Last week when we knew it was going to get really cold, I went out to the garden and harvested a few things:  a couple 

Savoy cabbages, and the tops out of a couple Brussels Sprouts.  Here is the biggest, prettiest one.

 

The leaves are edible, just like kale, so we processed them, and put them in the fridge.  Interesting:  by cutting out the top, it forces the Brussels sprout to pop out along the stems.  

 

We'll see.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We only got a little snow, but it has been so cold for the last few days.

 

My dinosaur kale isn't happy, BUT!!!  It isn't dead.  Yay!!!

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

I don't know about you, but I love decorating at Christmastime. And I don't know about you, but I am a little bit lazy.

 

OK.  I love doing it, but not every month!  So, in the winter, I decorate with snowmen.  That way we have happy decorations for Christmas, and they last until spring. ;).  Get it?  We get to celebrate Christmas and winter.  

 

These Russian nesting dolls are called Matryoshka and were a present to Momma when Will went to Russia in 1994.  I am lucky enough that they live at my house and make us smile every winter.  

 

And the silk poinsettias are good all the way up til Valentines Day.  Hahaha!!!  Seasonal decorations!

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

I just wanted to stop by to wish you a Merry Christmas.  And to let you know that all is merry and bright here, and warming up!!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Look at this beautiful Amaryllis that my friend gave me.  It has four flower buds on this stalk, and another stalk coming up.

 

I love these bulbs.  They can be "forced" to bloom,  or they can be left to bloom naturally.  And the bulbs last for years if allowed to rest between blooming.  I usually let my bulbs rest over the winter when they don't get much sun anyway.  Then in the spring when it warms up enough (over 50 degrees at night) I put them outside and they bloom and grow leaves.  They spend the summer and fall outside so their leaves can grow and make food for the bulb.  Then when nighttime temps drop below 50 degrees, I bring them into the basement to rest until next spring.  Then we start over.  

 

This one was forced to bloom at Christmastime.  That just means that the grower started watering the bulb around Thanksgiving, and in the course of a month it sent up this stalk and then bloomed.  My other Amaryllis bulbs will bloom in the spring when I put them out.  

 

I will be sure to show you all the Amaryllises when they bloom.  Each one is special and beautiful.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

From the Farmers Almanac

 

 

 

The Winter Solstice begins today at 4:48 pm EST.  It is the shortest day, and the longest night of the year.  

 

To learn more about the science and the lore of the winter solstice go to the Farmers Almanac;  here's the link.

 

 

HAPPY WINTER!!!

 

We lit the second Hanukkah candle last night and enjoyed its peaceful glow into the cold night.

 

We also tried our hands at potato latkes yesterday.  Of course I had to modify the recipe to include garden vegetables.  We added zucchini, carrots, and our delicious candy roaster squash to the potato latke recipe.  WOW!!!  What a treat!!!

 

HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!

 

We lit the first Hanukkah candle last night.  I love seeing it glow against the evening sky.

 

Tradition says that we are to place the menorah next to a door or window, so that the light can shine out into the darkness.  We are also reminded that we are to be lights into the world, each time we pass through that doorway.  

 

I love celebrating the Festival of Lights, even though our celebration is colored by our Christian upbringing.  Celebrating light makes me happy, and it feels very much like celebrating the Winter Solstice, and Christmas, both of which are coming up soon.  Perfect timing this year:  all these holidays blending together.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

 

 

 

Roxanne's Camellia japonicas are blooming.  This is the prettiest one, I think.

 

I took this picture yesterday, and I hope that our overnight temps didn't frost its blossoms.  I will have to check later.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

Funny that this would show up on my radar today.  It is so true.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!