The meadow at Longwood Gardens.
Author: Timelesslady
Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.
Problem-Solving – The Uncollectibles
I posted this for the first time in 2012, but it’s a good reminder now that Autumn is here once again, and I thought it was worth a repost. It’s fun to collect colorful leaves to press or use in projects, but there are still some plants to be aware of as you collect.
Many adults and children collect colorful Autumn leaves for projects and pressing, but beware, poison ivy is still growing, and it’s leaves are now cloaked in a gorgeous array of crimsons and golds. The urishol oil stays active on the leaves and vines. Picking up even one leaf for pressing can cause a nasty rash. When the poison ivy leaves fall off the vine, they fall solo, not in groups of three. This makes it impossible to follow the wise proverb of, “Leaves of three, let it be.” It is much harder to identify poison ivy when it has fallen off the vine. One thing to look for is an oblong shape, and many of the leaves have a notched appearance. Take a good look at the veining on the leaf in the above picture…that’s a good clue too.
If you see a leaf that might be poison ivy, take a look around to see if you can spot a vine with berries that look like the sample in the photograph above. If you see these berries, don’t pick up or brush against any of these vines or leftover leaves.
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Project – Drying Cranberries
Cranberries are available again in the produce section. I love to use dried cranberries throughout the year, but I am very allergic to the sulfite preservatives sprayed on them. So…I did a little research on the Internet and dried my own.
First I sorted through the berries, keeping only those that were firm and dark red in color. I carefully washed them taking care not to bruise them. While I was doing this I boiled about two quarts of water. I placed the clean cranberries in a large bowl and poured the boiling water over them.
They started sizzling and popping right away. When it appeared that all the cranberries had at least one large crack in their skins, I drained them in the colander. I let them sit for about a half hour to dry.
I placed the cranberries on a cookie sheet covered with parchment, sprinkled them with sugar, and froze them for two hours. After their chill-down was complete, I put them into a preheated 350 degree oven for ten minutes, and turned the oven off for several hours as the directions instructed. The berries didn’t seem to be drying out though, so I turned my oven back on to the lowest temperature. It seemed to do the trick, within a few hours the cranberries had turned into craisins.
The directions I followed recommended freezing them on the same sheet and then bagging them for storage in the freezer. I can’t wait to make cookies, breads and muffins with my delicious and nutritious dried cranberries.
Check out this link for good directions for drying cranberries: In-Depth Article on How to Dry Cranberries
I was so pleased with my dried cranberry success, today I dried bananas. They were even easier, slice them, dip in citrus juice, I used lime, and dry them on parchment until they are dry. A good tip I found is store them first in a glass jar for 7 – 10 days. If condensation appears on the sides of the jar, you will know you need to dry them for a bit longer in the oven. Shake the jar every day while you are doing the moisture checking. When the time is up and the sides of the jar are dry, you can store them in plastic bags or jars in a cool dry place. They will keep for several months up to a year. I had one problem though…
Can you see all the empty spots on the parchment? That’s because I couldn’t stop taste-testing the delicious, scrumptious, delectable and tangy banana slices before they were even finished cooking. They are FABULOUS. My husband is a very picky eater, and even he likes them very much. Hooray!
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Project – Jack-O-Lantern Two in One
I love Jack O’ Lanterns of all types. I found this fun design on the Pinterest website. I love Pinterest, so many good ideas. I don’t have time to do them all, but the few I have created have been so much FUN!
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Problem-Solving – Slogging Through
It happened yesterday as I uploaded photographs for Cee’s Photo Challenge, the photos I was attempting to post became red-rimmed, and a dialog box informed me:
Looks like you have used 3.0 GB of your 3.0 GB upload limit. ~ WordPress Media Library
I knew I was close to reaching the limit, but now it is thrust upon me, and today I need to find some solutions and continue deleting posts and photos from past years. In the meantime, I thought as I search through the blog archives I would repost a couple of Autumn ideas that might be buried there.
Wish me luck as I slog through years of posts. I like the word slog, it almost has the ring of onomatopoeia to it. When I say or think of slog I imagine myself in a stinky swamp, shoes sticking in the muck, every step forward accentuated with a schlurping pop as I pull my feet out of soft, wet earth. “Onward!” I say, I won’t be stopped by a little blog housecleaning. To all my blogging friends…have the happiest of days.
