Survival Seeds

Friday, April 16, 2010

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Picture from Amazon.com
I like to read John Grisham was the original reason I picked this book up. but in the end I fell in love with the book. I connected with the characters (even though I don't understand a lot about football!) and loved the story line that Grisham wove. I enjoyed the book and the ending was good. It wrapped up loose ends. I was listening to this book when I was driving back and forth to school and the only bad thing about this book was that I craved pasta!!! I am a pasta fanatic and I really wanted it after listening to the meals in Italy that they were eating. This is a must read, even if you don't understand football. The focus is not so much on football as it is on Rick and his inward fight to decide what is truly important in life.
From Publishers Weekly
Third-string Cleveland Browns quarterback Rick Dockery becomes the greatest goat ever by throwing three interceptions in the closing minutes of the AFC championship game. Fleeing vengeful fans, he finds refuge in the grungiest corner of professional football, the Italian National Football League as quarterback of the inept but full-of-heart Parma Panthers. What ensues is a winsome football fable, replete with team bonding and character-building as the underdog Panthers challenge the powerhouse Bergamo Lions for a shot at the Italian Superbowl. The book is also the author's love letter to Italy. Rick is first baffled and then enchanted by all things Italian-tiny cars! opera! benign corruption!-and through him Grisham (The Firm) instructs his readership in the art of gracious living, featuring sumptuous four-hour, umpteen-course meals. The writing sometimes lapses into travel-guide ("most Italian cities are sort of configured around a central square, called a piazza") and food porn ("[the veal cutlets are beaten with a small bat, then dipped in eggs, fried in a skillet, and then baked in the oven with a mix of parmigiano cheese and stock until the cheese melts"), but it's invigorated by appealing characters and lively play-by-play. The result is a charming fish-out-of-water story.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Swimsuit by James Patterson

Picture from Amazon.com
I am a James Patterson fan so I make a point to try and read every book of his that I can. Since I am driving an hour and a half to school this gives me lots of time to grab books on tape from the local library and I try to keep a selection in the car.
I liked this book but had to get past the violence that the main character committed. I enjoyed the voice on the book tape and felt like it helped it come alive. I am overall pleased with the book and what the end result was, to a point. It was somewhat of a hanger ending but not too bad. This wouldn't be a book for young adults to read or someone who wasn't ready to deal with the violence. There are rapes in the book and it is very violent. This is the information from Amazon.com
From Publishers Weekly
A serial killer with an urge to break into print propels this thriller from bestseller Patterson and collaborator Paetro (4th of July). Ben Hawkins, a former L.A. cop turned reporter and author, travels to Hawaii to look into the disappearance of model Kim McDaniels, who has fallen victim to a sadistic fiend who calls himself Henri Benoit. Ben meets with Kim's distraught parents, but the investigation soon runs into dead ends, even as the body count rises. Back in Los Angeles, Henri gets in touch with Ben, and offers the story of his life and the reasons he continues with his murderous spree. As part of the deal, Henri asks the reporter to write his tell-all book. Ben can't refuse given the killer's threat to his life as well as his girlfriend's. In just one of many clever twists, Henri proves to be the consummate storyteller. Patterson fans will devour this one in a single sitting.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
If you are someone who can handle the violence and graphic nature of the book I would definitely recommend it!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Garden 2010

I have taken some time to make a garden this year again and started putting things together in my mind of what I wanted. And this is how far I have gotten..... This is where my garden will be. I have stuff planted in the tubs and barrels and will get the Mister to till the rest up and I will be ready to go. And those cute little starts that you saw yesterday? Once this ground is tilled up, they will go into it to grow and give me lots of yummy veggies!
Jalapenos!

Roma Tomato plant

Jalapenos in the blue barrel and cilantro in the black tub.



More jalapenos in the blue barrel and in the tub is one jalapeno, parsley and basil.
I never knew how fragrant fresh basil was!


Have YOU started something to help save you money and feed your family????

Last year in my 20's

Happy birthday to me! This is my last year in my 20's! Looking forward to the next year. What is your favorite way to celebrate YOUR birthday?

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Hometown Seeds

I got some seeds that were sent from Hometown Seeds and I am excited to show them to you. Last Sunday I planted bell peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and green beans.

These are some of my cucumbers

In a week and a few days these cute little things have come along so well.

Some are great big and some are small. These seeds are totally non-hybrid, which means they can have these plants over and over. You are able to plant the seeds and harvest seeds for the next year. They even give you all the instructions on how to harvest the seeds.

I have started these seeds inside and are also keeping the other plants in the house until I can transplant them outside.

I set them in the Jiffy starter and let it do its job.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. These are started and are sitting on my dryer.....
Don't judge! It is one of the few spots that has a window beside something that is sitting higher.

These are my lettuce, peppers and jet star tomatoes that are waiting to be planted.

We will keep watching these guys and see what happens!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring in Oklahoma

Every spring in Oklahoma there is a tradition that happens. We start burning fields, ditches and anywhere else that there is tall, dry grass and weeds. This is a field that some family members were burning. It is amazing to see the renewal that happens after something so devastating. There will be wonderful green grass and hay growing before long.





Sunday, April 11, 2010