cold enough for a sweater

cold enough for a sweater
a damp chill that wraps around bones

little light through pale skin and sky
grey cloud cover has consumed the diminishing sun

narrowing days stretching nights
longer jackets under chanced moon light

orange brown red and yellow
dance on a washed out wet asphalt background

thickening moist air
heavy in low pressure lungs

expel in a condensed suspended fog
past cracked swollen lips forming muttered words

socks of wool worn leather boots
scarves drawn up to ears and red noses

dripping nasal covered by cold hands
lead to snot covered sleeves becoming in style

mud clinging to the hems
of thick pants layered skirts and brave dresses

gusty glades blustery bus stops
funnelled leaf filled winds through city streets

the oceans up roaring offer
of drift wood and debris upon seasonally reconstructed shores

shakes the foundations under storm watchers
who have excitedly been awaiting this seasons gales

fall is absolutely my favourite time of year

I Spy

Want to play a game?

 It's called I spy.

 Can you spot the things that don't belong?

 The bright out of place colours?

 The anthropogentic shapes?

 Any brand names you recognize?

 Have you played before?

 Have you heard of the "Great Esquimalt Garbage Patch"?

Collecting

 With a plant press on my back, 

 I headed into the Coastal Douglas-fir,

 Found some friends, and neat plants:

Indian-pipe

 (Monotropa unifloria)

& think It'd be alright to get lost out here for a while.

Backpack Plantpress

I've been plant collecting for a long time now, mainly just flowers that I've pressed and dried to use for cards and crafts. I've been wanting to take my collecting to the next level and start my own, proper, herbarium collection. Using books to press plants just wasn't good enough anymore, so I went out and bought the supplies to make my own plant press: 

-sheets of flat light-weight wood
-webbing for straps
-buckles
-cardboard
-old backpack
-staple gun
-staples

I bought enough supplies to make one 1 ft x 1.5 ft press, and a 1ft x 2.5 ft press for longer plants like grasses. 

I ride my bike most places and I thought that it'd be hard to carry a plant press with me because I don't have racks or a basket on my bike so I got an old back pack and cut the straps off to staple to the back of my press, and it worked perfectly!
The backpack straps are adjustable and one side has a pocket on it as well.  

 
 The longer press is a bit heavy and awkward for taking far distances or on long hikes, but I think it'll be useful for pressing tall plants instead of having to bend stems. I can't wait to get out and start collecting and identifying some plants! To bad today it's really rainy and wet.

An Evening Adventure

Petting Zoo

Impressing Myself

I've gotten back into cooking the last few weeks, and it tastes (and feels) so great. Coming home from work and getting right in the pots and pans is so relaxing after a day in the office. On the menu for this evening was roasted field potatoes with thyme, sauteed zucchini, mushrooms, red peppers and garlic in coconut oil with cilantro, steamed asparagus, chard, and broccoli, corn on the cob, a garden salad with a balsamic dressing and some Sicilian olives on the side. Probably the best meal I've ever cooked. Ever. Or at least the best meal that I've cook solely for myself. I may have also made some raw/vegan chocolate pudding* for dessert. Just maybe.
 


*See previous post for recipe!

Raw Chocolate Pudding

This is my new favourite dessert. I highly suggest you try it out.
So easy. So delicous. Kind of healthy...?
Thank you Stacypants for sharing this amazing-ness with me.
  

1 avocado
1 banananana

3/4 c almond milk
1/4 c cocoa
2 tbsp maple syrup <3
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 c shredded coconut

Mash banananana, and 'cado together in a medium sized bowl. Splash in milk. Whisk in cocoa, maple syrup, lemon juice and coconut. Easy. Let sit in fidge to set. Or enjoy immediately. 

It's pretty rich, this makes enough for two or three people I'd say. Or just me. I could eat it all in one go I'm sure. It's also amazing with peanut butter. 

Invite me over for dinner, you shall recieve good company and even better dessert.

June Fun

June has been a busy month.

 Playing fetch with a hyper active puppy,

 & Picking organic strawberries

 On Denman Island.

 Playing with kitties,

 & searching for rare, red-listed orchid species.

 Phantom Orchid (Cephalanthera austiniae)

 Playing in the moss,

 & sitting under trees.

 Getting my feet wet and salty.

 Exploring abandoned barns on Saltspring Island.

 & spending time with my mom,

 One of the most important people in my life.

 And always busy,

Being silly.