Foto Friday - Update from the garden



As promised an update from the garden

and I know you have all been patiently waiting . . .

well maybe not patiently, and maybe not really waiting at all

but just go along with me here - I know you're at least curious.

Right?

Okay, good!!

(you can't see me, but I'm smiling)

So the good news is they are still here - the green lynx spiders that is.

They haven't all been eaten by something - whew! I know you were worried.

I can usually find 3 or 4 of them, at least that's what I can spy with my little eye

since they are so well camouflaged amongst the garden.  Sometimes I take a

spray bottle out with me and lightly mist the flowers to see if I get any movement.

I think this is where I tell you to stop laughing . . .

Alright, I know what you're thinking - has she flipped her lid, spiders are gross!

Well, truth be told I wouldn't want one crawling on me either. In fact I'm severely allergic

to spider venom - I have ended up in the ER with anaphylaxis several times. But when

seen through the view finder of my camera, which changes all perspective, they are

suddenly quite fascinating.  

The green lynx spider gets its name because of the cat like hunters that they are. They are very well

adapted to running and pounce on their prey. I've had the privilege of watching one catch a bee

out of mid air and it was lightning fast. I think they have a bit more growing to do before they're catching

bees though.

They are a bright vivid green with their bodies being transparent but having said that they

are really hard to notice especially when on green foliage.

The female is larger than the male and wow will I have a surprise for you when I finally see one

that is gravid (pregnant in spider lingo) this season. It's a bit too early, usually around late August or

September.

And never fear if you live in a northern climate because they like tropical weather. You will find these in the southern U.S., Mexico and South America.

And although they aren't as camouflaged on this gomphrena, this is where I find them the most.

They have really long slender legs with which help them catch their prey and those are not black hairs you see on their legs, but spines probably to help them impale dinner.

These spiders do not spin webs, but actually hunt for their prey. And although they don't

spin webs they will usually trail a dragline of silk  - kinda acts like a bungee cord when you're

jumping off things to get your dinner!

So have I changed your perspective yet?

Linking this one with Favorite Photo of the week Contest

The moment one gives close attention to anything,

even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious,

awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.

-Henry Miller

I can't wait to share more with you because God gave this spider something very special!

Until then, give something your close attention - you'll be glad you did.

Give someone, even a stranger your special attention - and you will be blessed!

Have a great weekend my friends!

Love, Kim

XO

For more Friday photo fun check out the hollie rogue

and

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli 
 

Foto Friday - Life really is a beach

I love everything about the beach,
from the salty smell of the air and sand beneath my toes,  to wind blown hair

and that beautiful roar of the ocean where worries are washed away with the tide.

I can't seem to get enough of it and it never, never ceases to amaze me!

Three years ago on August 3rd we moved to the Texas gulf coast and the very first time we

crossed the causeway to get to the island (of Galveston) there was a thrill of anticipation and to watch

the pelicans soaring next to us took my breath away . . . three years later that hasn't changed.

Every minute I spend here is a new adventure with a personality of its own and memories

are made that will last a lifetime. . .
it's the place that when you are still enough you can hear the whispers of your own soul
where time seems to stand still yet everything still moves with its own rhythm. . .
yes, paradise does exist, it's here and it's my reality
. . .  it's where the sun rises and the beach waits.


My heart is full of longing for the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.

- Henry Watsworth Longfellow

So this week I didn't experiment with my camera and none of these are ultra spectacular, but
this represents my typical day at the beach and part of who I am.
It's where you find me celebrating the first day of the last year in half a century-mine!
(wait, did I just tell you my age)

You never have to wonder which way the wind blows, it possesses its own weather vane(s).

  The coquina clams - I could watch them for hours migrating up and down the beach!!

And a cute little hermit crab - can you see his eyes sticking out, just waiting for me to leave?

Then I came across this abandoned basket of beach toys, just begging to be photographed.

(Actually, they were begging to be played with but I resisted)

A beautiful Royal Tern that you can usuallly hear before you can see it!

It's shrimping season and they've been getting quite close to the shoreline, which is where I'm standing.

Now, doesn't this umbrella just make you happy!

He doesn't have along beak for nothin'!

