Random Things...

Field peas make lovely greens for flower arrangements. So if you have some on hand....

This time it is Santa Cruz Lager. A very dark beer.

All the goodness dripping down.

It is almost like molasses.

Chillin the wort. This time I sped up the process by pouring several cups of salt over the ice. It chilled down in no time!

Elly May working wonders in the kitchen. This is a maple/rosemary chicken. You had to be there. Mmmmm.

I think Elly May has had snake on the brain lately. Mom was not pleased.

This one was more to Mom's liking.

It was a dinner party for Passover. We don't eat this much sugar usually... at least I don't think so.

More chocolate!

Stepping outside. The roses are all in full bloom. This is a David Austin rose by the name of Legendary Gold . It is breathtaking and one of my favorites .

Almost there!

He was cold so he wasn't moving around much. When he finally got heated through and through... he took off .

My back would hurt doing this .

Oh look , he is actually smiling for once in his sad , depressed , bored "why do you people do this to me" life .

Just because.

Just thought I'd share our skill and diligence as housekeepers. Actually, it is the latest green technology in moth catching. You should try it sometime.

Wildflowers and Catchin' Up

I realize it has been ages... over a month actually since I posted anything. Life has gotten in the way as usual. I've had tons of pictures to upload but never get around to doing it. But I need to start somewhere so here are some pictures I took about a month ago of some of our local wildflowers that did so beautifully this year after the rains. These hills are about an hour south of where we are .... and things aren't this green anymore. We have had one small storm but it isn't enough to stop the march of brown that comes about this time every year. There is a very brief window when the hills green up and when they do ... *sigh*... it is better than the hills of Ireland .. because , hey... we've got the sun AND the green then. ;-) .

I don't know what this is but it is sure pretty. From a distance it looks like heather on the hill... but of course it isn't.. this not being Scotland and all...

Tis that time of year!

Looky! I found Mike Mulligan's steam shovel Mary Anne (at least I think that is how you spell her name...) .

We had to leave around sunset and head further south because we were going to my friend's baby shower. The sun was setting behind the clouds and was rather dramatic.

On our way home the next day we went through a lot of orange groves. It looks almost like it did in the olden days when they were all over the state.

I wish I could have seen it then. Oh well... We don't get to choose when we are born. Just as well.