Wordless Wednesdays ~ By the Light of the Full Snow Moon

 

  

  

 

Make a wish.

It's a tradition around these parts, to snowshoe toward the highest ridge and soak in the bright night light of a fresh, full moon.

For more Wordless Wednesday participants, click here!

Black Moon

If only this moonlight snowshoe trail...
 Had been in the same direction as our full Wolf Moon....

Then I would have scored a picture to be seriously pleased with!

* Did you know?  Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls the subtle bodies of water. Tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon - and germinate faster during this time in the lunar cycle.

So, we told scary ghost stories and then we planted:

• Green Onions
• Sweet Peppers
• Fabulous Tomaters

Happy Full Wolf Moon to one and all!

"Goodnight Moon"

The view through my office window. 

I've been adopted by this little red bird. When he runs out of seeds he doesn't go elsewhere. He just stares through the window as if to say... Hellooo - aren't you forgetting somebody??

Sunrise on the messy 'Bird Tree.' Same view out my office window. 

Yup - they are definitely running low on food. I need more java before I bundle up and remedy this situation.

I didn't haul myself out of bed at dawn to see if my little red bird was still here. No, no. Much different agenda, this a.m. (Plus, I knew he would be. He'd probably come indoors if I'd let him.)

I wanted a fab parting shot of that very big and pretty rare NYE blue moon. Had the bright idea of capturing her right when she touched the tip of this mountain. I'd noticed a couple days ago that she doesn't say goodnight until I'm in the mood for a good morning.

As you can see, this effort was hardly worth warming up the coffee pot for. A storm came rumbling over the peaks and our big blue moon went bye-bye.

However! While I was standing there shaking my fist at the clouds and the wind, something cool happened!

Two hot air balloons popped out of that same cloud cover. Just imagine the blue moon photos they have!

* Goodnight Moon is a marvelous bedtime story, written by Margaret Brown in 1947. If you've read the book you may remember my favorite line: "Goodnight room. Goodnight moon. Goodnight light, and the red balloon..."

Blue Moons and Winter Whites

Indoor Azaleas are ready for the party.

Was planning to participate in Wordless Wednesday as I've been in quite the curmudgeon mood these past days. Seemed like a fine idea ~ blog without words and nobody knows I'm cranky!

Plum Bonsai is hoping to steal the show

But, then I woke to the muffled sounds of everything. Which could only mean one thing. The snows I've been hoping for have finally arrived!

A soft blanket of white covers the garden, muffling the sounds of passers by. I smile out the window at fat flakes gently falling and my mood is exponentially brighter.

You see... I needed snow and lots of it. 

This New Year's Eve is a full moon AND a blue moon.

In honor of this very Blue Moon, I was planning a moonlight snowshoe party ~ even though we had no fluffy powder to play in!

KC's Garden Bumble Bee shivers beneath the freshly fallen snow.

I should have known grand things would happen when I met up with KC yesterday. Seems the weather delights in foiling our plans and this day was no exception.

Karma? Kismet? Call it what you will. All we had to do was schedule a good weather day lunch in order for Mother Nature to send me the snowstorm we so despereately needed!

I white knuckled it down that icy canyon anyway because this mission could be delayed no longer. I was intent on delivering her over-achieving and nearly done blooming because now it's after Christmas Amaryllis. Which she seemed to like, in spite of the fact it was half dead. :(

In exchange, Ms. Photographer Extraordinaire gifted me with this photo of Bad Dog and I, snowshoeing Iron Canyon:

Me and Bad Dog!

Wishing you 

A Happy New Gardening Year!

The Corn Picking Moon

The Corn Picking Moon (named by Native American tribes) is often the brightest full moon of the year.

Farmers call it the Harvest Moon because it's almost like a second daylight, allowing them to work well into the night, harvesting crops.

Harvest Corn Side Dish Recipe
(My Grandma used to make this.)

• 18 oz. sweet corn
  
• 1.5 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 6 oz. skim milk
• 1.5 cups minced onion
• 1.5 cups seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 Tbsp. melted butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Stir together: corn, egg, milk, onion, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup Swiss cheese. Place in a shallow baking dish. Create a topping with the melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top of the casserole. Cover with the remaining Swiss cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Strawberry Moon

Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls the subtle bodies of water. Tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon - and germinate faster during this time in the lunar cycle.

In case you haven't figured this out by now... Full Moons make ya nuts. If you don't believe me, look back on this volatile week. Everyone I spoke to was having a rough time of it. Even I went off and I hardly ever go off. I blame that on the Domino Effect... when everyone is raising hell about something it inspires me to do the same, darn thing.

Full Moon names date back to the Algonquin tribes of Native Americans. This one is so named because the strawberry harvest comes each year during the month of June.

So, calm down. You survived. Make yourself a Strawberry Daquiri and celebrate. While you're lovin' life, plant some seeds. Better yet, strawberries. They adapt very well to high altitude gardens.*

Live for the moment, while you can... Because if you thought this was a rough week, hang onto your hat. Full moons come around every 29 days ~ which means June has another trick up her sleeve. She's planning to hand you a blue moon on 6/30.

* Fragaria 'Ozark Beauty' is a sweet, ever-bearing strawberry that's fast, fast, fast. Yummy berries in 6 short weeks.

Strawberry Daquiri Recipe:

• 1 oz light rum
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup shmushed, fresh strawberries
• 3 oz frozen lemonade