tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21470494423169580742024-03-18T21:51:28.610-04:00My Life in RetirementThough sometimes the 'Golden Years' seem more like tarnished brass, they are not the end of adventure. I invite you to follow me as I enjoy my days as a full-time life observer. I'll cover life, travel, food, gardening, whatever crosses my path.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.comBlogger1289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-88019701894034833552024-03-01T21:37:00.000-05:002024-03-01T21:37:22.870-05:00The Craziest Weather<p> I am not sure where I am. </p><p>Remember me blogging that GPS said I was in Georgia? Well, the other day it was 70 F here. Maybe I am there and don't know it?</p><p>I have been busy doing yard clean-up. In February. In Michigan. I already have eleven bags stuffed with yard waste. And the compost pick-up doesn't start until April.</p><p>It has been much cooler the last two days, but will warm by Sunday. Our lakes are not freezing like they used to. I don't think I even had a foot of snow total this year.</p><p>The trees are all budding and if we get a hard frost which can happen until the end of May, lots of blooms will die. </p><p>Yes, over four billion years earth's climate has changed. But this change is happening at breakneck speed. I can't help but wonder what summer will be like.</p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-50006530317873002172024-02-22T12:45:00.000-05:002024-02-22T12:45:14.825-05:00I Hate Coriander Day<p> Sometimes it seems like there is a day for everything and this proves it. February 24 is the 'official' I hate Coriander Day. Or its leaf, cilantro.</p><p>I am one of those folks can't abide the taste of cilantro, though the seed itself doesn't bother me. I omit it whenever it is called for in a recipe. I don't even substitute. And heaven forbid they mix it up in the produce section with parsley.</p><p>According to Ancestry.com they have yet to identify any genetic reason for the aversion. They think it may have something to do with where our ancestors come from. Well, not much cilantro being used in Northern Italian or Eastern European cuisine. </p><p>But I will make my Mexican and Indian dishes without it. For sure.</p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-54150138580016330452024-02-21T12:53:00.003-05:002024-02-21T12:53:34.395-05:00My Baby<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-RXi3DxyhHarY3VmTjzAY4siX-Q1oDd7uZgKJsnvYc8zi6mDTyQS10RYc-JGRDXOLQYfu8jtBD0XOG0VIEfZjAsMye8ZFcxU2DAuk_vKWgpcfwk1Jka3VelctfzYJkbL3Xm88Pfl4tSWhjj_DteLulDOHE_ybtQGdTPhs46Y8UFi4x3ZozS_kS95KqFW/s3707/20240220_163741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2780" data-original-width="3707" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-RXi3DxyhHarY3VmTjzAY4siX-Q1oDd7uZgKJsnvYc8zi6mDTyQS10RYc-JGRDXOLQYfu8jtBD0XOG0VIEfZjAsMye8ZFcxU2DAuk_vKWgpcfwk1Jka3VelctfzYJkbL3Xm88Pfl4tSWhjj_DteLulDOHE_ybtQGdTPhs46Y8UFi4x3ZozS_kS95KqFW/w640-h480/20240220_163741.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Call me crazy. I bought another Jag. Can't possibly be worse than the last one!<p></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-29301708327842311402024-01-31T15:08:00.001-05:002024-01-31T15:43:16.387-05:00Speaking of Cars<p>Well no, we were not speaking of cars. But I have been cleaning out old files and looking at old pictures. Every time I set out to find something, I end up coming across something I am not looking for. Today was a good example.</p><p>I was looking for an old photo. In the process I came across a lot of photos I had forgotten about. And some of them made me ask how they were taken.</p><p>In Dec, 1996 I was on the advisory board of a large investment company. Our annual meeting was being held in Phoenix. As was my custom, I always added on a few days to a trip to see the sights. On this trip I rented a car and visited Scottsdale and Taliesin West. I also visited Sedona. What is strange is this photo:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe80lVIDrQaJabCgF6RSIBWO7acu2SY-NzVinfCdJkb5k8QHR3cNT5SCLfk_mmwYGLr9nVmb9WlRa1zoCjSGfBcJbXNL4WLq4axESrROhTzMRfO3qiaz_wVpqf7yrLoqj2cAWiWmFdYhmHO3xqBs5G_eQuKkohwZWBxSZJJGb68GQnlbl1Yn2Z6ejYnrE/s3432/Sedona%20Arizona%20Dec%201996.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="3432" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe80lVIDrQaJabCgF6RSIBWO7acu2SY-NzVinfCdJkb5k8QHR3cNT5SCLfk_mmwYGLr9nVmb9WlRa1zoCjSGfBcJbXNL4WLq4axESrROhTzMRfO3qiaz_wVpqf7yrLoqj2cAWiWmFdYhmHO3xqBs5G_eQuKkohwZWBxSZJJGb68GQnlbl1Yn2Z6ejYnrE/w640-h422/Sedona%20Arizona%20Dec%201996.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I am outside the car on the side of the road. Someone took the picture. I have no idea who. Did I invite another board member along? Is this what old age is like when you just can't remember? <div><br /></div><div>A couple of weeks ago I came across a thank you letter from a well-known politician, thanking me for meeting him and talking. 2006. Remember a dinner with him and his wife in 1996, but 2006?, uh, no.</div><div><br /></div><div>But since this is about cars, here is one of the worst, if not the worst, mistakes I ever made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLxOYjaXrZ0JBYBnc-hBb3FFhS7iylIVln3JL6vnsxNL4jvgDyCoVyr6cRFOlfWlZmbgT_XQQm0Vwfv7znVlpCareElEcywM6SL9j1rKRDWI1Mc8AxmqNwslBIi9Bl8Ila7OPwJRKg6Ute4JH46KDgZpss-FMitb5v4khxzGQo7TsnUgVwHOMp3jHcaoH/s2415/Jaguar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="2415" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLxOYjaXrZ0JBYBnc-hBb3FFhS7iylIVln3JL6vnsxNL4jvgDyCoVyr6cRFOlfWlZmbgT_XQQm0Vwfv7znVlpCareElEcywM6SL9j1rKRDWI1Mc8AxmqNwslBIi9Bl8Ila7OPwJRKg6Ute4JH46KDgZpss-FMitb5v4khxzGQo7TsnUgVwHOMp3jHcaoH/w640-h322/Jaguar.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My 1993 Jag. It was actually British racing green but old photos fade and lose color. Two years of absolute he--.<div><br /></div><div>My current ride was purchased in June, 2008. I only have 52,000 miles on it, so I will keep it running as long as I can. My red Buick Lucerne.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw191wJwbTT13lgmJUyNZ3OlvYqwbXJEhJGpSISitsEVZv24Jit5tf5sBdhLbHV3Cufu30wcJDSV_6LgU5hAQRUuynBklrXdSI6wzBE_63UWVw0DcQ1v4FapgoUkY_m_h0JqmpiTv-4b4RgGNPPoLLyjA9BDJ3Mr1gjm3wz3DvBgDyi8lhbtsGsiXL_UU8/s640/DSC00199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw191wJwbTT13lgmJUyNZ3OlvYqwbXJEhJGpSISitsEVZv24Jit5tf5sBdhLbHV3Cufu30wcJDSV_6LgU5hAQRUuynBklrXdSI6wzBE_63UWVw0DcQ1v4FapgoUkY_m_h0JqmpiTv-4b4RgGNPPoLLyjA9BDJ3Mr1gjm3wz3DvBgDyi8lhbtsGsiXL_UU8/w640-h480/DSC00199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Now, I was looking for a picture of the cabin cruiser we had. Custody went to my ex, but the name on it was Treasurer's Island. I know it is around here somewhere. And I always thought I was organized. Hah!</div><div><br /></div><div>Can you find something when you want it? I sure can't.</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-63055693296197787682024-01-24T17:04:00.001-05:002024-01-24T17:04:32.006-05:00Where am I????<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">A few weeks back I opened the weather app on my Kindle to see the weather pop up for Atlanta, Georgia. Huh? For those of you who don't know, I live outside of Detroit, Michigan. I told the app to locate me by GPS, and I was still in Georgia.</span></p><p>So, I checked to see the Kindle setting and it was set to locate by GPS. Then I put in the address where I was born in Detroit and asked for directions in Google maps. 607 miles from Atlanta.</p><p>I turned off the GPS and inputted the zip code. Problem solved. And then today....</p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">I have three atomic clocks in my home. One is next to the bed and I can touch the button on the top and it shows the time on the ceiling.