Nature Archives - Page 8 of 17

Sick? This’ll Fix You Up Quicker Than Chicken Soup!

January 17, 2013 / My Garden / Recipes / By Karen Shanley / 1 Comment

I’ve been a little under the weather, and wanted to make myself a healing soup that wasn’t the usual boring Chicken Soup. This Seafood Curry Chowder, with its Indian spices (which helps open breathing passages) and chicken broth (general fixer-upper elixir) gives a one-two punch!

BUT…

It’s so rich and delicious and special–and SIMPLE to make–that you could serve this at any dinner party and get rave reviews. It’s my family and friends’ all time favorite soup!

1 fillet of … Read More

Early Holiday Gift for You– Go Outside and Look Up!

December 12, 2012 / Nature / By Karen Shanley / Leave a Comment

Early post this week so I can share one of my favorite holiday presents with you. This Thursday night into early Friday morning, we’ll get to watch one of nature’s most wondrous annual celestial light shows–the Geminids meteor shower.What’s perfect about this year is that the moon will have set before the meteors come out to play from around 10 p.m. through 3 a.m., so the sky should be nice and dark for optimal viewing. There could be … Read More

On the Move

November 11, 2012 / My Dogs and Me, Nature / By Karen Shanley / 2 Comments

I love nature. And I feel fortunate to live in close proximity to all that the great wilds of the Adirondacks have to offer.

But, um, this is perhaps a tad too close for comfort. Yep, this is a very big black bear sauntering through my mother’s front yard. Thankfully, all dogs were safely inside.

And here’s a lovely doe in the backyard. Both passed through within minutes of each other.

Over the years, we’ve seen more and more of … Read More

How to Tell When Garlic Is Ready to Be Harvested

July 15, 2012 / My Garden / Recipes / By Karen Shanley / 2 Comments

As I mentioned recently, I get three kinds of calls from family. Last week it was my sister asking how to tell if her garlic was ready to be picked.

Where we live (in the Northeast), we plant hard neck varieties at the end of September into early October, which means our harvest time is roughly mid-July to end of of July. This is my sister’s first year of planting her own, and she wasn’t sure when to pull her … Read More

Almost Time for Planting….

May 6, 2012 / My Garden / Recipes / By Karen Shanley / 4 Comments

In the Northeast, we use Mother’s Day as the official opening for our gardening season. For those of us who want to get a jump on growing, starting seedlings a month or two in advance is a way of life.

Before I can plant these outdoors, I’ll start hardening them off by putting them outside in a sheltered sunny spot for a few hours a day. That will help lessen the transplant shock.

Then I’ll direct seed the rest of … Read More

A Fresh Perspective…

April 8, 2012 / Life, Nature / By Karen Shanley / 2 Comments

As the saying goes, A little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.Â I figure, in these crazy times, we could all use a little perspective. Here’s a fresh perspective for you all the way out t0 10²⁷power. Click on the image, then click on the Start button, and then move the slider if you want to be amazed! Yeah, I know–you know I’m a sucker for these things! : )

Spring is Springing

March 25, 2012 / Nature / By Karen Shanley / 2 Comments

Spring is springing around here, worrisomely, a bit too early… If you know of anyone who doesn’t believe in global warming, just send them along to my place. With temps in the 70’s and 80’s for the past two weeks in the middle of March, Mother Nature is clearly a little confused. None of this should be happening for at least another month!

Peonies breaking dormancy Crabapple tree budding

All my trees are starting to bud too early. Grass greening … Read More

A Light Show to Beat All Light Shows

January 1, 2012 / Life, Nature / By Karen Shanley / 1 Comment

Space.com senior writer Mike Wall reports that particles ejected by recent solar storms are due to slam into Earth over the next few days, possibly causing super-charged northern lights displays and temporary radio blackouts in some areas, experts say.

Geomagnetic storms can also trigger dramatic aurora displays, which are also known as the northern and southern lights. So skywatchers at higher latitudes may want to look up after sunset over the next few days.

You know I’ll be outside … Read More