Rejected Underground Bioswale Rock - Check Out The Drusy

I suspect that this is a chunk of agitized coral if it is indigenous to Florida.

Aechmea calyculata - Yellow Cone Bromeliad and Creature Of The Night = BOO!

 I have had this for several years and nursed it from a severely stunted specimen
that was gifted to me from a dear friend. Has since recovered and yet rarely blooms
on an annual basis. I think it is in the clear now what with two inflorescence's (blooms).

This was taken this afternoon and discovered while painting one two remaining patches
of stucco needing it's finish coat.

This was taken this late evening and as you can see with a creature of the night, which
didn't reveal it's self until I viewed it on my computer.

photo nov082015

Our Downtown Black & Brew Coffee Shop Makes A Great Cup Of Coffee

This is from a very picky, random and very seldom coffee drinker and still on his coffee
honeymoon (going on three years).

Left over coffee I bought to put out
the fire from eating at Taco Bus this
evening. Third meal in from since
it opened.



209 Dark Blend. Almost as good as
my first enjoyable cup of coffee while
in San Antonio, TX.

I hope it is as good if not better the second time around.

One can always be hopeful.

Created Four Drafts Of This Years Christmas Greetings Art Work

You will have to wait till the Holidays for a preview.

Hummus Helpers

Never thought I would be able to finish eating the Baby Bok Choy.

Radishes are new from the Dixie Twilight Wednesday market.

Squash That Pumpkin

I was hoping that some black pepper could help this extraordinary combination.
I could have titled this Experimental Kitchen but couldn't resist titling this pre yoga
meal with a play on words.

This was a bit bland that I would have cared for but, not all new food ventures are
a success. Besides, I still have three quarters of a jar left. I'm thinking maybe some
curry spice.

Study In Shades Of Darkness

Eggplant Plant Update

Although it is late in the season to grow
Eggplant. I'm just happy to see it flourish
in this potted medium.

I notice new shoots at it's base. This plant
just wants to grow regardless if it will be
able to come to fruition.

Speaking of fruit I was told that I may have
to make like a bee and pollinate the flowers
in order to get more Eggplants. I will have to
look into that prospect.

I also staked this up for some needed support
with some home grown bamboo stakes that
I rescued from a friends yard. Rescued for my
own purpose, not only for it's utilitarian but
                                                                it's own natural beauty.

Don't Have To Go Far To See Alien Life - Crinum asiaticum

Beauty tethered to the Beast

Just in time for Halloween.

Tuber like bulb nursing this new Giant Crinum sprout through it's infancy.

While still on life support it has everything needed from

root to leaf tip to

survive.

Is this monster tuber regurgitating or consuming life?

Pondering The Thought

Yesterdays mission to sample one of Saturn's moon's mist.

What A Rain, A Welcomed Rain

We are officially in the beginning of our seasonal dry season but, you
wouldn't know it by the drizzle of rain we received nearly all day.


Having seen my potted Charlie Brown pine tree sitting at the back of
my lot. Looking a bit frazzled by the sun and thinking how dependent
it is on me due to being potted. So I brought it to my mid yard where I
can give it the occasional sip of water.

Potted Sand Pine - Pinus clausa

Besides, I like to change up the landscape with these potted secimens
which allows we to move them around according to the seasons and
the occasional personal whim.

Eperimental Kitchen - Variation On A Vegetable

Substituted my typical Asparagus for
Brussels Sprouts and some Italian
dried spices along with some fresh
Spinach to distinguish from the two
egg dishes.

Souvenir Mineral Water Bottle From Sedano's Supermarket

Mineral water in a glass bottle.
Glass with class.

On the way back from a trip to
and maybe our last, Rock/Gem
and Bead show. My friend was
hungry and I could eat even
though I had a nourishing and
lasting first meal.

Most supermarkets carry a lot things
I would never put in my body I thought
So this Hispanic market had nothing over
say, Publix in nutritionally challenged
foods.

So I was enticed by this green glassed beauty. Only to be a bit
turned off with the taste of mineral water but, hey got a beauty
of a bottle I can use to give some of my thirsty plants a sip.

Also took a different route to the show just to make the routine
trip more interesting and which it did. Both there and back.

Another First Meal's First Salad

 

The olives were the saving grace in today's mix. Could of added some vinegar to

liven up the bland tasting tomato.

New Birds In The Yard - Tufted Titmouse I Presume

This is the best I can get and this was rendered from a video.

Two birds a blur and in flight. See if you can spot the two to.

I've managed to capture it's distinct large black eye
and crest. I also believe this to be the female of the two bids.
The male has a streak of copper on the side of it's belly.

Happy Haunting Halloween House - Deadly Poison

This will be my only Halloween contribution this year instead of passing out that other Deadly Poison aka Sugar.




My inspiration is from the neighbor behind me who is having his house tented
and a sign that reads DEADLY POISON.

Camillia In Bud (Pink Double)

On schedule with an abundance of blooms forthe late winter display. This is a potted specimen
to. I think once I find an ideal spot for it I think
I will put into the ground where it belongs.

Desert Rose Second Bloom This Season

Haven't had this plant long enough to know what is typical. Anything but typical, because
after all it did catch my eye the other day.

It is still sacrificing some of it's smaller non-sustainable branches that have this
shriveled look that it may have had to sacrifice for these out of season blooms.

Adenium obesum - Desert Rose

 

Experimental Kitchen Returns - Sweet Potatoes

I rarely eat sweet potatoes for one of the obvious reasons, it is too sweet for me.

It didn't stop me from picking up a tray of baby sweet potatoes of three different
varieties. Your typical orange variety, creamy yellow and the deep red skinned
kind. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there are other colors too.

This Experimental Kitchen differs from my other experiments in that I'm in
the rare mood to make something that I generally don't like, to something that
I will now enjoy. You know that yuck face that you have no control over.
It's that natural instinct that your body is trying save your life and spit it out,
face.

So I've come up with five variations, really trying hard to get my taste buds in
agreement that we would like to eat this color of vegtables in the near future.
Cacao, Vinegar, Olives, Black Pepper , Pickles and Cinnamon. You might notice
I have a theme here with trying to combat the sweet.

Using my trusty Stainless steel with some non-stick spray.

First taste was with just the Cacao, total fail. Second taste was with Vinegar. In the two
tastes thus far, it went from fail to this one's really good. Vinegar is definitely a must, but
then there is the Olives. The Olives, wow! I would have never thought that I could get a
wow out of eating sweet potatoes. As a few times I've tried sweet potato fries, they were
good but not something I would desire.

As for the pickles, it's like, hey you got your pickles in my sweet potatoes and not in a good
way. Kind like on Thanksgiving day, where you load up your plate and somethings just don't
clash well. I can see a Thanksgiving pick up line in that should anyone want to use it. You may
have the same results that I had culinarily speaking , but I digress.

Now to finish what is on my plate. The last remains fail to remain in their initial applications and
tend and will mingle. To my pleasant surprise there were hints of Cacao that I was ready to dismiss.

My final conclusions and worth a repeat to confirm whether this is a keeper and a means of adding
another once distaste to the tasteful. For a final recipe, I would pile on the olives with vinegar. The
vinegar shown in the top picture was recommended by a friend who is a very good cook. With a dash
of cinnamon and even less Cacao.

The reason I suggested Cacao was I had just recently read to include Cacao as spice and not as something that you had to add some kind of sweet and in this case, pleasantly surprised.

First Meal's First Salad

With some coconut oil, tied it all
together and tastes as good as it looks.
If I may say so myself.

Up On The Roof

Intermittent rain this afternoon and still manage to get a couple things
done to the house.

Added some Zinnser123 primer to a troubled spot of stucco that bleeds
a burnt red. I feel I need to apply another coat to make sure that it blocks
this issue well.

