Plant & Phloral Arrangements – Bargain Elegance

On September 16, 2016September 13, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Phloral Arrangements, Plants14 Comments

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.

Perspective – WordPress Discover Challenge/Here and Now

On September 15, 2016September 14, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Perspective2 Comments

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 sale

Elsewhere 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

Pleasures – Wordless Wednesday/Backyard Butterflies 2016

On September 14, 2016September 13, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Pleasures28 Comments

Pheathers – Hummingbird

On September 13, 2016September 13, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Pheathers7 Comments

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

Plant – Monarda punctata/Spotted Bee Balm

On September 12, 2016September 12, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Plants6 Comments

“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.

Perspective – September 11

On September 11, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Perspective1 Comment

Perspective – Your Own Backyard

On September 8, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Perspective8 Comments

We often load our bikes into the back of my husband’s truck and search out new bike trails. Oh my, how behind the times we felt when we discovered there is a bike trail that begins/ends in our own back yard. The Monroe Twp. Bikeway runs between Williamstown and Glassboro, New Jersey, and has been available for walking, biking, in-line skating, etc., for near ten years. Sunday was the first time we rode the trail. What a joyous outing we had. While researching the trail I came upon an extensive list of other biking trails in our Tri-State area. Bike Trails in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. I can’t wait to try out a few more.

Moral of this tale: Check out your own town for interesting things to do. You might be as surprised as we were at what you might find.

Photo Challenge – Stoned

On September 8, 2016September 7, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress, photo challenges5 Comments

Mirror
“This week’s challenge is all about reflections.” ~ WordPress Photo Challenge

When I read the title for this week’s photo challenge this strange photograph I took on Block Island, RI came to mind. Block Island beaches are a beautiful mix of sand and gorgeous rocks. During one vacation my husband and I were on a hunt for heart-shaped rocks. Little did I know, as I gazed at this beautiful green rock and photographed it, that the wet surface would reveal my image when I downloaded the photo. If I tried to mimic this again, I doubt I would have the same result as I did in this lucky shot.

Place – The Lure of the Shortcut

On September 7, 2016September 7, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Place8 Comments

On the way home from fishing this past weekend, we had plenty of time left in the afternoon, and nowhere we had to be, so we turned down a road that looked interesting and had the possibility of being a shortcut. We quickly realized a shortcut was not going to happen, but we came upon some really interesting sights as we headed back to main roads.

Coastal New Jersey is home to many sand pits. This is an abandoned section of one of those. Picturesque in one way, eerie in another…a good setting for a Stephen King novel.

Quick Tip – Did You Know? Free Audiobooks

On September 6, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Quick Tip3 Comments

Did you now that many classic works of fiction are available in a read-aloud fashion on Youtube? I recently listened to ‘1984’ by George Orwell, and for a happier change of pace am now listening to ‘Enchanted April’ by Elizabeth Von Arnim. The quality of the reading is very good, comparable to a library or purchased audiobook. The one change I made in listening was to purchase an inexpensive pair of portable speakers for my computer to bump up the sound just a notch.

Since most books are several hours long, make note of where you stop. At times the book will begin again where I stopped it, but don’t count on this feature. I’m near the end of ‘Enchanted April,’ and will soon be searching for a new book to begin.

Pheathers – Osprey

On September 5, 2016September 3, 2016 By TimelessladyIn PheathersLeave a comment

Osprey are an amazing sight as they dive and capture fish.

Spotting them in their nests and favorite perching places as we drive into Fortescue is a thrill.

Even better is to zoom in with a good photo lens and get a close-up look at one of the birds.

Hello gorgeous!

Psalm – Psalm 107:29

On September 4, 2016September 3, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Psalms and Proverbs4 Comments

Perspective – The Coming Storm

On September 3, 2016September 3, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Perspective4 Comments

Tropical Storm Hermine is on her way. She is forecasted to hit the New Jersey coast tonight. It’s hard not to think of the damage left behind by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There are still many areas in the state that have not been repaired.

We spent Saturday morning fishing on the beach in Fortescue, catching quite a few small stripers, and watching in awe as the fisherman beside us brought in several good-sized fish, and then wrestled in this large ray.

