And it is so Worth the Wait

**No photos in this post are from yesterday as it is still brown outside, there is green to be found if you squint, but these pics really capture the mood.

Last night was wonderful, heck all day yesterday was pretty spectacular. The weather was perfect. We drove around with the windows rolled down, breeze in our hair. We opened doors and windows. I think probably a thick yellow fog of winter air (dog farts and diapers) dispersed into the atmosphere. Fresh cool air filled up our home. The dogs lounged in the yard, lazily woofing at the occasional squirrel (something I fully support) and looking for gross yard stuff to eat, because they are dogs. The girls were angels, no crazy meltdowns or bizarre behavior to mess with the mood of the day. It was fantastic.



Sometime around 3 I loaded up the girls into the stroller. I leashed up the dogs, one in each hand as I pushed the heavily laden stroller. Seriously folks it is quite a thing to watch, people will stop their cars to stare as I make my way through the neighborhood, one person leading four others with only the power of my alpha-ness to control the whole shebang. We took at least an hour, meandering through the labyrinth of our neighborhood. Cordelia and I played I-spy. Playing that game with a four year old goes something like this...Cordelia looks at a red house and says, "I see something that is red." Or she stares at a cloud and says, "I see something white in the sky." So, it's pretty easy to keep up. Elise is happy to just look around and chillax, a major shift from the baby who would howl for an entire walk for the last two summers. The dogs were happy to plod along at their basset-y pace, stopping to smell stuff and pee on the sidewalk. There is this obnoxious standard poodle named Noodles near our house and he barks incessantly at us, Bumblebee always stops to relieve herself by his fence, it's kind of funny---if you're into that kind of humor.



Later we worked in the back yard. This year the winter clean up is extra special thanks to the major, limb breaking, storms that hit over the winter. There were thousands of tiny broken branches and leaves to be dealt with, in the aftermath of the storms we were focused primarily on cleaning up large branches and now we face the insane task of cleaning up everything else. It's happening and it feels so good to get out there and do some manual labor, to feel the dirt and the air, and to smell the decay of leaves and to see the new plants poking up through the brown grass of last year. Oh it is so close. We stayed outside for ages today and the girls got so dirty. I saw them grinding soil into their hair and eating dirt. I didn't really try to stop them as it seemed to make sense after such a very long winter.

Project: Planting Time

No matter that the temperature is hovering right around the freezing point. We are going to make it spring through our strong will. Yesterday I took to the annual task of re-potting plants, giving new soil to those who need it and we started our seedlings to be planted outdoors as soon as the threat of frost has left us.

I led the girls in a huge mess making bonanza yesterday afternoon The kitchen floor was covered in dirt as we lifted out plants, shook off the excess dirt and re-potted or just refreshed the soil. The plants were watered and large leaves were wiped down, fresh and ready for a new year.  Next we pulled out the seeds and our first seed tray of the season. It's nice to get a head start on the short Wyoming growing season.

The girls really worked to help plant the seeds. It took an extra dose of patience on my part as little hands were quite grabby and seeds were flung about willy-nilly. We may have a few mystery plants, but all-in-all I think we got the job done.










When we were done Elise took care of the sweeping and Cordelia gave the newly planted seeds a thorough soaking.

Evening Stroll

Last night it was warm enough for Cordelia and I to take a walk with the dogs as the sun was setting. We walked at a four year old pace, stopping to conquer mountains of rapidly melting snow and inspect pine cones.I reveled in the bearable temperatures of the air, the constant stream of chatter that Cordelia released into the evening air. Betty and Bumblebee were happy to amble along and enjoy smelling all of the wet earth. I am so excited for spring and green growing things and evenings on the back patio and the sun on my skin. I look forward to afternoons on the back patio with the sprinkler going as two little girls giggle and scream. Last night was good too, just a mother and her oldest daughter and a couple of basset hounds.

SPRING!

