GardenMama

.: A Gift For The Birds :.

.: Pinecones gathered on a snowy day :.

We enjoyed feeling the energy of this day through time speant outdoors. The temperatures have dropped and snow storms continue to visit leaving us spending the last few days indoors. 

It felt refreshing to fill our lungs with fresh air if only for a short time, as we set out to gather pinecones to create a gift for the birds. 

We walked to the edge of the pine grove and took shelter under the pine trees. They seemed to be the only place untouched by the snow. We imagined that wild rabbits, deer and squirrels enjoy this place as well. The air was cold and the snow that covered the landscape around us swirled up into the air as the winds blew, creating a beautiful show.

.: The pinecones opened up when brought into the warm house :.

We moved our feet across the pine needles that lay under the trees to reveal tightly closed pinecones that we then placed into our baskets.  We arrived home and set out peanut butter, cooking trays, yarn, and birdseed to craft a nurturing winter gift for the birds!

When the pinecones were brought inside the baskets became even more full as the pinecones opened up in the warmth of home.

.: Each pine cone is strung upon a yarn loop for hanging :.

Many pinecones were strung as we created beautiful ornaments to adorn the trees once again...

.: Buttering each pinecone with peanut butter :.

Each pinecone was first covered in a coating of peanut butter.
 

.: Rolling each peanut butter covered pine cone in birdseed :.

While rolling each pinecone into the birdseed we enjoyed the feeling of  preparing a nutritious and layered meal for these favored friends that faithfully visit each day to grace us with their beauty as we observe them in special moments by sunny windowsills. 

.: The finished treats for the birds :.

.: Looking good enough to eat! :.

Each peanut butter and birdseed covered pinecone was placed onto baking sheets and put into the refrigerator to further set.

We concluded that these treats looked good enough to eat! It was our pleasure to decorate the trees with these sweet simple treats for our friends the birds.

.: One of my favorite birds, a Chickadee enjoying this treat! :.

.: This Tufted Titmouse would take a seed and then sit over on the branch to crack it open :.

In no time at all they found the snacks that we left them. Soon all that was left was a bare pinecone left to return to forest once again!

.: A closer look at this friend who was enjoying the treat we left him :.

.: Savoring The Harvest :.

 

This spring my family and I planted fifty tomato plants. We enjoyed many colors and varietals throughout the season that were canned, frozen, stored and eaten straight from the garden.  We enjoyed working and playing together as co-participants in the entire cycle--from seed to harvest.

Most of all we enjoyed gathering up baskets of garden fresh vegetables and flowers to bring to neighbors, and jars of still warm tomato soup. Packets of flower seeds we gathered will soon follow!

 
Upon harvesting each and every tomato from the garden we enjoyed a beautiful warm soup as a tribute to all of the love, hard work, and care that each one of us poured into making the garden grow this year. 

My husband, a wonderful cook and sweet gentle teacher in the kitchen, enjoys imparting the lessons of heart and home with the children by his side. Today's menu called for garden fresh tomato soup!

Fresh, still warm garlic bread paired with a golden colored soup warmed our bellies and our memories of this precious time together!

Each child gathered baskets of tomatoes back to the house where they then washed them and set them back in the sun to dry, next gathering up what they saw as the most beautiful and delicious tomato specimins that would go into today's soup!
   
Mama of course enjoyed a bit of 'garden art' creating and photographing rainbows of gorgeous homegrown veggies and sunflowers what a colorful palette to behold!

Growing and storing your own foods, sharing this rich process from start to finish with your littles,  enjoying a wholesome home cooked meal from these processes and sharing this bounty with those that live around you is an incredible gift!
 

.: Gardenmama's Tomato Soup :.

Twelve freshly picked tomatoes
Two cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup chopped celery
Handfull of fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped onion

Combine tomatoes and broth; stew for thirty minutes on low heat.
Strain into a bowl, removing the seeds and skins.  Return to pot.

Stir in 2 tbsp. flour.
add celery, basil and onion.

Cook over very low heat until mixture has thickened to desired consistency.
Stir in one cup of milk during the last ten minutes.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Process in the blender for a smooth soup before serving.

Note: We used more yellow tomatoes than red for a milder soup.  (I have a difficult time digesting red tomatoes) The yellow tomatoes also created a golden-colored soup that was lovely! We also added a bit of shredded cheese before serving!

.: Enjoy!! :.

.: I am in the process of making some changes to this space. It will be an on-going process! Today I made the photos larger! Tell me what you think! :.

.: Blueberry & Maple Ice Bliss! :.

.:Like a trail of breadcrumbs leading us into the woods, these signs brought us to sweet treasures!:.

We followed the signs that suddenly appeared  along a wooded road.  It felt as if we were embarking on a magical treasure hunt following along looking for the next 'Blueberries' sign that was shaded a similar hue to the blueberry-colored skies up above. As we headed into the woods we anticipated 'The King of Blueberry Land' to lead us to a clearing in the forest and share with us many sweet blueberry jewels that were as plump as grapes!

.: It looked as if the blueberries were reflecting themselves off  the blue sky! :.

The sun shared itself with us in a most beautiful warming way today. It was as if it's sole purpose was to nurture these berries that hung like little blue ornaments on each branch.

The blueberry bushes stretched themselves up in a tall sun salutation in thanks of granting it's endless energy to create a super-food right here in the fields.

.: Blueberries sitting on each branch like ornaments! :.

The earth gifts us in such rich and magical ways. What an incredible treasure that has been found along this wooded trail in the middle of a a farmer-made clearing in the woods. I can't think of a better way to power us today than with many blueberry batteries charging us up with health and wellness!

.: Like clusters of grapes! :.

.: Little blueberry boy powers up with sun and rain enhanced fruits! :.

My littlest blueberry boy powers up with these sun and rain enhanced fruits! We take peace in each berry that falls so effortlessly into our gathering baskets and bellies.

.: We gathered quite a bit on this day as each blueberry fell so easily into our baskets! :.

This day was a beautiful meditation for our entire family as we shared in the simple process of gathering berries!

.: Gathered blueberries in Vanilla Bean Ice Cream drizzled with pure maple syrup! :.

After our time of gathering was done, the warm sun reminded us of favorite treat we enjoy each summer. This treat brings me back to our time living in the mountains where wild blueberries grew all around and neighboring farms were producing the finest pure maple syrup...

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream drizzled with pure maple syrup and blueberries makes for a delightful snack! The berries become a bit frozen and the pairing of vanilla and maple is both naturally-inspired and incredible!