365 Project – 155: Using my macro lens in my garden (June 4, 2013)

Since tent caterpillars invaded our trees and garden, part of my daily ritual is removing these critters from my garden by hand (gloved hand that is.) As I picked TEN tent caterpillars off my blueberry bushes this morning I decided to capture them first with my macro lens. As much as I detest them right now, well, detest what they do to my garden that is, they are kind’ve cool looking. While I was at it, I also got a shot of this slug (yup, got rid of those too…yuk!). And, to balance out the ICK-factor, I included a pic of some sweet flowers my daughter planted by seed last year. 🙂

ABOUT MY CAMERA: For these pics I used my old (10+years old) Olympus E-500, which I keep because of my prime macro lens. Because of its light body, it’s a great camera for hiking and capturing closeups of wildflowers and critters.

365 Project – 295: IN MY BOWL: quinoa, kale, pineapple, celery w/ Annie’s shitake sesame dressing :) (October 22, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/60, Aperture: F/4.0, ISO: 1600

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 294: Hooks…hooking up ;) (October 22, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/50, Aperture: F/7.1, ISO: 400 – converted to black and white in Lightroom

In the garden shed…those two hooks, in focus, on the right, look like two heads of a couple getting all cozy. Can you see that?

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 290: Baby pumpkin, mama pumpkin and papa pumpkin :) (October 17, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/50, Aperture: F/4.5, ISO: 400

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 281: Cuddly carrots (October 8, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/4000, Aperture: F/2.8, ISO: 100

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 277: Flowering sweet pea (October 4, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/500, Aperture: F/2.2, ISO: 400

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 269: Colorful stir-fry

Shutter Speed: 1/50, Aperture: F/3.2, ISO: 800

For sure, we eat with our eyes. Whether it’s beautiful plating, or a variety of complementary colors, how our food is presented can make our glands salivate…or not.  WhenI cooked up this stir-fry I kept the colors, shapes, and textures in mind: bright green broccoli (don’t overcook or it will lose its brightness), red peppers, yellow zucchini, diagonally cut carrots, and a trifecta of purple, variegated and yellow bush beans from my garden.  For flavor I used your typical asian flavors: onion, garlic, soy, fish sauce, salt and pepper.   It looked all Top Chef-y sided with a dome of brown rice and probably tasted better because it was so pretty. Ironically, I just posted on The Juicy Mamas blog about trying to teach kids how to eat with their taste buds, instead of just with their eyes.  And, I JUST realized I probably shared a mixed message between those two posts BUT…really, it’s one of those “both-and” situations. Yes, train your taste buds to eat, or at least try the ugliest of foods, and let yourself be pleasantly surprised but, also, make your food pretty to make it taste better. 🙂

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

Reblogging menu and recipes for a vegan BBQ

Some great vegan recipes here! 🙂

The Juicy Mamas

I was racking my brain for some vegan options for our family BBQ with juicy mama Bon Bon and was happy when I found a menu and vegan recipes that worked. So in case you are looking for something other than a vegan burger try grilling eggplant and tofu satay. Even my hubby, who is NOT a fan of tofu, was surprised how tasty there were. And, having a few colorful sides to choose from made the meal a fresh, tasty feast for your tummy AND eyes. For sure, try the corn salad with sweet summer corn right now. It’s like candy! And, the arugula and fennel salad just kind’ve elevate the flavors of the whole meal. Here was the full menu…enjoy!!

Appetizer: carrots and cukes with hummus
Lemon Miso Tofu and Eggplant Satay (ReBar Modern Food Cookbook)
Arugula Fennel Parmesan Salad (Oven Spoonful Catering – omit the parmesan to…

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365 Project – 175: My Pacific Northwest tomatoes (June 23, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/4000, Aperture: F2.5, ISO:400

These plants were just put in the ground two weeks ago and, yee-haw, I glimpsed a few little green gems dripping with wet globes after the recent rains. Without that elusive greenhouse, I’ll just have to be patient another summer season and wait to pop these candy-sweet, juicy, morsels into my mouth a few months from now. “Patience, grasshopper, patience…and stop procrastinating and get working on that greenhouse!” 🙂

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens

365 Project – 149: Baby banana slug…I am TRYING to like you ;) (May 29, 2012)

Shutter Speed: 1/50, Aperture: F/5.6, ISO: 400

I have to admit, when I see a slug I think “veggie thief!” Actually, harsher words come to mind since they are known menaces to our gardens and my conditioning at the sight of a slug prompts me to grab the salt or set out beer traps to lure them into a drunken stupor before their eternal sleep. Oh…I know, this is soooo morbid and some of you may want to report me to the humane society (although, really, is anyone trying to SAVE the slugs?) but, my fellow gardeners and Pacific Northwest neighbors know the plague of these slimy slugs. See how YOU would feel when you reach in to scoop out dog food for your pooch and your fingers find a slimy creature instead! Or, you skip to your garden to harvest your prized ripe strawberries and they’ve been SLIMED! OK…enough with the slug-bashing. Yes, a slug is still a living creature.  I know, I know!  Through my daughter’s eyes I was reminded about how fascinating all living creatures are.  When my daughter came across this baby banana slug we watched it almost run away from us. It was amazing how quickly it could scoot along on its belly.  It was pretty cool.  Love a slug?  Yeah, that would be a stretch but, I’m TRYING to deprogram that knee-jerk salt reaction.  So, because I really DO care about our planet and all living things I try to at least find ways for slugs to be in my universe without letting them wreak havoc in my garden. Planting marigolds around my veggies, which are a repellent to slugs. Using oyster shells as a mulch or border since the sharp edges scrape their bellies, so another repellent.  The last few years the slugs and my garden have been cohabitating pretty peacefully since I’ve been making more of an effort.  Hmmm…maybe those slugs are actually doing me a favor and forcing me to take care of my garden instead of being a lazy ass? My new mantra: “Get in the garden before it goes to the slugs!” If this ends up being my best garden year ever I suppose I’ll have to thank the slugs! LOL

See more of my 365 Project: Untouched photos from my Nikon D5000 with 50mm lens