spring

I know I haven't updated in a while, I'm not sure why, it is not because I haven't had stuff to talk about, but I just haven't felt like writing. Spring is here now, so hopefully the mood will lift. I've already moved the hyacinths, daffs, and grape hyacinths from the end flower bed to the new one, cleaned up the perennial bed, started several pots of dahlias, and found a garden plot over on Morrish Rd to plant tomatoes and cukes in. I'm very excited about the veggies, I haven't been able to have a veggie garden in a long time. There really isn't enough sun or space here, and I tried in Byron, but there really wasn't enough sun there either. And we had a guy talk about heirloom tomatoes at the garden club meeting last month. He was great and it got me to start thinking about veggies again. So I am starting my own tomatoes, some heirlooms and Big Boy for H, cukes and beans for C, and snap peas, carrots, lettuce, and potatoes for me. I'll grow my 2 cherry tomatoes on the deck again because I like eating them while I'm working in the yard in the summer. I hope the tiller isn't a sign of things to come. I tried to start D's little tiller last weekend and H ended up taking it to the shop because it was so rough sounding, even with the new gas, oil and sparkplug. It's only been used a few times, so it doesn't seem like it could be serious, and I hope not.

Fresh marmalade and bread. I made them a couple weeks ago and the maramlade is wonderful. The bread didn't last long of course, there's something about warm bread and butter, especially with fresh jam. The marmalade is made with the zest and fruit of navel oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines, boiled with some sugar for 30 minutes and mixed with a box of sure-jel to ensure that it actually sets. I store it in the freezer. I took some to work and most really liked it, but you could tell that it was too tart for some folks. I didn't use as much sugar as the box recipe calls for, and it is pretty tart, but I love it. It has a real grapefruit/lemon tang to it. I plan to bring some raspberry jam and marmalde to the beach this summer to have with fresh biscuits and coffee. Heavenly.

These pussywillows were cut on Feb 17 from the wetland behind the Walmart. I love pussywillows. They are the first harbingers of spring here, before the red-winged blackbirds or crocus, both of which are here now on March 29.

Enough for today, I have a couple more photos of stuff that I have finished this last month, but even more photos of things that I can't put up yet because they are surprises. However this weekend, I will take new photos of D's quilt, which turned out pretty cool with it's apple quilting, and my new Easter table runner, made with the dyed fabric and old jean strips, which looks great on the table. D is bringing a friend from school for dinner on Sunday so it will be a fun weekend. Happy Easter to everyone, enjoy the holiday, and it is supposed to be 70 this weekend. If so, we are eating our roast chicken on the deck. How cool is that?