Shhhh! I know it's winter and you know it's winter but my baby lettuce plants don't know. And that's the way I like it.
I ran into a friend at a Christmas party when we had three feet of snow on the ground. He's passionate about his vegetables; his Victory garden outgrew his side yard several years ago, then consumed the sports court that the kids used and now occupies the front yard too. And he regularly dines at the best restaurant in town--because he supplies them with his gourmet greens. (His pampered lettuce plants reside in hot frames with soil heating pads and produce in abundance. Did I mention that he has his own tractor?) We fell into conversation about the kids and moved on to gardening. He laughed politely when I told him that I was growing lettuce (remember those three feet of snow). I'm not sure if he thought I had a poor sense of humor or was suffering from a mental breakdown. It's tempting to email him my photo right about now.
Truth is, I accidentally discovered that if I sow my lettuce seeds in the fall, they'll sprout, somehow magically survive the killing frosts and then grow happily under their cozy blanket of snow before providing an early harvest of delectable leaves in the springtime. These little guys easily doubled in size under the snow despite the sub-zero temperatures in December and January!
I love romances and biographies and movies. Combine them and you get Bright Star. (Think Twilight--but with better couture, set in England and one of the lovers dies.)
If you like Jane Austen novels, views of the English countryside, period costumes and evocative music, I think you'll enjoy this movie about John Keats. Even if you're not a poetry lover. Although after hearing Keats tell Fanny that poetry is like being in a lake (a leisurely experience rather than a race to your destination) I think I may grab a book of poetry the next time grey clouds gather. Hearing his poetry spoken is sensual overload. (That would be me swooning.)
Two trailers. Sigh, I am enamored of this film.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever--and so is Bright Star. I think this is one I'm going to put on my wishlist so I can watch it over and over.
Someone (who shall remain nameless but who does share my bed each night) spent the past three days hogging using my computer rather than his laptop to upload photos. It slightly cramped my style and caused me severe withdrawal pangs, but he's forgiven since I'm sure he had his reasons.
Thanks to everyone who put their two cents in to help me decide on which font for my Meadowsweet Cottage sign. Chopin--my favorite too--was the overwhelming choice followed by Brock with scattered applause for Handscript.
My sister Pooh (aka Always Humming) helped in two ways. Her how-to on s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the text were easy-peasy which is exactly the way I like. She wasn't quite satisfied with any of the fonts. That made me take a second look and while I liked Chopin a whole lot, I realized I wasn't nuts about the "M". So I substituted the Brock "M" which I did like and kept the rest Chopin.
It's perfect, people! Now to transfer it to the cabinet door sign (which you can see is painted) and also get the decorative oval designed and basecoated. The front porch is going to look so welcoming with it up this Spring!
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While I'm enjoying Google Reader, it wasn't keeping Amberism's posts updated. I think I've got that worked out but now I'm realizing her new posts aren't showing up here on Meadowsweet. Ack! I'm troubleshooting that now but it means she'll be temporarily absent from my sidebar. I hope to get her back before her new bundle of joy arrives! She's been busy recently so you can click on her link here while I play Mrs. Fix-It.
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Ma cousine liked the friend post and sent along a link to this wonderful YouTube video. This goes in the "I wish I'd said that" category. Warning: tearjerker of the best kind! Have your Puffs Plus ready.
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I've been craving the LinkWithin widget for months. It's fun to bounce around related posts on the blogs that have it. I've learned about furniture, flowers, cloches, chandeliers, chickens, potatoes, and faux mercury glass. I've tried to install it numerous times and failed every time. Other bloggers seems to have no problem with it. They make it look easy. I've even looked at their source code for inspiration--no luck, although my posts did briefly link to Cindy's at My Romantic Home which was interesting in an unusual way.
I finally gave up yesterday and dumped the whole mess in the laps of the good technowizards at LinkWithin. With their help and the creek don't rise, maybe Meadowsweet Cottage will finally show you some related links. I'm reallyreallyreally looking forward to it. Is it just me or does it make a blog more interesting? (Yes, yes, my name is pogonip and I'm a websurfing addict, I know.)
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I'm so glad I rolled out of bed even though it was cloudy and raining because by the time I got to my Walking Partner's house it was just fresh and the shower had ended. My cheeks are glowing and my oatmeal is cooking! Whether you're shoveling snow or mowing the grass, putting on sunglasses or a raincoat, dreaming of flowers or a good night's sleep, wishing the week would be over or happy to be working--have a wonderful week filled with wonderment, surprise and laughter!
I like a bit of a mongrel myself, whether it’s a man or a dog; they’re the best for every day. --George Bernard Shaw
Four years ago, a little border collie whelped ten little puppies east of the Marysville Buttes in California. While seven of the puppies were black and white like their mother, three of them were inexplicably golden. The rancher was not pleased to see that his little helper had been secretly courted by the neighboring lab/golden/aussie mongrel and decreed that the entire litter would be taken to the pound as soon as they were weaned. So at seven weeks of age, they were placed in a large cardboard box and surrendered to the Yuba County Animal Care facility. The folks there were nice, but the clock was ticking and a week later the unadopted puppies found a temporary harbor in the kennels at Sutter Buttes Canine Rescue.
Meanwhile, I'd been haunting Petfinder on a daily basis for over four months, Spring Break had just started and I was checking the Petfinder site one last time before we left on a dog-finding trip in the Sacramento area. I discovered a new litter of puppies had been listed in the Gridley area and told my husband that I was positive there was some Golden Retriever blood in these little border collie x aussies (besides the typical border collie pup there was a stocky golden male puppy shown) and that they might be worth a look.
