Here’s a bit of fun. Do you see images in random objects. Do you see a penguin looking down at his feet? I do!
Maybe this will help…
The first thing I do when beachcombing is flip the shells over and see if they have a hidden picture. So much fun. I was reminded of this phenomenon recently when reading a blog post by Mehrling Muse. Thanks Anne for the inspiration.
The hydrangeas I displayed as my IAVOM two weeks ago, have dried beautifully. The colors have deepened into a beautiful purple and sage green. They rustle when I lightly brush them, and the sound reminds me of old book pages. I was so happy with the shade of their flowers that I used them as the inspiration for the Autumn mantel and strayed away from my usual golds, burgundy, and rust.
The hydrangeas are in a vase that, while a bit minty, can almost pass for sage green. I frequently use this McCoy Swan vase for arrangements. Surrounding the vase are gourds we bought in farm markets and garden centers this past weekend. A wise owl looks on the display; his heart-shaped face expresses fond approval of my choices. A wooden mushroom, last year’s birthday present from a sister, seems to fit in with the theme. I love to strew beads and garlands of bells over the mantel in a haphazard way. It adds a bit of interest.
What you can’t see are the old books and other Autumn decorations to the left, all in the same shades. Thanks for visiting and thank you to Rambling in the Garden, the host of IAVOM.
Are these fairy wishes as much a part of your childhood remembrances as mine? Some of my earliest memories of being outdoors involved chasing after these wishes.
I captured only a portion of this wish as it floated against the blue sky, but I am entranced by the way the feathery tendrils become a prism and reflect a bit of rainbow color.
Many of the wishes floating in my yard are now emerging from these Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) pods, a type of milkweed. I also have common milkweed pods opening and letting their seeds fly free on an aerial bit of fluff.
Pollinators love Butterfly Weed.
Butterflies, such as this Black Swallowtail, also sip the nectar from the blossoms.
I couldn’t resist cropping out a close-up of this beautiful butterfly face.
This post is part of Friday Skywatch. Thank you to the Host of this challenge.
I subscribe to Food Network’s The Kitchen and hope to watch all the shows over the next few months. The goal is daunting. The show has aired since 2014. I started with Season 1, Episode 1, and had to immediately pause and try out the very first recipe, Creamed Kale and Eggs.
The recipe turned out well, no, it was excellent.
What I did right: I used shallots instead of leeks. Shallots are inexpensive and easier to clean. I also was able to easily cut the recipe in half for one person.
What I did wrong: I should have bought a bunch of kale instead of pre-cut pieces in a bag. Although the pieces were organic, cutting away the tough stem in each without losing my mind was impossible. I could have easily cut the center stems away if I had bought a bunch of large, uncut leaves.
Would I recommend this recipe: Oh Yes!
Here is a link to the recipe on Food Network: Creamy Kale and Eggs / There is a video link on the page for step-by-step instructions.
This week’s IAVOM arrangement is of hydrangeas in a utility vase for drying.
At this time of year, outdoors, my hydrangeas all appear to be a burnt-out rose color.
Flip that flower right side up again and witness a stunning transformation as the most beautiful watercolor tones appear.
To dry my hydrangeas, I cut them in late summer, when most of the moisture in the petals is gone, and place them in a vase of water. Half of these are already dried. They are ready to remove from the water in a week or two.
Thanks to Rambling in the Garden for hosting.
I am taking part in XingfuMama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge this week. I was able to raise six Monarch Caterpillars from the egg stage on a Milkweed leaf to full-size caterpillars. They are developing in their chrysalis now. I genuinely find their chrysalis stage beautiful. The amazing and luminescent green is adorned with gold that looks like metal.
In years past, during the hotter months of summer, I saw Monarch Butterflies almost daily. However, all butterflies and many insects seem scarce this year, which is worrisome. I’m hoping they rebound and are back in large numbers next year.
Swampy Saturday along the bike trail that spans Glassboro and Williamstown, New Jersey.
This post is part of Garden Ruminations Six on Saturday.
All I can say about this dessert/breakfast is, oh my.
Oh my, it is so easy!
Oh my, it is so scrumptious!
Oh my, it is gone in under five minutes!
You can easily make it too. I’ve included step-by-step photographs and a few quick words.
