Harvest Time

Well, I'm probably jumping the gun, but I've got one cucumber that's ready for munching!

Mmmm, mmmm, I'm so excited, I hope it's tasty.  I learned that, if your cucumbers or the leaves are looking a little yellow, it probably means that they need some fertilizer with nitrogen in it and more water.  I've been religiously watering them, sometimes even twice a day, but trying not to overwater.  Now, I feel like this one is ripe and formed enough to harvest because the other little buds aren't doing anything -- I'm hoping getting this guy off the vine will let the water and nutrients get to the others.

Whew, this farming stuff is tough ;-)

The Dirty Dozen

Read a great article today about the fruits and vegetables to avoid because they are susceptible to pesticide contamination:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Here's a quick recap:

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

Try to buy only organic from this list, and be sure to ask at the farmers' market to be sure that they haven't used pesticides -- surprisingly, one farmer said to me that she still uses pesticides, just not as much!

Creativity

So, I was posting today's promo link on Etsy for the Etsy Hookers (I know, I know, referring to crocheters as "hookers" is a whole topic of its own!) and came across some really interesting articles geared towards those creative people who want to sell their creative works.  One article's title really caught my eye:  "Free is Not a Marketing Tool."  http://makeandmeaning.com/2010/02/04/free-is-not-a-marketing-tool/  It's a short, good read for anyone navigating the challenging waters of online presence and market establishment.  It highlights a message I've been trying to get out there regarding all facets of life:  don't ever do something you wouldn't otherwise do just because you're hoping to get something in return for it (unless that return you're expecting is making the other person happy for the sake of adding happiness and joy to the world).  Call it karma, call it whatever you want, but be pure and sincere in what you are doing, and believe me, your rewards will come!

Ok, enough philosophy for today :-)  I'm finishing up the pattern that will be included in this month's Yarn Club shipment!  Despite all the crazy weather, I'm thinking this month's shipment will still be relatively on time, and I will post all the details and pictures early next week.

Today's Thought:  Food Rule # 19 -- If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don't.  So, how to live by this rule?  For starters, try going for a week, or even just a few days, without eating anything from a package.  It'll be come easier when the Farmers' Markets start opening again :-)

Farmers' Markets, FitTV, and Hair Removal Have Changed My Life!

I have always found blogging to be difficult, probably because I always ask myself "does anyone really care about what I have to say?!" Well, I think I have something really worthwhile to share for a change! And the title really does say it all.

After seeing the movie "Food, Inc.", I really couldn't keep shopping at the grocery store any more. It's frightening how food is mass produced in this country, and the movie just focused on beef and chicken (oh, and high fructose corn syrup, which is a wholly different frightening revelation). Thankfully, here in the District of Columbia, we have many farmers' markets, and one literally across the street from our condo recently opened up on Saturday mornings. We've been getting our fruits and vegetables exclusively from the farmers' markets, and we've been eating more grass-fed meats (including buffalo!) My husband was commenting that, with this one change, he's already lost 10 pounds (he's got a bit more to go, but it's a start :-) I've been enjoying experimenting with different recipes and ways to prepare the produce that is available each week.

So, the healthy eating also has made me focus on getting more exercise. I've been walking a lot lately, and I've even been trying to avoid the elevator or escalator and take the stairs. But, really, that's not enough, and we all know it. And, it turns out that channel surfing can pay off ;-) I came across FitTV, a specialty station created by Dicovery Health. It's got exercise classes, cooking shows, and eco-friendly programming as well. Hard to not give it a try when it's just there, right in front of you (and you get the commercial time to take a break!). I've tried out the kickboxing show, the bhangra workout, and good ole ab crunches!

Ok, so where does hair removal fit in to all of this?! Well, it turns out you can save a lot of time, aggravation, and pain if you don't have to worry about plucking your eyebrows or dealing with the 'stash! You hairy ladies out there know what I am talking about. I came across a kiosk at Tyson's Corner mall for "threading". It's a process by which a very skilled woman (in this case) uses two pieces of thread, by quickly rubbing then together, to remove hair and shape your eyebrows (works for the lip and other facial hair as well). I just had my brows done because I've been having the permanent (hopefully) laser hair removal for the lip area. I've had two of four treatments so far, and there has already been such an improvement. It's just so nice to not have to worry about having facial hair and not to have to spend a lot of time on it! Just psychologically makes me feel better too...

Anyway, I wanted to share how making some small changes have actually made big differences in my physical and mental wellbeing. I will share more as I continue to explore other life-enhancing items that I come across.

Today's Thought: Shepherd's Wool is a worsted weight yarn made in Michigan that is super soft, a pleasure to crochet with, and reasonably priced. If your local store does not have it, check out Debbie McDermott, the owner and operator, and her website at www.stonehedgefibermill.com