I played “hookey” today and had some fun riding the boards and walking the beach. The photograph was taken on the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, while riding my bicycle.
Author: Timelesslady
Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.
Phlowers – Friday Flowers/Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are a favorite of mine, an old-fashioned vine with a delicately scented bloom. Sweet peas, much like pansies, will not survive the entire summer growing season. When temperatures start to sizzle, sweetpea vines will dry out and die back.
I find sweet peas tricky to germinate and grow. This year only three seeds sprouted and grew to a good size for me. The three vines are doing a great job climbing up the string I strung alongside a butterfly house.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some good tips on how to grow sweet peas. It’s probably too late to grow the vines for blooming this season, but keep them in mind for next year, and if you have a friend with some vines…ask them for some seeds*.
Some terrific tips from the Old Farmer’s Almanac on how to grow Sweet Peas.
Quick Tip for Pressed Flower Hobbyists – Sweet pea flowers have never pressed well for me, but the curly tendrils make a nice addition to pressed flower compositions.
* Sweet Pea seeds can be toxic.
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Pareidolia – Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge – The Number One
I enjoy taking part in Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge from time to time. Check out her wonderful blog and the entries listed in the comment section. The challenge for this week is the number one.
“We are starting a new series of topics and it’s is all about numbers. This week’s topic is One Item or the Number 1.”
My entry in the challenge is “One Rock With Many Faces,” a perfect example of Pareidolia. How many faces can you find in my one rock.
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Problem-Solving – Easy Garden Trellis
If you have some old frames on hand you have the makings of a perfect trellis. My cucumbers are growing at a quick rate, and I knew it was time to place some kind of support near them. Years ago I had seen some photographs of old frames strung with string and used as a trellis.
I found two large frames in the basement, knocked the damaged pictures out, nailed in a couple of brads (slender nails), and strung them with string.
They are functional and attractive in the garden beds. I used some dollar store hooks between them as a bit of support. Two frames are not necessary, one alone would also work to support the vines. I wish I knew who had the original idea to give them a little credit, but to track the idea’s origin down is probably near impossible. Happy Gardening.
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Quick Tip and Phavorites – Reruns
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
~ Ecclesiastes 1:9
If you’ve read my blog over the course of a year you will notice that I tend to repeat my best hints. At times, I might tweak them up or down a bit, but basically, a lot of my tried and true activities stay the same year after year. I write blog posts according to where I am in my own life, and when I use a hint that works for me I tend to blog about it again…and again…and maybe even again. So to those who have read this hint in previous posts, my apologies. 🙂 For those of you who have never tried to root cuttings in green glass, you might want to give it a try.
I’m going to carry out my own experiment on what glass color roots a cutting faster after reading the two opposing opinions below. I’ll update in a few weeks. If you have some cuttings to root, why don’t you try the experiment along with me?
An Experiment With Green Glass – Yes it Works!
A “Scientific” No to Green Glass
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Promise -The Blooming Rose
You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then he is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation, a rock rising above the storm.
~ Robert Murray McCheyne
1813-1843
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Photograph – Ablaze and Abuzz
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Vivid.”
“The theme for this week’s photo challenge is “Vivid.” Perhaps it’s your favorite flower in full bloom, a beautiful sunset or the color of your ice cream. Vivid is limited only by your imagination. Have fun with the challenge!”
I took a bike ride after reading the WordPress photo challenge for this week, I was armed with my camera and an eye for color. Vivid subjects for photographing presented themselves at every turn of my wheels and handlebars. When I came upon this beautiful rose bush, ablaze with color, I knew I need not pedal any further. Cascades of pink with yellow centers glowed vividly under the early afternoon sky.
On closer inspection, I heard, then saw, dozens of honeybees clustered on the pollen laden centers. The rose bush was abuzz with their gathering.
I love honeybees, my grandfather had hives, and now my sister is a beekeeper.
The bees, enraptured with the bounty of pollen, were quite the willing subjects for my photographs. I wonder if they might be from my sister’s hives.
Honeybees can gather honey up to six miles from their hives, but usually stay within a two mile radius of their home. I enjoy the WordPress Photo Challenges. If I had not ventured out with my camera, I wouldn’t have experienced those fifteen carefree minutes standing beside a rose bush ablaze in petals of pink and abuzz with gathering bees.
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Phlowers – Friday Flowers – Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Purple
“The beauteous pansies rise
In purple, gold, and blue,
With tints of rainbow hue
Mocking the sunset skies.
~ Thomas John Ouseley (1805-74)
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Purple
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Quote – Oswald Chambers on Prayer
“Every time we pray, our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes, but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don’t pray more.” ~ Oswald Chambers
Are you praying? God hears our prayer. My friends, now is the time to pray, as you have never prayed before. Pray for the love of God to encompass and protect you, your loved ones, and all those who love him around the world. Pray diligently every day, and after you pray, begin to spread the Good News of His love and salvation on a daily basis.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
~ John 3:16“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”
~ Oswald Chambers
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Prose & Projects – Windowsill Art & Pure Sea Glass
I came across an interesting book at the public library: Windowsill Art by Nancy Ross Hugo. I knew by the title that I would love this book. I feel an instant kinship to anyone who can inspire creativity within me. I immediately fashioned a bit of windowsill art with some sea glass, shells and a sprig of Trumpet Vine. If you have a chance to borrow or buy this inspiring book…please do.
