Playing Mother Nature

The cactus-flowered zinnias were such a success this year that I made an effort to save seeds.

As you can see, I have a system of sorts  . . .

Trying to ensure that I'll have a nice mix of colors next year . .

Each color goes into its own envelope

As I sat there, pulling the dried seed heads apart and marveling at the intricate structures revealed . . .

I had a vision of Mother Nature, packing away her bright summer wardrobe with a little sigh . . . but anticipating bringing it out anew next year . . .

(Fuchsia -- not what you may have been thinking.)

Odds and Ends While I Recover from the First Birthday Celebration

Through the Kaleidoscope

Out yesterday I found that I was almost woozy with the colors and driving far slower than usual.

It was like driving through a kaleidoscope  -- the trees are near the road and the sun shining through the leaves is

so picture-worthy.

Most of these pictures were taken from the car --

The colors! 

Today is John's birthday and we'll be enjoying Eggs Benedict for breakfast and a birthday dinner with Justin and Claui tonight. Then another birthday dinner tomorrow when Ethan arrives (Claui has to work that night -- thus the two celebratory meals.)

I will catch up on my blog visiting Sunday, I hope.

Moving Day Part Two

The Devons are happy in our neighbors' pastures across the street and yesterday the Jersey girls were lured up the road to greener pastures near our house. 

 They've never been up this way and were understandably cautious.

John tolled them up the road with a bucket of sweet feed. I 

 took the Jeep to block a side road and prevent them turning that way and Justin followed behind them, urging them on

It went pretty well...

Silverbell, Marigold, Clover, Hazel, and Toblerone (the  Jersey/Devon bull)

all know greener pastures when they see them.

We're just happy there's still grass for them to eat and we don't have to rely on hay yet -- it gets more costly every year.

 

The Sacred Trio

When John and I were first married --almost fifty-three years ago -- and living in a tiny trailer at Camp Geiger Trailer Park (officially designated 'sub-standard housing by the Marine Corps,) John commented one evening that I seemed to fix dinner by starting with a pan of diced onions and peppers and garlic and then deciding what to add.

There was, and still is, some truth in that. So when I was faced with a bunch of peppers that needed to be picked in advance of falling temperatures, I diced up all the bell peppers and a few of the jalapenos (they're very hot) to saute with onions and garlic and package for freezing. ( The poblanos -- the dark green beauties on the left -- John smoked and then I bagged them up for the freezer.)

 When I first began gardening, I followed the directions in a book on freezing vegetables that recommended freezing chopped green peppers raw. This isn't very satisfactory as the peppers become quite watery and if you try to saute them, they just stew in their own juices. I like this solution much better -- a package of this tasty mix and I'm well on my way to a good spaghetti sauce or chili or beef stew or soup or curry or burgoo or . . .

Ode to Peppers

Aliens in the House