Summer's Cloak

Soaking up the final summer rays of sun on the soft, bright yellow petals of a Black-eyed Susan :-}  Oh, the luxurious life of the eensy weensy spider...........

A Curse and a Blessing - The Blackberry!

"Picking wild berries is the sweetest and best of our vagrant summer pleasures." ~ Jager

Though we expend much of our summer energy battling back the 3 different varieties of wild blackberries common to the Pacific Northwest, come Fall when we pick the deep purple, succulent berries, the struggles, backaches and bright red scratches all fade from our memory.

The whitish-pink blossoms turn to seed and the berry starts to form.

They turn from bright green to a reddish hue.

Finally, as the sun ripens and sweetens the berries, they deepen to a dark purple, almost black color.

They are ready for the pickin'!

We have had pies, cobblers and crisps from these jewels this fall!  What is it about free berries that make them all the more tempting and delicious?!?!

Gathering of Summer

Hollyhocks are another favorite of mine, stirring up feelings of nostalgia in me, I suppose from different children's books or perhaps gardening ones. Can you see the busy bee gathering pollen?

Here is a closer peek at the buzzing bumble bee!  It hit the jackpot with this flower!

Polpette ala Florentine

A friend shared her recipe for her amazing meatballs with me the other day.  And oh my.  Yes sir, they were delicious!

Here are just a few of the ingredients that went into them.  Onions, basil and parsley all picked fresh from the garden. I totally meant to snap a few photos along the way, but......... well, I forgot.  Hello! Anybody home in that head of mine anymore?!?!?!

I did, however, remember to snap a shot before I dove into them.  At the last minute.  But I remembered, none-the-less.  Big, hearty meatballs cooked in a freshly made tomato-wine sauce and served over fresh noodles smothered in browned sage-butter.  Low fat.  Honest!  Okay, so we over-indulged, but it was way worth it :-)

Garden Bouquet

New Family Addition

Almost 2 years old, Zeke comes to us from my sister who needed to find a new home for him.  He is large for a Rat Terrier, weighing in somewhere in the 30+ lb. range.  Full of bounding energy, I do believe he is the happiest dog we have ever owned!  Exceptionally smart and wanting to please us at every turn, he shadows us both inside and outside.  Thank you for this new friend, Sis.  I know it was hard for you to let him go......

Goldenrod Attractions

To A Butterfly

I've watched you now a full half-hour,

Self-poised upon that yellow flower;

And, little Butterfly! indeed

I know not if you sleep or feed.

How motionless! - not frozen seas

More motionless! and then

What joy awaits you, when the breeze

Hath found you out among the trees,

And calls you forth again!

~William Wordsworth

(First verse of the poem)

Fresh from the Garden

Having been introduced to the Cobb Salad at one of our Sisterhood dinners this summer, it fast became my new favorite salad!  I have made Cobb Salads almost weekly, varying the ingredients as different things ripened in the garden.  Healthy and delicious!

The Beauty of Mt. Rainier

Be sure to click on the 'Full Screen' option at the lower right corner to be able to see the pictures in detail!