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.
This summer has not been a big reading time for me because I have been too busy with projects around our home, and working outside trying to prevent our backyard from becoming a wilderness of weeds, and doing some experimental cooking and mixology, and tending to my family’s needs.
This past Tuesday I checked out my first book of the summer. Its title intrigued me, The Origin Of Ava. I am only on page 17 at this point. I have never been a super avid reader like my brother and sister. I have to be in the mood and have the time and see a book that captures my attention. There are a few writers that I own several of their books, and they range from entertaining non-fiction to purely fiction. I prefer writing that appeals to a nerd’s desire to learn new things or is detailed with specific facts within a fictional story. I often have been challenged when asked what is my favorite book because I don’t think I have just one. For some reason, when I opened the recent library loaner, I thought of the first adult book that really captured my attention and kept my attention for all of the 937 pages. This book was Hawaii written by James A. Michener. I chose this picture from Wikipedia because this is what the book cover looked like. It was a book that must of come into my possesion from my parents collection.
I was surprised today when I looked up the information about this book. It was published just a few months after Hawaii became our 50th state. “August 21, 1959 President Eisenhower signs the formal proclamation admitting Hawaii as the 50th state.” This means that Hawaii was not yet a state when my brother was born there in 1955. I never knew this or really thought about it until today.
You live and you learn! 🙂
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.
Here are 3 pictures taken today of an Ironweed native plant named “Southern Cross”. It is just beginning to bloom. I purchased it out at the historic Abernathy & Spencer Green House & Garden Center in Lincoln, Virginia
My camera card is full of pictures, some I had never downloaded and really looked at. I chose one to highlight today. It is a picture of a North American Green Tree Frog that I took at Huntly Meadows Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. For more information about the frog look here: https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/frogsandtoads/green-frog/index.php
Since the full Buck Moon is today/tonight, I did a little research on historical events that have happened around the full buck moon in July. I was surprised to see that the Apollo 11 Moon Landing was close to the full moon (not exactly on the full moon). They listed other historical events, though none appeared to have happened exactly on the day/night of the full moon. I did not do extensive research.
I saw the buck moon last night and it was so lovely, it looked full even though it was only almost full. I hope to see it again tonight.
Cranberry bean update– I picked my third full bowl of the beans this afternoon. I have made 2 soups so far…soon to be 3. 🙂
Update 7/30/2026 –5:26 PM-– I did see the moon last night! After I had cleaned up everything for the day and turned off all the lights, I had the thought to check to see if I could see the moon, and sure enough it was front and center skimming the tree line directly in line of my kitchen window. I went outside and right on the threshold between inside and outside I got a beautiful full view of the Buck Moon. Light wispy clouds were hugging it and some moved across its surface, though none could dim its brightness and its beauty.
I went outside to pick more cranberry beans, and I spotted the first Cow’s Horn Okra flower. I bought the seeds from The Shop at Monticello online. This is a promising development!
In other news, today I was reading about the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix that will take place in Washington D.C. near the end of August. I was interested in this because I attended a Grand Prix in Monte Carlo during vacation with my sister and her boyfriend in Cannes, France. I have already mentioned he had a yacht. He had its captain park his yacht in Port Hercules days ahead of the race because there are limited spots. We then took a helicopter the day of the race to board the boat. The thing I remember most is how LOUD the race was. The reason I mention this is because I am worried about the noise level in Washington, D.C., for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix. It might not be so loud because they will not be racing formula 1 cars. The race in D.C. is an NTT IndyCar Series. I have never been to an IndyCar race so I do not know how the noise level will compare to formula 1 cars.
Another thing I realized today when I was trying to place these past events in time, I think both my husband and I watched a Formula One Grand Prix during the same year. He went to the Grand Prix race in Watkins Glen, NY in 1979, and the race I heard and saw in Monte Carlo was right around 1979. I was in college and this was from (1977-1981).
I ran across some old ear plugs (for blocking noise) the other day when I was cleaning out a drawer in my kitchen. If you plan to attend the Freedom 250, do not take babies or young children. It could really hurt their ears. For adults ear plugs would be recommended.
The words were sincere. I was emotionally lost, and I guess this was my way of conveying my feelings.
These are beautiful words, and I do believe in God, though, I no longer feel like his thread that he is weaving.
Sometimes I want to recapture this dreamy feeling where I feel like the words themselves are flowing through me.
In real life my head needs to be clear. I can no longer be a conduit.
My mind and heart need to be in the present keeping track of my responsibilities and those I love.
I decided to repost a picture of a morning moon taken on the day of July 26th, 2021. I have been observing our beautiful moon this week since our night sky has been clear of clouds. July’s full moon is called the Buck Moon by some people. It can also be called the Thunder Moon (though I have never heard it called this.) Wednesday of this week, July 29th, the moon which I have been watching this week will be full. I don’t know what we should call it when it is not full, other than by its stage name (waning gibbous, waxing gibbous, etc.)
I am having limited success with growing vegetables. The cranberry beans are the star performers. The sweet purple asparagus is coming along as expected for a first year. The cow horn okra is growing tall and the pods are developing. My tomatoes have been disappointing so far. I am learning, and next year I will change where I plant them. The one summer I had a stellar crop they were planted in the ground and ignored. I might go back to that. You live and you learn, and some of us are slower than others, or more distracted.
On another topic–I am having success in my kitchen learning different cold lentil salad recipes. I also have been playing with a new air fryer. Wow! I made stuffed peppers and cooked them in the air fryer, and they were good. What a time saver.
Update 7/26/2026– Since I am new to growing these beans, I wondered what do I do with them now. I had read that fresh cranberry beans can be picked, shelled, and cooked. They are called cranberry shelly beans. The second option is to let them dry out on the plant and then shell them. Since these beans have hardened they are good for preserving, and when you want to cook them you have to soak them.
I decided I would make a soup with the shelled beans and add some of the golden lentils I had purchased at Mom’s Organic Market. Well, I will not go into all the details other than I made a soup with the cranberry beans and golden lentils. I added an Italian broth base, and added some gourmet Italian spices I had picked up at Sur La Table, and when the soup was ready I added some parmesan cheese. It is very delicious. Now, I think I just might keep picking the beans and cooking them this way.
This is a post from July 23, 2024. I decided to reblog it. The numbers still speak to me even though I no longer dream about them. I am better at ignoring them.
This was when I started up using the Etsy website again. It is full of accounts created by many creative entrepreneurs. I enjoy supporting them when possible.
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.
