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I love that having a kid gives me permission to eat like a kid. Or, maybe I just didn't think about some of these foods anymore as an adult. I've re-discovered ants on a log, and I love it. Boo enjoys adding the raisins. My friend Codi once brought over a different version (she got the "recipe" somewhere). They were celery with cream cheese, and dried cranberries...yum. And, perfect for those with peanut allergy.
How about that? Motion blur with ants on a log...why not?
There's a particular species of moth that seems to like our exterior entry. We've had two show up this spring. They linger until they seem ready to go out into the world. The second fellow showed up and hung out on the wall for a few days or so, and then Boo found him on the ground...and since it was next to the cat food, we were a bit alarmed. A tasty snack, that moth. Boo decided to scoop up the moth and stubbornly, it clung to him for it's dear life.
Finally, we got him to climb onto some grass. Hopefully, he found his way and is a happy moth...and that no cats made a snack of him.
It's so nice to relish in the changing of seasons...although, I must admit that the omission of 80 degree weather had me pretty overheated. Happy summer solstice!
It's certainly strawberry season. We've started picking some berries from the garden and supplementing with organic berries from the supermarket (when on sale) and berries from the farmers' market. Boo eats them simply rinsed sans stems. I've used them for snacks (see the third picture below) and for this incredible dessert (Jeff and I can't get enough, but I would say to eat it warm or at room temp...I've tried it out of the fridge and it's just not the same.), in which the leftovers are consumed the next morning by yours truly.
I just watered the strawberry plants the first time today. They really needed it. We've been getting intermittent rain and I just didn't want to admit that I had to start hand-watering. But, it's worth it...there's nothing like strawberries fresh-picked from the plant - red through to the center, warm from the sun, juicy, and sweet.
The above image shows the strawberries that I picked today...that one, there, at 2 o'clock...that one is the perfect berry. So pretty. I want to find a (natural) lipstick that color.
Above is a great snack or dessert: plain yogurt, strawberries (these were the supermarket organic ones, notice the white centers), granola, and drizzled honey. You could also use vanilla yogurt and skip the honey.
Tomorrow is farmers' market day. Time for a tamale lunch and I found this incredible wee espresso stand that makes a really wonderful mocha (the type you want to attempt licking the inside of the cup if you weren't in public).
Have you been taking advantage of strawberry season? Or, are you in the Southern Hemisphere...and what's in season where you are?
It's been a cold, gray, and wet spring...but the flowers still bloomed.
These, what I believe to be, wild irises come in white/purple and yellow/purple. You may notice the ever-present blackberry seedlings that constantly have to be mowed.
This white and purple furry little fellow is intriguing and I'm not sure what it is.
I'm sure there are more types of flowers in bloom right now, this is just what I saw in one stroll outside. I know there are some wild strawberries that bloom as well; I have yet to find a strawberry on one of the plants...methinks they are eaten rather quickly by the wild creatures around these parts.
Today is truly sunny, one of the few days that has been so this spring. On Sunday, we had a really intense thunderstorm (for Oregon) with an incredible, yet brief, downpour.
I actually enjoy thunderstorms, but was a bit concerned about my succulents again, as they got more rain. I plan to investigate how they are doing with all the rain they've been receiving...to see if any have simply gotten too much and have perished. Oh, I do hope not! I have been pretty busy and haven't checked on them every day. I'm sure the ones who have weathered the weather are enjoying the sun.
Oh! and I failed to mention that the darling Kristal of rikrak included me in an Etsy blog article on collecting (pincushions). You can read the article here. Thank you, Kristal!
I remembered the farmers' market today at the last minute...and I already went grocery shopping this week, so I didn't really need anything. However, Boo and I like to get an inexpensive lunch (and treats) and walk the market. There are still root vegetables about and today was really the first day of more spring-time produce...such as strawberries and asparagus (both of which grow wild around here as well). I heard this morning that May was the coldest May on record here, so everything is late at the market. I've gotten beets a couple of times recently, and since I'm the only one in my wee family that enjoys them, I bought one big one each time.
I decided to peel the beet(s), cube them, coat them in olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and thyme. Then they were roasted until they were soft when poked with a fork (no idea the time). The edges of some were crispy and they were like healthier fries...and so pretty!
I suppose the holiday threw me off this week, hopefully I'll remember the market next week so I can pick up some of the incredible local foods.
And as I type, it just started raining again...sigh. I hope my succulents, which I finally decided needed to be outside earlier this week for more sun, don't hate me.