Without question, the best couscous and tagine I’ve ever eaten was back in 1984 in Paris. We had gotten lost in the area near the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery where we visited Jim Morrison’s grave, when we came upon a tiny restaurant from which the […]
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Tasty Tuesday … Moroccan Dutch Baby with Cinnamon-Spiced Beluga Lentils
There are days when dinnertime’s almost here and I still don’t know what to prepare for supper. I’ve never really been a planner and that includes what to eat when. One of my reasons for this is that I like to see what’s fresh and […]
California Road Trip 2019 … The Laguna de Santa Rosa Revisited!
Looking north towards the Mayacamas Mountains! I last came here four years ago with my friend Christine. This time, it was hot, dry and slightly breezy. Last winter the area received record rains which created a lot of serious flooding. The Meadow Lark Field Pink grass!!! […]
Hummingbird Magic!
This rufous hummingbird is usually keeps his distance when I’m in the garden. All hummingbirds love salvia! After the hummers battle each other in the air, the winner always seems to return to the plant where the battle first began. 🙂 Charging me! This is when […]
Up Close & Personal … The Pileated Woodpecker
It’s been a while since I saw a pileated woodpecker in the garden! Well technically he landed high up on one of the Doug firs just behind the fence. I look at the forest as an extension, a space that attracts an enormous number of […]
Hummingbird Magic!
Years ago I planted a “Cotton Candy” white butterfly bush right outside our bedroom window. During the summer months we leave the windows open and many mornings I wake up to the sound of hummingbird wings whirring by. I open my eyes and am treated […]
Tasty Tuesday … Incredibly Delicious Fruit Cobbler
When I started my subscription to the Washington Post last year, I didn’t realize that it would become one of my favorite sites for recipes. I have to confess that I’ve made this dessert several times now and this morning I had a wedge of […]
Hummingbird Magic
Every time I think of pulling out this bright pink vetch one of my hummingbird friends comes along to let me know how much they love this beautiful invasive weed. 🙂
Up Close & Personal … The Cooper’s Hawk returns
Imagine my surprise when I got another visit from the Cooper’s hawk Saturday afternoon! He came swooshing through the shrubs and landed right in front of me on the birdbath. There he sat still for a few moments, then hopped onto the ground behind the […]
Zunday Zen … Ensō
Open hearts and minds trump ignorance, hatred, fear. One’s character matters! When I discovered these incredible pieces of art on display in an office I’ve been to a number of times, it surprised even me that I had never noticed them before. I came […]
California Road Trip 2019 … Hiking Howarth Park … Again!
Santa Rosa’s Howarth Park is popular with many of the locals. The hiking trails around Lake Ralphine connect to Spring Lake, another favorite local spot to enjoy the outdoors. When we lived here, we spent lots of time at both of these parks. Every […]
Up Close & Personal … Introducing Dan (the) Quail
How do you spell potato? 😉 Late Sunday afternoon I I noticed a rather large creature rustling through the bushes around my wildflower corner. I looked up and couldn’t believe my eyes! Right there in front of me I saw this beautiful California quail. He […]
Bienvenue à Quebec! La Deuxième Partie!
While we were visiting Quebec, we also took a bus out towards the St. Lawrence Estuary where we got on a boat for a whale watching excursion. There were lots of Beluga whales, and also a fair number of Mink whales. The boat was a […]
Up Close & Personal … The Townsend’s Chipmunk
The arrival of spring always brings with it the Townsend’s Chipmunk. These adorable tiny rodents are related to squirrels and every bit as agile and acrobatic as their much larger relatives. They mostly scavenge on the ground, picking up sunflower seeds and bits of suet […]
Bienvenue à Quebec!
It’s been almost almost 8 years since we visited Quebec City in Canada. What I remember most about this city are the parks, the architecture, the flower boxes in the windows and the delicious cafe mochas we had. It very much reminded me of Europe in […]
Friendly Friday Photo Challenge … Raindrops
delicate raindrops falling, bouncing, rippling … … then stillness returns This spot is where I like stop for a moment or two whenever I hike the summit at the nature park near my house. This particular day was quite wet and I noticed some raindrops […]
Up Close & Personal … The Cheerful Chickadee
Most of the time, chickadees don’t sit still for a portrait session like this one. But when I encountered this tiny chestnut-backed chickadee the other day, I was surprised at the cooperation, or perhaps he was simply just curious about me! Chickadees visit in small […]
Up Close & Personal … The Red-Breasted Nuthatch
There are lots and lots of these tiny red-breasted nuthatches in the woods behind our house. How do I know you might wonder? Well, I know because I can hear them calling in their thin nasally voice all day long. For a tiny (4 1/2 […]
in cahoots with muddy boots 