Douglas and Holly are FREE

There was also a [Mini - Me] tee hee, Wee Holly my Sweetie got me, and she is as well planted. She now is beginning to root close to where I can see her progress. My Nook!

Traditionally we plant our rooted tree New Years Day. Sometimes the weather dictates change and we take advantage of that if at all possible. This year is an example of using forethought. Today’s High was 44, tomorrow to be 45, and Monday will be 49. Lookout for Tuesday January 1st. our, temperatures are to be 37 and Wednesday 25 with snow! Perfect transition time for Douglas to acclimate to the outside!!! While my Sweetie planted the trees, I located, or rather RELOCATED two volunteer Holly’s that I must Stake tomorrow and add Brightly colored ribbons so these two do not get Whacked down AGAIN! What joy it was to see that they came back. These two are close to where Douglas is planted, and twice the size of the wee holly. So now to read on how to prune these Holly’s so they become a tree instead of a bush!

A couple of days before Christmas when I was at the grocery I spied these absolutely scrumptiously colored tulips. Tomorrow, since the weather is conducive, I shall plant these under the Wee Holly.

My Sister-in-law gave us an Amaryllis and I got another variety for here at the house that I had never seen before. They are almost ready to flower. Amaryllis bulbs are prized for their willingness to produce large and colorful blooms indoors in the dead of winter. These large bulbs will grow happily and bloom abundantly in nothing more than stones and water. In Zones 9 and 10, they can also be planted outdoors in full sun and well-drained soil, with the shoulders of the bulbs 1 inch above the soil. Bulbs planted in the ground generally bloom in late spring or early summer.

After a fabulous breakfast, using my new Belgium Waffle Maker that my Sweetie got me, we can settle down and enjoy the day.

The one I got is though sold as cybister amaryllis, it is really more than a trade name; this group of plants is a separate species (Hippeastrum cybister), and like most of this group of tropical bulbs, it originates in South America. However, many of the early crosses were made by the late Fred Meyer, a San Diego, Calif., plant breeder

Amaryllis flowers History The name amaryllis flowers are based on the name of Greek Mythology- Amaryllis is the name of a Greek Shepherdess.

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There is to be a New Years Comet… So exciting. Two nights before closest approach, on Dec. 30th and 31st, something extraordinary will happen:

^^^^^^^^^^^^ Comet 8P/Tuttle has a beautiful close encounter with spiral galaxy M33. The comet and the galaxy may even overlap! This is a can't-miss opportunity for astro-photographers around the world.

Perseus on the Rise!

Spectacular weekend ;) The skylight is ready for the Show! METEOR NIGHT: The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight. No matter where you live, the show begins on Sunday, Aug. 12th, around 10 pm local time when the constellation Perseus rises in the northeast. Expect to see a meteor every five minutes. The rate will surge as the night unfolds, increasing to one or two meteors per minute before dawn on Monday, Aug. 13th. http://spaceweather.com:80/http://spaceweather.com:80/

The words are SULTRY and HHH

And that is not for Hubert Horatio Humphrey Hazy Hot and Humid

Dog days of summer for sure, those days that merely walking outside will bring the sweat rolling off your head. Gooey, icky, salty…

But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?”

In ancient times, when the night sky was un obscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.

During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star. 95.0 °F this Friday at 3 pm and it appears this trend will continue through at least next Thursday. This morning it is already 70.5 °F / 21.4 °C and Hazy and it is only 8 am with 42% humidity! Aarrgghhhhhhhhh! Looks like in the 80’s by Friday the 10th! Bearing all of this in mind I fixed a new recipe that Tene shared with me. It is really good so I am sharing it. I fixed it yesterday and we shall have it tonight with a “Mess” of green beans from the garden and maybe some more of our Corn.

* CHICKEN SALAD WITH ROSEMARY, ALMONDS, AND GREEN ONIONS

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried,

crumbled 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves

3/4 cup sliced almonds (about 3 ounces), toasted

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery

3 large green onions, thinly sliced

Whisk oil, vinegar, and rosemary in small bowl to blend;

season dressing with salt and pepper.

Place chicken in shallow dish.

Add 1/4 cup dressing; turn chicken to coat.

Let stand 15 minutes.

Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add chicken, still coated with dressing, to skillet.

Sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

Transfer to work surface.

Cool chicken 5 minutes;

cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

Combine chicken, almonds, celery, and green onions in large bowl.

Add remaining dressing and toss to blend. Season salad with salt and pepper.

Makes 4 servings

Bon Appetit October 2001

Once in a BLUE MOON

This Thursday evening, May 31st, the moon over North America will become full for the second time in the month of May. According to folklore, that makes it a BLUE MOON. But will it really be blue? Believe it or not, blue-colored moons are possible. You can see the bright pair with the naked eye, or for a real treat, scan them with a backyard telescope. The moons of Jupiter, lunar mountains and craters, and the Great Red Spot are surprisingly easy to see. The song Blue Moon was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. It was even a rock and roll hit for the Marcels in the 60s.

The Seven Sisters are out of this World

Out of this world as well as what colleges make up the “Seven Sisters”? The "Seven Sisters" nickname came about when the schools self-organized in 1927 in order to promote private, independent women's colleges and the premise of "separate but equal" liberal arts education for women. Although these highly regarded women's colleges were all founded in the 19th century, it wasn't until 1978 that all Seven Sisters had women presidents. As the temperatures here begin to moderate to more seasonal warmth, we might in fact be outside tonight gazing upon the sky. Three of the most beautiful sights in the night sky are the crescent Moon, the planet Venus, and the Pleiades star cluster. And when they all get together, the view is unforgettable. That’s just what’s happening for the next few evenings. Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising thro' the mellow shade, Glitter like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid. - Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1837-8, Locksley Hall Venus, the Pleiades, and the Moon are some of the most important feminine symbols in the night sky. The Pleiades are known as the Seven Sisters. The skylore of many cultures saw a group of women or girls in these stars -- often trying to save themselves from marauding men or monsters. Happy Wednesday!

A Sad day for PLUTO

POOR PLUTO Leading astronomers have declared that Pluto is no longer a planet, approving new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. The International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930.