On my walk I came across a surfing camp and this was their first day learning - this little girl was such a natural! 

And then as I came back from my walk I found these two getting their gear ready. I told them it looked like they had quite a setup and asked them what they were going to try to catch. Really? Shark? You're going to go out a mile in those and try to catch 5' sharks? Rich, in the picture above, was happy to answer all my questions and showed me the heavy line and hook he uses to catch such a fish. Since they catch and release these big guys they take cameras with them to document it and go back to post it on their Texas kayak fisherman website. So, curious as I am I had to go check it out and you should too - it will only take a second I promise - just scroll down till you see the pictures (click here). I'll wait right here . . . I love how Mike makes light of his 40" shark catch. That's just too much shark to be thrashing by my feet in a kayak!!

Yep, this was my catch! You're impressed, admit it - haha - Actually I caught these with a 10" child's net and they are quite tricky to get as they are very fast! No worries, I released them!

In one of my previous posts I talked about the sargassum (seaweed) that we get from May until

August. Well, the seaweed is a crucial habitat to a wide variety of marine life providing shelter and food.

This is a sargassum shrimp - the smaller ones tend to be more solid colored, even transparent and as they get bigger they use color patterns to camouflage themselves. They are so good at hiding themselves amongst

the plants that in order to find them you have to shake the seaweed. In fact, I have seen the seagulls do the same - they are nuts for these things! Aren't they cute!!

I found this sargassum crab in the seaweed too. They might have small claws, but they sure can pinch!

And my favorite of all, the brown pelican, ahhhh! There is just nothing like watching pelicans

gracefully soar across the sky.

 
To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truths lie undiscovered before me.
- Isaac Newton

A few weeks ago, I received one of the nicest compliments when a child about 11 years old asked me
what I wanted to be when I grew up!! (I think it was the pig tails) The truth is, I told him I'm not sure!!
Because all I know, is the day that I cease to be amazed by the wonders of this world
and forget the child inside me will be the day I grew up too much!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!!

Love, Kim
XO

P.S. You might be interested in this post: Reflection  . . . and the road to acceptance, a little bit about
my journey to loving where I am at.

See what everyone else has been up to this week at the hollie rogue

and here for more Sundays in my city  at unkown mami

  

and sweet shot Tuesdays with my3boybarians



Quotography - Families

One of my very favorite places to be, where no words are necessary!

Have a great Monday . . .

Love, Kim

XO

Lighten up . . . the fettuccine that is

It seems usually the kids are asking you what's for dinner, not if they can make dinner!

 My 16 year old daughter was perusing my husbands Food Network Magazine and found a recipe for 

low-cal fettuccine alfredo and wanted to try it out.

Ummmm.....let me think....YES!

I don't know about you, but I love fettuccine alfredo and all it's creamy garlic delightfulness,

but not its calories!

We gathered all the ingredients, and away she worked.

I know what you're thinking, I thought the same thing too.

How on earth could they take out all that rich high calorie goodness and it still taste good?

Well they did, and it does!

Low-Cal Fettuccine Alfredo
 
1    Tbs unsalted butter
1    clove garlic, minced
1    tsp grated lemon zest
2    tsp all-purpose flour
1    cup low-fat (2%) milk
Kosher salt
2    Tbs Neufchatel or low-fat
       cream cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan chs
       plus more for topping
3    Tbl chopped fresh parsley
12  ounces fresh fettuccine
Freshly ground pepper
 
 
1. Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and cook until the garlic is slightly soft, about 1 minute. Add in the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook, whisking constantly, until just thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the Neufchatel and parmesan cheese; whisk until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped parsley.
 
 

 
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente, 2-3 minutes. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and return to the pot.
 
3. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and gently toss to combine, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with parmesan and pepper.
 
I do want to note that we used the box fettuccine, not fresh - it's what we already had.
 
And I learned after she made it that she omitted the reserved water part, haha! I'm sure it's even richer in flavor with the starchy water added.
 
With that said, she did a fabulous job and even cleaned up! Yummy!!
 
 
 
 
If you try it let me know how you like it!!
 
Bon Appetit!!
 
Kim, XO