I Love My Bike!

As bikes go, it's nothing very special - a Giant Cypress - a hybrid - at least ten years old. For most of its life it sat in the garage or basement, collecting dust. You see I don't feel safe riding on the road with cars, and until two years ago, I lived in neighborhoods with lots of auto traffic. Now, however, I'm lucky to live in quiet neighborhood near the Norowottuk Rail Trail. Just a quick, bumpy ride through the woods to the trail, and I can ride without fear of being knocked over by a car. I might get knocked over by a rollerblader, or perhaps another cyclist, but still it feels much safer. I'm not an athlete, not that kind of rider, but when I'm on my bike, flying down a hill, I feel like I'm 10 years old again. There's no better feeling!

Wood Anemone

Another sweet woodland flower in my yard. This one is called Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia).

I found its name it using this wonderful Flower Identification website.

Fiddleheads!

Every day there's something new to see outside my door. This morning, these unfolding ferns were the prize winners! I've never eaten fiddleheads. Have you? I don't know if the ones growing in my yard are edible, but even if they are, I think I'll let them grow into the bushy greenery that I love.

Wakerobin Outside My Door

Trillium - a delicate forest wildflower also known as "wakerobin" - blooms outside my door.

A host of sweet woodland flowers bloom while they can catch a bit of springtime sun - before the trees leaf out.

How lovely to find these so close to home.

Making Gluten Free Pizza

This is the first pizza I've eaten since going gluten free, and the first I've ever made. It came out really well! I used a frozen crust from Against the Grain (a local GF company) and topped it with homemade marinara sauce, sauteed onions, red peppers, mushrooms, and part-skim mozzarella cheese. Sometime soon I'll try making my own crust, but that's another matter!

A Visit from E.B.

Have you ever tasted Burdick chocolates? They are like nothing else. Tiny little things, perfectly made, subtly flavored, amazingly delicious. I am so lucky that Ananda sends them to me!