Earlier this year we went on a 15 mile trip, by way of preparation for the Ridgeway hike. It was organised by the Central London Outdoor Group and it was very nice. Kent was once known as the “Garden of England” and it was spring when we visited it. Here are some photos.

Here is the whole Kent photo set.

The worm was put into the apple by a small moth. 

How often have you bitten into an apple and found a small white “worm” inside?  The apple worm is really the larva, or caterpillar, stage of a small moth known as the codling moth.  And here is how i got inside the apple.  

When the apple trees are blossoming, the first moths appear and lay their eggs on the apple blossoms.  Before long the eggs hatch into little white worms that bore into the young apples and eat the apple flesh.  This usually causes the apples to die and drop off the tree before they are ripe. 

The apple worms then eat their way out and hide themselves in cracks in the bark of the apple tree, where they wrap themselves in cocoons of fine silk. 

In a short time, adult codling months exergue from the cocoons and fly about looking got more apples to lay their own eggs on.  You may also find “apple worms” in such other fruits as pears and quinces. 

Photo courtesy:  blog.lib.umn

I’m playing catchup on my posting tonight.  I’ve been spending too much time shooting and not enought time posting, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Anyway, here’s a few shots I took on the farm.

Why I waited so long to plan a vacation for Justin and I is beyond me. The long weekend was a success and we are trying to weasel in some more getaways this summer. They may well be in a tent rather than an inn, but I am excited for more adventures none-the-less.

So everyone always asks “How was your trip?” I really can’t imagine they want to hear about it at length, but here goes:

The best parts of the Door County trip:

• The Blacksmith Inn. This place was so relaxing and beautiful. They had fresh cookies in the common room, hammocks on the balconies, fireplaces and in-room hot tubs. I would go back in a second. The owners were sweet and had breakfast waiting every morning. Each room is different, so take your pick.
• Fried Cheese Curds. I don’t need to explain why this is awesome.
• Fried Lake Perch. See also: Blue Gill.
• Restaurant Saveur. Order the calamari steak. Ridiculous.
• Wild Tomato. Such a great lunch. Featuring wood-fired pizza and artwork done by the owner’s children.
• Thrift Store in Egg Harbor…or Fish Creek. We scored golf clubs, a bowling bag/new purse, and Trivial Pursuit from the late 80’s or early 90’s. We are now experts on the U.S.S.R. and the six-year-war.
• Selfishly hogging Justin to myself. Undivided attention is the best birthday present.
• Mama Bird. There was this little sandpiper nesting right next to the doc. We checked in on her a lot and had several quality conversations with her, regarding her muffin-like stance on her nest. A rival mama bird in the area did a weird feather dance that we can only imagine is called “splaying.”
• Nature.
• Not involving airports in any way. There is something to be said for road-trips making a vacation less stressful.

The Inn's dock.

Sorry for the feet shot, but the hammock was the BEST

Mama bird settling in on the nest.

<3

My raptor impression is better in person.

Fresh flowers from the garden on the breakfast table

Strawberry ice cream soda from the Yum Yum Tree in Bailey's Harbor.

And if you are into orchards–cherry or apple–you will be highly satisfied.

Bob McDonnell stopped by Winchester’s 82nd edition of its Annual Apple Blossom Festival, one of the Commonwealth’s oldest and largest civic festivals. Over a quarter of a million people flock to the city of 30,000 each year for a wide variety of food, tons of events throughout the weekend, and a grand feature parade with over 150 units that is second to none. The festival originated as a celebration of the arrival of blossoms on the thousands of trees that used to cover the area. Although the orchard industry isn’t what it used to be, the city remains proud of what remains its primary agricultural export. 

Although Bob was not part of the parade as he no longer holds office, he couldn’t miss a chance to be part of the festivities. This was not his first stop of the day, however, and would not be his last–he left around 3:30, with a fundraiser in Richmond and plans to campaign at the race in Richmond. 

I would say that Bob is bar none the hardest working man in this race (Terry McAuliffe may come close, but he seems to work hardest when he’s outside of Virginia). When it comes to spreading his message of prosperity and free enterprise to the people he’s actually running to serve, nobody can outwork Bob McDonnell, who’s already working 18 hours a day. 

