MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - LEMON CAKE

No new recipes this week, so I found this one from my old blog. I also at the time forgot to take a photo so put together a watercolor to at least have something on here today. If you would like to see an actual photo you can go here where the original recipe is. This is a cake I got off the food network to make for company. It is a recipe from one of my favorite chefs, Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa.  The lemon cake was delicious, but I haven't made it since, and nowadays we are keeping desserts on the downlow, and only for special occasions. I intend to make it for the next birthday and decided to put it on here today for easy access. I am not a decorator but this is a very pretty cake with minimal effort, and a few candles makes it look even more festive.

Lemon Cake

Total time:  1 hour 30 minutes

Preparation time: 30 minuts

Cooking time: 1 hour

Yields 2 8" loaves

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2-1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided

4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1/3 cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided

3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the glaze:

2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

3-1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour 2 (8-1/2 inch by 4-1/4 inch by 2-1/2 inch) loaf pans.  You may also line the bottom with parchment paper if desired.

Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, along with the lemon zest.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.  In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk and vanilla.  Add the flour and buttermilk and vanilla.  Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.  

Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Remove the cakes from the pans and place them on a rack set over a tray or a sheet pan.  Spoon the lemon syrup over them.

Allow the cakes to cool completely.

For the glaze, combine the confectioner's sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth.  Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

Thanks for looking, 

enjoy your day and Bon Appétit!

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - OAT GRASSES, BLACK EYED SUSANS AND MILKWEED BUGS AND SUCH

The Mourning Doves are cooing right now, such a pretty sound, so peaceful and relaxing. The sun is shining (I wrote this on Saturday the 9th), and it is 78 degrees F. (25.5 degrees C(?), going up to 83 (28.33(?) in Centigrade). We are off for another walk later on when the sun starts going down. 

Continuing the visit to Walney, in the same flower bed as the Black-eyed Susans, I saw Inland Sea Oats. At least I think they are, so if you can confirm or deny because you already know, go right ahead. I try my hardest to get a correct ID. On this website there is a debate going on, about whether to plant these oats or not. It is the first time I have noticed them. I have seen a lot of grasses but not these. Anyhow, if you are really interested in this yay or nay conversation, you can check it out at the above link. I think they look lovely together but I read that the Inland Sea Oats can take over if allowed to.

I was very curious about these Inland Sea Oats, so I did a search on Google. They are edible but I doubt I am ever going to try them. Unless I am 100% sure about what I forage, there is no way I would eat them. I am not 100% confident in my abilities, and then of course they would have to be pesticide free. Anyhow, not an expert and only read about foraging. But I enjoy finding out and passing on what I read. At the same time they are very appealing to me, and I would love to have a bed of Black-eyed Susans with Inland Sea Oats among them. In the meantime, I'll take note of what others' experiences are first, and I'll just be happy to take photos in any of the gardens where I seem them grow.

From Google: "Inland see oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) are edible. The seeds can be processed and used as a cereal grain or ground into flour. They can also be cooked and eaten as a grain, similar to traditional oats. Some resources note that they were a Staple food crop for some indigenous peoples."

And more: "The seeds of the inland sea oats are the edible part. The seeds can be processed similarly to traditional oats, including being ground into flour or cooked as a grain.

The Cocopah Indians are known to have used the seeds as a food source.

In modern use some foragers and wild food enthusiasts suggest that the seeds can be used in a variety of ways, similar to other cereal grains."

The next day (8-4-25) it was another very pleasant temperature, cloudy but I thought I could still get some decent photos. The first things I came across was these little creatures on the milkweed pods. They were several Milkweed plants in the front beds of the house, it was the right time to see these red bugs. 

On the left of center on the above photo, you can see the Small Milkweed Bugs which you can read about at this site. They also show the Large Milkweed Bug. There are other similar bugs mentioned. I found it a very interesting read. 

I have no idea what this is, some kind of shield bug perhaps? It seemed to me that it had caught the attention of the Small Milkweed Bug as it followed it around the pod.

As I hadn't taken photos of these bugs in a long time, I left them and turned to the Milkweed Nymphs. These are immature milkweed bugs that feed on milkweed plants. They gradually develop into adults through a series of five molts, which eventually brings them to adulthood.

Not cute and cuddly creatures by any means but fascinating to me. They lack wings at this stage, often found in clusters on milkweed plants. Their bright orange and black coloration serves as a warning to predators, indicating they are unpalatable due to the toxins they accumulate from milkweed. You can read more about them here, along with a few other insects that feed off the same plant.

Leaving bugs alone for now, here are some pretty flowers including the above spider flower and below, the garden phlox.

One last photo and that's all from Walney until the next time we go.

Thanks for taking the time to visit. 

Hope you all have a great day!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - DID YOU SEE?

 

And as we all know around here, that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for not groaning too much, and have a great day!

For our international friends.

1st Photo:

I'm glad you filled the water bowl. I have been very thirsty lately.

2nd Photo:

Where is the camera lady? I want to ask her when she is going to start feeding us again.

She is busy doing things like changing lightbulbs.

3rd Photo:

Which reminds me...

You are not going to tell us one of your changing lightbulb jokes?

4th Photo:

Oh please, nothing as crass as that! Did you see a finch almost fly into a window? He barely finched!

Well, at least it wasn't a lightbulb joke.

I AM INSPIRED BY DRAGONFLIES...

"I'm inspired by how dragonflies are both tough and fragile; fierce and mild." - Cindy Crosby

I have just learned of Cindy Crosby simply by looking for quotes about dragonflies for this post. She has a wonderful blog with superb photos. You can find it at this link. Her biography reads, "Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler or contributor to more than 20 books. Her most recent is 'Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural and Personal History (Northwestern University Press 2020)'. She teaches prairie ecology, nature writing and natural history classes, and is a prairie steward who has volunteered countless hours in prairie restoration. See Cindy's upcoming online speaking events and classes at www.cindycrosby.com."

While still on the subject, there is another photographer whose blog I go to. He also takes the most amazing photographs of dragonflies and other things in nature. His name is Mike Powell and his blog can be found here. Also, his 'about me' page is here.

My dragonfly was found at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Not the sharpest as it kept flitting about but am always happy for the memory. We hadn't been to the refuge in quite a while and I was hoping to take the path down to the Potomac to see more birdlife on the river, but I am listening to my body more these days. It told me to pace myself. A short walk but nevertheless a very enjoyable one, and more importantly a bit of exercise. My doctor recently told me that 'motion is lotion'. I have adopted her phrase. For some reason it always makes me smile.

I still have photos from Walney Visitor Center and will share more probably next week.

Thanks for looking and I hope you have a great day.

MORE OF THE WASP NEST AT WALNEY - 8-4-25

As I write this (8/6/25 at 3.52 p.m.) it is 77 degrees F. (25 degrees C). The cooler temperatures have been wonderful, with hardly any humidity. No doubt the temperatures will be rising again but we have been making the most of it.

 On the 4th we went to Walney Pond. Above you can see the wasp nest I added to my collage I shared here. Gregg spotted it first - I fondly call him 'eagle eyes' as he sees these things before I do. This nest was at least a foot in diameter and a foot-and-a-half long. Very active as we could see its residents going in and out of entrance holes. It is in a tricky area and is not even ten feet from where everyone walks and low, head-height. We worry about children playing in the area, and have envisioned someone running into it, perish the thought! We have already gotten in touch with the appropriate department at the local government center. Hopefully it will be taken care of soon and we will keep checking as we often pass by. I looked as we drove off. If you know where to look it can be seen quite clearly, but not immediately obvious when closer.

I took several photos using the zoom lens and found it fascinating to look at when on the larger screen of my laptop. Clever and amazing these nature's engineers. Not sure what kind of wasp or maybe a hornet? Any experts out there? I've looked online and seen similar, maybe the one at this link.

Last shot further along the pathway from the other side. It is also quite close to the edge of the pond.

A couple of more photos and that's it from this area.

Next we drove to the Visitor Center just up the road. 

Common milkweed were growing among all the Black-eyed susans, not only in the flower beds in front of the house...

but also in the separate round butterfly garden. 

First I wanted to share something else. I saw a flurry of movement on the steps of the house and if you look on the far right of that first step you will see...

a skink, possibly a five-lined skink which are the most common lizards in northern Virginia, according to what I found out at this website. Please let me know what you think if you check it out.

Another much smaller lizard crawled out of that larger crack on the right but wasn't as brave as its larger companion. It disappeared immediately.  

I saw a bug on this Black-eyed susan and couldn’t find a lot of information but identified it as an assassin bug. Once it forms full wings, its back will no longer be visible. Also found a clearer photo of it here.

Here's a closer look. I had a hard time focusing.

Onto the Black-eyed susans.

One last photo for today taken of the flower bed in front of the old house that is now the visitor center.

There will be more flowers soon.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your day.

NORWEGIAN FJORD HORSES FROM THE ARCHIVES

Years ago, in 2014, we were visiting Norway to explore the roots on Gregg's paternal side of the family.

On one of our day trips from Oslo, we came across these magnificent Norwegian Fjord Horses.

We were on our way to Drangedal. I have added maps showing where Drangedal is located....

and a closer one.

It took us a little over four hours with the stops we made. We could have taken a shorter southern route, but my dear other half realized in the planning, that we would be able to drive through the town where my sister and her family lived for a few years. My son and I visited them years before, but I couldn't really remember much of the town.  However, it was nice to see it again.

Norway is a beautiful country and wherever we went we were impressed with the incredible scenery. On one of the country roads we were thrilled to meet these lovely horses. When we stopped by their fence to admire them in the field, they ambled over, as curious about us as we were about them no doubt. 

Perhaps they thought we had apples or carrots in our pockets. I wish we had!

The two larger horses walked towards us right away.  

The smaller, darker pony stayed right where he was...

but I got a pretty good close-up of him. I am not actually sure if he is a Fjord Horse or some other breed.  

You can read all about Fjord Horses here.  It reads in part, "The Fjord horse or Norwegian Fjord Horse is a relatively small but very strong horse breed from the mountainous regions of Western Norway.  It is an agile breed of light draught horse build.  All Fjord horses are dun in color, with five variations in shade recognized in the breed standard.  One of the world's oldest breeds, it has been used for hundreds of years as a farm horse in Norway, and in modern times is popular for its generally good temperament. 

It is used both as a harness horse and under saddle. (Dun means it has the dun gene which is a dilution gene that affects both red and black pigments in the coat color of a horse.  The dun gene has the ability to affect the appearance of all black, bay or chestnut-based horses to some degree by lightening the base body coat and suppressing the underlying base color to the mane, tale, legs and "primitive markings".  You can read more about the dun gene here.) 

They had the prettiest eyes, and I have always thought horses have the most noble faces.

I could have spent a lot longer with them...

but it was time to move on.

Thanks for looking everyone, 

and I hope you all have a great day!