Rustic baking, birds and squirrels -

Yesterday I baked a rustic raspberry buttermilk cake - because I had a lot of fruit

at hand which required eating. I like most fruits cooked rather than raw - swallowing

and digesting is much easier for me. 

I've made this cake for years - go HERE for the original recipe - but this time

 I changed pans. I tried it in a deeper French fluted removable bottom pan which

 made it more of a cake than the original shallower and larger in circumference

 coffeecake. I also changed vanilla essence to almond essence - raspberries and

 almonds go together perfectly.

It took longer to bake but turned out really well and, with a scoop of freshly

 whipped heavy cream, made a great dessert.

Going to have to work on the 'pandemic weight gain' soon!

An afternoon garden break - with my camera of course - enabled me to get some

 good bird shots as we had filled the feeders.

Above is the cutest, very young I believe, Northern mockingbird trying out the 

suet feeder.  I used to be able to stand on one leg like that. . . . . and not fall over!!!

We have dozens of Northern cardinals with us year round - many have nested

 in the garden again this year. This is a handsome male and, although not quite as

 deep red as in the winter months, he is one of the brightest flashes of color in

 the garden year round.

Some days it feels like we have more dastardly squirrels than birds! 

This Spring they are everywhere,

I'm sure there was a spike in the birth rate around February.

It's love-hate relationship. . . . . they are clever and cute, but they're

digging in my pots, chewing my tomato leaves (along with the rabbits),

and, as always, gorging themselves on birdseed which they knock out

of the feeders.

I tossed out a few frozen blueberries to see what they would make of those -

my goodness, this one was there in a heartbeat and gobbling them up nonstop!

They are definitely bright-eyed and bushy tailed at this time of year - and look so healthy.

Doubt there are any viruses bothering them currently!

Hope your week is going well.

Stay strong.