Springing

I'd forgotten where our daffodil bulbs are located in the garden, but their top-secret hiding places are slowly being revealed as small shoots of green are starting to pop up in random areas through the still-frozen-solid dirt.

I also realize that I have a patch of purple irises that must have been multiplying for several seasons now without being divided. There's about a 2' x 2' area that will be covered with green shoots and purple flowers in another month or two. I will definitely divide and share/replant the bulbs later this summer to spread out the color - perhaps put a few in the front yard.

I'll plant some seeds this week as we're 6-8 weeks out from the typical last frost date of May 1st. (I read on one gardening site that May 25 is sometimes the last frost, but that depresses me too much, so I'm going to be optimistic and go with May 1st!)

We're starting to do more long walks outside by the lake and downtown. Park play dates and barbecue-parties-to-come are the general focus of conversation. But we're still keeping busy with all of our winter resources. That's what I'll focus on in my next post: how to stay sane and busy with a toddler in the cold, wintery Midwest.

Well, then.

It's mid-February in the Chicagoland area. What else is there to say?

Apologies for being so quiet on the blog. After receiving the third email in one week asking if we were doing okay... I figured I'd better cough up some news.

Well, there's snow. We had a blizzard! Did you hear about it? We shoveled a lot, cursed the way the winds had blown and drifted snow against our garage door, and rallied a ton of neighborhood brawn so that we could all get out of our shared alleyway the day after.

But now - we're in the midst of our first spring tease. This weekend it was sunny and warm (high 30s! low 40s!) and later this week it will be in the 50s! This is cause for cautious celebration because we all know that the mercury will plummet again before spring actually arrives.

We're taking lots of walks and getting as much use out of our snow boots, as possible. Especially the smallest member of the household, who was delighted by all of the slushy ice puddles brought on by the warmer weather.

We're listening to Rag Mop (or "mop mop", as Christopher requests it). And we're listening to anything else that we can... when we're allowed.

We're watching words spill out of Christopher's mouth - new ones on a daily basis. Who knew that he knew the names of so many things? Apparently he did, but the rest of us had to wait to actually hear it. It must be a relief to finally say what you mean/want and be understood.

Garden-planning, backyard-afternoons-dreaming, longer-day-yearning, park-swing-missing... that's what February is all about. All of those things will be here before we know it. We just have to keep reminding ourselves!

And lastly, Happy Valentine's Day! I just finished my annual day-of valentine crafting. Whew! Just in the nick of time, as always.

This week's dinner table. Part Two.

Perhaps this was not the best week to write about dinners since Mike and I will have shared ONE dinner together in the span of Sunday to Sunday... but we both ate, nevertheless.

When I last wrote, we were having White Bean and Chard Soup with Brown Bread. It was good. And that bread made some delicious toast. Especially with homemade blackberry jam. Just ask Christopher!

Wednesday night there were eggs on the dinner table. I have a new scrambling technique thanks to a tip from a friend. Don't laugh - we've all had nasty, dry, brown scrambled eggs before, right? There is a way to make them to absolute perfection. And I intend to try them as indicated on the linked website: piled on top of thick toast smeared with goat cheese. I added a little crumbled queso fresco and a side of greens with broccoli and sunflower seeds.

Thursday night brought leftover soup back to the table with the end of the brown bread (I'll be making that again very soon!) with green salad. It was Thursday. It's all I could muster.

Today is Friday and it's effing cold out there. When we woke up this morning the radio reported a temp of -4... but with the windchill? Oh yeah... it *felt* like -22 out there. The RealFeel vs. ActualTemp thing always amazes me. Why bother with "Actual"??? CRAZY! It didn't change our normal routine, but the furnace sure is getting a workout. The oven has been adding warmth and good smells by baking a few loaves of sandwich bread.

Later tonight for dinner: Broccoli and Cremini Mushroom Casserole (not quite the casserole mama used to make - this is out of The New Moosewood Cookbook), Mashed Potatoes (comfort for the low temps) and Green Salad. We do love salad.

Next week I intend to bring in a little soy protein via a killer tofu lasagna that I've been promised. I'll let you know how it turns out.