Showing posts with label around the yard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label around the yard. Show all posts

Friday, May 3, 2024

Peonies

The peonies in my front yard are just now starting to bloom.



My grandmother had peonies back home and so did my mother-in-law. The peonies there bloomed much later than they do here. Both Grandma and my mother-in-law cut their peonies to decorate graves on Memorial Day.



Here the peonies bloom much earlier, I picked this one this morning before the ants move in.

Peonies are so pretty and they smell so good!

Do you have peonies growing in your yard?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, May 31, 2023

In the Garden

It's the last day of May and I just came in from a tour of the garden. Here are some of the things that are taking place there...

The cactus roses are blooming.

So are the white spiderworts.

Little brown mushrooms are popping
up here, there, and everywhere.

This little ladybug was visiting
the purple coneflowers.

The pie cherries are ripening.

And this pretty butterfly was fluttering 
along from flower to flower.

That's some of what's going on in my garden today. What's going on in yours?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, June 29, 2022

A Failing Garden and Flowers in Bloom

It's a beautiful morning here in southwest Missouri. The sun is shining and, even though it's nice and cool right now, it's supposed to be up around 90 this afternoon.

I went out this morning and filled the bird bath with fresh water and filled all the feeders. I'm making a fresh batch of sugar water for the hummingbirds now.

As sad as it makes me to admit it, I think my gardening days are over for this year. If the plants would grow, it would help, but, try as I might, the only thing growing well is weeds. The tomatoes and peppers that have survived are not much bigger than they were when I planted them. I really thought that the heat and dryer weather would make a difference, but thus far it has not. 

Even the one zucchini that I thought was going to make didn't. It grew to a length of about 4-inches, then shriveled up on one end and turned yellow. These are the only tomatoes that I've gotten. One is about an inch across and the other is slightly larger; both are full of holes where something has been eating on them. Pathetic, isn't it?



The squash and pumpkin are blooming beautifully, but there's not a sign of a single fruit on any of them. Just a few days ago I was thinking about working the garden up again and replanting, but, now I'm not sure what to do. I'm thinking that my time and efforts might be better spent doing something else. 

My flowers are doing well though. Here are a few of the ones that are blooming in my yard right now...



Sunflowers

Oriental Lilies

White Spiderwort


Purple Coneflower

Miniature Sunflowers

Marigold


Zinnias

Petunia

The flowers are lovely, and I enjoy having them, but I sure was looking forward to having fresh produce right out of my own backyard garden this year. I guess we'll wait and see what happens. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Around The Yard This Afternoon

They say that we're in for another winter storm come Thursday, but, whether it happens or not, Old Man Winter can't hang around for too much longer. Proof that spring is on its way is everywhere! 

Here are a few of the things that I've observed around the yard this afternoon...

Purple Crocus

 Bluet

Dandelion

A starling taking on its summer plumage and yellow beak.

Henbit

A pretty kitty that decided to join me this afternoon.

What signs of spring are you witnessing in your area?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Spring Things

It's a rainy Wednesday morning here in the Four-States Area and spring has sprung on every front!

Spring Beauties

Least Bluets

Common Violet

Tiny spring flowers dot the landscape (spring beauties, least bluets, and violets), with sunny-faced dandelions dancing prominently among them.

Bridal's Wreath

Red Bud

The bridal's wreath bush and redbud trees are in full bloom and the lilac buds are big and swollen purple...ready to burst forth at any moment. 

Lilacs
(2020)

In addition to the blooming of flowers all kinds of other spring things are happening. Bees are buzzing, frogs are croaking, and birds are singing. They are also building nests and laying eggs.

Bumble Bee

Frog

Robin's Nest

Spring is a glorious time of year! Everything is so fresh and soft and green! New life abounds on every front! I pray that you and yours are enjoying spring wherever you are. What changes have you noted taking place?

Until next time...
~Rebecca 

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Thursday, April 9, 2020

Around The Yard and A Couple of Cobbler Recipes

Hello, Ladies! 💗 

I pray that your day has been a good one and that your Holy Week is progressing beautifully! Did you see that moon last night??? Absolutely gorgeous! Our day here has been a good one!


Dogwood Buds
What's the weather like where you live? Here, in southwest Missouri, today has been considerably cooler than yesterday (60 degrees as opposed to 90) and, in a few short hours, we will be under a freeze warning. The weather is as crazy as everything else is right now! 

Purple Iris
I spent much of the morning in prayer and Bible study, then, my husband and I worked outside for a bit this afternoon. He weeded flower beds and I decided to repaint a couple of the cheap little lawn ornaments that have been hanging around the yard for a couple of years or so now.

Before
After
 They're far from perfect, but are definitely more colorful than they were before repainting them!

Before
After
I painted with acrylic paint, then, sprayed with a clear sealer. That should help them to hobble along for another year or two, even though they're not in the best of shape. I have no idea what happened to the frog's tummy, but it's gone. If I find it I will paint and repair! (ribbit!) 🐸

Our youngest son and his family came by today. Walmart in Lamar had gotten a shipment of toilet paper in, so they brought us a couple of packages. While they were here, Tony repaired my computer. I don't know how I did it, but I had lost several crucial screws and both hinges had popped exposing the insides of the computer at both back corners. I'm glad he got it fixed! I was afraid that it was going to completely come apart on me and here I'd be! (Thanks, Son!) 💗

I've probably shared it before, but I thought I'd share my mother's Easy Peach Cobbler recipe with you tonight. 

What made me think of it is, I've seen a similar recipe going around Facebook for a while now, but it called for one quart of fruit and mentioned blackberries. 

The recipe that's been going around Facebook...

Image may contain: food
Melt butter in baking pan. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk.
Pour batter in pan on top of butter; cover with fruit. Do not stir;
batter will rise to top as it bakes and absorbs the flavor of the fruit.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

A friend of ours had recently given us a gallon each of frozen blackberries and frozen mulberries. This morning I decided to try the "Lazy Man's" Pie Peach Cobbler recipe using half a quart of blackberries and half a quart of mulberries.

Lazy Man's Cobbler
It turned out okay and tasted good, but something wasn't right. It was way too thin and a bit rubbery. I determined to find Mom's recipe and find out what was different.

Mom's recipe uses more baking powder, no salt, and, specifically, calls for canned peaches, but, other than that, it's the same recipe. The size of the pan used, the temperature of the oven, and the length of baking time, I'm sure, is what made the difference. 

Mom's recipe calls for an 8x8 pan and bakes @ 400 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes, whereas, the other recipe doesn't specify what size pan to use at all (I used a 9x12) and bakes @ 350 degrees for an hour. 

Next time, I will use Mom's recipe and just substitute the mixed berries for the peaches. I'm sure it will result in a much nicer product in the end.

Here is my mother's recipe...

EASY PEACH COBBLER


1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 large can of peaches
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients, except butter and peaches together. Melt the butter in an 8x8x2-inch cake pan in oven. Pour batter over the melted butter, then top with fruit. Add juice accordingly as to how moist you want the cake. Bake at 400 degrees until done (approximately 25 to 35 minutes). Enjoy!

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

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