No Camera!

OMG! I left my camera at my daughters last week.
How does one blog with out one?
I am missing posting to the Little Red Wagon card challenges, baked some apples but no pictures, pink Japanese anemone are flowering in the garden...
Grrr....
So poor readers decided a "Stream of consciousness" is what I will do ....good or bad whatever pops into my head ...So thanks to my senior moment chatty notes it will be.
I have been busy between planting some new bulbs in the garden . Found samples pics on the Internet. Scilla and windflowers,was at a Red Hat meeting where we made cards; sort of a busman's holiday as the demonstrator is my teacher from my Monday cardmaking class. Still it was fun, made 2 cards, a bookmark and a purse shaped candy holder for a Christmas table (pictures certainly would have been nice),then the Garden Club tour last Wednesday went to South Coast Gardens. Where I wooed and ah'ed over the magnolias, rhodos , azaleas, palms this gentleman grows very happily outdoors in his garden. Certainly pushing the zone.
That was last week.
This week not so busy. Doing mundane things like cleaning windows and cupboards. Dressing the house for autumn . Yes I would have some nice photos of the decor; if I had a camera.......

Fall TV Season, my take!

Fall Tv season has started. Made a concentrated effort to try a few of the new shows and of course had to welcome back some old favourites.
Will give you my senior take , and hopefully hear from you what you liked and what you will pass on.
Hellcats - good writing not as juvenile as expected.Will it become another Glee ?Don't think so.Glee tried many times and unless a special star is on don't watch on a regular basis.
Parenthood- checked it out, won't be back just can't relate anymore.
Any Vampire show- passed on.Read some of Ann Rice books but not a genre I buy into.
Survivor- more of the same old, same old even the challenges seen before. Will check in from time to time to see how the geezers do.
Outlaw- Love Jimmie Smits , don't think it will last tho, needs to develop .
The Apprentice- again more of the same old , tired of nasty behavior which I don't want to see ,I really want the celebs back, see more of the D's kids and less of the Donald.
Boardwalk Empire-good period piece.
Dancing with the Stars- admit I am a sucker for this show. Love dancing.
House- fantastic, great season opener.
Two and a half Men- can't stand Charley Sheen, so pass on this show , can't believe the money this guy makes .
LoneStar -passed on it , could not fit it in with all other shows winning over viewing it. Why do networks overload one night?
The Event- needed something to fill the void of Lost, not sure this one is it, slow made no sense. But will watch a couple more times.
Castle- Good show.
Hawaii 5-0 - thank goodness NBC is repeating some shows on Saturday night, I did like it .
Chase- another cop show but love the female lead and the actors from Prison Break that are on this show. Also caught it Sat. night.
NCIS's- Excellent - both shows.
Undercovers- Blah! This one can be yanked asap! Thought the acting was so bad , forced. Won't watch this again.
Criminal Minds- Quality show ; the season opener so scary. Tim Curry was superb as the evil character. Music in this show excellent too.
Csi's- Love these shows, all 3 ; in particular Sela Ward in NY very good.
Fringe- Sci Fi what can I say , the best.
Bones- usually enjoy this show but the season opener just did not capture me , will keep watching tho.
The Mentalist- felt the same as with Bones just not a great opener. Maybe I am overdoing it on cop shows.
Blue Bloods- was looking forward to seeing Tom Selleck again and like Mark Wahlberg. Show is okay needs time to develop, wonder if it will get it.
Big Bang Theory- Just started to watch and love the quirkiness of this comedy.
#@% ny father says- how can one not like William Shatner , Trekkie that I am, will this show make it? Don't know.
Comedy's- in general find I try them ,but don't become a fan; finding them too young .Do enjoy Hot in Cleveland with Betty White. I am just not hip enough. Dating myself...
30 Rock and Mad Men - tried, could not get into.
A@E's- The Glades turned into a favourite over the summer, very good show, well written.
Looking forward to Amazing Race , Dexter , Brothers and Sister and Battle of the Blades tonight. Could not believe AR lost an award to Top Chef , like Top Chef but to me AR is a quality show, great for families, educational. I watch TC off season.
Desperate Housewives I catch off season.
For those who are not Canadian, Battle of the Blades is a CBC show pairing hockey players with figure skaters performing ice routines , this is the second season. A true Canadian show and well watched here.
2 shows yet to premiere Lie to Me and Human Target, both I like.
Having reread this I see my love of mysteries come thru. Perhaps I should expand with a few more comedies. Any recommendations? What do you like?
Or, perhaps I should do more than watch TV?
Nah, Winter is coming have to do something on cold Canadian nights.

Happy Birthday Brock

Grandson Brock's Birthday today.

Autumn Arrives at 11:09 PM.

My favourite season is arriving tonight. The bright leaf colours, warm days, cool crisp nights,Soups, casseroles and apples baking.... bringing out warm afghans , decorating with pumpkins , scarecrows and gourds. Halloween.

Never mind that it is grey and raining here today nor what comes after this gorgeous season.

