Empty Nest or Full, Mother Knows Best

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

And just in time for Mother’s Day, a hummingbird built her nest right outside our kitchen window on the deck, on HUMMINGBIRD WIND CHIMES.

Isn’t this the craziest thing?

Do you think my little hummingbird KNOWS where she is?

It’s magical, watching her build her nest out of spider webs and feathers. I touched it and it feels like a handwoven sweater, soft but strong.

Can’t stop taking pics; look at that beautiful color.

Mommy hummy in flight.

Isn’t this amazing?

Mom doesn’t mind when I walk back and forth or get up close and personal for pics, but she’s so protective of her nest when another bird flies into her personal space.An egg!! There are supposed to be two; waiting for the next one!

Hummingbird sitting on hummingbird nest on hummingbird chimes.

Could anything be more adorable?

Keep It Simple With Brown Rice, Kale, and Tofu #MeatlessMonday

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

http://www.enchantedseashells.com

Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen a huge increase in the numbers of vegan blogs and vegan recipes (YAY!) but it seems that they’re getting more and more elaborate, as if it’s a sort of competition to create the most difficult-to-prepare meals.

I’m sending a more simple back-to-basics message.

If we agree that one of the reasons for not eating meat advocates for a cruelty-free life to protect animals from a hellish existence on earth, we need to also communicate that it doesn’t always have to be a herculean task to do the right thing.

I’ve been a veg since 1970 and in those 40+ years have seen a lot of people make a similar decision to go meat-free and then, for one reason or another, fall off the wagon.

One of the reasons I’ve heard time and time again is that it’s “too hard”.

I disagree.

Some of my most enjoyable and satisfying meals are the most simple.

Here’s an example of a basic, easy-to-prepare dinner.

http://www.enchantedseashells.com

Start with my can’t fail One Dish Brown Rice recipe.

It’s PERFECT every time.

1. Add one cup brown rice to a 9×9 glass baking dish.

2. Pour over the rice not quite two cups water plus one teaspoon olive oil.

3. Lay gently on top of the rice one-inch chunks of tofu.

4. Sprinkle pepper, chopped fresh herbs, freshly ground salt (if you must).

5. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes.

6. While the rice is baking, I picked a bunch of kale from the garden, cut into bite-size pieces, and steamed it.

7. To serve, sprinkle rice with low-sodium soy sauce, slice an organic tomato and garnish with cilantro or parsley (we grow cilantro year-round in the Casa de Enchanted Seashells garden.

A chilled chardonnay will dance a tango on your palate and complement the earthy rice, tofu, and kale combo.

Simple. Delicious.

How To Recycle Old Coffee Mugs #DIY #Project

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

It’s SPRING!

What a great time to freshen up the yard with a totally 100% free project using items we already had. Don’t throw away those cracked cups with broken handles!

We all know I’m a collector of things, whether it’s empty boxes (‘cos you never know when you might need one) or bathrobes ( I have about fifty of them) or seashells (of course!) — and all the rest: shoes, jewelry, books…

I’m also a breaker of things — like coffee mugs and wine glasses.

At any given time, I have half dozen injured/wounded/disabled cups that’re in various stages of rehab.

Most of the repaired cups and mugs aren’t really usable for holding hot liquid, but I’ve held onto them because I love them and they’re special to me…Hello Kitty, Yale Mom, and the ones with seashell motifs — I mean, how can I just toss these guys in the trash?

One fine Sunday afternoon, I felt the itch to start another DIY project but nothing specific came to mind — just thought I’d wander around until something sparked interest — then I discovered an old boat ramp behind our greenhouse (not sure what boat it came from). I’d seen this ramp for YEARS and overlooked it a dozen times. This time, however, I had an epiphany.

It’d make an awesome shabby chic plant stand for the coffee cups!

Now I needed to find something to lean it up against, and chose a Brazilian Pepper Tree that we never really liked ‘cos it’s invasive, but it’s been here since the house was built, and the birds like it — because of that, so far it’s been spared. You can’t really grow anything under it (that’s only one of its problems) and the roots protrude and are gnarly.

Think Oklahoma dust bowl. Think Grapes of Wrath. That’s exactly what that neglected little area brings to mind. It was time to render a little aid and LOVE.

I filled the mugs with succulents that I already had growing in the garden.

View from the deck: A perfect location to turn into a bohemian hippie focal point.

