Z is for Zest! and Zesters!

Z !!

Zest is best

Adding spice and tang to life

High energy



This completes the 2013 A-Z Challenge

It was fun and I enjoyed reading as many others

as I could. There were about 1500 participants.

Next year I'll have to play again!

Whew!

To see the list of all the others

 and read some more just go here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

Eric Alder's Monday Photo Prompt 4-29-2013

Small bird feet

Sense worm tremors underneath

     Quick beak eats

~~~~~

Y is for Yummy Yams

Y !!

Lip smacking

Versatile vegetable

Yummy yams

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fiery Sweet Potatoes(Yams)

10-12 servings

Time about 2 hours

5 pounds sweet potatoes/yams

1 cup coconut milk

1T Thai red curry paste

1/2 c dark brown sugar

4 T unsalted butter

1 t salt

1. Heat oven to 375 F. Bake potatoes on a baking sheet

until very soft-about 1 hour. When cool enough to

handle, peel and mash.

2. Heat coconut milk with curry paste over low heat.

Mix coconut mixture, 1/2 the sugar, 1/2 the butter

and all the salt into the potatoes. Keep warm until

ready to serve or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

3. At least 30 min before serving, heat oven to 425 degrees F.

Put potatoes into baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 20 min.

Uncover potatoes, dot with remaining butter and sugar and

broil until brown and crusty on top, checking often so

they do not burn!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~
To read more A-z Challenges go here:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

Sunday's Shadow Shot 4-28-2013

My blue chair

Warming in a sunny spot

Take a seat

~~~~~~~~

For more Shadowy Sunday Shots go here:

http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com

Magpie Tales #166- Weasel's Slumber Party

Illustration by Helen Ward

The Weasel party started out so quiet

So quiet before Badger created a riot

Created a riot and cakes flew all about

All about as Lizard began to shout

Began to shout "You never ask us-it's not right!

It's not right- we're so mad we want to fight-

We want to fight and fight all night!"

"Fight all night? Calm down-don't make a stink!

Don't make a stink, join us and have a drink!" 

From there on Badger and Lizard were invited

Were invited and never forgotten or slighted.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales!

Once again we have a stellar image to poke our imagination.

Go here to read how others saw this image :

http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com/2013/04/mag-166.html

X is for eXcellence

X !!

Change your words

Change your world

During this A-Z April Challenge some of us have been

in a sense "painting with words".

 This video is a wonderful example of showing the power of words.

I saw this video on a fellow bloggers eXcellent A-Z Challenge

yesterday and just had to share it today.

You can see more of Dana's The Daily Dose here:
http://dana-thedailydose.blogspot.com/
and her fabulous Haikus here:
http://www.pulitzerremix.com/titles/rabbit-is-rich/april-26-shrouding-the-treetop/

Have a great weekend!
To see other Six Word Saturdays go here:
http://www.showmyface.com
and don't forget to check out other
A-Z Challengers by going here:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html,

W is for Water and Feline Friday!

W !!!

Mt Shasta  seen from Hammond Pond  March 2013

Clean water

We take it for granted

Silly us

Lovely Lola at the Catalina-

Zihuatanejo, Guerro, Mexico

November 2011

To see more A-Z Challengers go here:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

and to see more Fine Friday Felines click on the link below:

V is for Vegetables!

V !!

What would we do without our delicious

home grown or Farmers Market vegetables?

Yesterday I had great fun prepping and planting

in my deer fenced garden.  So far I have planted

spinach, red onions, garlic, potatoes and herbs.

More will be planted once it's warmer.

Have a scrumptious day!

Early Thursday morning......beyond the garden
you can see the beginnings of the greenhouse
that Russell is building. Next year we will be 
able to start our veggies a lot earlier! 

U is for Unbelieveable Crime Scene

U !!

Unbelievable

It had to be a bear that ripped apart

the bird feeder and evidently made off

with a local farmer.....only some clothes

were left and no sign of life anywhere.

What do you think happened?

~~~~~~~~~~

For other A-Z Challengers go here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

Eric Alders Monday Photo Prompt T is for Tunnel

photo by Eric Alder

Underground

Subterranean connection

Links borders

~~~~~~~~~~~

More of Eric Alder's fine photos can be found here:

http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com

and to read and see more A-Z Challengers go here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

S is for Siblings

S is for Siblings

Three ewes equal six baby goats!

Our neighbors have 6 baby goats....

each mother had twins! So cute.

Here's two more siblings...

Russell and one of his many bothers-er brothers.

