Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Thanksgiving and More




We have come full circle to another Thanksgiving. Another year
added to our lives. Many have had a year of happy, many a year
of heartbreak. Most of us fall somewhere in-between. I like to
think Thanksgiving provides all with opportunities to share a 
meal and spend some quality time with family and friends. There's
a comfort in holiday rituals... while we are making memories,
while we bask in the comfortable cozy of our homes, take the time  
to reflect on what you're thankful for. Simple as that, it's called
gratitude. 

Gratitude can transform common days into
Thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into 
Joy, and change ordinary opportunities into
Blessings.
                       ~William Arthur Ward


I wish for you all,



Let your heart be full of both THANKS and GIVING!!





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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

October's Last Call, and Halloween




It's happened quickly, this transition of warm sunny days to 
chilly ones that require a sweater and perhaps socks and stylish
boots. If you are one with nature, this is your moment. No better
time to get outside and enjoy the full blaze of glory the trees are
presenting. All the shades of red, yellow and orange are there.
Brilliant, bold,  jeweled-toned offerings of fall that ignite feelings
of home and cozy. 



I know, I know!! Crunchy leaves underfoot mean clean-up. Yards 
still need attention. Fall and especially this time before first frost
beckons us. Bulbs to plant, hoses to drain, garden tools to clean 
and garden beds to tidy up. You know the routine... work a little
and enjoy a lot of what this month has to offer. Football and
festivals await you. Autumn will also increase your appetite!!!



I can think of no better way to celebrate October than having
fresh-baked cookies. Tap on link below for recipe.
www.cookingthymewithdiana.com/2015/10/candy-corn-swirl-cookies.html




Now I don't want you to think I've forgotten about Halloween.
Oh no. Six days till all the little goblins and ghosts arrive. Can't
wait to see what costume grandson Ethan will wear. 







Visit me on Instagram dianarn2627

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Appreciating Morning




Has someone ever asked you if you were a morning person? Do you
dread awakening to another day? You can be a great functioning
adult once your body has shaken off the night, but that's not what 
I'm mean. I'm talking about the appreciation of a new day starting,
the sunrise, the dawn, that very early part of the appearance of a
thing called a day.



There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise 
or hope. 
               ~Bernard Williams



An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
                 ~Henry David Thoreau




No matter how bad things are, you can at least be happy that
you woke up this morning.
             ~D.L. Hughley



Like a morning dream, life becomes more and more bright the
longer we live, and the reason of everything appears more clear.
What has puzzled us before seems less mysterious, and the 
crooked paths look straighter as we approach the end.
                ~Jean Paul



Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before
sunrise.
               ~George Washington Carver



If I can wake up every morning kiss my sweet husband, and have
coffee quietly, then it will be a perfect start to my day. Going on an 
early morning walk makes it even better.
               ~Diana Moore

Thanks for stopping by.....
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Thursday, October 5, 2017

Gather The Goodness


The humidity of summer like temperatures, and the haziness
brought on by said humidity has left us once again... for good
this time, I hope. We'll drift into Autumn daily simply because
it's October. 

        Life starts all over again 
     when it gets crisp in the fall.
                               ~ F.Scott Fitzgerald




I find much to like about each season. Even winter has its
own appeal. But October and November carry heavy 
trademarks. Cozy, colorful, crisp, golden, and glistening 
with dew conjure up in our minds wonderful vignettes of 
autumn splendor. This harvest-time heavily influences our 
tastes, and menus suddenly include casseroles and stews, 
pies of apples, pumpkin and pecans, and drinks warm
and spicy. 




What's not to like about Fall. October fills our world 
with golden warmth, not a harsh sunlit glare, but
mellow tones that draw us in, sharing nature's process
of decay, yet giving us a show of magnificent beauty. We
participate by cleaning away summer's end and begin
to gather. We light the first fire, set candles out with 
scents of cinnamon, orange, clove and vanilla. We 
put on sweaters and thick scarves and take walks to
watch the leaves fall. If you're a collector like me;
treasures of acorns, walnuts, and leaves will fill a 
wooden bowl. I'll add dried orange and apple slices, 
along with cinnamon sticks and some cloves.



