The Girls Are Back In Town!!

Do you know that moment??

When you are holding your camera in hand,

in hopes of capturing that perfect image.

 

For me, the challange of a "perfect" image is a bird.

 

I stand at the home office window, waiting...

for the opportunity to capture this...

 

Gorgeous Female Cardinal

 

She landed as I was standing at the window,

on the perfect branch for a picture...not one twig was blocking her.

And she was this close.

I thought "this can't be happening, I'm right here and I am ready".

 

As I pressed the shutter, the pictures seemed amazing.

Would they be this beautiful when I plugged in the camera?

Would the orange be so vibrant,

would the images reveal the detail I was seeing.

 

I was so sure she knew I was there and she did not fly off.

I took twenty two pictures, over about one minute.

 

She looked right at me before she left the tree,

had a bite to eat and flew off.

 

I think these are the best images I have ever taken.

My best friend Mr. Nikon makes taking these pictures, a breeze!

And many thanks to Mrs. Cardinal, you made my day!

 

 

Let's Cook, Part II

During the winter months, I love to cook because I love comfort food.

It's cold, there's nothing to do outside,
so I try to make my inside days fun!!

 

This recipe was awesome.

Pan Roasted Chicken Lemon Garlic Green Beans

I found it on Pinterest and have been dying to try it.

I love one pot meals!!

 

Here's the ingredient line-up.

2 Split Chicken Breasts
2 Lemons, 4 Cloves of Garlic
1 good handful of fresh Green Beans, trimmed
1.5 pounds of Red Skinned Potatoes
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I tweaked this recipe for 2,
if you click on the link, the recipe is for four people.

 

Coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil,

top with one lemon, sliced thinly.

 

Mince 4 cloves of garlic.

 

Toss garlic with 5 tablespoons of Olive Oil
and the juice from your second lemon.
Stir her up.

All ingredients hit the bowl, get tossed in this
before heading to the roasting pan. 

 

A handful of Green Beans

 

Red Skinned Potatoes, I used 1.5 pounds.

 

Be sure and toss the Chicken in your olive oil mixture also.
Pour what's left of the EVOO mixture on top,
now she's ready for the oven...

Roast for 50 minutes at 450 degrees.
Remove the chicken from the roasting pan.
Place the beans and potatoes back in oven for 10 minutes
or until the potatoes are tender.
Place a chicken breast on each of  2 serving plates,
 divide the green beans and potatoes equally.
Serve warm.
 

 

This was really good.

Lot's of lemon and garlic flavor, nothing overwhelming.

 

I will make this again...

If the hubs can ever get the roasting pan clean!!

Do posts like this inspire you to cook?
Are you on Pinterest??
Pinterest really inspires me to cook, create and get organized!!

 

Hiding in the Brush

I didn't see this White-Throated Sparrow
when I opened the window to see and hear the birds,

on January 23, 2013.

I was sure he didn't see me either.

 

Then I heard two long whistle notes,

followed by three short chirps.

Did he see me? Was he calling me?

 

He looked right at me, puffed out just a little bit more,

and I took this beautiful image.

 

Memories of May

I have been busy cleaning up and organizing my pictures.

The ones in print and the thousands I have on my computer.

I have "scared to death to delete anything" disease!

Does anyone else suffer from that dreaded disease??

I could use a self help group!

 

Here's a few pictures from May 27, 2012, that I never shared.

 

My Spirea's, first show of the season.

These beauties line the walk that leads to the back yard.

If you look closely, you can see the surprise that popped out,

while I was taking this picture.

 

 A Bumble Bee surprise...

he was hiding under the flower to the left.

The color of these tiny flowers changes, in the sun.

In size, they resemble baby's breath.

 

Nice pollen sacks...

 

Lift-off...

 

and flight!!

 

We are expecting snow and ice today,

it's a great day to enjoy some summer time images! 

 

Ashley's Scavenger Hunt #33

This week's prompts for Ashley's Scavenger Hunt photo challenge are,

Lace, Bling, Wood, Fuzzy & Fabric

Lace

Bling

Wood

Fuzzy

Fabric

Thanks so much for enjoying all of my images today.
I took all new pictures this week & had tons of fun with the prompts!

I'm sharing today with Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday

~ Six Words Friday ~ Handle

Can you ~ handle ~ this sweet face.

 

Just so cute ~ those dancing feet.

 

So fun ~ to watch ~ her play.

 

Aunt Debbie loves, her Addie girl!!

 

Sharing with  Adrienne at My Memory Art ~ Six Words Friday
On Saturday, because I forgot yesterday was Friday!! 

Let's Cook, Part I ~ The Bacon-Ate-Er

It's so cold here at the Jersey Shore, I have been inspired to cook!

Yes, folks, I have been in the kitchen and I have actually enjoyed it!!

 

Inspired by Pinterest let me show you what makes this girl
rock in the kitchen.

 

First I made breakfast,

 

That tiny box of hash browned potatoes,

sure did produce a lot of potatoes.

 

You make little nests, in your muffin tin and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

 

I only made four cause it's just the hubs and I,

so the rest of this I just kinda winged.

 

The nests look like this when they come out of the oven.

I pressed in crumbled bacon, cracked one egg in each

and topped them with shredded cheddar and more bacon.

You can never have too much bacon, right?

 

Now you forget to take the most important picture,

and back in the oven this goes for 13 minutes, till the eggs are set.

 

I thought these were pretty good, not amazing but the hubs LOVED them!!

So for me, that's a score!

I would not make these again as I have other
egg concoctions that are way better!!
 

The Backyard's A Buzzin'

I get a lot of yard birds here, year round.

We, the hubs keeps the feeders full and we always provide fresh water.

 

When it gets really cold, or I have time to take pictures,

I put out peanuts and the activity doubles!

Male Cardinal, so easy to love!!

Male Downey, this guy is always here!

Male House Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

Male House Finch vs Red Poll, let me know what you think!
He is tiny, puffy and
there is a lot of red and white under his wings when he flies!

All these pictures were taken from my home office window.
How the heck do I get any work done!!

And I kept seeing this Hawk flying around the yard.
I could see and "feel" his presence.
The hubs and I flew outside when I finally saw him perched in the tree.

He took off pretty quickly and although I had all my camera setting set
for flight, my flight shot is blurry!!

Darn it!! When this guy flies, you can really "feel" his presense!!

So do I get much work done??
Define work??
 

Greetings From the Jersey Shore...

Don't you just love that postcard greeting??
Greetings from the Jersey Shore...
It evokes every wonderful, sea shore memory I have.
I miss the beach!

I miss our walks along the surf,
the waves crashing and the smell of sea salt.

I miss my endless searches for shells and sea glass.

 

We hit the beach and it felt great!

The beaches at Pier Village in Long Branch did not suffer as much
damage from Super Storm Sandy as the surrounding areas.

There are three ocean front restaurants that suffered no damage at all.

Lot's of sun, abundant blue skies and almost 60 degrees!
 

I love it here, I really love it here!

We remembered the camera, we forgot the tri-pod.

There's no one on earth I'd rather be here with.

Talk about perspective.
The boardwalk is gone, only sand remains,

but the ocean and beaches are just as powerful and as beautiful as ever!

A wonderful walk, along my beloved beaches...
yummy dinner and a nice, peacful ride home...

With a pocket full of this...

 

and this!!

 

Can anyone say happy??

Just what I need, more sea glass and shells.

I just can't help myself!