That's Not a Hummingbird

But just as exciting to see!

Imagine our surprise to see a beautiful Baltimore Oriole on this dreary morning on the hummingbird feeder.

We don't remember ever seeing an Oriole in our yard.

 The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird that averages 18 cm long and weighs 34 g. This bird received its name from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore.

(Source: Wikipedia)

I have now learned visits to hummingbird feeders aren't uncommon

Source: Wikipedia:
Baltimore Orioles forage in trees and shrubs, also making short flights to catch insects. They mainly eat insects, berries and nectar, and are often seen sipping at hummingbird feeders. Oriole feeders contain essentially the same food as hummingbird feeders, but are designed for orioles, and are orange instead of red and have larger perches. Baltimore Orioles are also fond of halved oranges, grape jelly and, in their winter quarters, the red arils of Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba).

Minty Iced Tea

A very simple and refreshing summer beverage.

Best if made each morning for dinnertime.

Begin by filling the tea kettle with fresh, cold water. Bring to a boil then pour into a 1-gallon heat-resistant pitcher. This should fill the pitcher about 1/3 full. Add six tea bags (regular or de-caffeinated) with the tags cut off. Allow to sit on counter to brew and come to room temperature.

When cool, remove the tea bags. Give a slight squeeze but not too much or your tea will taste bitter. Stir in 3/4 cup sugar (1 cup if you like your tea a little sweeter). Squeeze in juice from 1/4 of a lemon. And enough cold water to fill pitcher 2/3 full.

Go out to garden and snip a couple pieces of rampantly growing mint. Sniff its wonderful fragrance and let out a little aww... as you are returning to the kitchen.

Common garden mint

Spearmint for a little stronger flavor

Run the mint under cold water and then plunge it into the pitcher of iced-tea, crushing slightly with your fingers to release its flavor. Garnish pitcher with a couple slices of lemon.
Chill the iced-tea and serve over ice.

Blue Salvia

While on bended knee placing pieces of sod in the bare spots in the lawn, I came face-to-flower with the blooms of the blue salvia growing in the front yard.

No matter that my hands were muddy and my pant legs wet, I headed inside for my camera.

These photos remind me of  plants growing in an aquarium
or on the ocean floor.

A little like the growing Magic rocks I had as a kid.

The photos were taken early morning

with the eastern sun behind me.

Looking at this one, I think I might see a tiny Gnome pop up any moment in a forest of purple!
~*~
I Come To The Garden Alone

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there~*~Searching for the name of the author of this hymn, I was surprised to learn he was born and lived close to where we live and is buried in the same cemetery as my husbands parents. Charles Austin Miles was born in Lakehurst, New Jersey which is also the location of the Hindenburg Disaster

~*~Charles Austin Miles

Lyrics and Composer

Born: January 7, 1868, Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Died: March 10, 1946, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


Buried: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Sewell, New Jersey.


Miles attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1892, he abandoned his career as a pharmacist and wrote his first Gospel song, “List ’Tis Jesus’ Voice” which was published by the 
Hall-Mack Company. He served as editor and manager at the Hall-Mack publishers for 37 years. In his own words:


It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire.

Source:  Bible Study Charts.com

Pizza

Little Ella (whom I take care of) would eat pizza every day for her lunch.  She loves frozen pizza that I just warm in the oven but some days we make homemade pizza together.

Making the dough in the bread machine is the easiest part

When the dough is made, we roll and pat it into a circle on a cookie sheet that we sprinkled with cornmeal and a little flour.

Then we add sauce and top with Mozzarella Cheese.

For a nice crispy crust, I heat a pizza stone in the over to 420 degrees.  The trickiest part (for me) of making the pizza is transferring it from the cookie sheet onto the hot pizza stone.  Plenty of cornmeal on the bottom and a few hard shakes helps the dough slip off easily.

Be CAREFUL ~ the oven and stone are very HOT!

I recently tried substituting all-purpose flour for the bread flour.

I found no difference in texture, rising or taste.

I have also made the dough using my KitchenAid mixer and it bakes up just the same.

Here is my dough recipe that came with my first bread maker.
We like it because it rises really nice and tastes great.

Dough directions for a 14-inch pizza

1 cup water

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 tsp. salt

3 cups bread flour

2 Tbs. sugar

2 tsp. bread machine yeast

Place dough ingredients in bread pan in order listed.

Set on basic dough and press start button.

When cycle is completed, remove dough from bread pan.

Preheat oven and pizza stone to 420 degrees.

Shaping directions:

Punch dough down.  Pat/roll dough on a cookie sheet (one with no sides) that has been sprinkled with cornmeal and a little flour, shaping edges to form a crust.

Spread on your favorite pizza sauce, herbs and toppings of choice.

CAREFULLY slide the pizza from the cookie sheet onto the stone (that is in the oven).

Bake for 15 minutes until done.

When done, I use tongs and slide the pizza from the pizza stone onto a large wooden cutting board.

mm mm... your house will smell wonderful and your tummy will be happy!

May Flowers

outside

inside