I planted Roma tomatoes in my organic container garden from seed this spring. After a whole lot of thinning and transplanting, and weather that went backwards into winter before moving on to summer, at last I have flowering, fruit-bearing tomato plants. Hooray!
While my husband was working in our garage, this hummingbird flew in through the front door. It became disoriented and kept flying at one of the windows on the side of the garage. I took this picture during one of its resting spells. Even though the window is filthy, you can see its reflection.
I tried to move the bird out to the front of the garage by holding up a trash can lid and carrying it toward the open area. It perched on the edge of the lid every time it was near, but when I moved the lid it flew off again.
My husband went outside and removed the screen on the window while this exhausted bird sat in the corner of the windowsill, obviously worn out and barely moving. As soon as the screen came off, the bird apparently sensed the movement, turned, and flew out the way it had flown in. Free at last!
The Fourth of July wouldn’t be Independence Day without some kind of message. Here are the rest of my photos from yesterday, celebrating a holiday in a small Northern California town. Some of them are political, and all of them are about community.
When I was a kid, there was always a Fourth of July parade in my home town. I lived in Gilroy, the southernmost town in Santa Clara County, California during the 1960s. It is known as the Garlic Capital of the World because more garlic is processed there than anywhere else. They host an annual Garlic Festival now, but when I lived in Gilroy we had Frontier Days.
Now I live in Mendocino County, in another small town hugging Highway 101. There are a lot of similarities to Gilroy, including Frontier Days. Almost every year, we make our way down to the center of town to watch the annual parade on July Fourth. Here are some photos I took today that are typical of small town Independence Day festivities.
This brass band played on the edge of the City Park before the parade.
These children prepared for their march down Main Street.
A jazz band celebrated the day on the Rotary float.
My daughter Katie and husband Sam watched the show from the shade of the City Park.
These mules demonstrated patience.
These youngsters show the spirit of the holiday!
This flag-bearing helicopter was a first for me.
I have posted several recipes on this blog for oatmeal cookies. They are all born of the same basic recipe, but each includes one or more variations. I am in search of the recipe that stands out from the rest, but the truth is I love them all!
The recipe that I prepared today is unique. I replaced some of the oil with fresh fruit. In the past I have added applesauce and even grated apples to oatmeal cookies. This time I added fresh pear.
I know that I tend to be obsessed with pears, but they have such a delicate flavor, it can be challenging to find a recipe that they don’t disappear into. Today’s recipe does them justice. It is moist and yummy. Next time I may try plums instead. I was inspired by my most recent watercolor still life painting, which includes pears and plums. The fruit was ripe, and had to be used!
Oatmeal Fruit Cookie Bars
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 13×9 inch glass baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 1 large mashed pear (7/8 cup total liquid measure), 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 whole eg, 2 egg whites, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Add combined 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well.
Add 3 cups uncooked oats and 1 cup golden raisins, mixing thoroughly.
Spread the dough in the baking dish using waxed paper. Bake 20-25 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool before cutting. Makes 24 bars.
Today I would like to thank my 200th follower, Barbara Mattio. And to all of my other 199 followers, thank you! You all make the blogging experience so much more enjoyable by expressing your interest and sharing a part of yourselves in this amazing virtual world. Personal connections bring the Real World into cyberspace!
It’s a lot of fun watching my latest watercolor painting unfold, one color at a time. I began with a Prismacolor drawing, using a Goldenrod pencil. Then my first layer of color was Cadmium Yellow Pale.
Next I used Cerulean Blue to fill in the background, change some of the yellow to green on the pears and the leaves, and add a first layer to the plums.
My third layer of color was Permanent Alizarin Crimson. I used this to turn the plums purple, and fill in the foreground. I also added some shadows.
My next step will most likely be to add more yellow. Can’t wait to see how it will look!
I’m hoping that the flowers that are blooming in and around my organic vegetable gardens will attract enough pollinators. I am happy to report that the bees have been on site for some time, and busy as, well, bees!
They are most interested in the sunflowers.
The nasturtiums have finally bloomed, and new flowers are appearing swiftly. I took this photo early in the day.
Later I went out again, and another flower had appeared in the same spot!
Hooray for flowers!
Before I resumed work on the still life that I set up, drew, and photographed recently, which includes a pitcher that I recycled into a planter, I began another piece. I am using the hot press Arches watercolor paper that I recently purchased for both of my projects.
My second project is a painting using soft pastel pencils. I am even less experienced with these than I am with watercolors. This is an opportunity for me to experiment with different media using the same subject matter. I hope the fruit holds up a bit longer!
The pitcher in my piece using pastels turned out narrower, and the fruit seems to be a bit smaller. I also used a different view of my subject. I may make other changes before I complete this, but the basic composition is my starting point for each project.
Next I began to add paint to my original pitcher with fruit drawing. I did some research, and discovered that watercolors on the hot press paper, which is smoother than the cold press I have been using, should appear brighter. I am using new watercolors for this painting, which are a different brand and professional quality. I already notice how bright the paint appears. This first layer is Cadmium Yellow Pale.
I will most likely bounce back and forth between these two paintings, using one to inform the other. I can’t wait to see how they turn out!
I just couldn’t resist photographing the sunlight as it streamed through the gap in the blinds the other morning.
It is such a powerful force: free energy!
These photos were taken at slightly different angles to illuminate the plane of light.
They were not modified in any way except for cropping.
Cool, huh?
This time of year the local vineyards are sparkling green and bursting with growth. They are surrounded by the golden grass of summer and spreading oaks, which is typical vegetation along much of California’s coastal hillsides and valleys. It is a vision of motion, with grape vines marching up and down, like green waves on a sea of gold.
When You're Bored 