grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Dear March,

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Dear March,Dear March,

If I individually track the next thirty-one days, each is likely to feel different. Drizzle. Thunderstorms. Warm sunshine. Days of dreary cold and maybe even snow, weather to remind us we aren’t out of the winter woods yet. And your howling wind! Are you announcing yourself?

Or maybe the biting wind should be blamed on Ole Man Winter who won’t go without a fight.

Charles Dickens perfectly described you, March, as summer in the light, and winter in the shade. 

So true.

Dear March, I know you mark the beginning of spring. I begin to dream of flower beds and lake days and fresh vegetables from farmer’s market, even though I never got a single bowl of snow cream.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Dear March, you are summer in the light and winter in the shade #CharlesDickens #welcomespring[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Fiona Apple, Everyday

I started writing monthly letters to each month last July. Did you miss any of them? Here they are…

Dear July

Dear JULY

Dear August,

Dear AUGUST

Dear October,

Dear OCTOBER

Dear January,

Dear JANUARY

Annabelle saw her reflection…

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I hate to tell you this. Yesterday, Annabelle Boerner saw her reflection in the window of the neighborhood skating rink and this morning it feels like winter again. So much for Punxsutawney Phil and his prediction of an early spring.

Annabelle saw her reflection

Here in Northwest Arkansas, the last few springlike days have made me itch to work in the yard. I picked up a few limbs Sunday afternoon and dragged all my plants into the sun for a good soaking (the ones I’m overwintering in the garage). I worked on my compost a bit, too.

Only 46 days until Spring!

What’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Annabelle saw her reflection on Groundhog’s Day![/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
David Benoit, Waiting for Spring

Dear February,

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Dear February

Dear February,

When I think of you, I remember Valentine’s Day parties with classmates and cards with silly sayings and lots of homemade sugary treats.

I think of heart-shaped boxes—the (now considered) vintage ones covered in lace and satin—boxes that were typically more exciting than the candies inside. I poked my finger into the bottom of each chocolate piece until I found one filled with caramel or nougat or the rare smooth milk chocolate one. Over time I came to realize oval-shaped chocolates were to be avoided at all cost. Oval chocolates were always filled with orange cream and butter fudge and other “old people” flavors.

Flavors that taste good to me now.Continue Reading

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!