Thursday, April 07, 2016

Five on Friday



Spring is popping out all over southern Vancouver Island. Yellow-green baby leaves unfold more fully each day. The sun shines. Heavy dew falls in the night. In the morning I use the heater in the car; in the afternoon, the air conditioner. 


I'm enchanted with the bleeding hearts. I clipped a couple of stems for a jar on my kitchen window sill. The first photo was taken in daylight, the one above at night. A bunch of mint is next to the bleeding heart, dropping pollen. Pollen is drifting everywhere - thankfully, I'm not affected by it, but plenty of others are.

Some weeks are better than others. This has not been one of them. Hopes dashed. Some heartache. Much thankfulness. Life is like that - a mixed drink. And God is here in the pain as well as in the joy.

I like to help mow the grass. I can push the lawnmower, but the edge trimmer is too heavy for me. So Tim begins with the trimming and I with the lawn mower. Back and forth. I love the smell of newly cut grass. I get a workout pushing on the sloped part. By the time he's finished trimming the front and back lawn, I've cut the back and leave him to finish the front. 



All this sunny weather has me thinking about summer cooking. We like to eat seasonally and although many people in our region use their grills year round, we prefer to treat grilling as a warm-weather activity. Last weekend I cleaned the grill and threw on a couple of steaks. (We ended up eating half of one each, which meant steak salad the next day.) I tried a new recipe for a Bacon Cauliflower Bake and it was so very good. Not necessarily good for us, but very good to our taste buds. I started with this recipe and adapted it. A big salad completed the meal.



My tulips are blooming well this year. So well that I cut a few stems to bring indoors. I've kept the camera nearby and have been snapping photos in all kinds of light. The above is taken the afternoon, around 4:30, when I walked in from school and saw the sun slanting on the table with the tulips.

I feel bad for those who are still experiencing wintry weather in the northern hemisphere. (My down-under readers will be looking forward to cooler temperatures.) Spring will come - it always does! 

Linking with the lovely group at Amy's Five on Friday party.  

38 comments:

  1. We are blessed to live here...I hope that your week improves and that you enjoy a blissful weekend.
    Hostess
    XO

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, we still have snow and frozen soil, but your photos cheer me up.
    The flowers are wonderful and I like especially the second photo where also the vase looks fabulous.
    Wishing you happier weeks, Lorrie, and much fun with the grill and the lawn mower!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Spring is in full swing here, but I do know of places where it's still very cold.Even here in south Europe. Take care!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

    ReplyDelete
  4. The recipe looks very good, similar to our Cauliflower Cheese, but maybe a bit lighter.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:25 AM

    Beautiful flowers and delicious food are certainly a winning combination. :-) I anxiously await my Bleeding Hearts every spring. So far, they haven't even come up yet. Our recent snow has just melted, but we have more flakes in the forecast. I guess I need patience. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lorrie, if there IS such a thing as reincarnation, I want to come back, living on southern Vancouver Island. You seem to have such wonderful weather no matter what the season & you always appreciate it, throughout your ups & downs in life.

    I enjoyed seeing all the different flower photos in different light. I always loved to capture that late afternoon glow coming in my dining room windows. Soon the sun will shine here again...AFTER the next storm with 6" of snow blows through. Ugh! My hyacinths are BURIED under it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for this peek at spring. I am sure it is coming but in southern Ontario we are in a snow storm again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful pictures. I especially love the tulip one.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I missed the last post, such beautiful colors. I enjoy bleeding hearts, too. Yours are weeks ahead of mine. I am still searching to see if the ones in the center garden made through the winter--looking bleak. So while yours are in full glory, mine are just emerging, one of them. The really good news, my astilbe lives! Have a joyful week end.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I agree with you. It's lovely to keep things seasonal. Here in the UK for example I like to have steamed puddings only in the Winter.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The steaks look so yummy, and yes we are fair weather BBQ people, love your five on Fridayx

    ReplyDelete
  12. We are still experiencing wintry weather, and get snow some years all the way into June. This is why I love visiting blogs like yours ~ your garden images are so beautiful and delightful to see!
    Sending hugs from the mountaintop!
    xo,
    Lin

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7:39 AM

    A good description of life...a mixed drink. Sorry for the pain. Sounds like you divide the yard jobs like we do. I mow he weedwacks. We really have had a wonderful spell of sunshine. Makes you think of summer grilling. Hope your weekend is restful and peaceful.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A lovely colourful post. I'm like you, looking for interesting light on the flowers. We are not quite at the state of eating from the BBQ but hopefully soon. The wind is too cold at the moment. Hopefully you will have a better week :) B X

