Tiger Yellowtail Butterfly

I had the pleasure of discovering this amazing Tiger Yellowtail Butterfly in my driveway yesterday. It did not startle as I bent over and got within a few inches to take a few photos. My granddaughter squatted down on her knees to get a better view and then screamed, "You can even see it's proboscis Nana!" 

Country Country Living

This is what I got to see on my walk today. Gorgeous fields of buttercups, and horses.

Dirty Nails

My garden is coming
along. They provide
a raised garden plot to
those who want to dig
in the dirt where I live.
They just finished up-
dating them with cinder
blocks. I planted flowers
around the outside inside
of the blocks, as well as herbs. Rosemary, chives, thyme, and spearmint.  I need
flowers for my pressed
flower artwork I sell at
the local Farmer's Market. I also have
flowers in 1/3 of the
plot. Lavender, daisies,
geraniums, carnations,
forget me nots, iceland
poppies, cosmos, pansies and my echinacea came back
this year! The other 2/3's
I have 6 jalapeno peppers, zucchini, Summer squash. I still need to put in a cherry tomato (it's in a pot on
my patio) pumpkin seed,
carrots, peas (to grow up trellis) green beans, cilantro. The bottles are just garden art! And the
rocks are to stand on to pick my peas and green beans. My poem says it all!

  dirty nails

i can't wait to go outside

to play in the dirt

to dig in the dirt

to smell the dirt.

dirt runs through my blood 

my daddy

and his daddy

 tilled the earth to provide a way for me 

to put food on the table

and shoes on my dirty feet.

now

here I am

on bent knees

with my stained 

cracked hands

and dirty nails.

planting seeds of life

growing my own

by nancy craig ©


Update on my garden.(6-1-14)

I put mesh on my trellis for the peas and green

beans to grow on.

I posted this in my garden this year. It is a community style garden,

and unfortunately people take what they want. Maybe after reading

my poem people will see my love for gardening and respect

me enough to not take mine this year.

Bought pole beans at the local Farmers Market and got them in the earth.

Just a view of one of cobalt blue bottles in my garden. Pretty!

My radishes are up in just a few days! Blooms on my tomato plants and

all the squash plants are thriving! Did I mention...I love playing in the dirt!

California's GOLD!

Golden skies! My first sunset this trip!

Interesting palm.

I found a few barnacles.

Beautiful "Bird of Paradise" against the soft blue sky.

This is just before the storm started. The clouds were rolling in. I ate my dinner

sitting right here watching the sky move and change. I love the way the sun

is shining through the clouds. Peaceful and relaxing.

Love this arbor full of color.

This caught my eye...a little bit of both of my worlds! A pine tree

with a palm in the back. Just the right angle to make it look

like it was sprouting out of the top!

I love the way the three palms are together.

Palms along the coast.

Inside the Botanical Gardens Balboa Park, San Diego.

Iris taken inside the Botanical Gardens.

What a view!!

Surfers at Huntington Beach, CA. Photo taken from the pier. I had the 

pleasure of having lunch with a long time friend at Ruby's Diner. The

diner is at the very end of the pier. Good times!!

UP UP AND AWAY!

I got up before the chickens yesterday morning and drove out to Temecula to catch a ride far above flying a kite at it's highest height! I went up up and away in a hot air balloon. It was my first time and I highly recommend it...I would do it again and again! I loved it! I took it all in...every little second of it. I met some nice people and our pilot Rusty was a character. His twenty plus years, including his humor, helped everyone feel at ease and safe. I had so much fun! Another check off of my bucket list!

Beachy Keen!

I love the beach...oh yes I do!!! I spent a few hours at the beach today basking in the sun. It was gorgeous! I made my lunch to take....turkey, avocado, tomato, spicy mustard sandwich. Also some almond crackers and herbed goat cheese. I slathered up with my sunscreen, laid out for awhile, beach combed, had lunch, laid out, beach combed...you get the picture. What a wonderful day! Some photos to share of my amazing first day at the beach.

The sand dunes were covered with ice plant in full bloom. Beautiful!

My little buddy...he begged and begged...but I didn't give in...when you

do...they call in their whole family!!!

Some of my shells I collected today! Wow! That is only one days worth. I will

have to mail them home in a priority box at the end of my vacation...I know

there will be more...I can just feel it!!!

It's Still February...It is still MY BIRTHDAY!!

My birthday present from me to me is a hot air balloon ride!! I had to leave the
snow....bummer....NOT....to go someplace sunny and nice to do this!! Here are a two
photos of my first day in the 70 degree weather!!

The man at the car rental counter up-graded me from an economy car to luxury because
it is my birthday! I am driving in style baby! Push button start, back up camera and great
tunes!!

I wrote a couple of poems already!! Fresh air, sun and thawed bones helps the brain 
work better!

I ate my first meal at my (our) favorite restaurant Cafe Coyote. The Mariachi Band sang
"Happy Birthday" to me in Spanish....good times good times!

I checked in at my cottage style motel...got settled in and then took the city bus to the beach!
Made a stop at Starbucks for some coffee and watched the sun go down and the old lantern
night lamps come on. 
My first day went perfectly!