One of My Favorite Holiday Catalogs Arrived!

One of my favorite holiday catalogs arrived yesterday.  It has a unique combination of woodworking and hardware items, cooking, gardening and even toys for the kids and grownups.  Lee Valley from Canada and the US will amuse you by bringing you back to your childhood and then has modern gadgets that make your life easier.  The Herbal Husband and I both had quite a few items each in last year's catalog to purchase.  Looking forward to going through this year's version.  It is just cold around here.  Makes you think of the holidays.  A week to go for Thanksgiving.  Hope you are having a great day.  Talk to you later.

Favorite Birds T-Shirt Giveaway for Everyone!

Sometimes I just fall into these items and don't realize that it can be something useful FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, namely my readers.  This has been in the back of our closet for years.  It says 1999 on the shirt!  For heaven sake, please comment and have me send it to you.  Oh, I have to pick your name out of the cheese making basket first!  You can be anywhere in the world and it will be sent to you.  As you can see, it is called "Favorite Birds" and they are in no particular order:  Northern Cardinal, Baltimore Oriole, Tufted Titmouse, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Blue Jay, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Black-Capped Chickadee and American Robin.  We have them all in our garden, except maybe for the nuthatch.  This lovely shirt would be good for the birder in your life whether male or female.   The size is XL.  That is a 16 or 18 woman's size in the US.  Here is a link to a clothing size converter for other countries.   It is 100% Natural Cotton shirt from Earth Sun Moon Trading Company.  It is a local (for me) American company.  Even if you don't win this shirt, they have a lot of wonderful choices for the outdoors person in your life for holiday giving.

Because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we are going with the same deadline as the other giveaway, Monday, November 19, 2012 at 10 AM EST.  So you have a bit less time to enter.  Please if you are not a blogger, give me some contact information.  If you are on Facebook, please leave contact info as well at Nancy Heraud.  Good luck!

A Forty Degree Temperature Drop!

Well, yesterday we were at 70 degrees and today in the 30's!  Ridiculous!  I wanted to show you what's going on in the garden.  Still a bit green but the flowers are pretty much gone for the season.  I usually can get a small bouquet for the table at Thanksgiving.  I think it might be all herbs this year.  No flowers.  I'm going to start working inside.  I need to make a few holiday ornaments and hopefully, you will see something you can do before the holidays start.  Hope you are having a great day.  Talk to you later.

My First Bird Book and Bird Feeder! A Giveaway for US Readers!

An ID Book for Kids Young and Old and Feeder Too!

A Bonus of a Book Plate Signed by Sharon Lovejoy!

When we went to Cincinnati to catch up with Sharon Lovejoy and her phone man, I bought her new book for the young bird watchers in your life.  Here is the description from Amazon.

 A great way to introduce kids to nature and the joys of bird-watching, My First Bird Book and Bird Feeder combines a full-color illustrated field guide and activity book with a custom-designed, sky blue window feeder.

Sharon Lovejoy, author of Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars, Sunflower Houses, and other uplifting nature and gardening titles, brings her expertise and artistic sensibility to this joyous guide to 34 backyard birds, from the zippy Ruby-throated Hummingbird to the clever Chickadee, who grows extra brain cells during the winter to help remember hidden stashes of food. Lively text delves into each bird’s diet, behavior, range, nests, habitat, and calls; the watercolor illustrations are expressive and meticulously detailed. Additionally, readers will learn how to create a bird journal and whip up a batch of bird food.

The feeder is generous, shaped like a house, fully open in the front for the birds, and with side windows and a porthole for the viewer. The roof protects the feed, and the bottom lip folds open for easy cleaning. Two suction cups hold the feeder to a window.

I just love Sharon's illustrations and she knows a thing about nature and birds.  It will give the young children in your life a starting place to get them outside and understanding nature.  I spent all of the time when I was young outside.  This book will give them the perfect start to learning about birds and loving them.  It is also National Young Readers' Week!  A perfect time for a giveaway!

