Choices

Some excerpts from today's Purpose Driven Connection daily e-devotional by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, CA and author of The Purpose Driven Life.  (I so agree with him, but also am feeling the hefty cost that goes with making the choice to swim upstream in a world where most people are living in the rat race!!)

"Your choices control your calendar and, as a result, your lifestyle.  Your choices are far more powerful than your circumstances.  You may not like how complicated your life has become yet, with very few exceptions, no one is forcing you to keep your life complicated."

"You have the power to simplify your life."

"Ultimately, it will be the donation of your life that will count far more than the duration."

Oops...

Wrong critter!

(That's a squirrel in the trap, not a bunny!)

Nature Walk

(on the way to releasing the bunny!)

Gotcha!

Bunny #6!

"Where do I go now??"

This was just a little guy - he just didn't know where to go once I set him free.  I waited and waited until he headed off into the brush....

I'd been watching his antics all week; he reminded me of a kid bunny with ADHD - I didn't think he'd slow down long enough to check out the trap, but obviously he did!

Summer Bounty

Refrigerator Pickles

Sculpey Fun

Summer Fun

This is a fun summer popsicle recipe to make with kids.

My nephew enjoyed making them and eating them!

Firecracker Ice Pops

Source:  Everyday Foods

1/2 lb. strawberries, hulled and quartered (1 1/2 c.)

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 lb. blueberries (1 1/2 c.)

1 1/4 c. plain yogurt

In a food processor, puree strawberries with 1 T. sugar.  Transfer to a small bowl.  In processor, puree blueberries with 1 T. sugar.  In another small bowl, whisk together yogurt and 2 T. sugar.  Pour the 3 mixtures, alternating, into ten 3-oz. ice-pop molds, making 3 to 5 layers each.  With a skewer or think-bladed knife, swirl mixtures together in an up-and-down motion.  Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid, 2 1/2 to 3 hours (or up to 1 week).

Garden Glimpses

Limelight Hydrangea

Hydrangea

Knockout Rose

Purple Coneflowers

Garden Glimpses

Coriander

(Cilantro Seeds)

Learning Sculpey

I had so much fun at this polymer clay jewelry class this evening.  I've been wanting to learn how to work with polymer clay for quite a while now, but just didn't know where to begin.  I was sure it wasn't that difficult, but I needed a quick introduction.  This class was perfect; it was held at Mount Gretna (who could ask for a better location?!) and covered all the basics.  Plus, I got to spend time with my dear creative friend Sally!  :)

Garden Glimpses

Black-Eyed Susan

Purple Coneflower

Watching and Waiting

I figured the drought had scared away any remaining rabbits, but a few days ago I looked out the window and saw a rabbit rolling on his back in the crunchy grass, just a like a dog!  Maybe these bunnies have hung out with the neighborhood dogs for so long that they are forgetting that they are rabbits??

Then yesterday morning, my nephew and I looked out the window and saw a baby bunny happily munching on some grass right off the patio.  So, that means I have at least two more rabbits to catch.  We spotted the baby bunny again in the evening, and watched his antics for quite a while as we ate supper on the patio.  We kept saying aloud, "Go to your trap" and "You like carrots more than you like Swiss chard", but to no avail....  My nephew was as committed to catching the rabbit as I was, so at least I know I'm not the only crazy rabbit hunter out there!  :) 

In the meantime, I'll keep putting out fresh carrots....

Pincushion Fun

My nephew and I made this fun little pinchusion today with novelty fabrics, using the foundation paper piecing method.  :)

Gardening Challenges...

First the rabbits, then the bugs....

More bugs...

 

Tomato blight?

Pathetic-looking impatiens...

A Gerbera daisy that refuses to bloom again....

Weeds that are bigger than the flowers!

Eeuw - what is this?!

Would you call this grass?

Not exactly optimal growing conditions!

More Virginia Rose

I found these dishes at the thrift shop today, and for a bargain as usual.  I love them....  I have a few other similiar pieces of Virginia Rose from my Great Aunt, but the pattern is a little bit different. 

Morning Harvest

Fresh Lemonde

There's nothing quite like a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade in the summer!

source: Cindy M.

1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 c. fresh lemon juice (5-6 lemons)
4 c. additional water

Combine  sugar and 1 c. water in saucepan.  Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved.  Boil 1 minute.  Cool.

Add fresh lemon juice  and 4 c. water.

serves 4-6

I often make a glass at a time; here's how I do it:

Place 2 T. sugar in a 12-oz. glass.

Add enough boiling water to dissolve sugar; stir until completely dissolved.

Add enough ice to cool.

Add juice of 1 lemon.

Fill glass with water.

Enjoy!

Quotes Worth Contemplating

"Gardening is a journey, not a destination."
- Gardener Wayne Guymon, as quoted in Martha Stewart Living magazine, July 2010

No Such Luck

I was sure I would catch rabbit #6 this morning - all my other catches have been two back-to-back, but no such luck.  I haven't seen any evidence of the remaining rabbit, so maybe he went off to find greener pastures?  Let's hope so!