Happy Times Round Up!

The last two weeks have been busy. I watched my daughter graduate with honors from Kent State University. That is the proudest moment of my life. After that, Kiddo and I went to Universal Studios Orlando for a few days vacation.

It was tough on vacation. I had to endure a luxury hotel, theme parks, rides, great food, drinks by the pool, and great weather. I'm not quite sure how we did it. It was a completely foreign experience to be on vacation and not chaperoning 200+ band, orchestra, and choir kids. I wasn't quite sure what to do.

Gringott's

I have to give kudos to Universal Studios. They did an amazing job recreating Harry Potter's Diagon Alley from the movies. The details were fantastic. The Escape From Gringott's ride was a lot of fun as well. My daughter and I, both big Harry Potter nerds, had more fun than should be allowed exploring both Hogsmeade (Universal Islands of Adventure) and Diagon Alley (Universal Studios).

The performers and the staff did a fantastic job bringing it to life. We enjoyed the Frog Choir, Tri-Wizard Pep Rally, and Celestina Warbeck. The singer who portrays Celestina has an incredible voice. I wish she'd performed more than three songs, but in the Orlando heat, I understand why the performances are short. The kids are out there in full Hogwards uniforms - shirts, sweaters, pants, and robes. Ick! I was hot in shorts and a t-shirt!

The Frog Choir

Krusty Burger

Based upon Facebook likes from family and friends, Universal did a great job on the Simpsons section of the theme park as well. We have a dear friend who loves the Simpsons, so we made sure to get plenty of photos there.  We even picked up a couple of things at the Kwik E Mart.

Kiddo rode more rides than I did because I am kind of a scaredy cat. I have somewhat more than a mild fear of heights, so the big roller coasters kind of freak me out. I love watching people though, so I had plenty of entertainment while she was on the roller coasters.

The Beach Pool

Every evening, we struggled. It was brutal being forced to sit by the beach pool while kind waiters brought us drinks. It has been a very long time since I have been that relaxed. It was amazing to just sit back and not worry about anything. I'm not used to that, but I could suffer through it. I'd probably need to practice it over and over.

Vacation!

Just a quick update to say that posts will be sparse for a couple of weeks while I'm off to see my daughter graduate from college and take a short vacation.

I'm very proud of my daughter, who is graduating with honors from university with a degree in public health. She's still looking for a job, but I have faith in her.

After graduation, we're off to spend a few days in the sun - and yes, I am packing sunscreen! I'll practice my survival skills. We'll see how I survive by the pool with a mojito in my hand. It will be rough, but I will do my best.

Expect updates when I return!

Prepping for when the SHTF and a Good Meal!

Lemon balm drying in the oven.

I tried my hand and oven-drying some of my herbs today. I know it's pretty quick after planting, but that is the advantage of starting with some slightly larger plants.

Lemon balm, basil, and the mojito mint dried today. They have a bit more moisture in the leaves than some of my other herbs, so I didn't want to leave them to air dry. Also, lemon balm retains more of its flavor when dried quicker. I used this website as my primary reference: Garden Herbs. Almost all of them had virtually identical instructions.

Basil in the oven;
mojito mint on deck

I set my oven as low as it would go (170F) and made sure to prop the door open. My oven does have a door that stays about 6" open when broiling, but that was a bit more than I wanted, so I used a wooden spoon to keep the oven vented. Since I am only doing small batches for me, it only took about an hour to dry each herb.

I think they turned out quite well. They smell great and the color is good. Most ended up nice and dark green. Some of the larger lemon balm leaves turned a little brown, but the smaller leaves stayed nice and green.

The condo smells great now too!

Top to bottom:
Lemon Balm, Basil, Mojito Mint

May's Friday Five to Follow, Especially if You're Hungry!

I must have been hungry when I chose this month's five to follow on Twitter - hungry and outdoorsy. Neither of those is unusual. It's inevitable that eventually it will show in my Twitter recommendations. Here are five that I actively look for in my feed. You should as well.

Michelle (@browneyedbaker) has a great recipe blog you should read! While I tend to get stuck in the cupcake section, she has everything from appetizers to main dishes to vegetarian dishes to cookies. And cupcakes. I love her cupcake recipes and so do my co-workers. She even has dog treat recipes. I've tried a few of them and now Michelle is a go-to for "what do I want to eat" days or when I need something for a work potluck! This snack recipe would make a great take-along for a camping trip or day hike.

Primitive Cafe (@primitive_cafe) is a great resource for wild food foragers. Run by Hue, he'll help get those edible plants from your yard to the plate in fantastic fashion. From wild bruschetta to coconut red curry soup, you'll find great recipes as well as events to attend. There are plenty of edible "weeds" out there that could easily grace your table. All you need is to learn how to identify them and prepare them. Primitive Cafe will help you do that.

The Bushcraft Journal (@TBCRAFTJOURNAL) is a great new online bushcraft magazine available by subscription. Some of the foremost experts on bushcraftt skills and outdoor survival contribute to the magazine and it is published quarterly. The publisher's goal is great and doesn't need me to re-word it: "is to cover all you need to enhance your journey in the natural world so you will be able to immerse yourself safely and comfortably in it for longer periods of time, regardless of your age or skill level or global location." Check it out!

Chris Swanda (@ChrisSwanda) is one of the cast members of one of my favorite shows, Dude, You're Screwed. He's an outdoor survivalist, knife knut, and a techie geek too. You don't often find that package, so following him will satisfy the outdoors enthusiast and the technophile in anyone. As an added bonus, he loves bacon. (FYI, never trust anyone who doesn't love bacon.) He does have a strange aversion to shoes - he did most of his episode barefoot. 

Ultimate Survival Tech (@UST_Survival) makes survival gear of all types. Firestarters, lights, cutting tools, lights, etc. are all available. I have a few of their products. I am particularly fond of their 3" ParaKnife. Mine is magenta. The sheath fits well on a woman's figure and the handle is a nice size for smaller hands. I also have a couple of their MagBar Firestarters. Well, I had a couple. My daughter absconded with one of them. I'll have to replace that. I like to have a spare.

My Twitter: @cmstevens06

Herbs Abounding!

My herb garden got planted this weekend! I also managed to split and re-pot  some of my African violets (I went from six to nine - anyone need one?), and soak my orchids. I am excited because one of my orchids is about to start blooming again!

I'd posted earlier about planning for the herb garden. As usual, planning was good, but execution went a bit overboard. The staples all made it. The newbies got shaken up a bit.

Clockwise from top left: Sage, parsley, marjoram,
thyme, chamomile, oregano, and yarrow.

The Staples

Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Parsley
Basil

The Newbies

Lemon Balm
Spearmint
Arugula (Rocket)
Bay laurel
Mojito Mint*
Yarrow*
Chamomile*
Marjoram*
Parsley*
Lavender*
Dill*

*These were not planned!

I couldn't find the spearmint or arugula. I suppose I made up for that by getting seven additional plants. The dill might not make it. When I got home, it wasn't as robust a plant as I'd thought, but I gave it a special pot and a nice sunny spot in the kitchen window. Hopefully, I can nurse it back to health.

In short order, I should be able to start plucking a leaf here and there for salads. I'm looking forward to drying the herbs and making some new remedies and teas with them. Blending my own teas will be awesome since I drink so much of it. I'll let you know how it goes!

Hiking with Your Dog - Prep for Them Too!

Sasha loves a rainy walk
on the Mount Vernon Trail.

A lot of people take their dogs along on walks, hikes, and camping trips. They are great companions. I like my dog better than most people I know. Sasha accompanies me on all my day hikes. She's a miniature Schnauzer and not terribly helpful, but she is cute and she keeps me company. She also serves as a way to slow me down when I get into "walking is also exercise" mode.

When you take your dog out on hikes and trips, you need to prepare and protect them as much as you do yourself. Are you taking water for yourself? Don't forget your dog too. They are as susceptible to giardia and other water-borne illnesses as you are. Make sure you have potable water for puppy too.

