NOT SO GREEN AS CABBAGE LOOKING

I was just cutting up a beautiful cabbage when I remembered a junk shop find which was tucked away on a shelf of the pantry, I had to get the camera and take a photograph.





Isn't the spoon beautiful?





While I had the camera I took a few photographs of the (mainly) green tomatoes in the conservatory





I think we shall probably end up making lots of green tomato chutney...

although if the next few days are as warm and sunny as they are predicting we may yet see them ripening.





We picked some apples today, Russets and Ashmead Kernals from the apple farm. I can still only manage to carefully put my injured foot into an adjustable sandal, can't even manage my capacious wellingtons yet. But, hey hoe! At least I can walk reasonably well now.





I digress. Picking apples sounds so bucolic and relaxing - not so! The apple trees are low and make easy picking, the trouble is that as you pick other apples fall - and I had a couple of scary moments when I had forgotten about my unprotected foot...

These apples are now residing on the new racks in the apple storage area - apparently they improve with keeping and are at their peak by Christmas. Something to look forward to. Squirrel Nutkin had nothing on us.





We have also been to the Nursery to purchase a couple of six foot tall laurel shrubs - these are to be placed on the outside of the new patio wall, Jonny, in the area parallel with 'Stone Henge'.





I hope you are having a lovely weekend - perhaps you have been out clubbing again? Don't forget that we would like to see some more photos, when you have the opportunity. Just seen that you have updated your blog. Must dash now and read it.





Lots of love,





Mum

xxx

Detour!

The last week, I just didn't feel like riding. Today, I HAD to get out. Did our Sunday Morning coffee at Panera. Had the road bike with me.

I was not the only one out for a bike ride. Johm rode his bike to coffee. When I got to the Wabash Trace Trailhead, the parking lot was almost full with cars with bike racks.

It was about 9am when I headed on on the trail. Temperature was in the upper 60s, sunny, with almost calm winds.

At Mosquito Creek, I encountered the detours. As mentioned in a earlier post, it looks like they are doing storm sewer work. Today's photo is taken from one of the detours. You can see that the levee had been cut - same point where there is a manhole. Rocks have been places at the slope to the creek.

Rode on over to the Western Historic Trails Center. Visited, consumed my Gs and a granola bar, and headed back. Lots of other folks out on their bikes today. By the time I was back at the car, it was almost 11 and 80 degrees.

Tired, but glad I was out to ride.

Be Curious Today!

"Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect." Samuel Johnson
A new week filled with new hopes and possibilities. What are you curious about today? What have you always wanted to know something about? What new thing have you always wanted to try?
Try it today, or at least plan out how you can start learning this week. Take a small step toward your dream, and you'll be one step closer to seeing it realized.
Begin!

Sunrise Splash

Here are a couple of recent shots of Lake Superior waves captured at sunrise. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed capturing them!

Making Coq au Vin

Making Coq au Vin, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.I finally got around to making the French coq au vin. After browning the chicken in a pan and putting it in a French oven, I poured in two full bottles of Burgundy wine. I threw in a few sprigs of rosemary from the rosemary Christmas tree we just bought, as well as some fresh thyme.

The chicken will marinate in the wine overnight, and will be cooked tomorrow!
P.S. Those rosemary Christmas trees are a great deal - you can get a 2-foot tall tree for about $10 at many home improvement stores. If you go to a professional nursery and buy a similar-sized plant, it can easily cost you $25.

Welcoming Summer

Summer is officially here! We celebrated its arrival by having vanilla ice cream with red sugar sprinkles topped by a sparkler. The kids loved it!
It's a small way to honor the change of seasons. Much more appropriate than running naked through the field like I threatened to do in the past. Just kidding, my children. I'd never do that. Really...probably not.

Lupines at Sunrise

Lupines at Sunrise, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The wildflowers are in peak bloom across much of California. These lupines were no exception - fields of the flowers coated hillsides in Las Trampas.
Sorry for the recent hiatus - been very busy!