Rare Bird Sighting in Baltimore

We took a walk along the harbor in Baltimore on Saturday morning courtesy of our friend, Lois.  

Despite the morning fog the day cleared off and it was quite nice to walk from Canton to Fells Point and back.

Along the way we saw several people training long lenses at something across the harbor.  Our curiosity was piqued and we asked.  Brown boobies had been sighted by a birder.  Well, the story shared was that first an unknown bird was sighted, then the captain of one of these ships, sent a message (maybe a tweet?) that brown boobies, a bird of the tropics, were hanging around the lines between the ships.

Not having a telephoto lens here are my photos.

Here's one courtesy of the Baltimore Sun.

(Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

What a funny spot to take up residence far from their usual haunts.  Wonder what's next in store for them?

Go here to see more photos in the Baltimore Sun

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday

Butternut Squash Soup

We hosted a Cards & Canapés Party last night.  Everyone had a wonderful time eating and learning the card game 3-13 Rummy.  

I served canapés in courses throughout the evening beginning with butternut squash soup, meatballs warmed in grape jelly and BBQ sauce in the crock pot, and cheese dreams.  Most of the recipes I found on line and pinned on Pinterest.

The butternut squash soup is a standby for me and I've long since forgotten where I obtained the recipe.  It was perfect for the cool fall evening.  I served it in small glass punch cups balanced on oval glass plates.  Seconds and thirds were had by most folks and this one bowl shown below is all that remained.  I had it for lunch today.

The squash came from my garden.  The recipe also calls for parsnips, shallots, cumin, and ginger.  Once cooked and pureed with a stick blender, honey is stirred in and pepper added.  It's served with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds.

Also on the menu:

bacon wrapped potatoes

pigs in blankets,

cucumber slices with whipped feta,

mustard-dill tortellini salad skewers,

 olive crostini.

For dessert:

cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple chunks on skewers

carrot cake cupcakes.

Sorry I was too busy being the chef to take photos of the dishes.

Random Church

I think I took this photo somewhere in Pennsylvania.  I thought the church was interesting with the three steeples and the arched entrances.  It was a very gray day and this was a photo from the car.

Joining Inspired Sundays.

What's This? (7)

The scene out the window at a restaurant we stopped at on Vancouver Island several years ago.  Nice assortment of fishing boats caught my eye but then what was that to the right? A totem? Never did find out.