Fill me up

This is a bloom from a tall and gangly weed that grows all around the hedgerows and borders of the woods here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It's called Jewel Weed and the little flowers on this plant fill with water when it rains gently. Can you see I surprised a tiny bee inside?



To find out more information about the role this plant plays in the woods, visit my other blogtoday. Or tomorrow, or w henever . . .

Love me tender

Lariope blooms along my front walk. I love the bokeh produced from the macro lens.

Love me tender, Love me true.
All my dreams fulfilled.
For my darlin', I love you. And I always will.

Skywatch Friday: From my car window

I didn't have my 'real' camera with me today, but I happened to have the little Sony Cybershot point & shoot that belongs to the school where I'm employed. As I was driving home from work, I happened to glance to my left and saw this view that I thought was quite nice. Luckily no one was behind me, so I rolled down the window and grabbed a quick pic.
To view beautiful skies from around the world, visit the Skywatch Friday site. You'll be glad you did.

Hiding Place

Lily of the Valley. Taken last weekend.
Now I can't stop singing the Sarah Harmer song, "Hiding Place". I'm always getting songs stuck in my head.

Darling, can I touch your face?
And let your skin be my hiding place.
I promise I won't take up
too much room.

Blowin' in the wind

I'm not sure what kind of perennial these clumps of grasses are, but they recently started shooting up these pretty little lavender-colored flowers. I tried looking them up online, but couldn't find anything. Anyone know what sort of plant this is?
Oh, and it really wasn't blowing. It just looks that way.

Never a bridesmaid

I'm so lazy sometimes. I use actions way too much. But they give me the results I'm looking for in less than half the time. And someday, maybe I'll be able to figure out Photoshop. But until I do, I'll tell you what I used on these lovely little white phlox: Totally Rad's Super Fun Happy, lowering the opacity and then PW's Lovely and Ethereal. It was exactly what I wanted. Ok. Now I'm talking too much.

To market, in watercolor

The original to this one is post on my regular blog today. For this shot, I first used a vintage action in Photoshop, doubled up with a fresh and colorful action, both from Pioneer Woman's free action set. Then I used the watercolor filter, doubled up with the paint daub filter. It was a doubly delicious day, if I must say so. And I must.

For my sister, Ginny

Happy Birthday, baby sister. I don't know what else to say other than I love you and I remembered that you liked this photo that I posted in February. It seems a long time ago now.

Infinity

These are the stairs we climbed to get to the roof at my son's apartment in New York City. We only took one flight and it was like climbing up tiny steps in a lighthouse. When I looked down at this view, I was treated with this surprise! We were on the 16th floor.

Skywatch Friday: I'm so dizzy

Not a lush country scene this week. Here's a shot I took in New York City last weekend when I went up to visit my son.
For more SkyWatch photographs from all over the world, visit the Sky Watch posting site. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Amber light

"Once more the liberal year laughs out
O'er richer stores than gems or gold:
Once more with harvest song and shout
Is nature's boldest triumph told."
- John Greenleaf Whittier

Alice's Restaurant

I was looking through my picture files and came upon this one that I'd taken in June during my trip to Jim Thorpe, PA with my friend, Karen. We had breakfast at this restaurant and I remember it being one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. And it wasn't just because an older gentleman was sitting at a table nearby and flirting shamelessly with us.
Oh, my.

Patience

A female cardinal waits patiently for her turn at one of the bird feeders on the Dogwood tree in our front yard. I spent the afternoon with a glass of chardonnay, my camera and a book as it's the last Monday I have off this summer. Regular school hours start this week.
Oh, and let's keep the chardonnay thing to ourselves, shall we?

Cemetery at Trinity Church, NYC

Gravestones dating from pre-Revolutionary War in Trinity Church Cemetery, New York City. I found this place fascinating, and so lovingly cared-for. I plan on posting soon about my visit to the Big City on the regular blog.

Girls in their summer clothes

Here's a photo of my niece looking lovely on a summer afternoon. Too bad about the cars in the background but my Element was clamoring to be in a picture.
And now I'll have this Springsteen song running through my head all night.

