Free At Last?

Finally! We're getting some spring weather. The snow is melting. There's mud everywhere. Of course, as deep as the drifts are up here north of the middle of nowhere, we're going to be looking at and working around mud for a while yet. But there's hope of gardening budding in my heart.

The seeds I've started are still growing. More of them are sprouting as well. Some are slow starters (looking at you, seed onions!). The snow has receded from my storage shed, so perhaps this week I'll retrieve at least one of my window boxes to transfer my leaf lettuces. They'll grow nicely in the south window and I'll be able to dine on fresh greens within a few weeks.

There are birds that have returned already. A couple meadowlarks have been sighted, although not in my yard yet. (The gophers are popping out all over the place.) Mostly I have juncos and sparrows. They nest in the vine outside the kitchen. In fact, that nest is right outside the vent over the stove. Their cheerful singing easily enters through that vent and warms my heart.

I'm still unable to reach the bird feeder out back to refill it. There appears to still be some seed in it, but the little birds are starting to glean seeds dropped under the feeder and on top of the snow. I know I'll have to wade out there through that melting mess with the bucket of wild bird seed sometime this week. That should be an aerobic challenge.

Last week I made a sheet pan meal for the two of us. I sprinkled about one and a quarter cups of mixed rices (bamboo rice [it's green, bought at WinCo in Billings from their bulk foods section] wild rice, Arborio, and long-grain brown) on a smaller jelly-roll pan. Of course, I sprayed the pan with no-stick spray first. Then I placed a couple chicken thighs, skin side up, atop the rice. Those were liberally sprinkled with poultry seasoning and smoked paprika. I also sprinkled some dried tarragon over the rice. Then I added about one and a half cups of chicken bouillon to the pan. It was roasted, uncovered, in the oven at 375° for about 40 minutes. (I cut into the thighs near the bone to check for doneness - no redness allowed with chicken! If there's color, then I give them another 5 minutes.) It's a simple, easy meal. I had avocado slices on the side, and added a few cherry tomatoes sliced atop about a third of a cup of low-fat cottage cheese. I grate fresh black peppercorns over that. We both also had broiled garlic sourdough bread.

We've been enjoying fresh pineapple a lot lately. They've been so tasty. To check for ripeness, see if the center spiky leaf at the top pulls out easily. If it does, that's the pineapple to get. (Don't pull too hard - it should give easily.) Once I get home with my choice, I'll store the pineapple kind of upside down for a day or two before cutting it up. I'd read that helps make the whole thing sweeter.

I've never been able to grow the pineapple top. When I bothered trying, it's always rotted. But I have been able to start both mango seeds and avocado pits. I have several of both wrapped in damp paper towels and in a baggie right now. Once they sprout, I'll plant them. (Google how to do the mango seeds. It's a bit of work getting the 'bean' out of the pit, but it can be done. But take care not to cut yourself.) Occasionally, I'll keep an apple too long, and the seeds will be sprouting inside the apple. I try planting those, too, but I tend to also kill them if they survive the planting. Oh, well, those are basically freebies, so I'm not out much.