It has been hot hot hot! So something in Blue to cool down somewhat ...

This flower is called a Mystic Blue Orchid ....

In this close up of one of the blooms it looks like an Elf reading a book!

and something else in Blue ...  :-)

.... introducing our new little pet in her bowl of cool water ...our little  blue Betta!

 




She is quite friendly ... very social

Yummies ...



 so sweet, and gives kisses as she follows your fingers tracing the outside of her bowl ....

I love the shimmer of her scales...the way she changes colors according to how the light hits against her ... she looks like a little Rainbow ... perhaps we should have named her Rainbow...

till later ... Arita

Just checking in ... :-) not too much going on ... has been really hot, so mostly staying in ... the following flowers are from a now waning bouquet that my Honeybear gave me towards the end of June ...  it still had a few pretty ones, so ... I made some pretty photos! :-D

Pretty in White...

and pretty in Pink ...

he loves me... he loves me not... He Loves Me white flowers, and some gorgeous Red Roses!



Waning Red Roses



These are ready for making some Potpourri....



I love fresh flowers and enjoy them to the very last ... :-)
and then with photography I can enjoy them even longer!
Thank you Honeybear xoxoxox! ....



I have been doing lots of stuff the past few weeks ... some yard work when not too hot ... early mornings and late evenings mostly...

:-) and I have been making some fun jewelry using safety pins and assorted beads!!!!

I love the way these look ... the bracelets can be worn with jeans and a cool tank top, or the colorful bracelets look great as part of bellydance costuming ... really great looking cuff bracelets and so easy to make!

 Just put together a collection of different beads, a package of gold or silver color large size safety pins ... then open the safety pins and slip on your choice of beads ... when have enough to go around your wrist thread elastic on top and on bottom openings of the safety pins ... tie elastic into a knot, and Viola ... a real pretty cuff! With a small plyers pinch the ends of the safety pins that are made to open, closed ... so that the safety pins will not accidently come open...

Wear one on each wrist for dramatic effect!!! :-)

We have a new baby rabbit visiting our yard :-)

Peek a boo ...

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Arita :-)

Here it is Father's Day weekend already and me still catching up after last Mothers day :-/ it was a busy week-end ... but nice ...I'm hoping Father's day for all will be a super one too!

Hoping its a Super Great One ... Arita... :-)

I Do Not care for the loud thunder ... but I have loved the rain ... and the flowers in our garden ... love it all! Yeaaa I'm having a new kaleidoscope of gorgeous colors!

Orange Day Lilli

Purple flowering shrub...

White flowering shrub...

Red Lillies

Red Rose

White Lilly

Yellow Purple Lilli

All are so very pretty :-)

till next time Arita

I have been out in the garden again ... very early mornings, or late evenings because of the heat ... I have a feeling we  are going to have a very hot summer ...

My roses are beginning their second bloom,,,

I don't have as many blooming as in early Spring 2012 but they are still quite striking

I have several bulbs coming up, this is one I had thought had died...an Amaryllis that is about 10 years old (the kind you get at Christmas and plant in a pot and watch grow to ginormous size), well, it is still really big ... has two blooms, and takes about 12 in. of space across, and is almost 3 ft tall ...

a very showy plant that my Mother gave me one Christmas ... after it got really spinney looking  when the weather permitted I planted it outside, and it has re bloomed every year since with little or no care :-)

This is a photo of one of our rosebushes; I took it after I had watered late one evening, it was actually almost dark ... I used a flash, and was really impressed with how the photos turned out! (One of those wonderful happy accidents that are so appreciated in photography!)

Looks almost fairytale like :-) the effect is from the water on the plant, the flash, and the soft movement due to a slight breeze, I doubt I can duplicate these shots, they just sort of happened!!!

Another one of those wonderful happenings ... when you snap the photo at just the right time ... the bird turned out so majestic looking!!!

Do you see him??? Yes the Baby Rabbit is still here, and getting really big
I am so happy he returned ... I know it is the same one because he immediately
went to his favorite sleeping spot the day he returned, and uses it daily!

