WHAT is that cool new box with HOLES in it?
Hey, somebody put all my favorite toys in there.
But I don’t WANT to practice sharing right now! No! No!
Well…. if you insist.
Oh, and thanks for helping me get all the toys out. Wanna do it again?
Ethereal and fragrant petals of Bolero.
Deep wine-colored berries on the carolina cherry shrubs.
Fragile pale blue flax blossoms.
Monsieur Tillier’s tea scented blooms.
Buxom Ambridge Rose.
Warm and cinnamony persimmon pancakes.
Julia Child’s already showing a penchant or floriferousness.
Bouncy shadows from the backyard tree.
It’s Sunday evening. The cats have had their dinners. Mine is still simmering on the stovetop. Em and I had two lovely strolls in the garden. She’s getting quite good at obeying me when it’s time to go in — she walks before me to the side door and waits. Or, if she’s not ready to go in, she’ll simply lay down and plead. She napped on my lap while I napped on the recliner. Now, I have a few computering projects to do so iTunes is playing PD James’ Shroud for a Nightingale – Inspector Dalgleish is about to crack the case. Em will occasionally jump on my chair and sneak ’round for a snuggle.
Have a good week, everyone.
Simple things for which I’m thankful today:
1. A really good chiropractor. I woke up Monday morning barely able to set both feet on the ground. Thinking my back would loosen up as the day went on, I creaked in to the office and moved gingerly about my tasks. By the end of the day, I knew I’d be making an appointment to see my chiro. And I did, and he did, and I’m feeling 100% better.
2. A brother with a sense of humor. We had a couple of email exchanges this week that put big grins on my face. We haven’t always had a cordial relationship and I’ve learned not to take these gestures for granted.
3. The right perspective. I don’t like to Christmas shop any later than Thanksgiving and am usually done by the first week or so of November. I don’t like the rush, preferring to think leisurely about gifts I’d like to give. This year is a little different: my family schedule has shifted a little, and finances shifted a little, and we are all simplifying (for real this time, though we’ve said we would for the past several years). So even though I’m “behind” by my own standards, I don’t feel the pressure and am glad for the simplifications that will help us focus more on important matters.
4. Paychecks! Okay, it’s not my paycheck I’m excited about (though I’ve been getting one). It’s roomie’s. After nearly two years of being in school and not earning a paycheck, this is a good thing.
5. A day off. I’m with my mom today, making more cards. This time, I remembered and am not at the office in a big flurry to be where I’m supposed to be! Photos of our projects to come.
Hmmm. Now that I’ve finished writing the list, those items don’t seem all that simple after all. Have a great weekend everyone! And do visit Susanne to read or participate in this week’s Friday Five Faves.
It didn’t take long to realize that I’d never be able to remember all my online passwords and to come up with a system that works for me. Reading through these comments of how other people deal with this made me smile (my favorite was the second one: My wife on the other hand uses the super secure method of a post-it note under her keyboard… what can you do?).
And check out this video showing hummingbirds drinking from feeders. Midway through, you can see up close how one thirsty bird is gulping it down.
My wife on the other hand uses the super secure method of a post-it note under her keyboard… what can you do?
…that it’s almost bedtime for roses? Mahogany new growth on Regatta (hybrid tea rose).
It’s finally beginning to feel like fall. Most of my carolina cherries are loaded with berries (nobody eats them; not even the birds) and my mom’s neighbor has again gifted us with bag after bag of fuyu persimmons.
The yellow-green of the Chinese flame tree leaves give a certain impression of spring, but soon their edges will brown and crisp. That’s Parade, a climbing rose that’s woven some of its canes among the tree branches.
Even the cats are more willing to snuggle up together with the cooler evenings.
And recipes like brussel sprouts with bacon start to sound reeeally good. Though I simplified this recipe way down by frying up peppered bacon and then tossing in sliced sprouts — that’s it.
Cover and cook on medium low, stirring now and again to blend the flavors. Serve when sprouts are cooked through (about 15 minutes).
I served it with pan-fried basa-sole fillets, sautéed chayote, and brown-butter-béchamel bow-tie pasta (alliteration of side dishes not required).
So many good fall recipes out there since most of you have been thinking of fall before me. Looking forward to trying out some more. Any recommendations?
You were saying?