Elizabeth Park Rose Garden

Nothing much happening around here so I thought I'd share some older photos. These were taken at Elizabeth park in Hartford, CT. I think it's the oldest ( or at least one of the oldest)rose gardens in the country. I try to go most every year to walk around, enjoy the gardens & take photos!

There are hundereds of rose bushes, many colors & types

Gerbera Daisies

Last week I saw these at the store & decided I had to buy them! They were already in a decorative green metal flower pot, so I didn't have to transplant. What a pop of color!

And remember about a month ago ( 3/25 to be exact) I posted photos of an amaryllis I had? Well, yesterday it started blooming again! The second stalk is even taller than the 1st--it's 3 feet tall! Will definitely be saving this plant !

Ever seen these in your yard?

I'm sure they're a weed of some kind....they are growing behind a concrete wall off our patio. Only in about a 6 foot area. I noticed them one day last week when all the flowers were closed up & they looked like miniature tulips.

The next day iI went out with the camera & they were all opened & the petals were already falling off!

I love walking around and finding new things blooming in the yard--even if it is a weed!

Out of My Comfort Zone

As you all know I love photography and posting pictures that I take to my blog. Well, I finally decided to push myself a little and post & enter some contests. I had opened an acct. at Flickr a few years ago & had never done much with it, so I started there. Pioneer Woman posts assignments on her blog-latest one was macro photos, so I posted a few to that group. ( Amazing photos posted to her group on Flickr--gave me some great ideas!)

Then Kimberley Gauthier started a group of Flower photos daily by color & I'm going to try & post to that as often as possible--I do have lots of flower photos! The toughest thing is looking thru them on the computer--I think it will push me to reorganize my external hard drive folders!

Laurel Ridge Farm Daffodils

I have started walking a few days a week with one of my friends. We usually walk at the fairgrounds, but have decided that once a week we would find somewhere else in the area to go. We started yesterday by going to Northfield, CT. to the Laurel Ridge Farm--they raise grass fed beef and have taken a few acres of the farm & planted thousands of daffodils. I have seen photos of it, but had never been before ( it's only 20 minutes from my house)

I drove over there last year, but the flowers hadn't bloomed yet & I never made it back--after going yesterday, I know I will make it back in the future.

The farm is locally famous; between end of March and early May, people park along the side of the (rural) road and walk among the daffodils. The hills end at a lake or pond that has a small island in the middle; island also is full of daffodils.

The island

closeup of the island & its flowers

Field of Flowers

Walked down to get the mail yesterday afternoon & noticed the front field had lots of tiny flowers growing in it. This used to be one of our horse pastures . Here they are from a distance. A little closer......

There are a violet- type flower & these little white ones......

Here are the violets......

Coq Au Vin-slow cooker recipe

Decided it would be a great day to make something in the slow cooker & decided on Coq au Vin--chicken in wine. It's one of Alan's favorite meals! I found the recipe in a Sandra Lee Semi Homemade Slow Cooker cookbook. If you're not familiar with her recipes, she uses some convenience foods, ie. frozen or already cut up stuff to make cooking a little easier.

All mixed together & in the crockpot.

From the cookbook--the finished product!

Coq au Vin

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 med. red bell peppers, cut into strips

2 cups merlot or other red wine

1 cup frozen loose pack petite white onions

1 cup frozen loose pack sliced carrots

1 rib celery, chopped

1 can ( 6 oz.) tomato paste

1/4 cup cognac

2 strips of pre-cooked bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 T. Zesty Herb marinade mix ( McCormicks)

In a 4-5 quart slow cooker, stir together chicken, pepper strips, wine, onions, carrots, celery, tomato paste, cognac, bacon & herb marinade mix until thoroughly combined.

Cover and cook on Low heat setting for 5-6 hours.

Serve with rice or your favorite pasta

****The 1st time I made this I faithfully followed the recipe, but subsequent times I have varied--substituting a cut-up onion for petite onions, leaving out the cognac, replacing the frozen carrots with cut up baby carrots & leaving out the bacon. All of this depends on what I have in the house when I decide to make the recipe!

Enjoy!