Rasta Road

We call this trail the Rasta Road because of what we found toward the end of the road:



We take this drive frequently because the road leads to a secluded campground on the Flambeau River. There is a water pump at this campground. We have no water on our property so when we run out of what we hauled from the city, we take drive to this pump. The water is very cold and refreshing. It smells like it's loaded with minerals, but the taste is pure and clear.






The remains of logging in the area can be jarring. Yet, it is nice to see the area start the growing process again. It's also a good area to spot birds and other wildlife.




But, soon the road leads back into the thick of the woods. In just one week it seems like the trees popped into their leafy glory, causing the road to slim and the woods to darken. We actually saw a porcupine on the side of the road, but it was too quick and sneaky to get a picture. That was a first for me -- seeing a porcupine out in the wild and it seemed to waiting to say hello on the side of the road.




The river is just wonderful here. This is place where a lot of canoers stops for the night. We had the place to ourselves on the afternoon we wandered down to get the water.



It was one of those trips where everything seemed magical with an impossible array of green color everywhere.

Rasta Road

We call this trail the Rasta Road because of what we found toward the end of the road:



We take this drive frequently because the road leads to a secluded campground on the Flambeau River. There is a water pump at this campground. We have no water on our property so when we run out of what we hauled from the city, we take drive to this pump. The water is very cold and refreshing. It smells like it's loaded with minerals, but the taste is pure and clear.






The remains of logging in the area can be jarring. Yet, it is nice to see the area start the growing process again. It's also a good area to spot birds and other wildlife.




But, soon the road leads back into the thick of the woods. In just one week it seems like the trees popped into their leafy glory, causing the road to slim and the woods to darken. We actually saw a porcupine on the side of the road, but it was too quick and sneaky to get a picture. That was a first for me -- seeing a porcupine out in the wild and it seemed to waiting to say hello on the side of the road.




The river is just wonderful here. This is place where a lot of canoers stops for the night. We had the place to ourselves on the afternoon we wandered down to get the water.



It was one of those trips where everything seemed magical with an impossible array of green color everywhere.

CSA Box #5

Ok, so this is a little late. I was out of town all last week for my birthday. Actually, we came back into town to pick up the CSA box, then left for the trailer again on Saturday. So, now I have to catch up!

Here's a picture of last week's box. My mother was uncertain about our plans to come back to the city, so I ended up hooking up with her en route and the bonus was that we split it up immediately after picking up the box. The negotiations are always interesting me and I sure learn about where I get my habits as I watch my mother shy away from an unknown vegetable.

I gave her all the asparagus, then later read on other blogs that this week's harvest was likely the best of the season. Dang! I also gave her the one parsnip I picked up from the choice box. She took all the arugula because she loves it and I am indifferent about it. I took all the turnips because these are the things I have waiting all winter to have!



The contents of the box:
Green garlic: sliced it up and used it to start my stir-fry
Potato onions: sliced it up diagonally and used it in stir-fry
Spinach: salad
Salad mix or arugula: gave to my mother for her salad
Hon tsai tai or pea vine: stir-fry
Sweet baby broccoli: gave to my mother and regretted it as I was getting my stir-fry ingredients together.
Rhubarb: should have tossed it in the swap box because I already have a freezer load.
Asparagus: gave to my mother
Bok choi: used in stir-fry
Baby white turnips with tops: cooking tonight in a honey glaze

I made a stir-fry last night, or maybe I should call it a Thai red curry. I used many of the ingredients from this week's box. But, I feel like I cheated a little. This is a great dish for many vegetables, but I always feel like I'm taking the easy way out. I wanted to prepare a sauteed bok choy, but I didn't because of course, it was easier to stir-fry.

When we were first married the Big D thoroughly impressed me with his interest in making stir-fry. We would spend Friday evenings cooking and watching videos. He was insistent that we make some garlic bread with the stir-fry and that habit has stuck. And that is why even though I cooked a Thai red curry, I still want to call it a stir-fry. The results were yummy. I totally enjoyed the greens: the bok choy and the Hon Tsai Tai.



I have learned that the lighting in my kitchen sucks for taking pictures of my meals! Oh well, I'm working on it...

CSA Box #5

Ok, so this is a little late. I was out of town all last week for my birthday. Actually, we came back into town to pick up the CSA box, then left for the trailer again on Saturday. So, now I have to catch up!

Here's a picture of last week's box. My mother was uncertain about our plans to come back to the city, so I ended up hooking up with her en route and the bonus was that we split it up immediately after picking up the box. The negotiations are always interesting me and I sure learn about where I get my habits as I watch my mother shy away from an unknown vegetable.

I gave her all the asparagus, then later read on other blogs that this week's harvest was likely the best of the season. Dang! I also gave her the one parsnip I picked up from the choice box. She took all the arugula because she loves it and I am indifferent about it. I took all the turnips because these are the things I have waiting all winter to have!



The contents of the box:
Green garlic: sliced it up and used it to start my stir-fry
Potato onions: sliced it up diagonally and used it in stir-fry
Spinach: salad
Salad mix or arugula: gave to my mother for her salad
Hon tsai tai or pea vine: stir-fry
Sweet baby broccoli: gave to my mother and regretted it as I was getting my stir-fry ingredients together.
Rhubarb: should have tossed it in the swap box because I already have a freezer load.
Asparagus: gave to my mother
Bok choi: used in stir-fry
Baby white turnips with tops: cooking tonight in a honey glaze

I made a stir-fry last night, or maybe I should call it a Thai red curry. I used many of the ingredients from this week's box. But, I feel like I cheated a little. This is a great dish for many vegetables, but I always feel like I'm taking the easy way out. I wanted to prepare a sauteed bok choy, but I didn't because of course, it was easier to stir-fry.

When we were first married the Big D thoroughly impressed me with his interest in making stir-fry. We would spend Friday evenings cooking and watching videos. He was insistent that we make some garlic bread with the stir-fry and that habit has stuck. And that is why even though I cooked a Thai red curry, I still want to call it a stir-fry. The results were yummy. I totally enjoyed the greens: the bok choy and the Hon Tsai Tai.



I have learned that the lighting in my kitchen sucks for taking pictures of my meals! Oh well, I'm working on it...

fun with bokeh

As defined by wikipedia, Bokeh is a photographic term referring to the appearance of point of light sources in an out-of-focus area of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject.

What this definition doesn't tell you is that it's fun to try. I played around with this at the trailer using the tiki torches as a point of reference.

fun with bokeh

As defined by wikipedia, Bokeh is a photographic term referring to the appearance of point of light sources in an out-of-focus area of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject.

What this definition doesn't tell you is that it's fun to try. I played around with this at the trailer using the tiki torches as a point of reference.

Sap sucker

We have lots of woodpeckers and sap suckers in the area (at the trailer in WI). It's the sap suckers that leave the rows of holes in the trees.




These holes attract hummingbirds too! But I didn't get a shot of one, but here's a shot of the sap sucker.