Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing

(Not my needlework)

They start before the sun even thinks of rising. Four-Thirty AM and the robins are all,
"Hey you, good lookin' robin come over here."

This will go on (and on) for a couple months until they start nesting and finally shut the hell up. For the past few years, we've had a pair of robins that come to our platform feeder for raisins...and then attack any bird that tries to get within ten feet of it. They show up in early March and will be with us until around October. They aren't singing-they're guarding. Sometimes the male will just sit on our railing, watching the tree. He's gone so far as to swoop at Blondin the squirrel who ran off terrified of having an eye pecked out. Bluejays have the reputation as a bully bird, but trust me-those robins mean business! I wouldn't want to tangle with one when they're guarding their raisin stash.

This is a terrible photo of a very good lentil salad. Served over a bed of lettuce with some toasted orzo, it made a nice meal for a warm evening. The recipe is dead simple:

1 cup French lentils
Water to cover
3 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons fresh mint (plush more for garnish)
6 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of 1 small lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Black pepper

Cook the lentils in enough water to cover by several inches with the mint and garlic cloves until lentils are soft but not falling apart. Drain well. Remove garlic cloves and mint. Mix together oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper. Toss with lentils. Serve warm or at room temperature with extra pieces of torn mint on top.

I told you it was easy. I've been making variations of this salad for years but the original came from the River Cafe cookbook, Green. I have made nearly everything in that cookbook (at least once) and I can't say there was anything I wouldn't make again. It is a superb cookbook, and worth buying if you're at a loss for what to do with vegetables.

There are certain signs that tell you spring is coming. The birds sing early in the morning (see above), The first California strawberries show up in stores (I already made the jam), and I wear my red polyester suit. Later in the season, I'll wear it with blue accessories for a nautical look, but today I went for black.

Why, it just make me want to kick up my heels and...whoaaaaaaaa...steady there. I need to sit down, that was much too much excitement!

Outfit Particulars:

1970's polyester suit-Goodwill (I think)

1970's pussy bow blouse-Goodwill

Richmark handbag-Goodwill

Vintage shoes-Goodwill

Earrings-Goodwill

Brooch-Hand-Me-Ups

Fragrance-Lentheric 12

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling the springtime. At all. It was cold, windy and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I went to the garden centre instead because I'm an optimist. So we have more dirt, more bag beds, and some strawberry plants of my own. Oh, and I'm planting okra even though I'm the only one that will eat it. That's OK, every gardener should plant something just for themselves. 

I binned the shoes the minute I got home. That makes it two pair this month, but I'm not willing to suffer over a $3.99 pair of shoes from Goodwill. I wouldn't re-donate them and subject someone else to that kind of pain. 

Outfit Particulars:

Land's End dress-Goodwill

Donegal tweed jacket-Hand-Me-Ups

Shoes-Goodwill

Handbag-Fairy Tail Costumes, Omaha

Brooch-Antique store in Massachusetts

Earrings-K mart

Fragrance-Ombre Rose

I'm going to try taking in the sleeves before I give up and bin the dress. With a more fitted sleeve, it might look more like a bombshell wiggle dress instead of an institutional matron. We'll see-there's only so much you can do with a grey sheath. 

(Not my photo)

"Someone tell the human we're out of raisins again."

I hope wherever you are the birds let you sleep past four AM.