Tuesday, April 20, 2021

This and That, Woods and Shore

 


Our current high pressure ridge brings day after day of blue skies and warm sunshine. I know it won't last long and I'm enjoying it immensely while I can. Trees are leafing out at a tremendous rate - that bright acid green that is so beautiful in springtime. 


On a recent hike around Matheson Lake my eldest daughter slowed on a certain part of the trail saying that in previous years she had seen Fairyslippers (also known as Venus' Slippers) (calypso bulbosa) growing along the mossy bank. We were rewarded by finding several of these showy little flowers, along with other wildflowers, including a Western Trillium.


 Perhaps most magnificent were the woodland clearings carpeted with Fawn Lilies. How beautiful they are. 


We noticed this bird on our walk on Sunday by the shore and commented on its manic behaviour. It moved so quickly and jerkily that it was difficult to photograph. When I got home and looked in my bird book I read, "This fairly large shorebird often runs frantically in many directions while pursuing small prey." Yes, we thought, that describes it to a "t", so we're almost sure that it's a Greater Yellowlegs. 


Another group of smaller shorebirds, Long-billed Dowitchers, we think, were much less frantic, but bobbed their heads up and down as they fed. The trusty bird book called this a "sewing-machine" motion, again, very apt.

(note: I'm no bird expert and am always open to suggestions and corrections if I'm wrong.)


A little rowboat made a pretty picture with the water rippling around it.


Ikea Canada has published an e-book called Scrapsbook. It contains ideas for using bits and pieces of leftover food scraps in innovative ways. You can download the book for free and it's interesting to read. Many of the ideas are things I already do, but I was intrigued by a couple of recipes. One is seen above, with leftover meat, vegetables, and herbs/stems rolled into a thin phyllo pastry roll which is then coiled and baked. They were fun to make, and very tasty. I used some ground turkey patties, butternut squash, spinach stems, onion, and a variety of herbs in mine. 


My recent reading stack. The 13 Clocks is a fanciful tale, a spoof on a fairytale and very easy to read. After beginning The Girl From the Channel Islands I debated stopping because I wasn't taken by the author's writing style. However, I'm glad I kept on for the story picked up and became very compelling. It's based on true events during WWII. Who Speaks for the Damned was an excellent mystery and I will be looking for more C. S. Harris books. A Deception at Thornecrest is another Amory Ames mystery, very lighthearted and fun to read. The last book in the stack, The Other Bennet Sister, has not yet been opened. 

Since our weather is so wonderful I'll be spending the day in the garden. A little bit of weeding, some transplanting and clipping, and possibly seeding a few more vegetables. Enjoy your day!

24 comments:

  1. Lovely to see your different shorebirds and spring flowers. We are sharing the same weather but very different flora and fauna. Haven’t heard of the Channel Island book. Will check out those titles. Hope you enjoy the other Bennet. B x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such beautiful blooms already. The shorebirds are stopping here this time of year too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love going on your walks with you! Great pictures. The books sound interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A fascinating post. I was most thrilled with the wild flowers. They are all so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Faerie slippers... growing along the mossy bank..." Sounds like a lovely quote, from Shakespeare. But can't remember which one. Anyway... Your words paint a beautiful picture.

    Those little 'roll ups' are so cute,and I bet, delicious!

    Gorgeous photos!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Please, have you considered my idea, of switching your Comments... To Pop Up????

    This is a lovely post, but I can not remember all of it, when I go to comment.

    Nor can I see your photos, when I am commenting.

    So I had to copy and paste what I first wrote, in my comment above. Then bring up your full post again.

    Doing which, my first attempt at a comment, disappears...

    Look.... Read.....

    Go back and start a new comment... Paste in, my first paragraph...

    Then, while remembering, write the rest of my comment.

    It would be so much easier, if you make your Comments, with Pop Up style/way/setting, or whatever it is called.

    One can comment, while being able to look at your whole post, with Pop Up setting.

    Please do consider.

    Please and Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You really spark my curiosity with your knowledge of plants, flowers and birds! I guess being in a city limits my findings. I loved having feeders at the lake and my neighbor was so helpful in sharing the names of my new feathered visitors. Then I had an invasion of chipmunks and the feeders had to go. I might hang them further away from the house and perhaps have a bench to wile away the time waiting for the birds to visit. One of my granddaughters really became interested in watching them come and go.

    What a great selection of books. The Bennet Sister sounds familiar. I'm always on the lookout for new reads yet I can barely keep up with what I have on my night table! Maybe I'll just start making lists!

    The Ikea book sounds really interesting. I can see that it would be helpful in using up those bits and pieces in the fridge, much more creative than making a soup like I do!!

    Take care, Lorrie!

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I always enjoy your pictures and blog posts.
    Your book stack looks interesting and it looks like you have chosen some great books!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This weather has really been something. I don't think I've had to water in Spring before. You were treated with some beautiful flowers on your walk. Love that photo of the little row boat on the water. Your phyllo roll looks yummy! Enjoy your gardening!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The wildflowers are so beautiful and the meadow covered in Fawn Lilies is just amazing.
    I laughed when I read about the shorebird that runs frantically in many directions. That would be fun to see.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So much interesting here... I just read The 13 Clocks, too! I wonder if I read about it here? The phyllo rolls do look fun. I love phyllo and of course the meat and vegetables!

    The fawn lilies are fantastic. I've never seen them in person but just their pictures on blogs are so impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the fawn lilies and the “sabot de Venus” orchidées.
    The colour of the water is beautiful and the birds look very busy!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12:53 AM

    Those sure are some beautiful scenes!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have that fawn lily erythronium 'white beauty' growing in my garden - I nurture and cherish them, but how wonderful to have them growing around you in the wild.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely photos, as always.

    I'm intrigued by that phyllo dough with meat recipe. I think my guys would like it and I know I would! Now to remember to order phyllo dough!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's so lovely seeing the flowers again. I must go check for lady slippers. It's a bit early, here, but you never know.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am so happy to see your blossoms and blooms . We are very cold today. Sunny at least. Im waiting for better weather.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The shore birds are darlings, and fun to watch. The rowboat is so much summer, I feel like wearing sandals until I see the bits of snow from last night in the flower pots.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Isn't it that extra bit nice when the weather is good ...
    Beautiful photographs you've shared and that IKEA recipe looks great.

    Hoping your good weather lasts a while longer.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  20. How lovwly to find wild Trilliums. There are so may different wild flowers, equally as beautiful as many of the garden grown plants, and so exciting to discover.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lorrie - I was thrilled to see a Calypso orchid in your mosaic. It is my favorite wildflower and I only made its acquaintance when we moved to Montana four years ago. Our spring is a little delayed, so I am still waiting to get out in the garden! But I sure am itchy to do it! Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Good morning, Lorrie. I apologize for being late to comment, I've been a bit under the weather. However, your post makes me smile. Oh, do I love your wildflower findings. I have always felt the trillium was my favorite wildflower until I saw your Fawn Lilies - they are beautiful. Also, enjoyed your bird sightings.
    We have seen a few crazy days - snow, sunshine, and cold night temperatures. Ah, one has to love spring.
    Happy weekend to you, Lorrie.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Finnish spring is very cold, no new leaves sprouting on trees yet. Your tree photo is wonderful. We got in Finnish Strout’s Olive, again. I adored it!

    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.

A Wander Through my Mind

  Nothing is so beautiful as Spring -  When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Gerard Manley Hopkins When I opened my bedroom...