This giveaway is for US readers only.  I'm working on another giveaway for everyone soon.  This giveaway will end next Monday, November 19, 2012 at 10 AM EST.  Please if you are not a blogger, give me some contact information.  If you don't, your entry will not be accepted.  Hope you are the winner.  You can also enter on my Facebook Page, Nancy Heraud.  Our temperatures are going downhill this afternoon.  Hope you are having a great day.  Talk to you later.

We Grew Safflower This Year!

It Really is a Pretty Flower

Here Are the Seeds of the Safflower

Exciting to Know the Cardinals Will Enjoy the Safflower Seeds

Sometimes my garden photos get buried in my trip photos.  Here before I left for Cincinnati we harvested some safflower seeds that The Herbal Husband left grow around the bird feeder.  I think the cardinals do a great job eating through all of the safflower that we give them.  I guess the sparrows are knocking the safflower off the sunflower feeder and they are growing though.  Well, we still have to buy a bag of safflower, but it will be fun to feed them with some seeds we grew ourselves.  I'm going to have a post that you will want to hang around for tomorrow.  Let's just say it will be about birds and books and a giveaway for U.S. readers.  It was a glorious day here and we have one more before it turns cold.  Talk to you later.

Tansy, Lemon Balm and Mountain Mint on The High Line in NYC!

Lots of bench space to Enjoy the Views

This Apt. Owner has Fun with The View!

Some Really Great Artwork on the Side of Buildings

Lots of Unusual Vistas

An Attractive Wooden Fence

Tansy in Bloom

Lemon Balm is Always Available

More Seating Areas in Amongst the Buildings

You Wouldn't Know You Were in NYC Here

A Stand of Mountain Mint

Some Vertical Vining to Disguise the View

An Important View-The Statue of Liberty Off in the Distance

The High-Line was built in the 1930's to take the freight trains off the streets of Manhattan's industrial district.  Trains stopped running in 1980.  Since 1999 it has been saved from demolition by a group of determined community activists.  Today the High-Line organization and the City of New York work to keep it a public park space in the city.  Of course, you would figure that I would find the herbs in among the other plants.  It was a bit more brown in color than I expected.  Sometimes though it is about the design and structure that make all the difference.  The link I gave you will give you up to the minute closures of the park, because in extreme weather, it closes for safety reasons.  It is a beautiful day here although still a bit cool, but it is fall!  Have to remind myself.  Hope you are having a great day.  Talk to you later.

25 Years Ago Today!

Well, kids, a fast post to tell you that The Herbal Husband and I got married 25 years ago today!  I have been slacking in the post department recently.  Got a date for the movies and dinner.  Here is a favorite photo from our wedding.

I have a bit more time while The Herbal Husband gets ready to go.  So a couple of you commented on my dress.  A friend's mother was a seamstress of wedding gowns at a local bridal salon.  She made my dress.  I had no idea what I wanted.  She just knew when she took my measurements what I needed.  I remember the first time I tried it on I felt like a princess.  I was an older first time bride (35) so nothing too revealing, etc.  It was perfect.

Some one else asked how we met.  Well, on Thanksgiving 29 years ago is when we met.  My mother was always in the hospital for the holidays, not every holiday, but it seemed like it at the time.  Mutual friends invited me and then invited The Herbal Husband and his brother to dinner.  The Herbal Husband and I started to talk.  He went to Europe for a month and after he got back I called him and we went out.  We dated for four years before we got married.  Our mothers were born on the same day and very much alike and I knew it was meant to be.  I did get to meet my father in law when we went to Peru for a visit the next year.  He lived to be almost 100 (two weeks shy)!  So I will probably not out live The Herbal Husband!  So thanks for all of your good wishes.  The Herbal Husband was pleased to see so many comments.  The Herbal Husband made guacamole for lunch.  I know, I am a lucky girl.  I'll have photos of dinner later.  Talk to you then.

OK, a couple of last additions to this post.  Here is lunch made by The Herbal Husband.  He really is a keeper because he cleans up after himself!

