tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275569229830373002024-03-05T15:28:21.449-05:00Little Wonder and the Sun MachineElliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-20951969590234586972014-05-20T18:45:00.000-04:002014-05-20T18:45:00.348-04:00Project 2014I know. I'm a slacker. It's been a solid year and a half since I've blogged here. I suppose it's because I had nothing too spectacular to report. Things were flowing right along, and Ian and I were bobbing with the current. (We're talking lazy river here, no life vests required.) The two of us were happily living out our own status quo. I kept promising myself I'd write if something exciting happened.<br />
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And something finally has.<br />
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We are welcoming this little one -- the Wee Hog -- into our home in September (Wee's been in our hearts for awhile). This was last week, when the baby was the length of a carrot (so arbitrary, I know). Now, at 22 weeks, Wee is the size of a spaghetti squash. Has to be a pretty small one...I've seen some gigantor spaghetti squashes, and my belly definitely is not reflecting that. Anyway, doc says everything looks great.<br />
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I promise this won't become a blog about gross things that happen to expectant mothers, or to babies (and their moms) once they're born. But I started this as a what's-new-with-us blog, and so it shall stay. And, as parents who've gone before us assure me, we'll never have another dull moment.<br />
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So here's to a new leaf, and a new chapter, and a new pea in our little pod. Boy, are we excited to be three!Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-34292730121079340312012-10-01T13:13:00.000-04:002013-06-06T18:40:11.992-04:00another delivery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can't believe month two of the Foodie Pen Pal exchange is already over! It's been so busy. This time, my sender was Roxanne from Connecticut. She sent lots of goodies from her home state:<br />
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<li>Two bags of Deep River Potato Chips -- I think we had these in New York, though I'd never seen the Aged Cheddar Horseradish flavor</li>
<li>A Nate's Yankee Bar -- jam-packed with cranberries, and not too sweet</li>
<li>Honey Ginger Crystals -- not local; from China, I believe, and I'm really looking forward to finding these for myself</li>
<li>Savor Nicasia cookies -- we all loved these little guys, which are flavored with lemon, rosemary and sea salt...even Guinness</li>
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Thanks for sending, Roxanne!<br />
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My recipient was C from Washington, DC. I packed up a fall-themed box from Milwaukee, and included the newest issue of <i>Taste of Home</i>. I hope she liked it!<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, it was a busy month, and I don't foresee life slowing down anytime soon. Because of this, I've decided to make this month my last in the Foodie Penpal program. It's an interesting idea, and I wish the best to all future participants who don't mind scrambling to find food that someone they don't know might like and isn't available in their area. It's just not for me. <br />
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Instead, I've decided to put the $20 a month the program would have cost into a sustaining membership to <a href="http://www.wuwm.com/support/" target="_blank">WUWM, our local NPR affiliate</a>. I listen every day, even on weekends. As one woman said, "Without donating, I felt a little bit like I was stealing." If you have similar listening habits, I encourage you to do the same for your local station. Then we'd all be on the up and up!Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-28056397057010646292012-09-07T20:28:00.001-04:002013-06-06T18:40:21.086-04:00dabbling in cheesemaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The evening was balmy, perfect for a garden tour. My friend Alysse and I arrived in Hales Corners with seven other women for a cheesemaking class at Mia Famiglia, an Italian restaurant that focuses on local ingredients. But first, while we could still see outside, Chef Tomas showed us his sprawling kitchen garden and apiary -- fascinating! I've never been that close to a beehive before, and it really did buzz. He said that if I didn't show fear, they wouldn't become alarmed, so I bravely stepped forward so I could check it out -- he was right. No swarming...on me, at least.<br />
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This was my first class through <a href="http://dabble.co/milwaukee" target="_blank">Dabble</a>, a program that hooks up people with local experts who are willing to teach their craft. Topics vary -- this month, for example, there's one on basic auto maintenance and another on ceramics. Alysse once went to Chicago to learn how to fence. Yep, the concept is true to its name. </div>
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Back inside the restaurant, we got to work in the gleaming kitchen, concocting a possibly proprietary blend of whole milk, buttermilk, lemon juice, sea salt and honey that would become ricotta. We stirred the mixture until it was warm enough, and set it aside to curdle. When it was cool enough, Chef scooped the curds into containers.</div>
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Chef Tomas also showed us how to make fresh mozzarella -- a true group effort. Basically, you knead some curd in boiling water, so he did most of the work and sometimes people jumped in to help. I think everyone got to make a few mozzarella balls, which Chef's wonderful wife packed up (along with our ricotta and a jar of their signature -- and absolutely fantastic -- balsamic dressing) for us to take home. </div>
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We got to taste the mozzarella with a slice of garden-fresh tomato and blackened garlic. Delicious! The next day, I put the ricotta to use in little shortbread stacks with roasted pistachio, honey and cherries. The recipe needs work, so I won't publish it quite yet. But it's promising. </div>
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Also promising is my return to another Dabble course. What a great idea! It took all evening, was very reasonably priced (we found a Groupon), and Alysse and I had so much fun. Plus, thanks to Chef Tomas' guidance, I'm sure I could make these cheeses again on my own. Now I just have to shake my addiction to that balsamic dressing. I think a trip to Mia Famiglia for dinner may be the cure.</div>