And the girls in their summer clothes
In the cool of the evening light
The girls in their summer clothes
Pass me by

Baby pine cone

Immature pine cone from one of the Norway Spruce trees in the yard. I found a lot of these on the ground this morning after that big storm that came through last week. They are very tiny, about half the size of your pinky finger.

Skywatch Friday: 77 Sunset Strip

Not really. But if you'd like to see some beautiful photographs of the skies all around the world, please visit the Skywatch Friday site.
Now snap your fingers and repeat after me: 77 Sunset Strip . . .

Cows looking sheepish

Now, what is going on here, I ask you?
George and I came upon the two resident farm cows up by the dead tree at twilight. They looked like they were up to something. Frankly, I think they were just scratching themselves on the lovely assortment of wood.
I mean, this is about as exciting as it gets around here. Cows scratching themselves on wood? Oi vey.

Come blow your horn

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,

The sheep's in the meadow,

The cow's in the corn.

Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?

He's under the haystack fast asleep.

When I was a young mother, I read to my boys every night and sang them a medly of songs that included this melody.

The best thing you can spend on your children? Your time.

Cyclamen in watercolor

Yes, this is different. I like to try new things and have recently joined Paintbox Pictures. There's an icon to visit this site over on the right side of this blog.
I achieved this look in Photoshop CS2, using the watercolor filter, followed by the paint daub filter, adjusting the brush strokes until I liked how they looked.
I'm not sure how it will go over with regular readers of this blog, but then I reminded myself that this is my blog and I can do what I want. Ok. I feel better now.

Ch-ch-ch-ch changes

Is it time to face the change yet? There's a hint of autumn in the air and on the forest floor, as evidenced in this leaf.
Don't get me wrong, for I enjoy summer. But autumn is a season I welcome. I just don't want it come TOO soon!

Sunday Silence

Just looking at this view makes me feel at peace. This was taken a short hike from my house on the farm where I live.
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone.

In the meadow

I took this with my regular lens during my morning walk with George. Normally, I don't walk through the meadow, but it was the quickest way to the pond. Now that I'm home and my shoes are soaked, I'd like to wish you a wonderful Saturday.

Night and Day,

you are the one.
(sing along with me here . . .)
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me, or far
It's no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Day and night, night and day.

Apologies to those who tend to get songs stuck on their heads. To view photos from all over the world, please visit the Skywatch Friday site. You'll be glad you did.

I'm Just Mad About Saffron

I have no idea what type of portulaca this is. I thought maybe Summer Joy, but with its beautiful orange center, I'm not so sure. I found the plant on the front porch when we moved in. It was looking pretty scraggly, so I gave it some water. Portulaca is very drought resistant, you know. I felt sorry for it, so I kept it and it's now fraternizing with my other plants out on the front porch. You should hear them at night out there, whooping it up!
Also, while looking up the Donovan lyrics for the title post (not that I needed to, mind you), I came across this cute little blogger who has an Etsy shop. I'm all about the sharing.

Remembering

Blooms on the hosta plants have already faded, but at least I have a couple of pictures to remember them by until next year.

I love it here.

Yellow moth

I found this moth having a little rest on our front lawn after George and I returned from the evening walk. I ran inside to get the camera and was surprised to find the moth still outside in the same position. I stroked it to make sure it wasn't dead and it was very soft. And quite alive, just moving a little slow.

Wild thing

When I was a very young child, I ate some wild mushrooms that looked just like this. They were growing in the shade in our front yard in Broomall, PA. This is a true story. I remember our pediatrician being called and than having to drink something awful and then, well let's not go there. Maybe that's what happened to me. I wonder sometimes . . .

Life Is Just a Bowl of

You know, sometimes it just is.

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone.

Hello, little katydid

I saw this little katydid sitting on an empty pot in the yard. I don't know if any of you know this, but my nickname as a child was Katy. When I was 21, I changed it to Kate because it sounded more grown up and sophisticated to me. But my family and close friends still call me Katy.

I don't know which I like more now.

Sky Watch Friday

"You talkin' to me, dog?

I say, are YOU TALKIN' TO ME?"

Quick now, I know you can all name the movie in which these lines are spoken.

Readers are invited to visit the Sky Watch blog, where you can travel the world via reader's pictures of the skies.