Olallieberry

A Little Recipe Box

There's just something about an old fashioned recipe box. Good recipes are shared, collected, passed down, and cherished. My collection of recipes has certainly grown over the years to include a variety of my own concoctions and experimental adjustments, contributions from my mum, in-laws, friends and acquaintances, and of course the internet has opened up a whole new world to explore. I decided it was high time to organize. I wanted to create something to cherish; something with intrinsic value and substance to pass along someday. A collection of only the tried and true--it must be tested, adjusted, and deemed a "keeper" to be worthy of the box.

I researched and shopped and googled but really couldn't find anything that spoke to me. This was to be a very special thing, an investment of sorts. What was a girl to do?

Well, I made my own.

With a little vision, a trip to Michaels for supplies, a video on the faux antiquing process, patience and elbow grease... Voila: A unique and vintagey recipe box that speaks to me. It says, "I am yours, I am a reflection of you". And I love it. xox

May Days

Summer is shy this year, hovering so very near yet remaining just out of reach. Our plan for the long weekend was to finish planting the garden. We did manage to get our strawberries in, but the herbs, seeds, and tomatoes didn't quite make it. In fact the wind turned so icy on Saturday, we high tailed it back into the house, leaving my lovely heritage brandydwine tomato plants outside and they froze. On a positive note I did get around to my desperately needed pantry organization, which led me to whip up one of these useful little charmers. The project was so satisfying, it left me with an overwhelming urge to just generally declutter and simplify everything. This has crossed over to my recipe collection and even the blog, equating to a new simpler design, larger text (for my ahem aging eyes), and removal of a lot of other unnecessary "stuff". Let me know what you think!

For those of you who are wondering: Yes, that is a picture of real live buffalo on the prairies. We made a very quick overnight trip to Saskatchewan for a family function (six hours one way with a teen and preteen...the word "fun" just does not sufficiently describe the time we had) and passed by this park along the way. Here the buffalo are protected as where they used to roam the prairies in groups so large they stretched as far as the eye could see, they are now virtually extinct in the wild.

This week the planting will hopefully continue. I am working on a special project as well and hope to share soon!

For the Birds

The weather is getting warmer, constantly enticing me outside for long leisurly walks. While out yesterday I saw yellow and red-breasted finches, house wrens, chickadees, robins and two different types of woodpeckers. The tree swallows have returned, and pairs of them are battling each other and a chipping sparrow for dibs on the birdhouse in the backyard. We had a family lodged in the house last year, but due to a long and cold rainy spell just before fledging time, only two of six babies survived and managed to leave the nest. This was very sad for us as it was our first opportunity to closely observe bird behaviours, and we doted on every single stage with highly romanticized ideas of life, birth, nature, and renewal. We really formed an attachment to those little birdies! Hopefully a new family will have better luck this year.

Flowers and vegetables are now on the agenda. We're planning on expanding the strawberry patch, maybe putting in a bit of lettuce for fresh salads and some kitchen herbs. Oh, and tomatoes. Lots and lots of tomatoes which grow really well for us here. I'm looking forward to having an abundance for preserving in the fall. Speaking of preserves, I've also got some big plans for desperately needed pantry organization inspired from here.

Have a wonderful week!

Backyard Woods Walk

We are so very fortunate to have a forest right in the middle of our little city accessible within a five-minute walk from our door. The land was donated many years ago by a local farmer for one dollar, and he still keeps a small herd of cows nearby. The City has added beautiful walking trails and benches and maintains everything meticulously even throughout the dark cold winter months. There is a little creek that meanders through, and there are even some small fish. Yesterday the weather was so nice I couldn't wait to get out there and enjoy it. The leaves haven't quite made an appearance yet, but they are oh so very close.

Back at home it was relax time in my cozy chair with a warm tea beside me, a soft purring kitten on my lap, and some lovely handspun merino yarn in my hands. Funny how the knitting bug tends to hit me hard in Spring rather than in the traditional seasons. Am I the only one?