...life can be like the first roses of Spring

life can be a total surprise sometimes...
like this picture I took without being able to see the screen...
probably one of the most beautiful shots I've ever captured...
click on it, make it bigger, it just gets better...
just plain dumb luck... or was it ?



some shots are obvious...
such as this deep red bud opening beautifully...
the color, rich & vibrant...
like the optimism, vigor & energy of youth...



all too soon giving way to the bounty of maturity...
a depth of color and a openness to the elements...
an acceptance of all that will be...
not found in the beauty or promise of youth...



a knowledge that the petals will fall away soon enough...
but for now, they curl ever so gently...
and the depth of color glows as if lit from within...
never to be so deep or rich again...

soon, not to be, at all...



though the edges are frayed from rain & wind...
the center is still beautiful...
as it opens itself slowly to the sun...
the beginnings of the end...



some, like those with false humility, look down...
perfect in their aspect, without flaw or scar...
believing in their heart that they are beautiful...
so in looking down, call to be lifted up...



others, though scarred, look up at something else...
much more beautiful than themselves...
they dismiss their own worth for the prize of the light...
and are found more beautiful because of it...



with eyes only for the light...
they turn away from all who would esteem them for their beauty...
choosing instead, the light that they revere...
becoming all the more beautiful for that turning...



some choose the shadows, their colors deepened...
letting their beauty go unappreciated...
due to an accident of nature, a flaw of character...
or a choice to linger in the shadows, where the light doesn't shine...



sometimes, we find ourselves in an alien place...
our push towards the light has brought us up in strange surroundings...
our blooming given the incongruity...
of being awash in a sea of wrong leaves...

unequally yoked, so to speak...

alone, in a foreign setting...

standing out in strangeness...



when it's always nice to be surrounded by others we feel a connection to...



nice to be part of the family...

... in the details

this is the "historic" Guild Hall at our church...
a brick, "Nordic" style building that served as the church proper...
from c. 1889-92, while the present brick church was being built...
[the previous wooden one having been demolished to make way for the new...]

for some reason, this brick buttress, which faces west...
[and is only about 5 feet from the back of the church]
has attracted a bumper crop of moss this winter...
due, I'm sure, in no small part to all the rain we've had...

from a distance it doesn't look like much...



but upon closer inspection...



the combination of the green patchwork of the moss...
scattered across the landscape of the brick...
is not only beautiful as a verdant, lacy design...



the details at "macro" distances are stunning in their detail...



revealing a "fairy-scaled" garden...



rugged grotti, bedecked with foliage...





though in some cases, a true macro lens & tripod are required...



if one is to get in close enough to see all details clearly...



the patterns seen from outside the macro range have their moments too...








God is truly in the details...

...more urban gardening

a few more gardening macro shots...



a blood orange blossom reaches for the sun...



a squash seedling...up close & personal...



the beginnings of a bean stalk...



a "sweet 100"...already in bloom...



"durango red" marigolds...



a volunteer Japanese Maple I rescued...



joined by 2 others I found struggling up near the redwood tree...



and what would these be?
[hint: extreme macro...]



they came from one of these...



which came from these...



and have been planted in this...
to see if they'll sprout...

when I lived in Chicagoland 30-something years ago...
I planted some grapefruit seeds that actually sprouted & grew...
the little tree eventually died...
but it was fun to grow it...

since much citrus is grafted...
even if it grows...
it probably would never bear fruit...
but it will be interesting to see if it sprouts...

I hope tomorrow to start the soil prep...
so stay tuned for thrilling exploits in the back yard...

...up close & delicious

...food pørn, 1.1

drooool...



oven roasted red & yellow beets...like candy...
[e.v. olive oil & Kosher salt...]



oven roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts, beets & asparagus...
[e.v.olive oil & Kosher salt..]

and here...in all it's tasty glory...



Mr GT's "to die for" tabbouleh salad...



lots & lots of finely [& rhythmically...] chopped parsley...
green onion, cumin, lemon juice, tomato...
and, of course, Bulgar wheat...



a marvelous treat any time...

as a salad or an entreé, in warmer weather...

and a really fun thing to take macro photos of...

...food pørn

"a proper turkey sandwich..."
[toasted whole grain bread w/butter, turkey...
stuffing, cranberry relish, & cole slaw...]



"a proper piece of toast..."
[homemade multigrain bread & butter...]



"a Greek salad with grilled chicken..."

[romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, Greek olives, feta cheese...
with homemade oil & vinegar dressing & flat bread...]



"homegrown ruby red grapefruit..."



"down-home green beans..."
[green beans, red onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, S & P...]



"homemade lasagna..."



"homemade red 'gravy', with sweet Italian sausage..."



"oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, with Kosher salt..."



"pan-roasted salmon, with cracked pepper & lime juice..."



"fresh asparagus, ready to oven roast..."



"pan-roasted salmon, tabbouleh & home-made red cabbage..."
[aka "last night's supper..."]

is your mouth watering yet ?