~ 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.

* Snug *

 As I look out the window, and across the meadow to the mountains,
 I see snow.
First measurable snow of the winter.

Winter is here.
Winter is here to stay.
Cozy corners filled with green plants and red geraniums.

 Looking out my kitchen window, I see a blanket of white.
Grateful for the herbs that are growing, and fresh on the windowsill.

Such a beautiful sight.
Outside, it's frosty and cold.
Inside, it's cozy and snug.

Today: Bake bread, plan weekly menu, read {must finish my book}
wrap a few gifts.


Attitude of gratitude:
* Feeling grateful for a warm home.
* I'm grateful for a warm fire.
* I'm so grateful that Brooke made dinner for us yesterday, while we were at church.
Nothing feels so welcoming and cozy, as walking in from a cold winters day to the aroma of a hot, home cooked meal.  She made us stuffed baked potatoes. So perfect on a winters day, and I am so grateful for her thoughtfulness.