Thursday, March 24, 2016

Blooms in the Forest



Rain dripped in the early morning. By the time I got up, it had stopped. I met a friend at the base of Mt. Doug and together we walked along the trail at the bottom of this urban park, then climbed up to the top. The view was grey. 


On the forest floor, however, the colours are intense. A fawn lily looks shyly downwards as droplets bead on her petals.

I recently purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements. The learning curve is steep. Very steep. There is a lot of online support and it will take me some time to figure out enough to feel comfortable.



Miner's Lettuce (claytonia perfoliata) is an edible green that is found throughout Vancouver Island. It's crisp and juicy, and if you can find it growing outside of a park, it makes a crunchy addition to a green salad. As you might guess from its common name, it was eaten by gold miners during the Gold Rush to prevent scurvy. 


I was surprised to see the Henderson Shooting Stars in bloom already. It's an early spring, again. 

Tomorrow is Good Friday and Easter weekend is upon us. Tuesday I'll be back at school. These two weeks have gone by in a flash - not everything on my list was accomplished - but there were hikes and family times and those are most important.

There will be remembrance on Good Friday and many preparations on Saturday - Paska buns to bake, an Easter egg hunt to organize, a guest room to prepare, and dinner to concoct.

We'll be having:
Baked Ham
Raisin Sauce AND Sweet Mustard Sauce
Scalloped Potatoes
Grated Carrot Salad
Roasted Asparagus
Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Black Forest Torte

There are two sauces because, after all, it's TRADITION. What's on your menu for the weekend?

I wish all of my readers the joy and hope of Easter.  


24 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:42 PM

    I'm even surprised your time off is almost over! Hope you and yours have a joyous Easter celebration!

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  2. You've shared some of the lovely times you've had during your time off and this post is no exception. Your photography is really becoming professional-looking. Happy Easter!

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  3. Beautiful flowers!

    Our menu is ham, potato salad, baked beans, scalloped zucchini and squash, baked mac and cheese, and green beans.

    Blessed Easter!

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  4. Anonymous4:58 PM

    Lorrie, the water drops on the flowers are amazing! So fragile and beautiful! Your menu sounds perfect! I am serving turkey this year as one of my guests doesn't eat pork. Happy Easter!

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  5. Your forest walk with all the beautiful flowers is stunning.
    I have had PSElement for quite awhile and have not used it much, but I am taking a class right now that is ongoing. It is for regular Photoshop, but then they also give tips for Element. It is a bit overwhelming, but I know I will learn alot. It will take me months to get through all the material and practice using it.
    Easter this year is leg of lamb roast, sweet potatoes, salad (a friend is bringing), deviled eggs, chocolate cupcakes, and some sort of veggie, maybe broccoli.
    Happy Easter! xoxo

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  6. Your photography has always been impressive. It will be fun to see how you edit with PhotoShop. Your menu sounds wonderful! Ours won't be as fancy, but we will have a guest and so I have planned a pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, fruit salad, chef salad with hard boiled eggs, and rolls. We, too, will have Paska...tomorrow's my day for baking as I give several loaves away. For Easter dessert, I'm thinking a light berry fluff pie. Don't go looking that up because I just made it up! A blessed weekend to you and yours...

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  7. Even grey the view is amazing - and the flowers are fabulous. I think finding little separate flowers is enchanting. I have no idea what will be served for Easter Dinner - tomorrow is my birthday and it is a big one - so my daughters and husband are making big plans that I am to know nothing about - combining easter and my birthday - should be fun. Your menu sounds great.

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  8. Such beautiful little forest flowers! Your photos are amazing! I think your menu sounds delicious. Especially the two sauces :) Happy Easter! xx Karen

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  9. Wonderful photos Lorrie, Hapoy Easter to you, the menu sounds delicious!

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  10. Beautiful photos, you have a real talent for photography. Your menu sounds delicious, mine is a work in a progress. Have a wonderful Easter.

