Little Scraps of Magic

FOCUS 52: Week 5

Week 5's topic gave me absolute fits. Cold? Nope, not here. A week ago, mother nature gifted us with a bit of ice/sleet, but not this week. Think anywhere from the 50s to the 70s.

So, stumped big time.

Today, the light bulb above my head began to flicker just a wee bit. I began to think about ice skating. 3 outdoor rinks can be found locally and I'd gotten some lovely shots at 2 of them in the past. But, a shift in baby sitting plans cancelled that idea.

Then, the light bulb flickered just a bit once again. And, I sent my husband out in the rain to bring back this:

Gorgeous colors, no? And delciously cold!

Thank you, Mickey D's!

P.S. Tasted pretty good, too. Couldn't let it go to waste, right? Although, it probably went right to waist instead!

 

 

Yummy!

I've been known to choose my dinner having been entranced by the pretty colors...

On the top: fresh ravioli with a butternut squash/onion filling.

On the bottom: 4 cheese filling

Mine? The butternut squash, eaten with a bit of melted butter on the top...delicious!

Bought at the Eastern Market in D.C. recently; we'll be heading back there soon.

P.S. I am not trying the squid ink filling no matter how pretty it is!

Eat. Smile. Repeat.

Cincinnati loves to eat, and, oh, the goodies to be found here! We spent Thanksgiving weekend with our oldest, Corey, and his lovely bride, Christina. Yesterday morning, we all got up early to visit this awesome spot, right before Phil and I hit the road. WOW!!! Even though we visited on one of the last days of November, we found plenty to do, buy, and most of all, eat.

The indoor portion remains open all year, and you can find everything from knowledgable butchers whom believer firmly in customer service, to bakery items, to plants and so much more.

Nicknamed "Porkopolis," the market held a fine collection of pigs.

Color, textures, aromas...I wanted it all! But, we had ourselves a mission to be accomplished, and that was to visit the colonel.

I am blessed with men who love to cook, and who do it extremely well. Needless to say, my husband and eldest son find paradise here! Spices, sugars, herbs, rubs and more can be located here, and you buy by the ounce.

This photo barely begins to cover the extent of the Colonel's goodies. Cases stretch in both directions from this focal point, and cares run below as well. We didn't know where to begin.

Along with an outstanding knowledge of spices and such, this guy possesses a wonderful sense of humor.

After leaving the colonel, I picked up a few choice pieces of chocolate here...yummy!

Much, much more to be found here, but I'll leave you with this little piece of advice found in a window shop:

P.S. I had sushi for the first time ever, and I promply fell in love with yet one more type of food! Thanks to my lovely daugher in law, Christina, for a wonderful afternoon together.

Dearest Johnny

Hey,honey, if you are reading this, please note that I am writing to Johnny Appleseed, not Johnny Depp!

That being said...

Dearest Johnny,

Thanks ever so much for traipsing across our country, sowing those appleseeds as you went.

We spent the loveliest time yesterday at Stribling Orchard harvesting some of what I'm positive have to be descendants of those first apples.

Grandpa and Dom made quite the apple picking team, both of them "manhandling" the pole, way way up there, in order to...

snatch one of these!

Each one was carefully presented to me (Baba!) for inspection, and if it made the grade, Dom...

...placed it ever so carefully into the bag. Well....being totally honest, he more or less threw it into the bag!

Have to tell you, Johnny, that all the ones that had previously hit the ground were a nuisance to navigate! At any rate, we...

...filled one bag of green, one bag of red, and then bought two more bags. All in all, Johnny, we toted home,

about 55 pounds of these beauties, whick are simmering on the stove, even as we "speak."

Please feel free to drop by and enjoy some of the "fruits of our labor."

Okay, full disclosure...Phil's labor. All I'm doing is sniffing appreciately!

Thanks, Johnny!

