the beach!

Posted on March 29, 2011 by BeSquirrely

Since it’s Spring Break here in northern Michigan, we decided to go to the beach. And it wasn’t crowded at all! I guess everyone decided to go to another beach a little further south? Although it was a bit chilly, the sun felt so good on our cheeks. And we actually enjoyed what’s left of this wacky winter without bemoaning being home when seemingly everyone else is someplace warmer and sunnier and more exotic.

Speaking (err, writing) of exotic. I’m not sure what the scientific name for this wild natural phenomenon is, but check it out. It’s just plain weird, no? And beautiful too. Oh how we love you, Lake Michigan. You and all your strange and wonderful ice formations.

It was a treat to find some open sand to walk on too – not even frozen! Before we know it, we’ll have sand in our sheets again. And probably complaining about the heat… Ha!

Do you find that when you spend time with a child, you use your imagination more? It’s fun to pretend that it’s summer sometimes, no? Chris and the little birdie decided to lie down in the sun for a little while… Such squirrely people, I love those two.

Happy Spring Break, lovelies, wherever you may be!

spring has sprung

Posted on March 19, 2011 by BeSquirrely

Most of March so far had me fooled into thinking that spring just might not arrive after all this year. We’d get a tiny taste of spring then WHAM! Winter would say uh-uh, not so fast. Such is life in northern Michigan and maybe I’m just becoming more of a softie. But. I’m ready for spring. Bring. It. On! I’m ready to be able to get outside easily and not worry about layers and wet cotton socks, about lost mittens or hats, about driving through a white-out, about Chris shoveling off the roof. About flannel and another pot of hot soup. Steamy tea and more blankets. Thanks, winter. You definitely paid us a good visit, but you’ve overstayed your welcome and we’re now saying, “good bye!”

The reality here near the 45th parallel is that with the glory of a blooming crocus comes the distinct possibility that it will just as soon get blanketed in snow. Maybe this is why they are so very beautiful? So brave, no?

Well I’m taking my clue by the skinny snowmen who are now almost completely gone and yes, by the calendar posted on the wall. And by the amazingly bright full moon. And by the new found energy that the little birdie has: so excited to run on grass again. Makes me wonder if she even remembers what it is, it’s been so very long since she’s seen it in her short life!?

Truth be told, I’m not putting away one piece of winter gear. Yet. But I just washed Wren’s snowsuit for, what I told myself, would be the LAST time this year. If that doesn’t curse me, I’m not sure what else could.

Welcome, spring. We’re happy you’re here.

What signs of spring have you seen in your neck o’ the woods, lovelies? XO

remains of winter

Posted on March 16, 2011 by BeSquirrely

just wait a few minutes

Posted on March 10, 2011 by BeSquirrely

Oh, March, you never fail to break my heart. The old adage about Michigan weather is so painfully true: if you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes. It will change. Oof. One day we’re joyfully jumping through puddles and the next? Building a snowman and throwing snowballs. What might today bring?

So yeah, I admit that even this winter-lover is a bit grumpy about it and so are just about all the adults I know. But the kiddos? No big deal. Seize the day! “Play, Mamma, play!”

still winter here

Posted on March 2, 2011 by BeSquirrely

it’s a sand-eating summer

Posted on July 20, 2010 by BeSquirrely

There’s so much I love about my little birdie, but her tenacity and love of big waves? They’re at the top. And it doesn’t seem to bother her when the graham cracker gets covered in sand. She eats it, sand and all.

Virtual morel mushrooming, anyone?

Posted on May 10, 2010 by BeSquirrely

Happy Monday, mushroom lovers!

How was your weekend? I happily crossed off a couple more items from my “Spring Forward” list yesterday, thanks to a sunny Mother’s Day hike at the Treat Farm. Cool but sunny meant a spring wildflower hike was in order. And maybe a meander into the woods for some morel-hunting if we were feeling ambitious. We were greeted with a forest full of trillium (some turning to their late Spring light purple hue already), jack-in-the-pulpits, columbine, forget-me-nots, purple and white viola, a few remaining dutchman’s breeches and other lovelies courtesy of Mother Nature.

