Pita Bread with raw veggies Sandwich

Pita bread with raw veggies

Skally's Old World Whole Wheat Pita bread

fill with

1 Cup fresh mung bean sprouts ( I grew mine or other sprouts work)
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-mung-bean-sprouts-5176.html

1 cup grated carrots

½ cup or so, diced green onion tops (just use the green part)

½ cup  or so, finely diced red bell peppers

(All measurements are approximate...I mean who measures for this kind of thing?)

If needed, use mustard, or mashed avocado for a sandwich spread. I used a mix of mustard, some almond butter I made, and lime juice.

Cut in half your pita bread and jam the goodies inside. Wrap with a napkin to make it easier to eat, as depending upon softness of bread, may break.

Or if you want to eat on gluten free bread, or Ezekial bread, eat open-faced.

I am on strike in this heat and even with AC, kitchen gets too hot.

Treat yourself to easy plant based, raw food dinners.  You do not need a fancy dehydrator to make raw meals fast. I recomment Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or two People by Jennifer Cornbleet. Simple recipes and you can even watch her make things online.

Just my two cents.

Tomorrow, I am making raw spring rolls. I made them before with flour spring wraps but will try the rice wraps tomorrow, that you need to dunk in water first! NO COOKING for that either.

I prep a little as I go and rest so no static standing, if that is an issue for some of you, and I KNOW it is.
Then store this in air tight container in the fridge, or lunch cooler, and eat before day's end.

Lighting is Everything, etc.

Even in nature, lighting is everything. This Ruby-throated male hummingbird tilted forward, you can see the red around his neck.  When the sun hits it a second later, at  a different position, you see yellow and even green! The sun is way too bright here but I wanted to show you what bright light does to the neck color.

  Underneath, is the female Ruby Throated, no color on her neck, but cute anyway.

 Chipmunk thinking about picking up left over corn on the patio.

Chipmunk full of corn, getting ready to stash about 30 pieces!

Birds from my windows

 Grackle

 Female Cardinal "Don't talk with your mouth full."

 "I'm hungry. Feed me!"

 Male feeding female

Almost fed, but I missed the money shot.

 House Finch, female raising a ruckus.

Still nagging!

Bird watching is so fun. I suggest it highly. Look into the types of seed for the birds you wish to draw and get a good hopper feeder for squirrel proofing sunflower seed feed.

Appalachian Grass Was Again at MUH

Downtown Hamilton was livened up to the rafters Monday night, with yet another packed house of bluegrass fans! You could feel the energy of the crowd as the band played and the red clothing from the band helped to kick that up a notch. They all looked smashing!

If you have not seen Appalachian Grass perform, you are truly missing out on one mighty fine group. Not only are they gifted  musicians, but they have such fun on stage, sound so fabulous, that you  could almost forget how hard they are working to entertain us all. They say great musicians make it look easy.

It was only my second time hearing them (Where have you been, Soph?) but I think many regular fans were there at the event, as it almost felt like a big family reunion....of a family you haven’t yet met.

Vernon has a great sense of humor which adds to the fun and watching Kitty dancing around from the mic in the middle of the stage to add harmony, then back to the end of the group is a fun scene. She is one very talented fiddler.  She should get a pedometer to wear as I bet she walks a good distance during the performances.  I got a few photos but really, you need to just need to go hear these guys. They're individually rich in their musicianship and all together, are a powerhouse.
*Click on photos to enlarge them. The pictures are a little dark and grainy from film speed but mileage may vary depending on your monitor's brightness settings*

Vernon McIntyre on guitar, the band's leader.

Mike Elliott was on mandolin and dobro.

Tammy Powers in the middle on the bass  fiddle. 

Robert Campbell

Bluegrass Festival Season is kicking up and they will be busy! Make a point to see them as I promise you, a great dose of Happy Music Therapy.

During the break a photo of the bass, finally.

Here is their website. They also give lessons and do instrument repair and you can find band contacts there.  Get on Kitty's email list to keep  updated with their schedule. fotmc.com

~~Thanks for reading and feel FREE to leave a comment on the band. I do moderate comments before they appear, though...to keep out the riff raff. ~~ Sophia

P.S. A 30 second clip of the ending of "Rawhide"

Critters and Music from the Yard

Butler Co. Bayou, Turtles, Tulips, Misc

 Along side the Hamilton-Fairfield Airport is Gilmore Ponds Metro Park. Lots of birds could be 'heard' but were hiding amongst the swamp trees and surrounding thicket.  Our first time there but nice trail. Better hurry.  From May to October it's easy to see why this swamp is a known major mosquito haven!

 *Click on any photo to enlarge them*

 Friend took the old Wiedemann trailer, abandoned in a lot, and the two turtle pics, and the fern.

Tulips and pansies from the home yard.