Healthy Habits Wednesday

     Quarry work has kept me busy as I prepared a patch of Rough and Ready soil for our raspberry patch.  I used my compost screen to sift out rocks from the native soil.  I wheelbarrowed the rocks to wet spots on our driveways and other areas where soil had washed away.  On this project I am certain I moved a ton of rock.  I felt the benefit of using my body as a machine, sure it gets a bit sore, but it thrives enjoying good physical labor.  And to see the product of my hands in my patch that will continue to sprout more rocks is a just reward.  I have begun to look at my afternoon exercise as necessary therapy for my health and well being.  So many tasks of modern life are sedentary.

Fresh Food Tuesday

     Miner's Lettuce is growing in patches on our five acres and in our neighborhood.  Just picked, it's lovely added to a tossed green salad.  It also steams up nicely like spinach.  I chopped up some and added it to potato cakes the other night, and that was a nice spot of color.  It doesn't have a strong taste, but with its dark rich color, I'm sure it's vitamin packed.  It's like the shamrocks of the Sierra foothills, except they are round and like a lily pad.  It will come and it will go, I'm always finding new patches about.  The season is six to eight weeks.