UPDATE: Krystle has a report from where Bob was earlier yesterday: Delegate Tim Hugo’s kick-off. Goes to show you that Bob is working for Republican victory across the board. He even walked part of the Apple Blossom route with Ann Burkholder, candidate for Commissioner of Revenue in the city. 

Forgive me, please, for the recent hiatus.  I blame this case of Blog Neglect on a combination of camera headaches, post-holiday work backlog, and the weather being just too damned good to do much of anything that involves being indoors in front of a computer. I love this time of year. The weather in our part of the world has been glorious: fresh early mornings with limpid clear air and cloudless skies. The apple blossom is out, and that heavenly colour combination of white, different shades of pink and fresh lime green is one of my all-time favourites, especially when seen against the blue of the sky.

When accommodating a rather large paddling pool into the garden (no matter how near the sea you live, children always seem to need to jump around in freezing cold water in brightly-coloured plastic, as well as in the sea), we had to prune a few low-reaching branches from one of the apple trees, so the trimmings are now arranged in the large glass vase in the porch which I like to fill with seasonal sprigs and branches.

Outside, the garden is continuing to take shape. Stewart and various visiting assistants from the Recycling Wood scheme are on their third day here, and several uprights of the pergola are now in position, plus one of the raised beds. The little vegetable garden is on its way to becoming a pretty ornamental potager, with the central points of each of the beds squared off to create a nice little space in the middle. (Still a way to go from this picture – I’ll take more as we go, to help explain…)

Uprights on each of the angles of the corner will meet to create some sort of a bowery structure up which runner beans and/or sweet peas can scramble, and in time I may place something like a bird bath or sundial int he middle, and a found-object finial on top.  Each of the four beds can form part of a simple crop rotation, and there will be another rectangular bed beside the pond for permanent crops like rhubarb and Jerusalem artichokes.  If I’m not careful it’s going to look so pretty I’ll turn into one of those tedious gardeners who won’t pick a lettuce because they are scared of spoiling the patterns in the beds….

Like the house (and here’s a picture of that last May to prove what a difference a year makes…) this has been a case of the ”Make-It-Up-As- You-Go-Along’ School of Architecture, characterised by much discussion, a bit of sketching, a bit of pacing out and head-scratching, before another sketch gets done and the next bit of work begins. I like working this way, and am grateful for the fantastic (and relatively rare) combination of artistic flair, practicality and patience in the people I have worked with.  I can’t wait to see how it will all turn out.

The other exciting thing is that the first copies of my new book Homemade: Gorgeous Things to Make with Love have arrived – and I am thrilled. Usually when a book of mine comes out I have a few reservations about the cover and/or design, or find the whole thing an anti-climax. But this time I am allowing myself to be really pleased and proud.  It’s packed full of really nice ideas of things to make from scratch – my very talented friend Ros Badger did all of the sewing, knitting and crochet projects, and styled all of the photographs, while gardening and cooking were more my areas – plus writing all the text, of course. It’s beautifully bound in pale blue cloth with a bright pink embossed foil for the title, and the beautiful photographs (by Ros’ partner, the renowned photographer Ben Murphy) are printed on a lovely soft matt-finish paper. The official launch date is May 7th, but I am told that some book shops have copies now.  I do hope you like it! (Look – it’s those apple blossom/ bright blue sky colours again….)

PS Ros has just posted some more lovely pages from the book on her terrific new(ish) blog here.

For more background and photographs relating to our project to turn two old run-down railway carriages into an eco-house, plus more on my gardening, journalism and other books and writing, please visit my website.

Cold & windy, with some sunny intervals & a few spots of rain.
Flag irises budding. Some apple blossom full out.
Planted early potatoes (Eclipse, about 10lb.)
Procured two broody hens, but not putting them on the eggs till tomorrow, to make certain.
Paid for hens 3/6 each.
Water hens on the pond evidently have a nest.
Twelve[1] eggs.

