Post-rain.....

We've had some pretty hefty thunderstorms roll through our area these past few days and it looks like another is brewing in the distance for tonight. I wandered through the backyard and noticed how all the plants and flowers have enjoyed the extra dose of water. Everything is greener and some flowering plants that hadn't flowered in awhile, were flowering again! While I was out snapping photos, I got buzzed by two hummingbirds who, I'm going to assume, were saying 'thank you' for re-filling their feeder earlier today. I love those little guys, but they sure do make a lot of noise when they buzz an inch away from your head......

....a teeny-weeny little fern.....

honeysuckle...

I have no idea what this is, but I like the
gorgeous purple berries on it....

....even though it's still a hot-as-Hades August,
this reminded me of Fall.....

ahhhh...my gorgeous Hibiscus has been
blooming like crazy this week thanks
to all the extra rain....

"Almost any garden,
if you see it at just the right moment,
can be confused with paradise."

~Henry Mitchell~

Milling About.....

Yates Mill off in the distance.....

I finally went to the Yates Mill Historic Park yesterday out on Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh. I've driven past it for years, everytime saying "I'm gonna go do that tour sometime", and yesterday, I finally did. It was awesome! Yates Mill is a fully-restored 18th century, water-powered gristmill (where they grind corn into cornmeal and wheat into flour). It sits on a 20 acre pond that you walk part-way around to get from the museum building to the mill itself. At the mill, they show you how corn is shelled and how the huge granite grinders and all the other gears, including the monster water wheel outside, move to make cornmeal to just the right consistency. Their next big event is the Harvest Celebration next month, which I will definitely return for. I'm so glad I went and I'm glad my daughter came with me to see a little bit of history.

the dam and the water-powered wheel sitting idle....

Yates Mill from the backside in b&w. It just seemed
appropriate. I can't decide though which I like better.
This b&w or the color one below....

Yates Mill in living color

the view from under the Lake Wheeler Bridge....

other inhabitants under the bridge....ick.

old gears guide you down the mill path....

more gears in b&w....

...at the front door of the mill. Gorgeous.

Our Table Runneth Over.....

(gorgeous peppers....look at those colors!)

Sal and I went to the Farmer's Market again Saturday morning. I went specifically to purchase a pastry from the German Bakery there that I had seen the week before. It's called an 'Apple Purse' and after a fruitless (hahaha) on-line search to find a recipe, I knew I would have to buy one of theirs, eat it and figure out how they made it. It was a thick bread folded over a ribbon of apple filling. I gotta be honest....it was not good. And definitely not worth the $4 they charged me for it! I'll stick with my German Apple Cake recipe. Same premise and much tastier.

What we did walk away with were some other fresh goodies--peaches, butter beans and yellow squash. I also walked away with some pretty cool pictures of what will soon be the end of an amazing summer of yummmmmmy produce.....

Watermelon season is almost over.....

...in need of some brown sugar, cinnamon and butter....

...gorgeous tomatoes....

....all ears...


...and these make me think of Falltime....

I mentioned to Sal as we walked through that it would only be a few more weeks before the truck-loads of corn and melons were replaced with pumpkins. Orange globes as far as the eye can see. I can't wait to share those pictures with you.....it's insane!!!

Tail Lights.....

I am a recreational shutter-bug. I love snapping pictures while I am out and about. I don't have a big fancy camera, but I do have a point-and-click and a cell-phone with a camera and both have captured some pretty cool shots.

Some nights ago while my husband and I were out and he was driving, I was playing with my cell-phone taking pictures of the cars in front of us. We hit a bump in the road while I was snapping off a shot and this was the picture I got.....


I loved it, so I re-created the 'jerky' motion while taking more shots and loved how they looked.....

some police lights mixed in....

nothing but tail....

Fungus Among Us......

While trolling the neighborhood over the weekend I ran across this little patch of mushrooms. Only these 3 and they we're so pretty. I think they are called Parasol Mushrooms. I assume for their shape as they would make the perfect little sun or rain protection for whatever ant, caterpillar or other teeny little creature that made it's way under it's ample-sized dome.Parent and child....

Since we're on the topic of mushrooms, let's move to edible ones. My all-time, hands-down, most favorite mushroom dish E-V-E-R has to be....my Portobello Burgers. I know, I know--"how 2002!", you're saying. I don't care. These are awesome. Soooo simple but so slammin' good and tasty and good for ya, too! Here's a tip--Sam's Club carries the biggest Portobello's I've ever seen. 4 to a pack and they are 5-6 inches across for about $4. They are monsters. Try this recipe....you'll never look for a meat hamburger ever again! Promise.

Portobello Burgers

4 Portobello Mushroom caps
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 tsp dried Italian Seasoning**
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
Salt & Pepper, to taste
4 slices Provolone, Muenster, Swiss or
whatever white cheese you like
4 halves of jar or fresh roasted red peppers, blotted
**(use fresh basil and oregano if you have it!)


Carefully pull the remaining stem out of the underside of the mushroom cap, being careful not to rip or tear the cap.

In a zip-top bag, mix vinegar, oil, Italian Seasoning, garlic and salt and pepper. Place mushroom caps in bag, zip up and carefully make sure all of the cap gets coated in the marinade. Place in fridge for at least 30 minutes up to overnight.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place mushroom caps, gill-side down, over the flame. Cook for 6-8 minutes and flip. Cook for another 5 minutes. Place roasted red pepper and one slice of cheese into cap. Cover and cook for another minute til melted.
Serve on your favorite hamburger bun with all the toppings you would normally eat on a burger.....or eat it just on it's own, which is my favorite way.

Getting Lost....

Sundays are a weekly driving day for me. I grab my camera, peel the top back on the Jeep and go get lost. On purpose. Today I was particularly taken with these huge, round mountains of hay....

A Tummy's Bounty....

Sal and I were up early this morning to hit two Farmer's Markets. One in Holly Springs and the other, the North Carolina State Farmer's Market--the big daddy one. The one in Holly Springs peaked my interest because of the amount of fresh herbs that were for sale. And fresh honey. Nothin' better! Then we jetted off to the big one.....

I love the N.C. State Farmer's Market. It is huge and has everything. This trip we picked up some apples and fresh shelled beans. So much inspiration, so little time....and tummy space!

T's waiting for a little B & L!

An army of Okra....

Peaches galore....