Oh, and you can follow me on twitter @jrmccauley – I am so much more active over there.
Been Away, Coming Back, Here's a Pretty Box
Apologies for my long absence. Lots has happened: the summer past, the planter was finished, went to Fire Island, went to Kennebunkport, the big dog died and I got married. Now that that is all settled I will be blogging again. Promise. In the meantime, here's a Pretty Box.
The Front Planter, Nude
I share a front planter with my neighbour and we have finally agreed to repair it. The 30+ years old railroad ties where disintegrating and on my side pushing out. This is the planter sans wood, nude if you will. Next posting will be with the new wood painted chocolate brown and my new additional planter in the nook of the stairs (not visible in this image).
The tree is a Sugar/Honey Locust which produces giant brown pods each fall. The dogs eat them like candy so I researched and found that so, too, did Native North Americans. I have yet to find a recipe.
On my side there is a a lovely single Holly which manages to find love somewhere in the neighbourhood and on the other side a pretty boxwood. The vine climbing the tree is a Boston Ivey which turns vivid red in the fall. Newly planted are Poppies; the Periwinkle did well this year with many periwinkle coloured flowers; and in error (in the excitement to get planting) I put the Lemon Thyme out front instead of a pot out back but it loves it and I dart out regularly from the kitchen to snip; and the blue Clematis growing on a stand just behind the tree is about to burst; and the two Spider Warts on either side burst and close with the sun each day; the Marigold keep the pests away; and I have forgotten the name of the lime yellow vine but it is a pest and would take over if not kept in check.
Gardening +
Ah, Spring
Ah, Spring.
Looking up into a sunny blue sky
full of just opening lime-yellow leaves,
a warm wind,
birds' song everywhere,
green grass,
and shirt sleeves.
(completely ignoring the pollen count)
Yellow Bloom Holly (?)
Investigating this Yellow Bloom Holly in the park. The blooms started as small clusters of pellets. Then they opened looking like they had cracked. I thought them done but then they engorged as they are now. I don't know what kind of Holly, if Holly at all, this is. After staying green all winter many of the leaves turned russet colour just before the bloom. You can see the few left in the bottom image. I want some of this Holly for the garden.
...
Solved: the plant is Mahonia Aquifolium, 'Oregon Grape', and it is out of its zone growing in Toronto. Must be its protected location amongst the buildings and it is well sheilded by other plants.
...
And this past weekend Tom and I found three wonderful Mahonia Aquifilium, 'Oregon Grape' plants at Bristol Gardening and planted them next to the regular Holly. It has occured to me that we didn't ask if they require male and female plants as do the regular Holly. Guess next spring will tell.
More Orchid
Now with 3-branches in bloom . the right side is 2-arms of the same stalk - this is one wonderful plant.
Two Dogs on Ice
Kokopeli and Noa Jivali at Cherry Beach, February 6, 2010.
Temp, -8C. Sunny and bright.
Great cracking ice noises.
Both intent on ducks in open water.
Sunday Onion and Cherry Tomato Pie
Mid afternoon Sunday and I decided it was time to pie again. I made the crust with butter instead of shortening - much better, and honest tasting - and I increased the quantities to be sure to have enough dough. This is an Onion and cherry Tomato pie and though intended to be Savoury it is actually quite sweet. At the last minute I put Star Anise in with the Onions which added to the sweetness but also spiced it up. My simple top of sliced dough with spokes glowed nicely with the egg finish. The next on the list is a Tortiere.
Savory Pies, 2010
Savory Pies, 2010
I have decided that 2010 will be the year of Savory Pies. Last year was the year of making bread and in the nick of November I finally turned out wonderful loaves. My challenge is to keep it simple. I tried all sorts of bread – flatbreads, bulgerbreads, carawaybreads – finally settling on the straight forward white flour with 1/5th whole wheat flour loaf. In light of that learning my first pie of 2010 is the Chicken Pot Pie, the challenge being the crust not the stew (see previous post re: cooking vs. baking). And my first try is an unmitigated disaster. Where as it tastes just fine, the crust is light and fluffy on top, and suitably unmushy under the filling, the quantity of pastry is too small. I followed the basic recipe in the Joy of Cooking (1980 edition) for a 9” two part pie but somehow I ended up with only enough pastry to make the base. At the last minute (I know that’s a baker’s worst thought) I made a little extra for the top. It’s cute and perhaps could be considered even as a new form of pie, say, 'The Half Top, or 'Cabriolet'. But for my first effort it is wonderful.
Savory Pies of the future: Tortière, Tomato, Steak and Kidney, Vegetable.
I will master the simple crust then move on to fancier looks such as a woven top and then more interesting crusts such as olive oil, turmeric and perhaps even a sweet one.
Oh, and happy New Year everyone!
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