The hook he used was not large, but the ray sure was a big one. The fisherman landed him on the beach, removed the hook, and sent the ray back on his way.

Later, while lunching at The Landing in Newport, NJ, we watched the Sundog Marina crew pull boats from the water. Many owners are ready to take their boats out of the water at this time of year, and the expected storm surge prompted many to get the job done today.

We’re hoping the next time we visit this charming area we will find no storm damage caused by Tropical Storm Hermine.

Quick Tip & Posies – September Bouquet

On September 2, 2016September 2, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Posies, Quick TipLeave a comment

My summertime flowers are still going strong. Though a few have bloomed their last, in many instances they have left behind beautiful pods and seed heads. I used several of these in two summertime bouquets for my table.

Here’s a close-up view of several of the pods in my bouquets. Flowers used in the bouquets: white hydrangeas, sunflowers, zinnias, rose, rudbeckia, bee balm, and blue perennial lobelia.

Photograph – Throwback Thursday/Look Through My Window

On September 1, 2016September 12, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress, photo challenges, photograph4 Comments

The Daily Post Photo Challenge Frame:
“This week, I’d love for you to look at things a bit differently. Whether it’s through an actual picture frame, a few stalks of grass, or even the spokes of a bicycle tire, find an alternative frame to the world around you and share what you see.”

I love watching the birds from my back window. Look through my window with me and get a close-up view of a male goldfinch eating sunflower seeds. A good way to attract goldfinches is to grow plants they use as a food source. Some of these are: sunflowers, echinacea, zinnias, black-eyed susan, rudbeckia, and thistles. I thought this photo was perfect for this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge. It inspired me to look up an old song from the 1960’s, “Look Through My Window,” by the The Mamas and the Papas. I think it’s a perfect way to celebrate the first Throwback Thursday of September.

Project – Update/Sea Glass Mobile +

On August 30, 2016August 30, 2016 By TimelessladyIn ProjectsLeave a comment

For anyone interested in the power of “GOOP” glue, I’m including an update on other items I’ve used in my creations using Goop as the glue. Once again, I created a mobile, this one with my grandsons, and used Goop exclusively for the bonding. As in the directions for the Sea Glass Mobile, see Part I and Part II, I used fishing line and hemp twine for hanging and stringing.

The collage shows glass, stone, wood, nut and shells bonded together with goop. This is a great project to make with children using collections they’ve gathered from nature. A little bit of goop will even hold items with a bit of weight. (See top photo of small whelk shell)

Goop should only be used outdoors due to toxic fumes. Use sticks or brushes for applying the glue, and avoid contact with skin.

Quote – I Peter 4:8

On August 28, 2016August 27, 2016 By TimelessladyIn QuoteLeave a comment

Quick Tip – Stabilizing Pots

On August 26, 2016August 26, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Quick Tip9 Comments

I had a late start growing my coleus from seed this year. To give them a better chance to grow larger, I planted them in pre-fertilized potting soil in pots. My ivy beds beneath the pines were the perfect spot for the pots to sit. The vines were the perfect height and strength to hold the pots in place. Now some of the coleus are nearing twelve to eighteen inches in height. The wind has continually knocked them over in the last few weeks. To stabilize the pots and keep them from overturning I aligned short stakes with the drainage holes and hammered them into the ground. This has worked perfectly, a quick solution to a constant problem. I also thought a dollar store pack of pencils would have done the trick for holding the pots in place. Sharpened, and pounded in through the drainage areas, they would also keep the pots stable.

Photo Challenge – Rare

On August 24, 2016August 24, 2016 By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress17 Comments

“Could it be mid-August already? For those of us who live in less-warm climes, summer’s long, sunny days are a prized commodity, something to look forward to all year long. But even during this all-too-short season, some things are more prized than others.” – Daily Post Photo Challenge

While photographing butterflies this week something rare flew into my lens view…a hummingbird moth. The moth flew so quickly most of my photos turned out very blurry, but this one of the moth sipping a drink of nectar from a pink zinnia delighted me. The hummingbird moth is my entry for the WordPress Photo Challenge subject of something “rare.”

Here is a quick fifteen second video of his/her flight.