Nature Friday

 We are joining Rosy this week for Nature Friday~~

Off we go~~

Neighbor Mike planted Dahlias at his mailbox~

We discovered Impatiens near this mailbox~

We spotted this red berry in the lawn and mom looked it up.   It's a mock strawberry!

Happy Friday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Terrific Tuesday

 We had overnight lows of 54 degrees.  Can it get much better than that!

Walking is such a joy with no bugs and no humidity and no horrible heat!  This entire week is going to be more autumn-like☺

Mom made Miss Cecilia's soup recipe on Sunday.   She left it chunky because that's the way she likes it and she did add celery instead of the onion.    This is the recipe:

White Bean, Bacon, Tomato Soup

INGREDIENTS

4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cups chicken broth

2 cans white beans (either Great Northern or navy), drained and rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes

½ teaspoon thyme

½ teaspoon cumin

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cook bacon pieces in a medium stock pot until they are starting to brown, stirring often.  Add the onions and cook, stirring, until tender.  Drain off any excess pan drippings.

Stir in all the other ingredients and bring up to just boiling, then turn down to a simmer and let it cook about 10 minutes.  Use a potato masher to break up some of the beans to thicken the soup, and serve with a crusty bread.

EASY PEASY AND OH SO YUM!  

It sure was yummy and we will be making this one again for sure!

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Silent Sunday Selfie

 

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Nature Friday

 We are joining the LLB Gang this week for Nature Friday~~

Before we left the house, we needed to give Molly a sweet Hi♥

We found beautiful Hibiscus along our walk~

White ones~

Pink ones~

Mom thinks this is Burdock.   It was along Landlady Maryann's duck fence.

The Phlox smells so delightful!

Because it's been so hot, mom has been doing lots of puzzles.   This is the latest one~

Happy Friday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Wordless Wednesday

Love ya lots♥

Duke
 

Flying Beauties

 Mom has been working in the garden deadheading the Butterfly Bushes.  

We know this is the butterfly moth on Miss Violet~

Mom doesn't know the butterfly species as well as she know the plants.

They sure are beautiful!

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Saturday Art

 Juney's post this morning inspired mom to take a picture of the stained glass work of art that my sissy made of me this past Christmas.   

It hangs in our picture window always and we absolutely love it!

We have to show you another stained glass that she made.  This piece is in memory of Jocko, a much-loved cat that passed not long ago.   He belonged to Missy's Godmother.  

This is a very special piece that Missy made in memory of her dad, who was the leader of the Northford Timber Framers. Today is the second anniversary of his passing♥

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Nature Friday

 We are joining Rosy this week for Nature Friday~~

Look what we found.  Raspberries!

Mom offered me one kind of knowing that I'd eat it~

Of course, I ate it!

We found another beautiful Butterfly Bush in bloom.  The lavender is so pretty!

We discovered a pinkish-white Balloon Flower blooming away~

We found Queen Anne's Lace~

Mom had to look this one up.   They say it's a Button Bush~

We looked this one up too.   It's a Lily of the Nile.  It sure is pretty!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

A Recipe on a Wednesday

 As requested, this is the recipe that mom used for her Cream of Spinach soup~

Cream of Spinach Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

Large bag of chopped frozen spinach - you can use fresh spinach also

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant.

Add the diced potatoes and diced carrots to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the chicken broth.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.

Once the potatoes and carrots are cooked, add the cream.

Add the chopped spinach to the pot.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Look what we found on the center line in the middle of the street!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Tasty Tuesday

 Mom bought a cantaloupe this week.  She always cuts the whole fruit up and stores it in a tupperware and of course, I was right there for free hand outs!  

Yes, please!

The next time, I got served off a fork~

She made a Cream of Spinach soup with carrots and potatoes.   She's never eaten this kind of soup before and she loved it and will be making it again in the Autumn.

Happy Tuesday!

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Sunday Selfie

 I captured another dryer ball☺

Love ya lots♥

Duke

Nature Friday

 We are joining Rosy this week for Nature Friday~~

The Rose of Sharons have been really pretty!

We don't see too many white ones.  

Landlady Maryann's Rose of Sharon is peeking between our Arborvitae's!

Look what we saw as we were being nosey through the hedges!  Mom loves the antique cars and the older - the better!

The Magnolia in our back yard is blooming for the second time this year~

We found a pretty vibrant Spiderwort~

Walking up one of our favorite streets, we discovered the Lilies were making quite the showing!

Mom has been calling me Dukey Delicious.  I'm not sure what it means but I get lots of kisses and it makes her happy☺

Happy Friday and Happy first day of August!

Love ya lots♥

Duke