WHAT'S THIS YOU MIGHT SAY?

 Yes, what is it? A creature from outer space? 

You'll probably guess but I'll be back tomorrow with the answer. 

Thanks for joining in and enjoy your day!

GROUPS…WITH A TWIST

We already know some of these but others were new to me.

Have a great day and thanks 

for stopping by.

 

FROM MY ARCHIVES - McKEE'S BOTANICAL GARDEN IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA

It is hard to believe our visit took place 2014. In many ways it seems only yesterday. I shared all the statues before and if you missed them, or would like to see them again, you can click on the label below this post that says McKee's Botanical Garden_Vero Beach_Florida, it will take you to them. Apart from a distant look at the fisherman in the third photo from the bottom, this is just the garden. I also add a little history below that I found online. Three of the photos I have already shared. Please note that my narrative is from 2014 so the exhibit changed long ago, and probably other things too. I would highly recommend checking out their website and also online to see what others say if you ever find yourself in that area. That being said, I wouldn't have any hesitation going back for another visit if we were in Florida.

I can't say enough how much we both enjoyed this garden and loved walking around viewing all the amazing fauna.  

You can take a look at their website at this link. 

"In 1922 the McKee-Sexton Land Company was established in Vero Beach, Florida. This partnership purchased an 80-acre tropical hammock along the Indian River in 1929, and McKee Jungle Gardens was born."

(Not real but I remember having to look twice to make sure.)

"With the help of landscape architect William Lyman Phillips, now known as the pioneer of tropical landscape architecture, the basic infrastructure of streams, ponds and trails was designed.

"Native vegetation was augmented with ornamental plants and seeds from around the world as Arthur G. McKee and Waldo E. Sexton set about assembling one of the most outstanding collections of water lilies..."

"and orchids."

"By the 1940's more than 100,000 tourists were visiting McKee Jungle Gardens each year, making it one of Florida's most popular attractions."  

"In the early 1970's attendance dwindled due to competition from new, large-scale attractions and the garden was forced to close its doors in 1976."

"The land was sold and all but 18 acres were developed.  The remaining acreage, zoned for additional development, sat vacant for 20 years."

  

"In 1994 the Indian River Land Trust launched a fund-raising campaign and successfully purchased the property on December 1st, 1995 for $1.7 million."

"Close to $9.1 million was raised to purchase, stabilize and restore the Garden. The Garden held its formal Dedication in November, 2001."

There is a beautiful building called the Hall of Giants and is the one remaining building from the old McKee Jungle Garden, a favorite tourist attraction from the 1920's to the 1970's.  

It is made out of cypress and heart pine logs and was originally built in 1940 to house the enormous table we found inside.

(I noticed the Fifer statue is also here.)

This is the largest one-piece mahogany table in the world. The single slab of Philippine wood measures 35 feet 10 inches long and is 5 inches thick. Waldo Sexton first saw it in 1903 at the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition. He purchased it nearly 20 years later when he found it in a basement of a New York City warehouse and had it shipped by boat to Vero Beach.

After the gardens closed in the 1970's, the table disappeared from the scene...

but when the McKee Botanical Gardens opened in 2001, the table came out of storage and was again installed in the Hall of Giants.

It was here that was a popular gathering spot for community events, including football banquets, corporate annual meetings and Chamber of Commerce dinners.   

An interesting bit of trivia I learned was that on each St. Patrick's Day in the 1950s, Dodgers President Walter O'Malley hosted Vero Beach's biggest spring party at the McKee Jungle Gardens. The entertainment often came via the playing field: Hall of Fame Umpire Jocko Conlan sang high Irish tenor. Maury Wills whom I read should have been in the Hall of Fame, played banjo. One year first baseman and soon-to-be TV's Rifleman Chuck Connors, recited "Casey at the Bat." My Dad and I loved to watch 'The Rifleman' when I was a kid, and we had no idea that he was previously a professional baseball player, also a basketball player. Link here if you don't know who Chuck Connors is.  If you are a lot younger than me, you might not.

It was with great pleasure that we explored this beautiful garden. The 'fisherman' bottom right you might remember from my other post.

If you find yourself in Vero Beach and you want to explore the next best thing to a tropical paradise, I hope you will make that right-hand turn like we did. It was an amazing place. 

This is a brown anole I believe? However, I couldn't identify an exact match of pattern online. Perhaps there is someone out there who can help me with an ID? Thank you in advance.

I've enjoyed looking back at my old posts. I hope you have too.

Thanks for visiting and 

I hope your week has started out well.

 

MARRY ME ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA

It was the interesting title that made me take note, and it certainly was a scrumptious meal. I don’t know much about wines but when wine is called for in a recipe, I usually have a glass at the table. This was the one we tried.

I looked this up on Google to accurately describe this Dry Riesling. It said "it is a crisp, aromatic and mineral-driven white wine from Washington's Columbia Valley, renowned for its bright acidity and excellent balance. It features prominent notes of green apple, lime zest, jasmine and white peach, often with a hint of white pepper or spice, delivering a clean and refreshing finish." Not being a connoisseur of wine, I thought it was a very nice addition to our meal. 

I found the recipe at Salt and Lavender hosted by Natasha. The original recipe can be found here.

Marry Me Italian Sausage Pasta

4 servings

8 ounces uncooked pasta

11 ounces Italian Sausage

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup heavy/whipping cream

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes 

(If you are using sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drain thoroughly. If not julienned, do this before you add it to the pan. This is where we would dice them - see Gregg's note at the bottom. Ours was in oil and already cut up.)

