Category Archives: Country Living

May’s visit with us

“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment” Ellis Peters

I quite agree, every spring is so amazing! The sweet woodruff loves it here, matting itself around and through so many plants. Giving us delicate white bloom in May and a carpet of green until frost.

Fiddleheads are intriguing ans so visible on these large ferns. They grow under the Fragrant Viburnum carlesii.  White Flower Farm says, “This is one of the most gloriously fragrant shrubs known to man. The dense flower heads, which measure up to 3in across, produce white flowers from blush pink buds, and the perfume, which is a sweet, rich, spicy vanilla, carries a considerable distance across a lawn or garden.”   And this is so true! I like to stand near and try to drink in the fragrance of it. All too soon the bloom is gone. But then it is time to search the shady nooks for sweet Lily of the Valley.  Little clusters in a tiny bottle on the kitchen table bring such joy.

The sweet yellow bloom is trollius or globeflower which seems to love a shady area along our fence.

This was a very cool spring for us; I thought I would never put away my heavy fleece! I think it delayed the arrival of our hummers. Last year the territorial war seemed a bit vicious so I found another of these bottle feeders in an attempt to have everyone be nice. The newest one has the most interest right now but I would like to dine among the iris myself! It will be interesting to see if the popularity of the feeder changes as the Iris wane and the daylilies bloom out around our porch area. Not a traditional porch but with our swing, small table and chairs outside our kitchen door, It serves us well as one. We enjoy many pleasant hours there.IMG_8475

Considering the lily in the field

IMG_0734   In my garden this must surely be the lily of the field — fleur de lis — Iris.

I love all the variety of my garden and wild-land but there is something about the tall bearded iris, so elegant and stately and truly arrayed in great beauty. Lavenders, blues and a sweet yellow bloom here. The day I open the curtains and see their amazing blooms open is a wonder-day.   IMG_0747 I really try to consider all that lives around me, even the color and variety of leaves and bird song and sometimes I could burst with the wonderment of it all. I hope never to grow tired of the seeing and hope to see more; my camera helps me to do that, magnifying amazing details.

Hosta leaves

My garden tending seems so trivial, so unimportant compared to the great delight my eyes feed my soul from this harvest of beauty.

Sitting at the kitchen table now, I look out and catch sight of one leaf which turns joyfully, dancing on a breeze only it feels; its companions still. I understand its tiny heart.

 

 

Luxury ignored

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Many years ago a young visitor to our home excitedly pointed out that we had morels!

It  never crossed my mind to eat a mushroom from the wild and certainly not one that looked like it was turned inside out! Her mother assured me that we had the real thing and gathered them all with my permission.

On-line videos show turkey hunters searching for and harvesting morels — either as a wonderful consolation prize or tasty side dish to the turkey. And I find there are many recipes for them. But I leave mine for the wildlife.

 

Birding

We live in the country with acreage around. Birds are, in general, a blessed part of life adding mostly cheery song, some flashes of color and insect protection to the yard. We use bird feeders to supplement diets and provide our own entertainment from those who visit.   (Today I saw the first Hummingbird for the season!)

I’ve never kept an official bird list but I do know many of our visitors. Some of the more interesting ones belong to the woodpecker family: Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker,  the little Downy Woodpecker and the large Pileated Woodpecker. This last one was an uncommon and thrilling visitor who demolished some aging stumps for us a few years ago.

The Cornell lab of Ornithology is a wonderful resource for identifying birds and learning about their lives. They also have several nest cams. I watched Red-tailed Hawks and  Great Blue Herons today. But back to my story…

We have several old and large Leatherleaf Viburnum near the house. Very early this spring, I noticed that some of the stalks sported brown leaves, a bad sign in an evergreen.Sapsucker visit 1   As more brown leaves appeared we inspected the shrubs and saw neatly arranged holes and rectangular gouges. We took a section to a garden center and the manager identified the damage as the work of a sapsucker, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker!   IMG_0453    Isn’t this amazing! The rectangular holes are called sapwells and I learned that these woodpeckers have specialized brush tipped tongues to lap up the sap and and any insects that might be in it. They also feed on the inner part of the tree or woody shrub. If the holes girdle the branch or trunk, it is likely that it will die. We have a bit of work ahead of us pruning and clearing away the calling cards left by our visitors – shy visitors I never saw!

109_0954   Leatherleaf Viburnum bloom

Life by seasons

Very early I woke to the particular pearly grey dark of snow. I could see the thickly coated trees from the window and decided to continue my night season a little longer!

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When I emerged from my cocoon, the snow was falling fast and piling thickly. The snowbirds are still with us and were busy breakfasting.

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The jonquils by the kitchen door where so cheery yesterday with the promise of bloom but today lie cozy under their comforter of snow.

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To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven   Eccl 3:1 

 

It would seem this winter season is still upon us, the snow gently watering the earth and I delight in the quiet beauty of the day.

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I hope there is beauty in your days and a bit of fun too! This is mine…

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I can see this tree through the window while I cook. It rather reminds me of a very large rabbit playing at holding up the sky and I sometimes wonder if he dances in the moonlight.

I might go and have a look. The snow stopped long ago and the warm earth sucked in much of the snow till there is only a thin blanket left for the moonshine glow. Peace to you.

 

 

Coming to ends

For at least a week, I would wake and think it must be February 28. It finally is! After a month of gloomy winter, yesterday and today have had sun and I was happy to go in search of spring coming. I was not disappointed.

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I have known for a while that the blogging platform I use would come to an end of itself and now notice has been served. Please wish me well as I move my work to another service. My on-line address will remain the same.

Sunday in Snow

Just when I am tired of cold and winter, snow falls and the beauty of it cheers me.

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The bowl of starter is bubbling with the mystery of yeast and sourdough pancakes are the treat of the day. I take my walk about gazing through the windows. Snowbirds – Juncos – have visited the back step in hope of an easy breakfast of spilled seed. Magnolia buds show no sign of waking from their winter sleep. It is a day of rest and simple pleasures here. I hope you found beauty and rest in your day.

 

November in Layers

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The month was layered…layers of blankets and quilts…sweaters and scarves and caps. Mornings were layered with fogs and mists that gave way in wisps to show sparkly carpets of frosted grass and leaf in rising sun over fields and woodland. And oakleaf hydrangeas wear frost in elegance on their now colorful leaves.

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Trees are more defined in November, dark trunks and branches against evergreen and the late color of red maple and coppery blueberry and golden viburnum glow in the afternoon light, like layers of a masterful painting.

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There are layers too of bird chatter as snowbirds and wrens scuffle around in mulch and dried leaves near the door while finches perch for fresh water and all kinds of birds cling to the feeders surveyed by chattering, fat, furry squirrels while flashes of cardinal and bluejay brighten the yard.

My thoughts are all layers too, stuff and plans, memories and dreamings… some shrouded in frost or cloud, some bathed in sunlight or moonlight. But always as I survey my small piece of world, I look to see through the layers, to really see, and to be grateful, giving thanks for all that I have been given in this life.