Is Autumn Coming Early This Year?

I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that the leaves are changing colour. Very odd since we are still summer and August (usually) being the hottest month of the year. It is also the time when many people take vacations to the south of France. This year I'm sure many people are not too happy with the summer weather as it has been cold and raining.

Many berries are ripening and falling off their branches.

The birds like these berries (below)

One of the chickens from the "wandering chicken family." Yep, they're still loose in the village.

Baby blackbird update - 6 days

I have been caring for these babies for six days now and they are doing very well. Today they are learning to stand, flap their wings, etc. They are all very "fluffy" with the new feathers. Norbert made a new nest as the old nest was making them hot and they were panting a lot. New nest in a newer, bigger box.

This has been a serious learning curve for me and I can't believe these birds made it. I am very happy!

Our "resident" toad

In the last few weeks there has been a toad that took refuge in my makeshift garden. Along our house I put flower pots with a couple of small trees, flowers and herbs/spices. I've noticed remnants of "somebody" being there but don't know who. Then one morning my husband woke me up to see the toad within our pots. I thought it to be unusual as toads like to sleep under ground, under rocks/wood or in holes. That being said I did notice the other day an indentation in a couple of smaller flower pots. Well here's my photo I took last night of my "new" neighbor. It's not a good photo, but you get the idea.

The last baby blackbird to open its eyes

This morning when I fed the babies, I notice the runt of the group has opened his eyes. I was so happy! I was really worried about this little feather baby as he had a rough time because 1) the tip of his beak was "chopped" off (and bleeding), but it seems to have healed big time. and 2) he is the runt of the group. Over the last five days he pulled through big time and is a very healthy eater.

The baby mentioned is the middle one.

Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

1 14oz Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ cup of Smooth Peanut Butter
½ Cup of Heavy Cream

Directions:

1) Add the heavy cream and condensed milk in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the cream mixture is hot but not boiling.

2) Add the peanut butter and whisk it all to combine and cook it for another 30 seconds or until the peanut butter is melted in with the heavy cream and milk.

3) Serve over ice cream.

This excellent dessert topping is great for ice cream (preferably vanilla), cakes, pastries and anything sweet that would go good with peanut butter.

Side note: This particular topping would be good in a peanut butter smoothie.

 Ready for the fridge!

Topping after it was in the fridge for a few hours. If you want it "hot/warm" that's okay too.

Chicken family on the loose in Riverie!

I swear I'm on a bird kick lately!

I finally found the phantom chicken who for the past few days was clucking like mad. In fact it’s a whole family of chickens! I saw them huddled next to their owners door. I snuck a few photos before knocking on the door to tell him his chickens are on the loose. No one was answering and there was clearly someone there ( loud music was playing). A neighbor also noticed the family of chickens and tried to get the owners attention as well. 

Later on in the evening the rooster was on the roof of one of the village houses (unfortunately I didn't get a picture).

A few days ago there was one incident with an old man and his small dog versus the chicken. I heard the loud, angry clucks and I looked out the window and witness this rooster walking down the street, behind him the old man and his dog. The old man was seriously annoyed by the rooster and kind of scooted him away angrily. Writing this down doesn't do the visual justice as it was quite funny.

This chicken family is sweet on how they stick together. 

                           The hen is very pretty, if you look closely her baby is underneath her.

 The rooster got sick of my shenanigans, so took off running.

 Awwww!

                                                         I am now stalking my victims.

 I like this photo!

Feeding Baby Black Birds

Here's a video of me feeding these baby black birds.