Cold Northern Winds and Tasty Eastern Nights

Northern hills and the shop and combine shed

The cistern reflecting the setting sun

The dry creek valley facing east

This is what I would refer to as a very unproductive weekend. Doug is fighting a cold, Kate has a cold and has been coughing and sputtering all night, and I am caught somewhere in the middle. Doug is also on call and has been busy with work. The wind has been howling, cold and hard. There have been threats of snow storms blowing in but at this point we haven't seen any and I hope it remains that way. As the sun set last night, the wind calmed and the sun shone through the valley on it's way out of site for the day. It gave me a glimpse that spring really is trying to break way but we just need to give it a little more time.

The talented cooks
Saturday night Dean and his girlfriend Sara created a real treat for us. Sara planned an entire dinner of East Indian cuisine. YUM!! We always enjoy trying new dishes so when Dean offered to come out here and cook we jumped at the chance! Dean and Sara are both very at home in the kitchen so I eagerly turned over the reins to them and stood by to see what they whipped up. We dined on cauliflower curry, curried spinach and chickpeas, chicken Marsala and my contribution of jasmine rice.

The bounty

I have really enjoyed getting to know Sara. She is smart, funny and so upbeat. Dean is happier than I have ever seen him.

This morning, as I type this, Kate is sitting right next to me eating frozen raspberries from last summers harvest. I had forgotten just how wonderful they smell, even frozen they smell like a bouquet of roses almost. I have so many summer plans for gardens and activities! I don't want to wish away the time we have right now but it gives me something to fill my mind with when the cold wind blows and we are stuck inside.

Adios amigos! Gotta fry up some pancakes for the baby coyotes.