tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40791787235749105342024-03-13T21:00:27.151-06:00time is for the birdsAlison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-58945178534094804952012-03-30T17:30:00.000-06:002012-03-30T17:30:06.960-06:00newspaper seed pots.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tr3tdsqZWPQ/T3YhzpJCCOI/AAAAAAAABZU/vv1Bm2Zx_Dg/s1600/DSCF5423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tr3tdsqZWPQ/T3YhzpJCCOI/AAAAAAAABZU/vv1Bm2Zx_Dg/s320/DSCF5423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVYX5kXVFZ8/T3Yo-al3vDI/AAAAAAAABZk/qEdEBuPGqU4/s1600/DSCF5451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVYX5kXVFZ8/T3Yo-al3vDI/AAAAAAAABZk/qEdEBuPGqU4/s320/DSCF5451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKuvgv-is-k/T3YwKpg_P2I/AAAAAAAABZs/yp6ZSUtCD84/s1600/DSCF5452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qKuvgv-is-k/T3YwKpg_P2I/AAAAAAAABZs/yp6ZSUtCD84/s320/DSCF5452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I spent this morning making 72 newspaper seed pots. I then filled them with dirt and planted tomatoes, tomatillos and orange habanero peppers! I have all of my gourd seeds soaking overnight and I'll put those in the seed pots I'm making now. I have hundreds of these things to make...yipppee.</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-19489769035416722322012-03-19T10:22:00.000-06:002012-03-19T10:22:00.534-06:00homestead babies / chickens ducks & turkeys<div style="text-align: center;"> Getting ready for our little homestead!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIHkO6Em970/T2dYPOJLoZI/AAAAAAAABYw/fmeBZ-vXen0/s1600/DSCF5373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIHkO6Em970/T2dYPOJLoZI/AAAAAAAABYw/fmeBZ-vXen0/s320/DSCF5373.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of the lovely young lady chickens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of the darling lil duckies!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JipLKcFsBNQ/T2dbFJ_G_fI/AAAAAAAABZA/dPz29cNCyJg/s1600/DSCF5366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JipLKcFsBNQ/T2dbFJ_G_fI/AAAAAAAABZA/dPz29cNCyJg/s320/DSCF5366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is our male turkey. <br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got a trio of turkeys, a tom and two ladies. It should be easier to resist naming him Tommy, I will resist! I am very interested to watch these turkeys grow and become our friends. We have high hopes that they will aide us in insect control in our garden and I keep reading what great pets they make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ducks are so cute! We fill a giant bowl and watch them swim in the sunshine everyday. They are just darling and the youngest out of all these birds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chickens are very present and make eye contact! I look forward to loving them and collecting their eggs. Raising these babies is going to be so rewarding and fun!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-25658076584218759972012-03-16T06:43:00.000-06:002012-03-16T06:43:51.617-06:00jadite salt shaker<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OC2LYyYypzE/T2Mz0rXIJEI/AAAAAAAABYo/gHI2N7YmcP0/s1600/DSCF5351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OC2LYyYypzE/T2Mz0rXIJEI/AAAAAAAABYo/gHI2N7YmcP0/s320/DSCF5351.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Paca score of the century! Well, not really but, I'm pretty cized on it. I've been pining for an old jadite salt shaker forever. I spook them on etsy all the time and they are always way too pricey for me but, I've kept up hope that one day I'd find an affordable one. Look no more I will (Yoda voice).</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found this one for Q5 yesterday...that's less than a dollar and I didn't even bargain on the price! </div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's already washed, dried, filled with salt and in action.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ohh, it's the little things....</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And don't you think it'll be the perfect salt shaker for our little farm? I do.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-38060089016617927132012-03-16T06:33:00.000-06:002012-03-16T06:33:57.071-06:00homesteading it's our dream, it's our future.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cL-9WpH05E0/T2Mw3rWVmKI/AAAAAAAABYY/jwmxQ39jBAI/s1600/1949_tomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cL-9WpH05E0/T2Mw3rWVmKI/AAAAAAAABYY/jwmxQ39jBAI/s1600/1949_tomato.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have been in Xela (a big city for Guaemala) for a year and a half now and we've been in the house we're in for a year. We've been pining for dirt, trees and open air; in other words, el campo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We move in 10 days to just that, the country, just outside of San Juan del Obispo, Sacatepequez!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We think we have an acre to farm (homestead) and a house with a big chicken run and a separate building that will make two nice stalls. We have big plans for this place and our new lifestyle and we are busy putting them into action. We procured an arsenal of non-gmo seeds including:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">egyptian kamut wheat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">amaranth oppeopo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">quinoa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">corns</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">beans beans beans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">peas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tomatoes galoure</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">gourds </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">melons & watermelons</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">squash (summer & winter)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cucumbers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eggplant</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">carrots</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">onions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">peppers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rapini</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">broccoli</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">romanesco</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">herbs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sunflowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">highbush blueberries</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">black currants</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">peanuts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cauliflower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">collards</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">kale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">mustard greens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLswoHcS4z4/T2MxTiU2zVI/AAAAAAAABYg/cXDM93lP3VE/s1600/modernmayafarmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLswoHcS4z4/T2MxTiU2zVI/AAAAAAAABYg/cXDM93lP3VE/s1600/modernmayafarmer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center">Our goal with the homesteading is to become food independent! I feel like that should be capitalized, it's so important and special to me! Food independence goes hand in hand with having a whole-diet farm and that's what we are aiming for. It's not going to happen over night but, we'll work as hard as we can towards our goal.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">For meat & eggs we are going to have:</div><div align="center">Chickens</div><div align="center">Turkeys</div><div align="center">Ducks</div><div align="center">Guinea Hens</div><div align="center">Rabbits</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">For milk, butter & cheese we are going to have:</div><div align="center">GOATS!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The property has an avocado tree, it's young but, it's already producing. There's also a 2 year old cinnamon tree! How cool is that? We really just can't sit still we are so excited!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We are going to garden using Intensive Gardening methods to maximize our space and work with the earth....can't wait to have a Three Sisters Garden!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-7397299156543589242012-03-14T10:36:00.000-06:002012-03-14T10:36:50.789-06:00acapulco chair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZh_hcOU1-U/T2DIO44F54I/AAAAAAAABYI/Bs1pkL6pd54/s1600/DSCF4772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZh_hcOU1-U/T2DIO44F54I/AAAAAAAABYI/Bs1pkL6pd54/s320/DSCF4772.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">I love my Acapulco Chair! We got it in Coatepeque and we're going back for another one! It's like a rocking chair and hammock all in one. It's the supreme book-reading/lounging in the sun chair!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-43704918033111192562012-02-22T08:41:00.003-06:002012-02-22T08:41:00.265-06:00Mexican Garlic.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn6hrvqu76I/T0EKmyfZWCI/AAAAAAAABXU/RNyyS6-CBpI/s1600/DSCF4742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qn6hrvqu76I/T0EKmyfZWCI/AAAAAAAABXU/RNyyS6-CBpI/s320/DSCF4742.JPG" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
Last week I was lucky to go on a lovely Valentine's trip (ok, slash, visa run trip) to Mexico. We went to San Cristobal de las Casas and loved it. The market there was, of course, incredible. I brought back that braided bunch of garlic..smelled great all the way home! I can't wait to cook with it since the cloves are bigger and easier to use than the ones here in Guatemala. I have a sneaky little feeling that they'll be tastier too! <br />
I also got a beautiful little stack of Haas type avocados. They were the tastiest avocados I've had in ages and you can bet your bottom dollar that all four of those little seeds are in jars (hopefully sprouting) on a window sill in my house right now. Yay! I <3 C.A. markets!Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-69084128911836256222012-02-20T07:56:00.000-06:002012-02-20T07:56:01.041-06:00egg dreams.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpgBF8jsCGw/T0EFW1IDcyI/AAAAAAAABXM/hJrRFkhuCMw/s1600/DSCF4736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DpgBF8jsCGw/T0EFW1IDcyI/AAAAAAAABXM/hJrRFkhuCMw/s320/DSCF4736.JPG" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
We love love love the markets here and do the majority of our shopping there. You just never know what you're going to find each time you go and we go almost everyday. It's always fun when one of us stays home and the other goes on a market shop. Surprises from the market are the best!<br />
The other day Zach came home with all kinds of great treasures: geese eggs, a duck egg, 7 fist size Crystal Quartz rocks, 1 big chunk of Obsidian and a bike! About those eggs though...he got them with hopes of hatching them. Right away, he whipped up an incubator out of a lightbulb and cardboard box, marked them so we can turn them...we have a thermometer and by adjusting the lid we have the temp hovering at 100 degrees. Incubation period is 21 days and we have our fingers crossed that we have some hatchlings in a few weeks or less. Fingers crossed, fingers crossed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFG8BjflHdA/T0JQYeO4sKI/AAAAAAAABXg/AsYEyCxHk3U/s1600/DSCF4737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFG8BjflHdA/T0JQYeO4sKI/AAAAAAAABXg/AsYEyCxHk3U/s320/DSCF4737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-49765775291750051222012-02-19T08:17:00.000-06:002012-02-19T08:17:44.149-06:00Broad beans for a favour.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9t-AHqQuFU/T0D_3b1YsVI/AAAAAAAABXE/lmBH3Oa6CZU/s1600/DSCF4740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a9t-AHqQuFU/T0D_3b1YsVI/AAAAAAAABXE/lmBH3Oa6CZU/s320/DSCF4740.