I'm reveling in the longer days and brighter sunshine. While walking yesterday, I turned a corner and suddenly the sun was behind me, warm on my back. So lovely.
To serve guests not long ago I made an unbaked cheesecake with a blueberry topping and a ginger cookie base. I added a few frozen cranberries to the blueberry sauce and I think the tartness enhanced the sometimes bland flavour of blueberry. In the freezer there are several more tubs of blueberries from last summer. It's time to use up the fruit as summer approaches and a new crop of berries is destined for the freezer.
Clumps of bright Tête-à-tête daffodils dot the garden beds. I cut a small bouquet for the kitchen window. How cheerful they are. We're expecting an atmospheric river over the weekend and today's skies were an anticipatory grey.
Tangerine oranges from Australia on a plate from Mexico provide a wonderful study of complementary colours. In my childhood we only saw tangerines or mandarins at Christmas, brought home from the store in wooden crates, each orange globe wrapped in thin green paper. How special they were. A few days before the 25th my mother would put out a bowls of unshelled nuts and mandarins along with a few smaller dishes of candy. It was the only time of year that she bought candy.
New note cards are inspiring a bit of snail mail correspondence. I found them in a little independent bookstore in Oak Bay. Receiving a hand-written note is still a special thing in my mind.
Just visible in the blur behind the daffodils is my new greenhouse. It's not large, but Tim built shelves to my specifications and there are trays of onions, kale, lettuce, and sweet peas beginning to grow nicely. I cover the plants at night as we still drop down to freezing if the skies are clear. I'm looking forward to growing plenty of produce this summer, following British gardeners such as Charles Dowding and Jamie Walton (Nettles and Petals). There is a wealth of advice on YouTube along with books from the library.
I am thankful for my peaceful home, my garden, and the lovely place where I live. So many others in this world lack access to these things. There is tension here in Canada, and a determination to stand strong together. Looking for daily beauty, purchasing with discrimination, and practicing kindness are some of the things I'm focusing on. As Tolkien wrote,
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
With those wise words, I wish you all a beautiful weekend. And if an atmospheric river is headed your way, stay dry!
I loved every entry, every sentence, every photo. Thank you, Lorrie, for giving us words of wisdom along with those glimpses of beauty you are enjoying in your world and heart. We share similar Christmas memories of mandarin oranges and nuts in bowls and candies reserved only for the holiday season. And I love those notecards you found. I cherish that conversation between Frodo and Gandalf. I don't know how many times I search it out for myself as an encouraging reminder. (Thank God for J.R.R. Tolkien's creative work that he left to the world.) Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brenda. I'm so glad for creative writers and artists who contribute meaningful beauty to our world. Beauty is a necessity of life, IMHO.
DeleteThat trumpet lichen looks so interesting. You daffodils are very pretty. Mine are not very tall just yet but there are some in the park growing on a south slope and they are opening.
ReplyDeleteThe cheesecake looks delicious!!
Thanks, GM. The cheesecake didn't last long. Spring is bursting out little by little.
DeleteVery interesting post, Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteI loved the photo featuring
the notebooks and beautiful journals (I really enjoy writing by hand).
Yes, we must make decisions and use the time given to us in a positive way!
Thank you for this uplifting post
—have a great weekend!
Thank you, Katerina. I enjoy writing by hand, too, and all of my journals are done that way.
DeleteWise words indeed.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteLots to appreciate in your post. We have had a week of blue skies and sunshine. What a treat. Wishing you a happy weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteThanks, B. Blue skies and sunshine are the very best of spring.
DeleteA beautiful, and very thoughtful post to read on this lovely sunny Saturday morning with a cup of coffee by my side - thank you Lorrie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary. There is much to think about these days.
DeleteI love those pretty daffodils! And lucky you to have them now. Soon, I keep saying. Till then, I go for the store ones. And those mandarins on the blue plate -- fantastic! I have been totally enjoying those pretty little things these days and like you, they are best on display! The blue is great for them. (Mine are in a yellow Fiesta bowl and that's pretty too, but the blue is better!) And those notecards are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeanie. Pretty little things are like little lifesavers.
DeleteA lovely post, full of wonderful photos and wise words. I love the photo of the oranges in the blue bowl. I too remember having tangerines or mandarins only at Christmas, for the rest of the year they came in a tin:)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosie. I had forgotten about tinned mandarins. I remember those, too!
DeleteA perfect start to my day. Thank you Lorrie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, B. I hope your day was a lovely one.
DeleteIt sure is nice to get outdoors. We're still knee-deep in snow, though. The lichen are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI can hardly stay indoors when it's nice out. Those lichen really amazed me.
