Mosaic Monday

I have not posted to Mosaic Monday for quite a while. Here are a couple of mosaics from my latest blossom pictures. I hope to get outdoors when the rain subsides to take more pictures. Until then, I will post these for now. Thanks for viewing! Please visit the The Little Red House website for more interesting mosaics from around the world.

Michelle

White Blossoms on a Cloudy Day

We had a sprinkling of snow yesterday, March 12, then the sun appeared and warmed the earth and our spirits. One of our plum trees is blossoming and looks so pretty against the blue sky and the cumulus clouds were quite stunning. My little camera was happy once again to snap a few pictures - where would I be without my little camera?

The west coast is a charming place to be, rain or shine. Thank you for stopping by and visiting my journal. Michelle

The plum the cherry and every tree in sight
your branches once bare, are now pink and white
It’s time to awaken from your wintery slumber
your blossoms delicate and so many to number

A gentle breeze sweeps, few raindrops fall
blossoms, not disturbed, adorn trees so tall
Your colours they shimmer against skies so blue
the plum, the cherry and the peach tree too

Your show is not finished until life force decides
when your beauty, so fleeting, quickly subsides
Thank you for this blessing and the joy you bring
from all of us and the birds that sing!
- by me (Michelle)

Pink Blossoms on a Cool March Day

Our weather has been very strange - we had a mixed bag of sorts today - frosty windshield this morning, then the sun came out and it was lovely with blue skies. Then, later in the day, drama unfolded..... it started to snow......it appeared as if little pieces of white paper drifted down from the sky; it hailed, rained and snowed.....then the sun came out as if nothing had happened. After work, I met up with Richard at his parent's house as I wanted to take photos of their lovely plum tree which is in full bloom - it is a magnificent tree that puts on a show of pink for a short while, then the blossoms disappear. Here is the tree in all its glory! It was very cool out.

Thank you for viewing. Michelle

A Blossomy Evening...

Our trees are blossoming a month earlier than usual and all of Victoria is a bloomin' sight to behold! Our property is situated a little higher in elevation so our blossoms are usually a week or two behind. I ran out to our backyard yesterday evening to capture a couple of pink blossoms - they are just starting to open up. There was not much light so these pictures are a little dark.
Thanks for viewing! Michelle

A Day in My Garden

I had a lovely day in my garden today. I paused from daily chores to enjoy the sun's warmth on my face and noticed bumble bees, birds and the two resident rabbits enjoying the sun as well. True happiness. Fortunately, I had camera in hand and took a couple of photos, which I will add here. I believe nothing in this world gives me more pleasure (besides spending time with my husband and family) than to be outdoors. I feel it is important to pause from the everyday nonsense and rigmarole that so often takes a hold of us and which can slowly drain a person of energy. Take a breather - get outdoors and spend a moment, or two, to observe what is around you - the singing bird, the bumble bee immersed in a flower, the colour of the flower, the blue sky. This was my day today. Oh yes, I did manage to do a little gardening!

Here are a couple of photos I took this afternoon. Thanks for viewing! Michelle

Collecting and saving food seeds

Just a quick blog entry here as I would like to share this website with those interested in saving plant seeds. These short clips come from Salt Spring Island. It is a beautiful February morning here on the west coast and I have some gardening to do today - I must take advantage of our sunny weather. The weather man said this is the warmest winter we have had in approximately 130 years! I love it! Not good for the Vancouver winter Olympics though.

Here is the website mentioned above - please click on the left-side links to see the short video clips. Enjoy! Thanks for viewing. Michelle

Seed saving videos from Raven

As Winter Sighs Its Last Breath...

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream."
- Barbara Winkler

Edible Weeds

It's the time of year when I am thinking about our garden and all the work that needs to be done to prepare it for the season ahead. Phew, I am exhausted just thinking about it!! I have been reading some interesting literature about gardening, growing foods, saving plant seeds, and edible weeds. I came across an interesting website that lists some edible weeds - I find this subject quite fascinating and want to learn as much as I can. My feelings have changed towards those invasive dandelions, cleavers, thistles and other weeds which I considered to be a nuisance and would spend hours of my precious time yanking out of my flower beds. I am aware of the importance of these 'invaders' and how they are a valuable source of food, nutrition and healing - they could save a life in a dire situation where no food would be available (in an extreme situation). One needs to have knowledge of which weeds are safe or noxious. I am not about to run out to my yard and start chomping on thistles, or serve them for dinner to our guests - yet. I would like to add here one website for those who may be interested in weeds. Who knows, you may enjoy having them pop up in your garden - and save yourself hours of work yanking them out! Let them live! Edible Flower Plants of the Pacific Northwest.

