Green arriveth!

 Buds at the Arboretum

 

Crocus

 

                                                                           Tapped Maples

Abbey's Salad

One of the most pleasurable things in life is a dinner party with dear friends; shared faith, hearty conversation, simple, whole foods, and wine. We have been so blessed with such friends over time. It has been increasingly difficult to leave them behind with each move. Since living in Minnesota, we have slowly developed friends again. So we can't move now.
In any case, Abbey and Karl delighted us with their presence and over dinner preparations, Abbey effortlessly put together a salad  that I could eat every day for the rest of my life and be completely happy. Of course, there's no set recipe but one could reproduce the salad by drizzling olive oil over fresh greens (important to include arugula in the mix in my opinion), thinly slicing an onion, less thin slices of a pear. Throw them on top followed by freshly topped thyme, fresh pepper, sea salt, turbinado sugar, and finally balsamic vinegar. Mix all together, and voila, delight! So wonderful with fresh bread and cheese.

Dreaming of spring

This weekend, Contemplating heirloom seed line up for our garden. On the short list: the usual suspects- tomatoes, zucchini, onion, peas, bell peppers, a brave repeat of fennel, adding eggplant and butternut squash.
For the greens, we can never get enough arugula, spinach,
and the newcomer this year: fall kale. For fruits, I have high hopes for our blueberry bush, raspberries, and will attempt strawberries once again.
I've poured over the seed savers catalog this year and am hoping to do as many heirloom varieties as possible.
Gardening can be so rewarding (and frustrating!) but using seeds with a history makes it even more meaningful.
I hope to start growing indoors toward the end of March. The snow currently falling makes that seem many, many years away.