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The Many Benefits of a Garden
We had our first taste of spring here in Northeast-Ohio this week. Windows cracked, doors open, breathe in that fresh air! With this taste of weather to come brings thoughts of my summer garden. I have bought the seeds, diagrammed what and where I am going to plant, and dreamed big thoughts about this upcoming summer’s produce. The Garden, my passion, on so many fronts. It embodies good health, good stewardship, and good eats! Emotional Have you ever picked up a hoe and pounded the dirt? Got down on your knees and ripped out weeds with gusto? Cut flowers from around the garden for a beautiful bouquet in your kitchen?…
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2010 Year in Review for the Military Community
What a wonderful year 2010 has been! As I compiled our list of Top 10 Articles for the past year (I do love crunching numbers!) I was reminded of the breadth of information we have on MilitaryAvenue.com. Resources, Roundtables, Support, helpful articles from military-focused companies like USAA, Recipes from Deborah, News from AFPS, blogs about everyday military-life, and so much more! I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy everything we have to offer. PCS Allowances and Entitlements Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not receive government-provided housing. Your BAH depends upon your location, pay grade and whether…
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Traditions
Autumn has fallen upon us with force. Halloween decorations have been long put away and thoughts of Thanksgiving meals are upon us; followed quickly by Christmas lights, gifts and carols. ‘Tis The Season My family will soon pack up the minivan to drive ‘over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go!’ A long-weekend with my parents, siblings and nieces and nephews. But that is just a piece of the ‘Thankgiving Tradition’. Some years we do Thanksgiving with my husband’s family which involves his grandmother and all of her siblings and their families. It’s a HUGE gathering! As an Air Force Brat there were years that my…
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Overwhelmed
I have to admit it. This past couple of weeks since school started I have been completely overwhelmed! Homework. Family Dinner. Evening Activities. OH MY! My boys are back to school and thriving. I love to watch them get on the bus each morning with a quick hug, kiss and a wish for a great day. Then I can pour myself another cup of coffee, get a little work done and bond with 6-week old baby-boy, *L*. The 7 hours of school-time seems to fly. At about 3:30 pm every school night I make sure the kitchen island is cleaned off. I get the boys’ homework caddies out (filled with…
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Tasty Tuesday Dress Me Up Salsa Pico De Gallo
Salsa is a staple at our house, and has been for years. Tell me… WHO can live without tortilla chips and salsa? Or quesadillas with salsa? The occasional late night nachos with salsa? You get the picture. I used to have a truck load pumped into the house… back ‘er up and fill the tank. Well, not really, but if felt like that. I would wipe out a whole shelf in the commissary each time I went.So, naturally after canning a gazillion tomatoes the light bulb went off as to how to use these red beauties and the first thought: Salsa.There are several recipes for this mainstay, here is my…
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Tasty Tuesday Basil Butter and Corn
In Michigan it is corn season. Some call it summer, the rest of us know that it is fresh corn on the cob – roadside stand season. The varieties are out there, one field is a bit different than an other. I suppose it is like wine vineyards… the soil content, the water, the hours of sunlight and temperature of the ground give the grapes their subtle taste value… so I am told. I can just tell you that here, each stand is a marvel. Then to top it off, Fridays in Middleville is Farmers’ Market day. So, a stroll down the booths lets one see different color ears, price…
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Up North Shrimp Gumbo
Creative instincts can be great… can get you into trouble… and open doors, or in this case a pot lid. We lived in all 4 corners of the US (CONUS). We savored some great taste sensations. We learned to like produce, fish, fruits that we not on our plates as children. Some were fantastic and some… we just couldn’t invite back again! Legumes (any sort of dried bean or pea) are just not my friends! And on that no fly list in capital letters, is okra. Tried it, and believe we are incompatible. Both Dale and I can live with that. But then there is gumbo. I love the idea.…
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Bar-B-Que Pork Loin
Tasty Tuesday: Bar-B-Que Pork with crispy peroghies as a side dish. This is zest, protein and comfort food! Bring on summer.We visited the folks in Florida. And as usual, when family comes together, there is always room for more with more than enough food to go around. This is especially true when my super cook of a mother in law is involved! Sweet and tender pork loin chops grilled to perfection by my super chef of a husband were complimented by crispy peroghies. If you have never had them… treat yourself. This is comfort food waiting to help you relax, savor and come away from the table feeling full! Peroghies…
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Your Health – Your Gardens
We enjoy being outside in our gardens! Vegetable and flower gardens become our “hobby” in the spring and it lasts all summer and into the fall as we prepare, plant, weed, harvest and then can or freeze veggies and berries! I am sure many enjoy a similar hobby but it is relaxing for us and it is great exercise as well! Since retirement from the Air Force I have had a few physical challenges as has Deb (to say the least, as she is a breast cancer survivor). Today marks the first anniversary of my 4th knee surgery and I struggle to control blood sugar as well. We have a…
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Feeling the Need for Health Food? Feed Me Fish!
I have had a heaping helping of holiday food. LOVE it. Did I have my fill… NO. But, sanity has returned, and some delicious seafood calls.There are so many different types of fish that we have had in so many different parts of the world… that I cannot name my favorite, or think of a certain recipe without thinking of the folks with whom we dined, or the restaurant where we looked out windows and saw vistas that were as beautiful as the dish that was served.Therefore, I will be writing a few recipes here. Cannot pick a favorite! But will start with simple.(Remember when you buy your fish that…
