Spring Floral Design

I've been feeling lately that Spring 2008 has not yet arrived or that it just passed us by...

Ron took Pam and I up to South Fork on Sunday for a wildflower tour...

and nature, itself, told a different story!

Spring 2008 has most definitely arrived!

This is the wildflower Ron seeks after the most...the Ladyslipper. It is an orchid...very dainty and sometimes hard to find.

There is a sweet story that goes along with the ladyslipper.

Uncle Art was married to Aunt Hannah (Auntie Mae's sister) and every spring he would seek out the ladyslippers and make a bouquet of these tiny orchids to take home to Aunt Hannah. I think that is such a romantic story...if you could have known this couple, it makes the story even more incredible. They are both gone now...but I say Hurrah for Uncle Art...a good memory!

This lily is called "Lamb's Tongue". The north pasture is carpeted with these flowers.

I think this must be the "curly lily" made famous in Mom's and Auntie Jean's stories of collecting armfuls of these when they were girls. Mom tells the tale of when they went out seeking the elusive lilies to find them across a creek from where they stood. So, Auntie Jean being the good friend that she was, decided to share her boots with Mom...Mom was wearing shoes! So with one boot on Auntie Jean's foot and one boot on Mom's foot, somehow they hopped across the creek and gathered their bouquets...

I can just imagine the giggling and carrying on!

These are white trilliums...I have seen lots of these in BC. I do believe that it is either the national flower or the provincial flower of BC...whatever it was, it was protected!

"DO NOT PICK THE TRILLIUMS"

This I have never seen in BC...a pink trillium!

Salmon Berry bush in bloom.

This wild Bleeding Heart grows prolifically at South Fork.

Even the skunk cabbage was beautiful. Maybe just because it was so very green.

This picture is of Ron's "secret" quiet spot...all you hear is the sound of the small waterfall and there is a canopy of trees and bushes all around...there is also a perfectly placed tree trunk for just sitting around and day dreaming.

Wild Irises show up on the south hill when just about all the other wild flowers are done.

I don't know what this is called, but the leaves were a beautiful shade of green and looked like shamrocks, with snowy white blossoms...you can see the veins in the flower petals, they are so sheer!

When I look at these pictures, the contrast between the dead of winter and the bright newness of spring is quite striking. Another chance at life...something new and exciting!

MMMmmmmm!

I praise God for second chances!

That was a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

A perfect day!

The Loin King

Marinated Pork Loin Roast I made for Mom when she was out! Finally posting per Her request! Very Yummy and Different and Easy! (from eat shrink and be merry!)

Marinade
1/4 cup each brown sugar and ketchup
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp each of curry powder, ground coriander, and ground ginger
1/2 tsp of salt and freshly ground pepper

1 boneless Pork Loin Roast (4lbs/1.8Kg)

-Whisk together marinade ingredients. Place pork and marinade in heavy-duty resealable bag. Turn several times to coat. Marinade overnight in refridgerator.

-Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place pork on rack in shallow roasting pan. Reserve Marinade. Roast Pork, uncovered, for about 1hr and 45 minutes to 2 hours. Thermometer to 155 degrees.

- While Roast is cooking, bring reserved marinade to a boil on stove and simmer on low for 1 minute. Brush Roast generously during the last 20 minutes of cooking time.

- Remove Roast cover loosely with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy!