Meteor Shower Party August 13, 2010
Posted by Christine in Random, summery topic.Tags: bonfire, friends, fun times, meteor shower, party
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Last night was my second annual Perseid meteor shower party. I decided to do it again this year because it was so much fun last year and so many people actually showed up and were interested and amazed by all the shooting stars they got to see. I made it a face book event and everyone called into work a month in advance if they needed to (or could).
It was hot and humid all day and things hadn’t changed much even after the sun started to set. I pulled a bunch of lawn chairs down to the pond and built a fire with the help of my boyfriend and friend. It took about an hour and a lot of experiments with bug spray and other sorts of kindling before we finally got a sustainable fire going. People showed up steadily between ten and eleven. We saw the first ones streaking across the sky on the northern horizon around midnight.
My boyfriend had brought his old telescope from his childhood and I took one of my parent’s old blankets. My friend came in a big gray truck and six of us crammed into the truck bed. We giggled and ducked down when a car passed us because we were afraid it could be an officer of the law, but mostly we were just giddy on sugar and each others’ company. When we had gotten away from the trees and crossed the road to the middle school and its big front field the sky sort of opened up.
The Milky Way was a white hazy streak all down the middle of the sky. My boyfriend really likes astronomy and he pointed to particularly bright patch as the center of our galaxy. The other arms of foggy looking light are the spirals. We waded out into the grass for a little way and got comfy and then the show really started. Some were brighter and longer than others and some were just little spots of light. There were a lot that had really long tails that left an afterglow for a while after they had already burned out. Some were orange, some were yellow, and some looked sort of blue.
We saw a really bright yellow star somewhere in the east. My boyfriend pointed the telescope at it and it was a perfect yellow circle that must have been a planet. In the west we saw a star that blinked red yellow and green, and we wondered for a long time about it joking about how it must be an alien fleet coming for us, or warring among one another.
A couple of my friends mentioned how this night was the highlight of their summer. How awed they were by the universe, and how much we all loved Carl Sagan. But eventually we had to leave so we could get to sleep and get to work and get home. Our fire was still smoking this morning and looking up at the star-less morning sky I thought about what a good summer it’s been and what a good night we had together.
Summer, a time for weddings August 12, 2010
Posted by Christine in summery topic.Tags: good times, green, summer, weddings
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One thing that seems to be happening as I grow older is that everyone is getting married. My brother, my friends, my friend’s friends, my brothers friends, my boyfriend’s cousin, my cousins, you know how it goes. And now that we’re reaching the end of the Big College Experience, it seems to be happening more and more.
There’s just something about graduating, and I guess something about summer that makes people catch wedding fever. If I had to guess it would be that finally they can start earning full-time wages, and hey look, it’s the most gorgeous time of the year, might as well do it now darlin’!
I mentioned in an earlier post that one of my best friends was getting married this summer, and this last Saturday she did! The ceremony was very traditional with organ music, a big Episcopal church, and a long glittery train. Green and brown were everywhere and everyone commented on how they have always been the bride’s signature colors. Everyone was smiling (or crying, happily of course) and in a great mood. There were a lot of friends and a lot of family. There was a lot of dancing too (at least from the bridal party and the nieces and nephews). But I have to say my favorite part was standing up near the altar with my friend and watching her almost-husband holding her hand and stroking it between his fingers. They really seem very happy and in love and we all wished them the best.
That night we had a bonfire at the maid of honor’s house where we ate watermelon and roasted marsh mellows in our shorts. It was a really beautiful day and I’ve been thinking when and if I get married, it will probably be in the summer too.
Cooling Down: Five Easy Recipes July 26, 2010
Posted by Christine in Random, summery topic.add a comment
Last Friday the thermostat at my house said it was 95 degrees. It was 10:00 in the morning. So in honor of this Hades-like weather, I would like to dedicate this summery topic to some recipes that can make the heat both tolerable and delicious.
Watermelon Juice: This is more of an idea than a recipe. All you have to do is cut watermelon into one inch pieces and put it in the blender. If it’s not sweet enough add sugar or sweetener.
Black Bean Salsa: What I like about this one is that all the ingredients are pretty common. When we did aluminum casting in my sculpture class someone brought this. It was tasty and filling I didn’t even have to eat dinner. She said she found it on the back of a Bush’s black bean can. You can get it here > http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/bushs-best-black-bean-salsa/Detail.aspx and here too.
