Vince and I were wandering around our new property today and ended up where we often do, at the top of our little sage brush hill overlooking the runway. Turn one way and you see the runway and in the distance, Sentinal Gap, a large opening through the Saddle Mountains, carved out by floods during the ice age, and now the route of the majestic Columbia River. Turn the opposite direction, and you see our new home and large yard.
Well......so there we were, both commenting on the view, when it occurred to us we were both looking in opposite directions. We burst out laughing. He of course was staring at the runway and the Gap, and I was looking at the red Smoke Bush I had just planted in the yard. I guess it's why our place seems to be working so well for us. A runway (and hangar) for hubby, and a garden (or at least the potential of one) for me.
I think I'll call our little hill, Perspective Point. A different perspective is nothing new for us. We have been dealing with opposite perspectives most of our marriage, and it has made for some interesting experiences. An old song, one from my mother's generation, comes to mind. I hope you enjoy!
After last year 's success with Stereoviews A-Z, I wasn't sure if I could come up with anything as entertaining and fun. Well, as is always the case in the blog world, I found something I could wrap my thoughts and (ahem) stomach around for 26 days.
Announcing YUMMY FRUITS A-Z!
Join me in April for a bit of fun, as I choose a representative fruit (out of many!). I guarantee a Free Recipe, some fruit facts and history, songs, books, and movies with said fruit in the titles, and even a joke or two. A light-hearted way to enjoy fruit, one of my favorite foods to eat....and hopefully yours, too! For those of you who have never done the A-Z before, hold onto your computer chairs. You are in for quite a ride. See you there!!
The zig-zag vine, also known as "acid drop vine"and "wild banana," has a curious growth pattern. In the wild, it starts at the bottom of a host tree and zig-zags up the trunk until it reaches the sunlight at the top.
In a controlled setting, the zig-zag vine makes a nice evergreen shrub, growing from three to twenty feet high, but in the wild, the sky is the limit.
Zig-zag fruit is the size of a peanut.
The Zig-zag vine is native to the rain forests of eastern Australia. It also grows in New Guinea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Borneo, and Indonesia (Malesia).
Zig-zag vine flower
When the zig-zag vine blossoms, it is a yummy soft yellow, and the rain forest is filled with the scent of ripe bananas, but the fruit is probably the best part of all. It tastes like orange sherbet, people say, a tangy flavor that is quite pleasant. Picked locally, it is sometimes used to flavor sauces and liqueurs. I'd like to taste this fruit. How about you?
"Orange sherbet anyone?"
Zig-zag Books --Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre (2009) --Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity by Keith Sawyer (2013)
--Zigzagby Ellen Wittlinger (2012) (fiction)
--Zigzag: The Incredible Wartime Exploits of Double Agent Eddie Chapman by Nicholas Booth (2007)
--The Zigzag Principle: The Goal Setting Strategy That Will Revolutionize Your Business and Your Life by Rich Christiansen (2011) --Inga's Zigzags by Vica Miller (2014) (fiction) --Architects Make Zigzags: Looking at Architecture from A to Z by Diane Maddex (1986) --Zigzag (2005) (picture book) by Robert San Souci
Zig-zag Movies --The Zigzag Kid (2012) (Nono wants to be like his father, the best police inspector in the world) (Adventure, family) --Zig Zag (2002) (An autistic 15-year-old boy steals money from his boss to pay rent for his abusive father) (drama)
Zig Zag Story(1983) The lives of three parisians, a color-blind painter, a radio show host, and a perverted photographer interwine hilariously. (Comedy, Drama) Zig-zag Song
Okay, definitely cheating here, I admit. Xigua is Chinese for watermelon. Pronounced She-Gwah, the rind is darker (almost black) in the photo on the left, compared to watermelon I'm familiar with, but the photo below is more like the U.S. version. Black, dark green, or light green with yellow markings, all have that wonderful red, sweet flesh and look absolutely yummy. (Some varieties have orange or yellow flesh, which is sweeter yet).
Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits.
Enjoying fresh xigua in China
China is the largest producer of watermelons in the world, next to Turkey, Iran, Brazil, and Egypt. There are 1,200 known varieties (including seedless types), and it is the most popular melon in the U.S.
Watermelons grow on vines
Not all watermelons are edible, although in general, they have been consumed for thousands of years, and are known by different names. In Australia, one variety is still considered a "pest plant" in parts.
The origin of watermelons can be traced to southern Africa, and there is evidence watermelons were cultivated in ancient Egypt as well. By the 10th century they were being grown in China and in the 13th century also in Europe. Historians also know that Native Americans were growing watermelons in the U.S. Mississippi valley in the 1500s. Today watermelon is grown all over the U.S., but mainly in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Arizona
1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN (1998, Guinness Book of Records)
Watermelon can be eaten in entirety, the flesh, the rind, and even the seeds (yes, even the seeds). Enjoyed as a fruit in the U.S. and elsewhere, in China the flesh and rind are eaten as a vegetable and only the seeds are considered a snack. Watermelon size can vary a lot, as you can see on the right. In 2013 the record was beaten by yet another man in Tennessee (Chris Kent of Sevierville), who grew a whopping 350.5 pounder! Anyone out there in Tennessee ever grow one of these giants?
Watermelon is good for us, as you might have guessed. Since it is 91% water, consider it one of the best liquid vitamin drinks around, with vitamins C, B, and A....and lycopene. Lycopene is good for our heart and may be important for bone health. High also in citruline (an amino acid), scientists are still studying the benefits, but believe it may prevent excess fat accumulation in the body (now, wouldn't that be nice?) and improve blood flow, aiding the heart. Watermelon seeds are also good for us. They contain iron, zinc and protein. Guess I don't have to worry about swallowing those seeds anymore. Did you ever worry about this? Ever wonder about the ripeness of watermelon? Did you know that the riper a watermelon is, the more nutritious it becomes? I found some good tips on how to buy and store:
When buying pre-cut watermelon, sliced or halved, make sure the flesh is the deepest color. Seeds should be dark, too, not white.
When buying a whole watermelon, check the weight and surface of the skin. A fully ripened watermelon will be heavy with juice. Next, check the top and bottom. The bottom is the part that was resting on the ground. If fully ripened, it will be creamy yellow in color, not green or white. Now check the top. If fully ripened, the top will look dull, not shiny.
Thumping the watermelon also works (at least according to some). A fully ripened watermelon has a deeper, hollower, bass-like sound.
Uncut watermelon is best stored at room temperatures 50-60 degrees F. Unfortunately, a watermelon stops ripening after it's been picked. I didn't know this. Did you?
Watermelon Recipe
"Watermelon Salsa" 3 cups finely diced seeded watermelon 1 jalapeno, seeded 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt In medium bowl, combine watermelon, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, lime juice, honey, and garlic salt. Mix well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips. Watermelon Jokes
Q: Why do watermelons
have fancy weddings?
A: Because they cantaloupe!
Q: What do you call fruit that commits egregious crimes?
The color of wax jambu ranges from pale pink to red and purple.
Wax Jambu (or wax apple) is an exotic fruit native to the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Common throughout Southeast Asia, it is also found in Australia, Africa, Central and South America, and the U.S. (mainly Florida and Southern California).
Wax Jambu trees grow to 35 feet.
Wax jambu is mostly used in Asian salads, as in a popular Thai shrimp salad, but the fruit is also enjoyed plain. The wax-like skin makes it an especially attractive fruit sliced.
Paler is sweeter
Despite its alternate name, wax apple, wax jambu does not taste like an apple, but more like a snow pear. The texture is crisp like watermelon (but less juicy), and the taste is slightly sour. Some are sweeter than others, depending on the variety. The paler the color, the sweeter it is.
Some of the nutritional benefits are wax jambu's effectiveness against dysentery and use as a diuretic. Interestingly, it has zero vitamin C or vitamin A, although it is high in potassium and has some calcium and protein.
Have you ever eaten wax jambu?
Wax Jambu Recipe "Wax Jambu Salsa" 4 wax jambus, chopped 1/4 cup onions, chopped 2 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped 2 chili peppers, chopped Juice of 1 lemon 1/2 red pepper, finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of ground fennel
Mix well and let sit 2 hours before serving. Wax Jambu Music Some nice guitar at the popular Wax Jambu Restaurant (London - 2009) "Waiting for Breakfast" (video)
Wild strawberries have been around for at least 2,200 years ago. Researchers know that Italy had strawberries in 234 BC, where ancient Romans used strawberries to make different types of medicines.
We also know that French kings planted strawberries in their royal gardens in the 14th century and European monks (15th century) wrote of strawberries in their manuscripts. Flemish, German, Italian, and English artists depicted strawberries in their work, while instructions on how to grow strawberries were described in England in 1578. Cultivation of non-wild strawberries followed in the 1750s in Brittany, France. After a period of cross-breeding with a native Chilean strawberry from Chile, a large, juicy and sweet strawberry was developed that became quite popular in Europe.
Meanwhile, settlers who had left for America in the late 1500s discovered native wild strawberries in Virginia and Massachusetts, a berry long since enjoyed by area Indians. Its popularity spread from there. Today the U.S. is the largest producer of strawberries in the world, with California producing the most (Florida second). Spain is the second largest producer, and also the largest exporter of strawberries.
Besides being high in vitamin C and dietary fiber, the health claims for eating strawberries are mainly: 1) support of cardiovascular health & disease prevention; 2) decreased type 2 diabetes risk, help regulating blood sugar; 3) prevention of certain cancers - breast, cervical, colon and esophageal. A word of caution would be the concern for those with gall bladder or untreated kidney problems. The oxalates in strawberries may interfere with calcium absorption. Other than that, enjoy this yummy fruit with gusto! I slice these on my oatmeal with nuts almost daily. Strawberry Recipes FRESH: The best way to enjoy strawberries! But for that special occasion try: "Easy Strawberry Trifle"
2 cups fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons sugar 2 cups homemade vanilla pudding (or store-bought pudding) 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened 2 cups pre-baked angel food cake, cut in one-inch cubes (shortcake or pound cake also works) --(Reserve 3 or 4 berries for garnish). Hull and slice 1 cup strawberries. Arrange berries along the sides of a clear, glass serving dish (1-1/2 quart size).
--Place remaining strawberries and sugar in blender container and process until pureed. --In mixing bowl, mix pudding and cream cheese with electric mixer and blend well.
--Place half of cake in bottom of serving dish. Pour halfof pureed strawberries over cake, and top with half of pudding mixture. --Repeat layer. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Before serving stop with reserved berries. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.
Strawberry Jokes
Q: Why were the little strawberries upset?
A: Because their parents were in a jam!
Q: What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry?
A: If you weren’t so sweet, we wouldn’t be in this jam!
"Rock Berries"
Strawberry Books
--Strawberry Girl(1945)(ages 8-12)
by Lois Lenski (a Newbery Medal book)
--Freckleface Strawberry (2007) (ages 3-8) by Julianne Moore & LeUyen Pham
--Strawberry Hill (2010) (ages 8-12) by Mary Ann Hoberman
"Strawberry Shortcake"
--Strawberry Shortcake (various titles) (2003-2014) A popular series for ages 2 to 6 years; I counted 131 books online! Note: the American Greetings character "Strawberry Shortcake" evolved commercially to include: dolls, toys, songs, posters, movies, TV series, video games, cartoons, and books. Lawsuits regarding ownership of this character and related continue to this day. --The Strawberry Statement by James Simon Kunen (1969) (nonfiction) (Chronicles a student's experience at Columbia University; counterculture and student revolts, 1960s).
