June is bustin’ out all over

Good morning Friends ~ It is hard to believe this year is just about half over. Time marches on. So far, our summer temps seem to be cooler than in the past couple of years and for that I am thankful.  We also are no longer in drought conditions either and that’s a blessing.

Here is a tune I thought of and found on you-tube for this post.

Edmundo Ros And His Orchestra:

June Is Bustin' Out All Over

 

The other morning I was going to work on needlework indoors but when I first went out I noticed how pleasant it was and there was some nice cloud cover, so I decided to work outside while it was comfortable.  The front hedgerow on the sidewalk side needed trimming, so that’s what I did first.  I raked that all up and piled it on the front patio. Then I decided to mow, after that I did some more trimming and weeding in the back garden, bringing those trimmings up front to add to the pile.  I did take a couple of breaks during that time and those help.  I thanked God that I am still able to do things around here, and that I enjoy gardening, there is just something about it.  Yes, it is hard, sweaty work, but the rewards are oh so great. I then bagged up the debris, (to be picked up on Fri. and the country takes all of this and turns it into mulch which is then free to residents.)  As I was tying up the last (third) bag, I noticed a change in the air.  It got cooler, windy, and I looked up at the sky and there were dark clouds, and I thought to myself, it’s going to rain.  Then I felt a few sprinkles and just as I got inside, it started to pour and continued to do so for quite some time.  So, I was nudged to go outside and ended up taking care of outdoor work on a nice morning, finishing just as the rains came.  No coincidence.

I did do some needlework in the afternoon, content in my morning’s work and happy to be in the air-conditioning.  I am working on pieces to re-open my little Etsy shop with.

Here are some of the little journal covers I’ve made, and some wip’s (works-in-progress). The three on the bottom are my latest.

This cover below is a piece of wonderful upholstery fabric I had in my stash. The lace is some antique lace also from my stash.  I love making the ribbon embroidery roses.  These little journals are 3/4 inches wide x 4 1/4 inches high.  I miss showing my pieces to my DH. I miss his encouragement too. His love and encouragement through our life together fill my heart and overflow into my work.  I have been enjoying getting back into needleworking again, as I quit there for awhile as my heart just wasn’t into it. This journal has some nice green seam binding as the tie closure.

Close-up.

Here is another one. More upholstery fabric, ribbon roses, and a piece of beaded crocheted edging that I made. One of my favorite embroidery stitches is the French knot.  I used a deeper color of ribbon for the center of these roses.

This one I just finished yesterday.  The blue ribbon will be the tie closure for the book.

This is a work in progress, not quite sure what I am going to do here yet.

Another work in progress. I am looking for inexpensive seam binding in different colors and also ribbon for making roses. I am addicted to making these.

Now on to real blooms.  Here is the beautiful ‘hugs-n-kisses again.  I just love this hibiscus.  DH would have liked this one too. The colors are so yummy and the name is sweet. When I saw it at HD a few months back, my heart beat faster and it begged to be put into my cart.

Here is the Royal Poinciana tree that is in full bloom right now.  I just love walking into the scullery in the morning and seeing this view.

I am into my 7th month of life without my DH. There isn’t a day that I don’t miss him. I still cry, and that is to be expected, he filled my life, he is the other half of me. I am finding my groove, learning to move along on this journey.  God has been my source of strength, peace and healing. This past week I’ve begun to look forward to each new day and I am thankful for the gift of each one.  I am thankful for FNF, Friends Needing Friends, the lovely widow’s group I found and that I have become involved in it. We don’t know why things happen when they do in our lives, but I know that God has brought me to this place and He is not done with me yet.  He has much in store for me. My prayer is that I will be able to help other widows.

If you know of any widows, please pray for them, do something kind for them. Their lives have been turned upside down. Grieving is an individual experience, none of us will grieve the same. It is something we will do the rest of our life, it just won’t be are raw as it was in the beginning.

If you go to church, and your church doesn’t have a widow’s group, think and pray about starting one.  If there are widows in your church they need this. You don’t realize how much they need to feel connected to each other as they walk, stumble and sometimes run on this path.  They need to know that others care for them. They need God’s reassurance that His love is real, and that He will never leave them.  They need love, encouragement, hugs. They need to become involved in helping others as they have been helped.

 Well, this post is ‘part and parcel’ of my life here at Plum Cottage. Thank you once again for your love, prayers and support.

FlowerLady

 

A June Monday morning

Good morning everyone ~ I hope you all had a nice weekend, and if you didn't, I hope it wasn't more than you could bear, and may today be better than yesterday.

Last night we had some awful THUNDER. It was weird too and came in spurts. Not our usual thunder. Thankfully it didn't last long.

The heat has been absolutely horrible here. Yesterday morning though, wasn't as bad as it had been, so I worked on trimming the driveway overhang from neighbor property, and mowed. That was it, I couldn't do anymore. Today's temp is supposed to reach 90 but with the humidity feel like it's 107. I DREAD it. The heat and humidity really bother us the older we get. I don't see how people can say they love the heat, they must be totally crazy. It makes us feel ill. We plan on going out early to run a few errands, and get back home before it gets really bad out. Oh yea, the a.c. in my little Mazda wagon isn't working right either. :-(

Click on pictures for larger views.