Ingredients
- 1 (15 ounce) can Black Beans, rinsed and drained*
- 1 (8 ounce) can, drained
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes (basil, garlic, oregano flavored)
- 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces Italian dressing
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium jalapeno, chopped
Directions
- Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 1 1/2 hours. Serve with tortilla chips.
Cold Soup: Gazpacho Andaluz http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Gazpacho-Andaluz/Detail.aspx
Ingredients
- 8 cups cold water
- 8 large tomatoes – peeled, seeded and chopped
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cucumber, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, minced
- 1 (1 pound) loaf stale French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup wine vinegar
- 1/8 tablespoon salt
Directions
- Combine water, tomatoes, bread, and oil in a large stock pot. Set aside.
- In a food processor or blender, blend onion, garlic, cucumber, and green pepper to a paste. Stir into the stock pot.
- Using a hand mixer, blend until ingredients have a watery, pinkish consistency. Alternatively, process in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add vinegar, and season with salt. Garnish with minced vegetables and parsley if desired.
The Best Lemonade http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Lemonade-Ever/Detail.aspx
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups white sugar
- 8 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Directions
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
- Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups water
Number Five. Since we had some really good responses last time I did this I wondered if anyone would like to share a summer recipe that they really like. I wanted to add a recipe for an ice cream bar but couldn’t find it. If you have any popsicle, ice cream, or frozen treat recipes that would be cool. So would anything else cold and delicious.
Summery Topic: GARDENING July 8, 2010
Posted by Christine in Fort Wayne, summery topic.Tags: benifits of gardening, community garden, exercise, Fort Wayne Burmese, gardening, getting tan, kids, recipe, saving money
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Agriculture was one of the first things that led to the growth and success of our civilizations. Almost everything we eat comes from the ground, and in a roundabout way (cattle eat grain) it all does. We were nomads when we had to hunt and gather our food. Nowadays we’re sort of nomads again: driving to the grocery store or McDonald’s. If you garden though, you can be a classy, civilized, humanoid participating in humanity’s greatest achievement.
One of the things I look forward to most about getting a place of my own (other than having control over the hot water) is growing a garden. Both of my grandparents have gardens, and so does my mom, and I know firsthand how freaking delicious and fun gardening can be. So for this week’s Summery Topic I’ve devised a list of reasons to admire, love and grow gardens.
33 REASONS TO GROW A GARDEN
33. EXERCISE. There is no abdominal and upper arm workout that compares to raking compost over the garden or sinking a hoe repeatedly into the ground for a couple hours. Believe me. My mom can testify to this too.
32. SUN TAN. I worked at a locally owned plant and flower store for a summer and even though it was a farmers tan, I got a lot of compliments. But no one wants melanoma, so remember your sunscreen.
31. YOUR WALLET. Everyone always complains that eating healthy is super expensive because the prices of vegetables and fruits is so high. K-bam, gardening to the rescue! Plus, if you can and freeze your vegetables they still taste good all fall, winter, and spring.
30. CONTROL. We all know foodie cults are all the rage. If you grow a garden you can grow organically, or not, it’s all up to you and you’ll know exactly what you get because you grew it.
29. KIDS. There is no science project quite like growing plants. We did it all the time in school. Not only can your kid be a farmer, but a botanist0, too. I helped my parents grow a garden since I was eight, and it was always a miracle when the sprouts started popping out of the ground. And the best part was that I had planted some of them.
28. COMMUNITY. Community gardens have been flourishing for years. They feed people, but they also bring them together. Here’s a link to Fort Wayne’s gardening project for the Burmese community. In my Diversity and Human Rights class, we met with a local Burmese man and learned that their community is very close knit. Through this program they grow plants native to Burma in Indiana soil. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/food-for-the-fort:-community-garden-project-continues-to-grow.html
27. SHARING. Neighbors love produce; so do relatives, friends, and co-workers. Whenever I offer treats from our garden, everyone goes nuts and I feel like a hero. Most home made gifts look or sound cheap, but an ice cream bucket full of strawberries is always sure to please. Unless of course they’re allergic to strawberries, but then you can give them watermelon!
26. BUSINESS. My mom has a friend who sells her produce at Columbia City’s local farmer’s market. It’s always fun to go to the market on Saturdays, meet people, and get the best freshest food around.
