Monday, December 31, 2012

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Robins in the Winter

This year we noticed many of the robins did not fly south for the winter.  Up until a week ago that was fine because we didn't have any snow yet.  Now we have snow and ice covering everything as we had rain after a light snowfall that made the driveway into a skating rink.

The robins have been eating grapes left on the vine and have cleaned off the mountain ash berries.  I am concerned that they will have trouble finding food until the snow is gone.  They have been on the ground, digging the berries out of the ice and snow that they dropped off the tree.



I did some research on the internet and they are mostly fruit and insect eaters.  We put out a tray with some of Lulu's hen scratch and topped it off with chopped apples.  Since it has been really windy, we put a big rock in the tray so it wouldn't blow away.


Now we wait to see if they come to eat.  If so, we have lots of fruit in the coldroom and the freezer that we can share with them for the winter. 

 
We've had some lookers, but no one has ventured onto the tray to eat the apples and scratch.  Hopefully, soon one brave robin will try it and spread the word that we have food for them.  I would have for them to starve until the snow is gone.
 
 
 

 
 
 


Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas


To all my friends, family, readers and fellow Lulu lovers - Have a very merry Christmas, safe holidays, and happy and healthy New Year.  All our best,  Love Joan and Lulu.




Thursday, December 20, 2012

We're Back!

I finally made it back home.  Lulu not only survived but was thoroughly spoiled by my cousin, Tina.  She got treats and dustbaths and trips outside when it was nice and sunny.  Tina raked lots of leaves in the backyard and Lulu was there supervising and on worm patrol.

Tina said Lulu would follow her around and sit and the foot of her chair.  If Lulu figured Tina wasn't paying enough attention to her, she would stand up tall and peck Tina's clothes to remind her of her responsibilities.

Tina said Lulu had misbehaved for the first few days in that she would go to the bookshelf and peck at some of the books or go to the music shelf and peck at several of the cases that had cardboard covers.  Lulu would also go sit among the plants and peck at the wicker baskets and plant stands.

I'm glad Tina was here to look after Lulu because she would not have liked the trip.  Some of the days, the wind chill was -35°C.  BRRR!  Plus everyone had lots of snow so Lulu would not have been able to go out at all.

I did some visiting in Valemount, BC and Edmonton, AB before heading on to Saskatchewan - Delmas, North Battleford, Shellbrook and Prince Albert before I stopped in Saskatoon.  Unfortunately I picked up a flu/cold bug along the way and ended up spending most of my time in Saskatoon in bed.  Luckily I didn't pass it on to my parents with all my hacking and coughing, etc.

I did drag myself back home but am still under the weather.  Lulu and I spend a fair bit of each day cuddling on the couch.  She has much to say and chatters alot while staying close to Mama.

It is so nice to be home and to be able to cuddle my sweet Lulu!  ;)



Sourdough Sharing - Cookies

I was asked to join a group of bloggers (Sourdough Surprises) that enjoy using sourdough.  Each month, the group is asked to make a recipe in a chosen category and submit it on the 20th of the month.

I decided to join and participate whenever I can as I am always on the lookout for more sourdough recipes and this seemed like the perfect place to find and share new recipes.

This month's topic is cookies.  Since I have been away plus have been ill, I haven't done any baking lately.  I do have two cookies recipes to share that I have previously made and posted.  Just click on the cookie name and you will be linked to the original recipe.

Sourdough Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies is my standby sourdough cookie.  It is moist and chewy and filled with oats, chocolate chips and nuts.

 


I adapted the above recipe and came up with Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies .  The cookies are a bit drier tasting, but most peanut butter cookies are.