Sunday, July 6, 2008

July 4th - Independence Day

>>> PLANING A SHORT TRIP
This picture was taken to show the wild flowers along the road in the Summer time. The day was cloudy and rainy.

The celebrations of the Independence Day of the USA, well-known as 4th of July which is a remembrance of the declaring of independence from the Kingdom of the Great Britain The morning started with several events like, community breakfasts and lunch in parks, churches; barbeques, parades, picnics. In the green, close where we are living we saw horse back rides, people eating the popular French fries, popcorn, hotdog, drinking coke and American refreshment always with ice cubes.

In the afternoon we went to pick some strawberries but the farm was closed I made a mistake reading the newspaper. Anyway, instead the strawberries Michael swam for a while in the Connecticut river the weather was cold and the day was pleasant! In the night lots of fireworks illuminated the dark sky and we watched them with some neighbors. Everything was calm. We cooked some special plate to celebrate with the American such a symbolic day.


FORT TICONDEROGA, NY

Our initial celebrations stared some days ago when we visited one of the famous forts located in New York, opposite to Vermont. The Ticonderoga Fort is an essential meaning for the country. According with the history it began some thousands of years ago with the Native Americans. It took notorious importance in the 1800’s when the American Revolution stared. Some years later, the ruins of the fort was purchased by William Ferrys for summer home. By 1840 he designed it as a hotel for tourists. Later, at the begining of 1900 Fort, being other the owners began the restoration of Fort then was opened to the public.

Traveling by Ferry to New York

Fort Ticonderoga, originally Fort Carillon, was built by the French military in the 1700’s. It served as an important staging area for the American Army while invading Canada and holding the territory against the British forces.
Names like Le Marquis of Montcalm, a French commander, who defended the place from the British people, Benedict Arnold, specially this one who impressed me when I read the story which reminded me in a different version to the Indio Felipillo in Peru. (see below the text)
BlockquoteBenedict Arnold V originally fought for American independence from the Brithis Empire as a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War until he obtained command of the American fort at West Poit New York and, switching sides, plotted unsuccessfully to surrender it to the Brithish.

Arnold was considered by many to be the best general and most accomplished leader in the Continental Army. In fact, without Arnold's earlier contributions to the American cause, the American Revolution might well have been lost; but after he switched sides, his name, like those of several other prominent traitors throughout history, has become a byword for treason in the United States.
>> Text taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

This main entrance of the Pavilion was passed on for George Washington, Roosvelt, Montcalm and other notables.
The young guide prepared to explain about the army and soldiers of that time.
Custom way to dress.
A brief visit to the King's Garden located next to the Pavilion (Fort Ticonderoga), the former hotel and the family who made the restoration worked with a landscape designer in 1921. The generations of this family have enjoyed gardens where military troops once cultivated plants for food.

HIKING THE ASCUTNEY MOUNTAIN, VT

Next day, we run to Vermont to hike the Ascutney mountain (high 3140 ft, 955 m), the day was cool.



Uf, uf... ahhhh...finally on the hill. The tower is the sign that you are done with the hiking at least up to the mountain.

Then, we ended up for lunch in a popular restaurant in Woodstock, the place were has lived the rich, rich and richer Rockefeller. Afterwards, for 'kuchen' (dessert) we got some homemade icecream. We rest for a while near to a nice stream under a bridge. Woodstock has many interesting things to do, to visit, it is very touristic.

Under a bridge we noticed this sign as a reminder if we have some pet with us, we know what should we do in case the doggy wants to... to... you know that!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

S.O.S

The rest of the broccoli plant :(
I don't know how you will feel if some creature eats a plant that you sowed, cared and fed. Ohhh... It upsets me to see my broccoli cropped with furious (with angry in this case). One morning of May summer an animal that looks like a gigantic Guinea pig, chopped the top of the broccoli. Later, I knew that such garden visitor is called "Woodchuck". One of our garden neighbor set up a trap for it because same thing happened to her in her spot.

Woodchuck in captivity
Next day, the woodchuck was in, trapped. I contacted our garden coordinator to figuring out what to do with such unexpected visitor. Somebody took it so far away from the place and freed it for a better luck. It was not killed.