Ingredients: 1 pack of Instant Oatmeal, 2 Apples, 1 pat of butter
Peel (or if you love eating apple peel, try leaving it on) two apples. If they are on the small side, I sometimes use three. I chose Granny Smith apples. Green apples are firm, slightly sour, and bake up perfectly. Place evenly in a large, greased pie pan. A square pan would work too, but you might need more apples.
Mash one large pat of butter into the instant oatmeal until combined, don’t overmix.
It should look like the photo after mixing.
Sprinkle evenly on peeled apples. Cover with foil. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven.
Oh, the joy of this apple crisp. The caramelized bits around the edges are the best, don’t leave them in the pan, sprinkle these bits on top. Enjoy!
A note: My sister suggested using organic instant oatmeal to make the dessert even healthier. Quaker Oatmeal comes in four flavor variety packs. I’ve tried all four flavors, and all are delicious in the apple crisp.
Elisabeth Elliot (December 21, 1926 – June 15, 2015) was a Christian missionary, author, and speaker.
We went to Longwood this week. The walk alongside the Meadow was golden and glorious. Spectacular wildflowers called Common Cup-Flowers lined the path. Goldfinches, butterflies, bumble and honeybees, gathered nectar and seeds.
Common cup-plant is a native wildflower in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. It may self-seed. It typically grows to around 6′, however, can grow to reach 9′ tall. ~North Carolina Extension Gardener.
The Common Cup-plant is my choice for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
The yellow daisy-like flowers were spectacular against the bluest of skies.
The child in me wanted to wade through the tall grasses and flowers and climb this perfect branching tree.
Even a photograph that went askew seemed pretty as it gave me a good glimpse of the underside of the flowers.
If you visit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, take a trip to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.
These photographs are part of Garden Ruminations/Six on Saturday.
In spring, my garden is a blank slate as the daffodils push above the soil’s surface, where they have slept away in the summer, winter, and autumn. It’s never unexpected, but always still amazing when August displays a thick jungle of flowers in the place where blooming began sparsely in March.
I haven’t taken part in the Lens-Artist Challenge for quite a while. I was drawn in by the title of the challenge. I am a bit late, but still happy to take part in Challenge #311.
Today as I was photographing the flowers I was surrounded by Black Swallowtails sipping from the Butterfly Bush and other flowers in the yard. I decided, since they use my fennel as host plants, and I help them out by raising them in butterfly houses on the porch, they too are growing in my garden.
This beautiful moth is my choice for the “Whatsoever is Lovely” challenge hosted by Xingfu Mama. I got several good captures of it feeding on the flowers of the Butterfly Bush. The plant lives up to its name, although it resembles a tree instead of a bush. We cut it back, and it grows even taller.
The multiple blossoms of the flower sprays make it a perfect setting for photographing butterflies and bees. They are usually so intent on moving from flower to flower they ignore the trespass of my camera into their space. I love the way the photograph captures the face of the moth and the blurry whirr of its quickly fluttering wings.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
Emily Dickinson
There is hope! The Monarch butterflies have finally made some appearances, although not in large numbers. This one flew in for a landing and cooperated with my camera’s intrusion, allowing me to capture several photos.
So very true…
I can travel far, maybe wide, but sometimes the best inspiration is in my neighborhood. This beautiful hawk seemed to pose for a photograph.
Millicent Fenwick was a member for four terms in the US House of Representatives. (New Jersey)
Find the Eden within you…
where you can walk,
talk, and dwell with God.
Today, I had strange companions along for the ride as I drove to Red Bank Battlefield. Ten caterpillars, mid-sized in their cycle, rode along to become residents of the Butterfly House. The fennel plants collapsed a bit in the heat, but the caterpillars did well.
The house has many butterflies, chrysalis, and caterpillars. The interior is filled with dozens of nectar and host plants.
The volunteers (Butterfly Whisperers) were pleased to welcome and make room for the new residents. The jar holding the fennel sprigs they were feasting on was placed beside a beautiful fennel plant growing in the house.
It gives me great joy to think of all the visitors receiving a bit of pleasure as they watch the butterflies throughout their life cycle.
The Revolutionary War Battlefield, now a historic park, is located on the banks of the Delaware River. Philadelphia’s skyline is in view to the right of the park.
