HOMEFREE

LIFE travel notes (free)

(re-post)

This book  is available for free on Google Books.  

You'll have to provide the elastic  band.

Posted on January 08, 2010 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

 

This book  is available for free on Google Books.  

You'll have to provide the elastic  band.

(re-post)

This book  is available for free on Google Books.  

You'll have to provide the elastic  band.

Slow .........flowers.........daffodils.........

(re-post)

These daffodils joined the household on January 4 and were welcomed here.  

I did not know that the slow movement also had flower participants.  

Here they are six days later on the 10th.  "Well, hello there .... greetings!"  was my first response.

Two days later on the 12th..... the  second was fully opened and third beginning to spread its petals.    "Taking turns?"  I wondered.

When I got home later that same day .... third was fully opened and fourth well into spreading its wings - I mean petals.  "Having a race?"  I inquired.

This morning.  The first flower  is relaxing and the fifth bud seems to have permanently paused.

It snowed in the night and the sun has turned on full and is skedaddling the snow;  perhaps that conscientious warmth has speeded up the cycle.

I have paid more attention to the slow movement, the gradual unfolding of this bouquet of five daffodils across the past eleven days and will continue in this 'stopping to watch the .... daffodils.'

Posted on January 15, 2012 at 11:55 AM | Permalink

These daffodils joined the household on January 4 and were welcomed here.  

I did not know that the slow movement also had flower participants.  

Here they are six days later on the 10th.  "Well, hello there .... greetings!"  was my first response.

Two days later on the 12th..... the  second was fully opened and third beginning to spread its petals.    "Taking turns?"  I wondered.

When I got home later that same day .... third was fully opened and fourth well into spreading its wings - I mean petals.  "Having a race?"  I inquired.

This morning.  The first flower  is relaxing and the fifth bud seems to have permanently paused.

It snowed in the night and the sun has turned on full and is skedaddling the snow;  perhaps that conscientious warmth has speeded up the cycle.

I have paid more attention to the slow movement, the gradual unfolding of this bouquet of five daffodils across the past eleven days and will continue in this 'stopping to watch the .... daffodils.'

It's Cold Outside!

So I got out these mittens I made many years ago.  

Snowdrops!

« Birds and the bus man | Main | Banana daffodils »

(re-post)
Screeched to a halt!.  No where to park on the narrow road so pulled partway into a nearby driveway and hoped no one was now nervously looking out the window and wondering if they had forgotten about inviting someone to tea.

Whipped out camera - oh, okay, dug camera out of purse - while walking across what I realized was private property and I was trespassing.  But it was  a small worry and I have talked myself out of situations in the past and besides -  these were snowdrops!           

A trail of snowdrops.  In January.

In retrospect I wish I had taken a close up of a single drop with its green markings and snowy cap.

Next bunch I come across I will.

I don't know if this is the earliest I have seen snowdrops here in Victoria.  Doesn't really matter, does it.

Such a moment is for sharing and I considered waving toward the possibly peeking person in the window and pointing toward the snowdrops.

But just then a man walked by and exclaimed,  "Crocuses!  First I've seen this year."

And we  smiled at each other in delight.

   

(re-post)
Screeched to a halt!.  No where to park on the narrow road so pulled partway into a nearby driveway and hoped no one was now nervously looking out the window and wondering if they had forgotten about inviting someone to tea.

Whipped out camera - oh, okay, dug camera out of purse - while walking across what I realized was private property and I was trespassing.  But it was  a small worry and I have talked myself out of situations in the past and besides -  these were snowdrops!           

A trail of snowdrops.  In January.

In retrospect I wish I had taken a close up of a single drop with its green markings and snowy cap.

Next bunch I come across I will.

I don't know if this is the earliest I have seen snowdrops here in Victoria.  Doesn't really matter, does it.

Such a moment is for sharing and I considered waving toward the possibly peeking person in the window and pointing toward the snowdrops.

But just then a man walked by and exclaimed,  "Crocuses!  First I've seen this year."

And we  smiled at each other in delight.

   

(re-post)
Screeched to a halt!.  No where to park on the narrow road so pulled partway into a nearby driveway and hoped no one was now nervously looking out the window and wondering if they had forgotten about inviting someone to tea.

Whipped out camera - oh, okay, dug camera out of purse - while walking across what I realized was private property and I was trespassing.  But it was  a small worry and I have talked myself out of situations in the past and besides -  these were snowdrops!           

A trail of snowdrops.  In January.

In retrospect I wish I had taken a close up of a single drop with its green markings and snowy cap.

Next bunch I come across I will.

I don't know if this is the earliest I have seen snowdrops here in Victoria.  Doesn't really matter, does it.

Such a moment is for sharing and I considered waving toward the possibly peeking person in the window and pointing toward the snowdrops.

But just then a man walked by and exclaimed,  "Crocuses!  First I've seen this year."

And we  smiled at each other in delight.

   

Double Days

(re-post)

They pique awareness, double days, likely the 'reason' for their existence. 'Reason' in the most effective sense of being grouped with body and spirit as well as mind.

Had a double day yesterday.

Started out with a phrase being repeated on the radio, no explanation, just a complete repeat.

Second nudge was the walking by for a second time within ten minutes of a regular passerby, I assume on his way to work, as I had my usual tea and bagel on the patio of a neighbourhood deli. He'd gotten on a bus and passed me thusly. Then, a few minutes later, he was walking by exactly as he had first time. Must have gotten off at a stop and gone back home for something forgotten and then started his day again.

Third was catching sight of a man I have not seen in years who bears a most unusual name. A day earlier I had learned that a friend had named her baby this name.

Fourth was having a lady at my knitting Guild suddenly pull a doll from her basket with the intention of asking if anyone had any doll clothes patterns. The doll is most unusual with a real expression of emotion on its face. A "hey!" A "just a minute, here!" I'd never seen anything like this before and had 'chanced' on the exact same doll at a sale a week or so earlier, it spoke to me, I had to have it. And its 'double' had leaped out of a basket

After these I became more alert to further 'doubles' but they are not something you look for, they are the sort of things that happen and present to awareness. A subtle but important difference. And the acceptance that the point to be taken is simply to be aware, to 'check in' as often as possible. To inhabit the body.

Posted on July 03, 2003 at 11:34 AM | Permalink

They pique awareness, double days, likely the 'reason' for their existence. 'Reason' in the most effective sense of being grouped with body and spirit as well as mind.

Had a double day yesterday.

Started out with a phrase being repeated on the radio, no explanation, just a complete repeat.

Second nudge was the walking by for a second time within ten minutes of a regular passerby, I assume on his way to work, as I had my usual tea and bagel on the patio of a neighbourhood deli. He'd gotten on a bus and passed me thusly. Then, a few minutes later, he was walking by exactly as he had first time. Must have gotten off at a stop and gone back home for something forgotten and then started his day again.

Third was catching sight of a man I have not seen in years who bears a most unusual name. A day earlier I had learned that a friend had named her baby this name.

Fourth was having a lady at my knitting Guild suddenly pull a doll from her basket with the intention of asking if anyone had any doll clothes patterns. The doll is most unusual with a real expression of emotion on its face. A "hey!" A "just a minute, here!" I'd never seen anything like this before and had 'chanced' on the exact same doll at a sale a week or so earlier, it spoke to me, I had to have it. And its 'double' had leaped out of a basket

After these I became more alert to further 'doubles' but they are not something you look for, they are the sort of things that happen and present to awareness. A subtle but important difference. And the acceptance that the point to be taken is simply to be aware, to 'check in' as often as possible. To inhabit the body.

John Wayne Crows

(re-post)

Two of the crows on the Deli patio this morning, for some reason, had their lower feathers all puffed out so it looked as if they were wearing jodhpurs or whatever that thing is called that cowboys wear.  And the way they sort of saunter around - strut, actually -  is what calls the John Wayne image to mind.  Then, one of them, stopped directly in front of me and did the bounce and shriek, bounce and shriek, bounce and shriek manoeuvre intended to cower me into throwing him something to eat.  I had already shared the food offerings of the morning  so tossed him the compliment of being "very gorgeous".  He gave me a stare and then sashayed over and under the hedge where someone had put bread for the sparrows.  Usually the crows won't risk the hedge.  Maybe 'flattery' instils confidence.

Posted on February 08, 2005 at 11:06 AM | Permalink

Two of the crows on the Deli patio this morning, for some reason, had their lower feathers all puffed out so it looked as if they were wearing jodhpurs or whatever that thing is called that cowboys wear.  And the way they sort of saunter around - strut, actually -  is what calls the John Wayne image to mind.  Then, one of them, stopped directly in front of me and did the bounce and shriek, bounce and shriek, bounce and shriek manoeuvre intended to cower me into throwing him something to eat.  I had already shared the food offerings of the morning  so tossed him the compliment of being "very gorgeous".  He gave me a stare and then sashayed over and under the hedge where someone had put bread for the sparrows.  Usually the crows won't risk the hedge.  Maybe 'flattery' instils confidence.