 





Spring is here! Are you as excited as I am? I am kind of freaking out about it. I am so excited to plant my garden this year! We moved here in 2011 and it was a little late to do any major gardening. Then last year I started two raised beds, but kept things pretty limited as I was expecting to be out of commission with a newborn for much of the summer. This year I am ready! I have seedlings going. I am eagerly awaiting the last snow. I have compost waiting to spread and I have plans! PLANZ


What about you, do you garden? Any words of wisdom?

Oh, and have you noticed...?

Last night I was on my way to a meeting just as the sun was setting. I happened to look up into the sky and noticed that the branches of the tree, named Aardvark by Cordelia, were just bristling with life. There were fat buds on the branches. Soon they will start to pour out baby green leaves and then, just like that, spring will be upon us.

Oh I am really looking forward to those beautiful pink and purple and white blossoms that seem to bring in spring with such joy. Just another month and there will be tulips popping up from beneath last year's dead leaves, the ones that blew in after our insane yard rake up. I can almost smell the fresh lilac that grows around our house.

I cannot wait for the obnoxious cacphony of spring birds that chatter in the early morning hours. I am absolutely thirsty for spring rains, evening walks, longer days, and GARDENING! I am so eager to get outside with my girls, play in the dirt, look at plants and enjoy. I can't wait to have Cordelia really help with the planting and tending this year. I am overjoyed at the thought of Elise's dimpled legs luxuriating in the soft green grasses. I am thinking about lunches on the back patio, afternoons on a blanket in the yard, blowing bubbles, chalk drawing....oh and just all of it.

So, I think it goes without saying that my springtime vigil has begun!

* Also, I just wanted to thank you all for you kind words and support yesterday. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me.

Easter Review

Yesterday was Easter. I awoke my girl, who has eagerly been anticipating this holiday...which is kind of weird because I can't really explain it to her and we don't pretend that there is an Easter bunny or anything. Anyway I awoke my girl by telling her she got to wear her Easter dress (finally) and she was so excited she shook with excitement.

We got all dressed and could not find her white dress shoes. Eric and I were running around the house frantically hunting for them and no luck. Finally, totally exasperated, we just put purple tennis shoes on her feet and went to church. Her shoes were a hit, of course.







Later I made a relatively simple (prepared in an hour) Easter dinner for the family. My parents and youngest brother Sam came over to share in the meal. My mother made vegan rolls and an apple cranberry pie (so good). I made tofurkey, a few salads (please scroll down or click the links for recipes--today's post is actually 4 this post plus three posted recipes) lemon asparagus, couscous with almonds and cranberries, herbed baby potatoes and vegan deviled eggs. I used this recipe for the "eggs" and it was WEIRD, because it was pretty good and convincing. I did tweak the filling recipe as it called for a lot of salt and I wanted way more mustard. Anyway we set it all out, buffet style called it good. Simple and filling.


Buffet style


The obligatory tofurkey. Eric might revolt if I refused to make it.


Simple fruit salad


Egg free deviled eggs

After lunch Cordelia opened her Easter basket while we looked on.



Then it was off to the backyard for an Easter egg (plastic eggs) hunt. She had a great time collecting them in her basket, then transferred them into a toddler sized shopping cart.











We all came back in, chatted for a bit, ate some pie and then my parents and brother went home and Cordelia passed out.



How was your Easter? Do anything special?

Vegan Recipe: Pasta Printemps

Oh I do love when all of the fresh veggies start to show up in the produce section this time of year. I almost forgot what truly fresh looking fruits and veggies actually tasted like, near the end of winter everything tastes kind of woody to me. Needless to say the infusion of super-fresh gets me all excited to put those flavors to work. Last night I took a bunch of the veggies I had gathered and put them all together. I am sharing my recipe below, but you should know that there is no hard and fast rule here, just go with what is fresh. Add some peppers or peas or whatever looks good to you!