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was 1:30 before I finally fell asleep last night. When I awoke in the morning and checked the clock, it showed a time of 9:23 am. If it wasn't so dark in the room, I might have believed it. But then I checked my phone and it said 5:23 am.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I turned the light on and looked at the face of the clock. OMG. It said it was Tuesday, Jan 23. I thought I was truly losing my mind. Time and date completely wrong?<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I got up and checked the other two clocks. They were fine. I took the batteries out of the bedside clock, replaced them, and in a short time it had received the signal and reset itself.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I never wear a watch. I've had watches but they always stopped running. I would tell people it was just my magnetic personality interfering.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The house where I grew up was hit by lightning while I was on the front porch. The storm door window shattered. The home I currently live in has had three lightning strikes. Knocked out the television, garage door and my AC unit (just fried it). The first computer I bought had a faulty motherboard, as did my first PC at the township where I worked.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, if we are ever together and you feel sparks flying, well...be careful. Be very careful. I am thinking there must be some strange electrical force within me.</span></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-45946156893656921172024-01-01T12:26:00.003-05:002024-01-01T12:26:47.667-05:00A Happy New Year<p> Yesterday, the city paper had a long list of famous folk who passed away in 2023. I did see a few names of folks who passed that I was not aware of. Not sure how I missed the news. But there was one name missing. </p><p>Yesterday, before a friend arrived for long discussion and a bit of champagne, I listened to several old CDs. The artist was Bobby Caldwell. I have long been a fan and was sorry to read of his death earlier last year. And also regret that I did not drive north several years ago to see him perform live.</p><p>And so I decided to wish each of you a Happy New Year and include what is probably his signature song. I hope you enjoy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NrtL-UWotxE" width="320" youtube-src-id="NrtL-UWotxE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-52455233482133486492023-12-22T10:55:00.002-05:002023-12-22T17:56:40.332-05:00From my House to Yours...<p>I am ready for Christmas day....or close enough. I have my shopping done and decorations got put up right after Thanksgiving. See..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiND9E9M7fRpCL7sawnpIqu_74da_rDWf8a9O7Fk4NQN8kmIvMnGI5ZDTbCb9u0_MeTFvnv4x3T3RpSfL4ukJsm1BT_NVdjF61HLtx0IT3Mcm-EOLK8AXzvu0wHyZlwzBCHhyphenhyphenteDki-On-a99Atr9FrMG8edTxmMBsEaRNgEs4gxOcyl2QGu6MALhlqoEYW/s4000/20231221_091524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiND9E9M7fRpCL7sawnpIqu_74da_rDWf8a9O7Fk4NQN8kmIvMnGI5ZDTbCb9u0_MeTFvnv4x3T3RpSfL4ukJsm1BT_NVdjF61HLtx0IT3Mcm-EOLK8AXzvu0wHyZlwzBCHhyphenhyphenteDki-On-a99Atr9FrMG8edTxmMBsEaRNgEs4gxOcyl2QGu6MALhlqoEYW/w640-h480/20231221_091524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkT1nWggD301WeZTlHeEL4sbb1Gj3vUMF_X0ua5iqZr2pXHSP9YNek18laPoFHIRFwxJctIUQkZ2KEuRkeKV-N1KlpkrvrQe7Iw-TsU4Mh7OjXvnCbEw2ivJx8o-2dKvlCznxL432HnMyhoX5bzVdSox7QRwLKyCGTr6HKdA6yD9jVtA20MK0C4OWIOVP/s4000/20231221_091426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkT1nWggD301WeZTlHeEL4sbb1Gj3vUMF_X0ua5iqZr2pXHSP9YNek18laPoFHIRFwxJctIUQkZ2KEuRkeKV-N1KlpkrvrQe7Iw-TsU4Mh7OjXvnCbEw2ivJx8o-2dKvlCznxL432HnMyhoX5bzVdSox7QRwLKyCGTr6HKdA6yD9jVtA20MK0C4OWIOVP/w640-h480/20231221_091426.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoD5f_OQrWY_h7EP3gOrmMpm63o5v8bix_mqEU23qbp1KvouZL3BbLNnIzb-kcPbpelZLMLPZXxmyynFggZCKKMCpJ-rm9kbZGCUnOWMEFGmjqU0XJZKbBC-c_Qj9ea3yqpccKcrBIHvsWxnEYr0gQIKhPOsB5Sxw9sJGGKcJGomXBe0Ue7iZ5CFUDEQ_/s4000/20231221_091319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoD5f_OQrWY_h7EP3gOrmMpm63o5v8bix_mqEU23qbp1KvouZL3BbLNnIzb-kcPbpelZLMLPZXxmyynFggZCKKMCpJ-rm9kbZGCUnOWMEFGmjqU0XJZKbBC-c_Qj9ea3yqpccKcrBIHvsWxnEYr0gQIKhPOsB5Sxw9sJGGKcJGomXBe0Ue7iZ5CFUDEQ_/w480-h640/20231221_091319.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a menu: crab cakes and remoulade, goat cheese with pistachios, honey and fig jam on crackers; roasted Iberico pork loin; potato fennel gratin, roasted asparagus, broccoli, and beet salad. For dessert I made assorted cookies and an <a href="https://www.nigella.com/recipes/italian-christmas-pudding-cake">Italian Christmas pudding cake</a> made with panettone. I really want to make popovers, but that is a scheduling issue with two ovens in use. I wonder how I handled that in the past?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The table is set:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8cAcebr578DgFwy_rC8v03Kbg4QQPDGkJ49M4Q7jyawaL562vVKQWwb-76CgY4eM4sM3BdUW_YX-4rT49PZgBlQKhemdahGpyIVoXx6zYN1_H82qDPgzMtnqXQBnivKNX4-bBDNh-zIaHCfC0LrkAg_aBYbpzIr_ZCaO5Z1iM4czEvSrQjGDzfBRKjgW/s4000/20231221_091156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8cAcebr578DgFwy_rC8v03Kbg4QQPDGkJ49M4Q7jyawaL562vVKQWwb-76CgY4eM4sM3BdUW_YX-4rT49PZgBlQKhemdahGpyIVoXx6zYN1_H82qDPgzMtnqXQBnivKNX4-bBDNh-zIaHCfC0LrkAg_aBYbpzIr_ZCaO5Z1iM4czEvSrQjGDzfBRKjgW/w640-h480/20231221_091156.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I honestly do not know why I bother with the setting as no one seems to notice, lol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The snow on the ground is gone and there is none in the immediate future, which is a good thing for travellers. I have three books from the local library to relax with when the hubbub is over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However you celebrate the holidays in December, I hope you get to enjoy them with family and friends. From my house to yours and all the villages in between.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3KjZ7IV31BQubYS-jTUoZmDWDMCHtX3wBu4tyjteauBKb_gpZK0U9Fp-JFBbSKHYF1Id9YTAJ7cKajufx49LWNzCrYYLlPjn-VzZlj4lJ-af1exn8Cd6z7Yy1GA4idVJkQQ_ExRxEph0iyH5LEQf1BlJ2FIq4AAQNzTpM6TdB48gVX5SKGx_wxiGro3P/s4000/20231210_150208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3KjZ7IV31BQubYS-jTUoZmDWDMCHtX3wBu4tyjteauBKb_gpZK0U9Fp-JFBbSKHYF1Id9YTAJ7cKajufx49LWNzCrYYLlPjn-VzZlj4lJ-af1exn8Cd6z7Yy1GA4idVJkQQ_ExRxEph0iyH5LEQf1BlJ2FIq4AAQNzTpM6TdB48gVX5SKGx_wxiGro3P/w640-h480/20231210_150208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy Holidays.</div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-39187028912050438892023-11-14T12:53:00.000-05:002023-11-14T12:53:55.877-05:00A Menu for Thanksgiving<p> I have lots to be thankful for this year. I am still here after 77 years. And despite a year in which I lost a very old and very good friend, two large mugo pines, a birch tree and a sweet gum tree, along with having to replace a refrigerator, a dishwasher and a ceiling fan at the same time the cords on two window blinds suddenly broke.... Well, all is good. </p><p>I am also thankful that when I sit down to dinner next week I will not have to endure any common sense deprived idiots in my company. I really feel sorry for my friends and relatives who do. </p><p>And, at long last I have a menu. It has been changed several times, but now I am sticking with it. Last Sunday we were going to celebrate my birthday with lobster macaroni and cheese. As I was shredding the cheese I received a text that Charlie was sick. That meant it would be me and one son. So we skipped the entree and had pizza instead. Since we also had to nix things last year because someone was sick, I think maybe I should celebrate my birthday in June, lol.