Inside my Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise stemmed glass I placed some sea glass I’ve collected from ocean and bay beaches I often visit.
I was glad to bring the glass in out of the garage where it is haphazardly stored in plastic bins. One of these day I need to get all my beach combing finds in some type of order. I also added a leaflet plucked off my Trumpet Vine to the arrangement, and a broken whelk shell. I enjoyed putting this bit of windowsill art together.
I believe I’ve posted in the past on one of my favorite books, Pure Sea Glass by Richard LaMotte. If you enjoy beach combing and searching for “treasures,” you will enjoy looking through this visually lovely book.
Below are a few close-ups of some of the sea glass included in my windowsill art. I enjoyed using the green piece with an oyster shell attached. The greens, browns and whites are most commonly found on nearby beaches. The cobalt blue and olive-green pieces are a little more unique. The olive-green glass is also interesting because it has a curved lip on it. Give hunting a little sea glass a try when you next walk on a beach beside an ocean or bay.
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Quick Tip – Phaleonopsis Orchid
My Phaleonopsis Orchid rebloomed yesterday. I’ve been watching the buds develop for weeks. I love Phaleonopsis Orchids and they are readily available in most stores with a plant section. They rebloom easily if you remember one QUICK TIP: Don’t cut the entire stem away from the plant after the blossoms fall off. New stems and buds will grow from this first stem. If part of the stem becomes shriveled and is obviously dead, go ahead and cut that portion, but leave anything that is still firm and alive.
Here is a good video on the proper place to cut a stem for regrowth. I personally have never used a fungicide after cutting, but if I did I would probably use a dusting of cinnamon which is a natural fungicide. Using cinnamon as a fungicide.
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Proverbs – Good Deeds
“A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.” ~ Proverbs 12:14
According to my computer clock, as I am writing this post, the time is 6:48 a.m. Even as I compose my paragraphs I am reaping the benefits of my “good deeds” toward the birds. The symphony of birdsong coming through my window is bringing me great joy.
I have three birdhouses in my yard at this time, far enough away from each other to prevent the birds from feeling their territory is being invaded by another. One of the houses seems to have been rejected by one and all…why is a mystery to me. One has been a home to sparrows, and the one in the photograph is the nesting spot for a family of wrens. I benefit not only from their lovely songs, but also their bug-catching abilities. I am always on the hunt for new ways to draw birds to my yard.
Quick tip for birdhouses: Place some sort of barrier around the entrance to the house. This will keep rodents (squirrels in my case) from chewing the opening larger and getting inside. Brass thumbtacks are a good choice and easy to push into the wood. I also enjoy the rustic look they give the bird house.
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Photograph – Ninth Street Bridge, Ocean City & The Enchanted Woods
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “On the Way.”
“In-between moments can be just as memorable as grand finales. This week, share a photo you took on the way to something else.”“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
~ Proverbs 16:9
We celebrated a wedding this weekend, a lovely young lady we’ve known since she was born was wedded to an outstanding young man. We so enjoyed the day. The location they chose to make their vows to one another is one of our favorite destinations. My husband and I both love Ocean City, New Jersey . When our boys were young we vacationed there every summer. There are countless happy memories connected to this lovely beach town.
During the years we vacationed in OC, the way into the town was either the Ninth Street, or Thirty-Fourth Street Bridge. Both were narrow and rickety, but did their job and brought carloads of people onto the island. Today, a new modern bridge has replaced the Ninth Street bridge. The photo above is my first “In Between Moments” photograph, taken through the front windshield of our car as we drove on the new Ninth Street Bridge.
The next photo, is also taken through the front windshield of our moving car, this time on a road that cuts through part of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. At this point we are almost halfway home from our day “down the shore.” We call this stretch of woods “The Enchanted Forest/Woods.” We often stop to photograph the russet and green tones of forest floor, trees and mosses. The ground is low, and dead limbs and stumps become natural works of art as they age. Everything in the forest is dangerously dry now; we are in a bit of a drought here on the east coast, but rain is on the way. Soon everything will become soft and green once more.
Thanks for riding along with me and taking a look at my “in-between” places as I traveled to my destinations this weekend.
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Problem-Solving – Bunnies…Again!
I wrote a few weeks ago about rabbits nipping off the leaves of my lilies. When the clover thrived in my backyard they left their garden bed nibbling for better grazing amongst the sweet flowers.
My lilies recovered, grew, and began to bud, but alas and alack, my husband mowed down the high grass in the backyard for our Memorial Day picnic. I didn’t think much about it until a few days ago when I noticed a bunny sitting in the garden bed, very still. The plants nearby his location were gently swaying in a strange motion and there was no breeze.
