busy summer daze

Tags

Bluebirds, feeding backyard birds, food, fresh mozzarella, garden, garden fairies, lifestyle, nature, photography, sustainable living, Virginia

This blog captures images covering multiple topics:

Baby blue birds should fledge this Thursday. I can no longer open their box although I wish I could monitor the third nestling. I wring my hands—these photos were taken on day nine and day thirteen. Today is day fifteen. I am in awe of these delicate creatures and their amazing ability to go from egg to flight in a mere eighteen days.

On day nine, I discovered blowfly pupa in the nest box and decided to destroy the infested nest. I built a new one from coir strands and raffia. The chicks appear to be well. Mama did not notice the new accommodations. Blowfly is a killer of chicks, therefore monitoring is important.

nestling bluebirds day nine

day thirteen–notice how small the third chick is on right side~born last

By day thirteen the chicks eyes are fully open and they will no longer gape for me. Temperatures here hit the 100 degree mark a few times over the past week, and both adults and chicks were terribly stressed. The patio umbrella helped, and the fan moved enough air to keep them alive for another day.

YES, I did drag an electric line across the yard and erected a fan on the ground below the nest box. By opening the nest box door a crack, air moved through the hot box. YES, I do pamper the bluebirds in my care. That is what monitoring is all about. And YES, I am exhausted. Let us hope that all three chicks fledge. The third chick is three days younger than the first, and that may lead to its demise. Time will tell.

On Sunday, my neighbor Stella delivered another beautiful thank you card as I refreshed her fairy pots with petunias last week.

These are the images of her three garden fairies.

 I enjoyed her father’s garden tomato topped with fresh mozzarella and basil.

Summer is a time of challenge on many levels, as Mother Nature has her way with everyone and everything. I attempt to cling to her good and learn from her wrath.

After all I am mere mortal.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

bread, snow peas, and key lime pie

Tags

birds, farmer's market, feeding backyard birds, food, healthy food, lifestyle, photography, sustainable living

Fridays are always busy here—especially in the kitchen.

Since I rise early, by 10AM there were seven Key Lime Pies cooling in the fridge;

by noon the madeleines were golden and packed neatly into their bags; fifteen pounds of granola await the trip to town and containers of chive/artichoke pesto rest in the freezer.

Fresh bags of chard are tucked along side the pie boxes—the precious snow peas debut tomorrow and will bring high praise dollars. The scones and bread are last items to cool—finally I can unwind until four AM Saturday, when the alarms sound.

I created two additional quick meals in the past two days, adding a few snow peas and spinach from the garden. I do not consume what goes to market, as once the recipe is perfected, the items merely become revenue. I say this following twelve years of specialty baking, an occupation I stumbled upon while supervising contractors during a LONG home renovation. Now that the house is finished, I want to retire from food production, yet my clients threaten to disembowel me if I do.

The next two photos are quick meals over the past two days.

Out in the garden the hydrangeas are spectacular. It struggled for a few years, yet in its new location appears to thrive—a triumph!

Most back yard birds thrive, while Ethel, the flightless grackle, finds the birdbath positioned to accommodate her remaining days. She thoroughly enjoyed this bath—her first.

At dusk a huge raccoon scurried across my lawn, only to climb the cedar tree and gaze down at me—undaunted. I fear Ethel’s days may be numbered, unless her wing feathers support her flight soon. Never a dull  moment in this home, garden, or life.

Remember to glide your mouse over these images for further captions.

Happy Weekend to All!

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

another day in the berry patch

Tags

fast food, feeding backyard birds, flea beetles, food, garden, healthy food, quick recipes, red pepper flakes, sage flowers, sustainable living, Virginia

Word is out—the local berry patch is open for business. Each spring locals await the news. I like to attend opening day, as the first two rows of O’Neils are the best blueberries ever tasted. Donning long pants, shirt, and gnat netting I head out. This year’s gems did not disappoint. In just under and hour I plucked nearly four pounds of fruit.

Any berries found with worms went into my breast pocket for the back-yard birds. There are numerous fledgelings on the ground this week and they are so funny when tasting morsels for the first time.

When checking out, I always stock up on the limited edition berry patch honey produced by a local bee man. Yummy.

Heading home with pastoral views galore, I again am filled with gratitude for living in this rural paradise.

Back home I placed the berries in single layers on sheet pans in order to allow them to fully ripen at room temperature over the next twenty-four hours. This is a valuable tip, passed on to you—lessons from the grower.

Never cook or freeze blueberries.

This is sacrilege.

This fruit is perfect from the bush, and should only be eaten raw out of hand during season. Processing destroys the overall integrity of this prized fruit.

So much for jam, man!

Therefore, after twenty-four hours on the counter, these yummies go into a storage bag, unwashed, then into the fridge drawer. Only when I grab a handful, do I rinse what I eat. When the bag is empty, I then dream of next year’s harvest—another binge satisfied.

Try this berry zinger iced tea with blueberries. YUM!

(brew double strength and add agave while hot)

For lunch today I strolled the garden and found some lovely spinach, Black Seeded Simpson lettuce, and beautiful sage flowers.

