Awhile ago, I think it was a few months ago ..I was visiting the Yorkshire Tea fb page and saw that my favourite brew was available in a variety of sizes! Since these were not available in Canada (sob) I discovered that they are available via Amazon! So I quickly ordered two of the 480 bag size. I might have written about this before, Dearest Diary, but seeing these photos again made my heart beat a little faster. I recognized this feeling as joy so I just had to post it. One of these bags is now happily living with a friend (who is actually a Brit, so she totally loves and appreciates YT)
Lo and behold, this bag does not easily fit into our pantry! 
I’m continuing with my fiddle lessons …making tiny progressions and now I find great pleasure in getting lost in the learning. The journey continues. My teacher is patiently teaching me the theory behind the music and that door is opening and the light is coming through. Some tunes which I found to be high mountains when I began to learn them are now tiny little pebbles .. the journey for those is the work to make them sound melodious and this will happen I saw a funny cartoon on facebook recently! 2 characters in each scene. One person bemoans the other .. saying “I wish I had talent” “I wish I could play like you” and steadfastly, the other person says, each time “I practice” “I practice” I practice” And so it goes with me! I practice!!! Sometimes painfully, sometimes joyfully, but .. I practice!
Anyway, I went to my first ever fiddle workshop and this is a tune we Beginners were taught in one of the sessions! Usually I’m a little shutterbug, taking many photos of my experiences, but .. that day was full of learning and dancing so I took just this one! It’s a good memory of my first workshop! 🙂
On the days that I have my German lessons, I sometimes have my fiddle lessons also and in between these two learning sessions .. I have time to visit the ocean at Dallas Road. I sometimes meet lovely dogs and have great chats with people. Sometimes I just watch the mighty Pacific Ocean .. oh I am one very lucky gal .. I know!
The power of the waves and the majesty of this ocean has such good energy to enjoy.
And the ducks ..here is a link to the ducks of the Pacific Northwest. It is very peaceful to walk along the beach and enjoy the antics of these lovely winged beings.
Lovely bundle of twisted kelp along the beach .. all whirly and twirly and graceful. I think of how this kelp arrived at this location on the beach! The power of the water tossing it about and finally just bored with playing with it .. leaving it nestled on the smooth rocks … till the time comes for playing again.
Speaking of smooth stones and pebbles .. love the random placement of the beach stones .. so much beauty in this .. tranquility springs to mind.
I look at my watch and realize that it’s time now to continue on my way .. back up these stairs, to my little red car and off to my fiddle lesson. I’ve enjoyed this oceanic break to my day … this is such a beautiful place to be and I welcome the opportunity to visit again and again.
Last week or so .. the beauty of the garden began to unfold… tiny gifts of delicate little flowers ..
Polyanthus flowers, planted years ago and forgotten! Remember me? …. sings this little one, growing strongly through the mulch! Polyanthus .. Primrose .. potatoes .. patatoes .. here is a link for more information on that subject!
My generous garden neighbour kindly gave me a fig cutting last year .. I’ll plant it out soon.
From a few weeks ago .. a nice surprise suddenly appeared as if to say “summer is almost here!!”
This city, Victoria, is simply mad with Snowdrops popping up everywhere, gracing the tiniest of spaces with these delicate flowers… as soon as the snow disappeared, they emerged from the earth. Silent reminders of beauty and joy.
Aha .. the dwarf weeping willow … the Bewick Wrens choose the fluffiest buds to line their nests. This is the third year I’ve seen them nest in our yard. This year, I saw them gathering these and am mystified as to where the nest is being built.
Lady JaneE Kat .. Queen of the Garden! She’s actually meowing at me right now … “let me out” shes cries “I want my treats and I want to sit in the sun” .. ok, ok, as soon as I finish my blog! Then it’s on with my gardening outfit and va va voom to continue my decluttering in the garden .. creating lovely gardens, planting up all of my potted plants. 
There are about 6 Stellar Jays that visit the garden ..looking for peanuts and birdseed. I discovered that they make the most gentle little crooning sounds, that are similar to the European Starlings that visit during the summer. Lovely music to my ears.
Oh darling little Chickadee! The Nuthatches also visit and I’ve been lucky enough to observe them quite close .. as they peck at some dead tree branches, looking for bugs. They were like tiny little woodpeckers at work .. this was a delight to see!
And the little Junco!!! Sweet! I have a large supply of birdfeeders and quite like this style. Easy to disassemble to clean. Provides a place for the birds to rest awhile.
Well .. my little boss demands to go outside now. Time to make a quick YT brew and put on my Carhart bibb overalls, gather my gardening supplies and outside!
Today the weather is a mix of gentle rains and sunshine .. perfect for being outside!
So in the spring I went to visit the Fickle Fig farm .. an organic farm full to bursting with lots of crops, and farm animals. Here are some of the goats. As I walked across the muddy fields, a small group of them started to follow me .. not being a really incredibly brave person, I called to my friend “help .. they are all following me” .. how impressive is that. To be unnerved by these little goats. Nonetheless, he swiftly sent them off in another direction. whew!! Still they do look very handsome (from a distance and on the other side of the fence, lol)
Some Canada Geese taking a rest in a nearby field.
Then I made my way to the Wood Willow farm .. where I am the #1 customer! Here are some of the cuttings that I brought home with me and planted.
Here is a handwoven willow basket .. how beautiful ..
Some local landscapers were creating a habitat for the French Lop-ear rabbits (rescue rabbits).
I forget the type of willow used in this project, it is supposed to be a type that the rabbits do not like to nibble on. However, this little guy chose to try it anyway. He chewed away a bit and then left .. guess it works!
A round opening is made so that the rabbits can enter at will.
The project progressed ..
Carefully allowing space for the trees to flourish ..
Proper coppicing of the willow ..
The cuttings are carefully tied together.
Inside Rosemary’s kitchen .. she kindly gives me a bouquet of the heritage daffodils, they are beautifully scented. And I choose which cuttings I would like as she displays a variety for me.
And I came away with some gigantic goose eggs .. have never had these before .. they were delicious and quite rich!
And also some Swedish Blue duck eggs!
Back home and time to admire my feathered visitors .. here are the darling little Bush-tits. I know they must be nesting somewhere in the yard and the location of their nest is a mystery. That’s ok with me. they need their privacy .. don’t we all.
The Juncos are frequent visitors in the fall/winter/spring and fly elsewhere for the summer. They love flax seed so I bought a huge bag of it for them!
And where there are birds, there are hawks .. this is in one of the fruit trees in the back yard.
Dear little Nuthatches .. nesting somewhere nearby .. I’ve been lucky to see some of the babies in the spring ..this is an adult.
Female Downy Woodpecker .. this is my favourite suet holder ..and the birds sure like it.
And the arc-en-ciel was a beautiful scene to see ..
My Garden – Mon Jardin – Mi Jardin – Mein Garten - Daily Adventures & Thoughts 