Just Sitting

Papa saw him first. Just sitting there, up in the pine tree, all fluffed out. 'What in..what is that? Quick! Oh, no, he's g..no there he is! Quickly. Come and see. Do you see him? Go and get the camera. What is that?' Well, we now have another beautiful bird to add to the growing number on the list. This time a Great Barred Owl came and sat on the pine tree right outside our window for the whole afternoon. He just sat there. At least that's what we thought he was doing. Actually, I think he was biding his time, just waiting for one of those pesky red squirrels to take a trip to the peanut pile by our kitchen window. The storm was just blowing in, so he had fluffed himself up like a huge pillow. He's probably about 20" long, enormous. What a treat for us to be able to study him at such close quarters, without him becoming spooked. 63 years ago, my sister, Gay, had complained to my mother, 'Wigga-Woo come a me nex!' Looking at this majestic creature, I can see why she would have been daunted by the prospect of being carried off to the top of the beech tree, to be shared equally among the fluffy nestlings...!

Does anybody know...

Does anybody know, does anybody care,
Where slugs go when the trees are bare?
Do they all slide south to some warmer clime,
Then slide back again when it's summertime?
I don't really care, but I'd like to know
What happens to slugs when we're covered with snow!

Chili for the Chilly

I made chili today! Jumping out of bed at 5 a.m., I plodded to the kitchen, barefoot and flannel-nightied, with an inner determination: chili and chicken noodle soup. Still half asleep, I waddled down to the storage room downstairs, and took my 2 largest stainless pots down from the shelves. The floor beneath my feet was wonderful, all warm from the below-floor heating, then up to the very cold stone-floored kitchen. I put the groats on to cook for an hour, and figured that they'd be just about ready for our breakfast, by the time I had the chili ingredients all chopped and caramelized, with all the special elusive spices dug out from the jumbled corner cupboard (one day, I have to make a big effort and clean this space out!). This particular chili was a first for me: it was the first time in my life that I had ever used jalapeno peppers! I continue to fight my lone battle that life can be quite exceptional without hot peppers, but today, because I was making a double batch for the youth chili fest on Sunday I decided to swallow my pride and pull out all the stops. So I chopped the onions and peppers, both sweet and hot, smooshed the 12 cloves of garlic, yes 12! Then I washed my hands and washed them again, then just for good measure, did it again, this time rubbing them on the stainless tap to neutralize the garlic. It worked. The 'carne' had been browned and the onions had turned a beautiful golden colour. I turned out the spice cupboard and found all the herbs and spices, some that had come from Arles in the south of France, some from Paris, a dollop of Marmite that Sophie had brought me from England, some from Puerto Rico, herbes de Provence. What an international chef-d'oeuvre! After this extraordinary mish-mash had simmered for a couple of hours, in went the 6 cans (rinsed) of dark red kidney beans, the pile of chopped cilantro and the juice of a lime. The crowning glory was when Papa, taking a spoon, lifted it to his mouth, closed his eyes, breathed in the pungent delight deeply, then tasted the lovingly prepared offering...I think I held my breath: "I think this has to be the very best chili I've ever had." I have fallen in love all over again, not only with my darling husband, but too, with the idea of never thinking that you've arrived, but there's always another adventure just around the corner, in this instance, chili con carne with jalapenos!!
Still basking in the delight of it all, I went to work on the chicken noodle soup: thickly chopped bacon, a nice little chicken, together with her gizzards, heart and liver, lots of veggies: onions, garlic, leeks, celery, turnip, parsnip, red potato, herbs galore, and carrots. Pop it all in the other pot and cover over with chicken broth. Side by side, the chili and chicken filled the house with delightful smellies, all before the sun came up!! What fun, and oat groats to boot! I'm not so sure I could do it every day, but for this day, at least, I'm in my absolute element: and all's right with the world! Bon appetit!

I'm Still Glad...

We used to live at the foot of a hill
If we hadn't moved we'd live there still
The Spring Thaw did our cellar fill
In the house where we lived at the foot of the hill

I'm Glad...

I'm glad I live on the top of a hill
The snow doth fall and the wind blows chill
The mounds of snow around us will
Come Spring trickle down to the foot of the hill

Back-scratching

Almost a year ago, we gave away the old black car that I'd been using for a garden shed! The chap to whom we gave it was so thrilled: he put some new shoes on the brakes, fixed her up with a new muffler system, and behold! She's as good as new. Today, he turned up with a few friends and a couple of loads of dry wood, and they're out there now, having the time of their lives, joking around and stacking the wood. I've made a feast for them to enjoy once the wood's all stacked: a couple of spinach quiches and bratwurst, apple and blackberry pies, fresh home-roasted coffee and thick cream. We shall enjoy a roaring blaze tonight in the fireplace that has remained empty and cold for weeks. We were saving the last few logs for a very, very cold night or if one of us became ill...I can't remember when we've ever felt so healthy! And so we're looking forward to a cozy evening, while the snow continues to fall, snow on snow, and our hearts will sing with thanksgiving for the friends we have who reflect the ebb and flow of life, dealing with the circumstances of lack and abundance, sickness and health, joy and sorrow, the yea and nay of it all, the fragile balance of friendship. We are truly blessed!

Crystal Earth

Tinkling fingers, darkest night,
Glass-like image, fairy lights.
All upon this winter's night,
Crystal covers giant and mite.

Don't fade in sleep upon this night
Or you'll miss the gay delight
You'll not be captured by the sight
Of tinkling fingers, darkest night.