Accidental Visitor

I like visitors....all kinds...especially the non-destructive kind.

this little lady showed up and stay for an hour or so until i picked her up and took her back outside.  she was clearly lost.  pretty little calliope hummingbird.

the Eclipse

no...not the silly tweener vamp novels.  (honestly, they are better as book on tape as you drive down the I5, constantly trying NOT to go off the road because you think these kids just need to get over themselves, visit a adult toy shop and get it over with).  the real deal.  an annular eclipse.  it's not the total eclipse but one that the sun can still be seen from behind the moon.  fine...here's the nerd definition of it.   "An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most of the Sun’s light. This is know as Ring of Fire." - Dhruv Planet.  The lucky ones are those who were in the direct path of this event.  those who aren't....got to see a lopsided eclipse.  me?  i'm lucky.  :D  that thing flew right over reno.  well, more over pyramid lake and the res, but who's counting?


So i started the view with my ghetto pinhole viewer.  if i was better prepared, i would of gotten solar filter and the goofy eclipse glasses so i can look directly at the sun and document it.

the pin hole viewer was a little unwieldy to hold and take photos.  it was definitely a two person job.  since ed was out fishing (he didn't deem this event nerd worthy enough to watch it.), i had to switch to another method....


ghetto viewer #2...the binocular projection

by projecting the image (like trying to burn things with a magnifying glass), i was able to get a sharper image.





and reaching totality.....








very cool...next time this happens again...it'll be about 40ish years....hope to catch it then too!

When the Flowers are in Bloom

it's pretty quick out here.  blink and the flowers will be gone.  :D







sigh.......i wish i had a real macro lens.....

Urban Farming Craze...

ok...maybe not craze, but it's time to populate the gardens.  a list of what i have going... i've already planted garlic and onions last fall and they've winter overed pretty nicely.  the snow peas have sprouted and are now growing up (although, i'm not sure it's it's going to give peas...who knows).  the kale and chard went into the ground as seed.  the okra and jalapenos went in.  then comes the daunting task of putting 20 tomato plants into the ground.  yes, my back and my jacked up shoulder paid for it, but the kiddos are out in the pasture.   ed put the grape cuttings in the grape garden.  the raspberries are thinking about flowering.   the bees are doing their thang...

now,  i'm just waiting for the freak snow storm to ruin things.  kidding.  really, i'm waiting for the farmers market to start up so i can work on my next food project....drying stuff.  :D


oh, yeah...note to self....let's not start the seeds so early (by three weeks) next year AND let's not go crazy with the seeds (let's not have 20 tomato plants) !

kale

chard

okra and jalapenos

traffic.....

Hmmm Lemony!

So, what does the smell of fresh squeezed lemons conjure up for you?  for me?  the beginning of summer and some sort of adult beverage.  ok, maybe that's more lime and mint and rum but it's close enough right?  it's citrus.  anyhoo, we had some meyer lemons and we needed to figure out what to do with them.  my default will always be baked goods.  so here comes a recipe that i had for awhile, but never tried.  it's time fore the experimentation to start, so hold on to your pants and let's go!

lemony goodness

lemon glazed lemon cookies...no  not redundant

Glazed Lemon Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

4-5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 35o degrees F. Line two baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk and set aside.

3. In a small bowl, add granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingers, until fragrant.

4. Beat butter and sugar/lemon mixture together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

5. Slowly beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended. Drop dough by tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Gently flatten dough with the palm of your hand.

6. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are just set and slightly golden brown. Cool cookies on baking sheet for 2 minutes and transfer to cooking racks. Cool completely.

7. In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice. Dip each cookie top into the lemon glaze. Let cookies sit until icing has set.

Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Source: http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/glazed-lemon-cookies/

it also happened to be the supermoon night.  super enough that my 300m zoom got something...

the moon