Nine hours and seven shelters later, we were sadly empty-handed. Should we head towards the Bay Area, stay with family and continue our search there? Or should we call the Gridley rescue people and see if they still had the tan puppies? Well, we chose the second option and headed two hours north. It may have been the best decision we ever made or it may have been destiny guiding us. The little gold and white puppy I'd been dreaming about was there waiting to fill our lives with joy and laughter. Now we always have good Kharma as our house.
Aren't friends one of life's great blessings? Whatever would we do without them! (Well, in my case I sleep in late and don't exercise and bottle up evil thoughts. I really am a much nicer and healthier person when I'm with my friends.)
Exercise and girl talk is such a rewarding way to begin the day that the heat of summer, nippy autumn winds and frozen chins couldn't deter us. Treacherously icy winter weather put an end to the daily morning walk-and-talks--friendship is one thing, risking broken bones another. The Christmas holidays turned my focus to getting presents finished on time. January came and we got in two pathetic morning walks during which I discovered that I needed to rebuild my hill-climbing muscles and that I no longer really wanted to get up early and walk. My bad, big time.
I started cleaning out my computer files last month (to avoid the wintery outdoors I can be fairly creative) and discovered a file I'd forgotten marked Wish List. Gotta say that the power of the written word is truly impressive because I was able to cross off most of the items on the list. I was surprised to find that I'd wished for an exercise partner who could hold me accountable--and of course now I have my young friend who walks with me all summer and her mom who walks with me the rest of the year!
Maybe because of that, or maybe because of better weather I've found myself waking up early. Each morning this week I've woken up at what would be my usual time if I was walking and felt increasingly guilty at lying there warm and cozy when the weather isn't really all that cold. And wondering if my friend had given up on me or was still hoping that I might show up sometime soon. I know the universe doesn't believe in coincidence and I don't think it likes procrastination either--I crossed paths with BOTH my walking partners as I made my way home!
Turns out my patient walking partner has opened the storm door every morning this week just hoping that I'll knock. And even though she's kick-ass fit, she's happy to take a shorter hill-less walk with me. I feel so lucky to have her for a friend, sounding board, walking partner and an exercise conscience! I feel healthier and happier already because we have a date to resume our morning walks starting Friday morning. Why Friday and not Thursday morning? Well, Thursday is her day to sleep in. Gotta laugh! Our loose, roll-with-it approach is perfect for both of us.
I have so many wonderful friends. Friends who helped me survive toddlers and teenagers; friends who allow me to nudge them into craft projects they'd never take on themselves; friends who love games and potlucks and chocolate and laughter; friends who let me vent and who share their frustrations with me. Friends I've shared a bathroom with and friends I've "only" met online.
Dear friends, I don't "heart" you. I don't "luv ya." I simply want to say that I love you ('cause you can't commit just a little bit). I've discovered that friendship is just another big long fancy way of saying love.
Nothing says loving like something from the oven (or any part of the kitchen)!
My sweetie makes crackers--actually makes them from scratch!--with whole grains and lots of seeds and spices. Just thinking about them makes my taste buds stand up and holler! He's made cheese crackers and sesame rice crackers and an unusual soft rye cracker, but my favorite are the whole wheat/caraway concoction that I dubbed Comstock Crackers. Oh. My. Goodness!
Our son craves humus but it's a little expensive on a college student's frugal budget. He found a tasty recipe on allrecipes dot com (our favorite cooking site for everything from baked ziti to roast asparagus) and now regularly whips up a batch for work as well as an occasional bowl for his two doting parents who provide garbanzo beans a la Costco. Put some of his spicy humus on his dad's Comstock Cracker and you've got a gourmet treat that's impossible to beat.
I just make bread. No breadmaking machines to come between me and the kneading process, thank-you-very-much. I enjoy feeling the gluten strands gradually taking hold until the dough reaches the perfect consistency as I knead it on my dad's old pastry canvas. I can feel that the loaf will rise perfectly with great texture. With lots of whole wheat flour and some molasses and good-for-us oat bran we've got a winner.
Here it is fresh and steaming hot out of the oven--ready for a bit of jam or butter...love in every bite.
February! Why celebrate love just on the fourteenth when there's a whole long month to cozy up? I'm spending the next weeks concentrating on the people, places and things that make my life truly love-ly.
I might as well start by planning the perfect romantic evening. Of course we'll need music--heartfelt lyrics, lilting vocals and lush arrangements. Nothing else is so evocative of new love, courtship and long lazy kisses. Nothing else can make me melt so quickly in my sweetheart's arms as a song that I associate with our carefree days. Nothing else could contribute more to the perfect mood for a romantic tete a tete.
Putting my Playlist together was pure delight. Remembering those songs that perfectly expressed our love was easy. Music, not fragrance, evokes the strongest, clearest and most emotional memories for me. The melodies that we knew word for word and chord for chord on the guitar. The ones we carefully chose for our wedding. We don't have an "our song"--we have a whole selection of favorites that make us smile at each other.
I love "silly love songs." They're only silly if you are being cynical and skeptical. And you can't be either of those things if you're loved or in love.
What's your Playlist like? Does it have music that's classical, folk, rock'n'roll, pop, big band, or new age? Do you and your sweetie have a special song?
