Have you ever had FRESH Hearts of Palm? I hadn’t either till today! They taste like sweet artichoke. You can eat them fresh/raw but they oxidize super fast so it’s recommended you blanch them first. Still delicious, not as crunchy, but super artichoke-y and so very different from the canned stuff. Today we took down the first of the 13 palm trees I need to remove from around my pond. I wish I had been better about taking more pictures and video (next time) I hired a self proclaimed “monkey” to climb up and do the “top work”, while I covered the ground gathering up the fronds to make a cushion for the eventual trunk sections to come down on, and refueling and trading out the chain saws! What a fun day of hard work with a tasty reward at the end!
Been putting my plumbing knowledge to the test this month. Second broken pipe I’ve had to repair after coming home to an empty water tank when the first one broke out in my field while I was working out of town. This broken sprinkler pipe explains why this part of my lawn has been turning brown. Feeling pretty confident and proud of my solo homesteading skills while my regular handyman is back in Mexico visiting family after finally getting his green card last year! 💪🏽👩🏻🌾💪🏽
Goodbye Bubbles. Mighty huntress turned sweet little old lady. My mom has her $2000 cat back. That was my mom’s nickname for her since when she was only 2yrs old she got a foxtail in her side that required surgery after it had worked its way into her fur and under her skin. Bubbles was born at my parents house, daughter of Princess, one of the kittens my classmate had rescued from under their house. (My mom didn’t get Princess spayed until after her second “accidental” litter 🤦🏻♀️)
Bubbles and her brother Pretty Boy moved into my house in Ojai with my mom in 2019. I built them a 500sq ft enclosed ‘catio’ to keep them safe as they had always been indoor/outdoor at my parents house. When my mom was alive they spent most of the day trading spaces in the bed around my mom. After mom passed I let them continue to have their own space and they kept each other company. When Pretty Boy passed about a year and a half ago Bubbles was so sad and lonely she would cry all day and night. That’s when we all decided to just let her become an indoor/outdoor cat again and join the pack. Once I knew everyone was going to get along I knew the dogs would keep her safe from any predators and Bubbles immediately started hunting again. She started to slow down the last few months, not at all surprising because she had to have been at least 18yrs old. Bubbles had an amazing last year of her life. She will be missed in our pack.
Spring 2026 - watching the seasons change. Yesterday I found out my dear cousin Joe passed away unexpectedly and today I received my portion of @jeremyjarvis808 ashes. (Thank you @wildandwisecsa ). I am thankful for the wisteria for reminding me there is some beauty in the world today and the sun for warming my heart an kissing my skin. I recommend turning the sound on to hear all the birds and the massive bees.
@jeremyjarvis808 I felt you with me a lot today. I didn’t see any butterflies like we had talked about, but I did get seriously inspected by a hummingbird, does that count? I read your obituary this afternoon while I sat by the pond, intoxicated by the sent of jasmine being warmed in the sun. I thought of the day we spent together making vegan birria from hibiscus flowers and then sat down in the lawn to eat them before packing up the rest to take to your friends show at SoHo in SB. Come to think of it I need to find those old pics and make a highlight reel of some of our music+food adventures from my stories on IG. /obituary/jeremy-jarvis-1093565317
@jeremyjarvis808 I love this human with my whole heart. We met when I was 14 years old, on State Street in Santa Barbara. We have shared so many amazing, beautiful, adventures together. They’re my favorite vegan co-chef and fearless music festival buddy. Tomorrow they will be embarking on an adventure I cannot join them on just yet. I hold peace in knowing that the place they are going has no space for pain and suffering, as they move into a place of pure love. I will miss having their physical presence walking on this planet, and getting to see all their glorious expressions of joy and wonder. I carry their grace with me always. You are perfect. You are made of stardust. I love you so much @jeremyjarvis808
While waiting to get our clients ready for the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended @faith_bluejay spotted this little dude just hanging out on a stump. What an amazing weekend I just spent in and just outside of Telluride Colorado. I got to watch two of the most beautiful women, both inside and out, share their love for each other with the people closest to them. I feel honored that they shared this magic with me too.
Had a little young fox try to ding dong dash me last night! I’ve been catching a larger looking one on some of my other cameras, must be a den nearby. 🦊
Agua Fresca Bugambilia (Bougainvillea) inspired by @angelgo_rho who sent me a reel featuring this stunning beverage. Since I’m lucky enough to have all the ingredients needed here on the ranch (several cups of fresh flower petals, lemon, & honey) I got to work as soon as I could. The prep is somewhat tedious as you need to use JUST the colorful “petals” (bracts) and remove all the stems and 3 actual flowers located in the middle. After that you just steep them in simmering water (low heat) for about 10 minutes, strain, and add lemon and sweetener to taste (and a pinch of salt for balance and electrolytes). It’s easy to google a recipe if my explanation isn’t clear…
Bougainvillea, when consumed as a drink (usually tea), is believed to offer several potential health benefits. These include supporting blood sugar metabolism, providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and potentially aiding with respiratory issues like coughs and sore throats. It is also used in some traditional medicine practices for its antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities
