Things Found in the Dirt

My sister-in-law and I have been sending each other "things we found in the dirt" for over fifteen years now. This one's a little too big to send in the mail, so here's a picture:

Okay, okay, here's the story behind what you're seeing. I set out this morning with a couple of friends to dig the footings for the bottom level of the terracing project in my yard (you can see the hillside in last week's "arm workout" entry). Each of them were happily sinking their shovels into the clay and filling the wheelbarrow with dirt to be hauled off. I, in contrast, was getting nowhere. That's because I was hitting concrete. THIS concrete. As in concrete porch stairs. Complete. Thrown down the hill and buried lo these many years ago. My theory is that they're the original porch steps from before the breakfast room and deck were built onto my house. It floors me that someone would just toss a large piece of construction waste down the hill and bury it. Here's the scene as I imagine it:

Burris and Cletis have just detached the porch from the kitchen doorway. The porch is quite heavy. Burris pauses, wipes the sweat off his brow, and says, "Hey, that there porch needs hauled to the dump."

Cletis: "Yep. Kinda heavy, though."

Burris: "It's a long way to the truck, and we have to haul it all the way around the whole house. Reckon we can carry it that far?"

Cletis: "Mebbe."

It starts raining.

Cletis: "Look how it's pourin' down the rain! Now what do we do?"

Burris: "Let's just give the porch a big shove and see where it slides to. We still got lots of diggin' to do. We'll just cover it up later."

Let me also note that this was the point in the project where we wondered what else we might find as we dug: a vent into a coal mine, perhaps? A decaying sofa? The skeleton of a beloved pet? (My home teacher called dibs if we found a sofa.) Dinosaur bones?

Anyhow, we finally got the stairs shifted and broken enough to continue the trench and build the wall. (Sledgehammers are awesome when wielded by someone who knows how to use them. When they're wielded by me, they're not so awesome. Good thing I wasn't wielding it today.) This is row one, being carefully measured to be sure it's level and doesn't shift.

And here's the finished wall! Yay, pretty! Well, except for the sides we can't figure out how to do yet. Two more terrace walls to go. Next step, fill in that monster hole where the stairs were dug out.

Hans and Franz: The Summer Workout

Are you tired of those flabby arms? Are you secretly afraid of having to write on the whiteboard because you don't want students to snicker at the chicken fat hanging down as you move your arms to write? Well fear no more! This summer workout plan will guarantee that your arms will be toned and muscular by the end of the summer. No pills, no steroids, no complicated equipment. Just do the following tasks and you'll be ready to show off those beautiful arm muscles in no time!

1. Lawn mowing. This must be done on a regular basis: every one to two weeks. The best mower is one of those old-school models where the blades only spin when you push. However, if you have any slope at all in your yard, this model could have the unfortunate side effect of a heart attack. A self-propelled mower is okay as long as you have slopes you have to push up for resistance. Just don't mow over your feet or damage a rotator cuff.

2. Sod removal. This exercise is terrific because it has two parts: actually removing the sod and then picking it up and putting it in garbage bags. These two parts are followed by

3. Garbage bag hauling. A wheelbarrow is permissible (see heart attack side effect warning in #1 above). Some dead lifting is permissible to build muscular strength.

4. Wall building. Digging the ditch for the first row of wall stones will build one set of arm muscles. Hauling the wall stones over to the ditch and laying them will build another set. Finally, shoveling gravel/sand to line the ditch prior to wall laying and against the back of each row will build yet another set.

5. Wallpaper removal. Who says arm workouts can only happen outdoors? Just pick up a wallpaper scraper and some DIF and you have a great workout when it's raining!

Limited space is available, so act now to be part of this exciting summer workout opportunity! Your arms will thank you.

Note: If you return in the fall, the painting workout option may also be available (possibly in the summer, depending on how diligent you are with #5 above). There may also be a rototilling option after #4. Does it get any better than this? No folks, it doesn't!

Good fences make GREAT neighbors!

