Shades of Yellow

This is a busy, busy time of year for many of us, what with gardens needing care and produce needing preserved. Isn't it wonderful?!? :)
I wanted to take the time to share some of the beautiful desert wildflowers in our area, all in shades of yellow this time.
Linking up with Tones On Tuesday, Mosaic Monday and Macro Monday.

The Neighbors' Carrots

Our very nice neighbors said we could have all the carrots we wanted from their garden...they had a LOT!! Jerry helped me dig up most of them the other day and this is what I did with them today. :)

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday and The Country Homemaker Hop.

Made ME Jump!

I was working away, pulling grass in the garden, when something moved practically under my hand! No, I didn't scream like a girl but I sure jumped and I think the tarantula was just as surprised as I was. :)
He/she wasn't in any big hurry so I ran inside and grabbed my camera. Jerry kept saying, "You know they jump, don't you? It's gonna jump on your head!" He thought he was real funny. :-/
The rains always bring out the tarantulas so I knew to be on the lookout, just not right under my hand. LOL!!
Linking up with Tones On Tuesday, Mosaic Monday and Macro Monday.

Sunday Photo - Mack Truck

Probably not the Mack truck you were expecting, huh? ;-) This beauty was in the Benson, AZ 4th of July parade and dates from the 1950s. Edited with Pixlr-O-Matic.
Linking up with Weekly Top Shot and  Your Sunday Best.

A Bird On A Fence

I was sitting in the truck waiting for Jerry while he was talking with one of his buddies when I spied this pretty Pyrrhuloxia sitting on the fence rail nearby. I was pretty tickled that he sat there long enough for me to change lenses and snap a couple of pictures! :) Linking up with Friday's Fences this week and Wild Bird Wednesday.

P.S. I actually thought the bird was a female Cardinal until I looked it up on Whatbird.com. Thanks to blogging buddies like TexWisGirl, I didn't want to embarrass myself with a misidentification! LOL!! I did learn that they are in the Cardinal and Grosbeak family and are sometimes called a Desert Cardinal.

Ginger Cream Scones

The scones have become very popular at the Farmers' Market! :) I make six or seven different types each week and always sell out. These are my favorites. They are spicy with ground ginger and chunks of crystallized ginger and the turbinado sugar on the top gives them a nice finish. This recipe uses my Baking Mix.

Ginger Cream Scones               **Click here to print this recipe**

2 1/3 cups Baking Mix
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Zest from one lemon
6 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 large egg
Turbinado sugar for the tops

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, stir together Baking Mix, sugar, ground ginger and lemon zest. Cut in butter until it resembles small peas; stir in crystallized ginger. Make a well in the center. In a separate bowl, combine heavy cream and egg; mix well. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry and mix lightly until incorporated. Do not overmix.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 4 or 5 turns. Roll or pat dough into a circle 7 inches in diameter. Cut into 6 wedges and place on a baking sheet. Make sure to leave enough room between the scones as they will rise a bit and spread out. Brush the top of each scone with a little heavy cream and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
Bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes until golden brown.

I buy my crystallized ginger (along with a lot of other herbs and spices) at Penzeys Spices. There is a store in Tucson and I just love going in there! Luckily for Jerry, there is a bench for the husbands to sit and wait while the wives are shopping. ;-) If you haven't ever been to one of their stores or looked at one of their catalogs, I recommend you do. Their products are wonderful and their prices seem reasonable too. Sorry for carrying on but I just wanted to share! LOL!!

Linking up with Rural Thursday, Farmgirl Friday and Farm Fresh Friday. Updated to share with Food On Friday at Carole's Chatter.

Who's There?

I love ravens but the ones around here are very camera shy. I was able to get this guy's picture through the front window the other day as he hopped up the steps onto the porch! :)

Linking up with Tones on Tuesday, Black and White Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.