25. COOKING. Salsa! You can pretty much grow everything you need for amazing salsa in the garden. My mom and my aunt and uncle do this, and I’m really not exaggerating when I say its ten times better than anything you can get a grocery store. Plus you can control the spiciness and how much of your favorite ingredients are in it (my boyfriend really loves cilantro). Plus you can make strawberry pies, pumpkin pie, zucchini bread, and a million other things.
RECIPE: My favorite family recipe is a potato and pea side dish. You boil new potatoes (young, small potatoes you pick earlier in the season usually about three inches big) and shell a bunch of sweet peas. You boil them, drain them, and cook them the rest of the way in your favorite crème sauce. And if you grow red potatoes you gotta keep the skin on, because it tastes even better that way.
24. ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING… Seen those completely compost-able chip bags lately? Those bags were made for gardening! You can use your own trash and food waste for the garden and do your part for the environment. Dang, gardens are awesome.
25. BEAUTY. You can grow flowers in the garden too. Mostly people do sunflowers and zinnias which are my favorite. But heck, gardens are pretty I think even without them.
26. to 1. TASTE. Homegrown food tastes sooo good compared to most things you find in a regular super market. Here are 22 more reasons to garden: cantaloupe, sweet peas, sweet corn, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, potatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cilantro, squash, lettuce, cauliflower, asparagus, onions, peppers, beans, and my personal favorite the number 1 reason to garden… WATERMELON.
Even if someone doesn’t have a garden, they seem to own a tomato plant or too. Always wondered why out of all the vegetables, tomatoes are so popular. Can anyone explain this to me? Oh well, this guy can explain how to grow tomatoes at least:
And if your not completely bored with reading about gardening here are some inspiring sites:
http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-gardening/organic-gardening/efficient-home-gardening.html
This Week’s Summery Topic: Wild Life June 19, 2010
Posted by Christine in summery topic.Tags: cute squirell, deer, hummingbirds, Indiana wildlife, lightening bugs, Mirror Lake, sunfish, tree frog
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Summers in Indiana are always fantastic, and one of the reasons is all of the wildlife. Here at school we have a pretty woodsy campus, especially around Mirror Lake. Last year my roommate spotted a group of foxes around that area and was pretty surprised. I myself have never seen a fox (they’re so darn sneaky). I have seen a red tailed hawk around campus on a walk around the back of the lake and the football field, and personally they’ve got to be my favorite raptor. Another time an owl (not sure which kind) flew a few feet over my head on my way back to the dorms after a night class (awesome). Not to mention all those adorable squirrels scampering all over the sidewalks. I wonder if any staff or students might have an experience with a creature on campus. If you do, feel free to leave a comment.
Not surprisingly, Indiana is in overdrive in the summer when it comes to wildlife. And even though Saint Francis is located in an urban area, you can still spy plenty of local fauna. Here are some of the great reasons (in picture format) to like living in our area in the summer (courtesy google images):
A Turkey Sandwich With Nothing On It Kind of Day June 3, 2010
Posted by Christine in Random, summery topic.Tags: dancing trees, in northeast indiana, summer camp, turkey sandwich
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What’s happened today: Lots and lots of data entry, a trip to the library ending in cartoon movies on DVD for the weekend, and a turkey sandwich with nothing. Pretty bland… and I’m not just talking about the turkey sandwich. But tonight we start work on our aluminum casting projects in my sculpture class, so that should be stimulating. Maybe to escalate the excitement, today I will add a weekly or bi-weekly or whenever I feel like it SUMMER TOPIC topic. Here goes nothing.
Today’s Summery Topic: Camp
So, every now and then during the summer I find myself reminiscing about the church camp I would go to one week every summer in middle school and elementary school. It’s called Bear Lake Camp and it’s on Bear Lake (bet you didn’t see that one coming) in Albion. Thinking about it makes me want to go outside for a long time. It’s situated on a hill over the lake and for the whole week you would pretty much be surrounded by trees. These trees were special because something about the local geography made it so that the trunks of these trees (monsters in my humble opinion) swayed in one direction and then another, so we called them “dancing trees.” It’s cool because I can still remember a lot of the girls that I shared a cabin with and one in particular I used to pen pal with. What a fun time!
As a side note, I can also remember watching “Bugjuice” which was a reality tv show about a summer camp in Maine.
I know we have a bunch of great summer camps in the area, and if anyone wants to, I think it would be cool to add a comment about your favorite growing up, or maybe a kid you know is planning on going, or has gone, or you may want to add any pictures or websites or your favorites. Here’s mine:
Christine's USF Blog 