And Another Batch!

 So I finally broke down & went to the Emergency Room on Wednesday for the poison ivy--it just wasn't going away fast enough for me!  So I got prednisone to take & it's really helped alot.  But I can't work outside in the sun!  So I thought it would be a great time to start making some jam.  Top photo is the pan I use to sterilize the lids & rings for the canning jars.

 I had picked & frozen quite a bit of fruit last ear that I never got around to using so now's the time!  These are raspberries from my bushes.  The beginning of the process--just the raspberries & the sugar.

 Bringing to a boil before adding the pectin.

And the finished product.  This is my 3rd batch ( also have made spiced blueberry and strawberry rhubarb)  I hope to make a few batches a week--it will help free up space in my freezer for the fruit I pick this year!

Yum!

A batch of strawberry rhubarb jam I made today.

Macro Monday-Tulip

Love the lighting of this photo--the way you can see the lines in the petals.

Sunday Still

Another couple of shots of the new rose I got this year, Cinco de Mayo.  It goes through several shades of pinks , reds & purple while blooming.

Saturday Single

1st Ancho pepper !  Quite a few more flowers & tiny ones on the plant--looking forward to chili rellenos!

Scentimental Roses

Another interesting bloom from my visit to Elizabeth Park--the scentimental rose.

I didn't make a spelling mistake--that is the name!

 

Pelican

 

At the Beach

A few more from our Isla trip in 2003.  This is the beach across from Posada del Mar and the area where the fishermen are.

 

Nets hanging to dry & be mended

A Favorite Rose

This is one of my favorites from the rose garden--a Mardi Gras rose--love all the colors that blend together.

Macro Monday--busy bee

 

Sunday Still

From the Goshen Stampede--calf roping.  We went last night  & had a great time!  Had lots of
" great" fair food!  beer, Nodine's sausage with peppers & onions, beer, onion rings and chocolate covered cheesecake!

Saturday Single

Poppy petals are so paper-like and fragile.  This is from a few years ago--none of mine came up this year because of the fallen tree ( sounds like a broken record, doesn't it?)  Next year will be better!

On the Beach at NaBalam

Have been looking through quite a few old photos lately & spotted this one taken on our 1st trip to Isla Mujeres.  Look at how wide the beach was at NaBalam?  We knew very little about the island before we went--Alan wanted to go somewhere to fish!  Have gone back at least once a year since!

It's a Start!

The raspberries are starting to grow!  Can't wait to  pick them!  Yum!

Blooms

 My roses are blooming!  Three bushes weren't damaged by the fallen tree--one that was damaged has new shoots on the broken canes, so it will be good for next year!

All have very light scents so heavenly to walk around where they are!

Now All I need is the Sunshine & Beach!

Another crappy day predicted so I will have to settle for my big comfy chair!  Several of these are set in the South so I can dream about the warmth!

Macro Monday

Several of my rose bushes have started to bloom--loved the water droplets on the petals!

can't wait!

Cinco de Mayo roses are starting to bud!  Several of my rose bushes were damaged when the tree fell--only one is coming back.  So I bought this new bush a month or so ago!  Looks like it's going to be a beautiful color!

Blowing in the Wind

 I walked down to get the mail yesterday & noticed these flowers blooming!  I didn't plant them--I do have them planted up by the house in a barrel, but that's quite a ways away!   ( these are out by the road & the driveway is 800 ft long!)

 Only have this pink color by the house.

How they look now--in a few years they should be nice big clumps!  I love surprises like this!

Spotted while driving!

Saturday as I was driving to New Hampshire this truck pulled out in front of me when I was in Southwick, MA.    I noticed it when it was pulling out because of the unusual paint job---khaki green with red accents around the wheel wells.  Then I saw the tailgate!  Scrambled to get my camera out before it turned off the road!

Bleeding Hearts

 I love white bleeding hearts--I have the pink ones growing in my woodland garden, but will get the white ones sometimes soon.  The photo below is a cropped, closeup view of them.

Saturday Single

Another photo from the Mayan Dreams warehouse sale.  here were so many interesting pieces of pottery & Day of the Dead things--wish I had more room in my house--I loved this large stool in Talavera!

Another Pretty Posey

Zinnias--about the only annual that I buy!