Category: SMILE

Monster Okra

The smallest okra is 5.5 inches and the largest is 7.25. I think I waited too long to pick them. More are developing, and hopefully I will pick them before they get too big. I read that if you don’t pick them between 2-4 inches you risk them being too tough. If I pickle them this might be a problem, though if I cut them up for a stew I think they will be okay. You live and you learn. 🙂

I decided to cut them up and saute them with some minced tomato. This is an easy way to cook okra. You can see what the inside looks like if you are unfamiliar with okra.

I added a picture from today (8/4/2026). The biggest ones were a little tough compared to the smaller ones. I went out today and picked two more before they got too big. I remember eating them fried and added to soups from my university cafeteria days. The smaller ones were delicious and the bigger ones did not taste bad they were just too stringy for my tastes. I relate this to spinach because I love baby spinach but when it gets bigger I do not like it as much. It all depends on how you cook it. I will grow it again next year, and the season is still ongoing for more experimenting.

The Beauty of Asymmetrical

Asymmetrical
I had trouble picking a picture for asymmetry because in nature we find examples of both symmetry and asymmetry. Both are beautiful in their own way.

The post about asymmetry is from this day July 31st in the year 2016. My early posts did not include pictures. I have included a picture today. A beautiful relative when she was much younger. She is from South Africa.

Rutabaga Revisited

Rutabaga in a woven basket with leaves, accompanied by harvest folktale text.
I have to applaud the image generator for this cartoon! 🙂

I have been looking through old posts that I printed before I deleted them. I have deleted many of my old posts, and unfortunately many do not have date stamps, so I have to guess at the year I originally posted them. I wrote a post about rutabaga, and now it all seems so funny. I had the image generator here create this picture in comic book style. Below I have posted a picture of the original post which was posted many years ago, and my guess is between 2016 -2018.

Speaking of Dragonflies…

The Blue Dasher Dance

Yesterday I was lamenting the fact that this summer I have no plants in my pond. As a result, the dragonfly sighting have been few and far between.

Here is a past post from this day July 30th several years back. I used to spend hours trying to take a picture of the blue dasher that would skim the top of the fountain spray from the pond. I was amazed that I actually captured a picture of this action. The pictures in this post were taken long ago. I have better pictures of stationary dragonflies, however, this one of him skimming the top of the fountain is my favorite. I still like the poem I wrote about our daily interactions during this period of time.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

The nectar of a petunia is an insect magnet.
After filling up with nectar they have the energy to mate.
Flowers were blooming, the sun was shining, 
and the garden was alive.
All of nature's senses were engaged.
Energy is required for all activities.
The sun provides energy for the plants,
and the plants provide energy for animals and insects.
It was a good day for reproduction.

A good tripod and a macro lens helps tremendously to get more precise and detailed pictures. I need to get back into this habit…some day.

This native bee ignores the clearwing moths because it is intent on fueling up on this swamp milkweed flower.

Her Majesty’s Ship: A Flight of Imagination

Sorceress in a purple gown steering an elaborate magical ship in space
A regal sorceress steers an ornate magical ship through a starry cosmos.

Someone the other day asked me how long I have been blogging. I told her I think it was 2015 in the late summer. The blog was started as my way to mentally work through a tough time in my life. The other day when I was cleaning a file cabinet I found a bag with printed out copies of some of my earlier posts. I have to search my posts to remember whether I saved it here or whether I deleted it. I have deleted many of my earlier posts. My earlier posts had no pictures. I found a paper copy of a post from December 22, 2016 which I think is pretty funny. It was a stretch of my imagination that went outside the boundaries of reality. I decided to let my picture generator here create a picture for this post. I think it goes well with the light-hearted theme. Rather than link the post I will post a picture of it. It is easier for me this way.

A Joyful Return to 2026

I have been on hold several times today with the same company trying to get through. Each time I have given up because of necessary interruptions. The last time I was on hold I was walking around my kitchen, and when I looked outside I could not believe my eyes. There next to the Crocosmia Lucifer I spotted the first Gladiolus of 2026. I was out there earlier today and nothing was open, and then suddenly I see 4 blooms open. Amazing! I went outside and there are many gladiolus of this same color showing their colors now. I guess the rain we have been getting is fueling their growth.

I will try calling the company I am trying to reach early tomorrow morning.
Wish me luck.

Flashback to 2018

As I have been cleaning and organizing our home and going through cabinets and closets, I have been finding all sorts of interesting things that I had forgotten about. When an item is found it brings back memories. I ran across this chalice still in its box in a china cabinet. The charity partnership between Stella Artois and Water.org that was going on in 2018 motivated me to buy this chalice. When Amazon.com had the Smile option where you could have a percentage of your purchases go to the charity of your choice, I explored the participating organizations and that is how I was introduced to water.org.

I do like the beer Stella Artois, though, I rarely drink these days. I definitely thought at the time that it was a worthy promotion for water.org and Stella Artois. You should check out the Stella Artois website. They are an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Let the Celebrations Begin!

250th birthday apparel

I was planning on an indoor dinner celebration before the extreme heat arrived. I went outside early this morning to give water to areas in my garden. Already it was hot! I am so glad that I am not cooking outdoors today or tomorrow. All food will be prepared inside. I already have cooked a big pot of hearty seafood stew using a variety of vegetables with jumbo shrimp and catfish. I will be making a big fresh salad with lots of red including: radishes, red cabbage, red pepper, and tomatoes. Of course their will be green such as red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, and avocado on the side. My favorite salad dressing will be made using a Good Seasons Italian packet. I am getting ready to make for the first time Anthony Bourdain’s Rouille to spread on toasted organic sourdough bread.

The table is partially set. I put out the big pot with the seafood stew in it for this picture. More preparations will be done today.

We are a small family of three. It will be a small party. 🙂
I included a flower spotlight for today- Rudbeckia hirta -- Lion's Cub.
Closest flower to fireworks that I have blooming right now.

I hope anyone that might read this has a fantastic Independence Weekend!

JULY 4th Update: a couple food pictures.
Hearty seafood stew
This salad selection is Laura’s. She likes radishs
I like red cabbage.
My husband has no one preference. He likes it all.