Raindrops on Snapdragons, Stitches in Turquoise

Rainy days. Everything looks more saturated – the greenery becomes greener, flowers stand out as rare pops of color, the tree branches contrast dark against the bright colors.

Raindrops are featured on petals and leaves – shimmering like little starlit orbs.

The sun shining through the grey clouds eliminates strong shadows, and assures no detail will be lost. I couldn’t help myself – I had to get out the camera and take these pictures of my garden today. Thunder and rain only add to the majesty of the plants.

Rain is perfect for a mug of coffee and indoor projects. My Upcycled choice of the day?
My brand new (and very old) sewing machine:
This beauty was a $5 find at a garage sale this weekend.

Works like a charm, and just needed a bit of cleaning. They even included all sorts of extra needles, bobbins, pins, and other helpful supplies. I’m thinking it might be from the 1970’s, but I’m not sure. It’s very heavy – a quality machine made out of all metal.
I’m not sure if I can really express my excitement in finding this.
I can’t wait to start creating all sorts of upcycled works with old fabric finds.

And, of course, I must include some wonderful Etsy Finds:

A Whimsy Little Garden

Strawberries, Sunshine and Pink Lemonade

My brain has been on strawberries today.
First when I made my chocolate-dipped strawberries for my grandmother’s birthday:

Melted milk chocolate, and then dipped the tips into the glittery, pink, sugar sprinkles I had. Amazingly good. The crunchy sugar added a third texture to the berry/chocolate combo and a tiny extra bit of sweetness. Yum. Also discovered white chocolate (at least most of them) will NOT melt correctly unless it has cocoa butter in the ingredients. I tried melting some before I knew this, and it came out the consistency of frosting – undippable.

Then for lunch today, when I couldn’t think of anything good for lunch. I finally decided to use my left over strawberries, strawberry yogurt and a few other things to make a smoothie:

Strawberry Smoothie
4 Strawberries
1 Banana
1 Cup Strawberry (or vanilla) Yogurt
3-4 Ice cubes
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 egg (optional)
Blend all ingredients in blender until completely smooth. Makes 2 glass-fulls (about 32 oz).

I thought the raw egg seemed really gross, but my husband insisted it was a great source of protein and I wouldn’t taste it. I’m okay with eating raw eggs in cookie dough or un-cooked brownie mixes, so I guess it won’t kill me. I know weight lifters and sports people eat raw egg diets all the time to get the protein and save time. Plus, he was right – I couldn’t taste it. Came out pretty good. I’m not that big of a banana eater, so I think it would taste better without that – but it does add potassium.

And finally when I put together this Etsy Treasury:

Strawberries, Sunshine, and Pink Lemonade.

“The time has come, my little friends, to talk of other things / Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings / And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wigs / Calloo, Callay, come run away / With the cabbages and kings.”