Flea beetles are at bay now, so produce thrives.

Back in the kitchen, I began water for pasta and gently washed kale and a large handful of spinach. I steamed the kale for three minutes then added the spinach for another two. When the pasta was al dente, I rough chopped the greens and mixed both into the hot pasta then added a splash of olive oil, a dollop of sweet butter, sea salt and red pepper flakes. When this dish is cold, it will make a nice salad for tomorrow’s lunch. I will add my favorite dressing to it then.

If you have never tasted fresh sage flowers, you must. I promise a grand surprise. The subtle yet clear flavor is outstanding and memorable. These flowers usually never make it to my prep table, as they are wonderful eaten in the garden. I must create a few recipes—say sage flower infused vodka or sage flower ice cream.

OMG, if you have sage blooming in your garden, go taste now!

OK, this blog is complete.

Thanks for visiting and following—your comments are always appreciated. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend. Virginia is headed for her first 90-degree temps of this year. OMG!

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

what we learn from birds

Tags

birds, feeding backyard birds, garden, poetry, sustainable living, Virginia

they are unique

they are beautiful

they survive.

they fight wickedly

then feed their mate before

themselves.

they are nurturing

they are clever

they do not waste.

they are quick

they are wise

they are free.

they are acrobats

they are magnificent

they color seasons

they are present

they remember.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

the thing about back yard birds

Tags

animal advocate, bird seed, birds, feeding backyard birds, feedlot beef, local co-ops, mealworms, Whole Foods Market

Birds are very difficult to photograph. Following numerous failed exposures, I gave up attempting to capture the wonder just outside my kitchen window…until this morning when this stunning red-bellied woodpecker flew in for a morsel. It has been here the past week, dining with many White-throated sparrows, Carolina Wrens, Northern Cardinals, American goldfinches, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, the occasional mourning dove, Brewer’s Blackbirds, and Mary Mockingbird, a six-year resident.

Carolina Wrens are my favorite bird, as their perky body movement, loud whistle, and and darling appearance entertain on a daily basis. Sadly my only images of them are blurry, as they are in constant motion.

Confession: as a self-proclaimed foodie, who eats carefully and organically, I cannot rationalize feeding birds commercial seed—especially when it comes to suet, which I suppose comes from feedlot beef somewhere in the Midwest—loaded with antibiotics. I do not condone feedlots, as it is an inhumane and unnatural treatment of innocent animals.

An avid label reader, I notice little information-of-origin is included on bird food packaging. When I see piles of seed outside food markets, often in full sun, I wonder how fresh or rancid are those seeds? After all, humans are instructed to refrigerate or freeze any nuts, so what is up with commercial bird food?

Did you know that birds have no sense of smell? Perhaps that is why they gobble anything handed out, yet perhaps later, they become ill. Beyond our view, well intentioned rations could cause trouble. Therefore my solution is:

Whole Foods Market has a large bulk section of millet, amaranth, quinoa, sunflower seeds, currants, cranberries, and crushed corn. Once a week I gather these items for the birds in quart containers provided by the market. The bulk prices are minimal, often less than the bagged seed outside the store, and the birds LOVE these offerings. And I know that it is fresh, often organic, and healthy for the beauties who deliver pleasant views daily. I also raise meal worms for any bluebirds who bravely dodge Mary Mockingbird, yet found that the Titmice love this treat as well.

As for suet: Last fall, I asked a local purveyor of grass-feed-meat about availability, and unfortunately suet comes from around the kidneys of the beast in five-pound parcels. Since I do not want to go into the rendering business, I passed on that process. Therefore the birds are vegetarians here at Swallowtail Cottage. Not sure if birds would benefit from coconut oil shortening, I await comments from my blog readers. Does anyone have a wonderful bird cake recipe that they would share with this blog? Have any of you found/made a sustainable bird cake?

The birds here are amping up for nesting season. The goofy mourning doves tuck and chase potential mates, and Mary Mockingbird sings loudly these days. Soon there will be moist earthworms for the robins (sorry for the blurry image this morning), and life will be underway for another season, here in bird-land.

I could not resist inserting this image of Apples, the neighbor’s rescued New Hampshire Red who spent all her foraging time in my yard last summer. Since then, she was placed in a new home with other chickens, where she can scratch to her heart’s content. I was convinced that she wanted to become a house chicken…;-)

Life never fails to be interesting and Mother Nature always delivers.

Remember to slide your mouse over these images for further descriptions.

PS.

• Mighty bluejays enjoy crushed shells from hard-boiled eggs. Do not use raw shells, as they can harbor salmonella. Tossed into a mulched shrub border, bluejays visit daily to imbibe. Organic shells even better for our feathered friends.
• Robins, mockingbirds, and cedar waxwings adore cedar berries! Hundreds were here this week gobbling from my ancient tree.
• Save birds from window strikes by draping a long piece of colorful hem tape over and out windows, then close window to hold in place. Breezes move the tape and reduces bird crashing. This is especially helpful during mating season as birds, especially cardinals, become over-territorial.

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved