Patience. . . . . . . and what about Blogger?

All we need is a little patience and tiny miracles appear right before our eyes.

Yesterday, to start the week the first few brilliant daffodils opened their golden trumpets.

Just one of many clumps scattered through the garden, the others still just green leaves, 

they positively glowed from the piles of brown leaves and twisted tangles of ivy.

For those of you still in the grip of bitter cold, perhaps buried under snowy

 landscapes - here's my little gift to remind you that springtime is on the way.

Of course it's still winter here in the southeast, however we are throwing off coats

and jackets this week with temperatures reaching into the seventies, as high as

77F tomorrow - but that won't last and often this month, and even March, can bring

harsh days, even snow, and bitter nights.

So what's all this happening with Blogger?  If it's your blogging platform

 did you get/understand the message received this morning regarding 

changes? Some of you apparently feel Google is going to scrap Blogger

all together in the near future - I do not think that will happen.  

The changes seem centered around Google+ and the way we leave

Comments. I have had many problems with this and find it so frustrating

when after writing a lengthy comment it just won't publish. Please know

 I try but often have to give up. BTW, I myself, never signed up for Google+

on my blog.

This morning I've been reading more about alternative blogging 

platforms such as Wordpress which seems popular and easy to use.

Any of you on Wordpress.org or Wordpress.com who would like

to comment here are welcome to share both positive or negative

thoughts. I'm especially interested in whether or not old Blogger 

posts can be migrated into a newly opened Wordpress blog. 

Enjoy your day - and perhaps change is good, sometimes!

Friendship. . . . . . .

I've been rising a bit earlier lately on many mornings.

I like waking when the house is still as if buried under a soft blanket, 

dark and silent, all sounds muffled . . . . . . . . . . . . .most recent mornings
 being chilly, however this one beautiful with sunshine and promised warmth.

Bright Saturday in the southeast, and plans for a meeting with a very dear
friend and her lovely daughter this afternoon. 
Many of you who've followed me over the years will remember Vanessa, my
special younger friend originally from Brazil. We met via our blogs, then
spent several years treasure hunting together to stock our shared booth
at SuzAnna's Antiques, as well as painting furniture, shopping the fun stores
 such as Anthropologie, baking and drinking coffee. . . . . .and hanging out
 together almost every week.
When she and her family moved away to Charlotte, NC a few years back, we still
 managed to meet up now and then, but I have really missed her and all the fun
 things we used to share. In all honesty, she made me feel young again!
Now they are moving to California in a few weeks. . . . . . .so much farther away.
Getting together will be even harder - but we will hopefully now and then!

Early morning light in February

This morning I quickly designed a new header for the blog - I just

felt in need of a little change. This is the month of the year I usually

dislike most - just something missing and it brings me anxiety.

Seeing Vanessa's always brilliant smile, and sweet Luna now almost twelve

 (she was in a stroller when we first met!) always with a glowing happy look 

on her sweet face, will be cheering despite having to say goodbye. . . . . . 

 for perhaps a long while this time.

Friends and friendship, a very special part of life.

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?