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  11. What an interesting factoid to accompany your beautiful photos, Lorrie! "it was eaten by gold miners during the Gold Rush to prevent scurvy"

    My menu is very much like yours except the one person who is lactose intolerant has me leaving the cheese out of several dishes & sauces. I bought a pink bunny cake~~per Ms. C's request!

    Have a Blessed Easter, Hon!

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  12. Oh the little shooting star. I haven't seen one in years. They do sell those sweet little forest plants here in the garden centers, but I don't know why. It is much too hot and dry for them. They grow in our Colorado Rockies and were abundant at my grandmother's cabin. Love them. Turkey here, dressing, acorn squash. Sounds more like Thanksgiving, doesn't it? But the kids will have ham at the other grandma's house. Enjoy Easter.

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  13. The photos are gorgeous, Lorrie, so you're doing it right :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  14. I've heard that about Adobe, the steep learning curve, but once you've mastered it, there'll be no stopping you!
    Missing my dad's hot cross buns today. Good Friday was always centered around church for us, a solemn day with beautiful liturgical music and the yeasty goodness of the sweet, spicy buns Dad would make that morning. More than compensated for the meatless day.
    Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  15. You sure did find beauty on a gray day. The tiny little wildflowers are so pretty and how interesting about the lettuce. I have just started reading a new to me blog (66 Square Feet) in which the lady leads foraging trips around New York city. So interesting to see what can be eaten that I would have just thought were weeds.
    As for Easter menus, would you mind a couple more guests? :D. Our menu this year will be whatever is on the menu at the restaurant we are going to. The members of our group have all been busy moving and nobody has the energy required to whip up a meal.
    Your menu sounds delicious. Happy Easter to you and your family, Lorrie.

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  16. Wonderful flowers, Lorrie! Your photos have always been really beautiful, but I too think they are becoming even better.
    Wishing you and yours a happy and sunny Easter!

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  17. Such different flowers from the ones we have in Holland. A Happy Easter to you and your family Lorrie!

    Madelief x

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  18. You have an eye for beauty even on a gloomy day! And I agree with you on sleeping in on a rainy morning. :-)
    It sounds like a good Easter dinner. We are going to our kids this year for the first time at Easter. Bringing some food and trying out zucchini tots for the kids. We'll see. Have a lovely Easter. He is risen!

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  19. Your photos have always been extraordinary, Lorraine, even before this new path.

    Your menu sounds Easter-delicious! Since almost all my kitchen and pantry is packed we will be grilling burgers outside.

    A blessed Easter to you,
    Dewena

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  20. Really beautiful photos Lorrie! You definitely live in paradise there and I always enjoy your pictures! We are considering eating out on Easter...
    May God bless you and yours this Easter.
    Aimee

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  21. We actually have very similar menus. The difference is a fruit salad instead on a carrot salad and greens beans will fill in for your broccoli.

    As always your lovely images take my breath away! Happy Easter dear one.

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  22. hello


    Poules, oeufs, lapins et autres cloches en chocolat,
    Attendant d'être découverts par des gastronomes aux yeux émerveillés.
    Quelle douce récompense que de les trouver enfin !
    Un jour par an, nous pouvons les dévorer sans remords.
    Ensemble partageons, rions, régalons-nous et
    Savourons cette fête de Pâques que je te souhaite joyeuse.
    gros bisous

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  23. I see your menu and I think, YUM!! We are having the cold version ...
    ham, meatballs, potato salad, broccoli salad and apple pineapple salad
    and then the Easter basket hunt. Happy Easter, my friend!

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  24. How exciting to find spring flowers bursting forth on the forrest floor, too bad it wasn't a sunny day though.
    I'm putting a spiral ham in the crock pot and there will be mashed potatoes, yams with apples (marshmallow topping) green beans, cornmeal muffins and coleslaw. For dessert, a pretty pink cake.
    Happy Easter.

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