What's for Dinner?

" You  are what you eat." 

I first heard that as a student at University of Guelph eons ago. And I clearly remember thinking, "Uh, no. I am not. I am much more than that horrible slop just served up in the cafeteria, 

or the Thursday night draft beer, or the limp green leaves that pass for salad around here.

 I am possibly that rich and creamy strawberry parfait however."

Several years later,  as I watch friend after friend battle cancer (self included), diabetes, heart disease, and other ailments too numerous to mention, I now absolutely agree. "You are what you eat."

While not able to do much about the vast amounts of microscopic particles of plastic that we eat, drink and breathe on a daily basis, I am able to control the food I put in my body. In the past few years, we have started growing our own food, as well as purchasing it from local farmers who believe that the closer the food is to the farm, the better it is for you. They also believe that there are healthier alternatives to pest control than pesticides and chemicals. 

Rainbow Heritage Garden is a local organic market garden that we have bought shares in...Community Shared Agriculture or CSA..so every other week for six months of the year, we receive  a huge basket of vegetables and fruit that is lovely to look at, delicious to eat and good for us! 

Win, win and win.

 This is Zack, the farmer who grows our food, and he takes  our food safety very seriously. You can trust a farmer who eats the same food he sells to you, and  who gives tours of his farm so you can see the techniques that are used to grow such amazing crops.

Its's much more than a pretty place. There's a ton of work to be done, and lists to abide by to make sure that  all the details of crop production are noted, and attended to.

 This year's crop of garlic is going to be a good one. And the peas, carrots, kale, and  potatoes are also growing beautifully. Our  garden crops are flourishing.

The suspension means the tomatoes will be filling me. :-)

The peppers and tomatoes are grown in greenhouses, which means far fewer pests, protection from adverse weather, in particular hail, and a delicious crop of fruit!

You will likely never see a suit at a Shareholder's Meeting and friendly smiles abound.

And when share's are split, they look like this:

Who's your Farmer, and what's  he growing in your garden?

Winged Wonders and Other Mysteries

Butterflies. I've heard that this is the next phase of addiction to all things winged. When the birds are hiding among the leaves, hard to see,  and taking flight just when you raise the binoculars, along comes a wee butterfly, and lands on your foot so you can take a good, long look. How accommodating! How cute. I love you and I don't even know your name.

 Haven't a clue...yet. But the fact that I was out in the yard, trying to catch a glimpse of the Palm Warbler who had been singing non-stop for about half an hour from an impossibly high branch somewhere in the neck hurts stratosphere, made this little guy  absolutely lovable. " Look at me! Here I am, right here, attached to your foot, a living tattoo!"

So I told the Palm Warbler that I was no longer interested in playing hide'n'seek, and walked over to the lilac bush...awash with flutters. Albeit, a very windy day didn't help with the posing, however, these little winged jewels are absolutely beautiful.

The wind was blustery, and they were having a tough time hanging on to the flowers -just as I was having a tough time trying to focus.  It's a terrible shot, but I've included it to show the colours of the black butterfly, with the blue spots. He's distinctly different from the first one with the yellow spots. Both to be identified.  

If you can identify any of these, please feel free. 

Also! Still trying to figure out what the heck this fleshy, marble sized fruit ball is...

 Totally flummoxed here. No one seems to know. So here's what  I do know:

it's about the size of a large marble, round, firm but pliant, with a stem and small leaf attached. We have oak trees, birch, poplar, and a few varieties of pine in our yard. Nothing exotic, no fruit trees. This just appeared in the garden. There was another, smaller one a few yards away. I've googled it but  haven't found an answer yet, so the mystery remains for you, gentle reader, to solve! 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Fox on the Run

One of the greatest things about being a birder is all the other wildlife you get to see, and today was no exception. It was however, exceptional! As I came around a bend in the road, about a kilometre from home, I saw something in the field to my right. I  haven't seen an Eastern Red Fox on our road for over a year, so this was a great moment! I pulled over, and hoped that I wouldn't frighten him into the bush when I rolled down the window and stuck a camera out of it. He was too intent on nabbing a little lunch to worry about me.

