Spring 2013 Report or saying so long to March

Spring came on the 20th but it is different from last year.

There is no eating outside or marveling at the warmth or being shocked by the 'much too early' appearance of the mosquito this month. Instead it has been snowy and cold.

So on equinox I did the only thing I could think of on my day off. I went and hid in the conservatory for three hours. In there I could sit in a t-shirt, underneath pepper plants and fig trees, and pretend that winter had no hold over me.  Glorious.

Since equinox we have been having some sweeter and more spring like days. Yesterday I wore my leather jacket instead of my winter coat. I am wearing my black unlined boots. There has been sun and a thunderstorm moved in early yesterday morning. The snow is being washed away and the birds are all lining up on the telephone wires ready to jump into Spring.

Any day now I'll be getting the report that the first red-winged blackbird has been spotted and we will know spring is really here. My body is ready, I don't seem to need my light therapy anymore and my plate seems empty without lots of veggies.  New shoots both indoors and out are popping up everywhere. And we found a place that makes the most wonderful zucchini fries.

So onward to April! Here's to a new round of project 333, the pathways [chemistry] of joy workshop, more of those fries, the friend's plant sale and dining out for life. 

It's time to wake up. Good morning all.

summer and patience

I want to leave myself a note -- on Wednesday the 14th of March, I ate my dinner outside in the herb garden. Also my wife saw the first mosquito on her arm that evening.

It's winter until March 20 but we jumped to summer this week. Temps around 80 for days. Between the heat and DST my ass has been kicked! I am just starting to adjust to the time and weather change.

These are some of the reasons why I have not yet blogged about Patience which I saw last Sunday the 11th. This picture is of the gorgeous, effective set. Truly beautiful. The opera matched the set and is the funniest G&S I have ever seen. The chorus of 'lovesick maidens' in their classical dress -- loved them. All of the leads -- accomplished singers. The music was wonderful. Highly recommended go see it and enjoy. Hopefully it is not completely sold out. Off to dancing, it's going to be a hot night!

The question-What to do with old yarn?

An answer.

I have a few old balls of acrylic that would love to become art on some grey building. Something to ponder as I continue to enjoy spring-like weather. [and finish a baby sweater]

Next question -What was this week?

Answer-No idea, it felt quite odd.

Random thoughts:

I am still full of snow from last year's abundance. My new snowshoes are languishing as I smile at the green-tan yards outside. The ponds are watery stripes of grey.

Great meditation group last night at the common ground.

After months of desire my office is cleaned up. It only took 2 afternoons. I am trying to notice why it was so stuck for so long and why it suddenly shifted. I see nothing. I am forced to assume magic.

Tonight I am going out to see a new show at the Walker. "Brazen theatrical inventiveness" sounds exhilarating. Ok time to stop trying to write. When exhilarating looks weird I know my brain is shot. I actually had to look it up, I couldn't trust spell check.

Happy weekend all!

soggy summer solstice 2011

It's almost typical to have soggy cold summer solstices around here and this year did not buck that trend. It's been a very rainy 12 hours and my cherries on my tree are still hard green marbles. No early spring this year.

But still the season is now officially summer no matter what the weather does and the long hours of daylight have been wonderful. I took a long weekend from work so I am enjoying a holiday, the humidity is a bit more tolerable now that we have a breeze and there was a dry period this morning when I really enjoyed sitting on my new arbor bench that my wife built in my new geometric herb garden.

So now it's onto the joys of summer. Throwing a big party for my wife next month, visiting with my in-laws, seeing my favorite niece and god-daughter, enjoying my CSA, women's basketball and biking. It's hard to believe July is just around the corner. I hope that I can really be mindful and enjoy it. And I hope you do too.

Sprouting Spring

I have been craving sprouts like crazy. I have put them on fried egg sandwiches and pizza, soon I'll just be eating them on their own. I'm thinking it's a sure sign of Spring.

Or I am turning into a sheep. I have craved mushrooms and fish in times past but sprouts is a new one for me.

In the spring report, crocus blooming, cherry tree and forsythia budding. Planning new formal garden area outside dining room window that will include a lavender hedge. I feel giddy about it. I have always longed for a lavender hedge and now there is a lavender hardy for my zone!

I can't wait to try it.

getting pithy

I couldn't resist the pun. Did anyone notice that the grapefruit were fabulous this winter? Or was I just lucky. I'll miss the citrus for sure. Each season has it's own wonderfulness.

