Sunday, April 18, 2010

The Flowers are Blooming in the Desert

Past the freaky alien windmills and off the busy I-10 freeway sits a National Park like no other. To get there you pass the houses that cause you to ask yourself, "what do these people do? There's nothing out here." question. The break off I-10 is a reminder that 80 mph isn't normal and you begin to let off a bit. Your reminded that you want to get away and roll the window down a bit and catch anything but smog. It's a goooood day.
As we enter the park i'm reminded by Katie how ugly the Joshua tree's are. She peers out the passenger side window and I don't even need to see her face. I know it looks like she ate a sour lemon. A couple minutes pass and I am again reminded of the ugliness of the trees. Fellas, don't go to Joshua Tree for romance. The trees provide little shade against an already angry sun. As we hiked I couldn't help but think about how we were like little bugs and someone is holding a magnifying glass over the whole park. We stopped at a little information sign. It read "Joshua Trees provide much needed food and shelter for the little critters of the desert all year long." Kate said, "awww, that's nice." I was a little confused. She thought they were ugly but I guess she loved their personality. I began to question what she thought of me.
Barker Dam is one of my favorite hikes. This was the first time there was actually water in the reservoir. Unfortunately, this is the busy hike this time of year. Lots of hikers. Little kids, 80 year olds, and the walking heart attack who smells like McDonald's. It's a unique and easy hike. One that I could do everyday.
Some trees looked as if they were doing yoga. Katie made sure they were doing it right...
And so did I...
Stretch much? I tried a class or two with Katie. I was laughed at by the girls. It's cool, I know i'm a walking contracture.
Cacti with their blooms were very eye catching.

Below is a Joshua Tree bloom. It's my fourth visit to the park and the first time i've seen one.
Who wears short shorts? I were short shorts. Remember that commercial?
This flower had yet to open but I wanted a picture to imaging what it would look like when it did. It was the biggest flower i'd ever seen. Imagine how big the bumble bee is going to be!!
The foreign tourists were overjoyed with lizard sightings. Nothing new to us. They do push ups and eat bugs in my backyard all day long. They say, "sup Scott?" and "mornin' Scott" when I walk outside in the morning while brushing my teeth on the deck. This is the first black lizard i've seen though.
Midterms start next week. This means no fun for the next two weekends and busy weeks at school. With the exception of a golf tournament next Saturday I will be in the books. Only a couple more weeks!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

For only $22 ...

So while I anxiously wait for my garden to produce an abundance of fresh veggies, I signed up with a co-op to get a weekly basket of fresh local organic produce. It will be interesting to see what i get each week as the season changes. I'm excited to try cooking with some new things like Swiss chard...


I was a bit disappointed at first when I went to pick up the basket this morning. Instead of the expected rustic heap of dirt-crusted (fresh out of the ground) produce, I got a nicely cleaned (some packaged) and organized collection that looked like I just shopped at an organic foods market. Plus bananas do not grow down here :)

But for the most part, I am pleased with the selection (that is mostly local): a bunch of Swiss chard, a large head of romaine, one avocado, one onion, two zucchini, a couple heads of broccoli, a bunch of carrots, a package of California shiitake mushrooms, two pieces of fresh ginger, a lb of California strawberries, and a variety of local citrus...oh and 5 bananas from Ecuador. I would say a least a $25-30 value from an Organic produce market, and I paid $22. I could have gone without the citrus...being that we currently have a backyard of tress full of ripe fruit... and the mushrooms. yikes! We are not mushroom fans... suggestions welcomed.

Until the next pick-up, K

Sunday, April 4, 2010

An interesting Easter.

There are lots of things that could make Easter go wrong this year. With the exception of the police helicopter that is circling our neighborhood with it's spot light on right now or the 7.2 earthquake that hit just south of us this afternoon it was a pretty great day. He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Katie finishing up her garden this weekend. Well, no beans or tomatoes yet but it's a start.

Sunday night Katie made Paska, an Easter Bread her mom and grandma make every year, from scratch. Studying
The thoughts of summer are settling in my mind- beach, biking, bbq, Blaine and beating those that care at ping pong.