Showing posts with label Word(y) Wednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word(y) Wednesday. Show all posts

03 October 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Hay Maze

 
 
Odkrywają
pronounced Ohd-kriv-ayom
 
They are discovering
 
 
 


Na razie...

22 August 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Mushroom

Following yesterday's post, today's word is Mushroom.

 
 

Grzyby

pronounced gzhih-bih
Mushrooms







Note:  The "rz" sound in Polish is like a softer z, almost like if you pretend to make a vacuum or lawn mower sound, or the sound of some other loud machinery.

Since the sound is hard to describe without hearing, here is an audio you can listen to of the pronunciation.  Check out the audio for ż (rz) - żaba, rzeka, tworzy. 



Singular form for Mushroom is Grzyb.




Na razie...

13 June 2012

Wordless Wednesday: In the Garden, Radishes

First Harvest in our garden was...



Rzodkiewki
(pronounced Zhohd-keyehv-key)
Radishes



Radishes are planted in our garden for their flavor in several summer dishes, as well as companion plants.

Plant radishes to deter cucumber beetles, cabbage worms, squash borers, squash bugs, slugs, flies and other pests.  With this in mind, radishes should be planted with cucumber, cabbage, beets, squash, melons, beans, peas and spinach.  Some suggest carrots as well, while others do not recommend this pairing.


Use radishes in the following recipes:

Farmer's Cheese Spread or Pasta Twarogowa

Kanapki

Chłodnik

There are many other recipes you can use radishes in, or you can enjoy them simply by slicing them thin and layering on good bread with butter and a pinch of salt like all the Slavs love to enjoy.



Polish Mama Nutrition:

Radishes are high in of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Folate and Potassium.

Radishes are a good source of Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper and and Manganese, as well as several trace minerals.

They are low in cholesterol, calories and fat, so are perfect for diets.

Read More about radish nutrition facts.



 

My seeds come from Dom itp.  This post is not sponsored by them but if you choose to follow the link or button to their site and purchase anything from them, I would receive commission and thank you.

 

 

Related Posts:





06 June 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Camping in Ohio

Last weekend, my children, husband and I made the over 7 hour drive to Ohio.  It was the midway point to Maryland, so that some of his family could meet us there.  It was also the location of another event which my husband enjoys, a mud run.

The most memorable moment I had personally on the trip was visiting Conkle's Hollow.

Driving along the country road from our camp site, I saw a thick dark unending pine forest.





There was a hush coming from the woods.  It beckoned me, pulled at my blood memory.

The forests in Poland looked like these woods.

Thick towering trees blocking out the sun, needles pillowing the ground, ferns uncurling their greenery as they have since the Age of Fishes, before the Dinosaurs.  Life quietly growing, undamaged by Man's hand.

Mushrooms waiting for the right rains and temperatures so that they can ripple the pine needle floor and peek out, fairy tales and legends recited on them by Krasnoludki.






The eyes of creature residents, unseen by us, yet I know they are there.  There is a slight tingling sensation that I am being watched by something.  Something that knows what I am, human, creator of fire and death.  Perhaps it's a flock of deer, a chipmunk, a bear.  They know of me, of my kind, of how we tear apart the Earth and claim it all as ours for the taking.

Shhhhh...  The wind blows, the tops of the trees sway, the forest remains quiet.  Calling me.

We move down the road, the forest on my right side, steady.

On the trail, our group of seven spreads across the trail, adults stepping in stride with the children, teaching them.  How to watch for snakes, to stand in silence a moment around water so that you can see that the creek is indeed teeming with life, to find new life on plants, to touch a tree and look up and to rightfully feel the awe of this wondrous life, brown and green and strong.

Reminders to stay on the trail, not to disturb the life there, to know that in Nature, animals live here and that we are entering their house.

Little needles on the ground, green with two white stripes, eastern hemlock, a species from the end of the Ice Age.  On tiny fingers, eyes absorbing the details quickly, ears hearing the hush and our voices.

A turn of the head and we see a Native American couple walking the path, slowly, looking at all that is around them, in traditional dress.  They are beautiful.







