ODDS AND BODS AND HELLO SUNSHINE, ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR COFFEE THIS FINE MORNING?

Good Morning and how are you today?

We are currently discussing if my coffee and I want to participate in this day.

Let’s go!

It’s safe to say, I am not the cat,  I am, however, the slow starter but here we are at the…

Dog stick library - He once was a wolf. Now he is a golden boy with a stick library.

…meeting up with a friend and that’s okay, he is still a wolf at heart. Just try and take that stick away from him later. You will have a wrestling match on your hands. 

Cute art of kids going off to school above and one below reminding me of the rainy days we have been having lately. In this picture a sweet kitty gets wrapped up in a warm scarf and taken to a loving home. Kitty will have a warm bed to sleep in that night.

Interesting words.

Kindred Word #30 - Brumous - English - adjective - Foggy, misty or wintry. 

Kindred word #20 - Psithurism - English - noun - The sound of

the wind whispering through the leaves.

Fun with Food!

And here is my imaginary house. 

Just kidding, here it is…

Sorry, I can’t help myself. Here it is… 

 Isn’t it a beauty? Beautiful at night too.

Back to a couple of recipes as I had not quite finished with food. A slow cooker Turkey Breast recipe…and once again I haven’t tried any of these recipes I share. It will be an adventure to me as well as to you. I will have a practice run before Thanksgiving.

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast 

Ingredients: 1 (4 to 6 pound) turkey breast - 3 tablespoons olive oil

or melted butter - 1 tablespoon garlic powder - 1 tablespoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - salt and pepper to taste

1 cup chicken broth.  Instructions:  1. Pat turkey breast dry and rub with

olive oil or butter.  2. Mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme,

salt and pepper. Rub all over the turkey.  3. Place the turkey breast in

slow cooker, pour chicken broth around (NOT ON) the meat.  4. Cover

and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 

165 degrees F.  5. Optional: broil for 3 to 5 minutes to crisp up the skin

before serving.  6. Slice and serve with juices from the slow cooker.

For dessert.

Knott’s Berry Farm Cookies - “Thumbprint Cookies”, Buena Park, California.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened - 1/3 cup sugar - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup bread flour OR all-purpose flour works just as well. Bread flour will just make

your cookies more chewy 1/4 cup raspberry jam or other jam to your liking.

Instructions:  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  2. Combine butter, sugar, almond 

extract and flour in mixer bowl.  3. Mix until well blended and forms a ball. (Mine

was kind of dry and crumbly, so I added about 2 tablespoons of milk.)   4. Roll into

3/4 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  5. Make an indentation on top of

each cookie and fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.  6. Bake 9 minutes.  7. Let cool and enjoy.

A few wise words.

Let your smile change the world but don’t let the world 

change your smile. 

Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don’t 

matter, and those who matter don’t mind - Theodore Seuss Geisel

For those who need one and for those who don’t think they do.

Here’s a hug for the day. Carry it with you wherever you go.

Sometimes we forget to thank the people who make our lives better just by

being in it, so…thank you!

and always remember

You are worthy and you are loved!

Thanks for visiting and have 

a wonderful day! 

Peace and...

(With thanks to Pinterest for today's inspiration.)

GREEN SPRING GARDENS CONTINUED FROM VISIT ON 4-4-26

Here are a few things to know about a tulip's symbolism, if you enjoy knowing these things.

Red tulips are used to declare "believe me" or show passionate love, often given in early relationships.

Being given various tulips symbolize fresh starts, making them popular for Easter or new endeavors.

Yellow tulips are given to brighten someone's day, representing sunshine, happiness and hope.

Pink tulips are ideal for conveying affection, tenderness and appreciation, often given on Mother's Day.

Purple tulips often represent admiration or respect.

White tulips are given to express sincere apologies or peace.

Orange symbolizes energy, desire and enthusiasm.

Black symbolizes power, strength and elegance.

There were also daffodils left, and some of the Tulips had opened fully. The Peony which is another particular favorite, and Johnny Jump-ups, also known as Wild pansy or just Pansy (in the collage above, top middle. I am trying to ID everything even though I know many of us recognize immediately).

There was also a nice showing of Grape hyacinth and I like this were they surrounded the Maltese cross plant, and I see a couple of pansies in there too. Not sure what the leaves are at the bottom left.

These could be Jonquils. I don't know enough about them to recognize the difference.

There are two ID's in one photo below. A Wild daffodil and Japanese spiraea. 

I have left links on all the flowers to take you to places where they will have more information.

That’s all from the garden until the next time we go.

Thanks for visiting 

and I wish you a great day!

 

OUR WALK AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS 4-4-26

Perhaps it's just as well I didn't go to the garden center to pick up plants yet. We had a freeze warning last night. That is still on our to-do list but right now the weather has gone from very warm to downright chilly.

In the meantime, we visited the garden on April 4th. We like this area because it's nice and flat. We not only were looking forward to a little exercise, but I wanted to see the tulips before they started to disappear. 

Also, my head was turned skywards. I focused on a few clouds over the center green area. 

They were incredible and I enjoy sky watching while sitting on a park bench.

There were a few people walking around and we noticed a group of young men sitting on the grassy area. On closer inspection they were playing cards. There was a lot of laughter, and that was very nice to hear. This was on the Saturday, no work for them that day. They were young and it was a good time to get together with friends and have some fun.

The tulips were putting on quite a show.

Here is the Moon Gate I like. I have seen them before on our travels while visiting other gardens. It was a very happy day when we saw this one being built. It will be two years ago this coming August that we saw its beginnings. They are filling the flower beds very nicely. They should be a sight to behold this summer.

This beauty had just walked through it with its humans after they had stopped to take photos.

And I have to admit, I fell in love with the dress the lady was wearing. 

Sometimes it can be a fashion show at the garden. A memory: there was a time back in my younger years that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I have always had an interest in clothing, even those from another era. I know of someone who works in the costume department at a theater. I never in my wildest dreams thought such an opportunity would be open to me in my small town back in the day. If I knew then what I know now, I would have explored the idea more closely. Usually, I am concentrating on walking but this time I was sitting quietly on one of the benches when the couple and their pup came into view. There are videos that I look at online every now and again, where costumes are shown not only from this country but others. I love to settle down and watch them, especially those showing traditional clothing going as far back as the middle-ages, and even further. I have favorite times for fashion, the 20s to the 40s, but then I see another era and I love the Victorian. I could go on. What do you think of her dress? Do you like it? 

I was very happy to see a few daffodils. The ones in our neighborhood have all gone.

I didn't realize peonies would be blooming already.

The garden is slowly coming back to life after its winter rest.

I will finish here as I have a few things I need to get done but will have more photos to share soon.

Thanks for looking and

enjoy your day.