Dragon's Orchid Garden

I've come to the conclusion that I have so many WIPs (works in progress) because I simply cannot finish one thing before starting something else. I have an idea, and I have to run with it, even though I haven't finished the last (2, 3, or 4) ideas. My day off today was no exception. The thing is, I do finish eventually. And today I finished several WIPs. So it was a good day. Kim and Krue visited for lunch. Krue and I both had runny sneezy noses, so I cut us up some apples. I'm quite a neat apple eater, but Krue prefers to crush his apple pieces into little microbial bits before eating about 10 percent of them, then smearing the rest on his face, clothes and anything else within reach. After they left, Wayne took Sasha to the vet for her annual shots. While they were gone, I made muffins. I wrote previously about this wonderful James Beard recipe for banana nut bread , but I've tweaked it by adding strawberries, which are plentiful here this time of year and delicious...

Wayne and I spent my Wednesday off this week going to the Florida State Fair . He loves that he can get in for only $6 as a senior now. I did, too, as I asked for 2 senior tickets. I lied. I’m not 55. I think I’m pissed that the ticket guy didn’t ask for my ID. We love to just walk around and look. We don’t ride the rides, and anyway, it was too cold for that, though there were some crazy people in paddleboats and kayaks in the little lake. My favorite part is Cracker Country . It consists of a circle of historic buildings from the 19th and early 20th century such as an old railroad station, school, general store and post office (which is an actual working post office). Like a small Old Sturbridge Village , folks that work there dress in period clothing and tell you about what they’re doing. They are blacksmiths, teachers, farmers, they make soap and candles and print newsletters and demonstrate cracking a homemade whip (hence the term Cracker). You can go there all year round, not j...