I smile at them, knowing that here we are doing the same thing, conversing silently with God.  And sharing with the next generation so that they know as well.

My mother-in-law bravely approaches them and asks if we can take a photo of them, which they agree to.  Conversation naturally flows, like the creek a few feet from us.

The woman tells me they are Cherokee.  The man is quiet but his eyes shine with wisdom and his words carry weight.

She speaks words that could have come from my mother, my father, my grandparents, my cousins.  From across the ocean, from Poland. 


"Nature is important."


"This is our church, God is here."


"Each tree and rock is unique, has it's own characteristics, just like people."

We agree that it is a wondrous thing to see people walking in the woods and teaching the next generation to behold Nature and enjoy it.

She talks about giving thanks throughout the day for the Sun, for a new day, for the rain, and everything else around us.

In my heart, their wisdom hits every chord of how I want to mother my children, what impact I want to have on my great great grand children.

It's a moment of clarity, refocusing me.

I didn't catch their names but we ended up agreeing that perhaps we will see them at a Pow Wow sometime.  I hope we do.  They truly blessed me that day.

Na razie...


 

Related Posts:


How to See Venus Traverse Sun

Word(y) Wednesday: Garden Inspiration, Cabbage and Violets (Chicago Botanic Garden)

Teaching Children About Poland (recommended site)

23 May 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Garden Inspiration, Cabbage and Violets

Kapusta i Fiołek Ogrodowy


Kapusta
(pronounced Kah-poo-stah)

Cabbage





Fiołek Ogrodowy
(pronounced feeoh-wehk Ohgrood-ohvih)

Viola
The literal translation is Violet of the Garden or Garden Violet.


Fiołek
(pronounced Feeoh-wehk)

Violet


Bratek
(pronounced Brah-tehk)

Pansy
The word loosely hints to the fact that the Pansy is the brother or friend of the violet.  Or that the Bratek is the brat (brother) of the Fiołek.








Violas are related to violets and pansies.  Violas tend to last better through the winter, so some gardeners prefer to use them.  You can use any of these plants interspersed and bordering your cabbage, lettuce, and other plants to protect them from garden pests.






Violet, Viola and Pansy petals and leaves can be eaten: 

  • As part of a beautiful salad or dish garnish
  • Crystallized on a dessert
  • Make a jelly from them
  • Use to delicately flavor a cake or icing
  • Make a very traditional Torun dish called violet soup which is not common in modern cuisine
  • Even the leaves can be cooked like spinach.

I must stress, however, that if you decide to eat the flowers and leaves, do not eat them if they have been sprayed with pesticides.





These photos come from our last trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden's Vegetable Gardens.

I hope this inspires you to garden and to think about non-traditional ways to grow your own food.



Watch for the next few Wordless (Wordy) Wednesday posts for gardening ideas and to see what we are growing in our own personal garden. 


The majority of my seeds come from Dom itp. Some seeds they offer are sunflowers, pickling cucumbers, Polish wild strawberries, several different flowers including violets and garden violas, parsley roots (I highly recommend trying this in some of your recipes), and many other varieties.  Their prices are comparable to going to your local chain or gardening store.  It's like having a piece of Poland in your backyard.

Disclaimer: The links and banner for Dom itp are part of an affiliate program. While the company does not pay for me to post their links and banner, I do receive a portion of all sales made using the links and banner in compensation. If you do purchase something from them this way, I sincerely thank you.

Na razie...



Related Posts:

Word(y) Wednesday: Our Polish American Garden

Word(y) Wednesday: Chicago Botanic Garden

Word(y) Wednesday:  Piękny Jaś



16 May 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Chicago Botanic Garden, European Plants

I hope you noticed something new last week on my Wednesday post.  I'm planning on sharing the Polish word to the majority, if not all, of my photos each week to help others learn Polish. 

Associating a word with an image is easier than associating a word with a translation of the word.  It's also the way children learn their "mother" tongue.

Think of this as a blog version of flashcards in a foreign language class...



Also, our own garden is getting along very nicely and I've added two new flower beds filled with seeds from Dom itp.  I'll be sharing photos as the seeds start growing.