Rick is 18 months younger.

They are holding their high school graduation photos.

It would be fun to have all 8 of the siblings

lined up with their high school photos!
Do you still have your high school photos?
I am not sure I could find my graduation photo....

~~~~~~~~~~

Magpie Tales #165 Sorrow

Monhegan's Schoolteacher, 2004 by Jamie Wyeth

She reads by the window 

By the window's moonlight

 Moonlight in cold limbo

In cold limbo she savors 

She savors those words

Those words with a bite

A bite brings sad thoughts

Sad thoughts of tomorrow

Of tomorrow and the cold snow

The cold snow that will cover

Will cover her sorrow

After the Snowstorm-January 18, 2013

Thanks to Tess Kincaid for this

 evocative image by Jamie Wyeth.

To read how others saw this image go here:

http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com/2013/04/mag-165.html

and to see more Shadow Shot Sundays go here:

http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/2013/04/shadowy-characters.html

R is for Remnants and Romance

R is for Remnants and Romance

Baking a pie leads to kisses!

We take good care of each other....

I keep cooking good meals and Russell

keeps working hard on our new home!

What a team!

~~~~~~~~~

For more A-Z Challengers hop over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

And to see other Six Word Saturdays sidle this way:

http://www.showmyface.com

Q is for Queen

Q !!!!

Superiority

Cats know they deserve only the best

Silly us

~~~~~~~~

Want to see more Feline Fridays? 

Slink over here:

 http://comedyplus.blogspot.com/2013/04/feline-friday-33.html

And to read more A-Z Challengers scamper over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

P is for Peaches

P!!!

Big sweet bites

Sticky juice dripping off my chin

Peachy bliss

Last summer I bought some lovely ripe local peaches.

Some were devoured immediately and some went into

becoming delectable Ginger Peach Jam.

The others became a Peach Pie.

!!YUMMY !!

O is for Onions, Oatmeal and Oh my!

O!!!

Onions are an important staple in our home!

A lot of our favorite recipes begin with

"first chop one onion".

Oatmeal! A great way to begin your day!

We prefer the Steel cut oatmeal to the dull flaky kind.

Add some raisins and Golden Lyme syrup for a real treat.

OH MY!

We were so surprised to see these birds

yesterday morning at the bird feeder.

Evening Grosbeaks- very gregarious, travel

in large groups and are monogamous!

I apologize for the blurry photo- but it was

the best I could do at the moment!

More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Grosbeak?oldid=id

for more A-Z Challengers ooze over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

N is for Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums

Warm sunny colors

Sweetly beckon the hummingbirds

bees and butterflys

I always plant nasturiums not only because

they are so pretty, but they attract all sorts

of pollinators that we love to watch and enjoy

their busy-ness of life. Nothing better than

sitting in the sun enjoying life around you.

The flowers and leaves are also quite tasty

in a salad or used as a fancy garnish.

~~~~~~~~~~ 

To read other A-Z Challenges fly over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

It's M for Eric Alder's Monday Photo Prompt!!!!

Every Monday Eric Alder posts one of his fine images

for us to dwell on and create something based on the photo.

Thanks Eric!

Photo by Eric Alder

There once was a Greek named Diogenes

Who searched all his life for honesty

He lived in a jar

Acting very bizarre

Growing old he became quite crotchety

"Where is that honest man???"

~~~~~~~~~~

To see more of Eric Alder's Monday Photo Prompts go here:

http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com/2013/04/monday-morning-photo-prompt-41513.html

and to see more A-Z Challengers gallop over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

M is for Magpie Tales and Marriage

Spring, 1935 by Kuzma Petrov-Vodin 

Looking out 

We took the leap of deep friendship

Love rewards

~~~~~~~

Twenty-three years ago today my sweetie pie

and I got married. It's been wonderful and

rewarding being married to my very best friend.

I could not ask for a better life partner

Thanks to Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales

I've been participating on her Magpie Tales since 

May 1st 2010. It's been so much fun learning how

to write poetry from all my fellow bloggers.

Not to mention all the nice people from all over

the world that I have "met".

Cheers everyone! Have a lovely week!

Here's the link to this weeks Magpie Tales:

http://www.magpietales.blogspot.com/2013/04/mag-164.html

and here's the link to April's A-Z Challenge:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

L is for Lemons and Limes along with Six Word Saturdays

L is for Lemons and Limes

As we drove back home

I saw this lovely field of yellow

and immediately thought

"I must have some lemon pie" 

Fortunately we always have lemons

and limes on hand.

