Monday, May 31, 2021

and the month flew by

 


At the beginning of May we enjoyed lilacs and tulips. They are now past and new things have taken pride of place. Just now it's strawberries in the garden. I keep the plants mostly netted to avoid birds and bunnies snacking on them. We're enjoying their sweetness in the garden, straight off the plant, with our breakfast yogurt, with whipped cream, and today...


in a salad with avocado slices, a drizzle each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a few snips of chives picked at the last minute. Salt and pepper. Best eaten (as it was this evening) outdoors on a sunny patio. 


The little herb garden is lush and green and I've been drying oregano, parsley, and thyme. I kept track of usage this past year and a quart and a half of dried oregano leaves is what I use. It would be less if I crumbled the leaves immediately, but I find it very satisfying to rub the leaves with my fingers and to let them fall gracefully into whatever dish I'm making. The fragrance wafts up and I'm transported to my summer garden. 

Over the weekend we enjoyed part of our family's company indoors, seated at the dining room table for the first time since the pandemic began. It was pure joy to sit across the table from them and eat and visit. 
Thank you for the best wishes for my parents' anniversary. They had a good day and enjoyed dinner out at a restaurant together. 


A couple of years ago a flurry of yellow poppies arrived in a corner of my garden. They continue to appear each year and confine themselves quite nicely to that corner. It's a rather dark spot, and they add lots of cheer there. 


The peonies are blooming! How I love these flowers that bloom so briefly yet with such sensational presence. Extravagant ruffles, delicate scent, gorgeous colours combine in a wonderful package. Perhaps we enjoy them so much because of their short lives. 

For our second wedding anniversary quite a number of years ago, we bought gifts together. I chose this crystal vase that has held flowers in all of our homes from northern British Columbia, to Texas, to Ecuador, and now on Vancouver Island. When I use it I think of that hot summer day when we shopped together. Tim chose a pair of binoculars that he still uses. We stopped giving anniversary presents soon after, so these are special. 

June is on the horizon and much of it is planned already. Another lovely month to anticipate. Wishing you joy today and every day.

24 comments:

  1. I can hardly believe that we are into June already - where has the time gone?
    I also have those freebie yellow poppies, and as you mention they really brighten up any dark areas of the garden. We know them as Welsh poppies - Meconopsis cambrica.
    Enjoy your garden especially all of the those delicious strawberries.

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  2. Everything is looking lush and lovely where you are. Scrumptious strawberries. It's above 40 C here every now so not so pleasurable being outside. Hard to believe it is June and still not much to look forward to. Vaccinations in this country going slow and expats can leave but aren't able to return. Really frustrating. Take care and have a good rest of your week.

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  3. June is a delightful time in my garden, too. Strawberries, roses, peonies, and soon hydrangea!

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  4. May did fly by! Your strawberries look so good. The yellow poppies are such a lively fun color. So glad you are able to be with family again! Happy June.

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  5. Your garden is offering so many beautiful and tasty things on this first day of June. The strawberries look delicious. I am curious to know how you dry your herbs, particularly the thyme. Mine is abundant right now which is probably an ideal time to start drying it.
    So nice that you were able to gather together around the dining room table.

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  6. Those strawberries in the blue bowl look delicious! June is definitely strawberry month. We used to have a Strawberry Tea to thank parent volunteers at school. As a child, I used to pick strawberries for money. It bought my school clothes. Ripe strawberries have a fragrance like no other.

    It's wonderful to be able to see a few more people. We had a meal in a restaurant with friends last week. I'm hoping for Mexico in late November and Paris/UK next year. It all depends on respiratory season in the fall and the variants.

    I bought a bouquet on Sunday after attending walk-by Communion on the church steps. Our minister is retiring so it was also a good-bye. Peonies! you have to love them!

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  7. Yellow poppies are beautiful, and a nice surprise to show up in a garden each year.

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  8. How delicious your strawberries look. You are well ahead of us here. I have some tiny Alpine strawberries that poduce fruit each year, and are little yummy bites!

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  9. We too are enjoying our strawberries. I love the sound of your recipe ideas. Glad you were able to eat together again. So special to be with family. Gorgeous yellow poppies and I love those peonies, one of my favourite flowers. B x

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  10. Your peony is perfect in that beautiful vase and the memory is perfect added sweetness. Your salad looks scrumptious -- a combination I've never thought of before but now am eager to try. (Strawberries aren't on here just yet -- usually Father's Day (toward the end of the month -- I'm not sure if you celebrate it the same day) was when we had our first strawberry shortcake of the season!

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  11. It's so nice to have things you treasure and still enjoy. Sounds like this past week has been special!

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  12. May sure did go by quickly. I'm looking forward to buying fresh strawberries soon. Haven't see any for sale in Abbotsford so far but with this sunshine and warm temps it won't be long.

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  13. I love your vase. I just asked fireman to bring me the binoculars as I am trying to figure out a bird. I would love Poppies to appear in my flowers! I'm so glad your parents got to be with family again. This is a time of unbridled joy for reunions. Im finding it very easy to step back into place . I have confidence in the vaccine.

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  14. Never thought of adding avocado and strawberries together. Sounds good. Happy June to you!

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  15. Those strawberries look soooo good. I love the Peonies as well. My Fern Leaf Peony will be open soon.

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  16. I love peonies, they have such a nice perfume.
    Strawberries and avocados is a good idea, I must try.
    I wish you a nice month of June!

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  17. Leaves have opened on the trees here. The trails are glorious!

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  18. Lorrie - how interesting to pair strawberries with avocado ... And what a luscious harvest from your garden! I am not sure that I have ever seen a yellow poppy - how delicate it is! Enjoy June in all its glory!

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  19. Your peonies are lovely. Still waiting for mine to bloom...

    I'll have to try the avocado and strawberry combo one day. YUM!

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  20. Your strawberries look so delicious and so does the salad, with that snip of fresh chives from the garden. I find that just so delightful - slipping into the garden for a sprig of something to add to a meal. I like your idea of not crushing the herbs once dried so you can enjoy their fragrance when you use them for each dish.

    Enjoyed your post, Lorrie. Such a lovely wrap up of May. Our May was rather cold but our June has blossomed into summer overnight, and we're definitely savouring it.

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  21. You days look so beautiful, so glad you had a lovely time with your family.

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  22. Oh your strawberries look delicious :)

    All the best Jan

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  23. Beautiful pic's...all of them. The strawberry avocado salad looks most appealing! I am going to try that.

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