OH NO! It dawned on me the strange swaying was being caused by the front incisors of the rabbit’s teeth. I ran out, but not in time, the bunny had bitten down three of my lily stems and eaten them.
I immediately grabbed my wrist rocket slingshot, but couldn’t seem to bring myself to use it. I wanted to sting the bunny, but not harm him, and I had no idea what ammunition would work but cause no lasting pain. I asked my husband if a craft pompom wet down with hot sauce would work and he just laughed at me. I think I hear you laughing too!
I’m putting my pest repellent skills in play, instead of trying to shoot pompoms or pebbles, and simmering some dried Chile de Arbol in water with garlic and onion to create a potent, smelly hot sauce mix that will repel those Wascally Wabbits. (This said for the benefit of those old enough to remember Elmer Fudd. 😀 )
My crockpot, placed outside on the porch, is the easiest way I’ve found to cook this potion. The smell is very strong. After a few hours, I drain off the water, strain several times, and spray the plant being eaten. This natural solution works, but has a few drawbacks: it washes away in the rain and must be reapplied, it is hard to strain finely enough to spray out of a normal spray bottle, and worst of all…the peppers can burn eyes, skin, and even the lungs. Please be especially careful not to inhale the fumes.
I also grind the peppers and scatter them among the garden beds. This is the most likely way you will inhale the dust so wearing a mask is not a bad idea.
If it works, it will be worth it to me, but if you try it, please be cautious when handling the peppers. Updates will follow.
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Prompt – Childhood Revisited and Skywatch Friday
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Childhood Revisited.”
“Sure, you turned out pretty good, but is there anything you wish had been different about your childhood? If you have kids, is there anything you wish were different for them?”
I took this photo today, early morning, from the vantage point of lying flat on the ground beneath the table. The photo could be a self-portrait of who I am: I am quite willing to lay on the ground to capture the perfect photograph. I drink four cups of coffee every morning before nine. I love to trash-pick and bargain hunt treasures and redo them, just redid the chandelier in the photo for a second time. In this metamorphosis I sprayed it white. I love to look at the sky every day.
I’ve looked up at the sky all my life, in fact, I am one of those people who are often photographed looking up. In church I find myself studying ceilings. (I recently noticed my son does the same, could this be genetic?) I think I had an early fascination with looking up. My mother told me that when I was quite small I came in from outdoors and told her, “I said hello to God.” She answered, “What did he say back?” I told her he said, ‘Hello.’
This leads me to my response to the Childhood Revisited Prompt from WordPress. If I could do go back and change something about my childhood, I would continue to look toward the sky and say, “Hello,” to God every day. It might have kept me from some poor decisions and some bad years. I talk to God every day now…if not while looking at the sky, I greet him when I have my morning devotions.
What would I wish for my kids to do differently if they could go back and relive their childhoods. Well, I would have us all outside more, lying on the grass, studying the sky and talking to God out loud. I wonder how the world would change if everyone looked toward the heavens and said from the heart, “HELLO GOD!” Oh my! Just the thought of it gives me a “HALLELUJAH” moment. What would God say back if you said hello to Him today? Why not find out?
I can’t wait to have my grandkids over again…we are going to be looking at the sky and talking to God for sure. 🙂
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Phairy – Enchanted/Fairy House 2015
We had a family picnic to celebrate our mother’s May birthdays on Memorial Day. The young cousins were thrilled to see each other and created a new fairy house together.
Each year the fairy house is built with natural items I’ve collected throughout the year, and also with what the grandkids and cousins can find in the yard. I love to see what they come up with…crabapples for food, a clam shell water dish, feathers for decorating.
You don’t have to be a child to build a fairy house. On your next walk through a park or woods, leave a little something behind for a “fairy” to find. Create a chair, a little bed, a dish of fairy food; it only will take a moment of your time. You never know who might need a little “enchantment” to smile over.
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Plants – Wordless Wednesday/Climbing Rose
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Praise – Wana Baraka (Kenyan Folk Song)
I am physically dragging. Preparations for a family Memorial Day picnic stretched out over most of the past few days, and will take a good portion of today to clean up. It was a great picnic…a wonderful gathering to honor two mothers who had birthdays in May, spend time with family, and remember our father who served in World War II.
I had no blog post scheduled, and God in his goodness led me to this beautiful song, an instant uplift for my spirit. I hope it does the same for you. Here is a loose translation I found on the web.
“They have blessings; those who pray.
Jesus himself said so, Alleluia.
They have peace.
They have joy.
They have well-being. Alleluia.”
Wana Baraka (Kenyan Folk Song)
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Pride – In Honor of…
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Prayer & Praise – Macro Iris Photographs
The inside of an Iris always reminds me of a cathedral with stained glass ceilings and windows. How can I not praise the Creator when I gaze upon his wonders? This is my Father’s World.
“Every time we pray our horizon is altered,
our attitude to things is altered
not sometimes but every time,
and the amazing thing is
that we don’t pray more.”
