Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower Gardens-a piece of Florida history!

 

 Down in the hills of Florida, past the miles of orange groves, is one of Florida's old time parks, Bok Tower Gardens. Although the park used to seem bigger (subdivision sprang up all around it during the last out-of-control building glut) this botanical park is 250 acres and worth your time to visit.

Not only is this a great little day trip, I think that Bok Tower has one of the better gift shops of any Florida attraction. On top of the wonderful little trinkets for your own garden and wildlife toys for your kids, they have themed gifts and that makes all the difference. Over the years we've collected a cross-stitch pattern of Bok Tower, a jigsaw puzzle of the tower, a blue porcelain plate of Bok Tower, and a CD of Christmas music played on the carillon.

And don't decide that because you're way out in the middle of no where that the next fast food stop is your closest place to eat anywhere civilized, try The Blue Palmetto Cafe! It's surprisingly eclectic and healthy! You can eat beer batter fries along with a hummus vegetarian wrap (not dripping with unhealthy sauces or mayonnaise), while your friend eats a kraut dog, or a tuna (not gooey and dripping) salad on a bed of mixed greens (not iceberg) and a root beer float. They also have various beers and wines. If you noticed the bee hives in the orange groves on your drive up to the parking lot, you can find the Bok Tower orange blossom honey sold in the cafe.

 "Make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it."
~Edward Bok

Bok Tower Posters At My Zazzle Store

 

 

Have you been to Bok Tower?

 

 If you answered, "Yes,"

 What is your favorite part of Bok Tower Gardens?

The Tower

from wikipedia

"The Singing Tower is the centerpiece of the gardens. The tower was built at the highest elevation of the site, south of a reflection pool that allows the water to reflect its full image. A 60-bell carillon set within the 205-foot (62 m) tall, Gothic Revival and Art Deco tower that was designed by architect Milton B. Medary. Construction on the tower began in 1927 and was completed for the dedication of the gardens in 1929, when it was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge. The tower is 51 feet (16 m) square at its base, changing form at 150 feet (46 m) high to an octagon with 37 feet (11 m) sides that include sculptures designed by Lee Lawrie. The tower is surrounded by a 15-foot (4.6 m) moat that serves as a Koi pond. It is built of pink Etowah marble and gray Creole marble, mined in Tate, Georgia, and Florida native coquina stone, from Daytona Beach, Florida.

Although the tower's interior is not open to the public, it contains the Anton Brees Carillon Library, said to be the largest carillon library in the world.

Inside the bell chamber is a playing room that houses a clavier, or keyboard, that is used for playing the carillon bells. Recitals are given daily from the 60-bell carillon set."

A Peek Inside Bok Tower

The tower is not open to tours by the general public, but you can go inside virtually

 

Getting Married?

Have you considered getting married at Bok Tower? I did!

Eons ago, we got married at Bok Tower. It's cheap, it's gorgeous, non-denominational, and the gardens will forever have a special meaning to your family. How many other brides can say a historic landmark played just for them? Also, there are multiple locations to have your wedding inside the park! We got married at the highest point, by the overlook, but we got the idea from seeing a stunning, traditional Japanese wedding over by the tower, under the shade trees.

See more Bok Tower wedding collections here.

Contact Bok Tower for more information about having your wedding in the garden.

How To Recycle An Entire Plastic Bottle

Or at least make flowers that won't wilt in your garden!

Recycle, Reuse, New Life for a Plastic Bottle!

 This is a useful collection of three different art projects made from a single plastic bottle. Think it can't be done? Grab your scissors and utility knife and come with me!

1. Starting with the top of the bottle, this first project will add some cheer to the dark corners of your yard!

 I have a pretty planter next to my door, under my carport. Now, when I moved in, it seemed bright enough.
I was mistaken.
Can't keep flowers alive there. Can't even get orchids to bloom there, so it's been hanging there, empty for 5 years.
TACKY!
A lot of potential there, it's pretty, but I got nuthin'. The carport is apparently a dead zone.
But then I saw these:

Garbage Flowers

Creative Jewish Mom

Re-purposing Plastic for Spring Fashion Show

Plastic Bottle Flowers

Summer Window Display

I realized that the miracle of plastic will save the day!

Painting the, "flowers," is easy. If they're going to be outside in the elements, there are many spray paints that stick to plastic. I used Krylon on my plastic water barrels and they've been perfect for 4 years now in full Florida sun and a multitude of tropical rain storms.

If they aren't going to get wet, acrylic paint is fine.

Flower-making-before I paint, I do hit the petals real quick with a heat gun so they will forever stay open.

And there it is! For the first time in 5 years, there's color in the carport!

       2)   Re-purposing the Middle of a Plastic Bottle

Icicle Ornaments

Water Bottle Jewelry

Plastic Bottle Lights!

Mobiles

Camping Broom

Drip Irrigation in the Garden

       3)   The Flower End? 

Chandelier!

Curtains of Flowers

Dazzling Hanging Chandelier

Painted Chandelier

So there you have it!  You can completely use an entire plastic bottle to decorate you home or store front!

 

SCD Banana Pancakes!

Today I got a craving and somehow the stars were aligned and I actually had all the ingredients!  Crazy!

Banana pancakes!

Oh, you can't eat flour?  You can't digest syrup?  Gluten intolerant, right?  Hey, guess what?  No flour at all in this recipe! 

It's dead easy!  Melt some butter in a frying pan.  In a bowl or a blender (blender makes it fluffy but there won't be any banana chunks) mash a banana.  Add a couple of eggs.  The end.

If you want to go crazy, add a dash of vanilla, some cinnamon, and a handful of walnuts.  

Once it's cooked you can either eat it just like that or add honey.

Cauliflower Crust--Indian Style

Alright.  I'm going to warn you right up front that unless you already have a full collection of kitchen spices, you're going to HAVE to either visit your local Indian grocery or hit up Amazon.

PART ONE

Herb Companion

I have years of back issues of The Herb Companion, back when it was good.  In December 1992 - January 1993, the Herb Companion picked the winners of their Great Spaghetti Cook Off!  I want everyone to know that one of those recipes, the one by Leesa Townsend of Aurora, Oregon changed MY life and the lives of everyone for whom I've cooked her winning Calcutta Pizza Sauce.



Here's the recipe:

2 tbls butter

1 1/2 tbls cumin

1 tbls paprika

3 cloves minced garlic

2 tbls ginger

2 seeded and minced jalapeno peppers

3 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes (canned works fine)

1 tsp ground cardamom (have you ever added this spice to your apple pies?  DO it!)

1/2 tabls garam masala (don't panic)

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup cream (I skip this because of my IBS)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat it, let it cook 30 minutes, add dairy, serve on rice.

Except I can't eat rice.  It doesn't hate me as bad as wheat hates my guts but I don't want to be all bloated from stupid rice.  How can I make this SCD diet compatible?

PART TWO

Cauliflower Crust

Well this stuff is THE rage, isn't it?  Cauliflower crust pizza, all paleo and SCD and carb free.  Of COURSE I tried making pizza with it

and it's ok.  It will never be bread that holds together but it's serviceable.  It would much rather fall apart than be firm.

It's a simple recipe.  And ground up caulifower seems promisingly versatile, doesn't it? All you have to do is squeeze out the moisture

add spices, cheese, and an egg and it should become anything, right?

But you can see that it's just not going to survive being picked up.  But the real problem is that it tastes like cauliflower.  

So I said, "Self, what food works with cauliflower?"
"Hmmmm," I responded.  "Hey, what about Indian!"
Ok so, Indian sauce on the cauliflower crust!  But then what?

Well, February/March 1993 not only did garam masala but it did paneer!  So I made paneer for the top!  And by the way, if you don't have some onion seeds for making naan or even cauliflower fake pizza, then YOU are missing OUT!  Anyway, I've been making my own garam masala for years, it's dead easy!  

Grind together:

2 1/2 tbls cardamom pods

4 tbls cumin seeds

5 tbls coriander seeds

1/4 tsp mace

2 tbls peppercorns

1 1/2 tbls cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1/4 tsp ginger

1 tbl nutmeg

and the end result is:

So give this a try next time you feel like having a healthy Indian lunch!

AND
here is is with pesto, tomato slices, and feta cheese:

Next?
BACON!

Making Collars for Kittens

Today I made some DIY collars.  These are just to look pretty in the cage, to capture some interest and get adopted faster.  In theory, I'll be getting these back before the kit leaves for their new home but I know how that goes so I'm making a lot.
I've been trying ribbons around their necks and hot gluing bows and store-bought ribbon flowers to the collars but that's not my best work.  Today is better!

 First, I have a lifetime of ribbon already.  I'm old and I've been sewing since high school.  I've got surplus ribbon, no problem.  Those curls?  Ain't that great?  I discovered that last week and just finally got around to trying it this morning!

Making Curly Ribbon

roll the ribbon on to a dowel, secure with clothespins, into the oven at 275F for 25 minutes

 Then I just sewed them together

 Had the sequined elastic already, knew I'd need it one day

 And there it is on a kitten!

Made some extras and will have to get out there and top off on supplies!  Guess what I've found?
Fold over elastic!
Apparently, it's used for headbands and hair scrunchies.  I found some at JoAnn Fabric.  Very little for too much money.  I hear Micheal's sells it.  It's also, of course, online.

Here's some with ruffles:

Kitten update:  Zydeco and Confetti have been adopted! 



Dress us YOUR kitten with glow in the dark nail caps!

Kitten Names-Mardi Gras Name for Kittens

We have a new group of foster kittens!  Mardi Gras is March 4th this year and I'm already feeling the call of The Crescent City.  I love New Orleans!  The food is second only to Paris, France.  The city is just steeped in history, lots of old buildings still in use.

Original old hitching post

Gas lamps

Crypts, not as nice as France, but definitely very very Parisian

and voodoo!

Come meet The Mystick Crewe!

Praline is the only girl in the family

Why Confetti?

That's why.

 

and Zydeco!

I made a list of other potential names for Mardi Gras.  I might need them again!  You might have some Mardi Gras themed kittens coming your way next!  Laissez les bons temps rouler!

 

Rex
Acadia
Cajun
Beignet
Pierre LeBeau

Marie LeChat
Boudreaux
Jazzy
Bayou
Jambalaya
Mambo
carnival
Mardi gras
Nola
Beauregard

Another thing I love about New Orleans?  I love beignets!  And I love mine more than I love Cafe du Monde.  Why?  Ok, people don't like to talk about it but, look, it's a very old city.  It's built all up, no space for modern conveniences.  Between the drunks on Bourbon Street and the dumpsters practically on the sidewalk, Cafe du Monde pretty much smells like vomit.  Not a great thing to eat at an outdoor cafe that smells of puke.  We stood gagging in the looooooong line (I got a pressed penny too), got our beignets in a bag full of sugar, and started walking.  The only way to eat them is away from the smell!  They wash the streets with pleasant smelling soap every morning but sorry, it still reeks.  So make beignets at home, they're dead easy!  The secret to deep frying is get your oil to about 375F.  Too low, it's greasy, too high it burns on the outside, raw on the inside.  They use cottonseed oil at Cafe du Monde, change it every week.  You want to get there while the oil is seasoned though so check when they change the oil.  Same with your own, the first, I'd say 3 batches will not be as good as the 4th.

MAKE THIS DOUGH THE NIGHT BEFORE SERVING!

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 C warm water (100 to 115 degrees F)
• 1/2 C granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 C evaporated milk
• 7 C all-purpose flour
• 1/4 C butter
• Oil for deep frying
• Powdered Sugar for dusting (or burying, depending on taste) AND my secret ingredient-pinch of nutmeg!

I always proof my yeast, meaning I mix it, the warm water, and the sugar, and then wait 5 minutes.  If it rises, it's all good.  If not, I know that pack of yeast is dead and I can toss it and not waste any other ingredients.   Used to be, old timey yeast HAD to be proofed to work.  We've had active dry yeast for how many years now in the store?  I don't think you can even buy the old stuff anymore.  FYI--I hear it makes a better tasting bread.  If you can find the old style yeast, try it, but proof it first. 
Mix this all together, cover in a BIG bowl (it's going to double or more) then put it in the refrigerator until morning.  I've kept it up to a week because this recipe makes 3-4 dozen.  Even if it starts to ferment, ain't nuthin' wrong with sourdough beignets! 

The next morning, heat your oil then start rolling out dough on a lightly floured board 1/8-inch thick. Cut the rolled out dough into strips 2 to 3-inches wide, then cut again in the opposite direction and at an angle, making diamond shapes.  Drop them into the hot oil.  Turn them when they're golden, drop into paper bag with powdered sugar and a touch of nutmeg or a big bowl and shake powdered sugar and nutmeg over top.  For me, the nutmeg makes this recipe.  Taste it both ways, serve it how you like it.  

Is it Paleo?  NO!  

Does it make me sick?  Yes! 

Even in New Orleans?  Yes!  I had to run for the hotel and I barely made it.

But is it worth it?  OH HELL YES!