Look what the tide brought in!

After hurricane Sandy, these amazing sponges washed up on the beach.

 How cool are these sponges.  I think I could sell them on ebay.

This sponge would look so great on a bookshelf or coffee table.  

Have a great week!

Enjoy the Holiday Weekend

Enjoy the holiday weekend my dears.  I hope you have splendid plans, or maybe better yet, no plans at all...just relax.  School and schedules will greet us all bright and early on Tuesday morning.

I saw this strange creature on  my deck making the rounds of the flowers.  Is is a humming birds?  or a bee?  Neither, it is a Hummingbird MOTH.  It was not skittish at all and let me get close enough for a photo.  

Happy Weekend

October Already!

Happy Monday, dear Spiral Style readers.

I hope you had a lovely weekend.  Can you believe it is October already?  This weekend felt like autumn with vivid blue skies and a crisp, chill in the air.  Some of the leaves are beginning to change color.  I made a collection while walking the puppy in a county park.  

Autumn collection

Hubby and I took advantage of Detroit restaurant week and tried a new restaurant with friends.    I took this photo of my short ribs with my iphone.  Not a great photo but the food was good at Atlas Global Bistro.  It was the first time I ate pork belly.  Yum! 

Sunday evening was spent at the home of dear friends.  So I had a little break from cooking except for homemade applesauce from Farmers Market apples.  I did find the need to bake so I tried the Walnut Apricot Harvest Loaf from Sweet Paul, the online magazine.   

This loaf is hearty with whole wheat goodness, sweet with dried apricots and studded with chopped walnuts.  Great for lunch boxes and coffee breaks.  

Have a wonderful start to your week.  

Late Summer Color and Texture

I was walking the puppy yesterday and was captivated by gorgeous colors and textures.  I took some photos for your inspiration.

HAVE A COLOR FUL DAY

Spring?

I'm back from vacation.  It was wonderful to be away and bask in the sunshine.  

 I thought I'd come back to Spring but it was COLD here in Michigan this morning.

There are some signs of Spring.  Can't wait for color in the garden.  I'm tired of "neutrals" like gray and beige.

Meanwhile, I'll settle for these colorful treats.  I'm addicted.

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  MEREDITH

Sugar Shack: Hope Town

The new home of the Sugar Shack...

...just a few step from the Public Dock in Hope Town.  

Not only a plethora of flavors but t-shirts, towels and souvenirs displayed with beach-theme panache.  Notice the surf board shelf beside the Haagen Dazs freezer and the buckets on the wall holding shirts.  

After a long, cold winter, one of the pleasures of warm weather is being able to open the windows and hear the birds.

A humming bird sitting still long enough for a portrait!

Island Color Inspiration

Bougainvilleas 

Floral Finds 

Monday Musings: Planting Coconut Trees

While walking in Hope Town Saturday morning...

...I saw this gentleman biking with these coconut saplings over his shoulder.  He was on his way to plant them in someone's yard.  

Meatless Monday

Spicy Black-Bean Soup

We eat a lot of black beans, especially in the Bahamas.

This soup is very easy and VERY cheap.  $.62/can of beans X 2 plus some onion, chiles and spices and you have dinner.  Top with sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped cilantro or some shredded cheddar cheese.  Even though the recipe says "spicy", I would double the spices and maybe add some crushed red pepper or chopped chili in adobo.  Lots of fiber and protein to this soup.  Enjoy with a spinach salad and cornbread.  This would be a great meal to prepare on a boat on in a vacation house.  Easy to have the ingredients on hand.  Click here for the recipe.

Happy Monday everyone!

Bird Spotting

The flora and fauna of Australia is vastly different from the United States.  I regret that I have not seen a kangaroo or koala in the "bush".   I have, however, seen many birds that are common to Sydney but NOT to Michigan.  

1 Magpie  2 Rainbow Lorikeet  3 Miner  4 Dusky Moorhen

1 Australian White Ibis  2 Myna(?)  3Little Black Cormorant  4 Sulfur Crested Cockatoo 

While bats are mammals and not birds, I couldn't help but include this photo of Flying Fox bats.  These were roosting in the Botanic Garden.  The Flying Fox bats have become a nuisance and caused the demise of several irreplaceable trees in the Garden.

Do you think it looks like a fox?

Have a great weekend.  

See you on Monday.

Natural Shore Decor

I love to be surrounded by natural decor.  I brought these treasures home from The Bahamas.

These natural sea sponges were gathered in an afternoon.

I have these photos, framed and hanging in my bedroom.  

They remind me a lazy days in the sun and on the beach.

Strawberry Picking

It's strawberry season in Michigan

The fields were busy with "pickers" at 9 am.

          It didn't take long to fill a box.

  

Hubby and I had some shortcake after dinner

  I made some jam and put 
                                                            what was left of the berries,
                                                            in the freezer.


Shortcake recipe
2 cups flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening or butter
1 cup milk ( I used skim )


Heat oven to 450 degrees F
Grease 8x8 square pan or 8 inch round pan
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in bowl.  Cut in shortening or butter thoroughly until mixture looks like meal.  Stir in milk just until blended.  Pat into pan.
Bake 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Split pieces of shortcake and layer with berries and whipped cream and/or ice cream.  
8 servings

Narcissus Love

It's too early to plant annuals and perennials are not blooming this early in Michigan.

I love early color in the garden from bulbs.

Narcissus are my favorites because they aren't fussy about soil or sun and deer and other pesky animals will leave them alone.

I enjoy the variety of species and plant in clumps of 5-8 bulbs.

Birdland

Hubby and I had a good time watching the birds this weekend.  Most exciting is the flock of bluebirds that are constantly swooping overhead.  

Bluebird on top of the house, checking out the real estate and the neighbors.

The colorful finches have returned requiring thistle seed refills quite frequently.

Capital Blossoms

I happened to be in Washington, DC over the Easter weekend.  The cherry blossoms were at their peak and breathtaking.  The district was filled with families and school class trips touring the nation's capital and taking in the sights/sites.  DC is one of my favorite places to visit and I used to live in the area a long time ago.  As an American, I am proud of the beauty and history of our national capital monumnents, mall, govenment edifices, Smithsonian and other national  treasures.  If a visitor to the United States sees nothing of our country but Washington, DC, then I would be proud of the view of America gleaned from the abundance of history, patriotism, and  pride evident in this great city.

Savoring Spring

spring

It is official, Spring has arrived.  

Buds are getting ready to pop.

Just two weeks ago there was ice on the pond.  Now there are ducks, and geese.

Bulbs are poking through the ground.

I found pansies at the Farmers Market and I couldn't help myself... I just had to dig and plant.

Have a wonderful start to your week.

Beauty and the Beach

I visited a neighboring island today and had to share this image of a gorgeous beach.

Can you believe February is almost over?  For all of you who got snow dumped on you this week, winter can't pass quickly enough.

Have a great weekend.

Monday I'll announce the winner of the February giveaway.

Good luck and thanks for all your comments.  I love hearing from you.

Island Color Palette

I've escaped cold Michigan and traded it for the balmy Bahamas.

After several months of gray landscape, it is so nice to see color.

I took my camera with me on a walk...

... and took photos everywhere I went.

The result resembled a color palette.

Have a colorful week and look for beauty all around.