Garden Gatherings

It’s just too early, in my opinion, for snow. I love the robust colors, flavors and fragrances of Fall. This morning’s snow, as beautiful as it is, takes me from the pleasures of Autumn to the push for Winter preparedness.

So, I’m filling my kitchen with the seasonal fragrance of chicken-vegetable stew. I cleared the freezer of reserved chicken bones, put them in a stock pot with onions and garlic for a yummy and healthy chicken broth.

Then, I sautéed mushrooms and steamed root vegetables to be added to the stock. A cup of left-over white wine added to the mix. All ingredients (except the bones) will simmer in the crock pot. My kitchen smells wonderful already! Yes, this is one of Winter’s comforts.

I encourage you to put away your summer menus and embrace the warming foods of Fall and Winter. Stay warm!

My bucket runneth over! I have so many things I want to do, places I want to visit and people I want to meet, that my bucket list is quite long. How about yours? There’s no way I can wait until “someday” to begin, so each day I make an intentional effort to accomplish something on my list.

My love of gardens has me longing to see the gardens of the world. So, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant they may be, I visit gardens. My largest and most famous to date is the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

My most endearing garden belongs to my mom and dad on my childhood farm in Texas. It’s always a stroll down memory lane even though I’m as old as some of the trees!

My most recent garden visit was to @The High Line, a public park built on historic freight rail lines above the streets of Manhattan’s West Side. A delightful walk in a very well preserved and maintained garden/park. A relaxing retreat in the midst of the noisy New York crowds.

Every minute of every day is precious . . . spend a few of them at a slower pace . . .a more leisurely rhythm. That’s the best health tip I have at this moment.

Did April actually happen? Where was I? My parents used to comment that the older they got, the faster time seemed to pass. Well, I’ve become my parents!

My days are full and mostly fun, but I must remember to stop and smell the roses, or lilacs or iris––whatever is blooming in the season. I rejoiced as my older daughter gave birth to her second daughter on March 20––our little spring baby. And granddaughter #1 is an explosion of excitement and curiosity at two-and-a-half-year-old . What a joy, this grand-mothering season.

Each day reminds me the value of total, exceptional, whole health. The days do pass quickly and I want to be present and involved in each one. I did not miss April . . . I just did not write about it. I was enjoying the moment(s). I hope you too, are taking care of your health and well-being so that you do not miss any moments.

I’m off to NYC to visit my younger daughter. We expect to share many memory making moments––maybe I’ll write about them. Stay healthy. That’s life’s greatest gift. Oh, and stop and smell a few flowers along the way.