We're having a heatwave!

 

Cut the first little bunch of flowers from my garden yesterday - it really is looking

 and feeling rather like Spring around here. 

Living in North Carolina we are not having the winter weather conditions currently keeping much of the USA under wraps right now!  We are at the opposite end of the spectrum, no chill, no snow or ice, no way below freezing temperatures. . . . . . . and are experiencing a most likely record breaking spell of hot weather. February rarely hits 80F and higher days as it has done this week. Nights staying so warm that leaving the windows open, or even turning on the air conditioning as we did last night, was the only way to cool off and get some comfortable sleep . . . . . . . . plus hunting for a pair of summer-weight PJ's and kicking off the duvet!!!

Stay warm and safe if you are dealing with severe weather conditions now and through the weekend . . . . . . and of course we have cooler weather returning soon!

Not all . . . . . . .

. . . . . . is doom and gloom today.

Last post was a bit dark. Now we all need something cheery 

to end the day. The cold night will creep in and the garden will be 

camouflaged in cast off white shower curtain liners and a

 couple of old sheets in my fight against the deep freeze

harming the hydrangeas.

 I doubt even the deer will stop by tonight to nibble the pansies!

Yesterday on a vegetable run to the grocery - we are doing a no-carbs

week to kickstart our spring wellness effort to lose a few pounds - 

I also bought flowers. It's a mixed bunch to which I've added a few 

of my daffodils and sprigs of blossom.

They are pretty and brighten up the dining room where only a 

smattering of welcomed sunshine made it through the windows today.

Of course today is Shrove Tuesday. I would have loved a plateful of
traditional English pancakes.

These are from two years ago as last year I was really far from my

 kitchen - on an expedition ship rounding Cape Horn heading for

 Patagonia and Chile!

Today I refrained from mixing up the simple batter with all those carbs - it was

 really hard, especially as 'pancake day' brings back lovely childhood memories.

Mother made the best ones. . . . . . . and for some reason we had no idea as to
 what carbohydrates were back then. We just beat the batter, let it rest for a while,
then poured it into the frying pan, flipped, folded or rolled, squeezed,

those sunshiny lemons, sugared dusted, and gobbled them up while piping hot!

Of course back then running off to play in the garden afterward probably kept

 us trim and healthy. Remember those days?

More on the vegetables and what's cooking in my kitchen later.

First light . . . . . . ..

Today I awoke and was up before the sun - probably because Bob allowed the

 storm door to slam at 6:00 AM when going to pick up the newspaper!

It rained again during the night but no thunder or lightning, and now we are

 looking at some fabulous weather for the next week. Hopefully it will dry up

and we can enjoy outdoor time.

After being at Gina's farm in Utah, seen in these photos, with stunning scenery

 stretching to the mountains, and the shining pond full of large winged visitors,

 my landscape here at the cottage feels somewhat encroaching and dark. . . . . . . .  

. . . . . I loved the openness of the garden and surrounding fields, the light shining through the dancing water of the irrigation system. . . . .  

. . . . . . the cackling birds on the bell towers of the gorgeous barn - you can just see

 the outline of the mountains here. . . . . 

. . . . . . . and then the sun appearing to make the colors of the buildings positively glow.

Gina's 'green thumb' produces such gorgeous flowers.

Early morning view toward the main house from the guest house - 

 Life at the pond - this year's parents and their now grown juveniles.

Speaking of waking early - I had no idea that on my second morning on the farm

 I would be awakened at the ungodly hour of 3:00 AM in excruciating pain!

  I knew immediately what was happening. . . . . . . another kidney stone on my left side!  

After waking Bob with my groaning, crying and flailing around from bed to the lovely

 comfy sofas, and back and forth to the bathroom downstairs, for a couple of hours, 

ready to jump from the balcony and drown myself in the pond (if you've had a

 kidney stone you know where I'm coming from!), Bob said to start packing and he'd 

drive me to the hospital in Provo, the closest large city! 

Before that occurred, Bob told Gina what was happening - thankfully she and Mr. G. are

early risers - and she insisted in taking me instead to a small hospital just 5 miles up the

road. (Thank you again dear friend of being so caring and understanding, and not

allowing me to be embarrassed at my plight in your home).

What amazing service that little ER gave me. How kind and caring were the staff.

The physician - actually a PA - was the best doctor I've ever had treat me - all

others should take 'bedside manner lessons' from him.