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 small handful fresh basil, chopped or torn

Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, optional, to taste

Boil a pot of salted water and cook pasta according to package directions (it should be al dente). Save a little of the pasta water in case you need to thin the sauce later.

Meanwhile, take the sausage out of their casings (unless you found some in a roll) and crumble meat into a skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it is browned all over.

Transfer the sausage to a plate lined with paper towel. If there is a lot of fat left in the pan, discard it all.

Reduce the heat to medium, then add in the garlic and wine. Let it bubble for about a minute or until liquid is reduced by half.

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water, to make a cornstarch slurry.

Stir in the cream and tomato paste, and once the tomato paste is incorporated, add in the sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and the cornstarch slurry. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Add the sausage back into the pan and cook for a few more minutes until the sauce has thickened to your liking. 

Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce (add a splash of the hot pasta water prior to draining if you want to thin the sauce a bit).

Serve immediately with fresh basil sprinkled on top, and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese if using. 

The only changes we made was with the pasta. Our host used penne. We always seem to have butterfly in the pantry and that is what we used. Penne will be on the shopping list just for a change of pace next time.

Everything else we followed the recipe. It was excellent. I gave it a 10 out of 10. Gregg gave it a 9 out of 10. He said he would use a different sun-dried tomato next time as he found this a bit too salty. They were sliced but he said they would have been better if they had have been diced (I could see his point. I don’t usually add a lot of salt to our meals.) But all that being said he had seconds.

We had a mixed vegetable salad on the side.

I can't think of anything else but if you have any questions - or tips - please let me know in the comment section.

If you would like to copy and paste the address below instead of using the link I provided, here it is:

https://www.saltandlavender.com/marry-me-italian-sausage-pasta/

Thanks for looking, have a great day 

and Bon Appetit!

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - FAIRY GARDEN AT MEADOWLARK GARDENS, VIENNA, VIRGINIA

These are from Meadowlark Gardens, in the early days of the Fairy Garden. I haven't been there since I had problems with my knee sprain now turned into arthritis. I can't believe that started almost two years ago. It is very hilly for those of us who have trouble walking. I hope to get out there one day to see if the fairies are still there. Things were being changed around it seemed, so I am keeping my fingers crossed and I will let you know.

"When the first baby laughed

For the first time, 

Its laugh broke into a thousand pieces

And they all went skipping about

And that was the beginning of fairies."

~Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie~

(side note: when Mr. Barrie passed away, he gave the rights away to the Peter Pan works to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, which continues to benefit from them. How wonderful is that? His biography at the link above is very interesting.)

 "Who knows what secrets fairies like to keep.

Perhaps they whisper about the follies of humankind"

~Fairy Secrets - Brian Froud~

 "Blessed are those who see things in humble places,

Where other people see nothing."

~Author unknown~

 "Garden fairies come at dawn,

Bless the flowers and then are gone."

~Author Unknown~

 "And though you should live

In a palace of gold,

Or sleep in a dried-up ditch,

You never could be as poor

As the fairies are,

And never as rich."

~Rose Fyleman~

"Someday you will be old enough

To start reading about fairytales again."

~C. S. Lewis~

"Did you know,

hanging a spray of primroses on your door

is an invitation for fairies to come into your home

and bring fairy blessings?"

~Author Unknown~

"Children, children, don't forget

There are elves and fairies yet.

Where the knotty Hawthorne grows

Look for prints of fairy toes.

Where the grassy rings are green,

Moonlight dances will be seen.

Watch and wait, oh lucky you,

If you find a fairy shoe:

For a ransom he will pay

Hobbling barefoot all the day.

Lay it on his mushroom seat,

Wish your wish and go your way.

If your wish should be discreet,

Never fear but he will pay."

~Dora Owen~

"Stories are like fairy gold, the more you give away, the more you have."

~Author Unknown~

"Admit it, we all need books

and fairy dust once in a while."

~Author Unknown~

"Down along the rocky shore, 

Some make their home.

They live on crispy pancakes 

Of yellow-tide foam.

Some in the reeds 

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watchdogs,

All night awake."

~Excerpt from The Fairies by William Allingham~

(You can read the rest of the poem here.)

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home,

They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

Read more at http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/the_fairies.html#UlT7OpdpIZVRRRYp.99

"Mist-clad in the light of the moon,

Starspun seekers I search for thee!

Faery light I ask they boon

Of branch and thorn and Elder tree!

Wood woven creatures, shadow weavers

River keepers come to me!

Just beyond reaching, never in keeping

Spirits of Faery I call unto thee.

Wind-hewn wildness, dark and brightness,

Spiral enchantments born of the sky.

Cradle me with Elven hands,

Abide with me, thy human child!"

~W. B. Yeats~ 

I left links where I could. I am thankful to be able to find out more about these wonderful authors.

Down along the rocky shore

Some make their home,

They live on crispy pancakes

Of yellow tide-foam;

Some in the reeds

Of the black mountain lake,

With frogs for their watch-dogs,

All night awake.

Read more at http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/the_fairies.html#UlT7OpdpIZVRRRYp.99

Thank you for looking at today's tale of whimsy. 

I wish you all a great Sunday!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER ON 4-25-26 - NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Yes, Froggies3 are the new co-Captains of the Neighborhood Watch. They stood in line to volunteer and look out for the safety of all the birds that visit our garden and beyond. A big thank you to Froggies3, and all the volunteers out there who help their communities. 

And that's how it goes on 

a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. 

Wishing you all a great weekend.

and thanks for stopping by!

For our international friends to translate using the translation widget on my sidebar (3 widgets down).

Photo conversation:

"Any dog visitors lately?"

"Any cats?"

"No, no and no! We are the neighborhood watch."