POTD - Concrete drainage pipe

POTD - Concrete drainage pipe

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I found a good spot to photograph the smoke yesterday and it just happened to be part of an abandoned construction area. In a few years the rest of the strip mall project will no doubt get finished, but for now all that's there is a line of concrete drainage pipes and a sign that says No Trespassing. While trespassing I discovered that I liked the view of the smoke, water and cattails through the tube. I also really liked all of the different shapes, textures, color and how crisp the concrete pipes look against that smokey background. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Smoke on the Water

•♫♪..♪♫• Smoke on the water •♫♪..♪♫•

This was taken at 10am this morning.  Doesn't it make your eyes water just looking at it?  It's smoke.  Lots and lots of thick smoke.

Florida has about 370 wildfires burning right now and in the vicinity of Jacksonville, there are 34.  Southern Georgia is experiencing fires, too and the smoke was drifting our way today.

It almost looks like a foggy morning, an idyllic scene on a beautiful piece of land.

Instead it's an orangy gray cloud choking the city.

Our usually brilliant blue sky cannot be seen at all.

The campfire smell is overpowering.

Ash is falling from the sky.

My car was covered with ash after just half a day sitting in the open garage.


I thought we were going to get more rain tonight, but so far, not a drop.

We need rain and prayers.

We aren't the only part of the country with wildfires.

I'm asking for prayers for them, too.  

I found this very interesting Fire Enhancement Loop.  I'm pretty sure that the loop is of the smoke, but I can't be positive because I didn't read the instructions on how to interpret the map.  I'm sure it's a real good guess!  The photo above is a screen capture from that loop. 


Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Looking Up

POTD - Looking Up

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Looking up through the corn at the cloudy, smokey sky over Jacksonville, FL.  It's been so dry around here that fires are popping up all over and the wind is bringing that thick choking smoke right into the heart of the city.  The smoke sure made for an interesting backdrop to the corn tops which look a little like a frayed rope. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Trailer Park Chic recipes

I needed something very quick and easy to take to the liver transplant support group potluck dinner the other night.  I had a couple of options, but once I realized that I had only a few hours Thursday afternoon to prepare something hot, I knew I needed some help.  I went over to Mrs. 4444 Cooks to see what she had and this Spinach Ravioli dish sounded perfect!  She got the recipe from Mrs. Tuna, who may or may not have gotten it from someone else.  I made this the night before to test on my husband and he loved it!  And he rarely loves anything I make.  Seriously!


See the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

Frozen ravioli, fresh spinach (chopped), spaghetti sauce, sautéed mushrooms and garlic. I added in 1/2 of the grated mozzarella cheese that was called for in the recipe.  Stir this up real well and pour into a greased 2 qt. baking dish.  Bake covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes at 400º. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, cover again and continue baking for 15 minutes. Done.


This potluck was our Trailer Park Chic themed event and we had a lot of fun with it.  We named all of the dishes something funny and trashy.  We had mud squars,  lyme pie, slices of red stuff, chicken feed, bend and snap pasta salad, cluck cluck, Pig Cake, half-eaten brownies and many more crazy dishes. 

The tubes in the watermelon were  glow sticks! 
I printed off a bunch of trailer photos and wrote the names on those cards.  They were held by little jello shot card holders, but of course this one had fallen off! 

The table decorations were minimal - newspaper for tablecloths and cans with a single silk rose.  I added the plastic leis. 

The break out hit of the night was the Chicken Feed - aka Caramel Covered Cheetos.  Oh My Goodness, they were like a strange caramel corn without the popcorn hulls!  They were really good.  I'll have to make them sometime and blog the whole process, but for now, here's a link to the recipe.



Spinach-Ravioli Bake
15 ounces frozen cheese ravioli
6 ounce bag fresh spinach
24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional
2 cups mushrooms sautéed in olive oil with minced garlic.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine ravioli, spinach, sauce and mushrooms in casserole dish. Cook covered with foil for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and continue covered for additional 15 minutes.

POTD - Baby Corn

POTD - Baby Corn

©2011 Kristin Corlett

The sign said that this was Truckers Corn.  Not sure why it was called that, but it probably wasn't because it grows as tall as a trucker because these stalks were 8-9 feet tall!  It was fun looking up at the tall tops and seeing all of the little baby corns growing.  I almost want to put a smiley face on that corn and pretend the silk coming from the top was a shaggy hair-do.  When I looked up Truckers corn it said that it was an heirloom variety.  That doesn't surprise me since this corn is growing in a little plot next to the Historical Society Museum house.  I think all of the vegetable plantings were probably heirloom varieties. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Rain Storm

We had quite a storm this afternoon. The photo above shows what I could see when looking out the window. Pretty much nothing but swirling winds and sheets of rain.

The photos below I enhanced with photoshop so I could see what was really going on out there.

