CFFC: Weathered Wood #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: Missing the Great #Outdoor


This week, Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives asks the question for #SundayStills: Are you a fan of your own backyard, or would you rather explore the great outdoors on a grander scale?

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CMMC: May 5th Week – Irises and Ice


Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

CMMC: May Alphabet – Any Word with an I


Image descriptions: Wildflower, Squirrel, Petunia, Mountain, and Iris

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

UK Trip Day 10


It’s another down day as we spent another day at mom’s friends’ house. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired, spending the day on the couch, cycling between editing pictures, blogging, and napping.

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UK Trip Day 9


At last, a day to slow down and take it easy.

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Friday Thoughts – The Day Before…


Actually, it’s 2 days before. Tomorrow will mostly be spent in travel with a 90-minute flight to Los Angeles, endure a nearly 4 hours layover before hopping on a 10-and-half hours flight to London.

Last night, when I found out our seats got assigned, I thought, that just made the trip more real. We’re flying to London in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I’ve flown on the 777 before and didn’t like the seats at all – too narrow and not enough legroom. I’ve also flown on the Airbus. Personally, I prefer the Airbus with its roomier leg space. I’ve heard good thing about the Dreamliner though, so I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

There are 9 seats per row and my mom and I are in the middle. Since we went with the cheapest option, we didn’t get to pick our seats. So far, there’s no one sitting in the third seat and there are 40+ empty seats on the plane. I hope it’ll keep it this way, then mom won’t be squished into me. I like my personal space, if you haven’t noticed.

* * * * *

I planted 9 tomatoes last night. 9!

If you told me I would be able to plant 9 tomatoes in an hour a year ago, I would’ve told you you’re crazy. I probably wouldn’t be able to stand the next day.

My back has been sore since December and I’m currently going through physical therapy. My therapist has been teaching me to stretch in the appropriate places follow by electro-stimulation at the end of the session. The stimulation is nice. It’s like 4 pairs of gentle hands loosening my tight back. I feel better afterwards though it’s always been temporary. Oh well, I have 18 more sessions to go.

Anyway, back to tomatoes. Thankfully, I invested in a set of auger that can be attached to the drill. It’s a lot easier to press a button than to dig the hole myself.

I’ve also gone minimalistic when it comes to the amount of amendments I put into the planting holes. Last year, I’d put bone meal, blood meal, vermiculite, perlite, so many others but last night, I just scattered a few handfuls of worm castings and fertilizer. As much as the initial planting matters, I now believe in the importance of subsequent fertilizing. Besides, after spending so much time and energy last fall adding manure compost and amendments, the soil was incredibly rich and full of earthworms – a sight any gardeners would love to see.

Anyway, I just drilled, threw in worm casting, fertilizer, and plop went the tomato plant. I’ve also put cages around the indeterminate tomatoes, hoping to keep them tamed this year. Wish me luck.

As a documentarian, I have to document the garden before my trip. Otherwise, what would I have to compare when I return 2 weeks later?

I will also note that 2 of the broccoli plants in the new raised bed is beginning to head, will I return to beautiful broccoli heads?

CMMC: May Color – Imperial Purple


Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #248: Mood


Happy Sunday! Sofia from the blog, Photographias, is the host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and she’s challenging us to incorporate moods into our photos.

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CMMC: May Close Up – Garden Update


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #247: Backlit


Happy Sunday! This week, Ann-Christine is the lovely hostess for Lens-Artist Photo Challenge and the topic is one of my favorites – Backlit.

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#WeekendCoffeeShare – The Anticlimactic Spring


Good morning! Welcome to #WeekendCoffeeShare, thank you for joining me on this summery-feeling spring day.

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CMMC: April Alphabet – Ending with a G


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#SundayStills: Spring is Finally Here! #Earth


There is no better feeling than to know Mother Nature is finally presenting us with signs of spring.

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CMMC: April Color – Granny Smith Apple Green


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #244: Glowing Moments


Happy Sunday! Soybend from the blog, Bend Branches, is the guest host for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the theme of Glowing Moments.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #243: It’s Tricky


Happy Sunday! Donna from WindKisses is hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and her theme for this week had me thinking about it all day and still, I hardly have anything as cool as her photos – It’s Tricky.

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CMMC: March Alphabet Two E’s


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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #242: New Experiences


Happy Sunday! Anne from Slow Shutter Speed is the hostess and I am reflecting on one of my favorite new experience on this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with photos I haven’t looked at in nearly 5 years. Hope you enjoy.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #241: Spring


Happy Sunday! This week, Sophia of Photographias is the hostess for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and this week, with the spring equinox on Monday, March 20, 2023, it’s all about spring.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #240: The Road (Most Often) Taken


Happy Sunday! This week, John from Journeys with Johnbo is the host for this week’s Lens-Artists challenge. Instead of a physical road, the theme he has chosen led me down a metaphoric one and I’m talking about the style of photography.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #239: Finding Peace


Happy Sunday! This week, Tina from Travels and Trifles leads this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge by taking last week’s topic – Alone Time – one step further and asks us how we find peace in this busy and ever-changing world.

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #238: Alone Time


Happy Sunday! This week, Ann-Christine from her blog – Leya – is the lovely hostess for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge and this week’s topic – Alone Time.

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