Kaseys Korner

plentiful hunting grounds

could be another way to describe my garden/yard according to the Sharp-shinned Hawk who has been making daily kills around the house.  So far, he's only been helping himself to house sparrows.  I certainly don't mind parting with a few of those (we seem to be inundated with them this winter), but I never like it when he nabs a chickadee, goldfinch etc.  I snapped these photos of him yesterday afternoon after I inadvertently flushed him out of the pine tree while taking water to the birdbath.  He didn't fly far, only to the neighbors roof, so it appears he's getting pretty comfortable here?

I have to admit, he IS pretty handsome.  I just didn't want to have to pull my feeders like I did last winter ~it made for an even longer winter with no birds to watch and keep us company.  It seems like we might just be on track to do that tho.  *sigh*

Until I make that decision, I better get used to the sight of him, sitting on one of the fence posts, de-feathering & snacking on a bird.  He's been very successful so far at swooping over the roof line and zeroing in on his prey.

'Night Star'

A quick jag back to amaryllis this morning since I forgot to share 'Night Star' with you last week.  Too much going on around here plus the bud & blooms took me by surprise.  The bulb hardly grew any foliage over the summer so I didn't anticipate any "action" this winter, much less a round of blooms.  Instead of forcing a dormancy (my normal procedure when bringing the bulbs indoors after summering outside), I placed it in my "makeshift greenhouse."  I was hopeful the extra heat & light would generate some leaf growth and restore energy to the bulb for next years show.   To my surprise, it sent up a bud instead.  I guess that goes to show what I know about amaryllis ~ especially Cybister Amaryllis ('Night Star' falls in that category).  Last year was the first time I'd grown any bulbs of this type so I'm definitely still learning the "particulars" about them.

Pretty cool flowers, wouldn't you say?  Spidery looking but very compelling & interesting. 

'Night Star' was placed in front of a mirror to bloom ~ notice how you see duplicate flowers reflected back in the above image.  Another "accidental" effect that I hadn't planned (can we say I did??) but am really enjoying.  Since there were only two buds on the stalk, it creates the illusion of more flowers. We all know "the more flowers the better," right?!

 

This morning, I cut the spent bloom stalk off and 'Night Star' was placed back in the "greenhouse."  We'll see what happens next but I hope she sprouts forth a plethora of strapping leaves so I can enjoy the show again.

PS  I decided to create an "Amaryllis" category on my sidebar.  If you're interested you can click on it and see which bulbs I have in my growing collection.  As the new additions bloom, I will be adding their photos as well so feel free to check back anytime.

candy land express

If you should happen to be in the neighborhood, please drop by for a Christmas treat.  Please.  I'm begging.  Someone needs to save me from all this sugar.  Oh and wear some pants with elastic too!  That's my quirky way of saying I've been whipping up a storm in the kitchen and all of it's bad for the waistline.  Calling my name from the "frig" are:

(my new favorite) Cappuccino Truffles.  I won't even dare describe what little bites of heaven these are to a coffee lover like myself.  They are so seriously "dangerous" I could eat the whole batch!   Then there's White Chocolate Apricot Fudge:

For the apricot lovers of the world and for those of you who prefer your chocolate in a color other than brown.  I am not picky ~ I like it in any form ~ it's a food group, right?  Dipped in peanut butter is another all-time favorite (as on the tower of Buckeyes seen below):

I (honestly) never had any intention of eating all these myself.  They were my contribution to the Christmas cookie exchange I hosted last night.  They went like hot cakes.  That's good.  One less thing to tempt me.  I'm also busy packing up tins to send to friends & relatives (avert your eyes if you want to be surprised when yours arrives):

One thing I do know is I'm going to have to do some major gardening after the holidays....  It's either that or the treadmill and I think you can guess which one I prefer.  :-)  Anyone else been indulging their sweet tooth lately?  If so, what's your guilty pleasure??

