Sweeties

As a winter experiment, I planted some Grand Rapids leaf lettuce seeds. Even with grow lights, it took all of two and a half months to reach harvest stage. Tasty but not nearly enough production to keep lettuce off my grocery list. I think I'll try different varieties next time. Actually, I prefer the crunch of romaine lettuce on my vegan BLTs.

 

It's Valentine's Day so here are a few snaps of my sweeties:

Of course you knew, I'd be featuring my screech owl!

Such an intense look on that wee face!

This American Robin has kept me company all winter.

Having a long reign for a tom cat, Romeo is still around.

Yes Ellie May, he really does fancy you!

In fact, he's left perfume for you on my riding mower's tire ...

... as well as here, there and everywhere!!

Unrequited Love

No, not mine (this time).

Ellie Mae has a suitor hanging around the property. I've named him 'Romeo'. Sometimes he sings love songs to her and regularly squirts his cologne around the back steps. Since Ellie was spayed more than six years ago, he's wasting courting time here. He most likely comes from one of the nearby farms.

Scruffy and love-sick, Romeo waits in vain for the lovely Ellie Mae.

Untouched by PhotoShop, this really is Ellie Mae's eye-liner colouration.

Captured mid-yawn, she looks like she's laughing at Romeo's intentions.

Viewed from my couch, this bit of snow quite resembled a cat woman's face.

Both crows and ravens live in my area. Cleaning out my refrigerator, I put out phyllo pastry and pats of butter for them. The offerings were quickly accepted!

Alert to possible danger, a pair of crows dig through snow for food.

Half again the size of a crow, a raven gathers up discarded phyllo pastry.

Atop my large-bird excluder contraption, McNutty asks that I replenish his peanuts.

I love Reddy's cute little hooked nose profile as he nibbles down a peanut.

In my previous post, I mentioned my experiment with a whole foods, plant-based diet, excluding meat, fish, eggs and dairy. Well, after almost three weeks of this, my blood pressure did not reduce enough to stop taking my beta blocker prescription. (sigh) On the plus side, however, my energy levels have improved as well as my mood and sleep. Also, not a meat lover anyway, I do love the delicious soups, stews, chili dishes and smoothies.

A trick I picked up is 'apple pie without the pie': Slice and core an apple. Microwave for two minutes, then sprinkle on a little cinnamon. So flavourful and satisfying!!

Micro-waved apple slices with cinnamon and walnuts. Yummy!

Soon after my parents were married, they bought a Findlay Oval wood burning cook stove. It was locally manufactured in Carleton Place, Ontario. Years later, an electric stove was added to the kitchen. The electric ones wore out and were replaced a few times. The original wood stove is still here and working perfectly. Not long before the turn of this present century, my parents passed away. They had enjoyed a long and happy partnership. Their youngest offspring (yours truly) is the present occupant of their farmhouse.

The Findlay Oval stove is a bit of a time capsule. With a fire going, it's sounds transport me back to childhood. When the fire is young, it crackles and snaps. When it gets quieter, it might need another stick of wood or two. Sometimes, perhaps owing to draft or humidity, it groans. I love the simmering sound a kettle makes on the stove top. Just like an electric stove, the wood burning one has different temperature settings. The two lids on the left (over the fire box) have the highest heat. The two lids in the middle produce a medium heat and the far right lids are perfect for keeping food warm. Up top, there is a warming closet. There is even a hot water reservoir on the right hand side. Mom used to bake in the stove's oven. And of course, in the event of a power outage, I can still have a warm room, perk coffee, cook food and even make pop popcorn!

Almost a century old, our Findlay Oval cook stove still works perfectly.