Flying, folding and food!

One of our resident Carolina wrens is very chatty today. 

Perhaps it knows more about the weather than 

the local meteorologists! I've noticed how the garden birds

 act differently when inclement weather is on the way or has

 arrived. . . . . . . . . . . . . .especially snow!

Yes, our third weekend in a row with snow which started 

at midnight Friday. At 7 AM yesterday I awoke to just a dusting, 

nothing like they are experiencing north of us!

Stay safe all of you who live in the New York-Boston-New England

areas where unbelievable snow accumulation is breaking records!

Meanwhile, books of all types seem to be central to my life

this weekend, especially cook books - searching for new recipes to 

try on the cold days, such as 19F here this morning, and more

 very cold nights expected through the coming days.

Soups and veggie stews are best.

I prefer bright crinkled Savoy cabbage when making a soup

and, although you can't see them here, the carrots had their lovely

green feathery leaves attached. I usually add at least some of

 them for added nutrients - Vitamins C & K and Potassium.

It turned out well with layers of flavor not usual in a vegetable

soup, such as a splash of unfiltered apple cider vinegar to wake up

 and enhance the other flavors, a piece of Parmesan cheese rind

 to enrich the vegetable broth, (always keep those when you cut them 

off your wedge of cheese as they are very useful - just seal in a bag

 and keep in the fridge, or freezer). 

Cold nights - hot soup - a blazing fire on the hearth.

While doing a little dusting - and oh how dusty it gets in these

 winter months when burning wood in an open hearth - other books

 I've been observing are these that I 'folded' some years ago.

I enjoyed doing that with old hardcover books picked up for a

 dollar or so at thrift shops and used book stores.

 

This morning was bitter early on but the sun is out now and it going to warm 

up to 44F.  A few patches of snow remain and the birds are still hungry. 

Many are coming to feed and drink.The sweet female Eastern bluebird

visited the front porch, and and male Northern flicker spent at least 10 minutes

 on the suet block - his first visit to the garden in quite a while.

Hope everyone is safe during the stormy weather.

Stay warm and here's hoping February will be a better month!

Cooking with a special loved one. . . . . . .

In all honesty, I really dislike mobile phones.  

They have changed our way of life in more ways than I could ever write about here, 

some for the better perhaps, but mostly for the worst when it comes to leading a

truly happy, peaceful, and yes, old-fashioned way of life without constant interruptions.

You may not agree with my thoughts, which is quite alright of course. 

Many of you are younger than me and you have grown to adulthood with the

 ability to process your daily life with what a phone in the hand, pocket or bag allows.  

Anyway, this not a post about phones and, truth be known, every now and then the

phone does 'ping' with a welcome message as it did for me early on a recent morning.

"Grandma, I woke up this morning craving a bowl of your leek and potato soup. 

Do you think you could share your recipe with me please?"

So Jasmin and I got together a few days later and made soup here in the cozy

 January kitchen. The light was bright and the cold outside was forgotten

 as we chopped potatoes and sliced those lovely green and white leeks. 

I showed her how important it was to make sure leeks were washed well

 to rid them of any hidden dirt. This particular soup is so easy and then

 so delicious - another of those 'comfort foods' we recently discussed.

Photo via iPhone by Jasmin

For Jasmin and Bob bowls of homemade goodness for lunch along with

 an oven-warmed French baguette. I had no time to eat or take photos
 as I had a PT appointment to get to. 

Photo via iPhone by Jasmin

That same evening I enjoyed my bowl of comfort, in quiet comfort by the fire,

feeling good that a 'cooking class' took place and hoping it happens

 more often as all young people should learn to cook. . . . . . . and while
doing so will hopefully put aside their phones!

Do you agree?

Have you given your children/grandchildren cooking lessons?