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-33843846355484035832012-08-31T05:30:00.000-04:002013-06-06T18:40:35.641-04:00foodie penpal reveal!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkM3Uu6RfgH8SQ13k69bYXxZTEubElrXEVen9U1iYU8dwnJHFvdK3FEp1UJ-Qg5IY-Fv5Ii579XluKFoKztEGoLkPqp__ob1kGWmlAcJAynsCAwL1piU8Q7wMrNWz98X1YrrPxTbzsIid/s1600/DSCN0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" fea="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkM3Uu6RfgH8SQ13k69bYXxZTEubElrXEVen9U1iYU8dwnJHFvdK3FEp1UJ-Qg5IY-Fv5Ii579XluKFoKztEGoLkPqp__ob1kGWmlAcJAynsCAwL1piU8Q7wMrNWz98X1YrrPxTbzsIid/s320/DSCN0094.jpg" title="Little Wonder and the Sun Machine http://littlewonderandthesunmachine.blogspot.com" width="320" /></a>In late July, my foodie friend Sarah told me about an online program she'd discovered called Foodie Penpals that's run by <a href="http://www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/" target="_blank">Lindsay of the Lean Green Bean</a>. Some of you might know that as a kid, I had several pen pals, and I still love to write -- and receive! -- letters and postcards today (Izzy and I have been writing since we were 6 and 7). The idea that I could have another pen pal paired with a mystery package of yummy foods was enough to make me hop in line. Well, today's the big reveal, when all the Foodie Penpals bloggers post about what they received this month.<br />
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The person who was given my name was Autumn from Illinois, just over the Wisconsin-Illinois border. We emailed a few times while she was deciding what to select for my package, and I learned she's lucky enough to work at a local farm market. Here's what she sent.<br />
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<li><em>Gin-Gins</em> are one of my favorite candies. They're super chewy and pack a ton of gingery flavor. I have the bag at my desk, so when I'm craving a snack, I eat one of these. It's spicy, so it makes me feel full. </li>
<li><em>Blue Farm organic tortilla chips</em> are distributed by a company in Janesville, Wisconsin, so pretty local for both of us! I'm saving them for a time when we have salsa. It seems that our abundant supply of tomatoes has been going into Italian-inspired dishes lately, but I'm betting that Labor Day weekend will be the perfect time to pop open the bag.</li>
<li>I'd been seeing recipes for <em>dilly beans</em> and wanting to try them. I was thrilled to find a jar right in my foodie box. They are delicious -- spicy and pickly, and I can't wait to make my own next summer.</li>
<li>I love jam and pie, so am very much looking forward to opening this jar of <em>strawberry-rhubarb jam</em>. Unfortunately, I'd opened a jar of delicious apricot-peach jam the day before I got this package, so I'm trying to finish that off before I open a new one. There's just no way around moldy jam.</li>
<li>Can't go wrong with <em>maple syrup</em>! Big breakfasts are a weekend staple at our house (ha! I can finally say "house"!), and it just might be due to our love of pure, authentic maple syrup.</li>
<li>Kind of ironic that I'm writing about it last because it was the first to be devoured, but my box also contained <em>cherries and almond dark chocolate</em>. If you see this somewhere, buy it. It is the perfect combination of tart cherries, slightly sweet chocolate and roasted salted almonds. Yum. So good, that I felt like Augustus Gloop while I was eating it.</li>
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I sent a foodie box to Amanda from Colorado (because the program has over 1,000 people and we each get a new pal every month, people don't exchange packages; it's more of a round-robin). When we were writing pre-mailing, she told me she's gluten free, which added a twist to my shopping agenda. It was a fun challenge to find things she could use and enjoy. If all goes as planned today, she'll be writing about my package at her blog, <a href="http://www.naturallivingmamma.com/" target="_blank">Natural Living Mamma</a>. I hope she likes it!<br />
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I'll be curious to read more about Sarah's foodie box at her blog, <a href="http://szubarik.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Food, Fun and Life in Waukesha</a>. And you can find out what others got by searching #foodiepenpals on Twitter. <br />
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-49600961964634267772012-07-13T23:25:00.002-04:002013-06-06T18:41:49.324-04:00we grew this! eastern eggs florentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I guess it was around Memorial Day that Ian and I planted our veggie garden, this nice 6x8 raised bed that the previous homeowners installed. We're using the Square-Foot Gardening technique in hopes that we'll be able to grow more types of produce than we otherwise would using the row technique. So far, it's working fabulously well, and even though we're experiencing severe drought (are you sick of hearing about this yet?), things are growing really well -- including our bok choi, an Asian cabbage that looks kind of like a mix of celery and chard, shown here in the center right soon after it was planted.</div>
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One day, right in the middle of the late-June heatwave, Ian called me while he was watering to announce that the bok choi had started blooming, and wasn't it great that something was defying these hellish conditions?! At first I agreed, but then read that once bok choi flowers (or bolts), it's past its prime and is likely going to be bitter and woody -- basically inedible. So, we picked all four of the plants, popped them in the fridge, and hoped we wouldn't get tired of eating them. Later, Ian mentioned that he had an idea for Saturday's brunch, and it starred none other than bok choi. Neither of us had any idea what would happen, but it was certainly worth a shot.<br />
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When we tucked in, we discovered that one of those dishes that you smirk all the way through. Despite their stand-alone flavors, the smoky baconiness and tangy goat cheese made the slightly tart bok choi sing, and a runny, rich egg yolk smoothed it all out. Now, we're <strike>patiently</strike> waiting for the next planting of bok choi to hurry up and grow, so we can indulge in it again.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">eastern eggs florentine </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">serves 2 (with leftover biscuits)</span></div>
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ingredients </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(for Ian's buttermilk biscuits) </span></div>
1 cup all-purpose flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon baking soda<br />
Generous pinch of salt<br />
2 tablespoons cold butter<br />
1/3 cup buttermilk<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">(for the toppings) </span></span><br />
1 shallot, minced<br />
