Zen and the art of lawnmower maintenance; Black Quinoa

When we lived in the Vendée we had over 100 rose bushes – only 1 planted by me and that because it was a gift.

Here we have 5 rose bushes.  I appreciate them so much more.

Each one is unique, pretty and has a scent that makes me want to bury my nose every time I walk by.

With 5 rose bushes I can pay attention.

You know the lawnmower adverts one sees, of an attractive, well-dressed person, riding smoothly around a perfectly cut green lawn, cutting it in record time with barely a crook of the finger?

It almost makes one feel guilty for mowing the lawn; it’s such an easy, pleasurable task.

Not here.

The three acres I’ve been mowing are so full of mole hills, rabbit holes and everything in between it’s like a Midwest road right after the spring thaw and before the road crews are out (full of potholes).

I hang on with all my strength and still almost get bounced right off the damn tractor.

Fortunately, I get ample breaks from the jouncing…. to do the repairing.

I wanted to make mon mari feel properly needed so I broke the tractor three times on Friday.

First, the chute thing that sprays out the cut grass gets clogged up from the brambles and thick weeds.

It always happens when I make a fresh cut in a new section.  (I divide the property up in, um, creative sections to keep my mind from permanently going dormant.)

So I have to stop, take my trusty pole and clean it out.

It doesn’t always want to start back up again.

The mower part; I haven’t broken the actual tractor….yet….

Friday I learned how to take the plastic covers off and play with the belts; how to take the back deflector thing off and look at things I’m clueless about to report their status to mon mari (who was supervising – you didn’t think I did any of this on my own, did you?)

I’d tell you about the other, technical stuff, I learned but it would be meaningless – it is to me, anyway.

The most important thing I learned is that if it takes 12 hours to mow the lawn (it did), only 7 of them actually involved cutting green stuff, the rest of the time is fixing the mower.

The second most important thing I learned is that if I would listen to mon mari, and not try to cut the  thick brambles, I could cut that 5 hours of tinkering down to, maybe, 30 minutes.

I just have this devil in me that, when I start a task, I want to do it all, even if doing it all is neither expected or possible.

Mon mari says we’re going to Round-Up the brambles.

He also says I have to quit breaking his toys.

On a different topic: I found black quinoa at the store the other day.

Naturally I had to try it.

For those of you have aren’t familiar with it it comes in tan and red varieties, as well; all similar in taste and preparation.

Quinoa

Quinoa is very high in protein and “contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food” according to Wikipedia. It’s also easy to cook and tasty – what more could we want?

1/2 cup quinoa (100gr, 3.5oz)
1 cup chicken stock (or the amount of liquid your package recommends)

Combine quinoa and stock in small saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until done, about 15 minutes (or whatever your package says). Serve.

This serves 2 generously – per each serving it has app.

Calories (kcal): 170
Carbohydrages (glucides) 35gr
Fiber: 5gr

I think I like the red best – prettiest.

To the basic recipe you can add sautéed  mushrooms and/or shallots and/or fresh herbs or use it in a pilaf or stir-fry…. Use it any way you would use rice (Except risotto)