The only snow we see here is in books and the little snow-capped mountain of whipped cream on the berry-biscuit sundae I got at Salt and Straw yesterday. Poor Meemers slept through it, even though it was her idea to go. I did everything I could to wake her up but alas, I just had to buy a pint of Woodblock Chocolate to take home. For her. :)
We went for a walk to look for signs of spring, and no, we didn't have to look very far at all. It's here, apparently, as unnerving as that feels to me. My car thermometer read 65 degrees on Tuesday. Without exaggeration, we needed sunscreen at the park Tuesday afternoon. And it was one of those low-angled, sort of glaring white winter suns, without benefit of leafy trees, puffy clouds, or sunglasses. Yesterday, though, was all gray, and dark. Through the mucky brown leaves of winter, daffodils and crocuses stretch and yawn. Trees froth forth with petal and little leaf. We had our yard cleaned up by a lawn service this week. I just knew we weren't going to have time or energy to do it ourselves, and I get so bummed out when the spring clean up is late, and we miss the show. So, we're ready for the show (yard-wise, if not psychologically), and the show is here.
That said, if you're lucky enough to be covered in snow like my bestie, Martha, who lives outside of Boston, Mass., and sends me pictures of mountains of snow in driveways, front yards, backyards, on top of garbage cans, and generally everywhere on everything, and who tolerates me saying things like, "Awesome! Oh man! I'm so jealous!!! Wah!!! Poor me!!!" like, a lot, when actually her arms are about to fall off from shoveling, you might like this spaghetti casserole. It's another one from my childhood winters — funny how having a child makes you want to cook her food from your own childhood. What's up with that? Mom knew what kids liked. This one is pure convenience, and comes out hot and bubbly with little effort. Basically, you boil up 1 pound of spaghetti, and please under-cook it a bit, so it's quite al dente, or I'll have to throw up. (I hate overcooked pasta.) Beat 2 eggs and add them to 1 cup of milk. After draining the spaghetti, put it back in the pan and add the milk/eggs and 4 to 8 oz. of plain cream cheese. Stir everything together until the cream cheese melts. Dump it into a 9"x13" pan and top with your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce (I only use about 1/3 jar) and Mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F until cheese melts and everything looks browned and delicious.
My new year's resolution was "Try not to be such a jerk about the hot weather in the summer." Technically, it's still winter, so . . . agh. That's a technicality. I only said "summer" because it never occurred to me I'd be complaining about it in winter! This one's gonna be hard to keep. Actually, obviously, in spirit, I've already failed. And it's only February.
***The umbrella is probably fifteen years old, originally purchased at the incomparable but now-so-sadly defunct Daisy Kingdom. Miss you, DK.
Your spring pictures are lovely. Here in east TN we are breaking all sorts of records for cold temperatures yesterday and today. The kids have been out of school all week due to snow and ice. The snow is so beautiful. I wish you could've been here this week to enjoy it with us.
I don't think complaining about the heat in the summer is a bad thing or something you need to resolve not to do. Even though we are blanketed in cold cold cold here in NYC, I would take that any day over a hot, humid day in July. Thank you for your beautiful posts, they make me smile and wish I were a stay home mom again with my toddler. xo
Alicia - Just warning you that I, for one, will sabotage your resolution because I rather enjoy your hot weather complaints. Makes me feel like I am in good company. Will you tell us where you found the adorable umbrella ☔? Liberty ?
There are days your photographs just make me tear up for the sheer beauty of them. This was one of 'em...Oh, except for the one of Andy cracking up. Hilarious! You gotta a guy doing some fancy footwork and Andy splitting a gut and no mention of either??
I always enjoy the variations on Mimi's name in your posts. You guys are funny.
Where you live looks absolutely loverly. You have a wonderful 'eye'.
I completely understand how you feel because it's been fairly warm where I live too, at least this month. I feel like we skipped a whole month of winter. It gets so hot here in the summer and I'm worried that it will feel worse without having had some more winter. Your photos of the crocuses and daffodils are beautiful and make me look forward to ours blooming. Yours are far ahead of ours, which are barely budding but there are lots coming up already.
Ahhhh the promise of things to come. New beginnings and another year ahead. Just lovely xxx
Oh, what beautiful spring flowers ... I want some. Here in Ontario, Canada, we are in a -30 deep freeze!
I'm so jealous, lol!
I adore that book, seeing how this little one is growing up, still so precious. Thanks for posting such beauty.
Really beautiful photos x
If you were here in Oxfordshire, you would see the exact same plants - wierd isn't it!?! Although I have haven't seen a daffodil yet, I have snowdrops in my garden for several weeks and have seen helibore and even tree blossom today. Where is the garden that you often include in your posts - I would call it an allotment? Does it belong to you? Hope so. Love to you and yours and fingers crossed that there may be a bit of snow yet - not unheard of here in February. Bx xxx
Such lovely pictures, and the recipe sounds delicious. I too am jealous of others' snow since I am languishing in a horribly humid summer here.
It's 2 degrees here in Michigan today . Snowing off and on.
I just did a wood run so I can keep the home fires burning! :)
Your spring flower pictures look so wonderful!! I have some tulips on my counter....I keep looking forward........ The dancing looks sooooo fun! :)
Looking at your blog is so wonderful but just hurts, hurts, hurts!!!!
It's 11º here in PA with a windchill expected tonight of below zero.
I know it's worse other places.
You and yours are the only hope!
I love the pretty sidewalk (if that's the right word) it looks so inviting. And how lovely to see the community garden, everyone is getting their plots ready for planting and sowing. The pink blossoms are absolutely exquisite. A really beautiful photo Alicia. CJ xx
I am loving your pictures. I could definitely use a little spring in my life, but since that won't be happening for at least another 6-8 weeks, I find solice in your blog.
Just lovely pictures!
Our mantra has become: At least we are one day closer to Christmas! With no winter to speak of and the dread of summer heat, our thoughts are far ahead on the calendar! But how beautiful your days look, and sound. You bring cheer and courage to displace foul weather woes.
If you want to see snow..come here..If you want to experience -Fs..come here..no..stay there...
I love the look of your spring..and her happy dance and lips:)
Daffodils..hellebores and dreamy homes..
I like where you live..a lot.
My eyes feasted on those gorgeous flowers. We've been buried in snow on Cape Cod. It's our vacation week and I've been trying to visit my parents in southern NH. We made the track today and it took almost an hour to travel through Boston. Ugh. So far, we've all been safe, but I'm ready for some green...I need to see the earth and feel a true warm sun on my face. Thank you, thank you for these reminders of what is to come...
Ah, I am experiencing Summer Affective Disorder right now while blogging about how I went up to the local mountains again this past weekend and saw *a patch* of snow. You can email me during the summer and we can be jerks together. ;-)
Thinking about spring is the only thing keeping me sane right about now! Our furnace is grinding and churning and it makes me nervous thinking that I am not alone in my desire to call it quits on winter. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos and taking me to a happy, mossy place.
Also, I'm beyond interested in the shenanigans of photo #2! Poor Clover seems to be stuck in the middle of it all, sighing heavily at the impropriety! Gotta love the Corgi way :)
All of your food always looks amazing. Especially whipped cream. Sadly, I live by myself, and I definitely do not need a whole half-pint of whipped cream to myself (not that that stops me sometimes). My mom used to make that spaghetti dish, or one very like it!!! My dad, who is from Minnesota, calls it "spaghetti hotdish", because that's what we say over in MN/WI. It's so tasty! That's all I got. I'm pattern testing and managed to construct half the bodice inside out...and I have already topstitched. Bet you can guess what I'm doing tonight.
Hello from snowy Ottawa (Canada). We're kind of socked in with snow (but not like Boston or the Canadian Atlantic provinces) and have a cold alert tonight (-32c). I'm torn between admiring the lovely springy photos that let me know that this won't last forever... and thinking unkind things about your wish for snow. Big breath... this too shall pass.
That's it, I'm moving in with you! I can't take another "spring" looking at your pictures all the while snow is piling up hip-high outside!
(just kidding, please, please show me more flowers, so I know they will appear again someday, in 3 or 4 months! You give me hope!)