions are ready to pick when, like garlic, they lie down. There are a few different ways to store them.
For keeping indoors (in your fridge or any cool, dry place) let cure outside in the sun for a day or so. Just trim the tops and wash off any dirt, you are good to go.
2 wooden horses and an old screen is all you need
mmm...onions
I freeze some of the onions that I know will just be used in soups or to can later in the fall in salsa (just chop, spread out on a foil lined sheet, freeze and store).
a sink full of onions waiting patiently
I like to dehydrate some of the fresh cut green tops. You can use a commercial dehydrator or your own skillet. Chop as evenly as possible and just place in the warm skillet (on lowest burner setting). It will take a few hours until your onions are crisp to the touch. Store in any food grade container on your shelf.
Dried this way they add a mild and toasty flavor to your food, and a little color to boot.
dehydrating green onion tops
When I look at all the onions, and the leeks as well, growing in the garden, it makes me think of a fall day not too long from now and homemade Three Onion Soup.
still plenty of onions and leeks left
No hurry though, I can wait
Categories: garden planning, ok - so now what?
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15 July 2010, by gj
mmm...tomatoes!
This is a recipe from our restaurant’s salad bar ~ from so long ago it was actually before ‘Salad Bar’ was a term most people had even heard of.
Simple ingredients make the best food I believe, and homegrown even better -don’t get me started, I have a draft of a post on the ‘lack of nutritional value in the food we buy’ almost ready to post!
For now, an easy and tasty way to use all those tomatoes coming into season:
2 cups Tomatoes, cut in large chunks
1 cup Green Pepper, cut in large chunks
1 cup Onion, cut in large chunks
1 tsp. Sesame Oil
¼ cup Olive Oil
½ cup Soy Sauce
1 Tbs. Garlic powder (or 2 chopped cloves)
Mix sauce ingredients and pour over veggies. Let marinate overnight. Enjoy!
More of Our Recipes
Categories: tomatoes
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12 July 2010, by gj
Like any other garden, mine has its share of intruders. I have been pretty successful at keeping out the deer, the biggest garden problem in this area.
sooo cute when outside the garden
To accomplish this I:
(1) planted near the road, that’s where the best sun is anyway, and the deer shy away
(2) make jumping the fence into the garden problematic, i.e., have chairs and sheds and trashcan potatoes and the like scattered everywhere that might be considered a good landing area
(3) plant vining crops like squashes and melons, near the perimeter of the garden, deer don’t like that.
Too much trouble for them, off they go to a neighbor’s yard I’m sure.
Other typical intruders:
Slugs-beer, need I say more? Die happy
Japanese Beetles- hand pick and drop into sudsy water. Unless they are doing no harm, I let them have at the raspberry leaves once the canes are done.
Leaf Hoppers – I start with Hot Pepper spray, but if ineffective I will use Orhto Sevin, the only thing I have found to work absolutely
Then there are the burrowing crits.
the most famous groundhog
We have been able to scare the groundhogs away. We don’t see too many, fortunately. Having a big dog and a cat with attitude helps.
Sleeping with the Enemy? It’s the chipmunks I’m willing to feed. When I first see their holes, I dump hot sauce in the ones inside the garden to put them off, and I put veggie scraps near the holes outside. For me this works every time. They seem to be quite content being fed what they need, and I put the scraps farther away from the garden over time. They are cute too and I like to watch them. I have never had a family two years in a row; they must find another garden the next season. A nice relationship, and I thought that is what the end of this post would be.
chipmunks can be less invasive than some crits
I haven’t seen any chipmunks this year, now I know why.
rats
Apparently this year I have something else. Most likely a rat. Whatever it is does not respond to gentle feeding, nor to the hot sauce. It is in fact eating my onions by the bulb. Unstopped, the corn, cabbages and tomatoes will be next.
So, since all other efforts have failed. I’m going to ‘do him in’. Yes, that’s right. I am ruthlessly going to eliminate him from my garden.
If you are expecting a funny punch line here, sorry. I wish there was one.
In 25 years of gardening this is only the second time things were so bad I resorted to a rodent poison. I really hate this. I know SaveTheWorld will hate it too.
I should mention I don’t put it in the beds of course, just in the other blatant areas he has left holes.
I am still offering food outside the garden, he has a choice.
I am really hoping he takes it.
Categories: gardening
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