April showers bring May flowers

As the weather warms up, the flowers have started to open and are providing a beautiful display in the garden.  It's a good time to get out and experiment with our macro lens. This allows me to get up closer which has been fun to experiment with.  As well, I've been watching videos that teach how to add "softness" to the macro photo's using plastic bags, seran wrap or tissue paper. I'm sure other items can be used as well.  I like the effect and have had fun experimenting.

With the dandilions in full bloom, I decided to experiment and see what I could come up with.  Getting in close certainly offers a different perspective.  Adding a little water was fun to try as well.  What I found interesting was that the addition of moisture caused the seed pod to "close up" as time progressed.  The water drop was added using a syringe and a very small amount of water.  It took several tries before I could get it to stay on.  It's a good way to pass the time.

As the days are warming up the tulips are starting to fade. It's sad how quickly they start to die with the heat that we have been having. Since Ralph and I have been cleaning up the gardens I took advantage of adding some to a vase so that we could enjoy them a little longer.

I love Allium as they remind me of a ball filled with tulips.  Since Ralph and I cleaned out the garden I have a pail with over 100 allium bulbs.  We left a few in the garden to bloom and I have stored the rest in the shed to plant in the fall.  

As I was working in the garden I discovered a snail on one of my plants.  Normally these are treated as pests and they are quickly picked off and "stepped on" as they tend to eat the leaves and can be a real menance in the garden.  I was so excited to see the small snail that I quickly forgot about gardening and raced into the house to get my camera.  The Lord has taught me to get joy out of the small things.  I had so much fun photographing this guy.  I didn't step on him after either as I felt bad about killing him so I plucked him off the plant and put him in my "paper bag" filled with weeds and figured he could eat to his hearts content before being sent off to the disposal site for composting.

We continue to enjoy the birds.  There is such a variety this year.  Our birding book is getting good use.  The cardinals are regular visitors as are the purple finches.  We've had both male and female grosbeaks which was really nice to see.  Sadly they have left and most likely headed a little further north.  We had some excitement when the hawk swooped in and captured a dove.  While it was exciting to see it was also sad. At the same time, the hawk needs to eat as well and we need to keep that in mind.

We were blessed earlier this week with a "social distance" visit from John and Grace.  It's so nice to spend time with each other.  We've planned out our rounds of golf using our Under Pars and look forward to weekly golf all together starting next week for the following two months.  I hope that Rob Ford will continue to let us golf and that people practice social distancing so that we are all able to be out enjoying the beautiful weather.

I am so thankful that golf season has started has started for the ladies as well and we are able to get out again.  We're being careful practicing our social distancing.  We enjoyed an after round cocktail at Claudia's afterwards which was very nice.  I've missed being together.

We've had a bit of rain this week allowing me some more time to practice my photography.  I love water droplets and its fun to see what can be captured either after the storm or in some cases during the storm.  Yesterday I went out 4 times trying to capture the "perfect" shot hah hah...Needless to say I got pretty wet but thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:1

A week of firsts

I've always loved the idea of baking bread.  The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven makes my mouth water.  Since I try to be careful with my weight, bread is often a long desired comfort food which is usually avoided unless we are out for dinner and then enjoyed as a treat.

This past week I decided to attempt to make some.  As I usually do, I have been researching recipes on the internet (youtube) and also watching what others are posting on Facebook.  Katrina Speelman is an enviable baker and I dream of producing something at the same level.  I finally found a recipe that looked simple enough so, I made my first attempt.

I didn't have all the correct tools, but Ralph was gracious enough to let me use his "drywall trowel" which I used in place of the bread scraper.  The bread was baked in my Le Creuset pan and followed a "steam method" which contained two simple steps.  The first step included the bread cooking in the pan with the "lid on" and then a final step with the "lid off".  The final result was a "lovely" round loaf.

This recipe produced a nice crusty bread which had lots of air bubbles inside and tasted so good.  I have made this recipe two more times varying the ingredients (once with sesame seeds on the top and another with garlic and cheese).  I will definately continue making this recipe.  There are only 4 ingredients used which included flour, yeast, salt and water. I have included the link in case you are interested in trying.

https://www.jennycancook.com/recipes/faster-no-knead-bread/

Since I was inspired by my success with the bread, I decided to make some Creme Brulee to enjoy with our dinner.  I still had a vanilla pod in my cupboard and had some whipping cream in the fridge. What a perfect way to use up these ingredients. I had ordered the cream for some soup that I had made and I had enough still to make the dessert.  The vanilla pod was a little "old and crispy" but since they said to put the pod in the pan with the cream after scraping out the seeds I figured we could put the pod in and simply soften it up in the cream.  It worked ok.  It's at times like this that we have to be creative.   The end result was 4 pots of deliciousness with a few blueberries to top them off.  Enough for two meals.  Yummy!

I've started tackling one of my gardens and plan a complete overhaul.  Over the years it has gotten very messy and out of control.  I've spent two days digging and I'm not even halfway.  That's a good indication of how much work is needed.  It feels satisfying though to be outside and accomplishing something.  I love speaking with all my neighbours and those walking their dogs (all at a distance).  Everyone is so friendly right now and I believe that this virus is bringing us back together.  God definately has a plan with this.

We've continued to watch and enjoy the birds.  I must say that there are plenty more this year than what we have seen in the past or maybe it's because we have stopped to take the time to sit and relax and enjoy them.  We really do get a lot of pleasure seeing them come to feeders and fly around in the yard.  We have multiple orioles visiting and 1 in particular is very friendly often coming right up to the back door to look in.  Ralph often whistles to him and he whistles back. It's so cute.  This week has been filled with new birds.  We've had both male and female grosbeaks, white crowned sparrows, male and female orioles, hummingbirds, bald and not so bald cardinals, yellow finches, purple finches and blue jays. Today we also had a visit from a Cape May Warbler (found it using my google app). It feels like we have our own aviary.  If you asked us the names of these birds 3 years ago we wouldn't have known them.

Friday we had our bible study.  We were asked to memorize the following verse which I thought would be a good way to finish this blog post:

1 Peter 5: 7-9

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

The pandemic marches on...

As I was cleaning up the spare room, I came across this poem.  To me it is a good reminder to simply slow down and come to God first.

The Difference

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

And heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?"

I wondered.

He answered, "you didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

but the day toiled on,

gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning, and

paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish that

I had to take time to pray.

Author Unknown

It's been a quiet week.  I've puttered in the garden and am happy to see the veggies and seeds that were planted are now starting to come more predominant.  It gives me a feeling of satisfaction.  On Wednesday, Ralph and I created a makeshift greenhouse underneath our glass outdoor table.  We moved all the pots that had seeds and/or bulbs planted in them in an effort to protect them from the colder weather coming over the next couple of days.

We are seeing more and more birds as the warmer weather arrives. (hopefully soon)  The Oriole's are back and are regular visitor's to the feeder.  It's so nice to hear them announce their arrival.  They are frequent visitors to the backdoor peeking into the kitchen.  When Ralph whistles to them, they sing back in reply.  It's so cute to see and hear.   We're hoping to see the Hummingbirds soon.  The feeder is up and ready for them. There are plenty of Finches and its fun to watch them battling each other for a turn at the food.

One thing that I have noticed is that robins love to take baths.  They are in our bird bath every day.  As soon as the robin goes in, other birds come and sit on the side and enjoy the splashing that it makes.  Even the squirrels take advantage and wait their turns to get a drink once in a while.

I've enjoyed seeing the hosta's reach for the sky and take pleasure in seeing the trilliums come into bloom.  Normally at this time of year, we are commenting on all of the trilliums along the side of the highway as we drive up to Cardinal for our golf game.  I'll have to enjoy these few in our yard instead this year.

I've been reading a few books this week.  I read Sister Dear and  Shadowed, both which are written by Christian authors.  It passes the time and I've been able to sit outside while reading as well to take advantage of the sunshine.

Since Covid-19 we've been saving corks from wine bottles that we consumed.  (LOL just kidding...at least 5 years worth) We have quite a few and I've been trying to think of what we could make with them. I contemplated making a wall hanging of some sort or maybe a few trivets to use on the table.  In the end we opted to make a bird house.  Ralph helped me and together we crafted a "fun and rustic" looking home for the sparrows that are in our yard. Some of them stay year round, so we thought we'd "add" another home to the neighbourhood.