Spring Moments 2014

Well another couple of months have passed filled with so much more then I can even begin to share.  Life is full, what can I say.

Now I am sure I had told myself I wasn’t going to garden or do flowers this summer as I knew I had a lot of other work projects that really needed attention, but once a gardener always a gardener, I just couldn’t stop myself.  In the greenhouse I soon had it filled with every pot with starting seeds and creating hanging baskets.

Soon the rains came along with melting snows and rising waters.  We had our road washed out at one point and lost a stretch of our fencing which we had only replaced a few years ago,  other then that we were lucky and not major damage.

Another year older and a beautiful birthday was spent having breakfast on the deck, then going for a bike ride just up our dirt road.

I am a very big recycling person and am so glad to see our dump include all types of plastics now as well as milk cartons and many more plastics and styrofoam's.   Our dump will hopefully last for many more years.  We have a really great dump for recycling so many different things.  It takes a bit more extra time cleaning the cans, glass and stopping at the different locations at the dump to empty your recycling.  Just wish more people would take the time.

Well is wasn’t long after returning from our winter home down south that soon all our woodsy friends starting appearing to greet us for the spring.

Now I know many of you are probably wondering what is happening with that little acreage we bought last winter.   Well amazing how life’s paths can change.  Seem our tenant moved out of our rental in town right on the river that we have own for 20 years and we decided to not rent it anymore and was thinking we would sell it.  Well after spending a couple of nights and enjoying the private backyard and being right in town yet right on the edge of nature we may just have a complete change of retirement location.  We haven’t even had a chance to spend at the new property as any extra time is now spent at the house in town cleaning it and trying to get the yard green again.  Many repairs need to be done there.  News and photos of there coming next blog.

When the days warmed up and the grass turned green life was good here at the ranch with all the fruit trees blossoming and the garden ready for planting.

What ‘s spring without some spring flowers and this year I was blessed with many.

My flowers don’t even begin till almost middle of May as our season is so far behind.  But when it does come all the planting I spent years doing suddenly paints my landscape with so many different colors.

By middle of June it is time for the first harvest of rhubarb which I bag and freeze it all for later use in the fall for wine and jams.  During the summer lots of rhubarb crisps are also made.

Sheaba’s world is forever changing, upon returning back to the ranch, she was fearful and hesitant for a while.  But since the weather has warmed and sunny days with no wind she is much happier.  She now comes to us while we are sitting to be pet and snuggled with her tail wagging.  I am now trying to teach her to lay down.  Even with treats it is a fearful moment for her to be asked to do something, but today she laid down with a gentle nudge on her back.  With all the flies and mosquitoes out now she again prefers to spend all day in the house between her walks.  She showing so much more affection for us even though she can still run away when feeling fearful.  But with all her lying around she is gaining too much weight.  I think I will have to cut her food down.  But so many people always comment how beautiful she is and what a healthy coat she has.  I do spend a fortune on her dry dog food.  But cancer and many other problems on the rise with our pets I believe the food is a great cause , along with environmental exposure. 

Our animals all seem to have some sort of social problems.  Siriun our cat is now 8 years old and is the laziest cat I have ever met.  I have to throw him outside.  He used to be a great hunter when we had our other cat Wildflower, but without her outside as well he doesn’t want to go out. So he sleeps, sleeps and eats and sleeps.  He never even gets active in the house.  We have a new to us couch and he does enjoy now snuggling next to me while I am sitting there working on my laptop. He really needs to go on a diet.  But his only joy seems to come from eating.

Well the summer flowers are blooming now and I have taken a trip to Oregon for a family wedding, and so many other projects and gardening activities keeping me so busy this summer it’s hard to get a blog out, work on my greeting card project  or even less time to visit.  I find more and more it is easier and faster to stay up to date with my long blogging friends on Facebook.  But I will continue to try and get a blog out here now and then.

So as I say goodbye to spring and now summer is in full swing, with a visitor now and then we take a break from all our work and enjoy the moment and view.  May you also take a moment now and then to enjoy the company of friends and take in your surrounding and be thankful for all the wonders that life has to offer.
And have a
Good Morning…   Good Afternoon…   Good Night…
Whatever it is to you.
Photos & Words
by
Here I Am Carrie

Summer Has Arrived

With it all the color and green that the warm weather and rain brings.  We have only been back at the ranch for 2 months yet seems like so much longer. 

When we returned the weather was still very cold and continued to get frosts right up until middle of June so I went to work in the greenhouse.  Starting seeds and preparing my flower pots that are now on my deck.

 

 

Once I could start work in the garden I began moving half my rhubarb and raspberries to a new bed.  I am taking a bit of a gardening break this year to work on some of the beds so only planted half the beds this year.  I will soon be ripping out the entire strawberry bed as wild variety has taken over and the old variety never did well.   

 

When we arrived home Momma deer was here to greet us along with her twins from last year.  She stayed around in the yard till around the 1st of June when I know it was time for her to have a new baby.  I haven’t seen her since.

Well it hasn’t been all work and no play.  We went on 2 camping trips to our favourite lake.  Where the scenes of the lake are always breathtaking.

  

Often enjoyed dinner while watching the sunset.

I did a bit of hiking and finally took up fishing as well.  No I didn’t catch anything.  I spent most the 3 days reading how to do my fly fishing lines and practicing casting on land as well as preparing my tackle.  I should fish from the canoe, but my back can’t take sitting in it.  I am thinking of getting one of those belly boats to float around in and fly fish.

  

I always enjoy those moments as
I gaze out over the lake.

  

Well hubby left me for 3 weeks and made a trip to Germany to visit family and friends.  Someone has to stay home and take care of the animals so my vacation was spent at home.  No cooking or cleaning so yes it was a vacation.  I did have all the yard work and lots of other projects to keep me busy.  But alone here for most of the 3 weeks has been heaven.  I had a group of old school girl friends come for a visit the 1st weekend.  What a hoot that weekend was.  Some I hadn’t  seen more then 2 times in the last 30 something years.  Didn’t take long for us all to bond again.

  

 

Also kept busy raising a dozen meat chicks for our freezer.  They will be ready to butcher in a couple weeks.

The robins have been nesting all over and Wildflower is so happy again to be able to go outside.

  

 

The weather has not been so good the last 3 weeks.  Many storms would come in and then just dump the rain.

  

 

But with the rain and then the sun the signs that
summer has arrived are now here to enjoy.

 

So work hard and play hard
and have a
Good Morning…   Good Afternoon…   Good Night…
What ever it is to you.

Photos & Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie

A Little Moose Drama on Our Sunday Walk

On todays walk we encountered a momma moose, baby moose, fresh cougar tracks along with tracks from so much more wildlife and a quick  hello to the beaver.  Since our big dump of snow over 2 weeks ago we have not really had much new snow, but have had beautiful weather.  So I have had time for long walks a few times a week.  Always with camera in hand discovering new winter wonders which I mostly share at God's Garden of Nature. If you haven’t visited there already and enjoy nature and photography please stop in for a look. 

But on todays walk, hubby came along.  We were gone for a good 2 hours again venturing to our back field that is almost  a 1/2 mile from our house.  Half way there fresh cougar tracks were spotted. But we venture on seeing tracks from deer, moose, coyote, bobcat, squirrel, rabbit and grouse.  Finally reaching the back field I headed down to the creek wanting to see how it hand changed since fall and heard rustling in the bushes near by.

Now I knew the moose could be down here as fresh tracks were everywhere and this is the wintering ground for a mother moose that has had many young ones here over the years. And there she was.  Now some of these photos of the moose are not so good as I only have my small pocket camera which doesn’t zoom so good.

Well at this point she and her young one were separated as the mother ran off up the valley leaving the baby moose behind. We decided to continue on as not to scare them any more. So on up the beautiful creek we went.

A site to behold as winter has now taken hold and signs of fall are long gone.

So glad we ventured here to see this frozen winter scene.  You can see many different animals tracks around here.

Soon we came across more very fresh cougar tracks as we had a dusting of snow last night these had to be made just this morning.  Seems a huge cougar by the tracks.

Also with this set we noticed this cougar had a younger one with her or possible 2.

Leaving the creek and heading back along the road.

