Happy Easter!

This year the Orthodox and Catholic Easter coincide! So, millions are celebrating together this Spring and the rebirth of Nature. 

I tried for the first time to make a sweet bread for Easter breakfast. It seems that it was not a failure and in a future post, I will include the recipe.

For now, here are the pics from my table and garden:

2017 GARDEN SEASON IS HERE

In our corner of the U.S., these two weekend days the temperature broke above 50F, and I finally had time to start cleaning the garden. It is a huge job, it will take days and weeks, but at least I made some progress with the garden in front of the house. 

The back garden still looks wild and some parts of it are impassible due to the water pooling. We had a huge thaw (of a three-foot snow), followed by rains.

My body hurts all over, but I am excited by the sighting of the first "girls" in the garden, I call all my flowers "girls". 

My miniature daffodils were the first to open and announce that Spring is here

My succulents form a colorful carpet that breaks the early Spring austerity

The hyacinths are just about to open. I hope they do for Easter!

The opportunity to work in the garden came just in time to save my sanity. After two weeks of horror stories and unfortunate events at work, I needed some "garden-work meditation". 

Another difficult week is coming, and it will not be a short week for me, since my employer does not consider Good Friday as a holiday. 

Counting my jelly beans and living in the present

The peonies are finally blooming in their full glory

Do you remember the video The Time You Have (In Jelly Beans)?

I have been trying to make each "jelly bean" count. Especially on weekends, when I have more control over my time.

I usually wake up around 4 AM, drink my coffee - no sugar, check a few websites and get motivated.

My most productive hours are until 11 AM, so I am on the run immediately after breakfast. This morning I made some fried fish balls (light tuna, bread crumbs, one egg, salt and black pepper), baked potatoes, and avocado-yogurt dip (seasoned with parsley, garlic, salt and black pepper).

 

The honeysuckle looks very exotic

After abandoning the kitchen at 7:10 AM, I visited the garden to take a few pictures. 

The flower images will keep me alive, sane, and hopeful in the depths of the next winter... 

Sweet William self-seeded in distant corners of my garden

The peonies will last probably a week only...I wish I could capture their smell as well

Have a great weekend!

Welcome to my Spring jungle

Geranium, clematis, lilac, the perfect combination next to my deck!

Purple columbine

Wild flowers from the dollar store seeds

Wild flowers, yet to identify them! Bought the seeds in the dollar store.

Sweet William, coming soon

Lilac, just in time for my birthday!

I wish you could smell it!

Geranium macrorrhizum + columbines

My best succulents

The first dasies

Thyme and a riot of other flowers fighting for space under a tree

Pink columbine