After the storm...

It rained...no, actually it poured in New Hartford, New York yesterday afternoon and evening. At times, I couldn't even see across the street as I looked out of my office window.

About 8:30 p.m. last night I looked out my window to see the most beautiful rainbow! The sun apparently decided to come out from behind the clouds just before it was time to give way to the night sky. Truly beautiful!

The rainbow looked like it was right over my house possibly ending in my backyard. I looked, but I didn't find a pot of gold in my backyard!

Luckily, we didn't have any flooding problems near our home. Living in New Hartford, that is actually a blessing almost better than a pot of gold!

However, there were reports of area flooding along with downed trees and wires. Major stormwater issues have plagued this town for years with millions of dollars already thrown at it, but to no avail.

A Peek into my kitchen...

...I have a recipe to share!

This weekend, my youngest son made a banana bar recipe with cream cheese frosting that is absolutely fabulous! I shared this recipe with my son last winter after I found it on the web; we have each made it several times since then.

I like to add raisins to the recipe; but my son used walnuts this time and it was delicious that way too.

My grandmother used to make a banana cake and this recipe brings back memories of sitting on her back porch swing enjoying the most delicious cake ever!

I'm still looking for a recipe to equal the wonderful flavor of my grandmother's applesauce cake. I have tried many that I have found online, but so far none rival my grandmother's recipe. It's fun to keeping trying though!

If you would like the recipe, you will find it on my Pinterest board Recipes from the web that are keepers!

It's Monday, back to my diet...

Ding-Dong...

Nope, it wasn't Avon, but it was the Fed Ex man.

Yesterday afternoon I was in my office taking an online class when the doorbell rang. The man said, "Catherine?" and I replied "Yes?" Then he handed me a tall, skinny white box that I first had to sign for before I could claim it as mine. I hadn't ordered anything Fed Ex; what could it be?

Unfortunately, I couldn't open it right away because I had to get back to class...the class was about marketing on Facebook. Heaven knows I need that information...Facebook isn't the easiest to figure out!

Anyway, when my class was finished, I opened my "surprise" package. Oh my, it was from my daughter who is stationed in Hawaii!

Inside the box was a live orchid plant!

I love plants, but I have never owned an orchid. From what I have read, it is not the easiest plant to grow, but what the heck, I am willing to give it a try! Hopefully, it will still be alive when my daughter visits me in the fall...fingers crossed.

According to the directions I found online, it needs 60-70 per cent humidity to flower. Well, there is my first problem! My home isn't exactly located in a tropical paradise! However, the online information said that I can mist each day and place the potted plant in a dish with stones and a little water. That is probably doable.

The article also suggested that the plant needs fertilizer. I just bought some fertilizer for my Sabi Star Sahara Desert Gemini Rose plants (which by the way are doing very well) so I should be able to use it on my orchid as well.

Other than that, some light and some prayers are all I need to grow my orchid!

Since I love taking pictures, I will document my orchid's progress so I can show my daughter that at least I tried even if her beautiful gift is not still alive by the time she gets here!

Sabi Star Sahara Desert Gemini Rose...

...that is the name for the latest addition to my houseplant collection; Pink Arabian Picotee is the particular color.

Last January, QVC had these plants as a Today's Special Value; oh, how I love QVC!

Anyway, the plants intrigued me so I decided to take a chance and advance order them to be delivered at the end of May.

Last week, the plants arrived at my door. Here they are right out of the package.

They are supposed to be planted in a large, but shallow preferably clay pot. So yesterday I was off to Home Depot to get the necessary pots; soil and stones for drainage.

Now they look like this:

However, according to the experts at Roberta's Gardens, within time they are supposed to look like this:

Don't they look kind of strange and different? According to the pamphlet that was enclosed in the package, by following a few easy instructions, my plants should have flowers by Christmas 2018. I know that's 18 months from now, ugh; I hope I'm not disappointed. I guess only time will tell!

I have always loved plants to add color both inside and outside of my home. For quite some time now, I have been growing African Violets under a grow light that I have on a table in my sewing room. I get the plants locally at Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses. I love walking through their greenhouse and never leave without a couple of plants to add to my collection.

My new Sabi Star plants need to be outside for the summer to soak up the sun and then brought inside this winter; so for now, they will spend the next few months on my patio.

Wish me luck!

Yesterday...

...was my birthday and my family spoiled me rotten.

Look what my son made for dessert; cream puffs, my favorite!

He also brought me breakfast and dinner so I basically didn't have to do anything yesterday except crochet!

Dinner was once again from Symeon's Greek Restaurant. I had Thracian Chicken and rice...so good. He also brought some tzatziki; pita bread; and a salad. The weather was so beautiful we enjoyed dinner on our deck.

I can't believe how the years have flown by!  Here I am with my brother when I was about two and he was three.

We were always together playing in our backyard and looking out for each other. We definitely didn't have any video games and I don't remember telling my mother that there was nothing to do.  We were happy playing cowboys and Indians (not politically correct to say now) and climbed trees with all our friends for entertainment.

Times sure have changed, but I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything!!