Composting, Another Good Thing

Composting suits my recycling nature.
 We do our own here which starts in the kitchen.  I have this nice little container kept under the sink  for all the table raw scraps.  I never include meat, bones, or cooked food.

 This then gets dumped into the two outdoor bins.

This is a photograph from several summers ago.  I was able to get the best soil ever from these bins.  Hubby had not bothered to clear out the soil for a number of years and it had formed itself into the best that I have ever seen.  The flower and vegetable patches benefited greatly that year.

 There is a little work to the process as most days the material in the bins must be turned with a pitch fork and also watered if the weather is dry.  Even with lots of vigilance, it takes ages for most things to completely break down and for you to see the fruits of your labour as real soil.  Corn cobs for instance are still recognizable for years.  Along with the brown (table scraps) we have to remember to include green, so we add grass clippings from time to time in the summer.

You can buy products that will speed up the decomposing process and there are lots of helpful sites around the internet.  Over at the EDEN PROJECT you can read 10 great tips on getting kitchen composting right.  I learned that you can add egg cartons or a little cardboard to the mixture.

Snakes also love to curl up inside our bins which luckily Hubby had warned me about.  One day I found the most beautiful pale lemon snake in one.  It was huge so definitely frightening but snakes don't scare me.  I have two members of the family who have real phobias about snakes; this property would not be the place for them! Snakes are spotted all over, in the garage, barn, greenhouse.  I was unable to identify that snake; Hubby thinks it was a corn snake.

And speaking of snakes...

My first snake sighting for 2015.  It is a young garter snake hanging around the last of the garage woodpile.






We've had a problem with skunks getting into the compost bins once.  Whatever had been thrown out must have had meat of some kind to attract them. They managed to make a hole in one side, dig a tunnel and drag out a lot of the material.  The next day, I wound up shovelling all the stuff back in that they had pulled out.
It is the strangest thing but I don't notice much of a smell from these bins.  Maybe because the material is not meat of any sort.  There are always lots of flies in them though.

Beating The Sugar Habit and Winter is Dead; Long Live Summer

Today fighting the usual demons, in particular sloth and gluttony, which are sins but thankfully not mortal ones or a lot of folks would be in serious trouble.  I have my reasons for the sloth; if you have tried keeping up with an 18 month old recently for a couple of days, then you will understand.  The next day you deserve a little slothfulness.  So I have earned the sloth one but no excuse at all for the gluttony.  Just seems some days are hungrier than others.  I just try to keep myself busier on those days or else I would live in the light of the fridge combing the shelves for munchies.

My new favourite apples...Pink Ladies, very crisp and sweet. They also tend to be a larger apple which makes for a more filling snack.

Lunch often and I have to say this is filling...pita bread with peanut butter and banana.  I've eaten an orange just about every day this winter; this is a blood orange.

I  read recently that 60% of women suffer from TAT.  What is that you ask?  It is Tired All the Time Syndrome. Would you happen to be one of the 60% ? In this house though, it is Hubby who has mild TAT. We are in a discussion about iron.  I posed a concern because we eat very little red meat which means his iron levels could be depressed.  He understood old folks don't need extra iron.  We will have to do a little research.

Something I am trying hard to curb...sugar in my coffee and tea...still working on it.  I decided to use the half teaspoon to remind myself of how much sugar I was using.  I am now good with the half.  I know my tastebuds are finally adjusting because one day out and about, I absentmindedly put a whole packet of sugar in my coffee and I couldn't drink it...too sweet.  But you know what, this process has taken me almost a year.  Talk about old habits dying hard.

I am happy to show you this...my brave daffodils;  poor things were above ground but unopened for about a week.  One day of warmth and sun and finally like gardening magic....
                                           What a welcome sight!

"She turned to the sunlight
And shook her pretty head,
And whispered to her neighbour:

      "Winter is dead."

                       A.A. Milne




Good grief sure hope so.  Since writing this, I just heard of snow falling out in Alberta.  Fingers crossed it is not heading our way.

Spring Birding:The One That Got Away

What a treat to spy this fellow as I was driving along the other morning.  Not a car in sight so I was able to stop, back up and pull over safely.

The trouble was he sensed me behind him and kept winding a little further along.  I ended up following for a little while getting photos of bits of wing or legs till I finally got this picture. I was ready to give up because I didn't want to drive him away. It is the Great Blue Heron and I've tried many times in the past to get a decent photo of one. I glimpse them from time to time in our creek; once I went over my boots in water trying to get a photo but no luck. They are such awkward looking birds; look at the length of that thin neck and the even thinner legs!

That same morning I caught sight of a young Bald Eagle sitting high atop a tree.  Ditto for above, pulled over and got out to aim properly and the bird took flight the moment I did so.  Here's what I captured...

And then immediately it became far, far off

And when I got home and had a good look, I was disappointed I did not capture that white head.  It was a Bald Eagle but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
I also took photos of two wrens gathering straw for nests; they were mildly agitated by my presence and tried to lure me away.  However, their rather drab gray/brown colours blended so perfectly with the surrounding brush at this time of year, they were indistinguishable in the pictures.  I couldn't spot them at all; hopefully neither will any predators.  
The little red squirrels are out and about.  It is cute to watch them running around because they hold their tails aloft like little flags.

I watched this fellow through the kitchen window; don't know what he was munching on but spent quite a long time in the old fir tree chewing.  I suspect it was finding cones or buds of some sort.

Here is a really fun book for us birders.  The Backyard Birdsong Guide by Donald Kroodsma offers the recorded songs of  75 of the most common birds in our area.  This book was a gift to me and I think it was bought at Costco; I've gotten a lot of enjoyment from it and I'm sure anyone who likes birds will also like it.
With nary a leaf in sight yet, it is still good opportunities for bird sightings.

Alice Munro Revisited

This is an interesting list to have.  I picked it up in the library the other day and I was curious to see how many books I had read.  I had read just over half of them but what surprised me was that I had never heard of several of them.  This was good news for me, a few more authors to add to my own reading list.

Here is a book I revisited and did so happily because I have read that Alice's stories must be reread often to be fully enjoyed.
 I had read Runaway by Alice Munro before but wanted to take a second look when it was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.  I have to say up front and at risk of being branded a Canadian traitor that I don't enjoy everything Alice Munro writes.  Dare I say it but I even find some of the writing a bit contrived or yikes, even plodding by moments.  I have enjoyed some of her stories and to me, when they work, they work beautifully, and those are what makes me turn to her books time and time again.
 The back of this particular book says they are stories about love but I don't think they are anything near as simple as that; perhaps love and aloneness would suit better.  See her quote below and you just know one word could never be the whole theme.

 I really like the idea that ordinary people living ordinary lives can provide fodder for interesting reading but some of Alice's stories leave me  baffled or maybe uncomfortable is a better word about the point of it all.
 I especially have an issue with her endings. A couple of these stories seemed to end in mid-air, as it were. Not at all satisfactory conclusions
Of course, she is very strong on characterization.  Her characters always seem like people you would know and some I empathize with.  However, even in saying this, they possess an elusive quality, there is something about them I need to know but haven't been informed of sort of thing...Oh my, I'm struggling with how exactly to word what I'm thinking here.
And  I do  feel that many of her characters have a private motto and that is "I fall down, I get up, I put one foot in front of the other and so my life journey continues." Which isn't exactly a bad thing; it is the way many of us navigate our time on earth.
 Truthfully I read the book a few months ago and made sparse notes thinking it would all stay in my brain.  I had "mild satisfaction" written up the side of the page which is not exactly a ringing endorsement but I must have enjoyed some of the stories more than others.
But many, many, many people have read these stories and absolutely, unequivocally adored them and the book won the Nobel Prize for goodness sakes, so what do I know.  

Sullivan's Floss and Hazel's Quilt Alongs

And here is what was in the mail a couple of weeks ago...

My seasons collection of Sullivans embroidery floss.  I used Sullivans' threads with a Crabapple Hill kit I worked a few years back and loved them.  Made of 100% Egyptian cotton, they are almost guaranteed not to tangle or fuzz.  The Sullivans web site offers a conversion chart and a selection of very nice free patterns; a link is Here
It is worth having a look.
I bought these embroidery threads to use with the new summer project I hope to begin soon.  I've had the information saved on my computer for a year now and decided Summer 2015 will be the time to get at it.

This is a BOM or quilt-along project that is a number of years old now, having been first offered in 2010 on the blog  Hazel's Diary  written by Shelly Pagliai and called "1953 Quilt-Along, Hazels' Summer Wildflowers".






You have the option of working each of the 6 blocks in two different ways, as a colourful bouquet as it were using many colours and stitches, or as a redwork project.  While redwork is one of my all time favourite things, I am going to try the mulitcoloured version of these patterns.  You can find the links for free downloads of the patterns at the Hazel blog, a most generous offering from the author. Shelly also offers examples of how to make smaller quilted projects of individual blocks. There is also a Hazel's Diary Flickr group you can check out where people are invited to submit photos of their versions of the quilt blocks. It is always interesting to see the many creative looks of the very same pattern.

 This Blog, The Life of Hazel Ilene, is a very interesting one.  It offers the day by day transcriptions of a diary written by Hazel, a rural farm girl in the 1950's, and it covers her high school to early married years.  I think it provides an interesting historical look into the life of an American teenaged girl of the times.

 Shelly is Hazel's daughter and she created this unique site as a tribute to her mom and being an accomplished quilter, also added her quilting tips, tutorials and patterns along the way.  As a result she has published as quilt-alongs, four of the quilts popular during her mother's era. There are free patterns and instructions to make all four BOM's and they are still available as downloads on the blog.

  But there is more. 
 Hazel writes in her diary about the meals she has to help her mother prepare and Shelly has included her mothers' recipes for the mentioned dishes.  I was interested in reading the jelly roll recipe for a 4 egg roll with a cream cheese mixture spread.
I, for one, have really enjoyed reading Hazels' entries and equally Shellys' annotated comments and quilting information.
What a wonderful tribute to a mother!

 

Life Is Short...Eat Cake

A brand new baby princess made me think about birthday cake and wonder what kind of cakes the Royals enjoy for their special days.  I already know what the Queen likes...chocolate and she's requested the same chocolate cake for her birthday for over 80 years.  You might be interested in reading the recipe FOR THE QUEEN'S FAVOURITE CHOCOLATE CAKE HERE.  I've never tried making it but you would think with a Royal chef using it, it ought to be good.

I love cake; I think of it as just the happiest of desserts. I wanted to show you a couple of cakes that I've found around the net that I  thought were a lot of fun.  I'm missing making one right now as Hubby's ban on desserts is holding.

 This first holds a surprise inside.
Made by Sally at Sally's Baking Addiction, a very slick blog with good baking happening, I think you will like it.




Yes, my goodness, a pinata Cake as it were, with goodies hidden within.  Sally gives the recipe and directions to make this special cake.  I imagine kids would love it and I know a certain grownup who would love anything chocolate tucked in there.
Of course, this has become a 'thing' now and these cakes are called Peekaboo Cakes with all manner of goodies hidden inside. You can find instructions all over the net on how  to tailor your cake to each of the special occasions or tastes.

Another unique cake and one I want to try  is this one.



It is Hector's version of Rose Levy Beranbaum's cake, Cran Raspberry Upside Down Cake featured in her book The Baking Bible.  The link to the post from Rose's blog, Real Baking With Rose, is HERE . It was made as a Christmas cake with cranberries on the bottom.  At home we could use partridgeberries instead.  This cake has caramel placed in the bottom of the pan before baking so the cranberries need no other sugar.  I love any combination of fruit and cake and I can picture many fruits that would be equally tasty. I have filed this one and I know I can get The Baking Bible from the library.




I just had to show you this top cake true to any stitcher's dream.  Buttons, fabric and more fabric (just the way it is in life for any quilter...you never have too much fabric) and with the little Singer sitting on top, it is a beauty of a cake.
And the bottom much more realistic Singer cake; what a fantastic tribute to 'Nanny' and look at the marvellous age she has attained!  See, sewing is good for you.

In this post Cake Boss era, cakes are just fancier and more elaborate all the time.  Some are so large, fantastically decorated and awe-inspiring, they are completely OTT, over the top, which is the whole idea, I guess.
But sometimes  I wonder how they actually taste loaded down as they are with all that fondant and marzipan.
Some of the shows featuring teams in cake decorating contests are fun to watch.  So much drama over getting multiple layers to stay upright...it is just the kind of t.v. viewing for a certain mood and I too find myself getting drawn in sometimes.

The Crochet Crowd and a Spring Beauty

My cross stitch project is moving right along.  Lately I've been working on the background flower motif that is a one strand half cross stitch in a pale gray colour.  A little hard to work because it shades differently depending on the light; hold the cloth one way and it almost can't be seen.  This made it difficult to photograph as well.

But it makes for an interesting background for the nest and bird and preferral to just leaving it a plain, empty space.
 I am trying to keep my mind blank regarding new projects but that is not easy.  There just seems to be more and more exceptional and beautiful kits, patterns, fabrics, etc. available.  What is a person to do!

As an example of what I am talking about is this page of afghans made by members of The Crochet Crowd.

I love each and every one of them.  They were featured in this Summer 2013 edition (below) of A Needle Pulling Thread which was another of my thrift store buys.

 I've mentioned before that it was a Youtube video made by Crocheting with Mikey that taught  me how to do the circle in a square granny square.  Mike (Michael Sellick) now has a web site, The Crochet Crowd, devoted to crochet with all free patterns, videos, tutorials, etc.  Members are invited to join and are encouraged to share their tips, patterns and photos. Be creative and non-competitive seems to be the theme. There are now 55,000 members world-wide and there is a Facebook local chapter here in Ottawa. One of Daughter's friends has joined and she was telling me how much she loves it.  She was completely new to crochet and has now learned a granny square and very proudly showed me her first afghan.  She had every right to be proud; it was a medium blue and white and I thought the contrasting colours made it look stunning.  She is now a convert to the needlearts as she described how much she looked forward each day to her 'hooking' time.

Finally something pretty to show you in the garden...
I almost missed this little guy, so low to the ground and covered in last falls' leaves that I had to clear away to get a photo.

It is Spring Beauty or Wood Squill or Siberian Squill depending on where you live.  Around here it is generally called Wood Squill and it grows wild in patches.  It is always the first flower I spy each spring, stays around for a few weeks, then magically disappears not to be seen again till next year.  I love the rather delicate looking petals and the blue is such a pretty shade. Some think it a weed but I think it is a real spring beauty.
 I've never picked it though I imagine a miniature bouquet of Spring Beauty would be sweet.