Winter Spinach

On Christmas Eve my daughter Emily wanted to make a quinoa recipe that needed spinach. I didn't have any fresh or frozen to use except what was in the garden under 20 inches of snow. She said it should be fine so she borrowed my boots and went out to scoop the snow off. She came back in with a basketful which she used to make quinoa au gratin with spinach, nice accompaniment to the broiled shrimp.

A basketful of spinach and snow.

Greetings

May this Christmas be all that your heart desires.

May the New Year bring you good health and happiness.

December Snow Storm

We were hit with a major snow storm that started on Friday night and lasted through Saturday night. To keep ahead of the snow Dan snow blowed the driveway twice. I shoveled the section next to the garage three times. We woke this morning to another 4-6 inches which we took care of this morning. We salted it and then took a walk down the driveway and up the lane to see if the newspaper was there. It wasn't but Saturday's mail was. Our neighbor said the mailwoman came in the midst of the storm being driven by someone else.

Here are some photos.

Dogwood Road

Entry to the lane


The lane looking down towards us.

Bottom section of our driveway. Dan couldn't get to the pavement here. It doesn't get much sun so we hope the salt will help.

Straight away section.

The house through the woods on top of the hill.

The curve and the hill.

The steep part of the driveway. Fortunately at this time of year the sun hits it in the morning and the snow will melt.

The house with piles from shoveling.


The pond. The bench is covered with snow.

The front door before it was shoveled out.

Something for the Holiday

Here is a link to a nice rendition of White Christmas accompanied by photos from around the world.

Enjoy!


White Christmas by Nightingale

Poem

I just finished reading a mystery called "The Trail of the Wild Rose" by Anthony Eglin. The main character visits the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth, England where he sees this poem written on a Victorian sampler. There is no credit given to the author of the poem.

There is peace within a garden

A peace so deep and calm

That when the heart is troubled

It's like a soothing balm.

There's life within the garden

A life that still goes on

Filling the empty places

When older plants are gone

There's glory in the garden

At every time of year

Spring summer autumn winter

To fill the heart with cheer

So ever tend your garden

Its beauty to increase

For in it you'll find solace

And in it you'll find peace

First Snow In Maryland of 2009

The weather forecast was for snow showers starting in the afternoon. The rain changed to snow at 9 o'clock this morning and has not stopped. It is now 1 o'clock and the roads which were supposed to be too warm to hold the snow are covered. The pond has a skim of ice on it and will soon be covered with snow too.


Here is the perennial garden covered in snow.