Thematic Photographic # 167 Edible

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

PLEASE!     LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Meet Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" ....the wedding cake!

"One must work and dare if one really wants to live."- Vincent van Gogh

It was oh so tasty....with a rich and delicious red velvet cake ...


oh so good

a most unusual but tasty wedding cake ....
for my most unique daughter....

and from my own special creations last Christmas, I decided hearing about "Figgy Pudding" wasn't enough.  I had to make it and taste it for myself.....

...here for the first time ever I offer....

FIGGY PUDDING
This is the cake before Captain Morgan's Original Spiced Rum turns it into "Figgy Pudding"


Once every ones had enough cake, could you please feed the birds and squirrels......!

please!

If you're a fan of humming birds, grow these on your decks and sit back and have a good look at many visits by Hummingbirds!

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.  - Joseph Addison

and Carmi is still serving up "Edible" as his TP theme this week and if you feel the hungry urge to spit one or two or more this way please go here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-167-edible.html

Alphabe-Thursday - Fall Break - Autumn Colors

     There's something a wee bit different brewing at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday and it's about autumn!

THIS IS AN ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST

but as an autumn delight, Jenny from "Off on my tangent" has ordered it be a celebration for autumn and here by names it, "Fall Break" and it's theme shall be "Autumn Colors!"

My offering is a little story called, 
     "The Scarecrow, The Witch and The Coffee Shop"

It was supposed to be autumn and all through the neighborhood came an unnaturally loud stillness in the air.  Autumn never came, not yet.   Oh no!

What was that incredibly wonderful fresh smell more powerful than the bold scents lurking in the countryside?  Suddenly, a slight noise came from behind us and what to our surprise did we see standing right before our eyes......

.....was an old lady with the warmest of colors flowing across her well, body.  Who dresses like this we wondered?  She had an awful rough and croaking voice when she welcomed us inside to have a cup of her wonderful coffee.  We accepted and walked inside.

You would have too, if you'd smelled her coffee.

While feeling all cozy and comfortable as we drank her most delicious coffee, we told her about our worries that autumn may never come this year.

The old woman raised her eyebrows and with a most sinister laugh she urged us to listen very carefully.  "Go out the back door and follow the Minnehaha Creek that awaits and never look back.  Once you see a towered mansion spring up from nowhere stop!  The key to your mystery lives there."


As we walked, we wondered, who would live way out here?

We almost fell into Minnehaha Creek the second we walked out the back door.  But we carefully followed along the side of the creek through the thickest of weeds and rough brush, just like she told us.
....and finally right before our eyes springing up from nowhere (like she said it would) was the house with the very special tower belonging to the Minnehaha Witch!  Seriously? We certainly didn't believe that at all.  But the old woman was very stern about this witch holding the key to whether "autumn" will arrive or not.

The old woman warned us that if we didn't place the stake from a delightful looking scarecrow right in the center of her forlorn property, that autumn would never come.  Oh no!
"Where on earth would we find a scarecrow?"  So with all our genius we first gathered up some weathered grasses and found a worthy firm branch and each of us took off something we were wearing and we stuck it firming in the ground and brought a delightful scarecrow to life wouldn't you agree?

Somebody was happy, as we noticed butterflies making spectacles of themselves, dancing merrily and we heard the song of frogs and crickets croaking all the way from the creek.

But looking all around, nothing seemed to change.  Was it truly going to be autumn now?  So on little tip toes we walked up the mighty steps (well they felt mighty as we were plenty nervous) and we knocked on the door belonging to the old Minnehaha Witch ever so lightly.

.....and to our great surprise

and much too insistent to ignore

sat an ecstatically happy Minnehaha Witch!  Her face was shining with pride as she noticed her old friend, Mr. Scarecrow had returned home once again!

....and once again all was right with the world, and autumn finally fell across all of the land, and we were all happy.

Of course that's not all

we all shared hot cider and spider (decorated silly) cookies!

The end.

If you want to share your own visions of "Autumn Colors" or just view an entire group of other posts please do go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/10/alphabe-thursdays-fall-break-and.html

Whimscial Wednesday 19 October 2011

Welcome to another splash of whimsy just for you!

THIS IS A WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST

   When my children were growing up we had a few distant neighbors who did not partake in the autumn bliss of anything Halloween like....In fact they made sure that school parties were called "Fall Harvest Party" or anything that didn't include a hallow or ghostly pumpkin inside..... I still feel a bit sad about that.....

I always decorated our little piece of land that we called "Our Home" ....children loved it.....while a few of those silly more distant neighbors driving by would say..."Oh your the house with all those Halloween decorations!"  ...mind you now nothing really too scary...I mean it would appear much like this below

Kinda not so scary right?

