Mellow Yellow Monday #81

This beautiful orchid was given to me by my good friend Patrice from Ricepatty's Repertoire.  And for those who want to know what kind it is, it's an oncidium intergeneric orchid.

Ewwwww chunky is right!

When I poured out these chunky mushrooms into the skillet this "huge chunk" plopped out!  I'm sure it's the stem of the mushroom but it's gross.   It was all I could do to take a picture of it (so I can show the company too).  After I took the picture I immediately threw it away!

Color Carnival #54

This is the waiting area outside of The Bubble Room Restaurant on Captiva Island, FL (USA).  Inside the restaurant is not any less colorful than the outside!  The bubble lights we had on our Christmas tree growing up as kids are all over this restaurant as well as thousands of antique items throughout the restaurant.  If you ever get a chance to go Sanibel/Captiva Island make this a must have stop on your list!  BTW, they have a signature dessert, Orange Cake, that is to die for.  It's enough to feed 4 people (after a meal) and I overheard a woman say she traveled over 100 miles just to eat that cake!

Mother Nature at her finest....

Just stepped out my front door and took these pictures!  We had a little rainshower come through then about 30minutes later I looked out the window and bam this is what I saw.

Today's Flowers...new addition

Please enlarge to get a better picture.....
New to my garden this year are SW Florida native plants that don't mind the heat, and can take the wet or dry weather.  One requirement was that I wanted them to attract birds and butterflies and so far it's working.  Best thing of all is I didn't even have to buy these!  A Master Gardner friend gave them to me which I am grateful for.

Macro Monday

This guy was 3-4 inches long and his eyes are still giving me the willies!!

Click on image to get the real effect!

Weekend Reflections from Florida, USA

Happy 3rd Anniversary Skywatch Friday....

On my way to work last September.....I only work 3 miles from home and I noticed the moon and colored clouds right away so I went back home to get my camera before I lost this moment.  BTW, I was still early to work!

Georgia on my mind......

Doesn't this photo look refreshing?  While on vacation early last month we stopped in the beautiful little alpine town of Helen, Georgia (USA) and this shot was taken behind the Nora Mill Granary, a working grist mill and store located on the Chattahoochee River in the foothills of the North Georgial mountains.  Check out their website for some interesting info on their history www.noramill.com/store/history.php

Toot Toot....Here comes Thomas

Spotted Thomas the Train giving rides to the little ones and a few adults at a strip mall recently.  I'm doing a little doubling up since the colors are so prominent....Mellow Yellow Monday, Sally Blue Monday, and Ruby Tuesday.

Weekend Reflections

Last Father's Day we were over at our daughter's and she wanted to take us kayaking...a first for us.  I was tandem with my daughter and she had to do most of the paddling because I was busy with my camera.  I love how this old, cut-up tree reflects in the smooth as glass water we were kayaking in.

SSS #106....oak trees lining Magnolia Street??

Magnolia Street in St Augustine, FL taken from the trolley we took to tour the city....wonder who decided to plant oak trees and not magnolia trees?!? I love how there's so much spanish moss hanging from the trees.

TMS Show and Tell (new meme)

I like to make a pot of soup on the weekends and freeze in individualized containers. I am a secretarial substitute in the local school district and when I am called to work (sometimes at the last minute) I can grab a 'bowl' of soup and some fruit and I am ready to walk out the door. This recipe is quick and easy. Easy to make it vegetarian by omitting the ham and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

Navy Bean Soup

yield 7-8 servings

10 minutes prep

+ 20 minutes cook

= 30 minute meal

2 15-oz cans navy (white) beans, drained and rinsed

3 14-oz cans chicken broth

2 cups water

2 cups ham, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

1 cup carrots, diced

1/2 tsp black pepper

3/4 cup instant potato flakes (I used Honest Earth Yukon Golds Chunky Mashed Potatoes

that are packaged into pouches and I used one pouch)

In a 4-quart pot, combine chicken borth, water, beans, ham, onion, carrots, and pepper. Cover, simmer on medium heat for approximately 15 minutes until the carrots are tender, stirring occasionally. Gradually add potato flakes while stirring constantly. Take soup off of heat and let stand 5 minutes. Stir the soup gently and serve hot.

