Gratitude Monday -Great Gray Day Edition

We went out west Saturday to collect wild horse manure for the garden.
It was cold, gray, and overcast. While that's not the best day to go toward the mountains--it was hazy and they were all hiding--it was a good owl day.

We were treated to the sight of a Great Gray Owl on the way. He, or she, was beautiful and made up for the great gray day.

Thank you, owl.

Gratitude Monday -- Duck Puddles Edition

The local world is looking quite wet these days and for it I am grateful.
I've seen water puddles in fields that have stood dry for years.
Some local ponds have more water in them now than I have seen in more than a decade. One we saw yesterday is a great spot to watch birds. Plenty of ducks nest there as do geese. The catttails hold many a red-winged blackbird.
But for the last several years it has held so little water not many birds could make a home there. Last fall we had a great deal of rain which really rejuvenated the local watering holes. We've had enough snow in the winter to continue topping them up.
For ease of math I'll use small numbers and for ease of my own understanding I'll use imperial measure.
Imagine a 10 gallon container. Now imagine it holding maybe 1.5 - 2 gallons of water.
That's how bad it's been at this pond.
Yesterday it looked more like it held at least eight gallons. Geese were there as were a few ducks. I know more are on the way.
The red-winged blackbirds are due back shortly. I expect plenty of frogs this year, too,
There's still more melting to do and spring rains to fall.
The ponds are filling again and for it I am grateful.

Gratitude Monday -- Honey Brioche Edition

I've been experimenting by eating spelt flour now and again. It's going well and for it I am grateful, but I am especially grateful that the honey brioche buns I've been playing with are turning out so well and so tasty.

What I've done is adapt a brioche thin crust pizza dough. I've made these a few times, some even with gluten free flour, but the last two spelt flour batches have had honey in the place of sugar.

Not only do they turn out well (so far) they are easy to make because they are a simple pizza crust in a different shape. The sweetness in them cries for the missing love of a good, sharp cheddar or other cheese. That day will come because we only eat a few per batch and freeze the rest. They will be dedicated to hiking lunches as soon as we can get out for mountain picnic season.

I am grateful they are easy to make, that I like them, that I am tolerating the gluten fairly well, and that mountain picnic season is all but here.

Gratitude Monday - The Happiest Problem Edition

The other day I was flummoxed. I could not decide what to have for lunch.
All manner of food awaited preparation. I could have gone to any restaurant I wanted.
The issue was I did not know what I wanted.
As I pursed my lips and knotted my brow it occurred to me that it was one of the happiest problems a person could have.
I have food.
I have money.
I have my own transportation.
My sole issue was not knowing what I wanted to eat.
There are people in the world, some may even live on my street, who do not know if they are going to be able to eat today never mind what to have. They'd likely be delighted faced with such a decision.
It was the kind of a problem I am grateful to have had.