All of our crazy weather including half the rain we usually get made for an early spring. The fruit trees are flowering, the ash tree did its thing and is leafed out already, as well as the grapes.
Not at all native to this weird deserty, sometimes Mediterranean climate, I saw a forsythia bush and couldn’t walk away without bringing her home. I paid full price too, which should tell you how much I wanted it. Teehee.
When I was growing up back east, I knew spring had arrived when my mom took me violet hunting and the lillies of the valley popped up, An even more glorious sign were the budding forsythia and lilac bushes up against the French doors in the living room.
When the weather warmed up enough to open all the doors and windows, their fragrance was literally breathtaking.
I’ve tried to grow lilacs here and failed, so I don’t have the highest of hopes for this forsythia, but I will try my best.
Fingers crossed, everyone!
P.S. There’s a chance we’ll have rain this week and that’ll make all my plants (and me) happy.
I was out in the back garden, actually up on the hill, clearing out a ton of baby jade plants that had taken over and choked out some natives. It’s a BIG project because I have to haul them down the hill and they’re heavy.
It was so quiet that I could hear at least six different birds including a woodpecker and a couple hawks.
And then came the familiar squawk of one of my favorite friends, the scrub jay!
I usually have raw peanuts or almonds because they return every year with new babies, but I was all out of their treats. These birds are so smart, they’ve learned to eat out of my hand, which is an amazing connection.
Come back tomorrow, you guys! I’ll go to the grocery store.
They were right above me, but I only had my phone so these photos aren’t as great as the other one. Can you believe how blue that sky is? It’s totally untouched and unfiltered.
A tree fell over, most likely because my absent minded professor son planted it on a slope about fifteen years ago and didn’t realize how gigantic it would become. Now it blocks the path to the top of the hill and we have to walk over or under, or perch on it like the scrub jay!
Yes, it’s WILD up there, that’s why bobcats and coyotes and all sorts of creatures love to stop by.
It was previously done back in the 70s as a BBC series and I watched it because I had read and loved the Herriot books, but this new series is far superior, in my opinion.
“James Herriot (1916–1995) was the pen name of James Alfred “Alf” Wight, an English veterinarian whose wrote about veterinary practice and country life. Many of Herriot’s works—including All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful–became international bestsellers.”
I saved some of his childrens’ books adored by the original Angel Boy and the Angels 2.0 appreciate them, too. Moses the Kitten and Only One Woof are such sweet stories.
Did you know that Diana Rigg, (yes, Emma Peel from The Avengers), played Mrs. Pumphrey before her death?
I could watch this proposal scene again and again; it’s one of the best five minutes of all time. This show is all around well cast, but the actors who play James Herriot and Helen Alderson are AMAZING.
Wait until the end. Pure love. It gets me every time.
Every so often the Star of India sails in San Diego Bay. I was clearing out some old photos and discovered this one from a few years ago. If you have seen this ship at all, it was probably lining the dock in downtown San Diego, but in case you didn’t know, this is the world’s oldest active sailing ship and still sails a few times a year with an all volunteer crew.
The Star of India was built on the Isle of Man in 1863. Iron ships were experimental at that time with most vessels still being built out of wood. Within five months of laying her keel, the ship was launched. She was originally named Euterpe after the Greek muse of music and poetry.
Euterpe was a full-rigged ship and would remain so until 1901, when the Alaska Packers Association rigged her down to a barque, her present rig.
She began her sailing life with two near-disastrous voyages to India. On her first trip she suffered a collision and a mutiny. On her second trip, a cyclone caught Euterpe in the Bay of Bengal, and with her topmasts cut away, she barely made port. Shortly afterward, her first captain died on board and was buried at sea.
After such a hard luck beginning, Euterpe made four more voyages to India as a cargo ship. In 1871 she was purchased by the Shaw Savill Line of London.
Subsequently sold to the Alaska Packer Fleet, her name was changed in 1906 to the Star of India to match the other vessels in their fleet. The Star of India made over 22 Alaskan voyages before becoming obsolete in the 1920s as steam power propulsion became more reliable than wind.
The Zoological Society of San Diego purchased the ship in 1926 for use as the centerpiece of a planned maritime museum and aquarium. The Great Depression in the 30s and World War II caused those plans to be put on hold and the Star of India lay idle until she was restored in the late 50s and early 60s.
Fully restored by 1976, the Star of India set sail as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebration.
Interesting Facts:
Launched five days before Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
I’ve had a bit of success withBlack Bean & Beet Browniesand Lentil Cookies but I’ve never tried simply Lentil Brownies, so I baked some this morning before it got too hot to have the oven on.
They look good, right? But the real question is how do they taste?
If you’ve ever had Black Bean Brownies, you might have detected a slightly weird beany texture, so I hoped this lentil version would eliminate that.
These brownies are TRULY surprisingly yummy! They’re very moist and chocolate-y. I can’t tell they contain lentils, which IS a wonderful source of protein, so this is also a healthy snack.
Tips: 1. Really cook the lentils until they’re mushy. 2. Refrigerate the pan for at least a couple hours after frosting before cutting and eating.
Russia is front and center in the news these days; I wish men all around the world would stop using violence and bullying to solve their personal issues.
Toska is a Russian word roughly translated as sadness, despair, melancholia, lugubriousness (lugubrious is one of my favorite words); also a dull ache of the the soul, a soul pining, spiritual anguish.
One of my grandfathers was born in Russia and maybe that’s why that emotion resonated with me.
According to Vladimir Nabokov ,“No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause.”
I wonder if it’s similar to anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure, a common symptom of depression.
I found a spa, restaurant, and other businesses named Toska and wonder if the owners realize that they branded their business with a word that translates to despair…not sure if that’s the message they wish to convey.
Add vegan mayo and/or ketchup and it’s so delicious, trust me!
I continually experiment with different ingredients to try and provide as much nutrition as possible and still taste good.
This is a complete meal for lunch or dinner or even on the go and it’s super easy because this time I used canned beans. Of course, you can always start with dried beans, but I used what I had on hand.
TIPS: *Quantities can be adjusted for your specific needs; I like to make a lot so I can freeze some. *They can be ovenbaked or in a pan on the stove. *Use whatever veggies you like. *I like to cook them until they’re crispy and crunchy on the outside for texture and because they hold together better, also because it makes them easier to pack and freeze. *They’re delicious hot or cold; perfect for a hike or beach day.
It’s hot and windy and very dry. I hear sirens and hope there isn’t a fire, but it’s fire weather for sure.
We have a heat advisory for the coast, and that’s crazy because the forecasted temperature is higher than for the local desert.
Check this out: 92+ degrees today at the beach. It’s a good day to drink lots of water.
From the National Weather Service: “Another warm day is in store, especially west of the mountains. Many daily high temp records will likely be broken today. “
I figure it’s a perfect time to take advantage of all the solar and wind energy and do a few loads of laundry to hang outdoors.
She’d be 107 years old today. I miss her more than she probably ever imagined.
Her legacy endures because Angel Boy 1.0 and DIL named Angel Girl after her. They have photos of her at their home and both children know who she is and how much of an honor it is to be named for her. She’s Daddy’s grandma, Grandma’s mommy.
Since my mom was an absolutely amazing grandma, I try to emulate some of the same things she did with my son; have endless patience with laser focused attention, play with them forEVER, and take each of them solo toy shopping.
“Look what Grandma got me, Mommy!Grandma said I could get ANYTHING I wanted” as my son showed me one Matchbox car, the only thing he chose. (He always was frugal!)
I knew it wasn’t the object that made him happy, it was spending time with Grandma that was fun and special. And important.
Happy Birthday! I wish we all had more time with her, that’s for sure.
Driving around doing errands this morning, I heard one of her favorite songs at least three times, a message for sure! She loved Prince’s When Doves Cry, and so do I.
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 