“Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother! For more Word Filled Wednesday visit 160 Acre Woods
ABC Wednesday ~ N is for…
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
N is for Nests
The Great Blue Herons and their Nests in Kenmore, Washington.
A colony of nesting great blue herons is known as a “heronry”. When I was in Washington State over Easter I was able to get some photos of this “heronry” in Kenmore, behind the Kenmore Park n Ride.
When my friend Jody and I were walking on the Burke-Gilman trail one day we were approached by some bird-watchers who were looking for this heronry. I was able to direct them to where it was. It re-sparked my interest and I made it a point to take some photos the next day. When I used to pick up Dear from the Kenmore Park in Ride years ago I remembered being in such awe over this nesting area and the acitivity from these great big birds. It was wonderful to watch them fly around the nests and light onto one. This would be a great field-trip and lesson for any homeschoolers in the area.
The Great Blue Heron belongs to a large family that includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. This world-wide family has about 60 species. The Great White Heron of Florida is a local color variation of the Great Blue and belongs to the same species.
The Great Blue Heron’s long legs allow it to hunt in deeper water than most other herons and egrets.
this photo is from Seattle.gov
Herons have special patches of powder down feathers, which they rake with a foot, causing the powder to fall on fish it has caught. The powder causes the fish slime and oil to clump up so that the herons then can simply brush it off with a foot. Herons also rub the powder especially on the underside of their bodies to repel swamp slime and oils.
The Great Blue Heron can swallow a fish many times wider than its narrow neck.
Herons look for food anytime there is enough light. Studies suggest that cloudy weather is ideal for the birds to look for fish. Herons don’t just eat fish, however. They eat a wide variety of prey, including frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, insects, rodents, and small birds.
In catching fish, the Great Blue Heron grabs smaller fish between the two mandibles of its bill; with a quick strike it stabs the larger fish.
In the Pacific Northwest, eelgrass beds are important foraging sites for the Great Blue Heron.
Herons nest in colonies. One of the largest colonies in Washington is located in Renton; last year there were approximately 135 active nests there.
For more ABC Wednesday posts head over to Mrs. Nesbitt’s
Bloggy Friends at the Getty Villa
On Monday Willow and I met Sara from Much ado About Something at the Getty Villa. This was the first time I met Sara face to face. Sara in person is true to who she is on her blog. She’s gracious, thoughtful, and kind. What a fun experience to meet bloggy friends in person. I’ll be posting more about the Getty soon.
Here we are at lunch at the Getty Cafe. Willow from Willow’s Cottage, Sara of Much Ado About Something and ellen b. from the Happy Wonderer. See ellen b. leaning over without wincing with back pain. Whoohoo!
Friends, Fellowship, Food and Fun. Stay tuned for some of the architecture and art from the beautiful Getty Villa Grounds. Thanks for the fun package and avocados, Sara. I’ll be emailing you…
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
Fun Monday ~ What Was & Is Worth It…
Southern Doll is hosting Fun Monday this week and she has the following assignment. What have you done in your life that was worth doing?
I know that as soon as I publish this there will be other things that come to mind. I decided to start with high school and move on from there.
The thing in high school that was worth doing was getting baptised in my junior year. I started a more dedicated journey following Christ at this point in my life and would never turn back.
During my College years I was part of a Christian Rock band. I met Dear in this group and we became engaged and then married in 1974. We went on two summer tours in England together with the group which was an amazing experience in travel and ministry.
Getting a College Degree and a Teaching Credential was worth doing.
Getting married to Dear was and is definitely worth doing and we’ve been doing it for 33 years. Oops! I think I just probably embarrassed my children and myself by accident.
Having each of our three children was worth it big time in my life. Each of them is unique and I thank God for their individual gifts and personalities.
Developing close friendships and opening our home for fun and fellowship and spending loving times with my extended family has been worth it.
Much of this time is spent around food!
Moving to Seattle in 1988 and raising our children there and developing friendships there was worth it.
Starting a blog and meeting bloggy friends around the world has been worth it.
Growing older with Dear and being faithful to our marriage is worth it.
For more Fun Monday posts head over to Southern Doll’s.
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
Brown Plate Special ~ Week 10
For the last 2 weeks I have been living a very non-active life due to my back issues. Well if I needed any proof that activity is vital in my life to keep weight off this was the proof. Over these 2 weeks I have gained 4.1 pounds. Yikes! The positive side of this is that from my beginning point I am still down 4.8 pounds.
I am finally able to walk with little pain so I have a good outlook for this week. Today I’m going to the Getty Villa with Willow and Sara another bloggy friend that I get to meet face to face for the first time. I’ll be taking lots of photos as usual so I hope to share them soon.
So I’m putting my pedometer back on and getting serious again. No more pampering myself because of my pain! Have a great day y’all…
Cherry Varenya ~ Russian Tea Sweetener
The Russian immigrants I grew up around would make and enjoy this Cherry Syrup made with whole pie cherries in their hot tea. They used this syrup in place of sugar to sweeten their tea. I called my mother this week to get the following recipe from her to share for The-Sweet-and-Savory-of-Yummy.
This is a very simple recipe for Cherry Varenya. This is a syrup made with Cherries to sweeten hot tea with.
Cherry Varenya
1/2 Cup Water
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Whole Sour Cherries (Pie Cherries)
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
You would increase the proportions of this recipe according to how many cherries you have on hand that you want to make into Varenya.
Boil the water and sugar to make a clear simple syrup. When the liquid is clear add your cherries and let it boil for 10 to 20 minutes (depending on how hard the cherries were to begin with) At the end of the boiling add 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to help preserve the brightness of the syrup.