DeleteLove those daffodils. My friend gave me a pot she grew to budding and we got to see them bloom. Stay positive and enjoy every day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marie. Staying positive takes effort these days. But being outdoors and focusing on ordinary things is certainly helpful.
DeleteI love those pretty notecards and the first photo is amazing. I've never seen anything like that before!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane. Those lichen are so pretty, I think.
DeleteYour "Five to Delight" was a feast for my eyes today (so much color, so much beauty) and the quote you shared was a feast for my heart!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl. Colour is what I've been craving lately.
DeleteDaffodils are sich a sign of spring! Love the contrast of oranges and blue. Enjoy the new greenhouse , that is so exciting!! Blessings to you dear friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Deleteyour photography is just beautiful! Good job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Latane.
DeleteA lovely post, I enjoyed your photographs.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. It's been a good weekend thus far.
DeleteYour childhood memory of tangerines, the cheesecake with a ginger cookie base, and your thriving greenhouse all paint a warm and cozy picture. Wishing you a wonderful weekend—may your daffodils keep things bright!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that your daffodils are already blooming. Mine are just barely popping out of the ground. Tiny Trumpet Lichen, I've never heard of it and wonder if I've ever seen it but never paid attention. Your photo makes them look so pretty and I was amazed that they grow in Antarctica. I don't think about plant life of any kind growing there. Oh there's so much I don't know about this world. Thank you for a very beautiful and interesting post.
ReplyDeleteOh PS I love your blue and white bowl from Mexico.
Your cheesecake looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI agree that hand-written notes are special, so I was thrilled to receive your letter and teas today. Thank you!
Love the lichens and all the nature. I remember as a little girl the only orange I received was from Santa. I still remember the delights of that orange sphere. How wonderful have a new greenhouse. I will miss our greenhouse tremendously. Enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteThe lichens are adorable! And you cheesecake is making me hungry!
ReplyDeleteThose little daffs are Jet Fire, so bright and a lovely welcome after winter.
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful things 💚 Fascinating trumpet lichens, isn't nature wonderful?!
ReplyDeleteThe sun on my back in the springtime, enjoyable. A promise of a warmer time ahead. ☀️
And that cheesecake is to die for 😀
Very good advice in that quote.
ReplyDeleteYour photo of the trumpet lichen really shows its unique beauty.
Oh my goodness, that cheesecake looks absolutely scrumptious.
The note cards are so pretty and sure to bring happiness to their recipients. I keep up a snail mail correspondence with my sister. She has aphasia and it is difficult for her to carry on a telephone conversation. She does, however, love to receive snail mail. It's fun to look for pretty ways to bring her a bit of cheer through the mail.
How fun to have a new greenhouse. Enjoy!
Bonjour Lorrie,
ReplyDeleteC'est incroyable, lorsque l'on prend le temps de regarder attentivement la nature aussi près que possible, de découvrir tant de beautés révélées par la macrophotographie comme ces petites trompettes de lichen. Il y a tant de sortes de lichens et il en pousse beaucoup ici sur les vieux arbres du jardin, certains formant des sortes de touffes gris bleuté. C'est beau !
De nos jours, plus personne n'écrit de lettres manuscrites et c'est bien dommage. Recevoir du courrier manuscrit est quelque chose de spécial. La personne qui a écrit, a pris son temps, a choisi son papier, la couleur de l'encre et a pensé à ce qu'elle avait à dire, elle a soigneusement choisi les mots qu'elle voulait écrire pour exprimer un sentiment, une émotion ou tout simplement pour prendre des nouvelles ou en donner de soi-même et de sa famille. Oui, c'est vraiment quelque chose de spécial d'écrire une lettre manuscrite.
Les photos de votre blog sont vraiment très réussies et j'aime le contraste des couleurs du plat bleu et des mandarines.
Nous avons besoin de beauté, même la plus simple, autour de nous. C'est réconfortant et aide à affronter ce qui se passe en ce moment, en raison d'un "enragé-mégalo-dictateur" aidé de ses complice qui veulent semer le chaos dans le monde. On doit se pincer pour se dire que l'on ne rêve pas, que nous sommes bien en 2025 ! Heureusement, il semble que votre pays soit assez fort pour combattre de telles inepties !
En attendant des jours meilleurs, je vous souhaite une bonne fin de semaine.
Hélène
I have always loved that Gandalf quote - and I can hear Ian McKellen's voice saying it in the movie. I love both the books and the movies.
ReplyDeleteThe trumpet lichen is amazing. I love lichen, and your photo is excellent. Everything in your post is so lovely (and delicious). We have daffodils here as well and I enoy seeing them on my walks.
Finding joy in the small things is a good way to "deal" with these chaotic and scary times. All the best to you, Lorrie! - Carola