Saturday, June 21, 2025

Nature notes, and cake

Early morning walk, so glad I pushed myself out before the heat set in. Me and many birds and frogs at the pond. There were a lot of branches down from the storm and many more frogs, leaping into the pond at my approach, clearly approving the weather. Three drakes fussing about there, too. I wonder if the ducks are home busy with ducklings.



More wild daylilies

 and the jewelweed has started

That pocket-shaped blossom is very much like the sage blossom. I must check the name of the shape and see if it's a family.

One of my neighbors not only plants herbs, she labels them 


This is the first sighting I think I've had of rue.

On the way home, dandelions added to the daily bouquet 

Home to read These Old Shades, ancient Georgette Heyer, and bake cake, which is called bread because I bake it in a loaf pan, but who am I kidding. 


Banana bread but with pumpkin instead of banana,  crushed walnuts, dried cranberries.  Very nutritious! I used whole wheat flour. 

Perfect breakfast food. Or afternoon tea. Any time, really. With a spoonful of yogurt mixed with lemon juice and cane sugar, it's dessert. It's the Swiss army knife of breads.

Happy day everyone, enjoy whatever you're up to, hoping it's trouble, sez 


Big U and Ted





39 comments:

  1. The jewelweed is so pretty. Everything is romping away now.

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    1. I love jewel weed, which grows freely around here, damp soil suits it. It's edible and medicinal. You can use it to calm the rash of poison ivy, which also grows freely around here.

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  2. "the Swiss army knife of breads" -- hahahahaha!

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    1. It's endlessly adaptable -- with or without banana, with or without berries, nuts, anything, aqua faba instead of egg, wholewheat instead of AP, it doesn't mind.

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    2. The perfect description of banana bread 😎😄

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    3. It's like a friend who's up for anything!

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  3. I imagine your early morning walk sets you right for the day, doesn't it? I hope that soon you'll be able to see mama ducks with ducklings paddling behind her. Such a happy sight.
    That bread, cake, whatever, looks luscious.

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    1. The walk triggers a morning nap! I don't think we'll see ducklings st the pond -- snapping turtle territory. I think they probably nested over by the marsh where the condo is.

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  4. Ooh, that banana bread made from pumpkin. SG has a number of recipes for breads like that. He calls them quick breads. He hasn’t made any for a long time. I thought I would do an early morning walk today, too. I didn’t. Tomorrow is another day.

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    1. Tomorrow is a fine plan. Do you exercise indoors when you can't get out?

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    2. I used to exercise every chance I got. Rain or shine. Recently, if I’m not walking, I’m not doing much. I’m changing that right now with a home workout.

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  5. We were out fairly early today, and that will sure have to be the plan if we are to get out in the next few hot days.

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    1. Yes. You have the advantage of usually being up early. I wish walking weren't such a trial to you.

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  6. I've been thinking about baking a bread (cake) like that as I saw I have some walnuts in the fridge so thanks for reminding me again! My son got me out for a morning walk and I'm glad he did - a breeze helped but it was still quite warm!

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    1. Go for it! I like walnuts in baked goods but not raw in salads, for some reason I can't fathom.

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  7. It’s definitely bread. So have as much as you want.
    Bread is healthy and has no calories at all lol

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  8. Lovely walk. Wish I had some heat in the days. Nice looking bread.

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    1. You're back in winter, it seems. No happy medium.

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  9. Quick breads are so good!
    Lovely flowers. Need to go early before the heat really gets going.
    Hope you had a wonderful day. :)

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    1. Quick bread, better than saying cake! It goes pretty fast, too.

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  10. Very pleasant looking area you live in.

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    1. It's got its points, when we can restrain the landscapers from hacking everything down.

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  11. Your pumpkin bread looks delicious!

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    1. It's pretty good, very different from using banana.

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  12. Cake! Just what I need. I shall hie to the kitchen forthwith!

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    1. It's a basic banana bread recipe, simple to make. Takes about an hour at 350°f.

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  13. Once again drooling at the thought of something out of an oven.

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  14. A gardener who labels their plants? How very efficient! And wild day lilies. How lovely.
    I could never get into Heyer. Enjoy your nutritious not-cake!

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    1. I wonder if her humor isn't yours? Yes, on labeling, one of those things you're sure you'll remember, the names of plants. Until you don't.

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  15. A pumpkin loaf is a great idea, Boud. I have a can of pumpkin too.

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    1. I used one cup of the pumpkin, probably could have used a bit less. It takes a few minutes more than banana bread, because there's more liquid in the batter.

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  16. What a beautiful walk. There is something so peaceful and restful about water.
    Love the teddy bears!

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    1. Water is a perfect answer to agitating news. I'm lucky I can walk to it.

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  17. 'The swiss army knife of bread.' Just what we need this morning, Boud. A heaping helping of nature and a slice of cake!

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  18. Your pond is well worthy of going for a walk. Wish we could walk along our river but it's no longer safe because of the homeless encampment beneath the bridge. They can't seem to move them along which is sad for the locals but also sad for them.
    Haven't had banana bread for a long time so must put a bug in RC's ear and see if some appears.

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    1. Are the people aggressive? My experience with the homeless isn't scary. But if there's mental illness then caution is needed, yes. Definitely campaign for banana bread. It's cheering.

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