Spring Sowing

Yesterday, I set up my cold frame for spring sowing.

Mostly I worked at filling pots with soil (stacked on the left), but I also sowed some seeds (on the right). I put some herb seeds directly in the larger planters to eventually go near the back door, but I'll plant some herbs out in the main garden too.

This is another way I get seeds started early, in milk/water jugs. I close the slits in the side with duct tape, but had to go to the shop for that after I took the picture. The jug acts like a mini greenhouse and enough water enters the top to make it carefree. As the seeds start to sprout, I make sure they don't overheat on warm days and cut the tops away as needed.

I'll be planting more jugs as I save more and when I buy more seeds. I can't wait to see some green sprouts!

In Like a Lamb

On the gorgeous, warm 1st day of spring, we got a lot done! After a morning of running around to yard/garden stores, we got to work tilling the garden and planting the peas. Of course, I took some time to enjoy the flowers too. Here are some purple crocus next to a piece of pink quartz.

Jeff did the tilling.

We did the planting together and got it done just in time before the sunset...100' of double rows.

Saffy and Silas got a bunch of exercise. Here's a wild moment of 'keep away'.

Hopefully we won't have anymore seriously cold or snowy weather. I don't want the old saying "in like a lamb, out like a lion" to hold true about this spring!

Pork Piccata

This was just the right dinner for a dark, rainy evening. It's a recipe I clipped from Cooking Light magazine in 2001, but it is online here!

I tend to double the sauce since I love shallots, etc, and like to toss the pasta and veggies in the sauce too (though I hadn't put any on the green beans yet for the picture).

Country Captain Chicken

Here's a classic dish I prepared last night following Rachael Ray's recipe and thought was a winner! I used a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and about 2 cups of broth and skipped the wine. I simmered it quite a bit longer too, but I was using thigh portions of chicken.

I served it with couscous and some scallions and skipped the almonds as I didn't happen to have any.

I think of this as a rather retro dish, probably more common in the 1970's or before? But that may just be a false perception that I have formed as a New Englander. It is a dish associated with Georgia, I believe. It's really good though, so it should be enjoyed anywhere, anytime!

Proof

Proof of a little knitting going on, and more importantly at the moment, a bit of seaming! It's falling off the hanger, but this is a preview of my modified version of Florian by Louisa Harding. It just needs the neckline picked up and finished and some ends woven in.

I worked from a couple of different sizes and did some shaping and changed it to a v neckline when I realized that I didn't want the dramatic A-line shape of the original and decided to go with my usual collar style for comfort. I think it's going to be very wearable!

Dog Videos

We watched a lot of the Olympics and Saffy and Silas really loved the Olympic theme music. Saffy squeaked her toys along with it as shown in this video:

Silas likes to 'sing' along with a lot of different music. I don't have video of him singing with the Olympic music, but here is a video from a couple years ago to give you an idea. He especially loves horns and strings...music like the British Antiques Roadshow theme! I think the end credits from one of the Bridget Jones movies was playing in this case: