It was mostly a quiet week here, with not much going on. I piddled in the sewing room pulling fabric for the swap early in the week, stared at the quilt on the frame with no idea how to quilt it, tidied up a bit, and generally spent days doing next to nothing. I read a really good book, and another that was good but not great. I’ll have reviews on those soon. One morning, My Sweet Babboo called me to the window to see two deer at the edge of the forest where it comes up to the driveway. There is plenty for them to eat there, including a lot of displaced hostas. I am fine with them eating those, as it keeps them out of the bed around the oak tree. One has her head up, the other is eating off the ground and headed down hill into the forest.
Bright color showed up on the feeder, with a goldfinch and a cardinal sharing the seeds.
Then, one morning, a visitor on the veranda – could this be Oliver? Seems to be acting more like him than one of the newer squirrels, with more boldness coming up to the veranda to display his cuteness in high hopes of being rewarded with a peanut butter sandwich. He also seems well fed for this time of year. Impossible to know. Whomever he is, he got a sandwich.
Making dinner one day, I wanted to get all the cooking mess done early in the day, so I could clean the kitchen and run the dishwasher. I had a very large chicken breast, and I decided to poach it and make enchiladas. To make the dish, you could use leftover chicken. I simmered the bone-in chicken in water with onion and garlic until it was done, then chopped the meat. I dumped out the water, and then in the same pot, I sauteed onions and garlic, then added a can of cheddar cheese soup with a can of chopped tomatoes with green chilies. Then, chicken was added back.
In a 8-inch square baking dish, I layered corn tortillas…
topped with 1/3 of the chicken mixture…
and added colby jack shredded cheese.
Repeat two more times. At this point, I put plastic wrap over it, put it in the refrigerator, and cleaned up the pot, dishes and utensils.
At the right time later that evening, I took it out and put it in a cold oven. Then I turned on the oven to 350º. Bake for a total of about 35-40 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.
A quick salad with fresh avocado, and we had dinner.
Yum, this is delicious!!
Friday morning, clear and cool in the morning light, the valley is awash in green. I get my camera, and a hot cup of coffee, and sit on the veranda to listen to the avian choir. It is calm and quiet in the morning light, a good time to just clear the mind of all questions, worries and decisions to be made. I have two very good friends facing major surgeries – one a total hip replacement, and the other shoulder surgery. I want to be there for both of them, in a way that they can accept. So often we are stubborn, wanting not to be a burden to others, but I would put it to you that by accepting help, you are giving a gift to your friends. The gift of allowing them to be of service, rather than sitting on the sidelines on their hands helpless. One is going to allow me to visit and bring a meal after she gets home. That I can do. The quiet stretches on, and my thoughts return to what I can do for the other that won’t be intrusive, but will give comfort. I have no answer yet, but I trust that she will eventually let me know. I welcome the chance to show both how grateful I am for their friendship.
On the veranda, the flowers are growing and happily blooming. Purple petunias are already attracting the hummingbirds.
White begonias bloom in multiple pots.
The pink striped calibrachoa is happy it its pot.
In the flowerbed, this daylily is blooming. The problem with it is that I know I didn’t plant it. This is not a color I like for my garden, and I think the deep gold and purple one that I did plant has reverted to it’s roots.
It is prolific though. But I will be digging it up as orange is not a color I like in my garden.
As I turn my attention back to the forest, the Japanese word shinrinyoku comes to mind, of taking a “forest bath” in the sunlight, of being connected to nature. Once again, my thoughts return to gratitude, as I wrote about in my post Itadakimasu and Musings on Gratitude from my Japanese Inspired February posts. Today is National Cancer Survivors Day, and I have gratitude on this day and every day for my husband who has passed his one year mark cancer free. My heart is full.
Time to settle into one of the rocking chairs, and just observe. Soon the birds come back to grab seeds and fly to the trees to eat. A red-bellied woodpecker is first to arrive.
A goldfinch waits in the oak tree for a turn at the bounty.
A blue jay takes a seed to the tree, and pauses after the morsel is gone.
More come and go, nuthatches and titmouses, downy woodpeckers and grosbeaks, but no bluebirds. I wonder if they have moved on to another spot while the feeder was down. No activity at the birdhouse either. But the timing of a second brood can come in mid-June, or as late as August, so we will see.
I am filled this morning with hope and gratitude, appreciation for all the blessings in my life, living in this beautiful place with the wonder of nature all around every day. How are you spending your Sunday?
From My Carolina Home 
The recipe looks lovely.. I may give it a try… Thank you!
Thank you for this garden and gratitude inspired post, too often we forget to enjoy the moments and embrace joy.
Carole, I have a friend who has been very sick. She is home from the hospital and I will be taking her a meal tomorrow. I love all of your photos!
What a wonderful way to start the day!
Carole, thank you for the lovely calm and reflective start to my day. I start each day much the same way. I did start when you mentioned National Cancer Survivor Day. I am so glad you husband has been clear for a year. I have lost 2 very special friends to cancer in the past two years. I carry them in my heart.
Thanks,
Jan
Your photography is magnificent!. Went to a new quilt shop in Chiefland ,Florida owned By Kim Hart and her mom Shawna Hart.
After I left I realized I knew Kim 10 years ago. Duh.
Getting excited about new clue for quadrille.
Thanks for a great Sunday chat.
Quilt shop in Chiefland Florida is the
Busy Bobbins
Thank you for your reflections. I am grateful for my health, friends, and family. Always love your pictures of your mountains and wildlife. Heaven on earth.
Beautiful photos and you are making me hungry!
Quilt shop in Chiefland Florida is the
Busy Bobbins
Chicken dish is tempting, I would have that for breakfast. Congratulations to your husband – I must send the same to my dear quilting buddy who is also celebrating a cancer-free year. Maybe while you’re bathing in your forest a quilting plan will come to you.
What a lovely post! I read it Sunday morning while sitting out on my own deck!!
As always, an interesting read and gorgeous photos. The orange day lilies really caught my attention. I love them but my dear big sister Pat would have reacted like you …. she probably would have immediately dug them out! She hated orange. Pat wa a keen and successful gardener, her garden was beautiful but contained no orange, red or yellow flowers as she didn’t like those colours! Sadly Pat died in September last year, a great loss to us all. Your photo made me remember her with a smile. Thank you.
I wish I could say I feel the same sense of zen quality you’re feeling this morning, but I am letting a few things get the best of my head today. Your meal looks and sounds absolutely wonderful. I think I’ll bookmark the post so I can remember this! Have a good week.
It is a beautiful day when we sit out on the porch and just think about things or read, stitch, listen to the birds. I have the orange lily all over the place – I never planted them – washed in from somewhere I guess – I love the ones that have a double flower – like one inside of another but all of the orange lilies have had a problem in my yard for the last five years or so – the greenery begins to turn yellow and looks bad before the flower arrives – the flower looks healthy but the greenery doesn’t – I must check the plant ap on that this year
I never comment, sorry! But this post was so lovely with your thoughts. It made me think too and be thankful,which I try to do every day but sometimes forget. Your blog is wonderful-I am mostly interested in your photos and quilting, but you are a most beautiful person!
Loved this email. So uplifting and a joy to watch. Thank You
WOOWWWW
Wonderful photos dear Carole
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday
I agree with this beautiful place we live in in Western North Carolina. Your post this morning is so peaceful. Thank you.
So many beauties in your gardens! I am spending the day going to church and returning to Maine….a little blogging when I return and then some sewing if all goes well!
Hi Carole! Just finished pulling out some spring flowers in my green stalk & replaced w/some summer ( more heat tolerant) flowers. Also planted some Lisianthus & 2 colors of Celosia & Purple splash pepper. Am like you, don’t really care for orange in my garden! However, last year I planted a Crossiandria & was quite pleased with it, was able to mix it in among my plants so that it looked nice. I did not plant one this year, as it is also prickly! My friend is going on a bike ride today so while he is gone I will be reassembling my huge group of pots on the patio, as they have all pretty much have matured to thier full height. Need to put the taller ones in back while keeping the short ones in front. After that I will be taking a breather & enjoying my new grouping! Have a sweet day!
