Sunny tuesday, every day is a good day.

Always something to do here.   i love staying home &  enjoying my warm home and all my stuff.   Not sure why everyone thinks i am in the doldrums or depressed. i am perfectly happy!  I Love being home and deciding what i want to do with the day.  Another benefit of being a home body is not having to hear about all the chaos that follows people.  Chaos.... I am happy to take a break from that part of life for now too.

Seems today i got a lot done. Finished another kindle book.    Banking is taken care of for the week.  Food shopping netted dinner for the next few days, lunch and some extras for snacking.. Pretzel rivets with mustard, watermelon pieces and Irish potatoes, first of the st. paddy;s day season.  a fresh bag of dog food was on the list and now resting comfortably in its container.

Ran into a friend at the bank.   we chatted a few minutes before she left for her job.  She was quite late, but not really in a hurry. 

I finally  made an appoingment for  dog washing and grooming for Thursday.  All 4 are going.   They will probably not enjoy it, but they will be clean and happy once we get home. 

Friends visiting on Wednesday and snow showers forecast too.  another nice week.  How can anyone complain?

Life is good in the country!

February begins with a sprinkle

 The morning of February 1, 2012 started with a sprinkle of rain.  By 11 it was still gray, but the sun was just starting to peek out.  The temperatures were on the way up. it is just around 60 degrees and sunny, but with a breeze.  It smells like spring.  

It was not as cold overnight as it has been. even so... is is still winter according to the calender.  I have the doors open. letting the house air out a bit, front porch is near 80 degrees, so that door is open to balance the cooler air from the back porch. 

What a glorious day.
The promise of spring, even though it is winter still, makes your heart glad.

our one and only snow so far......just about 3 inches.

here for just a short time too.


while January is generally bitter cold this one has been cold but not so bitter.
Now, the last day of the month draws to a close. an interesting day it was.

The control device on the furnace gave up the ghost overnight. The house was at 62 degrees upon exiting from bed.  I called the heating company at 8:10, by 8:20 the tech was here.  (no one at his first call).  within an hour the Problem was diagnosed, replacement part found and installed.   heat again!!!

Two quiltie friends stopped to visit. one short visit to drop off retreat money and one long visit, looking over the myriad piles of quilt blocks that need to be put together into wall hangings and quilts.

We had lunch out at Country Place, where you can always get something good and inexpensive.  I had a Weber.  (cheese steak with lettuce, tomato & mayo.)  The birch beer hit the spot!.

Oil company was back in the afternoon to fill up our oil tank.  only 135 gallons used this heating season so far.

Once quilt talk was over and i was home alone, dogs went for a walk and had a pre-dinner snack as did i.   Followed by reading and a nice nap.  miso soup for dinner. super quick and easy.

A good day.
Good bye January 2012! 
all is well and warm at our house this evening~!

Parsnips:: the other carrot!

parsnip

Europeans brought the parsnip to the United States in the early 1600s but this creamy-white root has never become an American favorite. The first frost of the year converts the parsnip's starch to sugar and gives it a pleasantly sweet flavor. Fresh parsnips are available year-round with the peak period during fall and winter. Look for small to medium, well-shaped roots; avoid limp, shriveled or spotted parsnips.They can be refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks. Parsnips are suitable for almost any method of cooking including baking, boiling, sautéing and steaming. They're often boiled, then mashed like potatoes. Parsnips contain small amounts of iron and vitamin C.