I feel like Punxsutawney Phil! I've been hibernating but can't tell you exactly why.  Maybe it just comes with the territory - not sure how or why I can explain it but it happened. Anyway.....

The winter has been hard and long. We have about 6 or 8 inches of ugly snow on the ground - typical February. We've had several ice storms, several days of no heat/light/water, cold and nasty winds etc. They said that this winter would have more precipitation than usual and they were right.  It wasn't all snow and included lots of ice and freezing rain.

I'm thankful for the seed and flower catalogues! I'm already planning this years trees and shrubs and have added two filberts, two dogwoods maybe a magnolia and in the fall, two wisteria. The sad part is that it probably will take a few years before I see some blooms or nuts but you have to start somewhere. Right now I'm thinking about the roses and the new iris beds I planted last year. Which reminds me, I do have to order a maple tree to replace the sixty foot maple that came down in one of the ice storms. It was my favorite tree on the property when I purchased this home in 1981. It had so much symmetry and provided summer shade that kept the house cool. Keep in mind that old farm houses don't have air conditioning; they were reliant on the maple trees that surrounded the house. So the tree that provided most of the morning shade is now a three foot stump and a memory. It is amazing how empty the view looks without the maple tree; and it will very much change the plant life and what grows on that side of the house and garage.

I've been doing something different at breakfast! I'm a light breakfast eater - coffee and toast for the most part. My childhood was filled with all those good things; French toast, waffles, oatmeal etc.  Well.....my memories got the best of me at least for Sundays so I started making French toast and waffles. I have to admit I loved them both especially the Fr. toast with lots of real maple syrup. It was an absolute treat especially with fresh hot coffee.  I took it a step further when I made some fresh bread from scratch. The ingredients are really quite simple; flour, yeasts, eggs and milk. I think what made it especially good was the bread stone and the tray of water for steam under the pizza/bread stone. I was just amazed by the end product especially the crust. It was one of these tried and true recipes from "Mother Earth" magazine.

Well, I say hello to all of you. I'm looking forward to spring; the birds, the greening of the trees and the sunshine and warmth.  Have a wonderful week and peace to all.    Bittersweet