For the past 4 months, I have been going to the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club every Tuesday. I joined the club as an apprentice member which means I learn about and work on the huge HO scale train layout with the senior members. After the 9 month apprenticeship, the senior members will vote as to whether I get to become a senior member.
I have always enjoyed model trains. My mom got me started with model trains when I was a young boy. I still have all of the model trains and track that my mom purchased for me, including a fairly large layout. All that is missing is laying the track and scenery. Part of the reason I joined this club is to learn about model railroading so I can eventually setup my own layout. I have already learned very much about model railroading and look forward to learn much more.
Click the image below to see some pictures I took the other day. Be sure to read the picture descriptions as I try to explain what you are looking at.
We all know how the dead of winter can inspire the desire to stay home and make warm comforting foods. About a month ago my company had a “Chili Cook-off”, and while I did not enter I managed to go home with an amazing chili recipe. I thought I would share it now.
” East Coast Chili”
2 – Large cans (16oz.) tomato sauce
2 – Large cans (16oz.) peeled tomatoes mixed with green chilies
2 – Large cans (16oz.) kidney beans (dark and light)
1 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
1 package turkey sausage
1 large onion (diced)
1 green pepper (diced)
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
4 teaspoons ground Cummin
salt
pepper
1/4 cup sugar
Cook: Meat, diced onion, diced pepper together add salt and pepper; until well done.(Make sure meat in chopped up well enough while cooking).
Mix in tomato sauce, peeled tomatoes and green chilies, kidney beans, chili powder, and cummin, and sugar. Stir together well, let cook on medium to low heat for 4-5 hours before eating.
Use a fairly large cooking pan or Crockpot works the best! Enjoy!
As the winter months begin to draw to a close and the weather begins to tease us that it might someday be nice and warm out, we have begun to plan out the plantings in our yard. Last year not much happened in the way of gardening we spent most of the spring and summer just getting used to having a yard to take care of. We put in two rose bushes, bought a lawn mower, and thought and dreamed and planned about what else our yard could be.
In the post holiday gloom we attended a monthly event which we have come to call the “Married Couple Collective” (MCC) and one of our friends shared this video with us:
After watching the video we all agreed that growing our own produce was a good way to provide for ourselves in the down turning economy as well as support the effort toward “greener” living. With that in mind, our thoughts have turned from ornamental gardening to productive gardening.
I started some basil seeds in our garden window a few weeks ago and they are just starting to poke their heads out of the soil.
Basil
Also, I ordered four different tomato plants to be delivered in the first part of April: “Sweet Millions” cherry tomato, “Viva Italia” Roma tomato, “Shady Lady” tomato, and “Fantastic” tomato. I am looking forward to having an over abundance of tomatoes when the time comes and being able to share the wealth. In preparation for the tomato plants arrival Kam and Erin, two members of the MCC, came over to the house and helped us build a raised planter bed.
Kam, Emilie and Erin Working
It was definitely an interesting weather day – one where the phrase: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” It was cold and we had sun to hail and everything in between. If nothing else it added to the fun of the day and we got the bed almost completely built.
Almost completed bed
We’re going to have some dirt delivered to fill it in and give it time to settle before the tomato plants get placed in the bed. We are hoping to build another bed to plant zucchini, green beans, and onion in.