Color Carnival #40

I "borrowed" this picture from a friend.....taken on her vacation to North & South Carolina.

Camera Critters #100

Happy 100th blogaversary to Camera Critters!!

have to share this wonderful story I read in the latest Birder's World magazine.

Alaska story: Chickadee revives fallen mate

Dear Birder's World: The following is an account of an unusual and inspiring event I witnessed at my home when I lived in Alaska.

On March 29, 2008, I heard a thud against our picture window. I knew right away it was a bird. On some instances, I've taken birds in by the heater where they can revive. But on this day, I went to the window and just stared out. There on a patch of snow lay a chickadee on its side looking dead. One by one, three or four chickadees came to peck at the bird's beak and then its side. Suddenly, the chickadee rolled onto its back with its fee straight up in the air. I was sure it was dead. Then, one lone chickadee flew down and pecked at its beak, then pecked and paused at its side.

The pecking chickadee flew up in the air and hovered over the 'dead' chickadee, slowly lowering itself until its talons were linked to those of the chickadee on the ground. It lifted the 'dead' chickadee about one foot in the air, and it came to life. They unlocked talons and flew over to a mossy stump. The healer bird pecked at the other's beak and nestled against its side. They both flew off together.

Lorraine Stone

Jackson, New Hampshire

Camera Critters #98

Captured this little fellow (gopher tortoise) just as he was getting ready to take a bite, check out the stretched out neck!

Color Carnival #38

This is inside one of my favorite shops that I always take visitors to.....Margaret Albritton Gallery in Placida, FL. It's so much fun to go there and very colorful as well.

Color Carnival #37

Found this while shopping in St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, Florida. Pretty expensive at $450 but it is hand carved and hand painted and was about 18" in diameter. If only I could afford to buy beautiful pieces such as this.

To see more Color Carnival visit Martha here http://colorcarnivalmeme.blogspot.com/

Pink Saturday......2-6-10

I know women like to fish but come on pink reels on a pink rod, that's a bit much for me. Maybe for little girls though.

Color Carnival #36

While traveling (? can't remember where) we ran into a Wal-Mart I think, and found this really cool McDonalds. So, of course, I had to run out to the car to get my camera just so I could get another CC shot!

Color Carnival is hosted by the fun and fabulous Martha .... click on the link below and and see more CC photos.

http://colorcarnivalmeme.blogspot.com/

Sunday ~ Odd Shots

Look what I found while peeling potatoes....makes a good odd shot!

Check out Barb's blog ~ it's her 1st anniversary!

Barb at Bella Vista is celebrating her 1st year anniversary and is offering a beautiful rooster soup tureen with four matching bowls. Click on the link below to enter for your chance to win.

http://barbsgoodlife.blogspot.com/

Shadow Shot Sunday #89

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU!!

Color Carnival #35

to join in and/or see more click on Color Carnival

Another piece of art from the Venice (Florida) Art Fest

Window Views ....and Doors Too! 1.27.10

Thru the window I spotted this cool sculpture while browsing the neat shops in Mount Dora, Florida.

ABC Wednesday........B

Beautiful Banyon trees line Banyon Street on Boca Grande Island, Florida

This is a must see street every time I visit Boca Grande because it is so beautiful.

Color Carnival #34.........

Venice Art Fest ... November 09

Camera Critters #94..........

This is Max and he lives at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Daughter Leslie's boyfriend is one of the animal keepers in the Africa Expedition there and we got an up close and personal visit with Max. We got to clean him with a scrub brush which removes the dried on dirt that he gets from rolling in the wet mud. It's like giving him a massage and he loves it. In the top right portion of the collage Leslie is masaging the inside of his upper leg and believe it or not that part of his skin is quite soft compared to the rest of his thick, tough skin. Click on collage to enlarge and see details.

TWTW....No. 40 ~ what else would you do?

Found this at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida....Can't imagine what else they were thinking of besides maybe pouring your drink down there?!?

ABC Wednesday Round 6 ..... A is for

AMATEURS designing their ALIGATOR sculpture during the Ft. Myers Sand Sculpting Festival last November. Notice the miniature in the bottom right corner they are using as a visual.

Ruby Tuesday

This antique car was placed on top of the building.