Quick review for all you blog fans out there: A few months ago, I said in one of my entries something about being tired of my yard being a doggie toilet for the neighbors' dogs (at last count, there were seven-- I think they're running a kennel). Not only that, but the Doberman has rushed me three times.

No more! Look at my beautiful new chain link fence! Yay!! The neighbors' cat can still poop in my yard, but not the dogs. My new fence says, "Lookie here, all you canines, I have MARKED MY TERRITORY!! Stay off!" I'm sure the neighbors aren't real thrilled about the fence, but it's on my property, so what can they do?

Here's the gate. I installed that because technically, all the yard just beyond it belongs to ANOTHER neighbor who allows the dog owners to use his yard as long as they clean up after the dogs. That neighbor put a fence well inside his property line, so to avoid creating a dog chute and making mowing difficult, we did the gate thing. (Do you like my finger in the corner, too?)

While I'm on yard renovations, look at my now sod-free garden area! Now it's time to terrace. I finished the sod removal and thought, "Hmm, I wonder how I do the next step?" Fortunately, I have a visiting teacher who's dad's a contractor, so she knows how to do this stuff. I also have a colleague who knows how to build walls, and a friend was over here the other night and said, "Hey, my husband likes to build walls." Wall party Saturday morning at 9 if you want to come. Or you can just wait for post-terracing pictures.

Pomp and Circumstance

Caustic. T-t-t-tchudi! A skull-shaped candle lit during a reading of "The Raven" and me wondering if the sprinklers would be set off in the classroom. Review upon review of action research projects. "Don't stay silent, because I'm not afraid to call on people." Enthusiastic, gushy e-mails about enjoying student teaching; and a few not-so-enthusiastic e-mails about student teaching. Frantic brainstorming sessions for unit ideas. Blogs about breaking up student fights. Stress, tears, and frequent impromptu counseling that yes, you chose the right career, yes, you can make it through the 5-year teacher ed. program, and yes, it's worth every bit of work. Best of all, twenty newly minted teachers who are going to make a real difference in kids' lives.

I've been to a lot of graduations, high school and college. I've worked with a lot of preservice teachers. This group, though, is mine; they're the group I started with three years ago when they first entered the program, the first group I've seen all the way through. We've been through a lot, individually and collectively, and I'm so grateful I got to be with them at the start of their teaching journey. I knew this graduation would be emotional for me. I made it just fine until Paige (in the photo with just me) found me at the post-ceremony reception and told me what a difference I made in her life. Then my 5-year students handed me a framed portrait of all of them so I could see them in my office even after they were gone.

The thing is, these people were good before they got to me. I truly believe that certain people are born to teach, and this group was filled with people who've had "teacher" etched into their souls since birth. They said I made a difference in their lives, but I feel like it's the other way around. I'm a better person, a better teacher, because we were together for three years. I wish you all-- all 20 of you-- many, many years of happy graduation moments with your own students. Keep the gift moving through the generations. I can't think of a better job.

baseball bobbleheads

Admit it. You're jealous. I got to go to a Pittsburgh Pirates game on Nate McLouth bobblehead night and you didn't. Not only did I get a free bobblehead, but I also got $5 towards concessions. Okay, so that means I only had to pay for ONE overpriced item (my Cracker Jacks) rather than two (I got the super dog for free-- after waiting in the rain for 10 minutes for it to cook). Yep, this little collector's item gets to hang out in my office now (hmm-- will that add to the professional atmosphere?).

Seriously, though, a Saturday night baseball game is fun. This was my first major league baseball game; up until this point I've only attended farm team games for the Giants, and even that was a long time ago. I went with a friend from my ward and three farmers from Uzbekistan. Yup, now you're even more jealous, aren't you? How did I get in on this great opportunity? WVU is doing some kind of agriculture hosting deal where they've brought in farmers from Uzbekistan to learn American farming techniques. Two of those farmers are staying with my friend's family for two weeks. They wanted to see an American sporting event. Pirates tickets aren't exactly pricey since the team isn't exactly very good (although they were winning when we left at the bottom of the 7th inning last night), so baseball it was. The farmers invited one of their friends from another host family, so that made two English speakers, three Russian speakers, and limited communication other than a Russian phrase book, pointing, and smiles. The Uzbeks came home being able to say "baseball" and "pizza."

