Bagels

I made bagels! This has been something I have wanted to try for a long time and finally the day came- and went- and bagels were made.
They were rolled out and boiled.
set on towels lightly dusted to dry.and baked until golden- which took a very long time.But I did it, and now I am ready to try it again- though with a different recipe as this one fell flat.Five minutes a day bagels, not my favorite, but a great starter. Also I am so happy that my husband has all these great braziers as I can boil 15 bagels at once, don't know what i would do without that. Nor do i know that I would recommend attempting without a big pot for boiling, doing 2 at a time doesn't seem like much fun. The result seemed a bit more ciabatta like than bagel like. I love this bread book and feel like the bagel tastes just like their breads- delicious, but not a bagel. Now off to find a different, more my style, recipe.

Into the Woods:: 4/8

River gets the running into the woods shot this week... he is getting so big and independant.

The boys are enjoying all of our time outside and their sleeping habits have been enjoyed by their parents. Outside air is the best thing for everyone.

A pit stop to do a bit of coloring.

Bluebells in full bloom.

A lovely grouping of Mayapples.

Our sea horse getting some color around her.

Trout lily in bloom, though it was a little chilly so they weren't open in their full beauty. May apple bloom, they need two leaves to produce a flower, in case you are looking.

Oh, the weather, how lovely you have been. Spring is an amazing time of fresh starts for the whole world and for the internal soul. I am slowly getting through the house with a spring cleaning and transitioning clothing, books and accessories over for the sun and warmth to come.

Enjoying the Garden

Asparagus found and then eaten directly by eldest son. Oh it is so very tasty. I love asparagus season.

Baby Radishes.

Dirt eating babies.

Happy Sunday, I hope the rest of the week pans out to be as lovely as the end of this ones past. Just brief times inside these days, so good for our spirits lately.

All a Boy Needs

A hose and some dirt to wallow in the mud.

Wresteling with a brother.

Dirty satisfaction after an hour of play!

Gotta love things that hold this much attention.

Carrot Harvest

Nothing quite beats harvesting a spring crop right out of the gates. While these carrots weren't exactly planned, we started them late in the summer, and were thinking of trying the overwintering thing- topping them, but leaving them in the ground and harvesting them when the ground wasn't frozen. Really they just sat, we pulled some in the fall when they were tiny and some when it warmed up and then yesterday A pulled the rest of them.
The orange is nice with all the green we are seeing these days.

The Non-Edible Side

We planted bulbs years ago and are trying to integrate more flowers into our garden. With a house lacking in the sunlight department, it is hard to give up food growing space for beauty- but really it such a gift from the earth and we find our selves drawn to flower seed packs.

Into the Woods:: 4/1

I love the woods this time of year. It is amazing how quickly things change. We were there a week ago and a lot was up, then 4 days later and everything is making a show in some way or another, 2 more days pass and things are blooming and as this post is publishing, more things are in bloom. Spring Pink, or as I prefer to call them "Fairy Spuds" they have a small tuber that looks and tastes like the most delicious buttery mashed potato. There were a few of these blooming the last days of march and by the first of April, tons.

May Apples making an appearance.

Trillium budding up.

A boy pretending to be a deer, 2 sticks needed to make up his four legs.

Friends flipping over logs in hopes of finding a salamader- no luck there, but lots of slugs, centipedes, pill bugs, big fat juicy earthworms and giant spiders!

Bloodroot, shooting up fast and blooming in a matter of days. I didn't find the leaves before it bloomed, this plant grows to fast to miss a day.

Toothwort in bloom, I imagine on our next visit they will be in full bloom.

And a trout lily with two leaves, budding up for one of my favorite shows-I love this flower.

And a cute boy, taking a break after a lot of walking in the woods.

Around the Yard

So much to enjoy right out our front door. Ramps.

Our first shitakes of the season. Asher came running into the house screaming, "I found mushrooms"-luckily they were of this variety, but he had ben and me questioning things for a moment.

Fall planted garlic, popping up through it's winter blanket.

Cold frame loaded with greens to transplant, radishes and cilantro.

Currents

Gooseberries.

Plus we took the leap and rented a community plot at Victory this year, hoping it will make gardening with children in tow more accessible than Meadowbrook and it's distance prooved to be. So we will get to grow all the things that haven't fit into the easement garden!!