GOOD FENCES

My apologies to many of the memes I usually participate in.  I am not able to get round to all of you this week, just the ones I posted ahead of time.  Hopefully next week.  Please read note above (below the title).

A fence for Theresa at Good Fences, with my grateful thanks for such a fun meme. You can visit other participants if you click on the name below.

Good Fences

A POEM

Please read note above.

The Wanderer

Oh, English air is fresh and pure

And English homes are bright;

But I must wander far away

And set my course tonight.

The English breeze will stir the leaves,

But I shall not be here

When Spring goes tripping coyly out

And Summer crowns the year.

The Summer sounds I love so well

I shall not hear again:

The merry children running free

And shouting through the lane;

The liquid flutes of little birds

And, melting in a dream,

The whisper of the swaying boughs,

The murmur of the stream.

The wagons rumbling up the road,

The droning of the bees,

The parliament of busy rooks

That caw about the trees.

The air will fill with English songs,

But I shall hear no more

Till God shall bid me steer for home

And set me on the shore.

Oh, then I’ll wander back again

And seek the place I knew

When all the world was young and fair

And all the tales were true.

And I may find a hand or two

That keep a grip for me….

When I come back to English earth

From tossing on the sea.

By Rudolph Chambers Lehmann

1856-1929

MONDAY RECIPE POST - TUNA MELTS - SERVES 2

I was looking for a nice light lunch and found the recipe for the Tuna Melts here.  

Tuna Melts  - 2 servings

1 large tomato, about 6-1/2 ounces before trimming
2 ozs. Cheddar or American cheese, shredded
1 recipe of tuna fish salad - you will find that recipe below this one.

Slice the stem and bottom ends off the tomato, then cut into 4 thick slices.  Place the tomato slices on a foil-lined baking sheet.  

Mound enough tuna salad onto each tomato slice to suit your taste, and top each with 1/4 cup of the cheese.  

Broil until the cheese melts and is slightly golden.

The host of the above website used a 3 inch diameter tomato, about the size of a baseball.

Calories per serving: 313
You can get more nutritional information at the website.

Tuna Salad  -  makes 4 to 8 servings

This recipe was found here.

12 ozs. canned tuna, drained
4 eggs, hard-boiled and coarsely chopped
1/4 sugar-free sweet pickle relish (I used regular)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chives (I used thinly sliced green onion)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Not to be frozen

Per 1/4 of the recipe has 264 calories (once again, you can find more nutritional information on their website link above).

What did I think?  I was surprised how much I enjoyed this meal.  

I didn't want to make such a big batch of tuna salad, so I halved the recipe and there was more than enough for another meal.  I will add a bed of lettuce to that one, or put it on a slice of my favorite bread and have an open-faced sandwich.

The only larger sized tomato I could find was what we call a beefsteak tomato.  I cut the slice I needed for my lunch, and used the rest in a salad at dinnertime.

I made my hard-boiled eggs for the tuna salad earlier in the morning, and then I forgot to add them.  It didn't spoil the outcome as it tasted just as great.  I also used the hard boiled eggs for my salad that evening.

I used a sharp Cheddar cheese.

There was one packet of chives when I went to the store and it didn't look very good, so I used thinly sliced green onions instead. 

I also didn't bother with the sugar-free pickle relish but used the regular I already had in the fridge.

MORE BIRDS AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS

Many of my photographs are taken at Meadowlark Gardens lately.  At this time of the year it is a great place to get some exercise that doesn't feel like exercise.  Surrounded by so many wonderful visuals, it is very relaxing and soothing.

The American Robin and Catbird were spotted perched on two of the many benches at the garden.  I also saw a Baltimore Oriole but way too fast for a photograph.  I was thankful that at least I saw him, and the sight made a lovely splash of color as he flew by.  If you are not familiar with them you can see what they look like here.

The catbird stayed around long enough for me to get several photos.  These two were my favorites.

A photo of a Canada Goose near the lake and the children's garden.

Two heads popped up as I approached.  

There was something very tasty in the raised bed of plants.

