Rainy Day Blues

Today started out drizzling rain, and it has not stopped yet. Most of the day was spent downstairs in my office where I am redecorating, but rainy days are also great for catching up on reading, and looking at all the great websites and blogs for new ideas. Here are some websites with good information on organic gardening, green living, and sustainable living.

http://www.gardensalive.com/

http://www.homeharvest.com/

http://www.bountifulgardens.org/

http://www.motherearthnews.com/

http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/

http://www.eatwellguide.org/

http://www.pathtofreedom.com/

This should get you started!

Happy surfing

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone will take time today to think of all of the things they can be truly greatful for. Hope you all have a great Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving Menu Planner

If you are looking for some great Thanksgiving recipes, and kids activities click on this link for your free Thanksgiving pdf file.
Karen

Picture from www.dreamstime.com

caring for dwarf lime tree

I bought this little lime tree at a Garden Show last April. It was only the size of a little stick and cost $10.00, so I pampered it all summer, placing it in the sun on our deck. When it started to get cool at night I brought it in our kitchen, and I put it in front of the glass door going out to our deck. You will notice the leaves are a little yellow, and this indicated poor drainage or the need for fertilizer. I took it out of the bottom pan (it was in a clay pot, and I sat that in an orange pail for decoration). We also had about 3 days of heavy rain, and I should have moved it off the deck under shelter. Also, I have limited my watering to when it feels dry about 2 inches down in the soil. I will need to purchase a well balanced fertilizer (2-1-1) and feed about once a month. Wonder how long it will take before I can garnish all those Margarita glasses?

Check out this blog for more info on growing dwarf fruit trees. www.dwarffruittrees.org

Free Publicity

As you made have read on the intro to my blog, I indicate that I am trying to develop and grow my online business http://www.gardenchick.com/. For any of you out there trying to come up with inexpensive ways to get your name out there, you don't always know whether your marketing will work, and for those of us who do not have a big ( or even existant marketing budget), magazine advertising, or advertising on big online sites is out of our reach. I believe it may take years of small steps, plugging way, but that at some point you will be "discovered".

I am not sure how I discovered the following site, but find it interesting, and I have submitted products, or pictures as requested. The site http://www.helpareporter.com/ sends out 3 "requests" daily from blogs, reporters, journalist etc., who are looking for info, products etc on certain subjects. You will have to filter through some requests that have nothing to do with your business, but at least 3 times a week, I find something I can respond to. Just go to the site and submit your email address. A number of the requests for reviews of your products ask for pictures only, or may ask for a product. The owner of the site has limited the amount of product reviews, and to only legitimate blogs or sources. Often the info is requested by well known magazines or television programs. If you are an expert on a subject, the request may be for an interview. I have submitted 2 products and several pictures. Two of the products I sell, the Ultimate Garlic Bread and Fiesta Dip were reviewed on the following blog, and I am awaiting a couple of more reviews. Check out the review here http://typeamom.net/Homemade-Gifts/Garden-Chick-Products.html
For those of you interested, I will continue to post ideas on promoting your business when I find them helpful.

National Bread Baking Day

Today is National Bread Baking Day. I used to bake bread..........but I guess work, kids, life just got in the way. In an effort to become more self sufficient and as a believer in taking small steps at a time to change our behaviors, bread baking is back on my list of things to do. No bread baking machine for me. I love kneading and working the bread. Punching it down again to allow it to rise. If you bake your own bread, you can control what goes in it. Organic flour, and yeast are readily available at your local green store. It will always be fresh, so it doesn't need any added preservatives. This afternoon I will have my granddaughters, and I think they need to learn how to bake bread. Here's our recipe for whole wheat bread. Check back later to see our "tutorial" on bread baking.

Whole Wheat Bread
3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/3 cup honey (be sure to buy local)
5 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon salt
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

You can add dried herbs to the bread to make a great herbal bread for soups and stews, or butter the bread with an herbed butter. You can purchase both of these mixes at my website

www.gardenchick.com/herbal_seasoning.html You can be assured of the quality of the dried herbs. They are purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs, and hand mixed.

Karen

photo from dreamstime.com

Organic Pet Treats

Corky is our only dog now. His sister, Murphy, had to be euthanized (at age 14), about 1 month ago. He is 10 years old, does nothing much but lounge on his bed in the living room (he was never active, even when he was 1 year old.) He did manage to come out with my granddaughters and I to play in the leaves the other day.

Here's a great treat for dogs that you can make as needed. Add a little dried spearmint for "doggie breath"

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 T baking powder

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup skim milk

1 teaspoon dried spearmint (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, and spearmint if used. Add the peanut butter and milk. Stir until mixed well. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Roll out to a 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie or biscuit cutters.

Place onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until brown. Cool overnight before placing into an airtight container. Makes about 2 dozen cookies depending on the size cookie cutter you use.

Looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite pet? Check out my kits for dogs and cats. Contains recipe, cookie cutter (bone or fire hydrant for dogs, fish for cats), and spearmint or catnip.

www.gardenchick.com/pet_treats.html

Fall Leaves

I don't know why, but this year I have noticed the changes in the leaves much more than usual. Golden yellows, deep oranges, and bright reds have dotted the roadside along my ride each day. This Silver Maple in my front yard was green one day, and then two days later this gorgeous yellow.

I love living in the south where we get to experience all the seasons, but not the harsh weather so early like some parts of the country. Scenes of snow and blizzards have appeared on the news, but this weeks balmy 63 degrees has allowed my granddaughters and I to get outside in search of a little fun. With their kid size rakes in hand we managed to rake up enough leaves for a little fun.

When the fun was over with leaves, what's a girl to do? Hunt for worms of course. With jars and shovels in hand, a few minutes of digging under the leaves unearthed quite a treasure trove of wiggly creatures.