[NEWSPAPER CUTTING]

IN THE KITCHEN
NETTLES HAVE THEIR USES
NETTLE, unwanted in the orchard or yard, can with great benefit be transferred to the kitchen, where they provide nature’s remedy for removing winter spots and blemishes from the skin.
AS A VEGETABLE
Choose only young nettles; these should be thoroughly washed, then boiled, strained and chopped like spinach. They are a good vegetable and excellent blood purifier.
NETTLE BEER
Thoroughly wash a peck of nettle tops and boil them with one ounce of bruised ginger in a gallon of water for half an hour. Cut up a lemon in slices and put in a big bowl with 1lb. Of brown sugar, and strain over them the gallon of water from the nettles. Stir well, and when the sugar is dissolved and the mixture of lukewarm add a cupful of barm and let it work for eight hours. Then skim and bottle.
DANDELION AND NETTLE BEER
Boil fresh nettle tops, 1oz. crushed ginger, 1oz. dandelion root, 2 sliced lemons and 1lb. of sugar in 1 gallon of water for 20 minutes. Strain into an earthenware bowl and when it is lukewarm add 1oz. of yeast on a square of toast and let it work for a few hours. Skim and bottle. It is ready to drink next day.

[1] Orwell originally wrote ‘eleven’. Peter Davison

Kent County, Delaware

I woke up feeling like crap, but after a week of no posts last week (first relentlessly rainy weather, then just out of the habit of making time to go take photos) I wanted to post SOMETHING, so here are some apple blossoms in my back yard, and I have another entry of random other stuff from the yard. And I had Motrin and a pint of Starbucks Java Chip ice cream and feel much better now.

The Mens Commonwealth Luncheon for this years Apple Blossom is set for Friday, May 1st, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Piccadilly’s Public House. See more on this event at Winchester Virginia Restaurants

Here’s a post from Bill – talking about what he’s been photographing lately. You may have noticed – most of the recent photos on the blog have been my photos of flowers. – Patty

Those of you who are familiar with my landscapes know that I tend to take the “grand” landscape approach, and use either movements on my view camera and/or a small aperture to get large areas of the photo in sharp detail.  Well, not today!

Due to the vagaries of my day job, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to get out recently, and when I have gotten out, the weather hasn’t  exactly been cooperative for including huge expanses of sky and the raking light of an early morning or late evening sun.  In fact, pretty much every time I’ve gotten out to photograph in March, the skies have been flat, grey, and usually I’ve been dodging rain drops.

But this type of weather (particularly in early spring!) offers its own photography opportunities.  While the light may not be very intense, you get a wonderful diffuse light.  With the low levels of light it is great for wide apertures, and working on your “pictorialist” type of photos.  In this set, you’ll see lower contrast, shallow depth of field with lots of soft areas in the photos, and lush but not overstated colors (in the color photos).  Is the sky boring?  Then don’t include the sky!  So even with heavy overcast and dodging the rain you can “make lemonade” photographically.

Today’s blog shows my picks for the month – emphasizing shallow depth of field to help draw attention to the focal point of the image.

First, a cardinal perching (briefly – those suckers are fast!) in a thicket still bare from winter.

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

A few magnolia blossoms from local trees:

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

Some blossoms on the branch of an apple tree.

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

Here’s one of a daffodil as the patch was just starting to blossom.  It still shows the rain drops on the leaves and petals.

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

And some clover growing around the base of a tree, with the soil and the bark darkened by the rain.

(c) 2009 William Lawrence

One of the facts of life of a landscape photographer is that you take the weather you get.  Even when the weather isn’t want you wanted, its still worthwhile looking for the photographic opportunities around you!

The proud and stately little apple blossom in the spring garden…

© 2009 D L Ennis, All rights reserved.

NOTE: Permission for the use of my images is granted for personal websites and blogs but is to include a link back to this site and proper credit given to me, D L Ennis. Link to be used…(Visual Thoughts http://dlennis.wordpress.com/)

NOTE: Commercial use, and the creation of prints, must be purchased! For more information you can contact me here.

Lots of babies this week and more signed to come over the next two weeks!!   The Apple Blossom Baby of the Year competition is going to be STEEP!  Each baby is soooo cute in their own special way!   I’m keeping the competition open to only 10 more people so get in on this incredible opportunity before it’s too late!!!!  Feel free to spread the word!

Hello Spring!  Lily and I worked on this project all morning today and I definitely want to share it so that others can have as much fun as we did.  The version above is our first try with it and I think it turned out very well given our ages and the fact that we only used paper, scissors, glue, crayons and a hot pink ink pen. 

This is how we assembled ours:

Printed out the pdf files on copy/printer paper.

