Weekly Image of Life: Seasons and Changes~ Red Leaves?

“The one red leaf, the last of its clan, 
That dances as often as dance it can,  
Hanging so light, and hanging so high, 
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.”
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772-1834

Our Japanese Maple tree is green for most seasons in bloom~ from spring through summer.  In fall the leaves usually turn a bright, beautiful shade of red.
It truly lights up the garden with its seasonal change.

The Japanese Maple contrasts nicely with the strap-like green and white leaves of the Yucca below it.

Last year’s Japanese Maple in fall…

Last year…

But this year there were changes, even before we got to September.
Our normally green Japanese Maple leaves began turning a bronze-green color in July.
They’ve remained that color for the rest of the summer.  I believe it has to to with our extremely hot, dry weather this summer.  All of our plants have suffered in some way or another, even with watering.

Just this week I began to see a tinge of red around the leaf edges.
Perhaps we’ll get some red after all!  Changes!

This year…

“Change in all things is sweet.” ~Aristotle

The Weekly Image of Life post: Seasons & Changes, is brought to you by Island Traveler’s blog: “This Man’s Journey”.  Check out his post on Seasons & Changes, here, and join the rest of us…by sharing photos or stories of Seasons and Changes.  Each Wednesday, Island Traveler will post a new challenge.  Come join the fun!

Judy

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All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

 

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Capture the Color

A good blogger friend, as well as an excellent photographer and story teller, This Man’s Journey, has nominated me for the challenge of Capture the Color.

I have just a few hours to complete this challenge!  I’m on the RUN!  😉

The “Capture the Color” challenge has been organized by the blog: Travel Supermarket.  Check out their site, it’s cool!

The Capture the Color challenge is to share a photo representing each of these colors:

RED, BLUE, WHITE, GREEN and YELLOW.
Capture the Color link, click here.

I’m making it a Color Tour.  Is everyone ready to travel?  Hop aboard and buckle your seat belts!

The first stop we’ll make is WHITE.  

WHITE

We discovered this white and rather shaggy mountain goat in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, while hiking the Hidden Lake Trail.
The goat is molting, so that’s why he has a rather unkempt look.  The Hidden Lake Trail begins at Logan Pass and ends
below the rocks the goat is standing on, where you can glimpse a bit of  Hidden Lake.  Glacier National Park is a favorite of ours
as it has a wonderful variety of sights.  Azure lakes, huge white glaciers, waterfalls, great hikes, massive peaks, wildflowers and abundant wildlife.

Next stop: GREEN!

GREEN

The lush spring GREEN landscape surrounding and complementing Fallingwater is a sight to behold!
Fallingwater was designed by the great Frank Lloyd Wright for the Kaufmann family of Pennsylvania, USA.
As with all his designs, Wright wanted the building to blend in, and become one with the land.
Touring this building shows how far ahead of his time Wright was.  He implemented many design features
that were new then, and continue to be used today.

All aboard for YELLOW!

YELLOW

The bright YELLOW gold dome shines brightly against the blue sky.  Where are we?  Why, we’re in the City of Light~ Paris!
You are looking through the archway at the l’Eglise du Dome….the church of Les Invalides and the site of Napoleon’s tomb.
This structure was built by Louis XIV between 1671-1676 to shelter old and wounded soldiers.  The church is astoundingly beautiful.
Surrounding the courtyard are museums filled with the artifacts of war: uniforms, guns, swords, flags, and more.  The painted ceiling in
the dome is stunning and a definite must-see!   My daughter and I loved Paris but lost/couldn’t find the Eiffel Tower when we
first arrived!    Click here for the story..

Buckle up!  We’re moving on to RED!

RED

The RED rocks of Zion National Park rise high above us as we hike the Riverside Trail.  We are sheltered by the RED canyon as we walk
alongside the Virgin River.  Zion National Park is located in Utah, USA, an area with many beautiful and unique rock formations.

Our last tour stop is BLUE!

BLUE

The AZURE BLUE waters of Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada, are calling us to visit.  This lake is one of my
favorites.  Even though there were many people visiting the shores of the BLUE lake, it was quiet and peaceful.
Capturing the red canoe in the middle gives perspective to the size and grandeur of the mountains that surround it.
Come on…dip your toes in!

I really enjoyed having you join me on the Capture the Color tour!  We’ll plan another one soon!
(As the challenge time is nearly over, I don’t think I can name anyone else to do it.  In fact, I may have missed the deadline myself!)

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Recipe: Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

A big thank you to Jessica of The Novice Chef blog for the recipe for Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies!   She has a free printable recipe on her site.  Click here for the recipe.

The Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies would make a great Valentine’s Day treat!

I made the Marbled Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies today and they are delicious!  They are rich, so you can eat a small piece and feel like you’ve had a triple treat!  This recipe also makes a lot of brownies, if you cut them into small squares, so it’s a great gift for relatives, neighbors, friends and anyone who passes by your kitchen window!

It’s fun to use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter too, as Jessica, of The Novice Chef did on her blog, and I did here.  You won’t get as many pieces this way, however.   Note:  The Novice Chef even has ideas for the leftover scraps if you use cookie cutters!   It’s your choice as always!  Use your wonderful creativity….make these ‘your own’ by changing up the recipe or using decorations.

 

One last thing……I think people would eat this brownie at any time of the year.  It’s not just for Valentine’s Day!

Happy baking and eating!

Judy   ❤ 
All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain. 

How about a Red Pepper Holiday?

Hello readers!

I have been in Chicago for a few days.  I hope to post some photos very soon of Michigan Avenue (the Miracle Mile of stores!).  I love this area at Christmastime, because all the trees in front of the stores are lit with white lights.  It’s really lovely.

Tonight’s post: How about a Red Pepper Holiday?  Last winter when I was in New Mexico I bought a ristra.   A ristra a way to dry peppers for cooking.  The people who sell them usually tie them together and make a wreath or a long string of peppers.  Now they have become so popular for decorations, that many people just hang them inside or outside their homes.  You have to admit that bright red color is beautiful.  If you aren’t going to eat them, they spray it with a clear glossy coat that enhances the color.

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I like a little spice, but not a lot.  I prefer my spice on the wall or the door!!  Not in my food!! 😉

On Pinterest one day I noticed a photo of a ristra wreath with a holiday ribbon on it.  I liked the idea so well,  I changed up mine with a Christmas ribbon too.

See you soon, and thanks for stopping to visit~

Judy

Fall Colors~

The maple trees are golden, red and orange;  leaves falling like snow now.  The sky is a pale blue, but the sun is gracing us with her presence~hurrah!  Come visit my Michigan world of color…….