thinking about the vegetable garden --- still winter

Brad did some work at the vegetable garden over the last weekend (Feb. 25 and 26). After a recent snow softened the ground greatly, he was able to pull up the old okra "trees" from last summer. I say trees, because those were the hugest okra plants, and most productive, I have ever seen. Maybe it was because the okra patch was closest to the pile of potash fertilizer that we obtained last year. Another late-winter chore was to spray the asparagus patch with Round-up.

I got a kick out of the fact that Brad decided to get the garden table ready. The wooden legs had completely rotted and the table was fallen on the ground. The porcelain top is as good as ever. Brad had saved treated lumber from the former back staircase (behind the kitchen) and used some of that to make new legs for the table. He also had saved a pallet from the construction effort, so now there is a good workspace available in the garden. Future plans include re-establishing the water line to the garden.

I am posting this report as a distraction. In just a few hours, Nina, Charlie and Evie will arrive. I count this as the official beginning of the wedding festivities. I seem to be losing my voice and I just hope I do not end up sick. I'm taking Vitamin C, gargling with warm salt water, and trying other home remedies.
On his way home from work, Brad picked up his tux and my gown for the wedding. Yay!!

morning after..........

You may find this blog entry boring, as it consists of many photos with minimal comments. If you have Facebook you have already seen these pics.

We woke up Monday to a winter wonderland ---- everything coated in snow and so beautiful. I love how you can see the sunlight in the distance through the trees.

 Here's a shot of Tobacco Row Mtn.

Looking from the house to the pasture near the garden.

Walking on the road to the garden

Ta-da! The garden.

One of my favorite shots --- Barbed wire fence and  tomato cages in the garden. Never this pretty otherwise!

 I love how the snow piled on top of the fence posts. Heading to the pond.

 The house is hidden over there in the trees.

Approaching the gate going to the pond.

 Looking from the gate back to the garden.

It's like the corn in Field of Dreams!  Crossing Leftwich and heading down the pond road.

 Daddy always loved the arched, tunnel feel of the pond road. Different material forming the arch this time!

First glimpse of the pond.

View of the dam.

 Don't you love the way the trees and bushes are reflected? See the single very tall white pine?

 My favotite shot of the pond on this day. So peaceful and still.

 Reflections. Brad's favorite.

 

first snow since we became residents

We have been waiting and hoping for a good snow. Thought it would look so pretty from the sunroom. Well, we finally got the snow, and Mother Nature did not disappoint. We've gotten maybe 4 inches but it is a very wet snow so it is sticking to the tree branches and looks really beautiful.

It started this morning while we were in town at church. I had gotten up about 7:30 because I wanted to see whether we were getting lots of birds. As Brad was cooking breakfast (I do Saturdays, he does Sundays) I drove down to the mailboxes and picked up the Sunday paper. As I was returning I noticed that our very first daffodils were blooming. There were 3 open flowers.

A little later we headed to town for church, and I took my camera along to capture the daffodils. But we had managed to cut the timing close for making it to church on time, so I did not stop to snap the flowers then.

It began to snow while we were still in town, after church, during the time we were "working out" at Snap Fitness. When we returned I snapped these shots of our early daffodils (two clumps):

We continued to have periods of snow all afternoon, mixed with some sleet. I went to a kitchen shower for Kelly and returned about 5:15. I snapped a few photos of the scenery then -- really pretty!
Isn't this cool how the snow attached to the fence at the tennis court?

Heading to the house from the tennis court.

 There's the house seen framed by snow-laden branches.

Looking out of the kitchen door to the front yard. The pendant lights are reflected on the door's glass.

Looking from the living room to the side yard.

Here's the cabin from the sunroom.

Finally, view from the window by my computer desk.

All so pretty. Heading to bed now!

Kitchen pleasure

Small pleasures keep cropping up. This will continue for a good while, I suspect!  For instance, living with new plumbing fixtures at Hanshill --- well, I'm still not used to that!  The old toilet used to require maintenance at least once each summer; sink faucets were quirky; the shower was a true joy to operate in the clawfoot tub ---- ahh, great memories.

This week's small pleasure that really put a smile on my face is using a brand new oven where I know that the thermostat is accurate and I can count on the temperature. Today I was a co-host for my garden club's monthly meeting/luncheon. I was assigned to make 6 quiches, plus a dessert. So on Monday I put together six pie crusts and refrigerated them. Then Tuesday I assembled the fillings, and baked the pies. Here they are, ready to load into the car this morning. Then we just re-warmed them during the business meeting ---- luckily the person hosting had two ovens.

The flavors, left to right, two of each pie, are broccoli with 4 cheeses (vegetarian), spinach with sausage and mushrooms, and crabmeat/tomato. The hostess made two pies of traditional quiche lorraine, so there was a nice selection. The old range's oven thermostat was terribly inaccurate. This kitchen feels so luxurious! One of many small pleasures!