Flowers Not In My Garden

I admire anyone who spends time outside tending to their lawn and garden.  They manage to have such lovely things around.   My poor yard is sadly neglected.  I can't help it.  It's outside, and I don't like outside much in the summer.  I tend to wilt rapidly when exposed to extreme temperature.  I prefer the indoors and opt to fuss around the house.  I let the outdoors take its natural course.  I've discovered it is pointless to try to pull weeds.  I've tried that.  They grow back at an alarming rate.   I know that my gardening friend Juju is going to read this and shake her head.  She loves her yard and sacrifices herself to it constantly. She is good.  I am bad.

While visiting relations in Missouri, I was shocked to see all the hibiscus growing in one of my family member's yards.  I'm telling you... look at the SIZE of the white flower.   It is a hibiscus... dinner plate size.  NJ had a yard full of them in all colors.  She is one of THOSE people... Juju's kind of people... good, not bad.

Just look how pretty this one is.  These delicate things don't look like they hate hot humid weather.  They look pretty fresh and happy... if a flower can look happy.

Ah, here is a little bud getting ready to spring forth.  Doesn't that sound refreshing?  'Spring forth'  I just thought the color was beautiful, and I repeat that I was amazed at all the plants and varieties of plants, etc.   This NJ had done her time in the yard with watering and weed pulling, I'm sure.

I'm not sure about a name for this funny little flower.  I hope that Juju or another kind soul who is more outside oriented will clue me in here and supply a name for this lovely little thing.  

I couldn't resist leaning in close to this one and hoping I'd get a bee picture.  What is a garden without a bee?... not a very good garden.  I was leaning in fairly close to take this picture and hoping that the bee liked the flower better than me.  I sure didn't want a bee in my nose.  

I hope you enjoy these little pictures of some of God's creations.  I'm always amazed at the things He has made.... so delicate... so intricate.   I'm glad He put them there and gave them some amazing people to care for them.   

A Family Reunion

We were away for a few days to visit relatives and attend a family reunion on my father's side of the family.  Mr. was really a sport and encouraged me to go on this four day outing. He drove and jumped right in to all the festivities.   It was lots of fun, and I enjoyed seeing people I haven't seen in years, and meeting ones I've never met.  Sunday was the big reunion day.

Don't worry, you aren't getting any kind of recipe for THIS!   Now, this is what I call something to bring to a covered dish dinner.   Seriously.   My eyes about popped out when I saw a parade into the building with a pig on a platter... pretty big platter.   I have to say that it was good... really good.   Also, the people who did this do it professionally... so I didn't fear the results.

The reunion was held in an air-conditioned building.  Thank heavens!!  There were probably well over two hundred people there from several generations of Walkers.  Different branches of the family dressed in like colors.  We had turquoise, red, green, and orange... oh.. and purple.  There were people there from all over the United States.

I really enjoyed this man.  Caroll lost an arm in a farming accident many years ago.  He loves archery and found a way to continue in the sport.  In 1983 he was Missouri  State Champion. By his count, he has won three national archery competitions, 12 or 13 indoor competitions, and 11 or 12 outdoor state competitions.   He also competed in the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona, but did not place.

I was thrilled when we got a demonstration.  He pulls that arrow back with his teeth.  Seriously.  I can't imagine the strength involved there.   I sure hope he has good teeth.... a little joke.

After the first two shots and bulls-eyes,  someone suggested that he really should call what he was shooting at.  Hey... he might have missed twice and the audience wouldn't know it.  Everyone laughed... It is that family sense of humor.

After all was said and done, every arrow was right on track.  Amazing.  I couldn't have done anything like that if I'd taken hold of the arrows and tried to screw them into the target.

I think the nicest thing about meeting Caroll was the fact that he is such a happy person.  He certainly had some serious things to overcome, but he has a wonderful can do attitude and passes that on to others.

Disappeared

Not only have I disappeared for awhile, but when I checked back in to post, I found that the background on my blog had disappeared.  I've been busy trying to fix that.  I'm sure you are tired of looking at the pickle recipe, so will get busy now and whip up something a little more entertaining.   I'd started out to do that, but have had to work on fixing the look of the blog.   I'll be back soon.... promise.

Microwave Pickles

My friend Alice sent me a recipe for pickles that you make in the microwave.... seriously.  You put it together, cook it for seven (7) minutes, then stir and let it cool... then put it in the refrigerator.  They are yummy...sweet pickles.  At least Alice and I think they are yummy.

Hey.. for only a few minutes of prep time and a few minutes of cooking time and a few minutes of cooling time and a little bit of refrigeration, you can certainly risk tying them.

Now I do have a confession or two about this before I give you the recipe...   Confession 1:  Last time I did this I used regular white onions.  This time I didn't have any, so thought I'd give the red ones from Mister's garden a try.  Confession 2:  I didn't actually measure the cucumbers this time.  I just guesstimated.

Okay... Here goes.  You slice some cucumbers without peeling.  Put them in a glass dish.  Then slice some onion and put them on top.

You mix up a little pickling stuff... which I shall give you shortly and pour over the cucumbers and onions.

Then you cover the mixture with plastic wrap..  whatever brand you like.


Guess what you do next....

Yep... head to the microwave and put the dish inside.

Then, if your microwave is like mine...

You should hit the turntable button to turn it off.

Otherwise your dish and the turntable will probably fight for awhile.   So... just turn it off.

Please don't look at any specks on my microwave panel.  I cleaned it... really.

Okay... I'm now going to give you all the secrets from start to finish...

Ready??


Microwave Pickles

Place 3 cups medium sliced cucumbers (don't peel) in glass pan.
Put 1 sliced onion over cucumber in rings.

Mix:
1 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar

Pour over cucumbers and onions
Cover with plastic wrap
Microwave on high for 7 (seven) minutes.
Remove plastic and stir.
Replace plastic and let cool.
Put into glass jar.
Refrigerate
ENJOY

I-Needa's July Visit

I-Needa is up and into her morning routine.  This includes a little bacon frying attired in her Yarnell Art Studio painting apron and bare feet.  I had to laugh at the bare feet as like that method myself in the summer.

I think I can also say that I-Needa is fairly neat for an artist.  I don't see many paint splotches on that nice little apron, and she has used it to paint several pictures.


I'm sitting here messing on the computer and needing to get around for the day.  Taking pictures of I-Needa frying bacon, and her recent art work is keeping me occupied.  So be it.

I-Needa started painting a year ago and loves to go to Jerry Yarnell's studio for workshops.



This was painted in a workshop this past week.  She said that it looked so much easier than it really was.  Jerry told them that it was really hard and might make them crazy.

She did have fun, and plans to add a little something to this painting... not much... just a touch.

The second workshop was this waterfall painting.  She had a good time with it also.  I'm finding out that rocks are really hard to paint... so says I-Needa... and you must also learn something about the science of water.  

I think she is doing quite well in her artistic endeavors.  I'm really a little envious that she has the time to work on this.  I always wanted to take painting lessons myself, but haven't had much opportunity to do that.  Finding someone who teaches and whose work you like can be a bit of a trick.  Teaching is an art in itself.