pretty + simple

glimmer

I always have good intentions of updating this little space on a regular basis.  Before I know it the days turn into weeks and the calendar flips over to a new month.  In this case, that's a good thing.  This has been such a long winter.  Extended to the fullest.  April has been welcomed with open arms.  Finally life is breathing back into the earth (after a very long winter's nap) and I'm seeing precious peeks of green here and there.  I feel a glimmer of hope.  Hope for the change of landscape.  Hope for the months that lie ahead.  Thanks Spring.  I really needed you.

I can't wait to show you off!

mercy

Can you see that?  Take a closer look... amidst all that white stuff that arrived today there's a washline hiding in there.  It's been waiting for a long time for a visit.  I am anxious to reconnect with my old friend.  But this snow.  Wow.

In these parts, March is one of the snowiest months of the year.  I tried not to believe it.  I tried really, really hard.  It came anyway. 

Now I'm believing in April.  She's my girl! 

April, are you with me?

Row Sea

The weekend held a small surprise for me.

I was working with a caterer.  It was a Spring Fling sort of a thing.

Folks shopped and talked and enjoyed a vintage style show.

We served them gourmet food.

And afterward...

the local floral shop tipped each of us with a bouquet of flowers.

A permanent grin became part of me for the remainder of the day.

It's been so long.

Since flowers have graced the window sill.

The temps are getting colder.  Again.  There's snow in the forecast.  Again.

Spring may have hit the pause button but that's just fine by me.

I've got my flowers to keep me warm.

Granny Ola

For some reason I haven't made a batch of granola in a very long time.  I'm not sure why because we certainly do love it.  I found a super easy {recipe} online yesterday.

 

For the most part I followed the recipe.  Besides the cinnamon I also added 1 tsp. of ground ginger for a little more spice.  I didn't have all the nuts listed in the original recipe so I used whatever we had on hand.  Pecans, raw sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.  Once it cooled I added a couple handfuls of semi-sweet chocolate chips, dried cranberries and raisens.  It's a very forgiving recipe.

This made a really fast and yummy breakfast this morning topped off with a sliced banana and a good splash of milk.  Are you hungry yet?  You have to try this one!

changes

Finally.

We changed the clocks.  The sun came out.  The temps went up.

And the ladies in the coop came to the front door!

 

Marcy is never one to be shy.  She was the first one to ring the doorbell. 

I think all of them are just as excited as I am about the changes these days!

seeing green

Looking outside these days the snow is still quite deep and spring feels like a far away land that we can only dream of being in one day.  I was looking out the window today and I have a hard time imagining this hill with no snow.  It will happen but sometimes you wonder... so we decided to start a little spring indoors.  May I present our first crops of ....

::  lettuce  ::

::  spinach  :: 

 

 

::  and the start of a little basil for good measure  ::

 

 

We used these trays and after using those black, plastic ( & not to mention flimsy) trays in past years... the cedar trays really rock!

When I went back to check on the lettuce I spied this little guy taking a snooze on the fresh bed of green  in the warm afternoon soon:

 

Gnome Sweet Gnome.

quick bread

 { blueberry and almond quick bread }

 

Compliments of Moosewood Restaurant.  It's packed with bananas, blueberries, almonds, rolled oats, and ground flax seed which makes this bread not only a healthy choice but it also tastes amazing as well.  It's definitely worth checking out.  I will be adding this one to my favorite file.  I found this particular cookbook at the library.  I love bringing home cookbooks.  So much in fact that I even go to sleep at night reading them (yes, my secret is out).  What can I say... so many recipes, so little time!

three oh one

 

March.

 

Please bring spring with you.

Until then I'll sit back and enjoy this warm sunshine.

{ xoxo }

 

buried treasures

Do you want to know what's hidden under this pile of snow?

A nice, rounded bump that was strategically marked late last fall.

 

It's something that makes late winter feel a little less non-ending.

Why... wait... wait... what do we have here? 

Something yellow... perhaps a straw bale?

 

Why indeed it is!

But wait... what's that underneath the bale?

 

Something green?!

 

Oh yes... it worked! 

Last fall we placed a 5 gallon bucket (with the bottom cut out) in the ground and filled it with parsnips, topped by leaves and then a straw bale placed over the top to keep them from freezing.

 

Dirt filled but easily cleaned up!

 

Now what could be better than roasted root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, and parsnips) from the garden?  Toss with a little olive oil, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper... roast in the oven at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes and you are golden!

 

This could be a meal in itself.

It's that good. 

more

Yes, it's true.  More snow.  Feels like more than a foot but who's counting?! 

It appears that this birdhouse gourd's tenants flew south for the rest of the winter. 

They didn't care for the accommodations at the Snowed Inn.

Last week we enjoyed warmer temps, sunny days and lots of melting.  Today I'm thinking that whatever melted last week is back in fresh snow.  It's hard not to latch onto those spring-like days.  The ones that give us a little glimpse of days to come.  The ones that make you never want to see another snowflake until next season rolls around.  Of course... that is so not happening so instead I bring you pretty snow white pictures.  Mother Nature's way of cleaning up the landscape by throwing a coat of white over all that dirty ol' white stuff.