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Spring Refresh
Azaleas are in full bloom, temperatures are pivoting between summer-like warmth and cooler nights reminiscent of "blackberry winters," and (speaking of) we're craving all things berries.
This month, I'm sharing the latest in our world, including where I'm drawing inspiration for spring and summer moments and would love to hear about yours! Let's share!
Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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🌪️ New: Storm Spotter Severe Weather Season
Last fall, I completed storm spotter training with the National Weather Service, which was a sort of dream come true for me since I've LOVED weather ever since I was mesmerized by clouds in the sky (it was a very young age). In fact, I considered meteorology as a career (landed on Communication Studies instead) and my friends and family can attest to the fact I'm pretty passionate about weather, especially when it could be severe.
In case you're not familiar, storm spotters are volunteers trained to recognize various modes of weather - from wind speed estimations to flooding and, of course, tornadoes. Radar is pretty advanced technology, but still experiences limitations getting data from the "ground level," which is why storm spotter reports are helpful to inform the NWS. It can help them issue warnings and alert neighboring communities as well as keep accurate weather records even after an event.
November through May is the peak of severe weather in the American South (where I am), so this is my first official season as a storm spotter. We've had several rounds of potentially severe weather; though, my area has only seen storms below severe limits (which, yes, is a good thing). Prior to potential severe weather events, I follow forecasts and listen to my NOAA weather radio (not an affiliate link) to see if spotter activation is requested. If so, I stay on standby to report anything newsworthy to the National Weather Service.
As a storm spotter, and someone with first-hand tornado experience (I was a graduate student in Tuscaloosa, Alabama during the April 27, 2011 outbreak), here's what I wish people knew about protecting themselves during severe weather season:
- Every home and business should have a NOAA weather radio (again, not an affiliate link) as their primary warning system. This is the source of truth for everyone - even your local meteorologists. It WILL wake you (and your ancestors) up from a deep sleep, just FYI.
- NEVER rely on outdoor sirens for warnings. Those outdoor sirens are outdated technology that often can't be heard indoors when a storm is raging.
- Have alerts enabled on your phone and ensure they will wake you up in the event of overnight storms.
- Understand the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch means there is the potential for severe weather, and a warning means it's imminent or happening.
- Make sure everyone in your home has a helmet (bike, football, baseball, etc.) to wear when taking shelter. This helps mitigate head trauma from projectiles.
- Wear closed-toe and hard soled shoes when taking shelter as protection from debris after the storm.
- Have emergency supplies of food, water, and medication for your family members (which include pets)!
- Consider placing important items in Ziploc bags or plastic protectors that you can insert in a backpack (passport, insurance docs, etc.). This includes a first aid kit and the emergency supplies mentioned in #7.
- Charge your phone and have battery backup, if possible.
- Shelter in the center-most area of your house away from as many windows as possible. We live in a ranch without a basement, so would shelter in our center hallway or a closet, for example.
- Be able to identify where your community is on a map.
- Warn your friends and family if you see they are in the path of a storm.
For those of you in parts of the world that experience tornadoes, what steps do you take to prepare?
NOTE: If you're interested in becoming a storm spotter, contact your local NWS office, or learn more here.
📚 Currently Bookmarked
Bringing Nature Home. I just finished Dr. Doug Tallamy's Bringing Nature Home and found it to be a wonderful read, especially for those who enjoy gardening, nature, and making environmentally-friendly choices. While it was written several years ago, the content is as important as ever and it was filled with some sobering surprise statistics.
- In the early 2000s, Dr. Tallamy noted that 15% of the Amazon basin had been logged compared to over 70% of the forests along the eastern U.S. seaboard are lost.
- Today, it's estimated that 20% of the Amazon basin has been logged and over 82% of the Eastern deciduous forest are considered human dominated (National Park Service article).
- Over 60,000 square miles of the U.S. is now comprised of suburban lawns (largely considered an environment not conducive to wildlife).
- Over 4 million linear miles of the U.S. has been paved.
The good news is that there are solutions within our control and this book offers great ideas and beautiful plant alternatives (discussed more below)!
I wrote a dedicated post with discussion questions in case you'd like to read it, or select it for your book club.
Ratio. Though not a cover-to-cover read for me, I've been re-reading Micheal Ruhlman's Ratio to continue committing various recipe ratio components to memory. It's not a vegan-specific book, so I select the appropriate chapters and "veganize" the ingredient ratios on my own. If you love finding ways to make recipes your own, I highly recommend adding it to your list!
Up Next - The Social Conquest of Earth by E.O. Wilson. (Roll Tide! 😉) Excited to take a dive into the book by this Pulitzer-Prize winning biologist exploring the human condition and the dominance we've experienced thus far on Earth. And before his illustrious career at Harvard, E.O. Wilson graduated from The University of Alabama.
🌱 National Native Plant Month
A few years ago, I was researching garden ideas for our new (and first!) home and accidentally stumbled across the concept of native plants via a random YouTube video by the UGA Extension Office. These are plants that have evolved with your geographic region and provide food and shelter for wildlife also native to your region. Kind of a critical part of our ecosystem. If we lose our wildlife (including insects), our food system will collapse.
Plus, native plants have a whole host of benefits including no need for pesticides, less watering, less susceptibility to cold snaps, and more. Shame on me for not realizing this much sooner, but native plants are a MUST for any garden and are usually displaced by non-native invasive species, many of which are sold at our garden centers.
For example, I LOVED the pop of color from Lantana growing up and I have fond memories of picking it out for my parents' garden when I was younger. Little did I know that Lantana (in Georgia and many other places) has a dark side. It's considered one of the world's worst invasive species (according to the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group), is toxic to wildlife when consumed, and outcompetes native plants. That color is a little more sinister now. And, perhaps the most frustrating part of this is that it's still sold as a popular ornamental shrub in most garden centers which is incredibly irresponsible. Native plants are GORGEOUS in their own right, so let's help them out!
So, Cliff and I are turning our landscape into a haven for native plants and wildlife - expect more posts about this as we intend to grow more food ourselves, too. Of course, that food will serve as recipe inspiration for the delicious vegan recipes we work to create here! We've already started the process by getting certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat.
As we work to bring sustainable practices more mainstream, native plants will be a big part of the picture. If you're new to the native plant conversation or love supporting it, here are some resources I highly recommend:
- Garden for Wildlife
- Homegrown National Park
- Your local extension office
- Audobon Society
- National Wildlife Federation National Plant Finder
- YouTube Video: Native Keystone Plants for Wildlife (Garden for Wildlife with Dr. Tallamy)
🍿 Binge and Tell (No Spoilers)
The Pitt. We're officially hooked. We took our time starting the show while we wrapped up a few others, but are so glad we had a few epsidoes in reserve to "binge." If you're not familiar with the show yet, each episode is an hour in the day shift of ER workers at a Pittsburgh hospital. And, boy, does it take you on a roller coaster ride of story lines, character development, and really good acting.
Cliff particularly loved seeing Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif's daughter, and Taylor Dearden, Bryan Cranston's daughter on the show; though, the entire cast is fantastic. We don't say that lightly.
The drama serves as a sobering reminder of the pressure on healthcare workers, especially following the peak of the COVID pandemic. You'll see the range of maladies that get treated in an ER and follow student doctors on their first day in "the pitt." Highly recommend!
White Lotus Season 3. We've been fans of the White Lotus series from Day 1, and were excited to see Walton Goggins and Parker Posey join the cast for this season. Parker's Southern affectations - for lack of a better way to describe it - has been my favorite. She offers a little levity to the narrative and can't help but be charming.
The final episode airs this week (as I write this) and we don't have any idea how it will end, which is one of our metrics of a good show. Plus, it's filmed beautifully and packed with metaphor for the audience that loves unpacking clues.
