Fall foliage around home captured on 26th October with cell phone.

Here in Cary fall foliage is in its peak colorful phase. As predicted  in September  this years colors are extra bright and vibrant. Today morning I walked  around home, 50-60 ft  distance along side wooded area. I enjoyed several fall color shades, picked up few fall colored leaves, got them home, made collage. It was wonderful feeling.  All images are captured with cell phone, Enjoy.

Panicled Aster flower that blooms in fall.

Upside down fallen leaf, I turned it and took one more image.

Fall season beauty of Dogwood tree, deep maroon colored leaves.

Assorted fall colored leaves from 7-8 different trees.

Fall color shades of Sweet gum Tree leaves.

Ten Fall colored assorted leaves picked from the front yard.(One unique Tri-Colored Red Maple Leaf)

On September 3rd, I  opened the front door to feel the fresh air, noticed few fall colored leaves were fallen over the lawn. I picked  few leaves, spent around 10 minutes in arranging them on the  side walk surface, took few images. One of the Carolina red maple leaf  was very unique with its tri-colored pattern. I also got one tiny red maple leaf, these two leaves made a beautiful pair. It was refreshing to spend just ten minutes outdoors observing fall colored leaves.

Curry leaf plant containers invaded by Amaranth plants and grass. [Black and White Wednesday #138]

I have few containers with  small curry leaf plants, they all survived this passed harsh winter. After April month I took them out of  garage, within few days containers  were invaded by Amaranth plants and grass. It looked pretty so I let them grow until now. Soon I will clear all the pots so that curry leaf plants start growing freely, hope this year they all grow bigger and stronger. I am sending this black and white image to Susan at The Well Seasoned cook, who is hosting this weeks BWW #138. She is  also the founder of this event. Currently Cinzia of Cindystar looks after all admin duties. Next week Lynne will be hosting BWW #139  at Cafelynnylu.

  Black and White Wednesday Event #138

Pleasant morning after the thunderstorm in Triangle...Beautiful mess of fallen leaves around the home.

Yesterday evening we had severe thunderstorm with heavy rains, it lasted for about 20 minutes but did lot of damage around city. It dumped lot of tiny branches, leaves, tree bark pieces, pine cones, twigs around my home. Today morning when I opened the front door, I saw one tiny single Sweetgum tree leaf  resting on  the door sill (Umbartha/Dehleez). My door mat was covered with pine tree leaves, tiny twigs. It was a beautiful sight to watch. I strolled around home to see more  fallen leaves, they were  at every step. I took few  pictures with new point and shoot camera, Canon Power shot-110, scroll down to enjoy. What did I cook on this beautiful morning for lunch box and breakfast? Check the last image.

Sweetgum tree leaf.

Assorted fallen leaves.

Two insect made holes on the leaf reminded me

 of "Jadoo Alien" from movie Koi Mil gaya.

This big pine tree branch fell down in wooded portion near home,

fallen pine tree branch.

Chinkapin Oak tree leaf.

Sweet gum tree branch landed over front lawn.

 Sweetgum Tree leaves cluster on the road.

Tulip Poplar / Yellow poplar tree leaves landed over green weed, 

blanket (Oxalis /wood sorrel)Click image to see 4 tiny mushrooms.

sweetgum tree branch fallen on the road.

undrained standing water over lawn.

Small piece of  tree bark skin and scattered pieces of mulch.

Pine cone landed over front lawn.

Sweet gum tender fruit, I have collected dried ones during 

winter but this is first time saw green fruit.

I found  sweetgum  fruit hanging in the middle of leaves, kept

it  beside above fruit and took image.

while strolling around home I saw this contrail getting formed in the sky.

On this beautiful morning I prepared instant multi grain dosas/ crepes with flour combination of Buckwheat, Besan, Ivory Teff, and corn. I seasoned it with white portions of scallion onions,  tiny red shallots, cumin, green chilies, ginger. In the batter I used good quantity of yogurt. I packed them for lunch with Matki + Millet Usal and ate them  for breakfast with Chipotle hummus. I will make new post for detail recipe.

Fall season inspired Spicy Cluster Beans stir fry. [Black and White Wednesday #113]

I cooked this cluster bean stir fry  on one beautiful fall morning  in November. This was weather inspired simple stir fry with sauteed onions, spiced with whole and crushed black peppers. Red wine vinegar and Honey was used to bring sweet and sour taste. Addition of mini colored peppers made nice color contrast over bright green pre-boiled  sliced Cluster beans/ Gavar. This simple recipe can be adapted for several other vegetable stir fries.

I am submitting this image to Black and White Wednesday #113, January 22nd 2014, which will be hosted by Susan of  The Well Seasoned Cook, who is also a founder of this event. Now Cinzia of Cindystar looks after admin duties for this event. Next BWW event #114, January 29th 2014 will be hosted by Simona of briciole. For all  rules and future event details please check Cinzia's Post.

Black and White Wednesday Event #113

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on Parsley herb Plant. [Black and White Wednesday #102]

This week for Black and White Wednesday event I am submitting image of Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on parsley stem. In September month I spotted one Caterpillar on parsley herb plant which is growing in the pot along with chives. I  gently lifted  caterpillar along with stem and moved it over the lawn but next day it returned back on parsley plant. It looked very pretty with black stripes, yellow dots over bright light Green body. After googling  I was pleasantly surprised to know that the same caterpillar transforms into a beautiful  Black swallowtail butterfly.

Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook who is also a founder of this event is hosting Black and White Wednesday #102. Now Cinzia of  Cindystarblog  looks after admin duties for Susan's Black and White Wednesday Event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #103, 30th October-2013- Hallowen Edition) will be hosted by Lynne  of  CafeLynnylu. 

Caterpillar took  three hours to finish eating one stem of Parsley.

I had plucked and placed it over  side walk, later moved it over mulch.

(Check lower right image for end result.)

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #102, 23rd October-2013

Sliced Zucchini - Black and White Wednesday #100

Tomorrow, 9th October 2013,  Black and White Wednesday event  will be celebrating its 100th  Edition. Cinzia  of  Cindystarblog is  hosting this event who also takes care of admin duties for this event. Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook is a founder of this event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post  here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #101, 16th October-2013) will be hosted by Urvashi of  BuddingHomeMaker.

This week I am submitting my 15th Black and White image. It was a great joy to participate in this event, it added a unique personality to my blog, initiated more creativity and helped me to improve food photography. Thanks to Susan , Cinzia and all the bloggers who hosted this event and shared their beautiful images. My this weeks image is  sliced Zucchini. I clicked this image before cooking  stir fry for lunch. I love to cook with Zucchini for its taste, texture and green and white color contrast. 

Sliced Zucchini

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #100

Home made Purple Sweet Potato Chips and Plantain Chips {Black and White Wednesday # 95}

This week for Black and White Wednesday event I am submitting image of  home made Purple sweet potato chips and plantain chips.  I made these chips over labour Day long weekend for evening  tea time snack. I had two green raw Plantains and one  purple sweet potato, It took me around 45 minutes to prepare these deep fried chips. I simply peeled the skin of plantains and sweet potato, directly sliced it over oil Kadhai. My slicer blade makes extra thin slices. Per banana I got above 100 chips and total yield was little over two cups. Sweet potato, I got 1.5 cups chips. I seasoned  chips with  extra fine ground sea salt.

Deepali  from Lemon In Ginger  is hosting Black and White Wednesday Event #95. Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook is a founder of this event. Now Cinzia of  Cindystarblog is a new admin for Susan's Black and White Wednesday Event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #96, 11th Sept-2013) will be hosted by Haalo  of  Cook allmost anything.

Home made Purple Sweet Potato chips & Plantain Chips

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #95, 4th Sept-2013