Author Archives: makielb

House plants are now back in the house, just before the temperatures dipped below 40F. Green cherry tomatoes have become green tomato chutney. There’s probably enough to last until next summer. Last of the Roma tomatoes, slowly ripening and will become a last batch of tomato sauce. Green chilis that will be dried and jalapeñosContinue reading “Slowly emptying the garden for the year”

Day-1 “Gargoyle.” This guy sits on a shelf near where I am writing, along with about ten others. Usually I’ll sketch something then ink it in.I have found that with age and neurological issues my hands are not a steady as they once were. Regardless, I am having fun with some new fine tipped pens.Continue reading “Inktober first drawings”

The latest peppers from the garden in the processing of drying to make hot chili powder. On our morning walk we found a “fairy garden” that was starting to become more Halloween themed. Then, somehow this puzzle showed up on the internet. And… Skeletons riding flamingoes that turned on them. A Halloween tradition flamingoes pickingContinue reading “Hot peppers heading into Halloween”

Just north of Lapeer, Michigan, is the Eastern Michigan University Field Station. I spent many fun summers teaching here. The last was at the beginning of August in 2019, just before the pandemic started. Susan and I got there early so that we would have time to walk some of the trails. We started atContinue reading “Visiting the EMU field station in Lapeer”

There were a few birds around when we arrived at Whitefish Point yesterday, like this young Broad-winged Hawk. But the plants were covered with bees and flies. Crab spiders were ambushing insects on many of the plants. Looking back at the point from the tip we could see what was becoming a beautiful sunset. ButContinue reading “The full moon and a rare bird”

Elizabeth was queen of England for 70 years. Her father George VI was king when I was born. Presumably, the next monarch will be Charles III. But we shall see how that all proceeds. Yesterday afternoon I went to get a flu shot and found out that I could also get the latest bivalent covidContinue reading “Getting vaccinated and the death of a queen”

After breakfast we took the bus downtown to go to the farmers market. We wanted to get falafel, green onions, olive oil and cauliflower. We even got to listen to some music while shopping. I highly recommend getting falafel here, it is excellent. She also has a great variety of Middle Eastern foods. From theContinue reading “Shopping, then into the kitchen and more”

Wave goodbye to other activities. Today I picked tomatoes, beans and peppers. It took several hours just getting the tomatoes processed and ready for canning. Then cooking the sauce for several hours. Finally, canning after dinner. And now eight more pints waiting to cool before going into the cupboard. Tomorrow will be a day forContinue reading “Another day with tomatoes”

Our day started at Northside where we had breakfast with Mike and Linda. Then Susan and I headed over to Nichols Arboretum. Ailanthus webworm, a charming little moth. It was nice five or six of these. These are Feather-edged petrophila, another moth. There were 14 on this goldenrod. We had many thousands of them. I’mContinue reading “Breakfast, insects and the garden”

Dinner last night was a a mix of lots of different things. There was pita with falafel, humus, lettuce, pickles, pickled onions, tomato and green pepper. We also had tabouli, gardiniera and kimchi. Truly delightful. Today it was back into the kitchen with canning. Pickled red onions that will go into the refrigerator. Tomato sauce,Continue reading “More time in the kitchen”