They also seemed a little calmer today.  I saw very young geese but no nests, and no goslings.  If you missed my experience of two very protective parents, you can read the story here.


I am sharing with the following as they become available, with my thanks to our hosts Eileen, Misty, Anni and Stewart for these great memes. To visit other participants you can click on their names.

Saturday's Critters

Camera Critters

Bird D'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

FENCES, SKIES AND FIVES

 

These are photos of an old greenhouse that is on the grounds of Oatlands Plantation near Leesburg.  From this angle I was able to take a good amount of sky through the roof.  I thought I would also share photos from inside.  

All I could find out on line was that it was built in 1810, and is said to be the oldest standing greenhouse in the south.  I hope to go on an actual guided tour on my next visit, where I hope to find out more.

Here are more skies from that day....

and some fences of course.

Here are five links for you to view.

1) Did you ever wonder why there are no monkeys native to North America?  Well no, neither did I, until I read this very interesting article here.

2) A fascinating story and video about the crab horde that gathers in Australia here.

3) Any fans of Kris Kristofferson out there?   He is now 80 years old.  He was being treated for Altzheimers but they not so long ago discovered he actually had lime disease.  After three weeks of treatment 'he was back'. You can read about him here.


4) Amazing photographs from the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Competition Part II here.


5) Heartwarming photos here, some I have seen, some not.  


A fence for Theresa at Good Fences, sky photos for the team over at SkyWatch Friday and five photos for Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five, with my grateful thanks to our hosts. You can visit other participants if you click on their names.

Good Fences

SkyWatch Friday

Willy-Nilly Friday Five

ADVICE FROM A BEE

I am sharing with the following as they become available, with my thanks to our hosts whose memes are always fun to participate in.

Jesh at Seasons

Tom at Tuesday's Treasures

N. C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

DRAGONFLIES AND A TURTLE AND A BEE

The first time I noticed the dragonflies out there was over the weekend.

And the turtles were enjoying the sun.

There were also a lot of bees ....

flitting from flower....



to flower.




I am joining Nature Notes, with my thanks to Michelle for hosting this wonderful meme.   You can click on the link below to visit Michelle's blog and to visit the other participants.

Nature Notes

BIRDS AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS

I saw lots of tree swallows the other day, this one on a nesting box.

This little one was poking its head out of another box.  There are tree swallows and barn swallows in this area, so I am not sure what kind of chick it is.  Either/Or!

After a lovely walk I sat down on a bench to take a sip of the water I had brought along, and the Eastern Kingbird landed in a nearby tree...

and another, or maybe the same one, landed on one of the heron sculptures a little while later.  The beak provided a nice perch.

I am sharing with the following as they become available, with my thanks to our hosts Eileen, Misty, Anni and Stewart for these great memes. To visit other participants you can click on their names.

Saturday's Critters

Camera Critters

Bird D'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

FENCES, SKIES AND FIVE....

1)



2)

3)



4)

5)

A fence for Good Fences, sky photos for SkyWatch Friday and five photos for Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five, with my thanks to our hosts. You can visit other participants if you click on their names.

Good Fences
SkyWatch Friday
Willy-Nilly Friday Five

HIGH END AVIAN REAL ESTATE

I will be late moderating comments over the next few days, but I will read and publish them as soon as I can.  Thank you very much for leaving them.  I will stop by your blogs as soon as I am able to catch up.  Have a great week.

I am sharing with the following as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts whose memes are a lot of fun to participate in.

Jesh at Seasons

Tom at Tuesday's Treasures

N. C. Sue at Wordless (on Tuesday) at Image-in-ing

NATURE NOTES

This is the old Springhouse in Meadowlark Gardens.

It is not too far from falling down as you can see by the supports on both walls.

Nearby are the ferns.  I would like to plant them in my own garden.  Here are a few varieties planted at Meadowlark.

I am joining Nature Notes, with my thanks to Michelle for hosting this wonderful meme.   You can click on the link below to visit Michelle's blog and to visit the other participants.

Nature Notes