2 garlic scapes, minced (or 1 clove garlic, minced)<br />
3/4 cup torn bok choi leaves<br />
3/4 cup torn baby spinach<br />
Splash of white wine<br />
Salt and pepper, to taste <br />
Bacon fat<br />
2 eggs <br />
Herbed goat cheese <br />
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directions</div>
<div style="color: #444444;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(for Ian's buttermilk biscuits) </span></div>
1) Heat oven to 425 F.<br />
2) In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir. Cut in butter. Stir in buttermilk; mixture should form a ball, but shouldn't be sticky. Add a splash more buttermilk if necessary. <br />
3) On a flat surface, roll out the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick rectangle. Quarter it for rectangular biscuits or use a biscuit cutter. Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444;">(for the toppings) </span></span><br />
1) In a nonstick skillet, saute shallot and garlic scapes until tender and slightly caramelized. Add bok choi, spinach and white wine. Saute until leaves wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Remove to a mesh strainer to press out liquid. Set aside; return skillet to burner.<br />
2) Melt bacon fat in skillet; add eggs. Cook to your desired doneness (we recommend over-easy).<br />
3) Meanwhile, slice two biscuits and spread cut sides with goat cheese. Arrange on two plates. Top with the bok choi mixture.<br />
4) When eggs are to the desired consistency, place them on top.<br />
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5) EAT!</div>
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Try it, and let us know what you think!</div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-20440547027019585822012-06-25T15:12:00.001-04:002013-06-06T18:42:09.927-04:00a pleasing palette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZDO8Fy5gXaxDFqU6ZGzVJ9o2Dj0cNUc08fQD8nX4PhPs-k4WWaYCGPDS_VdxOxO8fyEKsM3tGawoYpsgdFmxKQ3mjjAje0m112-zaBK134K0pTPFFzjPUFS7xwHixMy212h4LcrrkgpA/s1600/FrontYard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZDO8Fy5gXaxDFqU6ZGzVJ9o2Dj0cNUc08fQD8nX4PhPs-k4WWaYCGPDS_VdxOxO8fyEKsM3tGawoYpsgdFmxKQ3mjjAje0m112-zaBK134K0pTPFFzjPUFS7xwHixMy212h4LcrrkgpA/s320/FrontYard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
While the contractors are hard at work inside the house, the plants are growing, growing, growing outside. Ian has been a trouper, watering nearly every day -- and the weather forecast suggests there’s no end in sight. (Sorry.) I’m especially pleased with the results in the front garden. <br />
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I put in a few perennials, but since we’re planning a major revamp this fall and don't want to stress stuff out by moving it, I added mostly annuals. The previous homeowners had planted a number of spring-blooming perennials and the enormous hostas, which were fairly easy to work around -- their foliage is a nice uniform green, and they blend in nicely.<br />
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The color palette pretty much chose itself: purple, maroon, yellow and chartreuse thanks to yellow-blooming Russian stonecrop, purple eupatorium and chartreuse and maroon tiarella. I added maroon heuchera and Japanese painted ferns, chartreuse dwarf hosta (thanks, Dad!) and coleus, and purple-flowered spiderwort (thanks, Aunt Lonnie!), browallia and plectranthus. Later, right around the time the peach daylilies (also from Dad) bloom, I’ll add hanging baskets that include peach kalanchoe to tie it all together. I hope. <br />
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Just a week after I finished planting (and snapped these photos), this little garden looks much different--and better. Think how much nicer it will look next year, when it doesn't have such a big, white background to contend with! <br />
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What are you growing right now?Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-42572966543172432462012-06-14T07:06:00.000-04:002013-06-14T13:57:08.736-04:00inspiration overload<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lBK_dTmtIzg4GtXps69VyaTV0YwTvev-eECtWrT1py09Bv3z8S5MFVKY152dpqoCoMGecLUEVa7dvznK7nit2q-PuaEtrEGhAgQw_DSUmTGw4sx08fwAHOw_UaKS5MCIXJP1iBbgVws6/s1600/Kitchen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lBK_dTmtIzg4GtXps69VyaTV0YwTvev-eECtWrT1py09Bv3z8S5MFVKY152dpqoCoMGecLUEVa7dvznK7nit2q-PuaEtrEGhAgQw_DSUmTGw4sx08fwAHOw_UaKS5MCIXJP1iBbgVws6/s320/Kitchen+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>If you’re following me on Facebook, you might know that I’ve been feeling a little bit overwhelmed about our impending choice in paint colors. When we started our house hunt, I was thrilled that we could finally have colored walls, and found inspiration everywhere I looked. <br />
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Now that we’ve signed with a contractor and construction starts next week(!), there’s a looming deadline. Somehow, I’m finding too much inspiration, so I’m feeling the pressure to choose. After some friends gave me wise advice about searching for color combos <a href="http://kuler.adobe.com/#themes/rating?time=30" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://design-seeds.com/index.php/search" target="_blank">here</a> and on Pinterest, and just by googling the name on the paint chip to see what others have come up with, I’m starting to feel a lot better. (Thanks.) Ian is much more relaxed about the whole thing. (Who’s surprised?) He has already chosen his office color: white.<br />
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There’s one room that I’m still stumped by: the kitchen. The white cabinets and appliances are backed by cantaloupe-colored walls. Obviously, the white elements will stay white, and we are installing black and white tile on the floor. That’s perfect -- a neutral palette, you say! <br />
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Well, here’s the curveball: When we were in Seattle, we found these old fruit crate labels at an antique store, and I’d love to use them as the kitchen artwork. With that in mind, what color(s) would you pick?Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-43282477461977064562012-06-01T12:42:00.000-04:002013-06-06T18:43:41.143-04:00this old house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last November (the same day we got Guinness, actually), Ian and I began our house hunt. That first day, we toured five homes on Milwaukee’s East Side, where we were determined to live. In all, we looked at around 30 houses that seemed to cover every part of the house-condition spectrum: a cozy but obviously crooked bungalow; a creepy old boarding house; some cute but character-less flipped ones; a former commercial building; and a few foreclosures that had once been beautiful, but are now crumbling inside, the ceilings dropping off in gobs and the walls covered in mold thanks to burst pipes and general neglect.<br />
