We stopped by the BLM wild horse facility in the Mason Neck area by the Potomoc River this afternoon. The horses looked pretty tame to me. Folks can adopt them.
Well, here we go. Off into the wild blue yonder. Deb, the house/dog sitter is here with her dog to add to our small pack and we are packed and flying across the country. Watch for some short posts and lots more photos after we return next month.
Luna says ‘that’s a lot of stuff – are you ever coming back?’
Sam says, ‘really? you’re leaving us?’
Spring is the time to clean out the nest boxes around here. We enjoy the birds year ’round and especially like to have secure places for them to nest and raise their young before moving on. Violet-green Swallows and Tree Swallows, Mountain and Western Bluebirds are all nesting birds we like to encourage. Unfortunately we have learned that the diminutive House Wrens will wreak havoc on other nesting birds, especially the swallows. The tiny wrens will fill a box with sticks, even if there is already another nest present and they’ve been know to attack and kill the bigger swallows. It’s a tough world out there.
Fence post yard art
Pulling out an old swallow nest
The Mountain Chickadees followed us and kept up a running dialogue on our efforts
Ken points to a tiny skeleton of a baby bird that did not fledge
Here is a beautiful swallow nest lined with soft feathers. The adults collect these feathers to provide a cushy setting for the eggs and babies.
There’s one of those chickadees. They do not use our nest boxes for nesting although they do use them for winter night roosts.
More yard art, this time in the snow
This tiny chickadee must have been sick and died over the winter in one of the boxes.
What happens when nine women gather in a well-stocked kitchen when one of the women has proposed an Indian cooking evening? Good times, Great aromas, Wonderful food, and Lots of Laughs. This new group, the Lady Chatterlys, has chosen to learn about a variety of topics – a different one each month. This month it was Indian cooking. Next month it is a critique of capitalism. An interesting bunch, that’s for sure. Teresa is an enthusiastic teacher with a real passion for food. If nothing else, we learned two terms – curry means gravy and masala means mix.
Aromatic and beautiful spices
Sliced green chiles and ginger
Coriander seeds
All of these spices were roasted and then ground to make the curry masala
Chopping potatoes
The start of the chicken curry
Curry leaves into the hot oil. Curry leaves are not related to curry powder.
Rather they lend a citrus flavor to food.
Curry leaves and cumin seed
Asafoetida powder, also known as hing
Add the potatoes to all those wonderful flavors!
And dried mango powder
Dough for naan bread
Forming our naans
And some vegetables for a fresh kachumber side dish
Ok, the naans are in the oven. Now what?
The start of coconut chutney – Greek yogurt and coconut
Naan coming out of the oven
More seeds and spices for the coconut chutney
Melted ghee for the naan
And fresh garlic too!
The finished potatoes
The finished curry – can’t you just sense the anticipation in the room?
There was more food and of course there was the eating and there was mango lassi to top it off.
Lots of fun and shared good food. Thank you Teresa.
Nothing better than a bluebird spring day for skiing.
My Everyday Photos 