My Koko Loko Rose is Living Up to Her Name

 

And by loko I mean crazy for blooming in February! This is my Koko Loko rose with a fairly good size bloom on it on Feb 7th, 2021 on the eastside of Seattle. The weather has been wet and in the 40's. Can you believe it? I couldn't. I walked out on the sidewalk to go for a walk and when I looked back at the house, the color caught my eye. I know winter weather is coming, so I'll cut this to enjoy on the windowsill.

#rosegarden #winterschminter #beautyofeverydaylife 

Hummingbird Hack: A Maker Makes

Welcome to Snopocalypse 2019. We have gotten 3 feet of snow in the foothills east of Seattle in the past week. 3 feet! 

We recently bought a hummingbird feeder and were able to hang it outside our kitchen window. While most hummingbird varieties fly south for the winter, the Anna's hummingbird stays around all year. 

I had read that a string of electric lights (not LED) could provide enough warmth to keep the hummingbird nectar from freezing. It works! What I didn't realize is that the hummingbirds would sit on the bulbs for warmth, like little heating pads. So sweet! 

The snow was coming down so hard I couldn't stand seeing the hummingbirds getting snowed upon. I thought, I am a maker and I can solve this! I took an empty large clear plastic egg carton from Costco, cut a slit down the center and slid it around so it would rest on the top of the feeder. I used some clear packing tape to close the slit and keep the plastic shield resting around the top of the feeder. As it snowed, the egg carton closed a bit under the weight of the snow, so I propped it open with a wire bottle cleaning brush. Success! 

Our little lady has shelter, warmth and food during this unusual weather in the Pacific Northwest.  

#hummingbirdhack #hummingbird #momentsofdelight #finddelight #birdwatching #birder #birdlover #mamabird #snopocalypse #snopocalypse2019 #seattleblogger #seattle #foothills #pnw #snowevent #costco #costcohack #birdfeederhack #birdfeeder

Snopocalypse 2019: Let Them Eat Cake

We are in the middle of a snow event in Seattle. We live in the foothills of the Cascades, just east of Seattle and we have gotten 3 feet of snow in a week. It is unusual and beautiful and it won't last. Unlike the Midwest, this snow is temporary and it will be gone in a week when temperatures rise back toward the 40s.

In the meantime, we are snowed in! We all had plenty of warning before these back to back storms and the larder is full. In fact, one of our neighbors announced she was hosting a potluck and that we should walk over to her house to share a meal. Fun!

I thought that a homemade cake would be a welcome addition to the party. And I had plastic deer and Evergreen trees to decorate it. I made Dan's favorite chocolate cake by Hershey. I made a video of me shaking the powdered sugar on the cake, posted it on Instagram (@FindDelight) and labelled it "Snow Comes to Snoqualmie."

#snopacolypse2019 #snopocalypse #seattleblogger #cake #hershey #chocolatecake #neighborhoodparty #snowevent #seattle #finddelight #bakersgonnabake

Winter Berries at Washington Park Arboretum

3 = Boyce Thompson Xanthocarpa

4 = Ilex Rubra

5 = Sorbus Forrestii

I was driving past the Washington Park Arboretum entrance on Saturday, Dec 3rd when I saw small signs promoting "Gifts and Greens." I parked and walked into the gift shop lobby to find out what it was all about. I will tell you more about Gifts and Greens tomorrow, but I want to show you what I came upon in that very lobby. Winter Berries!

Nothing is as helpful as a real world example and a detailed description. A blogger who wants to share such things with you doesn't hurt either (wink).

Japanese Box Leaf Holly

The Washington Park Arboretum had 5 cuttings from winter berries that thrive in the Seattle area and a description about each plant. 

It was titled "Have a Berry Thanksgiving." 

I'd like to thank the staff for posting this helpful winter berry display. 

"Boyce Thompson Xanthocarpa"

I loved this purple Beautyberry the most and wondered if I planted one at my new house, if it would make a show and how quickly. I have black raspberries on my formal china and I would love to be able to snip a bit of beautyberry to add to my centerpieces. I should be planting raspberries too, for that matter. My new yard will cram jam with beautiful plants. I can't wait.

1 = Beautyberry

Cincinnati Broomball

How do people from the Midwest amuse themselves in the Winter?  Apparently, some play Broomball (ice hockey, but with broom-like sticks and sneakers) at night in the freezing cold in downtown Cincinnati!  You can see that this area is tucked among the buildings in the downtown. Did you notice the red star? That star is 5 feet across and sits on top of the 65-foot Christmas tree that illuminated Fountain Square over the holidays.

Crazy, but fun, right?  I tell you, these people were having a blast participating in the HGC Broomball League in Fountain Square.  This is a major part of a Cincinnati Winter.  The link above shows that this league is comprised of 40 teams!  Amazing. 

We had just finished dinner at The Rock Bottom Brewery around eight o'clock and the lights and cheers of this game lured us over.  The announcers lively commentary (and the fact that the game was being broadcast on a jumbo tron screen) made the whole experience feel authentic.  I mean, if you are going to leave work, layer on a ridiculous amount of clothes to ward off the cold and give your all "out on the ice," you should at least have some fanfare, right?

I cringed over crashes and wipe outs, but I could tell that in Winter, this is where their heart is.  At Fountain Square, out on the ice.

Winter White

In the snowy North where I live, "winter white" is a reality, more than a design style. A snowstorm this week brought 12 inches of snow and all the world is white.

My couches are off-white duck cloth which I reinvent every which way with pillows, blankets and such. They are the perfect choice for our "Swedish Beach house" inspired decor.

But right after a blizzard, it is white inside and out! That is what makes a burst of color so refreshing. Long live the violet! A happy (and inexpensive flower) that can "warm up" any room.

Do you grow violets?

White Hot Chocolate

I am in the middle of a blizzard and I can't stop thinking about Laura Ingalls Wilder's book, Little House in the Big Woods. Can you see the little house on my table runner? So sweet!

Today is a day for knitting, reading and staying inside where it is cozy. In honor of our first big blizzard, I have made white hot chocolate in my favorite Japanese cup by Tag.

White Hot Chocolate
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup Land o Lakes fat free Half & Half
20 Nestle white chocolate chips
a few mini-marshmallows

Place milk, fat free half & half, and white chocolate chips in a microwave safe container. Microwave at 30 second intervals (whisking after each session) until milk is hot and chocolate has melted. Pour into an adorable mug, top with marshmallows and enjoy. This makes 1 serving - double as needed.

*My version of white hot chocolate is lighter than many recipes that are loaded with whipping cream etc. This is a comforting drink, that is not overly sweet. Tweak it as you wish to achieve the richness and flavor you desire. Just be sure to enjoy it!