A Day in March

Springtime - almost!  

It was one of those unsettled March days with a good brisk wind and clouds scuttling across the sky, allowing the sunshine to peek out now and again. 

My view from the kitchen window encouraged me to hurry with my chores so I could get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. 

I never managed to cook the corned beef and cabbage dinner I planned for St. Patrick's Day, so today I prepared that for the crock pot. 

Won't 'The Mr.' be surprised when he comes home tonight! 

I had such a headache yesterday, I didn't feel like doing much. 

He will be happy to see that I feel better today and he won't miss out on our St. Paddy's Day tradition. 

We are both half Irish. 

My Great Grandfather came from County Cork, Ireland. 

And his Great Grandfather did too! 

Maybe they knew each other! 

So there it is, simmering away, filling the house with wonderful, homey smells. 

We had so many Irish traditions growing up. 

I can remember reading 'Angela's Ashes' and feeling such a familiarity with the little 'sayings'. 

All things I heard growing up from my Grandparents. 

They emigrated to South Boston in the 1920's. 

A big Irish community. 

Eventually moving to the country, 30 miles south. 

We had so many Irish names in our classrooms. 

McCarthy, McClellan, McCoy, every name under the Irish sun. 

Families were large and very close. 

We went to Irish Dance Recitals, Sunday School, St. Patrick Day parades, and cheered on the Celtics.

We had freckles and blue eyes, and every family had at least one redhead. 

I think of these things as I go about my day. 

The wind is blowing the chimes outside. 

Such a lovely sound. 

I hurry to finish up my chores to go outside and listen. 

The birds are happy today, too, and I can hear them twittering and calling to one another. 

There are no sweeter sounds than wind, and chimes, and singing birds on a sunny day. 

I have some Iris bulbs to pot up and that keeps me busy. 

This one little bag gives me enough bulbs to pot up 6 large pots. 

They will be so pretty in early summer when they bloom. 

A lovely reward for very little effort. 

I also re-pot these lovely double primroses - a gift from a Dear Friend, along with the pretty purple gardening gloves. 

She came to visit last week. 

We spent the day stitching after sharing lunch together. 

I worked on some embroidery, she crocheted some tiny booties for a baby shower. 

But I do think we did more gabbing than stitching! 

I think of our lovely day together as I pot up her sweet gift. 

Maggie supervises, taking a break to drink out of the saucer of water I keep filled for the birds. 

I enjoy my time in the sunshine, as the forecast is for a big storm to hit by Wednesday with heavy rain and strong winds. 

The first day of Spring! 

Can you see me in the gazing ball? 

A gift from my Dear Mother years ago. 

My early daffodils are still blooming down in the back corner, but it is a little too cool to sit and enjoy them. 

So I am content to view them from the deck. 

As I zoom my camera in, the source of the cold wind becomes apparent. 

We've had freshly fallen snow in the foothills over the weekend. 

As I finish up my potting, I hear the buzz of this little sweetheart, a female Anna's Hummingbird. I now have two varieties of Hummingbirds coming to the feeders. The Anna Hummingbirds that have wintered over, and now the smaller and more colorful Rufous Hummingbirds have arrived, which are the smallest birds in the state. 

Rufous Hummingbirds

They arrive just as the Indian Plum trees start to bloom. A favorite nectar flower. 

These are native under-story trees that are the first to bloom. They don't get very tall, but are filled with long pendulous white blossoms which will turn into tiny plums that are a favorite of birds and wildlife.

This one is growing right in the back yard.

Here you can see the blooms, back lit by the late afternoon sun. 

We encourage native plants and I have kept this one watered during our long summer drought last year.

I've added my little Anna's Hummingbird visitor to my nature journal. 

Now that Spring is nearly here, I will be adding the Rufous, too. 

But that will have to wait for another day. 

The sun is low in the sky now and the cool wind drives me back inside for a warm cup of coffee. 

I leave Maggie to keep watch as I warm by the fire, still burning in the woodstove. 

I've enjoyed my day. 

Thank you for sharing it with me. 

And thank you for all of your sweet comments. 

They mean so much to me. 

I love when you come to visit! 

xoxo

Shamrock Cookies for St. Patrick's Day

I do love baking special treats for my Dear Family. 

I especially love to see those Irish Eyes a Smiling. 

And these Shamrock Sugar Cookies are just the thing to bring a smile to any Lass or Laddie's face, whether they've kissed the Blarney Stone or not.

This is my Grandmother's special recipe. 

And my own family's favorite. 

I think you might like it, too! 

Beatrice Euphemie's Glazed Sugar Cookies

Makes 4 dozen small cookies or 2 dozen large. 

Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until done. 

Chill dough for 3 hours. 

Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups sifted flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Glaze (recipe follows)

Stir together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. 

In separate large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together with mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla, beat well. 

Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until well combined. 

(This step can be done with a wooden spoon) 

Divide dough into two sections, form into flattened rounds, and wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. 

Chill at least 3 hours or overnight. 

Remove from refrigerator and let set at room temp. about 10-15 min. to soften.

Working with 1/2 of the dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thickness. 

Cut into desired shape. 

( I used a hand drawn cardboard template )

Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 375 degree oven

8 min. or until done (slightly golden around the edges and the bottom)  

Remove with spatula to cooling racks and cool completely.

Frost cookies with Glaze and sprinkles 

Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

4 tsp milk

4 tsp light corn syrup

1/2  tsp vanilla extract

2-3 drops green food coloring

Green sugar sprinkles.

Sift powdered sugar and add the milk, stirring until smooth. 

Beat in corn syrup and vanilla until smooth and glossy. 

If too thick, add more corn syrup. 

Hold cookie in one hand and use a teaspoon full of glaze.

 Use the back of spoon to push glaze over top of cookie. 

Add sprinkles while glaze is still wet.

Place cookies on waxed paper to dry. 

Let dry until glaze is hardened. 

Pack cookies in 9x13 pan separated by layers of waxed paper and covered tightly with lid or plastic wrap. 

Store in refrigerator, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Enjoy! 

erin go bragh!

(Ireland Forever!)

xx

A Country Drive

It was a fine day to do errands and shopping.

Won't you come along as we drive to town? 

Should we take a walk in this beautiful woodland?

Doesn't it look inviting?

Maybe the scene of a fairy tale -

Hansel and Gretel?

But we have no bread crumbs, so we must decline.

This old barn rests at the edge of the woods in a foggy mist.

Weathered and patched, but with a new roof to keep her in service a few more years. 

Do you wonder what is inside?  

Here we spy it across the fields,

home to happy cattle and a small white pony,

in a surprisingly green, well fertilized pasture!  

Dramatic clouds billow above as we drive along the slow country lane. 

They march across the sky

as we leave the sheltering mountains behind. 

Tall trees reach upward.

Gentle and lovely, painted against the sky.

Errands complete, we head for home,

with purple mountains reflecting the clouds; 

Snow still clinging to pointed peaks. 

Fields of brown grass hide emerging green shoots. 

Clouds rise ever so slightly, revealing the base of Mt. Rainier. 

Tall, naked Cottonwoods punctuate the evergreen view of Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Western Red Cedar. 

A sudden sunbeam drops below the clouds,

 illuminating the tops of bare, late winter trees as the sun sinks low along the horizon. 

And as we take the final turn to climb the mountain road towards home, 

We get one last view of the setting sun.

Linking to 'Weekly Top Shot'
http://www.theviewfromrighthere.com/blog/?p=9784#more-9784


xoxo

Early March Walk About

It was a warm and sunny day today. 

Too nice to stay inside. 

So I head out with this little guy, Whitey. 

And this big guy, Champ. 

Two Best Friends.

We make the rounds, first checking on flowers I recently planted. 

They seem very happy! Look at those smiling faces! 

The miniature daffodils are nodding their heads! 

They seem to look curiously around! 

On the way to the back yard, we spot our first Dandelions! 

A sure sign of spring! 

In a back corner, early Daffodils put on a show! 

Captured sunshine bobbing in the breeze. 

Look who we found, hiding among dry leaves. 

We see you, little frog, although you do blend in very well! 

Tulips emerge from a bed of lavender in a half whiskey barrel by the deck. 

While budding Narcissus enjoy the sunshine along the edge of the lawn..... 

Contained by mossy rocks. 

Sweet little birds enjoy a treat as we walk further along. 

Indian Plum trees unfurl their leaves.

Soon they will bloom, providing the first nectar for hummingbirds and bees. 

Shadows are long this time of year as the sun still hangs low in the sky. 

But look at that blue sky and those budding trees! 

Woodpeckers have been busy,
 hollowing out future nesting sites for feathered friends and small woodland creatures. 

Bare trees let in lots of light for early woodland flowers. 

A snow covered Mount Rainier peeks from disappearing clouds. 

Soon to provide spring run-off to fill rivers and streams with pure mountain water. 

But as the sun dips lower on the horizon, it's time to head for home.

With one last stop to gather daffodils. 

A cheerful reminder. 

To bring a sweet smile. 

In memory of a beautiful day.

I hope you, too have beautiful spring days on your horizon.

xoxo