In the land of lost words -

My latest choice of books arrived last week - delivered to the door like so many other things these days. Browsing for an hour or so in a lovely independent bookshop, perhaps curled in a wingback chair with some classical music playing very softly in the background, is on hold of course. Just when we really need beautiful books and tantalizing stories, we have to get our hands on them via a computer, a wait, the grey Prime van pulling up at the bottom of the driveway, the loud 'plop' as the heavy box hits the top step outside the front door. Slash open the box, pop some bubble wrap - you do that too don't you? New books are lovely. You have your own favorite chair, your own music to play if you enjoy quiet background sounds. If warm, sit by the open window, birdsong is everywhere these days.  Life is still good, very good if you allow yourself to grab and hold on to loving your favorite things be it cooking, painting, writing, listening. . . . . and of course reading.

If interested in the reasons for my latest book picks, read here.

From top to bottom of the stack:

In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin
"An exhilarating look at a place that still retains the exotic mystery of a far-off, unseen land."
Having visited there twice, I've had this classic by the great British travel writer on my 
list for a long time - starting it today.

The Shell Collector - Anthony Doerr
A book of short stories so wonderful I couldn't put it down. After enjoying his novel
 "All The Light We Cannot See" so much, I just had to read this. . . . .loved it, 
and will be reading over and over when in need of a fabulous short story, beautifully
written.

Peregrine Spring - Nancy Cowan
"A Master falconer's extraordinary life with birds of prey."
Nancy (and her husband Jim, a work colleague of Bob for many years), are friends.
 I have visited their internationally known New Hampshire School of Falconry and 
felt the weight of an exquisite, huge raptor fly in and land on my gloved hand to eat. 
An experience like no other!
This book is going to be wonderful, educational, and I'm anxious to read it.

A Way to Garden - Margaret Roach 
'A hands-on primer for every season'.
I know Margaret well from her wonderful online blog and many
years as garden editor for Martha Stewart Living magazine. 
She also writes a New York Times column.
Margaret's weekly blog post from upstate New York is always full of fabulous 
gardening tips, podcasts with other well known gardeners, and generous
 book give-a-ways (I won one!).
Now I will be opening her book often, enjoying the beautiful photos and learning
 more about a hobby I love. After all, "A garden is a job for ever".

The Lost Words - Robert MacFarlane & Jackie Morris
The lovely surprise was that this is an exquisite oversized book which looks 
perfect left out to be picked up, opened, and to be in awe of because of the
 beautiful illustrations.
Publication of the most recent edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary - widely
 used in schools around the world - dropped around forty common words
 concerning nature, as they weren't being used by children. "Lost words" 
included acorn, bluebell, fern, newt, otter, dandelion and willow. 
Words taking their place include attachment, broadband, cut-and-paste
 voice-mail and blog!

Powerful signs of the growing, and quite frightening to me, gulf between
 childhood and nature.
A picture book of the best kind - it is truly fabulous - and you will find me by
 that open window, listening to the birds, as I turn the pages during
 these days at home.

A weekend thought -

Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended. 

Not so much to prevent COVID-19 but to stop eating!

Have a great weekend anyway dear readers!

A fragrant garden walk. . . . .

Take a closer look at the smaller things. . . . those you may take for granted.

Yesterday started out under thick, low cloud cover.  

Coffee mug in hand, camera around neck, in dressing gown and flip flops,
I quietly let myself out into the garden.
I've had to do my own mini pedicure to enable being seen in open toe sandals
 this week - sweet Ms. Kim, my pedi lady is probably missing me, as I am her by now! 
As for my gel finger nails, don't get me started, just know I need my sweet 
 Ms. My Lihn more than ever before!!!

I only managed a few hours sleep, found myself reading at bedtime and 
then again at 3:00 AM. One of those lousy nights I'm having more often lately - can
 I blame COVID-19?

I needed fresh air.

garden is still lovely even without sunshine. 

Dampness brings out full fragrance of the jasmine billowing over the fences,
the mint and rosemary standing tall perfume the air as I pass by.
The new, still tiny, basil shoots when gently rubbed between my fingers, bring
 thoughts of making pesto when summertime arrives.

Yes, wildlife was awake too!  A naughty rabbit was already eyeing my small
tomato patch. A brown thrasher was busy breakfasting on the suet cake,
the bluest Eastern bluebird and pair of wrens were on the big feeder. . . . . 
and all around birds were singing and calling from the trees.

Early morning does not allow you to take the small, beautiful things
for granted - especially in a spring garden.

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.