Well on our return trip we took the road that borders our property when across the field on the hill side I saw the young moose trying to climb up the steep mountain side.  Seems her mother had circled around and was calling from above for the baby moose to come up to join her.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when suddenly the baby moose lost his footing on the steep terrain and tumbled down the mountain side for about 30 feet coming to a rest with his back against a tree and legs facing up hill.  A position in which a big animal like that can’t get his legs under him to get up.  In this photo he is right in the middle you can barely make him out against the tree.  Mother was above calling for him, he struggled a few times then just gave up.  My heart was broken I thought for sure he would never be able to get himself up right again. 

Momma moose realizing her baby couldn’t get to her worked her way back down and was now just 25 feet below him on the valley bottom and continued to call to it.  Finally after 15 minutes he struggled again and was able to roll himself somehow and get himself up again.  Mother moose is just below now on level ground.  I was so happy.

We watched as the baby moose very carefully descended down the steep bank.

During all this a friend had come by on the road and we were all watching this take place.  Quiet cheers when the baby moose reached the bottom.

Meanwhile momma moose just watched us the whole time.  Baby moose did not go join her while we were there but stayed hidden about 15 feet from her.  We decided it was time to let them alone again.

Just in front of our place near a big beaver dam we were greeted my Mr. Beaver.

So that was my natured filled day here.  All these animals are a normal part of our area, but to see so much in one day and so many animal tracks.  With that cougar in the area I won’t be venturing so far alone. Can’t believe just a few days before I was stomping all over the forest by myself.   Some people think I am crazy, but I know there is so much food available for all the wildlife here.  When there is an imbalance that is when I will be more concerned.  As the cougar may have a young one to feed as well I will be extra cautious.  But for now I have been so enjoying the weather and snow.  So nice to spend time outside that doesn’t involve work.  Seems in the summer there is always work to be done outside.  Of course there is all those little cleaning jobs that don’t get done in the summer that I am also trying to get done here in the house.  I have been keeping up with my yoga and enjoying it and limbering my body slowly.

So wishing everyone a beautiful day
and a
Good Morning…   Good Afternoon…  Good Night…
What ever it is to you

Photo & Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie

Nature’s Spring Food and Bears

Dandelions and Nettles are some of natures first herbs to show up at our place with abundance this year along with a few bears.  As gardening is barely underway due to the cold and wet spring here I try to take advantage of what nature has to offer in her food source.

Nettles (Urticaceae)
Just touching this plant you will know you have found stinging nettles.  Fine tiny hairs cause a stinging and itch when in contact with skin.  So when harvesting where gloves. I have found it even goes thru light garden gloves.

I just use the tops of very young plants.  Older leaves contain higher contents of crystals of calcium oxalate which gives a gritty texture.  The young plants are very rich in Vitamin A, C, minerals especially iron; it also contains indoles (mainly histamine and serotonin) and large amounts of chlorophyll.

I often cook with stinging nettles in the late spring in many recipes that might call for spinach.  I also dry the herb for use in teas during the winter mixed with wild peppermint.  Never eat nettle raw.  Some possible benefits from the properties of nettles are as an astringent, diuretic, tonic herb that controls bleeding, clears toxins and slightly reduces blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Oh that poor dandelion with such a bad reputation in peoples yards and gardens.  Oh but what a special herb it is. 

The leaves of the plant are very rich in vitamins A, C, D,and B complex as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron and silicon.  The young leaves can be used in salads and also sautéed or used in many different recipes calling for greens.  The flowers can be used to make a wonderful tasting wine, something I did one year, but requires a lot of flowers and a lot of work.

The roots of the plants are lifted in the autumn and used for infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures.  All parts of the plant have a diuretic, laxative, and antirheumatic effects, stimulates liver function, improves digestion and reduces swelling and inflammation. We try and eat in the spring at least 10 flower stalks a day straight from the lawn as a great liver cleaner and improve digesting after a winter of eating heavy foods. 

Never pick or eat any herbs in areas where pesticides or fertilizers are used and never next to roads.  With all herbs you may use make sure you do your research on them.  They are not all safe and can have interactions with other drugs you may be taking or in too large of quantities have adverse effects.  Many people assume just because it is natural it is safe.  Always do your research.  Nature’s pharmacy is filled with many wonderful proven herbs that are safe, effective and even delicious and nutritious to eat.

