Tag: Skywatch

Phavorites – February – An Eclectic Hodgepodge of Fun

On By TimelessladyIn Phavorites6 Comments

Winter has been a good time to read, and recently I found a 1946 biography, The Tale of Beatrix Potter at a vintage/antique store. I remember Peter Rabbit stories from my earliest childhood. How can anyone forget Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail? The names are ensconced happily in that area of my mind that delights in old nursery rhymes and stories. Although this biography was published eighty years ago, the writing is wonderful and so easy to read. I never knew Beatrix kept a journal throughout her early life, written in a secret code. When I finish the book, I will watch the movie Miss Potter starring Renee Zellweger again. This movie is available for free on YouTube. Miss Potter I’ve included a glimpse through the trailer below.

Life Hacks by Keith Bradford is exactly what its title implies: good tips for everyday problems. I found several new recipes in 30 Minute Meals by Rachel Ray that look promising. I always like to add a new recipe or two to my files each month.  

I have watercolored for several decades, but there is always room to improve, actually a lot of room, and after finding the YouTube videos of Anna Bucciarelli I knew I had to have her book 101 Watercolor Secrets. It did not disappoint me. Here’s a link to her YouTube channel. If you love watching artists in motion, you will enjoy her beautiful narration and techniques.

(228) Anna Bucciarelli – YouTube

I’m planting seeds nearly every day. I never abide by the suggested weeks before the last frost date printed on the seed packets. I bump it up by 3 – 4 weeks to match the sizes and blooms available in local nurseries at planting time. I also plant in milk cartons and leave them outdoors to stratify in the cold. Many seeds do best with a period of cold before it gets warm enough to sprout. This method is called Winter Sowing and it will bring you amazing success. Give it a try.

One new technique I’ve run across is a bubble wrap sprouting coil. Huh? (I can’t remember who or what or where I saw it so I can’t give proper credit here.) You take a strip of bubble wrap, add a smaller strip of paper towel, and then a layer of seed starter. You place the seeds you are planting at the top of the wrap and wind it up. I used tape to keep it shut, and it has worked fine. The moisture, the warmth of the insulating bubble wrap equals success. I have quite a few marigold sprouts growing. When they are larger, I will unwind the strip and plant them in separate containers. This was so much fun to try and is perfect for those of us who don’t have a lot of windowsill room. Search through boxes for old bubble wrap, or, as I did, buy a small roll at the dollar store.

Winter has been difficult this year. Ice on top of snow, snow on top of ice, making it hard to get around and causing injuries from falls and excessive shoveling. (One of my friends broke her ankle.) Local geese, starving due to a lack of food, fell victim to Bird Flu, causing lakes and parks to shut down. Still, there is beauty in the ice and snow, such as these color-reflecting icicles hanging from my gutter. This photo is part of Skywatch Friday.

The snow cover and extra cold weather this year have been hard on songbirds too. I’ve thrown seed out onto the snow, and it is soon devoured. I stopped using my feeders when there were rumors of the Bird Flu and haven’t put out any more suet since then. We have a very smart wren who can swoop under our back porch door a bit like a cat slinking through a tight space. I suddenly noticed that four of the eight Black Swallowtail chrysalides that were over-wintering on the porch had disappeared. Nearby were bird droppings. We are assuming the wren feasted on the missing chrysalides. To save the four still on the porch, I brought them into the house and taped them to a curtain so they would get the proper amount of outside light. I am hoping they do not emerge too soon.  

I’ve tuned into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams again. Panama is still vibrant with platform feeders and hummingbirds. I am hoping the Red-tailed Hawks thrive and nest this year. Take a look at this delightful glimpse into the world of birds.

I’ve found a new art show on Prime Video presented by the British television company Sky Arts. Landscape Artist of the Year and Portrait Artist of the Year have many seasons available to view. It is a joy to me to watch the artists paint a landscape or a portrait in four hours. If you enjoy art or are an artist yourself, this is a wonderful way to spend an hour.

