Bayonet Bloom

We have two stands of these Spanish bayonets - at least 2 dozen plants in all - but so far this year, only one of them has produced a bloom; Ah, but what a big, beautiful bloom it is!

No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden. ~Hugh Johnson

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

Simple Summer Shrimp Salad

This is an easy, light, and DE-licious side dish that's perfect to bring along to all those summertime, beachside b-b-q's!

Marinated Shrimp & Artichokes
What You'll Need:

8 oz. can of artichokes
1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled
1/2 c. roasted red pepper strips
1/3 c. vinegar
1/2 c. olive oil
2 green onions, sliced
1 lg. clove garlic
1/2 tsp. oregano
salt/pepper to taste

To make:
Boil shrimp; add to artichokes & pepper strips in non-metal bowl.
Combine all other ingredients in lidded jar; shake and pour over shrimp mixture; toss to coat
Chill for 2-4 hours before serving

Yum.

If you want to see more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels.

Strange Beauty

Back in February I posted this picture, not knowing exactly what type of plant this is; I believe it's some variety of bromiliad, but that is as much as I know about it. The following pictures are what it looks like now, in late spring. Surely, some green thumb reading this can tell me the common name, and where it comes from??! :

I don't like standard beauty - there is no beauty without strangeness.
~Karl Lagerfeld

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

A Mellow Morning

Seems we have only warm temperatures and bright skies on this weekends horizon, with a 20% chance of showers on Saturday afternoon. Right now, it's in the mid-eighties, with high's today expected to reach 94*. Lookin' forward to the weekend...Hope you all enjoy yours, too!

Through the blackest night, morning gently tiptoes, feeling its way to dawn. ~Robert Brault

To see other sky watchers, or to play along yourself, visit
Crazy Working Mom

Good Things

So, this hasn't been the *best* week at the cottage, boys and girls...not that anything terribly *bad* happened, it just wasn't filled with many memorable moments, but, 1. it IS Friday, and we expect a wonderfully warm weekend ahead, so I guess that counts for something!

a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, etc., etc

2. We hope to head over to UF and watch the Axemen (rugby) game on Saturday afternoon, so I'm looking forward to that.

3. We picked up the latest James Rollins title ("The Last Oracle") at the store last Sunday; An author that both the Mister and I enjoy, so that was definitely a fave.

4. Our coffee plant (which I thought died in the cold spell back in March), is not only still alive, but producing flowers!

5. Golden Oreos - Have you tried these things?! Yummy.


Now, head on over to Susanne's Blog and tell everybody about YOUR Friday Fave Five!


May your Friday, and every day, be filled with your
~ FAVORITE THINGS ~

Looking Skyward

Well, we have certainly had our fair share of rain here at the beach lately with more expected over the coming weekend, but it's bright and clear this morning, with a slight ocean breeze, and temperatures in the mid-eighties. This pic was taken from the front yard, the morning of my 32nd birthday (May 7th):

I'll tell you how the sun rose a ribbon at a time. ~Emily Dickinson

To see other sky watchers, or to play along yourself, visit
Crazy Working Mom

Friday Fave's

Hi there, friends and readers - I've been a long time gone from this little exercise (not to mention away from this little blog!), but I missed doing this, so now I'm back!!


a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, etc., etc


1. Last Sunday, my hounds turned 3 years old - It's hard to believe they've been with us that long. Everyday, they do *something* to make me smile, and I'm very grateful for the unconditional love and constant companionship those girls bring to our lives...Happy Birthday, hounds o' mine!!

2. Well, the mister is back to a five-day work week; I was getting quite used to his three-day weekends around here, but our bank account can sure use the extra coins (whose couldn't?!), and of course that means I'm back to Friday postings of My Favorite Things, so overall it's a 'positive', and therefore, makes the list!

3. The Preserve at the end of our road; I just LUV having a Nature Park just steps away from my front door! The perfect spot for bike rides, walking the dogs, taking photos (that is, *IF* one remembers to bring along a camera on the excursion!) - definitely a favorite spot.

4. One of my favorite past-times is reading, and this obsession passion has spawned what is now an extensive collection of bookmarks; This week I received a beautiful, hand-made book thong to add to that collection, which came to me all the way from Hong Kong! This was certainly one of my favorite things this week.

5. garden fresh tomatoes; yummy.


And, what about you? What were the highlights of your week? Be sure to head on over to Living to Tell the Story and share your Friday Faves with Susanne and all the other wonderful participants! And, until next time...

May every day be filled with your Favorite things!