Nature Photo Challenge #24 – Edibles


I have no shortage of edibles in my backyard and front yard gardens. After all, I eat mostly out of it during the summer.

There was a rainstorm about a week ago. I love the look of the garden after a storm. The water droplets on the leaves made for a great photo opportunity and I got to play with my macro lens filters because I find the camera focuses better on small subjects (like water droplets) with a sort-of magnifying glass attached. I love how the pictures turned out.

These are kale leaves, by the way. I doubled my kale production this year from 3 plants to 7 plants this year – 2 dinosaur kale and 5 Red Russian kale. Ever since June, I’ve been eating kale once a week – cooking it down in a broth. I didn’t know what it was doing to my gut but it didn’t take long to find out. I believe it was the thing that contributed to my 7-pound weight loss in 2 months.

I also have herbs in my garden this year. I had dill in late spring and early summer before it went to seed, making a corner of my garden smell like dill pickle. That’s one of my favorite smells and often found myself visiting that corner of the garden just to inhale the scent since I’m not going to get to make my pickles this year (thanks a lot, earwigs).

After heavily pruned the Holy Basil back in July, it’s starting to grow back again, producing more of that bubblegum pink blooms. Did I mention it smells like bubblegum? Another one of my favorite corner this year.

Finally, lemon balm. I love the smell, too. It doesn’t smell like lemon. It smells like one of those lemon-flavored super sour hard candy. It was a herb I wish I had last year because it was one of the plants that died on me. This year, however, I have such an abundance of it that I don’t know what to do with.

Last but not least, I can’t forget the most obvious edibles in the garden. I’ve sowed a new round of snow peas for the fall garden, hopefully, those will emerge soon, before I get anxious. I’ve had a few of the Japanese cucumbers and they were, so far, the best variety I’ve grown so far as they don’t get bitter.

The strawberries are getting ready for another flush as the temperatures cool. I’m looking forward to it. I’m loving the sweet banana peppers this year and am considering replacing my usual bells with this pepper in the future. I’ve eaten at least 10 of these already and my bell peppers have not even produced one. So disappointing this year.

CMMC: August Color: Old Brick


Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

CFFC: Contrast #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: Feeling #Lazy yet Triumphant


Last week’s rain has made me a lazy gardener.

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WQ#31: Alone


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CFFC: Cars #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

WQ#30: Writer’s Choice: Word of the Year Update


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Nature Photo Challenge #22 – Tree Bark


I guess I do have a few “tree bark” pictures to share though I doubt whether the first picture even can consider “bark”.

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CFFC: Street Lamps or Outdoor Lighting #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: Two of a Kind #Double


This week, it’s time to look closer because you will be seeing double on this week’s #SundayStills.

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CFFC: Parks and Playgrounds #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: #Small, Beautiful, and Powerful


This week, it’s time to get #small with #SundayStills.

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CFFC: Side of Any One Item #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: Monthly Color Challenge – #Blue


This week, on #SundayStills, it’s the monthly color challenge! For July, it’s Blue.

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CFFC: Back of Any One Item #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: #Historical and Significant


This week, on #SundayStills, Teri asks us to share something #historical.

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CFFC: Front of Any One Item #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: #Plant Life


Have I mentioned how much I’m loving my garden at the moment? All the flowers, colors, and smells…

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CFFC: Whole of Any Item #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: #Feathered Pals


This week, on #SundayStills, hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives, we are having fun with our #feathered pals, since I don’t have any #furred friends.

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CFFC: Half of Any Item #WordlessWednesday


Half of the London Eye Ferris Wheel
Half of a mountain

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

#SundayStills: Monthly Color Challenge: #Pink


This week, it’s the Monthly Color Challenge for #SundayStills, hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives and the color for June is Pink. I hope you enjoy my gallery of pinks.

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CFFC: Weathered Wood #WordlessWednesday


Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge