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.

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!

Light & Shadow

Shadow play from a lampshade.

Summer Breakfast

I know it's still spring - technically - but it feels, and tastes, like summer!

Have You Ever Seen a Lotus Pond?

I NEVER HAD, UNTIL A FRIEND BROUGHT ME TO THIS POND ON POMEROY LANE IN SOUTH AMHERST. YOU MAY KNOW THE LOTUS AS A SYMBOL OF ENLIGHTENMENT. ITS ROOTS HOLDING FIRM IN THE MUCK AT THE POND'S BOTTOM, IT RISES ABOVE TO CREATE ITS GLORIOUS, TRANSCENDENT FLOWER. WITHOUT THE MUCK OF LIFE, WHERE WE MUST PLANT OUR FEET, WE CANNOT WAKE UP TO THE FRESH, ASTONISHING PRESENT MOMENT.

CAN YOU GRASP THE SIZE OF THIS BUD? IT'S BIGGER THAN MY FIST.

THE OPEN FLOWERS . . .

. . . ARE JUST HUGE . . . YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM TO BELIEVE IT!

WHEN THE PETALS FALL, THE YELLOW CENTER TURNS GREEN, AND THE SEEDS CONTAINED INSIDE DEVELOP FURTHER. (I CAN'T HELP THINKING THIS LOOKS LIKE THE MULTI-NOSTRIL NOSE OF SOME CRAZY ALIEN, GENTLY SNIFFING THE SUMMER AIR.)

AS THE POD DRIES, THE SEEDS MATURE. EVENTUALLY, THEY FALL INTO THE POND, SEEDING THE MUD FOR NEXT YEAR'S SHOW.

Late Summer Gift

TINY, DELIGHTFUL, POPS OF COLOR AND FLAVOR . . . THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A HOMEGROWN TOMATO!

A Peek at the Creepy Side of Brimfield

THESE CERAMIC GLOVE MOULDS LOOK PARTICULARLY DISTURBING AS A LARGE COLLECTION.

WOULD YOU WANT THIS GIRL IN YOUR GARDEN?!

More Brimfield Buddhas

SWEET LITTLE BUDDHA IN THE GRASS . . .

6-FOOT BUDDHA AMONGST JUNK . . .

HUGE, GORGEOUS BUDDHA HEAD WITH JUNK & SANTA CLAUS!

Brimfield Buddhafields

IT SEEMS BRIMFIELD HAS MORE BUDDHAS THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK AT!

Quick Summer Meal: Black Bean & Corn Salad

THIS IS MY SLIGHTLY REVISED VERSION OF A RACHEL RAY RECIPE I FOUND ONLINE.
I MADE HER SALAD, BUT USED TWO ROASTED RED PEPPERS INSTEAD OF ONE RAW ONE, AND LESS RED ONION. (THE RED ONIONS AT WHOLE FOODS ARE GIGANTIC!) I ADDED LOTS OF CHOPPED CILANTRO, AND SERVED IT OVER A SPINACH, CUCUMBER & SUNFLOWER GREENS SALAD. EASY, FAST AND DELICIOUS!

The Simplest Summer Breakfast

HOMEMADE YOGURT AND A PEELED GEORGIA PEACH, TOPPED WITH A SMIDGE OF MAPLE SYRUP. WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?
LOCAL PEACHES FROM CLARKDALE FRUIT FARMS WILL BE READY AUGUST 1!

Friday at The Harp

AT THE END OF A SUMMER WEEK . . .
R.I.P. WALTER CRONKITE

Beach Boys

POPSICLE TONGUES . . .

SPRAY ON SUNSCREEN . . .

AND SUNSHINE SUPERMAN! :-)
I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THESE LAST SUMMER DAYS!

Last Swim of the Summer

WELL, THERE MAY BE A FEW MORE SWIMMING DAYS LEFT THIS YEAR, BUT LABOR DAY WEEKEND IS A BOOKEND ON OUR SUMMER DAYS.