Removed a satellite dish from up off the roof. I won't say how long it's
been up there, after all I did mention that I can be a procrastinator.
I hope your not afraid of heights, whereas I am surely not.

I had my self talk and
visual that I have a tendency
of doing. I imagine myself
falling off, in this case off
the roof. Even while up there
I could see myself falling over
and impaling myself on the
small tree below. Among a few
other fatal scenarios.

If that don't get my attention and
the awareness and diligence, then
I have no business being up there.

My my my that's a long way down as my satellite dish has rather dramatically
demonstrates.


After I biked up to our Twilight Farmers Market and with a bag full of veggies
in return.

I had just enough time to get back up on to roof and trim a way some Crape Myrtle branches.
Just in time for my walking buddy to show, even if he was early and to see me up on the roof
doing my thing. I showed him my Helper Tree that I use to climb up and down to and from my
roof. It sure beats using a ladder.

Look Into The Blue and Don't Be Blue

Had this Blue Pea plant for over a month now
and it still turns my head when it pushes out a
bloom.

Spaghetti Squash - You Got To Try To Prepare This At Least Once

I've prepared this about a half dozen times now and how the spaghetti's
reveal themselves, is still amazing. I think this is the first time that
I've made the effort to get every last 'noodle' out of it's shell.

What you do with it next is up to you. I enjoy it with some olive oil
and or some coconut oil and my favorite pasta sauce. Either toasted
walnuts or cashew nuts for some crunch. A truly genuine traditional
pasta substitute and filling too.

One of these days I'm going to toast those squash seeds to.

First Meal With Some Tender Asparagus and Spotted A Yellow Warbler?

How about an omelet colored bird. Spotted this Yellow Warbler

while watering some of the plants in the backyard.

These pictures are the not the best but they captured enough to

identify the bird.

Yellow Warbler perched in my Bald Cypress tree.

Yellow Warbler perched in my Crape Myrtle tree.

Today's Cloudscape

Taco Bus (Brick and Morter) New Downtown Location

This location has been open for about a month and half, or so I 've been told.

I'm going to try something new besides my usual, which can only be found
in Tampa and not on a their food truck, which paid visit to us via the food
truck rally downtown. All food truck vendors in the past have been on the
lottery system, so there are no guarantees to whether they show or not.

I think our town has spoke because there is rarely a healthy food truck to found
since the nearly three years the this has been ongoing. But hey, we got of Taco
Bus out of the deal. Most new food venues can start by introducing it by a food
truck.

Today's meal is made with their Salad de la Casa - Chopped Romaine spring mix,
Tomatoes, Corn and Jicama. Accompanying filling will be the Cochinta Pibil -
Shredded pork marinated in Achiote and Bitter Orange, then wrapped in Banana 
leaves and slow roasted in a smoker.

Something new to the taste buds and eyes. Not disappointed and very pleased that
we have another good food option. Bill came out to be $8.55, extra two dollar
tip and water to drink, money well spent.

 Back to priming the last of the house proper, stucco.  

Downtown Alive With People and Taco Bus

I went downtown on my new routine of attending our downtown curb farmers market.
Thinking originally I would like to ride my bike but I woke up too late, it was getting
close to ten in the morning. Sun can get quite hot still.

Good thing I didn't bike because they were still closing off streets for the annual car
show downtown. I would not have enjoyed trying to navigate my bike amongst all
these people.

On my way to the market I had discovered that we now have a Taco Bus. 

For those locals that can appreciate this.
No doubt, resulting from Taco Bus food
truck presence, second Thursday every
month for the past three years.
Now that we have a Taco Bus of our own
and the full blown menu and instead of
driving forty minutes for that treat. Will
it still be a treat?

Welcome Taco Bus!

Looking south from Main St.

Looking north just north of Main St. The farmers market

is where the white tents are located at the top of this picture.

