Good morning!
My morning started off a bit sluggish, but it was nothing a Green Monster couldn’t handle.
In the GM: 2 handfuls spinach, 1 cup almond milk, 1 scoop Vega choc-o-lot, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1 frozen banana, 1/4 cup oats.
After breakfast and a bit of digesting, Eric and I headed out for a bike-run to kick off this gorgeous morning. We covered about 4 miles in 34 minutes. I love when he comes with me on the bike because he motivates me to push during my runs! He calls himself my ‘coach’. lol. I’ll take whatever I can get…
Like Kale!
I pick a bunch of kale each week and then freeze it for quick Green Monsters throughout the week (I used an old frozen mango bag to store it in- maybe it will make the kale sweet? lol)
Tomatoes are coming up all over the two plants. I finally convinced Eric to move the tomato plants to the same side as the garden beds, so watering has been a bit easier!
The cucumbers are growing like crazy!
Straight ones
Curvy ones
A family of peppers with a wee little bebe!
Banana Peppers
Beets & Carrots
More kale…muhauha.
And one huge time saver for $9.99. :)
We haven’t had rain in over two weeks and I just checked the forecast and we’re not supposed to get a lick of rain for the next 14 days either! This does not bode well for farmers!
Deck updates…
Eric is working on installing some patio stones that the side staircase will rest on.
It’s a tough dig & very rocky!
The middle staircase is now 100% complete with railings:
More sanding of railings
Eric is almost finished the privacy wall:
We used this kit:
We’re loving it so far. I like the visibility when it’s open, but it’s nice to be able to close it in case we are up to trouble.
Hopefully we don’t have any screws loose!
But I think you already know the answer to that…
I’m off to get ready for a lunch & hike date with Ange! Have a good one.
I haven’t had a green monster in over a week and this reminds me what I’m missing. Yay for ginormous Costco spinach bags and super ripe bananas!
Wow! Your garden looks amazing. I wish I could have one, but I live in an apartment right now. I just found your site, so I haven’t tried a green monster yet, but I’ve got all the ingredients on my grocery list.
Hard to feel sluggish with all that GREEN in your day! :)
Came to visit from a comment on 100 days of real food. Just got a kick out of your calling them green monsters. In ’09 some of my children were having lots of trouble getting over colds So I put some of my green foods powder into their breakfast smoothies. We called it the green monster to make it fun & they felt better so quickly that they will ask for one when they are feeling under the weather. Just learned this week of putting the spinach & Kale into the so I’m thinking this might be a regular way to keep them from getting the colds this fall.
Enjoy Jennifer!
I have a TON of kale coming up too! How do you freeze yours??
Just wash, rip, and place in bag…squish out air before sealing :) You could also use a container too if you pack it tightly.
Just wondering what you would do with okra…saw that you wished you had planted it … ours is growing like crazy but it just goes bad because the only thing I know to do with it is bread & fry.
I made this same smoothie (but with vega vanilla chai) … never thought to put oats in it ! I will try that tomorrow :)
Also, if youd like any other ideas on what to do with kale…check out my orange sesame kale salad…it’s my new fave :)
http://healthymammas.com/2011/07/17/blts-orange-sesame-kale-salad/
Jenny
I looove it fried in a little olive oil and salt. So good! Ketchup for dippin is good too.
Chop, freeze, and add to all of your winter stews, chilli’s, and soups :)
I love that idea of a privacy fence/rail thing! Ive never seen that here! Ive recently started having a green Juice (not smoothie) each morning and couldn’t feel better! Love them :)
I have a random question/need advice. When you bake your delicious recipes like oat bars, cake, cookies ect., how do you balance eating it and eating healthier. Whenever I make stuff, it’s only me and my mom eating it, and really me eating the delicious baked goods but then I’m eating way more than I should. Do you freeze a lot of the stuff you make?
Yes I do…and I give it away to friends & Erics coworkers.
I want a pretty back deck that looks over my garden!
I noticed that No Illinois is experiencing drought like conditions as well today. Brown grass is taking over the city.
The deck looks great!
I’m jealous of your garden! We have a little balcony garden, which kind of pales in comparison. We planted some kale too, but it hasn’t done much of anything. Maybe it doesn’t grow well in the summer in Alabama?
I’ve never tried oats in my green smoothie before. I will have to do that!
Also – your garden is looking incredible! Makes me want to attempt a garden again.
The garden is amazing! And what a cool privacy fence kit.
Although I have to confess that I snorted my wine a little bit when I read “in case we are up to trouble.”
;-)
I’m so impressed with Eric’s work! But like ‘Dee above, I was rather amused by your line about closing the privacy wall when you’re up to trouble :)
Wow..that deck is looking amazing. And love the veggies. As for the rain, you can have ours on the west coast. Nothing but rain for the last week. I want summer! Our gardens are all behind.
your garden looks awesome! Mine is growing too fast, and I think my plants are too crowded!!! :(
I am crazy in love with your deck!!! It looks amazing and professional! Who needs a vacation with a backyard paradise like that!
Your garden looks great! Just wanted to say that I think your ‘beets and carrots’ are just carrots – do a google image search for beet leaves, they’re more like chard or spinach.
Your patio looks amazing!
Your deck and garden look fantastic, Angela!
I’ve never tried oats in a GM, may have to try that out tomorrow morning. I’m just finishing off a banana soft serve VOO parfait in a (sort of) empty Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter jar… perfection!
I’m soooo impressed. Can I come over for a gardening tutorial!? I can’t grow anything to save my life!
oh yeah I have tons of cukes! mostly huge curly ones. the bugs are really loving the broccoli & cauliflower I planted.. they are really eating the leaves. Hopefully they will leave the good stuff alone. I also have a ton of Cayenne peppers, but it occurs to me that I don’t know what to do with it.
The garden looks like an abundance of goodness just waiting to be picked! So jealous! No room for anything that big. I *LOVE* that privacy fence! That is really awesome especially for a deck area!!
I tried my green smoothie with oats today…YUM !!!
I need to get the Vega Choco flavor…I am a little burnt out on Chai now.
Thank you :) :) :)
Wow, what a vibrant garden you have growing! I have my own little garden and it’s so much fun to watch the growth daily… Enjoy! :-)
wow your garden looks fab, I would love to grow veggies. whats the easiest to grow?
Your garden is amazing. WOW!! I just built some garden boxes and planted everything on Saturday. I hope all the veggies do well. I am not sure how much I am supposed to water them in the beginning. The tomato plant is looking a little sad. I can’t wait until my garden looks like yours. So great!
Angela, your garden looks amazzzzzing!!!!!! i’m jealous and wish I could have one of my own!
That GM looks awesome! I finally worked up the courage to add kale to my GM that I brought to work today as part of my lunch, way better than I expected! I was kind of scared, but I could barely taste it! I buy that same frozen mango at Costco, such a great deal!
Congrats on the deck and the vegetable garden. You two have been hard at work since the spring, and it’s clearly paying off! All that kale… yummy.