Last week, we went to the Chicago Botanic Garden.




Czosnek
(pronounced Chohs-Nek)
Garlic





Jagody
 (pronounced Yah-go-dih)
Blueberries
These are the flowers




Wyspa
 (pronounced Vis-pah)
Island





Paproć
(pronounced Pah-proh-ch)
Fern





Maki
(pronounced Mah-kee)
Poppies





Europejski Ogród
(pronunced Eh-ooroh-pay-skee Oh-grood)
European Garden






Kwiatek
(pronounced Kvee-ah-tehk)
Flower




Lawenda
(pronounced Lah-vehn-dah)
Lavendar




Bodziszek Leśny
(pronounced Bodz-ih-shehk Leh-shnih...  Note: DZ is pronounced like the J in Jump)
Forest Geranium.  Also known as Geranium Sylvaticum or Wild Cranesbill


Na razie...




Related Posts:










09 May 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Our Polish American Garden

The children and I started a garden...


Rzeżucha (Garden Cress) one day old indoors...



The same Rzeżucha three days old...



Another planting of Rzeżucha over a week old planted outdoors...



Baby Beets...



Baby carrots...




A garden friend hiding from falling raindrops...




Pumpkin...




Radishes planted around the pumpkin patch to keep out uninvited bugs naturally...



Sweet Peas...




Brussel Sprouts...
(Oops, turns out these were planted next to the Brussel Sprouts, which never came up.  These are another variety of pea)



Maki (Poppies) to bring bees and other pollinators to the garden...




Baby cabbage (Kapusta) I need to transplant...




Our Piękny Jas (5 growing total in this bed alone)...




The little red bird we rescued a few days ago after it was hit by a car while flying.  After a few hours of rest, he flew to his tree where his mate greeted him and they returned to their nest together...



Our home made Worm Farm in the shed...


We also planted other plants, such as Alpine Violets, wild Polish strawberries, curly parsley, Polish Dill, red and white carnations, and several other flowers and fruits and vegetables.  We are waiting one more week to plant cucumbers, heirloom and Malinkowy Tomatoes, and a few others.

What are you growing?



Watch for the next few Wordless (Wordy) Wednesday posts to see what else we are growing and how you can grow it as well.



The majority of my seeds come from Dom itp. Some seeds they offer are sunflowers, pickling cucumbers, Polish wild strawberries, several different flowers, parsley roots (I highly recommend trying this in some of your recipes), and many other varieties.  Their prices are comparable to going to your local chain or gardening store.  It's like having a piece of Poland in your backyard.

Na razie...



Disclaimer: The links and banner for Dom itp are part of an affiliate program. While the company does not pay for me to post their links and banner, I do receive a portion of all sales made using the links and banner in compensation. If you do purchase something from them this way, I sincerely thank you.

25 April 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Piękny Jaś

I started a new garden at our Illinois house.  In the bean patch, Polish Piękny Jaś is starting to grow next to the native Purple Pole Beans a friend gave me (you can see the taller purple stem in the background of this photo).  It's a Polish American garden.





This is one of about 6 Piękny Jaś beans I planted with the children.  We just took some beans I bought and put them in dirt or water beads.  And waited.

What do you have growing in your garden?

Watch for the next few Wordless (Wordy) Wednesday posts to see what else we are growing and how you can grow it as well.



Spring is Here!

It's time to start our gardens! Dom itp has Buy $30 of seeds and get free shipping until May 2, 2012. Some seeds they offer are sunflowers, pickling cucumbers, Polish wild strawberries, several different flowers, parsley roots (I highly recommend trying this in some of your recipes), and many other varieties.  Their prices are comparable to going to your local chain or gardening store.  It's like having a piece of Poland in your backyard.

Na razie...



Disclaimer: The links and banner for Dom itp are part of an affiliate program. While the company does not pay for me to post their links and banner, I do receive a portion of all sales made using the links and banner in compensation. If you do purchase something from them this way, I sincerely thank you.

08 February 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: We Learned English

I'm sentimental.  I keep objects around me that remind me, give me strength. 