We also watch quite a few of the old Amazing Race shows on Paramount+ and have begun watching Season 50 of Survivor. This will be the first Survivor we have watched in several seasons. We were appalled at the recent ‘wokeness’ of the show, with Jeff Probst not saying his usual, “Come on in, guys,” for fear of offending someone. We have had enough of that nonsense. Hopefully, they will realize that handling people with kid gloves in a survival situation is detrimental to the concept on which the show was based.

I researched the ratings, and the show’s viewers have plummeted. Perhaps Season 50, with a cast of characters from previous shows when ratings were high, will bring back a little of the magic.

This is one of my favorite Signposts in February.

March arrives in two days, I wonder what kind of fun and interesting events will surprise me over its weeks.

Photo Challenges – Sea Birds

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness6 Comments

Over the past decade, I’ve dabbled in a variety of WordPress photo challenges, each offering a unique perspective. In this post, I’m excited to share my experiences from three such challenges.

You may notice a red spot on the seagull in the photograph I chose for the birdwatching challenge hosted by Don’t Hold Your Breath. The Audubon Society explains this in a great article. In short, the red spot is a visual clue to help baby chicks peck the parent bird’s bill to be fed.

One of my longtime favorite challenges is Friday Skywatch. Although I am a day late, they accept entries throughout the week. My photos show the wide beach at the point of Strathmere, NJ. We love Strathmere beach and appreciate the fact that it is one of the few southern New Jersey beach towns that don’t require beach tags. (Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest are also free beaches.)

The last photograph I include is Six on Saturday hosted by Garden Ruminations. My theme is a few of the Sea Birds from the Jersey Shore. These photos were taken during weekend visits to Strathmere and Wildwood, New Jersey.

Photo Challenges – LAPC #235

On By TimelessladyIn photo challenges21 Comments

At least 65 years plus in age, my birdbath still holds water for my backyard birds. It mimics the full moon that has been gracing February’s cold night skies. It first belonged to my maternal grandmother. I remember being nose-high to its edge, peering over the rim at the silvery reflections. It resembles a crystal ball. Strange, I am considered a reasonable person, but I have no desire to know the future, near or far. I gaze into it to remember the joys of the past.

Today’s post is part of Lens Artist Photo Challenge #235: Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome. Thank you to both the hosts and the participants in this challenge.

The reflected sky is part of Skywatch Friday. Water, Water, Everywhere can even be found in a backyard birdbath, thanks to Jez for hosting.

Paths – A Woodland Walk

On By TimelessladyIn Paths4 Comments

A few years ago, I took a weekly photo of a path through the woods to show how the seasons change the appearance of the area I live in. This year, same woods, different path, an old habit with new direction.

The summer canopy of green leaves has shattered, falling away from the sky to the floor of the woods, carpeting it in many shades of amber. The grey of exposed tree trunks and limbs is dotted with the green of ground pine, holly, and laurel. Another soul who walks this way, created a bit of enchantment and direction when they lined the way with fallen branches.

New photos of THE PATH will be added to the sidebar weekly, with a link to THE PATH page containing all the weekly photos posted in one place.

Here’s a look back at THE PATH, different area of the woods, that I took in 2017, and a surprise to me, this is the third time I am attempting a weekly photo, I found this earlier video of the same concept from 2014. THE PATH 2014.

This post is part of Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge: Amber

Phlowers – Yellow Nature

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers6 Comments

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Forsythia on an overcast day.

The forsythia seemed to be the only sunshine as I watched the sky on this day of April showers.

Creeping Jenny

I find a sense of security in the burst of color from garden perennials. I rely on the plants that green up and blossom with the warmth of the springtime sun. They give me hope that winter is truly behind us.

Double Daffodil

I planted dozens of daffodils in the Autumn. Even against an angry sky they glow.

Hyacinth

This pale yellow hyacinth might not have strong color, but it still has the same glorious scent as the varieties that sport brighter hues. This hyacinth is my choice for Flower of the Day.

Johnny-Jump-Up Violas

Rounding out my collection of yellow flowers are these sweet Johnny-Jump-Ups.

