We were in Nags Head for three sunrises, and we saw all three of them, from the beach.  We walked the two blocks to the beach at 5:30 AM!!  and watched as the sun rose out of the Atlantic Ocean.  

 

It was so great to have shells in our pockets and sand in our toes.  I can't wait til the next time.  

 

 

HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

 

 

 

We are home now, but you know we couldn't go all the way to the Outer Banks and NOT get a picture of THE SIGN.  

 

Of course you've seen the one just inside the NC/Tennessee border that says:  Manteo NC 563.  Well, the counterpart to that sign is in Manteo.  And since we were so close (10 miles) we HAD to get a picture of it.  

 

You're welcome.

 

 

HAPPY TRAVELS!!!

 

Look how healthy our cilantro is.  I planted the seeds in early March, and this is only about 5 plants;  aren't they gorgeous.  

 

You can see cilantro leaves at the base of the plants, and flowers at the top.  It is all edible, and we eat the leaves and flowers, but the best part is the seed.  The seeds are called coriander, and they get dried and put into jars in the spice rack.  We grind some of the seeds in a coffee grinder, and then add that to everything.  

 

Fresh, dried, ground, it's ALL GOOD.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

The apples are growing.  And they are a little too big for the squirrels to carry off.  So maybe we'll get some this year.  

 

These are Golden Delicious, and they really are delicious.  The deer usually get the lower ones, but we keep our fingers crossed that they will leave us a few.  I'll let you know.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

This is my patch of lemon thyme.  Karen invited me to come over and dig up some thyme that was taking over her garden.  That was about 5 years ago, and mine just keeps spreading too.  Last winter it got a little sad, and big areas died off, but I trimmed out the dead stuff, and it came roaring back.  I love it.  Thanks, Karen, for sharing.

 

The best time to harvest most herbs is right before they bloom, so I'm keeping my eye on it for flower buds.  Then we can harvest and hang little bunches in the kitchen.  Lemon thyme adds both lemon and thyme flavors:  it is awesome.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I hope you remember to fly your flag today.  

 

Here's a link to The Farmers Almanac for a little bit of history and flag etiquette:

 

 https://www.farmersalmanac.com/flag-day

 

 

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!

 

This is last year's Mullein in the driveway.  Like ox-eye daisies, Mullein establishes a rosette of leaves the first year, and blooms in its second year.  Unlike ox-eye daisies, it gets huge!!!!  This plant is almost as tall as I am, and the base is at least 10 feet around.  I LOVE IT!!!!  

 

So, of course, last year when the old one went to seed, I walked all around the yard shaking the seed heads.  And, this year we not only have this big one in its bloom year, we have lots of little ones all over the place.  

 

Here is my driveway:

 

 

Baby Mulleins coming up all over.  And just think:  next year they will be 5 feet tall, and 10 feet in circumference!!!!  I love my life on the mountain.  We have lots of space to grow whatever we like.  OK, maybe we will weed some of them out.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

As I was walking up the stairs, I glanced down at the big pot of marigolds.  And look who I saw.  

 

OK, here's a little perspective for you:  That leaf is a marigold leaf, and see the flower bud?  Marigolds are kinda small, so you can see that this praying mantis is just a baby.  3 inches:  max.

 

Who needs the Nature Channel?  We have it going on right here.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I know I've shown you ox-eye daisies in our yard, but I usually take pictures of it in bloom.  I love those flowers.  Well, here's an interesting thing.  Ox-eye daisies bloom the second year.  Their first year is spent growing a rosette of leaves.  This one is in the midst of a bunch of buttercups, and other junk, but the ox-eye daisy is the rosette of scalloped leaves in the center of the picture.  

 

We will look for blooms next spring.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Over the winter, so much of the sage died back.  It looked terrible.  I thought it might be dead.  So I cut it WAY back, and look at it now.  Maybe I should prune it harshly every winter.  It looks GREAT!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!