The seasons, they go round and round

 

 

In pagan times, holly was considered protection against evil, because bad thoughts and naughty spirits got caught up and trapped the thorny branches.

 

The Holly King was a pagan mythical figure representing winter, and he was forever locked in battle with the Oak King.

 

And early tomorrow morning, the fight tips over to spring. The winter solstice is at 1:20 am, Pacific time. Now the slow crawl back to daylight begins, although it will be many weeks until we notice it.

Up here in the dark lands, some of us leave the outdoor lights up through January. By the time we get around to taking them down, signs of spring are stirring in the Northwest. 

The year is winding down fast. Christmas just around the corner. Savor the little moments. 

Snow day In Twisp

 

 

"Today has been cancelled, go back to bed."

 

Not for Maya-- out in the backyard yesterday enjoying the school snow day.

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

The Magpie, by Claude Monet

Spring in December

 

The delicate pink camellia is always an incongruous sight blooming in December. And look at all those buds. 

That towering shrub was a stick when I planted it between the aborvitae trees (also little sticks.) What was I thinking? I'm a short-sighted gardener when it comes to how big things can get. "Thirty years from now" seems an impossibly long time, then all of a sudden, here it is.

Spring in December is not so farfetched in Seattle, and the observant eye will see buds ready to pop open in the next 8 weeks. We haven't had a hard freeze yet, and we're in yet another warm pineapple express rain pattern. Unlike much of the country, winter is green time in western Washington. 

I usually force a few paper white narcissus bulbs in November. They grow fast in the kitchen greenhouse window and bloom around Christmas. The tiny flowers release a highly concentrated smell of spring. 

"Flowers always make people better, happier, more hopeful."

Luther Burbank

Pork magic

 

The magic of pork-- how just time and slow heat transforms such an unappetizing hunk of meat into a bronzed masterpiece. As they would say in England, "bloody lovely." 

That big shoulder roast went in the oven at 9 am yesterday, uncovered, 250 degrees, on a bed of chopped onions, apples and garlic that eventually became a gooey glaze for the mashed potatoes. The delicious smells filled the house until it was finally fork tender, 7 hours later. 

Have you noticed? The Germans (and Pennsylvania Dutch) love pork-- roasted, smoked, boiled or fried. And of course, lots of sausage. It's genetic. 

What to do with the leftovers? Today I will parcel it out in freezer bags. Maybe pork enchiladas, casserole, a quick chili with white beans? Everything but the oink gets used up around here.

John cleaned the greasy kitchen (thank you) while the Sunday night football game droned on. 

The ghastly Kermit the Frog uniforms (actually called Action Green) always bring the Seahawks bad luck on the national stage, and makes those big dudes look silly to boot. And they didn't need much help with that.

 

Biscotti redux

 

Now, that's more like it. Thanks Julie, for the excellent and customizable recipe. These are almond and dark mini chocolate chip, flavored with lots of orange zest. 

Considering a single biscotti at Starbucks costs over $2.50, you soon get spoiled having these (relatively) guilt free cookies around the house.

In other happy news, this is Amanda's beautiful egg haul. The Red Sex Links started laying and living up to the breed's reputation as top producers of brown eggs. Each chicken can lay up to 300 eggs a year. 

Let's see? 300x12 hens=3,600 eggs!  Or 300 dozen!  

"Eggs 4 Sale" sign on the gate?