The first daffodil in our garden bloomed on the last day of the month! :)

End of July Harvest

The Neighbours

the way to silently make you smile

Candied tulips

Earlier this week I watched that Food Network show, Alex's Day Off (or something like that?) and she picked up some candied oranges and lemons from the store. They looked really good. This tulip, which is a "Queen of Night" or "Black Tulip" reminds me of the candied fruit. We had a frost just after Mother's Day and all of the tulips looked like they were sprinkled with sugar. Mmmm...

Darwin hybrid - Apeldoorn's Elite

Lately

I haven't been posting as frequently lately, though I have been taking as many pictures as usual, if not more. Partly I think that is because work has been getting more stressful and when I get home I rarely feel like being on the computer since I do that all day long at work. But mostly this is because my stupid, inexpensive memory card reader broke... Needless to say, I have a bunch of photos to catch up with. Lots of hiking photos and lots of spring flowers!! Soon I will have to do a whole post on my tulips. My mom and I really outdid ourselves this year with a variety of new types of tulips. You'll see sooner rather than later, I hope.

From the author of 101 Cookbooks, Heidi Swanson:

I've also found that photography is a good indicator for me - when my life is nicely in balance I shoot more photos. If I find my favorite cameras collecting dust, it's usually an sign that I'm over-extended in one way or another and I try to adjust...

I feel like my own life is like that as well. Lately it has been stressful and busy. I'm having difficulty grasping it.

Rhubarb!

Odd little things, hey?

hodgepodge

County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Carrick Island, Northern Ireland

Carlyle's House, 24 Cheyne Row, London, England

Another bench for you, Katie

Taken while I was wandering the gardens of Ham House.

(A rare instance where I was 'lost' on purpose.)

London, England