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm fascinated with your Bleeding Hearts too Lorrie!
    Early in my marriage when the 'gardening bug' hit me, I read Vita Sackville-West and Margery Fish books on plants.
    I was mesmerised by the Bleeding Hearts but found our climate here was not right for them - they need very low ground temps through Winter - I was so disappointed!
    It's lovely that I'm now enjoying them on your blog - thank you! Your photos are wonderful!
    Just an aside, can you let me know the brand of camera you bought - I'm in the throws of purchasing my first real camera, as opposed to P & S!
    You are so right life is a 'mixed drink' we have had sad news recently.
    I hope your weekend is relaxing.
    Shane

    ReplyDelete
  16. How amazing that your bleeding hearts are out already, mine haven't even appeared above ground yet - hope they are still there! Lovely to see yours in the meantime. Sorry that it hasn't all been a good week, I do hope that things will improve for you, or at least be as good as they can be. Hugs to you. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend! xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your bleeding hearts are gorgeous! We usually just barbecue in the spring and summer too. We've found that one steak between us is about right, though we love steak salad too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love the smell of cut grass and cut hay. We won't be mowing the lawn for a month or more. Your bleeding hearts are beautiful. Mine are coming up now, and are about 2 inches tall :) What a perfect photo of the tulip in the sunshine. Have a great weekend Laurie!
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  19. The bleeding hearts are wonderful. I have just a few stalks this year - I think I need to repot it. We are covered in pollen - I sit on the deck and in less than half an hour the face of my phone is covered in soft yellow pollen - aaaaaccccchhhhhooooo - but I love the springtime anyway. Such a pretty tulip!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your post is full of beauty, my friend! What a joy to have your bleeding hearts out already. Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  21. How lovely it all is, Lorrie. I would like to plant bleeding heart in our 'new' garden. This will be the weekend for it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. The flowers are lovely and the bacon cauliflower bake sounds delicious!
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful flowers and yummy food, Lorrie! I'm finally caving in and buying allergy meds for my hay fever. Have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  24. So beautiful flowers they are!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the smell of newly mowed grass, our lawns are ready for cutting again but rain interrupts our plans all the time. Beautiful flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  26. You caught a gorgeous shade of peach in that last photo. Sorry for a less than wonderful week, but a great attitude shining through. We mow the same way, though I usually do front and back. it's good exercise and I especially enjoy it in the spring when the grass is lush and thick and you can really see where you've mowed. Not so much when summer is at it's hottest and driest.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your Bleeding heart is very pretty. It's a favorite of mine as well in my own garden. I also have a pure white one.
    Loved the color of your tulip.
    Mmmm that food looks yummy.
    I have enough work keeping up with the flower beds so the mowing is left to my hubby and SIL.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I LOVE bleeding hearts--one of my spring favorites! And tulips? Love them too. Mmm, steak salad sounds yummy:) We need to get our grill cleaned too and use it--well at least on these warm sunny days we've been having lately.
    Sorry your week has been challenging--your statement is SO true. I am learning to really focus on the blessings I have in life and have had -- especially when life is difficult.
    Blessings to you + yours!
    Aimee

    ReplyDelete
  29. I can't get weary of seeing the bleeding heart in all its aspects, as you so aptly capture it. Thank you.

    The beauty of a bleeding heart seems to reflect what you describe in your life right now - heartache and thankfulness at the same time. God bless and keep you.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I just love the smell of fresh cut grass too! And those bleeding hearts are so beautiful. ;)

    So true about the balance of things - good and bad & God at the center of it all... which truly keeps that balance. Blessings for whatever you've been going through.

    I'm getting so excited about grilling!! We just got ours out and we're supposed to finally get some true warm weather by late in the week. yay!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the scent of freshly cut grass as well. Gardening is satisfying on so many levels.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  32. Beautiful dear Lori! Oh, I have missed you! Thank you for visiting. I hope to keep it going dear one.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh Lori, the bleeding hearts sure show the wonders of God's creations, don't they? Your photos do the lovely flowers their due justice.
    Steaks on the grill and the cauliflower bacon bake sounds fabulous.
    As for your post on being a minimalist or not...no, I'm certainly not. I'm like you, though, and don't fuss over broken things. I guess as I've gotten older, I've realized that it's all just stuff. I do hang onto fabric, photos, yarn, embroidery floss, and books!

    ReplyDelete
  34. P. S. I hope you have a better week, Lorrie.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm sorry your week has been rough. Chasing the light with your camera is good comfort.

    ReplyDelete
  36. We've had the wintery weather here so it was nice to see your blooms. I dug up two bleeding hearts from a neighbor who offered some to me and took them down to my son's to plant but they were just an inch high at the time and then the cold hit so I imagine they are the same size yet :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. The bleeding heart or lady in the bath is such a beautiful flower! I have it in the garden as well, in white too, but it's not yet visible. It must be warmer where you are.

    Have a good week!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comment. I read and value each one, cherishing the connections we can make although far apart. Usually, I visit your blog in return, although if you ask a question I try to contact you directly.

Life These Days

  I only listen to the radio while driving. Occasionally I'll sit in the driveway for a few moments to finish a segment. Last Saturday I...