Isn't this a striking male House Finch? We are seeing a good variety of birds around our feeder these days. They flutter in one at a time and then a colourful charm of finches perch on railings and rosebushes, awaiting their turn at the feeder.
This is the first year Pine Siskins have visited the feeder. They are such scrappy things, beating their wings furiously when another bird gets too close, not wanting to share. On a recent cold morning, this particular Pine Siskin sat on the railing with his feathers fluffed while he waited.
Our breakfast table looks out to where the feeders are. We have a ringside seat to bird antics. The table is an old one that belonged to Tim's mother, and to another family connection before that.
Tim brought the two chairs home from the office many years ago and our youngest used them in her home. She painted them black and upholstered them in a beautiful rich gold and black pattern. She no longer needs them, so we took them. Over the Christmas break, Tim stripped, sanded, primed and painted them. I chose the colour and bought the upholstery fabric. He did the work. I'm so pleased with the way they turned out. They are very comfortable, too.
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"Food is for eating, and good food is to be enjoyed...
I think food is, actually, very beautiful in itself." Delia Smith |
Salads are good any time of year and we eat a lot of them. With the sky-rocketing price of lettuce, I'm looking for alternatives for winter salads. Last night we enjoyed this one: English cucumber, quick pickled red onion, a jalapeno pepper (finely minced), a handful of roasted salted peanuts, and some parsley. Tossed with a little soy sauce and sesame oil, it made a delicious dish and I'm looking forward to finishing it for lunch.
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"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough
to suit me." C. S. Lewis |
January is Hot Tea Month (I don't know who decides these things...). Hot tea is served year round here, but it is especially enjoyable with my back to the fire on a rainy day. My eldest daughter gave me the mug for Christmas - isn't it pretty? It's a good size, too, and perfect for the first cup of the morning!
And so ends the first week of January. My, it's been eventful, hasn't it? Our restrictions have been extended for another month, which makes us all very sad, but we will hang in there. School is still in session, so I'm not feeling too restricted, other than not being able to see my family. I'm so glad for technology that allows us to connect with our loved ones.
I'm sending wishes for a good weekend ahead to all of you. Treat yourself well. Be kind to others.
Your post speaks beauty and peace in the midst of week filled with horrifying events.
ReplyDeleteI love your breakfast nook -- your table is similar to one we have -- unfortunately we don't have a bird-watching window like yours in which to set it. Your 'new' chairs are perfect there.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend, Lorrie.
Brenda xo
You make the most delicious looking salads, Lorrie. My husband is not a vegetable eater but I really enjoy non-lettuce based salads in the winter. There has been an outbreak of salmonella among the siskins in Metro Vancouver. So many more people are feeding birds this year. I love to sit at the window and watch the birds at the feeder. Those chairs are lovely. It is great when furniture can be reused. My daughter uses a dinette set that my grandma bought in the fifties. I used it for years and the chair pads are still in good shape.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week-end!
Birds here are very hungry, I think because our weather is so cold. We have sparrows mingling with blue tits and great tits. A robin pecks in the garden beds, which are so wet.
ReplyDeleteHow delcious your salad looks, I think Winter salads are so refreshing.
I came to your post today feeling low, having just watched the News, but came away feeling comforted.
Your tea cup is so lovely!!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your different birds, fabulous photos of them. The chairs look stunning, well done on the creative project. It’s good to upcycle.
ReplyDeleteLots of tea drinking here by the fire and definitely lots of cake. Have a lovely weekend. B x
Such great photos of those sweet birds. It's nice to be able to watch them from the window. Love the table and those chairs. We just put up a feeder for the first time and hopefully the birds will realize it is there! A cup of tea by the fire sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteSalads are never on the menu here in winter but that one looks great. A good cup of tea is good for the spirit.
ReplyDeleteHot tea is served around here all year 'round too. That's a very pretty mug!
ReplyDeleteWe eat our meals at a table overlooking the backyard with its various feeders too.
I had heard about the Salmonella outbreak among the Pine Siskins. We haven't had any visit our feeders in years. It's too bad they're so susceptible to disease.
OK, first thing tomorrow , I must fill the bird feeder, so i too can watch the birds. I know they will be there. i have neglected the feeder, because I didn’t want all the house Sparrows around, but then, they are birds as well. I love that pretty mug.Any beverage would taste better out of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat cute little birds you have to watch - I really love the pretty finch. We also have our breakfast table positioned to watch the bird feeders - our table being one made by my grandfather in the olden days. You have done a lovely job on those sweet vintage chairs; the fabric is stunning. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post, Lorrie. I love the pretty birds and the teacup and your breakfast table and the quotes. all so lovely and a welcome reminder of the beauty to be found at home. We went into our third lockdown a couple of weeks ago and the numbers keep soaring (mostly because nobody stayed in) so we went into a severe lockdown a couple of days ago, and here we will stay for the foreseeable future. But the vaccinations are going well and we live in hope.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Beautiful bird photos! That salad sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty little birds! All the photos are lovely but especially the last one delights the eye and conveys a cheerful feeling of peace.
ReplyDeleteHere the temperature is -24 C today and we needed to buy much more food for the birds.
Have a lovely weekend, dear Lorrie... and a blessed, happy and safe new year 2021!
Dear Lorrie, a lovely post. I enjoyed seeing your finch, they are so pretty and I love to hear them sing, especially in the spring. Your table is so much like one I have that belonged to my mom. A table like that can be used in a multitude of places. We have been promised the next few days will be in the 40's, so we can complain. Although, I would enjoy some snow.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and week ahead.
Your bird photos are very sweet!
ReplyDeleteI’m grateful for technology too, it allows me contact with my far away grands!
Have a lovely weekend!
Lorrie, your birds are just like mine - we have both of these and enjoy them so much.
ReplyDeleteThe cold weather certainly keeps the feeders calling out "fill me" several times a week now - and the suet attracts just about every species of wild bird we see around this area.
Glad last week is gone - though it will live in our memories for a very long time.
Things here and worldwide just have to improve but, sadly, life will never be as it was. I'm really beginning to envy those birds and their lives of freedom!!!!
Stay safe and well dear friends.
Love your new mug.
ReplyDeleteThe salad sounds delicious too.
Your husband did a beautiful job on the chairs.
It is so special to sit with breakfast and watch the birds out the window. I do that every morning and I am not disappointed.
What a pretty mug. Every month is National Hot Tea Month in my household. HA!
ReplyDeleteOur Premier is announcing more restrictions tomorrow...
I can imagine the joy it brings to watch the birdies from your ringside seats, which have been redone so prettily! I eat a salad everyday, but use chopped cabbage in place of lettuce. Yours looks so delish! Your new mug for tea must bring a smile to your face. I hope your restrictions ease up soon, Lorrie. May you have a blessed week.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post.
ReplyDelete"January is Hot Tea Month" !!!
For me every month is hot tea month! LOL!
I do like your new mug.
All the best Jan
Lorrie - we used to have many pine siskins in the neighborhood, but I don't see them anymore. Not sure why. The chairs are lovely - nice job on the refinishing. The tea cup is so dainty - perfect for you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteThose refurbished chairs are beautiful! I have a set of 8 chairs to sell but have not bothered trying, because who needs chairs these days?
ReplyDeleteThese are the times.... times we'll remember in very specific ways one day.