A to Z Challenge: Theme Reveal

March 21, 2016April 3, 2016 Shirleyjdietz34 Comments

Eat This!

I am a big supporter of FOOD. I think it is absolutely remarkable that everything we humans need to live and be in health is found on this planet. It’s almost like it was made for us. In fact, it is exactly like it was made for us. There is much to investigate on this topic and although I have never been a food blogger, I have done a stint teaching nutrition for the University of Florida Extension Service. I learned a lot and it was fun. I think I can share that fun with readers.

I love to photograph food (I’m talking mainly about fruits, vegetables and ovo-lacto food items). The colors are often bright and exciting, and there are also unusual shapes and ways that food presents itself. And because we get to eat it after the photographs, there will be an occassional recipe or fun way to eat the food of the day. A lot of my subjects will be nutrient dense and so good for you, but since I also believe food should make us happy there will be a few that fall in the “comfort food” category.

Don’t think that this is an easy theme to alphabetize. Since I want to stick with healthful foods that are as close to unprocessed as possible, the choices are limited. There are tons of letter C foods, but try finding some of the others. I love finding unusual items that might surprise you and inspire you to EAT THIS! Hoping you will check in regularly.

Grass

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Consider grass, the perfectly rounded tips of new blades, the translucent greenness as the light shines through. Consider the unseen numbers of tiny cellular factories actively converting the sun’s energy into growth. This far surpasses any technology we call “awesome”. Whoever is behind the idea of grass is the real “awesome”. Just sayin’…

People Go There in the Morning too?

August 22, 2015August 22, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I go to Alki Beach quite a bit at evening, as do lots of other people, but who knew that people wake up and go there in the morning too? It’s a couple blocks away from the house and I don’t usually want to wait that long for the first coffee of the day. This morning I practiced delayed gratification and walked to coffee. There are four or five coffee shops in the short stretch along the beach (because this is Seattle…) but I go to the one farthest away because my daughter would consider joining me later at this one. She gets coffee that comes from a particular farm in a particular country (more on that later) while I ask if they have Folgers.

All kinds of things were happening this morning, the most interesting being an open water boat race of some sort. I got there just minutes before the starting horn so boats were lining up along some imaginary line which wasn’t very straight. I guess they were going quite a distance so a few feet here and there wasn’t going to matter. Anything that could be paddled was eligible for this trek across the sound to a rock near some island and back again. Naturally, the scullers took off in the lead and the poor guys on paddleboards were bringing up the rear. It’s a cool, gray day with a light chop on the water and mist in the air.

Cyclists are out. Families with children wanting donuts are straggling in. Seattle dogs are out in numbers. The weekend is here. Happy Saturday everyone!

The Approach of Summer

May 17, 2015May 17, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

In one direction we have this... — In one direction we have this…

and in the other direction something different approaches.

The rains have started to come in the afternoon. I am trying to get a walk in between showers because I’ve been stationary for several days – I just need to get out.

It is more than beautiful everywhere I look because it’s all been washed and refreshed. Little jewels of water sit on all the big leaves. There are at least a hundred different shades of green and they all seem to vibrate, glow.

This is a stunningly complex and gorgeous world. We need to look at it and let it say what it has to say. It’s not randomly beautiful. It’s that way on purpose. We’ve been given a gift and it makes me feel… well, loved I guess. Just sayin’.

Autumn Show in North Wisconsin

October 9, 2014October 9, 2014 Shirleyjdietz3 Comments

It doesn’t last long but is all the more beautiful for it’s transitory nature. We drove slowly, turning down every beckoning lane that showed color. This is the north woods at it’s finest and our celebration of the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Being Home, Being Restored

September 12, 2014September 12, 2014 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I love to travel. I love to be home. Even though there is a lot here to be responsible for, and when I’m gone nature does it’s thing pretty much unchecked (the husband did mow the lawn) it is still a place that restores me. It begs me to take part, to pull a weed, pick up a few fallen branches, smell the mint and the rosemary, touch a mossy rock, marvel at a single strand of spider silk floating from somewhere to who knows where, hold my ears when the cicadas get all fired up. At some point there will come colder weather and it will change, but for now it is still the hot, humid, green glory of summer. Nature is more than amazing, it is God’s gift showing his thoughfulness, his love of beauty and drama, his attention to detail, his desire to nurture and uplift, his power to take down and start anew

If you need a spot of beauty in your day, come take a morning walk with me through the Oneacrewoods.

shapes, colors, texture, variety for our eyes to see

I Love…

August 1, 2014August 1, 2014 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I love and enjoy plants because…

because they are green, my favorite color

because they are constantly being amazing

because they volunteer on their own (from whence come you tomato?)

but most of all, because they are quiet.

Good morning, August. I can’t believe you’re here.

A Small Gift

July 28, 2014July 28, 2014 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

It’s Monday morning. I’m dressed and sitting at my desk thinking about the day ahead. Last week I repotted a houseplant and brought it to live on my desk in front of the glass doors where it would get a lot of southern exposure. I noticed a large drop of water at the tip of a leaf. And then I saw that every leaf that was turned in the same orientation had a large crystal clear drop of water – the whole plant was decorated at the tips of these leaves only. The rest of the plant was dry. Such a beautiful thing… just sayin’.

I could have missed it. Thankful for eyes to se... — I could have missed it. Thankful for eyes to se…

This Beautiful Place

June 24, 2014 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Good morning world, it’s Tuesday. Just after putting all my favorite sky pictures up I see this one on the way to work. And even though I was slightly late, I had to pull off the road and get the photo. I live in a place where there is something beautiful to see every day. Where do you find beauty in the place you call home?

Do Tell

June 21, 2014June 21, 2014 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

The heavens do declare God’s glory, and I love to listen. I live in a flat land with lots of horizons, clouds, moisture in the air and water to mirror the sky. I am always seeing something that nearly takes my breath away, usually when I’m driving. I have to pull over and watch