Saturday, February 27, 2016

Garden Cook Eat :: Fifty Seven

Mondays: Gardening.
Fridays: Cooking.
Does she have a smart schedule, or what??
Her favorite sixth grade teacher was the guest chef, and taught everyone how to make pulao, an Indian rice dish, and raita with cucumber, and beets. Maria and her peers chopped cilantro, green beans, peas, carrots, and cauliflower for the rice. Chick peas, and cumin, were added to the rice, as well. Maria topped hers with extra, grated beets. Everyone loved this Foodie Friday cooking lesson and meal. Would you like the recipes?

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Put A Bird On It :: Fifty Six

I cut out the lid from a food take-out container, then drew a bird on it. By pressing a pencil into the soft foam, I made a stamp, like Maria and her classmates made... it's an enjoyable activity. Maria and I made more stamps last night, by carving rubber.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Infinite :: Fifty Five

The joy in discovering eggs from our hens is infinite. The colors, sizes, shapes, patterns, textures, must be nearly infinite... I'll discuss this with Max: 13 hens, four breeds, and all of the possible results. Practically incalculable, but certainly intriguing. The mystery, even in something so simple, seemingly obvious, makes me happy, too. It is in the hen's nature to make a nest, to find the ideal spot to lay her eggs. Dark, safe, out of the way. She may want to sit, brooding over her clutch. She may cackle and fuss, announcing her accomplishment, although nature's purpose in this activity still confounds me! It was the very nature of wild Guinea Fowl that made them ideal for domesticating to begin with. They come home to roost... it is their nature.

{7:7 Nature Photographs}
With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Anticipation :: Fifty Four

It's hard not to think of pies when we see our apple trees looking this bloomful!

{6:7 Nature Photographs}
With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Dear Bee :: Fifty Three

This bee was happily visiting the school garden where Maria was volunteering after school. Don't you wish every school had a garden, and farm, and kitchen, that students and families could cook, and eat from them, too? What could be more natural?

{5:7 Nature Photographs}
With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

Monday, February 22, 2016

At Play :: Fifty Two

Following the photo theme "Nature" has had me on the lookout for red shouldered hawks perched in Torrey Pines, majestic bluffs with the Pacific crashing at its base, creatively focused streams falling over mossy stones, hummingbirds in flight, bison migrating... big, grand, raw, wild nature. Picture me, on assignment with National Geographic. Or not. Maybe it's a good idea to recognize the natural world in the everyday, local, and mixed in with our daily real world bits. Last night we were at the beach (where the sand is shipped in, then built into a berm to keep the beach from washing out in winter storms, and the lifeguard tower isn't "natural," but all of that aside...) the ocean, cold, and wild, beckoned brave swimmers, the setting sun brought to mind the green-flash, the few clouds foretold a foggy night, and damp blankets around a campfire. And children ran, played, laughed, and behaved naturally. It was wonderful.

Happy Birthday, Leo~

{4:7 Nature Photographs}
{Alex and Bambi in the pop-up, Maria in a skirt, and Leo standing just beneath the seagull flying over, also Sullivan, Mason, Adrian, and Amira.}

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.