My husband guesstimated that the wind gusts were 60 MPH.
Sheets of rain would come over the condo building. The sheets of rain would come over the buildings in these perfect lines that echoed the roofline.  It was pretty cool actually.

We had some hail pelting the house, but that didn't last but a minute or so.  Tom's truck is parked outside, so he was a little nervous about the hail, but I don't think it came down hard enough.

We had a couple of very close lightning strikes.  The kind that you see the flash and hear the sound at the very same instant.  Yep, those are close.

It's very interesting being in a storm and being able to see the tree tops right out the window.  Being on the 5th floor has it's advantages.

Since we lost power almost immediately we hung out on the screened in patio and watched the storm and later when it passed, read a book.

We are all fine here and the power came back on in a few hours.  Our exciting nightlife of TV and computer time isn't interrupted. 

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Sunflowers

POTD - Sunflowers

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Show stopping floral display at this home near the beach in Jacksonville.   Nearly the entire front yard was in bloom with many different flowers and flowering bushes.  The sunflowers were my favorites in the bunch.

Enjoy!
Kristin

from helium to dress up clothes

Holy smokes it's 12 minutes to midnight and I haven't written a word. 

What does this mean anyway?

Actually it's very interesting as I have been thinking of blog posts all day.  Different photos to use, topics to discuss, very personal deep down feelings on a few things and yet nothing has made it here.

I helped put together some furniture today, thought about my friends flying across the US to their home and had the sudden urge to inhale helium and sing a song. 

Speaking of songs a local station had a 70s weekend and I have enjoyed every single song.  It made me feel like a kid again.  I used to sit out on the front steps of our house when I was in kindergarten and first grade and sing to the radio.  When we moved from our duplex to the house, I would sing and dance in the basement or in my bedroom, but at the duplex I sat outside. 

I have fond memories of that duplex.  I sold lemonade once or twice and I specifically remember selling rocks.  I think I had a few buyers, too, as I recall.   My neighbor friends would come over to our place and we'd have dress-up plays in the back yard.   I've always said that I never had any toys when I was growing up (and that isn't completely true, but I didn't have a lot compared to other kids) but I had the very best dress-up bin of anyone.  None compared to it. 

I often wonder how I can have so many memories from Kindergarten and First Grade.  I was 4 and 5 years old, but I have hundreds of memories from that duplex.  As soon as Alison was born and we moved to the new house, my memories are not as clear.  I never really thought of that before, until just now. 

Well, I loved Alison to no end, so it's all good.  I guess I am the type of person that can only remember things when I am the only one getting the attention!

It's 12:01 so I'd better publish this before it gets too far into the next day. 
Thanks so much for staying with me while I did a bit of free association. 
I just wish I had a few photos to share.

POTD - Sago Sally

POTD - Sago Sally

©2011 Kristin Corlett

In the continuing saga of Sago Sam and his lovely ladies, I give you Sago Sally.  I was innocently driving down the road when I saw her.  I nearly stopped in the middle of the road, but realized I should probably turn around and just go back.  So I pulled into the driveway, hopped out, snapped a few photos, thanked Sally and the driveway for letting me park, photograph and leave without being questioned by anyone!

I found another female Sago Palm in a location that isn't on private property, so I will continue to document the "flowering" of Sally II.   (Once I get something stuck in my brain, I can't get rid of it.  Hope you enjoy the sago saga!)

Enjoy!
Kristin

St. Augustine

One of our liver transplant friends came back for their four month evaluation.  It's a wonderful experience for those of us who knew the patient before the transplant because at the four month mark so much has changed!  Their skin color is dramatically different, a rosy color is seen under the skin (where once there was yellow or virtually no color at all) and the most noticeable change is the sparkle in their eyes!

Oh I tell you, it takes your breath away. 

There is a light that shines from within them that I cannot even describe. 

These folks stayed about 5 weeks after her transplant and we saw an immediate improvement in all of the things I listed above, but the life really comes back to them gradually over a few months.   When folks come back for their yearly evaluation it's also a celebration but they will look almost the same as their four month visit.  Most will have gained a little weight back from their pre and post surgery losses, but for the most part the four month is when we really ooh and ahh over them.

So this couple that I'm speaking of scheduled a few extra days to be in town so they could get together with some of the friends they made here in Jacksonville.  Since I'm a local, I was fortunate to be one of the friends that got to hang out with them.  Today we went to St. Augustine.

Solar lights - from $27 - $33 each.  I know I want a few of these for my patio!

It was incredibly hot there today.  Oh my goodness!  I thought we were going to melt the second we hopped out of the car.  We really only walked a few blocks, in the main area of shops on St. George Street but we stayed for several hours.  Most of the shops are air conditioned, so that makes it very enticing to stay and shop!

