A New Year...Un Nuovo Anno...

 I always love that feeling that the New Year brings.  Putting away Christmas and refreshing the decor.  Our weather is such that almost immediately in the New Year,  I am thinking of springtime... Gardening a lot more and cooking lighter foods.  When most of the country is thick in the middle of winter,  I am planting sweet peas... so fortunate for this weather...but I often wish we had four seasons... we have one!  On this lovely rainy day however,  I enjoyed cooking hearty foods,  and I was in the kitchen all day... I didn't have time to make a Panettone before Christmas,  but I did it anyway.  I also made a Savory Butternut and sage Tart,  Corzetti Pasta,  and an Olive and Herb Fougasse.  In the Kitchen... happy as can be!

Giardino Di Sera… Evening Garden…

Spending time in the garden is just such a pleasure.  I love the morning sun,  and the late afternoon sun… but that early evening time is so special too.  When the sun goes down ,  and it's not quite dark,  and the sky is still blue and the trees look almost black against that blue sky… Amazing!

Giardino Invernale… Winter Garden…

It's nice to get out and do a little winter gardening after the Holidays.  I've pruned most of the Roses and will continue pruning the rest in the next week or so.  My cabbages,  broccoli ,  and cauliflower plants are growing well… enjoying this cold weather that we've been having.  I am planting some sweet pea seeds and some Queen Anne's lace.   As always,  this time of year,  I am planting some ornamental cabbages.  We are having a very wet week,  so much rain,  and i'm loving every minute of it.  Thinking of how the garden will benefit from the rain makes me very happy, and happy to be inside,  cooking,  and doing a little crafting with natural elements…

Giardino Invernale…Winter Garden…

It's that time of the year ,  part of the country is covered in snow,  and i'm complaining that things are looking so bare.  Having to prune the roses while they still want to bloom… so spoiled…