Here is our lawn and field down below the house filled with the color of yellow.

 

 

For weekend breakfast or just as a side dish I like sautéing in butter a bunch of nettle and dandelion leaves with chopped garlic, onions and tomatoes with a bit of seasoning.  What a healthy natural spring dish. 

   

Our yard is filled with dandelions at this time of the year.  They have their cycle in the yard then the grasses and clovers soon over take it. 

   

All that yellow has helped brighten what has been the worst spring we have experienced here in 20 years.  We have had nothing but rain, clouds and lots of wind. 

The seeds are sought after by many birds especially finches, but also chipmunks.

Ok everyone all at once…. Blowwww……

Dandelions and Nettles are not the only thing that was in abundance this spring.  We have had 3 bears as well.  There was the mother bear I mentioned in my previous blog that had twins a year ago last spring near the beaver ponds on my nature trail.  Well I found out they only have young ones every two years so she still had her cubs from last year.  I never did see the cubs this year, but my hubby did.  I only saw the sow a few times without them.  I am around 2 or 300 feet away from her in these photos with the creek between us.  She finally caught my smell with her nose in the air and ran off.

   

 

Well about the same time another bear started showing up in our field we look down at from our house.  He has been coming now for almost a month.  We believe it is a 3 or 4 year old one.  Every day he or she spends hours grazing on the grasses and dandelions.  So from a distance I have been able to observe it.  Also some geese spend a lot of time near the bear also grazing on the grasses.  These are taken from my deck around 3 or 400 feet away.

 

One day I was able to stay in a wooded area along the field and get some closer shots of the bear in the field.  I am about 200 feet away with the creek between us. He had discovered the left overs of a dead beaver from the winter.

Well now doesn’t that smell lovely I think I will just roll all over it.  He or she finally ended up with it draped over it’s head.

 

 

Well big surprise the other day a very young bear showed up in our yard.  It could be one of the twins from last year who may have gotten separated from his mother.  Or perhaps another that wondered down from the mountain.  He was enjoying the lush green grass and dandelions in the yard when hubby spotted him.  I then came out with the camera.  He hardly noticed me.  I followed about 20 feet behind him.  Then when he reached our driveway just when this photo was taken I hollered and screamed to scare him away.  He just looked at me with such sad lonely eyes. 

I had to charge him screaming and yelling to get him moving.  He just didn’t want to go.  Finally hubby join me in running him off.  As cute as he was we had to make his first visit here as unpleasant as possible and establish our territory.   This will be the 3rd bear in 20 years that we have ever seen come into our yard and we have always let them know this is our territory and they are not welcome here at the house.  With or without dogs if they have enough room to establish their own territory they will move on.  But you have to make them very unwelcome at the very start.  I would have loved to continue taking lots of photos of him but knew I had to react quickly with his first meeting of me.

There is of course a million other things I would love to share, but only have so much time, I am just so glad I finally got to share some of my favourite herbs and bears.   My garden isn’t doing really anything yet, too much rain and cold.   Also I wish they would get things all fixed here at blogger.  I hate when I have so little time for visiting and I do can’t seem to be able to comment or it takes me signing in over and over again to get it to take.  Often I will write a long comment only to loose the page when trying to get it to show me signed in even though I am .  Sorry I have left many blogs in the end without commenting as it was becoming to difficult.  Well I know many of you are also experiencing these problems as well.  It was this time last year when spaces got all messed up and I found myself having to come here because no one could even comment on my site all summer there even before I found out they were going to close the blogging.  I guess when you are dealing with all this computer stuff nothing seems to be a for sure thing.

So let the summer begin I am so ready for some sun.  All these cloudy days were beginning to have a serious effect of me. Suppose to have a beautiful weekend so we may be off camping.  All we will do if we stay home is work.  It is time for a break and a change of scenery.  May your coming season be a pleasant one with a

Good Morning…   Good Afternoon…  Good Night…
Whatever it is to you. 

Photos & Words
by

Here I Am/Carrie