ATV Trip

Today we met up with some neighbors, new and old, and took a nice ATV tour around the mountain above us. I found out the mountains name is Long Mountain and trails lead to both Jewel Lake and Round Lake near Cocolalla. Here are a few scenes.
The pictures: #3- Anne, Jenny and Thomas, #4- Anne, Jenny, Thomas and Len


Our neighbors small lake that feeds into our pond most of the year.








































Cocolalla Lake, below all our houses.

The Debate

While I hadn't really taken a position on the presidency, McCain or Obama, before this debate I have now. McCain was a name dropper, insulted, belittle and patronizing toward Obama, "you don't understand"...especially after Obama fully explained his positions. McCain the lecturer? Palease. Obama spoke to the people while McCain rimenesed about his patriotism...over and over over...

I feel Obama would take a more diplomatic approach to running this country and a handling foreign affairs. While McCain is more geared towards keeping big business happy and making sure the loop holes remain in place...something this country does not need with the current financial crisis and foreign affairs. Spending freeze, come on McCain, no one knows what this bail out will entail. Obama has the right idea...take care of the people who will move the economy...not big business....

And some who were those interviewed after the debate supporting McCain...did they not listen or just have their blinders on?

McCain has been wrong on his judgment for years..look where we are today...John wants to spend 10 billion a month on Iraq ...hello? Strategy...have Iraq spend their own 70 some billion in reserves...

The war in Iraq has embolden Iran...and remember we heard that from Obama...

Kessinger? Well, didn't he screw things up. And McCain is his good friend he's known for 35 years...not something I'd have NOT mentioned.

Can't wait for Bidden and Palin to debate...it's Bidden hands down.

Container Water Gardens

Ok, for those of you who love gardening and all those little projects to make you feel like your relaxing by a stream or waterfall...

About three years ago I bought a pot to make a water garden for the porch in Cali. I installed the water pump by drilling out one hole a little bigger to fit the plug through and sealer products to keep it water tight...by alas...it didn't hold. So with many months of procrastination I finally decided it was high time to get "er done".

With a bit more research and brain picking at Home Depot I found a pot sealer called Plasti Dip by Performix to coat the entire inside of the pot. This gave it a rubberized base and would help hold the Silicone Sealer II for Kitchen and Bath by GE to seal around the pump cord and holes on the bottom. The pump is a 60 gph by Beckett also purchased at Home Depot. Next time, if there is one, I will try to use a lighter color base on the inside of the pot. Another live and learn lesson...

I'm really happy with the bubbling after removing the attachments provided in the pump kit. It's now a soothing sound, like a simmering slow boil you'd hear on a stove top. Just perfect to sit near and relax or read a book. Now to find some plants this late in the season...maybe I can put a couple of goldfish in after it cures a few days...oh, the possibilities!

As you can see I found some plants today!

Prickley Pear and Cactus aka Nopalitos

So I had some inspiration on this blog from the SicilyScene.blogspot.com site. It seems our ranch in Morgan Hill has many of the same plants grown in my fathers land of heritage, Trabia, Sicily. Aside from the loquats, lemons, fava, oranges we grow there's also a few cactus or prickly pear scattered about the ranch.

Most of the time people come by and just pick the fruit without permission. Even though that may be irritating at times it is nice to know they aren't going to waste. Personally, I'm not that fond of of them. If you can manage to get to the pulp of the fruit without a major injury your in luck. And, the pulp is not that easy to eat either, it has has a lumpy seed like texture.... I'm not sure what else you can do with the fruit besides eating it fresh.

I do know you can make a variety of dishes made with the leaf. There's also pickled leaf strips you can buy and make a refreshing salad.