Living Greenery

I love standing in our backyard and listening to the birds amongst the trees. When it's a warm day and I'm watering the garden, I also water some of the trees in the forest area beyond the backyard. I've found the wet leaves attract a variety of small birds and maybe even a crow or two, but mostly small. In these two photos you can just make out a 'new' bird I've never seen before. It had these huge pretty eyes and a short sharp beak. It's bigger than a chickadee. Maybe it was a baby ? I'm stumped as to what this bird is but it sure was enjoying a bath off of the leaves. Let me know if you know its name.


This is the forested area beyond the backyard. I love how lush it gets in the summer, the greens are so vibrant and full of life ! Tried to take a pic. of the hummingbirds but today they just would not sit still. Lots of bees too all flying about rubbing their little legs together.
You may make out some of the corn I tried to grow in our sons garden box, just by the waterdish, but it's quite small because it doesn't get full sun. Still looks nice.




Awhile back I showed you some corn I'd planted, decided to just experiment and see if it really would grow in our garden.
Well the corn in this box and the one in backyard started out okay, but the ones in the backyard don't get full sun and so are only a couple feet tall. The 3 kernels in this box...one didn't appear, the second one tried but failed miserably and this one is the only one who has plowed on and done wonderfully ! Oh I sure hope it produces corn in time before we move. The name of the corn is Candy Corn and supposedly very sweet, it would sure be a treat to have an ear. I'm excited with what is growing up from the inside, got my fingers and toenails crossed !




Several years ago I planted a couple of blueberry bushes, knowing how much my husband Jacques enjoys them I thought it would be a nice natural gift for him. Well they are just about ready to enjoy woohoo ! Now whether to pluck them off and eat them or make a pie or crumble, that is the question :)

Chocolate anyone ?

Hi all :)

Well it's been quite a day ! I've done nothing physically productive except move my mouth a lot lol ! Had a good chinwag with my birthfather, then emailed my Aunt and then had a really good LONG chinwag with my birthfather's wife Donna ( long distance from Ottawa Canada --thank goodness she had a plan lol ! ). We had some great laughs and it sure felt good to be around people who seem to prefer the 'lighter side of life'. I've been craving being around happier people for quite a few years as it's felt like so many others around me have chosen the negative and "oh whoa is me" route in life --except for my husband and son, they will always be crazy as far as I'm concerned lol !
So THANK-YOU dear Terry and family for 'arriving' when you did :)

Our son is off visiting a friend right now, so I popped into the nearby grocers and decided to buy some CHOCOLATE ! Yes, CHOCOLATE.....num num num.
Now I don't normally buy this kind of chocolate because it is in the pricier range, but I felt like treating myself to something a bit more special than the basic bulk bag o' cheap stuff. And not only did I get myself some of these Truffini chocolates, but it didn't take long to find out that my birthfather, Terry, also loves chocolate...so I couldn't resist and had to get him a bag too. I will TRY to be good and not touch any of his until our next get-together, which hopefully will be this weekend when I can finally meet my 'new' grandmother, woohoo !




Nearby the chocolate was another fav. item: tea. This one is a green tea powder which makes into iced green tea, sounds quite yummy and refreshing...I'll probably need some after the chocolates !



And it's true what they say about not eating at the computer, I've already had several chocolates and not even really realsied just how many I've had ! Oh dear. They sure tasted great though and I really want more, but my tummy is saying "uh, maybe you should hold off for a few minutes at a time okay ? I'm feeling kinda gross and eating anymore of those goodies will take away the pleasure. So whaddya say ?" My brain is saying "noooo! Go ahead and munch away, you know you want more. So you might feel a little sickish, big deal, just go for a poop and you'll be fine !" Well Mr.Brain, this time the tummy wins so there pfffffpppffffttt ! I'm making a more conscious effort to be 'good', it's taken many years to stop and listen to my body and I'm not about to give that up.

Oh, I've only got about another half our before I have to pick up our son, so I'm going to waste my time and play some Room Escape Games.

Also, here's a link to Comic-Con 2008 in San Diego. I would love to go see this. It sucks that we're so far away from so many fun things to do ( or perhaps I should really say it sucks that I'm unable to afford to go and see all these fun things. Oh well ).
Enjoy:

http://www.comic-con.org/

Green and Messy

My parents had quite a bit of stuff and a lot of their smaller items have ended up in our home, mostly in my wee art room. I've had to temporarily give up making any new creations because I just cannot work with 'non-art' stuff around me, it seems to take away from the creative energy.
So I am slowly purging things that we no longer want --from our home and my parents. It feels great giving it away and/or sending off to a thrift shop. Now my art room is finally beginning to re-emerge, although you wouldn't know it by the photo lol !
The desk will soon be gone and replaced with one of my moms makeup desks and a matching 3 drawer dresser will take the place of the plastic 3 drawer holder that sits under the window ( can't wait, the plastic thing was great but it sags on top, the 'new' dresser doesn't woohoo ! ). The desk and dresser set was made by my dad, he actually made 2 sets of which the other one has gone to the little daughter of one of my husbands friends ( very happy about that, and I even included the big fancy mirror that was in my parents bedroom --something a little princess would love ). I'll take a pic. of the art room when it's tidied up, but for now you can enjoy this mess ( the blue box on the floor holds smaller items I will be altering and selling on Etsy ):



For the past couple of weeks I've been enjoying homemade iced green tea.

I'm slowly getting back on the health track, fell way off it when mom passed away in March, and began eating crappy foods again. Last month I hauled out our juicer and now juice almost twice a week. I still eat some crappy stuff but at least I'm aware of it again and making changes.

Iced green tea is another healthy drink, the antioxidants and benefits from both the tea and honey. It's quite simple to make, just make a brew of green tea, add honey to taste, let cool and add cold water, put in fridge. BUT, don't let the tea brew for too long or it will take on a bitter taste. Mine sat for a minute too long and although there is some bitterness, the honey helps to cover it up.
Today I made another batch but this time I dropped in some mint and lemon loose tea and additional honey so it's nice and sweet. So far, in it's warm state, it's quite tasty and I love the fresh feeling the mint leaves in your mouth. I'm sure it will taste even better once nice and cold :)



The tea still has some bitterness but I like the combo of bitter and sweet anyway. Now if I could just do something with the tea leaves other than toss them --- I'll check the net to see if I can put some around certain plants outside and then maybe bury the rest in the backyard.



Now off to purge some more ! ♥