Sometimes, it's just all about having FUN!

                          Capture the moment

                                And plunge
                                    Into
                      The flight of imagination
                                    And
                               Believe its
                          Magnificent vision

I hope you enjoy a bit of whimsy everywhere you go...and if you want to share some of your own please do

http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/p/whimsical-wednesday.html



Before The Fall- A Leaf Assignment

                A leaf assignment?  Yes! Carmi from Written Inc. Blog presented last Sunday a new mission for us to complete if, we accept.  When you get a chance, go out and find a leaf, any leaf.... snap a picture of it, and before placing it in a book to save for a later (mission) post your photo on Carmi's "Before The Fall" post....if you choose not to accept, this post will not self-destruct in 30 seconds!

just go here
http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/before-fall.html

Last night the weatherman was predicting really low temps so I thought I better do some leaf hunting just to be safe!

Another Hollyhock leaf shot this morning......after near frost......

So if you have accepted this mission, just know Carmi will explain more later!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thematic Photographic # 167 Edible

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC Post

                       Are you hungry?  Well, you just might be after you view all the- tasty tidbits of all things edible...healthy or not here they come.......... and just to let you know,
                     Carmi said some edible things are just for fun....

 .....and if you want to tempt us with your own incredible tasty-for the-tummy-yummy food just go here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-167-edible.html

We saw this Humpty-Dumpty Scarecrow man yesterday!  Can you guess how many eggs this Humpty-designer ate to put Humpty together for the Scarecrow Festival?  A whole lot of edible eggs I'm thinking....

Yes! his head is made up of empty egg shells!
Hopefully you had dinner already.....while I continue serving up "edible"
as our theme this week!  Devour and savour what you can ...

Also from yesterday's Scarecrow-fest another fun and edible thing is this
photo below

Have you ever seen a Blue Hubbard squash?

Of course they are very healthy for you.  Even delicious!  You can use these in so many recipes, soups or even pies!  Or to decorate with!

Maybe you've never heard of Blue Hubbard squash before? 

So many foods we eat today go way back in time...don't they?


Tonight is spaghetti night (it's one of my favorite dishes)
but first I needed to pick up a few things at the grocery store.

 I always play around with my spaghetti sauces....and sometimes not just the sauce....changing the pasta is fun too

Besides having fun with our food.... there are companies who call our food by silly names

A very favorite pasta of mine is labeled, Mother in Law's Tongue, seriously.  It's taking the ordinary out of Pasta with all natural no food coloring added..... It's a handmade delicate pasta!  When in Italy they say
"Buon appetito!!

Will The Real Daddy of Max's Boys Please.....Meow!

Will the real Daddy of Max's boys please Meow!

"Louder, please we can't all hear you....."

Meet Smoke, a brother to Monster, the kitty-cat I've frequently posted, mostly because when you're out in the yard Monster's always at your feet in seconds.....


This post is what I promised Max I would send .....you see Max (if you don't already know) has the cutest little boy brother kitty-cats anyone could ever want.  Maybe you've seen them!  You might even think this was Alan all grown up.  Or not.

We'll let Max be the judge of that....

Did somebody call my name?

Actually if Utah and Minnesota were neighbors and our houses were on the border of each, it's quite possible that Smoke could really be their daddy!  Meow....meow.....after all he's quite the stud muffin-kitty, very adorable and enormously big hearted...really, I kitty you not......!


Just look at him!

Did you say dinner time already?  What?..... just another photo shot?
purr, purr....MEOW!


 Since autumn is slowly slipping away, this lovely afternoon napping spot, will soon be closed up for the brutal winter we get...

But for now, I'll just take a good long cat nap.....
Oh by the way
Max
just in case you want to see Smoke's paw prints
he left them on my windshield over the weekend
he must have read my mind about his DNA !

Just noticed these today, with the sunshine pouring through my windshield...
So Max what do you think? 

Saturday Centus 15 October 2011 - A Literary Device Challenge

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST, 

...and it's brought to you today by:  Ms Jenny from "Off on my tangent" and Jenny is offering us such a sweet and exciting challenge for this week's centus.  No photos of our own, please.  But, by using this photo we shall weave a tale of sensory details.....in what ever tasty manner possible....are you seeing red yet?  No way...this is gonna be fun...fun...and more fun! 

But first, feast your eyes on this theme photo ....

This is Jenny's prompt photo for this Saturday Centus exercise of Sensory Details

         Townsfolk saw Grandpa’s hideaway as a depressing eyesore bursting with dust and disuse. Not me or this wild turkey strutting sheepishly around that gaping hole of rotting wood. They mostly whined about the foul odor from ripe earthworms and moldy straw spawning a bitter tang everywhere.




Yet my nose tickled from cherry tobacco and wood-smoke.


Suddenly, a bone-rattling thump ruffled this turkey’s feathers and he flew off and dropped into a bed of putrid leaves. I stretched my ears once the eerie thumping silenced and thought I heard the pitter-patter of feet romping through the house, just once more.


Jenny offers this Literary Device Challenge to any and all of us who care to share our words (no more than 100) and if you don't know how to get there already...try this

Six Word Saturday - 6WS- 15 October 2011

THIS IS A NEW.....   SIX WORD SATURDAY POST

Eliminating procrastination-

      gives back your life

Composing, my own, personal    procrastination list.

Revising everyday.


Most of us don’t really procrastinate so much, at least not about the really big stuff.
Or do we?
Do you let procrastination linger in the air?


Some people live by lists. I keep lists in my head. Sure we’re mostly organized, but there’s always that one thing, (or possibly many things) that we know we need to do, but we let procrastination be our fall guy.


Procrastination delays ambition and the urgency to postpone our own personal industriousness which puts off our motivation and makes us drag our feet instead of possessing enthusiasm which builds diligence to make us the dynamic person we really are!

FIRST, on My procrastination elimination list

     1. Quit procrastinating


So if you want to hop over to Show My Face blog, and join in on Cate's Six Word Saturday too, or just want to view a few more lively posts go here

http://www.showmyface.com/2011/10/six-word-saturday_15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showmyface+%28Show+My+Face%29

Sepia Saturday # 96 Saturday: 15 October 2011

THIS IS A SEPIA SATURDAY POST

            It seems our theme photo arrives by Christine H's remarkable comment last week, and Alan has graciously accepted her challenge and made it his theme photo. So our theme could touch war, cooking, fire, chairs and/or strange outfits.  So Alan says cook up a post and Bon appetit!


I first give you a close second to his theme photo, a bit of cooking, and fire (as in cooking and drinking of fire water-or beer) in this photo

A bit of cooking will soon finish off this 95 pound sturgeon from about 1900. - Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society and these two brave fishermen.

My next entry is of quite possibly a fictional Harry Potter, in somewhat of a "strange outfit" by today's standards, next to a "chair" and the only real source of fact relating to this photo is that it was taken in Vancouver......

He is quite the handsome and well dressed young lad wouldn't you agree?

               ...did you notice the amazing reflection in this photo?

I really don't mean any disrespect, or make fun of this charming young woman, but with all do respect as far as "strange outfits" may go this photo, especially this hat, or whatever it may be called to me, appears quite strange...and takes away from this young woman's character very much.....

I don't mean to offend anyone, if this is a traditional head covering of some sort, (someone here may know and I apologize right now if that is the case.)  But to me it seems rather odd.

My last photo covers fire (for fireworks) and cooking (or eating) at this Fourth of July party in an unknown St. Paul location around 1908.

1908 Fourth of July celebration when people still dressed up for these kinds of goings on and instead throwing a blanket onto the ground they placed a white linen tablecloth on a table and brought their little American flags to wave about their nicely set table.  - Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to play out Alan's theme from Sepia Saturday, and if you feel like posting your own offering, or just wish to view a few other posts, please go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/10/sepia-saturday-96-saturday-15th-october.html

Thematic Photographic # 166 Triangular

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST
 After finishing a week like this last one, I need a melting spot....and I can find a perfect place, by posting a few more photo's for Carmi's Thematic Photographic post...........

Just when you think you don't have one triangle so many just pop up before your eyes...

Lost inside these lines of two, three or four or more...trace together all these angles and where do you end up?

What is it about those who wear a tall pointed red hat that makes them  just so cute?

You really have to get to know these little gnomes.....

Did I tell you about my fascination of taking pictures at 599 Summit Avenue in St. Paul?

Well on this day, outside what once was F. Scott Fitzgerald's residence the owner of the house came outside to (perhaps tempt me) or maybe just water her plants.  She also brought out a large pitcher of what appeared to be iced tea.  Did I respond to her gaze, yes with a polite nod and quick hello and off I went, before the spider, or rather, owner invited me into her web, I mean patio!

So many times the big picture has so many little pictures locked inside of it....like these next two photos...

Just like life's little things tangled between life's big things......

...and this busy view as well.


If you care to share your own triangle, or triangles, or you are curious to see if Carmi included something more from his theme photo...it's pretty cool...if you like that sort of thing.... But remember this is the way to adventure and triangles

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-166-triangular.html

Alphabe-Thursday the Letter Z

WELCOME TO ALPHABE-THURSDAY

Jenny from "off on my tangent" sends us a weekly Thursday assignment where we respond with the letter of the week.......... which is  Z !
   


