An internet adage or three. But not two.

(On liking and disliking foods)

"I heard tell of a wine expert who wanted to develop his palate, and so he would taste all kinds of things. Even dirt. Put dirt in his mouth, and see what it tastes like. Most people would be grossed out about it, but what if you just wanted to find out?"

Superior plums are ripe! Omnomnom!

(On when to travel)

"There is never a good time. So either regret going, or regret not going."

DC in 8 Days

Woah!

Wedding time

Letter sent (sorry Duma)
Finger whistle, check! (ok, kind of... 1 in 5 is legit, right?)
Let's boogie.

Whistle and Apples

Whistle Update: Not going well. Have thus far made a fool of myself 3 times in the last 2 days and achieved nothing other than a sore tongue and excessively slobbery hands.

Nothing like having both your hands jammed into your face at a stop light, puffing your cheeks out as hard as you can and looking over to see a 70 year old granny in the next car looking at you with a concerned face to make you reconsider your life choices. Ah well, I'll get it tomorrow, I'm sure.



Apples: Today I ran across an article from Genya Erling (a friend and SFUW founder!) on the preservation of the "Milwaukee Apple" from what might be the last surviving tree in Milwaukee. Cool stuff, but it really got me thinking (more) about what apple varieties are going to go into the Anderson Orchard/Vineyard Adventure and definitely wanting to keep some homegrown WI pride involved.

After spending much too much time on the internet going through horticultural magazines from 1907, below is an initial list of "heritage" (used roughly in apple growing - essentially anything around pre-1940 widespread use of refrigerated shipping cars and subsequent breeding of only certain few varieties that shipped well)

So without further ado, some apples and their origins in WI:

Gibb (crab apple) - Pewaukee, WI

Brier (Sweet Brier crab) - Baraboo, WI

Avista - West Salem, WI ( Farm of AJ Phillips)

Northwest Greening - Waupaca, WI

Eureka - West Salem, WI (Also AJ Phillips)

Hanko - Sauk County, WI

Newells Winter - (aka Orange Winter, aka Newell) - Reedsburg, WI

McMahon - (aka White McMahon) - Bloom, Richland Co., WI

Old Church - Waukesha Co., WI

Isham Sweet - Delavan, WI

Bailey Sweet - Southern, WI

Kaump (aka Harry Kaump) - ?, WI

Milwaukee - Milwaukee, WI

Patten Greening (Duchess No. 3) - Portage, WI

Peffer - Pewaukee, WI (offspring of Pewaukee apple)

Perfection - ?, WI (offspring of russian apple)

Pewaukee - Pewaukee (offspring Oldenburg x Northern Spy)

Plumb Cider - Milton, WI (original tree is in OH)

Roxanna - ?, WI

Utter (aka Utter Red) - ?, WI

Windsor (aka Windsor Chief) - ?, WI

Wolf River - Freemont, WI (near the banks of Wolf River)

Apples are the coolest!

Aw shoot, how could I forget Bonnies Best apple? From Jungs even! Also Oneida, Ashmeades Kernel, and Autumn Beauty are all Wisconsin varieties. To be discovered at a later time! 

Week One

Other endeavors this year include: 

1) Read at least one book (for pleasure) a month

2) Do Yoga once a day for two weeks (wish me luck)

3) Write a poem every day for a week

4) Read a poem every day for a week 

5) Learn to Lindy Hop

6) Start an online store

7) Try going wheat free for 20 days

8) Build a functioning aquaponics system (and feast off of the harvest)

8) ...? (suggestions for more adventures?)

Day One

Bienvenido! Welcome! Terve!  TO YEAR 25!

With a goal of breaking last years grand total of 107 posts and a new thing every week, this is going to be a rocking good time. Let's do this thing!


P.s. Don't let me get away with any of that "oh I read a new book" this week crap. Rubbish.

Beastly onion I pulled from the garden today
 (next to a fresh egg from broody mcbrooderson the peckish hen)