 

Monochromatic Color

 
Over at Kat's blog, some color wheel exploration has been going on! Kat covered several different color wheel "schemes," but as I've wandered through my photos tonight, I seem to be focused (not a deliberate pun!) on monochromatic photos. As Kat explains it, let go of the idea of black/white or sepia. Think instead about the feeling of one dominant color. I shot this scene while waiting to go on our moonlight sail at St. Michael's in Maryland. This might even be a bit "analogous" since as I look a bit closer, I'm seeing shades of blues and greens.

 

 
A bit of a different take on "blue!" My sister and I shared this delightful rum raisin scone and some spiced coffee. I loved this bunny plate; it just made me smile!

 

 

The coolness of the forest floor...so many greens!

 

 
Shades of gray...an "altar" found along the shores of Lake Erie.

 

 
More grays, but a very different "feel." Shot on the deck of a restaurant in Wacherpreague, VA. This place has a melt in your mouth crabcake salad. I've sampled many a crabcake, purely in the interest of science, and I put the gold seal of approval on this one!

 

 
Another forest floor, and a photo I nearly deleted instantly! I'm so glad I didn't, because I've fallen in love with the blurry background...shades of glorious color and light!

So many more pictures that I could share. I hope you've enjoyed these! I'm learning to look and to "see." I'm beginning to put it all into play before I shoot, and I'm loving this play time.

Tomorrow brings Friday...smiles here! And, I'm pleased to report that even though they haunted me every time I passed the faculty workroom....I did NOT eat the brownies!!!!

Along Lake Erie

 
We could see the lake from the patio of ZeBro's Harbor House. How could we resist a walk?

August Break 2011

Day 18

Taste Test

 
Really, mom? PRUNES????? I can see your cookies over there.

 

 
The trick is...as I've discovered...is to be sure to wear more than you actually ingest.

 

 
Well, if I must, I must.

 

 
Despite all my faces, I polished off every bit! Then, I tried to eat the wipe for dessert.

 

Oh, yeah....I exacted my revenge several hours later.

Memories Perking

 
It's old and battered. I doubt you could easily buy one just like it. But, oh, the memories it could tell!

I salvaged it while cleaning out Mom and Dad's house. It hasn't been used in years, most likely in decades. I meant it to just sit on my stove, nothing more. Well, yeah, one more thing...to make me smile.

But, when I ambled into the kitchen this morning, Phil had put it into action. It perked, bubbled, and gurgled, and I smiled even more.

That cup of coffee tasted so good.

August Break 2011, Day 7

Summer Harvest

 
Tomatoes being made into spaghetti sauce as I type...

 
Gorgeous, gorgeous color and pattern!

 
Fresh blueberries and melon scooped into one of my dad's old coffee cups.

 
Zinnas for my table.

Life is good!

August Break 2011, Day 6

Sunday's Musings

Outside my window leafy green trees dance and sway with the breeze.

I am thinking about today's dinner - smoked chicken and farmers' market veggies. Yum.

I am thankful for a hairdresser who knows what to do with my hair and who loves to "play" and change up my look periodically!

I am wearing sage green capris and an old white tshirt....nothing that would suffer from an accidental splattering of hair dye.

I am going to give my house a good once over tomorrow morning.

I am currently reading The Sixth Wife.

I am hoping for a good night's sleep.

On my mind is getting rid of some of this "STUFF," and creating a sense of serenity.

From th kitchen come the sounds of Phil blanching corn on the cob...more farmer market goodness to be savored later.

Around the house rest boxes and boxes of stuff from my parents' home. Photos to be gone through and sorted out for my brother and sisters, as well as different odds and ends that need a new home.

One of my favorite things dark chocolate covered pretzels. Sweet and salty...oh, my, goodness!

I'm creating journal pages that make me smile.

A few plans for the rest of the week...get ready for Alex's christening, paint my toenails purple, and smile at the new goodies from Chico's in my closet.

From my lens...

 
Twilight over Oyster Bay, Assateague, VA