Rabbitted again!

We thought we were going to get crocuses (crocii?) this year. There were 6 or so yellow blossoms yesterday, not yet open but fully visible, waiting for some warmth. And this is what they look like today. The rabbit loves the crocii. The squirrels love the tulip bulbs. So, we grow squill and daffodils. Both are getting close to flowering. Spring arrives tomorrow; better get going on the raking of lawns and thinning of perennials.

A Quick Experiment

These are photos of the family room aquarium I just took to send to a friend. The point-and-shoot camera has trouble with fish focusing (delay in shooting, fish moving during exposure ...), but these worked quite well, all things considered. The flash has to be disabled, so the light source is limited to the aquarium lights.

I know, y'all could care less.

Spring Visits & Messes

So, it has been a while since the last posting. Normal happenings and some seasonal things going on. Spring is slowly trying to arrive. The plants and gardens are responding. The corn stalk plant in the living room which we have had for at least 30 years is completely root-bound and desparate - so it flowers. The pictures are over several days with the last one showing the sticky sap that the flowers produce. Penny didn't even let the flowers open before she chopped the stalk right off.

This is not the first flowering, we have had 3 or 4. The blossoms only open at night, around 8:30 pm, and they are really sicky sweet, drip sticky sap that ruins carpets and furniture, a they are powerful. The whole house smells like very cheap perfume. Wonder why Penny dislikes them.

The next seasonal event was Easter. Granny Gwen was here for a nice visit for a few days. She got to visit her friend Marion Dunlop, and all the great grand kids. And the grand kids. And the kid.

We had dinners out, pizza in (watching the Masters golf tournament on Thurdsay evening), made a nice dinner at home, and had another nice Easter dinner here on Sunday. Erika came over for a bit before she had to head off to work. She only got a quick dinner.

Mike and Bennett stayed longer and fared better. Bennett really liked the ham.

As with any large dinner, the aftermath was a kitchen disaster.

This past weekend we had friends over for dinner. We have done dinners at our homes before and we always have a good time; however, one couple or the other has to do most of the work. So we changed the plan. Instead of just coming for dinner, we now start at someone's house at about 4 or 4:30 and completely wreck the place. Menus and ingredients are discussed and purchased in advance. It is super fun and the resulting meals are wonderful. On Staurday, we made:

• a lovely soup based on celery root and other good things,


• a warm salad with asparagus and orange,


• a pork tenderloin entree prepared in toasted, ground herbs served with an apple sauce and jasmine rice; and


• a coconut bread pudding.

Each of these courses required quite a bit of preparation, but the results were worth the effort. The recipies for most menu items came from the LCBO Food and Drink magazines.

First, the clean kitchen

and lovely dining room setting.

Then the kitchen staff - Ken, Joan and Penny.

Eventually (around 7 pm), we had the soup and salad.

Back to the kitchen for further preparation, then the entree and the dessert.

And, once again, the aftermath.

Ken had to get up and work on Sunday, so everyone went home around 11 pm. Right on schedule. Ken is working at a golf course, but that is a whole other story.

Did you notice the orchid on the window ledge in the kitchen disaster pictures?