Did you pack your lunch and some extra food just in case? Pack lunch and extra food for the doggie as well. You might consider a treat or two also. Why? Because they love you. That's why.

Because hiking and bushcraft is a recently renewed interest for me, I asked my vet if there are any additional steps I should take to protect my dog. Here are a few things she recommended:

First and foremost, keep them up to date on their vaccines and flea/tick medicine. All the standards, especially rabies, are a must. You should also make sure your dog is vaccinated for Lyme disease and leptosporosis as well. Leptosporosis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted in the urine of wild animals and infected water, soil, or mud. It is most common in tropical, sub-tropical, and wet environments. It loves places with stagnant water and wild animals. It is increasingly common in the US and Canada. Remember how I said the DC area used to be a swamp?

Sasha doesn't love
closed trails.

Every time your dog rolls in that foul and enticing smell on the ground puts them - and you - at risk. That's right. You too. Leptosporosis is zoonotic. It can be transmitted to humans as well as animals. Getting your dog vaccinated protects you both and frankly, the symptoms of this disease suck.

There is some debate over this vaccine, but talk to your vet. There can be side effects, as with any medication. My dog has never had issues with it and I always get the pets with  issues.

Dogs can also contract Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, Be sure to give them their flea an tick medicine on time. There's even a chewable treat version out now that you only have to give your dog every three months. It also costs less than the equivalent number of doses of the smelly stuff you put on their skin. Ask your vet about it.

Also, if you use a retractable leash, consider using a normal, non-retractable leash instead. (I know some of you let your dog off lead, but in my area, dogs are required to be on leashes at all times.) Retractable leashes are nice. I have one for when Sasha and I walk the neighborhood. In the woods, they get tangled on branches and dogs tend to run off a bit more, then hit the end of the lead and they can get hurt when their necks get yanked back.

Hiking and camping are great fun. They are even better with your canine best bud. Just be sure you take all the safety precautions you'd take for yourself for them too.

The Next Bite - Spring Wild Edibles

Redbuds are pretty and taste good!

I got to take the next bite of wild edibles this past weekend at Tim MacWelch's Spring Wild Edibles class (Advanced Survival Training). I was excited for this one not only because the weather was (a lot) better than it was for the winter class in January, but also because I was really hoping to identify a few things on my own as well. (I did!)

We found several of the plants we were introduced to in the last class -  the common plantain, the seaside plantain, wild onions, and my favorite, the yarrow.

I learned that the weeds growing in between the pavers of my patio are Pennsylvania Bittercress, which I quite enjoy. I'd pull them up and put them in my salad if I didn't know what pesticides our homeowner's association sprayed on them. That, and the neighbor's dog pees on my patio to torment my dog. I'll find a safer place to forage.

The Pennsylvania Bittercress's cousin, Wintercress, I didn't enjoy so much. It was tasty at first, then the bitterness sneaked up on me and smacked me in the head. I'll eat it in a survival situation , but I don't think I'll be making it part of my everyday diet.

Spring Beauty
aka
The Fairy Potato

The actual Fairy Potato

My favorite of this class was the Spring Beauty, or as it was billed, the "elusive Fairy Potato". The flower is beautiful and incredibly delicate and if you dig it up, you get a tiny little potato. I was surprised how delicate the plant was.

I brought home two of the tiny potatoes and made itty bitty Fairy Potato Chips. It was a lot of work for a few tiny chips, but they were very good. I think if I cook with them again, I'll just cut them in half and drop them in a cup of soup or something.

We did find a small patch of wild strawberries. They'll be ready in June. Sadly, I won't be there for those, but maybe someone will get lucky and get a strawberry before the wild animals do.

One of the other bonuses of this class? We scoped out all the blackberries and other summer goodies are for the Summer Wild Edibles class and the Wild Brewing class - mostly the Wild Brewing class. That reminds me... I am off to empty three wine bottles for the Wild Brewing class so that we can refill them! (Don't worry. I won't empty them all at once.)

Salt and Pepper Fairy Potato Chips