Day trip to Solomons Island

 We took a day trip to visit Steve's son and daughter in law in Md.   Had dinner and toured Solomons Island a bit.  Finished dinner off by stuffing ourselves with  key lime pie while watching the sunset over the Island.
Where the Patuxent river meets the Chesapeake bay at the southern tip of Calvert county in southern Maryland is the location of this picturesque island.   One of the last remaining screw pile lighthouses is located here.  Open all year,  I want to see it at Christmas as it will be celebrating it's 26th annual Christmas walk.

First we had dinner at Ruddy Duck Brewery and Grill.

 jenn, grandchildren

The crew

A picture of my caesar salad with blackened salmon on top

Beautiufl view of the water from dock

inside shop ,  nice art on the walls

Also I have some pics of my front porch with mums.

I don't know the name of this, but I planted these bulbs late and now they are blooming

Some things I have been working on

I love this time of year even though I spent the morning raking acorns.  Two large lawn bags full.  I have to or  little oaks will be growing all over the yard. 
 After the raking -
I canned some Green pickle relish.   Made some apple butter with apples purchased  from Paughs orchard in Quicksburg Va..  Not a blemish on them.   I will be canning some sliced apples tomorrow. 

 apple butter

 My green tomato relish

tomatoes I canned a few weeks back and used my dried basil,  a clove of garlic in each jar for flavor.

 I also dried some this year. 

Soup for dinner .Left over ham and the bone made the stock for this soup, added are carrots, potatoes, my dried veggies of string beans, okra, peas and zucchini.   I put a smidgen of hot pepper in there for extra zest and celery seed.   A packet of chicken bouillon also.  Fresh sweet potato is diced in the soup along with some macaroni noodles and frozen corn.   Never have had sweet potato in soup,  but saw a recipe where there was sweet potato along with fresh kale, so I had to try it.

I purchased this decoration at Peebles for 10 bucks some months back.

The gold color had to be toned down a bit, found some off white paint in the garage and rubbed the piece with it and then took off the excess.  Much happier with it now.

It is hanging over the bed downstairs that we use as a spare bedroom.

Hopeful this paneling will be painted over..  I may just put a wash on the walls.  My pillows on the bed are ones I made last year. 

Monticello visit

Areas around Thomas Jefferson's home are oval flower beds.   The west lawn is bordered by a winding flower border.
Because they could be shipped easily, Tulips, Anemones and hyacinths were plentiful in the gardens.  Tulips are  mentioned the most in Jefferson's garden book, planted in 1807 from Europe.

When Jefferson died  in 1826, his flower gardens disappeared.  Between 1939 and 1941 the gardens were revived by the Garden club of Virginia.  Researchers found sketches by Jefferson of the West Lawn winding  border walk and oval border plan.   They were able to find raised areas around the West lawn by shining their car headlights across the lawn at night.   Many of the species grown are geraniums, zinnias, French and African marigold among others.  700 species of seeds yearly; Jefferson received from Paris.  The plants look more like like wildflowers because they are leggy and have more foliage than flowers.  I think they look lacy and beautiful .    I bought some seeds from the gift shop in Monticello that come from the plants grown on the property.  I can't wait to see how they turn out,  especially the prickly poppy with variegated leaves.    I want to visit in the spring next year to see the spring flowers.

winding flower walk on west lawn

 
Peruvian Zinnias

cockscomb

Josephs coat

foxglove

 flower beds at house

prickly poppy

tuber rose

 vegetable garden

 beautiful view of mountains from Monticello

grapes

 Lavender cotton

 Fish caught in the river were kept in this pond til ready for use

Rosemary and other herbs on left side of walkway

 I couldn't get over how large the Ivy vine is

 Kitchen

 old wine bottle found on property

I couldn't help but notice the huge tree - gorgeous

 horse stable

 Jefferson grave

 and family cemetary

 gate to cemetary

flowers planted on grave blooming

There is so much to see and learn at Monticello.