Choice Morsels

I went out late this afternoon to miracle-gro water my veggies, daylilies, blackberries, blueberries and hyrdrangeas near the house. The tomato I planted back in spring sprouted new growth from all stems and is laden with blossom right now as well as some tomatoes I have sweet peas beginning to bloom. The beets. lettuce and spinach are still babies. The bell pepper is large and bushy and beginning a fresh round fruit-making. This is such a nice time of year veggies. No pests. Today's pics are two morning sun shots today captured back in early October: My Chocolate Elephant Ears: Actually, I read they are more related to Caladiums then Elephant Ears. They have roots rather then a bulb. But unlike common Caladiums, these are faithfully perennial. I moved a bunch of the roots to this container a couple years ago because they weren't thriving in the ground where they are. Now that they have a pot to themselves, they're doing better. They come up green with purplish veins, then ...

  I'm sort of picky about salad. I'm not always in the mood for something cold and I don't care for sour tasting dressings. I also like a bite-size chop on the greens and the grape tomatoes sliced; not whole. So, looking for a new salad option, I ran across this Autumn Salad on Pinterest. It's got apple, pear, dried cranberries, pecans & feta! And it includes a very easy and yummy home-made creamy Poppy seed dressing! It's a pretty salad as well. The feta makes a good contrast to the sweet of the fruit, cranberries and dressing. I think it'd be good with Blue Cheese also. I did alter the original Pinterest recipe by adding red onion & julienned carrots. I like a colorful salad. Note: though recipe calls for Romaine, you can use any type of lettuce you prefer, except for iceburg. Also mix in chopped baby spinach leaves. It's my go-to salad now and I've found the Poppy seed dressing delicious on Raisin & Apple Slaw, too! (Photo is my own) Autu ...

  Garden Pic today is my electric Jack O' Lanterns near the front door with a Coneflower behind. I have a single taller one out front, looking out toward the road next to the Holly tree. It actually was not as dark as the photo appears. I used Ribbet photo shop make the background darker.. Ribbet is having their annual Halloween photo contest, so the picture above became the picture below as an entry:

Today's Garden Pics of the day are "Fall Flowers" currently in my garden beds: First up: Purple Button Mums. These are new, just planted about 3 weeks ago. Seems like I have to replant them every year.  I keep hoping they'll spread and make a home here.   Next: This weeks Hydrangea Vase Arrangement: Here, "pink and purple" are fall colors. My garden beds are full of  Vinca: dark, medium & light pinks! I've got purple Mexican Heathers, purple mums, burgundy Basil blooms & purple Clematis. You wouldn't believe this arrangement is comprised of only 2 Hydrangea stems.  It's an old shrub that has been recently putting up a single stem with multiple smaller heads on it. About 5 medium size heads.  So I just cut that apart for this vase plus one additional hydrangea head that was a single and about 5 Vinca stems. The Vinca bloom one bloom a day, but are loaded with several buds and make a nice greenery fill between blooms. Neat thing is, if I re...

Today's Garden Pic's are more late day Autumn sunlight shots: Golden glow on this Cardinal Basil just coming into bloom on my patio! A Mexican Heather also highlighted by late date sun! What I love about Mexican Heather is it blooms until frost, so it's great food for all types of bees & butterflies late into fall!   

The First Day of Autumn was Sept 22---the Autumn Equinox. As dusk approaches, I see the sun's last rays slanting in low now, sweeping over the garden, touching flowers and plants with it's receding glow. Today's Garden Pics are shots of those late day rays highlighting things in my garden: An old Hydrangea blossom given a second chance at beauty: Glowing threads of Pampas Grass: Sun-kissed pink Vinca's:  

 I tried this recipe for Slow Cooker Taco Chili (or Soup if you like it thinner) last weekend. It was the best Taco Chili recipe I've tried. It came from my MeWe food group I participate in. (MeWe is a social media much nicer & safer then Facebook.) Just add canned tomatoes, beans and corn, then brown some meat with onions, add a couple seasoning packets and cook on Low 5- 6 hours.  I prefer a thick chili to soup, so added 2 to 3 Tablespoons of cornstarch. That's it. Make & serve with cornbread. Yum! This recipe fills a 6 quart slow cooker, so definitely you want to fix this for 6 to 8 people!  (Photo is my own bowl full) Easy Slow Cooker Taco Chili 3 (15oz) cans fire roasted diced tomatoes,undrained 2 (15oz) cans low-sodium black beans, undrained 2 (15oz) cans low-sodium red kidney beans, undrained 2 (15oz) cans corn, undrained 1 lb. lean ground beef 1/2 cup diced onion 1 clove garlic, minced  1 packet taco seasoning 1 packet dry ranch dressing Directions:...