Archive for October, 2008

Baby boomers are reaching a place in our lives where we are ready to try new things for the first time. We are rethinking our direction and making life choices to enhance our life.

I have a personal “to do” list of things I want to do before I die that I made years ago. One of the items was to go to Europe–not just visit but live there. I did that. Planted myself in a neighborhood with few American protections and learned to live as an ex-pat. It has forever enriched my life.

The second thing I wanted to do was go back to college. I am in the process of finishing a degree as we speak. However, in doing so I was faced with a fear that has haunted me all my life. The fear?

Math!

When I went back to college two and half years ago I knew I would have to face it.  My first inclination is to turn and run when I’m forced to do any kind of math. Many of us have encountered an issue, problem, or obstacle at some point in our lives, and decided to do an “about face” and run away from it.  We can even spend a whole life time not facing something.  But, after thinking about it at length I decided that I do not want to live forever in fear of mathematics!  And like many baby boomers I am learning that there is “nothing to fear but fear itself” because I am doing okay in math. In fact, better than okay because I passed my first class with flying colors!

What this does for my self esteem is amazing and I wonder why I did not face this fear sooner in life? We all have something we are afraid to try and that is holding us back. But anthing is possible, so why not face that fear and let it fly into the wind?

Ingredients:

1 box pasta of your choice, cooked, drained, cooled

½ small zucchini, chopped in squares, cook in pasta water

1 small jar artichokes chopped; save oil for dressing

3 sun dried tomatoes, chopped, fine

½ cuke, cut in half lengthwise, then thinly sliced

1 t capers

½ onion, chopped, fine

1 mini bok choy, chopped

2 dozen green olives with pimento cut in half

2 dozen black olives cut in half

Salt, pepper, celery seed, to taste.

Instructions:

• When the noodles have almost finished cooking, add the chopped zucchini to the pasta water.  Drain together.
• Mix all ingredients in large bowl, coat with artichoke oil and mix some more. Shred fresh parmesan on top. Refrigerate overnight to enhance the flavors.

Do you dream in black and white? If so, the chances are you are over 55 and were brought up watching a monochrome television set.  Read the full article here…

There are three good reasons to divide your daylilies: first, to control the size of the plants; second, to rejuvenate them; and third, to increase their number. Daylilies are hardy and extremely tolerant of dividing. So when should you divide them for the optimal color?  Fall!

Remember those beautiful flowers are best divided when the flowers have faded.  Doing so sends all the energy to the bulbs and leaves for growth. That means you get to really enjoy your blooms before you do the dirty work.

When you’re ready to divide, start by watering the plants thoroughly so that ground is easy to work. Prune the stems and foliage to about 6 inches above the ground for ease of division. I always use a garden fork to dig out the roots for separation. Then shake the bulbs loose of dirt.

If the plant is large to begin with you might want to separate into several plants.  Replant the smaller ones in an area that you have prepared and voila! Wait for spring and Mother Earth will show you rewards!

Daylilies come in many different varieties. One of my favorite places to find them online is at Oakesdaylilies.  Happy Gardening!

Check out this amazing set of photos featuring smoke.

If you still haven’t heard their CD Raising Sand, get thee to a music store!