Pecan Pie and Painting

With the hope of family get-togethers possible again soon I baked a pecan pie and stashed it away in the freezer. It’s a family favourite; wickedly rich, sweet and satisfying. It always looks special and tastes divine.

It takes about 250g of pecans and I find it best to empty the packet into a dish and separate any broken ones for grinding. The best whole ones I keep for decorating the top.

My full recipe is on my blog post called Christmas Thoughts. Not difficult to make and very special.

With food in mind I’m delighted to see the strawberry flowers appearing on the plants. Beautiful and promising delicious red berries in a few weeks time.

We have lots of wild alpine strawberries too. A friend gave me a few plants years ago and they spread around the garden like wildfire. Tiny, tasty berries and dainty little flowers. The birds and little creatures eat them so I let them get on with it.

I’m always pleased to see how many lovely flowers there are when I wander round the garden with my camera. I often think at this time of year, when the first dramatic show of daffs and tulips has gone, that the garden is too green. Not really true. If I look I can find.

Bluebells and pansies for instance. Best viewed up close. My camera catches all their delicate beauty, their wonderful colours, their fragile-looking petals.

Other lovely things catch my eye as I wander around. Some fascinating flowers on the potted pine. Are these going to become cones? Shall have to wait and see.

Here and there the Welsh poppies, Meconopsis cambrica, are opening their satin petals to the sun. Some are golden yellow and others a very pleasing shade of orange. They self-seed freely and grow like weeds but such lovely weeds that I welcome them.

Of course the sunshine and showers also encourage the wildlife. Some not so welcome like slugs and snails but even these provide food for the hedgehogs and birds so I don’t stress too much about them. The woodpigeons have been a bit of a nuisance over the Winter but I still enjoy seeing them.

I was amused to find that a hellebore flower I’d taken a snap of was actually covered in aphids. I didn’t see them until they were revealed when I loaded the photo onto the computer. Little green creatures. No wonder the ladybirds are doing so well. They feast on these things. Take a look at the picture and spot them.

They won’t do any harm to the hellebore. The flowers are spent and just holding the seeds but they still look so nice that I leave them for a while.

I was pleased to see a female Orange Tip butterfly flitting about the garden. It alighted on one of my clematis flowers to sip the nectar. Its wings were folded and displayed their beautiful mottled pattern. It was a good opportunity to take a few snaps before it fluttered away.

Because it’s been so cold this Spring I haven’t seen as many butterflies in the garden. Very sad to think how they’re declining. I spotted a Holly Blue, a yellow Brimstone, some Orange Tips and one or two Peacocks and Red Admirals early on but the last three weeks I’ve seen nothing. I hope our garden will provide a Summer haven for the few still around.

Apple blossom petals are showering the ground and the dandelions are springing up but even these are pleasures.

Buds are forming on the Solomon’s Seal and dainty little Lily of the Valley are opening their pure white bells beneath the rhododendron.

So much to look forward to when the Summer show begins.

Meanwhile I’ve done a little more work on my latest painting. Lots of detail to paint yet but it’s slowly taking shape.

Enjoy the sunny spells and find pleasant ways to spend time during the rain. With you again soon.