Place – Six on Saturday – Cedar Lake

On By TimelessladyIn Place13 Comments

Twenty-five years ago, on hot summer days, I took my pre-teen sons to a beautiful swimming pond called Washington Lake. The place closed, was vacant for years, but recently was repurposed into a walking park. The day was warm, but there was plenty of ice on the water to remind us it was still February. It was a perfect opportunity to visit a beloved place I hadn’t seen in decades.

The beach, once dotted with lawn chairs and umbrellas, is still wide and inviting. New docks now stand where once my boys jumped from diving boards and slid down slides.

The water is so clear it reminded us of the Caribbean. It is pristine, almost like looking through glass.

We walked all the way around, something you couldn’t do years ago, now the walking trails give you a 360 degree view.

This little knoll seemed a perfect place to picnic.

The white pine in the surrounding woodland is beautiful. I saw a lot of milkweed pods too, a good place for monarch butterflies to thrive. In about six weeks or so the trees might begin to bud. We will try to visit often in the next few months.

This challenge is part of Six on Saturday and Skywatch.

Phlowers – Friday Gems

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers4 Comments

Black-eyed Susans are a reliable flower in my gardens. They usually don’t last the whole summer, and often fall victim to downy mildew on the leaves, but the golden sunshine they display is worth growing them. I’ve never been able to eradicate the mildew once it starts, so my remedy is to plant a late-flowering annual nearby to take over when the Black-eyed Susan withers away. This Photograph is part of Skywatch Friday.

The plants are part of the sunflower family and will turn their faces to follow the sun. There are many varieties of this beautiful garden flower. The long stems make them a perfect choice for floral arrangements.

Black-eyed Susans are a reliable self-seeder. Let them go to seed and they will return every year.

Black-eyed Susans are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

Place – Richland Tree

On By TimelessladyIn Place8 Comments

In the town of Richland, New Jersey, between the Delaware River and the Jersey Shore, on Route 40, there stands a tree. Carved into a 235 year old oak tree that died in 2015, are scenes of trains, sawmills, clocks, homes, weathervanes, farms, chickens, people, roadsigns, etc. It’s an amazing sight.

The 235-year-old oak tree, centerpiece of the park, died in 2015. Instead of chopping it down, Richland hired chainsaw artist Brian Ackley to carve the town’s history into the tree’s trunk and branches. He expects to finish later in 2017, in time for Richland to celebrate its 150th birthday. ~Roadside America

We found this place on the return trip from Ocean City. Since Route 55 has been finished, no one travels the ‘old’ way ‘down the shore’ anymore. In the age of the pandemic, leisurely drives are making a comeback. It had been near two decades since we were on this road. We found a few surprises, the most interesting, The Richland Oak.

This post is part of Skywatch.

I’m so glad I found the site Roadside America. Who knew that near this old oak tree are also musical robots. I’m going to have to take a few moments tonight and browse all the interesting places for a drive in my area. Put some towns near you in the search bar, and find things you never knew were near to you.

Pleasures – Warm Day Walkabout/Emerging Spring

On By TimelessladyIn Pleasures9 Comments

We’ve had an up and down week, snow one day, gorgeous sunshine and a taste of springtime the next. A midday walkabout was just what I needed.

A glance upward revealed a blush of Venetian red maple buds against the blue sky.

In my yard I noticed the wisteria pods have been scavenged for food. Spring can’t come quick enough for the hungry animals.

The daffodils are pushing upward. I love the smooth texture of the spring green in contrast to the brown leaves, mosses, and dried grass textures of winter.

I checked on my winter sown containers. Nothing is sprouting as of yet. It’s time for me to take my permanent marker outdoors again and reinforce the labeling of the contents. I don’t want to try and guess what’s growing inside when it’s time to plant.

As always, the first bloom in my garden is this tiny yellow crocus. Every year, it’s a reliable forerunner of all the glorious flowers to come. Am I excited about this taste of spring? Oh Yes!