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As we hadn’t spent much time in houses there -- which are typically 100-plus years old -- it took awhile to realize that, rather than spend on a house that had been rehabbed in a style we didn’t love, we’d rather buy low and make exactly the changes we want.<br />
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So this is it. <i>Our</i> house! Chateau Cliffe (pronounced Cleef), a 3-bed, 1-1/2-bath bungalow built in 1904 (it only has one floor of living space, but is topped with an enormous attic that’s begging to be used). We <i>could</i> move in now, but the apartment is ours until the end of July, so we’ve chosen to make some changes before we officially become Milwaukeeans.<br />
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<a href="http://www.coldwellbankeronline.com/real_estate_agent/1589/Paige-Schmidt.aspx" target="_blank">Paige, our amazing, patient, and very wise Realtor</a>, said that if we hoped to get divorced within our first year there, we should do the work ourselves. We agreed (having virtually no prior DIY experience). So, the contractors are finalizing their bids, and we hope to make our decision by Friday. I’ll share more about the work we’re doing as the projects progress.<br />
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Meanwhile, how would you amp up our curb appeal? These photos were taken at our inspection in early April, but I think it’s a good way to start -- the absence of leaves on the trees shows just how blank a slate we’re working with.<br />
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-7273230550143319632012-05-24T13:05:00.000-04:002013-06-06T17:30:40.742-04:00meet guinness<br />
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<b>What:</b> Female African pygmy hedgehog<br />
<b>Full name: </b>Guinness Harriet Martin Cliffe, after Harriet the Spy, because of the
way she tilts her head and looks at us out of one eye<br />
<b>Aliases:</b> GP (for Guin-nea Pig), Huffy Hufferton, Tubby Tubberton, Bubby, Bubbers and Bubberton<br />
<b>Coloring: </b>Pinto (same as the horse; she has a few pure-white patches on her sides) with a white furry tummy<br />
<b>Namesake: </b>Most of her quills (which don't come out like a porcupine's) look like the stout; dark brown on the bottom and white on top<br />
<b>Length</b>: 7-1/2 in. (when we got her, she was about 5 in.)<br />
<b>Weight</b>: 1 lb., 1 oz. (when we got her, she was about 7 oz.)<br />
<b>Birthday: </b>September 21, 2011 (thank you, Earth Wind & Fire)<br />
<b>Gotcha day: </b>November 14, 2011, just outside State Fair Park (from a breeder whose husband wanted to go to the train show)<br />
<b>Home</b>: A two-level cage with a ramp that Ian made; her food is at the top and she is really good at using the ramp, unless it is blocked, at which point, she flops down to the first floor<br />
<b>Modus</b>: Being afraid of everything<br />
<b>Life goal</b>: Being brave<br />
<b>Feels like</b>: When she's calm, her quills lie flat on her back and feel like rice; when she's upset, her quills stand straight up and are quite sharp -- and her tummy is very soft, if she lets you touch it<br />
<b>Eats</b>: Dry and wet kitten food, mealworms, green beans, corn, carrots and shortbread cookies<br />
<b>Likes</b>: Digging, climbing, burrowing, snuggling, playing outside (under strict supervision), sleeping in her special blanket, huffing at frightening sights and sounds, exploring the world with a toilet paper tube on her head, playing catch with Ian (she is the ball), cigarette butts, meeting new people<br />
<b>Dislikes: </b>Apples, being tickled, getting her picture taken (especially for holidays), sitting still, her ball, leashes, meeting new people<br />
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I've obviously been sitting on this post since November, for absolutely no good
reason at all. But even though it's very, very old by Web standards, it
still deserves to be read.<br />
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Want to know anything else about our little hog?Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-80870223009750281022012-05-06T17:18:00.000-04:002013-06-06T17:26:43.024-04:00craving a good sandwich<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Doesn't everyone? So, when my friend Sarah invited me to check out <a href="http://www.theloadedslate.com/" target="_blank">The Loaded Slate</a>, I accepted. It's in a cute old building on Milwaukee's Old World Third Street, now dwarfed by the under-construction Moderne. Inside, baseball and soccer were on the TVs, a couple motor scooters were leaned against walls and all the guys were nursing Bloody Marys -- it's a bro bar. True to the name, chalkboards were scattered about the place, depicting everything from drink specials to whom to call for a good time (that one was in the bathroom -- pretty sure someone on the staff would have picked up if you called it). </div>
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The tables had a chalkboard-painted board in the center, surrounded by a trough for chalk. Very clever. And much, much cleaner and less dusty than I'd expected. Thank goodness. A little background: I was nervous to come here because I hate chalk. When I am in a serious situation and for some reason, start to get the giggles, I think of chewing a piece of chalk to keep myself from laughing. Gross? Maybe. But it works.</div>
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Anyway, the beer list was pretty good, our server was very attentive, but the food was just OK. (And I think Sarah and I were both horrified by the caddy of plastic silverware at our table.) My server-recommended Slamberry sandwich sounded promising, especially the cranberry mustard sauce, and I was excited for the tater tots, which I haven't eaten in years. I took my first bite and discovered unseasoned chicken, a centimeter-thick layer of raw spinach, and greasy cheese. No cranberry mustard. I did request an extra ramekin of it from our server, and that helped, but it was not enough to redeem the sandwich. I didn't try Sarah's burger, but we could smell Cheez Whiz before the plate even arrived at the table. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV6_5VYHJxYgfE5noRqttfpOeNQeeak1VDqc1Ax5Pooa81-x8x-nzFZ0pamJAWLULFnO59BKjL8YLwqEyBIsGqpqGi1L8O7S_C5DjCh5puamPuFUFPY-KJ3HVF1L4NEik5TBERr5vnWVH/s1600/DSCN2836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV6_5VYHJxYgfE5noRqttfpOeNQeeak1VDqc1Ax5Pooa81-x8x-nzFZ0pamJAWLULFnO59BKjL8YLwqEyBIsGqpqGi1L8O7S_C5DjCh5puamPuFUFPY-KJ3HVF1L4NEik5TBERr5vnWVH/s320/DSCN2836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Needless to say, I won't be at The Loaded Slate anytime soon. Or ever. But if Smirnoff bombs and College Night are your thing, you won't be disappointed.</div>
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This visit has made another Milwaukee sandwich spot shine even more brightly: <a href="http://melthousebistro.com/" target="_blank">Melthouse Bistro</a>. Sarah, our friend Tiffany, and I went there a few months ago for an event co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Cheese Board and I've been back a few times since. Melthouse Bistro's goal is to serve as any locally grown and sourced products as possible (everything from cheese to produce to wine), and as its name suggests, it serves finger-lickin' good grilled cheese sandwiches. I had bites of several at the event and enjoyed all, though I think my favorite was The Heartland. I worked with the owners for a project I was doing at Reader's Digest, and they are wonderful, generous people who really believe in their mission. And so do I! Go.<br />
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Have you had an amazing sandwich lately?Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-46623095518806233862012-04-28T13:42:00.000-04:002013-06-06T17:33:32.659-04:00six months laterHello. It's nice to see you! And it's nice to be back. <br />
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The last six months have flown by, and as you've probably noticed, I haven't blogged. Well, that's not entirely true. I've done some editor's posts on the <a href="http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2012/04/15/featured-blog-you-grow-girl/" target="_blank">Birds & Blooms blog</a>, and have "met" some truly outstanding garden bloggers, including <a href="http://www.yougrowgirl.com/" target="_blank">Gayla Trail</a> and <a href="http://awaytogarden.com/" target="_blank">Margaret Roach</a>. I've been dreaming about gardening a lot lately, and have big ideas for upcoming opportunities. But more on that later...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K5DfWbrEYMLv52Z7bJQwfCzxy3pvdXKFS0Fl8lnzkzmXmLBat-t9KY4b-vdWxFP5zrJ7WTXMPAq0zg92iChqQ8MmFsRDtcv0jHr7ZEEaYCiY_YcVTqQcWpdYSSfGv1_uZI4BqfXoandp/s1600/wedhead.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5K5DfWbrEYMLv52Z7bJQwfCzxy3pvdXKFS0Fl8lnzkzmXmLBat-t9KY4b-vdWxFP5zrJ7WTXMPAq0zg92iChqQ8MmFsRDtcv0jHr7ZEEaYCiY_YcVTqQcWpdYSSfGv1_uZI4BqfXoandp/s320/wedhead.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I've also picked up a freelance gig with <a href="http://onmilwaukee.com/">OnMilwaukee.com</a>, working on their new local wedding blog, <a href="http://wedinmilwaukee.com/">WedInMilwaukee.com</a>. It's been incredibly fun to pick up where I left off a couple of years ago, and it's gratifying to be able to introduce local wedding resources to couples in Southeastern Wisconsin. As someone who married in this area, I know how hard it is to see something inspirational in a magazine and then try to find it here. And that's what Wed In Milwaukee is about. Last Tuesday, we were formally introduced to the masses via a blog post on OnMilwaukee and a billboard on I-94 East (near the 27th St. exit), which resulted in an extremely positive response.<br />
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More notable things have happened since I last checked in, and I'm excited to tell you about them. Imagine me putting out my pinky -- pinky-swearing that you'll see me way more often. Until then, happy spring. I missed you!Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-55809828168448690992011-10-19T06:24:00.001-04:002013-06-06T17:27:07.129-04:00wordless wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavyk1vsweJ1soR5VbhWIcsecimnng63N9gl3SOXBGCtJvfNqh8GKw9GOk73tiMubC4ZSdOroJhFhR17go20PsabiMUwDdGhvnTqnftFryOiYuootRYJxDB3PCUdkmvzEc_z6uY34pQ5h4/s1600/IMG_0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavyk1vsweJ1soR5VbhWIcsecimnng63N9gl3SOXBGCtJvfNqh8GKw9GOk73tiMubC4ZSdOroJhFhR17go20PsabiMUwDdGhvnTqnftFryOiYuootRYJxDB3PCUdkmvzEc_z6uY34pQ5h4/s320/IMG_0211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Old Milwaukee</div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-930328001790827752011-10-12T07:12:00.003-04:002013-06-06T17:33:46.510-04:00wordless wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM46PEUXd5Ko3RJLvZh9QKWwiBbjzwgJvNjXdWEORH-mtwJms15deJxUxMBoJpq0q10nvmsrzmJLhnLR2eKJ9BNJNgfI9uvpti8TyCNnlKBslGPUJ9mHepOGEd7G1r_3GlFizqBshabny/s1600/DSCN2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM46PEUXd5Ko3RJLvZh9QKWwiBbjzwgJvNjXdWEORH-mtwJms15deJxUxMBoJpq0q10nvmsrzmJLhnLR2eKJ9BNJNgfI9uvpti8TyCNnlKBslGPUJ9mHepOGEd7G1r_3GlFizqBshabny/s320/DSCN2049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Saskatchewan?</div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-44656531888493510972011-10-05T06:30:00.001-04:002013-06-06T17:33:08.856-04:00wordless wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFcTyXxGFjxxD5BemdWiC3uqR-nZkrGSXcdzfBHNfFfANHxCNo12OqYCMbwyAEz_ySZKPPpg68qV6edyg3IPzG07XT78EjLnTK_CZYZl1cYO8D8m6j9sirHDJJS3JePOFYquwbAQc3eyn/s1600/CIMG2824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFcTyXxGFjxxD5BemdWiC3uqR-nZkrGSXcdzfBHNfFfANHxCNo12OqYCMbwyAEz_ySZKPPpg68qV6edyg3IPzG07XT78EjLnTK_CZYZl1cYO8D8m6j9sirHDJJS3JePOFYquwbAQc3eyn/s320/CIMG2824.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Apple crates, Union Square Greenmarket, New York City</div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-66280180676474533132011-10-03T22:15:00.001-04:002013-06-06T17:32:46.190-04:00clear waters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26-c2rmoWKwfk-LSuaoSfOzT5qTWWpm2iEOLGQJ2H5x3T6yIpupsjz56f0QRSmQcbeOZI8Fq73jf6uqg4cbgQHjHGjr6OU70eusvhWtByvEHYE_ERae2UCN5i_emlkDlq3rGwYlL9Rzda/s1600/DSCN2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26-c2rmoWKwfk-LSuaoSfOzT5qTWWpm2iEOLGQJ2H5x3T6yIpupsjz56f0QRSmQcbeOZI8Fq73jf6uqg4cbgQHjHGjr6OU70eusvhWtByvEHYE_ERae2UCN5i_emlkDlq3rGwYlL9Rzda/s320/DSCN2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Down a quiet Northwoods road... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqszu9oEJORefbWug1UIk7Wwk03hyEbgGJ4JVgTk-2Jn_WjjfmYWYxXIyviWEJn3W_Z0G04MwgymQBpSpGivrrXKpmzKnkk7EHIDIWlBbrgfCbDbpQm9W7gC56jSiHpuVZEFPRPUmzqCz/s1600/DSCN2530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqszu9oEJORefbWug1UIk7Wwk03hyEbgGJ4JVgTk-2Jn_WjjfmYWYxXIyviWEJn3W_Z0G04MwgymQBpSpGivrrXKpmzKnkk7EHIDIWlBbrgfCbDbpQm9W7gC56jSiHpuVZEFPRPUmzqCz/s320/DSCN2530.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Not far from the Wisconsin River...</div>
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...An artesian well flows, where thirsty passersby fill as many milk jugs and Gatorade bottles as they can manage. My family has driven past it every time we visit my grandparents. But I never remember stopping -- until Sunday.</div>
