a taste of spring

What lovely weather we've been having!  Everyone around here is eagerly soaking in the warm temps and luscious sunlight.  Our snow is completely gone and the chickens and cat are constantly wanting to run around the yard.  I've even been able to start cleaning up the mess of mulch that the chickens kicked into our grass in the fall--and it's only March!!  I keep telling all of the creatures and plants not to get too excited (especially the bulbs that are starting to poke their heads out of the dirt)...it is only March, after all, and we do live in Minnesota...more snow is likely to make an appearance over the next few weeks.

But for now, we're happily enjoying this lovely spring weather!  Hooray!!! 

garden planning

February.  The month when, for me, winter suddenly starts to get a bit annoying.  When the cold seems extra cold, even when it's not, and the darkness seems a little darker even though the days are getting longer.  It's not my favorite month.  But, that's why I start my garden planning in February.  It's the perfect time, really, especially for those who like to start a few seeds in doors.  Last year I had high hopes of starting quite a bit inside, but with the excitement and preparation for our baby chicks, what I eventually started inside was so little when it came time to transplant that I ended up still buying seedlings.  This year shall be different, though!  So, a garden-planning I go!  

I do love the reflection that accompanies garden planning.  It's like a walk down memory lane--only it's a walk through my gardens of seasons past (with the warm summer sun slowly lightening my hair and warming my skin).  I laugh every year, though, at the things that I had all intentions to write down, but never did, and now I'm back to square one when it comes to what kind of bell peppers to grow...*sigh*...maybe this year I'll take notes...maybe this year...

How about you??? Have you started your gardening plans or are you at least dreaming of ideas??  I hope so.  It sure does make February more enjoyable! 

making the most of winter

Over a year ago I got a pair of brand new ice skates at a garage sale for $15 and I was so excited to put them to use.  Then last winter came and went and my skates were only used once--and it was at an indoor rink!  So when this winter arrived, I decided I was going to make a much better effort to get outside and skate.  I am not good at skating, but I do find it very fun and a great way to enjoy the coldest part of the winter.  

I realized recently, though, that since Dan doesn't have skates, I haven't been very motivated to actually get out a skate.  So, this past weekend we made a date of it and found a great skating pond with free skating and cheap skate rental.  It was a lovely time and we were thoroughly worn out by the end.  And then this week, I decided that I just needed to get out there and skate by myself on one of the great city park skating rinks in our neighborhood.  So, last night I did just that.  I took my skates down to the little, slightly melting neighborhood rink, and slowly attempted to teach myself to skate backwards.  Ha.  It was a great way to end the work day and I hope to get out there several more times before the skating season ends.  

I figure that winter ought to be enjoyed, since it is the longest season in these parts, and what better way to do that then do get outside and do things that are only possible when the temps are below freezing! 

january quiet

January is here.  Cold, quiet, reflective January.  In Minnesota, January is generally our coldest month.  With temperatures often hanging out below zero degrees Fahrenheit and wind chills often many degrees below that, it is easy to have negative feelings towards this first month of the year.  However, I love January.  I love it because it's quiet.  It's the time of year where everyone hibernates just a bit more.  We've all spent lots of time with family and friends over the holidays and so there is time to pull away a bit more and just stay in.  It's a time to lay low and reflect.  Perhaps it's the newness of the year that prompts this reflection, or perhaps it's that this month is one of the only months out of the year that really allows time for reflection.  For me, February and March involve a lot of summer planning both for gardening and travel, April and May bring us outside a bit more in preparation for the warmer weather, the summer months fly by in a flash with fun and work intertwined from sun up to sundown, September grounds us again as school and work start up and the leaves begin to fall.  October's filled with warm clothes, bonfires, and preparations for winter, and November and December are, of course, filled with gatherings, making, and gifting.  So, that leaves January.  Cold, quiet, reflective January.  

This January, I'm finding myself reflecting on my relationships with people.  Those I work with, do life with, and love with.  This year I'm wanting to be more intentional with those people.  I'm wanting to make more of an effort to connect, not just about day-to-day happenings, but also about matters of the heart.  I want this year to find me going deeper in the relationships that surround me.  

What about you?  What are you reflecting on during this quiet January? 

winter getaways

Hello, dear readers!  Wow!  It's been so long since I've posted.  Here's a little about what's been going in our world over the past two weeks...

We had two back-to-back family cabin trips in northern Minnesota.  They were lovely times filled with much lounging, knitting, some reading, a lot of eating, outdoor adventures, and much laughter.  It was a great way to wrap up Christmas and celebrate the New Year.  

My favorite food moment of the cabin trips was the hot cocoa I made for everyone after a very chilly and windy ice skating adventure.  I used this cocoa mix, local grass-fed whole milk, and we topped it with homemade marshmallows (recipe found in The Homemade Pantry).  It was so creamy and just the right amount of chocolaty goodness.  Yum...

With our cabin trips behind us, this week is a bit of a transition period before the spring semester starts back up for me.  Here's to a week of spending time with friends, cleaning house, and refilling my kitchen with good, wholesome foods.  

Happy January to you all!