          Autumn comes calling
         Message to start falling
         Leaves send a kiss
         Moments of bliss
                       ~Diana Moore

We are in the season of pumpkins, corn shocks, 
gourds and scarecrows... outside and inside we
decorate. We want to feel cozy, like being wrapped
in a warm blanket. To our homes we'll style with  
fall colors and other elements to add rustic autumn
appeal. 



We've entered into a most glorious time, as one season has
moved into another. As the days get shorter and holidays 
approach, we'll start to reflect and appreciate. Let's enjoy  
the natural moments right here and now... I think it's time 
for a walk. (insert smiles and a hug).


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dianarn2627

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

It Really Is Autumn!!




Astronomically, it happens every September.  This year the 
Autumn (fall) equinox is on Friday, September 22 at 4:02 pm 
in the Northern Hemisphere. Basically, the amount of daytime 
and nighttime are closely equal to each other (within minutes) 
and the days will be shorter with less light. Notice too the birds 
and butterflies migrate along the path of the sun which is 
starting to shift southward and is lower in the sky. Temperatures 
begin to drop, and chilly breezes blow.

                   It is the summer's great last heat,
                  It is the fall's first chill: they meet.
                          ~Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt




We are starting to see the changes as the trees and plants are 
slowing down. October will showcase the spectacular and vivid  
leaf changes, but you can spot some of that fall color right now. 
Warm and sunny days with cool nights accelerate the color 
changes. That's where we are, the in-between month, still hot 
and humid, and sometimes cool and rainy. Our gardens have 
peaked, the grass (unless there's a lot of rain), is starting to 
brown, and we're ready for change and autumn's delights. 



We look for color and find that in Chrysanthemums, Asters and 
of course autumn's symbol, the pumpkin. The orange shaped,
generally smooth, ribbed skin member of the squash family, 
which also includes (gourds), are what we carve into jack-o-
lanterns. There are many varieties and colors. Check out your 
garden center for beautiful fall displays.





          
                       Even is something is left undone,
                       everyone must take time to sit and
                       watch the leaves turn.
                                     ~Elizabeth Lawrence
                     
         
This is a great time to be outside to watch and observe. 
It's healthy and fun. Say goodbye to Summer and get 
out and enjoy what nature has to offer.








Thanks for stopping by. I'll be posting every 2-3 weeks instead
of every week for at least the next few months as we enter into 
into the holiday season.  Visit me on Instagram dianarn2627
Sign up, it's free and there lots of great pictures to view.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

September




It's apparent that many bloggers have been waiting anxiously 
for the fall season, kinda like Fall TV. It started the last couple 
of weeks in August. Big hints being dropped about leaves 
turning yellow and feeling a chill in the air. They were ready to 
move on to Autumn decorating. I'm moving a little slower.




"Ah, September! You are the doorway to
  the season that awakens my soul..."
                                           ~ Peggy Toney Horton

Don't get me wrong. I'm not dreading the new season. I'm
anticipating it. The warmth and coziness, the colors of rustic
orange and red, and the foods and recipes that celebrate 
home. But give me a little time. Let me ease out of summer's
beauty. Yes, the brilliance of summer colors are gone, faded
by the light changing, end-of-season natural processes. 




By all the lovely tokens SEPTEMBER days
are here. With Summer's best of weather
and Autumn's best of cheer.
                                                  ~Helen Hunt Jackson

Things are happening. The sights and sounds of a new 
season are arriving. Have you heard the Katydids? A 
prediction of sorts from those soothsayers of nature; when you 
hear the sounds of the katydid, a frost will happen in about 
40-49 days. That seems about right figuring our first frost date 
for zone 6. And, as I walk in the reserve, I hear the chorus, and  
I think about what lies ahead. I like the seasonal changes. It's 
anticipation and excitement. Let me experience and feel all 
that glorious transformation.



For now, it's cleanup and putting away summer's attire, it's
harvesting, it's cutting back and pulling the old and faded. 
I'll keep my Zinnias and Tomatoes, they keep on giving right
now like old friends. Ron and I will grab that porch time as
much as possible, we'll bike till the cold wind puts us down,
and we'll share a glass of wine on the swing till we move in-
doors to sit in front of a fire....




