Getting to spring

It's only February, and the beech leaves are still hanging in that pale gold a wonderful sight all winter

Yesterday I got out walking in bright sunshine, after a couple of days of rain and mud got in the way. And in a sheltered spot, the early daffodils are already up, a month before I expected to see them.

Back home my faithful chives are coming through for the umpteenth year in this pot, with no care at all other than to cut them when needed. Seeing them  reminds me I haven't made paneer in a while. I like a few scraps of chive on paneer.

And here are the snow drops, struggling, tiny blooms, but there, just a few of the dozens I planted

 

It's still cold enough for the rotini and spaghetti sauce I mentioned yesterday

 

Happy day, everyone, and here's a thought from the creator of Pogo

I'm writing this early, in bed, just considering the opportunities of the day. Maybe a walk. Reading more of A Few Green Leaves. Knitting. Reading a poem. Making yogurt. Possibly,  if I  can't decide, all of the above.

Better late than never, and other welcome things

After my sister and a friend both died within a couple of days in September 2022, I ordered Dutch snowdrops to plant as a perennial memorial to them both.

Nothing came up in either bed I'd planted. I got a credit from the nursery and a note of regret, and moved on. 

Then this morning I was moving flowerpots around and, scream of joy, saw these

 

A year late, but they finally came through! Snowdrops! So, better late than never, here you go, sister Irene and friend Diane!

Then, while I was thinking about supper possibilities, I noticed an idea online, for chickpea, spinach, carrot soup, with cumin seeds and whole garlic bits, whatever they're called.

I had some mixed leafy greens left, including spinach, a can of chickpeas and loads of baby carrots. So, with Old Bay, salt, black pepper, cumin seeds and caraway seeds, a nice little supper happened. 

And four more helpings, ahead of yet another incoming storm. Storm prep done.

I even got in a walk, this afternoon,  just to try to fend off rust, while it wasn't raining. Tomorrow is cleaners' day and the new knitting group. Weather permitting, that is.

Meanwhile, a few of us may like to read this

says the woman who constantly chronicles her activities, irony abounds.

Happy day everyone, watch out for weather, wouldn't you think we'd manage the weather better,  we've had plenty of warning, but humankind is evidently devoted to the comfort of incompetence. 

But -- there's snowdrops! Happy dance!

Finally a walk, seafood pasta, brownie accolades

Today the cooking was about pasta, penne, to be exact, with a lovely sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, knob of butter, parmigian rind. And onions, shrimp and scallions. Blue cheese sprinkles.

It was soooo good. I do like shrimp with practically anything. I'd skip the cheese next time though, too many competing flavors. But no complaints. And enough for several more meals.  

I managed a complete walk, tired coming home but I made it. No pictures, really quiet day for birds and animals. Very pleased I had enough energy.

Last year this time was a different story

I also found today that this is the total germination of the two beds of memorial snowdrops. Clearly since this lone one is flowering, there's little to no hope of a sudden growth spurt from the dozens of others.

Not acceptable. I've written to Breck to request a refund. Then I'll buy some shrub or plant locally and start again. This happens, nobody's fault, probably frozen in transit with no protection.

Gary came bursting in, this morning, all thrilled with the brownies, which he found when he came home yesterday. I gather he'd eaten one before he got his coat off! When he found out there were two more batches in his future, he was a happy guy.

A convo later with Paul Couchman, the Regency Chef, on Twitter, reminded me that seasalt goes well with chocolate.

So I sprinkled a bit on this afternoon's brownies with a cup of tea, great reminder. Chic!

I checked on my library holds, including this one

It's getting excellent reviews from a range of critics, and I've heard part of the audio, really good speaker. So we'll see.

I'd like to try recipes from Meghan's Together: Our Community Cookbook, but it's backordered everywhere. I think I'd like some of that food, Indian, and Middle Eastern. But I can wait. 

I'm interested in his story,  as a survivor of sibling abuse myself, rather than as a current gossip meme. Please tread softly.

If anyone's seen and cooked from the cookbook, I'd like to hear more.

Happy day everyone! May your energy fit your ambition today. Well, every day, but right now today's the issue.

Photo AC 

Snowdrops ahoy! and baskets and things

 Yesterday my daily crawling around in search of snowdrops was rewarded

Sister Irene's memorial snowdrops on the patio have started. Friend Diane's out front not yet. Great excitement. 

Meanwhile here's what's up next door

The van door was closed before I got a picture of a bathroom vanity tossed in. Ah, small amounts of sheetrock, bumping noises upstairs. Conclusion: they're renovating a bathroom. 

Also doing the socially responsible thing and paying the contractor take away the old fittings. Some neighbors cheap out, dump them at the dumpster to be an eyesore till the haulers reluctantly take them, building materials not being in their contract.

Wouldn't surprise me if Aditha invites me in to admire it.  At which point I'll politely profess great surprise.

And I did a bit more on the daylily string basket

When I move back into knitting,  I have a request through the Knitting Ministry for gloves for another lady who uses a wheelchair. I told Sister M to divert a pair from their next glove package to her. This is a niche need I hadn't known about till recently, glad to be useful, and grateful for the education from e on this point.

I also came across an artist I hadn't seen before and thought you'd like his sense of color

Bold and controlled at the same time, brilliant yet calm. I like these a lot.

Happy day everyone, solve your local mysteries, make discoveries.