Head in the Clouds

Yeah, I'm cheatin'.  I'm using the pics I took yesterday while watering the plants for today's post.  When it's still 100 at 8 p.m. in SW Ohio, that's way too hot for me to be out doin' anything.

But, last night's pictures were so completely serendipitous, surprising, and fun that I have to share them with y'all.  The clouds were amazing enough, but then, the added surprises in the back yard practically had me singing one of the talented Billy Joel's songs (I Go To Extremes).

Not that I have to be at one extreme or another, but I do tend to find it happening a lot.

Last night is a great example.  I hadn't planned to take any pictures, but as I watered the plants and looked up, I saw the beautiful cloud formations and colors.

Of course I went inside and grabbed the camera to try to capture some of the texture and colors I was seeing.

I took several shots, then had to go back and check on the plants I'd left the hose on, only to look down and see this little guy.  Maybe he's not that big of a deal to you, but this is the first time I've snapped a grasshopper!  And gee, let's see . . . I went from looking at the expanse of the multi-colored clouds in the sky down to the little green grasshopper resting on green leaves.

Of course, I had to look back up, just to see what the clouds looked like "now."  Oh, so very glad I did.

That pink hue was pretty out in the front yard . . .

And a different kind of pretty in another direction in the back yard.  Yes, I was facing opposite directions when taking two of the previous shots.  I didn't realize that until now (hadn't thought about it until now, either!).

Then it was back to the plants, and checking on the mandevilla I'd just put in the ground last week. It seems to be doing very well, even with the extreme heat.  Once again though, I went from looking up, to looking down.

If you haven't noticed, I couldn't keep myself from looking up at the clouds every few minutes!  They were mesmerizing me with the light/shadow and changing colors.

 But neither could I help looking down at the plants (it's hard NOT to look at them when you're watering them).  I'd noticed these clematis bloom remains a couple of days ago, and thought they were interesting to look at.  Now I'm having a hard time deciding whether I like the bloom with the petals or without the petals better!

Not only was it an evening with my head in the clouds (at least watching them), but I think I was suffering from a case of temporary Adult Attention Deficit Disorder . . .  but then again, if I got pictures like these, was it really suffering, or being blessed with the opportunity to see a variety of subjects and take advantage of it?  I'm going with the blessing - there's enough suffering in the world that I can't do anything about.  I can accept this blessing and be thankful for it though!

Garden Tradition

One thing that has become a tradition for me is to take pictures of my step-mom's garden when I'm over for the 4th of July celebration.  She has a super green thumb, and her roses are always beautiful.  So, I'm using those pictures for today's post.

It's still way too hot for me, and about to get hotter.  I think I saw we're supposed to be in the triple digits for several days - pretty unusual for SW Ohio.  I'm glad I got the shots of the flowers 'cause with this heat, they definitely won't be looking this nice for long!

That's it!  The highlights of a beautiful garden.  I love the variety of colors and types of flowers, too.  There were a lot more, but I tried to restrain myself.

I had to laugh when I went outside to water the plants.  In some ways, it feels like I'm cheating by using pictures I took yesterday.  I can make all kind of excuses, but I am really enjoying the challenge of looking for (and finding) new subjects to photograph as well as varying perspective.  When I started watering the plants, I saw the way the setting sun was hitting the clouds, so I put the hose down (it was set to "Soaker" anyway) by the base of the plant, and went in for the camera.

Yup, got some more shots today, so even though I'm using pics from yesterday, I did take more today!  And, not just the sunset clouds.  I saw a grasshopper in the back yard, and got some shots of it.  I also noticed my re-blooming lilac was blooming, but wasn't able to get a really good shot of it (maybe tomorrow).  The mandevilla blooms are looking pretty nice, as are the butterfly bushes.  I also liked the "remains" of the clematis after the blooms fall off.  I think I may also have tomorrow's post pretty much taken care of already!  Hmmm . . . I thought I was procrastinating.  I'm gonna have to work on that some more.

Spangly Stars

I don't remember the first time I saw the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy," a biography of Broadway's George M. Cohan, but I do remember being surprised that Jimmy Cagney could sing and dance and that Mr. Cohan wrote some very memorable patriotic songs.  Since watching the movie for the first time, I always think of the movie and try to watch it on or around July 4th.

I haven't seen the movie yet this year, but bits and pieces of different songs were going through my head as I watched the fireworks display tonight, and including those by Irving Berlin and Francis Scott Key.

"Over there, over there, Send the word, send the word over there - That the Yanks are coming, The Yanks are coming, The drums rum-tumming, Everywhere."

"So prepare, say a prayer, Send the word, send the word to beware, We'll be over, we're coming over, and we won't come back till it's over Over there."

"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, A Yankee Doodle do or die, A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, Born on the 4th of July."

"I've got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart, She's my Yankee Doodle joy."

"Yankee Doodle came to London, Just to ride the ponies.  I am a Yankee Doodle boy."

"You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag,"

"And forever in peace may you wave."

"You're the emblem of The land I love The home of the free and the brave."

"Every heart beats true 'Neath the Red, White, and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag."

