tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31034689974118152042011-10-22T22:29:16.130-04:00(It's pronounced Rock Garden) I don't have much space to grow green things, but I grow what I can where I can.darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-81582174037719831342011-10-16T17:55:00.000-04:002011-10-16T17:55:20.654-04:002011-10-16T17:55:20.654-04:00

Crossing the finish line at 7:15:20 Contemplating the race, after. If you had told me two years ago I would be running 31 miles around my favorite hiking trail at that time, I would have laughed. When I first heard about the Oil Creek 100 trail races in fall of 2009, I was overweight, and still recovering from a surgery to remove a bowling ball sized cyst from my uterus.  I had

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-9734797693198584002011-06-19T19:25:00.000-04:002011-06-19T19:25:59.773-04:002011-06-19T19:25:59.773-04:00

I can't believe we're almost done with June.  My garden is going crazy, and I love it.  I haven't been as good about doing stuff out there as I have been, but there isn't much to do but water and watch and make sure nothing is eating the plants. I've been training for an Ultra-Marathon, a 50k, that I'm going to be running in October.  I ran my first half marathon last weekend, and yesterday I

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-68544543860677915882011-06-02T10:17:00.000-04:002011-06-02T10:17:44.458-04:002011-06-02T10:17:44.458-04:00

The garden is looking better and better.  I decided to move a few tomatoes out of one of the beds that wasn't doing quite as well, and am trying my hand at growing sweet corn instead.  Here are my neat rows of corn... I shouldn't have too much trouble with wind pollination, and I can always break a tassel off and self pollinate (so my friend tells me).  I'm excited about corn growing in the back

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-8350355984815374152011-05-19T20:48:00.000-04:002011-05-19T20:48:31.364-04:002011-05-19T20:48:31.364-04:00

Some days I want to give it up.  Some times, I want to sit on the couch, or curl up under a blanket, and forget the world exists.  But these roads, these rolling hills, they call to me. Rolling farms, the smell of cut grass, of rain, of earth... it's better than a drug for me.  I start out slow, and curl down hills and around bends, through thickets, and before I know it, I've run 5 miles.  And

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-11530425461735742892011-05-18T12:13:00.000-04:002011-05-18T12:13:18.022-04:002011-05-18T12:13:18.022-04:00

So although today hasn't been a total washout, like most of the days this week have been, by the time I think the weather has made up it's mind and I get out there, it starts to rain again.  So Eli and I put stickers up in his room. My boy loves his cars, and when I was running errands last week, I found this decorative wall decal set by Circo.  He already has a comforter and pillow and night

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-75783170534716621462011-05-16T09:26:00.000-04:002011-05-16T09:26:12.652-04:002011-05-16T09:26:12.652-04:00

It's been a couple weeks since I posted, but the yard is pretty much transformed.  We've had plenty of rain and last week everything was beautiful. My yard was temporarily purple from all the violets in the yard... I love that. The cherry/crab apple hybrid thing I have in the front garden was blooming, filling the air with sweetness, and also lots and lots of buzzing bees. BZZZZZ Sweet Woodruff

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-51692801248736464322011-04-29T20:06:00.000-04:002011-04-29T20:06:06.661-04:002011-04-29T20:06:06.661-04:00

Just when I think it MIGHT dry up a little... more rain today.  We still went out and bought more dirt and decided to take a trip to a (sort of) nearby greenhouse.  It's one of my favorite places for it's size and selection, Wyattville Garden Center (I think is the name of it). I mostly bought herbs.  I have dedicated a small portion of the newest raised bed for herbs.  I have dill, parsley,

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-59156767598804266482011-04-28T15:38:00.000-04:002011-04-28T15:38:54.234-04:002011-04-28T15:38:54.234-04:00

No, I'm not tired of gardening.  I think I'll have the tomatoes and broccoli and other seedlings hardened off enough to put in to the beds next week.  Today I got another raised bed in.  And ran out of dirt when it was halfway full. Blast! So I'll be heading over to home depot to get a few (cheap) bags of topsoil tomorrow... because I think a few bags will do it, and I'm not going to get

