Some of the latest flowers blooming along the trail in the park.
Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana
Crown Vetch, Securigera varia
Orange Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis
Pink Knotweed, Polygonum pensylvanicum
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
What I'm Reading #54
Garden Jewels
While Romeo slept off his day at school.... I watered and found some jewels in my mid-June garden.
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum
Firecracker Loosestrife, Lysimachia cilata
Blackberry, Rubus fructosus
A volunteer petunia.
My annual favorite: Begonias!
Romeo's Excellent Adventure!
Here he is hanging out in my office at school. It was bring your dog to work day now that the children are gone, and I would say about 12 to 15 dogs came to school!
But all good things must come to the end. Someone is ready to go home!
Where someone slept like a rock for 72 hours! Well, okay, not THAT long. But I long time.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The Good Life
Rescued just 10 weeks ago from the streets of San José, Costa Rica. In this country with me since April 27th, and Romeo is acclimating himself magnificently.
As I sat reading on the deck today, I snapped these pics--post a vigorous morning walk, just in time for a mid-morning nap.
As I sat reading on the deck today, I snapped these pics--post a vigorous morning walk, just in time for a mid-morning nap.
Out Of Death...LIFE!
Last October, a storm whipped through that left my beautiful "wiggly willow" felled and impossible to repair. In removing it, I gave a few of the piece of the trunk to a wood turner friend of mine and then forget about it.
That is, until Friday, when Tim presented me with this amazing bowl that he created from one of it's remnants. It is the epitome of his art: organic, true to the wood's natural characteristics, impeccably crafted and finished. 20 years in the making, I can't think of a more fitting memorial to this once magnificent tree.
Stuffed Cabbage = Comfort Food
Sometimes called "Pigs In A Blanket," this is really a simple meal to make and one of those perennial ones from my childhood that I have to recreate from time to time as an adult. It never fails to make me happy.
It also lends itself to a crock pot, but this time I made it in the oven. Ready to go it, it's pictured above.
What you see are "fists" of molded "stuffing" wrapped in the larger leaves of a cabbage placed on a bed of Encurtido Salvadoreño (Mom used sauerkraut--which ups the sour quotient as is more traditional to the recipe) and diced canned tomatoes (I used plain, but here you have choices to with all of the wonderful spiced and inclusive varieties of diced canned tomatoes out there Ro*Tel® makes a kick ass spicy version that would be awesome).
I served it with whipped potatoes that I added fresh herbs from my gardens to: Thyme, Rosemary, and Marjoram, as well as, some grated Gruyere cheese that I found in the fridge.
The "stuffing" is as simple as can be and as changeable as anyone's whims and creativity. This is the basic set of ingredients and how I "changed" them today. Ground Beef (I used a package of Laura's Lean Ground Beef a local distributor of organic, antibiotic free Beef), onion (I found these ginormous scallions at the A & H Market this morning and used 6 of them), Pepper Red and Green (I added a large Jalapeño, too). I didn't use either salt or black pepper, but did use dried Oregano.
The result was a mild flavor that allowed the peppers and oregano to sing lead.
The fresh greens in my gardens are just about spent, so I used the opportunity to create this dessert salad with the help of a White Peach and some sweet Vidalia Onion salad dressing. The perfect cap to this wonderful meal.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Romeo, My Love
After a long day at work and then an exuberant homecoming from Romeo followed by a vigorous walk, what is left to cap the day?
My little fellow hanging out in the kitchen while I make a simple dinner. Life just isn't better than this. It's bigger. It's fancier. It's weirder. It's certainly more desolate and pain-filled. But better? I just don't see how...
DINNER: Cream of Kale and Broccoli Soup with Lemon.
My little fellow hanging out in the kitchen while I make a simple dinner. Life just isn't better than this. It's bigger. It's fancier. It's weirder. It's certainly more desolate and pain-filled. But better? I just don't see how...
DINNER: Cream of Kale and Broccoli Soup with Lemon.
The Good Ones
People are so quick to malign all politicians, but I am not. There are some truly good ones out there. Since 2002 I have contributed directly to the campaigns of several of them who serve in the US House and Senate, and I am very proud to say that Senator Martin Heinrich (D) of New Mexico is one that I have support financially from his first race for the House. Here he becomes the first member of the United States Senate to participate in the now ubiquitous "NOH8" anti-GLBT bulling Ad Campaign. Brought a tear of pride to my eyes. New Mexico has a pair of really good Senators.
In case you're looking to support some of the good ones, OTHERS I have endorsed with hard earned lucre are:
HOUSE:
Ron Barber (D) ~ AZ
John Delaney (D) ~ MD
Tammy Duckworth (D) ~ IL
Alan Grayson (D) ~ FL
Steven Horsdford (D) ~ NV
Jerry McNerney (D) ~ CA
Patrick Murphy (D) ~ FL
Ed Perlmutter (D) ~ CO
Dina Titus (D) ~ NV
Christopher Van Allen (D) ~ MD
John Yarmouth ~ KY
SENATE:
Tammy Baldwin (D) ~ WI
Mark Begich (D) ~ AK
Sherrod Brown (D) ~ OH
Joe Donnelly (D) ~ IN
Al Franken (D) ~ MN
Kay Hagan (D) ~ NC
Martin Heinrich (D) - NM
Heidi Heitkamp (D) ~ ND
Claire McCaskill (D) ~ MO
Jon Testor (D) ~ MT
Elizabeth Warren (D) ~ MA
I have also given to some who were there for a while and then were defeated (I still lament 2 term House member from PA's 8th district Patrick Murphy--he was a truly good egg, and not the same good guy who's currently serving as a freshman from Florida's 18th) and many, MANY who never made it.
Morning Flowers
Some of the last flowers of Spring...flowers that cross between the season to Summer.
Astilbe among the Woodland Ferns.
Day-Glo Lilies with Japanese Painted Ferns in the background.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
What I'm Reading #53
You enter into it's world, and am soon consumed by cliché, inundated by stereo-type, and embarrassed by racist reference--but still, it's a fascinating window into a bygone era, and full of hi-jinx and hilarity.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Romeo Scenario #1
ME: Say Little Fellow, Daddy's out photographing spiders and here you are doing what, pray tell?
ME: What's this!? The missing Himalayan Yak Milk chew!
ROMEO: I do not wish to make a statement at this time. I request forthwith the presence of my barrister. I know my rights!
ROMEO: He he he he... You're not the only one watching those "Law & Order" reruns on the telly.
ROMEO: THHHHPPPPPPPPSSSSS! HA! Romeo score one, Daddy zilch. Now, what was I doing? Oh yes, this lovely little Himalayan Yak Milk chew.
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Shrimp And Spring Vegetables Alfredo
Loving my new kitchen!
Shrimp and Spring Vegetables Alfredo!
Ingredients:
Shrimp
Zucchini
Peas
Celery
Onion
Oyster Mushrooms
Carrots
Tickle Box Repair #4
A little boy in a church notices a series of placards along the wall of the sanctuary with names on them. He asks the Rector who they are.
The Priest said, "There are the names of the people who have died in the service."
The boy hesitates then askes, "Was it the 9:00 o'clock or the 11:00 o'clock service?"
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