The Fickle Hobbyist

Archive for the ‘ramblings’ Category

This week, I don’t have any new recipes, or information for you.  All I have is a show and tell, of sorts.  We spent the last weekend camping out at the ocean, and my husband went fishing with my cousin like he’s done a hundred times before.  Usually, if they catch anything at all, they bring back some bass, and if we’re real lucky, a salmon or two, but this weekend, he came back with this beauty!!

Now, we have lived in Alaska, where the salmon are plentiful, and we had our fair share.  But believe when I tell you that he has never caught a salmon of this caliber!!  This puppy weighed in at 40 lbs, was 35 inches long, and 28 inches around.  The guys had gone out about 25 miles into the ocean, when he caught this one.  He said it pulled his line completely out, and it took him about 15 minutes to reel it in.  He was so excited, he drove it all the way back to camp so that I could get pictures of it, then he had to drive back into town to clean it (and buy some gallon zip lock bags).  He figured at $7.99 / lb, we’re looking at a $391 fish!!  Not too bad for a day out at sea.

Tami’s Tip of the Week

Don’t let the scent of salmon linger

To keep the smell of cooked salmon at a minimum, squeeze lemon juice on the cut side of the fillet (or on both sides of a steak) about an hour before you cook it.  This will help neutralize the odor of the flesh and keep your refrigerator from smelling like fish, too.

As I sit here listening to yet another storm move in; the thunder claps and the rain dumps on the roof, I sigh because I know this weather means I will not be getting to particular projects anytime soon.  I’ve had a garage full of furniture projects that I’d love to get to but I can’t handle the heat and humidity long enough to go sand and paint out there.  Plus, with all the mosquitoes lately, it’s inevitable my paint job would be marred by tens, if not hundreds, of suicidal bugs.  I feel like my creative energy is on pause.

I am dying to have a garage sale and clear out the garage so that I may have more room to work on projects out there, but it seems either we have something planned or the weather decides it’s not a good time.  *sigh*

I want to build the bed, craft center, and entertainment center from Knock Off Wood, but it just can’t happen right now because there is no room.  *sad face*

I just want to create!!!

-Autumn

**Don’t forget my Giveaway! There are only a handful of days left to get in on it.**

I really like the idea of self sustainability.  I would love to be able to walk out my back door, pick some fresh veggies, and make a meal of it.  However, despite my countless attempts at keeping vegetation alive…I cannot do it!  At the beginning of spring I planted various plants and really REALLY tried my best to keep them alive.  I watered them lovingly, plucked weeds from the soil, and pruned some of them according to the instructions I found online.  Despite my best intentions, they all but died.

I had planted squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, and a couple herbs.  The only thing that is still alive is the basil.  The rest of what is still technically alive isn’t producing anything worth harvesting.  What did I do wrong?!

I mean, not to toot my own horn, but I am usually pretty good at most things I put my hand to; knitting,  sewing, photography, you name it.  But when it comes to plants?  Yeah, not so much.  I’ve been contemplating taking classes at the co-op on organic gardening because I NEED help.

Can you share with me some gardening tips?  More specifically beginner gardener tips.  I think another thing that is not working so great for me is I grew up in WA and our growing seasons are all different from down here in TX.  Anyone have any pointers??

-Autumn