Patience

Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you do any sort of gardening you know that patience is a must.  Seeds planted today take time to sprout.  Trees and bushes die in the winter, then slowly come back to life in the spring, bursting forth with new greenery and blooms. Gardening slows us down, requires us to have patience, to believe in the wonder of tomorrow.

I've been working at a feverish seven-days-a-week pace, my only day off since February 1 was earlier this week when I had an unexpected stay in the hospital. I worked seven hours today then came home and puttered in the backyard. Playing in the dirt is so calming to me, it's mindless work, I can feel myself unwind as I weed, clean and prune. I've not had time to spend in the garden lately and I was pleasantly surprised at all the changes.  The rose bushes are full of new buds just waiting to open. The clematis is about to bloom. Raspberries are forming on the bush and the apple tree is beginning to blossom.  Bulbs planted last winter are now in full bloom. The fragrance of flowers is everywhere. Spring has arrived once more! My brief respite in the garden made me want to go to the garden center and stock up on flowers and supplies.  I must use some more patience as I still have 24 days left until tax season is over!

33 Years!

Yes, I'm still alive.  There isn't much going on in my kitchen or craft room at the present time.  I've had popcorn for dinner twice this week, I'm almost embarrassed to say.  I did make a pie last night, my office staff will let me know at lunch if it was a success or not. Unless you've worked in an accounting office during tax season, you can't imagine the stress and tiredness we feel.  Five weeks from today and tax season 2015 will be a wrap! Lots to accomplish between now and then but we can see the finish line.

33 years ago, my Hubbers and I ran away to Reno to get married. Why, during tax season, you ask?  We were buying a home and needed to be married in order to qualify for a Veterans Administration loan. We got married on a Friday night and were back to work on Sunday.  Our anniversaries have been similarly celebrated.  We will go to dinner tonight and try to (1) stay awake and (2) not talk business!

One of the first cross-stitched pieces I made is a wedding sampler.  It still hangs by our bed.

These past 33 years have flown by.  Three children, four grandchildren, lots of memories. If I had it to do over again the only thing I would change would be the date! It sure would be nice to have a romantic getaway on my anniversary!

Lemon Beehive Cake

We already know I have a (slight?) obsession with specialty cake pans. In many of the spring kitchen catalogs that are hitting my mailbox now this Nordicware beehive cake pan is being showcased.  I'm sure it's no surprise to say that I have this cake pan in my collection.  I've had it about five years and used it once.

I used the recipe that Williams Sonoma provides with the cake pan (recipe here). I took the cake to work, to rave reviews.  It's got the consistency of a pound cake, with a nice lemon flavor. The interesting part of the recipe is the honey-sugar glaze that is brushed on the cake while still warm.  The cake had a subtle honey flavor, too, as a result.

Saturday I was driving out to a client's farm to deliver her tax returns.  She is surrounded by almond orchards, most still in full bloom. With the beehive cake pan in my thoughts, I caught myself thinking about how important bees are to the nut and fruit farmers. Nothing grows without pollination! Beekeeping is big business out here and the almond farmers, especially, rely on the many bee boxes (no pretty hives!)being placed in their orchards during the pollination season. It's a mutually advantageous relationship, the farmers get their trees pollinated and the beekeeper gets the honey. I love to buy fresh, local honey.

The bee population has been in disarray the last few years.  Their natural habitat has been diminished and chemicals have bad effects on them. I make sure to plant many varieties of flowers in my yard to help support the dwindling bee population!