Flower of the Week / 今週のお花

Ranunculus

The Latin name ranunculus means "little frog". They originated in the The Middle East, hence their alternative name "Turban Buttercup".

In fairy tales frogs are apt to change into princes and it was an Asian prince in just such a story who gave his name to this flower, which grows naturally in swampy ground. The prince was so good-looking that he was loved by everyone. He also had a beautiful voice but this was his undoing. He loved the open country and sang delightful songs in the presence of nymphs. He did not have the courage to declare his love to them and this haunted him so much that he died. After his death he was changed into the flower with delicate tissuey petals which bears his name.

The ranuculus meant "you are rich in attractions" to the Victorians.

ラヌンクルス

英語でバターカップと総称されるキンポウゲ科の花々。近似種が大変多く、約400種類（全世界では約1500種類）あります。同じところに複数の類似種が咲くことがあるので、細かい種の特定が難しい。
 

主に小さな黄色の花で、その光沢のある花弁の色がバターを連想させることから、独語ではブターブルーメ（バターの花）Butterblume ともいわれます。湿度のある森や草原、小川のそばなど、カエルがいるような所によく咲いているので、“小さなカエル”を意味するラテン語のラナRanaに学名ラヌンクルスは由来。スイスではタンポポの後に咲き、同じく黄色のカーペットのように群生する花として一般的です。 

send me a cloud with a silver lining

Went to bed at 10:30, present time, 2:41... Another night of not being able to sleep. Maybe I should consider seeing a doctor? My mind is reeling with crap, you'd think that you'd fall asleep after hitting the pillow, but it's the exact opposite. So, I'm gonna make an exception tonight and rant. Life is SO weird eh? At one one point, everything is perfect, everything just falls into place, but something happens to destroy that and it all falls apart... And you just feel like shit. Doesn't that happen so many times that it's a broken record by now and you'd think we'd me immune to it. So, why is this so different? Why am I not getting over it?

So the up and downs of recent weeks... Quit school and thought I found the PERFECT job yet I quit and I'm back at square one. The amount of thinking and effort I put into my decisions, all down the drain... Did some serious damage to my self-confidence, but I resent this hiccup for damaging my confidence... Times like this are very tiring physically and emotionally... Very vulnerable emotionally as well. The internal juggling is becoming a daily ritual. ugh I'm keeping myself grounded by telling myself that even with all these feeling, it won't defeat my intelligence!

Among others are the family issues which are pretty fucked up at the moment, hopefully we'll get some perspective and resolve the situation. Family relationships are so much harder than normal relationships isn't it? With friendships, you could just leave if you wanted to and not see them again. But that idea doesn't fly with families, at least as far as I'm concerned. It's so strange that 3 siblings can have such vast differences in values even if they grew up under the same roof. Communication becomes arduous... Resolutions anyone?

Enough rantings, hard to process thought into words. Will upload recipes and flower of the week soon, in the mean time, I'll add the lyrics to my fav song at the moment.

"Defying Gravity"

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!


It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I am defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!


I'm through accepting limits
''cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost

Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!


I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!


I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you won't bring me down!
bring me down!
ohh ohhh ohhhh!

今週のお花 / Flower of the Week

Camellia

Camellia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. Camellias often bloom during the cool season, varying according to the species. Winter blooms are common, flowers appearing October-March. Blooms on camellias range from pure white to dark red. Some camellia cultivars have multi-colored or variegated flowers.

The genus is generally adapted to acidic soils, and does not grow well on chalk or other calcium-rich soils. Most species also have a high rainfall requirement and will not tolerate drought.

ツバキ 椿

 

ツバキ（椿）は、ツバキ科ツバキ属の植物の総称である。狭義には、ヤブツバキ（藪椿、あるいは単にツバキとも。学名：Camellia japonica）を指す。照葉樹林の代表的な樹木。花期は冬から春にかけて。春の季語。海柘榴とも表記する。

日本では古くから親しまれている花木で、ヤブツバキを中心として様々な園芸品種がつくられました。現在はヨーロッパでも、洋種ツバキの品種改良が盛んに行われています。日本や中国などを原産とする常緑性の花木で光沢と厚みのある葉をもつ。もともと日本に自生しているものは、「ヤブツバキ」と寒い地方に分布する「ユキツバキ」の２種に分かれる。古くから園芸品種が存在しており、現在は３００を超えると言われているが、江戸時代には５００以上の品種があったという資料も残っている。現在でも、茶花や生け垣に利用されている、日本ではもっともなじみの深い植物のひとつです。

今週のお花 / Flower of the Week

キンギョソウ　（金魚草） 

金魚草はゴマノハグサ科。キンギョソウ属の植物。南ヨーロッパと北アフリカの地中海沿岸部を産地とする。初夏に咲く草花で、その咲いた花のかたちが金魚のように見えるためこの名前がついていす。花の色は赤・桃 ・白 ・橙 ・黄 ・複色。秋にタネをまくとその翌年の初夏に花が咲きます。先週、金魚草とポピーの種を植えました！来年の春、夏が楽しみです！

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)

Snapdragons are native to the Mediterranean. But, we are sure glad someone brought them over here! They are a favorite flower for cutting and fragrance. Strong-stemmed spikes are tightly packed with large "dragons" in white, yellow, purple, crimson, bronze, pink in a range of hues. Long lasting flowers are so profuse that they can hide the leaves at peak bloom. Snapdragon plants are an easy to grow annual. Most varieties are early summer bloomers. They often wilt in the mid-summer's heat, but often perk back up and bloom again in cooler fall weather. Grows 1 1/2' to 3' tall.

Angel Food Cake / エンジェルフード・ケーキ

Today, I wanna share my angel food cake recipe. It’s an adaptation of many different recipes that I’ve tested. I like my angel food cake to be very moist, light and fluffy. Almost like a cotton candy, that melt in your mouth sorta thing.  

Ingredients

1 ¼ cup flour

1 ¼ cup confectioner sugar

1 ½ cup egg whites (10 Large)

2 teaspoon cream of tartar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure almond extract

1 cup granulated sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 with a rack in the lower third.

2. Measure and sift the flour and the confectioner sugar together at least 3 times, set aside.

3. Separate eggs, drain off the egg whites into a measuring cup.

4. Prepare a Bain-marie and warm the egg whites until warm to the touch.

5. In a large mixing bowl or in a bowl of an electric mixer, measure in the warm egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat whites until frothy, beat in the granulated sugar 2~3tbsp at a time, beating 15 seconds after each addition.

6. Continue beating until meringue is very firm, glossy and smooth. The meringue should hold stiff straight peaks when the whisk is pulled up.

7. Shift in the reserved flour-sugar mixture 3 tbsp at a time over the meringue. Fold in gently by cut and fold motion with a spatula.

8. Transfer batter to a tube pan. Run a knife through the batter, touching the bottom of the pan to eliminate any air pockets. Bake until the top of the cake is lightly golden and the cake springs back when pressed lightly, 30 to 35 minutes (If top darkens too fast, tent with aluminum foil.) Invert pan; let cool in pan, at least 1 hour. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and around the tube to release cake, and unmold. Use knife to release cake from bottom of pan, and remove.

日本語バージョンはまた今度アップします！m(_ _)m

今週のお花 / Flower of the Week

バンダ・セルレア（ラン科バンダ属）

バンダ・セルレアはインド（北西部）～タイおよび中国に分布する多年草。着生種。別名「Blue Orchid（青い蘭）」ということもある銘花。標高１０００～３０００ｍあたりにある落葉樹林内で生育するという。バンダ・セルレアとは「青いバンダ」という意味。

 

Vanda coerulea
Vanda coerulea, commonly known as Blue Orchid, is native to northern Thailand and the Khasia foothills of the Indian Himalayas. This is a wonderful plant which will tolerate intermediate to cool temperatures but will also do well in warm temperatures.
　　　　　

疲労

今日は死ぬほど忙しかった・・・　やる事が多すぎて明日まで持ち込み・・・　今日はちょっと暑くて過ごしにくかった。掃除をするだけで汗ばむ。でも汗は気温のせいなのか？それともただ単に俺がデブなだけなのか？笑　ハ～、早く痩せないと！頑張ろｗ！でももう秋・・・　食欲の秋・・・　ダイエットとは合わん・・・　苦笑　スイートポテト食いて～ｗ　サツマイモとバター、生クリーム。バター！バター美味しい！バター大好きｗ。バターは調味料ではなくソースです。笑

今日の飾りの紹介はインディアン・コーン。インディアン・コーンの色は黄色、赤、オレンジ系なので秋の飾りにはぴったり。インターネットでも多分購入できるので試してみてください。ミニサイズのだったらハムスター用のやつは普通にペットショップなどで購入できる。←最近発見ｗ！　いつもコーンは買ってたけど考えてみたら自分で育てられるかも！？来年は挑戦してみよ～。ちゃんと育ちますように！

今日はAngel Food Cakeを作ったのでまた今度紹介します。でも作ったおかげで卵黄がバリ残ってる・・・　チュークリームでも作ろ～！←「痩せないと」とか言いながらｗ