SUNDAY STILLS: HAPPINESS IS....

Happiness is...being miles from civilization, no electricity, no phone, just the sound of the wind through pineneedles.

Happiness is...being up north and fishing with your family.

Happiness is...a Sunday afternoon spent snowshoeing with your husband and dogs.

Happiness is...being silly.

Happiness is...a warm afternoon and a fishing pole.

Happiness is....sharing a moment with an old friend.

Go to http://www.sundaystills.wordpress.com/ for more "Happiness Is..." photography.

SERENDIPITOUS Viburnum triloba

This has been an average week.  Mundane in most every respect....rain at some point nearly every day....cloud cover most of the day....freakin' cold at night...(I've had to bring my hanging fushia into the garage for safe keeping)...and just to rub me the wrong way my job has me down to my last nerve.

So the last thing I expected to cheer my crusty menopausal heart was the discovery of a highbush cranberry that has just magically appeared in my yard in all it's red berried glory.

How could I have missed an approximately 12 foot tall shrub/tree?  I dunno.

Ya see...first my dishwasher went on the fritz...so I'm at the kitchen sink doing dishes the old fashioned way (insert grumbling sound here).  While staring into the abyss (insert gazing out over the back yard here) I see an orange cat out by the garden shed.   "Hmmmm, that must be the cat daughter #2 was talking about."  But, this cat is limping quite badly.  I'd better go see if it's OK.  (At this point I grab a pack of kitty tenders, and still wearing hideous yellow rubber gloves, shove feet into crocs and head to the garden shed.)  My attempts to get near said cat fail miserably.  Probably for the best because kitty won't be the only one limping if hubby comes home from 3 wks away and we have another pet in the house.  (Happens every time he leaves town...I can't explain)

Anyway, kitty makes a quick escape into the bushes behind the shed.  (Doesn't seem to be limping now....I leave the kitty tenders beside the riding mower)  When I look up something red catches my eye....upon further investigation I discover the High Bush Cranberry that I swear wasn't there before!

In fact, I was going to buy a few last spring at the Ferguson Forestry Centre, because I've always fancied them and I didn't have one.

I make a note to myself to get a picture of this miracle shrub right after I finish up the dishes. 

Within the hour the sky clears briefly and I have a very short window of opportunity to get a picture...remember it has been raining non-stop most of the week.  

So that was my "serendipity" moment of the week.

High Bush Cranberry Jelly

2 cups berries

3 Cups water

2/3 cup sugar for each cup of juice

1.  Simmer berries and water for 10 minutes to start the juice extraction then let boil rapidly from 3 to 5 minutes.

2.  Strain through a jelly bag. (layers of cheesecloth)

3.  Measure strained juice.

4.  Add 2/3 cup sugar for each cup of juice.

5.  Bring juice and sugar toa boil, stirring constantly, then boil rapidly until liquid will sheet from the side of a spoon (not drip off in separate drops)

6.  Pour into sterilized jelly jars and seal.

This recipe is from Northern Cookbook, c1979.

I haven't tried it but I just may now that I know where to find some berries.

Take Time to Enjoy the Simple Things

MACRO MONDAY

Wild Grapes

These grapes are growing wild on our rail fence.

SUNDAY STILLS: SIGNS OF FALL

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My species Clematis...the flowers are never spectacular but in early fall the seed heads look like the little dancers from the Disney movie Fantasia.

 

  These photos were all shot earlier in the week.  Of course yesterday dawned sunny and crisp and the leaves have changed remarkably since last Tuesday when I was out and about...but of course yesterday I was working so driving about taking photos was out of the question. 

The leaves on my species Clematis are turning and I thought this one was a most wonderful red.

This wild apple tree is growing in the ditch just down the road a piece.

The apples sure don't look very appetizing...but I'm sure the deer will enjoy them just the same.

A view down the road showing the maples just beginning to turn.

We had a good frost night before last and that always does wonders to speed things along.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers!

EYE EYE Captain

"I can always tell which is the front end of a horse, but beyond that, my art is not above the ordinary."

~Mark Twain~

My thanks go out to Foreman for posing by the water trough in a "just right" position even as the flies threatened to carry both of us away.

Be sure to take time out today to enjoy the simple things...flies not included.

Cheers

Jackie

Almost Ready to Put the Garden to Bed.

 Here are a few pictures from my late summer garden.  I'm always amazed by the transition the Hydrangea takes when it goes from white to green then perfectly brown like whole wheat toast.  This one is Annabelle.