Macro Bonsai Modification - Turkey Fig Tree

I was editing this picture of a nearly twenty-five year old Turkey Fig tree.
When I spied where the next trim to be. This macro bonsai will always be
a work in progress.

Accompanying this latest trim will be an awesome fired clay face that is giving
this Fig tree some extra Mojo. This face was made by a talented clay artist of mine,
and was gifted to me recently. Can you tell where the modification
was made on the Fig tree?

Tomorrow I will post another picture outdoors, where most Bonsai belong, in the
elements.

That day Tomorrow has come and is here. No guarantees there now. This one is
pictured from the backside from the one pictured above. This view has some
animalistic elements about it, more so than the original picture at top.

Will Forever - Troubador Seranades On The Lake

Will gives us a concert of a dozen of his original folk songs, among friends and thousand pumpkins.

Next day, two songs come to mind that Will performed. First one being Ripples, mostly classical
guitar and some vocals. Notice the ripples you see reflected in the street lights about the lake.
I was thinking that this song would be great accompaniment to some relaxing session of Yoga.

The other song called Boba Express, which involves some Owls. Well last night, sleeping with the
window open and what did I hear? Owls, I hear at a distance late into the hours, is not that unusual.
Well there were perhaps two and they must of been in my Oak tree not far from my window. I was able to capture two recordings too. Just in case the thought crosses my mind that it was the power or suggestion, from Wills song or perhaps just dreaming. 

Any way, Thank you Will for the invite and night out with your friends and fans.

Which Way Is North

Always knew my house did not face any direction directly. In that it was skewed, but
didn't know by how much till now. Google Earth showed me the way.

What is uncanny is how the angle of my roof line points due North. How cool is that!

Corner of Garden and Preping Last of the Stucco

Being the procrastinator that I can be.

I told myself that I need to get to the last bit of stucco that needs some caulking. 
Instead I tended to some trimming in that corner of the yard. I eventually got
to the putty but my point being, being a procrastinator can have it's side benefits.

Yes, this little corner. First thing
I notice is the variety of textures.
Those being one of my priorities,
along with the best sighting. Sun
exposure being one of them.

In the forefront is a rescued dwarf
Magnolia. Rescued from Leow's
half off rack. I've been well rewarded
with this specimen in blooms and it's
contrasting foliage.

In the background is Pampas grass.
In the years I was going to college
up in the Florida panhandle is where
this plant was prolific. This is it's
fifth year that it has produce those
puffy plumes. This can easily grow
into a monster if not attended to.
This is one of the plants that needed trimming.

The plant at the right is a Florida native and not a hundred percent sure on the ID,
but Simpson Stopper comes to mind. Well suited once established and has berries
to boot and while I was trimming it I notice that it suckers. As many years that it
has been in the ground and little water that it gets due to it being under the roof
overhangs, not an issue.

Mid left side of picture is another texture of long strap leaves of the a large variety
of Liriope 'Green Giant'.

Peeking out from the top right of the picture is a native palm? I believe it to be the
Cabbage Palm,but more likely a Chinese fan palm, which strikes it from being equally
beautiful but not a native. Saw this one and another opposite from it, grow from seed.
Nearly thirty years old, but still a toddler. The base of this palm is not even four feet tall
and knowing they can get really tall.

To the upper left we have one of many favorites of mine. The Bald Cypress with it's
fine needles, just another in a list of different textures.

In case your wondering, that caulking did get done.

Yoga and A Meal

Yesterday's back to back and a meal in between was a first.

A suggestion to only eat no more than two hours before a Yoga practice
was followed quite diligently and good practice. So, with a meal of
four Jumbo Eggs, half of a Hass Avocado and a handful of green Olives,
which only took minutes to prepare before I was off to my second
Yoga class.

My first Yoga class in downtown, compliments this second Yoga class
on the south side of town and have been been pairing up these two classes
now for about month now.

With a meal in my belly, gave me no issues whats so ever. I would like to
think that may have got a needed burst of energy from this new meal
modification that I made or it could of been the Placebo Effect.