Bloomin Tuesday!

On the recent garden tour found this lovely orchid like flower but the owner could not remember the name.

Gardeners ! Anyone know!

Happy Birthday Brianne

Granddaughter Brianne is 19!

LRW # 46 Stars

The challenge this week is stars. One would think this would be an easy challenge. Not for me.
Here is the card I made.
Not a 100% happy with it.
Missing something? perhaps too dull? needs sparkle?

Planting for the Spring

I am planting and planning for next spring.
Icicle Pansies saying "Plant us, please !"

Icicle Pansies happily planted near the patio door off the dining room in hopes that the bright faces will cheer us up after a long cold winter.

Red Hopi Amaranthus plumes drying for seeds to share .

Summer Hibiscus pods .

Dug Red Canna bulbs ready to be saved in a brown paper bagged.

Coleus cuttings started the old fashioned way in water and now planted in pots to overwinter.


This coleus is one tried this spring and I love the colouring and size.
Mocha, yellow, green and red all in one.
Sun flower seed heads gathered and now hung on iron arbour in hopes that the birds will enjoy a treat.

Amaryllis that over summered in the garden I will now bring in before a frost and hopefully have flowers over the winter.

1812 Re Enactment

On a warm sunny Saturday afternoon went to the War of 1812 Reenactment held at the Backus Hertiage Conservation Area.
We went last year too but this time the battle was held by the village and we had a great viewing locale. In fact some of the battle only 20 feet away from us.
The muskets certainly are loud.
British marching to position.

British taking position at the split rail fence.

Brits getting ready to fire muskets.

Waiting for the Americans.
The Americans.
Musket and Cannon fire filled the air.
British Casualties lay on the ground as the Americans advance.
Women who follow the armies go out to assist the wounded men.

This lady and her son from Kitchener were sitting beside me. Her husband, 2 sons and herself just this year started to participate in the re enactments. Husband and oldest son on the field for the battle. The family have already been to 6 different battle locales sometimes staying overnight in the rustic tents sometimes just for the day. Her comment with teen age boys " A great way to keep the boys amused" " A wonderful family activity".
Terrific fun afternoon.

Photo Card

LRW 's # 45 challenge this week by Rosanne is to make a card using a photo.
Certainly had me challenged.
Finally came up with a simple sympathy card using a picture of sedum in flower.
Used Orchid Opulence paper accented with dark green and mauve ribbon.

Garden Club Fall Tour

Most Garden Clubs tour in the spring or early summer. My garden club decided to tour gardens in September. Tho the day was cool and windy it was perfect weather to view the gardens. We visited 6 very different gardens. Surprising how much was still in bloom. We have had a very hot dry summer yet most gardens were green and lush.
One garden had large coleus glowing with colour something one would not have seen earlier in the season, others had touches of whimsy , many had lovely vines and grasses shading hidden sitting areas, water features, bright pots leading to a front door so welcoming, some it was spectacular views of the waterfront ,others the quaintness of a farm garden.
We stopped for lunch at The Homestead a private dining experience. The Homestead uses fresh in season local produce . A fitting finale to the day.
Certainly the gardens viewed are inspiring, giving me lots of ideas for next spring.It was a nice change to go in the fall to see the gardens at a different time of the year.
Enjoy the tour.

Amaranth Volunteers

My neighbour Gloria has amaranthus growing in her corner garden .

Seeds have generously spread to our gravel path between our houses and I have 2 volunteers growing quite happily there. What a striking burgundy red colour these plants are.I believe this ancient variety is called Hopi Red Dye and is used as a red dye. Amaranthus is grown in tropical areas for its grain, as a leaf vegetable.Our summer's hot and humid weather certainly have made this plant happy. Amaranthus has been used by Aztecs and Incas. Do check out the link the history and uses of this plant are vast and interesting .
With the many seeds from the plumes I think these plants could easily take over the entire pathway.
Hum, that might be quite nice..........

LRW # 44 Paint

Little Red Wagon's challenge this week picked by Regan is to use paint.
This is the card I made.

Using glossy paper , cuttlebugged the embossed design then brayered marine blue colour revealing the embossed design. Finished with a layered small flower , sentiment and ribbon.

Gazpacho

With a heat wave still gripping SW Ontario. A cold supper was in order. Also needed to use up more of the abundant crop of tomatoes fresh from the garden.
Used a recipe combo from in my South Beach diet book and bits from an Epicurious recipe this is the soup I created.
It is chunky not pureed. Took under 20 minutes to prep.

Serves 5

1 cup tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp.red wine vinegar
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tbsp.lemon juice
2 1/2 cups can tomato juice (V8 could be used)
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 celery rib, minced
3 tsps parsley finely chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
coarsely ground salt & pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup chopped green or red pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
Tabasco sauce (optional)
Combine all ingredients. Chill overnight to blend flavours.

Loved it but I think next time I would puree it and accent with chopped fresh tomatoes and green onion.