Tea Garden

Anyone who is around me these days knows how much I enjoy a good glass of iced tea. I am always searching out places to buy loose leaf tea so I can try new combinations. This year I decided to plant a "tea garden" of herbs that I could use to make my own tea.

I planted:

chamomile

bee balm

lemon balm

pineapple sage

pineapple mint

lemon thyme

orange mint

catmint

lemon verbena

geraniums

It is finally taking off and today, because I was bored, I decided to try to make some tea with my herbs. I crushed 2 tsp lemon balm, 1tsp lemon verbena and 1 tsp spearmint. I poured about 1 1/2 cups boiling water over them and steeped for 12 minutes.

I was afraid to try it, but it is actually very refreshing and I haven't noticed any negative side effects...yet.

That Was Some Storm!

A big storm blew in Friday night. I should have listened to the newscaster who said to secure everything outside. All of a sudden straighline winds blew up and it started to pour. I saw my lawn chairs flying around outside. It didn't last long, but I did hear glass breaking and figured it was just my recycling blowing over. Turns out it was the window in the door to my basement. No big deal. I seldom use the door anyhow.

The power went out for about 12 hours, which is pretty short around here. Usually it goes out for a day or 2 at some point during the Spring or Summer. I lit candles and read a book and went to bed early. Nothing wrong with that.

Yummy Pork Vindaloo

I wanted to make this last week but forgot to buy coconut milk when I got groceries. I finally made it tonight. Yum!! It's just spicy enough for me. You can add another 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper if you really like heat but I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it then.


Pork Vindaloo
1 1/2 TBSP grainy mustard (I couldn't find this, so I used Dijon mustard)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp gound tumeric
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1tsp red wine vinegar
2 TBSP olive oil
1 small onion in 1/2 rings
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pound pork cut in bite-size pieces
1 cup coconut milk
2/3 cup water


Combine mustard, cumin, tumeric, cayenne, salt and vinegar. Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir fry until translucent. Add garlic and fry 30 seconds. Add spice paste and fry 1 minute. Add meat. Fry 3 minutes. Add coconut milk and water. Bring to boiling then lower to simmer for 60 minutes. Serve over rice. (I was afraid it wasn't thickening enough so I mixed about a tsp of cornstarch with a little water and added it. I probably should have waiting until it was done cooking because it probably would have been fine.

The picture might not look appetizing, but it was oh so good!

Spread the Word

My folks are selling their RV. It's parked in my driveway now because I get more traffic on my road than they do at their cottage. If you know of anyone looking for an RV, send them my way! Tow truck not included.

It is a 2000 Sunline Solaris, M-2653 Series. 27' x 8'. Maximum weight is 7,000 pounds. Microwave, stove, oven, AC/Heat, shower, toilet. Queen size bed in bedroom. Dinette turns into bed. Couch turns into bed. It's nice and clean inside. Asking price is $5,000.

If someone you know is interested, have them send me an email at auntiebonita@yahoo.com.

Summer Day

I found this poem in the newsletter from The People's Church, the Unitarian Universalist church that I attend sometimes. I really liked it and then realized it was by Mary Oliver, a favorite poet of mine.

The Summer Day (by Mary Oliver)

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth
instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous
and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms
and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?