"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The simple things.....

My blogs are being neglected because I am keeping busy this week. We are in the midst of a warehouse from the looks of our house at the moment. Jos brought home the rest of our flooring and all the baseboards. We literally have paths to where we need to be for the remainder of our time in this house. So, as you might imagine, being at Cranberry Cottage is extra comforting this summer. We can get away from all the mess and planning.

While waiting for friends to arrive, I spent a little time reading my August issue of Country Living. I just love this magazine and my moments spent reading the articles or brouwsing through the beautiful photos is very relaxing.

It was much cooler this weekend which meant sitting outdoors to have dinner was quite enjoyable.

I can spend hours watching the birds come and go at the feeders. They come even as we sit at the table.

I also enjoyed creating a simple bouquet from things from our garden. It is not an elegant bouquet but such a pretty sight on the table.

We visited De Cuynder in Donkerbroek again that afternoon. We wanted to show our friends the camp sight there but also see the gardens. It is an organic farm that specializes in old sorts of fruit and vegetables as well as new. These pretty pigs were there to greet us.

I have a new pet. My friend Sonja gave me Klara the cow when they arrived for the afternoon and dinner. You would not believe how soft and cuddly Klara is!

I bought some green onions at the farm and was thrilled when I saw them! I just love onions and have a real thing for green onions. I came out of the little shop to find Jos chatting with one of the owners. I had a big smile on my face and told him to look at these beauties! Just look at the difference with the ones I had bought at the grocery store that morning. They were even large for our normal standards. It is simple things like this which give me a happy feeling. We had two mixed with our potatoes for dinner that very night but...

...since I had two left, I used them for dinner the next night too. I cut them in half and brushed them with olive oil as well as a few mushrooms and cooked them in our grill pan on the stove top.

So we enjoyed a healthy dinner with lots of vegetables since I had steamed cauliflower instead of potatoes. Simple things really do make me happy!

13 comments:

Nancy said...

Well, that looks very good. I had to ask what was on the stick and now that I know it is chicken, it looks yum. LOL. I never know what you might be cooking. haha.
I love the onions and even the veggie looks good this time. Okay, I will shut up so you don't have to say, "Oh Mother".
It was nice Sonja and Mike could visit.
Love you, Mom

DonnaTN said...

Those green onions are huge. I bet they tasted great. Klara is so cute. You might have to make her a quilt to keep her warm in the winter!

onlymehere said...

Those really are huge! I've just started to like onions the past few years. After I had my tonsils out I lost a lot of my taste buds (go figure) and so it's hard to find much I can taste. You'd think I'd be skinny bz of it wouldn't you, but I'm not, lol! Your garden looks so nice and green! Mine is pretty brown right now due to the heat and lack of moisture. It's so hard to keep our lawns green in the summer since Utah is a desert. Oh well, fall is just around the corner, yay!!

Thanks for stopping by. Actually it's been a summer of FInding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, all the Toy Story versions, etc! She just loves Pixar and Disney and I let her watch one movie a day when I tend her which is almost every day. I can recite all these movies in my sleep now, lol! It's fun to see her eyes light up though so we keep watching them. We read and play the rest of the time since I have her for about 6-8 hours each day. Her dad is in the military and ROTC and will be deployed when he graduates in 2 years so I better enjoy her all I can while she's here, although what will I ever blog about without her, lol?!!

Susan in SC said...

The onions are beautiful! Mine never get that big - could be because I don't have the patience to let them grow. Klara is very cute and cuddly. I know you will give her a nice home. When will you be moving?

Littlebit said...

Omg, the veggies are wonderful. I LOVE roasted or grilled veggies about as good as meat. Can I come eat with you? :)
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed watching your birds and listening to them. What a pretty blog you keep, and I always enjoy visiting.
PS..did you get the pillow case tutorial I sent to you via Email?

Brigitte said...

Yopu have such a nice sitting place - great for reading or sewing. Or just for enjoying the surroundings.
IT was such a pleasure to listen to the blackbird on your little video. We also have blackbirds in your garden and every morning and night they sit on top of the highest tree and sing their songs. And sometimes we can admire the songs of a nightingale.

Barb said...

Hi Heidi ,Yes it is me over here in Happy dancing land.Oh I love your little patch of Country Living, I have subscribed to that mag for many years. They are my ,"how the other half live" mags.
Love the blackbird ,but then they are almost on a the same rung of the ladder as sheep for me.lol.

Now if that had been a sheep instead of a cow oohhh!!
However I think you should have had green onions by Booker T playing to go with your green onions lol.
Thanks for letting me visit, I have missed you over at your other blog.Thankyou also for your comment on my blog. Still trying to decide about the DT snowy design but I am being drawn (oh dear) to your idea.
Take care and dont fall off the pathways.
Hugs Barb

Brigitta said...

Looks absolutely dilicious!

Jenny said...

Heidi your bouquet on you table is lovely and adds just the right touch. I also love Klara the cow....she is just to cute!!!!! I have a few bird feeders in our backyard and I love to watch all the different varities come to visit. My Hummingbirds are so funny, the other day one was flying just above my shoulder and almost followed me inside when I went to put more food in their feeder...grins.... Your gardens are so lovely...everytime I see a picture of them I want to reread The Secret Garden! Hmmmm it will be hot here today, maybe I just will....Hugs my friend.

Simple Home said...

It sounds so nice at your house, and that food looks delicious. I'm sure you're busy with the move coming up.
Blessings,
Marcia

Tracy said...

Oh, sooo good, Heidi! And I couldn't live without getting the British edition of Country Living in the mail! Happy Days... and thank you for your lovely comment at my place today :o) ((HUGS))

Carolien said...

Hi Heidi,

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking. I sleep with my wooden shoes on. You must have guessed that though ... didn't mom tell you?
First of all: I LOVE that bouquet, whatdoyoumean not elegant? (Maybe it's my farmer's eye ...;) The pictures are gorgeous and I am happy you had a nice time. How fun that Sonja came by too!
Don't worry, I hope to be there coming Wednesday, the cows can wait a little to be milked.

I was really 'away' with Farmville. André still had to work and we sat together in his study. Me pouring tea and providing sandwiches and cookies, it was very nice like this.
Great fun with your sweetsweet mom and George ánd William at Farmville. They are the best neighbours and built a real horse stable for me. They are priceless but you already knew that.
Well, that's it for now. Oh no! I just remembered I forgot to thank you for the 'Christmas in July sweets'. Shame on me. Thank you!!! They were very good ...

Bye & till later, Carolien

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi
I haven't been by for quite awhile to visit. It seemed strange you talking about how cool it's got and you were making that delicious looking cauliflower soup. We are in a heat wave here and have been for over a month now with no let up in sight. Thank goodness for air conditioning. Hope you are healthy these days.
Hugs, Rhondi