May Garden

It's May again, garden time. Feels so good to be spending more time outdoors ... raking, digging, hoeing, planting. There are already small lettuces and radishes growing and the peas and spinach are up as well. Today I planted bush beans and pole beans. I hope they grow quickly!
A late afternoon stroll around the garden with my camera found long shadows and golden light, beautiful May!

April's End

Hi all, with the arrival of spring comes an incredible busyness, which feels good and purposeful after a quiet winter. The to do lists are long this week and long range plans are in the works too, spring is always like this!


I will be adding these new note cards to my Etsy shop very soon , got some more new art in the works too.

In the midst of all the work and plans this week came the sweet discovery of a wonderful movie called The Way.  It is the story of a father who unexpectedly finds himself in Spain on a pilgrimage, traveling the route of the 'Way of St. James', or the El Camino de Santiago as it is better known. This route, in real life, has been traveled by pilgrims all over the world for over 1000 years for both religious and personal reasons.  I would love to do this month long + walk! The film is a gem, with beautiful scenery and a sincere and heartfelt story. The soundtrack has some beautiful compositions by  Tyler Bates, and others.  Check it out...

spring is here!

I've been looking back over some of my older blog entries, to about a year back when the crocuses in my garden bloomed so prettily and I posted a picture of them. Time sure does fly, because now they are blooming again, in fact, I think that maybe they have already run their course and now the lilacs and daffodils are stepping up.

I love springtime, possibly more than any other season, though I can find reasons to love each and every one if I think about it. But spring is the best. New growth, being out in the warm sun after so many weeks inside, new plans in the garden, hard work to wake up muscles that have been resting all winter. Not to mention lengthening days with early sunrises and late sunsets.

 

 I'm working outside this week as much as I can, cleaning up the garden and yard ... planting seeds ... walking around with so many plans and projects in my head.

Another thing I'd like to share this week is new music, and very nice music too! Somewhere in my travels online I discovered The Paper Kites. I haven't heard a single song by them that I don't love.    Listen here and here ... happy spring!

                                                        

Farmer's Market Day

When I was on a family vacation in Palm Beach recently I visited the local farmer's market on a Saturday morning, before the sun got too hot.
In my experience every market has similarities but also its own unique characteristics, depending on season and location. This market had a lovely mix of fresh produce, home-made pasta, flowers, houseplants, delicious hot food and live entertainment. Add the fact that it happened to be St. Patrick's Day as well and it was even more fun!

At this booth you could buy fresh coconut milk right in the coconut! The seller used a large machete to prepare your coconut ... pretty impressive!

 

Beautiful tropical plants, would love to have taken a few of these home on the plane with me... 

I bought some fresh Asian greens from this grower. We stir-fried them for dinner during the week, delicious!

 

I couldn't resist asking if I could take this guy's picture, so good looking in his St. Paddy's Day hat!

Kind of wish that I could do a tour of farmer's markets all over this country and other far off places. I don't think I would ever tire of the variety and general good feeling I come away with after a day at the market!

vacation notes...

This is the perfect, blue sky I got to enjoy for two whole weeks while in Florida ... so many lovely, full days to remember.  Having just spent a winter in New England, to suddenly find myself in the tropical land of beaches, blooming flowers and warm sun was pretty exceptional. I savored every moment!

Part of what I love about travel is noticing plants, birds and  local wildlife that are new and unknown to me. To see flocks of pelicans flying overhead, or small lizards scurrying for cover into hedges as I walk by ...  not what I see everyday at home! It's also interesting to see familiar houseplants growing here, like bouganvilla  or hibiscus, growing as hedges and outdoor climbers. 

 Did I mention the shopping yet? I may be more of a window shopper than a buyer in this town but even I can appreciate the wondrous variety of shops and restaurants in the Palm Beach area.

 

My personal favorite was this one below, my first visit to Anthropologie !

                                                       ...and the beach of course...

 

Many thanks to my dear sister for sharing her beautiful world with me and to my Mom, for being such an adventurous and all around great travel companion! 

Love you both!

I  have more to post about my visit to Florida, I think it will be the Saturday morning Farmer's Market next!

  See you soon!

bird angels in Maine to palm trees in Florida

                                                                                                                                                       bird angels

What a week ... I feel a change in the weather ... from a spring snow that brought the birds flocking to the bird feeder, to beautiful sun-filled 60 degree days and my first views of blooming crocuses and snowdrops.

                                                                                                                             ...so many tracks in the snow

                                                                                                                                           kitchen snowflakes

I've been cooking lots of healthy foods these past weeks, still enjoying and being inspired by Heather's workshop at Whole Food Kitchen.
 It's hard to describe the change I've been experiencing as I eat more delicious, life giving foods. It's a bit like watering a plant that hasn't had a good dose of water in awhile, you see the leaves start to unfurl and come back to life, standing strong again ... that's how I'm feeling!

                                                                                                                                              salad and khichuri

                                                                                                             falafel, salad and tahini/lemon sauce

                                                                                                                                         coconut milk quinoa

                                                                                                                                 roasting nuts and seeds

                                                                                                                                                      lovely peels                 

                                                                                                                                                          fruit salad

                                                                                                  breakfast quinoa with fruit, nuts and seeds

                                                                                                                       gluten-free blueberry seed cake                                                

Well, you see that I've been keeping busy in the kitchen this week!
In other ways I've been busy as well ... enjoying the beautiful art of Angie Lewin , and always with music I love in the background. 
Last, but not least, I'm planning a little break from winter to visit my sister in Florida! This is not something I do regularly, it's kind of a big deal I'd say!
I'll be away for two whole weeks of sunshine, fresh food and good company! Looking forward to posting about my trip when I return. See you at the end of the month! Enjoy!

                                                                                                                                         from Cathy's iphone