Back to 'Elvas' (at last)

It was the 6th of December when I shared the first half-open bud of double-flowered Amaryllis 'Elvas' with you all.  In a unanimous consensus, we decided she was most worthy of watching and we all fully expected to see a magnificent bloom just a day or two later.  Unfortunately, that first bud did something that's never happened to me before ~ wilted and died before ever completing its bloom cycle.  I haven't had time to research why such a thing happens but if any of you fellow amaryllis-lovers know the answer, I'm dying to know so I can avoid a repetition.  Meanwhile, the other three buds on the stalk continued to develop normally and finally, I have a fully open bloom to share with you.  Whew.  I do hope you'll agree that our patience has paid off.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.  That's one gorgeous flower.  And just wait, if you think that's incredible, check out the stalk with several blooms displayed together:

Beauty of this caliber is always worth repeating and never grows weary, so here's another angle:

WOW-Whee.  Between 'Elvas' and 'Charisma' (yesterdays post), my guests at the cookie exchange tonight are sure to be bowled over.  Even non-gardeners have to be impressed with floral displays like this, right?  It would be a flat out crime to not photograph 'Elvas' from every angle so here's a side-to shot that really shows off her double flowers:

 

If it gets better than this, I haven't experienced it.  I wish I had a bulb to share with every reader.  That would be one great Christmas gift, wouldn't it?

'Charisma' wants a turn

in the spotlight too!   So if you don't mind, let's acquiesce.  After all, she is pretty easy on the eyes.  When the buds start to open, you sense something exciting about the blooms.  The speckling, the vibrant red-rimmed edges in stark contrast to white petals all hint at something spectacular:

Side-to, there's not nearly the color that you see when you take a "head-on" peek inside:

Now we're talking.  Surprising how richly colored the blooms are after seeing the more subtle buds, right?  So vibrant. 

 

No wonder she's one of my favorites.  I think I read a description of 'Charisma' someplace that described her petals as being stained by cherry juice.  I could get on board with that, couldn't you?

 

She's so photogenic, it's hard to quit snapping pics.  The one below is my favorite with all the "orbs" in the background (the proper photography term for those circles escapes me at the moment ~ anyone know it?):

Capturing the circles was one of those happy accidents ~ reflections from the glass shower behind the blossom.  'Charisma' has been moved to the great room since these photos were taken, so she can be properly admired tomorrow night at my annual cookie exchange.  I couldn't ask for more perfect timing and I have a feeling she will eat up all the attention! 

holiday card marathon

That pretty much sums up the bulk of my day!

I will NOT, however, be making & sending the above card 100 times!  Too labor intensive.  I just thought I'd share it since it's my favorite of the ones I had the good fortune to have published by DRG this year.  You can find it (and several others by me) in a book titled "CardMaker's Sketch Book: Christmas Celebration.

 

The book is filled with sketch ideas to jump start your holiday card making although I can't believe I waited until now to post about it.  I don't know anybody who starts their handmade cards in the middle of December.  I guess that tells you how focused I've been on the holidays!  My apologies.  Maybe it will be helpful for next year, if any of you have an inclination to paper craft??!!  It seriously makes the process a cinch.  Just plug the papers & embellishments of your choice onto a predesigned sketch and bam, you're done.  Piece of cake, right?

On a side note, I am happy to report (before I'm sentenced to spending the entire day at the dining room table) that our temperatures are moderating.  We still have quite a bit of snow, as you can see:

 

but at least we're expected to hit freezing today.  It will be the first time since last Saturday!  That will feel positively balmy.  Too bad I'm going to be too busy to make it outdoors to bask in all that heat....

Amaryllis 'Green Goddess'

I've been all aflutter today ~ it suddenly dawned on me this morning that there are exactly two weeks until Christmas Day.  Enough messing around.  Blooms or no blooms, I HAVE to start leaving my indoor plants alone and get some holiday stuff done.  Before I go "MIA" (hopefully that won't happen but you never know) I have photos of 'Green Goddess' to share with you.  I've actually sort of been holding out on you ~ she's been blooming for several days, as you can tell by all the open buds on her bloom stalk ~ and I'm just now posting photos.  It's a great problem to have in December ~ not being able to keep up with everything in bloom! 

As I look at these pictures (and at her flowers in person) I'm not sure what convinced me to buy this bulb?  Not that she isn't pretty (I've never met an ugly Amaryllis) ~ I just usually go for something a little more "showy."  'Green Goddess' is white, except for her throat, which doesn't exactly fit that definition.  What do you think?

Should she stay or should she go??  Maybe I should bequeath her to someone?  We'll see.  For now, she is bringing a natural element to my fireplace mantel:

and there she will stay until her blooms are spent.  or at least till the cards are mailed.  and the cookie exchange is over.  and the presents are wrapped.  You get the picture.  :-)

ps.  I thought we would discuss Amaryllis 'Elvas' today (and what happened to one of her blossoms) but I got swept up with all things Christmas so maybe tomorrow??? 

