Pergola

"An arbor formed of horizontal trelliswork supported on columns or posts, over which vines or other plants are trained."

Beginnings of a pergola

Moroccan Mint Tea

[from wikipedia] "Moroccan tea culture (Arabic: اتاي‎ - Ataí) is defined by the way tea (exclusively green tea) is prepared and consumed in Morocco, where it is widely consumed with food. The tradition has also spread throughout North Africa, parts of the Sahel, and southern Spain. Tea occupies a very important place in Moroccan culture and is considered an art form. Morocco is one of the biggest tea importers of the world.

The method of preparation of Atai is relatively complex compared to methods used elsewhere. A large quantity of hard sugar cones or lumps (5 teaspoons for every spoon of tea) is used, and fresh mint is also an essential ingredient. Tea is cleaned with boiling water before being dried. This removes dust from shipping and supposedly makes the tea less bitter. Tea and boiling water are combined, and may be boiled further for several minutes. After that, sugar and mint are added and mixed into a teapot with a long, curved spout. The sugar may also be combined with the tea and water in the first infusion, rather than with the mint after brewing. Using a traditional curved spout allows the tea to be poured into tiny glasses from a height of approximately half a meter to form a foamy head. It is then returned once or twice to the teapot for a good mix."

(Photo is my own mint tea Moroccan style)

Little Baby Bunting

Labile labials

Labile--apt to change. In chemistry, "labile" describes a substance capable of changing state or becoming inactive when subjected to heat or radiation.

Labial--pertaining to the lips.

In a certain someone's odd little poem, I believe this phrase was intended to describe the behavior of carnivorous plants (like Venus Flytraps)--i.e., plants with "mouths" that turn into "stomachs," or "labile labials."

My favorite plant

Macaron

A delightful, light and airy, and yet oh so chewy in the most pleasing way, French variety of petits fours secs (dry small cakes) ranging from an inch diameter to two and a half, sandwiching some kind of butter cream, ganache, or jam filling. The "sandwiches" are meringues made of egg whites, almond flour, confectioner's sugar, and granulated sugar. The proper macaron should have a delicate shell and "feet", or the ruffle that forms around the base of the cookie. (Wikipedia provides a concise history of this treat)

Gothic Tree

Pot

Anatolia

A vast plateau between the Black and the Mediterranean seas: in ancient usage, synonymous with the peninsula of Asia Minor; in modern usage, applied to Turkey in Asia (thank you to dictionary.com for the concise explanation).

The View

Fiat

An arbitrary decree or pronouncement, especially by a person or group of persons having absolute authority to enforce it: For example, "The king ruled by fiat."

See Galileo's Daughter for use of the word.

Special Report: Lights Out in Chicago--but Hieroglyphs must go on!

Grapes

Unpacking