Music and Mommies

#Kindermom - Easter Celebrations

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:10:41 PDT

This month Kinder Canada sent me a beautiful Easter Basket filled with Kinder products to give to my children. The basket came filled with a bag of mini eggs, a kinder egg painting kit, a large kinder egg, a chocolate bunny that includes a large toy. Last but not least the basket included a Kinder Maxi with a beautiful plush sheep. My youngest named the sheep "Whammy". You can see the Easter Toy Collection on their Facebook page.

Last night I had the kids paint the eggs that were included in the Basket from Kinder Canada. The kids thought that the shape of the eggs were perfect for painting faces and only decorated one of them like an Easter Egg, the rest became egg people. The kids left the eggs on the kitchen table last night and the Easter Bunny hid them around the house. They spent the morning looking for the eggs. Most of the eggs were easily discovered but one of the eggs was a difficult to find.

This afternoon we went to my mother's house and had a egg hunt with all of the cousins. Mom had filled some plastic shaped eggs that had bunny ears with money. The kids had a great time. My 2 year old nephew found an egg that had a Toonie in it and he very proudly told me, "I had money". After the egg hunt, we had an amazing dinner. My mother was always a terrific cook and she outdid herself today. She made these stuffed potatoes and they were always a favorite of mine growing up. In fact, I don't think I've had them since I was a child. As soon as I seen them in the baking dish, I got very excited. We've had a wonderful Easter, I hope you did as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Kinder Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Chloe Charles #Music

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:03 PST

A few days past, I managed to catch an episode of Q on CBC Radio and this lovely songstress by the name of Chloe Charles happened to be on the airwaves. You can listen to the full interview and live performance here. Chloe is both soulful and jazzy with a touch of pop and roots to give it balance.

Afterwards, I looked her up on Bampcamp and found she had released a couple EP's over the last few years. I was really impressed with the tone and sultriness of her voice. The songs are groovy and flow nicely. There are moments where her voice sounds questionably similar to Amy Winehouse and I find myself wondering if this is some sort of new underground album of hers that was never surfaced until now. She also has hooks that flow very much like Adele and some other fine influences. The title track off of her debut album Break the Balance is very dreary.

Chloe Charles just released a her first full length album worldwide, it was previously only available to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. You can purchase it on Amazon and iTunes and stream it on her website.

I ♥ Banjo #Music

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:23:29 PST

I watched a documentary called "Give Me The Banjo" a last week. It is narrated by Steve Martin and I had a difficult time sitting through it; which by the way, had nothing to do with the movie. In fact, I loved it. I have watched it 3 times since then and I find it inspiring. Come to think about it, that is the very reason I had a difficult time watching it. The first time I sat through it, Mat and the boys were jamming in the basement and I really didn't want to interrupt their session. Not that it would have been a bother, but they are working on new material and I just wanted to let them be. So instead, I spent the entire first half of the movie daydreaming about the banjo every time I heard a banjo play in the movie. This is a frequent occurrence. I soon realized I had missed over half of the movie. I began the movie again. This time I watched the movie, well most of it. I still daydreamed about ol' Betty, it is rather unavoidable. Betty...

Betty is my Banjo's name. I call her "Banjo Betty" to be precise. She has a beautiful twang and is an excellent starter banjo. She is not electric, so I will have to invest in a banjo pickup if I ever decide to take her onstage. I met her in a music store in downtown Yarmouth. She had been there for quite sometime. Each time I walked into the shop, I would stand in front of her and I would just fantasize about our potential relationship. I never had the money to take her home. Some time afterwards, the music store closed down and they had a half price sale. I woke up in the morning determined to bring Banjo Betty home. I looked in the mirror that morning and even utter some positive affirmations about me coming home with the banjo. It turns out that 5 minutes after I purchased it, someone else came buy looking to purchase it. I was already grateful that Betty had become a part of my life, I felt that gratitude grow like the Grinch's heart.

The third time I watched the movie, I did it with Betty in my arms. I plucked playfully along with the soundtrack. My heart was singing as loud as Banjo Betty.

The Grass Was Greener On Our Side

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:45:47 PST

We didn't get nearly as much snow as we hoped for around here. The hubby was very disappointed. As much of a sun baby as I am, I do love to enjoy sunny, calm winter days. The kind of days you'll find the snow is so bright it is almost blinding... or at the very least overcast and picturesque. The wind, however, chills me to the bone. I do love being snowed in though and I love to observe nature. We did receive gale force winds and lots of blowing snow but our actual snow fall amounts didn't amount to anything.

Three hours away, Halifax got a fair amount of snow in comparison to Yarmouth. I remember feeling slightly ripped off as I read Facebook status's from friends that were getting snow dumped on them. Wind is nothing out of the ordinary for this coastal community.

In an effort to raise our spirits, and to show that Lead Mule's can indeed work a plow - winks - Mat and I made a little video while cleaning up the snow that had formed a drift at the end of our driveway. I hope it doesn't come off as insensitive to anyone who actually experienced the storm. I guess it just goes to show, there is always someone wishing that they could walk in your shoes; regardless of how much snow might be in those shoes.

The little owl friend was discovered on the way home a couple weekends ago from a video shoot for a Ryan Cook song 'Honky Tonk Music and Tattooed Women'. We threw him in for fun.

The Calm Before the Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:41:58 PST

We are expecting a storm tonight in Nova Scotia. The evening promises to bring us blizzard conditions. The hubby has been scurrying around taking care of last minute errands before the storm hits. The house is stocked with groceries, our devices are charged and the emergency items are at hand. We have a good amount of wood in the basement that will get us through at least the next few weeks before we need to bring in more. His last mission is to put the plow on the 4 Wheeler. We've had a little bit of snow fall this year but it hasn't been in any large amount. What we have had has cleaned up easily and quickly with a shovel. It has been light and fluffy. If the snow had any density to it at all, you could still push it easily enough.

When I was a child, I remember hearing frequent blizzard warnings. As I've grown, the blizzard warnings have seemed to lessen. We just don't get the winters we used to get. The lakes used to freeze up enough that you could drive on them. You are lucky if they freeze enough for ice skating. Our kids really don't know what a real Canadian winter is all about. I have to yell at them to wear their hats, mittens and scarves. When I was a child if you didn't wear your winter accessories you would be absolutely lucky if you didn't get frost bite.

This is what it looks like outside my window. After the storm, I will post another picture so we can compare the snowfall amount.

#Music - Marc Durkee - Gatherings

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:00:12 PST

Last week, I brought to you the newly released Lead Mule album that is available on BandCamp for the low price of $5. This week, I want to tell you about Marc Durkee. He is the Bass player for Lead Mule and another terrific band called Rain Over Saint Ambrose that I will tell you about in the weeks to come. Not only is he an excellent Bass player, but he is a fantastic singer/songwriter. In fact, he has recently released a album available for digital download. Did I mention you can download it for free? Stream it below.

Gatherings by Durk

Do you like the artwork? It was drawn by Melanie Smith. You can check out the blog she sometimes frequents here.

#Kindermom - Barbie and Hot Wheels Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:00:11 PST

A couple weeks ago, I received a couple boxes of Kinder eggs from Kinder Canada. The boxes of eggs are to celebrate Kinder's new toys for girls featuring Barbie. Just to make sure the boys didn't feel left out, the second box of Kinder eggs featured Hot Wheels. Not every egg has a Barbie or Hot Wheels toy. It is important that each toy remains surprise, so only 1 in 3 eggs contains the special toys.

The kids were very excited to open up their eggs. I have two boys, so I was a little concerned that I would be stuck with an overwhelming amount of eggs. Not that this would be a problem as many of the adults that come around here appreciate chocolate and surprises as well. Fortunately for my winter waistline, the little lady I babysit during the week was ecstatic to consume the eggs and reveal its contents. She excitedly waited for me to open the boxes, so much so that she ended up getting on the frame when I was taking a picture of the boxes. Cute.