</p><p>Here is the menu:</p><p>Spanikopita triangles, cheese cubes, crackers</p><p>Roast turkey </p><p>Sausage and apple stuffing</p><p>Lobster mac and cheese</p><p>Sweet potato casserole</p><p>Corn casserole</p><p>Cranberry chutney</p><p>Rolls with Orange butter</p><p>Pumpkin pie, Apple pie and Ice cream, Orange cranberry bundt cake </p><p>I hope each and everyone of you have a lovely holiday.</p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-75477213412061920842023-10-31T08:02:00.005-04:002023-10-31T08:03:26.081-04:00Scary Crows - Happy Halloween<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholEjxgyJqsHfkbAy5bB9cWPpC-5w3TAhcW0tEPNraIsK1QQ8HmhUf-6aAlF75r-K6Cy_Fs88OuQE58_bzWAu8cDYnaBPRQsATOtHUa4CTShhHP-Na2DpJbMCQw1b98fUii_k6eZXkPFsP881alcoHS1qb4zN-y0Uel4QDMAzgqrbPC2uU8JD7MEP8zOvd/s5184/halloweenNights-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholEjxgyJqsHfkbAy5bB9cWPpC-5w3TAhcW0tEPNraIsK1QQ8HmhUf-6aAlF75r-K6Cy_Fs88OuQE58_bzWAu8cDYnaBPRQsATOtHUa4CTShhHP-Na2DpJbMCQw1b98fUii_k6eZXkPFsP881alcoHS1qb4zN-y0Uel4QDMAzgqrbPC2uU8JD7MEP8zOvd/w640-h426/halloweenNights-40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0qXoQ2pVrEIRJ0Cvogg6l2CHC6I0QhGdlrTU2M3qUBhgnsMThOgMZ9SZkohxHZ_GShKTlrdzZ_WUs37LcQ3_RSjdonGIs4e-mzRWD2qQ2xBr2ATzVacNIYGw15Sa_QSGsIJ-Ik4Siq91rqECS6uYMphNpXV5y8JPefS7bhFRKrlvmD3FEHNaclGb0WZ5/s3249/halloweenNights-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3249" data-original-width="3178" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0qXoQ2pVrEIRJ0Cvogg6l2CHC6I0QhGdlrTU2M3qUBhgnsMThOgMZ9SZkohxHZ_GShKTlrdzZ_WUs37LcQ3_RSjdonGIs4e-mzRWD2qQ2xBr2ATzVacNIYGw15Sa_QSGsIJ-Ik4Siq91rqECS6uYMphNpXV5y8JPefS7bhFRKrlvmD3FEHNaclGb0WZ5/w626-h640/halloweenNights-19.jpg" width="626" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynKioMHpALElzQwWG_0bLEkp5QEXBN8GNFuQGfT1MOVLRfjoccJJ4sPsJ-ujsopugcoLJtVI_ssO2-TRLihmESBn4HfmuJgO00qu81_JPy2yWt2jH-7h1ryLelKEoJzF1izgbqehAE3mL3-AL0sz9S0iTw0BaEnueO8lTW7bDBH-0i78VKsRUJT5zUpYO/s5184/halloweenNights-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynKioMHpALElzQwWG_0bLEkp5QEXBN8GNFuQGfT1MOVLRfjoccJJ4sPsJ-ujsopugcoLJtVI_ssO2-TRLihmESBn4HfmuJgO00qu81_JPy2yWt2jH-7h1ryLelKEoJzF1izgbqehAE3mL3-AL0sz9S0iTw0BaEnueO8lTW7bDBH-0i78VKsRUJT5zUpYO/w640-h426/halloweenNights-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM78bHBaMyUulTVsBs8sao2W8gS154qcHMgrRRUOzJWqmHe8-alCKoq4t7XGzvtrfvTb_D8W-aOy9THi-CvbZVngB2Av0IR2HvpO_PwwybGjv_nGbaDmBM7tkm8iRVvR8mMAJKcEktRuVe8nRN7guZEAuzXc67FluqhLdRz8Yor9kBApA6TaTJuYWF2wrU/s5184/halloweenNights-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM78bHBaMyUulTVsBs8sao2W8gS154qcHMgrRRUOzJWqmHe8-alCKoq4t7XGzvtrfvTb_D8W-aOy9THi-CvbZVngB2Av0IR2HvpO_PwwybGjv_nGbaDmBM7tkm8iRVvR8mMAJKcEktRuVe8nRN7guZEAuzXc67FluqhLdRz8Yor9kBApA6TaTJuYWF2wrU/w640-h426/halloweenNights-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJWBzbZqTNCYj-Q84DuuQdege-XhzyQzkkoEFRYn86kxYWDesJLftz56EJJTHlQP9qrPmi1QqmDy0z7NRif0vJYPrqKHSc1AgyBQ3y7YvSoWosVOXqr5sceoJ5b1jbNO0ZsIjshw0U5bUYqjd-JbqFLZyLlgUIiXXUU7zIzYGQUlAPHvr0TJTqmgLNbDp/s4421/halloweenNights-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4421" data-original-width="3400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJWBzbZqTNCYj-Q84DuuQdege-XhzyQzkkoEFRYn86kxYWDesJLftz56EJJTHlQP9qrPmi1QqmDy0z7NRif0vJYPrqKHSc1AgyBQ3y7YvSoWosVOXqr5sceoJ5b1jbNO0ZsIjshw0U5bUYqjd-JbqFLZyLlgUIiXXUU7zIzYGQUlAPHvr0TJTqmgLNbDp/w492-h640/halloweenNights-29.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwfeVkm2t9iiDPv_b1ojeMkVOjD2f6eanjPdVUmI3BQp_SMEIHVlvzRLeacmuGvCcvQoUA77MlWJC9iz60WaBzFIfUT6L3s-L7I-9HmQZYFRBJPC2sUJAliUkMj6Zy2EpcmRzyv1sMr5DOsjkRZzL7qxc9q6TE1Dp3Pi6S9quYf3yrYiYvEkEKguV4kzR/s4745/halloweenNights-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3163" data-original-width="4745" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwfeVkm2t9iiDPv_b1ojeMkVOjD2f6eanjPdVUmI3BQp_SMEIHVlvzRLeacmuGvCcvQoUA77MlWJC9iz60WaBzFIfUT6L3s-L7I-9HmQZYFRBJPC2sUJAliUkMj6Zy2EpcmRzyv1sMr5DOsjkRZzL7qxc9q6TE1Dp3Pi6S9quYf3yrYiYvEkEKguV4kzR/w640-h426/halloweenNights-36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Above all taken at Greenfield Village<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V8jqozEni6sAYHfpUOuFNc80t-rCmBM4RwwfAG716cEfL26tsELsiu5LKZXXu2Ql0mTaJv6AQ_Mgekr8yICS27-HFIlnq3o1uAYgpoJzSXMKCGwHM6fFx4PFcnZa7G1LyZ0h4pxhD0dc729vzx3vBEoIfmYFhhYh-PzfbaFzM62Jlbv2n81joq00Tvve/s3957/003%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3957" data-original-width="2227" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V8jqozEni6sAYHfpUOuFNc80t-rCmBM4RwwfAG716cEfL26tsELsiu5LKZXXu2Ql0mTaJv6AQ_Mgekr8yICS27-HFIlnq3o1uAYgpoJzSXMKCGwHM6fFx4PFcnZa7G1LyZ0h4pxhD0dc729vzx3vBEoIfmYFhhYh-PzfbaFzM62Jlbv2n81joq00Tvve/w360-h640/003%20(2).JPG" width="360" /></a></div>Hidden Lake Gardens.<br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-35791673496965876322023-10-30T07:31:00.000-04:002023-10-30T07:31:09.691-04:00Dress up Time<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I just read an article that said adults are moving away from Halloween dress-up. Well, here is a blast from the past.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_isx3SjdoxIH73XcQAVe8U0_jE9vjZFzstwzHHMebTq13CT0Ale6y-wgaBGSMKm2-U6X-Nr5LzyewPb45sAqVnykqITVRoHjL8dt0TiY-32p4vL7J6vXqCMNZOevbZ6DyLoigoGKrrHcY0pnFwBYZZm4K2gVBWddxId4mWlcYLnUBGuzezeBbyy4vyN4/s1166/1988.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1166" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_isx3SjdoxIH73XcQAVe8U0_jE9vjZFzstwzHHMebTq13CT0Ale6y-wgaBGSMKm2-U6X-Nr5LzyewPb45sAqVnykqITVRoHjL8dt0TiY-32p4vL7J6vXqCMNZOevbZ6DyLoigoGKrrHcY0pnFwBYZZm4K2gVBWddxId4mWlcYLnUBGuzezeBbyy4vyN4/w640-h396/1988.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Me and my staff, 1988, before we adopted a 'theme'.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7H7mmgVw0lZYQKBTbifaj98AIGSjEzzQb5L5xHYlOEVYnpL6Zrkblfw4FkcT9okS7aBxl-CT6yklKDYuAD-kjll5auWFRoiVfDAw0SEsa6mM48lz6qrceAflN_2DfOBItrcjvMKpYJacPmAi6X3SkfOMEdHeh0NOTYUMJTm9rzdNfaCjLLwMnv-ESlL0/s963/1993%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="479" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7H7mmgVw0lZYQKBTbifaj98AIGSjEzzQb5L5xHYlOEVYnpL6Zrkblfw4FkcT9okS7aBxl-CT6yklKDYuAD-kjll5auWFRoiVfDAw0SEsa6mM48lz6qrceAflN_2DfOBItrcjvMKpYJacPmAi6X3SkfOMEdHeh0NOTYUMJTm9rzdNfaCjLLwMnv-ESlL0/w199-h400/1993%20(2).jpeg" width="199" /></a></div>Me, 1993, our theme was dance-hall girls of the Old West?<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxUO7O5W5hbk5fDgL-xQBeaJvzcZqFe6EdVRPmIIrmMUdv_D8RFE2se1N8rKtgU_2kfXiLK26tngYJQB4Yu5wVvhlmNUY1tSUnas6GKP-0H8YFkxJtSuRaS1pabIHrs84maCAUUhowzS1Pj2mEq1uurQnEZk01_c1cfKqMeOdg0aRX7iQbI3YEU_ILJr7/s847/1999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="847" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxUO7O5W5hbk5fDgL-xQBeaJvzcZqFe6EdVRPmIIrmMUdv_D8RFE2se1N8rKtgU_2kfXiLK26tngYJQB4Yu5wVvhlmNUY1tSUnas6GKP-0H8YFkxJtSuRaS1pabIHrs84maCAUUhowzS1Pj2mEq1uurQnEZk01_c1cfKqMeOdg0aRX7iQbI3YEU_ILJr7/w640-h542/1999.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>1999, a Y-2K bug and the exterminator.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn2AiCX0HQWEI8qzUMpQ382rD0StGolA-rK2jtnF8K4pcq_bLxH2CeVY8nDM1LVp8Jz-JQspblNX95yxSlHU-6wirsAz078Vj90QyZhqoVaV8Mzm7TZMgrZmAcWkLI0cA2rrrzqNdMIJAkCwjAwtEuCaidPjxrfjdWgxs6faeU8NF66vbTncNDJF5K53O/s2901/halloweenNights-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2901" data-original-width="1782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn2AiCX0HQWEI8qzUMpQ382rD0StGolA-rK2jtnF8K4pcq_bLxH2CeVY8nDM1LVp8Jz-JQspblNX95yxSlHU-6wirsAz078Vj90QyZhqoVaV8Mzm7TZMgrZmAcWkLI0cA2rrrzqNdMIJAkCwjAwtEuCaidPjxrfjdWgxs6faeU8NF66vbTncNDJF5K53O/w394-h640/halloweenNights-33.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEUVIpEF2IJElNH49WB3BoS-010kixX-NwFtfj85EPnpmlNSTgnAAbtkka-JYlbLdbJkrR2UwFEG4Vg7ZdVIribfx5_f-Hdc4mfdpEH5QQqvu9qYjbnS0mXi-YZAHQsfljRvnI4Mt6N_E1xIMiFSUFwIFYNuIBMwVcItlfazueTzvlC0uAimCEc-FrU3U/s3129/halloweenNights-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3129" data-original-width="2710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEUVIpEF2IJElNH49WB3BoS-010kixX-NwFtfj85EPnpmlNSTgnAAbtkka-JYlbLdbJkrR2UwFEG4Vg7ZdVIribfx5_f-Hdc4mfdpEH5QQqvu9qYjbnS0mXi-YZAHQsfljRvnI4Mt6N_E1xIMiFSUFwIFYNuIBMwVcItlfazueTzvlC0uAimCEc-FrU3U/w346-h400/halloweenNights-28.