Fire

Halifax is in flames. There is a huge fire that has been burning out of control on the outskirts. Yesterday my daughter and I were doing some errands and noticed the dark billowing clouds in the sky. Ominous. We found out soon enough what it was.
Gorgeous forest is gone as well as homes:( No reports of injuries, thank goodness. It is raging still. You can smell woodsmoke in the air. We have just had a hot dry spell and our forests are full of dry tinder left behind when Hurricane Juan downed many trees. The winds are high, fanning it on. People were literally running from it with whatever possesions they had the presence of mind to grab. Such a shock. Here is an article from our local paper with more info and a link to an extraordinary picture of the fire There is rain in our forecast today.....I hope it starts sooner rather than later.
UPDATE: It is raining! Hooray:)

Wednesday

The bold Monty keeping a lookout for squirrels and birds! What a day we had yesterday!! It could have been August. A beautiful gift of a day plopped into April. Today we are back to normal but it is still lovely outside. I bought some soil to put into long planters where I will grow Swiss chard and beets and peas and lettuce.

Now, I need your advice.... we have ants........inside:( I will go onto the web to look for ideas but I was wondering if any of you have tried and true methods of getting rid of them. It is silly because as much as I HATE them inside the house, it makes me sad to kill them. I know, I know, but they are are ALIVE and it seems horrible to squash life.

It seems that the video I posted yesterday was based on another one! Carol of Paris Breakfasts send me the link to this one, done in Liverpool to a different song and on a larger scale! More singing and dancing fun:) ........This just in...one more flash dance...... Picadilly Circus, Beyonce's song.

Sound of music:)

More than 200 dancers perform their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. With just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! March 23,2009,8am. It A promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music". Wouldn't you just love to come across something like this!

Celestial Teapot

Celestial Teapot original available on eBay and Print available on Etsy.

We had a wonderful weekend weather, complete with unexpected thunder and lightening on Sat. evening. I was quietly working on the computer when an unexpected FLASH of light through the window next to me had me leap up off the seat and across the room, heart pounding. I thought the house next door had exploded, I didn't know what it was. There was no rain. Thunder seconds later soon told the tale. Sheesh.

Well by now you've probably hear of the Swine flu cases in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia of all places, a tiny spot on the East coast, gets one of the first pockets of the virus. Luckily they all had very mild cases. What is amazing to me is how fast the virus has spread around the world, cases everywhere. Maybe all viruses travel that fast and they have only been monitering for this. Wash your hands folk! Cough into your sleeve. Stay home if sick.

And, Pakistan....another thing on my mind. I hope they can quell the uprising Taliban. Things are very tough for some people in areas there now. Especially women and girls:(

Ok, that's my unloading for today. The sun is shining, lots of errands to do and work to finish!

Sweet Potato Fennel

today's lunch.....

Fennel and Sweet Potato Soup
1 1/4 cups onions, roughly chopped
1 stalk of celery chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil or whatever, I used coconut
1 3/4 cups fennel heart, chopped
2 or 3 cloves garlic, chopped 3-1/2 cups sweet potato, cut into small chunks, not peeled if organic
1/2 - 1/2 teaspoon cumin
3 or 4 cups vegetable stock or water or chicken stock
1 or 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a large stockpot, saute the onion and celery in the oil over medium heat until the edges of the onions begin to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the fennel and garlic, and saute for about 5 more minutes. Add the potato and cumin, and stir well to combine. Saute for an additional 2 or 3 minutes, then add water or stock.
Bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, about 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the soup to a blender or use handy dandy immersion blender and puree until smooth. Season to taste with cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Additional water or stock can be added if a thinner consistency is desired. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Monet's garden in May. Giverny, France
I am working on my wee messy yard today. Would love to have a garden like this some day:) Wild, flowering, abundant and tangled.

This swine flu news is bothering me. If the New York students are confirmed, we will be in for a bumpy ride. What really gets me is the description of the virus. This swine flu contains DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses, the CDC has said. Almost sounds engineered:((

I'm going to bury myself in Spring activities. Also might even get my car washed. H is helping with a charity car wash today. Perfect day for it!

Sunny days just up ahead

Hellebore. I love these plants, so mysterious and lovely. Their colours are muted and soft. These were at the farmers market. Speaking of plants and markets, this weekend is reported to bring FANTASTIC weather, June temperatures and sunshine. I will be making another trip to the market I believe and the garden awaits:)

Also, thanks so much for the comments on my poppy painting and pricing art. Always a hard thing to do. We want to be fair but also make some income. I won't be putting it up for sale online after all:) A lovely individual sent me an email wanting to buy it directly. Hooray!

getting larger

I've been wanting to paint larger canvases and did this the other day. It is 12 x 24 x 2" I am wondering how to sell it. If I should put it on eBay or Etsy or maybe keep it:) One of the reasons I don't do large is because the shipping costs are so high here in Canada. This would cost about $24 to send. The canvas support is also expensive and adds to the cost. So do I put a price of $125?($150 including shipping) It is so hard to figure out what to charge. Is it worth what someone will pay for it or what it cost me to make it plus time and fees to the selling venue? I tend to put lower prices on my art because I want to sell it. It is a conundrum. If it was to sell in a gallery, the gallery takes 50% that's one reason the prices are so much higher in those venues. What is your take on pricing?

Earth Day

This is a lovely old gnarled hemlock. It is on one of the main paths in Hemlock Ravine Park. When my daughter and her friends were little we called her Grandmother Hemlock. There was a wee knot hole near the base and when we were finished our time in the park, each of us would take a turn to whisper a wish to the tree and give her a hug:) I cannot pass that tree even now without stopping.:)

Lemon Ginger Carrot Soup

This is the market I went to yesterday to pick up some bone meal for my daffodils. They are just revving up for the season:) I picked up some packets of seeds too, couldn't help myself. Soon the aisles will be filled with transplants of flowers and herbs.
I am planning on making this soup today. I got the recipe from the Home Grown Organics website where I get my veggie box each week. It sounds delicious! They serve it at the Kinloch Lodge Hotel in Scotland.

Lemon Ginger Carrot Soup
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/4 pounds medium carrots, peeled, chopped (about 3 cups)
2 tomatoes, seeded, chopped (about 1 1/3 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
3 cups (or more) chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 small carrot, peeled, grated
Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute 4 minutes. add ginger and garlic; saute 2 minutes. Add chopped carrots, tomatoes and lemon peel; saute 1 minute. Add 3 cups stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover partially and simmer until carrots are very tender, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly.
Puree soup in batches in blender. Return soup to pot. Mix in lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Bring soup to simmer, thinning with more stock, if desired. Ladle into bowls. Top with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with grated carrot and fresh parsley.