YUM...

~~~~~~~

To see other A-Z Challengers

step sweetly over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html
and to see more Six Word Saturdays:
http://www.showmyface.com

K is for Kale

K is for Kale

Home Harvest 2012

Survives frost

Steaming deliciously into soup

Soothing meal

close up of our Kale 2012

Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, and rich in calcium. Kale is a source of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.^[3] Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties.^[4] Boiling decreases the level of sulforaphane; however, steaming, microwaving, or stir frying do not result in significant loss.^[5] Along with other brassica vegetables, kale is also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.^[6][7] Kale has been found to contain a group of resins known as bile acid sequestrants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and decrease absorption of dietary fat. Steaming significantly increases these bile acid binding properties

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For other A-Z participants somersault over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

J is for Jam and It's Feline Friday!

J is for Jam

  

There's the jam you put on your toast

Then there's the cat

stuck in a box jam.....



And then there's the jam Dexter the

 cat gets into when his human

makes him look ridiculous!

~~~~~~

For more A-Z posts hop over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/
I am also linking to Feline Friday here:
http://comedyplus.blogspot.com/2013/04/feline-friday-32.html

Eric Alders Monday Photo Prompt 4-8-2013

Put your ear

On the cold metal and feel the hum

of the city

~~~~~~~

Every week Eric Alder posts one of his images

to inspire us to write.  Go here to read and see more:

http://bifocalunivision.blogspot.com/2013/04/monday-morning-photo-prompt-4813.html

I is for Ice Cream

I is for Ice Cream

One of my favorite desserts

and it's good for you....really!!!!

First get a bowl...

Scoop some vanilla ice cream into the bowl

(or frozen Greek yogurt)

Sprinkle some tasty granola over it

Topped with honey....

so yummy it has to be healthy!!...

~~~~~~~~~

To read other A-Z blogs sweetly slide over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

H is for Honey!!

H is for Honey

Sweet humming

Heard amongst the flowers

Busy bees

Who doesn't like honey?

Tomorrow I'll share what one

 of my favorite desserts is......

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile to see what other A-Z Bloggers

 are up to buzz over here:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

It's Awwww Monday!

And just where do you think you are going?

Where is our breakfast????

To see other Aww Monday pics go here:

http://www.awwwmonday.com/2013/04/awww-mondays-175.html

G is for Garlic- The Stinking Rose

G is for Garlic

photo by Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~

Another Night of
Sleeping on the Couch

This stinking rose

Offends her nose

When I've had a bite

So late at night

I sneak in bed

Away from her head

BUT! "Oh no! Oh ick !"

"I smell garlic!"

So off I go-

she's such a grouch

Once again I am sleeping

on the couch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This would never happen with us as we are addicted to

the "Stinking Rose" and most every main dish begins

with "2-6 garlic cloves-depending on how mean you are."

Here's one of our favorite garlic laced recipes.

Bon Appetit!

The Famous and Awesomely
 Tasty Garlic Spagetti

2 ample servings
6-8 cloves pressed raw garlic (more if you feel really mean)
1 raw egg
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon dry basil or 3 T fresh chopped basil
1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan/romano/asaigo cheese-what ever you prefer
9oz fresh pasta or same equivalent in dry pasta

Mix garlic,raw egg,butter,basil,parsley,and cheese throughly into a "gunk"
meanwhile boil water for pasta, cook pasta, drain pasta and stir gunk into hot pasta
throughly and serve immediately with crusty bread and a big green salad. YUM
~~~~~~~~~~

To see the list of participants
and look at their A-Z blogs skip over here:  
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html
It's amazing how many bloggers there are!

ps: I originally wrote this for Magpie Tales back in 2011

Magpie Tales The Bath

Woman With a Towel, 1898, Edgar Degas 

Timeless form

Slipping into warm oblivion

Days end bliss

~~~~~~~~

Thanks to Tess Kincaid for providing Magpie Tales

and this lovely image for our inspiration.

Go here to read other interpretations of Degas drawing:

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2013/04/mag-163.html 

Feline Shadows for Sunday

Dexter the cat

He loves to be with his people

For more Shadowy photos slink over here:

http://www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com

And....for fun check out Feline Friday!

http://comedyplus.blogspot.com/2013/04/feline-friday-31.html

Have a fabulous weekend!

We are on the road again!

On the road again to Portland!

350 miles north in 5 hours!

Visiting friends and family

and having lots of fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To see more Six Word Saturdays

go to here: http://www.showmyface.com