'Apple Blossom'

I have some catching up to do with you on the non-stop progression of Amaryllis blooms in my house.  This morning, since 'Elvas' STILL isn't open (I think there's something wrong with that first bloom ~ but that's a subject for tomorrow) I thought we'd give 'Apple Blossom' her moment in the spotlight.  Rescued from the trash in December 2008, a holiday discard, she's come a long way since teetering perilously close to death.  The last time I showed you a photo, she was at this stage of bloom:

True to my prediction, she popped fully open the following day and of course, your trusted photographer was right there to capture it happening.  :-)  Where else would I be??  Not wrapping presents or decorating or mailing cards.  Oh no.  This is much more important.  I think you'll agree when you see the images I was able to capture:

 

Nothing "common" about a bloom like that, is there?  By common, I mean 'Apple Blossom' is one of the most readily found Amaryllis on the market.  She's sold locally in all the big box stores along with another favorite stand-by 'Red Lion.'   You see her so often, you almost become immune to her charms.  At least to a wannabe 'Amaryllis Connoisseur" such as myself.  Then she blooms.  The immunity is dispelled.  She's everywhere because she's so softly striking.  

 

A beautiful pairing of soft pink & white.  I'm captivated by the enormity of her blossoms too.  These measure 8" from tip to tip ~ one of the larger blooming Amaryllis in my collection.  Absolutely impossible to miss, as if that would ever happen.  Gazing on her, as I frequently do, I can hardly believe anyone thought she was "trash."  I think we're "bonded" now, a special connection has formed ~ a feeling that occurs with any rescued living thing.   Even Amaryllis bulbs (so I've discovered).... 

Li'l Miss 'Powder Puff'

Is oblivious to the 9 below zero temperature that greeted us this morning.  Maybe it was the sunlight streaming in the glass block window (first time it's shone in three days) that encouraged the first bud to open?  I'm not sure but it doesn't matter.  I just know I did a double take as I walked by bleary eyed on the way to the bathroom.  Nothing like a tropical bloom to instantly banish the sleep from your eyes. 

No icy fingers of winter evident here.  It was like stumbling into my own mini paradise. Back-lit by sunlight, you can see the faint peachy/pink coloring of the double blossom.  Delicately tinged for sure but nonetheless there.  Sadly, Hibiscus blooms generally only last one day so this one is likely to be gone by tomorrow.  Don't feel too bad for me tho ~ there are many more buds on the plant ~ can you see some in the photo below?

 

Hooray.  This little beauty is going to ease the sting of the brutal winter temperatures gripping us outside.  How come I didn't think of keeping one in the house before now?  A definite oversight!  I'll leave you with a couple more views.  To take these photos, I momentarily moved the plant out of the sunlight (making the bloom appear decidedly more white than apricot):

There's still a little color evident but lighting has certainly affected how much.

 

I can't think of any better way to start the day!  Our temperatures are supposed to start moderating (we'll reach freezing by Friday if the forecast is correct) and that will be a welcome relief.  Meanwhile, I think I'll just sit in my "makeshift greenhouse" and enjoy the view. 

pink snow leopard

Not really ~ I'm sure you guessed as much.  All the title words are relevant tho, I promise. Maybe we should back up and start with "have I told you how cold it's been lately?"  Frigid, actually.  The highest I ever saw the mercury rise yesterday was 5 degrees Fahrenheit.  That's just a touch below my comfort level.  ha.  When it's this cold, I'm actually glad there's snow covering my flower beds to protect them from the brutal temperatures.  Something else I've wanted protected too (here's where the words "pink" and "leopard" come into play):

Awww.  Even if you're the kind of person who hates owners that dress up their pets, you have to concede that he (yes, I said "he" ~ let's don't even go down that road) is just the teeniest bit cute.  Com' on now.  I see you wavering.  It's okay, if you don't hold it against me, I won't hold it against you.  Back to our Butterball ~ if you don't mind a well clothed dog, like me, then he's WAY more than a teeny bit cute.  But then again, I'm just a smidge biased. 

I assure you, he doesn't mind a bit.  In fact I think he rather likes his new outerwear.  (or else he was doing all that zipping around the yard in an effort to dislodge the it.)  Either way, I got a few photos so I'm happy. 

 

When I'm happy, he's happy.  I've absolutely no worries about him getting cold when he's sporting fake pink leopard too.  I wonder if the neighbor dog is jealous or feeling sorry for him?  Maybe we shouldn't go there?!!  Or we could just say "some peoples dogs...."

***Signed, Butterballs owner, who is wishing for warmer weather then coats won't be an issue.