Lessons from My Garden: Defeat

 
"I'm popping out to the garden to grab some things for dinner!"   I heard my own words as I, well, popped out the kitchen door three steps to pick some things for dinner.  It had been a good day, and, this felt like the icing on the cake.  I felt a simulateous giddiness & peace as I filled my bowl.  I really can't describe all that I get from having a little garden.  So,  I give up.  Maybe it's just a feeling -- a lot of feelings -- that just can't be put into the right words, by me anyway!

I will say this -- do yourself a favor and plant something. Anything. If you have the right weather for it, I'd suggest two tomato plants. I love Sungold and Cherry. I say two, not because you should have "more," but so that you can be really lazy about it and you still have two chances at success! Just stick them in a spot where they'll get lots of sun and water them.  Oh, and put a sturdy cage up at the same time.  That's it.  You can get as fancy as you want to with a garden, but, really, you can do very little and still reap the rewards.

 

Happy Earth Day 2012

We spent our day outside, connecting with Earth.

Okay, yardwork.

(I'm wondering... Does anyone else need a machete to prepare their gardens in the spring? I wish I had taken a 'before' picture.  That way, an 'after' would be impressive to more than just me!)

Pippi Pepper (from the UCD Student Farm) found a new home today.

So did some other lovely veggies & flowers.
Some old favorites, some new ones to try out.  How will you know if you don't give it a try, right?

I have two interested gardeners (heart, heart).  It's okay when a few things get pulled out a little too roughly, maybe stepped on, some seeds get spilled, and when my gardeners wander off to try something else.  There are so many treasures in our backyard - I want us all to be happy enough to want to explore them.

I have a garden of my own, shining with flowers of every hue, I loved it dearly while alone.  But shall love it more with you.  - Thomas Moore

"Winter"

It's never felt quite right --  rounding up winter (read "snowy winter") books every year.  I just figured out why:  Because we only see snow when it's nearly spring!  Because in spring, plans to drive to the snow don't get cancelled due to a storm, we don't have to think about putting chains on the tires, and everyone will stay warm.  And that's when all those snow-blanketed stories make sense to us! 

So after a snowy March weekend of lively sledding, creative Snowmama & Baby building, industrious fort constructing, mischevious snowball throwing, boisterous game playing by the fire with friends, we came home to enjoy some new favorites (for us!).  Viva "Winter!"

Did I mention "snow eating?"

...and snow break-taking?

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Snow on Snow on Snow by Cheryl Chapman
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
The Hat by Jan Brett
Copy Me, Copycub by Richard Edwards
The Winter Visitors by Karel Hayes
Snow Amazing: Cool Facts and Warm Tales by Drake & Love

The mudroom (heart, heart)

Colorful, Delicious Spring

I love the traditions and rituals that come with season changes.  Some are the same each year for spring -- sugar cookies, egg dying, egg hunting, chocolate bunnies.  But how we do them is never the same.  And some we change out according to what we see, where we end up, what we're in the mood for.  They're all so good -- I want to eat'em all up : )

This is our very favorite sugar cookie recipe:                                            

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp almond extract

Cream butter and sugar together.  Add egg, vanilla and almond extract.  Gradually add flour and salt.  Divide into 2 disks and chill.  Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

Yummy Frosting

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp milk

1 Tbsp butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

Melt butter and combine all ingredients.  Beat until smooth.

I love this glue batik project that we found. We use it as a tablecloth for our small table. We're dreaming of making some prayer flags, too. I can practically see them fluttering in our backyard.

Can you believe these are made from egg carton cups? I want to leave it this way, Sela says we need to paint it in spring colors.  I'm sure she's right.