Magical "Plants"

Here are my magic plants. Really just dry arrangements in pots that once held summer flowers.
I saw the idea in a magazine and now I've tried it. I don't have quite the same materials, but perhaps I'll try lighting these up with white lights on these dark nights - femminismo

A Literary Xmas Tree

Thought I might go with something different this year. The Mister said the books did come from trees, so there we go. A Christmas tree of books.

SANTA looks a little peeved in this photo. I can't imagine why. Maybe he's hungry - and hasn't had enough cookies today. Well, I don't have any cookies either and my nasty cold is hanging on. Can't stand being sick. I won't like growing older and getting laid up with bad knees and a creaky back either, so I think I'd better start taking real good care of myself. Here's Santa. I hope everyone is having the best day possible and with the help of family and friends and a bit of Christmas fudge, maybe we can all see the positive side of things for a few moments today - femminismo

Third Night of Hanukkah

Here we are, the third night of Hanukkah and the fifth of December. Seems like those cards should have been sent by now, including the seasonal letter of what's been going on in our lives.

There have been special highlights, that is for sure, but I won't be sorry to see the calendar turn to 2013. I think perhaps there are even better times ahead with retirement. Could be wrong - have been before - but there will be more time to travel without worrying about getting back in time for work and there will be opportunities to explore the limits of my talents and see what's next for me - femminismo

Cook Like You Mean It

A lovely day with friends today, but no time spent close up with nature and sketching her work. I did have lunch with a wonderful group of friends, delightful grilled salmon salad with the best chevre. Yum. And green apples chunks. Then did a little shopping and picked up groceries. The pork roast went into a hot pan of olive oil, kosher salt, ground pepper, rosemary and thyme to sear.

I put this in a glass baking pan with sauteed mushrooms and large red grapes. I am hoping the flavors blend together well. Sounded good to me, so why not try it. Maybe with a little balsamic glaze on the plate and a salad. Oh, I love cooking when I'm in the mood - femminismo

Beginning a new journal

I made a new book - a pretty wonky one - and decided to fill it with watercolors and other things as an  intro to winter. I gathered some  cedar branches that had fallen in the last wind and added some nandina and holly. So here we go

More nature journaling

Pausing to draw the plants growing in my area, I found Jerusalem sage. Typing so slowly with my fingertips poking away at flat little images of letters on my phone, I feel the words don't flow as easily as usual. I am thinking at a different speed.
There is also echinacea here. Fun to draw. These plants were in Forest Grove at McMenamins Grand Lodge.
Peanut butter plant from our back yard, and I learned the proper name for this plant. Also some hydrangea growing nearby.
Again at McMenamins I sketched the strawberry bush. There were lots of bees and the day was so sunny. Wonderful for November!
Ciao - femminismo.

Let's Go On, Shall We?

November ... a month of sitting by the fire, doing a little yoga to stretch out the kinks, working on putting a book together with a Coptic stitch - sort of. It's not a very neat stitch, but I'm trying my best. I told a friend I would put up some of the pictures I took during a trip last month to central/northern California. We visited Lobos Point State Park and it was gorgeous. They only allow so many vehicles and people in at one time, so the trails were not crowded. Plus, summer vacation was over in October and the weather was good. Nice and warm. Don't come in the summer, we were told. "It's cold and foggy." Here are a few of the scenes we enjoyed.

Many birds around, and butterflies too. The Mister spotted this lady.

One more and then it's off to work on the book/journal - femminismo

So similar, right? The picture of me (above, with clothes) was taken on Weston Beach. Below, the other famous photo.

November? How did that happen? Well, anyway, there are mushrooms, onion and garlic simmering in a pan and I thought of my blog. Why? Can't say. Just want to reconnect with myself and the words that pour forth when sights, smells and sounds thrill me. I love garlic! The person who first found it knew it was something special. Maybe he/she wore it on their person as an added pheremonic enticement. All I know is I'm happy they brought it home and eventually threw it in a pan! I'm going to put the mushrooms over truffle infused mashed potato flakes after I've added them to 500 mll of milk. Hmm. How much is 500 mll? Guess I will Google it and see. Wish me luck with my flavorful appetizers. femminismo

Anyone Ready for May 13th?

Here we go. Let's see if I can remember what I took pictures of on May 13th. I upload them to Facebook almost as soon as I take them, so I have to go back and look there to see which ones I did. Motor!

Mousse.

You've got your red mulch and your brown mulch at Home Depot.

My mothers day balloon from my granddaughter.

A mare who thought I might have a treat.

A Mobile home.

Wild mock orange in the cemetery on Mother's Day.

Our little Mazda. Keeps on ticking!

A memorial offering for Mother's Day.

Marigolds at Home Depot.

Supposedly menudo is a good hangover cure. : ) Big drum roll, please: black mondo grass! Again with the Home Depot plants.

....... femminismo

Catching Up Again For May 12

May twelfth I found these things that start with the letter "m. Monterey - by Glennda Field at Valley Art Gallery in Forest Grove, Oregon.

We call this plant "Moses in a Boat."

Magnolia tree in the front yard - hasn't bloomed yet.

There are mountains in the watercolor by Harold Walkup - at Valley Art Gallery.

A man and his "moutons." Photo on metal by Brenda Somes at Valley Art.

I wish I knew who painted this "monster." I would give them credit.

"Murky" water in an oil by Michael Orwick - for sale at Valley Art Gallery, 2022 Main St., Forest Grove, Oregon.

Lots of "m's" since May is Membership Month at Valley Art.

One of my favoritist books!! and ........

And a "mixer" for the carrot cake I made Saturday morning

And last, but not least, a maze marble game - femminismo

May 11 and Catching Up

Found my 11 objects for May 11:

Magpie, mess, Minute Maid, Mickey Mouse, and others. Any questions? Books with M in a major word in the title are accepted in my project, as long as I have read the book - femminismo