Pheathers – Monochrome Monday Mockingbird in Snow

On By TimelessladyIn Pheathers12 Comments

Mockingbirds are a favorite of mine. I captured this beauty outside my window today, perched on a branch of the Bald Cypress tree. The beautiful snow is reason enough to gaze out the window, making eye-contact with a mockingbird is an added bonus. Is it possible to develop friendship with birds, moments of real trust? Possibly this morning was an inroad to even better relationships with the backyard flock. I trudged out in the snow to throw a bit of seed on the ground, and into the feeder hoping to give them a few minutes of nourishment before the snow covered my breakfast offering over again.

This Monochrome Monday post is part of Skywatch.

Photo Challenge – Weather Vane Wednesday/Seashore Offerings Part I

On By TimelessladyIn photo challenges16 Comments

We took a Sunday drive to Ocean City, Strathmere and Sea Isle City, New Jersey on the weekend.  Most weather vanes I see tend to be near our seashore towns.  We saw at least three vanes that had spun and predicted wind for so long they lost their decorative top piece and were left with only letters. The chosen weather vane photograph is one my husband predicted, ‘Maybe today you’ll get two vanes in one photo.’ Within minutes of his remark I did just that. Can you see the second vane behind the first in the distance.

Most of the vanes I find at the seashore have a nautical or ocean theme. One interesting note is the positioning of both vanes. These two are actually working vanes and both show the wind blowing from the same direction.

Thanks to these blogs for their participation in last week’s Weather Vane Wednesday. Take at look at their great weather vanes:
The 59 Club – The Highest Point
Exploring Color – Farm Barn Vanity
This Made Me Smile Today – Seascape Weathervane

The weather vanes, seen from above and below, are also a perfect fit for Nancy Merrill’s challenge of Above and Below.

The Photo Challenge: Each Wednesday, I post a photograph of a Weather Vane with a short description of where it can be found and any history connected to it. The main focus of the challenge is the photo of the Weather Vane and the location. The challenge can be Wordless if that is what you choose. If you would like others to see your post leave a link to your blog in the comment box. You can also tag the post #weathervaneweds. If you place a link to my post in your post you will create a pingback that will appear in the comment section. The challenge is open all week for comments and posts. Thanks so much for taking part in my challenge.

Many thanks to Cee, of Cee’s Photography, for including this challenge in her listing of WordPress Challenges. If you love challenges take a look at this page and while you are there check out some of Cee’s terrific posts. Thanks Cee!

Perspective, Photograph & Quote – Waiting

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective, photograph, Quote12 Comments

The mountain laurel, late in blooming this year, is finally flowering. It blooms in a small woods near our home. I like to photograph the pristine white flowers illuminated by the canopy of trees and sky.

This Spring, everything has been late in coming into leaf or flower, we’ve waited on just about everything, including the warm weather. I found quite a few quotes on waiting and some lauded the ability to wait while others criticized the tendency. I liked this one by Lincoln…

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

                                      ~ Abraham Lincoln

Today I think I will choose to hustle!

Photograph – Skywatch Friday – Eerie Skyscape

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness6 Comments

I was outside on my front lawn last night, camera pointed toward the sky. I haven’t taken part in Skywatch Friday for quite a while. Last night’s sky was the perfect opportunity to create a post. The eerie sky was the forerunner of a winter storm. A chilly mix is falling even as I write these words…rain mixed with snow. I went outside before breakfast, dressed in my nightclothes,  and picked a big bouquet of daffodils; I wasn’t willing to allow all the beautiful yellow blooms to be crushed beneath the weight of falling snow.

Photograph – Skywatch Friday in February

On By TimelessladyIn photograph10 Comments

skywatch feb 26

If you’ve read my blog with any regularity you might recognize these beautiful pines silhouetted against the sunrise. This is the view from the room where I begin most of my mornings. The sun is rising earlier each day…Hallelujah! Spring is definitely around the corner.

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.” ~ Genesis 1:14

I hadn’t taken part in Skywatch Friday for quite awhile, and thought perhaps this sunrise was a good starting point for my day and blog posting. Check out the site: Skywatch Friday and take part in the challenge too.