A bit of Guacamole for Lunch

A Starter of Belgium Frites with Basil Mayo

The Herbal Husband Had Chicken Milanese

I Had the Crab Cakes and Greens

We Got a Free Apple Walnut Crostada for Our Anniversary!

With His Permission, The Herbal Husband and Me After 25 Years!

We went to the Point Brugge Cafe in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh.  The Herbal Husband had a hankering for Chicken Milanese and they had it on the menu.  Crab cakes are always a good choice for me.  It was packed at 6 PM when we arrived.  Always a good sign.  The frites were delicious.  Just like we had in Belgium!   And who doesn't like a free dessert.  I'm sure we will go there again after a movie in the city.  The movie we went to see was called Nobody Walks.  The cast was good.  The story a bit confused and not complete enough.  Maybe that's how it was supposed to be.  We had a great 25th wedding anniversary.

P.S. Please click over to my new post of Mother Earth Living and check out my post of lovage and sage for Thanksgiving.

Getting My Herb Garden Fix at the NYBG!

The Herb Garden at the New York Botanical Garden

A Very Tranquil Place to Meditate

'Rober's Lemon Rose' Scented Geranium.  Very Happy!

A Very Happy Mixed Border of Herbs!  What a Harvest They Had!

This Lady was Happy to Appear on My Blog!  Have No Idea Who She is!

Another Very Happy Border of Herbs!

The Curry Plant I Should Have Had!

Ambrosia in Bloom

Rosemarys That Are Very Healthy!

An Oregano I Can Easily Kill Called 'Kent's Beauty'

One Last Look at the Herb Garden

We finally have a beautiful sunny day here in the 'Burgh!  Blue sky and no clouds, but cold.  We don't get these days often in late fall or early winter.  Since we changed time over the weekend, it has been getting dark quick!  So I thought I would continue to show you trip photos.  I have also added a link to a list that was on Rock Center with Brian Williams the other night for the victims of Hurricane Sandy on the right side of my home page.  Maybe you can help.  They sure do need it.  I hope you are having a great day.  Go vote if you haven't already done so.  It's important.  Talk to you later.

Peruvian Chard Pie Recipe Translated!

Spinach Pie, Peruvian Style
Ingredients:

1 lb of frozen or fresh spinach, well washed.  (I would say if using frozen, use two 10 oz. packages thawed.)
1 medium onion, diced
1 teaspoon of ground garlic
2 tablespoons of canola oil
salt, pepper to taste
8 oz package of shredded mozarella and provolone cheese mix
1/4 cup of sliced black kalamata olives, pitted.
1 package of prepared frozen puff pastry preferably square or rectangular, in the frozen food section of the super market.
4 or 6 medium eggs
1 glass Pyrex glass dish, 8 inches square and 2-3" deep, sprayed with Pam.

Preparation:

First, defrost the package of puff pastry for 45 minutes before starting the process.
Warm the oven at 350F(electric) or 240F(gas) (I'm not sure that it isn't the same for electric and gas.) until its ready.

Defrost the spinach or boil the fresh one in some water until it's cooked and reduced. Leave to cool in pot.
Saute the onion, with the oil, garlic, salt and pepper, until cooked.
Add the olives and let it rest.
Mix the spinach with the saute and add the cheese. Mix well.

Place one of the crusts flattened in the bottom of the Pyrex folding it well to cover the sides.
Pour the warm mix of spinach, saute and cheese in the mold.
Make four(or six) holes at each corner of the mix deep enough to place a raw egg in each.
Cover the pie with the other flattened crust and crimp the edges. Make vents with a knife for steam to escape.
Place the pie in the oven for 1 hour, or until it browns nicely.
Once baked, let it cool for 15 minutes.
Serves 6 portions.
And enjoy this delicious pie!

These are The Herbal Husband's ingredients and directions.  I have tried to keep them as he wrote them.  I just added a couple of thoughts to make it clearer.  Ask questions if you need to.  Errands day and Panera lunch.  Enjoyable.  It is cold here.  Talk to you later.