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>Halloween at Greenfield Village 2015.<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-86622512908811437242023-10-29T15:59:00.004-04:002023-10-29T15:59:43.826-04:00Couldn't Resist<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOG87S62OLD9zBlDvL2uk76Wj0lzF7fzHVECAXdEk_WUeu9b3DDS_ahKt6uUogjMjKJUOtDxvFJ1an5aF1R7DV_mzkOUrgdO5xDY0m-pctYXacYeh4_66hP0FYtycvhrwoDSSEjkjYdtgOhksXVQ4v8joqnLKBTLjLdvHdBhN0zAyLnqqL0PGEGqVntfb7/s4000/20231029_101704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOG87S62OLD9zBlDvL2uk76Wj0lzF7fzHVECAXdEk_WUeu9b3DDS_ahKt6uUogjMjKJUOtDxvFJ1an5aF1R7DV_mzkOUrgdO5xDY0m-pctYXacYeh4_66hP0FYtycvhrwoDSSEjkjYdtgOhksXVQ4v8joqnLKBTLjLdvHdBhN0zAyLnqqL0PGEGqVntfb7/w640-h480/20231029_101704.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Cornus Kousa Dogwood<p></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-15304425937585313382023-10-27T16:14:00.001-04:002023-10-27T16:14:50.375-04:00Fall for Color<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19eRN4JqmNZlJry_gG94YOUITQMAfFN9pUI5HGt6UKoqsXP1PTM4cneI4CxaMUgZtGseaYidabpqoe1YypUgHLiLnqAxk_4P8S1OpnF2pQ4BqucRXhG-Tm69LRwtjiT6ZIA7grvkPE1BFPosW362XYX2fZdmTBVBEC1pvMyfXzXHmFYkhjC4ryjm9ARR2/s4000/20231027_160251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19eRN4JqmNZlJry_gG94YOUITQMAfFN9pUI5HGt6UKoqsXP1PTM4cneI4CxaMUgZtGseaYidabpqoe1YypUgHLiLnqAxk_4P8S1OpnF2pQ4BqucRXhG-Tm69LRwtjiT6ZIA7grvkPE1BFPosW362XYX2fZdmTBVBEC1pvMyfXzXHmFYkhjC4ryjm9ARR2/w640-h480/20231027_160251.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprTvActNTuIm3IxjcLJfJaKyywOFrdQ2YgznNZqDkaNdIjdkY2N0-gWEMMHgPSSocD6tjpBfWny18hmkHBtfp-q7drZANdM754AKJuY7EE3r6Rzh07a0H87-7LbINhAvA9HAQ0p67BubvMsqdgarW547WvDhi_KIAoc3J2AP8u-KnmIde7xqRGc1tTnmL/s4000/20231027_160308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprTvActNTuIm3IxjcLJfJaKyywOFrdQ2YgznNZqDkaNdIjdkY2N0-gWEMMHgPSSocD6tjpBfWny18hmkHBtfp-q7drZANdM754AKJuY7EE3r6Rzh07a0H87-7LbINhAvA9HAQ0p67BubvMsqdgarW547WvDhi_KIAoc3J2AP8u-KnmIde7xqRGc1tTnmL/w640-h480/20231027_160308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR1Lwq8XtUVgLTQxNUGXg8L7snHxT7U3rmmrthIDQOSEeqax0LLNp6cT-BXJufwrhSVTESkvgA4RuXeiU4awneBVqwLOhaWq6nPJkMfkWmhkAJPvVaUZHswomGtYYLPUxEpVDBnMQIAURNWi38X1o_vmUd0ytEgtpGvMxs2i_c3_sBR8EC2JDnZZ99qGL/s4000/20231027_160441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLR1Lwq8XtUVgLTQxNUGXg8L7snHxT7U3rmmrthIDQOSEeqax0LLNp6cT-BXJufwrhSVTESkvgA4RuXeiU4awneBVqwLOhaWq6nPJkMfkWmhkAJPvVaUZHswomGtYYLPUxEpVDBnMQIAURNWi38X1o_vmUd0ytEgtpGvMxs2i_c3_sBR8EC2JDnZZ99qGL/w640-h480/20231027_160441.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKFEwK3Fg9KZjySyrugmTxLLOapPi355KM3QnV5voHg4Xusmr0WHc33X987vVkhY-80Q6Xmg7U9iSy1EOm8vGXYtm662_UpT2I3Yt4SOpyXSd6GCZqfYQBl_O63j3rY7DHm8dN5wRt5dX8q3kbgO2u6SIf7TbLTxBpkIEH7CKgmzSxOs17X2ueuoaoz6s/s4000/20231027_160613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKFEwK3Fg9KZjySyrugmTxLLOapPi355KM3QnV5voHg4Xusmr0WHc33X987vVkhY-80Q6Xmg7U9iSy1EOm8vGXYtm662_UpT2I3Yt4SOpyXSd6GCZqfYQBl_O63j3rY7DHm8dN5wRt5dX8q3kbgO2u6SIf7TbLTxBpkIEH7CKgmzSxOs17X2ueuoaoz6s/w640-h480/20231027_160613.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFF-lTF6CSPt1Otkalj3PmdfcCfogqzPmiN5sLr3YwNr65seZA9rgEyr8sq9iheAeVuBdEXi9VqG_-hBQ15p2xguWBPVjUeWVVja9fNkp1jG1k6sQ7GLZXHpBfS2uNYnpI_ek6v-quAOLgTS7JnZsoKyrzjVORCukyZI37-oPMMmT6tgiJ5BXqnvEyami/s4000/20231027_160647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFF-lTF6CSPt1Otkalj3PmdfcCfogqzPmiN5sLr3YwNr65seZA9rgEyr8sq9iheAeVuBdEXi9VqG_-hBQ15p2xguWBPVjUeWVVja9fNkp1jG1k6sQ7GLZXHpBfS2uNYnpI_ek6v-quAOLgTS7JnZsoKyrzjVORCukyZI37-oPMMmT6tgiJ5BXqnvEyami/w640-h480/20231027_160647.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvbPfs9ivbB6DHcA6oR-8xycWhgOoxwhgHHcxpnhW5Emlw1j2M7I9QodY-FZfA920jn4oU9gYsALFVU7Pt9jEkK5n5F-a3Wf4Mr9nefv8qKJqXZ5GhTTyET1YPTZLBEu_jauEyNTn4Je4g9RQtbjMeg2QwKS1uCwAZSYdwOz5ihNEBAjqZ8XuxGDG7bji/s4000/20231027_160720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvbPfs9ivbB6DHcA6oR-8xycWhgOoxwhgHHcxpnhW5Emlw1j2M7I9QodY-FZfA920jn4oU9gYsALFVU7Pt9jEkK5n5F-a3Wf4Mr9nefv8qKJqXZ5GhTTyET1YPTZLBEu_jauEyNTn4Je4g9RQtbjMeg2QwKS1uCwAZSYdwOz5ihNEBAjqZ8XuxGDG7bji/w480-h640/20231027_160720.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL24K6id5jzob067zhJxGAQEdNm4H7CKMUIbugW1E5fmwNwgS1h5A-Z82VAUkO93iHM1HPdOis_hshJNKA51PvqNIj41pPag0riEh_vELRWu37hx1GvWHvGaYKLQriJTwN5zRJjj_H1VVxMz4Pssb_MjKEyjlg1-cPfYAxf-eYWZYVdxlZVhaOAOWd3aKQ/s4000/20231027_160801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL24K6id5jzob067zhJxGAQEdNm4H7CKMUIbugW1E5fmwNwgS1h5A-Z82VAUkO93iHM1HPdOis_hshJNKA51PvqNIj41pPag0riEh_vELRWu37hx1GvWHvGaYKLQriJTwN5zRJjj_H1VVxMz4Pssb_MjKEyjlg1-cPfYAxf-eYWZYVdxlZVhaOAOWd3aKQ/w640-h480/20231027_160801.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> A walk around the yard today.<p></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-34640151347963522482023-10-13T08:21:00.001-04:002023-10-13T09:06:35.605-04:00Remembering. An Anniversary<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Friday, October 13, 1972. Fifty-one years ago today. My husband and I moved into our new home way out in the 'boonies'. Lots has changed in the years that passed. We are no longer in the boonies, lol. The dirt roads are mostly paved and we have lights at intersections instead of stop signs. The farms and farm stands are gone and now I shop at supermarkets. Convenience stores and fast food abounds. Progress?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anyway, I thought I would share some old photos of my home. So much has changed there too. This is the oldest pic I could find on the computer, dated 1975.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUoVWouiA-WivBUKJtm3Gp7wwT8jHLQNlkZx4XNA-TJ_zFgeMBR3et7v9r11lWjhMtOEaRc51SVJc8i1FLqJRjvhsvrLnV4YVNoR9_3ND953XYiYscRX96073poHvsxXjB0etdEENWbjUmXqTbrtdfkngonvjZ7Pc27QTMesIR_6woH39R5-w6yCQG70q/s927/1975.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="927" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUoVWouiA-WivBUKJtm3Gp7wwT8jHLQNlkZx4XNA-TJ_zFgeMBR3et7v9r11lWjhMtOEaRc51SVJc8i1FLqJRjvhsvrLnV4YVNoR9_3ND953XYiYscRX96073poHvsxXjB0etdEENWbjUmXqTbrtdfkngonvjZ7Pc27QTMesIR_6woH39R5-w6yCQG70q/w640-h344/1975.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>My husband chose the exterior color. Not bad. We had hired a landscape designer. What looks good on paper doesn't always work. Except for the small shrub next to the front porch and the tiny yew at the front corner, everything else has been removed. That is the birch tree that I removed a few weeks ago. Plants sometimes outgrow the space available or just die off.<p></p><p>By 1981, we had already removed plants and planted new ones. Here is another view of the front.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxBmI0-OF8qZfD_XSTQGFEblLWUL8jun4NClbeAqrVKWcSTY1ZTAfq9RxrtLvlKVjLpLcuVwXma42-dSb5TCLBg3nyrkpFimdMXznwDuP-Ds_vcPnrTr-ynGaeJOQsIGboZ6S3ag2uaC0WNjhQuGJHZyzJ0XDjglpt8qxWhRPv3MbY3Du9qquiN5ps-Oy/s996/1981.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="996" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxBmI0-OF8qZfD_XSTQGFEblLWUL8jun4NClbeAqrVKWcSTY1ZTAfq9RxrtLvlKVjLpLcuVwXma42-dSb5TCLBg3nyrkpFimdMXznwDuP-Ds_vcPnrTr-ynGaeJOQsIGboZ6S3ag2uaC0WNjhQuGJHZyzJ0XDjglpt8qxWhRPv3MbY3Du9qquiN5ps-Oy/w640-h448/1981.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>We added another birch tree on the far right. It was decimated in an ice storm about 10 years ago. In the front of the birches was my Yoshino cherry. Here it is in bloom in 1993.