Last week when the snow was fresh, I visited Butchart Gardens, known for its wonderful array of flowers during the spring and summer. Shades of black, white, and dark green allowed the architecture of the garden to stand out. And how beautiful is the red of the little bridge in the Japanese Garden.
On Mary's IG page she posted a parsnip and apple soup that sounded intriguing. It's hearty, faintly sweet, and with some sourdough bread is a lovely meal for a chilly day.
I've been playing with watercolours again. It's so much better to paint in the evenings than to watch or read the news. I saw the book above on Catherine's blog and ordered for myself. It's in French and easy to read, with some great ideas. I'll share some of my little paintings in another post.
Each day is precious, even those of February, and I don't want to wish them away as I long for the sun's warmth and new shoots springing from the soil. Rather than merely enduring these days, I'm focusing on embracing what this season has to offer. Simple, everyday things.
A kale salad might not seem very appealing, but I learned from somewhere that the trick is in massaging the cut kale with olive oil and a bit of salt. Working the kale with my hands before adding apple and radish slices makes the kale softer and not so chewy. Since the oil is already on the greens, I add a bit of white wine vinegar and toss everything together. A sprinkle of candied pecans or other nuts on top. A good winter salad. Grated carrot would be good in place or in addition to the radishes.
On our trip across Canada in 2023, we stopped in Knowlton, Quebec, home of author Louise Penny and of Brome Lake Books. I bought the journal above there and when I open it to write, I remember that very rainy September day wandering around Knowlton, eating a cozy lunch in the bistro, and browsing in the bookstore.
So there you have it - just a few very ordinary things that I'm delighting in lately.
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