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-45235654132604357672011-04-22T12:58:00.000-04:002011-04-22T12:58:09.646-04:002011-04-22T12:58:09.646-04:00

So yesterday, Martin's Mulch delivered 3 yards of dirt.  Eli was thrilled.  3 yards is about... six small pick-up trucks full of dirt.  A big dump truck dropped it off... I figure I probably saved money having them deliver it than driving six 40 minute round trips with gas prices being what they are.  So I had a large tarp, spread it out, and the nice gentleman dumped the "super-soil" (a mix of

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-68927752663011930252011-04-15T15:07:00.000-04:002011-04-15T15:07:35.601-04:002011-04-15T15:07:35.601-04:00

Finally we're back from vacation, and finally the weather is beginning to cooperate, at least for... the past 2 days... tomorrow will be rain again, but at least I took the opportunity to get the raised beds I built a few weeks ago into position, and got the ground cover underneath dug up. I'm not sure if the pachysandra will come back with a vengeance, sneaking and poking the roots of my

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-82765558171085754792011-03-10T14:49:00.000-05:002011-03-10T14:49:09.649-05:002011-03-10T14:49:09.649-05:00

Detailed and poignant, Atwood once again displays strengths and weaknesses of both sexes in this novel set in Post-Depression and War Era Canada.  A family falling from the upper class, from grace, from Heaven almost, as the detailed characters float through the apathy that is life.  Or is it there life?  Atwood provides mystery and romance, deception and the frailty of both life and the

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-50353421727016894342011-03-07T14:49:00.001-05:002011-03-07T14:50:10.350-05:002011-03-07T14:50:10.350-05:00

So Jason and I were talking over the weekend about how mayo usually upsets my stomach and really doesn't do much for me taste-wise on sandwiches, and I had just read an article in my running magazine about substituting hummus for mayo.  So today, after napping and being lazy in general, I decided to whip up a batch. (Manda taught me how to make this version, your experience may differ).  I use

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-43505788993473368292011-03-02T15:25:00.000-05:002011-03-02T15:25:37.459-05:002011-03-02T15:25:37.459-05:00

So I found this recipe for fudge striped shortbread cookies... It seemed easy and I needed to work off some stress in the kitchen... I had trouble getting the dough into a "log" shape.  I figured this was ok.  I wasn't interested in making them pretty, ok? Golden brown at the edges.  I let them cool on the sheets for a while, because they crumbled a bit when I tried to move one.  About 30

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-20920394768488309782011-03-01T09:28:00.000-05:002011-03-01T09:28:59.488-05:002011-03-01T09:28:59.488-05:00

I'm really, really ready for spring.  I'm ready to do long runs, work in the yard, go on long hikes with the kiddo and pup, get muddy and gross, and just be back outside in general.  I've been prepping myself, my house, my plants... but every time it seems to warm up enough for a tantalizing taste, we get hit with a snowstorm the next day and I'm back shoveling snow instead of dirt like I would

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-64106082114194543292011-02-15T19:51:00.000-05:002011-02-15T19:51:42.874-05:002011-02-15T19:51:42.874-05:00

I know it's been a while, but today started the productivity of spring, even if it's still too cold to go outside without heavy coat, gloves, hat, boots and skis. I decided this year, for my seed starting, I would be a good little naturalist and recycler and re-use my plastic seed starting containers from last year, and buy those little expanding dirt pellets in bulk instead.  Burpee sold the

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-44040078278375977052010-10-17T13:45:00.002-04:002010-10-17T13:47:41.764-04:002010-10-17T13:47:41.764-04:00

 We all went hiking yesterday.  "Tsuga!" my son says, when I ask where we should hike.  About a mile round trip, and he hikes great.  The leaves are gone from a lot of the maples.  A lot of the trees are done, with really just Oaks and Beeches and a few others clinging.  We've defiantely shifted from greens/bright colors to bright/muddy colors/empty crowns. The sky was amazing yesterday.  Grove

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-5081588305109189792010-10-09T18:39:00.000-04:002010-10-09T18:39:20.620-04:002010-10-09T18:39:20.620-04:00

are too few.  Last weekend we enjoyed Applefest in Franklin, this weekend started with the little guy and I picking out pumpkins.  We found a free place in Conneaut Lake (I think next weekend will be the head up to the farm place and do hay rides and such). Al's Melons has tons of produce, lots of pumpkins, and a mini corn maze.  Don't take your 6-12 year olds here.  They'll be bored.  But OMG

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-89794111009017708442010-10-07T16:06:00.000-04:002010-10-07T16:06:47.724-04:002010-10-07T16:06:47.724-04:00

Leaves.  LEAVES LEAVES LEAVES!!! I do love leaves.  But every October through the end of November, we rake.  We rake and rake and rake and mulch and rake and mow and rake.  I used to mind a lot more when i was 20-30 pounds heavier and would get winded going up a flight of stairs.  Now I can handle raking a yard-full of leaves several times a week for a month or two.  Really.  I mean, leaving

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-8457171831536343132010-10-01T17:16:00.000-04:002010-10-01T17:16:20.273-04:002010-10-01T17:16:20.273-04:00

Been sleepy all day today.  Maybe because I woke up before 6, then the kiddo was up, so I just stayed up.  Today was a tidying up day.  I cut the little one's hair, then decided the dog might as well get trimmed too (I used different scissors).  Had a friend stop by to visit after lunch, then decided to do some work outside. I finished up most of my garden putting to sleep, then decided to split

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-81882640690537206472010-09-30T16:46:00.000-04:002010-09-30T16:46:29.908-04:002010-09-30T16:46:29.908-04:00

I decided to dye my hair orange.  I really like it a lot. Zoe likes it too.  I will await judgment from the husband, but the child also seems agreeable.

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-69411266111806266292010-09-28T18:37:00.000-04:002010-09-28T18:37:47.791-04:002010-09-28T18:37:47.791-04:00

Running is some sort of sickness, I'm sure.  Today I was determined to run.  A long run.  I had a race last Saturday, and after feeling unwell the past 2 days due to tiredness, I decided I MUST run today. It was pouring all night.  It poured most of the morning.  I watched the sun attempt to break through the puffy grey fall rain clouds.  It failed.  Around 10:30, my mom called.  I peered out

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-19216835885256820522010-09-23T19:42:00.000-04:002010-09-23T19:42:49.987-04:002010-09-23T19:42:49.987-04:00

Still recovering from this cold/sinus thing.  I ran yesterday, and so today I thought I'd get out and do a bit of trail running.  Of course, running and temperatures above 80 don't agree much, so I didn't do as well as I'd hoped.  I blame my recovery and the heat, but I did make it 2.5 miles, so yay. The leaves are really changing, the fields are doing their final bursts of colors and flowers

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-32645655603149400682010-09-22T21:11:00.000-04:002010-09-22T21:11:13.692-04:002010-09-22T21:11:13.692-04:00

It's a melancholy kind of day for me.  I woke up early and watched the sunrise from the front porch.  It was cloudy, but warm, and I just sat.  The air smelled different, felt different on my skin. I spent the majority of the day cleaning.  In the morning, I cleaned the inside of the house, opened all the windows, turned on the fans, let the sickness of the past few days air out.  In the

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-30575760925578451642010-09-20T08:21:00.000-04:002010-09-20T08:21:17.898-04:002010-09-20T08:21:17.898-04:00

So, besides getting a terrible head cold this weekend, and trying to deal with that... I also harvested potatoes from my garden and we celebrated the little one's third birthday.  It's hard to believe... I wanted to get more done in the yard and garden this weekend, but the stuffiness and sore throat and general malaise really prevented me.  Hopefully I'll shake the rest of this off today and

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3103468997411815204.post-64384853957074589082010-09-13T16:45:00.000-04:002010-09-13T16:45:35.810-04:002010-09-13T16:45:35.810-04:00

Yesterday I ran 15 miles.  I am still not sure how I managed it.  I think it helped that I took a couple of wrong roads, and forced myself to keep going.  I chose an entirely too hilly of a route, but it was such a beautiful afternoon, and the breeze was amazing that I just kept going.  I didn't have my camera with me while I ran, but I drove back some of the route today and photographed some of

darkandlighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03754082573998676409noreply@blogger.com0