Spring Blooms ~ Done!

Dandelions are up.  Sorry the photos are the best.  I was outside with my phone the other day.

Daffodils and hyacinths are blooming and I have more white daffodils that are just now blooming.  I only have a few tulips and they are just now starting to bloom.  I have an idea to put tulips back in my front flower bed, but it may be fall now before I can plant the bulbs.  It's a bit late this year to do it.  Moles ate my bulbs in the previous years. I'll just start with a dozen and see if they grow, but keep the moles out.

Gardening officially started!

It's a small start, but the potatoes are planted.  We may plant more if we can locate more seed potatoes. I also hope to get sweet potato slips from my supplier.  I failed to wrap my own up in newspaper last fall. I actually plain forgot.

It rained almost immediately after covering up the last potato too.  Now it's the waiting game again, for the soil to dry up, so planting can resume.

Although a rainy, wet and somewhat gloomy day, I was rather productive. 

Tuesday Tidbits

I'll be back soon with a more interesting blog post.  First, we had a very nice weekend - lots of motorcycle rides too.  Rain is about to arrive, so we are busy in the garden (thankfully).

I may even get time to get some other work done outside.

I'll be back to read blogs soon too.  We are still recovering from the no-sleep two weeks.

Good News!

Short post today.

The news today, and coming to you late, is that we are on our way back to normalcy around this homestead.  Yes we are.

Hubby is back to 1st shift today, and the weekend off!!!

The weather is finally giving us a break too, so there is hope for getting the garden started now.  Lettuce and romaine seeds have been started too (although late).

This and That

The snow is back this morning.  Too tired to go take a photo for you all, but you can imagine how we feel.

It's been a rough few weeks.  My husband had to work 3rd shift again last night, and he was told Tuesday would be the last night.  We, at this point, have no idea when he'll be back to 1st again.  I've added a can of WD-40 to my shopping list. One thing I've realized, while trying to be quiet during the day, is that all my doors squeak.

On a good note, the boys showed up Wednesday, and one rode the Harley up to the shop.    It's getting new tires, etc. to get it ready for riding season.

I couldn't even remember what day it was this morning.  Literally.  With no days off, and the backwards routine, no wonder Hubby's stomach is bothering him.  He loved dinner last night - chicken with hot pepper mustard sauce, wild rice and "Full Throttle" sweet potatoes.

New recipe tried - Gochujang glazed meatloaf with green beans, and steamed broccoli.  The meatloaf and green part was new, I just added the broccoli. I used ground organic oats in place of "saltines" and it worked beautifully.  The sauce can be bought organic with non-gmo soybeans, and you can make it yourself (which I plan to do the next time).  We loved this.  However, the recipe stated to cook it all the same cooking time, and the green beans do not need 55 minutes, so there was adjusting.  It was our first time tasting a Korean sauce.  We all loved it.  

I located the recipe in a library book, but there is a recipe online with Good Housekeeping for the meatloaf..  I mixed about 2 Tbsp. Gochujang with homemade ketchup and coriander (ground) and tossed the green beans (pulled frozen garden green beans from my freezer for this), and just baked on rimmed pan until done.   The green beans were a bit spicier, but my family still loved it.

Well, I have chattered on already this morning, so I'll be off to do my yoga and exercise now.  If there is one good thing out of all this routine switch-a-roo, it's that I've been up earlier and to bed earlier, even though 4am or 5am beats me to my alarm.

Black Bean Hummus Recipe

I'm so tired, I forgot my blogger password this morning.  In my sleep deprived state, I also forgot to share how I made the black bean hummus.  

First, I soaked a lb of dry organic black beans in water overnight.  I rinsed and drained, and cooked them.

I used 2 cups of the cooked beans for the following recipe, and put the remaining beans in the refrigerator for breakfast burritos, and other meals.  You can freeze the extra beans for another meal as well.

Tuesday Tidbits ~ Chickweed Pesto

Warning....not good news just yet.

First, Hubby isn't off night shift after all.  A call came, and he's on 3rd for a few more nights (maybe).  

Second,