Went to a meeting last night and look at what was there! We were surprised to find that the hearts on top were rings, not candy. For very small fingers.

Valentine’s Day treats of rings over iced brownie mini-cupcakes. Yum!

Linking to Guest Heart Thursday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Pink Saturday, Blue Monday, and Saturday Show Off. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Went to see the fabulous “Sleeping Beauty” ballet at McCaw Hall in Seattle (see it!!) and two costumes for the upcoming “Midsummer Night’s Dream” were displayed in the lobby. I want these wings!

Gossamer fairy wings costume in McCaw Hall in Seattle

Linking to Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Blue Monday, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday and Saturday Show Off.

At Seattle’s NW Flower & Garden Show (NWFGS), one of my favorite gardens had this sign, “In Case of Zombies, Or Yardwork.” We’re all set, now.

“In Case of Zombies” mattress spring tool rack at the NW Flower & Garden Show now in Seattle

Linking to Today’s Flowers, Floral Friday, Blooming Friday, Ruby Tuesday 2, Weekend Reflections, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, and Blue Monday. Thanks for visiting here!

A recent visit to Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory showed this amazing orchid bud:

Bud of a lady slipper orchid (?) at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory

Linking to Today’s Flowers, Macro Monday, Pink Saturday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Floral Friday, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, NF Blo-Ma Tuesday,  and Saturday Show Off. Thank you so much for your visit here!

Maidenhair fern is the signature plant of Seattle’s beloved Volunteer Park Conservatory. This photo is one of my all-time faves (so soothing!), and is available as a print for your home or office, one of 15 lush images from my book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month. They have no watermark, of course. All are 8″ x 10″ archival quality photo prints and I’ve firmly matted them in white to 11 x 14″ and signed each one. You can check them all out and order here or by clicking on the Prints tab above.

Maidenhair ferns massed in a display at Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory

This tender yellow cactus flower (original flower is a few inches across) is available as a print for your home or office, one of 15 stunning images from my book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month. They have no watermark, of course. All are 8″ x 10″ archival quality photo prints and I’ve firmly matted them in white to 11 x 14″ and signed each one. You can check them all out and order here or by clicking on the Prints tab above.

Delicate yellow petals of the cactus flower contrast with its massive spiny posts

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellows, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Floral Friday, Today’s Flowers, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Thursday Challenge (Shadows), NF Blo-Ma Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday and Saturday Show Off. Thank you for your visit here first and do click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above for more pretty pictures.

On my visit to Seattle’s Volunteer Park Conservatory last week, there was this in the entryway:

Red berries and variegated leaves in an airy winter floral arrangement

Participating in Straight out of the Camera Sunday, Ruby Tuesday 2, and Saturday Show Off.  Thanks for visiting here, and don’t forget to click on Sara’s Fave Photos Blog above to see the latest several pretty pictures.

Here’s an image I took last night at the home of some friends with a gorgeous tree. Happy Solstice to you! May your inner light guide your way, always.

Glass hummingbird ornament feeds from a glass flower, lit by a glass candle.

Linking to Weekend Challenge (Christmas), Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Mandarin Orange Monday, Orange You Glad It’s Friday, Floral Friday, Macro Monday, I Heart Macro Saturday, Pink Saturday, My Romantic Home, Blooming Friday and Saturday Show Off.  I do appreciate your visit here very much. Perhaps click on a new tag or category to the right, just for fun?

My sister Jo went to China recently by herself, partly with a tour, and she is a fabulous writer. You can read the story of her trip here (start from the links at the bottom) and you will be very entertained. Not your average travel missive.

She took some neat photos while she was there and I thought I’d show you this one from her boat trip up the Yangtze River.

(c) Jo Sanders 2013 Going up the Yangtze River in China

Visit Skywatch Friday, Scenic Weekends, Outdoor Wednesday, Water World Wednesday, and Saturday Show Off. I appreciate your stopping here very, very much. Hope you enjoyed your visit.

I love Swiss chard and enjoy its beauty as well as its taste and healthfulness. One way to prepare it is to cut the stems out and steam them first, cut up, so they are a bit more tender, and then take the leaves, pile them up, and slice them into half-inch (1 cm) ribbons and put them in the steamer basket with the stem pieces. Cook ’til tender. Then either a cream sauce or an Italian one with garlic and olive oil, and you have a yummy treat for a cold night.

Fresh-washed green, yellow and red chard being sliced into ribbons

Joining Monday Mellow Yellows, Ruby Tuesday 2, Macro Monday,  Water World Wednesday, I Heart Macro Saturday, My Romantic Home, Straight out of the Camera Sunday, NF Abstract Wednesday and Saturday Show Off.  Glad you stopped by, and be sure to try a new tag or category while you are here. Fruits/Vegetables, perhaps?