You may want to can it at this point. (I don’t know how to can anything so you are on your own here!) 🙂
You can do this process with sliced lemons, too, to make a Lemon Varenya.
Lemon Varenya
When I was young our family would go to a Cherry Orchard somewhere near Lancaster, California in July when the pie cherries were ready to harvest. It might have been in the Leona Valley. We would pick cherries all day and take home upwards of 40 pounds of cherries. That’s a lot of Varenya. When we picked this much my parents would give about half of the cherries away to other relatives and friends who couldn’t make the trek out to the Cherry Farm. Then it was a full day of preparing the cherries for Varenya. Washing, cooking and canning.
Out of Bondage ~ Hymn
“Only One Life Twill Soon Be Past ~ Only What’s Done For Christ Will Last”
Out of Bondage
Arise, come ye forth, and forever break the chain,
That long had oppressed you with sorrow and pain;
Arise, come ye forth, hear the blessèd Lord’s command,
And He Himself will guide you with a strong, strong hand.
Refrain
Come forth, come forth, and shout the jubilee,
Come forth, come forth, the Lord will make you free;
Come forth from your bonds, hear the blessèd Lord’s command,
And He Himself will guide you with a strong, strong hand.
Arise, come ye forth; will ye spend your life for naught,
When Jesus Who loves you a ransom has bought?
The price of His blood, O receive it while you may;
Behold the promised time is now; O come away.
Refrain
Arise, come ye forth, and be slaves to sin no more,
How oft your Deliv’rer has called you before;
Come forth from your bonds, and your liberty receive,
Your willing hearts to Jesus give; repent, believe.
Refrain
Words by Fanny Crosby
ht: cyberhymnal
Saturday at Lowe’s and Beyond
Well what do you do when you are still recovering from lower back pain issues and can’t take your usual long beach walk or long canyon hike? You go with the hubby to one of his favorite spots and take the opportunity to walk and stretch and keep your muscles from painful stiffness.
BUT while he is busy looking at tools you escape to the garden department and pretend you’re in an English Garden and take these photos.
Then since you are already in Ventura why not have Second Breakfast at your favorite Ventura breakfast spot Allison’s Country Cafe?!
On the way home we stopped at the Friends of the Library in Camarillo to shop for some bargain books. Here are my two finds for the day.
Both of these books have such wonderful illustrations. Dear bought 3 Audel Carpenter’s and Builder’s Library books.
Here’s something for April from Shakespeare and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
“Oh; how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day!
Which now shows all the beauty of the sun
And by and bye a cloud takes all away.”
Two Gentlemen of Verona ~ Shakespeare
Hope you are having a lovely weekend…
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
Tranquility Tea Room in Thousand Oaks, California
This week’s theme is Tea Venues. This is a previous post but I wanted to share it during this weeks Tea Blogathon theme since it’s about a Tea Room that I’ve experienced and recommend.
Oh what a delightful haven we found for Tea in Thousand Oaks. Willow and I had reservations for a mini tea on Wednesday Afternoon. We arrived at Tranquility Tea Room which is in an office space on the 2nd floor of a building set back off of Thousand Oaks Blvd. When we opened the door we were delighted with what we saw.
Lots of China, Antique furniture, Lace, hats, fresh flowers, and tea accessories.
We chose our table and settled in for a lovely time.
Willow decided it was OK if I took a photo of her at our table.
We enjoyed looking at so many pretty things and then our food started arriving.
Aprils menu included Blueberries ‘n Cream Scones, Orange laced Mini Swirled Scones with their homemade lemon curd and Tranquility cream. Then there was a choice of Gourmet Tea Sandwiches. I chose the Cucumber a la Provencale and Caramel Apple Brie with Pecans. Willow chose the Caramel Apple Brie and the Chicken-Almond Salad. For dessert I chose the Lemon cheesecake triangle and Willow chose the Strawberry Tart. It was all very fresh and tasty! The touch of fresh flowers that adorned the food and plates added such a visual treat. We found out that Candra’s mother does the flowers for her. Oh who’s Candra?
We met Sue (who graciously served us) and Candra (on the right). Candra owns and operates the Tea Room. We had a nice long conversation about Tea rooms and ministry. Here’s something I copied from her website about her and the Tea Room.
Tranquility Baking and Tea Room
Seven years ago, Candra Coogan began a baking business with a desire to help a local charity. She began delivering cheesecakes dressed in Victorian attire and donated 10% of her sales. Her business grew into a successful catering and baking business specializing in tea parties, and in December she took the next step, opening Tranquility Tea Room on Thousand Oaks Boulevard.
Tranquility Baking Company was created in order to help support a special recovery program
for homeless Moms, The Lighthouse Women and Children’s Mission located in Oxnard, California.
We currently support the Lighthouse Women’s Shelter through monetary donations and other types of support.
for homeless Moms, The Lighthouse Women and Children’s Mission located in Oxnard, California.
We currently support the Lighthouse Women’s Shelter through monetary donations and other types of support.
What a wonderful ministry. They have a vision to move this tea room into a Victorian house in the Ventura/Oxnard area. That would be such an ideal setting. Thank you Sue and Candra for your wonderful hospitality and your heart for service to the community. Can’t end the post without one more collage of the fun things around the tea-room.
We highly recommend the Tranquility Tea Room to anyone who loves Tea in a comfortable, beautiful setting, with expertly created delicious delicacies. Can you tell I was impressed!
“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”
Chaim Potok
For more Tea Rooms and Ventures visit LaTeDah at Gracious Hospitality.
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
Sky Watch ~
Clear skies again in Southern California without a cloud anywhere to be seen. This was taken on Wednesday of this week at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, California. If you scroll down past this post you’ll see a photo tour of these lovely grounds.
For more Sky Watch photos head over to Wiggers World.
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 