Through the woods, across the meadow and out to the bluff…

On the way back, Chris wanted to cross the meadow and he spotted these. Have you ever seen such large, woody asparagus? Crazy!

Then we stumbled into the woods in search of morels, but instead we got some quiet moments and some leek-filled breaths. Somewhat dejected, off we hiked back to the car. Until… are you ready now for some virtual mushrooming, dear readers? Give it a shot!

Don’t pick them just yet. Wait until everyone has had a chance to “find” them…

OK, now you can pick! How’s that for a fun fun fun-guy adventure!?

Now what will you do with your bounty? I don’t like to *do* too much to them because the flavor is so delicate. My favorite partner for morels? You probably guessed it. Butter. Cleaned and lightly pan-fried in butter with a dash or two of salt and pepper. And some fresh asparagus… Sounds like we’ve figured out dinner tonight! Whew.

Still leeking.

Posted on April 13, 2010 by BeSquirrely

Back to that leek.

A friend and fellow locavore sent me this article, which made me question harvesting the wild leeks. Seems as though the increased popularity of wild-harvested foods like mushrooms, leeks and fiddleheads comes at a cost. And not just to your pocketbook at your local market. To our favorite lady, Mother Nature. Commercialization could easily lead to extinction the article posits. Ouch.

According to the article,

(All) this attention isn’t good news for the leek, says Gérald Le Gal, president of the Quebec-based Association for the Commercialization of Forest Mushrooms and owner of Gourmet Sauvage, a company that sells prepared wild fruits and vegetables.

He doesn’t think anyone should be selling ramps.

“Don’t touch the stuff. It’s just too vulnerable,” he says. When you pick a ramp, you take the entire plant, including the bulb. Once the bulb is gone, there is nothing left of the plant; it will not grow back the next year. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority considers it to be “a species of conservation concern.” And eating a nice sized bulb could be the equivalent of dining on an old-growth cedar. “It’s a really, really, slow-growth plant. A bulb could be 18 to 20 years old,” Mr. Le Gal says.

Ouch. Now I’ve got a bad case of green guilt. You? Anyone know of a way to sustainably harvest the wild leeks, like the article briefly mentions? Perhaps if we just pick a couple handfuls for our own personal use and resist the temptation to bring a car load to the farmer’s market? What’s your opinion, dear readers?

Man the pumps! We’ve sprung a leek.

Posted on April 11, 2010 by BeSquirrely

That’s right, folks, we’ve sprung a leek. Millions of them. They’re springing up and making the nearby woods smell earthy and oniony. Spring has sprung! No morel sightings yet, but the leeks are here in a big way. (They’re also known as “ramps” in other parts of the country. Maybe in your neck of the woods?)

Check them out in this photo. See all that lovely green stuff popping through last fall’s leaves? That’s them! I wish this could be a “scratch and sniff” photo, but technology hasn’t gotten there quite yet…

These yummies are great with fresh asparagus and morels, but we’re not that far into spring in these parts. So how ’bout these ideas?

Spaghetti with wild leeks

Wild leek and sausage risotto

Roasted chicken with wild leeks and potatoes

Wild leek & potato soup

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According to Traverse Magazine, here are some helpful wild leek tips:

Do preserve leeks by pickling, drying or freezing. Just blanch first for 2-3 minutes.
Do use both the bulb and milder leaves
Do use a tool like a long knife or dandelion digger to help loosen the root hairs that grow from the tip of the bulb
Do store, unwashed, in refrigerator for up to one week.
Don’t leave piles of leeks on the kitchen counter too long or your kitchen will smell like a bus in Rome on a midsummer day

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If you don’t have time to pick your own or can’t find them near you, consider ordering some Pickled Wild Leeks from Food for Thought.

Isn’t that a lovely photo? I can almost taste them. Enjoy!

Be Squirrely

creating a nest worth sharing

Category Archives: the great outdoors