Landscaping Our Yard

Erik and I have both been very busy with work lately. My mom came down over spring break to help me come up with some plants that would work in our yard. We made a list and that was as far as we got. In the mail this week we received a coupon for a nursery in Salem so Erik and I decided to check it out. We had a wonderful time looking and pricing all sorts of plants. We ended up buying a Florida Cherokee dogwood, two evergreen huckleberries, and three hydrangeas! Then we spent the afternoon planting them. As we were planting I was pulling weeds and came across more poison oak! This time the leaves were on it so I could recognize it. But just as proof I took a picture :) Then I pulled it and threw my gloves in the wash. I kept my fingers crossed all day hoping that I wouldn't get it again. It looks like I'm in the clear! I certainly hope we don't have anymore, but it wouldn't surprise me if we did.
After buying plants yesterday, I can't wait to buy more. I still would like to get a Japanese lace leaf maple, roses, fuchsias, and other flowers. There is an independent farm/nursery that Erik and I drive past on our way to and from work that is selling fruit trees for $8.00. I haven't had time to stop and see what type yet but I want to get some! The trees look like they are 4-5 feet tall and have pretty big burlaped root balls. We don't really have room for fruit trees, but I am hoping to find a spot.

Cheese!

I am so far behind on my posting! I'll use some of today as a catch-up day. Over spring break, my mom, Raeme, and the boys came to visit me. My mom and I wanted to make cheese and we wanted to teach Raeme how. It was very exciting making cheese in my very own kitchen, however, I don't think I could do it alone! We only had half a gallon of raw milk so it didn't make very much. At first we were really concerned because the curds did not set up right and there seemed to be way to much whey!

The curds did not want to stretch, so we decided to make fresh mozzarella balls with herbs and oil. After awhile the cheese started stretching so the balls came out more like rectangles. We sprinkled the herbed cheese with garlic salt and then put it in a container with olive oil and refrigerated until that evening when we ate it on salad. Yum! I can't wait till I have some more time to make cheese again!