Elderberry Is Blooming All Around Larry Moore Park

 

Elderberry at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

I finally got a chance to walk in Larry Moore Park yesterday. I discovered elderberry was blooming almost everywhere I looked. (Please click photos to enlarge photos). 

Elderberry near Beginning of Trail at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

This is near the memorial tree I discovered a year ago on another walk. Both that tree and this elderberry tree have grown larger since then. You can see the difference if you look back at that post and at this one on Medium.

Elderberry on the Other Side of Trail at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

As I've discovered on my Paso Robles property, elderberry grows like a weed. The birds eat the berries and spread the seeds. That must be how my own tree got started. 

There used to be an elderberry marking the junction of this trail and the one leading westward to the river. It was still there last time I walked the park, but it was gone yesterday. Here's where it used to be. You probably won't notice the tree below because that photo was taken in January when the branches are bare. This year they've been cutting a lot of trees from this area. The tree they removed may have been the mother of many of these other trees. 

Elderberry Removed This Year at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

Below you can get a closer look at the elderberry flowers and some baby berries.                    

Close-up of Elderberry in Bloom at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

Below is an expanded view of the scene in the first photo. I have shown you just some of the trees I found on limited parts of intersecting trails near the north end of Larry Moore Park. If I'd shared photos of all the elderberry trees in bloom at the park right now, this post would fill several more screens. 

I wonder who will eat all those berries when they get ripe? Do you think the birds will be able to handle it? Or do you think the homeless who camp in the riverbed below will have a handy medicinal food source if they can can cook the berries. They are toxic if eaten raw.

Elderberries in Bloom at Larry Moore Park, © Barbara Radisavljevic

Learn more about elderberries here. 

Finally I Can Eat My Power Breakfast Again after Oral Surgery

 

Barb's Power Breakfast, author photo

Back to My Normal Power Breakfast

I had an infected tooth extracted 13 days ago, and it wrecked my usual diet. Liquids and soft foods can get boring fast. For the past few days my breakfast consisted of mashed bananas mixed with smooth peanut butter and an Orgain Clean Protein Shake, my favorite. 

I like the Orgain chocolate protein shake because it tastes better than other brands I've tried. The milk comes from New Zealand cows that feast on grass. If I decide to have scrambled eggs for breakfast for variety, I save the protein shakes for later in the day when I want a quick nutritional boost. 

I usually buy the shakes at Costco, but I see that Amazon also has them on the subscribe and save plan for those who enjoy them as much as I do. The price is almost as good getting them at Costco and I won't need to worry about running out. Costco is thirty miles away. 

My power breakfast is super easy to fix. Just combine about 1/2 to 3/4 cups of your favorite brand of uncooked oats (I use Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats), with about 1/4 cup chopped raw walnuts, half a small apple chopped, and about 1/3 cup fresh blueberries. Today I used bananas to sweeten because I'm not allowed to eat apples yet. The goat milk I add at the end also adds a bit of sweetness. 

Up until yesterday I wasn't cleared to eat oats or blueberries, either. Normally I sweeten with chopped dates or a combination of cinnamon and Xylitol. (See my review of Xylitol here.) I'm not too fussy about the amounts of each ingredient I use. 

You can also substitute other fruits or nuts, unless you are still on a soft diet like I am. I'm just gradually working back to normal food. I still have to be careful. I can have Brussels Sprouts, but not broccoli. I'm also allowed to add seedless grapes to my diet, but not anything citrus.

I still crave crunch and usually live on nuts for snacking. Now I may now eat cashews and walnuts, but not almonds or peanuts, unless in butters. 

Other Soft Foods I Enjoyed Eating

Staples of my diet have been eggs, cheese, yogurt, pudding, applesauce, avocados, and  yellow cling diced peaches in 100% fruit juice with no added sugar. This made a delicious lunch about three days after my tooth was pulled.

Eggs scrambled with plain yogurt, feta and cheddar cheeses; diced peaches;
and salted mashed avocado sprinkled with lemon juice. Author photo.

 I usually eat my evening meal while watching TV, which is why this isn't on a plate at the table. I used a lap desk on my reclining chair. This lap desk was also a lifesaver after I had foot surgery and needed to do all my computer work with my feet up. Not only will a laptop fit securely here, but I can also write letters and pay bills the old-fashioned way in comfort.

Looking Forward to Eating Crunchy Foods Again

I'm glad I can eat mashed avocado from the shell with lemon juice and salt, but I like it better on toasted sourdough or a tortilla chip than on a spoon. I crave almonds in my dark  dark chocolate. I crave trail mix. 

Favorite crunchy snacks from Costco. Author photo.

What are your favorite soft food diet foods? What crunchy foods would you miss most?