Transition

This blog will be in a transitional stage for the next week or two.  Please be patient, as that I am monitoring my elderly father who has life-threatening health issues, and the process of revamping my blog may be slow.  I have created another blog, called Claudia's Chatter, which will focus on my cats, gardening and other creative outlets so that I can organize this blog better as far as my Etsy and Artfire shops are concerned, as well as for my JellyBean Critters, etc.  Please stay with me ... check in on a regular basis.

New Camera Arrived!

The camera arrived early this a.m. and I have only taken a few shots from the window.  Mind now, too, that the window is not very clean on the outer side of the pane (this means some window washing is due).
By the way, the pole beans have really filled the trellis, haven't they?  I hope to pick some tomorrow.
However, the new camera has higher definition capabilities and so far I am impressed.  I am just using the "click and shoot" option and will have to research and experiment with the manual options.  I will give further feedback in a few days after I "play" with the camera some.  Who said that men are the only ones who have their technical toys?

The picture on the left was shot with the new camera, and the one on the right was shot with the older one.  Click on each for a closeup view and compare.  The light conditions are different with each one, but really, the overcast sky conditions of the right picture should have produced better details.

Be sure to check out the CRAFTY HOT SPOTS links --> a page tab at the top of this page and on the side bar.  As I find sites that I think may be of interest to others, as well as me, I will post them.  If you know of a webpage or blog that is interesting, please let me know.  :D

Can't Wait

I ordered a new digital camera yesterday and can't wait for its delivery!  My older one just doesn't cut the mustard with me.  Looking at photos taken with the newer cameras made me realize that my photos can be so much better with a newer camera that produces better quality images.  I cannot afford the top-of-the-line camera, but I tried to get a good camera within my budget.  Now, I need to finish some projects to take photograph and, of course, take new shots of my granddaughter, family, pets, garden, flowers, outdoor scenes, ... well, just have fun taking photos!  Can't wait!

I had to insert this:  a photo of the first picking of yellow crook-neck squash along with two Ichiban eggplants from our garden!!!  Were they delicious!

{In Between}

Back to the garden again.  I am still trying to figure out how to get better pictures with my camera, so bear with me.  The views here are from my desk in my bedroom, which overlooks the garden.  I tried to get a portrait of the back yard boss, a mockingbird, but he was too busy running off "invaders," including the squirrels.  


Not much was done in the garden today as that showers kept us out.  But hey, we surely need the moisture!  The plants have really grown since the rains started Sunday.


The plants in the top photo are potato plants, which my hubby is pulling soil towards them, to make the hills bigger around them, as I write.  The second photo is of okra.  I love okra!  The third photo is of the yellow crook neck summer squash and the fourth is of the pole beans and the Ichiban eggplant at the end of the row.  Between the beans and eggplant are cucumbers that should start climbing the trellis soon.


        My husband was not sure about vertical planting last year, but loved it when he discovered that he did not have to bend over to pick the green beans last year (not much, anyway).  


He is to fix another trellis row next week and we are to plant some more beans and cukes.  Staggering the planting of vegetables keeps the veggies coming through the summer.  We can grow stuff well beyond September if the weather is right.  Oh, we also want to plant sweet potatoes somewhere.  I am not sure if they will overrun the place, but we have decided to try.


I have decided to pull back on producing stuff for Etsy and concentrate on immediate needs.  However, I do need to list the JellyBean Critters that are ready. The garden is an immediate need, as well as that I intend to make some clothes for the granddaughter and a couple of shirts for my father...as well as create some more embroidery designs from my original artwork.  Hey! I see fireflies!  Summer is around the bend!

{SERENE SUNDAY} Scroll down for Giveaway Information-

These are quick shots taken from my bedroom window overlooking the small vegetable garden in our back yard.

The two birds are doves sitting on the trellis upon which the pole beans are climbing.  Tomatoes on the vines are about the diameter of a quarter or slightly larger and my husband are eagerly awaiting for them to mature.  There is nothing better for me than to pick a tomato off the vine, rinse it off immediately and slice it for a tomato sandwich!

One thing about growing your own vegetables, one does not have to worry about toxic substances on the vegetables, or germs being shared by others (from handling from one person to the other).  We keep a birdfeeder, with a water source, next to the garden.  The multitude of birds that frequent our garden keep the bugs off the vegetables.  Summer is approaching!

Vegetables planted in our garden: Bell peppers, Better Boy tomatoes, Kentucky Wonder pole beans, Ichiban eggplants, Clemson Spineless okra, red potatoes, crookneck squash, and more to come!