Many years ago I used to sing in a band and before a gig I would down
two cans of Ensure nutritional drink. This also worked well in keeping
my energy levels up and without in discomfort from bloating and such.

Modify Meals One Meal At A Time

Based on a few insights from a new read. The first meal modification was
too easy. Just eliminate the Romano cheese.

An Asparagus omelette with hree different Curry spice brands. Ground
Black Pepper and some ground Ginger which is turning into a dissapointment,
not as good as fresh grated Ginger. Some Green Olives, sliced in two. Four Jumbo
Eggs and some Ghee.

This also a first time having this without my favorite pasta sauce, which is not
a restricted item. I really notice the texture and tast with out the sauce.

Followed this the remaining Blueberries, less than a half pint.

Varigated Ginger Blooming First Time - Now With Positive ID

Have a bloom? You have a better chance of a identifying your specimen.

 Hedichyium 'Tahitian Flame' - Variegated Butterfly Ginger

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Yesterday while painting the front of the house's stucco. The neighbor on the south side
of me was getting a meal delivered to the neighbor's mom whom resides in their garage.
As most volunteer services, for what ever reason's there may be a different deliverer
every time. This one was new to me and was quite obvious that this address was new
to them. After several attempts on my part to explain to them where the meal needs to
be delivered to said location without missing a beat at painting. Took some effort and
challenge to a welcomed break from my task at hand.

While this morning, I was taking advantage of the cool morning temperatures to
continue my painting the finish coat on the stucco. There must of been a landline
phone call, in regards to the neighbor on my north side. Not that I would have
heard it because I had my ear protection, protecting me from the noise of a nusance
dog, who was pining for it's owner while away on an appointment. Anyway, this
phone call was a message , an alert that my other neighbor's medical alert button
was giving them a low signal.

Today's Catch - Dixieland Twilight Farmer's Market

Unwaxed Pink Lady apples from one of those Carolina's. Again, unwaxed

Cucumbers from I don't know where, didn't ask. Asparagus all the way

from Chili and Tennessee Tomatoes.  

This time I took my bike and made there and back with some chatting with
two vendors in thirty minutes. A shout out to my walking buddy that bailed
out today that made this possible. I will have to make market a priority.

Not sure I saved any money at the market but got in some exercise and broadened
my socializing within the community.

I did my walk around the Lake any ways and with a greetings from a Yogi that
lifted my spirits even higher.

Was so inspired that I biked up the Library to return a book that was due today.
Although it was dark by now I rode partway in the road with all of bike lights
ablaze.

The Piano - Inspiring In So Many Ways

If you ever have been moved by the sound of the piano. The look of the piano
can be equally beguiling.

Eggplant Plant Update

Two firsts, one first is growing Eggplant
in Florida. Last time I grew Eggplant was
when I was fourteen maybe and it was in
Michigan. The other first is it being the Japaneses variety.

The beauty of growing anything is finding
and implementing the plants requirements.
You are easily rewarded with exponantial
growth as seen here since nearly three
weeks.

Already there has been several catipillars
doing what they do best and I believe that
the fall time is the worst for pests too. I believe I saw a Fritillary Butterfly flinting around the
other day, will have to be extra vigilant. Nothing these two fingers can't squish or flick off this
robust specimen.

Watering with rain water has ceased. will have to use city water, poor substitute of nature's finest life
giving elements. The bright afternoon sun is certainly no slough either. Notice the Spanish Moss for
mulch, another first. Not much of a fan for the stuff. I have one spot in my yard that it is in abundance. Why not let it work for me for once.

To settled in to have to go out and rehoot this picture. The one bad thing about my new
cell phone is the screen is not bright enough to compose a subject as one can see from
these photos.





                                                                                                                                                                                       

Reading and getting some
good pointers from this
Library book. Was never one
to go all out on recommendations
like these but will tweek what
I'm doing and take from it what
I feel to be beneficial.