Spring Is Coming to My World! Finally!

I took a walk around the back yard the other day to see what kind of clean-up I need to get started on and I had a sweet surprise! The first crocus!

It felt like spring for real! No blooms on hyacinths and daffs, but they're growing!

My cousin came home from the hospital after a surgery last week. It was a rough go for a couple of days after, made all the more difficult, I think, for the rest of us because of the no-visitor policy. But he's back home (vs. a rehab center -- they'll have home visits). I'm so grateful for his recovery and that he can be in his own safe space.

I was happy to get my springtime and Easter decorating finished at last. It was hard getting the motivation this year. But this pile is finally off the table!

And yes, baking. Baking is good for the soul. This is Paul Hollywood's soda bread -- no rising required. Buttermilk, soda, salt and flour. It makes very good toast!

Cooking is healing. I've done a batch of lemon bread, crostini and a tuna casserole for Rick's "take out" one evening.  We're keeping a little more distance since he's been out in the real world more than I have (which basically means the grocery store, as that's the only place he's going besides bike rides) and we are being very cautious. I should have taken pix but by the time it came out of the oven, I was too hungry!

Last night we were lucky to score some chicken thighs. We decided since we are washing and sanitizing everything, he could eat with me so I made a wonderful curried chicken casserole. This one is a winner. I was out of curry so I used garam masala and it was a good substitution. I suspect you could use other spice flavors we well, like cumin, to flavor it. It's super easy and I hope you'll check it out. (She has photos.) If we run out of chicken again, I might just make the rice part!

The yard is very slowly waking up. In addition to my little white crocus, there is the first bloom of the mini-iris.

The hyacinths in my Peter Rabbit hosta garden are poking their heads up.

And I don't know what these tiny purple flowers are, but they are awfully pretty -- a sign of spring.

I leave you with a smiling face! (What? No make-up? Bad hair? Just wait till I'm confined for another month or so! It will be an entirely different color. Maybe purple.)

We may all look a little different when this is done.

Stay Well, my friends. Stay Sane. Stay Home.