Happy Earth Day

 

I remember when Gaylord Nelson, Democrat of Wisconsin in the 70s,  organized the first teach-ins about the earth, which developed into Earth Day. 

We took it very seriously having observed the near extinction in this region of the iconic bald eagle, as well as many other less spectacular species. We did save the eagle and the osprey, but we need to take care of Gaia to preserve our remaining species.

Meanwhile let's enjoy her and admire things like this ancient b and w spread from my family dictionary from 1935

I used to read this dictionary all the time as a kid, and it's the only thing I inherited from my parents. And it's enough.

Then there's

Then locally out and about, daffodils have done their job, so now it's dogwood

And here's the little gnome, reunited with his umbrella and installed among the tulips.

Food is happening, too, so here's my latest flatbread, red lentil.

I put the lentils to soak in water overnight, rinsed them today, minced in garlic and fine seasalt, added a bit of water, then blended them to a nice consistency for flatbread.

It made a lot of batter, so there's a container of it in the freezer, too, now.

So here's today's lunch, the rest of the chickpea tuna salad, with the avocado oil, heated, with a lentil flatbread. Garnished with fresh sage.

You need flatbread here because the salad dressing is too good not to mop up. 

And if you can't stand fiddling away with the puzzle any longer, it's been going forever because it's 

ETERNAL

Some people were right on it. And I added to the entertainment by being too dense to pick up some clues and answering them solemnly! I guess there's worse things than providing what G and S would call innocent merriment.

Happy day everyone, Earth too. 

It's May

Yesterday was warm, sunny, before today's storm came in, great for a gentle walk. I was surprisingly tired, considering it was the day after a respite day, but moved anyway.

Look at this tiny beauty, fingers for scale

And the dogwoods are in full May fling

The dead tree you see in one pic is a drumming center, with a newly-enlarged flicker nesting excavation and, from inside, the sound of the flicker continuing work on the nest site, now deep inside the tree. I'll keep watching in hopes of seeing nestlings soon.

This is all a few feet from where I sat later, first outdoor tea of the season. Raisin scone there. Great blue heron beating overhead on her way to the nearby marsh, favorite hunting ground.

Meanwhile back on the battle front, here's one of my MOCs, former fighter pilot, current member of Congress, who's not having it. Yes, she posted this

Right after this, SCOTUS started erecting Mikie-proof barriers. Somebody realized now we've done it, we've annoyed the Jerseygirls, look out.  Pro tip: don't annoy us, we're fierce. 

I wonder if similar barriers are going up around Alito's family home in nearby Trenton. Sigh. He's a Jersey boy. We didn't send our best. But we did enshrine reproductive rights into our constitution this year. So we take care of our people at home.

Happy day everyone, and drum on.

Reward for workshop: trip to the thriftie!

Hot and beautiful day, and my only obligation was to enjoy the day.  So a trip to the thriftie happened, to drop off a lot of items for neighbors and others, and to browse a little on my own account. 

And to find a nice bag of yarns, for three dollars, including a skein of excellent tapestry yarn, a ball of linen yarn, some fine cotton, and various other mostly synthetics, but useful for weaving and for needlepoint adventures. There might be more plastic canvas in my future, too.  It's very undemanding and fun to do.

And there was a stop at the post office to send off a secret package. More news on that over in Art the Beautiful. I think the recipient is far too busy to get into my blogs for the moment, in the process of moving, so our secret is safe.

Home again, I did what I'd been planning to do for months: sit in the Adirondack chairs which have been patiently waiting on the patio, and stitch a little on my needlepainting on silk piece, the flower.  The light is lovely now, in bright shade, and I sat under the wild cherry which is coming into blossom.  Interestingly, it puts out leaves first then blossom, unlike the tame weeping cherry which blossoms first. And the bees have taken notice, already zooming around waiting for the first opened flowers on the tree.

And I figured all this sitting needs to be punctuated with more moving about, so I took a walk, a bit hot, but I looked for shade. 

As you see, the chives on the patio are doing fine, and quite happy to be cut back all the time for the kitchen.  

And the dogwoods are busting out all over.

Home again, supper outside, lunch outside too, seize the day, reading, stitching, bit of Poirot, checking in with blogistas.