Tuesday

~ Summer Everlasting ~

 Success!
When the weather started turning colder last Fall, and I knew that the growing season was coming to an end.
 I decided to save some of my outdoor plants, re-pot them and grow them in the sunny kitchen window.
Here it is, March, and I feel successful in preserving a bit of last years summer season.
 Geraniums and herbs still growing.
Bar any disasters, these plants will make it back outside to enjoy another summer season.
Did you save any plant to winter over indoors?
 My one small rosemary plant has given me two additional starts, and two more plants growing to enjoy.
 The decorative angel vine, which I never guessed would have made it this long, is thriving.
It's actually a bit older plant than the others, I bought it last Spring, so that means it's been growing in the sunny kitchen window for a year now!
The basil is getting leggy, and I need to pinch it back, and perhaps take a few starts from it.
I love fresh basil, and the recipe below is one that we use at our home, at least once a week. It uses fresh basil, and fresh lemon juice.
It is such a delicious marinade, and so far we've not only tried it on steak, but on chicken as well.
I would declare it my all time favorite marinade.

Best Steak Marinade Recipe ~ 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/3 cup olive or grape seed oil 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (1.5 lemons) 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoons garlic powder 3 tablespoons fresh basil 1 tablespoons dried parsley flakes 1 teaspoon ground white pepper 1 tablespoon minced garlic.... So Good!!!!
 Marinate meat for at least 4 hours and then grill meat for best results.


We buy our lemons in bulk, at Costco, because lemons just don't grow on trees in Utah you know.
I recently found out about pink lemons!
I've never tasted them, and I haven't seen them for sale in any of our grocery stores, but I would LOVE to have some!
Has anyone else bought, grown, or tried pink lemons??
While I have summer everlasting in the house, in the form of wonderful plants, and herbs, and delicious marinades to use... outside it is still winter here.
Still snowy.
Hey, but just look at that bright blue sky, and the sun shining down on the snow.
Before we know it, the snow will all be melted and the meadows and mountains will start to come alive again.
 Sleepy winter will be over, happy Spring on it's way.
On my kitchen window sills..... summer continues anyway.

Attitude of gratitude~
~Feeling grateful for things to do, and the ability to do them.
How blessed our youngest is, to have his own home. This weekend, we hope to help him out, and clean away a ton of debris from an old shed that was on his property. We'll haul off all the junk to the landfill and that space will make him a fine garden plot.





19 comments:

  1. I'll have to try your marinade recipe- it does sound delicious. I'm glad winter is going back to sleep- I hope it stays down for a long, long, nap!

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  2. Your geranium survived winter very well. Spring is right around the corner!

    Smiles,
    Carol

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  3. Wow Kerin. Your' green thumb extends to the inside too! I do not do well with house plants. My geraniums get thrown in the compost. It looks like spring in your windowsill.

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  4. Nice to see all your summer plants thrived in your care during the winter.
    No, I didn't save any. All my house plants always seem to die and haven't had any inside for a while now. I think you've inspired me to try again. : )

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  5. I am so impressed by your plants. If I tried that, they would be dead in a few weeks! :)

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  6. Your plants have thrived beautifully all Winter! I would have never thought to bring some of them in.

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  7. Wow! I wish I had your green thumb. Plants are not safe around me. Love your snow pictures. I miss the Utah winters. I probably have mentioned that already. :)

    Nice little rhyme at the end of your post. :)

    Take care, enjoy the seasons. Janet W

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  8. Kerin, geraniums are one of my most favorite. Love the spicy smell. We had them all year long in Santa Cruz, but up here they only last in the summer weather. I am not that clever as you to grow them inside. I love that little angel vine and I'm going to try one, but am not that good with REAL house plants..Happy Tuesday..Judy

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  9. You do such a beautiful job of taking care of your plants, Kerin! They are gorgeous and having plants inside helps so much with the winters! Plus, they help make your air better! I have been horrible at tending indoor plants for the past few years! I've even killed a succulent this winter. Uggghhhh!
    Thanks for the marinade recipe! Love getting new inspiration! blessings and hugs ~ tanna

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  10. Just lovely photos. Your plants look just wonderful. I really like your pictures.
    In that one picture what are those long barn?
    I have never heard of pink lemons either. That might be fun.
    I hope you are having a wonderful week.

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  11. Good morning, sweet friend! Your blog posts are always full of beauty and charm - you make me smile, dear Kerin :)

    You certainly have a special way with plants - yours are stunning and so healthy looking! Thank you so much for the delightful comments on my blog - they are appreciated. Hugs to you!

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  12. I've never heard of or seen a pink lemon, but I will be on the lookout. I'm thinking that Whole Foods may be the place. Wishing you a good weekend!

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  13. You have quite the green thumb . . .
    Happy to be back visiting YOU!

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  14. Hi Kerin!

    I have been away too long! What a beautiful post! I have always wanted to bring in my Geraniums, but don't want the nasty spiders that may come with them! But, I just might give it a try this fall. It reminds me of my great-aunts home, she had Geraniums everywhere in her home.

    We are finally getting some nice warm days here in Idaho. Hopefully, Spring is right around the corner!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  15. Well done on the plants, Kerin. I'll have to have chat with the couple of geraniums I saved. Maybe a kind work will convince them to bloom!

    Karen

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  16. Kerin, Happy Spring! I have a red geranium that is two years old now. Once I went to an estate sale, and there was a HUGE geranium in a big pot. I asked about it, and was told the lady had had it for 20 years before she died! Wow! Mine is only two, but bloomed during the winter and I'm going to put it into a bigger pot and put it on the patio for this summer.

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  17. I could almost smell that basil! Beautiful.

    I've never heard of pink lemons. Sounds interesting.

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  18. Hi Kerin, Your plants are so beautiful....we like a lot of the same things~~~Rosemary is one of my favorites and those geraniums are breathtaking! A nice cheer me up~~~Blessings~~~Roxie

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I love getting to know you, and having our "chats".
Have a wonderful day.