Head down, he was very obviously on the scent of some small rodent, weaving back 

and forth and following its every movement.

Then came the moment, a sharp turn to the right, a perky little jump, and 

a light landing -right on top of the animal to hold it between his paws 'til he could grab it with his teeth.

This rapid movement took all of about  10 seconds! 

As he lifted his head, I saw a small brown something living its last moment before becoming

a tasty snack for the quick and clever hunter. 

One last swallow, then back to work. Head down, and nose to the meadow.

Watching him work brought to mind a tune that was popular in the Ottawa Valley years ago, and sung by The Good Brothers in many a tavern. Enjoy!

Fox on the Run

Spring Soulstice

Solstice. Soulstice. That's what this time of year is for me. And therefore why it takes me twice as long to get anywhere if I'm driving. And why I carry binoculars and a camera with me everywhere I go. Because it's spring, birds are returning, the land is waking up, and so am I.

Perhaps if Canada were equatorial I'd feel differently, but it's not. It has four distinct seasons and each one evokes strong emotions, and requires a special commitment from the people who live here. It is not an easy place to live, particularly in winter, and especially if you haven't prepared yourself properly. It's not as simple as going out and buying mittens, boots, hats, warm coats and a snow shovel. Our forefathers not only had to  grow their own food, they had to preserve and store it as well, they had to think about warmth, and plan their sources of heat for long, cold winter nights. They had to be prepared, and they had to survive. Of course it's easier today, but I think that the challenges our great grandparents faced are part of who we are today, and when we make it through another winter, we celebrate. We go outside, touch the earth, smell the deep, wet, woodsy forest, and welcome back the songs of spring.

Everywhere I go I see signs. Vast skeins of geese heralding their arrival, honking overhead. Turtles emerging from their muddy beds to bask once more in sunshine. Pairs of ducks locked in their ritual dances. Nest building, song singing, bawdy, raucous Spring! Welcome! And linger.

12/3/4 Winter's Still Outside the Door

In March I begin to tire of winter whites, and the vast expanse of it directly outside my window as I look at my frozen river. To  say nothing of the snow deer in the yard, hoping to be untethered soon:

These are the days when cabin fever can strike, and the urge to get outside sends me roaming around the countryside hoping to find signs of life. Maybe a bird or two. It doesn't really matter what I see, I just want relief from the frigid crystals that bind us....however beautifully winter arranges itself  along the roadside...

over the fields...

 

and upon the rocks...

The moodiness of March is a force to be reckoned with!  Around the Ottawa Valley all manner of life is coping with winter's last gasp. 

Cows and horses out of the barn for the first time in months

Mourning doves wait patiently...

The Raven tires of endlessly surfing snowdrifts...

 

 Wild turkeys roosting. Do they dream of fresh green sprouts?

 Oh for the day when we can go for a walk without hats, mitts,scarves, boots, coats!

                           

The road is long to spring, but there are signs.

The harbingers of spring are there, like little rewards for being so patient.And as I drive down the icy road, a final magnificent present! Do you see what I see??

Look closely...a tiny oval speck...white to blend with the snow....in the middle  of the shot

 YES!!!!!!!

A gift from winter. Posing quietly while I grabbed the camera, got out of the car, walked across the road to the edge of the field...and sighed hello.

A perfect ending. Just perfect.

Awaiting Moderation

ever seeking.

always peeking around corners

and behind pictures.

trying to understand the naysayers, 

soothsayers, 

guitar players.

me.

politics.

ticks.

talk.

it's a complicated world. 

and only the honest resonate with me.

they are

few and far between.

and you know who you are.

so do I.

These photos define and delight me.

 I took them
 and hope that
you will
enjoy them.

it's not what you're  looking for.

it's that you're looking.

you'll know when you've found it.

(and  if you wish to borrow one of these photos,please ask.tx)