A beautiful parasol in one of the shops

As soon as we arrived we ran into another transplant family having an outing in St. Augustine, too.  Funny how that happens!  They had just finished lunch and were heading back to Jacksonville.

The Dr. Peck House Historical Marker with the really cool seal on top

I've photographed so many things in St. Augustine that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find anything new but I shouldn't have worried for I am forever fascinated with signs and doors and patterns and plants.

 I took a bunch of pictures of my friends, but I never did ask their permission to post the photos on my blog.  I always forget that part.  So, no pictures of them.  Not today anyway. 

After the hottest walk in St. Augustine that I've ever experienced and after a wonderful cup of praline ice cream and after about a dozen stops in the shops, we left to get ourselves back to the Inn at Mayo.  We were informed that a BBQ was going on and we were invited.  Since that was where my friends were staying for their Mayo visit, we decided to have dinner with the folks having the BBQ.

My husband even came down to join us.  We said goodbye to our friends, going back to California after a wonderful 4 month evaluation.  She got two enthusiastic thumbs up as her new liver is enjoying it's new home and all is well.

Another success story and another goodbye.

I can't wait to see them in 8 months.



I hope you have enjoyed Sundays in my City.
Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hello.
For more city adventures from around the world, please visit Unknown Mami.
She's the hostess showing us the way.

Please think about being an organ donor and then tell your family of your decision.
Thank you!
Kristin

POTD - Surf's up!

POTD - Surf's up!

©2011 Kristin Corlett

This entire garage door is painted with surf boards.  When I drove by the first time I thought they were real boards leaning up against the garage.   You know I had to turn around and get back there to photograph it.  The only downside was that a car was in the drive, but at least I was able to see some of it.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday Fragments

It's Friday Fragments Day!!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!  

It's Friday Fragments Day!

Welcome to Friday Fragments!  This is the place where we're able to put little snippets of fun or interesting things together without having to stretch that idea into an entire blog post.

Mrs. 4444 is our lovely host and I am so grateful for her continued hosting of this fun carnival.  For more Friday Fragment finds, please head on over to Half-Past Kissin' Time.  Thanks!

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 Is it Friday already?  Shoot, I nearly missed it!!

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My sister, Alison discovered something that we all need to know.  She said -- "I  just made a batch of these brownies and they are hands down the best that have ever come out of my kitchen...and perhaps anyone else's. Is it wrong to have 3 in a row?"  Find the recipe here -Brownies 

I haven't made these yet, but it's on my list of things to do!

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This cartoon describes my friend Bob perfectly.  Love you!!!

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Once I buy something and bring it home it has lost all of its value. When it comes to preparing for a garage sale, I say that everything I own is worth a dollar, unless it's worth a quarter LOL 

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Last night at potluck someone brought watermelon.  It was wonderful!  She said that a Publix employee gave her a great tip to find a wonderfully ripe watermelon. 

Look for the spot where the melon rested on the ground; a yellow-white, yellow or a cream-yellow color spot suggests ripeness and a white or pale green spot indicates immaturity.

So in this case - yellow is good.  Yellow is very good!

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I have a "bucket" that I haul around with me - it looks an awful lot like this one!  Well, except mine is mass produced.   I love this photo.  I just love it.  thereifixedit.com

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Have you ever seen any of the different Google icons for certain holidays or birthdays?  Time  has a very interesting history of Google Doodles.

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 I cannot remember where I found this quote, below, but I really kept this in mind when I was in Rome last year.  I purchased a book, a purse and few postcards.  I brought home photos and memories, that's for sure.

If you have to choose between buying something or spending the money on a memorable experience, go with the experience. According to a study conducted at San Francisco State University, the things you own can’t make you as happy as the things you do.  One reason is adaptation: we adapt to all things material in our lives in a matter of weeks, no matter how infatuated we were with the coveted possession the day we got it.  Another reason is that experience, unlike possession, generally involves other people, and fosters or strengthens relationships that are more edifying over time than owning something.

 I am a broken record when I say I want to have less stuff, but still I buy things that I don't need and I don't get rid of enough stuff that I already have. 

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Hope you enjoyed my Friday Fragments.
Please visit Mrs. 4444 to see read more and to hang out with pretty awesome fraggers.

Have a great weekend!
Kristin

POTD - Handprints

POTD - Handprints

©2011 Kristin Corlett

My handprint on the left and Michelle's on the right.  Michelle and I helped paint Lori's condo last week.   As a little signature of our handiwork, Lori asked us to put our handprint on the wall in her closet.   Here is what Lori said "I asked them to paint their hands and put them on the wall of my closet in the condo as a constant reminder of the "helping hands" I had painting the condo. I have the best friends ever!!"

How sweet :0)
Kristin

POTD - Open

POTD - Open

©2008 Kristin Corlett

This is a photograph of a water valve which I've titled "Open." This particular valve is located in downtown Jacksonville, FL. I parked next to this one day when I was attending the Riverside Arts Market.  This was my very first Photo of the Day.  I'm happy to have it as a part of my Best Of series.

Enjoy!
Kristin

The original photo of the day is here.

Lime recipes

 Tomorrow is the big day!  We're having our Trailer Park Chic potluck.  I've been scouring through my grandmother's recipes looking for something retro, interesting, tacky and good.

I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find some Lime recipes. 


This first one is a hoot!

I think someone might have given this to her because none of her recipes were typed.  This is the only one I've found. 

New! Different! Delightful!

It's even got a topping.  Marshmallow and Lime! 

This next one I actually thought about making just because I can't even begin to imagine what it might taste like.

Have you ever had onions and cucumbers in lime jello with mayo?  It's hard to believe that someone came up with it and then served it.

I just couldn't make it for this event - I wanted tacky, but I wanted people to eat what I brought!

This one isn't as scary as the lime jello, cucumbers and onions but it's got some weird ingredients.

I just realized this one uses lemon gelatin.  oops, sorry lemon.  I didn't mean to turn you green.

I would have never put pineapple and pimentos together.

Maybe one day I'll gather my bravest taste testers and make a few of these oddities.

Anyone want to volunteer to be a taster?
Anyone?

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Pollen

POTD - Pollen

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I'm so glad that there is a Sago Palm right at the door where I enter the Mayo Clinic twice a week. That way I can easily document its activities. Maybe I should have titled this, "The Sago Palm Mysteries." Cue the announcer. "Last week Sago Sam was growing tall and lean. This week's episode we find he's opened up and is now sharing his pollen. Sago Sam can only hope for the bees and other flying insects to come take away the pollen to fertilize all the Sago ladies in town."  For more Sago Palm Mysteries please go visit my previous posts here and here.

He's a sicky

My husband is sick so he isn't the happiest man on earth. 

This is the conversation we had about dinner tonight.

Me: I've made a salad.  Would you like to have a salad and pork chops for dinner?

Him: Noooo.  I don't think I'll ever eat again.

Me:  If that's the case, then I'm just going to eat the salad in about 10 minutes.  I'll save the pork chops for tomorrow. You're sure you don't want anything?

Him: I'm sure

(Ten minutes later as I'm walking into the kitchen)

Him: What did you say we have for dinner?

Me: Pork chops and salad.

Him: I'll have that.

Me: *fake smile* OK - great!  I'll put those in then.

(Pork chops are done and I've put two slices of really great bread into the toaster)

Me: I've warmed up some bread.  Do you want yours warm or actually toasted?

Him: I don't want any.

Me: None at all?

Him: None.

Me: Oh good!  That means I get two pieces.

Him: Well then, I want mine toasted.

He ate every bite.


Hope you're having a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Underpass

POTD - Underpass

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Repeating elements are always a favorite of mine.  Industrial repeating elements rank even higher.  I drove by this bridge a lot while it was being built.  Even the construction of it was fascinating to me.  I've always been one of those people that could stand around watching a hole being dug!

Enjoy!
Kristin

This earthen mound

My dear friend Dust Bunny, took me to this interesting site when we were toodling around Alabama together one day.

Now about that bunny. She took her blog offline so no one could read, so they couldn't comment, so she wouldn't get overloaded with wonderful comments that would pressure her to be online when she felt like she didn't have enough time for her family during a busy time of year for her.

I thought it was just me that she was ignoring.

...because it's all about me.

It's always all about me, all the time.

I hope she comes back soon, I miss her.


So back to this interesting site.

At the end of a little winding road in a sleepy neighborhood there is this little hill, or a mound as they call it on the historical marker.

Doesn't it look like something that should be marked, historically?

I would have never guessed.



Let's read the plaque, shall we?

This earthen mound was part of a redoubt* constructed by the 1st Division, U.S. Colored Troops in April, 1865.  The regiment saw considerable action against Confederate warships protecting the Blakely River.  These earthworks have been preserved as a gift from the Fuller family to the Archaeological Conservancy in 2006.

redoubt -- A temporary or supplementary fortification, typically square or polygonal and without flanking defenses.  (definition from Google)

I do find it interesting that it was a fortification from Colored Troops in the South, but it seems quite funny to have a little hill in a neighborhood cul de sac be something historically significant.  Significant enough that it gets a marker.

Thanks Dust Bunny for showing this to me.

Now come back and start blogging, darn it.  We miss you!!

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Tree Rings

POTD - Tree Rings

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I've always enjoyed looking at weathered wooden landscape edging. The wood in between the rings deteriorates faster than the rings. In some instances the very center is the only part that has remained intact. I went out to photograph a flower and my favorite picture was the edging! I never know what's going to catch my eye.

Enjoy!
Kristin