The Greenhouse

Feb 24, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    6 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Gardening, Grocery Challenge

Here’s the progress on my plants in the greenhouse. Mind you, I’m only interested at this time in growing vegetables. This my attempt to squeeze every penny (euro cent) to death! My goal is to grow 100% of the lettuce we eat (we’d like to eat 2 salads a day) and hopefully the rest of the vegetables too…though I have not been able to see how I can do that yet.

Let me explain to you my “program”. Remember you can see a larger version of the photo by clicking on it.

This is a photo of the outside of the little greenhouse. You can see some of my plants though the plastic.

Here’s another view as I’m standing in the doorway. The 2 big pots are potatoes. The others have already been placed in the garden outside as the weather has warmed.

You can see the lettuce growing and the other containers are: lettuce, mint, oregano, par-cel, basil, mixed greens, dill, eggplant, tomatoes, cilantro, tomatillo, green beans, crookneck squash, chives, & arugula. Thanks to Mary, Jesseka and Rebekah for the seeds!

Here is the other side, on the top row, I have lettuce at various stages. My hope is that I can harvest enough each day to never run out. I’ve also planted some in my garden, with high hopes of a good production. I have scallions, cherry tomatoes, micro-greens, potatoes in various stages, cilantro and parsley.

I have cilantro in the garden plus 3 pots growing as above and 3 more trays waiting to germinate. Cilantro is not that common here and I can find it only at one store, plus, it’s expensive. Thanks again to my MOM for sending me the seeds!

Here is a close-up of some lettuce. It’s very tender and I just pick off what I need for the meal.

By the by, all the ‘trays’ you see, are what meat and vegetables come in here. I simply wash them out, add potting soil and plant. It also keeps my greenhouse more organized.

Each tray is labeled with a popsicle stick that I bought at a craft store in Chicago. I bought large ones and small ones. This is a very  cheap solution to keeping track of what I’m planting. For only a few $ I have enough to last for years and years.

I hope the next photos I post will be of lush plants in very pot! So far, the lettuce, dill, oregano, cilantro, some scallions, micro-greens and arugula are “up”. I water once a day… spend 10 mins. enjoying the new growth and it gets me out of the house and office and I’m having a good time. Growing vegetables gives me hope.

New Grandson Born February 22, 2009!

Feb 22, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    8 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll

Here are the photos of the newest family member, our 20th grandchild. No name yet.

Cheri and her 5th son, 8th child.

John with his new son born on February 22nd, 2009, at home in Kodiak, Alaska

Taking advantage of seasonal food

Feb 21, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    1 Comment     Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge, recipes

Upon returning  home from Chicago, I found that there were several opportunities to buy fruit and vegetables at really good prices.

• a 5 kilo bag of carrots @,45 “euro cents” a kilo
• apples for ,69 cents a kilo
• plums for ,69 cents a kilo

I also brought back 2 ½ pounds of fresh jalapeños from Chicago. Our daughters, Jesseka and Jerusha have access to a wonderful ethnic market. They have great prices and foods from all over the world. I’ve not been able to find jalapeños in Spain. As I have mentioned before, Spaniards are not accustomed to eating hot or spicy food.

I’m so glad that our granddaughter, Abigail was here to join in on this fun activity. Here are some photos: (for a larger view, run your cursor over the photo and ‘click’).

We made:

• Applesauce
• Apple Maple Jam (really good stuff!)
• canned jalapeños
• pickled hot carrots & jalapeños
• plum jam
• canned carrots for soups and stews

We are adding good food, at excellent prices to our larder. I’m planning that after 1 full year of taking advantage of all the sales and seasonal food, I’ll have a little bit of everything, all the best prices, thereby stretching diminishing good dollars.

Imelda Marcos & Me

Feb 20, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    5 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll

You know, the ex-first lady of the Philippines who had a whole closet full of shoes? After our trip to the USA, I’m also enjoying the pleasure of NEW shoes! My friend Judy sent me money to buy comfortable shoes, and I got 2 pair of CLARKS (on sale of course). See the photos below:

The first pair is I would rate as ALL DAY shoes. These are SO comfortable. The second pair are also CLARKS and also very comfortable and last pair (which I ordered on-line before I left); the red ones are Sunday shoes ONLY, but pretty cute!

I am just so thankful for this blessing and the kindness of my friend.

Back in Madrid

Feb 16, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    6 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll

After a lively & fun time with the family in Chicago, we’re back in Madrid with one of our grandchildren, Abigail who is 8 years old.  Here are a few photos of our trip: * if you run the cursor over the photo and ‘click’ on it you will be able to see a larger view.

John and I give thanks to the Lord for His goodness to us. We love & miss our family dearly.