Another great little book I recently purchased is Food Security for the Faint of Heart by Robin Wheeler (from B.C.), this book has loads of information on how to grow your own food and what supplies one needs in the event of a crisis.

Our First Nations people were able to live from the land, their food supply came from the earth around them - they did not have a local grocer or supermarket. Makes me ponder - how would we survive if we did not grow food locally or have our supermarkets to drive to? By growing food locally and not driving a great distance to our local supermarket, we certainly would save on fuel costs and lessen our carbon footprint (I know for many folks there are no other options). Health problems that are plaguing society would be less of a problem through proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Lots to think about. Back to my garden......I am buying veggie and herb seeds now, I have a long list of goodies I want to plant. The dandelions will present their yellow heads and we will not disturb them - the two rabbits that have taken refuge on our property will chomp their merry way through hundreds of them (maybe leave a few for us ?) and will hopefully not catch sight of our lettuce patch!

Thank you for visiting my journal. I will keep you posted on how our weeds are growing. Michelle

'twas a foggy mornin' on the west coast

I love the fog. Reminds me of old sea tales. The B.C. ferries blow their fog horn in the distance, we can hear it echo. We had a lovely Sunday morning and enjoyed a fresh pot of coffee. I took a couple of pictures for this posting. Thanks for viewing! Michelle

Feels Like Spring

Here I am on my computer and it is a beautiful sunny day. We sat outside - Richard, our cat and I - with our cup of coffee this morning and it was so nice to feel the warmth of the sun. Blossoms are now appearing on the trees. It is time to start thinking about the garden and what to plant for the summer and winter ahead. I am not an avid gardener but do enjoy growing a few vegetables and love my perennials that faithfully show themselves every year. We share our garden with a few bunnies, raccoons and deer - they do help themselves and make a mess of things - very disappointing at times. Both Richard and I truly love our little piece of paradise here, there is nothing more satisfying than spending time with nature. I recently ordered a few seeds from a wonderful seed supplier on Salt Spring Island - I highly recommend their seeds for anyone interested in heritage and heirloom seeds and for those that are interested in saving seeds for our future - something very important to think about nowadays. Unfortunately, these seeds cannot be ordered through the U.S. but their website does recommend a couple of places in the U.S. where you can find heritage seeds. Here is the link to their website: Salt Spring Seeds

I made up a couple of collages from pictures taken last year. I look forward to a new year ahead with lots of new photos! Thanks for viewing. Michelle

Blue Skies

I really enjoy this time of year, as I do each season, and I am now looking forward to Spring with blue skies and pink blossoms. I put together a couple of mosaics - one of 'blue skies' - pictures taken last year - and one of lupins. It is 'mosaic Monday' and I look forward to viewing other mosaics from around the world on the 'Little Red House' . Thanks for viewing. Michelle

Hearth Side Mosaic Monday

Happy new year everyone. Here are a couple of hearth-side photos for mosaic Monday - colours to keep you warm. I was playing around with my camera late last night and came up with these funny pictures. Please visit the Little Red House blog to view other mosaics from around the world! Thank you.

Creative Inspiration

The new year is here and I feel a renewed sense of inspiration, creative energy and hope for the months ahead . I feel a warm glow inside and am happy. I have a wonderful husband and family and am truly blessed to have them in my life. I look forward to a new 'blogging' year and hope to meet other bloggers that share my enthusiasm for life. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to share and learn from each other and to express our creative ideas through writing, photography, music, gardening, recipes, paintings and so much more - these are so important to our nurturing, well-being and happiness. Thank you dear blogger for sharing your stories and inspirations. I look forward to our year ahead.

The following images were taken late this evening - I was experimenting! It is a time of year when the days are shorter and I rather enjoy the cosiness of indoors. I feel inspired by rich and warm colours of wood, wools and leather - anber, golden and dark browns. These are my hearth-side colours that keep me warm. Thank you for viewing. Michelle

It's a New Year - Happy 2010

Well.....2009 has come, and gone. Happy new year everyone. I apologise that I have been away from my blog for so long - I am now back and have lots to look forward to this coming year. Our family had a delightful and very busy Christmas. How was your Christmas? I hope that everyone is ready for a busy and fun-filled blogging year ahead. I look forward to reading as many blogs as pososible and journeying with you via your stories and photos.

Must go now.....putting away the final Christmas and New Year decorations tonight!

Best wishes...... Michelle.