The sweet nurse had me hooked up to pain killers immediately. Lab tests were done.

The CT scan was completed in 10 minutes - the x-rays sent via computer to be read

 at a major hospital in Salt Lake City - and that apparently tiny stone causing such

 havoc was located in my plumbing system!

Outside a medi-vac helicopter was revving its engine - thank goodness it

wasn't for me - another patient, a poor woman in even more pain than me -

was being airlifted to the city.

In a few hours I was back on the farm enjoying another spectacular day,

grateful for modern medicine. . . . . . . and wonderful friends.

More from Utah next time.

Arriving in Utah. . . . . . . . .

Arrival in the peaceful Utah valley on a hot August afternoon.

The drive from the city through mountainous scenery was slightly hampered by smoke

from wildfires burning on the ridges. The fires continued during our stay, somewhat 

obliterating the beautiful mountains in the distance, however by our last day the air

was better - you will get to see the clearer landscape in posts to come.

The carriage house, our fabulous home away from home.

Welcomed by our friends with warm hugs and chilled champagne here in the

 sitting room, we immediately fell head over heels in love with this stunningly 

beautiful farm. Yes, this exquisite home is a farm. . . . . . . and, for me, a

 piece of paradise.

As the sun lowered over the distant mountains, the beautiful colors of the

 Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) style house, and out buildings,

 positively glowed in the light.

Other residents of this beautiful farm also came to welcome us. . . . . . 

. . . . . . and in fact often showed up at an entryway looking for treats I think!

Looking across to the pond where this year's enormous gaggle of Canada geese

 visit daily. Can you blame them?

This magnificent sunset welcomed us to our first evening in Utah and, most

 importantly, to the fabulous home of a very special lady - and her most

 charming farmer, Mr. G - sweet Gina of the blog Art & Alfalfa.

I know some of you follow Gina and how all of you, like me, have been blown

 away over the years by the photos and stories she has shared from her home

 in the alfalfa field.  

Going to meet Gina and Mr. G has been a trip we've tried to do for a few

 years - this year it came true. It was certainly worth waiting for.

I have a lot to share with you, and thank Gina for giving me permission to share

 some photos I took of her home. I know you will enjoy seeing this piece of paradise

 in a quiet Utah valley.

  

Clyde and Lola - the resident white geese - basking in the warm

light of sunset at the pond.

I have so much to share with you from the days on the farm.

The warm welcome and ongoing caring attention of Gina and Mr. G were

 just unbelievable. From the moment of arrival I knew it was going to 

be very hard to leave. . . . . . . it was, and every day was fun and full of

amazing happenings!

Gina's flowers from the garden - we all know about her 'green thumb' and love to

see the colorful floral bouquets she gathers here on her blog Art & Alfalfa.

Mr. G. gave me a great tip - add a spray of dill to the vase, it will keep the 

water fresh.

Come back later to read more about our very special visit.

Scribble Picnic. . . . . . . . the garden Fairy

Do you believe in fairies?  Of course you do.

Somewhere out there in my secret garden, behind the cottage, perhaps

 hiding under the gazebo, behind the potting shed, or even in a hollow tree,

 they are playing quietly. Maybe even chatting with the squirrels, flitting back

 and forth on gossamer wings alongside the birds, and watching we mortals

 as we go about our day.

I picked my little fairy to share here a week ago, assisted by my camera

 and watercolor pencils. 

Then on Sunday, taking a quick walk through the local arboretum after the

 museum of art visit, I saw just one purple anemone flower in bloom and

 realized immediately it was a magical, mystical moment. Perhaps it's where my

fairy found his beautiful flower!

Michael's weekly art project Scribble Picnic can be visited HERE -
please go to 'fairyland' where I'm sure the magic is beautiful.

Thankful. . . . . .

It was much more involved than expected! 

My surgery lasted 3.5 hours but I was able

to come home at 5 PM yesterday.

 My thyroid had fooled us all somewhat.

Am glued back together and being very lazy.

There are lots of things I'm not permitted to

do for a couple of weeks.

A lot of medicines required for a while.

Throat sore and voice raspy, but no intense pain.

My lovely pre-op flowers, freshly cut from my dear friend Mary Ann's

beautiful garden which I visited a couple of days before my surgery.

They're just perfect for me.

Thanks for all your good wishes - they certainly helped me through this.