It's plain and simple...easy to grow...just my kind of plant really.

This Lavatera seeded itself from last years plants. I was pleased to see them come back and they managed to tuck themselves into all the right places, filling gaps and bare spots.

A few Concord grapes that look better than

they taste.  Can you say "pucker up"?

This is the tail end of my pink Phlox that I love so much and will sorely miss until next summer rolls around again.

I cheat and let the New England Asters fill in the garden out at the end of the laneway.  Who am I kidding...I let them be wherever they seed themselves.   Is it really laziness on my part or rather taking advantage of what natures gives us? I vote for the latter.

This photo isn't my best....it was such a breezy afternoon that the flowers just wouldn't stay still long enough for me to focus.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it..hahaha)   The breeze and perhaps the glass of wine I was enjoying while strolling around the yard may have contributed to the slightly fuzzy picture.

At any rate....I'm trying to squeeze every last summery moment out of  September before the killing frost comes as it surely will soon. 

I hope you have the chance to enjoy the simple pleasures in your backyard before they disappear for another year.

Cheers from Meadowsweet

It Must Be Tea-Time Somewhere

"Strange how a teacup can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company."   ~Unkown~

This lovely blue willow teacup is part of an early tea set...probably early 1800's...unfortunately it isn't complete and it has a few chips.  I say..."Oh well"....it means that this set had a life.  Someone drank their tea from this cup during good times and probably bad.  How many secrets could this cup tell if it could talk? 

The cup itself is on the small side and the saucer is deep.  You don't suppose it's owner poured the tea from the cup into the saucer and then drank from the saucer do you?  I've been told that my great-grandmother drank her tea that way.

I think I will make mine Earl Grey Green and drink from a mug.

A Stoll Through The Herb Garden

This plot is supposed to represent "Early American Herbs" (as you can see by the small sign) however I couldn't see too much growing there and was unable to identify what was there with any degree of certainty. Perhaps we were just visiting at the wrong time of year.

This plot was much more lush although I have to admit I really couldn't identify too much. Feel free to throw in your 2 cents worth if you see anything you recognize.


After our self-guided tour we stopped to rest and rejuvinate at this lovely main street cafe. They sold every imaginable flavour combination....I had a large/ carmel/vanilla/whipped creamie/truly decadent/bazillion calorie coffee.

B.L. went crazy and ordered some sort of Snickerdoodle Mocha Chi Latte Piece de Resistance.
(please excuse me for not adding the accents where they belong...not sure how to do it on this keyboard.)



We enjoyed the late morning sunshine here at the streetside tables.
(Did a little people watching too...really...who doesn't do that...come on....admit it.)

The Medicinal Herb plot appeared to have a copious amount of mint and a jumble of other herbacous plants that again had me sorely vexed.

And, lastly, the Biblical Herbs....I was able to identify the Lady's Mantle growing here.
If I went again I would be sure to take a pocket field guide along.

"Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a morning need anything else? "

~Betsy Canas Garmon~

http://www.wildthymecreative.com/

Never being one to conform...I set this post up as Garden, Coffee, Garden... but it's still a wonderful way to spend some leisure time.
I hope you enjoyed your tour through the Arboretum with me.
Cheers
Jackie

Friday Verse

When You Are Old

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

-- William Butler Yeats


I hope you all enjoy this fine day.
Jackie

More Photos from Ellicottville NY

"This day like all other days has left few traces

Old father time Wings us speedily on to eternity."

DIARY OF MATILDA BOWERS EBY, 1 JUNE 1863

Here are some of the photos I snapped when BettyLou and I took the self-guided tour of the Ellicottville Arboretum. The photo above is looking toward the Herb gardens.
It was an excellent way to spend a morning...strolling along the well maintained paths through the various gardens and enjoying the interesting selection tree and shrub plantings. I'm sure it would be glorious in late May through June when the trees would be in bloom. Late August is never a great time for garden tours since most flowers are either finished or are starting to look tired, nevertheless we enjoyed the day immensely.
Wouldn't this be a lovely setting for an early June wedding?

Here we are at the centre of the herb garden.

The pathway circles round this charming pond, where catch and release fishing is allowed. I have no idea what kind of fish one might catch but it made a pretty picture and that's what I was interested in.
A pleasant walk on sunny day that I would definitely recommend if you ever find yourself in the vicinity.
Until next time....Cheers!
Jackie