A Startling Find at Breakfast

Not sure how these ants found their way to the bottom of the cream honey jar but here they are. What a shock to find them, encased in the crystallized honey. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I reached for this toast topping. It was a jolt!

I think I’ll stick with jam.

My sister suggested looking up chocolate covered ants and yes, you can buy them to be shipped to your home.

Definitely unappetizing but an interesting image.

Doesn’t one catch more flies with honey?

Pittsburgh’s Peony Season has Played

Until next year.

Peonies are perennials so will return next Spring. The peony blossoms seemed extra lush this year. And there were some varieties in the Highland Park Gardens I’d not seen before.

Peonies“Peonies are usually sold as bare-root tubers with 3 to 5 eyes (buds), divisions of a 3- or 4-year-old plant” from the Farmers Almanac “Peonies are said to symbolize a happy life and a happy marriage”

Here is an article about the Biological Mutualism of Ants and Peonies. “It’s a myth that ants are necessary for peonies to bloom” (but they do love the nectar from Peonies)

Artist and fellow blogger from Just a Smidgen blog, paints gorgeous peony blossoms. Click to see her beautiful flower paintings.

Shoot Where You Are

Culled from the day’s catch- didn’t photograph any food making today but here is what I photographed on Saturday.

School’s out for the summer  so I’m not in my home territory.  Most days I shoot photographs as I drive around the city. But I am seeing different scenery these days.  We went to a T-ball game on Saturday morning.

Four Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies fell out of the van onto the pavement and their bright orange caught my eye but I thought, nah, four bitty snack crackers are not worth a photograph since we have to get to the game and haul  the fold-up chairs and the bag of snacks for the team.  I mean another day I could do a Snack Cracker still life but we were in a rush.

Imagine my surprise when we returned to the van. The neon orange obliterated.  Ants working hard to live.

 

 

and a close up detail

 

and then as we pulled out of the school parking lot by the baseball fields, there was a church parking lot and a scene I wanted to photograph. This is when you are probably annoying to your daughter-in-law but she doesn’t mind and pulls over by the dumpster and I got out and took about 4 quick shots on the gray day.

 

 

 

and the detail. My DIL asked if I wanted to come back and pick it up to take back home since it wasn’t broken!

 

A quick trip to the zoo and the reptile house.  The kids got a chance to touch the Rosy Boa. I photographed the Pythons devouring rabbits but it is too graphic.

 

The Columbus Zoo has a lovely 1914 Carousel, restored.  The youngest 3 grandkids took a ride.

 

 

and youngest granddaughter Maura in a quiet moment