The children did not discriminate. All eggs were created equal regardless of the pink wrapper, regardless of the child's gender. Each child picked one of each hoping for a Barbie and a Hot Wheel. Tyler and the little lady each managed to unveil a Barbie, neither of them ended up with a Hot Wheel. My oldest just wasn't feeling up to chocolate. I felt his forehead, he seemed healthy enough...

While I have your attention, head on over to Kinder Canada where they are currently giving away 40 Kinder Barbie/Hot Wheels Prize Packs. All you have to do is become a fan of Kinder Canada on Facebook and follow the instructions on their fan page to enter.

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

#Thoughts - Sunshine and Sun Babies

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:48:20 PST

It is a beautiful morning and I am still lying in bed. I am in no rush to start my day and I am more than content listening to the hubby breathe softly/snore in his slumber. I can hear the cat meow softly. I know "Sal Tumour" is torn between coming upstairs to feast upon my cuddles and going outside for a much needed scamper in the morning sun. This calming sunshine is a much needed break from the bitter wind that frequently deters me.

I love the sunshine. I am a sun baby, I could bask in its warmth and radiant glory forever. I have been known to sprawl in whatever sunspot I can find, enjoyably. It energizes me. When the wind violently chills my bones, I will not fret. I know there is a sunspot waiting for me around the corner.

Maybe, I will go for a walk this morning...

Here is a picture I made a couple nights ago when I was feeling very silly. At the time it was about 3am on a very cold night. The fire was nearly out in the wood stove. I was lying in bed and I could here Mat grumbling about it being nearly out. Although, it should be noted that when he says the fire is almost out, that simply means it is time to throw a couple pieces in. There is always a beautiful hot bed of coals at the very least. In case you can't read the text, it says: "Here is the fire you requested m'lord."

#Thoughts - Storytelling, Expression

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:28:37 PST

I often reflect upon the things that are important to me to help me gain perspective and even work through insights. This process sometimes helps me understand myself in a new way or expand upon ideas which are already familiar to me.

Music is important to me.

Family is important to me.

Hence, the name of this blog - Music and Mommies. These two ideas are constant variables in my life. I will always be a mother and I will always live and breath in song. Those two things are interwoven into the very depths of my being.

Creative Expression is important to me.

Storytelling is important to me.

I love a good story and I place a high value on creative expression. Those two things shape why I enjoy video editing and songwriting so much; through both mediums I create and tell stories. During this process I expend much pent up energy. I love the satisfaction of knowing that what I made did not previously exist. Most of all, I get to know myself a little better each time something is created. It took a while to release that the things I make are imperfect, just like me. These creations aren't just imperfect though, they are expressions of MY imperfection. The times when I have loved and lost contains a story, as does each heart strand connecting you to another person, idea, belief or inanimate object.
Ya know, we often don't dig deep enough into our own selves to observe our story unfold. In the same breath, we don't often pull ourselves away from our own selves to observe the story. It is too easy to succumb to distraction; and not that distraction isn't good sometimes. I have personally observed that it is vital to balance the times when you allow yourself to be distracted with the times when you need to clearly be focused. Sometimes, in order to be completely present you need to allow your mind to drift and your attention to shift. Sometimes, this is the way new stories are made.

Balance and Perspective, I value you too.

Lead Mule's Debut EP - @LeadMule #Music

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:19:36 PST

In this household, I am not the only only musical one. My handsome counterpart is also musical by nature and his rock band Lead Mule is officially releasing their debut EP today. Needless to say, it is a pretty exciting time for everyone right now. Have a listen to their album below. The single track is Third Degree and you can download it for free. The entire album can be purchased and downloaded for the low price of $5 on Bandcamp.

Lead Mule by Lead Mule

#Review - Simply Protein Chips

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:00:04 PST

A long time ago, I reviewed a variety pack of the The Simply Bars. I really enjoyed the different varieties and I was very impressed with the company's swift service. Recently, I received two different varieties of Simply Protein Chips to sample and review. The chips are made with Pea Protein isolate, potatoes and potato starch. It is shaped similarly to pork rinds and is very hearty. This product is Gluten, Dairy and Soy free and these chips are Kosher, a good source of iron and the product is approved by the vegetarian society.

