Company's Coming. Now We're Cookin'

Well! My last post led me smack up against a brick wall- nary a thought shared nor a comment posted. So I have to now admit that sidewalk embellishments are more of a niche topic, and I shall send the post off to a bunch of urban planners. They may enjoy it.

In the mean time, I hope you all feel like eating. Food is a topic I love. Not only do I love eating, I love growing it, foraging for it, talking about preparation methods, and ultimately cooking it.
I am not one of those people who eat to live. No, I live to eat.  But I will never suffer from being too thin. (Or too rich sadly). However, I digress.

I achieve almost the same meditative state I get from taking a walk in the woods with my camera and binoculars when I'm in the kitchen, preparing something special. Not just anything though...the daily drudge does not induce peace. Just plain ol' boredom. As in ho hum, another supper, I wish they'd invent new food and I wish I could find the genie in the olive oil bottle, and he could do the dinner drive.
BUT! when company's coming, that's a whole other bag of groceries!

And so tonight, having first served frozen fish sticks and coleslaw (see what I mean? Pure drudgery), I am now cooking up a storm for guests who are coming for dinner tomorrow night.

On the menu:

Warm olives with orange slices, cheese and seeded crackers
Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Soup
Mushroom Lasagne

Spinach, Pear and Pancetta Salad

Strawberry Rhubarb Vanilla Yogurt

The soup is first up, and is  pretty easy peasy...roast the veg to bring out the flavours, simmer in stock, puree, done.

I have never made this before, but it sounds delicious, I love eggplant, garlic , onion and tomato, so it should be tasty. Should may be the operative word here. We'll see.
It's not that I like to experiment on my guests, it's that  having guests ignites the creative cook within. And I have difficulty following specific directions and cooking within the pot so to speak.  Sometimes the results are disastrous...but not always.

Bathed with olive oil, it's into the oven  the veggies go for some flavour intensification. The kitchen  smells incredible as they mingle in the heat.

Once they've softened up somewhat, and browned a little, then it's time to make formal introductions and let them dance together in a slow simmering pot filled with a tangy broth with accents of cumin, pepper, and thyme...I'm making myself hungry here!

The flavour is rich, full bodied, earthy with a tangy lemon accent and back notes of pepper. It tastes wonderful as it's simmering away, but truthfully, doesn't look all that swell. The eggplant is quite stringy, a gelatinous mass.  I suspect once it's all pureed it will be a caramel colour..a bit odd for soup..but the taste! That will overide the visual, and I'll be sure to serve it by candle light.

or maybe in full light. Bon appetit!

                                                                                         ...to be continued.

All Around the Circle.

When we began paving paradise a few centuries ago in North America there were craftsmen hired to do the job. They took pride in their work and despite it being back breaking, they also tried to inject some creativity into the paving stones so that they would smooth the way, both literally and figuratively.

This wavy tile treatment is a fabulous example of form meeting function! The steel grate serves two purposes: it warns the pedestrians that the cross walk is near, and it drains water away from under their feet.

These bubble bricks do much the same thing, notifying the blind and those in wheelchairs to be careful and watch for passing traffic. Someone was thinking with both sides of his (or her) brain. And while the good councillors of the day may have ranted and raved about the costs of careful construction, I'd lay odds that thousands of lives - and dollars - have been saved as a result of these design considerations. 

And who ever said that stair risers couldn't be attractive; adding greenery and life to a concrete and clay landscpape?

I want to walk up these stairs.

Or these ones...

The idea of letting nature assist, especially  after bulldozing most of it away, is a good one.

Creating spaces that suit humans, plants and animals is a challenge.

One that some cities, like Savannah, seem to be better at than others.

I thought at first, how funny! They think that dogs can read...then I realized

how far some people will lower

themselves for a drink.

This little guy's quenching the thirsty child within.

Travel. See. More.

Between the Earth and the Sky

http://www.hawkmountain.org/

If you're a birder, with  capital 'B', then you will have heard of Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. Since 1932, it has been a sanctuary for birds and buteos and  buzzards and the humans who want to watch them.

It is an international birding hotspot, and people from all over the world

make special vacation plans so they can be here. 

Just like we did two weeks ago.

The first bird I saw was big. And goofy looking.

Oh. A guide to let us (and the 100's of others streaming to the park)

know that we had arrived. And park your car over there to the left, please.

Keeeekkkkkk!

If by chance you didn't actually know why you were here, the park is filled with reminders, and outdoor guides to let you know what you may be seeing.

And the excitement begins to build as you realize it is entirely possible that you may soon be eyeball to eyeball with a bald eagle. Or a hummingbird.