Sat around the kitchen, chatting and coloring.  Notice the pink bird.  Lily loves pink.  The other birds are loosely based on the real thing.

Picked out a piece of cardstock for the background.  Lily wanted pink, but I explained that if she used a pink background, the pink blossoms and pink bird wouldn’t show up well.

The, we began to cut out shapes.  The branches were too twisty and thin for Lily, so I did those.  The leaves and birds were easy for her to cut out.

I glued the branches down while Lily finished up the leaves and birds.  Next, we glued the leaves on.  Blossoms and birds followed.  (It’s important to keep this order in mind so that you have a somewhat dimensional look. )

Note:  What I’d do different:  Color/outline some items with markers to make them fancier.  Print out an extra sheet of leaves and blossoms so that we can put a few on the top layer of the collage.  Round up a few scraps of yarn to add to the bird’s nest.  Encourage my kiddo to draw a few bugs and such for food for the birds.  Find a good source of bird illustrations so that we could color our birds more similar to actual factual birds.

The files you need to make this (simple black and white to color and cut):  perchingbird_collage_pdf

Examples of the files included (as I get time, I’ll release one or more full-color versions):

All around the world, flowers have a universal appeal for most gift-giving occasions. Their natural beauty and freshness represent all the splendor of life. Traditionally, specific flowers hold special significance – thus making them appropriate for specific occasions. Below is a guide of some historic meanings of flowers and some ideas of what types of occasions these flowers are appropriate for.

Alstroemeria = Aspiring

This gorgeous flower can range from a bright orangey goldenrod color to a soft white with pink accents. Its historic association with aspiration makes it a perfect flower to include in arrangements to celebrate the following types of occasions:
- High School or College Graduation
- A new job or promotion
- Any type of personal achievement

Apple Blossom = Promise

The pretty and fragrant pinkish-white blossoms of the apple tree are a perfect complement to an arrangement given when a promise is being made. Give apple blossoms for the following occasions:
- Formalizing a new relationship
- Making up after an argument or fight
- Making a commitment to someone or something

Baby’s Breath = Festivity

Baby’s Breath is commonly used in all types of floral arrangements and is considered by florists (in Toronto and all over the world) to be a staple of almost any bouquet. But did you know that historically, Baby’s Breath signifies Festivity? Make sure that Baby’s Breath is included in any floral arrangement you give to celebrate any type of festive occasion, including but not limited to:
- Anniversaries
- Birthdays
- Graduations
- Mothers/Fathers Day
- Congratulations

Black-Eyed Susan = Encouragement

The traditional significance of the Black-Eyed Susan is Encouragement. This meaning makes it the perfect type of flower to give when you want to say “I support you,” or “I’m thinking of you.” The Black-Eyed Susan, is a great flower for the following types of occasions:
- When there is a death in the family
- When someone has lost their job
- When someone is going through rough times

*The poppy, which is rather cheerful-looking with its bright blossoms stands for Consolation and also makes a great flower for these situations.

Daffodil = Chivalry

This golden spring perennial traditionally holds the meaning of Chivalry or Unrequited Love. This is the perfect flower for a gentleman to send to a lady that he admires. In the chivalrous sense, the daffodil is a lovely flower for a brother or cousin to give to a female relative to say “I’m there for you.”

Lilac = First Love

With the sweet meaning and even sweeter scent, the lilac is the perfect flower for a young man to give to his very first sweetheart.

Stephanotis = Good Luck

Though the Stephanotis is most widely used in wedding bouquets and bridal arrangements, its traditional meaning of Good Luck makes it a great flower to give at a time when someone is facing a big life change. Certainly a new marriage qualifies to be included in this category, but here are other occasions where the Stephanotis may be appropriate:
- When someone is leaving a job for a new opportunity
- When someone is moving away
- When someone is starting something new

Yarrow = Good Health

The Yarrow’s historical relation to Good Health makes it a very appropriate flower to give someone who has been injured or is ill. Send this flower to a friend that is in the hospital to say “Get well soon.”

Zinnia = Thoughts of Friends

The Zinnia is a great flower to give friends on all sorts of occasions. The flower symbolizes Thoughts of Friends, so it’s a perfect choice to send to a friend whom you miss or you haven’t seen in a while. It’s also a great flower to send to a friend who needs some cheering up.