I sampled the Savoury Herb and Garlic variety. I can honestly say that savoury is the perfect descriptor word for this flavour. All of these herbs and spices would cook a delicious turkey, or bed of rice; whatever your preference may be. The delicious herb chips are flavoured with Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Parsley, Dill Weed, Black Pepper, Lemon Oil and Turmeric. I recommend some mints or other breath freshening aide after ingesting this tempting snack. Another important thing to note is these chips contain 20% of the recommended daily intake of iron and 8% of the daily recommended intake of calcium.

Spicy Chili Kick was the second flavor I sampled. Immediately you taste the garlic but soon after the Chili kicks in and your tongue and mouth heat up ever so slightly. Seasoned with Garlic Powder, Onion Powder and Red Pepper. These crunchy chips are simplistic and lovely and I love that they do not contain any preservatives.

One bag of Simply Protein Chips left me feeling satisfied for hours. The flavours are so enjoyable, I am very excited to see what The Simply Bar comes up with next.

Disclaimer: I received a couple bags of chips to sample from The Simply Bar. All opinions are honest, my own and derive from my personal experience with the product. Your opinion and experience may differ.

Wind, Go Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:51:12 PST

I live in a coastal area. I can see the ocean and a lake from my home. It is beautiful and I certainly do not take it for granted. Of course, all things come with a price and that includes the most beautiful of things. It's windy here and the wind and I are not close friends. In fact, we barely make each others acquaintance. A cold wind goes right through me and I like heat, lots.

I've been known to sit on furnace vents as a kid to soak up all the heat myself, which would warrant a yelling from my father. I've also been known to get dangerously close to block heaters as a child, which would warrant a scolding from my grandmother. What my mother referred to as "Shit for blood", has been genetically bequeathed unto me. Let's not forget how frequently I burn myself... not on purpose, I think I just gravitate towards heat uncontrollably.

I don't often mind a balmy southerly wind when the temperature is well into the positive but anymore than that and my patience is being tried. Quite possibly, I'm growing icicles on my nose. Get out of here with your frost breath, wind.

The power line connects to the house right next to my bedroom window. So, it is normal on windy days for me to feel the room shake and vibrate. On the bright side, sometimes storms can be very rhythmic and inspire interesting songs. At the very least, the rhythms can be entertaining; or even lulling.

I have a window that faces the north east and another that faces the north west. From where I lay my head, I can see the sun rise. I can also see the trees shake violently. The Hackmatack (Tamarack) trees with their existing lean look as though the tree tops will gyrate until they break off when the wind picks up.

Outside and into the woods, you will find a murder of crows. Yes, a murder of crows. Although, I have had a love/hate relationship with these crows over the last few years; mostly while gardening. I could not help but empathize with them and the other woodland tree creatures. I wonder what it must be like to have their homes shook about all day long. For all we know, they are out there complaining to their neighbors about the weather just like we do... in squirrel and crow speak of course.

Little White Lie #Music @crystalmporter

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:14:23 PST

Here is my newest song for your listening enjoyment. You can subscribe to my music channel on Youtube by clicking this link and the subscribe button.

#KinderMom - Spread Joy with Kinder

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:11:07 PST

Being a Kinder Mom comes with its share of perks. First of all, I get to interact with other mom bloggers. I love reading everyone's post each month. I live in a rural area and the mister is the only driver, aside from my musical endeavors I don't get out much. Social interaction is always appreciated and so is the chocolate. My kids love it and I love having the odd Kinder egg around to offer up to the children.

I received a few neat holiday Kinder treats including a Giant Kinder egg which will make a perfect holiday gift, a Kinder Train containing 4 eggs that can all be personalized and some Kinder Mini's which contain nuts and are scrumptious - melt in your mouth scrumptious. I couldn't resist opening the package and trying them out. I managed to save a few for the kids but it has been terribly difficult to stay out of the bag.

