In similar news...the glacier formerly known as my front and back lawn appears to be receding. Maybe there is HOPE.
The trees are starting to bud. The Maple sap is beginning to run. Soon there will be pancake breakfasts popping up around Parke County and the smell of boiling syrup will fill the air. Several robins have managed to wing their way back from The South. For all these signs we, the winter weary, are grateful. It seems as though it has lasted forever.
Spring is on the horizon!
Across the table is a colourful mosaic of gardening catalogues and beside them plans scribbled on a plain white sheet of paper.
As E.B White once remarked
"Quietly Plotting the Resurrection"
The plotting and anticipation...much like pre-travel...as enjoyable as the future blooms themselves.
And gathering together Idgy's Spring Box. It has already hit 70 outside of Memphis. Spring comes early down South. For the eighth year we pass our sunflowers...morning glories and Ivy back and forth...adding to it with Cockscomb and Columbine and even gallon potted Raspberries this year. The White Flower Farm has a self-pollinating dwarf sweet cherry I am setting out at the corner of my small garden spot. The Meyers potted lemons will be zested and sugared and mixed with 100 proof to produce Limoncello to sip in the summer's heat.
And the winter fingernail polish removed to rejoin the season of
"Muddy Knees and Dirt Neath My Nails"
One of the nicest seasons of all!
Italian Limoncello Recipe
10 lemons (yellow...no green on peel) zested. Reserve the fruit for another use.
Zest only. No pith.
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups water
750 ml. Everclear or Vodka (Everclear gives the most authentic taste)
Steep all ingredients in large glass container for 80 days. Colour when done should resemble bottle shown at top.
Strain to remove peel. Re-bottle in glass and seal with cork and wax.
Serve extremely cold (freezer)...but never over ice.
