Signs of Spring

I feel very blessed to live in a location that experiences all four seasons. The signs of spring have been around for a while.  The transition from winter to spring is one of my favorite things to watch unfold.  Winter looks to me like the world is asleep and then spring is awakened by an alarm only to hit the snooze button for just a little longer.  Today I can tell for sure that the transition is complete.

I love the changing rhythms each season brings to homemaking. The plants I attempted to winter over have been moved outside.  With the danger of frost behind us, most of the garden is finally planted.  Only tomatoes and peppers need to be planted with a few of my favorite herbs.  I am not a skilled gardener, but herbs are so easy to grow!  Most of the seeds we planted have broken through the ground and the ever faithful weeds are back in full force.  

Some of those “weeds” are tasty foods, for example, those beautiful sweet violets that blanket the ground in early spring.  Though to grassy lawn lovers they are weeds, to me they are a favorite food.  I make a simple violet syrup with them.  It is an almost magical process.  First you make an infusion from the flowers that looks inky blue.  You heat that to dissolve the added sugar and at the last minute you stir in a bit of lemon juice.  That inky blue suddenly changes to a beautiful shade of purple.  Tea sweetened with this lovely syrup is extra special!  

Spring sunshine also inspires me to make lighter foods.  One favorite is - Mango Spring Rolls.  They are so pretty and delicious.  And you don’t want to forget the peanut dipping sauce!  I was able to share some of them with two of my daughters.  

I love to share things I have learned over the years to flow with the changing of the seasons.  That is what making a house a home is all about to me.  The world may swirl with uncertainty, but I get to work at creating peace and storing provision for troubled times in my home.  I will be offering more classes soon to do some of that sharing.  

So if you share my interests, be on the lookout for classes.  These last two months were packed too full for instruction, but I am anxious to get back at it.  I have so enjoyed the sourdough bread and fermented foods classes from earlier in the year and will offer them.  I will also be offering workshops on the basics of canning, one on water bath and one on pressure canning.  It will be a very busy summer!  Most people see my classes on my FaceBook page, but I have also learned how to post them to my website.  Feel free to email me, middleroselife@gmail.com, with any suggestions you have on topics and or timing of classes.  

Hoping that you are enjoying spring as much as I am!

Pam