Ingredients

• 12 oz pkg. of spaghetti noodles--though any pasta would probably work just as well
  
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 c. grape tomatoes
• 8-10 stalks of asparagus, woody portion of stem removed and the stalks cut into 1-2 inch bite sized pieces
  
• pinch of salt
  
• 1 zucchini, cut into half moons
  
• 1 can chickpeas, drained
  
• 1/4 c. grated carrot
• juice from one half of a lemon
• basil to taste--our store was out of fresh basil so I had to buy the pre-chopped basil in a tube and I used about 2-3 tsp., but freshly torn basil would be super

Directions

• Cook pasta in a big pot, according to directions
• While the pasta is cooking heat a large skillet and the olive oil over med. high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the tomatoes and heat until they begin to lose their firmness.
  
• Add the asparagus, zucchini, and salt.
  
• Mine was looking a bit dry so I spooned in a bit of the pasta water (your call). Cover and cook until the tomatoes begin to break down a bit (maybe 5 minutes).
  
• Add the chickpeas and the carrot.
• By this point your pasta should be done. Drain, reserving a bit of pasta water in case things look dry still.
• Combine the pasta and veggies. Add the lemon juice and toss. Add a bit of pasta water if things are looking dry.
• Here you can add the chopped fresh basil or freshly torn basil. I think more is better but it is certainly a matter of personal preference.
• Enjoy!

A Little Living is Happening Here

We have been enjoying a recent warm streak here in Wyoming. The longer days and warm temperatures mean that we spend much of our time outside and I am discovering a little something that I have been missing in the cold months, life. Sure there is life sprouting up in the dirt, budding out of trees, but it seems that so much more living is going on.



The birds are chirping. The squirrels are extra frisky (to my horror). Neighbors are out, walking, working on their yards, playing in the streets. The yappy neighbor dog barks at us incessantly when we are in the back yard. Soon he will again become used to our presence and leave us alone; this will also probably coincide with the day I get annoyed by him and spray him with the hose.



To one side of us we have new neighbors who have a lot of young kids playing in their backyard. Sometimes the kids lose footballs to our yard. Sometimes they climb up the fence while I am working in the yard and tell me all of the naughty stuff they do...I think they are wanting for a little extra mothering and I am happy to oblige them in a kindly manner (for example: Don't say the **** word, that's rude).



We have started seeing the spiders, ants and flies that seem to come out at this time of year. Cordelia spotted a spider the other day and started crying. I assured her that spiders are our friends. She believed me enough that she wanted to pet the spider, calling it to her. So I had to explain that we just look at spiders and thank them for all of their hard work, not touching them as we might squish them. A lesson she has wanted to review several times, but now she likes to talk to spiders and that is making me smile.



I have been taking long walks in our neighborhood with Cordelia and Bumblebee. The brisk air leaves Cordelia and I pink cheeked and exhilarated. I find myself winded as this pregnancy begins to squish my organs and lungs, but I power through feeling happy to have the energy to climb hills on these beautiful days.



Mostly we are just enjoying the living that seems to be happening all around us. We spend our days in the sun, working on cleaning up the yard from the ravages of winter and dreaming of the life and all of its potential that is beginning to happen here.

First Warm Day of the Year

Yesterday was the first warm day of the year. Sometimes in Wyoming we claim 35 degrees to be warm, but yesterday it was really lovely. The temp was in the high 50sF. The sun was shining and the winter winds seemed to have taken a break. Cordelia, Bumblebee and I couldn't resist ourselves--we spent hours and hours outside enjoying the day.

We donned our snow boots as the shadows still harbored a bit of snow and the ground was soaking wet. We played, we started about the business of picking up our yard which has remained largely untouched for the winter months. We picked up sticks and leaves and righted overturned lawn ornaments. Cordelia found some half buried dinosaurs (not real dinosaurs, she's advanced, but not that advanced). We just sat and enjoyed this first warm day.


Cordelia was very helpful with the wheelbarrow.


Bumblebee followed the sunlight around the yard, finding the best reception on our table.


Oh, and there is new growth starting. Hints of green and purple poking up from the still cold earth.


Cordelia's hair styled by Wyoming Wind--while it was taking a break from hurricane force winds it was still present.


Food on her face...well, I claim responsibility for that one.


Taking it all in


Found treasures


Skip


Hop


Jump

Of course there will be more snow in the weeks (months?) to come, but we will savor each day spent outside soaking up the sun. How is it where you are?