"But should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag."

"God bless America, Land that I love.  Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above."

"From the mountains, to the prairies, To the Oceans white with foam God bless America, my home sweet home."

"And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

"Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream . . . "

"'Tis the star-spangled banner!  Oh long may it wave Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Oh!  Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto:  "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

3rd of July

Oh, the sweet anticipation of celebrating the 4th of July!  Dad always has a cookout w/ a ton of food (he could probably feed the whole block with what they cook) that's delicious.  We always eat way too much, but love every single bite.  We each bring something to share, and this year I was asked to bring cupcakes . . . I've added something else to the mix though.

Here are the main ingredients for my desserts.  I will tell you that I made two different types of desserts.

Yes, one of them was cupcakes.  Any idea what the other was?  All will be revealed in due time.  By the way, don't you love the beautiful Formica counter top circa late 1950s??  It's the original counter top to the house, unfortunately.

Well, since I'm baking to celebrate the 4th of July, and knowing there will be several teenagers and several 1st grade and younger there, I knew I wouldn't make but a couple of people happy no matter what kind of cupcake I made.  So, I kept it simple - white cupcakes and then varied the icing a little . . . 8 of them have half strawberry icing (closest I could get to red) and half vanilla icing dyed blue; then 6 have all strawberry icing, 6 have the blue icing, and 4 have white vanilla icing.  I could at least keep with the patriotic theme via color scheme (not everybody likes cherry, so I couldn't do a maraschino cherry on or in them; not everybody likes strawberry, so I couldn't use JUST strawberry).  I was tempted to put jelly beans in them and on top, but believe it or not, there are people in my family who don't like jelly beans!

Have you figured out what I did with those marshmallows and the 2 boxes of Jello?  Hint:  only a very small amount of water was used, and it wasn't boiled.  I'm thinking this might go over pretty well with the younger kids . . . I made one using the watermelon jello and tasted it before I made a bunch of them (if I don't like it, I won't give it to others!).  I thought it was pretty good.  It's definitely a light dessert!

Have it figured out yet?

Here's the result:

They taste kind of like Peeps!  The pinkish ones are watermelon flavor and the blue ones are berry blast.  They were so easy to make that I'm taking the "extras" with me tomorrow just in case they are a big hit.

Yes, I'll share the "recipe."  Select the Jello flavor of your choice (I really liked the watermelon one!), and open it into a small bowl.  Use a lollipop stick or straw if that's what you have handy.  You could probably use a toothpick if small kids weren't part of the festivities.  I put some cold water in another small bowl, then dipped the stick into the water before inserting the stick into the marshmallow.  Once the stick was inserted, I dipped the marshmallow almost all of the way into the water, then shook the excess off.  Then I rolled and dipped the marshmallow in the dry Jello mix until it looked good to me.  I just used a coffee mug to hold them while they "set."  I had some bags for lollipops/cakepops and I used those to individually wrap each of the Cheeps as I'm calling them (I posted on Facebook to a friend that they were "kind of like a cheep, er cheap, version of Peeps").

I had initially planned to try to do some stars on the icing for the cupcakes, but decided against it . . . it seemed too much like work.  I love to bake, but only the easy stuff most of the time!

She's at it again!

My infamous college cohort, Jenny @ Owl Things First has done it again.  She nominated me for another blogging award.  I think she does this just to make me write an extra blog; it's that teacher thing she has goin' on . . . practice makes perfect.  Plus, as a birder, I'm sure she's thinking she's taken me under her wing in my fledgling blogging flights of fancy (and what a wing to be under!).

I know there are several of my friends who will claim that I am nothing if not versatile (others will claim I'm volatively versatile or exhibit versatile volativity).  I plead the 5th amendment.

What proof exists of my versatility?  Exhibit 1 would have to be words.  I love words.  I love learning new words.  I love creating my own special use words (splendiforous and fantabulous are two I use regularly).  I also love tormenting my local niece and nephew by mixing up syllables of words to see if they can follow through the content rather than the word itself (teaching them a bit of versatility at the same time, hopefully) - like flutterby instead of butterfly, or funa tish instead of tuna fish.  Just a hint - kitty cat doesn't work that way!  I wouldn't be blogging if I didn't love words and putting them together in ways to educate, embellish, or encourage.  I've been known to leave a running commentary on a friend's Facebook post where most of the words begin with the same letter.  I will also admit to intentionally misinterpreting a post to make them laugh.  I am also addicted to reading words . . . much to my parents' irritation at times.  I was known for reading the cereal box at breakfast if I didn't have anything else to read.  It often drove my mother nuts when I would read while everyone else was watching TV, and yet I'd be able to answer a question about the show AND what I'd just read.  It's a heavy burden, but someone has to shoulder it.

