Thoughts after midnight

Looking through old photographs is strange the older the pictures are. 

I do not have that paint rag anymore. I posted about it years ago, but have little memory of what I wrote about. 

Thinking about changes in the approach to being a creative person, there is more to consider than I expected. 

I thought all it takes is to decide what to do differently.

That isn't quite right. 

How to be different takes study in order to develop that change into a lasting behavior. Many times I told myself I will only post about art, and, post my own artwork. Maybe that's the inspiration for the paint rag? Could it be I'm a sloppy artist horrible with deadlines and remembering what I plan to do? Ah, the truth 

PS

All the red pepper relish is gone.

Not a tragedy, I have 3 peppers left for more. 

First Try for Red Pepper Relish

~ Dice veggies:

Red pepper

Celery stalk

Cucumber remove seeds

Garlic clove

Roma tomato

~ Add in 2 quart sauce pan

Olive oil 2 Tablespoons

Sugar 2 T

Apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup

~ Simmer ingredients until pepper is soft 

~ Cool

~ Store sealed in fridge 2-3 days

Results:

Tastes too sweet

Needs less sugar or else use honey, and add more vinegar

Summary:

Glorified sauted veggies

Will be good with turkey kielbasa

Buy a good red pepper relish unless making enough to can

~~~~~

PS

The overcast sky here in northwestern Vermont has that dusty tint of a smokey sky. 

Prayers for Canada and Nova Scotia 

Relish Thoughts

Not relish, but a good looking petunia. My apologies for the red pepper relish post delay.

I have shopped twice for the relish made from scratch without a recipe. Not one red pepper has yet to be chopped. I even bought containers to store it in. I only plan a small amount for a few days. I believe today I finally have everything I need.  

A learning lesson is to have ingredients before deciding to get into a recipe from scratch.

Four or five days red pepper relish has been in my thoughts. If I bought a jar, then I might have an idea for what I want to use for ingredients. 

Anywayz...

I saw the Strawberry Moon last night, gorgeous. The night of the full version was overcast here.

I posted a poem today on:

Hasopen Road Poetry

This summer I will be posting regularly there or a new titled poetry blog. Trying out a new direction in how I write poetry and prose is good for me because it will stretch my creativity. I want something special to show for my 75th summer. 

Fourteen years having a poetry blog is a long time. There have been long slumps, sadness, grumpy pouting episodes, but I haven't given up. My 7th grade teacher gave me As on two of my poems with  very encouraging comments. The joy I felt was amazing. I still have the original copy. 😎

Torenia
part sun or shade , 8"-10" tall

Reflection Monday June 2023

 

Directions. Thoughts. Ideas. Wishes.

A place to be.

A place to leave.

A place to flourish.

The chair is in its 5th color life. A hue with the destination reached vibe, stay here, be here, leave and flourish here. 

Moving is good for the soul, 

Makes the muscles smile and the attitude fresh.

Guessing.

Life eroding into dust to dust,

we must live this way the closer we are

to knowing the years are not going 

to be forever. 

It makes no sense to me that as intelligent

beings, we haven't found a way to 

continue in the flesh. 

 I know I am too old to entertain

activities I might have done in my younger years.

Sky diving, for example, even tandem,

could mean months of physical therapy.

I will never run a marathon

or be a pearl diver.

Meh.

I say, meh.

I am a good dreamer.

This is not a poem. btw.

Bloggers center posts.

This is a center post.

for some random thoughts

I reflect on.

Strawberry Moon, June 2023

3 June 2023, 11:41 PM EDT 

Northern Hemisphere 

Strawberry Moon

~~~~~~~~~

2 June 2023, 9:57 PM EDT
Over Vermont
Strawberry Moon
98.8% Waxing Gibbous

If your skies are clear tomorrow night,
then have your camera ready.

June 2023, Day 153 of Week 22

Ninebark Shrub Flower

Rain is in the Vermont forecast for later today. 

With plenty to do indoors, inclement weather,

(somewhat hot this week),

isn't a bother for me. I don't have activities

to engage in that can't be postpone 

until better weather arrives.

This weekend, I plan to make my own

red pepper relish from scratch,

without a recipe.

Please wish me well

Have a Jolly make your own weekend!

Buy a watermelon

Browse stripe summer tees online

Read about sailboats

Draw a seashell 

Create a new ice cream flavor

Read about katabatic & anabatic winds

Hand sew a beach tote

Make a button necklace

Call a friend

via GIPHY

Hello June!

 Vermont has been blessed with some perfect days this May.

June arrives with heat as the forecast reads today, Hot, as in the 90s°F (32°C).

Sitting in the shade by Otter Creek is cool and relaxing. I didn't stay long because it was time to go.

When there are people around, being outdoors feels safer to me.  We should always be aware of our surroundings no matter how many folks are around. A long walk on a deserted beach may sound lovely, but not quite safe.

That day I was alone after another visitor left. Then another arrives. Despite a near empty parking lot,  in a space marked for trucks with trailors, (boat ramp area), the visitor parks right next to me. Not a cool thing to do. I left, taking my better safe than sorry attitude with me.

This summer I pray for the end to the violence in our communities.

When out and about, please don't be alone in lonely places. Always tell others  where you are going, and when you will return. Read up on hot weather safety. Be prepared for the unusual from stubbing your toe to worse. 

Never 

Leave Children or pets 

in a hot car...double check before you walk away!

Have a Safe Summer!

Clotheslines

Clotheslines are a place of

happy memories. 

Running through the 

billowing sheets was fun.

It amazed me to hear that there are places where clothesline aren't allowed, mainly because they don't make 

the area look good.

My short 5 garment length

clothesline is between a planter pole and an iron umbrella stand.

On very hot days, 3 or 4 

hand washing can be 

hung out to dry.

There are a variety of clothesline styles to use that might fit into a safe and secure area in 

your landscape. 

Do you have a clotheline or used a collapsible dryer rack?

The About the Out: Toads

Toad Habitat

This blogger was spray painting one of two planters. As I'm removing a stone, an American toad appears. Gloves on, up goes the toad to the other planter via human transportation. 

Task done. I see movement in the unpainted planter's soil. I shade the toad with another stone. The sun was hot. A few seconds later, the toad is gone.

A 1.5 foot tall planter is quite a leap for a small toad. I have seen one climb. I am guessing when the deck was crowded with stuff, he climbed into the planter.

Searching online how high can toads jump, how get in planters, etcetera, the results show that toads in planters and flower pots is a common problem.

After moving debris, I heard what sounds like an unhappy toad in the shrubs. 

Careful out there in the garden.

Peace

 God Bless America

and all veterans that sacrificed

their lives for Freedom

Another Plume Moth

Plume Moth
26 May 2023

Every year on my deck, a plume moth visits. I've even found one sunning on my vehicle. The plume in the photo was there for hours. It does not flinch when the sliding screen door opens and closes or when I near it.

They take the form of a T when at. As a pest, snapdragons that I plant every year, (some reseed) can be damaged. Otherwise, it is a cute moth most active at night.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the long weekend

Make coffee syrup 

Create a clock face 

Draw butterflies

Listen to piano music

Turn your at home radio on

Browse linen shirts online

Read about the history of sewing patterns

Consider a local group walk

Sing to a flower

Dance on a shadow

~~~~~~~

27 May 2023 Back Again
On the outside