Just depends which way the wind blows.

So filled with energetic expectation you begin the trek to the top.

 A mere 1500 feet. Straight up, and sometimes down, over boulders.

Can I just say that this looks a lot easier than it actually is? Not so much the climb, but scrambling over and around the rocks was an exercise in ankular dexterity. And for god's sake, don't wear flip flops! ( No, I didn't.)

1450 feet later from this spot on the path, I spotted my first bird!

A Great Horned Owl. Just sitting there! Oh, wait...why is there a tail feather lofting in the breeze? And why so mangy looking? Ah ha!

It's a stuffy GHO. Truly.

I guess he's mounted here to let you know that you are indeed now here too. You're at the north summit, a remote corner of southeastern Pennsylvania, where you  can sit quietly and watch as hawks soar by, catching thermals alongside the mountain ridges and kettling before your eyes. A sight to behold.

Did I say alone? No?

Good, because that is one thing you won't be.

(And no, it isn't a Tilley Hat fashion show.)

It was such a surprise to see all of these people! Although in hindsight I can't imagine why, as they likely read the same birding publications that I do, and were just doing exactly what we were. Seeking Mecca!

So, what's a birder to do?  Enjoy the scenery...birders come in all shapes and sizes, and you may as well people watch while you're waiting

for a bird to fly past.

He was enjoying the cool mountain breezes as well.

Eventually, the birds drifted through. On bright, sunny days like the day of our visit, the traffic is slow. No imminent storm brewing,

no strong winds blowing...

just a nice day for a leisurely flight south.

This Bald Eagle -the fuzzy one that was pretty far way- was one of four that we saw, along with several Broadwings, Sharp Shins, Coopers, Merlins, and assorted other birds, including Chimney Swifts, a Hummingbird,

and some Cedar Waxwings.

Oh, and a Bronze Eagle. Best shot of the day!

 Hawk watching is a different kind of birding all together. Unlike warblers or shorebirds, that you seek out and generally find as you enter their habitat, with

hawks you sit and wait. And wait. And hope the wind picks up.

Would I go back? Depends which way the wind's blowing.

Was I happy we went?

Do birds have wings?

Just Skimming the Surface

I am not a religious person.

Not in the organized  I go to church every Sunday and pay my tithe and listen to the preacher/father/reverend tell me what's right and what's wrong while it  has waged wars, shed blood, burned women and children, harboured pederasts, and committed countless other shameful acts - all in the name of God .

Nope. Not for me.

But I am a spiritual person.

And when I need to connect with myself, my thoughts, my life,

I simply go outside.

And there I find peace. And harmony.

And a sense of wonder.

While garden nymphs gather rosebuds and  look for beauty beneath the bushes,

a miracle is beginning  to dawn along the shores of Cape May, New Jersey

.

It's a warm September morning. The air is soft, the seas are calming,

and the flock is ready.

Like all good sheep Black Skimmers, they face away from the windy waters

and do not go gladly into any storm.

There is usually a bit of strutting and jockeying for position, especially by the young'uns, but things get arranged as they should.

'Course, like in any congregation, there's always one who just needs a little more

time to say what he (or she) thinks needs to be said,

before settling in for the sermon.

and finally, it's time to just stop. And let waves of peace roll on over you.

Or not. For every flock must have a dissident.

Oddly enough, the little Sanderling wandered hither and yon,

amidst the flock, pecking and picking at the water's edge.

And not one feather was ruffled!  Well well. Well.

But you know, really?

These are flights of fancy, and I'm just winging it here.

But -  at the end of my hour on the beach, I've touched something incredible.

I feel that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

And I wonder if this little Black Backed Gull is playing charades?

See Pee?  Be Pee?

Oh flock, I don't know!

Here endeth the lesson.

Coming or Going?

Is he working his way out of the berry? His little feet gripping the branch and pulling steadfastly away? Or is he nibbling his way in, pushing with intent to devour?

It's not always clear in nature. And it's not always clear in life.

Are the berries better when they're plump, filled with juice, and ripe with promise? Or when they suddenly burst from their tight skins, forming tiny perfect florets that will last all winter, reminding us of autumn's promise.

Bitter. Sweet.

Both.

Bully for the Fall Fairs

It's fall. Leaves are changing colour, geese are gathering on the river's edge,

and the fall fairs have begun. A chance for local farmers and their families  to gather  and gloat about the things they've grown this year...

Hmmm. Nice, uh, hooves.

The competitive spirit isn't the men's domain alone though. The women can be downright proud of their efforts too. Whether it's flower gardening...

or the gentler arts  of winter like quilting, tole painting, and decoupaging...

