OOOOOOO, Opossum

Last week we spotted a baby ‘possum by the garage here at Chiot’s Run. It sure was cute.


I had to laugh because when I posted about our local turkeys I made a comment about how creepy opossums were. Lee commented about opossums on that post, this is what he said,

“Opossums are not so ugly. Baby opossums are very cute. They come to my backyard to eat the cat food and the fruits from my trees. Once in a while the babies come in the house so I grab them and take them to animal control. The ones that stay outside I leave them alone. Opossums are considered beneficial animals so they are not euthanized over here in southern California. They are taken to the hills and released. The babies are taken to opossum sanctuary where they are kept till they are big enough to be released in the hills. Isn’t that great? By the way, opossums are resistant to rabies so they are pretty safe to have them around in the backyard. Since the opossums showed up I no longer have slug and snail infestation. They love to eat the slugs and snails. I no longer have to use baits. One problem I have with them is that they love to leave presents in the greenhouse where I keep my orchids. Sigh lol.”

I guess he’s right, the baby ones are pretty cute. The adult ones however, still creep me out.

What do you think? creepy or cute?

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On the Preservation Front: In the Freezer

I am part of the Harvest Keepers Challenge over at Freedom Gardens, so I’ve been trying to preserve some of the things I’ve grown, been given or bought at the Farmer’s Market. I’m not a big fan of canning, but I do all this to be more environmentally friendly and reduce the frequent flier miles of our fruits & veggies and because it’s much healthier to eat locally and preserve your own. I made a detailed post about everything I have canned in jars last week. I do like freezing, it’s so easy: put food in containers, chill in the fridge, then put in the freezer. So what have I been preserving in the freezer?

Throughout the summer when we bought sweet corn I froze the left-over corn. In the freezer I have 24 containers of frozen corn (each one should be enough for 2 meals).

The freezer is also stocked with berries galore. I have 40 bags of blueberries (2 cups each), 15 bags of black raspberries (2 cups each), 21 bags of blackberries (4 cups each). I can’t wait for winter cobblers & pies. I may even make up a batch of blackberry jelly for Christmas gifts.

I also have 7 quarts of frozen roasted tomatoes and 7 containers of grilled peppers (green & poblano peppers) in the freezer. The peppers & roasted tomatoes are layered between wax paper so I can easily grab some when I need it for pizza or sauces. I also have a jar of frozen basil in olive oil and a jar parsley in olive oil as well as a few containers of frozen greens (turnip & beet) that will make their way into some veggie soup this winter.

My freezer is also stocked with a few pastured chickens that I bought from our local farm as well as 2 turkeys (one will be Thanksgiving dinner, the other will be made into sausage). I also have a small amount of venison from my dad’s hunting season last year. I’m hoping he gets another deer for us this year and we’ll be set for meat for the next year.

So what’s nestled in your freezer for the winter?

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I LOVE Polls

I’m a big fan of internet polls. I’m not sure why, there’s just something about them that I get excited about. I don’t know if it’s the instant standings or seeing how you rank with others, there’s just something about them I LOVE! So Mr Chiot’s added polls to my blog. I’m so excited! So take the poll to the right, I would love to know what your turkey plans are for this Thanksgiving (you already know mine).

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The Last Farmer’s Market

Yesterday was the last day of the Carrollton Farmer’s Market. It was quite a frosty morning to be heading out to the outdoor market. It reminded me of Barbara Kingsolver’s (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) description of their first farmer’s market of the season when they decided to eat locally. Our car said it was 23 on our way down – BRRRR that’s some cold shopping!

I was hoping there would be some vendors there. I knew for sure Mr Vincent would be there, he never misses a week. Sure enough, he was there with the bounty from his orchard.

I bought a peck of mutsu apples for $2 and a peck of Macintosh for $6 as well and four pears for $2 made it into my reusable shopping bags.

There was one other vendor there (Out on a Limb Farm) selling heirloom beans, dried sunflowers, gourds, garlic and sage. I bought all of her dried sage (that will sure come in handy for my stuffing this week), 3 jars of heirloom beans and a few sunflowers to put outside for our feathered friends.

When I got home I put the sunflowers in one of the trees for the birds or chipmunks to enjoy.

This marks the end of the 2008 Farmer’s Market season. When I got home I emptied my bags, “The Lady with the Green Bag” as I’m called at the market will be sad to see the market end.

I guess I’ll be shopping in my pantry this winter for all of our veggies. At least I was able to preserve so many wonderful things from the market this summer.

Every time I pop open a jar of applesauce or tomatoes I’ll think about all the people at the farmer’s market that spend their time growing healthy things for us to eat.

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Giving Back this Holiday Season: Show them We Care

Princess Mombi posted about giving back during the holidays by getting involved in community service this season. She encouraged all of us to do something to help others. Yesterday morning she posted a terrific opportunity to give back.

The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For the second year in a row, they’re collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world.

You can make cards or buy cards. I’m planning on using up all the cards I have leftover from my previous year mailings. Their goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards to spread holiday cheer and facilitate thanks to these brave individuals and families. Let’s see what we can do to help them reach this goal (we have to hurry, they must be postmarked by December 10). I’m going to commit to sending in 25 cards myself (I already wrote them out last night) and I’m going to try to have my family members and Mr Chiot’s family members all sign some on Thanksgiving for another 50 (for a total of 75).

So what do you think, want to join in? Send out a few cards and post a comment below to let us know how many we can help them cross of their list, if all of my readers send in 25 we could send in over 1,000 cards! Grab your families and spend some time thanking our service members. Make sure you read the guidelines below and mail to the following address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Card Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.

Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.

Please ensure that all cards are signed.

Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.

Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.

Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.

Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

To find out other ways you can support and encourage the men and women that defend our freedoms every day visit: America Supports You

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