THE RED JEWEL OF JUNE

Strawberries. The Red Jewel of June.

I head to the local berry patch and start the hunt for these ruby red beauties. Juicy and sweet and hidden beneath leaves of green I pluck them off with a satisfying snap and drop them in my baskets until I've harvested enough and the baskets brim red and promising.

This year's hunt was completed on a grey and wet June morning. But still, it's worth it.

My girlfriend Denise often comes with me and she picks for many of her elderly friends and neighbours. Me, I pick for the upcoming strawberry socials - one at church and one for the office. 

At home I spend time washing and cleaning and cutting them up. Their sweet scent fills the air as I wash my hands in the strawberry water. 

And there's lots to share so I try my hand at a new recipe, Strawberry soufflés! 

I'm anxious as they are in the oven, hoping they are rising but afraid to peek. Finally, when the time is done I open up the oven and there they are pink fluffy and popping out of their individual ramekins. Drizzled with chocolate or maybe topped with a soft rich cheese, these are a light and special treat.

Next weekend I'm hosting a baby shower for my daughter and I have a busy week ahead with baking and prep. But since I have the time and some rhubarb cut and ready, I make a strawberry rhubarb compote to go with the homemade scones and clotted cream she has specifically requested.

Strawberry season will soon be over. It is only a short few weeks when they are fresh and plentiful in Ontario and I try every year to take advantage of this treasure growing in our local fields, the Red Jewel of June. 

IT'S WHAT DAD'S DO

This pic always makes me snigger. We were at Pioneer Creek Village (I think) and someone decided (probably me), that we should get one of those old time photos taken.

It was a very hot day as we waited in line for our turn. Finally we started trying on way too many outfits which, as you can clearly see from the picture, soon lost it's lustre. I could not find something that would fit so we made do and Sheldon clasped the back of my skirt to keep it from falling off of me. 

What a happy bunch! Little Adrian was ready to bolt and Randi....those hands! 

Sheldon went along with this escapade. Cause it's what Dad's do. 

You Dads are just trying to keep the family safe, and fed and happy. You work to pay the bills and do your best. You make mistakes just like the rest of us but you carry on. You love your family.

Here is my Dad surrounded by a peck of hens. No wonder he's got a cigarette on hand! Four years later, thankfully, he finally got a bouncing baby boy. 

Sure, you can stick your grubby, dirty little fingers in my mouth, I don't mind. Cause it's what Dad's do (Sheldon with Adrian).

And let's not forget our Fur babies. They need love too!

Happy Father's Day to all your Dad's out there, trying to make everything right. 

Cause it's what Dad's do.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME

I'm not sure why we live in such a fast paced world, always in a hurry, one eye on the clock, as late as Alice's rabbit. 

I was listening to the CBC After Dark show hosted by Odario Williams. If milk chocolate could talk, I'm pretty sure it would sound like Odario, part DJ, part poet. One time as his voice was soothing my soul, he said "Just Take Your Time."

Novel advice, but I took it to heart. 

"Slow down, you're moving too fast. You got to make the morning last." Simon and Garfunkel

Take your time with that morning coffee. 

Take your time watching the sunset

Summer is upon us and now is a good time to practice carving out how to take YOUR time. Maybe it's time to reassess all those commitments and tasks. Maybe it's time to say "No". 

Find the time to breathe, the time to think, the time to rest.

Speed Kills.

Just Take Your Time.

THE ACCIDENTAL GARDENER

It's that time again, time for me to ramble on about gardening. I'm sure a post about bicycling will soon follow!

As I do every year, I take a couple of days off work and really get my hands into the dirt. Even after 14 years of working in the same garden, I still feel like I'm stumbling along, an accidental gardener.

I potted this rhododendron and it has not disappointed!

My garden is a well established perennial which means it shows up every year of it's own accord. It also means I need to weed out and trim back the more boisterous plants or they just take over. I've always been a bit nervous about this but I really went at my lily of the valley.

Check out the carnage from this accident scene! I love them but they were really getting carried away. 

Figured I might as well help myself to the leftovers!

Violets too, are party animals. Fortunately they are like easy going hippies. You can pull them out easily enough and they are like "sorry dude, didn't know I was in your space." I pulled out a lot of them to make room for a new venture: strawberries, raspberries and brussel sprouts! Here are my baby strawberry bushes and I can already see a few little baby berries.

After careful choosing at the garden centre, I arranged some of my pots. Here's this year's selection:

The garden as always, teaches me life lessons, like you need to sometimes root out things in your life to make room for others to grow and breathe. 

So, I stumble along hoping for the best not only in life but in the garden. Here's to happy accidentals.