A Final Thought – Personal Meanings

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules about what meanings flowers really have. You may have a type of flower that has its own special significance to you for your own reasons. Choose flowers based on what you like, who you are giving them to, and what types of feeling the flowers evoke in you – trust your instincts and taste.

Während ich mir meine Freizeit mit meiner Gitarre zu

und

vertreibe, hier die drei Top-Links des Tages:

- warum mir mein Gewissen verbietet GEZ zu zahlen

- das Sterben der Musik als .. mehr als Musik

- Der Meister der schwachsinnigen Tags über eine “Kurierfahrerin ohne Führerschein (”Mach ich, wenn ich den Job hab!”)”

The cells in protection running so free,
I wonder just how they beat next to me,
The sweet apple blossom that falls on your cheek,
Enticing my senses makes this scene so bleak,
Warmed by the life that pumps through your veins,
Just lay beside me I can end all your pains,
Tastes like a dream with the sharp echoing cries,
Feels like my heaven through the lids of my eyes,
No struggle or tension as your life gently fades,
Retracting my teeth as sharp as the blades,
That graced both your arms so intentionally,
You wanted to die so why not by me,
A life you have wasted all broken and lost,
I sucked out your pain but granted no cost,
For the service provided you signed with a nod,
“I’m ready at last to meet with my God”
“Forsaken and beaten my life was no thrill”
“This was no suicide just acknowledge a kill”
For ones mans waste is another mans treasure,
In taking your life you gave me the pleasure,
To see your eyes black and soul melt away,
This vampire is fed for just one more day…
…I’ll wait for your call…

NOTES (as listed on perfume.com): crushed raspberry leaves, freesia, jasmine, apple blossom, lily of the valley, wild cyclamen, amber, precious woods, transparent musk

CLASSIFICATION: clean, feminine

AGE GROUP: perfect for any age

SIMILAR SCENT(s): n/a

FORM: eau de parfum

While there isn’t much to say about OP Juice, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  If you’re looking for a nice perfume that isn’t too complex, this is your man.. err, girl?

While the notes would lead you to believe that this is a fruity floral drenched in delicious sweetness, it’s not.  Instead, it’s a simple, clean smelling fragrance that evokes a very feminine aura.  It’s nice.  And that’s that.  Sometimes it’s a good thing not to have a list of so many bad things, or not being able to put your finger on what you like, about a fragrance.  Such is the case here.  This is just a relaxed, girlie scent.

My only complaint is that, especially with this being an eau de parfum, the staying power leaves a lot to be desired.  Such matches the light and airy personality of this fragrance, though.  If you do end up being a fan, get ready for some serious reapplication throughout the day.

REPORT CARD

(We highly recommend reading our guide to understanding our grading system if you haven’t already)

First sniff (bottle): B-

First sniff (skin): B-

Worn scent: C

Staying power: D

Scent as compared to note(s): C

Bottle: D+

Overall: C-

Don’t get me wrong, OP Juice is a very nice smell.  I enjoy the clean femininity about it.  Combine it’s simplicity with lack of staying power, in addition to being unfortunately forgettable, and you have an average-smelling fragrance. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a non-offensive scent to wear around the house or out running errands, or even for a bit of a younger crowed – middle school and up.

I am the imbecile’s shoe and you are an apple

blossom on top of the queen’s tit. 

That is just the way the cards are

painted. They are dumb cards and their

symbols      

clear and meaningless

They are bad jokes that no one

told you because they burned

the hips of those who bought them

It sad, that I am have to be the

one to tell you that you are

pointless and an early bloomer.

To make matters worse

everyone eats the same

immortal worm. 

Olympus OM-1 135mm f2.8. Love this lens.
Film: Kodak Portra 160NC. Film, yes film.

You’re ready for your final cake!!!  It’s time for some basketweave!  For this cake you will need all of your premade flowers (Victorian Roses, Primroses, Daisies, Mums, Daffodils, Violets, Rosebuds, Apple Blossoms, and Pansies), your color flow pieces and your pre-iced cake.  Before you begin your basketweave use your cake dividingtemplate to divide your cake into equal sections.  After you have finished your basketweave place your flowers on the cake and enjoy your beautiful creation. 

Basketweave Cake