First Raspberry of the year!

In October 2015, the last berries of the year were still hanging on. 

Here is the first berry of 2016!

Purple Flowers in the Rain

A couple of pics from today. In honor of the artist Prince. May he rest in peace.

First Flowers 2016

Similar to last February, we have had warm weather in the last week - up to the 60s at times. And also more traditional rain. Today was first cutting to bring the first daffy blooms into the house.

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out-values all the utilities of the world.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Also, this month a bucket of crocus bulbs surprised me by blooming - the pot of bulbs started last year, and after 2015 blooms, had been left in the heat of summer sun (ghastly heat last year). I thought they had been cooked. But, here they are!

Transition

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
William Cullen

Here are some things that caught my eye, in the garden, this month. The Cup and Saucer plant has had blooms here and there all summer! The raspberry is on the vine today - a renewal of spirit! The sedum blossom, yes, in October!

Still Birds

New to the garden

From Ode to Bird Watching

 ...You can hear them
like a heavenly
rustle or movement.
They converse
with precision.
They repeat
their observations.
They brag
of how much they do.
They comment
on everything that exists.
They learn
certain sciences
like hydrography.
and by a sure science
they know
where there are harvests
of grain.

- Pablo Neruda

Solar Cooking 2015

I usually end up cooking with my solar cooker in August when it gets too hot for kitchen activity with stove or oven. But, this year, that weather showed up early.  Today, I enjoyed solar halibut and quinoa!  Plus a cold kale salad. 

 The halibut was placed in a foil "bowl" and then I added a home made mustard sauce and topped it with some shredded ginger and dried (no sugar) cranberries. I put 1/3 cup of dried quinoa in a cup of water that was in a baby bread loaf pan.

Started cooking about noon.  By the time I brought it in, I had to use pot holders to pick up the pot - it was just as hot as if in an oven.

I let it cook out there for about 3 hours. Both the fish and the quinoa were done to perfection!

Flowering Hens & Chicks

Found this a-flowering today.  Hens and chicks. The stem is about 6-7 inches tall.