Assortment

Of An Ordinary Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A soaked gray above, a vibrant green below. A timid diffusion of sunlight was all.

That was outside, beyond the rain-rippled windows.

Inside, food was pulled from places that keep it until the pot is over a flame, until the sharp knife is in hand. The crisper, the freezer, the basket, the pantry, the herb pot, gave. I took their offerings, and they became more. That miracle.

Late evening simmered. The soup simmered. Hot suds and sponge and wash the platters, the knife, the bowls. Clean what wasn't after the making. 

And know, the story is this. Simplicity is this. It's the rhythm of an ordinary day. It's leaving the desk where the work is half done, it's closing the screen. It's putting your arms around the tangible, your hands to a task. It's soup in a pot. 

Steaming bowlsful around the table, with bread, creamy butter, drizzled honey and cold, cold milk. 

 

Recipe here.

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here. 

 

 

Spring's Garden

 

 

 

 

 

The seed order arrived, and with it an abundance of rain. There is never so much living by the weather report as in the spring when you're quite ready to plant that garden. From the looks of it, I'll have to hop on the next dry day as if it will be the only, and get this garden in the ground (save for the peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes - not til June first for those, with the risk of a rogue frost and all. But, hmm, may try these next year. I see them in the grandma gardens around here, which I've learned to pay close attention to, because grandmas usually know). 

Speaking of tomatoes, the ag department at the high school in the big town over was having a sale on the heirloom tomato plants they'd started from seed. Ten beautiful plants came home with me, along with a sheet describing each one. Oh, the anticipation of these beauties - each one will be a surprise. Fingers crossed there will be better success in the tomato patch this year. 

But, even this early in the season, with all the anticipation of the abundance to come, there are already things to harvest out there in the garden. Love that. Chives, oregano, tarragon, green bunching onions, volunteer onions from last year. And of course there's rhubarb, the spring favorite. I used it as the base for all my berry jams last season - such a great way to stretch the strawberries and raspberries to fill more jars. 

What's happening in your garden right now?

 

P.S. The recent With What You Have was such a fun series, wasn't it? Because of the great feedback, I've decided to continue it as a regular feature here each Friday. Join me!

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here. 

 

 

With What You Have | 9

 

 Our recent words about contentment inspired me to begin a series that celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. But, it's not all about me - what have you done with what you have? I'd love to hear.

 

 

 

So, all this doing with what we have even spilled over into my Instagram feed last weekend (you knew it would!).  Sunday morning found me with a few minutes to myself as a Mother's Day breakfast was being prepared on the other side of the closed bedroom door. I loved those few moments in the early morning when I took a recently thrifted shirt ($1) and re-worked it into a headscarf a la Buff. 

I wasn't too fussy about it, just threw my cutting mat onto the bed, took to the shirt with my sheers & when I had two layers of fabric cut from the shirt's front and back, I used a gifted Buff as a guide, and cut a nice rectangle, adding seam allowance as I went. I then stitched the two side seams, trimmed the allowance, and, voila!, a new scarf! Oh, I do love this one!

Do what you can with what you have & while you're doing it, have the loveliest of weekends, friends!

 

 

                                               

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here.