The front foyer decorative display category is always interesting too...

Bonny Burton nailed 1st place for her Washboard Bunny with the Baby in a Box.

After all that competition, it's good to go shoot a few rounds

 and blow off some steam. 

The neon snakes and pink plush pigs are sure to make you feel like a winner.

And the rides are fun too.

No age limits here, it's fun for all...

And just when you think you've seen  everything you hear the distant sounds of the bagpipes and it's time to greet the newly crowned princess...

Rural real Ontario.

Corny? Yes.

Home? That too.

For Willie

This is the sunset that painted the island gold the day you died.

Saturday.

Because we had to make an informed, tough, heart breaking decision.

Whatever animal attacked you on Friday night did so

with intention to fatally maim.

And succeeded.

The Vet said she had never seen anything like it.

Neither had I when I opened the door at 1:00 am and saw your bloody tears streaming from your right eye.

That was the only injury. But it was enough.

Through the eyelid  (I never knew that cats have 3 of them for extra protection) through the cornea, through the entire eyeball. And beyond...almost into the brain cavity. Most likely there...so that there could be no guarantees. Antibiotics might stave off infection. Then again, they might not.

And most definitely, your eye would have to be removed. And your eyelid stitched shut for at least a week. And you would be in terrible pain.

And no guarantees that you would survive this.

My heart aches.

We chose to follow the Vet's recommendation...and so you are not here.

You are in the wind...and I heard you cry today when it thundered.

And so I cried too.

You were just learning how to be a cat with human friends

that you chose to live with. And we were learning together.

I feel like we betrayed you, and I'm so sorry.

But not sorry for having met you.

It wasn't long...and it wasn't enough. 

Willie.

The Misty DEW Line

The highest  populated point in Ontario (1640 ft. above sea level) is home to the village of Foymount, about an hour's drive from our home at 500 feet above sea level. Back in the 40's and 50's when it was feared that the Russians were coming, the Russians were coming, Foymount became the southern most post of the Distant Early Warning line, and the Royal Canadian Air Force built  many buildings and installed listening devices, including people to listen to them. They were all set to fire off a warning if a nuclear missile ever flew over.  Alas, the Russians never came, the Russians never came. So the site was closed in the 70's, and now it's a Sunday driving destination for the locals, who come to find specials at the (soon to close) Sierra Design factory that used to make rugged outdoor clothing in the former DEW line  HQ. And to see whatever else they can see on dreary, drippy days like yesterday.

Hard to believe my fancy schmancy ski jacket was born in there. Even these two kestrals find it difficult to believe

...As the lights are now off, and nobody's home.

Finding no bargains, we headed down the road...

 and through the mist to discover the quiet sentinels keeping watch.

With their backs to the road, they gaze over the meadow, holding a silent vigil, while waiting for their next meal.

If a tree falls in the forest, will vultures  hear it? What if a bomb drops?

Reed or Weed...Trash or Treasure

We have the absolute best, bar none, neighbours in the entire western world. No contest! They are kind, gentle, funny and friendly in assorted degrees. We get along great, and John and I consider ourselves blessed to count them as important people in our lives. When we go away, they watch the house and care for the cats. We share our garden with them. And we have dinner parties, and gatherings, and we laugh a lot together.

All except for one thing... and that is MY insistance that the beach grass remain undisturbed in front of our place. They respect that, they do, but it bugs them. They prefer an ocean style shorefront (where rapid wave action prevents grasses from establishing on the shoreline).

But what actually exists is a river's edge,where the plants establish themselves to prevent erosion of the shoreline, provide fish and amphibian habitat, and food for migrating birds. Not rocket science, but definitely botany and the laws of natural selection being imposed.

They  ( the two husbands) respect my wish not to have them "rake" our beach with their ATV's by dragging a bedspring type contraption behind them. And they cringe when I ask them how they're enjoying my grassy garden.
It's confusing ...they're here - riverside -  because they proclaim to love nature- the fish, the birds, bugs, and butterflies.

They just don't seem to make the connection between all of the things they like about the waterfront, and the impact that clearing it has. No fish. No birds. No bugs. No butterflies. Just a bunch of crows and vultures!  (seriously, they wouldn't be here either if there was just sand)

Drives me crazy really. And if either of the two hubby's ever read this, know that I love you both...but I don't love what you're doing to the shoreline.
There. Said it. (But you already knew all this).
It's very difficult to try and find the fine, thin line between good neighbours, boundaries, philosophies, and friendship.
Caw  caw!