Snow Warning

« WINTER VICTORIA | Main | LADYBUG »

(re-p0st)

It is enough of an unusual occurrence, snow falling, for its possible appearance to be announced as a "warning" in the forecast. Two to five centimeters are predicted. The actual wording of the weatherman was "today and tomorrow and possibly on the weekend", so I assume this means that much each day. Yesterday a woman from Environment Canada was interviewed on the radio about the weather and any attempt to pin her down as to amount of snow that might fall was met with the statement, "this is weather to watch". Apparently two unusual fronts are about to become chummy.

Well, I was listening to this as I stared at the hummingbird making a succession of visits to its nectar feeder, the nuthatch chipping away at the peanut offerings and making its usual talking-to-self noises punctuated by the exclamation shrieks, the wind still as if waiting on something.... And I did a mental check: snow shovel had come up out of basement a month or so ago when snow was mentioned; it was not needed for the seven flakes that actually fell but is still housed beside the frig; I know where my winter boots are; the car was not left down on the road after our early morning outing but is under cover in the garage again. And the pair of snowshoes I bought at a garage sale a year or so ago, with the memory of the HUGE amount of snow that fell here in 1996 suddenly springing to mind and motivating that acquisition, are in the laundry room. Am I ready or what! It's not really cold out and that is my biggest barrier to any weather.

I hope it doesn't snow - it's a nuisance and it makes people cranky and reckless. But Vancouver is in the midst of a storm the radio is just now telling me and that 'pond' between us isn't very big. Oh lord, the announcer just said "Victoria can expect 25 centimeters." I wonder if that hummingbird owns a scarf.

Posted on January 06, 2005 at 10:19 AM | Permalink

It is enough of an unusual occurrence, snow falling, for its possible appearance to be announced as a "warning" in the forecast. Two to five centimeters are predicted. The actual wording of the weatherman was "today and tomorrow and possibly on the weekend", so I assume this means that much each day. Yesterday a woman from Environment Canada was interviewed on the radio about the weather and any attempt to pin her down as to amount of snow that might fall was met with the statement, "this is weather to watch". Apparently two unusual fronts are about to become chummy.

Well, I was listening to this as I stared at the hummingbird making a succession of visits to its nectar feeder, the nuthatch chipping away at the peanut offerings and making its usual talking-to-self noises punctuated by the exclamation shrieks, the wind still as if waiting on something.... And I did a mental check: snow shovel had come up out of basement a month or so ago when snow was mentioned; it was not needed for the seven flakes that actually fell but is still housed beside the frig; I know where my winter boots are; the car was not left down on the road after our early morning outing but is under cover in the garage again. And the pair of snowshoes I bought at a garage sale a year or so ago, with the memory of the HUGE amount of snow that fell here in 1996 suddenly springing to mind and motivating that acquisition, are in the laundry room. Am I ready or what! It's not really cold out and that is my biggest barrier to any weather.

I hope it doesn't snow - it's a nuisance and it makes people cranky and reckless. But Vancouver is in the midst of a storm the radio is just now telling me and that 'pond' between us isn't very big. Oh lord, the announcer just said "Victoria can expect 25 centimeters." I wonder if that hummingbird owns a scarf.

(re-p0st)

It is enough of an unusual occurrence, snow falling, for its possible appearance to be announced as a "warning" in the forecast. Two to five centimeters are predicted. The actual wording of the weatherman was "today and tomorrow and possibly on the weekend", so I assume this means that much each day. Yesterday a woman from Environment Canada was interviewed on the radio about the weather and any attempt to pin her down as to amount of snow that might fall was met with the statement, "this is weather to watch". Apparently two unusual fronts are about to become chummy.

Well, I was listening to this as I stared at the hummingbird making a succession of visits to its nectar feeder, the nuthatch chipping away at the peanut offerings and making its usual talking-to-self noises punctuated by the exclamation shrieks, the wind still as if waiting on something.... And I did a mental check: snow shovel had come up out of basement a month or so ago when snow was mentioned; it was not needed for the seven flakes that actually fell but is still housed beside the frig; I know where my winter boots are; the car was not left down on the road after our early morning outing but is under cover in the garage again. And the pair of snowshoes I bought at a garage sale a year or so ago, with the memory of the HUGE amount of snow that fell here in 1996 suddenly springing to mind and motivating that acquisition, are in the laundry room. Am I ready or what! It's not really cold out and that is my biggest barrier to any weather.

