Holy Guacamole!

The other day, avocados were on sale at the grocery store for $1, and I couldn't resist.  I'm the only one at our house that will eat avocados, so I got to enjoy them as an afternoon treat -- unchallenged.  There's not much you can say THAT about in this house.

Once the pits were removed and cleaned, I wanted to see if I could get them to sprout.  We tried this once during a summer years ago.  It took a L-O-N-G time!

So, I cleaned up the two pits, and planted them in some potting soil in a cute little green pot in my kitchen. Because, duh -- that's how you grow things, right?

Apparently, not so much when it comes to avocados.  I started looking around on Pinterest to see if anyone else had gotten the bright idea to try this -- and discovered that I had gone about it all wrong.

Turns out, I was supposed to insert toothpicks into the pit, and suspend it over a glass filled with water that covers the bottom portion of the pit.  Only after it sprouts this way do you put it in soil.

So now, my dilemma becomes this: just how much of a science experiment do I actually want to DO?  Do I want to prove everyone wrong, and sprout my avocado pit in SOIL with all of the odds against it?

To be continued...

Portulaca :: Moss Rose

The other morning as I did dishes, I looked out the window.  I couldn't help but notice the heavy dew on the grass and flowers.  The sun was already bright, but still low in the sky, and I decided to hurry out to snap some pictures before the shadows appeared.

These are the Portulaca (also known as Moss Rose) in the garden just beside our patio.  During this dry summer, it seemed to take forever before they took hold and made themselves at home.  Right now, they're flowering and spreading like crazy.  I love the variety of colors: shades of red, pink, coral, yellow, and even white.

Here are some dewy shots that I managed to get... God's fingerprints.

Enjoy a safe holiday weekend!

I'm linking up with Beki

@The Rusted Chain

for Fingerprint Friday,

and Ewa

@Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time

for Flowers on Saturday.

Takin' Out the Trash

"Take out the papers and the trash, or you don't get no spendin' cash.

If you don't scrub that kitchen floor, you ain't gonna rock and roll no more.

Yakety yak (don't talk back!)

Just finish cleanin' up your room.

Let's see that dust fly with that broom.

Get all that garbage out of sight, or you don't go out Friday night!

Yakety yak (don't talk back!)"

So, I was taking out the trash on trash night, and I noticed a pile of rusted hardware pieces near the trash cans.  I wondered if my hubby meant for it all to be taken to the curb, so I went back inside to ask him.  "Yes" was his answer, so I did what any photo-crazy blogger would do.  I grabbed my camera, and headed back outside to take some pictures before rolling the trash to the curb.  Afterall, rusted "stuff" can be a sort-of-cool photographic subject!  (You be the judge.)

Anyway -- that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!  (Yakety yak.  Don't talk back!)

Weekend Adventures

Sometimes road-trips with no destination in mind are the best ones.  On Saturday, we took a drive that ultimately led us through two counties to our west and southwest.  It was a beautiful day -- a great day for a drive!    I thought I'd share some pictures of our adventure.

Come along and enjoy the view!

Pick a flavor! (syrups at the farm market)

Loved this framed piece using a piece of music.  Isn't it pretty?

Up on the hill at Rittman Orchards

Apple trees were loaded.

A barn along the way...

The sky was so gorgeous!

Love this wagon!  It is always here and filled with seasonal beauty.

An old piece of farm machinery - love the flowery vine flowing from the large spout at left!

These were the tiny yellow flowers on that vine.

And the trough at right?  Filled with this beautiful display!

How about you?  Do you enjoy a "no-destination drive?"

Dear Mr. Smucker,

I love your jars.

In fact, my family enjoys your actual products as well.  Apricot Preserves and Sugar-Free Concord Grape Jam are two of our often-purchased items.  Occasionally, we enjoy your Hot Fudge Topping in a favorite recipe.

But, I wanted you to know that I think your jars with the gingham lids are so cute, and totally worth saving for re-use of all kinds!

I store dehydrated onions in one jar in my spice cupboard.

This weekend, I bought taco seasoning in bulk (read: not individual packets), and today, I transferred it from the not-so-sturdy plastic container to one of the Smucker's jars that I'd saved.  When I open my cupboard, I see all kinds of gingham cuteness.

I wondered why you took the time to make those jar lids so attractive.  Now I know.  You were ahead of your time in thinking, "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle."  Thanks Mr. Smucker!