These next few pictures are of my pencil orchids, Vanda teres, Miss Joaquim, not sure which name as it looks like it could be a couple of different ones. These are blooming all over the place. I am moving more into our screened room as it will give it a more tropical feel and more color. Some that are in there are already blooming. This is such an easy orchid for me.
Info can be found at Tropical Exotica.











Here we have a spunky squirrel,
waiting to play with another friend, or maybe mate.


The morning sunlight back lighting this shell caught my eye.


Freshly mown driveway and one of my pink crepes in bloom.
The rains we had last night have made the branches hang down.


Here are two more pictures taken just before dark the other night. The blooms are already fading and falling from these magnificent trees all over the county. Pretty soon the trees will be just green, shady canopies.





That's it for this morning.
Try to keep cool,
and try not to do
too much work outdoors if you can help it.

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

"It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes
And pleasant scents the noses."
Nathaniel Parker Willis, The Month of June

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Sunset, Royal Tropicana, Oatmeal Cake

Good morning everyone. Hope you all have a great weekend. It's hard to believe it's Friday already.

We've had some thunderstorms the past two afternoons giving us some much needed rain, and lowering the humidity a tad. Yesterday morning DH and I were both outside moving a few things, and our clothes became wet in no time from the heavy humidity. It was awful.

This morning I've got a loaf of Italian herb bread going in the bread machine, it smells good already. I'll be heading off to work later, and I'll see how it is there, as this is our off season, and we have road construction going on there, plus a down economy.

These clouds sure got my attention. It was after a thunderstorm and the sun was setting. Just beautiful.




Here is the Royal Poinciana with dark sky behind. I really love that contrast. This tree is only in bloom for a short while, so I am enjoying the show while it lasts.



Now here is a picture of a new recipe I tried yesterday afternoon, and oh my, this was absolutely scrumptious. I cut the cake in half to have a layered cake. The cake recipe was from here. I'm not sure where I found the frosting recipe.





OATMEAL CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING

1 1/2 c. boiling water
1 c. quick oatmeal
1 stick butter
2 eggs
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt

CAKE: Pour boiling water over oatmeal and butter, cover for 20 minutes. Add sugars, eggs and beat. Sift dry ingredients and add. Pour into 13 x 9 inch baking dish (greased and floured). Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

GOLDEN COCONUT FROSTING

1/2 c. butter
1 1/3 c. coconut
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 c. milk
2 c. sifted confectioners' sugar

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add coconut and stir until golden brown. Remove about half the coconut; set aside.

Melt remaining butter in skillet with coconut. Add brown sugar. Cook and stir over low heat 2 minutes or until blended. Then add milk, bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Cool.

Gradually add confectioners' sugar until it's about the right consistency to spread, beating well after each addition. Spread on cake. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Makes 2 cups frosting, or enough to cover tops and sides of two 8-inch layers, one 9-inch square, or 24 cupcakes.

P.S. I used some coconut milk I had left-over from when I made coconut bread the other day, in place of regular milk.

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

It is the sweet, simple things of life

which are the real ones after all.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Blooms in spite of heat and humidity

It is terrible here this morning. The humidity is so thick, you can almost cut it with a knife. We might need scuba gear if we hang out there too long, and we certainly don't need a sauna living down here.

After taking a few pictures I decided I was staying indoors today. I don't need to be feeling sick and there isn't anything pressing or urgent that needs doing outdoors. It is 83 and with the humidity at 75% it feels like it is 99. I am so thankful for air-conditioning.

The first few pictures will be of the Royal Poinciana tree - Delonix regia, that is two properties back from us. I love to see this bloom every year. In our area there are lots of these blooming all over and they are all beautiful.

You can find info about this tree that has been consistently voted among the top 5 most beautiful flowering trees in the world, here, here, and here.









This is looking at the tree from the end of our driveway, with abit of whimsy hanging on the fence. He is about 11' long, and was found curbside on the street east of us. I'm a pisces, and we live in FL where there's lots of fishing going on, so we brought him home. We didn't want to see him going out to the landfill. Then we could hardly find a place to hang him.




This is a hibiscus I've forgotten the name of again. I need to start a page for myself of pictures and names, because at this time in my life I'm not retaining the info for everything I read. If you know what I mean. :-)




Here is the purple flowering crepe myrtle in my main garden. It is another plant that has not bloomed in years, last year being the first time I remember it doing so. I love it. The blooms are huge like those of my Queen Crepe. The Queen's leaves are bigger though. I held the blooms in hand so that you can see how large they are.

That's it. Keep cool.
If you are working outside,
don't over do it.
Drink plenty of water, and take breaks.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

View out scullery window

Good afternoon everyone ~ Hope your day is going well. I took the pictures below just a little while ago. It's my view as I wash dishes. This time of year the Royal Poinciana blooms and it is gorgeous. I love the orange with the blue sky.

This morning I trimmed the hedgerow along the sidewalk out front, and some along the driveway as well, then raked and bagged it up to be picked up tomorrow. I was pooped when I came in and had had enough of the heat, humidity and sweating. We've now had lunch and I feel ready for a short nap.

Have an nice afternoon and evening.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL