Continuation from yesterday

Good afternoon gardening and blogging Friends,

It has been a gray day all day. Not too hot or humid with a nice breeze. I started outside around 8 this morning and finished for the day right around noon. Now I am ready for a nap.

I planted the coleus cuttings, my little rooted Maman Cochet, a desert cassia along with walking iris, and cat's whiskers, which I need to make some cuttings of to root in water along with more coleus.

I decided to move St. Frances out to where he would be seen and appreciated more, so enlisted DH's help for that. I've still more to do in this garden, but it looks so much better than it did yesterday morning when I started this unplanned project. DH said it looked pretty and that made me feel great.

Just click on pictures to enlarge.

I sure wish you could smell Maman. Oh my gosh. Her fragrance is so wonderful it almost makes me want to cry.

Have a nice afternoon and a lovely evening.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

What I did today

Like usual, I start out the door with an idea in mind, and other things transpire. I never did get done what I went out to do, which was plant some coleus cuttings that I had rooted in water .

I thought of planting them in the garden area below, but it was filled with 'thugs' that had taken over, so, I started getting rid of them. Mother-of-millions, I have a couple different varieties of this plant, info and pictures here and here

Then there were a few other things that needed to go and the Louis Phillipe and a bougainvillea needed to be trimmed way back.

After I got started, but still had more to do.

Yikes, what did I do?

Tomorrow morning I look forward to getting back out there to plant potted plants, cuttings and seeds, after I do some more clean up. It is always so shocking to clean a bed out, at least for me, as this place is mostly a jungle. But, it felt good getting that done this morning when it wasn't too bad out. I look forward to however this little garden looks next. I'll keep you posted.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

My Bella Rose blog's giveaway

Hi Friends ~ I just found My Bella Rose blog today. She is another rose lover and I look forward to reading more of her blog. I just wanted to let you all know of the giveaway that she is having there. Two different ones, both are nice. Just click on the link above to visit her lovely blog.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Moonscape

A day without sunshine is like,

you know,

night.

Anonymous

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

These buds are for you

Good morning Friends,

This morning I went out and took some pictures of rose buds in various stages of opening.

Click on pictures for larger view.

'Penelope'

Mm. Laurette Messimy

'Maman Cochet'

'Love'

'Louis Phillipe'

'Duchesse de Brabant'

'Cocktail'

'Caldwell's Pink'

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,


The above line is the beginning of a poem
written by Robert Herrick in the 17th century.
The poem is in the genre of carpe diem,
Latin for to seize the day.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

A 93 Year Old Woman Salsa Dancer

A friend sent me this little video this morning, and I had to Google it to post here. This was fantastic, exciting and inspiring. A great way to start the morning and weekend.

~ Live your life and forget your age. ~
Norman Vincent Peale

A 93 Year Old Woman Is A Hell Of A Salsa Dancer :: Vidmax.com

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Angel Food Ministries

Good afternoon Friends ~ Hope you are all doing well.

This post is about Angel Food Ministries.

I read about this last year, but didn't try this out. It just came to our attention again from an online friend, and after visiting the website again, reading about it and the menu, we've decided to give it a try.

Below is some info from the website if you are interested, and if you are just click on the link above to visit the website and find a distributor near you. We have one about 3 miles away.

****************

By buying food from first rate suppliers at substantial volume discounts, Angel Food Ministries is able to provide families with approximately $65 worth of quality nutritious food for $30. Angel Food Ministries does not use out-of-date food or inferior products.

ABOUT THE FOOD
Each month's menu is different and consists of fresh, frozen and packaged food. Angel Food is purchased from the nation’s top food suppliers. Providing quality, nutritious food at significant discounts on a regular basis is one practical way to give people a “hand up” during difficult times. The cost for a box of Angel Food is $30. There is no purchase limit for boxes of Angel Food. There are no applications or qualifications necessary to purchase. VIEW OUR MENU

ABOUT THE VALUE
Comparison shopping nationwide in various grocery stores has revealed that the average retail value for the same food items would be approximately $65. Generally, one box of Angel Food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month.

ABOUT SPECIALITY BOXES
Each month, Angel Food Ministries also offers “specialty boxes” of steak, chicken, pork or other foods. This bonus program affords participants additional food choices at a great value. There is no purchase limit for specialty boxes or bonus foods. There are no applications or qualifications necessary to purchase.

**********

Has anyone out there tried this? We have heard from a few in a forum that have and they said it's good. Each month is a different menu.

I will let you know when we get our first order, which won't be until the 24th of Oct.

Have a great afternoon.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bread

This recipe is made in the bread machine, makes a 1.5 lb. loaf. This was the first recipe I made in my bread machine from the cookbook that came with it, July 2000.

1 c. water
1/4 c. molasses
2 TBS. margarine or butter, softened
3 c. bread flour
1/2 c. quick cooking or regular oats
2 TBS. dry milk
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 3/4 tsp. yeast
Optional additions:
1 TBS. flax seeds
1 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. carraway seeds

Make according to your bread machine directions. Select sweet setting.

