What a Difference

 Organic ingredients include: kale, parsnips, celery, zucchini, cucumber, apple, yellow beet, peppers, lemon, parsley, and ginger. I generally use half a bunch of parsley, and if I can find organic cilantro, I add a bit of that too...

Shocking Kermit Green Once you find the proper amount of each ingredient to satisfy your taste buds, it's a tasty drink.

Fruit Smoothies another powerhouse drink. Great for breakfast.

Juicing is popular these days for good reason.  Benefits for the above ingredients are as follows: lemon purifies the blood and a two tablespoons of parsley fulfills your Vitamin C requirement for the day. Cilantro reportedly removes heavy metals from the body. Of course, kale is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. Celery helps to lower blood pressure and the list of benefits goes on and on...

The above produce was for more than one person, but wine glass full is enough. I've been juicing since February and it has boosted my energy. Plus I've been told, it makes your eyes sparkle.
On the flip side, it quickly and completely flattens the kitchen, but I think it's worth it!


 Arrival...

 I'm certain I have enough knitting patterns to last me for two lifetimes.  But I couldn't resist this fabulous collection from NNK. Also enclosed another beautifully printed pattern for a cloche and this cute and clever gauge checker/bookmark.


 Happy Canada Day!!!

And finally to my great neighbours in the United States of America have a safe and Happy 4th!

Peaceful Steps

 The ferns are tall and beautiful now.

Many years ago, a random conversation brought to my ears the startling revelation that the woods are terrifying for some people. I laughed only because I thought the man that was telling me this was kidding, but it soon became apparent that he was not. Although he found the (dark) woods terrifying, he said he felt safe walking the streets in any city any time of the day or night!  And so I learned that what brings peace to one person does not necessarily bring peace to another.

Unlike my acquaintance, I grew up with the woods in my backyard, and so, for me, it was always a place of wonder, discovery, and a refuge. No doubt there were many dangers lurking, but I always felt safe. (Fearless youth.) These days coyotes have trotted all the way across the country, and on the way have bred with the timber wolf.  Perhaps if I had grown up knowing that they were a part of the landscape, I'd feel more at ease. Of course, animal attacks of any kind are not prevalent, but depending on where I am going and how far I'm hiking it's probably wise (both then and now) to buddy up before starting out.

Blue Flag Iris

Yellow Flag Iris

 A few lines from Robert Frost...

                                                The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

                                                But I have promises to keep,   

                                                And miles to go before I sleep,   

                                                And miles to go before I sleep.

  Making...

The State of Things

Since I'm a fan of Downton Abbey, I thought I'd make this Edwardian Kitchen Garden Cake. After reading the recipe, I discovered the cake is salt free and vanilla free. Not the type of recipe that I am used to but I decided to forge ahead.  Missing a springform pan, I used a quiche dish.  
What a moist, tasty cake it turned out to be! As you can see the icing sugar got away from me. (In the scheme of things what's a few hundred extra calories?)


On the needles...

Not a lot of progress because a Diva house guest kept me up for three nights running. And after being here more than a week, she still refuses to shut it down at a decent time. She stands outside the bedroom door and yells and she doesn't care to sleep with anyone and wants what she wants now. 

 And so of  late, even though the pattern is easy, it's been knit five rows and take out six or seven.

  Thankfully Whoo, my morale boosting knitting buddy recently arrived to save the day. You can find one here.

Now without further adieu allow me introduce Diva Sadie, the tortoise shell Tabby cat.

                             Wearing her Kitty caps, Sadie looks self-satisfied and innocent. 
 Caps or no caps the mat is now in shreds, but the lady of the house said, that's okay as long as I am happy. (K, I freely admit it:  I find decorum tedious, but when it suits my fancy, I can be truly loveable...sigh...)

 

Yo, you..yea you... sup with this tiny stool? This dang place is going to the dogs.

Garden Oasis

I love to garden.  And I find it liberating to pitch the gloves and just dig in.  For me, planting seeds and watching them grow lifts and nurtures the spirit, enhances my sense of wonder; promotes peace and satisfaction, and when I planted vegetables there was the added bonus of pure freshness. These days I only start Nasturtiums and Morning Glories from seed, but I am still enthusiastic about gardening.

 I keep saying that I am going to limited the number of containers I plant. After all, if I plant too many, the water brigade usually falters.  Perhaps I am a slow learner, but in recent years I've discovered that if I live in a area with good ventilation the best time to water is in the early evening. Then as I walk through the door in the morning, while taking that furtive glance over my shoulder at the pots outside, I catch a glimpse of quilt free beauty. The flowers, instead of giving me that droopy fatalistic look that emphatically states it's all over but the crying, sing halleluiahs. And the grateful Sweet Alyssum sings the loudest. Preferring cool temperatures, Alyssum craves extra water in the summer. It's a prissy plant that needs grooming, too, but if I treat it especially well, this year, the new variegated leafed variety just might bloom all summer.  Time will tell.

P.S.  I caved and bought more plants today ~ so much for the manicure and something called limits...

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."

Mahatma Gandhi

Catching the Drift

A hearty gathering of bird stories and lore.

When it comes to knitting and books, I always have a few projects/books on the go. I've tried over the years to finish one thing before I begin another, but I do like to drift.  Besides, at this point in my life, I don't want to out do, hurry or worry what's good, but I'm not always successful. And I do find certain half-read books need to age, and that gives me time to reflect and consider--to open to the possibilities.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love hearing about other people's favourite books.  A Gift From The Sea is a book that was recommended to me. (Thank you, Penny.)  Although the book was written in the 50's, it's still relevant, pithy and near the end prophetic. (But, then, perhaps life for people in different time periods has always moved too fast.)

Moving on... the redundant use of the word one does tend to annoy. But even that is forgiveable because the book flings open the windows and doors and lets in the light.  It's, among a myriad of other things, about relationships, community, living in the now, simplicity, seeing and understanding; idleness, meditation and reflection, exploration, growth, balance, spirituality and the wait, and how tuning into nature fuels creativity, and, above all, it points to the importance of taking the time to nurture the soul as we journey.  Metaphorically speaking, it's a full catch!


After drifting from there to here, I usually feel renewed:  my eyes are open wider, my thoughts run clearer, and if I am lucky, I feel as though I've taken on a little gold. After reading the Gift From The Sea and The Faithful Gardener, I can safely say: mission accomplished.

 What's in bloom and what's on the grow...

Corn on the rise.

A stand of birch. Not quite enough for a new canoe.

 A smile to share... The man driving the car with these plates told me that his Dad bought the car in 2004, and that his Dad was the second driver in Canada to own a Smart car.
       

Yesterday, I read about Google's new car. It's a car without the usual trappings; apparently, you call it and it takes you where you want to go.

"The times they are [certainly] a changin." Dylan

Enjoy the weekend...

Woodland Hike

Roses are red; violets are gorgeous! Although I don't have a picture, luckily, I happened upon  a few yellow violets, too.

Sunny highlights for the white trillium.

Fiddleheads about to unfurl.

These pictures were taken about a week or so ago. Thankfully, the leaves are out now and the apple trees are blooming.

Two Nations

Thanks to the Queen of The Netherlands approximately one million tulips are now blooming throughout the city of Ottawa, attracting visitors from the city, the country, and, of course, from all of the world.

Last week blooms were scarce, so off I went again this weekend to discover that parking was beyond limited. As a matter-of-fact, it was impossible to get near the area that I wanted to be in without taking a shuttle. The good news: the pictures I took last week provide a clear view of the gardens.

The Man With Two Hats symbolic of the two Nations

Primrose Paths

The days are lovely now. Yesterday the temperature rose to 26C or 78F; a warm breeze caressed and the leaves on the trees popped out to celebrate the sun. Even the magnolia tree across the street, that I was certain had lost its buds in April because of the cold, burst into bloom. To top it off, the greenhouses are open. If I am lucky, I  sometimes find a few treasures that I've never seen first hand before such as the Ranunculus or Persian buttercup that I will share a picture of later, that is, I don't kill it with kindness.

Generally, it takes me a few days to cover the greenhouse circuit.  After all, touring greenhouses is a meditative pleasure of the savory kind.  While I stroll up and down the aisles, sometimes wayward hummingbirds dart to and from the flower baskets certain, as they sup, that they've found heaven. 

One of my favourite spring poems.

And in case you haven't seen it, here's a great link for the beautiful and free Styling Magazine by Coty Farquhar - Australia.
                                                                        

Enjoy the weekend!

Market Finds

Original painted in 1883

The Flea Markets have opened for the season, so on the weekend off I went. I haven't been to the markets for years, and, frankly, I was surprised by all the booty.  Among other things, I couldn't resist this print. As you can see the frame has pulled away at the top, but I am hoping it can be easily fixed. (If you happen to be a framer or have any suggestions, please leave a comment.) Also, the glass was scratched in several places, but a buffing with toothpaste on a soft cloth did the trick.

I found the name of the print thanks to Google. To Pastures New is by the Scottish painter James Guthrie. As soon as I saw this print, I knew I'd be taking it home.

I also have my eyes on a Limoges tea set, (too expensive for me, but I may make an offer next week if it is still there) and I'd love to own an antique secretary desk. Actually, there was a beautiful desk that an astute lady bought while I was admiring it.  Apparently, if you snooze you lose.
 
* * *
On the needles...

Year One ~ Reflections

Celebrator fare:  green tea and French Madelines.

I can't believe it! One year has passed since I started blogging. Although the time has flown by, in the beginning, like most new bloggers, I agonized over every post; but I am glad I took the leap because I've learned a lot and I've met some fabulous folks.

Not that I wasn't looking before, but this year, in particular, I've wandered across so many beautiful blogs that I really enjoy reading. Thank you bloggers!  

Finally, my hat goes off to those bloggers who post informative posts everyday or nearly everyday, with great pictures and content and still care about and find time to stop by to visit the new kids on the block. Long may you run!

Thanks for reading...

Water Colours

 While the turkey cooks, I've been having fun with an app called Waterlogue and I couldn't resist sharing a pic.

Enjoy Easter Sunday. I hope it's bright and sunny where you are!