I planted a square of Jupiter’s Beard from seedlings I propagated; it’s a drought tolerant plant with lush pink flowers — really easy to grow, and it’ll fill in an otherwise kind of ugly and barren spot.

I took a bird bath from the front yard and an assortment of other planters gathered from the garden and clustered them all together to create visual interest. The worn and broken tiles add to the shabby chic feel.

Bonus upcycle DIY: Turn an old hat into a planter by cutting off the frayed brim and attaching twine. So simple to set inside a pot of colorful flowers; hang and enjoy!

You can never have too much aloha spirit!

Share your best up/recycle #DIY project.

Fabulous Fashion Trend: GOing Mad For IndiGO!

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

indigothrowpillowspolyvoer

Did you hear?

Indigo is the hue we need.

I love saying it: I-N-D-I-G-O-GO-GO.

Sounds all boho and hippo-ish and kind of exotic, like a trip to the south of France or something.

I’m obsessed with indigo.

It’s not simply BLUE; it’s blue-specific.

A dark, inky purple-y midnight-y blue that’s a chameleon in different kinds of lighting. It’s intense and soothing all at the same time.

When I was in Crete and on Hydra ( I went to Greece a LONG time ago), there was a lot of indigo – against the Aegean, against bright white walls and chairs and grape leaves overhanging patio latticework.

These shelves of indigo remind me of my travels…

In my never-ending quest for fashionable finds, I discovered the most delicious scarf with elephants walking all over it.

I already had a gauzy loose fitting shirt with a hint of indigo…Woodstock, anyone?

Now I’m looking to add some indigo to our outdoor decor. There’s that creepy little split stone plant and a citronella candle. Miniature pomegranate tree in a Mexican pot with hints of indigo. (Never mind the ugly electric cord.)Decorator tip 1: Group an accent color for drama and flair!

Decorator tip 2: Easy! Get a small can of indigo paint for outdoor planters.

Get some indigo. GO.

No Tricks. Happy April Fool’s Day!

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

Just a picture of one of our pretty backyard doves, that’s all.

Join Me For a Walk in the Garden On This Fine Spring Day

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

Take a walk with me around my garden where we once again have temps in the 80s. (Don’t hate.)

Birds are nesting and everything else is blooming and growing.

Bringing a twig to her babies. I think she’s a Warbling Vireo.
Lucky mom, HER nest won’t be empty this year like mine is!

A fragrant freesia.

Nectarine in bloom. Marguerite Daisy. The veggie garden, lots of lettuce, radishes, kale, and beets.

Yummy, spicy radishes and spring onions. Sweet Pea Bush Happy Pansy!Happy Spring!

What Can I Do with a Lot of Radishes? – Good Questions

[Lavender Haiku] #Poetry #Photo #Wordless Wednesday

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

Late afternoon sun
Perfuming a slight warm breeze
Lavender grows here

Photo credit: Enchanted Seashells

Haiku by Princess Rosebud

Silver Shield: Graceful But Hardy Native From Australia

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Enchanted Seashells

A long, graceful spire of lilac-hued florets.

Multiple flowering spikes.

Jagged sage-like leaves. Lovely for height and texture.

I cut this one back severely, and it’s just starting to grow again. Look at thick trunk; it almost looks like a tree.

More fence-line plantings. The leaves of the mulberry tree are turning yellow and falling.
I need to rake them up and add to the compost bin.

Native to Australia, drought-tolerant Plectranthus argentatus.

I found this plant in our neighborhood on one of our walks to the beach. I surreptitiously snapped off a small piece to experiment with propagation. Lo and behold, it started to grow immediately. That was about ten years ago, and now my entire yard is ringed with Silver Shields, and I’ll share a cutting with anyone who likes them. They are super hardy, beyond easy to grow, and just need to be cut back because of a tendency to spread and get leggy,

It’s raining now and the garden is loving it. Happy Sunday!

Finches and a Flowering Loquat Tree

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Enchanted Seashells

My tugboat man is home; he was able to take an earlier flight, yay!

I hope you all have a lovely day and special good thoughts go out to mariners and their families who are away from each other during the holidays. Been there, done that many times.

In our land of (mostly) perpetual sunshine, winter doesn’t always mean that all living things are dormant. Our loquat tree is flowering, buzzing with bees, hummingbirds, and a flock of the most beautiful little yellow finches.

You have to be quick on the shutter button to catch these guys — they flit around the tree like I run from rack to rack at a clearance sale!

One minute he’s there, the next second, GONE! (Just like my tugboat man!)AND they’re back!