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Photographs – Cee’s Challenge/Light Green
I enjoy taking part in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenges now and then. Since I have quite a few good examples of light greens in my garden today…the challenge was perfect. Here are a few examples of my Light Greens
Many of my coleus are blooming, hopefully producing seeds for next year’s garden. I love the light green color on many of the leaves.
Hydrangeas are another good example of a plant with a beautiful array of green, the deep green of the leaves is the perfect backdrop for the flowers, aging from pink to light green before they fall.
I’m not sure what type of mint this plant is, but the bees don’t care about the name, they love the nectar and pollen they find in its tiny white flowers. When the bloom is finished the plant forms interesting, light green pods.
These gigantic Nicotiana plants are volunteers. Where they came from is a mystery, but I’m glad they decided to grow in the cracks of my sidewalk and along the edge of my garden. I love the brilliant light green of the leaves. They might not have time to blossom before first frost, but I have my fingers crossed.
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Phix-It Shop – Repairing Crazy, Messed-Up Doll Hair
This sweet doll with the wild and crazy hair is a My Buddy doll.
“The My Buddy doll line was a toy brand made by Hasbro in 1985 with the intention of making a doll to appeal to little boys and teach them about caring for their friends. My Buddy is one of several dolls said to be the inspiration for Chucky, the evil doll from Child’s Play, along with That Kid and Robert the Doll.” ~ Wikipedia
My youngest son asked for, and received, a My Buddy doll for Christmas, somewhere between 1985 and 1990. I know we have one of the original Hasbro dolls because the clothes are removable. Playskool made later versions of the dolls with non-removable clothing.
Recently, My Buddy moved back to our house. After three decades, his hair was an unmanageable version of its former self, more like a punk rocker, than a sweet childhood friend. A good tip for getting a doll’s hair under control is fabric softener. Doll hair is more akin to fabric than actual human hair, fabric softener works wonders in taming the strands. Doll diaries has a good article on both soaking and spraying your doll’s hair. I know from experience fabric softener is great for smoothing Barbie hair, and other dolls, such as American Girl will benefit from the treatment too.
After soaking My Buddy’s hair for about an hour in a fabric softener solution, I rinsed it and was happy with the results, especially in the back.
The front, while smoother, was a bit of a lost cause. I could see after combing it down, someone had given My Buddy a shorter haircut. I like his new look though…definitely more modern than a Dutch-boy style.
One more quick tip: grime on the face can be gently washed away with a bit of toothpaste on a soft cloth. Take care around the painted features, as pressing too hard can remove the paint.
I think I will dress My Buddy up in a costume for Halloween, because yes, he does look like CHUCKY of CHILD’S PLAY.
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Quote – Matthew Henry
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Plant – Stevia
I grew Stevia this year in my Square Foot Gardens. The plant, purchased at a local farm market, grew into a beautiful, large plant. A few weeks ago I harvested the leaves by cutting entire stems and drying them on a tray inside my car. The summer heat and sun quickly dried the leaves to the perfect crisp texture. When dry, just a few crumbles from a small piece of a leaf filled my mouth with sweetness.
I will soon harvest the remaining stems of the stevia and take some cuttings to root and grow through the winter. Natural stevia has few side effects, but don’t confuse the plant with the Stevia-based sweeteners on sale in grocery stores. ‘Food Babe Investigates Stevia: Good or Bad’ is a good article that compares the natural plant with mass-produced product.
Another precaution is for those who have allergies:
In some cases, stevia can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, but this is a relatively rare occurrence. According to the New Health Guide website, however, those with pre-existing allergies to chrysanthemums, marigolds, ragweed or daisies are at greater risk of a stevia reaction. ~ Livestrong.com
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Phavorites – Poldark on PBS
Poldark Season 2 begins Sunday night on PBS. I watched the first season, and must admit, I am old enough to remember the original series broadcast on PBS in the 70’s. The first season was very well done, the characters compelling, the setting magnificent; I’m looking forward to enjoying Season 2.
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Photograph – Welcome Autumn
Autumn arrives here in the Mid-Atlantic at 10:21 A.M.
I’ve been collecting acorns for some projects…it is 10:20, just about time to hit the publish button!
WELCOME AUTUMN!
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Phun & Pheathers – Funny Fowls
A few weeks ago I was sitting in my back yard, minding my own business, when lo and behold two chickens strolled into the yard as if they owned it. I was instantly IN LOVE with them, grabbed my camera and documented their visit. (Their home is on the street behind mine.) Their visit provided me with quite a giggle.
I’ve wanted chickens or ducks of my own for ages. Town ordinances have changed in many areas and it’s now permissible to have “pet” chickens or ducks in the backyard. On the other hand I am thinking of the feistiness of Blue Eyes the goose. Maybe a pair of geese would be a better idea. I wonder if it’s true that geese can be good “watchdogs?”
“Police in rural parts of China’s Xinjiang Province are no longer turning to dogs to stand guard at police stations at night. They’re using geese instead. And it works.” ~ Honk if You Think Geese are Good Guard Dogs – National Geographic
I’ve had most of my gardens devastated this year by a horrible groundhog who invades my yard weekly to eat my foliage and garden plants. Would a big white goose honking like mad and chasing him do the trick? The key word might be big. Should I get a goose now and coddle it all through winter, and have a big, big bird come Spring? Hmmm….I’ll have to think on it a bit and let you know!
“Chinese geese, like Africans, are a more talkative breed of geese. Due to this characteristic, they are the best breed if you want to be alerted to intruders or other strange occurrences. They love to talk back to you – especially if you have raised them from babies.” ~Metzer Farms
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Plant – Holstein Cowpea
Holstein Cowpea – “Very unique, this pea is mottled half black and half white, just like a Holstein cow. The small bush plants yield well and are easy to grow. Very rare.” ~ Baker Creek Heirlooom Seeds
One of the delights of my 2016 garden has been the heirloom Holstein Cowpea. I have eaten the offerings of this plant as a snapped green bean, and also harvested the cowpeas when the pods are dry. I will grow the dried cowpeas I’ve saved in next year’s garden. I’m also storing a few to eat as a specialty bean in winter soups. The cowpeas did well grown in the ground and in a hanging basket.
I will definitely grow this variety next year, and hope to plant and harvest a bumper crop. An added benefit of the cowpeas is growing legumes adds nitrogen to soil.
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Project – Shadowbox
I recently put together a shadowbox of Boy Scout memories with books, scarves, patches and a National Council card dated 1943. These items belonged to my father-in-law and husband, and together they created a perfect assortment of memories to be treasured in a shadowbox.
My first step was enlarging and printing out a cute photograph of my father-in-law as a boy onto a piece of cardstock. I cut close to the actual image on the right side, but left some of the background to the left. Cutting completely around a head in a photo creates a distracting helmet-like appearance. My father-in-law’s hand in the photograph was in the perfect position to hold an item, allowing me to cut around the outline of his hand and part of his wrist.
To keep the photo upright I reinforced it with a strip of thin cardboard cut away from a piece of recycled cereal box. It worked perfectly.
Shadowboxes can be expensive. I purchased this one at a local craft store with a 40% off coupon. There are also good ideas on how to create a shadowbox yourself on Pinterest and other websites.
The shadowbox came with four pins in a velvet background. I’m glad it did for I found this was the perfect way to stabilize the items inside the box. I moved my memorabilia around until I was satisfied with the appearance, and then pinned everything to the velvet backing with long straight pins.
I found that lowering the shadowbox frame onto the backing, rather than trying to fit the backing into the frame was the best way to fasten the two together without marring the arrangement. This step is easier with two people, one to hold the pieces, the other to fasten the bottom and top together.
Even though most of us are all grown up, a shadowbox of memories can immediately take us back to a happier time and away for a moment from the cares of the day.
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Praise – Goodness of God
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Plant & Phloral Arrangements – Bargain Elegance
Page through any high-end magazine or decorating book and you will often find Phalaenopsis orchids as a main focal point in the decor. The long stems, large green leaves, and gorgeous flowers are the perfect plant for any home. Phalaenopsis orchids are my first choice for an elegant flowering plant or gift.
