When life gives you apples...

It was good to get home from our Pennsylvania trip. I used to travel quite a bit when I was younger, but I've discovered something interesting as I've gotten older and more involved in gardening - a garden does not like to be left alone, and you feel a bit uncomfortable doing so. I loved our time away, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking, "I should have staked those tomato plants before I left." "Those petunias REALLY needed to be pinched back." "Oh, I should've weeded one more time..."

Of course, all was well when I returned. My columbines had finally gone to seed and I had to quickly empty their pods before a brisk wind could scatter the tiny black pellets. Columbines are a real joy to have. Their charming rounded foliage is reason enough, but their colorful blooms nodding atop graceful stems and general ease of care make them an absolute necessity in my garden. Once they go to seed, their shy faces look skyward to reveal a rigid starburst with a scattering of seeds nestled in the core.


I was pleased to see a bright splash of orange in the garden...the very first zinnia had popped!


Zinnias are so beautiful. I have a special fondness for their pre-bloom phase. These jagged green shards don't look like much, but within a day they unfurled into a perfect bloom.


I'm always wondering at the mystery of my yarrow (achillea). I didn't plant it, but it grows and spreads every year. Every year a new color pops up. I've got a golden patch, a white patch, and this brilliant ruby-colored patch...my favorite!


This green bush cricket (Tettigoniidae) was having a snack before heading into the tangle of green at the base of the plant. I've read that they eat aphids, so I don't mind having him around.


See you later!

I was not so pleased to see three young praying mantis nymphs (Tenodera aridifolia) scurrying about. I know how good they are for the garden. I've read about how they eat harmful insects, how they don't bite humans and are even kept as pets. They are prized by gardeners, who sometimes resort to mail order to obtain a pair. This is all true, but I don't like them. As a child, a praying mantis became entangled in my hair and I haven't been able to look at them without shuddering since. Their large size, the hypnotic, rhythmic swaying, the way they swivel their heads to watch you pass, and their ability to fly (they are frequently mistaken, in flight, for hummingbirds!) all combine to equal one unpleasant bug for me. I'm trying to overcome my fear.

This little guy is climbing a zinnia...


...while his older brother is, you guessed it, watching me carefully and waiting for his opportunity to pounce!


The heavy rains have brought out the robins, too. Always nice to see them!


I'm in the middle of several knitting projects. I switch off frequently, so consequently...

This old-fashioned baby bonnet lacks a ribbon and a good blocking...


This glove is, sadly, missing a thumb...


...and this sock is somehow unworthy of the name, as it has no foot.


I used to feel guilty about my many works-in-progress, but a nice system has developed. I give myself permission to rotate freely between two or three projects...a little here, a little there...and they are all eventually completed. Variety is the spice of life!

Despite my injury, I've been hobbling around the kitchen. Just recently I've made soft, chewy pita bread and a spicy squash casserole with turkey and fire-roasted tomatoes. I've been in the mood for something sweet, though. I leafed through my cookbooks and passed by recipes for butter-laden cookies, pies, brownies, and cakes. Although they definitely have their place, I wanted something a little lighter and healthier. Then I remembered our surplus of apples.

When life gives you apples...make apple crisp!


This is a great recipe that's quick and easy to make...and eat!

Apple Crisp

4 apples, diced
1/2 - 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
3/4 + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/3 cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon into your diced apples, then dish them into an 8 inch x 8 inch pan. Combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well (I used a pastry cutter to mix in the butter, but a fork would work too!). Spread on top of apple mixture and bake for 25 - 35 minutes.


Sitting in my sunny kitchen nook with a sleeping cat in my lap, looking out over the garden, and with a generous helping of fresh-baked apple crisp...a great way to start the day!

A Country Drive

When I got the chance to tag along on my husband's business trip to Amish country, I jumped at the chance. A pre-trip tumble down the stairs severely limited my mobility, but I was determined to make the most of my time in Pennsylvania.


I've long respected the Amish for their dedication to a simple lifestyle, and I was looking forward to seeing it firsthand. I had no interest in the tourist traps of Lancaster Country - the "authentic" Amish quilts done in a disconcertingly modern style, the "traditional" Amish buggy rides with a costumed guide. My husband and I got a map of the local country roads and got to work getting lost among the farms.


The farms were so neat and tidy, with crisp white and red buildings. Nearly every farm had clotheslines full of clean clothing that swung gently in the bright sunshine. The Amish use a clever pulley system here, so that a simple tug on the line will bring the clothes directly to the house.


Beautiful boxes of bright flowers accented front porches...


...and front yards.


The corn was just starting to come up. It looked so healthy and vibrant!


The honor system is firmly in place here. Fresh produce, pastries, and handmade goods were available at many farms...no sales on Sunday, of course.