It's all about the letter Z today .....

Note: Technically speaking, there aren't any typos below.....just a lot of z's taking over!

Z is for the Zany Zeal of Zeeing the MinneZota ZOO

Zen and the Art of the Camel an inquiry into the zoul of a camel....

Zeally, it'z a good thing to be an elephant.  Ask any elephant and Zee what they Zay!

Zoap anyone, I think I need a bath!

Zealing right along


Zeal without knowledge is fire without light
- Thomas Fuller 1654-1734


Having the utmost excellence in one's own heart, isn't trying to clear the world,
 but instead...it's loving all things human and living .....that their heart can touch....

Let me give you just one more big hug before I go.....

Zust two more zany photos from the Zoo....

From the penguins that recently arrived to....our Minnezota Zoo
and last but not zeast.....watch the branchez very clozely

Zee over zonder, it's a monkey
he jumpz acrozz each branche'z tip
without zo much az a quip
in the middle of the city'z forezt in the light
of day and the glow of night

Now that'z all I have for the letter Z today
but come back next week
and we'll try for something

even better inZtead
juzt for your delight


If you want to share your own post for the letter Z just go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/10/alphabe-thursdays-letter-z.html

Whimsical Wednesday - 12 October 2011

THIS IS A WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST

Who dares to walk across my bridge at midnight?

I swallowed at the sight

Of such a strange delight
Who are those funny creatures?
Both with such silly-dilly features

Did somebody scream “tumblr?”


But there's nobody else in sight.
I was spellbound in secret silence
It just made no sense....
Oops, I nearly took a tumble
into the river Zumbler....
Just seeing their arms dangling
It sent a chill crawling
Up and down my spine
I’m sure anyone else would whine
At this silly sight
Alone out here tonight
At half past midnight….

Thank you for stopping by another October post of Whimsical Wednesday and if you care to share one of your own or just want to view more go here


http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/p/whimsical-wednesday.html

Thematic Photographic # 166 triangular

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC Post

 .... Carmi, from Written Inc. blog, has selected "triangular" or even if it suggests one, as this week's three-sided theme...........
or as Carmi phrased it, "bring your threesies."


...........so grabbing from my private stash of photos..............

              

Anyone care for hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream or maybe a soft drink or perhaps the rest room?  All of those are found right here under the three-sided-triangular rooftops in Linden Hills, on Lake Harriet.
It's last year's snow on the roof.

                  This triangular shape caught my attention while window shopping at the Galleria Shops in Edina earlier this year.....still not sure what it is....

Here's a threesie-triangular-sided flag.....It was a happy 4th of July Parade, except for the over load of mosquitoes.....

Have you ever attended a Norwegian wedding?  Then you know what this is....if not, traditionally it's a kransekake or Norwegian Wedding cake.
It's quite yummy too....and so triangular shaped,
and everyone specially designed with your own personal flags and candies.


This last photo takes on the threesies idea....like 3 mints in one....
of being, three views in one

Really, this is a great "threesies!"
The first view is looking through the window into a shop, while also taking the view of what's outside the shop (on the left) and finally your third view is the reflection of what's on this side of the glass when I shot the photo!

and so while we're on the topic of three---
We all know there are 3 sides to every story....but did you know there's such a thing as a 3-sided coin?

So if you too have a triangular, threesies, or anything suggesting triangles or 3 sides...please bring here...before a new theme arrives

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-166-triangular.html

Thematic Photographic # 165 Welcome autumn

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

.....one more look into autumn around where I live......

Things are a changing.......

On a side street in Saint Paul, in the Crocus Hill neighborhood....where the houses and mansions are large and distinctive and mostly built between 1890-1920....the leaves still change, and fall swiftly to the ground...waiting for their last duty of crackle and crunch.....

Such immense, rambling ivy slowly changing colors..leaf by leaf...each day another change.....How lucky they are to have this ivy....it's a delicate keeper, taking a healthy hold across this house....who needs curtains?

Sailing into autumn's wake....leaf by leaf.



I used to believe that autumn colors arrived only by the frosts that covered all the living.....and that was not exactly so....

My last TP post showed this spot two weeks ago after a gentle frost, and fog lingering throughout....today (our high was 86) it's beginning to turn....ever so slightly...and we haven't had a moment of frost......

Amazing isn't it?

but even better...

I made a wreath for our deck out of nature's free autumn art-supplies.....right from my own yard!

So, if you're feeling like adding your own autumn view.... put away your rakes, turn off the football game and post an autumn photo too!

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-165-welcome.html

How is your autumn?  Hopefully you haven't had any of that white stuff falling about....