What is That?

In the spring, I usually buy flowers to plant in my flower bed in front of the house. This spring I never did do it. So, of course, weeds have taken it over.
We have taken a weed eater to it once. Then a few weeks ago our neighbor was looking at the weeds and told my husband he wanted some when they were bigger. He said it makes good salsa. I thought it was weird but hey, who am I to judge. Then last week a friend came by and asked where I got the plants out front. She was talking about the same plants.
Strange that everybody is so interested in those weeds. I didn't get them from anywhere they are just there. Thinking back I have actually battled these "weeds" for years. I pull them out all summer trying to keep my flowers free of weeds. She said they are tomatillos, pronounced [toh-MAH-tee-YO]. Wow! I have a crop of tomatillos in my front flower bed.
Apparently, they are good for making salsas and other Mexican dishes. Now,if they grow and mature enough before it gets cold we will have lots of tomatillos. They are still pretty small, remember we did hack them down once already. I have no idea where they came from or how they got here, but here they are. Hopefully, we can enjoy them and share them with the friends and neighbors who recognized them before we got the weed whacker out again.
Here are some recipes for using tomatillos.
And some more interesting tomatillo sites.
http://www.mariquita.com/images/photogallery/vegetablesatoz/tomatillo/tomatillophotoessay.html
http://www.baileyfarmsinc.com/recipeList.asp?PRODUCT=55

Gearing Up For School

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted anything new. I have been trying to get things more organized and cleaned out around home before we start school for this year. We will be starting school the week of the 31st. We are usually earlier than that, but I need some organization before we start. We have parted with a ton of stuff this week and hopefully next week will be just as productive. We have a small house and it is just too full.
This school year I am already planning some field trips. We didn't do many last year and I want this year to be a little more exciting and fun. Our first official field trip will be the zoo. And it will actually be our second day of school. What a great way to start the school year.
So anyway, after we get things underway for school I'm hoping to have more time for blogging more often and regularly and also for my etsy shop. And of course I'll be sharing pictures of our field trips. So check back and I'll see you soon.

Don't Look Now, Here Comes the 80's

I can't believe it! Here is one of the latest junior styles. Look familiar? They will if you are old enough to remember the 80's. That's right. The 80's is making a comeback. That's what I've heard anyway. I'm wondering if it's just some of the clothes or other 80's fads and fashions too. I'm thinking slouch socks, jelly shoes, leg warmers, parachute pants, overalls, big hair, well you get the idea. Back in the 80's when really big hair was popular my hair was so smooth and straight I couldn't make it big to save my life. My hair laughed at perms and curling irons. Over the years, for whatever reason, my hair has become curly and can be frizzy if not kept under control. Now, my hair laughs at my flat iron. So, I'm thinking if 80s hair does come back, either my hair will rebel and turn straight again (I wouldn't mind) or I am going to be really hip now. Although, now I'm too mature(read old)to care if I'm hip or not. The 80s was fun when it was the 80s, but having looked back on some of the fashion and music, I'm thinking it might be better if the 80s stay back there in the 80s.
Do you remember the wedding of Charles and Di? Or how about the launch of MTV, Michael Jackson's hair on fire, ALF, the space shuttle Challenger disaster, Chernobyl, The Exxon Valdez oil spill, the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War.
Take a stroll down memory lane and look at more of the history of the 80s here.
I know some of you may be thinking "gag me with a spoon", some may be thinking "radical!" Whatever you're thinking, you may want to take your bad self out and stock up on hairspray and get out your Flashdance clothes and just wait it out.
Like it or not, the 80's may be back for awhile.