Thursday garden update

3 Weeks 'till school is over. Its been a busy semester back. Im in the process of trying to transfer to Stony Brook so I can focus more on Asian Studies and much less on Spanish. My heart is all for Japan. I really need to get back there very soon. It's been a year, and I'm soo homesick!

Matt and I turned over the garden last weekend, and sometime in the next week Im going to plant everything. Heres what we'll have:

Veggies

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• String beans
• Peas
• Bibb Lettuce
• Mesculin Mix
• Micro Greens
• Cucumbers
• Red Radishes
• Daikon Radishes
• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Summer Squash

Herbs

• Basil
• Cilantro
• Mint
• Dill
• Parsley
• Lavender

AND.....
HOPS!!
Yupp our very own hops! I order the rhizomes a few days ago online from Freshops.
We ordered the Cascade, Fuggle and Magnum hops. Hopefully we will get a decent crop this first year. Usually the hops need a year to establish their root systems, but next year we defiantly have a nice crop.

100 Countries to travel to

This list is in no particular order, and will be updated a bunch. Any recommendations let me know!

1. Japan
2. Chine
3. Singapore
4. Thailand
5. Guam
6. Bora Bora
7. Loas
8. Brazil
9. Iceland
10. Ireland
11. England
12. Italy
13. Germany
14. Austria
15. Scotland
16. Denmark
17. Norway
18. Poland
19. Russia
20. Finland
21. Sweden
22. Switzerland
23. Romania
24. Turkey
25. India
26. Malaysia
27. Indonesia
28. Philippines
    
29. Australia
    
30. Tanzania
    
31. New Zealand
32. Tasmania
    
33. Papa New Guinea
34. Taiwan
35. South Korea
36. Tahiti
37. Chile
38. Jamaica
    
39. 
    
40. 
    

I don't mind so much

I actually really enjoy not having a job right now. Its really giving me well needed time to get things done that have been put off for a while.

I started all the seeds for our garden, which has now graduated from a few buckets on the deck to a 7'x10' plot in the back plus about another 12' of garden along the fence. That does not include flowers that I am going to plant, and herbs growing in planters. This is probably going to be too much! There will be more to come on that too.

I've been baking like crazy too. In less than 4 days i baked 3 loaves of bread, and muffins.

Today I updated my 43 things to include travel to 100 different countries. Matt and I have been watching the travel channel obsessively lately. Anthony Bourdain's no reservations is by far my new favorite show. Last night he was in Singapore, for the 7th time. He says that it might just be the best place for food lovers to go. Sign us up! How do I get a job like that?
I have a goal of traveling. Now I need a list.

Let go

Friday I was let go from my job. No particular reason. It has been slow. I'm not too upset. I wanted to be out before the madness of mother's day and I am. I would have prefered to wait another week or two though. Tutition is over due and we are going to DC for Sakura Matsuri in two weeks. But I know we'll be fine. I am actually happy that I am not working right now. I have no reason to wake up super early, will be able to cook everyday, and now have more time for school. We are now also going to be shifting to a much simpler living mode. Something that is a good idea anyway.
Right now I am planning our summer veggie garden.
The summer is going to be a great time to grow some organic veggies on the patio. Cheap fresh veggies & herbs what more could we want!
So far I'm planning on all organic:
cilantro
mesculin greens
basil
baby spinach
tomatoes
bell peppers
broccoli
radishes
string beans
marigolds

Im excited to be trying out growing organic veggies. I really try to watch what we eat in terms of organic and not. Some vegetables are more important to get organic than others. Here is a list that is a good guide to when it pays for organic and not.

Lists

Spring break is almost over and i'm sort of excited to get back to classes. Although there is a slightly scary accounting mid term that takes place over two days.

Some things I thought about today:
-I really love cooking, alot.
-Our backyard could use some lawn flamingos.
-20 days till we go to D.C. for Sakura matsuri.
-A year ago I was getting ready to leave for Tokyo.
- I really miss Tokyo :(
-Tokyo really misses me!
-We seriously need to fold the 5 baskets of laundry in our apartment.
-I can't wait for Sunday, I will be off after working a week straight.

Things I need to do:
-Finish knitting my sizzle sweater. I am 3/4 of the way done.
-Read for my Global Issues class.
-Enjoy pizza on Friday.
-Do/Fold laundry.
-Use up some groceries in the pantry.
-Keep drinking milk and remember to take my vitamins.
-Make Matty some lunch.
-Make more bentos.


I also lost 2.6 pounds this week for a total of 5.4 pounds since starting weight watchers 3 weeks ago!
I've been really good about following the plan and am very proud of myself. The biggest thing that I have learned is that just because there is one little (or not so little!) mess up not to let that throw the whole week into a not so good tailspin.

New Pouches!

Months ago I purchased a stash of purse clasps and magnetic purse snaps on ebay from Hong Kong. The purse snaps where put to quick use it all sorts of cute bags. But the purse frames sat on my dresser sadly staring at me, begging me to make something. It took a while but I was finally able to come to a pattern and figure out how to attach them. See?

I also did some doodles for some new zippered wristlet pouches!

One is a Maneki Neko that will have a cute little bell sewn on his collar. Mankei Nekos are also called lucky cats or beckoning cats in Japan. They are a symbol of good luck and are usally in most businesses and houses, to bring in cumtomers and wealth. This guy is holding a carp (or koi) which symbolizes strength.

The other is a Daruma. When you buy a daruma his eyes are big white spots then you color in one of his eyes and make a wish. When your wish comes true you color in his other eye to show your gratitute! The druma on this wristlet wont have his eyes colored in so you can make a wish!

And this one is going to be some cute bunnies frolicking under a tree. Notice I said cute bunnies, not wonky bunnies like I have drawn here. He has a clown nose.

Cough!

Last nigth it started hitting me. The cruddy cold that is being passed around town. I woke up this morning all scratchy and feeling like crud, so I ended up staying home. With the wedding about a month away I need to be taking care of myself. I went to the Dr. this morning and am on anti-biotics. Luckily for me I am off tommrow too. An extra well needed day to rest is always a great thing.
Yesterday I joined weight watchers to loose a few extra pounds for the wedding (even though its a bit last minute) and to keep my self on a balanced diet. Now I measure and write down everything that I eat. I also have to track veggies, fruit, water and things like that. I love tracking things, but im weid like that.
I ordered beads today from fire mountains gems to make the necklaces and earings for my bridsmaids. I'm so excited to get started on that! I'll post some photos when I do. Unitl then I started drafting the pattern for the frame purses that I am also making them too!

Tommrow I'm getting my hair dyed and cut, and trying out some wedding hair ideas! Hooray!