Friday, June 29, 2012

It can be easy being green.

The Shutter Sisters blog has been challenging us focus our cameras on different colors this month. And today, the final day of the challenge, we could pick a color. That's a tough one for me because I love color--my office is a mild mango, the kitchen is dark sage green.  I love them all but am especially attracted to the colors of nature so today I chose green.


#sscolormonth

This is a young Easter lily. Before they blossomed into white, fragrant flowers, these lilies were the palest green. I love the delicate texture of the flower too. It holds so much promise.

And of course something else green this year was my grandson's T-Ball uniform. If you ever get a chance to watch a game--GO! It is so much fun. There are no outs, no scorekeeping. It's just little kids learning how to play baseball. Some children learn the joys of playing with dirt in their new leather glove or how pretty the flowers are in the outfield or....is that a plane making that noise?   Despite all the distractions, it was amazing how quickly everyone learned to field a ball or throw to first base.  A pro in the making....


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Seeing Gold

#sscolormonth
The "golden hour" for photographers often is the hour as the sun is setting and light is skimming across the earth creating depth and dimension.

But sometimes a "golden" time happens when I pay attention and open my eyes.

Some fresh peaches from the farmer's market were sitting on my kitchen window sill.  I was preparing dinner when I noticed the light and pattern on this fuzzy fruit. The pattern was from the screen and I loved the way it wrapped around the peaches.  Unfortunately, the moment was gone by the time I got my camera.  (I hate when that happens!) The following day at 5 PM, I was ready. I got about 3 minutes of light as the sun, the tree branches and the wind danced with one another. Then it was over---golden moments with a golden fruit.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

"maters"

My family loves tomatoes--ripe tomatoes.  I remember standing barefoot in the hot red clay of my dad's garden biting into a warm tomato and feeling the juice run down my chin.  Can't say I like the sticky chin anymore, but that is the beauty of grape tomatoes. My husband or I can just walk by the garden and grab a snack. We like to grow different types of tomatoes but celebrity and grape are our favorites with a couple of heirloom plants thrown in there for fun.



Resist those crunchy mealy things offered in the middle of the winter. Wait for a tomato that slightly yields to the touch and has never seen a refrigerator. That is a ripe tomato.

Late June in Virginia and the tomato season is starting. My kitchen and my tastebuds are waiting.



Some of my favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes
Roasted Grape Tomtoes
Throw (gently) some tomatoes on a baking sheet. Add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and some chopped fresh rosemary, salt and pepper to taste, roast in a 425 degree oven about 10 minutes.

Tomato Salad
 No measurements required. Slice tomatoes, whatever type of onion you have or want (green, purple, white) and put them in a bowl with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk olive oil and lemon juice or favorite vinegar with a 2 to 1 ratio and add to bowl. You also can add sliced peppers and/or cucumbers. We like to add fresh dill too.

Fresh Tomatoes with feta
That says it all. Slice tomatoes on a plate. Put as much feta cheese on there as you like. Drizzle with olive oil. Add desired amount of salt, pepper and oregano.

Enjoy the season! I know we will!