A little late this week, but this jar full of salty-tart preserved lemons will make you smile every time you use them! Winter here on the West-coast means beautifully fragrant and sweet-tart Meyer lemons! Last time I went to the store I procured a giant […]
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Tasty Tuesday … Vegetable Barley Soup
During my last trip to the grocery store I was finally able to get a bag of whole grain pearled barley to make this soup again. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s oh so good on a cold and rainy day. There are loads of veggies […]
Check it out … A Four Story Train Station
Here are some photos I took a few years ago when we changed trains in Antwerpen. We didn’t have time to look around since we only had a few moments to change trains. What I remember most was the incredible architecture, all the space and a guy […]
The Silence of Covid
The eerie silence of Covid compliance no sliding no riding no hiding and seeking no swinging and singing no climbing no bouncing no racing no boisterous dashing no playful splashing. Just Mousekin afloat without a boat. Just the eerie Covid silence. Every time I walk […]
Up Close & Personal … Cedar Waxwings
During my 15 years in Oregon I had never seen any cedar waxwings here until … … this autumn while I was walking along a patch of trees and shrubs at the park. It was mid day when I heard really loud bird chatter, followed by […]
My First Muddy Boots Adventure of 2021!
Warning! If you are squeamish you might want to precede with caution! Raptors are eating lunch! It’s been nothing but raining here in our neck of the woods lately. This continuous rain has kept me from going to my favorite park for the last several says. However, […]
Hummingbird Magic on New Years Day!
Happy New Year from Portland, Oregon! Stay safe, healthy and happy! 🙂
Charles “Chuck” Clemans Sculpture Garden
Just southeast of Portland, Oregon you’ll find the smallish town of Oregon City. The “upper” part of the city, is perched on an ancient basalt cliff and prone to landslides. This became obvious when I went on this delightful hike where the path had […]
Happy Friday from my Garden!
These adorable tiny bushtits visit our garden multiple times every day. They always come in large flocks, perhaps as many as 50 and more. They announce themselves with a cheery chatter and then descent onto the suet feeders. Bushtits are small kinglet sized birds around […]
Tasty Tuesday … To Knead or not to Knead! That is the Question!
The pandemic has been a rather frightening and sobering experience and has made us appreciate many times over all the good things, friends and family in our lives. Thankfully no one close to us has gotten infected. But millions and millions of our fellow […]
Meditation in Moments … Gazing into the Swirly Whirl
One of my favorite stops at the park is the bridge that spans across Mount Scott Creek. It’s especially fun after it rained and the current is swifter than usually. I love how the light creates these abstract patterns and reflections in the water. 🙂
Ribbit!
Last week started off so well, or so I thought! Monday I went to my drawing class and then later in the day to my watercolor class. I love both courses. The drawing is taught at a local community center and the watercolor class is […]
Tasty Tuesday … Vegan Thai Coconut Mango Curry
Were I to ever find myself stranded on a tropical island, on which I could choose only one kind of fruit tree to grow, it would be a mango tree. While I love most fruit, the mango is my absolute favorite! Right now my favorite […]
Tasty Tuesday … Wild Mushroom & Coffee Dutch Baby
An intriguing cookbook I recently came across at the library was “Bake the Seasons”. The author is Marcella DiLonardo and I think her book is fantastic. While browsing through pages of yummy sounding recipes, I noticed this Wild Mushroom & Coffee Dutch Baby recipe. It’s […]
Hummingbird Magic!
Despite fewer blossoms to nourish the visiting hummers now, they still visit daily. I watch them sip nectar and defend their territory against other birds and me. The butterfly bushes, a hummingbird favorite, will continue to flower until the first frost. Once the last flowers wilt, these […]
Up Close & Personal … The Backyard Meet-up, Part 2
The flicker kept munching away … … when suddenly a rare visitor to our garden peeked out from the beautyberry bush. A Western Scrub Jay hopped out of the bushes … … looked around … … and then jumped over onto the suet feeder pole. […]
Up Close & Personal … The Backyard Meet-up, Part 1
The Northern Flicker checking out the backyard before coming down from the tree … … where he encounters a Stellar’s Jay at the suet feeder. They thoroughly check each other out … … when the jay starts to clown around and then hops onto the […]
Tasty Tuesday … Golden Autumn Vegetable Chowder
Fall has arrived here with rain, cooler temperatures and beautiful cool season vegetables. There are of course still vine-ripened tomatoes and colorful sweet peppers for sale at the farm market, but cauliflower, broccoli and various cabbages are showing up there as well. Cauliflower is one […]
in cahoots with muddy boots 