Springtime

Little green shoots are popping up in the dark black soil out in my yard.  Birds are chirping and swarming around our bird feeder. Rain drizzles making everything richly green.  Of course it is still freezing and I'm sitting here in my light winter coat because I turned the heat off two days ago.

I had an amazing arugula salad for dinner tonigh with pecans crumbed on top. I bought the arugula this time with hopes that soon I will have some growing in my backyard.  I love the flavor-it has so much more to offer than lettuce.  Mixed with lettuce it's all pretty good.  

We've had our first backyard fire of the year and it was fantastic. We roasted Hebrew hot dogs, turkey dogs, and bratwurst. We had all the trimmings:  suaerkraut, mustard, ketchup, buns, homemade pickle relish and wasabi. We had bad-for-you-chips and bottles of crisp cider. It was all delicious.

Something about spring makes everything just crack open in an exciting way.  Life begins anew.  It's refreshed and earthy.  In the midwest we treasure it because we've been hibernating just to keep warm.  I, for one, am ecstatic to have warmer weather here and to share time outside with family. 

{Young Hansen gardeners}