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Ian and I drove up and had a very pleasant visit. As we headed home, there it was. The spring. I'd stashed a few water bottles in the car for the drive, and now they were empty, so Ian suggested we stop to see what all the fuss was about. He hopped out and filled them up. Even through the plastic, I could feel how cool the water was, and when I took a gulp, I tasted nothing. In my humble opinion, that's simple, sweet perfection. </div>
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We're not sure when we'll visit Granny and Granddad next, but we're already stockpiling bottles.</div>
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Have you found a place like this?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Jx5RPjdQ0DXJcjDonUJUOS1oPRoS482oKCAwg7yp-phjjWciggIAHxmHf0flx8Jdp8N8iSzqtzp7YNabW2B1wE8TYBMG-JhpWCm6rfbvB2j7XUG1LzvBWgGp5-1SCrI8q3t6CJEJsiq/s1600/DSCN2528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41Jx5RPjdQ0DXJcjDonUJUOS1oPRoS482oKCAwg7yp-phjjWciggIAHxmHf0flx8Jdp8N8iSzqtzp7YNabW2B1wE8TYBMG-JhpWCm6rfbvB2j7XUG1LzvBWgGp5-1SCrI8q3t6CJEJsiq/s320/DSCN2528.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-3098470404225413232011-09-28T13:42:00.000-04:002012-04-28T13:43:18.387-04:00good news for waukeshaMy salon, <a href="http://moxiebeautylounge.com/">Moxie Beauty Lounge</a> in Waukesha, is now carrying Bumble and bumble products!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCqTBW3gtSyqoFPQNxcTLsa780XpukD9iKq53tR5vHevr5GjlVBuiW9v_LHOLrJUp7rkm9cRMPNqBIvHr8-AF4NPsSqBzKqFuG_xLECeUrZ-Gfe2g-8FsvgINTOtEnM5F9pBOmYYOae5s/s1600/Moxiebb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCqTBW3gtSyqoFPQNxcTLsa780XpukD9iKq53tR5vHevr5GjlVBuiW9v_LHOLrJUp7rkm9cRMPNqBIvHr8-AF4NPsSqBzKqFuG_xLECeUrZ-Gfe2g-8FsvgINTOtEnM5F9pBOmYYOae5s/s320/Moxiebb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Awesome.<br />
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You may now return to your regularly scheduled browsing.Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-817661624719091692011-09-28T06:04:00.001-04:002011-09-28T09:07:36.602-04:00wordless wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EyMwhBwL7BIRm0xqMC_D_agI8vYDd1ky4Wa1TgrkgF_emgGrP4XiEAo2UVEBnm8pezRn80xce4przm3A8Rt9Q8_B90ClrBCFx9DAa-_fr13l4r3AQVnm564n3QldvIKw20w49aS2zRa/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-EyMwhBwL7BIRm0xqMC_D_agI8vYDd1ky4Wa1TgrkgF_emgGrP4XiEAo2UVEBnm8pezRn80xce4przm3A8Rt9Q8_B90ClrBCFx9DAa-_fr13l4r3AQVnm564n3QldvIKw20w49aS2zRa/s320/IMG_0145.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">An arbor of hops at Myrtle Edwards Park, overlooking Puget Sound, Seattle</div>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-20809902200077323912011-09-08T19:11:00.000-04:002013-06-06T17:27:46.643-04:00late-summer salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hbfFmg3cJNtgn2_9XXWyb9znPSGLUXyj8HHbg0mg21vhj4mrCkD6T0USWpKzdpaMTjHcv4AIn-ZKyJvvEA24467Cm453n5gjHpsCMmA0EInHAL8RUDCCqkb0zTAo0Kb4rzGAUYrWTA5u/s1600/DSCN2520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hbfFmg3cJNtgn2_9XXWyb9znPSGLUXyj8HHbg0mg21vhj4mrCkD6T0USWpKzdpaMTjHcv4AIn-ZKyJvvEA24467Cm453n5gjHpsCMmA0EInHAL8RUDCCqkb0zTAo0Kb4rzGAUYrWTA5u/s320/DSCN2520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I normally don't report on the meals I throw together when Ian is at work, but this one is too good to keep to myself. I've dubbed it Late-Summer Salad: It's chock-full of in-season produce and tossed in an Asian-inspired dressing to give it that exotic, vacation-y flair. Bonus: According to <a href="http://www.loseit.com/">Lose It</a> (my calorie-counting app), it has a mere 236 calories. It would be a terrific accompaniment to salmon, barbecue chicken or a pork chop.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Late-Summer Salad</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(serves 1)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">ingredients</span><br />
1/4 c. dry bulgur wheat<br />
1/2 c. cold water<br />
1 c. cucumber, peeled and chopped<br />
1 medium peach, chopped<br />
1 c. fresh spinach, roughly chopped<br />
1 green onion, minced (white parts)<br />
2 Tbl. Newman's Own Low-Fat Sesame Ginger dressing<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">directions</span><br />
1) Put bulgur and water in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 12 minutes. Spoon into a salad bowl.<br />
2) Add all other ingredients to the bowl and toss.<br />
3) Eat!Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-52518565870929443712011-09-06T19:13:00.001-04:002013-06-06T17:27:57.506-04:00a vacationing container gardener's saving graceIan and I are recently back from a very refreshing, very lovely, very inspiring week in Washington State. The two of us have quite a bit of freedom because we don't have kids or pets, but as you've read, we <i>are</i> the proud caretakers of several potted plants. So, in order to keep them alive (without anyone's help) while we were gallivanting across Kitsap Peninsula, I set out to devise a fuss-free watering system for container gardens.<br />
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I ruled out two popular ideas right away: We don't have access to a spigot, so that nixes the drip system option suggested by many container gardening blogs. I also didn't want to lug all the containers inside and store them in the bathtub, as advised by others. I reasoned that the plants would have been shocked by the darkness, and some would likely have succumbed to root rot. Plus, some pots had been struggling with a bit of a Japanese beetle situation, and I refused to introduce those pretty but nasty bugs into our home. So, that left me to tap into my limited memory of high school physics. And dare I say, it turned out pretty well?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdRGpB-oqXRx2NgXqHB1vlO3SmPLGy7qr5wSYqTgkJHqYCdyIPd1L5AgddsvHayHu1hUq9c_n1hpYET5bRFVzUkKLu54APUdtGyd3Njagoywp0Bqypd8WSYSBMtjVZqPA9IVDFM3OW7na/s1600/DSCN2516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdRGpB-oqXRx2NgXqHB1vlO3SmPLGy7qr5wSYqTgkJHqYCdyIPd1L5AgddsvHayHu1hUq9c_n1hpYET5bRFVzUkKLu54APUdtGyd3Njagoywp0Bqypd8WSYSBMtjVZqPA9IVDFM3OW7na/s320/DSCN2516.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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We rescued wine and beer bottles from the recycling -- one for each container, chosen according to pot size. The morning of our flight, I filled them up, tipped them over, and jammed them into the soil. The idea was that, as the soil around the bottle dried out, more water would drip down.<br />
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When we returned, I nervously checked the balcony. A few of the plants looked a little droopy, but nothing a hearty watering didn't fix. The tomato fared the worst with a few yellowed branches, but, oddly, some new and well-developed suckers replaced them.<br />
