Labor Day

I took a golf car rideabout today as the sun was out and my mood was up! The cabin seedum flowers are not nearly as large and beautiful as in past years. Too much rain I guess.

I see one got away and self-seeded behind the big tree!

The Goldenrod are all over and in beautiful full bloom. The shadow in the road grabbed my eye.

Wild New England Asters are everywhere!

A rural mailbox is surrounded with Black-eyed Susans.

Best of all (for my eyes) was the prickly picky picky teasel.

Across the spillway bridge and home again! Great Ride!

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Now to put my patty pan squash concoction in the oven for supper. Report coming soon.......

 

Porch Hangings

People often walk around the lake for fresh air and exercise. The other day I noticed a woman who came right up to the front porch and she was examining my craft projects. I opened the door and asked if I could help her with something and she replied, "Are your porch decorations for sale?"

I think she was a guest of a resident, so I explained that I make them for my enjoyment and they are one of a kind, not for sale at all. Then...she wanted to know how I make them!

So... I went on to describe the process of finding the elements around my home area, cleaning them, and then deciding what to create. There is no plan, no process the same, some results good, some not as good, but all for my recreation and relaxation. I like looking out the windows and seeing them move in the winds. I don't have any instructions as to making any of these. The end results are never known when I begin. I told her the "story" about each one. I think she went away with ideas of her own. I never did ask who she was or where she came from. It didn't matter.

Short stories of each one below image.

50 cent metal wreath found at yard sale.

Roadside pinecones, teasel, jute, feathers.

Today the spring birds have stripped the jute for nesting material.

Roadside pinecones washed and baked, sticks, jute.

This was difficult to assemble.

It has to balance so no element bumps the other.

It swings freely and is fun to watch.

This one started out to be a star.

The sticks are from honey tea-dipping lollypops.

Two sided with jute base.

Craft poms and pipe cleaners.

Roadside teasel secured by young agile friend.

Stems cut and stripped of prickly needles.

Assembled with craft wire and hot glue. 

Roadside pinecones washed and baked dry.

Pinecones attached to wire form.

Burlap material wrapped between pinecones.

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To review previous posts regarding these items you can click on a link that will take your there in more detail.

https://nookworm-connectionsmore.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-saver.html

https://nookworm-connectionsmore.blogspot.com/2017/10/apple-project-4-plus.html

To the Farm Market

It was a nice ride through the countryside and the parking lot was full when we arrived. Of course we got corn, and a cantaloupe plus one large tomato. I wandered around the parking lot and enjoyed the flowers that are so very fitting for a farm market atmosphere. There were many sunflowers growing along the fence but only in one area were they large and in bloom; there are many more to mature. The cosmos flowers are all around as are the zinnias. Inside, I noticed many freshly pulled large onions, cabbage heads - already stripped of outer leaves and ready to use - cucumbers galore and peaches too. I plan to wait for the Loring freestone peaches which come in at the end or the month. In my opinion they are the VERY best! I now have a dehydrator that was a Christmas gift from a daughter and I plan to use it very soon. 

My brother visited and brought some of his homemade peach and wild blackberry jams. WOW are they tasty! He called me to say he had many ripe berries and wanted to know if I would like some. I had to turn him down. I just don't can anymore and wasn't in the mood to make freezer jam, either. No seeds in the blackberry as I requested. Yes, I have special requests once in a while. 

The pictures of the teasel at the end here, show the bands of flowerets as I took a ride on the golf cart to cut off two more. I thought they were interesting. 

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Another Rideabout

On my "Sunday Golf Cart Ride" blog of July 30, I showed you photos I took of the Teasel growing in a field.  I was very brave yesterday and went back and cut one off - YEOW! They aren't even dried out yet but the stickers, especially on the stem are nasty little things. I poked the stem into a plastic straw so I could bring it home to study and display. No matter what end I view, all I see is nature's beautiful balance and geometry.

I hope you can enlarge the image by clicking on one to view it up close. 

I passed by a dead tree that is displaying crab apples; interesting too. It makes me wonder how apples grew on a dead tree!

Sunday Golf Car Ride

Sometimes I just take pictures and sometimes I bring something home on my ride around the lake.

Today I cut off a huge head of dill seeds that have turned from green to brown just before they would naturally fall from the plant. I put the head in a small brown bag to dry further and then I shall shake the bag and reap the seeds. There are many dill seed recipes you can find on the internet.

Dill seed information: (copy and paste link below to read more)

https://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-dill-seeds-377i

"Dill seed is good sprinkled over casseroles before baking and used in salad dressings. Dill seed is spice-like; the seeds have a stronger flavor than the weed. They can be used in breads, stews, rices, root vegetable dishes and most notable, the making of pickles."

I spotted a field full of teasel that I had missed on previous rides. They are so pretty in color and shape - especially the shape in Autumn. The dried heads make wonderful craft critters and the entire head and stem are nice to use in arrangements either natural or sprayed. Wear gloves when you cut them down, though, and be sure to rub off the picky stems as well. The pictures below show them just starting to bloom.

The Goldenrod are opening now as you can see it in with the teasel.

Deep in the woods I spotted a Rose of Sharon bush. Bees sure like them too! I wonder how it grew in that particular spot; no home in sight.

Wild Phlox are just starting to open. I saw hundreds of them just ready to bloom and found these in a sunny area. Phlox have five petals. Some folk call these Sweet William and many are cultivated.

I stopped and studied the old tree. There was a little bird hopping in and out of the holes but he turned his back on me when I tried to catch his image. I like the leaf shadows on the limb. I love old trees and how they shelter so many animals and birds through the years.

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Teasel Information Link
Teasel Craft Link