chocolate...

chocolate..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i got this for mrchazman this morning...
and so i could photograph it.

i may buy another one this weekend...
so i can get some more practice in...
because the artificial light and i were battling!!!

i didn't really care for the photos of the FULL cupcake.
i thought the frosting too shiny...
and i didn't really care for the color.

this was my fave of all the photos i took...
the shallow dof...
showing just a hint of the decorative swirls.

take me away...

escape..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i'm a music junkie...
though i don't buy as much as i used to.

this week...
i've been on an oldies kick.
listening to everything from natalie cole...
to sam cooke...
to sly & the family stone...
with lots of harold melvin...
and/or teddy pendegras sprinkled in.

but...
my 'calgon' musician of all time...
luther!

when i put on my luther playlist...
any task i have seems easier.

i guess i'm so busy singing...
that i don't notice all the number crunching...
problem-solving...
super hero fetes i've accomplished.

it's month end in my world...
so i'll be in luther-land for the next couple of days.

and if luther can't cure it...
i've got my gospel playlist standing by.

homegrown...

homegrown..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

first harvest in 2012!

today i picked salad greens..
radishes...
and four tomatoes...
for our salad.

these are my spoon tomatoes.
ten of them can fit into a teaspoon.
yes...
they're tiny.

the lettuce is a european mesclun mix...
lettuce, radicchio, arugula, endive, orach, mizuna, kale, mustard, corn salad and more.

the radishes are chinese white radishes...
and remind me of daikons.
they were pretty spicy...
and i put one half of one in the salad.

headed to the grill...

headed to the grill..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

today was my first sunday being home in weeks.
i had a very relaxing day.
i had breakfast...
then settled onto the sofa to read & watch the cooking channel.

i fell asleep.
for a couple of hours.
and it felt good.

fully rested...
i grilled some chicken and veggies...
and roasted some potatoes.

guess what i'm having for lunch tomorrow.

railroad crossing...

railroad crossing..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

for model trains

backlit...

backlit..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i brought my freesia plant home today...
and set it on the dining room table.

as the sun set...
it illuminated the petals.

#60days
#day41

from the garden...

from the garden..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

my hydrangeas are in full bloom.

today i worked from home.

and...
to brighten my mood...
i cut a few bouquets...
and placed them in various vases around the house.

#60days
#day40
#garden

iced tea...

iced tea..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this afternoon i met one of our coaches...
at a local restaurant...
to deliver some material to her for a class tomorrow.

we had a glass of iced tea at the bar.

the light was good.

#60days
#day39

three months...

three months..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

ms makayla was three months old on june 15.
she is quick to smile...
but has discovered her VOICE...
and doesn't hesitate to make her feelings known when she's unhappy (which isn't very often).

female pirate...

female pirate..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i saw her almost as soon as i got to the festival...
and took the photo below.

later on...
she posed for us...
and i really liked her profile.

gentle giant...

gentle giant..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

it was hard to miss this guy...
with the painted skin...
the makeup...
and the jewels.
plus...
he was about 6'5" or so.

btw...
they were passing out flyers...
advertising the haunted house they'll be having in october.
i don't think i'll go to that...
because some of these people were scary in the daytime in june!!!

#norcal
#pirate festival
#vallejo
#waterfront

indigo rose...

indigo rose..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

each year when i'm deciding what i'll plant...
i'm looking for the unusual.
this year...
i got a lot of that!!!

this is my indigo rose tomato.
it's a purple variety out of oregon state...
that is high in antioxidants.

a couple of weeks ago...
i went out to the garden...
and saw that some of my tomatoes were looking black on one side of them.

i thought i'd been gone so long that that sun had started to bruise them...
and was ecstatic to learn this was not the case...
and that these were one of the indigo varieties i planted.

***

wow...
look at all that dust on the plant!!!
i didn't see it until i'd imported the photos into the computer.
i'll hose them all off tomorrow.

***

if you want to read more about this variety of tomato...
you can do that here on oregon state's website.

#60days
#day35
#garden
#antioxidant

breakfast...

breakfast..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

on my birthday...
i decided that i would finally make some lifestyle changes...
eat breakfast EVERY DAY...
exercise EVERY DAY...
and eat less of those delicious chips that i love. :(

its been two weeks...
and i already fell off the wagon.
but starting today...
i'm back on track.

i had a 5 mile bike ride this morning...
and then had a cupful of cheerios.

i packed a nice salad for my morning snack...
which i just ate (its 1100 am)...
and i've set my timer to go off in two hours...
to remind me to have some protein.

i know what i need to do...
now to just keep doing it!

#60days
#day34

the glads are in bloom...

the glads are in bloom..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i LOVE this time of year.

every morning when i step out into my garden...
something new awaits me!

this morning...
it was my gladiolas.

yes...
i knew that they were about to open...
but this morning...
there they were.

oh happy day!

#60days
#day33

hydrangea...

hydrangea..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i have three hydrangea bushes in my yard.
this is a flower from the oldest & largest.
it was only six inches tall when it was first planted...
and now its over three feet tall.

#60days
#day32

blossom end rot...

blossom end rot..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

:(

these are my casady's folly tomatoes...
and they're not doing very well.

this is the first time any of my tomatoes have ever had BER..
but when i searched online...
i found other growers have had problems with this type too.

#60days
#day31

in my garden...

in my garden..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this is from one of my bulb gardens...
that was planted march 2010.

#garden
#flower
#60days
#day30

Botanical Name: Habranthus robustus
Common Name: Rain lily, Zephyr lily, Fairy lily
Synonyms: Zephyranthes robusta
Genus: Habranthus

Pale pink flowers pop up suddenly after a summer rainstorm and resemble small amaryllis flowers on this native of Brazil. In the proper conditions, they can multiply rapidly and carpet the garden.

Noteworthy characteristics: This robust perennial is suited for southern gardens or greenhouse use, with attractive flowers held above the foliage.

Care: Under glass, plant bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep, in soil-based potting mix with added grit and leaf mold, in full light. Water moderately as growth begins, and then freely in leaf. Reduce water as foliage dies back, and keep barely moist when dormant. Fertilize weekly when in bud. Outdoors, plant bulbs in spring with the necks above the soil surface. Grow in fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter moisture.

Propagation: Sow seed at 61°F as soon as it is ripe. Remove offsets in winter and pot up separately.

Problems: Infrequent.

water works...

water works..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

this water fountain is located in downtown brentwood...
and is one of the first things i see when i arrive at the market.

that's mt. diablo at the edge of the water.

#60days
#day28

red vines...

red vines..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

one of my daughter's favorite snacks.

when she first moved to ny...
and these were not available there...
i would send them to her.

#60days
#day27

thru the years...

thru the years..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i've been busy assisting my parents this week...
and have not really been that into taking my potd.

this was inspired by a photo i saw on vision63's stream the other day.
this isn't exactly how i'd plan to photograph them...
but daylight got away from me today.

#60days

almost twelve weeks...

almost twelve weeks..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

garlic...

garlic..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

i need a sous chef.

i have potatoes to dice...
and garlic to prep & sauté.

#60days

round yellow chicken tomato...

round yellow chicken tomato..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

heirloom, 70 days, indeterminate

***

my tomato plants...
are coming along nicely.

today i planted sunflowers...
and tomorrow i hope to plant some peas.

i'm not usually still planting things in june...
but with the way the weather's been...
why not.

this is my first time growing this type.
it's supposed to be a heavy producer...
and produce into the fall.

personality...

personality..., a photo by credd on Flickr.

for an 11-week old...
she has such personality.

if she's not hungry, wet or tired...
a sing-songy...
high-pitched 'hi baby girl'...
will get you this face!

and...
i'm usually looking at her thru the lens when i say it.