SECRET GARDEN TOUR 2009

Some pictures of today's lovely "Secret Garden Tour" This is the third year and it is sponsored by the Wayne County Historical Society.

12 of 12

That time again, at least I'm getting in here to post my 12's. Thanks to everyone for the helpful hints on making the photo uploading process less of a headache.

In case you're new to 12's it is the brainchild of Chad Darnell (click on his name and it will take you to his blog) It's a photo diary of a day in your life. 12 photos on the 12Th of each month. Check out his blog and you can see 12's from around the World.

Again, mine are a bit heavy on the gardening, but tis the season! :)


6:00 am: Me and Ethan's new SIGG water bottles.


6:10 Daddy leaving for work, Ethan looks sleepy

10:08: I started my workout at 5:00 but Ethan woke up just as I was starting so it was postponed.

12:30: A peek mid-day in the garden, it was a bit bright so I decided to go back later

5:30: Dinner time! Made a clean eating taco salad. Ethan is eating the ground turkey with tomato sauce and garlic, he loved it!

6:10: Winston chillaxin in his crate. He's got kidney stones again so he isn't feeling well. :(

7:10: Garden shots; Salvia with Iris in the background.

7:13: Stock is in bloom! I love the way these smell. The plates I collect and instead of them sitting around taking up room I've been lining the walkway with them.

7:17: My birdbath, the frog was a gift from my co-workers when I left.

7:20: First Lupine blooming, I love these flowers! I can't wait until this area is covered with them. Next year should be good.

7:25: the front walkway to porch. Everything is so huge now I'm probably going to have to move this in the next year or two.

Well there you go! Another month of 12's. thanks for stopping in to take a peek.

*Muah*

Michelle

12 of 12

Sadly I have not been posting my 12 of 12's here the last few months. I have done them, I just find it difficult to download the pictures and get them in blog format quickly.

If this is your first time visiting my blog and are wondering what "12 of 12" is, check out the creator Chad Darnell's blog read the rules and check out some of the other blogger from around the World doing it.

This month, since it's the beginning of gardening season, my 12's have a garden theme.

I was accepted into the Penn State Master Gardener's program, today was my first day so here's my cooler of Clean Eating food for the day:

On my way out the door I realized my porch is still in disarray because I had to sweep and wash it to get it ready for the summer. I'll have to put everything away tomorrow.

At class I receive my manual for the course, it's really thick!

Coming home I had to get a picture of the apple tree blossoms

It's early in the season but things are coming along nicely, I only have 3 tulips left thanks to the moles.

Heading around the corner to the meandering, shady, path .

The view when you turn the corner

Garden "junk" (my treasures)

View on the way back, things are coming along nice.

Lemon balm....smells SO good!

Addition this year, I've got put something in it.

Daddy took care of Ethan all day, or what I call "bad habit day" I came home to this; pajamas still on (backwards I might add), dirty and messy. Oh well, they had fun!

Thanks for checking out my 12's this month!

*MUAH*

Michelle

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Two entries in two days! I'm on a roll! :)

This is a recent piece I did, it's gone to someone already. I am longing to get into my garden, can you tell?

For Valentine's Day my husband has taken the baby out to our friend's house so I can have uninterrupted time to get things done! I am currently putting a Venetian plaster on my living room walls. I've done one little wall at a time, whenever I get a free minute. Now I can probably get it finished. Then I think I will work on some more pieces. I have a local boutique that may be interested in carrying my things.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day, your gift doesn't have to be extravagant. The gift I received, of some time to myself, cost 0 dollars but it's priceless!

12 of 12

WOW! Months are FLYING by! I can't believe it's time for Chad Darnell's 12 of 12 again! I seem to take a lot of food pictures lately, not much else besides that and the baby that I can take pictures of. LOL!


7:00 breakfast of clean eating protein pancakes and hard boiled egg whites

After E had his breakfast he needed a bath, badly! This is the "I'm gonna get into stuff" look.

Letting my quinoa soak before cooking it for lunch, it takes the bitterness away.

My child always has a face full of food. Look at that face!

My new workout program my friend sent me, this is my fourth week. It's Chalene Johnson, the creator of Turbo Jam and Kick's new workout. Heavy lifting! Hey a new concept for some women who think that picking up any more than 5lbs will make you "bulky".