Back to the game. We had pretty decent seats, although not where we could catch any foul balls (of which there were many). We were a little too high for when the mascot started shooting t-shirts into the crowds, but we could see well and we were close to a covered entrance when the rain started. In one game I experienced a rain delay, a home run by the real-life version of the bobblehead, Pirogue races around the outer edge of the field (not real pirogues; people in pirogue costumes. Um, is this a Pittsburgh thing?), baseball food, and a lot of random games and trivia clips to keep us entertained when innings got slow. Oh yes-- and guess who the visiting team was? The Colorado Rockies. Nice link to my Colorado family and friends, even if they're not Rockies fans. (The Rockies were the better team as far as I could tell, but don't tell anyone I said that.)

And I got a bobblehead souvenir for free. Life is good.

Mama Morels

I had never heard of morels until I moved to Iowa. For those of you who don't know what they are, they're wild mushrooms and they're really, really yummy. I ate them at Casa Gonzales (i.e., the Gonzales' home), breaded and fried. Very, very yummy.

So when a friend here in West Virginia said, "Hey, I have morels growing near my house. Wanna come morel hunting?" I jumped at the chance. I'd eaten morels, but I'd never foraged for my own. We drove to the spot and started looking around for morels. We were under some pine trees, mostly. Remembering the morels I'd eaten in Iowa, which were maybe an inch long at the most and maybe 1/4 inch in diameter, I asked my friend if we needed to move the pine needles to see them. She looked at me a little strangely.

Then I found one-- only it was LOTS bigger than the morels I remember in Iowa. The pictures are an attempt to give a sense of scale. GINORMOUS morels!! I found one all on my own and three more with the help of my friend's husband's eyes.

I'm having fried morels and leeks over spaghetti tomorrow for dinner. Anybody wanna come over?

Zuppa!

In March we had a stake Relief Society enrichment activity, and I was a "soup sous-chef." (Fancy way of saying I made one of the soups that was provided.) Several people who attended REALLY wanted the soup recipes, so I'm posting them here.

All of these soups are designed for Crock Pots-- the biggest size. They all serve 16 people, and you'll end up with more soup than can fit in the Crock Pot. Wait; let me rephrase that. You don't cook them IN the Crock Pot. We just used Crock Pots to keep them warm. Cook these soups in a BIG pot-- really big (I used a stock pot). Thanks to Amber McArthur, since these are all her recipes! If you're having spring rain and coolness like we are here, cook one of these soups and enjoy!

Taco Soup

Saute in vegetable oil over medium heat until tender:
1 c. diced onion
1 c. diced green pepper
Once they are tender, add:
6 pressed garlic cloves
Add salt and pepper.
Cook for maybe 3 minutes, stirring the whole time so the garlic doesn't burn and turn bitter.
Add and bring to a boil for 5 minutes (note: don't drain any cans- throw it all in):
2 cans of pinto beans
2 cans of black beans
2 cans of corn
1 big can of diced tomatoes
2 small cans of green chiles
1 package of taco seasoning
Cover with lid and simmer on low for 10 minutes.

Vegetable soup

Saute on medium heat in olive oil:
1 large onion, diced
Once tender, add:
6 pressed garlic cloves
1 large can of diced tomatoes
Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add:
8 cups beef stock
2 cups diced potatoes
2 cups diced carrots
2 cups diced celery
2 T of each spice: oregano, basil, thyme, celery seed/salt
1/2 T salt and pepper
Boil for 20 minutes on medium heat, then add:
2 cans corn
2 cans peas
2 cans green beans
Cover and simmer for 10 minutes on low

Tomato Basil Ravioli Soup

Saute on meidum heat in olive oil:
1 diced onion
Once tender, add:
8 pressed cloves of garlic
2 large cans of diced tomatoes
Simmer for about 5 minutes, then add:
8 cans Campbell's tomato soup
4 cups water
1/2 c. fresh basil or 1/4 c. dried basil
Season to taste with salt and pepper
Bring to boil
Add 2 packages of frozen 24 oz. raviolis
Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes

Baked Potato Soup

Bring a pot of water 2/3 full to boil
Add 1/2 T salt and 1/2 T garlic powder
Fry some bacon until crisp- you need a cup total, so fry a lot.
Wash and peel 4-5 very large potatoes. Cube them (approximately 1" squares). Add diced potatoes to boiling water. Boil for 20 minutes, then drain water. Remove potatoes.
In same pot, melt 1 stick of butter (1/2 c.) over medium heat and add 1 large diced onion, cooking until it's tender. Stir in 1/3 c. (5-6 T) flour and 1 T salt and 3 T chicken bouillon. While stirring, add 9 c. milk all at once. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Cook 1 minute more, keep stirring. Add cooked potatoes and 3 c. shredded cheddar cheese until heated through and cheese melts (keep stirring). Top with 1 c. crumbled bacon and 2-3 T parsley flakes.

Tuscan Vegetable Soup

2 T olive oil
1 large diced onion
4 c. chopped carrots
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 cloves pressed garlic
2 tsp. dried basil
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
2 T balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 14-oz. cans Italian style diced tomatoes, undrained, pureed in blender until smooth
2 14-oz. cans kidney beans, undrained
2 28-oz. cans vegetable or chicken broth
1 c. small pasta, uncooked
2 yellow squash, cut into 1-inch dice
2 c. fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add pasil, pepper flakes, vinegar and brown sugar and cook for 30 seconds. Add pureed tomatoes, beans, and broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add pasta, squash and green beans, bring to a simmer and cook until pasta and green beans are cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Taste soup and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve with parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley, if desired.

Broccoli Cheese Soup (my note: this stuff is AWESOME!)

6 chicken bouillon cubes
3 quarts water
1 16-oz. bag frozen broccoli (or use fresh)
3-4 large carrots, sliced, grated or chopped
1 c. diced potatoes

Boil the water and the bouillon cubes. Add vegetables. Simmer until desired tenderness of vegetables is reached.
Melt:
1 cube butter
1/2 c. flour
Stir into pot with a whisk. After it thickens a bit, add 16 oz. Velveeta (1/2 of a huge block) and allow to melt. If it's still a little too thin for your liking, add a little more butter/flour mixture.

Bon appetit, tout le monde!

Lessons from the CheatFest 5K Race

Okay, so three months or so ago I got a flier in the mail advertising a 5K run at the beginning of CheatFest in early May. (Note for non-West Virginians: this does not mean you make a party out of cheating; it's named for the Cheat River, and the 5K run is a fund-raiser to create some trails near it.) So I thought, "Hey, I haven't run a race in a while. A 5K sounds like fun." Um, where was my brain when I made THAT decision? Here's what I learned, which also gives you a taste of how the race went:

1) When the flier says, "The race will happen whether there's rain or even snow," you should worry.
2) When fellow runners say, "It always rains for CheatFest," you should worry.
3) When the course description includes the words "slight incline," you should worry.
4) Getting food poisoning the night before the race isn't the best idea.
5) Sweats are sometimes a very good idea, even in early May.
6) Cold legs= shivering and goose bumps= muscles that won't cooperate in running up the "slight incline."
7) Never run an "up and back" race if you can help it.
8) Tell the police escort at the tail end of the race to back off.
9) Always bring your own post-race snacks. Not everyone understands the need for bagels after a race. Or, um, water. Yeah. Wonder what my $20 registration fee paid for.
10) Make friends with the parents pushing the baby joggers. At least then when you're stuck at the back of the race you'll be entertained.

Okay, so I hadn't trained as well as I'd hoped to for this race. Still, I shouldn't have had to WALK during the first QUARTER MILE!! Seriously, is there a race around here that doesn't involve climbing hills? What's the point of the rail trails if we're not running on them? They're at least mostly level. Okay, enough griping. It was a pretty (albeit cool) day and at least I finished.