You know what else I love about Kinder Canada? They team up with amazing organizations like the Children's Miracle Network, who raise money for over 170 non profit children's hospitals across North America. I felt very happy to be associated with a company that has spent the last month donating $1 for every person who shared their "Joy to Share" video on Facebook (with a maximum donation amount of $5000.) That donation will go a long way to help many children.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

#KinderMom - Presenting the 2013 Kinder Collection!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:49:14 PST

I'm so happy to have been selected for a 3rd campaign as a Kinder Mom. It has been such a privilege to get to know other blogging moms a little better and I love working with Kinder Canada. To kick off this fantastic campaign Kinder is giving away 10,000 yummy chocolate kinder eggs in celebration of the 2013 Kinder Toy Collection launch. 10,000 eggs, that has to be enough eggs to fill up a fair sized room. How do you get one of these eggs? Read on.

I love Kinder surprises. Every year I am excited to explore the collection and see what neat innovations Kinder has created in the toy department. Last year, I was really impressed with the giraffe that measured 22 cm. It was quite impressive that they managed to fit that in a small egg.

This year I love all of the toys that I've seen so far. The first toy I discovered had a little hand stamp inside that said 'Hello'. One evening after a jam, I brought down a few Kinder eggs for the grown up boys and Mat discovered the Rhino and he was so amazed...

"IT'S FUZZY!" He exclaimed loudly like a little boy at Christmas. It was very cute seeing a 35 year old man get that excited over a little toy. He keeps it in the studio now. I think it helps calm him when he's stressed.

I had been planning on giving away some Kinder Eggs on Halloween but we didn't get back in time so I saved some for the kids that frequent our home and gave them out as they visited over the next couple weeks. None of the neighborhood kids knew I was a Kinder Mom.

Make sure to visit Kinder Canada on Facebook where you will have a chance to grab a coupon for a free Kinder egg with one of the new toys.

Disclosure: I'm a part of the Kinder Mom group and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:53:20 PDT

When I think of Halloween, I think of classic TV Specials like "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown."

As a child, Halloween wasn't just about scary dead things to me, although I was completely fascinated by all things spooky. The Charlie Brown series added this undeniably wholesome aspect to Halloween that you rarely find anywhere today.

In the next 40 minutes I will be dressing my kids up as zombies. One of them will be a loose interpretation of the zombie with a pot on his head from Plants vs Zombies. When we were looking for costumes with the youngest child I asked him if he wanted to be a pirate and looked at me quite frankly and said, "Mom, pirates are so last year."

Me? What will I be for Halloween this year? I went to a Halloween party on Saturday night as Nyan Cat. As you can see by the rubber snake in my hand, I am fully in touch with my inner cat. Thank you to Melanie Smith for taken this lovely picture!

If we get back in time I will be giving out some Kinder Eggs to the kids. We don't get a lot of trick-or-treaters here in our country abode.

What are some of your Halloween 2012 highlights? What are your favorite memories from past Halloweens?

Farmers' Market

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:34:58 PDT

It is the right season for fall baking. It is natural to bake this time of year. All of the local farmers' markets are displaying their seasonal bounty and how can you not want to create deliciousness with all of the beautiful gourds, apples and other fine ingredients. A few weeks ago, I went to Wolfville with my mom to visit my sister. She hadn't got to come home for Thanksgiving so we drove up with her cat to visit her.

My mother had to drive like this for the last 45 minutes of the drive. The cat was displeased with the car ride. Every time my mother moved or tried to get comfortable in her seat, the cat voiced her displeasure.

On the way to my sister's house we stopped at a local farmers' market. I was pleased to see goats, chickens and ducks. There was so much photographic opportunity surrounding me that I momentarily lost my mother. Indeed, I momentarily became a little girl lost in a department store because I got too excited about a new toy that I discovered. I'm a third year, 29 year old woman.

How could I not having found myself in such a wonderful play land of beauty!

Cats and Books

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:28:44 PST

So, I'm reading a couple books right now. Coven by Diane Wing and another book called The Blue Fairy by Ernest Dempsey. I'm about halfway into one of the books right now and Fuzzy Phoenix decided that she wanted to read it too, with the power of osmosis. (Cats can do many things...)

