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.