Birds

Swainson's Thrush is new to our backyard.

I am so very pleased he has come.

He likes raisins.

The Cat birds

like raisins.

The male Hummingbird

is waiting for his mate.

The kitchen garden is growing.

The spinach is ready to harvest.

Radishes

I walked into the kitchen garden and was
 greeted by the chamomile.

I went to harvest radishes for tea sandwiches.

The radishes are tender and mild when they are

fresh out of the warm garden soil.

I keep digging

until I have enough for two plates of thinly sliced radishes.

I shall place them on buttered toast points with fresh spinach.

I can almost taste the deliciousness of our garden.

The wild strawberries are blooming.
A small bouquet for the tea tray will be pretty.

As I climbed the stairs to the deck
 I looked and checked the figs.

They are growing just fine.

Tea

I have been gathering Wild Violets and drying them

for winter teas.

I am harvesting mint and hanging the bundles to dry.
I never seem to be able to dry enough mint.

I found this wonderful tea book at the library.
I make lots of my own tea blends.
I love having herbal teas in the winter.

The chamomile is blooming.
I shall harvest some tomorrow.

Herbs make wonderful companions in the garden.

They are wonderful blended together.

Roses also love chives.

The salad bowls are ready to cut.
We shall begin our garden salad days.

It is cool and so very lovely outdoors.

I took a cup of chai to the deck.

I dreamed of fairies

and friends.

One more cup of coffee

I have finished reading the coffee books I checked out
of the library. I am inspired!

I have been listening to coffee music.

When our local chocolatier came out with a coffee I was thrilled.

There is much to know about coffee

and why to buy Fair Trade

and organic.

I have made plans to tour our local roasterie.
I think it will very informative.

It would be great fun to go to a cupping.

At my house coffee is "no waste".
We use the grinds in our compost and

I use a permanent filter.


My husband made a squirrel guard for one of the
 bird feeding stations from an old coffee can.

Even the foil lined coffee bags are re-useable.
I use them instead of zip lock plastic bags
for when we take sandwiches on picnics.

I dilute left over coffee and give my house plants a drink.
At my house coffee is full use.

Coffee

I do love a great cup of coffee.

Every morning I sit at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee
 and my journals. I look out the window and watch the seasons change. When the bleeding hearts are in bloom it is time to make iced coffees.

I add a little co-conut milk to my morning coffee.
A cinnamon stick makes a nice stir stick.

I am reading about coffee from the bloom to the cup.
I am learning about coffee.

It all begins with the beans. The coffee tree species that is considered to have the finest beans is Geisha when it is grown at an high-altitude.

I have yet to locate these beans but I have made a commitment to buying Artisan coffee. I have made a commitment to buying organic coffee.

I am learning about the taste of place. Coffee, like wine,
has the taste of place.

I put a pound of ground coffee into the Toddy Coffee maker last night and let it steep in the refrigerator over night. This morning I
drained the concentrate and made my first iced coffee of the season.

The recipe I use has changed over the years.

Today I used 2 cups co-conut milk, four tablespoons co-conut crystals, one cup coffee concentrate and one teaspoon vanilla.
This is my base. It is very strong and tasty.

 The coffee grinds went out to the pear tree.

I am adding mint to my cold coffee and co-co for a mint chocolate dessert drink.
I think I will make some mint syrup and use fresh mint for garnish.

I shall be making all sorts of coffee creations.

I just read about how important the roast is.

I am learning.

I am looking for the single estate, individual coffee species,
light roasted coffee bean. Maybe I could buy the beans green
 and learn to do my own roasting.

Having a cup of coffee with a friend is a joy and a treat.
We are to have rain and a cool down.

There is a local roasterie not too far from my house. I wonder if they have tours?