Travel Planning the Hound Way

Travel is a priority for our family. We simply love seeing new places, eating regional food, and challenging ourselves to explore and grow. We sacrifice other expenses to constantly save money for the next vacation. It's no surprise, after hundreds of trips in the past decade, that we have a 'way' of travel planning. Here's the gist of our casual, tech-centric, social, organizing style:

Pick the Place or the Place Will Pick You

We keep a life list of places we want to visit. Our dream list is impossibly large and expensive, including destinations as varied as South Georgia Island, Alaska, Asheville and Belgium.

More often than not, though, the place picks us. Lil and I tag along on Alex's business trip or the reverse when I have an out of town event. Tradition holds that we make our way to Lake Erie every Labor Day and we're often invited to Massachusetts for Alex's family events. Every few years my parents invite us on vacation with them and this year my grandmother is taking the whole family to Hawaii.

We don't mind pushing the dream list aside for other worthy destinations. We can enjoy each other's company and discover things we like in anywhere.

Book Something

Push the purchase button or call in a credit card number to a hotel to commit to a date and reserve one of the big ticket items. Usually we start with airfare, if we're driving. Alex is a United man so we go with them unless flight routing or cost is clearly preferable on another airline.

If we're just staying a night, especially in a city, we book hotels with Marriott brands. Alex accumulates reward points with Marriott so we often receive perks or free stays. We like their Residence Inn brand for two-room suites with a small kitchen that we can cook a meal or two in.

For longer trips, we search VRBO.com and HomeAway.com for vacation rentals. Vacationers can search by destination and many other attributes to find a variety of owner-operated condos and homes on these sites. The VRBO experience allows you to live like a local, often in unique properties like the amazing Big Island estate we'll stay at during our upcoming Hawaii trip. Thus far, we have never had a bad time staying in a VRBO property.

When Alex and I get away for a romantic weekend, we like to choose Select Registry Inns. The small hotels and bed and breakfasts included in the Select Registry offer the highest level of service and accommodations. It isn't often that we truly relax but the Select Registry B&Bs we've visited are outstandingly calming.

Gather and Organize Ideas

Next up is finding activities and food for the trip - this is the fun stuff! Alex and I used to keep a shared Google Doc with ideas but now we use Pinterest. We pin restaurants, parks, museums, and more for the months before we travel. If we are driving, we make sure to find restaurants and parks along the way for rest stops. Twitter friends are great sources of tips for restaurants and cultural sites.

We surround ourselves with books from the library. We read travel guides, picture books, destination, music and videos. We print a map for Lil and mark our stops together.

A few weeks before the travel begins, I set up a basic itinerary in a shared Google Doc or Evernote. I include options that are date specific (like farmers' markets) and museum opening and closing times. Rarely do we follow the itinerary to a tee, so I don't spend too much time trying to perfect it.

We use TripIt to track paid travel details like flights, hotels, and rentals. Our smart phones run the app so we can travel with less paper but still have important details at our fingertips.

Pack

We try to pack as lightly as possible for easier travelling. Alex frequently reminds me that "it's only money" and "they have stores there".

Our travel toiletries bag stays packed permanently as does our first aid kit. Alex keeps a technology bag full of the cords, chargers, and ipod so that our various informational and entertainment devices are always ready to go. Our backpacks and suitcases are always packed with some necessities too: water bottles (empty for flights), corkscrew, bandana, pens, and ziploc bags for collections.

Other items must be packed per trip - clothes, snacks, swimming gear, binoculars, books, and Lil toys. We designate who will bring group gear, like games and field guides, when travelling with extended family. If it's a road trip, we take a crate with cutting board, knife, cloth towel, and foodstuffs. For camping trips, we include our tent, chairs, sleeping bags, and the like.

Typically we wait until the day before a trip to pack or maybe two days for a bigger vacation. Packing is routine now and we rarely forget crucial items. Of course, as soon as I typed that Alex revealed that he forgot business socks for her current trip to Chicago! I will cover some of our specific travel essentials in a post later this week.

Go!

Finally it's time to leave for vacation. We say goodbye to the hounds (left in the care of family or friends) and take off.

Our casual planning method works for us but I know it wouldn't work for everyone. How do you plan family travel?

PS. All pictures in this post are from our last vacation. Read more about our trip to San Salvador Island Bahamas, beach food, making salt, and coconut creations.

Six Tips for Planning Summertime Fun

Today is the Ohio Blogging Association's All State Blog Swap where bloggers from all around the state are swapping posts. My guest is Danielle from Find Time for Fun...in Northeast Ohio, a great resource for parents looking for fun family activities in the Cleveland area. Visit Poise in Parma today to read the rest of the All State Blog Swap posts and check out my post about how to Find Time for Fun in Columbus. Summer is right around the corner, and for many families the break from school combined with the warm weather and additional daylight hours provides a great opportunity for family outings.

As you look forward to the upcoming months, here are 6 tips for planning summertime fun.

Get out and Enjoy Nature

Because of the warm weather summertime lends itself to outdoor activities, and there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors.

• Hike the trails at an area Metropark
• Grab a kite and head out to your backyard or neighborhood playground
• Join a sporting league (Baseball, Soccer, Running Club etc.)
• Participate in a nature based educational events offered by area Nature Centers
• Spend the afternoon at a dog park
• Get a GPS device or a GPS enabled mobile phone, and go Geocaching

Explore Local Farmer’s Markets

Support local farmers and purchase high quality locally grown foods at area farmers markets. One of my favorite aspects of farmer’s markets is getting to talk directly with the farmers. They are often passionate about their profession and are always extremely helpful. Bring along your children so they can learn about various fruits and vegetables too.

Visit Summer Festivals

On any given summer weekend there are typically a half dozen or more different festivals taking place. With themes ranging from Hot Air Balloons, Strawberries, Duct Tape, Music and Ethnic Cuisine, there is sure to be something for everyone.

Festivals can also be an affordable option as many are free to the public. Find out details on upcoming Ohio Festivals here.

Beat the Heat at area Spraygrounds and Swimming Pools

Don’t spend the hot summer days indoors with the air conditioner on full blast! Instead find an area swimming pool or sprayground. Many offer one day admittance, but if you plan to visit often, save money by purchasing a season pass.

Be prepared with Snacks and Beverages

It’s inevitable that someone will get hungry during your outing, so be sure to pack some snack items like granola bars, fruit, or trail mix. Having healthy snack options readily available can provide a pick me up when it is most needed.

In addition, I always recommend bringing along drinks, and it is especially important to do so during the hot summer months. Invest in some insulated reusable bottles or thermoses for your drinks. They will stay colder longer and can be easily refilled during the outing.

Dress for the Weather and Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

Always remember to check the weather forecast before heading out. Use the forecast and these considerations when deciding what to wear.

• Will there be a lot of walking? If so, wear comfortable shoes. You may even consider bringing along a second pair of socks. Changing into a fresh pair halfway through the outing makes a big difference.
• Does the activity involve water, or is there a chance you’ll get dirty? If so, pack a change of clothes and shoes for the drive home.
• Will you be exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time? If so, consider bringing along some sunglasses or a hat to shield your eyes. Always apply sunblock before leaving home and bring along the bottle so you can reapply throughout the day.
• Will you be out after the sun goes down? If so, you may want to bring a light jacket to keep warm as the temperature drops.

As you look toward the summer months, I hope these ideas help you plan your family outings. Summer truly is a great time to be with family and friends, and I hope you make fun outings a priority in your schedule. I promise that you’ll be thankful you did.

Do you have any other suggestions for planning memorable summertime activities?

Win Friends With Eton Mess {Recipe}

For the past year, we have been dining with friends every Friday night. Alternating hosting with being guests, we compete not with each other but for the great dining experiences enjoyed together. Highlights have included a low country crawfish boil, the $5 Julia Child dinner, 18-hour braised pork, and the kid favorite, chicken and waffles. Recently our friends served us Eton Mess. Neither Alex nor I were familiar with this layered dessert of crunchy meringue, sweetened whipped cream and fresh fruit. Upon a single taste we agreed that this dessert is perfection.

Eton Mess is a play of textures with simple, familiar flavors. The dessert is easy to make ahead and plate for individual servings as dinner comes to a close.

As the very name suggest sloppiness, it is perfect for a child to make. For our version, Lil picked the berries, piped the meringue, and dipped the chocolate strawberry garnish. I whipped the cream, but only because Lil was too busy playing. That component, too, is easy for the beginning cook.

Homer Simpson said "You don't win friends with salad." I add the positive "You win friends with dessert," especially if your friend happens to be this adorable two-year-old.

Eton Mess Serves: 8 (with a few meringues left over) Time: 20 minutes prep, 2 hours cooking and cooling, 10 minutes plating

meringues: 2 egg whites (reserve yolks for mayonnaise, hollandaise, or another recipe) 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

cream: 1/2 cup whipping cream 2 teaspoons powdered or granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 cups fresh strawberries, washed and sliced

8 chocolate-dipped strawberries (optional garnish)

for the meringues: 1. Place the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar in a large clean bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. 2. Beat with a rotary mixer or whip until foamy, about two minutes. Increase the speed and continue beating. 3. Add sugar one tablespoon at a time, fully incorporating each addition until the egg white are smooth again. 4. Continue beating until whites are very stiff. Then whip in the vanilla. 5. Transfer meringue to a piping bag or gallon ziploc bag, pressing mixture to release any air bubbles. 6. Using a one-inch round tip or a one-inch cut in the corner of the bag, pipe the meringue onto a cookie tray covered with a silicone mat or parchment in two- to three-inch rounds. 7. Bake meringue in a preheated 275 degrees F oven for 45 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 250 degress F and continue cooking until meringues are lightly brown and hard to the touch. Turn off the stove but leave cookie sheet in the oven with the door closed until cool.

for the whipped cream: 1. Place 1/2 cup whipping cream in a large clean bowl or bowl of a stand mixer. 2. Using a whisk or whip attachment, slowly whisk the cream. 3. After it becomes foamy, increase the speed a little. 4. Slowly add sugar until fully incorporated. 5. Continue to whip just until the cream stiffens into solid peaks. Whipping too long will end up with butter and buttermilk, so watch this closely. 6. Stir in vanilla extract.

assembly: 1. Select clear glass cups or goblets, one for each guest. 2. Fill the bottom with 2-3 crushed meringues. 3. Layer on 1/4 cup of sliced strawberries. 4. Top with a dallop of whipped cream. 5. Layer on more meringues, berries, and cream. 6. Top with a chocolate-dipped strawberry, if desired. 7. Serve immediately.

Here's the Simpsons reference:

Added to Simple Lives Thursday #96.

Spring Gardening Q&A

I opened a can of aphids (gardeners like worms, so we wouldn't be scared of a can of worms!) when I asked on Facebook what challenges and questions fellow gardeners have. There are so many I'll do a few Garden Q&A posts. Feel free to add your questions and answers in the comments!

What can I plant now?

In Ohio, we're well into the summer planting season. Gardeners are free to plant seedlings and summer maturing seeds.

Every gardener should test their soil and amend as necessary to insure the best results. If you grew tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes in a particular bed last year, try to rotate to a nitrogen fixing plant like beans to renew the soil. Otherwise, be sure to amend with nutritious worm castings.

Seedlings or seeds?

For best success, buy seedlings for the following plants: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, okra, and herbs. Plant seeds for beans, peas (though it's too late for those in Ohio this year), squash, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes and greens.

What spacing do various plants need?

You want to allow just enough spacing for a plant to grow to maturity without leaving too much room for weeds. Greens, lettuces, radish, and carrot seeds can be planted every 1-2 inches. Space herbs 4-6 inches apart. Plant bean seeds 2-4 inches apart and squash every six inches. Broccoli (pictured above with sandal spacing), cabbage, tomato, pepper, eggplant, and okra seedlings should be spaced every 10-12 inches as they will easily grow to take up that much space and possibly more.

How and when do I set up cages and supports?

Even though it looks goofy, I advocate for setting up cages and supports very soon after plants sprout. It is easier to train a plant inside a cage than to add a cage later when it can damage leaves. For tomatoes, bury a large cage deep in the soil or put heavy duty stakes on either side of your tomato row and run wire between and around the stakes for support. We often add stakes later as plants need it.

Bean, peas, cucumbers, and squash can be trained to climb up a fence, bamboo teepee, crossed branch trellis, or even an old wire matress frame. The most important part is to bury stakes deeply so they will support the plant as it grows.

What can be done about rodent/pet pests?

My best advice for rodents is to get a big dog. Really, Devie is the only thing that scares away the squirrels with any regularity. She does like tomatoes and peas off the vine herself, so we have to fence our raised beds to keep her out of them!

If a noisy dog is out of the question (believe me, the barking at every little thing is annoying), you can try sprinkling cayenne pepper around the beds as some digging rodents will be deterred by the spice.

Removing any other potential food or housing source is another way to deter rodents. Stop feeding birds near the garden, as mice and squirrels are attracted by bird feed too. Keep compost and wood piles away from vegetable beds because they house rodents.

What about insect pests?

I generally see two kinds of insects in my garden - legged beetle-type bugs and crawling caterpillars. Both tend to eat the leaves and young fruit of my future food. Many gardeners hand pick largest pests like caterpillars and slugs, killing them in a jar of soapy water. Lil likes to find slugs and grubs to feed to Austra - the better for my garden and my eggs!

For leggy pests, spray the plants with a dilute solution of Dr. Bronners lavender or mint soap, 1 teaspoon per 16 out spray bottle. This makes it hard for beetles to crawl on the leaves and they will find somewhere else to live.

Crawling caterpillars and slugs can take out a whole plant overnight. I combat them by sprinkling diatomaceous earth (DE) on the leaves and around the soil. Diatomaceous earth is the sharp silicon shards of ground up diatom fossils that cut through the skin of insects without an exoskeleton. It is safe for humans and pets to consume, even, though during application gardeners should wear a mask as DE is a fine dust that can be a breathing hazard.

Introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs and praying mantises will result in the 'good' bugs preying on the 'bad' one.  The most fail-proof, but costly, way to avoid many of these pests is to install row covers or grow in high houses or high tunnels.

The Mother Earth News article 'Organic Pest Control' provides specific recommendations for the top twelve harmful garden insects.

Eight hundred words on six questions seems like enough for today! I'll answer more questions about pruning, containers, and anything that comes up in the comments next week. If you're planting a garden for the first time, don't forget about my free Grow Your Garden ebook - it covers all the basics.

Please join the conversation - do you have innovative solutions to these questions? Or more garden challenges? Leave a comment.

Grilled Bok Choy & Tatsoi {Recipe}

Remember last week when I picked strawberries and toured Bird's Farm? The bok choy and tatsoi in the high tunnel were too beautiful for me to resist.

Rich in Vitamin A and C, these greens are tasty ways to supplement your diet. They are mild in flavor, sweeter than kale or mustard greens, and the crunchy stem adds texture to dishes.

The young plants are often sold as baby bok choy or baby tatsoi. The stems are so tender when young they can be eaten raw, sautéed in a stir fry mix, or cooked quickly as in our favorite preparation: grilled bok choy.

I predict bok choy and tatsoi will be the next 'hot' green vegetable like kale is now. They are even easier to assimilate into the standard American diet and oh so delicious.

Do you eat bok choi and tatsoi? What's your favorite way to cook them?

Grilled Bok Choy Time: 10-20 minutes heating grill, 5 minutes preparation, 5 minutes cooking

1 head of young bok choy or tatsoi per person 1 teaspoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Slice the head in two lengthwise and wash thoroughly for any sandy soil that may reside in between leaves. 2. Drizzle with olive oil and soy sauce and sprinkle on a light coating of salt and pepper on the cut side. 3. Grill the bok choy, cut side down, over very hot coals for 4-6 minutes or until the greens are browned but not burnt. Serve immediately.

Buy Local Plants! Swaps and Sales {Friday Five}

Some say the soil is the key to a successful garden while others say the sun. I believe that quality seedlings make a huge difference between gardens that produce strong crops and those that falter.

The healthiest seedlings are raised locally by savvy growers. Seedlings at 'big box' stores are often stressed from lack of care and long transport distances. Small, local farmers and gardeners, on the other hand, baby their seedlings to keep them strong and disease free.

Fortunately for Columbus gardeners, local seedling sources are plentiful. If you are still looking for seedlings and/or have some extras to share, hit up one of these plant swaps and sales:

1. Chadwick Garden Plant Sale -  Friday, May 11, 7 am - 7 pm (Auction begins at 11am) and Saturday, May 12, 8 am - 3 pm (Auction begins at 11am) on the grounds of the Ohio 4-H Center located just east of 315 on the OSU campus at Lane Avenue and Fred Taylor Drive.

2. Worthington Plant Fest 9 am - 4 pm Saturday May 12 at the Village Green, corner of Rt. 161 and High Street (Rt. 23). I'll be here selling Swainway Urban Farm organic seedlings!

3. City Folk's Farm Shop Seedling Swap - 9 am - 5 pm Saturday May 19. Bring your labelled seedlings to City Folk's Farm Shop at 4760 N High St Columbus OH 43214 to swap with other growers.