And I got my new computer cord already, it was so quick. Sure enough back on Firefox my line breaks are returning. Way less head achy for sure.

I have been thinking about fruit since we are picking out fruit trees to plant and eating way more of it. We are going to take a chance on a peach in an extremely sheltered location. We will certainly need some luck but risks in the garden can be such a good thing.

welcome spring 2011

Here it is the first day of spring and I still can't type. You would not believe how many typos there were in that first sentence.

It seems as I get older I enjoy spring more and more, perhaps it because we have actually had a spring the past few years? I still really enjoy winter and dislike bugs but still I look forward now to the weather warming up. It may be bike related.

So much snow has melted that even with a couple of feet still blocked on the streets by old snow the roads look incredibly wide today. If I had a bike that was ready I would be tempted to ride to dancing tonight.

No big equinox celebration planned, I'm getting ready for a family wedding and that is taking quite a bit of my energy. I did get my first long walk outside without a hat yesterday. The trails aren't clear enough for running, I was a bit optimistic about that but soon they will be. My cat sits outside in his yard with satisfaction and the birds and squirrels are going crazy, spring everywhere.

I can't quite believe with tons of snow this year I still didn't learn to snowshoe, so something to look forward to next year then. xo.

loving this weather

The first day of Spring is this Sunday and the weather here has been very spring-like all week here. The piles of snow are rapidly shrinking, the birds are being raucous in the mornings and there was a sighting of herons on the river. Red wing blackbirds can't be far behind.

Plus the illusion of more daylight thanks to daylight savings time. Which I will enjoy much more as soon as my body stops wanting to stay up past midnight.

I have found myself thinking about biking again. Wondering if I should invest in a new bike, I never did replace the stolen one. I definitely need a rack and panniers. Perhaps I'll ride to and from the train station and take public transport to work this year.

Oh and running! I did a bit on the treadmill this winter, but not much. I can't wait to go to the bird sanctuary and run on the dirt paths. Perhaps I'll even be able to do that this weekend and I am looking forward to finishing my couch to 5K program in the warm weather. [I got up to about 2.3 miles last year]

Then there are daffodils, and corned beef and cheese-cake and egg dishes...all spring to me.

I love to hear about springtime plans from others and get inspired. What does spring mean to you?

before I forget again

I just want to get the word out in all possible ways. My phone is dead. Has been for a week now. Phones just do not like getting wet at all. I am trying very hard to not be furious with myself, you know for being human and making a mistake but that can be a hard pattern to overcome.

I am pretty down about this and also it's now way harder to get hold of me, email is your best bet because it will be a few more days before I get a new one. sigh.

It all seems to be going at once. The oven is dying, it took forever to get it to 350 on Saturday, we have a strange burning smell coming from the dishwasher [we stopped running it] and we already know our ancient washer is on borrowed time.

I may be an appliance whore but this is making me feel pretty overwhelmed with it happening all at once. ah well. At least with the appliances it's mostly age.

and I can't seem to remember to feed those trolls even though I bought the beer... I love the grim yuletide stories though.

an old fashioned December

If you heard about Minneapolis getting a tons of snow this weekend know that they did not lie. Eighteen inches in less than 24 hours is a hell of a lot of snow. Especially when neither snow blower/thrower wants to work and you have to resort to shoveling it all.

Since we only own one snow shovel we pretty much spread out the work between three of us and it is incredible pretty. The drifts are huge and sculpted and beautiful. Many neighbors took pictures. [that is actually our truck with the huge drift] Which is great because we all know I suck at taking pictures and getting them online.

There was a ton of wind as the snow fell, it was actually a blizzard there for awhile even in the city with all the buildings to block the wind. The buses stopped running and many performances were canceled Saturday night. I guess the show doesn't go on if the audience risks death to get there? [But then my unruly mind wonders about theatre in London during the blitz of WWII]

Although the snow threw me off a bit this weekend, I didn't get my father's candy made or shop or finish my cards or or or, still I am happy about the snow. Nothing makes me more grumpy than to have a snow-less December. I feel that if I live up here in the far north, I better have a white winter solstice or else. [Else move to somewhere tropical] If the snow all wants to disappear come January that would be fine. If not we'll try out our new skis, you know if it warms up above 10 degrees at some point.

