all are safe...

initial reports suggest that all my friends and their families in christchurch, new zealand, are safe. the city and nearby areas were largely leveled, however, so their lives are a long way from normal. i will let you know if there is anything we can do to help them rebuild their lives.

an early spring?

it is hard to believe that i am sitting outside for the second weekend in a row in early february in a tank top and shorts. it is days like these when i realize that THIS is the california dream. with either foolish optimism or real belief that winter is on its way out, i planted the spring veggie seeds in the garden last weekend. the daffodils are blooming...so it must be time, right?! hopefully within 70-80 days we will be feasting on chard, beets, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and spring onions from our garden. the bok choi and cilantro starts have been going strong for a few weeks and are definitely enjoying the warm weather too. rain is in the forecast for this week, however, but we still need several more good rains this season to make it through the summer without severe water restrictions. not so much the california dream... 


this is one of my favorite times of year - the days are getting longer on both ends, trees are blooming everywhere, and the migratory birds are starting to come through.


for all of you still buried in snow and ice, a few photos of hope!
be well.

 pete's handmade concrete patio table
(and prototype for our future bathroom counter top)

 bok choi

 spring veggie seeds are in the ground!

 mini iris

the tell-tale sign of spring...