ABC Wednesday - M is for Marigold

Marigolds are always a bright spot of color in the garden and I like to include them each year in mine.

I have never purchased them as plants because they are so easy to grow from seeds.

And the seeds are much cheaper than the plant flats.

They have a slight smell to them, but nothing as grand as the roses or lilies.

It isn't Marigold season here yet, but I do have my seeds already and they will go in the ground at the beginning of next month.

Spring is slowly making it's way to New England this year, and it's arrival is most welcome!





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - L is for Ladyslipper

We still have quite a covering of snow in our area, but in another month and a half or so, these little beauties will be making their appearance.

I always look forward to finding them as we walk along our road.

Each year there are less and less, though, as they are a very delicate bloom that only grows in specific conditions which are fast disappearing.

There is one particular spot that they grow without anybody bothering them, and I take in their beauty as we drive by along the highway.

Stopping to admire them is difficult in this spot and I wouldn't want to draw too much attention to them from the passers-by.

I have loved them ever since I was a little girl, and they always bring such joy each spring, these pretty little Pink Ladyslipper Wildflowers.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - K is for Ketch

Ketch is the fancy name for a sailing vessel that has two masts.

Not too impressive while docked or on a mooring as this one is.

But when the the sails are up and they are billowing in the wind, a ketch is a beautiful thing indeed.

So quietly they glide over the water - reminiscent of days gone by when only sails were around.

Love those old boats, or Tall Ships, as they are called.

And a ketch is a mini version of those beauties that we get a glimpse of when we visit the ocean.




This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - J is for Jojoba

Jojoba oil - have you ever heard of it?

It was a couple of years ago that I first discovered it.

My nails, which have always been long and natural, were getting brittle and breaking, especially  during the winter with it's drying inside air.

I did a search for the best remedy and found many, but decided to try the jojoba oil.

Of all the moisturizing oils, jojoba is the closest to human sebum and the small particles in it's chemical make up allow it to pass through the nail and get absorbed.

Olive oil was a close second for my choice, but it didn't penetrate as well, and it leaves a very oily coating.

The Jojoba plant is native to the southwest area in the US and it has a rich history with the Native Americans who lived there.

The oil, which is actually a wax, is derived from the seeds of the Jojoba nut.

It used to be more rare and expensive, but with desert cultivation around the world, the cost of growing and harvesting the oil has come down, though it is still more expensive than many other oils.

I like the non-greasy feeling it leaves behind, and my nails and hands are back to being themselves during these dry winters.

Love these natural remedies that really work!







This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - H is for Health

Our health is something that most of us take for granted.

When it gets threatened, that's when most people start to pay attention.

I like to think of my main exercise, yoga, as a reward rather than a chore.

Sometimes it's hard to get into it or even start it.

But the rewards kick in after I'm finished.

Everything inside and outside feels so much better, physically and mentally.

And it only takes a half of an hour of time.

It's a treat that even sugar can't touch, and for me that's a tough one to beat!

This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - G is for Green

This was one of the prettiest dragonflies that I have seen.

When I first saw it, it was on a leaf in the garden, and I almost missed him because he matched that leaf so well.

So, I followed him around until he landed on something that he stood out against.

It took a while, and I guess he was tired, because he stayed quite a while on these rocks.

He didn't fly away as I closed in on him.

This was the closest I could get with the lens I had on the camera - not my macro one which would have done a great job with his details.

He was beautiful, and I have yet to see another one like him - perhaps this summer I might get a chance.

My eyes will be peeled.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - D is for Drink

The animals at the county fair are always a big hit in the autumn.

And the that first weekend in September was a steamy one.

This thirsty cow was so happy to get back to her stall after the showing.

She drank all the water and the bucket was promptly refilled for her.

She didn't even mind me going right up to her to snap the photo.

We couldn't wait to get out of there ourselves and head straight to the lake for a swim.

Most times we are bundled up against the chilly fall air, but that year was a hot one for animals and people alike.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.