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Next time we go away for a week in the summer, I'll probably double up on bottles -- especially if scorching temps are predicted (we reached just 80 degrees). This amount of moisture would probably have been ideal for a five-day trip. But overall, our plants and I are quite pleased with this experiment.<br />
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Have you tried a container watering system like this? What did you think?Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-83403222358980360632011-07-12T10:50:00.000-04:002011-07-12T10:50:20.983-04:00"reminisce" with meAnd now for a shameless request...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.reminisce.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCERtcrNqUiMBQLfbsJXfWbfP37UANlQCI1j8f9GS4Vg6jcfKU4ASx9wlf7wu3wyIVXLUzGoV8RrhySGNqJ4jCq4tQCpzgiUcuFxsZkH3ZaJLdh5jNuOOdI63uPlX-TdB_ubqnE9JS4huX/s1600/imagesServe.jpg" /></a></div>I'm working on a new book about America for <a href="http://www.reminisce.com/"><em>Reminisce</em></a>, a magazine full of memories from the good ol' days of the '20s through '60s. We want to share your memories and photos -- or those of your parents, grandparents, friends or neighbors! Write as much as you'd like, from a few sentences or a few pages.<br />
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Here's <em>Reminisce</em>'s official request:<br />
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<strong>Celebrate America!</strong> The land we love will be featured in a brand-new book, and we want YOU to be part of it.<br />
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Share your life experiences in the USA. Send us your stories, photos and slides, too! Here are some topics to get you started:<br />
<ul><li>Living the American dream and hometown memories</li>
<li>Patriotism: Fourth of July and other patriotic occasions</li>
<li>American heroes: favorite icons from American sports, movies and music</li>
<li>Land of opportunity: mom-and-pop businesses, great schools and other success stories</li>
<li>America's can-do spirit: overcoming adversity, the Great Depression, World Wars, etc.</li>
<li>American inventions and innovations</li>
<li>US destinations: vacations and road trips</li>
</ul>Please submit your stories and photos by <b>August 1, 2011</b>, to the attention of America Book. <a href="http://www.reminisce.com/submit-a-story/">Click this link</a> for <i>Reminisce</i>'s mailing address and email. You can also deliver your story to me. Just respond in the comments and I'll send you my contact info.<br />
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Please share with any great storytellers you know. I look forward to reading everybody's memories -- thanks for your help!Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-46224510064011167242011-06-27T13:48:00.000-04:002011-07-07T13:52:25.240-04:00my view, june<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DFJ3Exvtpk1VJQCefCisvGost0AyG33hgb-qZg3T-diSseEjO7EAM8ew7alsHDnngKMPdzOrmL-l7U5RCchffvmvgQLeszfGc2O7HnscsfuWa-5BVH6S8GUw5ScLOMqnEfN3rFG22VV0/s1600/_DSC3584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DFJ3Exvtpk1VJQCefCisvGost0AyG33hgb-qZg3T-diSseEjO7EAM8ew7alsHDnngKMPdzOrmL-l7U5RCchffvmvgQLeszfGc2O7HnscsfuWa-5BVH6S8GUw5ScLOMqnEfN3rFG22VV0/s320/_DSC3584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWPGlJMchXMLDPBd4oJTakIELPOajkCkUJ65XnIYsDVkF4BHKE6SBg0AtGkBW6fi9K5qY6stk1MCI0Ju2PCn4cA8oeHzuqP6wksa00BEb9ycAorRNKpVZ-INqEfGIWTSLz2UkySzvRxfJ/s1600/_DSC3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWPGlJMchXMLDPBd4oJTakIELPOajkCkUJ65XnIYsDVkF4BHKE6SBg0AtGkBW6fi9K5qY6stk1MCI0Ju2PCn4cA8oeHzuqP6wksa00BEb9ycAorRNKpVZ-INqEfGIWTSLz2UkySzvRxfJ/s320/_DSC3590.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As the leaves filled in on the tree right outside my office window (above), things got a lot shadier! Now I never have to pull down my shade during the afternoons, when the sun is especially bright here.<br />
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Does anyone recognize the tree in the closeup? It has little white flowers and lots of purplish-red berries in the fall and winter. We have looked in every resource we can think of and have had no leads.Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-74462985745874634732011-06-25T13:15:00.001-04:002013-06-06T17:28:27.376-04:00this year's garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is already the first official weekend of summer, and I realized that I never told you about this year's container garden. Well, there is one. And it's my best yet, if I do say so myself. </div>
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Things started out a little rough. You may recall my post about <a href="http://littlewonderandthesunmachine.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-fever-part-1.html">starting seeds</a>. Well, of all those <a href="http://littlewonderandthesunmachine.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-fever-part-2.html">dozens of little sprouts</a>, <i>two</i> have survived. They're some variety of pepper, but in all the insanity and disorganization (I do not recommend labeling your seeds with generic non-sticky Post-its), I'm not sure which. Maybe we'll get lucky and they won't be the same. Nevertheless, I learned a few things in the process -- most importantly, I think, is that when the editor of <i>Birds & Blooms</i> offers you her spare grow lights, you should take them even if you have a south-facing window. Anyway, I humbly accepted a very robust tomato plant from my dad and purchased two other peppers from the garden center, so we won't go salsa-less this summer (perish the thought).</div>
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Once my ego recovered and my thumb started to regain a little tinge of green (and it <i>finally</i> warmed up), I made a few more trips to the garden center. Now we have three herb planters (with a few flowers mixed in), two hanging flower baskets (with a few herbs mixed in) and one pot designed to attract butterflies (no luck so far). Here they are:</div>
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Herb planters, clockwise from top left: cilantro, </div>
Tuscan Blue rosemary, chives, Opal Innocence nemesia, mint, <br />
sage, purple viola, Lanai Royal Purple verbena, Italian parsley, <br />
Greek oregano and Angelface Purple angelonia<br />
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Butterfly planter, clockwise from top left: Graffiti Purple </div>
pentas, Bandana Pink lantana, fuchsia portulaca, yellow viola <br />
and portulaca foliage<br />
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Hanging basket no. 1, clockwise from top left: </div>
Aromatica White nemesia (yeah, really a dud so far), <br />
Supertunia Citrus petunia, Electric Lime coleus, Landmark <br />
Yellow lantana, lemon thyme and Bandana White lantana<br />
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Hanging basket no. 2, clockwise from left: </div>
Superbells Saffron calibrachoa, Dark Opal basil, <br />
Superbells Coralberry Punch calibrachoa, Sweet Georgia <br />
Deep Purple sweet potato vine and fuchsia portulaca<br />
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Looks like the colors of the year are yellow, purple and pink. Wonder what that means? And what have you planted this year?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxouYT2j3_RLtIlgjg0q1Y1A6_695BIDcCuKkxSqMjReGdFNOKw44QTZXNf8T0-CPy6ouLCSRIsU1SG1OnG0-jdjnjSBJkG7WUXUobOyD6Cph_1j5-XrL0_OP_0pxTEOkUaBSl-tsiBCf/s1600/DSCN1906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxouYT2j3_RLtIlgjg0q1Y1A6_695BIDcCuKkxSqMjReGdFNOKw44QTZXNf8T0-CPy6ouLCSRIsU1SG1OnG0-jdjnjSBJkG7WUXUobOyD6Cph_1j5-XrL0_OP_0pxTEOkUaBSl-tsiBCf/s320/DSCN1906.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOa7KM0BqvVWIXUdpQVPT6AXryY6thFoYG4nvdgViV8J_-jytjoep0zsbNCHUaLoGmrv0GOSffvBcpfJiH0ordgh1VqHu0SqkobXdL3yNQgzWQmwPaGO1Xil1urwTfVIKjH9KpWnl9UDC2/s1600/61WDRltIzOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOa7KM0BqvVWIXUdpQVPT6AXryY6thFoYG4nvdgViV8J_-jytjoep0zsbNCHUaLoGmrv0GOSffvBcpfJiH0ordgh1VqHu0SqkobXdL3yNQgzWQmwPaGO1Xil1urwTfVIKjH9KpWnl9UDC2/s1600/61WDRltIzOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a>PS: I got the idea for these photos from a spectacular book about container gardening, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Container-Gardens-Designs-Year-Round/dp/1603427023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309021751&sr=8-1">Continuous Container Gardens</a></i> by Sara Begg Townsend and Roanne Robbins. I've been working with Roanne for an article I'm doing about winter containers...she's fantastic.</div>
Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-23755360154172155152011-05-20T13:45:00.001-04:002011-05-20T15:04:13.694-04:00my view, may<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwqZErtceajCi_SF12kjtWaa0GSYfM1OWOtL5K3nklqSBoMPgGt4CFemGSUkY4sbbfgBN3XqWwGEPuH4CeqiT-9Nvfx_ui2LGrThFE3iXa_141qgN_km7DB8F3S3HtSez1AMPrZ4IZbm4/s1600/_DSC1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwqZErtceajCi_SF12kjtWaa0GSYfM1OWOtL5K3nklqSBoMPgGt4CFemGSUkY4sbbfgBN3XqWwGEPuH4CeqiT-9Nvfx_ui2LGrThFE3iXa_141qgN_km7DB8F3S3HtSez1AMPrZ4IZbm4/s320/_DSC1301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn4-tpNopCqJNTXF7G3FDzUP9vO2Laxv7FbL07WCaBq945FUpVMtvU70ZzlnaTpH8vuBinjjmUEpKvmfpq7X4OCsj1zvVUrzMSKWZ6toRZ8PcnGCsLxmr_5wxfIeb1_C34TRWNR0VSuLh/s1600/_DSC1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWn4-tpNopCqJNTXF7G3FDzUP9vO2Laxv7FbL07WCaBq945FUpVMtvU70ZzlnaTpH8vuBinjjmUEpKvmfpq7X4OCsj1zvVUrzMSKWZ6toRZ8PcnGCsLxmr_5wxfIeb1_C34TRWNR0VSuLh/s320/_DSC1317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Well, my wish for it to warm up came true, but only barely. We're finally enjoying occasionally sunny weather in the 50s and 60s (and today maybe even 70!), and the leaves have popped.<br />
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Yesterday, Raeann and I traipsed through the dewy grass to take these photos of the crabapple trees. Their cheerful springtime scent was worth the wet socks. A day later, they're twice as floriferous (I love that word!).<br />
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My little corner is getting dimmer by the day, because the tree started to leaf out. I'm hoping it will continue to be a haven for birds, especially our hermit thrush, Flash (an ironic name for a bird who refuses to pose for photos).<br />
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Happy May!<br />
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PS: See our office bird count in the sidebar on the right. Each species is linked, so you can see photos and read more about them.Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-37289875568237904922011-04-23T13:14:00.006-04:002011-05-20T13:34:21.147-04:00my view, april<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Many of my colleagues here in the Home & Garden department joined me in enjoying the great view from my office window. There's a shade tree right outside, along with rows and rows of barberry bushes, making it a natural birdwatching spot. Once in awhile, a passing bird will catch my eye, and soon a crowd of people will form at my window. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Raeann, my designer counterpart who also happens to love photography, suggested that I share the view with you, too, so each month I'll post a few of her shots. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">For those of you who don't live around here, April has been extraordinarily cool and wet, which I think has stunted the growth of many of our plants. Sadly, the migrating birds don't know a detour is in order. They certainly seemed surprised by our latest snowstorm: I think there were probably 20 robins huddled in the tree preparing to be buried by snow. It was funny, but I empathized too. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's hoping for sunnier, greener days in May!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeCz23I1ZXhbILVHQKYDUUh3zkqZNYkGbwJmALFFx7PGrZUvb5DOvb96mpeJDN0yRhc2s2N7U7t8QkO-KK7HMO3a0UbPzywVV9zWjd5B09lYWbJtNuPguH8sLfyxDsqIHhjNw4FYgWDs8/s1600/_DSC0412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeCz23I1ZXhbILVHQKYDUUh3zkqZNYkGbwJmALFFx7PGrZUvb5DOvb96mpeJDN0yRhc2s2N7U7t8QkO-KK7HMO3a0UbPzywVV9zWjd5B09lYWbJtNuPguH8sLfyxDsqIHhjNw4FYgWDs8/s320/_DSC0412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAjHg9a1xTTSswurwx6n-xfVxGk07F1xbgEHwcpzMOLPINiNJC-J6ZFTBRxZIi0GQ027TTiZ1uPlQX5EhaikgXn8e3ZDgVGFDgHqEJl7e0f11Swarnto55cFVm3M1Rc7kUJXtLE682uUM/s1600/_DSC0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAjHg9a1xTTSswurwx6n-xfVxGk07F1xbgEHwcpzMOLPINiNJC-J6ZFTBRxZIi0GQ027TTiZ1uPlQX5EhaikgXn8e3ZDgVGFDgHqEJl7e0f11Swarnto55cFVm3M1Rc7kUJXtLE682uUM/s320/_DSC0416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-527556922983037300.post-86949894299033119262011-03-29T23:00:00.010-04:002013-06-06T17:34:33.173-04:00nesting know-how<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since we've been having such great bird activity here, I thought I'd treat our visitors to a spring treat: nesting materials. The great thing about a project like this is that it takes next to no time, plus it's free. Just gather a few spare household and garden items and secure them outside for your feathered friends to discover (read more details <a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1144">here</a>). Our neighborhood birds have their choice of cotton yarn and some dried-up strawflowers from last year's containers -- I cut both into 4- to 8-inch pieces. Then, I piled it all in a clean wire suet feeder and hung it on the balcony. So easy.<br />
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Come and get it, birdies!<br />
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Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01123386735023185873noreply@blogger.com0