Welcoming Winter

Warm wishes on this 1st Day of Winter!

I pray you are warm and cozy and doing what brings joy and delight to your soul.

I am sorting Christmas gifts and making last minute gifts and goodies today-

tub teas, bath salts, dream pillows and such.

Tomorrow is baking day- Merry Molasses  Cookies, Scotch Shortbread, and Ginger Cookies for certain.  I have a few other ideas ... we shall see what comes about. 

What are you doing today to welcome winter?

*Tea is always a great choice. I had a giant cup of Ceylon tea this morning- a gift from a beautiful Sri Lankan friend. 

Love, 

Catherine Ann

Sprouting

Even on a wintry Wednesday, I see signs of spring sprouting in my world.  Cilantro and dill self-seeded in my garden and are just the perfect size for snipping and adding to soups,salads, and salsa.

Bronze fennel is beginning to put forth ferny branches.
Lemongrass which was cut back hard at the beginning of winter is showing some greening here and there.

Earlier this week it was warm outdoors, so I cut back the sage which had grown leggy and wild, trimmed the roses, and tried to free the Mediterranean garden from the grass that invaded over the winter.  Still lots more pulling and digging to do there, but I did uncover a hidden lemon thyme, a surprisingly healthy and fragrant marjoram, and a dianthus already in bloom as I yanked out pesky grass and weeds.  Sweet discoveries like that make weeding worthwhile!

Today it is back to winter weather, so I'm planning to enjoy a cup of tea and doing some plotting and planning for my new garden area complete with a small greenhouse and potting area.

What is happening in your world today?

Herbal Blessings,
Catherine

Wintry Wednesday

Wintry and cold today.  Looks like rain.

Perfect weather for

 a cup of tea (Oolong from Mountain Rose Herbs is my current favorite)

and ...

a cat nap. (Sadie cat sneaks inside whenever she can and finds a comfortable spot, usually on my bed, for her own cat nap.)  I think I'll join her this afternoon.

But for now, the books beckon ... 

 

What are you reading these days?  

What's in your cup today? 

Warm Winter Wishes,

Catherine 

Winter Gardening

Nature has undoubtedly mastered the art of winter gardening and even the most experienced gardener can learn from the unrestrained beauty around them.  ~Vincent A. Simeone


  
Winter gardening, how I love it (of course I love any gardening!).  Stealing outside on a warm winter's day to plant a few seeds for cold hardy greens, or water the perennial herbs that put on a brave face and continue to grow through the winter, scattering wildflower seeds, or just taking a walk and planning for spring planting ... winter weather is gardening weather, too!

Winter's Quiet

I know it has been rather quiet here lately.  I think it's partly due to the weather- wintry and cold, even snowy yesterday.  I'm a wimp and do not like the cold, not even a little bit.  I've been bundled up drinking hot tea, reading, and dreaming of spring (and whining about the cold all the while)! 

This is also a season where the Lord is saying, "Be still" ... "Be quiet" ... "Know that I am God". 
And so as I wait for the temperatures to climb above freezing and thaw out our frozen world, I also wait for the Lord to do His thing and move my family from this seemingly frozen state of pray and wait, wait and pray, to a place of growth and movement again. 
The spring thaw can't be far away, until then I'm trying to press in and enjoy the quietness of the season.

Warming Herbs

at The Renegade Farmer today.  Please drop by and share your favorite ways to warm up with us.
A cup of hot gingery tea and curling up with a good book or stack of seed catalogs is one of my mine!

Winter Thoughts

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell

The kitty seems to think that winter is the perfect time for sneaking into my bedroom and having a nap curled up on my blanket!  And who can blame the poor overfed creature for wanting to take advantage of such a comfy spot?  Though the first day of winter here was 80 degrees and called for opening windows, riding bikes and playing in the park ... I am still very thankful for the blessing of Home. 

Cloak of Winter

Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream.
~ Barbara Winkler

Anticipating the miracles of spring today!

Winter Thoughts

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell

As I attempt a little homemaking and homekeeping today, I am mindful that these are some of the things that make a home- comfort, food, warmth, touch, freedom to talk openly and someone to listen, faith, hope, ... and most important of all - Love.
That's what we all need most in life, isn't it? To love and be loved.


We can fill our homes with all manner of things, but if we do not fill our hearts and homes with faith, hope, and love; we have created an empty (though full) house rather than a home where loved ones can grow and bloom.


And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

I pray the warmth of God's Love fills your heart and home this wintery weekend!