The show has been renewed for Season 4 and word about town is that it will take place at a vegan resort in Greece, according to this VegNews article. (Apparently, there is a spoiler in the article, so reader beware!) New travel bucket list destination unlocked!
Any YouTube walking tours. When I need something on in the background, or am enjoying morning coffee, I love heading over to YouTube and watching walking or driving tours at exotic locales...or just places we've never visited. It's a relaxing way to start the day and offers a mix of beauty and a hint of other cultures. One of my favorite videos is Quiet Morning in Kitano (Kobe, Japan) because it's a mix of peaceful and interesting!
🥰 Products I'm Loving
OSEA Best Sellers Set for Face and Body. I'm trying to take skincare more seriously, including drinking more water and moisturizing. I have a love-hate relationship with my hair and skin, so am always open to new ideas and products that are (hopefully) a good fit for my skin type and the enviornment.
While their products are a little pricey, I decided to try the OSEA best sellers set that includes:
- Ocean Cleanser
- Hyaluronic Sea Serum
- Atmosphere Protection Cream
- Undaria Algae Body Oil
It's been close to a month using these products and I'm happy with them thus far. My skin is still adjusting to the added moisture (which it needed), and I feel like it's a little more vibrant. My skin is incredibly sensitive, so I typically avoid products with fragrance. However, each of these products smell WONDERFUL and just adds to the experience.
I can't find the exact kit on Amazon, but here's a similar option that includes 2 additional products than what I linked to earlier.
Shakti Accupressure Mat. Please consult with a medical professional before starting an accupressure routine.
Similar to trying to make skincare a higher priority in 2025, I'm also trying to find ways to relax a bit more, reduce headaches, and recover after workouts. An accupressure mat was a gift for Cliff a few years ago, but I've recently started using it more and am not kidding when I tell you that I fall asleep on this thing. I love the pressure and for me, the "pain" you feel at the beginning disappears after just a few minutes. I can't get enough and plan to keep it part of my regular routine as we get more active outdoors (aka, sore muscles abound).
Lemon Berry Synergy Kombucha. If you're a kombucha fan and haven't tried lemon berry yet, go ahead and give it a try...I'll wait. 😉 For me, it's the perfect balance of sweet with a little tartness from the lemon, similar to a berry lemonade (just less sweet). The color is fun and it's a great choice for spring and summer IMO.
North Spore Lion's Mane Grow Kit. Another gift for Cliff that ended up being a gift for ourselves - ha! Thus far, we've been able to harvest this "spray and grow" kit twice (the first yield was larger than the second, which is to be expected) and are about to plant it outside to see if we can get more. We fell in love with Derek Sarno's lion's mane steak (recipe is in the video description) and wanted to try our hand at growing it ourselves. Couldn't recommend the mushrooms or the recipe more and are officially exploring adding mushroom beds to our garden. Stay tuned!
If you'd like a discount code, feel free to use this link. It offers $20 off purchases over $40. Is there anything you're excited to grow??
🌅 On the Horizon
HAM radio training. As a sort of spinoff to the weather spotter training, I'm excited to try my hand at learning how to operate a HAM (amateur) radio and potentially be of use in emergency situations.
Mushroom Garden Beds. Like I mentioned above, the lion's mane steak concept unlocked a new love of mushrooms for us and as we explore permaculture in our own garden, it seems like a natural next step to dedicate some space for mycoculture. The back half of our property is largely woods, so growing mushrooms (as opposed to plants that need more sun) seems like a natural fit. Which means more mushroom recipes are on the horizon!
Colorful Recipes. Similar to beetroot waffles, I think recipes bursting with color are a "must" this time of year - even recipes you wouldn't normally consider a color opportunity. Stay tuned for more!
It's fun to share more of the personal side - let me know in the comments what you're looking forward to this spring!
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