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNOqfIquBPnZxQPQ-XU0ODAPfxMlk7HG3WG4rz9KM_-Hm3i51QPcWESk9nzCxxiLvNjcVQZ23TZ_HjZInW6kfGNPDlYlNT99JqpXCuMQkPjPRSrbb_bYqdNKVT3qzVu8A4DmYfDUcrxoBFL7SN_ElT9uOTGdx050ZuIRPq9lWDnOUthePdhOjiRVwWgvW/s1166/yoshino%20cherry%202%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1166" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNOqfIquBPnZxQPQ-XU0ODAPfxMlk7HG3WG4rz9KM_-Hm3i51QPcWESk9nzCxxiLvNjcVQZ23TZ_HjZInW6kfGNPDlYlNT99JqpXCuMQkPjPRSrbb_bYqdNKVT3qzVu8A4DmYfDUcrxoBFL7SN_ElT9uOTGdx050ZuIRPq9lWDnOUthePdhOjiRVwWgvW/w640-h434/yoshino%20cherry%202%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I thought I had a better pic, but I could not find it. This tree also 'bit the ice' so to speak and broke right down the center within a few years of this photo. I have never seen one in a nursery to replace it. In the left front corner you can see mugo pines. There were three of them and all are gone as of this year. A very heavy snowstorm split them into several pieces. <div><br /><div>Fast forward to 2006. I used to be ambitious about adding flowers to the yard in the summer until I got tired of watering.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwxUdRiVlhzhBh9vjSSnMjaAQZVgLR9dScmeIniZyXsWORxG2yk8aW2XfiMaEgafPHNLkdbDfPN5AhzMNwlngYlRhwt3F0Qskp0FFkStwl_iPtX9dnfCaysfWT1CtToDm2j4NDZYqAyNLbGlMB-6YlrWncGajVzbRhd-OTLS6-PQ5Nsj204TvFIq33i7r/s1536/2006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwxUdRiVlhzhBh9vjSSnMjaAQZVgLR9dScmeIniZyXsWORxG2yk8aW2XfiMaEgafPHNLkdbDfPN5AhzMNwlngYlRhwt3F0Qskp0FFkStwl_iPtX9dnfCaysfWT1CtToDm2j4NDZYqAyNLbGlMB-6YlrWncGajVzbRhd-OTLS6-PQ5Nsj204TvFIq33i7r/w640-h426/2006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Notice that the color and siding has changed. </div><div>And five years later, yeah, no flowers, lol:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnDcBIebQJ9wysGZ5yjRrhzl98Mqx-Kn38GQnqt6QIFwCfIhSoZsW_AVAw-EmcN72-8kNBi-18HuWLT_Kzqaun4g7tSh_osv-5MmetA857D96zfT-YFh_Iu_u8WKZQgj_fXOTae_y_NRe6u_qYnoTyyb4Pn3nopr5nPtwlktFPLA5xvpHR_EMkRAheRKD/s3072/017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3072" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnDcBIebQJ9wysGZ5yjRrhzl98Mqx-Kn38GQnqt6QIFwCfIhSoZsW_AVAw-EmcN72-8kNBi-18HuWLT_Kzqaun4g7tSh_osv-5MmetA857D96zfT-YFh_Iu_u8WKZQgj_fXOTae_y_NRe6u_qYnoTyyb4Pn3nopr5nPtwlktFPLA5xvpHR_EMkRAheRKD/w640-h480/017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>2015, a new roof and a fence replacement to keep the deer out of the back yard. I had a split rail fence, but they constantly jumped over that.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UsF_vHEIF2DUqW_Kz06U1PrbJ6JIs7Prx4vDRmb_C82YDPWOQF3lvJyocnJvPl6GFt8c43swWX8OeZon_e3-ipgjOHBifw3Kk9lFxV-NbKaJCi8tTDFM-GHihWPW20M-Vddeq70x2Cr2WkCHOGM84Yt_lBSigT3bYdwopCys0T51xj3cjmWOIxpkwck4/s2560/2015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UsF_vHEIF2DUqW_Kz06U1PrbJ6JIs7Prx4vDRmb_C82YDPWOQF3lvJyocnJvPl6GFt8c43swWX8OeZon_e3-ipgjOHBifw3Kk9lFxV-NbKaJCi8tTDFM-GHihWPW20M-Vddeq70x2Cr2WkCHOGM84Yt_lBSigT3bYdwopCys0T51xj3cjmWOIxpkwck4/w640-h480/2015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>November, 2020:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXcBRdsvUZGhwJELafoMvEaKLpNVXkch16GYbrDL6VvxGsmtmT9Dl4_42dF3f3PjQQ5zpaE_Rnd1F9QmTUi6twLLueNRefVfS5L3rfHsQUO-v2rKmW0hyphenhyphenW5nqT5h1AdvGKij95rfob3454koNkmgApdbj0SNxBu1yIodCAYXf2lYlJfUewuPJMttB5rU-/s2560/P1090096.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXcBRdsvUZGhwJELafoMvEaKLpNVXkch16GYbrDL6VvxGsmtmT9Dl4_42dF3f3PjQQ5zpaE_Rnd1F9QmTUi6twLLueNRefVfS5L3rfHsQUO-v2rKmW0hyphenhyphenW5nqT5h1AdvGKij95rfob3454koNkmgApdbj0SNxBu1yIodCAYXf2lYlJfUewuPJMttB5rU-/w640-h480/P1090096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>September, 2022:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivujMOe0WA9w_9gUHzx8VIgb2JOGtga6oX3cVugxtvj2H9hQK1nRPOGdmhmH7KOucgSekbhjKM2tc3a0KUDbtnmMeGbiTJerSR3turDmnoWucoNafzVNkE43pKy0VnToLmaeEczq3ndi1BhJSVuUs26s_EnVJZAifPWmD9aNAk70EB-AneBfIGbO_BmyLU/s4000/20220905_145706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="4000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivujMOe0WA9w_9gUHzx8VIgb2JOGtga6oX3cVugxtvj2H9hQK1nRPOGdmhmH7KOucgSekbhjKM2tc3a0KUDbtnmMeGbiTJerSR3turDmnoWucoNafzVNkE43pKy0VnToLmaeEczq3ndi1BhJSVuUs26s_EnVJZAifPWmD9aNAk70EB-AneBfIGbO_BmyLU/w640-h360/20220905_145706.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Except for the missing birch tree, this is pretty much how the house looks 51 years later. I am the last of the original homeowners on the street. I feel ancient, lol. But I will stay here as long as I am able. Actually never thought I would be in this house this long.</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-64593801368116625442023-10-07T15:40:00.002-04:002023-10-07T15:40:57.892-04:00For the Birds<p> Garden bird statue</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjH8jzYZDcIOBcRrLHb2RKFM3Fl_Wc4ODJ-OtxMogBZ8yJe2NnSVlcBZq5JOlIIuxsCpdxq1Uo7NmGOGaQ58yB7xZUY1_GWBhsxak9n5FPq8kb1WRF4JYFTDXumWRBBCyzbqrEY1bawgD1bmWoor-hImwiuP17SmID-fnOiERQywMTR-mrJMiuWbkzhmt/s4000/20231007_132626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjH8jzYZDcIOBcRrLHb2RKFM3Fl_Wc4ODJ-OtxMogBZ8yJe2NnSVlcBZq5JOlIIuxsCpdxq1Uo7NmGOGaQ58yB7xZUY1_GWBhsxak9n5FPq8kb1WRF4JYFTDXumWRBBCyzbqrEY1bawgD1bmWoor-hImwiuP17SmID-fnOiERQywMTR-mrJMiuWbkzhmt/w480-h640/20231007_132626.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The real thing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsqWpcQD5fZfrZp34RxAZtG8r9CeMgFPmtB3hjzbFouulgW-4ntE0-tn_ncw1VaTwNhEHg3dA_x0licPuzbI7SQWYYRUxk2eC3b5nMfF_WfSHA2zqq9N9f5hfKWjkK6fWKgBJDLcjzLc_58BxjjfyxOTjY1MdmWdNkMOAQ8mA6PJLuldacH7B7KogZsW0/s1916/20231007_132436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1916" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsqWpcQD5fZfrZp34RxAZtG8r9CeMgFPmtB3hjzbFouulgW-4ntE0-tn_ncw1VaTwNhEHg3dA_x0licPuzbI7SQWYYRUxk2eC3b5nMfF_WfSHA2zqq9N9f5hfKWjkK6fWKgBJDLcjzLc_58BxjjfyxOTjY1MdmWdNkMOAQ8mA6PJLuldacH7B7KogZsW0/w640-h480/20231007_132436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry for the blur, but I didn't want to get too close, and he was moving fast. We have a great blue heron rookery just north of my home.</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-46499109494637327452023-09-25T20:00:00.000-04:002023-09-25T20:00:21.290-04:00Nine Years Ago<p>I store my photos on Amazon. Everyday I get a message about photos from the past. Ones that I loaded from my stored computer photos do not have the correct dates. But newer ones that are geo-tagged are interesting. I usually end up reliving days I spent with Charlie.</p><p>This last week or so I have been inundated with photos from a trip I took nine years ago. Today I got a ton of photos taken in Saint Peterburg, including this one</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxVIMeTUGMOdQOm7GzA7Nw8ZAb5Yd9DleF2jmE4581t1MJhVOqDdW1s4IwD9FLjt-Uoo6ofbGlT1SgiXgKLqNV5fuivM61dpLzxKAuyVmED3dfTds18nP5j6HdwL1YO9zF2BRrMom1u9BEWeuNqA5LQns3cdsiI4iQM5gDHelFaWODVBDaqVIeW1rqzGJ/s2537/469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="2537" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxVIMeTUGMOdQOm7GzA7Nw8ZAb5Yd9DleF2jmE4581t1MJhVOqDdW1s4IwD9FLjt-Uoo6ofbGlT1SgiXgKLqNV5fuivM61dpLzxKAuyVmED3dfTds18nP5j6HdwL1YO9zF2BRrMom1u9BEWeuNqA5LQns3cdsiI4iQM5gDHelFaWODVBDaqVIeW1rqzGJ/w640-h324/469.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>If you would like to see more of this palace, click <a href="https://msdeniseh553.blogspot.com/2015/04/p-is-for-piece-de-resistance-peterhof.html">here</a></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-91410534502655191162023-09-25T10:14:00.001-04:002023-09-25T10:14:37.235-04:00Welcome Fall<p>Scones. Ever since someone (ahem, <a href="https://keithsramblings.net/2023/09/19/everything-stops-for-tea/">Keith</a>) talked about scones in a blog post, I have had this craving. Well, I love scones, so it doesn't take much to make me want one. It was just a matter of deciding what variety.</p><p>I wanted something easy and I didn't want to go to the grocery. That meant no cream scones. I was going to make orange scones using sour cream, but then I thought 'it's Fall, pumpkin time'.</p><p>So, I found this recipe for <a href="https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/harvest-pumpkin-scones-recipe">pumpkin scones</a>. It was easy. I ended up adding currants and white chocolate chips. I could have been more generous with the cinnamon sugar on top. Next time.</p><p>Some reviewers complained that they were not sweet enough. Well, scones are not supposed to be super sweet. I do agree that the pumpkin flavor could be stronger, but I do love pumpkin.</p><p>You can save yourself lots of calories by just looking at the photo. Or, grab a bowl and start baking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc-esz45eH1X57wziaTh1jsosq2w2NrRtqyFB--PwoN7VW4mps0E48UZsnTNHEYcpq2mVqzLStriGa1xiGe2tdxikD027qdEEB9by8SQ9PaEk7UO98SkLrjMc_bNavazIZ5oWNiXHDxR-5pqkKT2hxe4UEQAr-vk_EDHYylws86sS9mzHfFHf93Kg_x3m/s1600/IMG_20230925_094202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc-esz45eH1X57wziaTh1jsosq2w2NrRtqyFB--PwoN7VW4mps0E48UZsnTNHEYcpq2mVqzLStriGa1xiGe2tdxikD027qdEEB9by8SQ9PaEk7UO98SkLrjMc_bNavazIZ5oWNiXHDxR-5pqkKT2hxe4UEQAr-vk_EDHYylws86sS9mzHfFHf93Kg_x3m/w640-h480/IMG_20230925_094202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-87816519938573974982023-09-20T15:25:00.000-04:002023-09-20T15:25:01.936-04:00Spring and then Fall - After the Felling<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5fWRKz0lnLd79OUr4z0-NXsL6qqreQMYx3nGQQkfhzXcYeMmsxlLqsi5ada4LMIgjmEgmSzHeN8XRYrsGjMhSkXuzF8-Cj6Mj4mbONljXm_aRmgwsei9RBlWymJWlG6vcSNPxASA0z0cPlrJdD6IzMKPx_BYjnHXDDenFgm3SVojet9AAKfW2ImO8TGL/s1211/IMG_20230615_160422_kindlephoto-24916867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1211" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5fWRKz0lnLd79OUr4z0-NXsL6qqreQMYx3nGQQkfhzXcYeMmsxlLqsi5ada4LMIgjmEgmSzHeN8XRYrsGjMhSkXuzF8-Cj6Mj4mbONljXm_aRmgwsei9RBlWymJWlG6vcSNPxASA0z0cPlrJdD6IzMKPx_BYjnHXDDenFgm3SVojet9AAKfW2ImO8TGL/w640-h480/IMG_20230615_160422_kindlephoto-24916867.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwbNV2E5-2ZuVZcpwnM-AK_mYgM3dkHxa65GwxSqA5UCSOKuNw0g74XgB7d_bRVzDOWK8w6WLwZNzB7uFmwLSSoD3pSDbm2vURgpME0mZ9DC-Cf1z5BFmfVns8WceGMgvdd7XMcIJAY_3Hqqn2R2hu9oL1XN9L4fg2J4wPg2ZzKIfUFEuP-3bZbc7nVKh/s1600/IMG_20230920_114753_kindlephoto-22481724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwbNV2E5-2ZuVZcpwnM-AK_mYgM3dkHxa65GwxSqA5UCSOKuNw0g74XgB7d_bRVzDOWK8w6WLwZNzB7uFmwLSSoD3pSDbm2vURgpME0mZ9DC-Cf1z5BFmfVns8WceGMgvdd7XMcIJAY_3Hqqn2R2hu9oL1XN9L4fg2J4wPg2ZzKIfUFEuP-3bZbc7nVKh/w640-h480/IMG_20230920_114753_kindlephoto-22481724.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>No birch tree. No sweet gum, which was in the back right corner. I don't miss them. The house looks so different.</p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-29679312180301161292023-09-19T17:24:00.002-04:002023-09-19T17:24:45.994-04:00For the Love of Scones<p>This is a repost, with edits, from 2015. I am resisting the urge to bake scones. Wish me luck.</p><div class="MsoNormal">Cleaning is not something I have much of an interest in unless it involves my kitchen and food. I was looking to see what items in the fridge needed to be used. I had some heavy cream, half and half, dried apricots...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /> I LOVE scones, both the traditional English scone with currants and the Americanized version that is softer.<br /><br />This scone recipe is adapted from Apricot-Orange Cream Scones in the Penzey's Spices magazine and makes a very tender scone. My son declared them better than the orange scones in a bakery I frequent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSPm0yOW7YV6XJ8U6wjmTAxnJ655OgGWTU4gUK0vQl6R0EfdVrTmJxZTAznBXPpfIWgXKcUTD_409Peg03hrsYhnFT55zFxA26iVvXInBwwKXktjW1VzmemO4JaROVd7NvygXzC8IYXG0/s1600/apricot+cream+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSPm0yOW7YV6XJ8U6wjmTAxnJ655OgGWTU4gUK0vQl6R0EfdVrTmJxZTAznBXPpfIWgXKcUTD_409Peg03hrsYhnFT55zFxA26iVvXInBwwKXktjW1VzmemO4JaROVd7NvygXzC8IYXG0/s1600/apricot+cream+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>APRICOT CREAM SCONES</b></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></blockquote><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">2 cups all-purpose flour</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">3 T sugar</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1 T baking powder</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">2 tsp freshly grated orange peel</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1/2 tsp salt</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup chocolate chips; white, semi or milk (I used milk)</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1 cup heavy cream</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup half and half</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1/4 tsp <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/fiori-di-sicilia-1-oz">fiori di sicilia</a> or 1/2 tsp almond extract or 1/2 tsp orange extract</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">1 cup powdered sugar, sifted</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">2-3 T fresh orange juice</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">Preheat oven to 400 degrees. </div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br />Spray a scone pan with non-stick spray. Recipe will make 8 large or 16 small scones. OR, scoop onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, two inches apart.</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, orange peel, salt, apricots, and chips. Stir to mix well and coat the apricots. <br /><br />Add the cream, half and half, and flavoring (if using, or you can omit it). Mix to combine well but do not over-mix, just until liquid is absorbed.</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">Using a scoop sprayed with non-stick spray, fill scone pan with batter or place on cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.</div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div align="left" class="MsoNormal">Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes in pan. <br /><br />Prepare glaze using the powdered sugar and orange juice. Drizzle over scones. Enjoy.</div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-23379449319275247202023-09-19T12:25:00.001-04:002023-09-19T12:25:45.874-04:00The Right to Vote<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">130 years ago, on September 19, 1893, New Zealand passed the Electoral Act and became the first self-governing country in the world to allow women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">In the United States, the 19th amendment was p</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;">assed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, and granted women the right to vote, though some states found ways to keep black women, and black men, from voting.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In 1924, the Snyder Act granted Native Americans citizenship rights, including the right to vote. Asian Americans did not gain the right until 1943.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; white-space-collapse: preserve-breaks;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-57642753979208044782023-09-18T17:06:00.004-04:002023-09-18T18:02:19.200-04:00Fall Flowers and Berries<p>I do not post as much as I used to and that includes posting pics of my garden. But it is such a beautiful day that I decided to go out and do a few snaps.</p><p>Here are some crabapples. The birds will be here soon devouring every one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK1GEhSQqorP_FRvqPYmZ2MoW4Q43Bj_aVNI2K4BWPJqSlE8q-KfMv-AKP7uoosex2Tv8xopmq9iUkLJM2tMnruKYUxIoCOZLD70moZe7HHCu3PL4rrA0EN3BidZ-utiWgTQ1ZKPwLdSPWZ6T7mmo_l0uXyVZ0CcQwIRsvuiL0WCsHqFF2nP4FKV1g_SL/s3576/20230918_162514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3576" data-original-width="2682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizK1GEhSQqorP_FRvqPYmZ2MoW4Q43Bj_aVNI2K4BWPJqSlE8q-KfMv-AKP7uoosex2Tv8xopmq9iUkLJM2tMnruKYUxIoCOZLD70moZe7HHCu3PL4rrA0EN3BidZ-utiWgTQ1ZKPwLdSPWZ6T7mmo_l0uXyVZ0CcQwIRsvuiL0WCsHqFF2nP4FKV1g_SL/w480-h640/20230918_162514.