Spring is in the Air

Winter seems so long ago today, yet the last few night have been down below freezing.  Checked the garden this morning and all seems well.  I have stuff in the greenhouse still that needs planting but don't do the tender stuff till Memorial Day, our traditional planting day at the Millett Farm.

Just thought I'd share a few little pictures with you today.

Here in our tiny perennial garden that is waiting patiently for construction to end so it can spread it's wings we find a fully blooming pink Barrenwort...

I've had this little plant on my blog before but it's a little bigger now and hope it will thrive until it is time to transplant to a permanent home.

This is my tiny bleeding heart started last year. 

This is my "old fashioned" bleeding heart that I transplanted here a couple years ago.  It's small, but mighty and yearning to be planted in a place it can thrive.

These little guys are surrounded by ladies mantle, tansy, phlox, daffodils, and some other varied and sundry perennials longing to be free.  Maybe this year.

Don't you just love spring?

When I see the beauty that God has created I just can't help but praise Him... and I do praise Him for the beauty of winter... I just like to garden and you can't do lots of that in the winter :)

ONE YEAR AGO

It doesn't seem possible that Norman will be a year old on Friday.  He is such a wonderful baby.  I'm sure the spice will come out as he is fairly strong willed already, but at this point it is just a joy to have him here.

Here he was a year ago...



And here he was on Sunday in his first Easter "suit and tie"....

Love ya lil' Norman!  Happy birthday!

FRIKADELLEN



This photo is from http://www.gedankensprudler.de/?id=5874
but closely resembles my own recipe and serving ideas.
I like that she added caraway seeds to the brussel sprouts. Mmmm.



Share one of you families favorite dinners.

I thought my Aunt Jean had made up the name for these.  My mom used to call them "space burgers" 'cause the recipe used bread crumbs to take up space.  This was one of my favorites growing up.

German in origin, I'm guessing it is similar to German Meatballs (also known as frikadellen), but looks more like a hamburger patty.  I cook mine in a cast iron skillet and add stuff like mushrooms or diced onions even though there's chopped onions in the patty. 

Here's my recipe for Frikadellen

1 - 1 1/2 lb ground meat... beef, pork or lamb... whatever you have.
1 egg slightly beaten
1/4 finely chopped sweet onion or leek or green onion
1/4 c milk (can use a little yogurt/milk mixture)
1+ dry bread crumbs... don't need to be real crispy... I use old heels or crumbs from the bread board after my husband cuts his bread I save all the crumbs.
I add here spices... salt, pepper, paprika, parsley... anything you like to taste.

Mix egg, milk and breadcrumbs together then add all other ingredients and mix well.
Form into small patties 3" round and about 1" thick and fry all together in skillet. 
You can cook your mushrooms or onions right with the patties, or you can cook those afterwards in the pan drippings.  Keep patties warm in oven.  Don't overcook.  Use any pan drippings to make a light gravy to pour over patties and veggies.

We serve ours with whatever vegetables we have on hand, but my favorite side dish with this is something from the cabbage family and if you like potoatoes the gravy is nice over potatoes or mashed squash.  Mmmmm.  It's one of my most favorite dinners.

Please Vote

Joanna has entered a contest through Vermont State Parks by drawing a new logo for the water bottles they sell throughout the park system.  This is her drawing:

It's original.  I like it and if you do too would you please vote for her drawing at Vermont State Park Facebook  .  If you don't Facebook, maybe you have friends who do.  We're seriously lacking in "Likes".  Did you know you can actually PAY to have people "like" you on FB?  No kidding.  Well, we're not going there.  We're all appealing to those we know and who are hooked to internet or FB somehow to go to the above link, click on the picture and "Like" to make your vote count. 

Thank you all!

The Very Happy Snowman

Nice background, but here he is, minus his carrot nose and no arms.  He's still happy.

More Snow continued...

We had another nor'easter this weekend.  Seems we're on a trend here.  Another storm coming in midweek promising yet more snow.  This is the time of year when it seems there will be no end to it.

Church was cancelled on Sunday *sniff*sniff*.  Mr. D occupied the table most of the day studying while I did other stuff.  I spread some straw in the coops, did some laundry, cleaned the house since we were gone all day Saturday, got dinner ready for us all... didn't need to do much there since I had dinner all ready for church in the morning and was about 15 minutes from leaving to see if the roads were clear enough to pick up Amanda, and I made a snow man :)  OK, I know I'm almost 60, but just couldn't resist.  It was the best snowman making snow we've had all winter.  I didn't get a picture, but he's almost as tall as me and though I didn't add coal, hat, stick arms etc... he was cute with his carrot nose.

If he's still standing tonight... if Mr. D hasn't plowed him over... I'll take a picture for ya, minus the nose which was eaten last night.

After dinner, I kicked out Mr. D who had been studying all day and did a little sewing.  Here's my quilt block of the month for Feb...

A few have said already they think these are a little "busy", but I think they will look great surrounded in white.  They have some of the same fabric as the January block I did.

Here's another pic... color doesn't look as washed out....

Hope you have a wonderful day!



More snow

In winter I have a hard time believing that it will be summer, but I know it's coming even though today we are having more snow. 

I ran across this picture of little Norman resting comfortably in my lap with little toes sticking up.  He looks so comfortable here. 

It's hard to believe he'll be a year old on April 5th.  He's getting so big and doing new stuff all the time.  He like to mimic the dog and different sounds he hears... growling and "raspberries" and clicking his tongue... so fun.  He hasn't made an attempt at walking yet but loves bouncing up and down in his jumper.  He wriggles and wiggles to get where he wants to go, but no crawling yet.  Love this little guy and also my big boy too...



Picture from this summer... I don't have any current ones on my computer right now and this one's kinda fuzzy.



Have a great day everyone!