Exhibit 2 would have to be my interests.  To say I have eclectic tastes would be the equivalent of saying that the surface of the sun is a little hot.  There are a wide range of interests rolling around the noggin.  Musical interests are pretty diverse (although the age thing is showing up more and more lately and I'm a bit crotchety about what exists as "popular" music these days).  Can't get into Rap or a lot of the Hip Hop, but I'll listen to pretty much anything - classical, jazz, blues, show tunes, Rock, and Country.  I stubbornly refuse to have cable (there's nothing on those channels all day, either!), but am addicted to Netflix where I've watched documentaries (Endurance, March of the Penguins), BBC/English productions (MI-5, North and South [no, NOT the one about our civil war], Pride & Prejudice, Robin Hood [a 3 season series] - one actor is in 3 of the examples somehow . . . ), Action (Avengers, Thor, X-Men, Transformers, GI-Joe), most of the popular Romantic Comedies, some Oscar winners (The King's Speech!!!!), a few foreign films (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series, Mongol), family films, and comedies.

Exhibit 3 would most likely be my creativity.  I like to make things.  I like to make some things that are just for looking pretty and others that are useful.  I like to make my own hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, and fabric softener, as well as household cleaners.  I like to find new uses for things (certain post-it notes used in conjunction with Mod Podge are great decorations on bathroom tile), and prefer they be unexpected uses!  I like to make greeting cards.  I like to make cupcakes, cookies, or other treats to share.  I LOVE to take pictures.  When my nephew was about 3 or so months old, his Meme said that he wouldn't recognize me without the camera in front of my face, and that he'd probably call me Aunt Flash.  Yeah, I take a few pictures when I have the opportunity.  I also like to be creative in my creativity.  I don't usually follow a recipe EXACTLY (at least not the 2nd time); I might "tweak" the instructions for assembly; and I do try to find new perspectives when taking pictures.

The fourth and final exhibit is that somehow each of the preceding exhibits all contain elements of each other.  Obviously, all contain words.  All contain a variety of interests that aren't necessarily thought of together.  All contain some form of creativity.  I AM the Versatile Blogger!  Hey, it's my world and I live here - y'all are just visiting!

Well, now that you know WAY more than you probably ever wanted to know about my little fascinations in life, I will share the rules for the award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Include a link to their blog.
3. Include the award image in your post.
4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.
5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.
6. When nominating, include a link to their blog.
7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

Which 7 random facts can you remember about me?  Which made you laugh the most?
In no particular order:  Ability to read and watch (or listen) to TV simultaneously; nickname (although short-lived thank goodness) of Aunt Flash; I have used post-it notes (they are Hello Kitty by the way) to decorate hide the ugly tile in a bathroom; I like to make my friends laugh; I love to read; I like to re-purpose; and I love photography.

Now, I only follow a few bloggers, so I won't be nominating anywhere near 15!  But, I do nominate the following:

Jenny at I'd Rather Be Birding! (hee-hee; she was nominated by someone else under a different blog she writes!)
Anna at Kessenuma Kazoku, whom I've never met.  I went to college with her mother, and have been blessed with Anna's (and for a time her sister Sarah's) posts about their missionary work in Japan.

Mother Nature's Sweatshop

It's been a rough several days since I last posted - between the heat and the thunderstorms, its certainly been strange!  We've had several days of almost 100 degree temps, as well as several days with thunderstorms that have taken out electricity for over a hundred thousand at a time, damaged property (ancient trees uprooted onto vehicles; shingles flying, power lines down, etc.).  It's been a great time to stay indoors as much as possible (I was blessed to never have lost power beyond a flicker).

Unfortunately, I've REALLY missed the leisurely walks through parks and taking pictures.  So, today, given an opportunity to spend time with my favorite 15 year old niece AND make a short trip to one of the preserves we both like, I grabbed it with both hands!

I know I was just there, but we went to Charleston Falls.  The niece hadn't been there in a long time, so she was excited (well, as excited as a 15 year old gets about going to a nature preserve!) about going back.

We took the shady path, and it wasn't so bad at first, but by the time we got to the "falls" (such as they are right now), less than a 0.5 mile hike, I was sweating like crazy, and starting to overheat.  I was planning ahead however, and each of us had 32+ oz. bottles of water, and I'd been drinking it on the way.  I made sure I stopped and rested, but the problem was that I wasn't cooling off!

We watched the water drip for a few minutes from the viewing point almost level with the falls, then went down to where the "pool" is.

If you look really closely, you can see the water pool in the distance.

  

I liked watching the way the water splashed on the rocks and back into the pool.  I was hoping it would make me feel a bit cooler, but that didn't work out very well!

It's hard to tell, but the lighter colored areas are where the light is being reflected off the water pool.

I stood as still as possible for a while, doing my best to cool down and catch the breeze, but it just wasn't working.  I was just plain hot, and uncomfortable.  So, we headed back toward the car, with the idea that we'd stop at a bench I knew was on the way and rest until I was cooled down.

I don't think I ever really cooled down until we were back in air conditioning!  I'd been good about drinking my water the whole time, which I know helped.  Unfortunately, it was just not a good idea for me to be out in the heat.  My body is certainly making no secret of the fact it does NOT like the  elevated temperatures - the worst today was having no energy (I'm thankful for no headache!!).

But, even though today it felt like Mother Nature was running a sweatshop, I got to hang out with my favorite 15 year old niece AND get some nature pictures taken.  All in all, a spectacular day.