In Need of Diversion

Here is where I say, "Oops, sorry for disappearing" but in fact, I did disappear on purpose. 

July has been a tough month in a lot of ways and I got myself in a rather deep funk and really, who wants to hear about it?

I did receive an bloggy award from two lovely ladies, Alison and Lisa, one I am very appreciative of. Thank you very much.

I really have nothing to offer yet but as I was emptying my camera I thought we could all take a look at what's on it.

 It has been a particular challenge of mine to capture all the glorious greens that I am surrounded by. I want to particularly capture that wonderful light at dusk. I'm failing miserably  but just trying makes me appreciate it, so all is not lost. At our old house, I planted an all white flower garden just to see that particular glow.  If you want to see some spectacular photos of this, the gloaming, check out this blog. The ever-cynical dh thinks these are photoshopped. I prefer to live in the fantasy, believing in the quality of the light.

 

I am documenting all the berry bushes I find on the property. I have discovered wild raspberries, my all time favourite and I'm watching these carefully for signs of ripening so that the wildlife does not get the choicest ones before me. Most of the bushes this city chick cannot identify. I feel very inadequate in this but I tell you, I come from a long line of non-gardeners, non-nature folk in general.  I learned nothing from them. A shame but there you have it. Anyone?

There is a vague hope that this tree is elderberry. I remember some dark berries left on this one when we moved in late Autumn.

Who'd a thunk that all that planting of seeds would actually work? ( See no gardening lessons above)  Not me, the one who routinely kills house plants. These are salad days of one sort anyway. And I can now write the book on 150 Ways to Hide More Kale In Dinner. 

 there was that nasty confusion with the lost zucchini that a certain cat took the seedling pot markers out of and I thought I was planting pumpkins and watermelon and squash. Well I was, but darn it if those squash plants don't all look alike when they are but seedlings. Let's just say I have more than enough zucchini and leave it at that, shall we... 

This is one of the three garden boxes that The Husband built. The salad greens were in another. Waist high, no bending, no weeding, simply fab. I've already broken the news to him that I love them so much I will need two more next year.

Studio work. The messy.

And the quiet.

And well, who could have resisted this shot, which appeared literally at my feet one night. The cat who plays Igo. 

I'll be back soon (sooner!) with a finished sweater. I'm almost there.

Comments

[Rebecca]

I hope you are feeling perkier. Those cupcakes are fabulous, I love, l love, love them. You are certainly very creative at the moment, indoors and outdoors. The cat picture looks so familiar to me, he is so very like my favourite cat from childhood, he had the very original name of Fluffy.

[Paula]

This city girl is a nature nut, not an expert however...
The first photo appears to be a red current bush - the leaves look maple leafish. I don’t believe it would be a native plant most likely panted by a previous owner. I have one that I planted in my yard and it is loaded with berries I’ll take a photo and post it later this week. Your current bush appears to have been nibbled on or your berries have dropped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcurrant
I don’t believe your tree is an elderberry, the elderberry has spear like leaves, your tree’s leaves are round-ish. In the photo I can see fruit or berries growing on your tree; take another look at the tree. Could it be a plum tree or Sweet Viburnum, Buckthorn?
There is a searchable native/invasive Canadian plant database here. http://www.evergreen.ca/nativeplants/
Here is one for just Ontario http://ontariotrees.com/index.php

The other plant (ntberry3) I’ve seen the leaf & berries before however the plant name escapes me at the moment.
Love the kitties, the painting and can wait to see the pottery glazed and fired. I'm intrigued by the cupcake-ish looking pieces.

[Gill]

lovely to see you posting again.

Gill

[Diane T]

Your garden boxes look like a great idea. Hmmm, maybe next year....

Will you show us the cupcakes when they're all finished? They look terrific. Is it a pot/jar/container pretending to be a confection?

[Norma]

My friend Judy just gave me a bag of frozen elderberries from last year's crop and says her this-year crop looks to be a banner one. And she pointed to an elderberry bush far away and said, "That's an elderberry bush," but I really did not get a good look at it. I'm rather a disgrace even for a country girl when it comes to certain things. I still do not trust myself to identify poison ivy, in fact.

[alison]

The cupcakes are wonderful. What a sophisticated cat you have.

[Lynne]

Oh! what lovely pottery. You made these? Those wonderful looking cupcakes? I would love to see them glazed and fired ... and the painting—your work too? Ah, to be talented like that would be a fine thing indeed...so extremely envious!

[kmkat]

I have elderberries growing in several spots at the edge of our woods, but I cannot tell from your photo if yours are the same. The berries on mine are red right now. (I am in n.w. Wisconsin, borderline between Zone 3 and Zone 4.) Wild raspberries grow everywhere -- they are almost a weed. But the berries are good, if you can get 'em.