3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

Photography

Day 209/365: Grilled Yellow Zucchini

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Grilled Yellow Zucchini recips
Yellow Zucchini (My Olympus is back)

I’m the first one to admit that I don’t like yellow and green mushy vegetables. This includes squash, asparagus, and zucchini. But on the prompting of my good friend Beth, and my daughter who is a good sport about trying new foods, I have decided to expand my horizons. Nelson Farms is helping a great deal as they have a produce stand set up in the parking lot where I work all summer.

These were so pretty at the stand I just had to pick up a few and try grilling them. Because everything taste better grilled.

Grilling Yellow Zucchini
Grilling Yellow Zucchini

So, if I’m going to grill I’m going to use my new Pampered Chef grilling basket. Not knowing which way to slice these veggies, I tried the circles and lengthwise. After digging through my spice cabinet I picked two out, a vegetable supreme and a Mrs. Dash Tomato, Basil and Garlic mixture. Wasn’t sure what would be best so I just experimented by adding the herbs to some olive oil and coating both sides of the sliced zucchini.

Grilled Yellow Zucchini
Grilled Yellow Zucchini

Doesn’t it look delicious? I even impressed myself.  Still not too much of a fan of the mushy factor, but I did like the long skin side pieces. My son thought they tasted like weird tasting eggs, he wasn’t a fan. But I ate them all and would try them again with different seasonings.

Anyone have any ideas with what else to do with yellow zucchini?

Photography notes: I’ve brought out my Olympus E10 camera again. I have it handy at work (Hamilton Color Lab) so I can take photos of various projects for an upcoming new blog series. Yes I take photos of photos. Redundent isn’t it.

 

Day 214/365: Happy 4th of July

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Happy 4th of Julty
Happty 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone! Here in Elmwood Nebraska we celebrate just like everyone else, with fireworks, picnics, parades (coming later), softball games, and watermelon. The holiday starts off with a bang ten days before Independence day when the fireworks go on sale.

This year I had an extra challenge. I was going to learn how to photograph fireworks with my point and shoot Fujica camera. This photo was actually taken two houses down from me as I braced the camera steady on the mailboxes. Tonight I’ll take the tripod for the big show in Ashland.

Photography Notes:

Photoshop composite of three shots. Two small bursts I selected the color black, chose the inverse selection so only the colored fireworks was selected, and pasted into main image in different layers.

Main blue fireworks: Aperture priority, f/2.8, Exposure 8 seconds, ISO 400

Gold Burst in top left:  Shutter priority, f/2.8, 1/50 sec ISO 400,

Day 207/365: Sunset Over the Ballfield

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Sunset Over the Ballfield
Sunset Over the Ballfield

Just another view of a legion baseball night. Too dark to get pictures of the players, senior legion baseball starts too late and sometimes, ends too late for me. Last night was a marathon game it seemed like ages before the game finished. Didn’t leave the ballpark until 11:30. Players still had to stay and rake the infield, so it was later for them and the coaches.

Just a simple picture, enjoy the Nebraska sunset.

Day 205/365: Time For Summer Vegetable Gardens and Farm Produce Stands

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I’m so excited! It’s the time of year for my summer vegetable garden and in June I’m super motivated with thoughts of cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and fresh broccoli. Until my harvest, I haunt my Omaha Nelson farm produce stand in the parking lot where I work.

They have the best fresh peaches and produce that is ready way before my own garden zucchini and tomatoes are ready.

Cucumbers
Cucumbers

I’m going to try and like yellow and green “mushy” vegetables like zucchini and squash,I even planted cauliflower this year. Over the years I’m made sweet pickles, jalapeno “cowboy candy” and sweet basil jelly. So far at the beginning of June, we have harvested spinach, lettuce, and radishes. We have had so many leafy greens we have been giving away bags of them to friends and co-workers.

Fresh Garden Spinach
Fresh Garden Spinach

Essential Gardening Tools

Gardening really doesn’t take too many tools or equipment. Some good soil, mulch ( I like to use our lawn clippings), water, and sunlight. The secret is growing plants that are native to your specific area. For instance, growing watermelon in the north isn’t a good idea, not enough heat days. Likewise, blueberries in Nebraska don’t do well. Our soil is too alkaline.

With my bad back, a rolling garden seat is INVALUABLE!! Seriously, I don’t mean to shout, but now as I have passed the big 50, I cant’ bend over for hours picking green beans for an hour. Inside I keep my gardening gloves, small trowel, and bags to pick lettuce. Everything stays dry and this seat has stayed out all season long in the rain.

Rolling Garden Seat with StorageCorona Clipper Diamond Hoe

First Year Vegetable Garden

It’s amazing how big the broccoli can grow and take over the garden, as well as the tomatoes. I have planted potatoes and onions, but it’s not an efficient use of space. They demand a lot of water, mulch, and loose soil. I’d rather grow basil or peppers in their spot and buy my potatoes from the produce stand.

Do you have a garden? What do you like to plant and what is your favorite gardening tip?

Farmers Market Venmo Sign

A Venmo sign is essential to your farmers market display. Many people do bring cash, but once they run out. So then digital wallets like Venmo and Cash App are alternative option. By the way you can create your own customized Venmo sign in my Zazzle shop.

The one below if for my Tea n More tea company, which was an offshoot of our local farmers market.

 

Day 204/365: Thor, The Mythological God of Thunder

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Can you see Thor?
Can you see Thor?

 

Phone rings…

Beth driving home from Lincoln: “Have you seen the sky?”

Me: “No, but let me look, OMG, it’s awesome! I gotta get my camera”

Beth: “The clouds are really scary, be careful”

Me: “I’m looking at the storm clouds over your house, very cool”

“Oh, my, one of your cats is on the roof again.”

Beth: “What color is the cat?”

Me: “Black and white”

Beth: “That makes sense, that Thor, the god of thunder”

Can you see him, he’s to the left of basketball hoop on the front roof, a little white smudge.