This week’s photo challenge is to post an image that is relaxing. This is a photo that I took on a hike through the woods back home. For many of us who grew up near forests, there is something very relaxing about being amongst trees. Living in the midwestern U.S., now, it is always a little strange to me when I hear someone comment about hating being someplace with too many trees.
For more on the relax challenge.
While in Florida recently, I stepped outside one evening and was surprised to see a brilliant post-storm vista unfold. Fortunately, I had my cell phone with me and was able to catch a few photos as the sun yielded the horizon to nightfall.
This week’s challenge invites the photographer to use perspective to make the subject of the photo look like something other than what it is. The scene that I photographed was the view as I accompanied my mother to her mailbox. I used perspective to hide the street and cars and to compose the image, capturing only the elements I wanted to remember. For more on this week’s Photo Challenge …
Lines and patterns in a cherished crotchet afghan made by my cousin Kim.
View from Lines to Patterns #1.
For more on this week’s photo challenge.
It is cool and dreary here today in Manhattan, Kansas – the kind of day that makes a person want to stay inside and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. Â So, I made some Masala Spice Tea. Hmm, wonderful!
Masala (Chai) Spice Blend
7 T. granulated sugar
2 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
2 t. ground ginger
2 t. ground cardamom
2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. ground allspice
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/2 t. ground black pepper, optional*
Combine sugar and spices in a 3/4-cup glass jar. Close the lid and shake the jar until ingredients are well blended. Store at cool room temperature.
Suggested Uses: sprinkle on top of buttered toast, or on top of muffins or coffee cakes before baking; use instead of sugar in Chantilly Cream, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or hot cider.
* The black pepper yields a hot flavor that works well in coffee, tea and hot cocoa; but I omit it for use in baked goods, hot cider and Chantilly Cream. If you are not used to hot flavor in your beverages, the pepper might become an acquired taste.
To make Masala (Chai) Spice Tea
2 c. water
2 T. + 2 t. Masala (Chai) Spice Blend
2 T. + 2 t. Assam or Darjeeling black tea, Jasmine green tea, or Honeybush herbal tea
2 c. milk, almond milk, or soy milk
Bring water to a boil in a medium pot. Add spice blend and tea leaves. (It your tea is bagged, leave it in the bags because the crushed tea is more difficult to strain.) Stir in milk, almond milk, or soy milk. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Strain tea into a warmed pot and then strain again into warmed tea cups. Enjoy!
This is a photo that I took in Vero Beach, Florida. Whenever I see ocean waves, they remind me of one of my grandmothers who used to love to paint seascapes.
For more on this week’s photo challenge …
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Painted Lady butterfly enjoying some flowering May Night Sage …
The Focus challenge.
Lookin’ for stuff … carefree.
The One Shot, Two Ways photo challenge is an exercise in composition: take a photo of the same subject in landscape format and in portrait format. Here are two photos of Hibiscus Kopper King.
Oops, make it three photos! Just for fun, I decided to crop the top one into a square format.
A Taste of Morning 