Morning Visitor

Eating breakfast on the deck, I saw a large flying creature land on the Japanese maple. Hummingbird, perhaps? No, it was this very sizable dragonfly. One of summer's surprisingly strange friends.

Asclepias is Milkweed

On my lunchtime walks I've been passing this milkweed plant, watching it go through its various stages of growth. I wondered how the flower cluster could create pods - and now I've seen for myself. The pods grow from the base of the flower cluster, as it is wilting.

In Full Bloom!

Do you remember this post from back in May, about my orchid getting ready to bloom? As you can see, she's putting on quite a show.

I have to give credit to my co-worker Dan H., who shot these pics in low light with his iPhone. My camera wouldn't cooperate without a tripod in low light. Thanks Dan!

Oregano Harvest

The Greek oregano I planted last year came back this spring - very energetically! I just cut it back - before it flowered.

I'll dry it for a while in this basket, then strip the leaves from the stems and dry it further. It's the year's first product from my teensy herb garden.

Summery Hors d'oeuvres

I made these little bites for a party the other day. I used English cucumbers with thin skins, cut into chunks. I used a melon baller to scoop out a hole in each chunk, and using a pastry bag, filled them with sour cream. I added baby greens as a garnish. Quick, fresh and summery!

About to Bloom

This lovely orchid plant was given to me for my birthday last year - almost a year ago. About 2 months ago I noticed it was sending up stems with flower buds! The first buds shriveled and fell off. I think the window seat in my kitchen where it was living was too cold.

So I moved the plant to my sunny office, where it's flourishing! Two more branches with multiple buds have appeared. It's so much fun to watch them grow.

Please Vote for Me!

Please consider voting for my home in the Apartment Therapy Small Cool 2011 Contest. Thanks!

Morning Light

A nice little surprise on this April morning.

Entertainment

This winter Bettie started watching TV. It started with a chance viewing of a PBS Nature episode about polar bears. She was sitting next to me on the couch, and suddenly noticed the lumbering bears on the screen. Since then she joins me whenever I turn on the tube.

We've watched Nature's special on hummingbirds (I bought the dvd to ease her winter boredom), several artist documentaries, including an American Masters episode on Andy Warhol, and the biggest surprise - "8: The Mormon Proposition" about the Mormon financial influence on the passage of Prop. 8 in California. She watched the whole thing!! She's transfixed by Rodney Yee's "A.M. Yoga." As soon as I cue it up in the morning, she takes her seat by the set!

Simple Gifts

Thinking about what I could make for simple Christmas gifts, I settled on potholders. I made a stack of 16 of them. I loved watching them pile up!

I thought about each friend or relative I was making them for, and chose fabric combinations for each.
Simple, fun, functional and satisfying. I hope they'll be well-used!