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had the pleasure of shelling these beautiful Fava Beans aka Broad Beans. A couple of days ago my honey-bunny, Zach, helped a dude & his son carry his 2 huge costales (think modern feed sacks) full o' beans they'd grown & harvested. They were all on a bus together going to the market in San Francisco and the bus did not indeed drop them at the market as they said they would but, a ways away, downhill from the market, no doubt. Anyhoo...Zach got some great cardio in (hah! I think he about killed himself carrying that 100 lb.+ bag of beans.) For his very kind hardwork he got a 'free' bag of beans that he brought home much to my delight, they are one of my very favourites!! We eat them about twice a week. I will peel the ones in the picture one more time. I usually cook them like this: saute them for maybe 5 minutes with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt then, add water or stock and let simmer until tender! We eat them just as they turn out or I'll mash them and I add them to soups, stews and pasta dishes too. Yum!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-5069325997935545742012-01-22T15:12:00.000-06:002012-01-22T15:12:42.655-06:00Sewing again!<div style="text-align: center;">I haven't sewn in some time, let's see...um, over 2 years! I didn't/couldn't bring my sewing machine to Guatemala when we moved. Moving house via luggage is not an easy task. As luck would have it, I was able to purchase a brand new machine in December and bring it back with me! It's taken some weeks to start using it but, I have and I've just begun. </div><div style="text-align: center;">*I got a Brother XL 2600i-love it a lot so far.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zssISabcU60/TxxhtrnNCkI/AAAAAAAABWE/Fek0c9vaCao/s1600/DSCF4290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zssISabcU60/TxxhtrnNCkI/AAAAAAAABWE/Fek0c9vaCao/s320/DSCF4290.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Workspace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQ2-1b7F8BE/TxxlhQ88sDI/AAAAAAAABWM/5wNGsFqTgpo/s1600/horsedrawnwagonbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="52" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQ2-1b7F8BE/TxxlhQ88sDI/AAAAAAAABWM/5wNGsFqTgpo/s400/horsedrawnwagonbanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My etsy shop featuring my sewn efforts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div align="center">I gave my old appleseeds shop on etsy a new life with a new name:</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HorseDrawnWagon?ref=si_shop">Horse Drawn Wagon // timeworn mayan textiles</a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I am working with old well loved vintage Mayan traje (clothing). All of it is handmade from the ground up. It's all been woven on a backstrap loom and a lot of pieces are even woven with fiber harvested and made by hand. All of the designs and patters and imagery on the traje is threaded in as the piece is being woven on the loom this technique is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocade">brocade</a>. Guatemala is 65% indigenous Maya Indian and most of them, especially the women, still wear the traditional clothing. All of the clothing is village specific, although plenty of modern Mayans tend to wear whatever they like from which ever town but, for the most part you can tell where someone lives or is from by the huipil they are wearing. Being obsessed with the indigenous culture and absorbing it like a sponge, I find myself living the simple life they do: going to the market everyday, preparing all of my meals from fresh and scratch and just taking life one day at a time. Spending a lot of time in the markets, I have almost become bi-lingual but, not quite, I don't exactly speak 'Spainish' instead I speak 'Guatemalan Market Spanish'. I write this smiling because I think it's funny but, what it really is is just the Spanish I need for my life at the mo'. What I am getting at is I spend a lot of time in the market and that's where most of the used (and new) traje is sold and traded. I've been collecting pieces to sew for a while and it's great to finally be getting around to it! </div><div align="center"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IrDHAaMeKNk/TxxpzKguU6I/AAAAAAAABWU/50NHip_JZAk/s1600/DSCF4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IrDHAaMeKNk/TxxpzKguU6I/AAAAAAAABWU/50NHip_JZAk/s320/DSCF4305.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deconstructing a vintage Chichicastenango huipil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The huipil from Chihi is attractive to me in several ways. First, I love the patterns and colours, second, they are thick n' heavy and feel great, third, they are three panels attached by a hand-sewn external seam called a 'randa'. I love the panels because I can simply separate the and make pillows from the outer two panels without even having to cut into them. I have lots of ideas for the use of the middle panel but, haven't gotten to any of them yet. Here are some of the pillows I've made so far:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwMFxopK83w/TxxznVxkkSI/AAAAAAAABWk/gSrgnGluZJQ/s1600/DSCF4075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwMFxopK83w/TxxznVxkkSI/AAAAAAAABWk/gSrgnGluZJQ/s320/DSCF4075.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlwcTt177pg/TxxzKdbB6YI/AAAAAAAABWc/KObxtvLZpFo/s1600/DSCF4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KlwcTt177pg/TxxzKdbB6YI/AAAAAAAABWc/KObxtvLZpFo/s320/DSCF4048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl5QZ0_zTLE/Txx2i3BDUyI/AAAAAAAABWs/njDrrBi0nY4/s1600/DSCF4095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl5QZ0_zTLE/Txx2i3BDUyI/AAAAAAAABWs/njDrrBi0nY4/s320/DSCF4095.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHgpnj7A7ZA/Txx3Rk7rS9I/AAAAAAAABW0/UDaBytnVnfM/s1600/DSCF4320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHgpnj7A7ZA/Txx3Rk7rS9I/AAAAAAAABW0/UDaBytnVnfM/s320/DSCF4320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center">It's all very exciting to me and I can't wait to venture on to making different things!!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-19679499375727063292011-11-18T06:22:00.006-06:002011-11-18T06:22:00.812-06:00Happy Birthday, Margret Atwood!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FbRw0FaEf-c/Tprps6AtfXI/AAAAAAAABHo/aJw3Yc3a42w/s1600/atwoodcharlesriver1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FbRw0FaEf-c/Tprps6AtfXI/AAAAAAAABHo/aJw3Yc3a42w/s1600/atwoodcharlesriver1963.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">King Charles River, 1963</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to a favourite Author and fellow Lady Scorpio!!!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love Margret Atwood's writings. I get lost in her novels like no others, the more I read the more entranced I become by her words. I've never read more complex thoughtful insightful stories. She's a living legend and her body of work is beyond impressive; an inspiration of all time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've read these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Edible Woman*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Handmaiden's Tale</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oryx & Crake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cat's Eye*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Blind Assasin*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Year of the Flood*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Robber's Bride*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moral Disorder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*I have these books here with me on my bookshelf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-49675756091536385282011-11-10T06:09:00.000-06:002011-11-17T13:12:11.885-06:00living wreathsGraves are decorated to the hilt for All Saints Day and Day of the Dead....here's a glimpse of the living wreaths that gorgeously adorn the graves in Xela Cemetario a week into November.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxpVXcv5YfY/TsLk_D3Uz1I/AAAAAAAABTI/3h_a5VvU-aI/s1600/DSCF0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxpVXcv5YfY/TsLk_D3Uz1I/AAAAAAAABTI/3h_a5VvU-aI/s320/DSCF0949.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYEM5n7JNtI/TsLmRw5WuxI/AAAAAAAABTQ/XmsV6Gp-p8E/s1600/DSCF0954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYEM5n7JNtI/TsLmRw5WuxI/AAAAAAAABTQ/XmsV6Gp-p8E/s320/DSCF0954.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHO9fmoVMJ4/TsLnM6GexwI/AAAAAAAABTY/I6wGsS4_ZbM/s1600/DSCF0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHO9fmoVMJ4/TsLnM6GexwI/AAAAAAAABTY/I6wGsS4_ZbM/s320/DSCF0957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bY9tzxcnlHA/TsLoQJdHvYI/AAAAAAAABTg/SiEOzdoq2gQ/s1600/DSCF0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bY9tzxcnlHA/TsLoQJdHvYI/AAAAAAAABTg/SiEOzdoq2gQ/s320/DSCF0955.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IgLLS-sjXZc/TsVb4Bi0O1I/AAAAAAAABUM/QeUEK1Zt77c/s1600/DSCF0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IgLLS-sjXZc/TsVb4Bi0O1I/AAAAAAAABUM/QeUEK1Zt77c/s320/DSCF0958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simple. Beautiful. Amazing.</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-66193742775739295362011-11-06T07:24:00.001-06:002011-11-06T07:24:00.517-06:00i heart vintage leather.The more distressed the better. The more battered and forgotten about the leather looks, the more I like it! I think that might be why I've found such badass leather bags here <em>for a song!!</em><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f80yLzn4Jc4/TrQbkAFtj3I/AAAAAAAABSw/n1kg3_vhcRU/s1600/DSCF3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f80yLzn4Jc4/TrQbkAFtj3I/AAAAAAAABSw/n1kg3_vhcRU/s320/DSCF3815.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st find! Cinammon Brown Leather Backpack Q20. <br />
So practical. I use it for market shops & overnighters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnmxPrQxI0/TrQcTiutQVI/AAAAAAAABS4/K266qE6j4zU/s1600/DSCF3825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fVnmxPrQxI0/TrQcTiutQVI/AAAAAAAABS4/K266qE6j4zU/s320/DSCF3825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most recent find: Oxblood Leather Bag with Wooden Handles. Q10</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlR7iSlXLEg/TrQdEe-HChI/AAAAAAAABTA/bTdD5BOd4to/s1600/DSCF3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlR7iSlXLEg/TrQdEe-HChI/AAAAAAAABTA/bTdD5BOd4to/s320/DSCF3775.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pricey one! Warm Brown Soft Leather Bag Q30<br />
I fell for this bag & passed it up b/c it was Q40; thought <br />
about it for a week & went back with the luck to actually <br />
find it in the crazy ass Minvera pacas. And I got it for Q10<br />
less! Woohoo! It's a great bag..the straps adjust to two <br />
lengths, there is one main pocket in the middle and then FOUR<br />
huge saddle bag type pockets-two on each side...this bag<br />
holds so much! la la love it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-35405152352595661592011-11-05T06:48:00.001-06:002011-11-05T06:48:00.294-06:00stumbled upon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYcsccbuHzI/TrQZTnb2TjI/AAAAAAAABSo/hSx24a6pDMk/s1600/DSCF3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DYcsccbuHzI/TrQZTnb2TjI/AAAAAAAABSo/hSx24a6pDMk/s320/DSCF3806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>...a new trick! Well, not really a trick per se but, a handy discovery that I will put to good use. The other day it just so happened that we didn't have any fresh towels so, I grabbed one of my vintage linen tablecloths that I am so fond of. Turns out this table cloth functions way better than any towel I've ever used. It absorbs the water swift and gentle. It's miles softer and thinner making it easier to maneuver than a towel and it's so big I was fully wrapped. And on top of all of that it dried about ten times, if not more, faster than a dang towel! Oh, there is one more great thing about this: it rolls up even smaller than a towel making it the perfect on the go 'towel'. I have to just add one more thing, even though I have all vintage towels that I think are so pretty, I think the vintage linen tablecloth is just gorgeous. Mine aren't just tablecloths any more! I got this one here in Xela at the pacas in Minerva...love the pacas here! <3.Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-80841884374540439962011-11-04T07:45:00.007-06:002011-11-04T07:45:00.215-06:00potato face.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE08ttklu-0/TrKh8nyXZHI/AAAAAAAABSQ/lfU-cepk2zw/s1600/DSCF3759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE08ttklu-0/TrKh8nyXZHI/AAAAAAAABSQ/lfU-cepk2zw/s320/DSCF3759.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty awesome eye & eyebrow for a tater.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykQZgUKbQ6Q/TrKiPGlFYDI/AAAAAAAABSY/p83R1b7VLgs/s1600/DSCF3760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykQZgUKbQ6Q/TrKiPGlFYDI/AAAAAAAABSY/p83R1b7VLgs/s320/DSCF3760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That ain't all, this spud has two awesome eyes & eyebrows!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HElhpkb1VU/TrKijkR8tyI/AAAAAAAABSg/7g7hXhSQaNY/s1600/DSCF3762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HElhpkb1VU/TrKijkR8tyI/AAAAAAAABSg/7g7hXhSQaNY/s320/DSCF3762.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a cute lil nose too....what a face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-4866131949228114382011-11-03T08:07:00.000-06:002011-11-03T08:07:58.674-06:00aguas amargas We decided to finally go and check out Aguas Amargas. A little hot springs destination not too far away from Xela. So we hop on a bus and head in that direction, getting off the bus in a small pueblo that we have to walk through. Mind you we had to tell the bus where we were going and we had to ask a few people which direction to walk and they all happily told us which way to go to get to Aguas Amargas. What they did not tell us, is that it was completely destroyed in a hot mudslide last year! Classic. It was a fantastic day even though we didn't get to soak in the hot thermal waters there. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FQbnjWEg1WI/TrKZaNmj8iI/AAAAAAAABRw/k3PVu9WZpu8/s1600/DSCF3082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FQbnjWEg1WI/TrKZaNmj8iI/AAAAAAAABRw/k3PVu9WZpu8/s320/DSCF3082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is left of the entrance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdJhzCU-XaE/TrKaV6iZlpI/AAAAAAAABR4/fjx_csYuOew/s1600/DSCF3125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdJhzCU-XaE/TrKaV6iZlpI/AAAAAAAABR4/fjx_csYuOew/s320/DSCF3125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> It's so destroyed and overgrown it's hard to see what's going on. If you see the little waterfalls towards the top right-ish part of the photo....those little waterfalls are going over what was the road.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOcTGM9TpVY/TrKcMQLW66I/AAAAAAAABSA/Ckh53BO5xwU/s1600/DSCF3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vOcTGM9TpVY/TrKcMQLW66I/AAAAAAAABSA/Ckh53BO5xwU/s320/DSCF3130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This was one of the cabana rooms with a tub that thermal water flowed into. Egads, now it's a mudroom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mE8JSc07CT4/TrKeQRoN9XI/AAAAAAAABSI/1X251WXIRJE/s1600/DSCF3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mE8JSc07CT4/TrKeQRoN9XI/AAAAAAAABSI/1X251WXIRJE/s320/DSCF3138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> This the road going there. Totally washed out. It was fun walking down through the little river.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-3753930553239488462011-11-02T12:50:00.000-06:002011-11-02T13:19:10.603-06:00flowerheads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nd3e2zuhlI/TqcTV2aKmQI/AAAAAAAABOU/w1t2fGw30lI/s1600/DSCF3682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nd3e2zuhlI/TqcTV2aKmQI/AAAAAAAABOU/w1t2fGw30lI/s320/DSCF3682.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: silver;">Not everysingle time but, a lot of the times I buy flowers and arrange them I am left with the odd flower heads that fell off or can't be used in the arrangement for some reason or another. I can never bring myself to toss the beauties out with the stems and scrappy leaves! The last batch I floated the flowerheads in bowls of water. Floating flowers are so enjoyable to have around. Win win. I've also strung flowerheads and used them for some <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tipico?ref=si_shop">tipico</a> photos in the background.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8UqhhcJ6Xs/TqcWv0B8LxI/AAAAAAAABOc/1Kn-Hi9yO1k/s1600/flowersstrungfortipico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8UqhhcJ6Xs/TqcWv0B8LxI/AAAAAAAABOc/1Kn-Hi9yO1k/s320/flowersstrungfortipico.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-43027201346279198382011-11-01T15:36:00.000-06:002011-11-01T15:36:36.562-06:00Happy All Saint's Day!Greetings from Guatemala on All Saint's Day (Dia de Todosantos)!!! We'll be in the cemetary today for sure. This is a special day here. Families gather in cemetaries; they clean and decorate their family/loved ones graves and picnic there all day. The traditional dish of the day is a funky mix of up to 50 ingredients called, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiambre">Fiambre</a>. Flying kites is a popular past-time on this day; creating a link between life on earth and the lives of those that have passed to the other side. This will be our 2nd year participating in the tradition. =)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcNbgr6jBgw/TqgZy_4OJTI/AAAAAAAABO0/J5qkIxltD4w/s1600/1825309793_1683cc5adf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcNbgr6jBgw/TqgZy_4OJTI/AAAAAAAABO0/J5qkIxltD4w/s400/1825309793_1683cc5adf.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These giant handmade kites are just amazing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDaB6yCYDF0/Tq_uLNFIkBI/AAAAAAAABRo/6B0jUQ7zURg/s1600/fiambre5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDaB6yCYDF0/Tq_uLNFIkBI/AAAAAAAABRo/6B0jUQ7zURg/s1600/fiambre5.jpg" /></a></div>Fiambre. Putting a 'blue flower' on top is super popular fancy!<br />