Thanks for stopping by.
Visit me on Instagram, dianarn2627

Friday, August 25, 2017

Thoughts on Zinnias and the Homegrown Tomato




If I had to pick a favorite thing to grow, I would ask if I could
pick two favorite things. One from the flower category and one
from the vegetable side. Yes botanically the tomato is a fruit, but
the Supreme Court decided this issue a long time ago. So I think
my two choices are the Zinnia and the Tomato.

Want endless bouquets? Plant Zinnias!  ~ Diana Moore



Zinnias are my favorite flower. Three things to know about this
annual? It's drought tolerant and stands up to the heat, provides 
great color, and is low maintenance. Packaged seeds offer a wide
variety of height and color. Your job is to choose a spot with full
sun, prep the soil for planting and follow package instructions.
Water as needed. I've never fertilized my zinnias but an early 
feed can only help. They are great cutting flowers. Keep them
deadheaded for flowering all season. Always leave a few flowers
to set seeds to save for the next year's planting.






"There ain't nothing better in life than true love and a homegrown
  tomato."  ~ old saying







Gardening for beauty and bounty offers twice the rewards.
                                     ~ Diana Moore



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Friday, August 18, 2017

A Great American Event..Total Solar Eclipse




The post this week has to be dedicated to a history making event.
A total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States. An
astronomical phenomena? Absolutely! You may have seen  
photos in the past, but this you can't ignore. Crossing our nation 
from coast to coast, a 2500 mile path, the time start to finish will 
run four hours 

Three things cannot be long hidden:
  The sun, the moon, and the truth.
                               ~ Buddha




What you see depends on where you are, or might want to travel to.
Nashville, Tennessee or Hopkinsville, Kentucky are ideal spots if 
you live in Ohio and want to keep it within a reasonable driving 
range. Kentucky experiences the longest eclipse time at just over 
minutes and 41 seconds. In Ohio we will only see a partial eclipse.
About 90%of the sun will be blocked.



Here are some fun facts about the solar eclipse.
*Weather is a factor! A cloudy day will hurt your viewing chances. 
*What is a total solar eclipse? The moon passes between Earth
  and the sun, and appears to cover the sun. It will block the sun's 
  light. Not everyone will see a total eclipse but will experience a 
  partial one.
*What is a syzygy? An astronomy term, it is the alignment of the  
  earth, new moon and the sun, resulting in an eclipse.
*The first recorded eclipse was in China 4000 years ago. They
  thought it was a dragon eating the sun. (from astronomer 
  Derek Kief, H.R. Macmillan Space Center)
*The last time a total eclipse swept across the entire USA was in
  1918. This total eclipse will be the first visible from the 
  contiguous United States since 1979.

It is only during an eclipse that the Man in the Moon has a place
in the sun.
                ~ Anonymous



To avoid serious eye damage, you must take precaution when
viewing the solar eclipse. Everyone viewing needs to wear
special solar glasses or you can use filtered welder's glasses.
The sunlight can burn the retina leading to long term or
permanent damage. Caution your children. Don't look at a
partial eclipse through unfiltered binoculars or a telescope.
Look for special eclipse glasses online or check out your
local library for free ones. Several local grocery stores had 
them available as well. Make your own pinhole projector
by using 2 sheets of paper. Instructions online. There are 
eclipse events being planned locally so that is a safe option 
as well. View online by checking out the NASA website and 
Space.com. Here's the information I received by plugging 
in my zip code. The moon cover will be 88% of the sun. The 
moon will be in the sun's path starting at 1:01pm and 
continue for 2hours and 48minutes. The best time to see the 
peak of the eclipse will be 2:28pm. It's great specific 
information for your area.




Monday expect traffic to be heavy as thousands are traveling.
Millions of eyes will be looking upward as the sun disappears 
from the sky. The animals and insects will react as if the sun
is setting. It will be as dark as sunset is. It will happen 
whether you want it to or not. It will not be as be as you
suspect but something more....