Fifty pound limit for checked bags is understandable but difficult to accomplish with a 34 inch hard side suitcase. I could seriously pack 75+ pounds in our orange behemoth bag. This year we are checking only one bag to save $25 each way to Oahu and back tho the mainland. Is is worth it to use carry on bags; we think so.
Limoncello
My adventures making limoncello did not begin with the best recipe ever. It began with an abundance of lemons and non-drinkable, potentially illicit Everclear. This stuff burns!
After last year’s sickeningly sweet attempt, I have decided to tone down the sugar component in the simple syrup. I digress.
Simple steps to simply deelish limoncello:
1. Wash lemons–you need about 10 medium to large.
2. Peeling the lemons, pithlessly, is crucial to avoid a bitter result.
3. Find a cute or not so cute jar (mine was around $5 at World Market) and place lemon peel inside.
4. Pour Everclear or Vodka in the jar (750 ml) with the lemons and store in a dark, dry place for 10-40 days. The longer, the more intense lemony flavor will develop. I actually forgot about mine.
5. Boil then simmer 4 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar. (My first attempt called for 4 cups water to 5 cups sugar–too sweet and syrupy for my taste.)
Experimentation is part of cooking, not baking, so I go for it!6. Store in a bottle in the freezer and pull out for nightcaps. mix with soda water for a yummy limoncello martini, pour over vanilla bean ice cream. Enjoy!
Cherry Time
Here in Linden, California, the cherry season is underway. Fantastic weather, which means a lack of rain, translates to a great crop. Yesterday was the Linden Cherry Festival, where California Women for Agriculture had a booth. We successfully raised awareness about what we do while selling a few t-shirts. It is a shining example of family fun at its best.
Today, The Vana Farm, also know as Vana Bros., sold cherries at the first Woodbridge Certified Farmers Market. Additionally, it was my first time ever to sell produce anywhere, besides, of course, the packing shed. It fun to make extra money and educate the public about the health benefits of eating fresh cherries, also many people were greatly surprised that my cherries were not the Bing variety. I sold Brooks, one of our earliest varieties.
A great, tiring day!
AgDay at the Capitol, 2012
AgDay at the Capitol, 2012
On March 21st, Legislators and the consuming public viewed, sampled, petted, and learned about all facets of agriculture. From Beef and California CattleWomen to the Delta Caucus to California Grown to Ag in the Classroom to California Women for Agriculture, attendees made the rounds to learn about where their food comes from and what it takes to produce California’s bounty. For those of us who grow a commodity or grew up farming or are new to tilling the land or raising livestock, we all have one thing in common: a real passion for agriculture.
The agriculture community must unite on issues that affect the diverse landscape of our passion. AgDay at the Capitol is a great opportunity to network and share our story with consumers.
California Women for Agriculture show their ag spirit to educate our legislators.
Sac Valley Chapter’s Lora Sotelo with CWA State President Karri Hammerstrom.
San Joaquin Chapter obtained Jumbo Sunflower Seeds from Klein Bros, Ltd. We really appreciate the donation and everyone loved the flavored seeds.
Delta Caucus members work hard to educate about the Delta and our water supply.
CWA State President Karri Hammerstrom.
Sac Valley Chaper’s Lynn Martindale, San Joaquin Chapter President Angie Vana, and State Secretary/Salinas Chapter Julie Ruiz.
Lynn Martindale and Julie Ruiz with Sac Valley President Kelly Benarth.
Karri with Lynn and Kelly.
San Joaquin CWA Chapter Education Chair Karen Cultrera with Karri and Angie.
CWA State President Karri Hammerstrom
Northern California, the beauty and benefits
On a recent California Women for Agriculture tour and conference in Redding, CA, a great group of agriculture-minded ladies and a few gents traveled to Wheelabrator Shasta Energy and Shasta Dam.
We learned how California’s waste wood products and byproducts are efficiently burned to produce much needed energy. The process is a technological feat run by 4-6 employees per shift, with attention geared toward ultimate proficiency in the final product and by-products. There is very little waste in the process that burns wood and various types of nut hulls, which heats water to produce steam, that turns turbines, eventually producing energy.
A truck is unloaded, an amazing view of hydraulics.
Next, we visited Shasta Dam and Power Plant. Free tours, that beat out smaller Hoover Dam, are lead by knowledge guides who promote the primary goal of Shasta–to supply the Central Valley Project with 41% of its water, irrigation water, that is.
14 stories still below this view!
Hydroelectric in created when turbines are run by water that passes through a penstock; this movement generates power via the stator and rotor. Although quite technical, we all appreciate the science and ingenuity that makes a project like this happen.
It was a very enlightening tour, especially with regard to how much Shasta Dam and the Central Valley Project rely on rain water, with water supply their main objective.
So…let it rain and we can feed the world!
Table Setting, The Art of
Dear to my heart and close to my tummy is my involvement with California Women for Agriculture. Many fundraising events help us support agriculture through education of kids, consumers, elected officials and each other. These are a couple photos that illustrate ingenuity and what it means to be a person of California agriculture.
My little mini garden complete with spun cotton mushroom and manzanita branch.
California FFA table enforces the importance of agriculture as a viable career choice.
Our grand Lego adventure
The outside entrance to LegoLand California.
Watching the corn pop up in rows. I was so happy to see a bit of agriculture in the sea of plastic.
The Kubota is next.
The Christmas decorations were amazing.
Somewhere is mini land
Twirling and swirling in the rides.
Not your everyday storybooks.
What we love about life…
Our great adventures take us near and far from home. Bard, California was home over Christmas vacation, we call it Christmas! Don’t know where Bard is, think west side of Colorado River across from Yuma, AZ.
Just a good time with family!
New(found) Passions
As many of us have discovered, Pinterest is a mind bogglingly addictive resource. My friends, near and far, are amazing at pinning Polyvore outfits to make one want to blow their doomsday savings. I have, on the other hand, found a much more rewarding use of pinned pages: to search out the best photography and typography tutorials. It is a new-found passion.
After discovering a new world of fonts, I really wanted to have a party so I could create the cutest invitation and thank you cards. Not in our busy future. More searching and reading resulted in subway art. Who knew?
This is what I made on my Mac using Pages…
I confiscated the saying from eighteen25.blogspot.com. Their subway art is adorable, yet I like that mine incorporates a weave pattern background that coordinates with my decor. I especially revel in the juxtaposition of the crisp font against the blurry weave. Next, I will print an 11 x 14 at Costco, install in a beautiful frame, enjoy my art.
All in all, I feel like I have been having a computer party on pinterest, more fun with a cocktail in hand, nevertheless, it is one way to get to know your friends better!
Vana Farm 