Showing posts with label Hibiscus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hibiscus. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Summer in September




September is still Summer for us.  Summer it is!  Autumn doesn't officially come until September 23rd.  Even then, we will still have warm days into October.  We are seeing subtle signs of the changes about to begin.  Even though we've had 90 degree days and humidity that makes my hair grow when we take our morning walk, we see the changes happening.  The lamp in the living room is turned on earlier.  The sun comes through the bay window at a different angle.




 The leaves on the big oak tree out front is suffering from lack of rain.  The trees are dropping their leaves to save water.  Grayden and Samuel have already mowed and bagged leaves for compost.  It's quite early for that and even though it hasn't been a week it needs to be done again.  The black gum always drops its leaves now, but not the oak.  We don't water our lawn so of course it is brown.  The plants in pots are now getting daily watering as I can't bear to loose them so early.






Do you get the Sphinx Moth visiting your flowers?  They look like a small hummingbird and are so industrious!








The morning glories are just beginning to bloom on the trellis.




The dry weather doesn't keep the fall crocus from blooming.








Fairy Blankets



September’s Baccalaureate
A combination is
Of Crickets—Crows—and Retrospects
And a dissembling Breeze

That hints without assuming—
An Innuendo sear
That makes the Heart put up its Fun
And turn Philosopher.

Emily Dickinson

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

What's for Breakfast?





There are so many choices for breakfast.  I love breakfast meals for dinner on nights when I'm tired or we just want something simple.  Pancakes or waffles are favorites in my home.  Grayden loves eggs and is happy to have them frequently.  Most mornings I really don't have time or don't want to make a hearty breakfast.  Those are reserved for slow easy days like weekends or vacations.


Hibiscus


This week I decided to make an old standby ---Granola.  A simple recipe to make ahead so we can eat a healthy breakfast is always a goal.  It's so easy to make and so tasty for breakfast.  Of course it's great over yogurt or as my grandson likes-- over ice cream.

Here is my recipe for homemade granola:

7 cups of rolled oats (not quick oats)
1 cup of wheat germ
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup of canola oil
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup of honey

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl.





 Spread mixture in parchment or silpat lined baking pan.  Bake in 275 degree oven for 2 hours.  Stir every 20 minutes or so.  After the granola is all baked and toasty, sprinkle one or two cups of dried fruit over the granola.  I usually add raisins.  Any dried fruit is fine.  Allow mixture to cool completely and then store in an airtight container.  I love old jars and have a collection that I use in my kitchen.




When I was outside today, I noticed this bloom on the same hibiscus plant that produced the bloom above.  I hope this doesn't mean it is reverting back to the white plant it was grafted onto!


Pink and White Hibiscus