4. Como Yarden Heirloom Plant Sale - 11 am - 4 pm Saturday May 19. Fantastic culinary varieties grown in organic Ohio soil.

5. Central Ohio Plant Swap - 10 am Saturday May 19 at Shelter A - Aspen (formally called #5), Hilliard Municipal Park, Hilliard, Ohio. Details on the gardenweb page.

Marvelous Mint {Wordy Wednesday}

Mint is a weed by any definition. Many gardeners even consider it invasive - the stuff will fill a space and beyond.

Our patch resides in a bed alongside the house bordered by the sidewalk. For the most part, this contains the spread and last year oregano actually overtook some of the mint zone.

We "tend" (mint actually requires no work) our mint madness because we love the herb. Lil eats the leaves fresh like salad greens and makes them into nests and garden sculptures.

I harvest fresh leaves frequently for drinks and dessert garnishes. At least once a year I fill the dehydrator, crushing the dried leaves for tea.

When mint flowers in late summer, bees and other pollinators 'sup on the nectar while my family enjoys the petite purple blooms.

Despite it's overgrowing habit, I'm mad for mint.

Do you grow mint? If so, how do you enjoy it?

Strawberries at Bird's Haven Farms {Farm Tour}

The back of my legs ache with familiar soreness of strawberry picking. Remarkably, almost a whole month earlier than last year, the 2012 season is here!

Picking Strawberries at Bird's Haven Farms

Thanks to a tip from a friend, Lil and I drove north of Granville to check out Bird's Haven Farms on the first day they opened for picking. The farm is a 40 minute drive from our home in Clintonville and only five minutes from our favorite Windy Hill Apple Farm.

Bird's Haven uses black plastic and hand pulling to conquer weeds, not chemical sprays. The paths between the rows show evidence of this as they are full of weeds. During our visit, just a few hours after heavy morning rain, what wasn't a plant was mud or standing water - fun for dirt-loving kids!

The berries themselves are ripe and juicy with fresh-from-the-field flavor that cannot be replicated by out of season fruit. These strawberries had no bitter after-taste that can come from sprayed berries.

Finding red ones took a bit of work as the fruits are just beginning to ripen, but we managed to fill eleven quart baskets in about an hour. I am thrilled that Lillian finally has as much stamina for picking berries as I do.

Our strawberries cost $25, a very fair price for sustainably-grown berries. We will freeze some, make jam, and eat them fresh until we are stuffed.

Vegetables In Tunnels & At Markets

When chatting with the clerk at the greenhouse, I mentioned volunteering with OEFFA and she connected me with someone (a former 'big ag' employee whose name I forget - sorry!) to show me around the rest of the farm. Bird's Haven was one of the first family farms in Ohio to use high tunnels to produce greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash.

High tunnels allow the family farm to apply far fewer chemicals (no spray unless crop loss is imminent) and extend the season. The tomato plants were loaded with green fruits and it's only early May!

I purchased some beautiful tatsoi and bok choi to cook this weekend. I'll share the recipe because I think these sweet greens are highly underused in most home kitchens.

I didn't buy any of their beautiful hanging baskets, though Lil begged for some. Maybe when we sell our house and move!

Bird's Haven Farms is committed to selling only what they produce from seed. Their produce, eggs, flowers, and seedlings are available at the farm and at the Granville Farmer's Market Saturdays from 8:30 am - noon at the intersection of Broad & Main and Westerville Farmer's Market Wednesdays from 3-6 pm at the corner of N. State St. and E. Home St. Additionally, they supply produce to Ella Restaurant, the Granville Exempted Village Schools, The Greener Grocer, and Going Green Store. The farm offers a CSA, though the 2012 sign-up deadline passed. In the fall, they open a u-pick pumpkin patch.

Bird's Haven Farms 5545 Lafayette Rd Granville, OH

740-587-1100

Open: Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 6 pm Saturday 10 am - 5 pm Sunday 12 -5 pm

If you go:

• Call ahead for field conditions and produce availability.
• Wear boots (do as I say, not as I do).
• Bring cash or credit cards as they accept either.
• Pack sunscreen, a hat, or rain gear, depending on the weather.
• Bring baskets if you wish, but they provide if you don't have any.
• Carry a cooler with water and/or snacks in the car. The field is not far from the parking lot so no worries about a backpack to carry into the field.
• Pack an extra change of clothes and/or shoes for kids who might get muddy.
• Ask questions. The knowledgeable farm staff is eager to share about their sustainable practices.