What a Weekend!

I did more than I should have!  Most importantly, I took my first boat ride since my surgery.  We kept it short and went slow, I did OK, although I've been pretty stiff/sore today.  I certainly enjoyed it.

 This truck drove off the bridge over the river.  The driver was fine, thankfully.  

Storms on the bay.

Corn Chowder

I don't think I've posted a recipe at all on this blog yet; so here's to my first!
Homemade Corn Chowder- US corn is on sale right now at our grocery, and this recipe is from a very old cookbook I have that my mom gave me.  It's very simple to make and is amazing with fresh bread (I prefer sour dough).  It tastes even better if it sits in the refrigerator over night.  I'll give you my measurements rather than the recipe's :)

Fresh Corn Chowder
6 ears of corn (I go for big ones)
1 onion (large), chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups of milk (or so, I just pour)
1/2 teaspoon white pepper (which I am out of today, so I used black, but white is much better I think)
2 tabelspoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 beaten egg

Cut corn off the cobs; scrape cobs.  Combine corn, onion, salt and 1/3 cup of water; bring to a boil.

Simmer, cooking about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add 3.5 cups of the milk, butter, pepper and a dash of salt.  Blend half a cup of milk in flour, then stir in to corn mixture.  Cook and stir until bubbly and thick (this doesn't take long).  Gradually stir a moderate amount of hot mixture into egg, return to corn mixture in saucepan.  Cook and stir over low heat for 5-10 minutes.

Garnish with paprika (I like lots)

August, at last

Fall is right around the corner!  Ok, in Florida we don't really have fall...but there's definately a difference in the air!  I've got three pumpkins out already (in the house of course).
We have been getting a ton of rain.  We went out to Grannies & Junior enjoyed swimming in the over-flowing creek.

 Mom's crape myrtle, it had died totally then came back out of the ground

 Mom's pinecone lillies

 This is one of those indoor plants, I can't remember what they're called (I even have one), but this is the biggest one I've ever seen (at my mom's).

 Pinecone Lilly.

 Spark Plug & Pumpkin.

 Junior found a fresh cow bone to roll in.

 Swimming in the creek.

 Spark Plug kept watch.

 He loves fetching sticks in the water.

 ...got some homemade jams from Mom :)

 Pinecone Lilly with blooms

...then we came home & Junior got a bath.  & passed out....

Bye-bye July

It's been raining a lot, and every day.  We needed it!  Hard to believe our rainfall average is still below normal after all this rain.  I got more weeding finished, but little more than that.

 Dog Days.

Junior swimming with his buddies (the coonhound is my Sparky who lives in the country with my mom).

Finally picked my pineapple.  The whole plant fell over so I had to re-plant it. :\

My Texas Sage looks beautiful.  I'm thinking about getting a couple more for along the house. 

Starting to get my bearings back!

While physical therapy is still draining me, I'm trying to do a little more each day.  I bought myself the best little garden cart, that with proper body mechanics you do not have to bend to pull weeds.  So I've been getting a start on my over grown mess!  Love reading through everyone's blogs; some people soaking up summer while others are preparing for fall.

 My flowers sure look pretty.

 This poor little aloe is being over taken by these two succulents. 

 They just keep getting bigger and bigger. 

 I want to add to my succulent garden, but I don't want to take on any more projects right now.  Two of them don't seem to grow at all.  I re-planted my sage also because the plastic pot it was in cracked. 

 My succulent garden pup.  Love him! 

 Summer rains bring bright flowers. 

 I pained this pot for an African Violet (I need to do one more) that needs to be replanted. 

 I weeded my earth boxes and got them ready for some more veggies.  I found they still had little plants surviving, we'll see if they produce anything. 

 Oh my, the weeds hath taken over. 

 The last of my large aloe & it's barely hanging on.  So sad.  Hope this one makes it.  

 Yes, that is Texas Sage amongst the weeds. 

 I completed weeding this bed!  So happy!  My fig trees are doing great.

 My petunias aren't doing so well, the lantana looks great.

 I just bought that little scraggly lantana at Lowes on clearance.  I think it's yellow (I'm hoping).

This plumeria smells amazing!