For those of you who aren't aware, Fuzzy Phoenix's given name is Lady Phoenix and she adopted me about 3 years ago. She is a warrior... and a book worm.

#Review - Aloe Cadabra Personal Lubricant #Adult-Oriented @aloecadabra

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:25:10 PST

The majority of water based personal lubricants on the market are filled with various chemicals. Personally speaking, I don't want any of those chemicals coming near my lady parts. I have sensitive skin and I found that over the years my sensitivity to certain synthetic ingredients has only increased. No one mentioned that I would also be sensitive to the ingredients in every single lube I've tried. No one talks about that stuff, they should.

Astroglide used to be a favorite of ours. Over time, I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with each use... too much heat uncomfortable. I had similar experiences with K-Y Jelly and Wet. I stopped using lubricants all together, opting to just be careful and risk harm to my body because the alternative weighed heavier.

A month ago, I stumbled upon Aloe Cadabra. They sell a water based Aloe Vera lubricant made with natural and safe ingredients. It is marketed towards woman experiencing menopause, vaginal dryness or anyone who is looking for a natural lubricant without petroleum or silicone. I fortunately have not explored the dreaded menopause and my vagina has been functioning just fine to my knowledge, again - no one talks about these things. I approached Aloe Cadabra curious about this toy friendly lube and I wondered how it measured up to its toxic competition.

Aloe Cadabra comes in 4 varieties. I got to try the Tahitian Vanilla variety which has a very subtle aroma. I love that this lube is sweetened using Organic Stevia; everything in this lube is food grade. This lubricant is also PH balanced for a woman's body.

The lubricant isn't completely clear like most others on the market. It is pale yellow, cloudy and almost honey-like. It isn't sticky and clean up is a breeze. I'm thrilled that this product doesn't deliver the same "chemical burning sensation" that other lubes so lovingly provide. This product is fantastic and I will definitely be a return customer.

You can reach out to Aloe Cadabra on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: I received a couple bottles of this product to sample for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and are based upon my personal product experience. Your experience may differ. I received no additional compensation for this review.

My Broccoli Bolted

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:51:14 PST

I awoke this morning after a couple days of tropical storm winds and heavy rain to a broccoli plant that had bolted. This happens during extreme temperature shifts which we did experience here in coastal Nova Scotia. I did not mulch around the broccoli which probably would have helped. I cut of the top and although it is late and might not grow new sides, I'm going to leave it and see if it does anyway. You can't eat broccoli once it has flowered. As is the case with many herbs and plants, once it goes to seed it becomes extremely bitter. It really ruins the taste of the plant.

I am very grateful for the rain that fell though, my muscles have been achy. I have been in dire need of a muscle soak in some Epsom salt. Since we have a well, we monitor our water consumption quite heavily during the dry season and conserve where ever possible. After all of that rain, the land is replenished and our well has risen quite a bit. I am looking forward to soaking my sore muscles a great deal.

I harvested some more of my tomatoes, as early as the shine develops on their skin they can be harvested. This is the time to put them away in a dark cool place. When you want a tomato grab any that have started to turn red. If none have turned red just bring a couple up into the light and they will turn red in a few days on their own.

I brought a tomato plant in the house last year and successfully coaxed it to blossom and I harvested an additional two tomatoes, slowly over the course of months using natural lighting. It wasn't much of a yield and the tomatoes were very small but it was really neat to know that I could do it. Maybe someday I'll get a low wattage vegetation light for inside and get a really good start on my crops over the winter.

Cat Wars: Phoenix verses Owl

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:00:00 PDT

We've been watching my sisters cat for the last few weeks. She moved to Wolfville and couldn't take her cat with her immediately. My 13 year old volunteered to watch the cat (with our consent) as a favor to my sister until she was able to pick up her cat. I have nicknamed this cat "Owl" because she cranes her head around to examine the room. She has a tendency to playfully sneak up on Phoenix while she is sleeping.