What a lovely thought provoking post today Carole. Thank you. I am grateful for the beginnings of summer and “swim & supper at Grandma’s” for the next couple of months. It will keep me busy planning meals for 10 !! Forces me to keep the house vacuumed, table cleared and the fridge full of healthy things for the Sunday afternoon visits.
Love all the birds..I have quite a few that visit my yard but I don’t keep a feeder out. Several neighbors have feeders so I quit putting one out. Your orange bothersome flower was funny to me as I have a ton of orange and purple in my yard, mostly iris and daylilies. White is what I don’t like in my garden and there’s ONE iris that’s white but I just leave it. I figure they aren’t open for long so live and let live. HA!
I didn’t know that today is Cancer Survivors Day, but it is good to stop and think about our loved ones who are survivors. So glad for your DH and also my husband, who is also a cancer survivor. Your view is lovely, all the beautiful birds, and flowers, too. It’s raining here, so it will be a quiet day, and I have a good book to read, too. Have a wonderful day, Carole!
Your space is so pretty and quite is always wonderful. I had breakfast and my quite time on the back porch while watering …We could use some rain.
Thank you for the lovely post. Brought a sense of calm and beauty to my inner self as I read it here on the patio. So good to hear your hubby has passed the one year mark. Mine was 12 years passed. Going to do some favorite niece sewing today which is always enjoyable. Have an awesome day.
As for you offer of service to your friends, perhaps you could offer to bring in groceries or drive them to PT to give a small break to their regular caregiver. And then their is always a lap quilt that may be welcomed. Your relaxing week sounds just lovely, especially this time of year.
Thank you. It’s such a pleasure to just be quiet in my soul while you show me flowers and birds and reunite us with Oliver. I spent a couple days with the Tornados (grandsons) and have several annual dr. appts. and quilts to finish SOON and it’s so nice to just be quiet. Thank you so much.
Why did you toss the good broth? It could have been used for gravy!
I read your lovely post before I went to church this morning. As I’m back in (to ask a question) I am surprised on how many comments your get for you thoughtful, uplifting blog. I’m so thankful for you daily. I usually go in first thing in the morning and share a cup of coffee with you. Somewhere you explained how to figure out how much fabric is used when finishing a quilt. I remember you measured- it length x width in inches. Then you divided it, but I don’t remember that number. Could you repeat that formula please?
You are sweet to care for your friends. I have been laid up briefly before and friends have made some grocery store and pharmacy and post office trips for me that really helped. Extra meals helped too.
I always enjoy your blog that reveals your varied interests and talents, I but never comment. However, today’s blog stirred me into action. Your lovely observations about offering help to friends in need and receiving help from others were most touching. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I always enjoy your bird and wildlife captures Carole! Your enchiladas sound great, enchiladas are a great way to use up leftover meats. I’m all for making dinner early in the day and just popping in the oven later! Have a great week, I hope your friends surgeries go well~
How do you grow such a beautiful garden and not have it destroyed by the deer?
What a lovely Sunday post (which I am enjoying on a Monday because my Sunday was a waste!). Your garden, the birds, the deer and (hopefully) Oliver are all so friendly and lovely and peaceful. And the enchiladas looks good. I’ve never made them before; maybe I should give it a try!
You’re right about the gift our sick friends give us when they allow us to help. It’s pretty easy to bring a meal or do shopping or an errand for someone. And it helps everyone.
Our weekend (Saturday) was so busy with the concert/party Rick was hosting that Sunday I was wiped out completely. This week is a zoo, with doc appointments, PT, a tea, Cam’s pre-school graduation … I’m tired already!
Such a lovely post, I am thankful for your husband being free of cancer. That’s such a horrible disease. It took my husband in 2002. It was mostly job related.
I to am grateful that you share your birds with me also via your posts………..so many pretty ones……..