I am really glad nobody reads my blog. I am nothing if not contrarian. It’s wonderful because it’s just for my future self to remember things by since I suck at keeping a diary.

I suffer during winter. I am a solar-powered human being. So I have recently figured out to embrace winter rather than power my way through it. I’ve been tidying each area of our house, bit by bit, working out harder than before, and crocheting and knitting. Cozy.

I crocheted a scarf for a dear friend who walks miles outside all winter (like a BOSS!). Eric and I made a monogram tag out of leather for the scarf on the laser cutter, pretty cool. And dogs got sweaters. Henry was so excited about the sweater! As I was fitting him for it as I made it, he would dance and run around. He knew what I was working on. And when I finally finished it and put it on him he was nutso-crazy-happy. It is one of the most endearing aspects of a critter that was mistreated in a former life, they are just so happy for everything. He knows he is a home-dog now.

I could never ever ever buy a dog. Not only is it exceedingly cruel to God’s smallest creatures we steward, but I would selfishly miss out on the joy and peacefulness of a content dog who knows he is safe and loved.

For a dear one
By the “fire”
Sunning
Won’t hold still

I am quite pleased with the sputtering little kitchen garden. We have been able to eat a number of winter salads out of it – in December!!! Of course it has been warmer than it was last year, but still. My formula for a good winter salad that doesn’t suck is:

  • Tougher winter greens like swiss chard should be cut into ribbons so they are more palatable;
  • Include roasted veggies – I have been pan roasting them in the cast iron which caramelizes them nicely.
  • Add toasted nuts – we have a ton of pecans so we have been using those – I just throw them into the pan as the veggies finish their roast.
  • Bacon. Enough said.
  • Cheese. See above.
  • A little sweet – apple, pear, even raisins. I love this but Eric can’t really eat it. A struggle at the moment.
  • Simple vinaigrette – garlic, mustard, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper.

It’s really good with the warm veg put in right before eating. It kindof softens the tougher greens. It feels nutritious and like total luxury.

We have also been eating a lot of pan-roasted chicken or steak. I am trying to keep clear of too much rice (my favorite), bread, etc., and stick with the high nutrition gifts God has given us. And soup. Lots of soup. But not almond-mom soup.

It was super awesome that we have fennel in the greenhouse still from the summer. I love fennel.

pan roasted chicken in wine sauce
winter greens
cut into ribbons
winter bacon salad
roasted squash and pecans
soup with Eric

The plants indoors are growing like nuts. The little orchid my friend gave me to rehabilitate is showing some growth – can you see it towards the top? The little tip of it is greening. Spider plant babies are rooting in water too.

Random. I shot a .38 this week. It was HEAVY! But I hit the target pretty well and handled the recoil like a champ. So now it is time to buy one.

Orchid springs back to life
Christmas tree like pagans
Babies rooting
Handsome bloke

I love my husband so much.