Even though the focus is a little softer than I’d like, this image of pink cyclamens from a recent Garden Club district meeting flower show pleases me. It’s funny how challenging it can be to photograph something that is so beautiful, graceful and perfect in person, so full of life and freshness, and make it convey even a small amount of that liveliness. You’d think the camera would just record it, but no. Such is the challenge of a person who loves to take photos of flowers.

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This is from the ice storm three weeks ago. That was really something. The ice was already beginning to melt when I finally was able to get outside to take some photos. We were lucky and our power never went out, although I heard later that people fairly close did lose power for a couple-three days. I am so very grateful we didn’t. I hope you get some every-day luck like that, too.

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It may be a long haul until actual spring that has flowers and warm weather, but I am all psyched when I see these little shoots of daffodils emerging in winter’s melting snow. So brave and yet so tender looking! This inspires me, so I am calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Have a look at Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Scenic Sunday, Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday for more neat photos. Perhaps do a search here for snow, or winter, first? Always return to the full blog by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

I need to see some flowers blooming, so a trip to the archives from June 2007 is just the thing. Double Delight might be my favorite rose. It’s sturdy, available in nurseries everywhere, and supremely fragrant. Let us gaze on this image of summertime! It will get here, we know. And for you “down under” folks, hope you are enjoying your time in the sun.

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This cheerful cactus houseplant blooming on my windowsill is very happy, and making me happy in the process. It’s called hatiora (ha-tee-OR-a) or Drunkard’s Dream because the teensy cactus stems sometimes look like bottles. The flowers are only a quarter inch or a centimeter.  I call it a matchstick plant, but that’s incorrect. I actually have several plants, for one reason or another, and this is the only one blooming, and it’s covered in blossoms. I guess in the northern Seattle lattitude, full southern exposure is the way to go.

Why don’t you check out Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Mellow Yellow Monday and SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) for some great pictures around the world. Find lots more interesting photos here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos, here or above.

Seattle had a big ice storm, as you may have heard. I really wanted to get outside and take photos yesterday, but the weather was just too bad. Today it all began to melt, but I got out there before it was all gone and captured some great images. This pieris shrub is also called andromeda. I didn’t even realize it had already set buds until I was outside looking closely. It doesn’t seem to be the worse for wear.

Take a look at Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, and Ruby Tuesday 2, for more fascinating photos. Do browse around here first by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

It’s great when all the eggs peel well, isn’t it? Don’t you hate those infuriating ones that refuse to peel properly, even though they were cooked and handled the exact same way as their carton-mates? Hope you enjoy this study in white. And yes, the devilled eggs that came later were extremely good.

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We have a “tree” (standard) bougainvillea in a pot that we put on the sunny patio in the summer and bring inside when it gets cool. It’s very sensitive and usually loses all its leaves in protest when it is moved, in or out. This year it forgave us, as I babied it as much as possible. And lo! a flower! They are much pinker in July, but I’ll take it.

Please visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera), Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Floral Friday, and Pink Saturday for more neat photography around the world. Take a look around here first by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos.

I know we’ve barely started winter, but I saw a tiny bulb shoot today! So naturally I’m dreaming of spring. Here’s a pretty pair of May tulips for you, under a neighbor’s tree just leafing out. I can dream, can’t I?

Check out Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Outdoor Wednesday, Today’s Flowers, Weekend Flowers, Macro Friday, Macro Monday, Macro Flowers Saturday, Floral Friday, Color Carnival and Mellow Yellow Monday for lots of fascinating photos around the blogosphere. Find lots more searchable photos here by clicking on Sara’s Fave Photos here or above.

Yes, it is raining outside, but no foxgloves are now in the yard. Wait six months and there they’ll be! I really like the way the raindrops hang from the edge of the flower, and I hope you do, too.

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After midnight on New Year’s Eve, I like to drink Champagne and eat crab dip with a fresh vegetable plate and ridged potato chips. It’s not the most common food for the first thing all year, but it’s what I’ve been doing for a long, long time. The crab dip is super easy.

Crab Dip 

One pkg. 8 ozs. Philadephia brand cream cheese, room temperature so it’s easier to blend
1/3 cup cream (or milk)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 and 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash garlic powder
Dash salt (optional)
One 6 oz. can crab meat

Put cream cheese and milk or cream in a bowl. Mix with a fork until smooth. Add rest of ingredients except crab. Mix until smooth. Add drained crab meat; mix well. There you go!

Potato chips are fabulous, but actually the veggies are all super good with some crab dip on them. Happy New Year!

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A beam of sunshine, a couple of blooming houseplants, and a close up lens. Ah!

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