Political Polls

Remind me not to register as independent before the next presidential election. 

Seems like we are being polled every five minutes between 5 -7 pm.  Kels is asking if she can answer the poll questions now - and I am like sure, whatever.  How accurate can these polls be? 

The poll numbers change every week, but I really don't know any one who is changing their mind - didn't you and everyone you know have their mind made up a long time ago?  Pretty much once it became McCain versus Obama, everyone knew who they were voting for, so why poll us so much?  Maybe just call back the ones who don't have their minds made up and give everyone else a number to call if they change their mind.  

And how statistically accurate is it to rely on these polls anyway?  Clearly there must be a correlation between people who are never home to answer the phone and these same people not voting in elections for this to be valid.  Not to mention people who have caller id and don't answer strange numbers, people who inform the pollsters it is none of their business and people who just hang up on pollsters.  All of those people must not vote.   Oh yeah, what about busy signal people?  And people whose phone goes right to voicemail if they are on it? cell phone only people?  

THIS WEEK"S POLL

We needed a fill in the blank poll this week.  Please comment with your answers - they can be anonymous if you want.  Two questions:

1. What should we call the new plant labels cindy and I are making?

2. What would  be the perfect gift for Kip and Shelley's wedding if money was no issue?

Its not just me!

There's a great post today on GARDEN RANT about the text in garden books. 

 

It confirms that I am not the only one who doesn't read these books, just enjoys the gorgeous photos.  Although I love to read, I rarely have patience for the text in gardening books.  There are several reasons:

1.  Its a regurgitation of what is in EVERY garden book: Design (includes measuring, garden plan, site), Soil (hohum), planting (honestly how hard is that? could you write a whole chapter on it?), and finally the requisite plant list.   All of this is very important, but how many times do you need to read it?

2.  Sometimes, the book takes a different spin than the topics listed above, and then the problem is how do you describe something that is almost completely visual?  It goes like this "a monochromatic combination allows the simple beauty of forms and textures to shine".  (Yes, I can see that in the picture!)  There is a certain value to putting these things into words, but there are only so many sentences such as the one above that one can tolerate.  Here's my garden book ---A good edging plant allows the simple beauty of the composition of the the garden to shine...a repeating pattern of certain plants in a garden allows the simple beauty of the eye being drawn through the length of the garden...a pairing of complementary colors allows the individual colors to shine.  At a certain point it all becomes blather which might be better suited to a list.

3.  There is no story.  Maybe I should write a book about the time the tree fell over on Kip as he was trying to move it into the hole in a lightning storm.  Or getting the bobcat stuck in the mud. Well, actually maybe gardening isn't all that exciting.  

I have so many gardening books - its a bit crazy.  But if a publisher wants to get me to buy one - just make it all pictures, like the most recent one I bought -Gardens of New England.  Each full page photo just has a sentence describing where it is and a garden credit.  Thats the way to "write" a book.  

FALL MUMS!

WE PLANTED LOTS AND LOTS OF MUMS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.  And fixed up lots of planters for fall.  It was at least 7 loads in the truck...but its all blurry now.  Almost done.

BIG SALE

It was a great time at the Company C sale, my favorite September event.  I can never buy enough, because I always leave thinking about the one or two things I really should have bought and inevitably have to go back and check and see if they are still there on sunday and 50% off.  

This year I am already wishing I got two picture frames, because I have two great places for the one I got.  I hate to make the Tilleys feel more under siege, but I do know where there is one more.  I am also having a hard time parting with the rug we got for Kelsey last year and have to return (because it has a really weird, burnt rug odor - no kidding).  It may smell but it looks so good in her room.  And I know I could find another place for the really pretty one I bought today.  

It seemed like more people than EVER this year.  I should have been suspicious when I ran into three people in Jacks at 7 AM who were going...  And maybe a little  less stuff, or there were just a lot of faster shoppers there than me.  Considering I had an empty living room for five or so years at our old house, making any decision on a rug in even a day is a tremendous accomplishment. 

One thing I did do is get plenty of napkins.  I really do not need ANY more napkins.  Guess what you are getting for Christmas!

Local Magazines

I just got a new magazine about New Hampshire, IMAGES.  I am assuming you got it too, because I am sure I didn't order it.  But really, how many magazines can there be about new hampshire.  If we are honest with ourselves there is not that much to do or see here and its a small state.  I mean, were not talking Boston or New York.  

If you look at Kearsarge Mag, UpperValley Mag, New Hampshire Mag, and now Images, they are all talking about the same events and advertising the sam businesses.  I really don't mean to complain, but it a bit of overkill and I am just trying to save trees.  

Of all of these I would say Kearsarge Mag is by far the most interesting, and of course its the only one thats not free.  Hummm.

Tomatoes!!

I realize by posting this I may be jeopardizing my unofficial member status in the Lauridsen family (and I had my foot tat all planned out!) but it is tomato season and I am so happy!  I thought I would share my FAVORITE cherry tomato ideas...

Cherry tomato bites - half cherry tomatoes and place a dollop of pesto and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and bake 400 (cause you are probably in a hurry to eat these yummies and 350 would be too slow) about 7-10 minutes until the cheese is nice and brown and bubbly.  

You have all heard me talk about the cherry tomato pie - you have to try this one.  It makes a great meal with some steak and salad.  Its actually called "tomato cobbler with gruyere crust" but lets devil ray it to tomato pie.  In a food processor combine 2.5 cup flour, 1t salt, 1t sugar, 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese.  Add 1 cup butter and process to a coarse meal (8-10 seconds) with machine running pour ice water (about .25 cup) little by little until the dough holds together(no more than 30 seconds).  Divide into two flattened balls and chill 1 hour.  Melt 1 T butter in skillet and saute 1 large diced onion and 3 minced cloves of garlic until cooked, let cool.  Place 2 lbs cherry tomatoes (or more - more is more) in a large bowl.   Toss with 6T flour 1.5t salt, 1.5t sugar.5 cup chopped basil and some pepper.  Add onion and toss.  Now heres the tricky part.  You actually just made enough dough for two cobblers so you just roll out one of the balls.  But I really like pie crust so I usually decide to roll them both out and put a top on the cobbler - and thats why I call it a pie.  So whichevera.  when you put the tomato mixture in dot with butter before you cover it... and  you can brush the top with egg.  Some good things cannot be rushed so we'll bake this at 375 for 50 minutes.  Serve cool.  

Here's one last favorite:peppers stuffed with tomatoes and mozzerella.  EASY EASY EASY.

Halve 3 red peppers.  In a bowl combine 1.5t olive oil, 1.5T balsamic, 1 clove minced garlic and some salt and pepper.  Halve or quarter .75 lb cherry tomatoes , cube 1 cup mozzerella (once again more is more especially when you are talking cheese) and .5 cup basil. Mix it all up in the bowl and fill the peppers up with the mixture.  375 for 40 minutes unless you are in a hurry then you could probably do 400 for 30 minutes.  Make sure the cheese is nice and brown and if the edges of the peppers brown up a bit all the better!

Guess what else?  Pears are almost ripe - I'd say a week or two away.  And I have already begun decorating the house with them.  What are you guys doing with your tomatoes?