Category: Baking

  • Birdie Birdie

    Birdie Birdie

    Finally seeing some birds at my feeder! I think the blizzard made the food and shelter attractive! Today we had dark-eyed juncos, white-throated sparrows, and Carolina wrens visit! I honestly can’t tell you how excited Tom and I were when we woke up to the photo notification. We are getting old. We also woke up…

  • Literally Dreaming of Spring

    Literally Dreaming of Spring

    Maybe we should have bone-chillingly cold weekends more often. Being stuck in the house made me very productive. This weekend I have made meatballs, gravy, stuffed shells and banana bread. I have all the ingredients for pasta fagioli and was contemplating knocking it out, but will push that to tomorrow night. I’ve done three loads…

  • Snow, No Pho

    Snow, No Pho

    It’s been sleeting here for hours. We definitely got more sleet than snow, and knock on wood, it looks like we will escape the ice. Today was a nearly perfect snow day. All five of us shared the shoveling. The kids learned early on that they won’t have school tomorrow. I busied myself baking chocolate…

  • Plans for 2026: Garden, Travel, Scrimp, Party!

    Plans for 2026: Garden, Travel, Scrimp, Party!

    My goal was not to be sick on Christmas, and I wasn’t. But most of us had strep throat this week. I guess it’s better than a cold or flu since once you get the meds it goes away. I resent having to pay $135 to urgent care so far. (But grateful for urgent care…

  • The Trying

    The Trying

    Lots of crawly friends in the garden this week: The swallowtail caterpillars are growing. And this spider, perhaps a cross orb weaver or spotted orb weaver, built a web between two of the garden posts and now has a tasty treat stored there. Sunsets are creeping earlier and I have to rush into the garden…

  • It’s Gonna Be May

    It’s Gonna Be May

    Busy weekend! Friend time, family time, garden time! I needed it after a crazy and hectic week at work. Yesterday I hung out with two friends for hours catching up. Pedicures were part of the itinerary. No guilt here, I haven’t spent money on myself in forever! Before that, I did some pine needle gathering…

  • Ordinary Time

    Ordinary Time

    My daughter was telling me how she was learning about Semana Santa (Holy Week in Spain) at school. This left me pondering how eventful Holy Week was when I was a kid, growing up Catholic. The big countdown to Easter, full of drama. Easter, the biggest day on the Church’s calendar, forget about Christmas. The…

  • Grooving in the Grove

    Grooving in the Grove

    It’s been a soggy, chilly, gloomy week. Today we were supposed to go to Admitted Students Day at T’s chosen college, but it’s just too cold and rainy for a nearly all outdoor event. The dog is bored and antsy, after a solid day of heavy rain yesterday. I’m pinning my hopes on tomorrow –…

  • April Is Busting Out All Over

    April Is Busting Out All Over

    Spring! It feels like a gift every year. Every winter I get used to winter. I put my pajamas on at 7 pm; I remember to wear a hat. I cook hot, filling meals. And I get to like it. Then the days lengthen, certain birds start singing again. A day comes when you can…

  • Winter Encore

    Winter Encore

    We had some nice weather for a bit there, and even a thunderstorm one warm night. But Friday brought a chill wind and the return of sickness. Actually some of us have been sick most of this week. I took a sick day Friday and alternated between laying on the couch and then feeling like…