Time for another walk by the river

Toad Sentry at the beginning of our walk.

Scott and I sitting by the river together.

Dead Man's Finger's and another Fungi on a stump.

Paw Paw's - We can hardly wait for these to ripen so that I can try to make some Paw Paw Bread.

It was wonderful just sitting and watching the River go by for awhile.

English Ivy

Curious Box Turtle

Mating Skinks.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable time last night and that they aren't hurting too badly this morning for those that perhaps partied a little too hard. We went to bed about 10 since I had to be up early today to go to work at 8:30 but at about 10 til 12 the neighborhood was filled with LOTS of booms and bright lights from all the fireworks. I think everyone was EXTRA glad to see 2010 go away. It was a rough year for many people... HERE'S TO 2011 BEING AWESOME!

A view of the old damn and locks on the river through the trees

One of my favorite things - FUNGI - proof that something lives on after death

A closer view of the damn remnants and the old locks.

Scott and Amelia

The locks and the old damn from the lower side where a little "beach" had developed with the river being so low this year.

Last night I posted that I will be working and sewing today and then this morning I got to thinking Scott and I better fit a walk by the river in since thats something we definitely want to do ALL year long. We went there yesterday and had a lovely time. With the leaves off the tree's you get to see things you don't when they are lush and green. The moss is a lime green now and against the brown dirt looks amazing - perhaps a lime green and brown quilt will be created this year. We took Amelia with us and she had a grand time sniffing and grinning at the people we passed. She was one happy dog. I keep picking on Scott that I am going to get one of those pet strollers so the cats can go too. 

I'm going to go work a bit on the Mystery quilt now before I have to shower and dress for work. I love "working" at home as you don't have to "dress" for work - PJ'S RULE!

A Lovely Fall Walk

Everything has taken on a different appearance by the River; a lot of the trees have lost nearly all their leaves so that you can see well into the woods. The grasses have died back so that you can see more of the smaller creatures scurrying about trying to prepare for the really cold weather yet to come in late December through February. There were a lot of dogs on walks with their owners today; an absolutely stunning German Sheppard named Hank decided to take a bit of a detour from his owners and went under the boardwalk and came up behind us and popped up and looked at us like where are they you aren't my people. He ran to them and was so pleased to get back on his leash.

The River has turned to such an interesting shade of green; we believe this  is being caused by people dumping "fall fertilizer" on their lawns and it's run off. The Extension service says to NOT do this as it just sets the lawns up for heavy winter kill. We do not fertilize at all unless it's in the Spring and of an organic nature like manure. Or even just plant some winter rye grass and then mow it without a bag so the clippings bio-degrade right on the lawn. Chemical Fertilizers are bad...m-Kay?

Best Laid Plans

My plans for the day did not go as I had thought they would last night; but it's been an enjoyable day just the same. I was looking out our large front window where I sit at my computer and saw a gorgeous Red Tailed Hawk landing in the neighbors pine tree across the street so I grabbed the camera and tried to get a good picture before it flew off again. This is the only one I got... An absolutely stunning bird and a real joy to see so close.

This afternoon we went to La Fiesta with our friend, Robin and then the three of us walked by the river. It was a beautiful day and a lot of people were taking advantage of the day. We saw where some Beavers had been gnawing on some trees, sycamore leaves the size of dessert plates, fungi, blooms on some kudzu and wild clematis, berries on a French Mulberry bush and calming waters to listen to.

When we got home I was walking toward the side door into the house and was greeted by this green spider on a Tulip tree leaf; he was a little larger than a quarter but jumped at me and then shook the leaf like he was going to chase me away.

Leisurely Walk by the River

This morning we decided to take just a nice walk in Nature and really enjoy our surroundings and gather energy from the environment. So many wonderful things to enjoy and share with others - just show a deep interest in what you are looking at and people will stop to ask questions. The 3 fruits hanging are Paw Paws and are edible - they taste like a banana and can be used in any recipe that calls for banana. I'm thinking about some Paw Paw Bread! Enjoy the pictures....

Weekend over....

Well that weekend passed so quickly! Scott has left for work and Greg is planning his day - he needs to go check in with his temp service and stop at the Brewing store to see what he needs to do about his Mead as it keeps foaming over the valve at the top. He started this Saturday and I think he stayed up all Saturday night watching it ferment and "burp". He is quite excited about this and I am hoping that it turns out drinkable or he will be so disappointed.

On Friday I took what was left in the fridge of a beef roast and a variety of vegetables and made beef vegetable soup by adding a can of tomatoes, about 2 cups water, a bay leaf, garlic salt, black pepper, parsley and a bit of basil. I cooked it in the slow cooker all day on low so that the meat would get more tender and so that the flavors could meld together. Sunday I took the leftover soup and brought it to a boil in a pot on top of the stove and made parsley dumplings that I cooked on top of the soup.
So from one beef roast we've had 4 separate meals and NO WASTE. The last meal will be our lunch today. Tonight I will be starting the week with a whole new meal - pork chops, mashed potatoes, salad and perhaps some dinner rolls. And I want to try to make a Julia Child recipe called "Tarte Tatin" - a caramelized apple dessert with cream topping. I watched her make it on the PBS.com site and it just looked so heavenly. I almost forgot about the wonderful egg custard that I made on Friday... I've just been in such a Nurturing mood I guess. Egg custard with wonderful Nutmeg.... YUM!

My white Rose of Sharon is really throwing out the blooms now... I just love how dainty they look when the sun is shining on them.

Saturday I went out to the garden and finally found a few tomatoes that were not completely rotted from the heavy rain and heat. Most are cherry tomatoes but the one larger one is actually an "Orange" colored tomato. I thought it would be a fun thing to add to the garden. While I was out there I tied up some of the cherry tomatoes that had fallen over because I used those wimpy cages that you find in all the stores. I will get Scott to make me some more REAL tomato cages from the wire Greg brought home - it's concrete reinforcing mesh and makes the BEST tomato cages. I also got the grass and weeds up between a row of raised beds where we haven't been able to get rolled roofing down. The rolled roofing has made keeping the walkways weed free so much easier - Scott had an excellent idea there. I also cleaned out and turned two of the empty beds and planted Lima beans and pole beans but I believe I've told most of this all ready - sorry for repeating myself.

We went for two very lovely walks by the River and that always lifts my spirits. A little orange butterfly decided to light on Scott's hand - I think it looks like he is wearing a really cool glowing ring in this picture... Of course me and the fungi have this love thing going on and I had to get two shots of this one that was growing along the path - I think it looks like the main section of the Enterprise - nearly floating in the air...