spring thoughts

 

                                                                         

               

Lately, I have been thinking a long while about the noise of the world ~the way we so quickly try to tell one another what to do, what to eat, and who to become. It’s a curious thing, isn't it? The desire to shape another's thoughts for them. I don’t believe life works in such a forced way. I think we each come to our truths in our own time, in our own way, and in our own quiet corners. I don’t wish for someone to stand over me, and I certainly don't wish to stand over anyone else. 

There is a freedom in the simple act of choosing. If one’s heart ~and budget~ leads them toward a plate of radishes, baked beans, and bacon, then that is exactly where they should be. It is okay. Living close to the earth is a deeply personal journey, one that looks different for every set of hands that works the soil.  The gardens and animals we tend to, the rewards, are that much more meaningful. 

And yet, there is a softening that happens when we walk a path bound up with nature. When we try to empathize with the earth, we begin to see the sentience in the beings around us. We see the fear, the distress, and the very real feelings of the creatures we share this space with. It makes us a bit more respectful, doesn't it? A bit more thoughtful about the plate. 

Each person gets to decide. I believe that today as much as I ever have. But I also believe in the power of paying attention ~to where things come from, and the relationship we want to cultivate with the farmer or the wild around us.

Earth Day dish cloths

 

It's Earth Day 2026 and to celebrate I'm re-purposing some scrap fabric and terry cloth towels and making some dish cloths.  Kitchen duties and cleaning can feel so domestic and sometimes boring.  I like to embrace the feral side of domesticity every chance I get.  A little wild and free to be creative and repurposed old things or scraps feels a bit feral over just buying some cheapies at the store.  I think we should add in a little color and personality to the monotonous routines we sometimes find ourselves in.  I also want to make a matching dish towel drying mat for my clean dishes.  *For the dish cloths,  I cut out 5 inch squares from the fabrics and used 1 terry and one cotton print fabric, I put the right sides together and sewed around the perimeter.  I left a 2 inch area on the last side, to turn the square right side out.  After turning the square, taking care to be sure and push out the points on the corners, I top stitched around the square and turned fabric in to close 2 inch gap.  I also sewed diagonally across the square so it stays laying flat and doesn't pucker in the center.  This is an easy and fun beginner friendly sewing craft that is both useful and cute!  These little dish cloths are so unique and makes cleaning up a little more fun.  They can also be used under a hot coffee mug or at the espresso machine for quick clean up. The cloths are sturdy and of course washable/re-usable and will last years! I hope you give them a try! Happy Earth Day!! 

xo ~tina

dutch baby, rain baby

I look outside and judge the type of rain based on if the chickens are out of their house

she can not decide, so we just leave the door open

We started the day in cotton gowns, sleeveless and as it started to rain I reached for a plaid shirt:: by the time the day darkens into night, we will be back in our flannel pajamas and definitely warm socks tomorrow. 
I made a blueberry Dutch Baby because it seems like the perfect rainy morning to get the oven going.  It is an easy make, but I have read online that sometimes people struggle with the puff aspect of the oven pancake.  I'm not sure and can't attest to what problems they run into, but I'm wondering if it has something to do with the age of the eggs?  So I can only recommend using farm eggs, either from yours or your neighborhood egg person,,,they are everywhere these days <yay> My recipe is: 

preheat your oven to 400 degrees (mine is convection and automatically adjusts this to 375)

3 farm fresh eggs (room temp)

3/4 cup milk

3 T melted butter.   preheat and melt it in your size 8 or 10 inch cast iron skillet and pour half of it into your milk and egg mixture.  I use my stove top for this step. Leave the rest in the pan on low. 

3 T (more or less) raw cane sugar.  you can put less but you may not get that crusty sweet top that pairs well with the tartness of the blueberries. 

1 T vanilla

pinch salt

3/4 unbleached organic AP flour 

1/4 cup wild blueberries, frozen (my favorites are found at Trader Joe's and are wild harvested from the Boreal forest in Canada) I really do think the tiny berries work great here.  I add half to the buttered warmed skillet bottom, pour in my batter and sprinkle the rest on top and pop into the oven.  

Bake for 20+ minutes, until puffed and set in the center. 

While your Dutch baby is baking, set your timer on your phone because you don't want to forget it, ahem.  take your phone outside in your backyard and walk around with your pajamas in the rain (if you are so lucky) and enjoy this time while your breakfast cooks. This is part of the "recipe" so you must do it for the pancake to come out!! :))

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I have a lot of work to get done at home today.  But I plan to do it well fed and very well caffeinated. OK, I'm off to find those wool socks I already packed away because we will wake up to 40s tomorrow! 

xo, ~tina

spring, welcome

Spring arrived in what seemed like a hurry. Wasn't it just the long days of February? The fact is the days are whizzing by, and I'm not sure why? I feel like I am just flipping the calendar months every time I turn around. April has not brought us much for showers, so what does this mean for our May flowers? It didn't seem to slow down my lilacs or roses from doing their thing, for which I am thankful.  Today is hot, record or near record high set.  I'm still waiting for the final tally. At 6 pm it is still 83 degrees. We will wake up to 70s in the morning and then a storm is promised and a sharp drop down to the 50s.  I love a swift change of weather like that and I hope we do get that rain.  We NEED it.  I made a sourdough lemon cake that was really good ~to welcome spring and it was like eating sunshine.  We spent last Friday (used) car shopping for my 17.5 year old who was due an upgrade from the car she's been using.  We found one that was exactly what we were looking for! She was surprised and happy and all the things that make such a purchase feel just right.  Also makes the work we do outside of the home that much more needed, especially during the times we are in right now and the prices of everything we need! That also makes us think about the things we don't need so much right now too and perhaps simplifying even more, where we can.  I don't know about where you are, but here, these gas prices are pretty invasive to the purse strings. So anyway,,, Happy Spring! xo ~tina