Of course, jerking to the side of the road for a quick photo op drew some curious stares from the locals!


The original settlers to the area used the materials at hand to build their homes and barns, and many of the solid stone buildings still stand.


This old barn from 1792 was absolutely beautiful. It was full of swiftly darting barn swallows...


...and had a cheerful red wooden door, which is a special love of mine.


I spied some funnel web spider nests in the walls. I expect the barn is chock full of them!



I love stone walls. They have their own special charm, and it's easy to tuck some alpine plant starts in their shallow crevasses for colorful cascades of flowers in the summertime.


We spent some time in the small country towns, too. I've never seen so many horses pressed into REAL horse service!


They pulled plows in the fields and buggies in the small towns.


This is one traffic jam I didn't mind being in!


The brick buildings were frequently festooned with pretty drapes of fabric.


We had just enough time for a side trip to Eastern University, where my husband had worked for several years before moving to the Midwest. It was one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever visited!

It had many traditional stone buildings in the local style, including this small rustic mill.


It was a wonderfully wooded campus, and of course I couldn't resist hobbling out to photograph a cluster of lichen on a nearby tree.


I loved how the campus incorporated the natural features of the area. More stone buildings framed this large, lily-filled lake.


Perfect timing...the lilies were in full bloom!


With the lazy humming of dragonflies, it was the perfect spot to curl up with a great book, or have an impromptu picnic.


This little guy was certainly enjoying himself!


An eastern grey squirrel begged for a treat as we were leaving.


Being in the country really renewed my desire to live a simpler life. My husband and I had many good talks about our hopes for the future and how we'd love to live in a rural setting. We'll keep taking trips like these...and who knows what will happen?

A Walk on the Wild(life) Side!

I'm constantly amazed by the bustle of activity in our small back yard. At first glance, everything seems calm. The branches of the lilac bushes might be swaying gently in the breeze, and there might be a butterfly or two dancing by, now together, now apart, in their search for food.

But look closer!

We called these "leafhoppers" when I was a little girl. When I looked online, I discovered that they are, indeed, called leafhoppers, and they come in an astonishing array of bright colors, like Amazonian tree frogs. This particular type is called Graphocephala coccinia, and they are destructive to plants. I don't want to kill them, though, unless they start causing a great deal of damage. They're quite beautiful.

This little guy is a young Pholcus phalangioides, or as I call them, granddaddy longlegs. I don't like spiders, even harmless ones like these, but I'm fascinated by them.



Even flies can be beautiful if you look closely. These are common Calliphoridae, or blow flies. They get their colloquial name from old English, where meat laden with fly eggs was dubbed "flyblown." Before you lose your appetite, just remember what an important job these creatures play in helping with the rapid decomposition of dead animals.



This might be a hornet...it looks bigger than a typical yellow jacket. I love his bold stripes. He's got a personality to match!

I left these tall, grassy plants in one of my beds, even though they're considered weeds, because I like their wheaty tufts. What a surprise to see this little bee-like insect busily collecting pollen there!

There's nothing common about this common orange butterfly. Just look at those beautiful colors!

This female house sparrow is having a little breakfast at the feeder...while beneath it, a squirrel gathers up the leftovers.




There's evidence of even more activity, as unseen inhabitants leave little clues to their existence.

Surely a carpenter bee (Xylocopa) lives above this sawdust pile. They make 16 millimeter holes, unbelievably and perfectly round.

A vole probably made this hole. I filled it in a few weeks ago, and it was neatly opened up again several days later. I've seen no evidence of vole damage, though.

I'll continue to keep an eye out for more backyard wildlife!

I'm loving the cool greens of early summer, like this hydrangea...

...and this young goldenrod plant.



This wave petunia adds a bit of cool color.



I've finished my Snapdragon Tam. I'm very satisfied with how it turned out, and I've already started on the matching mittens!

Today I'm making authentic French baguettes--yeast-free, using sourdough starter. I'm absolutely fascinated by this delicate bread that must be eaten the same day it's baked or, as author Nancy Silverton warns, it will only be good for making toast. I'm planning on freezing the baguettes and thawing them out as needed. I have a feeling that will happen pretty frequently!

Baking bread in the summertime can make you feel a bit wilted, however. I thought I'd showcase a recipe that's perfect for a humid summer day. It's quick, easy, and healthy, too. It takes five minutes to go from this:



To this:

I buy 5 pound bags of mixed frozen fruit - blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry - at Sam's Club. It's easy to use fresh fruit, but remember to throw in a few ice cubes to give it the right consistency. Yogurt can substitute for milk.

Perfect Fruit Smoothies

1 1/2 cups of frozen fruit

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons sugar

Place all ingredients in your food processor and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!