Stay warm all!

summer solstice 2010 and cherries already

brilliant, it's summer solstice already. Although we are having a humid and rather gloomy day thus far still the glorious light is always a reason to celebrate. Just last night I was invited out for dinner, I hesitated realizing I needed to spend time in the garden as well then I realized it's light until about 9:30! I can easily eat dinner out and still get an hour in garden before dark. The joys of summer solstice.

This is also a busy time of year since it coincides not only with one of my best friend's birthday but gay pride is also held this time of year in Minneapolis. 2010 has the extra addition of the UU general assembly which I will probably miss entirely, it was just the wrong week for me. oh well.

Also this weekend I started picking cherries from our tree, weeks ahead of last year. See the spring was really early this year, I did not imagine it. [too bad that didn't result in my getting my garden in early -- don't ask] So since it was not too hot I turned on the the oven and made clafouti again with my cooking cherries. Here it is version 2:


[Cherry] Clafoutis v. 2

preheat oven to 375 and butter a round cake pan or ceramic baking dish,

Mix together on medium until light in colour and rather foamy, 3 eggs and 1/2 c coconut sugar.

[Basically I just keep the kitchen aid going on low as I add the rest to the egg/sugar mixture.]

Add 5 T of melted butter gradually, while mixing.
Add 1/2 c whole wheat pastry flour and mix until incorporated
Mix together 1/2 c yogurt with 1 T maple syrup and 1/2 c water, then pour this mixture slowly into batter
Add 2 t flavoring [with cherries use almond]

The batter should be smooth.

Pour batter in pan, place 1.5 c cherries, sour or sweet, on batter
Your choice as to whether you pit the cherries, it's traditional [and easier] to leave the pits in but then warn people before eating, if you plan on sharing it that is.
Bake until set and lightly browned about 30-40 minutes.
Let sit 10 minutes before eating.

Some claim clafoutis is only good fresh from the oven and it is delicious. However I am firmly in the camp that believes that leftover clafoutis is a near perfect breakfast and pretty good for dessert the next night as well. I would be happy to eat your leftovers if you disagree.

garden already behind

Even though I grew up in a place where spring came earlier apparently I have acclimatized pretty well to MN and the late [or nonexistent] springs. So even though I thoroughly relish the really delightful spring we are having [still 3 weeks until official summer] part of me just wasn't ready to get with the planting, weeding and mowing any earlier than the past 10 years.

In fact, I am not sure how it happened but somehow the early spring resulted in putting things off in a big way. That seems backwards but still that is what is happening. Case in point; it is June tomorrow and only about 1/3 of my fairly limited garden is planted. I have plants that I must get in the ground. Also we are so far behind in the mowing but part of my brain can't figure out why, it's like I can't really equate all that cool, rainy spring weather with all the grass growth, even though I should.

The garden also gave me several surprises. My tarragon, oregano, thyme, lavender all came back. [first time ever] But my rosemary and dill didn't. I would have thought that the last 2 would have been the hardiest... the mysteries of nature.

Quick notes:
Ten more days until the first CSA drop off.
Still running, still writing.
Tomorrow night with friends Evelyn Evelyn [Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley] at the Cedar.

I hope everyone is having a stellar wrap up to the weekend. Happy June!

early spring

As I have mentioned we are having a blissful spring this year weather wise. Frequently this area goes right from freezing snow to blistering summer temps with very little lingering in between. But not this year. This year there was no snow in March [and usually it is the snowiest month]. Instead it seems we have had weeks and weeks of sunny weather, sometimes in the 70s but not always, cooler nights and blooms everywhere. All the trees are flowering enthusiastically a whole month ahead of some years. Really it has been glorious. The earliest spring since 1981. My roses are already growing, the lavender actually survived the winter and the weeds are all extremely happy.

While I have been enjoying it immensely I have also been thrown off my gardening game. While sitting on the terrace last Tuesday I realized that the grass desperately needed to be cut --on April 2oth. I keep on thinking our CSA is going to start any time, because it feels like it should be the third week of May not April. And we are not out of the woods, we still have a least a couple of weeks where we could get a hard frost and we'll have to cover the cherry tree with a sheet to protect the blossoms.

Well at least we don't have stuff to water yet, but my gardens are looking me wondering when I am going to get them prepped for growth. Also I am arguing with myself, should I plant some cold weather stuff early? Is that foolish? What on earth am I going to plant this year? All in all though it's a fun challenge to have, I adore this spring.