Phoenix is my cat and we've had her for at least 3 years. She adopted me one day late summers day and the rest of the family (namely the hubby) adapted over time. We were never certain if she had been fixed. Not that it matters as she's a feisty one. She growls, hisses and attacks like a feral animal whenever another cat (especially a male cat) comes near her. She also got into the habit of bring home headless bunnies and squirrel bottoms one summer. So, saddened as I was for the loss of some local animals, I lovingly nicknamed her: "Phoenix, the Warrior Nun". I named her that because one day it occurred to me that my cat is kind of like Xena: The Warrior Princess. She also has many theme songs, including a specific song for "Phoenix, the Warrior Nun".

I've taken a few pictures of this cat war since they have been together. Then I messed around with them in Photoshop for fun. They aren't perfect by any means, but they are comical. At least, I think they are. It started off with these two photos, which slowly morphed into cheesy album covers.

Both of these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago. The final one (below) was shot today... I think it is safe to say that Phoenix has just about had it. Please take special note of Phoenix's warrior nun stance. I take it back, she isn't Xena. She is Cat Norris, the kitty incarnation of Chuck Norris. She doesn't have babies because she tore out her... well maybe it's a tad extreme; but it isn't hard to see her disdain for Owl. I think my sister is picking up her cat tomorrow. That should ensure survival.

Disclaimer: No kitties were harmed in the making of this blog post. I promise.

The Deer Shall Roam

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:50:43 PST

We often have deer grazing underneath our apple trees. The buck is usually somewhere along the tree line keeping an eye/ear out for predators and warns of any approaching threats. This doe was grazing with her two little ones after supper one evening. As you can see, all of their ears are raised. I'm making far too much noise.

A lot of people consider us lucky that if something were to happen we have food roaming freely on our property. I really like watching them though. I wouldn't want to chase them away or make their home less safe. I like the fact that we share the land. Having said that, they tore my garden to shreds this year and I am not amused. I had to move a great deal of vegetables to the small garden. I managed to save a lot of the broccoli and some of the lettuce, fortunately.

Chive Blossoms and other Edible Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:43:24 PST

My Chives have been blossoming which is fine by me, they are quite beautiful. I love watching things grow, including my kids. Although, sometimes their rate of growth makes me feel a tad "aged". What I find puzzling is that these chive blossoms look like onion blossoms. It IS a chive plant they grew from a package of chive seeds, they taste and otherwise look like the chive plant but have a blossom that resembles that of an onion.

I found this really wonderful site on edible flowers that I want to share with everyone. So much useful information on that page, I encourage everyone to have a lil peak.

#Review - Delicious Crunchy Cookies @ElfCEO

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:18:28 PST

Enjoy Life sent me their new line of Crunchy Cookies to review. They have 4 flavors, Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Sugar Crisp, Vanilla Honey Graham. These cookies are gluten free, vegan and kosher. They contain no artificial ingredients and are made with a variety of wholesome flours. I personally love that the cookies are free of the 8 most common allergens. A typical serving size is 2 cookies and for those of you counting calories, the Vanilla Honey Graham weighs in at 110 calories per serving.

My favorite was the Sugar crisp cookie hands down with the Vanilla Honey Graham a close second. Both of them had a really sweet taste and that appealed to me. I didn't want to share, it tasted so delicious. In the end, I really had no choice but to share with the children and the hubby. I need to lead by example and not be a hypocrite. I wouldn't be fair to tell my kids to share and not share with them, not to mention, the kids really do love cookies. The sugar crisp variety was the cookie champion for my oldest son, while the youngest preferred the Double Chocolate. My least favorite cookie was the chocolate chip cookie, it didn't do it for me like the others. One thing I really love about this company is their ingredient glossary.

Disclaimer: I received samples of this product for the purpose of this review. I received no additional compensation for this product and all opinions are my own and based upon my personal experience with the product.

Carrot Hugs for All!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie Porter) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:39:29 PST

I love it when vegetables have human characteristics, within reason of course. Too human would look a little creepy and while that could be fun, it isn't quite what I mean.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a lover of hugs. They can comfort the wounded and they spread joy. I pulled my little carrot friend here out of the dirt recently and I must say, it looks like it wants to dispense hugs to all the people of the land. Its carrot arms are opened wide for you.