ME II: Happy plants
The rain today made all the plants sparkle and shine especially in the evening. We had busy workdays and it was chilly with a soft rain most of the day. The heat was on but it never quite took the chill off. We cooked a delicious lentil soup with a small amount of Spanish chorizo sliced thinly and collard greens. I wasn't sure about the collard greens but we had them and I wanted a green in the soup but they were silky and smooth and added a lot. We also have this trick of taking polenta and cutting it into cubes, giving it a swig of olive oil, some salt and pepper, and thyme and cooking them at 400° until they have a little crunch - probably a half hour or so. It makes a nice crunchy crouton for the top of any soup. You can even use the strange tubes of cooked polenta in the store.
It's clear and cold tonight with many visible stars. The moon is still almost full which adds to the ambiance.
In terms of local news, this November voters in Portland Maine will weigh in on adding language to the charter to acknowledge that the city is "unceded territory of the Aucocisco Band of the Wabanaki, which also includes the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot people" who were displaced by force. It goes on to acknowledge the harm that was done (Press Herald). Relatedly, here is a map trying to show where Indigenous people lived.
Have a soft and sweet evening.
Sending love, Tawnia
Short rainy-day bird list today:
- Blue Jay
- House Sparrow
- White-throated sparrow
- Gray Catbird
- Rock Pigeon
- Herring Gull
- European Starling