 
My husband says I'm a pack rat.  But I use these items.  They aren't clutter that sit collecting dust, having no value to anyone at all.

 
One of the things I love to collect are books.  I have 4 full sized bookcases filled with books. 

 
Some of the books I have a special place for are the books that remind me of our coming to Amerika.


 


These are the books I remember my parents pouring over at the dining room table, pencil and small notepads in hand.  Copying down words, sounding them out, writing them in sentences, erasing, rewriting. 


Asking me if I knew a word once I was in school. 


Writing and rewriting on small pieces of paper, checkered with blue lines.  The typical paper on which letters were written and mailed back and forth between family in Poland.  Letters that took one month to arrive to the USA, another month for the reply to be delivered in Poland.


My Tato (father) took a few English language classes for free after we came here.  My mother didn't.  Both poured themselves into Amerikan television, repeating sentences.  Reading books borrowed from the library, found at yard sales, anywhere we could get them. 


Stumbling over computer programming books written in English when computers first came out, because my Tato said that it "is the future"-even when others laughed at such a silly idea as computers.


Playing Rolling Stone songs and singing along.  Trying and trying and trying again.


To learn English because we came to Amerika.  We wanted to success, to be able to eat better food than boiled white rice, one extremely cheap piece of chicken or hot dog per person, a can of vegetables split between a family of four.


We wanted a hard earned piece of the Amerikan Dream.  And the Amerikan Dream didn't involve anyone learning Polish for our benefit.  It involved us learning English.  Or else living in poverty forever with no future at all.


I look at those books and remember struggle.  Persistence.  Tears of frustration.  Stumbled words.  Trying and trying again. 


Accents that I didn't hear because to me, they weren't accents.  It's how we spoke. 


I look at those books and I know all we lost and all we gained.


I would look up at Church and read the PNCC motto "With Truth, Work, and Struggle, We Will Succeed" and feel it deep in my heart because I knew it was true. 


I know we are strong.


Na razie...

 


Related Posts:

My Feet in Two Worlds, The Brutally Honest Truth of It

Bigger Picture Moments: Soft Boiled Eggs and a Reminder of a World of Love

Another Immigrant Family

Our Life Changing Anniversary

01 February 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Marytown

After a vaccination at my toddler's pediatrician office, we stopped by Marytown.

I wrapped her in my mei tai on my front so that I could cuddle her and kiss her and whisper to her.  I figured that the shot would sting for a little while and that fresh air and cuddles would make us both feel better.

We walked around the garden and I told her little stories about each spot.


"Baby Jesus loves you"


 
"Spring is coming, my baby"


 
"The More You Honor Me, The More I Bless You"

St. Francis of Assisi Peace Prayer

And his prayer turned to song in this video:




I found this in one of the gardens and realized there must be Polish parishioners at Marytown... (I'll tell you about this more in another post)


In the Kolbe/Holocaust Exhibit, I saw this painting and thought it was too powerful not to share...


"Our Lady of Tears"



I needed this today.  I needed to hear the bells ringing for Mass.  I needed to walk into a church that looked and felt like a church.  Where the hymns were sung in the same harmony as my Prababcia sang them.  Where benches outside were carved from solid wood, with thought and skill and prayer, for the purpose of pausing, reflecting, finding inner strength.

Where I can walk safely.  In peace.  Holding my child...



Na razie...

04 January 2012

Word(y) Wednesday: Golonka

My Tato drove into Chicago to buy some items from the Polish stores.

He bought Golonka. 




Golonka belongs in poetry.  When I envision a wealthy landowner from the Dark Ages gnawing on a piece of meat, I don't envision mutton or the modern spin, a turkey leg.  I envision Golonka.


Because if that wealthy landowner knew anything about delicious meat, he would choose Golonka.


I think they should serve Golonka at Renaissance Festivals.


My Tato bought "two biggest Golonka they had", he proclaimed.  He called dibs on the larger of the two he purchased.


Tato said, "I have to go drink a beer because Golonka likes to swim!"


I agree.


Na razie...