Faces in the Forest

Victoria Falls

We were our very own one car parade as we very slowly and very carefully traveled the 12 kilometers of narrow dirt road, through forests and wetlands, to the very peaceful and tranquil Victoria Falls. A very different parade than the one taking place in England to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

On the right of the bridge is the wet and wild Victoria Falls with it’s many rocks and rapids.

To the left of the bridge the dark waters lazily gather before turning and tumbling down the rocky falls to join the rapids below.

The water forming large Eddie’s before transforming into a flurry of rushing water.

So much to explore. So much to see.

We spotted a beaver close to this spot.

Ontario has so much to offer.

The Humble Hotdog

The Humble Hotdog

A perfectly charred Red Hot, placed upon a warm bed of homemade zuurkool and mushrooms gently sautéed in a buttery pool of crushed garlic.

Then topped with carmelized onion, a homemade cucumber relish, diced tomato, green onion, and drizzled with a thin line of mustard.

All balanced with a slice of sweet, air fried pineapple.

With a side of potato salad topping up a perfect, almost summer meal. When shared with family, decadence was created.

Next to family, good friends make the best company when enjoying the humble hotdog. And what better place than a nieghbourhood Food Truck party.

With traditional toppings of mustard, ketchup, relish and chopped onions. Just like great friends, there is something to be said for condiments that are tried and true.

The re-entry of the humble hotdog into our home was inspired by the hotdog showdown on Monday’s Marilyn Denis show. The chefs made this comfort food just a little too hard to resist.

I don’t recall my first introduction to this popular food, it was not a part of the Dutch cuisine that graced the table of my childhood home.

But now, on occasion, it will grace the table I now share.

The Colour Green

Growth and renewal 
The colour of spring
Rebirth

Pine green
Mint green 
Milkweed green 
And jellybean green.

Emerald,  lime,  spring,  forest,  teal,  chartreuse,  olive,  aquamarine,  turquoise,   blue-green,  sage,  jungle green,   light green,   viridian,  malachite.

Spinach,   kale,  broccoli,   avocado,   asparagus,   brussel sprouts,   cabbage,   kiwi,  collard greens,  edamame,  chard,  bok choy,   green beans,  green tea,  mustard greens,   cucumbers,   arugula,   beet greens,  celery,  zucchini,   lime,  peas, apples, lettuce.

The green of grass
The green of grain
The green that's gracious 
The green that's growth.

Psalm 1:3 'the leaf shall not wether'

It’s Foraging Time Again

When grocery prices soar.
Consider 
Shopping from the forest floor. 

Fiddleheads, sautéed in butter.
Jars of wild leek pesto.
Ramps, frozen in olive oil.

A friend’s bountiful forest. Thanks for sharing!

It’s foraging time again. One of my many favourite times of the year.

It’s so interesting to discover the bounty that springs forth from the forest floor.

And now, we can linger in forest for a litte bit longer, because, as we’ve matured we’ve begun asking for permission to enter before climbing that fence.

Mother’s Day

To Mothers,
From far and wide.
Here on earth, 
And in the sky.

To those who mother
Other people's children. 
To those who benefit 
From other people's mothers.

From the goose 
With her gander.
To the Mother osprey 
Who yelled at me.

Happy Mother's Day 
To all of the women 
In this world!

Stumped

Stumped
I am stumped
Totally stumped 
So stumped.

Stumped 
By all the things that I have heard 
When people say
Not a single word

Like flower petals 
They grow on dead wood.
They love me
They love me not

And the waters swirl
As the world turns
And
Everything stands 
Still.

Trees, by Bliss Carman

A wonderful poem, because it is National Poetry month!

In the Garden of Eden, planted by God,
There were goodly trees in the springing sod,
Trees of beauty and height and grace,
To stand in splendor before His face.

Apple and hickory, Ash and pear,
Oak and beech and tulip rare,
The trembling aspen, the noble pine,
The sweeping elm by the river line;
Trees for the birds to build and sing,
And the lilac for joy in spring;

Trees to turn at the frosty call
And carpet the ground for their Lord's footfall;
Trees for fruitcake and fire and shade,
Trees for the cunning builder's trade;

Wood for the bow, the spear, and the flail,
The keel and the mast of the daring sail;
He made them of every grain and girth
For the use of man in the Garden of Earth.

Then lest the soul should not lift her eyes
From the gift of the Giver of Paradise, 
On the crown of a hill, for all to see,
God planted a scarlet maple tree.

Paasstol – Dutch Easter Bread

This Easter, I thought I would revive a Dutch tradition and make a wonderful stollen. I found out, after I had made it, that I should have formed it in the shape of a cross, in memory of Christ’s death and Resurrection. Next year, this is what I will do.

This is a rich, sweet bread filled with dried fruits and almond paste, then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Soaking the raisins, and the currants stirred up some old childhood memories.

A big thank you to the crusaders, who 650 years ago brought back the almonds, the candied peel, and the spices, that add so much to the fine dough, made with so much butter, that makes this rich delicious stollen.