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>and high bush cranberry berries</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJgtbk4uKjFzvPHF4Zvt8OtT2k8VSqbPM8hGYRw6b1SCUOpKyyjMRZYJ0z2-RwdZmQA69ZlkISmYFuxUTxC8PIOe6rcF0886qXMI5aS8Qnd7DndyXjPA_zHt_sO7X0PwHYGbiErT11rnrF6qtapj80FU_UXxKUJv4BZ_R8miapP7_Q-L0JGdE-uqelUuf/s3229/20230918_162532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3229" data-original-width="2422" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJgtbk4uKjFzvPHF4Zvt8OtT2k8VSqbPM8hGYRw6b1SCUOpKyyjMRZYJ0z2-RwdZmQA69ZlkISmYFuxUTxC8PIOe6rcF0886qXMI5aS8Qnd7DndyXjPA_zHt_sO7X0PwHYGbiErT11rnrF6qtapj80FU_UXxKUJv4BZ_R8miapP7_Q-L0JGdE-uqelUuf/w480-h640/20230918_162532.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a volunteer sweet autumn clematis. I have two and no idea where they came from. They got big last year so I cut them to the ground. Well...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZVeNhb8bmTHxrs4ay53GTBTL0mGjC3DOS-smyfXUPP5wU3GPAy5L1vKLjDpcQGQ7I-FuHfW8PJJKGgpyOVxMpCdZYB_LJM4Z4sAZv_ymB3W70BVxQa9ped2cUdFAsgdw6SJPkQEDz8dr3_9g4AP5PAo3UiyWCol2XoH2Y-5reuEn3gHvUk3H4CvbOIIO/s3636/20230918_162637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3636" data-original-width="2727" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZVeNhb8bmTHxrs4ay53GTBTL0mGjC3DOS-smyfXUPP5wU3GPAy5L1vKLjDpcQGQ7I-FuHfW8PJJKGgpyOVxMpCdZYB_LJM4Z4sAZv_ymB3W70BVxQa9ped2cUdFAsgdw6SJPkQEDz8dr3_9g4AP5PAo3UiyWCol2XoH2Y-5reuEn3gHvUk3H4CvbOIIO/w480-h640/20230918_162637.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a rose hibiscus that will get moved in the spring. It is almost six feet and needs a new home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR548O5CcV_3aIcStmCqK0LUZLtfINxm_uhn_GjSZ8xCiz-unjaOQGrxFLuzNbYs2fl-G6wYufuY_UkZAD2QpcGJynDL6xy07japX6PWe4ZQhGNm5V9-jcvfs-HmBNFJbXK3LZUaRPFI6iotIzcn9FXdziMEPJHMlIcZ5bYb8tnet1XCBBicEXXyQPY4_2/s3138/20230918_162714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3138" data-original-width="2353" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR548O5CcV_3aIcStmCqK0LUZLtfINxm_uhn_GjSZ8xCiz-unjaOQGrxFLuzNbYs2fl-G6wYufuY_UkZAD2QpcGJynDL6xy07japX6PWe4ZQhGNm5V9-jcvfs-HmBNFJbXK3LZUaRPFI6iotIzcn9FXdziMEPJHMlIcZ5bYb8tnet1XCBBicEXXyQPY4_2/w480-h640/20230918_162714.jpg" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Limelight hydrangea</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_Ebdd4yJnbW_HGQYKMqwqfYbPbzC_9i2x5KelwcMTa8UNsOvUY5IQDI-mNLgXrrdCUng40LEvvZWVfeG4J9WN7-aGULk7y-XJpJ17W9rZnwuynERGgJOZgmk3ysEOphpFYP3kDVz8zaCgXMrJ5EQNrwU1eHVg0rxR3iD2DGjpilMl8C24y7F8G_vjAF3/s4000/20230918_164014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_Ebdd4yJnbW_HGQYKMqwqfYbPbzC_9i2x5KelwcMTa8UNsOvUY5IQDI-mNLgXrrdCUng40LEvvZWVfeG4J9WN7-aGULk7y-XJpJ17W9rZnwuynERGgJOZgmk3ysEOphpFYP3kDVz8zaCgXMrJ5EQNrwU1eHVg0rxR3iD2DGjpilMl8C24y7F8G_vjAF3/w640-h480/20230918_164014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sedum, one of several varieties I grow. They are low maintenance, require little water, and bees love them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV8oiWAo7UIK6JSX_wkm66zyq43Xqul7OvVNEm_0wgE2W16OY4dQX87IBn33D3_exYORnCCIEoPaerNnBmsA_FYOTvvLtyGdXCd3E9tCBu7cqS_n_Emsg_CjPcghzOSvcgq7d3oeQ1CITBCRvc77f5j-1Jl5hZjpZR0s3Oybp4Zwgm2WfymQ4kOxKyEP8/s4000/20230918_164058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV8oiWAo7UIK6JSX_wkm66zyq43Xqul7OvVNEm_0wgE2W16OY4dQX87IBn33D3_exYORnCCIEoPaerNnBmsA_FYOTvvLtyGdXCd3E9tCBu7cqS_n_Emsg_CjPcghzOSvcgq7d3oeQ1CITBCRvc77f5j-1Jl5hZjpZR0s3Oybp4Zwgm2WfymQ4kOxKyEP8/w640-h480/20230918_164058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Berries on cotoneaster</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxha5jHl672_9Fk7qY0qu8zvzyQ9qboQo7CP6JvzAzffhFcFshrUyMEWtGjKvqGHlB5TMdxEeH4Dn3mJIMCt3V_ncrw-_CH0zquqdQfxHIJTl1VhAj2qBqwlmmWCbPsDzIMzoYr6l1HZvB8H7SUCParYklq0y3PL7TiHgsxmU7fEdWwXgBkhCESMVMaMb/s4000/20230918_164148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxha5jHl672_9Fk7qY0qu8zvzyQ9qboQo7CP6JvzAzffhFcFshrUyMEWtGjKvqGHlB5TMdxEeH4Dn3mJIMCt3V_ncrw-_CH0zquqdQfxHIJTl1VhAj2qBqwlmmWCbPsDzIMzoYr6l1HZvB8H7SUCParYklq0y3PL7TiHgsxmU7fEdWwXgBkhCESMVMaMb/w640-h480/20230918_164148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two hydrangeas, whose names I forget, but one is the dwarf variety of the other. Old age does that to you, lol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdMaPtqp9sT9dJpV5wSj54DZZf5RnaVz5Xdhy7YQnMMu7Dh12fTOi2-WQ3jG8nbLsWQJ6e77fOGR0Ybvjo0ovUrBEizPeW5sxMz8e96ni5es3tMEkOukuUkJWdyZYcY5CplnBsgYkyuKiEUvKm2X4AMS1wUOWgIQPcm8koc-sjuks52jTKZnkiOQNcvwq/s4000/20230918_164259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdMaPtqp9sT9dJpV5wSj54DZZf5RnaVz5Xdhy7YQnMMu7Dh12fTOi2-WQ3jG8nbLsWQJ6e77fOGR0Ybvjo0ovUrBEizPeW5sxMz8e96ni5es3tMEkOukuUkJWdyZYcY5CplnBsgYkyuKiEUvKm2X4AMS1wUOWgIQPcm8koc-sjuks52jTKZnkiOQNcvwq/w640-h480/20230918_164259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Quick fire hydrangea, I googled it. How did I survive before the internet? <div><br /><div>And inside my house my fall decor is out including this arrangement I made a few years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6jc0ZE7PB_CsBoPFt_ddSmv2_EGs3RgMpbOZG-weceqtLnsTF-YIu_YF2suGb2VRrNrxbdf3uFRPNzpAzBp5QVItE5xtf1WysXScRERN1QBaSiLwfSszR7OuVQdhUn31FmaHPpAjx_niypadVA8hPmhrvcBH-aU7DzQAEA7SFVSmuNJ-6JSnL5Z8nL4S/s4000/20230918_163648.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6jc0ZE7PB_CsBoPFt_ddSmv2_EGs3RgMpbOZG-weceqtLnsTF-YIu_YF2suGb2VRrNrxbdf3uFRPNzpAzBp5QVItE5xtf1WysXScRERN1QBaSiLwfSszR7OuVQdhUn31FmaHPpAjx_niypadVA8hPmhrvcBH-aU7DzQAEA7SFVSmuNJ-6JSnL5Z8nL4S/w640-h480/20230918_163648.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope you enjoyed my garden as much as I do. Or more. At least you are not out there doing the fall clean-up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-19735393132436003552023-09-13T12:56:00.003-04:002023-09-13T12:57:14.939-04:00A Good Decision<p>I will write more about trees in a few days, but, I did want to say that my decision to remove the sweet gum tree was certainly the right one. When they started removing the main trunk, it was obvious that it was rotting on the inside. It was only a matter of time before Mother Nature removed it for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZKN-ch8ktLewIt53KZaho0uiFWkwoUPQvwelUKkJ1lKf__fab72CfYCIk7vR7sNyH-S2uONbZ8eO-iO0NAjlXqWQCLCWKBjNFJU9icqjTVCM2grrhT7BnvAnRSY-RKqgYgzhZLJ4almVCCGIWToVlRQalpLHqBUpYip9PPLoqWmuX9yGV-VpjqQPn866/s4000/20230913_092042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZKN-ch8ktLewIt53KZaho0uiFWkwoUPQvwelUKkJ1lKf__fab72CfYCIk7vR7sNyH-S2uONbZ8eO-iO0NAjlXqWQCLCWKBjNFJU9icqjTVCM2grrhT7BnvAnRSY-RKqgYgzhZLJ4almVCCGIWToVlRQalpLHqBUpYip9PPLoqWmuX9yGV-VpjqQPn866/w480-h640/20230913_092042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBb72Qm7TDY4kKD42OHjqNf5o-mxJMNQeaoX16g3lmy6XuZ6WvmeVd3ug87LLcIXMzJtfOhdIchLpvIYzBryoauvVhlsjzS7rRgQmNoHOGThICT-3o6fuz9pSnEbMCFKYDDoAADmUVzktJS5d-pA-K44UIw7rBKVMTN5nE_nCdcw2KQsGpEyocs5ClSaP/s4000/20230913_092249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBb72Qm7TDY4kKD42OHjqNf5o-mxJMNQeaoX16g3lmy6XuZ6WvmeVd3ug87LLcIXMzJtfOhdIchLpvIYzBryoauvVhlsjzS7rRgQmNoHOGThICT-3o6fuz9pSnEbMCFKYDDoAADmUVzktJS5d-pA-K44UIw7rBKVMTN5nE_nCdcw2KQsGpEyocs5ClSaP/w480-h640/20230913_092249.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>No sooner had my crew left than another one showed up at a neighbor's home to remove a large tree. Of course, we still have two idiots on the block who have had trees actually come down and they haven't removed them. One has been laying on the back of the house for a few weeks now. What is wrong with people?</p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-42067780050066115152023-09-12T16:40:00.000-04:002023-09-12T16:40:08.197-04:00Here Today; Gone Tomorrow<p>Bright and early tomorrow a crew will arrive to remove two trees from my yard. This is the third time this season I have had tree work done.</p><p>Early in the spring I had a company remove two mugo pines that were split in two by heavy snow. They also hauled away birch branches which had come down in an ice storm.</p><p>A couple of months later I had a crew trim out all the deadwood and water sprouts on the trees.</p><p>And now, two entire trees will be removed, a white birch and a sweet gum. The birch tree was planted in 1973. While healthy, it continues to lose branches from storms. Its companion birch tree literally 'bit the dust' many years ago. I woke one morning about 20 years ago to see it laying across the driveway. Fortunately, I only live a mile from the old office and so I called and asked if someone could come pick me up.</p><p>The sweet gum tree was planted about 40 years ago. I had no idea it was such a messy tree. My husband and I just liked the leaves. It has grown quite tall. But it too has had branches come down. And, while they have fallen in the yard so far, the tree overhangs my bedroom and when the wind starts howling, I start freaking out.</p><p>So, tomorrow I will bid them goodbye. And I will no longer worry about them falling, dropping leaves, spiky gum balls, messy birch seeds.... Aahhhh. The birch and gum below.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULQ33cD_VHVAAdAtwnOc1Hqul9ziTkQz8MJ-ekFS5SY6LY0wE6gPsaicJVMxomhy_1vV2OPQJYcb5BBjcdJM863n6jg82IrOxNQ2Mqu7IKbr4IOIG4b53oGPBfUPI_KE5yA5hw5YJ7ZK_i5DgIJChu6VqjqC_Nfq9veuZVu5OgR6v5rwprHI51E4jHwqW/s4000/20230912_162232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULQ33cD_VHVAAdAtwnOc1Hqul9ziTkQz8MJ-ekFS5SY6LY0wE6gPsaicJVMxomhy_1vV2OPQJYcb5BBjcdJM863n6jg82IrOxNQ2Mqu7IKbr4IOIG4b53oGPBfUPI_KE5yA5hw5YJ7ZK_i5DgIJChu6VqjqC_Nfq9veuZVu5OgR6v5rwprHI51E4jHwqW/w640-h480/20230912_162232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbr81gP8bHLxYmqJBOL1tHzjMtNnG5aNw9nG-Kjn_b-Yxn8DL2ZuS59KTwHN5OpRmo_xTUmdJYp8ZrYRPaqaR-r7Wuhhs30bziFrIs7sVOgAC8ajAolasd6fMO4I3ZWI6slD1LOprJ5PbKPX6WojllY1NehIbNca73Gk_Ej2eXPDrDivVgUezRngoekOR/s4000/20230912_162139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbr81gP8bHLxYmqJBOL1tHzjMtNnG5aNw9nG-Kjn_b-Yxn8DL2ZuS59KTwHN5OpRmo_xTUmdJYp8ZrYRPaqaR-r7Wuhhs30bziFrIs7sVOgAC8ajAolasd6fMO4I3ZWI6slD1LOprJ5PbKPX6WojllY1NehIbNca73Gk_Ej2eXPDrDivVgUezRngoekOR/w480-h640/20230912_162139.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-9321068586309582672023-08-09T21:18:00.005-04:002023-08-09T21:20:08.807-04:00In the News<p> </p><h3 class="title bold textxlrg" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #262626; line-height: 1.33; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1948: Candy Train Wreck</span></h3><p class="info" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #262626; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A train wreck spilled candy into the streets of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1948. According to the newspaper article, excited kids "made off with arms full of candy." Known as the Candy Train Wreck, over 30 cars derailed in the accident; no one was injured.</span></p><p class="info" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #262626; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I guess that is what my folks would call 'the good old days'. </span></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-86431454762020011602023-07-09T06:25:00.004-04:002023-07-09T06:25:39.407-04:0050 Years in the Making<p> On May 4, 1973 a package was mailed to me from Teaneck, New Jersey. A brown envelope containing the makings of a wall hanging. I was ambitious and worked at it diligently, even when I was at home raising my sons beginning in 1977. In 1980 I finished the center and added the date. I started grad school in 1985 and I think that is when work ceased.</p><p>Fifty years later, I have decided to finish the project. I am not quite sure what I will do with it when I am done, but wish me luck. I am more than halfway there. Thirty minutes a day is my goal. We'll see how it goes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBKHtH_8Rqe6OYMp4hHZ6NFZyys7YDoKN4IcXxE5SttdPDFBr0RiO7h7v_LGtTN6lN7lb10r-shcBtxoCyiaTAftn2U4UKuusEIXOKtbIHzOiAsumXjKjM7WEYs-9oQQyiWBxY-1zYL7GpSI-i_L5I4nqGW2fRZItZNyhRKUmWvPS2Jai96-osyc4rt0z/s1600/IMG_20230708_154855_burst_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBKHtH_8Rqe6OYMp4hHZ6NFZyys7YDoKN4IcXxE5SttdPDFBr0RiO7h7v_LGtTN6lN7lb10r-shcBtxoCyiaTAftn2U4UKuusEIXOKtbIHzOiAsumXjKjM7WEYs-9oQQyiWBxY-1zYL7GpSI-i_L5I4nqGW2fRZItZNyhRKUmWvPS2Jai96-osyc4rt0z/w480-h640/IMG_20230708_154855_burst_01.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2147049442316958074.post-90013535942822145732023-07-08T09:50:00.000-04:002023-07-08T09:50:39.298-04:00Just a Few<p> The weather sucks. The weeds love it. I am outside singing "Is that all there is?" Here's a few flowers to brighten the day before the rains come. (At least the smoke has cleared.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8BZV0p5_ebcTBNgPvWitkpPIdlS9ic5PVsgcHZU33nEhNuOZllv8gN6elB-C2GsXfMhFgVE-2Ay98q2exmJKUqiWznVyP6tLgmP8E8V560maLNvUbTCJb0QvRuzd1a6DefsWPrACSHiLnUqGj8VlpOLJX1OKP4dPmmWuwBjmv2pt5WsaGDR52EFhDyci/s1600/IMG_20230708_090902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8BZV0p5_ebcTBNgPvWitkpPIdlS9ic5PVsgcHZU33nEhNuOZllv8gN6elB-C2GsXfMhFgVE-2Ay98q2exmJKUqiWznVyP6tLgmP8E8V560maLNvUbTCJb0QvRuzd1a6DefsWPrACSHiLnUqGj8VlpOLJX1OKP4dPmmWuwBjmv2pt5WsaGDR52EFhDyci/w480-h640/IMG_20230708_090902.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGddPCBs-haN-VUTC_VlvRZwiL6CNoY5oUuryZtTKS2PH82f2LllqKd_tsB7CAsEGZ6Lmu7-DfB2F473l9Cg3haNxkWJeAXrOIUfye6Lrmlw7SwDvgED90cO7sRnoQ73N1ZT7GcoUATGTJD7tgTNN8j8CTrmdVavZWIpZKBPDNBVYcG5-5RdgxvKVV2dF/s1600/IMG_20230708_090757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGddPCBs-haN-VUTC_VlvRZwiL6CNoY5oUuryZtTKS2PH82f2LllqKd_tsB7CAsEGZ6Lmu7-DfB2F473l9Cg3haNxkWJeAXrOIUfye6Lrmlw7SwDvgED90cO7sRnoQ73N1ZT7GcoUATGTJD7tgTNN8j8CTrmdVavZWIpZKBPDNBVYcG5-5RdgxvKVV2dF/w480-h640/IMG_20230708_090757.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXotiNpm_4FypZAl3XBzyzvcg-zPG96NQhgI33rkHU5b5tHQoSJEs3isNzsZnkK7W96oMnVNYGKakyLHaPNo5VdWe8VcNLq1FzztPZcps_cFGS70NUo0QQASau0A6XlpyZpDRh99HfQ6g3yoMieE0hRJRROX3RmsOcRd9Novkt6fIIx8f-Euilk3nacQ3/s1600/IMG_20230708_090601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXotiNpm_4FypZAl3XBzyzvcg-zPG96NQhgI33rkHU5b5tHQoSJEs3isNzsZnkK7W96oMnVNYGKakyLHaPNo5VdWe8VcNLq1FzztPZcps_cFGS70NUo0QQASau0A6XlpyZpDRh99HfQ6g3yoMieE0hRJRROX3RmsOcRd9Novkt6fIIx8f-Euilk3nacQ3/w640-h480/IMG_20230708_090601.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h021BfTFx3ZwmcJK9Jwx3IuSlYzerkNnqQ4hIrmWRMXvDH8DsQmMqjU3PTB0OwB-8L216sEvuue0OqAe8wMpBWl_8adlX7n9d0uxY1KCmCg694h2X9NWIg0UqVN62LQPjJlLqXKldcr2H799g-xZi5SaUt6H2ElGySWvkamBUbfC_vQBOkwoVRw_2uq8/s1600/IMG_20230708_090156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2h021BfTFx3ZwmcJK9Jwx3IuSlYzerkNnqQ4hIrmWRMXvDH8DsQmMqjU3PTB0OwB-8L216sEvuue0OqAe8wMpBWl_8adlX7n9d0uxY1KCmCg694h2X9NWIg0UqVN62LQPjJlLqXKldcr2H799g-xZi5SaUt6H2ElGySWvkamBUbfC_vQBOkwoVRw_2uq8/w640-h480/IMG_20230708_090156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCxIEGTzclX4c6TCSAnVZ8e0fOYou_aWfRqre75R4cqAXEt6dfI1QEIbQKF8-zU8VzBAdeoK7o7eJXq6nvHrIzWA2_uQlpGE-76TR84qe9DoPbgrwGHUOD2OEDI--1nONSRVqLW5LqfNtJ9mFwkx-waCP6OCTbCQtAQiifQwx0tBRlaQBTn5MmVh6CpNH/s1600/IMG_20230708_090812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCxIEGTzclX4c6TCSAnVZ8e0fOYou_aWfRqre75R4cqAXEt6dfI1QEIbQKF8-zU8VzBAdeoK7o7eJXq6nvHrIzWA2_uQlpGE-76TR84qe9DoPbgrwGHUOD2OEDI--1nONSRVqLW5LqfNtJ9mFwkx-waCP6OCTbCQtAQiifQwx0tBRlaQBTn5MmVh6CpNH/w640-h480/IMG_20230708_090812.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Coronation Gold yarrow growing five feet tall. Not sure why it had a growth spurt after 40 years.</div><br />Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045554938847356871noreply@blogger.com3