Saturday, April 14, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #45


Get a load of these beautiful shitake mushrooms my neighbor just gave us. He grew them in his back yard. I believe you start them with a kit and plant the spores on a log in a shaded location. When he offered me some shitakes, I pictured small ones an inch or so in diameter, but these are HUGE. I put the salt shaker in the photo for reference. The biggest one is a whopping four or five inches across. I've seen portobellos smaller than this.

Glenn has two raised beds in his yard that produce wonderful veggies all summer. He is always very generous with them. Maybe if I can get something to grow in my Sharing Garden plots, I can return the favor. Dad - start planning a menu with shitakes for your visit!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #44


I spent the afternoon up at the Goshen Farm Sharing Garden getting our plots ready to plant. This picture was taken earlier this week after building the raised bed boxes. Big shout out to my husband for helping me with these. He even personalized them for me:


Today, I added soil conditioner and manure to improve the soil. You can imagine how lovely I look and smell right now. After three hours of hauling, hoeing and raking, we are ready to plant. Maybe by next week, we will actually have something growing. For now, I am off to the shower before my family starts to complain.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #43


Looking the opposite way down the main beach than yesterday's shot, this cloud captured even more of the setting sun. The orange ship on the water and the cloud ship in the sky above were both making their way down and across the Bay. You can just make out Baltimore Light to the left in the shadows.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #42


Today reminded us that it is in fact still early spring despite the lovely weather we've had. We were due some April showers in payment for the spring flowers we've enjoyed. Nothing too major - just a few solid sprinkles here and there.

I took this photo from the main beach this evening as a few of those showers passed across the top of the Magothy, behind Gibson Island. They tried to snuff out the sunset, but were not quite successful. I have another to share tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #41


For today's photo of the day, I'm posting a "before" shot of my 2 plots up at the Goshen Farm Sharing Garden. The two together form an L shape - one 5 X 20 foot plot and one 10 X 10 foot. The caretakers were good enough to till up the soil for me. Another gardener is ahead of me with their bamboo borders and stakes.

I will include pictures of our progress each week. We got the 10 X 10 plot boxed in yesterday with 2 x 6 lumber. This evening, we will attempt to box in the other plot. Hopefully by the end of the week, we will have something planted. Stay tuned!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #40


Thank you to whoever had the foresight to plant these glorious cherry trees at the shopping center. I only wish they were along a high traffic walking path as opposed to a high traffic road. If you have a moment to take a stroll beneath their canopy, it's well worth the detour. For a moment, you can imagine you are beneath the Yoshinos in DC. 

I think these might be Kwanzan Cherries based on a quick google search. What I know is that they are spectacular. By the way, this little grove makes a terrific shaded spot to watch the Strawberry Festival parade if it's a hot day.

Here's the view from the underside:



Sunday, April 8, 2012

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #39


Happy Easter, Capers! This is the second Easter in a row that I am spending in the Orlando airport. I referred to it last year as a "congregation of travelers." My kids are insisting that we color eggs when we get home, so please save us some down at Graul's!

I took this photograph of the cross outside Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church a couple of weeks ago. It's not a great shot. I'm still getting acquainted with my camera, but I've always liked this cross and wanted to use it for my Easter Cape Photo of the Day. While I don't espouse any particular religious faith, I grew up predominantly attending a Presbyterian church in Calfornia with a good dose of bible belt Methodist and Baptist fire and brimstone mixed in during summer visits with my extended South Carolina family.

The Presbyterian cross became associated with the tradition and teachings of the Scottish reformation led by John Knox in the 16th century. Even centuries before that, the ancient Celtic cross was adapted and elongated to express the emergence of Christianity in the land of pagan sun worshippers. It's a beautiful piece of symbolism that incorporates the oldest traditions of an ancient people with a new belief system.

Whatever the message that is conveyed to those who admire it, the Presbyterian/Celtic cross has to be appreciated for its simplicity of form. I think the circle softens the lines and suggests a completeness and ongoing cycle. Springtime is all about rebirth - a theme that resonates throughout the Easter story.

After spending this spring break in the Florida Keys, I've had an earful of Jimmy Buffett. A stanza from his song, Fruitcakes, pretty well sums up my feelings about religion:

... the God's honest truth is it's not that simple. 
Its the Buddhist in you, it's the Pagan in me, 
It's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic ain't she? 
It's the born again look it's the WASP and the Jew, 
Tell me what's going on, I ain't got a clue. 

Happy Easter to those who embrace the cross or just love the Easter Bunny, and Chag Sameach to those of you celebrating Passover. Blessings of the season to all.