Simply Stellar

A stellar jay lands on a chair on my deck. I stop chopping tomatoes and watch as he hops from the chair to the railing and back again. They he takes flight, and I lose sight of him through the morning glory growing on the lattice. He is the first of his kind I’ve seen

Friday’s Fave Five – July 16

It’s felt like a heavy week with the concern about fires and the oppressive smoke blanketing our city. Can I come up with five things? Maybe I need to try more than ever this week, so here goes. Blueberries. My favourite summer fruit is in season and, unlike raspberries which were burned by the extreme

Jamming With My Girls

We score a flat of raspberries. They’re a little burnt from the record-breaking heat, but fine for making jam. It’s a little dream come true, working side by side in the kitchen with Laurinda and Makiya, teaching them how easy it is to make jam. I make the first batch, offering tips while I go, then

Random Morning Thoughts

It’s that magical time of year when every day I see new growth in the garden. We’re eating beautiful and delicious lettuce now. I’m going to pull the rest of the spinach before it bolts and use some of it in a lasagne. I thinned the carrots, and am doing the same with the Hakurei turnips,

A Certain Cadence

Outside my kitchen window, the surprise brightness of a crescent moon high in the east gives me pause in my morning coffee making routine, and I whisper an involuntary “oh!”. Later, with my hands wrapped around a warm mug, I stand at the living room window and look to the east to see what kind

Until Next Time

Conversation, camaraderie, laughter, hugs. Lots of hugs. It’s hard to say what aspect of the weekend is most precious. Three girls in the hot tub, being eaten by mosquitoes, but enjoying themselves nonetheless. Grandmother-granddaughter trip to the, heartbreakingly empty, bookstore. Mother and daughter working together in the kitchen. Movie night. Deep discussion. Light-hearted banter. Did

Thanksgiving

I wake from a dream in which I had returned to work in a similar role as one I was once very proficient in. I was, shall we say, less so in the dream and in my early wakefulness ponder what I remember and what’s lost to me about the technical aspect of my former

Friday Fave Five . . . On Saturday

It’s been years since I participated in Friday Fave Five by posting five things from the week that sparked joy. In the spirit of renewed appreciation for good old fashioned blogging and focusing on what is good and beautiful in the world, I’m going to join in today. It’s Saturday, so I’m a day late,