Photo- Finish Friday -- The Ridge Where the West Commences

In case you were wondering.

Thursday, or Not?

It's Thursday, and there's not a thing anyone can do about it.

While the above statement really doesn't mean anything, it reminds me of a  joke my dad always made when Thursday rolled around and someone asked, "What day is it?"

"Thursday. All day unless it rains."

My first recollection of this was when I was about three years old. Of course I had to have it explained.

Thursday, if slurred a bit, sounds like thirsty. Therefore the day will be a thirsty one unless we get some moisture.

By the calendar it's Thursday, but based on the amount of snow we have on the ground and still falling, it won't be a thirsty one for quite some time.

Why Dragons?

I found myself attracted to dragons lately to the point I began drawing them.
A dragon showed up in a meditation a few weeks ago, completely unbidden. In fact, I was trying to meditate on unicorns.
The reason is quite simple. In my current WIP my main character wanted to be transformed into a deer temporarily, but became a unicorn instead.
During my unicorn research I found some meditations. It seemed like a good idea to try one.
I did, but when I tried to visualize it I got a dragon instead. Since then dragons commonly show up. I've grown quite fond of them.
In the past I was indifferent to them. While they are fine creatures they had limited emotional impact on me.
Now I think they're the best and draw them almost every day.  They're showing up all around me. Ads for dragon fruit jump out at me. I bought a book about dragons. I see mention of them constantly.
In general, they are making themselves known to me. Spiritually this means they want to be in my life.
I like to think my drawings encourage them and make them feel welcome.
Usually I stick to simple lines, but the other day I decided to colour my drawing.





It was okay, but I wanted it brighter so I scanned it and played with some photo editing programs.
The result may seem a bit garish, but it is what I wanted.



The dragons haven't made it clear to me why they are visiting in my meditations, but that's fine.
I'm happy to have them, and happy to wait.

Hope, and Some Things in the Background with Feathers

The sun has been working its magic on the latest snowfall.
This melt is from our roof. We collect it in a basin for the birds to drink from and bathe in. We have hope it and the rest of the melt will continue.
While we had no takers yesterday, there are are chickadees and house finches about as you can hear in the background.
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If you are curious about the title reference, then please see this.

Gratitude Monday–My First Rouladen

I made my first batch of rouladen yesterday and I am grateful it turned out.


My husband and I were discussing something Saturday morning that sent him looking through our various ethnic cookbooks for a rouladen recipe.
I honestly cannot recall the subject, but I do recall him finding a few recipes that he knew were simply not correct.
They were not what he was used to. Me either, for that matter.
It stuck with me. I decided I had to make some and yesterday I got the opportunity.
I checked a few recipes on the Internet for procedure and then made the recipe up.

In short, I spread mustard on one side of the thin beef slice, topped it with pickle, a sliced of cooked bacon and a mushroom  and onion mix I cooked in the bacon grease.
I rolled the beef, secured it with toothpicks and then browned the rouladen in the remaining bacon grease to which I'd added olive oil.
Once browned I took them out,  deglazed the pan with water and red wine, put the meat back in to simmer for about 20 minutes and then popped it in the oven.
It nestled beside the veggies at 350 for about an hour.
The only spices I used were salt and pepper.

It was good. Really good. If that sounds like bragging, it is.
I am grateful it worked out, and I am grateful it was so much fun to make.

Photo-Finish Friday --Stumpy

My husband and his new friend out on the Kootenay Plains.

It truly is a magnificent stump.

For Those Who can't Get To The Mountains

I bring them to you.

The noise you hear is the wind and a passing vehicle.