I finished a couple of pieces, they are available so contact me if you are interested. They will probably go up on ETSY. Here's "Little Boy", front:

and back

"Decorating Fairy" front

and back

Making sure I get my water intake in for the day, this glass goes all over the house with me. Tastes great with some lemon.

My vision board, I need to add some more things.

Master E received his first Valentine's Day card from my mum in Vermont.

Today is Friday the 13Th, some people don't even leave their house because they are superstitious. Well, in the words of Michael Scott of The Office; "I'm only a little stitious". The number 13 has always been a lucky number for me so I celebrate. Not to mention it's my good friend Shelley's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLEY!

EAT CLEAN

I have recently returned to my roots of clean eating, like when I was a competitive bodybuilder and fitness model. I've let too many years pass me being less than careful about what I put into my body, which as you can guess has led to extra pounds. I was turned on to a great "diet" and I use that term loosely, by a fellow fitness buff and friend. It's the "Eat-Clean Diet" by fitness personality Tosca Reno. I don't like the term "diet" because that generally conjures visions of restriction, fads and failure. This is more of a lifestyle change, the way our bodies are meant to function and the proper nutrition. My parchment baked chicken is from Tosca's cookbook and as suggested by Jo (thanks Jo) I am going to post the recipe. I will also put a link over on the left to her book if you are interested.

Here's the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
4 12"x18" parchment sheets
2 cups arugula, torn
4 (4oz) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tsp fresh sage, chopped
2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 cup plum tomatoes, chopped
3/4 tsp sea salt, divided
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
4 tsp olive oil, best quality
4 tsp Kalamata olives, sliced and pitted (optional)
cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 450 F. unfold parchment and coat lightly with cooking spray, leaving a two inch border. Place 1/2 cup arugula on one side of the parchment so it touches the fold but not the ungreased border. Place the chicken breast over arugula; sprinkle with 1/2 tsp sage and 1/2 tsp rosemary. Top with 1/4 cup chopped plum tomato. Sprinkle with one-fourth of the salt and black pepper, and drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil. Top with 1 tsp sliced olives if desired. Fold paper; seal edges with narrow folds. repeat with the remaining parchment paper, chicken and other ingredients. Place the packets on baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned. To serve, open packets and transfer arugula and chicken breast to plates. Pour juices over top. You can also serve right out of packets; carefully transfer to plates and pierce each to allow steam to escape.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING:

185 calories; 27g protein; 7g fat; 2g carbohydrates.

I served mine with wild rice and colorful string beans. All that nutritious food, whole grains, nothing processed, for about 350 calories. You can't beat that.

BABY SHOWER

I'm going to a baby shower today, my friend has had the quickest pregnancy ever! Seems like yesterday that she announced she was pregnant and here she is due next month! WOW! I don't think it went by as quick for her. LOL! It will be a fun time for Ethan because he will get to be around some more babies.

I made a piece for her to hang, not sure if she's having a boy or girl so I tried to keep it neutral.

12 OF 12

A new year a new set of 12 of 12's! If you don't know yet, 12 of 12 is the brainchild of Chad Darnell. It's a peek into a day in your life. You should stop by Chad's blog and check out some of the contributors.

I have gotten back to my roots of eating clean, here's proof: my breakfast of yogurt, raspberries, muesli and flax seed

Ethan was certainly enjoying his

I heard the Blue jays outside screaming like crazy, when I went to the window there was a hawk on the vines. It was chasing a little chick a dee it had cornered. It eventually gave up and flew off but not before I got this picture

Ethan exercising with the stability ball. He screams with delight when it's on top of him like this

It was a beautiful day and we had to head out to run some errands.

One of our stops: our dinky little post office

Ethan helped me address the package

This building has been a reoccurring theme in my 12's, it's been a couple years now and it's still not done. Yes that is a log cabin on the roof.

We had a poop explosion and a bath was a necessity

My healthy dinner: parchment baked chicken with spinach, wild rice and colorful string beans

Ethan's asleep and I miss him! His little EMUS waiting for him a top his new book.

On my home sweet home fitness forum I belong to (Thunder Crush), one of the member's little girl had a birthday so I made a banner.

Thanks so much for stopping in and checkin' out my 12's.