It takes time to see how the attacked plants survived. At the end it is pleasant to see our garden emerging beautifully. So far, we have harvested baby lettuce leaves, meanwhile waiting for rippen tomatoes. By the way, the tomato plants look really great! Although their fruits are still young I believe that in a couple of weeks we are going to pick some of them. I cannot wait! Our plan is to cook tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato salad, tomato juice, tomato-tomato :)

Sun Gold tomatoEarly Girl tomato

I do admit that I am learning a lot about growing vegetables, for example: the techniques, how, when to apply organic fertilizers. I am happy to share today this organic fertilizer good to keep away 'Flea beatles' 'Colorado potato beatle', 'Lily beatle'. Try this concoction:
7 garlic cloves, a portion hot pepper powder, if fresh cut it into pieces, then add 2 cups of hot water. Do not bring it to boil! Rest for 2 or 3 days then use a spray to use over the affected plants... Let me know how it works!

Baby's breath flowers sowed from seeds.
Zinnia flower

Friday, June 20, 2008

harvest time stars!


What a pleasant sensation when the harvest stars in your own garden ! It happened yesterday when we got our first and delicious tomato, some radish and basil.
There is a story about this tomato. We bought the plant too early (April), and we planted it during the cold weather. At the beginning the tomato plant looked nice with a small fruit, unfortunately this plant got the frost and it was ready to die. We put some crashed egg shells around the plant to feed it with calcium, also we added some compost and we covered with a special black plastic to warm up the soil. We just needed patience and care and here is the result! But it is not a good idea to buy plants with fruits in.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Saint-Gaudens Garden, NH

Saint-Gaudens was the summer home of one of America's greatest sculptors. The home, gardens and studios are in Cornish, NH. This is one of the National Historic Site that New Hampshire has in New England. The gardens are so beautiful around the house and several of his famous sculptures.Works such as the Shaw Memorial, continue to inspire people today and his design for the 1907 Twenty Dollar Gold Piece, is considered America's most beautiful coin.

Asian poppy flowers.





Peace... relaxing... breathing the nature... the fresh air...


...with cool shoes :)


A bug on the yellow flower

Monday, June 9, 2008

Swimming in the White River, VT


The days are hot and suddenly we decided to swimm into the White River in Vermont. The water was cool! but I hit my little toe against a rock.

The splendor of the Spring time here in New England.

Michael took these pictures, he loves this kind of trees.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Gardening time

Michael and I are so excited to star again working in a garden.

In Norwich, VT there is a Community Garden from Co-op (a supermarket). We stared to work the soil so early (mid May)We planted some tomatoes and days after we got a frozen weather and our plants ended up burnt, almost dead. Fortunately, we handled this issue very carefully, listening and reading advices from garden experts. We covered them with fabric and the tomatos were saved. This won't happened anymore in the future, for sure!


The space is 20 per 20 feet and we made a plan to plant Sun Gold tomatoes (orange little balls, very sweet), Early Girl, and Big Boy. In other section we have red and white onions, peas, green beans, hot peper, leeks, garlic, lettuce, potatoes, corn, and flowers growing by seed like baby's breath, sunflower, zinia, and some wild flowers.




This is not just for pleasure, it is because we discovered our passion for growing our own veggies. We do not have any experience on the topic, but we are trying to do the best reading gardening books, going to garden classes some of them free and paid, then we can solve problems with pest, decease and also learning tips of how to grow healthy vegetables.

I should mention that this community garden is very organized and informative we are learning how to deal with pests, knowing the kind of weeds, and there is a friendly partnership between all the gardeners.


Here are the holes to plant the yellow onions.

What a nice surprise today at the garden! A lovely friend, Karen made the day a pleasant one with her visit this morning, we haven't seen each other for a while.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Coralia's Birthday

At Coralia's Home an unspected party!

What a nice surprise having at home my classmates... they really surprised me a lot! Michael and I wanted to rest after a hard time doing arrangements at home. First at all, early in the morning I received a wonderful bunch of flowers from Amsterdam, Maria Eugenia and her husband Bastien, who are living there, they made my day colorful and happy! Nice surprise! the recent married couple!!! Gaby and Jim, he is from Chicago, USA. She is my classmate at the highschool. Jim loves Arequipa and he cooks tasty pizzas.


Hey Luz! I didn't see for a while (25 years ago, really). Luz Arias and her husband Hector
" Maya" Silvia Cervantes, a classmate, working in a public institution for Education.

Rosita Montenegro giving me, as always nice surprises!!

Cheers with these couples!!

Maria Elena, our partner in the trip to Cotahuasi Canyon
Elena a close friend since were children, wonderful memories of our childhood!!
Jim and Michael feeling well talking in English. Jim is learning Spanish.


Jim, Hector, Jorge and the wives of them: Paty, Luzmery and Luz, improving some meal at the kitchen.
Gathering together a meeting with all the girls of the highschool, Luzmery (pink pants) is the head of the group, as she used to be at the school.