We have a lovely little greenhouse that Richard built for us a few years ago. It opens out off of our family room. Here in North Carolina, anoles are quite common and they love to stay in the greenhouse during the late fall and winter. The other evening, when I went out to fertilize my Meyer lemon trees that I keep out there when the weather gets too cold outside, I found one of our little tenants nestled among some very small lemons that are just beginning to form. I love the scent that the flowers impart. They are some of the most fragrant, aside from lilacs and peonies. Anyway, I couldn't resist clicking a picture of this little guy who might argue that it is indeed easy sometimes being green!
Thank you Jeffery for the elegant ideas and your generosity in sharing your techniques! I think I've got to find a bit of time and make some...
As a nod to the season, we sat down to watch a couple of bewitching films. I had to work late Friday and also worked on Saturday so it was a short weekend with just enough time to watch a movie or two. I forgot how much I adored the house in Practical Magic. I'd love to come home to it. Diane Weiss and Stockard Channing are great as was the entire cast. I made a homemade braided chocolate/cherry bread with a glaze. It was really very tasty and complimented the movie quite nicely. A little Dunkin Donuts coffee added to the treat.
I felt like doing a little baking today. It's a bit coolish outside and overcast. A good day for baking! I got out my recipe binder and settled on a yeast roll recipe I found some time ago. I found a jar of unopened bread machine yeast in the cupboard that expired in March of 2007. I warmed a little water in the microwave and added a little sugar. When the water cooled to 100 degrees, I added 4 teaspoons of the vintage yeast and found it proofed just fine! An omen to start baking and see what comes of it. Out came my KitchenAid mixer and the dough quickly took shape.
A few years ago, Richard decided he'd like to raise chickens. He put great effort into constructing what I call the Taj MaChickenHal. Sometimes I think those chickens live better than I do! He puts a lot of effort into making them happy and comfortable. In return, they give us lots of tasty eggs. I love eggs. I love Richard for giving the girls what they want so that, in turn, they give us those delicious little nuggets of tastiness. We have chocolatey-brown eggs. We have green eggs - hold the ham. We have pink eggs. We have blue eggs. They all taste delicious!
Speakeasy was a skinny ginger tabby who came begging one Spring around 10 years ago. He was bedraggled and sad. We already had taken in six other little drifters, but my daughter Sarah pleaded for us to take him in. We named him Speakeasy because he talked a lot. He settled in and made a place for himself among everyone else and grew. Actually, he grew and grew and grew! Poor Speakeasy had weight issues; while his compadres remained svelt, Mr. Speak grew to great proportions. He moved to live with my daughter who was better able to ration his meals than we could with all of our brood. For a little better than a year he lived with her and relished his sofa-time spent with her. About a month ago, he had some issues and she took him to the veterinarian. She was told he had colitis and was given an injection of antibiotic. He appeared to get better, but then about a week ago he stopped eating altogether and was wobbly on his feet. We took him to the emergency vet last Saturday where he passed away. So, Mr. Speak left us. He drifted into our lives and drifted out in much the same way. We'll miss him and remember his comical ways and his funny lumbering walk. He was feisty and loved his kibble. He looked forward to any time he could snuggle and share the sofa with his humans. Till we meet again, Mr. Speak. We grieved when you left us. You're in our hearts.
He seemed to enjoy my taking his picture and flew down and followed me around the side of the stables. Guinea hens piqued his interest and he tried to get their attention by displaying for them so I took advantage of his vanity and got some more photos of his beautiful plumage.
He totally ignored me as I moved around him while he showed off his magnificent feathers. The hens were not impressed, but their indifference seemed to make him try all the harder to get their attention and he began to stomp and dance back and forth while shaking his tail feathers, causing them to make loud clicking sounds. Here's a behind the scenes look at his act!
Sarah, my daughter, treated her father to a little fishing trip for Father's Day. He loved every minute of it! Here's a picture she took with her "disposable" Pentax Optio camera of Richard and their guide, Starr Nolan. They were on a stream somewhere near Asheville, NC.
We grew Stars & Moon watermelons again this year. We picked this one a little early, trying to head off the turtles! Though it was not quite ripe, it was still delicious and I love the way the seeds twirl about this matrix. What we didn't eat, we fed to our chickens who absolutely loved the special treat.
This is a little acrylic painting I did recently that is inspired by my lovebird Dumpling. He's eleven years old and is a great little companion. I hand-fed him from a tiny fresh-hatched chick with no feathers. He loves me and dear hubby, Richard but is jealous of our grown daughter, Sarah. He screams at her and tries to nip her. He also hates my talking on the phone and nips at my fingers if I'm holding the phone. He loves to rip up paper and chirp to keep beat of rhythms he likes. He is thrilled with playing with whatever is on my desk. He loves to get a bath at the sink, Bath time is an early morning ritual.