We've yet to have the pleasure of sampling some local Fiambre.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>(Already walking around today more cars than not that have gone by me have someone with a big ol' dish of <br />
Fiambre in their lap! It's kind of awesome! )Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-42039488001332026212011-10-31T07:14:00.005-06:002011-10-31T07:14:00.120-06:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR_r0eysx-k/TqAeyF6zgNI/AAAAAAAABLg/4geAlrFUbNc/s1600/halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lR_r0eysx-k/TqAeyF6zgNI/AAAAAAAABLg/4geAlrFUbNc/s1600/halloween.jpg" /></a></div>I may very well live in another culture with a whole different way but, that doesn't mean I don't think about my own cultural going-ons. Here we are on Halloween and I have so many fond memories of dressing up going trick or treating and I will cherish those forevs. I wonder what the most popular costumes will be this year?? However, as an adult I don't exactly miss Halloween but, I do wish everyone especially all the kiddos and my friend and family with kiddos a huge safe and Happy Halloween!!Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-27604415273430428672011-10-30T07:10:00.000-06:002011-10-30T07:10:00.816-06:00a personal trick to summon super-power<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-ism8PEyJ8/TqAsMEwE7KI/AAAAAAAABLo/tWF8fQagWHE/s1600/ipretend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-ism8PEyJ8/TqAsMEwE7KI/AAAAAAAABLo/tWF8fQagWHE/s320/ipretend.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Mike in our Superhero states of being.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I find myself in a situation where I need to really bring it and be intimidating (you know, like when I feel like I am being scoped out by some street urchins or banditos or something); I imagine that I am that guy above and Mike is that hyena! It totally works!! I just project as much as I can that Mike and I am them. This image serves us well. I think they are the perfect superhero duo flip side for Mike and me. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UxJ-lgQyZU/TqAuYehN_-I/AAAAAAAABLw/NPgh-pogkys/s1600/DSCF7679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UxJ-lgQyZU/TqAuYehN_-I/AAAAAAAABLw/NPgh-pogkys/s320/DSCF7679.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike & Me at any given 'regular' moment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-68410021038070813252011-10-29T08:08:00.000-06:002011-10-29T08:08:00.293-06:00pink house!I've seen a million different pink things raising awareness for Breast Cancer (pink m&m's, kitchenaide mixers, cars, ribbons out the wahzoo) but, the all time coolest thing I think I've seen is the White house lit up pink in honour of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIGsnxRNg1g/TqcY2HvCDoI/AAAAAAAABOk/dyBPItVL0q4/s1600/pinkhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIGsnxRNg1g/TqcY2HvCDoI/AAAAAAAABOk/dyBPItVL0q4/s320/pinkhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breast cancer sucks....pass it on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-40274590631434632092011-10-28T06:30:00.002-06:002011-10-28T06:30:03.727-06:00assam tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxiaZZibsTc/TqAakVKPjVI/AAAAAAAABKw/0BxIPf92yVc/s1600/assamindia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxiaZZibsTc/TqAakVKPjVI/AAAAAAAABKw/0BxIPf92yVc/s1600/assamindia.jpg" /></a></div>Assam is a north-eastern state of India surrounded by 6 sister states also bordering Bangledesh and Bhutan. The area is known for it's gorgeous geography, preserved wildlife such as the one horned Indian Rhinoceros, Assam silk and Assam tea. Of course that's not all it's known for but, those are a few big ones. I am just chomping at the bit to visit or possibly live in the culturally rich area.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFV9r6PGn1k/TqAb3zxDACI/AAAAAAAABK4/5cuQoMtC1Uk/s1600/assamdibrugarh-tea-garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFV9r6PGn1k/TqAb3zxDACI/AAAAAAAABK4/5cuQoMtC1Uk/s1600/assamdibrugarh-tea-garden.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fn2ohjkCAJw/TqAcAHGaZDI/AAAAAAAABLA/8LBHyS7FGpE/s1600/assamtea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fn2ohjkCAJw/TqAcAHGaZDI/AAAAAAAABLA/8LBHyS7FGpE/s1600/assamtea.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTLjOq7l2es/TqAcNmAhhnI/AAAAAAAABLQ/fi3HcabrazU/s1600/assamteapicker2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTLjOq7l2es/TqAcNmAhhnI/AAAAAAAABLQ/fi3HcabrazU/s1600/assamteapicker2.gif" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiBBcCEW8N0/TqAcWi34seI/AAAAAAAABLY/SdUTIOp2-oU/s1600/assamteapicker1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiBBcCEW8N0/TqAcWi34seI/AAAAAAAABLY/SdUTIOp2-oU/s1600/assamteapicker1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Assam tea is a black tea clearly named for it being produced in Assam. It is a tea that is known for its robustness and strong bright colour. This is the world's largest tea producing area. It seems to be of the perfect land lying between two significant rivers, the perfect altitude, with the perfect amount of rainfall which is heavy in the monsoon season and the perfect temperature! It's this combination of elements that gives Assam tea such a strong unique flavour for a black tea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it's my favourite black tea!!</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-31948815678827477352011-10-27T07:56:00.001-06:002011-10-27T08:15:27.137-06:00frijoles frescos! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltivHaIai0U/To9aOPFcJrI/AAAAAAAABEY/VsM5jt06__s/s1600/DSCF3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltivHaIai0U/To9aOPFcJrI/AAAAAAAABEY/VsM5jt06__s/s400/DSCF3454.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
I haven't figured out exactly what type of beans these are but, I sure am enjoying them! They are gorgeous and so much fun to work with. We've started drying and collecting our favouritest ones. My boyfriend said the sweetest thing; he says, "One day we won't live in Guatemala and have access to these beans and you'll be so happy to have a dried little collection of them.", darn tootin' sweet boyfriend! <br />
<br />
Growing up in the South in a truly 'Southern' family, I was always around bushels of fresh beans and peas. I loved sitting around the backyard in the shade tree shelling them with my Granny and aunts. We usually 'put them up' (canned) and I am sure I ate plenty of fresh peas and beans but, I don't recall any kind of fresh beans like these at all.<br />
<br />
Beans have to be one of my fondest foods. They are beyond healthful and combining them with grains such as rice offers such a complete meal. I recently made sure we ate beans and grains everyday for 2 weeks just to see if we'd feel different and we absolutely did! We noticed that overall we felt way more satisfied in the hungry & craving departments. I'm just going to colour us lucky that we love beans so much!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7d7CaA-Z_I/TqlnaXSXNBI/AAAAAAAABO8/E9ydOcrPRHY/s1600/DSCF3755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7d7CaA-Z_I/TqlnaXSXNBI/AAAAAAAABO8/E9ydOcrPRHY/s320/DSCF3755.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-79600481275101372592011-10-26T07:07:00.001-06:002011-10-26T08:25:39.983-06:00xela cemetary = xela dogpark (for us)Having 2 dogs (Mike and Marcel) and living in a city with no yard puts us in dire need of a dog park. Well, it's probably no surprise that Xela doesn't have a 'dog park'. But, we're lucky that just a few blocks from our house is Xela's gigantic amazing cemetary which serves as a really great dog park for us!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NqIwMLprW54/TqQLEzkmYXI/AAAAAAAABNI/FuphKhAQff4/s1600/DSCF6202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NqIwMLprW54/TqQLEzkmYXI/AAAAAAAABNI/FuphKhAQff4/s320/DSCF6202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the boys get to run off their energy....it's a good thing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4WvDKQye78/TqQL3flLkmI/AAAAAAAABNQ/xEANDAnGD-o/s1600/DSCF6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4WvDKQye78/TqQL3flLkmI/AAAAAAAABNQ/xEANDAnGD-o/s320/DSCF6243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike really gives Zach a run for his money or rather...honey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUcv9vdLSlE/TqQMeXMTFCI/AAAAAAAABNY/fwkjpAOAuP0/s1600/DSCF6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUcv9vdLSlE/TqQMeXMTFCI/AAAAAAAABNY/fwkjpAOAuP0/s320/DSCF6190.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water faucets for doggie drinks....how perf!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SD3fKi8IMwU/TqQM3aqJbwI/AAAAAAAABNg/v_9MIqx_U8U/s1600/DSCF6208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SD3fKi8IMwU/TqQM3aqJbwI/AAAAAAAABNg/v_9MIqx_U8U/s320/DSCF6208.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 1st this is the only way Mike would drink out of the faucet. He owns it now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8o9eznMtHTc/TqQOppM87JI/AAAAAAAABNo/kXwKKY7F1io/s1600/DSCF6125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8o9eznMtHTc/TqQOppM87JI/AAAAAAAABNo/kXwKKY7F1io/s320/DSCF6125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcel has loved hiding/playing in the tall grass since Day 1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqdGULD0xQ/TqVnGuSX_tI/AAAAAAAABN4/DEN8fFJOQyI/s1600/DSCF6031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqdGULD0xQ/TqVnGuSX_tI/AAAAAAAABN4/DEN8fFJOQyI/s320/DSCF6031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Grass & sunshine!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFINzcAG5as/TqVqvx_duKI/AAAAAAAABOA/_vt3RspopjA/s1600/DSCF5876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFINzcAG5as/TqVqvx_duKI/AAAAAAAABOA/_vt3RspopjA/s320/DSCF5876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only do we have expansive lawns for dog play;<br />
look at gorgeous Volcan Santa Maria looming in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>PS-These are all pictures from 1 year ago and Mr. Marcel is all grown up now. </u></span></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-3635743677489277162011-10-25T07:33:00.003-06:002011-10-25T07:33:00.370-06:00tomatillos<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrScXeWO5Xs/Tp7-2o73hzI/AAAAAAAABKo/U5pAdj65S-s/s1600/DSCF3678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrScXeWO5Xs/Tp7-2o73hzI/AAAAAAAABKo/U5pAdj65S-s/s320/DSCF3678.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 lbs. tomatillos Q4</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="header"><h2 class="me"><span style="font-size: medium;">to·ma·til·lo</span></h2><span class="hwc"></span><span class="hwc"> </span> <span class="hwc"></span><span class="pronset"><script language="javascript">
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var interfaceflash = new LEXICOFlashObject ( "http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf", "speaker", "17", "15", "<a href=\"http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/T03/T0353400\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"tomatillo pronunciation\" /></a>", "6");interfaceflash.addParam("loop", "false");interfaceflash.addParam("quality", "high");interfaceflash.addParam("menu", "false");interfaceflash.addParam("salign", "t");interfaceflash.addParam("FlashVars", "soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.dictionary.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FT03%2FT0353400.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=c831a200&u=audio"); interfaceflash.addParam('wmode','transparent');interfaceflash.write();
</script><object align="textTop" cabs="" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="codebase=" flash="" fpdownload.macromedia.com="" height="15" http:="" id="speaker" pub="" shockwave="" swflash.cab#version="6,0,0,0"" width="17"><param NAME="_cx" VALUE="449"><param NAME="_cy" VALUE="396"><param NAME="FlashVars" VALUE=""><param NAME="Movie" VALUE="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf"><param NAME="Src" VALUE="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf"><param NAME="WMode" VALUE="Transparent"><param NAME="Play" VALUE="0"><param NAME="Loop" VALUE="0"><param NAME="Quality" VALUE="High"><param NAME="SAlign" VALUE="T"><param NAME="Menu" VALUE="0"><param NAME="Base" VALUE=""><param NAME="AllowScriptAccess" VALUE=""><param NAME="Scale" VALUE="ShowAll"><param NAME="DeviceFont" VALUE="0"><param NAME="EmbedMovie" VALUE="0"><param NAME="BGColor" VALUE=""><param NAME="SWRemote" VALUE=""><param NAME="MovieData" VALUE=""><param NAME="SeamlessTabbing" VALUE="1"><param NAME="Profile" VALUE="0"><param NAME="ProfileAddress" VALUE=""><param NAME="ProfilePort" VALUE="0"><param NAME="AllowNetworking" VALUE="all"><param NAME="AllowFullScreen" VALUE="false"></OBJECT><noscript></noscript> <span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ˌtoʊ<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />məˈti<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />oʊ</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-ˈtil<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />yoʊ</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" jquery1319112651924="41" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for Spelled" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/" jquery1319112651924="42" title="Click to show spelled"><u>Show Spelled</u></a></span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">toh-m<span class="ital-inline"><em>uh</em></span>-<span class="boldface"><strong>tee</strong></span>-oh</span><span class="pron">,</span> <span class="pron">-<span class="boldface"><strong>teel</strong></span>-yoh</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" jquery1319112651924="43" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/" jquery1319112651924="44" title="Click to show IPA"><u>Show IPA</u></a></span></span></span><span class="hwc"></span><span class="hwc"></span></div><div class="body"><div class="pbk"><strong><em><span class="pg"><span class="hwc" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">noun,</span> <span class="hwc"></span></span><span class="pg"><span class="hwc">plural</span> <span class="hwc"></span></span></em><span class="secondary-bf"><span class="hwc">-loes,</span> <span class="hwc"></span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span class="hwc">-los.</span></span><span class="hwc"></span><span class="hwc"></span></strong> <br />
<div class="luna-Ent"><span class="hwc">a</span> <span class="hwc">plant,</span> <span class="hwc"></span><em><span class="ital-inline"><span class="hwc">Physalis</span> <span class="hwc">ixocarpa,</span></span><span class="hwc"></span></em><span class="hwc">of</span> <span class="hwc">the</span> <span class="hwc">nightshade</span> <span class="hwc">family,</span> <span class="hwc">native</span> <span class="hwc">to</span> <span class="hwc">Mexico,</span> <span class="hwc">having</span> <span class="hwc">yellow</span> <span class="hwc">flowers</span> <span class="hwc">with</span> <span class="hwc">five</span> <span class="hwc">blackish</span> <span class="hwc">spots</span> <span class="hwc">in</span> <span class="hwc">the</span> <span class="hwc">throat</span> <span class="hwc">and</span> <span class="hwc">bluish,</span> <span class="hwc">sticky</span> <span class="hwc">berries</span> <span class="hwc">in</span> <span class="hwc">a</span> <span class="hwc">purple-veined</span> <span class="hwc">calyx.</span></div><div class="luna-Ent"></div><div class="luna-Ent"><span class="hwc">I love green sauce whether it's for a hot dish or just a green salsa! Both of which are super easy to make. For green salsa just blend tomatillos, onions, garlic, cilantro and lime. For green sauce just boil tomatillos, onions, garlic 8-10 minutes then blend with lime and cilantro. YUM!!!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPTG0sf1eDs/TqBDyKbAZDI/AAAAAAAABMA/CRJOLILp1BI/s1600/DSCF3708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPTG0sf1eDs/TqBDyKbAZDI/AAAAAAAABMA/CRJOLILp1BI/s320/DSCF3708.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting them in half isn't necessary. I just can't resist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079178723574910534.post-77853092367097932502011-10-24T07:13:00.000-06:002011-10-24T07:13:00.664-06:00drinking fresh aloe<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vgnv3MPgDY/Tp7NPlf17XI/AAAAAAAABKg/llDqAR1yKSM/s1600/DSCF3694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vgnv3MPgDY/Tp7NPlf17XI/AAAAAAAABKg/llDqAR1yKSM/s320/DSCF3694.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A leaf of aloe from our local market. Cost: Q5</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Drinking or eating fresh aloe may be hard to swallow for many but, with the awesome health benefits in mind, I've choked it down enough times to like and crave the stuff. I first heard of eating aloe when I was a kiddo; I knew a Mediterranean family that ate a nice slice of aloe flesh everyday and they swore by its longevity factors. I always thought of them eating aloe. Especially when I started having kidney stone issues and was turned on to aloe big time! Aloe is an anti-inflammatory and it'll fix you right up in so many ways if you're ailing from: digestive disorders, arthritis, kidney stone issues, burns, scraps, cuts, bug bites, joint and muscle pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, dry skin and any inflammation. Pretty incredible, eh?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is a <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/021858.html">fantastic link</a> that'll tell you some of the truly amazing benefits you can reap from aloe vera!! It also has a great video showing you how to harvest the flesh from an aloe vera leaf. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We blend aloe flesh with water and coconut water. It might take some getting used to but, it's so pure & healthy!! You can also just blend it into a blended fruit drink. =)</div>Alison Odowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13415773452610672109noreply@blogger.com0