I worked for several years as a floral designer. When an order was placed for an orchid delivery, I often put together floral pieces much like the orchid in the photograph. These plants had a big price tag, usually $50.00 – $60.00, not including a large delivery fee. A better choice is to make your plant a DIY project.
Phalaenopsis orchids are available just about everywhere. I bought the one in the photograph for $7.99 at my local Aldi Grocery Store. I have a stash of thrift store and yard sale ceramics set aside for dressing up houseplants. The one in the photo was a $2.00 purchase.
One drawback of most Phalaenopsis orchids is their tendency to lean. To straighten the pot I use foil wedged in around the orchid pot. Since the orchid and the potting medium is light, this works perfectly to hold it in place.
The moss that covers the top was an item gathered near my home. Dried for a week or so, excess dirt brushed away, the moss perfectly dresses up the top of the pot, and hides the mechanics beneath it. This orchid brings elegance to any room, yet is very economical at just $10.00. Give this design a try the next time you see orchids for sale at a great price.
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Perspective – WordPress Discover Challenge/Here and Now
“Choose a moment and capture it in the medium of your choice.” ~Wordpress Discover Challenge
When I wrote this post I was sitting on my back porch pecking away on my laptop, listening to the symphony of crickets and other singing insects all around me. The sun was shining, my wind chimes were swinging, a light breeze lent a bit of coolness to the early September air. For some reason I wondered what the opposite of here and now would be called. I looked it up, googled it, and didn’t really come up with too much, so instead, came up with my own: Elsewhere and Later.
Hmmmm…where will I be in my Elsewhere and Later? Here is a list that came to mind:
1. In the Caribbean
2. In a public garden
3. At a local park playing with my grandchildren
4. Gathered around a table, having a meal with my family
5. At the beach ( Or as we say in southern NJ, ‘Down the Shore’)
6. Walking woodland trails
7. Riding my bike
8. Watering my gardens and pulling weeds
9. At a desk, with paintbrush in hand, creating a masterpiece
10. Pressing flowers and creating cards
11. In a library or at a book saleElsewhere and Someday in the Future:
12. In the heavenly realms with my Lord and Savior, praising God, filled with the Spirit and singing ‘Hallelujah!’
AMEN! (Let it be so Lord!) – Translation of Amen
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Pleasures – Wordless Wednesday/Backyard Butterflies 2016
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Pheathers – Hummingbird
I plant nectar-producing flowers each year in hopes of attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. This has been a banner year for both. Our gardens are visited daily by dozens of butterflies and at least three to four hummingbirds.
We’ve noticed the tiny hummingbirds are the bravest birds in the yard. One hummer seems to know our habits, and when the feeder is removed for cleaning and refilling, he/she will hover near the kitchen window doing its best to prompt us to hurry and bring out the nectar.
I have mixed feelings about hummingbird feeders. If they are not cleaned and maintained daily, they can be lethal to hummingbirds. “Top-10 Hummingbird Nectar Mistakes”
I’ve been concerned over whether I should leave my feeder up through the Autumn months. I was glad to come upon this bit of information on the web:
Some people may be concerned that leaving a feeder up will prevent hummingbirds from migrating in the fall. This is a myth. Hummingbirds (and all migratory birds) have an internal “clock” that tells them when to migrate. No healthy hummingbird would ever stick around just because you’ve left your feeder up in the fall. ~Bird Watcher’s Digest
When the hummingbirds in my yard migrate, I know I will immediately begin to stream the Cornell Lab Hummingbird Cam, and find my hummingbird joy from their amazing live cameras. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy = Hummingbirds
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Plant – Monarda punctata/Spotted Bee Balm
“Monarda punctata is a herbaceous plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae, that is native to eastern Canada, the eastern United States and northeastern Mexico. Common names include spotted beebalm and horsemint. It is a thyme-scented plant with heads of purple-spotted tubular yellow flowers above rosettes of large white- or pink-tipped bracts. The plant contains thymol, an antiseptic and fungicide. It was historically used to treat upset stomachs, colds, diarrhea, neuralgia and kidney disease.” ~ Wikipedia
I’ve seen this plant in the wild and found it this year at a local nursery. It is certainly nicknamed correctly…bees love it!
I’ve also seen hummingbirds hovering over the plant.
