Friday, July 10, 2020

Elderberries and Bluebirds

 It has been a while since I last posted here. Life has been busy and my blog always seems to take last place on my list of priorities. Between finishing up our homeschool year, gardening, homemaking, sewing and just enjoying my family, the months have moved along too quickly for my liking!
 Today I thought I would share some pictures of our elderberry bushes. Some may remember back to when Adam first planted the bushes in 2017. I am amazed how they have grown so huge in just three years! We will have to use a ladder to reach the uppermost berries.
 The blossoms are as large as my hand and they smell absolutely heavenly! In fact you can smell their fragrance several feet away, especially on these warm summer evenings. We are excited, and hopeful, for a grand harvest of elderberries this September.
 We have been delighted with our little family of Eastern bluebirds that have nested in one of our bluebird boxes this year. It may be hard to see them clearly in this picture, but there are four babies. The baby on the lower left hand side is beginning to show blue feathers.

Eastern bluebirds are very special to me. My grandma and mom were some of the first in our area to place bluebird boxes in their yard, about 30 years ago now. Both studied bluebirds and were very attentive to each bluebird family that nested on their properties. I remember one year a family of baby bluebirds had become wet and dirty due to a tremendous rain storm. My mom and grandma worked together to gently clean the babies and create a fresh nest from grass clippings that had been left from mowing the lawn. At the time it seemed a bit risky, but they did a great job. All of the babies survived and eventually left the nest.
 Hopefully I will share a post dedicated to our garden in the near future. Adam had outdone himself this year! Despite the lack of rain we have had in our area, our garden is thriving. Praise the Lord! We are all eagerly anticipating the first tomatoes and corn on the cob of the season.
 The lettuce in the picture above was found in one of my flower beds. The seed must have been carried there by the wind. It made for a delicious salad.
 This was our best year yet for rhubarb. I was able to make two batches of vanilla-rhubarb jam. If you have yet to try this jam recipe I recommend you make a batch soon! It is by far the most delicious and unique jam I have ever tasted.
We love to sit outside in the evenings and watch the sunset. I thought this sunset was a beauty, however my picture pales in comparison to how the sunset looked in real life.

I hope you are all enjoying a beautiful summer surrounded by God's great creations!

"For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." Psalm 33: 4-6



21 comments:

  1. What a good co;;ection of rhubarb, such a useful thing to have in the garden. I was worried about mine early in the season, but then started to feed it each week and it has thrived. Thankfully it freezes well.
    Isn't it a blessing to have produce from your own garden?!

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    1. We were so grateful to have a wonderful rhubarb harvest this year. Yes, it truly is a blessing to enjoy produce from the garden! : )

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  2. Hello Sarah,
    It's such a blessing to see a new post from you today. I read your older posts often and they always bring me much happiness and a calm peaceful feeling. As well as many ideas for recipes, gardening, decorating etc. I'm also enjoying wearing the aprons you made for me. They are beautiful!

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    1. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. May you have a blessed day!

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  3. Beautiful Elderberries! I love that scent. And how endearing that you keep the tradition of tending the bluebirds. Nature is certainly entertaining.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, we love watching the birds. We are often entertained by a family of three chipmunks that live in my flower bed. Jemimah has named all three. : )

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  4. Your yard is beautiful Sarah. I'm glad you shared your elderberry photos. We buy elderberries at a local health store when we can get them. During cold and flu season they are very difficult to find, and I have mentioned to my husband that we should plant some. It looks like you are going to have an abundant harvest this year. I also liked your jam recipe. Im trying to imagine the flavor....it sounds yummy!
    Have a wonderful day
    Shirley

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    1. Thank you, Shirley! Elderberries are wonderful in so many ways. Adam and I love elderberry pie, I think it may be our favorite.

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  5. Yes! It truly is a blessing. This morning Jemimah and I picked a quart of black raspberries from our garden. They are such a treat.

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  6. QUE ALEGRIA SABER DE TI SARA, EXTRAÑO TUS MENSAJES EN TU BLOG, SIEMPRE TRAES NUEVAS IMAGENES Y COMENTARIOS QUE SON UNA BENDICION. QUE DIOS TAN BUENO QUE TENEMOS, ALABADO SEA EL, POR TUS PLANTAS, QUE SE VEN HERMOSAS Y POR TUS COSECHAS, QUE SERAN ABUNDANTES. ME GUSTAN MUCHO LOS PAJAROS, SOBRE TODO LO DE MUCHOS COLORES, HACE UN TIEMPO PUBLIQUE EN MI BLOG UN ALMOHADON QUE BORDE, CON MOTIVOS DE PAJAROS COLORIDOS, ESPERO QUE PUEDAS PASAR POR MI BLOG Y TE GUSTEN MIS TRABAJOS. BENDICIONES QUERIDA HERMANA Y QUE DIOS LOS GUARDE DE TODO MAL.

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    1. Thank you, Ana! Yes, birds are such a beautiful blessing from our Creator. I look forward to seeing your handiwork and plan to visit your blog this evening. May the Lord bless and keep you!

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  7. Beautiful summertime! It's wonderful you have elderberries to use, and I'm glad you have lots of produce.
    Those baby bluebirds are so sweet! What a blessing!

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! It truly is a blessing. : )

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  8. What a blessing to have those elderberry bushes! They are beautiful landscape and immune boosting at the same time ❤️

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  9. GRACIAS POR TU DULCE COMENTARIO EN MI BLOG¡¡¡ BENDICIONES SARAH.

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  10. I enjoyed the photos of your elderberries Sarah. I had two but they died during the past 12 months due to the drought we were experiencing. Mine grew from cuttings given to me and were doing well until the extended drought.

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    1. Thank you, Sherri! I'm sorry that your elderberries were destroyed by drought, that is very disappointing. It has been very dry where we live, but our bushes are planted along side our stream, so I am hoping that will help.

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  11. Enjoyed seeing a new post from you! Oh how special to see the baby bluebirds in the nest. I have wanted for years to put up a bluebird house...but somehow keep not getting it done. I need to write it on a list so I won't forget for next year, Lord willing.

    That is amazing how fast your Elderberry plants grew! I have never tried growing those, but we use Elderberry syrup a lot when sickness is in the family, so I know it would be nice to have.

    Rhubarb...one of my favorites is Strawberry Rhubarb cobbler. Yum! I hope to make some again this year. Thank you for sharing this post with us!

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    1. Thank you, Sunshine Country! Strawberry Rhubarb cobbler sounds wonderful! That is something I haven't made yet, but will have to. : )

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  12. Your hard work pays off, doesn't it. I made refrigerator dill pickles for the first time last week. The family liked them so much, I made more last night. My adult sons came over today. One wants me to make them for him to buy! Silly son. No need to pay, just bring back the jars. ~smile~
    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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