This smells wonderful while baking.
The bread machine is one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Barley Lentil Soup

2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup chopped onion
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
7 cups salt-reduced, fat-free chicken broth, divided
1-1/2 cups small fresh button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup lentils, rinsed
1/2 cup pearl barley
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1-1/2 teaspoons dried leaf thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Spray 4-quart saucepan with non-stick cooking spray. Add onion and garlic; sauté 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add carrots and celery; sauté 3 minutes longer, stirring occasionally. Mix in 6 cups broth, mushrooms, lentils, barley, tomato paste, thyme, curry powder and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 60 to 70 minutes or until lentils and barley are tender, but not mushy. Blend in remaining broth, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf and serve. Makes 8 servings.

Per serving: 186 calories, 10g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 10g fiber, 4g fat, 4mg cholesterol, 1092mg sodium.

Recipe from: Barley Foods

******

This was absolutely delicious! I will definitely make this again. I had some barley and some lentils and wanted to use them up. I just used a large pot, put a little olive oil in the bottom to brown the garlic and onion. Did not have tomato paste either and when I told DH he said he didn't like the idea of that added anyway. Oh yea, I didn't have celery or mushrooms either, so those would have added more flavor.

Good grief. Looking at the recipe again I see that I forgot to add the last 5 ingredients, probably because it said add them at the end. I did go out and pick a bay leaf from my tree that I got quite a few years ago, it was about 6" high, it's now about 3' tall. Store bought bay leaves do not compare at all. I don't usually add salt and pepper to a dish, letting us do that ourselves for our own tastes.

I am trying to add more grains to our meals. This was a hit with both of us.

Served it with Oatmeal bread made in my bread machine yesterday while I was out gardening.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

What a difference ...

in the weather this time of year. It is still hot and humid but not nearly as bad as it was last month. I am thankful.

This is when our gardens start to come alive. Roses are full of new growth, buds, and blooms. Everything else looks great too. Not having the sun blazing down from directly overhead makes a huge difference.

The last few days I've weeded the main garden, mowed, trimmed and cleaned up. I've got some potted babies and others to plant either in the main garden or in larger pots. All the potted babies were grown from seed, popcorn cassia, desert cassia, Jerusalem thorn, Vitex, Dwarf white orchid tree, white powder puff tree, lance pod or lilac tree (which the snails have eaten all the leaves from).

Right now, the sky is clouding up, and of course, I washed a load of laundry this morning and was going to hang it up on the lines to dry. Doesn't that figure.

Below are some recent blooms and one garden helper laying down on the job.

Click on pictures to see larger view.

Below is a wonderful statue of St. Francis that I've had for many, many years. I love the way he has become covered in various colors of growth through the years. He stand maybe 3' tall and is on a pedestal.

This next picture is South African foxgloves.

Here is Pandora vine flowers.

This is Mexican Bush Sage.

Maggie

La Marne

Homere

Basil blooms.

An unknown hibiscus.

Last but not least, my garden helper, Tork.

Hope you all have a lovely Wednesday,

and a great rest of the week also.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Pie Jesu

Kind Jesus,
Who take away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

Lamb of God,
Who take away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest
Everlasting.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Thank you Cameron

What a wonderful surprise I woke up to this morning. I woke up around 5 and couldn't go back to sleep for thinking about things I wanted to do in my gardens, so I got up. In my email box was a note from Cameron of Defining Your Garden, Home & Travel blog. She had had a scavenger hunt where we were to find answers to 12 questions in her blog and the winner would receive this book, The Perennial Care Manual

The scavenger hunt was fun, challenging and brought back memories from seeing her photos of Paris. I look forward to reading, learning, enjoying pictures and being inspired by this book, to keep on working in my little gardens.

Cameron and I first met, via the internet, in the forum Cottage Gardens.

I have been inspired over the years by the beauty and colors in Cameron's gardens. The blues and purples draw me like a magnet. Visit her blog and see pictures of her lovely gardens by clicking on her picture below. Her posts are filled with wonderful information and stories as well as pictures.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

So much older then, I'm younger than that now

Last night after supper, DH and I thought of the words to the title of this song, Googled and found it on youtube.

This is a great rendition by some wonderful old rock 'n roll dudes, Dylan, Clapton, Petty, Harrison, Young, McGuinn.

My Back Pages

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I Proud 'neath heated brow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.

Half-cracked prejudice leaped forth
"Rip down all hate," I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull, I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.

Girls' faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, thought, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.

A self-ordained professor's tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty
Is just equality in school
"Equality," I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I'd become my enemy
In the instant that I preach
My existence led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I'm younger than that now.


Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: My Back Pages
Album: Another Side Of Bob Dylan

Have a nice evening and a great weekend.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Morning views

Good morning Friends ~ Here it is the end of another week. Hope your week was a good one and that your weekend is great.

Below are some pictures I took this morning. Rain and more rain is what we have been having. So nice for the gardens and nice for the gardener who doesn't have to lug hoses around. It's really great not being in drought conditions anymore.

Have a good day. Click on pictures for larger view.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

The Cloud


I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And as laugh I pass in thunder.

Percy Bysshe Shelley ~ 1820

Forever Young

"Forever Young"

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
Bob Dylan

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL