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| Yellow Gladiolus |
We don't have many flowers around our house... too much shade, but a few Gladiolus bulbs must have been planted at some time as these spring up out front by the walk every year. It is always a delightful surprise for me! Apparently yellow Gladioulus have a 'meaning' I wasn't aware of . They represent cheerfulness and compassion - something badly needed these days. The other colors have meaning too, but I think the yellow is more than appropriate for now.
And reading a little further (on google), there is symbolism with Glads too - the name comes from the Latin word 'gladius' which means sword and symbolises strength, victory, and pride. (I hope this is 'a sign' that our pandemic is coming to an end. And I realize that I could be reading more into this than is actually there, but I'll take it anyway.)
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| Winston's toad |
Winston is our son's young Golden Doodle. Apparently he has a friend - a toad that comes by every day to visit with him and share his food. Winston is fascinated with him and the toad seems to have no fear of the dog. Son says they seem to be friends.
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| dead fig tree |
Looks like our Fig tree was killed by the Arctic Freeze we had this winter. Usually at this time of year it's loaded with figs that we share with friends.
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| bark coming off |
The tree itself looks dead and the bark is coming off... so I'm sure it can't be saved. However, there is some greenery around the base... which could mean the roots didn't die.
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| signs of life at base |
This is true for our Bay Leaf tree also. The tree itself looks dead, but there are signs of life around the base.
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| dead bay leaf tree |
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| signs of life at base of bay leaf tree |
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That's about all I have today. But we were talking about first cars the other day and DH and I bought our first car in 1968. It was a light blue Ford Falcon and I think we paid all of $200 for it. It took us from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Satellite Beach, Florida where we lived for 2 years before moving to Texas. I found this pic on the internet....
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| Ford Falcon |
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I promised Debbie that I would post the recipe for my stuffed artichokes, so here it is:
First, cut the base stem flat and clip off the edges of the artichoke leaves. I do this with a scissors. Then run water through the artichokes thoroughly and turn them upside down to drain.
Then mix :
4 cups Italian breadcrumbs
1.5 cups Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp minced or chopped garlic (5 cloves)
1/4 cup parsley (I use dried, but fresh is good too)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper.
Mix all ingredients in large bowl.
Set artichokes on tray and open up (spread apart) leaves.
Use a pointed teaspoon to insert a teaspoon of mixture into each leaf up until the tight middle (ignore that area).
When each leaf is full, you can sprinkle more olive oil (not a lot) over leaves
Set artichokes into a large pot (I do 2 at a time) with about an inch of water in the pot.
Artichokes should sit just above the water not in it.
Put a lid on and set on burner. Artichokes will steam. Check water level every 15 minutes... and add more as needed. Takes about an hour to cook. Check by pulling out a leaf... should pull out easily if done.
After artichoke leaves are eaten, pull the center (unstuffed) part off... and eat the core. It's delicious!
Have a great week!
Hugs (virtual),
Rian
very cool car, my first car was a green chevy, it cost me $ 300.00!!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for sharing the stuffed artichoke recipe. it is sounds quite involved/difficult to make, the stuffing sounds good!! i'm definitely going to try it. thanks again!!
It's really a simple recipe... once you get the hang of it. Let us know if you try it.
DeleteHope those sprouts around your damaged fig tree is a sign that home grown figs may be in your future again. Enjoyed the evidence of Mother Nature at work on your property!
ReplyDeleteThanks, LC. I hope our trees make it too... but it doesn't look good.
DeleteOur first car was a used Ford Fairlain, stick shift.
ReplyDeleteYes, ours was definitely used also. But it worked for us until we needed a station wagon for the kids.
DeleteOh that recipe sounds and the result looks really good. I've got to try it!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good recipe... and pretty easy. And the stuffed artichokes can be frozen for another time. We usually freeze some for a later date.
DeleteI wonder if you could have the trees pruned way back? It certainly looks as though there is still growth from the roots.
ReplyDeleteMy mom grew gladiolas every year, though I've never tried to do so. They don't over-winter here so she had to dig up the corms every fall and store them in the basement. I'm too lazy for that kind of gardening but they sure were strikingly beautiful.
Pretty car! The first car I bought was a 1970 AMC Hornet hatchback, green in color. I think I paid $1000 for it when I purchased it in 1978/79. I've had several vehicles since then, most of which I've forgotten, but I certainly remember the first one.
Mae, we're going to try to cut back the trees and see what happens. I really hate losing them as we've had them for years.
DeleteMy mother in law made stuffed artichokes -- so delicious. I will have to give this recipe a try
ReplyDeleteDo try it, Olga... and let me know how it turns out. It isn't hard... just have to watch the water as the artichokes steam.
DeleteMom had a 1964 Falcon when I was growing up, named Alfie. Holes in the floorboards, as most of our cars were half-wrecks. We always had 1964 models of various cars, possibly because 1964 is my birth year. The nicest one was Dad's '64 Buick Wildcat. He had it painted baby blue and named her Ina. That back seat was like a couch. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI hope your trees can be salvaged. If the roots are still healthy, given time, I hope they come back!
That toad is cute, as far as toads go. (I like toads and frogs, don't mind snakes either--the non-lethal kind, at any rate.)
Take care and have a great week.
You reminded me that our old Falcon also had a hole in the floorboard. I do remember the wind blowing up through there. How funny.
DeleteWe love toads, frogs, lizards, even snakes here. Youngest son is a herpetologist.
What a shame about those trees. I so hope they survive and it looks like they are really trying. I need to give that recipe a shot. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI hope they survive too... but it doesn't look good.
DeleteThat is too funny (and sweet) about your son's dog and that toad! That made my morning :^) Rian I hope your poor fig tree gets a second chance, and enjoyed hearing about your first car... I love the older memories stuff, Hope you have a good week ahead.
ReplyDeleteDug, animals do have the strangest friends. We use to see a tree rat and a rabbit hang out and lay in the sun together daily in the backyard. I don't think it's all that unusual.
DeleteI also like glads but haven't seen any for ages. And I can't even remember my first car, it was so long ago now. :-)
ReplyDeleteThese glads have been coming back for several years. But they always surprise me. We don't remember planting them, but since we've been here for 35 years, we must have.
DeleteThat's so sweet about Winston's toad. Sure hate the cold killed your fig tree. It does look like it will sprout out and grow again. The cold hurt the little figs on our tree but we noticed today the is a big new crop of tiny figs on the tree. Boy have cars changed. Seeing your reminds me of the ugly old dark green Chevy my husband and I drove from NC to Nashville Tenn back in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI hope your tiny figs make it. We once had a crop of tiny figs that never developed... but usually we get a huge amount from that one Celeste Fig.
DeleteDear Rian, I so hope that your fig tree and bay-leaf tree find new life. St. Benedict once said, "Cut it back, and it comes back strong." So I'm hoping this applies to your tree garden. At times in my life, I thought some essential part of me had died--withered away--and yet from the ground of my being came new life. A new path or new way of thinking. A new acceptance or a deeper gratitude. I suspect that's been the way for you too. Peace.
ReplyDeleteHi Dee! I do know that this pandemic as awful as it is/was has made me more appreciative of lots of things... family, friends, simple pleasures. So, "A new path or new way of thinking. A new acceptance or a deeper gratitude" - yes.
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