He is so much fun to watch, he has no name we just call him Mr.Rabbit yes, he is a he ... he has

a lady rabbit friend that comes to visit, and they can be hilarious ... on Memorial

Day they were running around the yard like crazy ... he was pursuing her, and she

was acting coy...then as he would approach she would be off and running ... it even

startled the birds that were in the yard ... I never knew rabbits could run so fast...

I'm pretty certain it was some sort of mating game, I made a little film of the chase

and want to add music to it ... a slapstick sort of thing ...they were so cute, so funny,

so innocent ... animals are such a joy ...

Arita :-)

Beef Tips mushrooms, and carrots ...
This recipe, I make taste really yummy by adding the spices to taste;
I add what I think will taste good, adjusting as I go as needed. Works out well for me...

Saute Mushrooms in a bit of olive oil and add some Chervil AKA Gourmet Parsley
and a bit of chopped garlic...

Add carrots, and braised beef tips and some Fenugreek (Fenugreek has taste of burnt sugar, I like to use in hearty stews soups and salads) I like the taste it gives the vegetables and the meat...
and saute a bit more...sprinkle on lightly a little black pepper

Next I have added warm water and one beef  cube and just a small touch of flour...the flour is about 2 Tablespoons mixed with a little of the liquid before adding to the skillet so will not make doughy globs...

add about 1 tablespoon of sour cream to make sauce  more glossy...

All done!!! ... I served the skillet meal with a loaded small baked potato, and a green salad ...
was pretty yummy!!! Arita :-)

Harem Pants and how to make them!



These instructions are via a hand-out that was given to us at one of the Bellydance classes at one of the collegesand the resulting pants turned out quite nice! I have enjoyed mine very much!

Very easy to make and fun to wear, I used a black satiny material for one pair and a dark green satiny material for another pair. Another really easy way to create a Harem Pant to dance in is to purchase some satiny or silky pajamas that are several sizes too large for you, in whatever color you like, then add elastic to the bottom edges of the pajama legs and viola blousy looking Harem Pants!

and...finally if you have no idea how to Bellydance there are several books, DVDs and CD's available for free at your local Public Library ... check some out, and in no time you will be shimming with the best of them. I found several classes available at Recreation Centers, and at our Jr. College, which I attended and, was able to quickly learn quite a few of the moves...there has been one I really enjoy going to at the YMCA, which I attend as often as I can :-)

Hint: Keep eye out for pretty scarfs, belts, and pretty tops in colorful sheer materials... one can never have too many of those...Arita :-)

Hi! :-) getting back into dancing ... great exercise, and is fun!

Now that the weather is starting to get hot really early in the morning, I think I will begin to exercise more in house...

Gardening and working in the yard is a favorite of mine ...

Fresh air, sunshine, and pretty flowers ... what is there not to love about that ... except when it starts getting uncomfortably hot ... weather wise....

I have tried all sorts of dance exercise, but keep coming back to trying to learn the art of Bellydancing, it is a dance art form that is great for everyone, every size, every age, even while expecting a child ... Belly Dance is great for all!

Men and women can benefit from all the different moves, it tones our bodies and relaxes our minds...

the costumes are so much fun, its makes one feel beautiful, exotic, and in men handsome debonair ...

Although there are more female Belly Dancers there are some men that have perfected the art too!

Costuming is fairly easy to come by ... and if one is even slightly good at sewing, one can create some stunning outfits ... with some beads, bangles, and colorful scarfs ... long hair wigs and headpieces can add to the look too, for men head bandannas, colorful vests, sashes and pirate looking pants work really well ... for me the costuming really helps me get into the dance moves much better :-) than if wearing just a plain exercise leotard ... I find the costuming as exciting as the dance!



Feeling all in the groove here :-)

colorful makeup, veils and soft lights ... makes one feel pretty glam :-D

Yep Zee Bellydance is great ... and known to really tone ... need to do lots of dancing over here :-)

Will include some instructions on how to make a pair of Harem Pants in separate post, easy to do, and look really neat!

(am wearing a black satin pair combined with lots of my jingles and jangles!)

Arita :-)