hay day

Good Morning!
As I told you yesterday, I could hear the tractor moving across the field somewhere, but try as I might, I could not see where, so I continued taking pictures in my garden, anticipating the excitement of the big day. Hay Day!

Out back of Forget-Me-Not Cabin I look down the path that Wally carved out behind the hedge,

with the massive wild rose bush helping to create the corridor, the field to the left.

I just missed the first pass of the tractor

Stepping out further into the field, you can see the mower's swath on the left

and the palette we use to block the deer coming in between the hedge and the cabin.

In the foreground the tractor's wheel mats the grass 

and in middle ground, you can see the mowed grass, the new hay

and the same,  looking to the left, the northeast,

There is the tractor to the south, rounding this section of the field.

Looking down I spy an irridescent bug in the grass

She is really quite small, maybe 3/4 of an inch.  I ponder the mass of life that the mower will destroy.

My feelings of excitement and sadness mix.

Soon the crows move in to take advantage of what is revealed.

The tractor makes a second pass

Pulling the mower behind him

About an hour later, we can see how the field has been divided and mowed in sections

Coming downhill, we can see a middle section of standing grass

Removing that middle section

and he's done this part of the field.

You can get a sense of the ravine that runs behind the field in this shot.

The day grew warmer as it drew towards noon. The crows were having a party all afternoon, calling to each other in their different voices. The sweetness of the new mown hay was intoxicating in the afternoon heat as it filled the house. 

Thank you for visiting again and keeping me company on my creative journey. Today I will be in the studio.

keeping lovingkindness and compassion for all sentient creatures in our hearts

including ourselves ;)

summer in the garden

I debated whether to walk into town today.  It is substantially cooler here, away from the asphalt parking lots and stretch of plazas. And while the morning was pleasant, I guessed the afternoon walk back wouldn't be.  So I opted for a trip around the garden.

First stop, the basil, slowly growing from seed, in a pot

 on the old chair I found almost 3 years ago on the side of the road

Then I visited the onions and arugula which have gone to flower.

an Onion Flower about to bloom

Then, off to the branch of the cherry tree that hangs from our neighbour's tree onto our side

 that I harvested yesterday evening of its ripest cherries, leaving some for later

pretty cherries waiting to ripen

On the way to the other gardens I passed by our Harelson apple tree

The Harelson Twins

Here is our Rhubarb all gone to seed as we are both off sugar.

The entrance to the field blockaded with a palette

 to hopefully keep the deer from marauding our garden.

The composter garden looking happy

the Speedwell almost in full bloom

the Echinacea trying to catch up

an Echinacea flower just beginning to unfurl

and below it, some elegant new pinks are blooming

On the other side of the composter, we are still awaiting the arrival of our hollyhocks

whose little packages seem to be popping 

The Clematis that grow behind them have gone to seed

but these later blooming clematis are blooming profusely

They are a smaller bloom

The Clematis Stamen cluster so tightly

Behind me, these yellow lilies are blooming in happy abundance

as are these merry Coral Bells that rise up from their silvery leaves

This newest visitor, a dazzling exotic daffodil, rather late for a "normal" daffodil, I'd say,

but she's got that kind of charisma that allows her to arrive late to any party and be the star.

Then there are the hard-bloomed flowers I've been keeping you posted on, the ones that started off a purpley pale grey and are still alive, showing no sign of leaving;

 the hardiest bulb flowers I ever did see.

Behind me again, in the lily garden, the pink mallows herald the arrival of these stars of the garden.

These dark, berry looking things grow from the stalks of the lilies, 

Have I forgotten that these are the flower buds?

This year we have white mallow in the lily bed as well

So very beautiful

How the stamen cluster around the pistil. Maybe they're trying to cover it up!

heart of a mallow

From the front gardens I pass by the hydrangea to the back

This is the first full bloom

To my left, Wally has staked the grapevines to trellis

Beyond the grapevines, hidden in the shelter of the lilacs are some deleriously scented wild roses

I walk past Forget-Me-Not Cabin to find a few stray namesakes.

Out back, where I've done a little clearing behind the cabin,

I can hear a tractor starting up.

At my feet, lupin pods among the grasses and purple vetch

To the side of me, more lupin pods with a chorus of tall grasses

A mass of wild roses bloom behind the back of the garden hedge

Now, if you can believe it, I have more pictures, as the tractor, indeed started mowing the field, 

but I have used a ridiculous amount of time preparing these shots, so I'll do another post later.

It is very exciting, somehow, when it's hay day.

Thank you to those of you who are patiently waiting for me to pick up my drawing and painting again. I am glad to say the heart is willing. I have been away from it now since February. I hope to have something to share with you soon.

a sweet day to you

a quiet summer weekend

A quintessential summer afternoon here as I write, a sky so hazy that it is almost white. We had a pleasant weekend here, uneventful, except for the new kitchen electric outlet that Wally put lower on the wall so that our cords weren't showing mid-wall.

I almost caught the cats sleeping, but they woke as I composed my shot.

Muji sits up with the vintage curtains as a backdrop.

I made a quinoa tabbouleh that I served with avocado,  It has become a summer staple .

I don't use traditional measurements, but if you want to give it a try: 

• Toast the quinoa til somewhat golden in a pan on top of the stove.
• Add leftover vegetable water slowly as it wants to boil immediately because the pan is so hot.
• Turn off the heat just before the quinoa has absorbed all the water, cover with a lid and let itself steam and naturally plump up. 
• When done, remove the quinoa to a lasagna dish and allow to cool, folding over at intervals to speed the cooling up,
• Skim mint leaves off the stem but running fingers down the stem, they will make about a big handful and chop up into a large bowl.
• Cut away coarse stems and chop the tender stems and leaves of a big handful of parsley. Add to the bowl.
• Add the cooled, cooked quinoa
• Press garlic, about 3 or 4 cloves onto the quinoa.
• Dice small cucumber and a large tomato and add
• Sieve the juice of one lemon and add
• Add a whack of flax seed oil, maybe 3/4 cup
• Fold all ingredients gently until thoroughly mixed

enjoy

Here's how I found Muji on Sunday morning,

I'd washed my flip-flops after working in the garden the night before and set them here to dry.

An irridescent black/blue bug- a hornet? about an inch long.

 It seemed benign until I saw these mandibles magnified.

but it only rested and flew off

hoping all our cares are so light