I hope it doesn't snow - it's a nuisance and it makes people cranky and reckless. But Vancouver is in the midst of a storm the radio is just now telling me and that 'pond' between us isn't very big. Oh lord, the announcer just said "Victoria can expect 25 centimeters." I wonder if that hummingbird owns a scarf.

Sprouting gardens ...

(re-p0st)

This is what the fenugreek seeds from yesterday's post looked like this morning.  Starting to sprout!

I discovered that one of the glass jars holding tea would accomodate the large sieved cover so did not have to wait until this morning's walk and peek into the recycling boxes by the curb (there were no suitable glass jars in any case).  Yesterday I soaked a half cup of dried chick peas for ten hours, rinsed and drained them, and now they have been added to the 'garden' in the kitchen by the window.

Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:00 AM | Permalink

This is what the fenugreek seeds from yesterday's post looked like this morning.  Starting to sprout!

I discovered that one of the glass jars holding tea would accomodate the large sieved cover so did not have to wait until this morning's walk and peek into the recycling boxes by the curb (there were no suitable glass jars in any case).  Yesterday I soaked a half cup of dried chick peas for ten hours, rinsed and drained them, and now they have been added to the 'garden' in the kitchen by the window.

Indoor 'winter' gardening ; soonest harvest

(re-post)

I like the flavour of sprouts;  the nutrients make their culture all the more worthwhile (just ask good ol' Google) ; there is something satisfying about growing food on the kitchen counter;  it is fun.

And it is easy.  A scrupulously clean glass jar is really all that is needed as equipment.  Those handy screw-on lids are available in dollar stores etc. but a piece of cheesecloth elastic'ed over the mouth of  jar works just fine.

Those are fenugreek seeds (less than 1/4 cup) which I soaked overnight and today drained, rinsed, drained again and now have them in a spread-out tilt near a window.  Within a day or so they will start to sprout and I will harvest them when they look (and taste test) ready to eat.

 Each day across the growing period they will get rinsed (still in the jar) gently in cool water, drained, and put back in the light.  

They make a nice snack, either as is or in a small bowl with a dribble of olive oil and grind of salt;  added to a salad;  in an omelette;  sprinkled over cooked vegetables;  blended into a smoothie;  topped onto a steak just before you turn it as it is cooking.

It is recycling day tomorrow and I hope to find, on my morning walk, more glass jars with the right size opening to start the lentils and the garbanzo beans.  

Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:31 AM | Permalink

I like the flavour of sprouts;  the nutrients make their culture all the more worthwhile (just ask good ol' Google) ; there is something satisfying about growing food on the kitchen counter;  it is fun.

And it is easy.  A scrupulously clean glass jar is really all that is needed as equipment.  Those handy screw-on lids are available in dollar stores etc. but a piece of cheesecloth elastic'ed over the mouth of  jar works just fine.

Those are fenugreek seeds (less than 1/4 cup) which I soaked overnight and today drained, rinsed, drained again and now have them in a spread-out tilt near a window.  Within a day or so they will start to sprout and I will harvest them when they look (and taste test) ready to eat.

 Each day across the growing period they will get rinsed (still in the jar) gently in cool water, drained, and put back in the light.  

They make a nice snack, either as is or in a small bowl with a dribble of olive oil and grind of salt;  added to a salad;  in an omelette;  sprinkled over cooked vegetables;  blended into a smoothie;  topped onto a steak just before you turn it as it is cooking.

It is recycling day tomorrow and I hope to find, on my morning walk, more glass jars with the right size opening to start the lentils and the garbanzo beans.  

Sprouting adventure continues

(re-post)

The same thrill I feel looking through a seed catalogue  is now happening when I stand in front of the bulk section of a grocery store choosing what to 'plant' in the sprout jars.  What started here continues!

Here are two sprouting (black and white beans),  two soaking (green lentils and mustard seeds) ,  and some chick peas about to be snacked upon. 

This is a day or so later. 

I like how the seeds,  even in the initial sprouting stage, are soft and edible. 

Here is a selection from those jars, mixed with some olive oil and sprinkled with smoked salt, making an impromptu salad.

 

The same thrill I feel looking through a seed catalogue  is now happening when I stand in front of the bulk section of a grocery store choosing what to 'plant' in the sprout jars.  What started here continues!

Here are two sprouting (black and white beans),  two soaking (green lentils and mustard seeds) ,  and some chick peas about to be snacked upon. 

This is a day or so later. 

I like how the seeds,  even in the initial sprouting stage, are soft and edible. 

Here is a selection from those jars, mixed with some olive oil and sprinkled with smoked salt, making an impromptu salad.