Although credited to both John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the story behind this song is that John was inspired by a garden he had played in as a child near his home. The garden was located at a Salvation Army children's home called "Strawberry Field."
Fudging a bit here, because technically rhubarb is a vegetable, but here in the U.S. most of us know it as a fruit. I always have. Have you? We have a New York court decision in 1947 to thank for the confusion. They ruled that since all of us were using rhubarb as a fruit anyway, the designation should be changed. (I'm guessing there was also some monetary motivation). So although rhubarb is technically a vegetable, for all tariff and regulation purposes it is "officially" a fruit.
Rhubarb is grown all over the world, often in hothouses, which has increased its availability. Hothouse rhubarb also tends to be sweeter and more tender. Other areas can grow rhubarb year round. The Chinese have been growing rhubarb for thousands of years. There it was commonly used for medical purposes. Medieval Europeans and Arabs also used rhubarb in this way. The leaves are quite toxic. During World War II, British citizens were ill-advised they could eat these leaves, and there were reported fatalities. On the other hand, the stalks are rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. But other vitamin and mineral content is small, since stalks average 95% water. I happen to like rhubarb, but with all the added sugar we need to enjoy this (very tart) fruit, it might make sense to use a sugar substitute like Stevia or Splenda to sweeten. Nevertheless, the health claims are impressive: anti-cancer properties; aiding indigestion; lowering blood pressure; diminishing hot flashes; lowering high cholesterol; and anti- oxidant, inflammatory, and allergy properties.
Rhubarb Recipes
"Rhubarb Custard Pie"
3 cups rhubarb, cut up 1 pie shell, unbaked
Custard: 2 egg yolks, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon flour 1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
Meringue:
2 egg whites, beaten stiff
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
Fill pie shell with cut rhubarb. Mix together all custard ingredients and pour over rhubarb. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until rhubarb is tender.
For meringue, add sugar and salt to stiff egg whites, Blend with beater. When custard is set, spread meringue around edge of pie and return to oven for 12 to 15 minutes to brown lightly.
I also found this Icelandic recipe online for rhubarb jam. Have never had one for jam. (It works with other recipes, too).
"Rhubarb Jam"
rhubarb (6 oz.), cut into small pieces
granulated sugar (6 oz.)
In medium sauce pan, bring sugar and rhubarb to a boil over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until rhubarb falls apart and is pureed. Transfer to bowl and cool. Rhubarb Jokes:
Q: "What kind of socks do you need to plant rhubarb?"
A: "Garden hose!"
Q: "Have you heard the one about the rhubarb who robbed a shop?"
A: "He got taken into custardy!"
Rhubarb Books
--Rhubarb by M.H. Van Keuren (2012) (Sci-Fi)
--The Joy of Rhubarb: The Versatile Summer Delight by Theresa Millang (nonfiction) (2004)
--Rhubarbby Craig Silvey (2004) (fiction)
--Rhubarb (1946) (fiction) by A. Allen Smith and Leo Herschfield --Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat by Red Barber and Robert W. Creamer (nonfiction) (story of baseball radio voice Red Barber) (1997)
Rhubarb Movie
--Rhubarbthe Millionaire Cat (1951) (Comedy; A rich eccentric dies and leaves inheritance to a feral cat)
You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.
Vince and I were wandering around our new property today and ended up where we often do, at the top of our little sage brush hill overlooking the runway. Turn one way and you see the runway and in the distance, Sentinal Gap, a large opening through the Saddle Mountains, carved out by floods during the ice age, and now the route of the majestic Columbia River. Turn the opposite direction, and you see our new home and large yard. 
Well......so there we were, both commenting on the view, when it occurred to us we were both looking in opposite directions. We burst out laughing. He of course was staring at the runway and the Gap, and I was looking at the red Smoke Bush I had just planted in the yard. I guess it's why our place seems to be working so well for us. A runway (and hangar) for hubby, and a garden (or at least the potential of one) for me. 
