February is a challenging month for most folks in these parts... cold, gray, and yes, a bit dreary. Memories of running barefoot in the grass are almost impossible to conjure up. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to prepare for the oncoming gloom by planting another round of paper whites. I placed them next to my little terrarium (that's still going strong one year later). Growing something green in the middle of winter keeps me smiling and bridges the months until I can get my fingernails dirty in my yard. I was recently inspired by a friend's kitchen table "garden".
So, yesterday I picked up some potted organic herbs and created an edible centerpiece. The smell alone re-wired my February brain. Mint, basil, and cilantro are the fragrances of summer time in my plot out back. I was transported. And how fun is it to pick your garnish and put it directly on your plate? My kids will tell you "it's awesome!" I placed the pots in a rusted out mail tray (that I love so much) and surrounded them with our lake stones to complete that summer memory feeling.
Oh and guess what bloomed this week? So now sweet scents follow me from room to room. Live aromatherapy.
Extra Bits:
- If you can't find potted herbs, make a bouquet of basil, dill, mint etc. (from the produce section) and put them in a vase.
- Other greens to grow: sprouts and grass!
- The gorgeous prints above the flowers are from lovelydesign.
- I haven't forgotten about tiny love and little parcels... not for a moment!
"February arrives cold, wet and gray, her gifts disguised for only the most discerning spirits to see. Gentle is our path. Gratitude is the thread we weave into the fabric of our daily lives this month, giving thanks for our simply abundant lives and asking for the gift of one thing more: grateful hearts."
ReplyDeleteSarah Ban Breathnach
lovely quote from Kathi, above.
ReplyDeletesome friends left for two years of nomadic living last week, starting in costa rica and we just heard from her that their alarm clock is now a monkey followed by parakeets.
while i'm happy for them and of course a little jealous, they gave away a bunch of their bulk foods before leaving and so, tonight, thanks to them, we had lima bean soup and have been eating sprouted mung beans in our salads.
tricks? good food, chocolate, but more than anything else: spending time with friends: getting out and about, visiting others, and inviting others over. all three.
god i love all the wood - my other half is cable and doing so a little at a time, when finances permit - converting our home...he's a wood master, can make just about anything, furniture, floors... i'm digging the hec out of the wood post/beam at the ceiling. wow!
ReplyDeleteMy usual local store for paperwhite bulbs didn't carry them this winter! Luckily I had an empty pot and some lavender seeds I'd saved. So I have a little pot of lavender sprouts that I've been nurturing. And my shamrock I bought last year never seems to stop blooming - it is such a delightful plant to have about.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm reading this from sunny Queensland Australia. Here we are in high summer. It is very hot here. We have had a lot of rain lately and just this weekend the tail end of a tropical cyclone did a little damage here abouts. Our winter is nothing like what you have - a blessing I think although sometime I would like to experience a northern winter. Having said that we aren't geared up for the cold so our houses tend to get a lot colder than yours do because of your central heating.
ReplyDeleteI have a February birthday and so does my daughter so February seems to rush by with lots of birthday planning and treats. I didn't realise I was so lucky as I have never thought of February as being a dreary month.
ReplyDeleteKathi- beautiful quote! thank you!
ReplyDeleteRosedale- we have no shortage of wood downstairs, that's true! I love it so much most of the time... sometimes I dream about painting it. Never really would in a million years, though.
Philipa- I loved getting your weather report!
Can I come live at your house?
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely calm house you have, and so TIDY! I love having plants inside, but always forget to - I will endeavour to follow your example this year.
ReplyDeletewe enjoy blooming bulbs from dec. to april, thanks to my spring-minded husband. right now, our dining room smells like narcissus and hyacinth. our windowsills are crowded with bulbs, framing the fresh snow outside. very pretty. check out my monday post about february.
ReplyDeletelove your blog!
I have some herbs in the bedroom (basil, mint, chamomile, fennel, thyme). I wish I could have them at the table, but our nine cats would undoubtedly decimate them in a matter of seconds! With luck, at the end of February I can go outside and play in the dirt (hopefully the growing belly won't be too huge and prevent any real work). We're lucky to be in north Florida, but I really wish the warm weather would hurry up!
ReplyDeletealways have the paper whites ...add garland on a white branch to help those dark corners!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of the herb garden centerpiece. I'm going to do that next weekend. Love the idea.
ReplyDeleteBIG SMILE HERE!
ReplyDelete(First day of rain today, after more than twenty days in a row with a terrible heat wave...)
Love love love the indoor greens. I still have a flowering plant on the window sill and it makes my days better.
ReplyDeleteI most grow sprouts this winter!
Don't forget window box lettuce. It keeps me going!
I picked up a little pot of wheatgrass at the grocery store because it was so green - it just looked like spring. After just a short time, I've already had to cut the grass - twice.
ReplyDeleteVicki K.
its so great to see some green when you havent in so long. cant wait for spring!
ReplyDeleteHI from Sunny Cape Town... love your herb idea, i am going to do this with our kids I think they will love it!!! I love your interesting sponsors!!!
ReplyDeleteSmiling from Perth Australia. I am a Canadian that remembers all to well about dreary February. Thank you for reminding me of lovelydesigns beautiful prints. I need a little reminder of home for our walls here.
ReplyDeleteI have been creating with color to ward away the blah's.
ReplyDeleteFor our family wonderful home cooked meals and music always help as well.
all herbs aside, your kitchen is breath-taking. it must be an incredibly peaceful space, no matter the season.
ReplyDeletelove the terrarium and the paperwhite oh and the herbs too. we are going to have to put some of those on our dinner table.
ReplyDeletei am really enjoying the snow this year. it seems like it is sunnier than usual this year. do you fell that way too?
I love your beautiful clean home- your posts are so inspiring. Thank you Maya!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful variety of wood in your dining room - nice pictures!
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog and I really like it. You have such a warm and lovely home! I like the idea of an edible centerpiece. I am sure the smell is uplifting!
ReplyDeleteI need to make that centerpiece now! If I get it done this weekend it just might help me through the next snowstorm that is headed this way!
ReplyDeleteGreat centerpiece, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE your house!!! How old is it? I'd love to read and see more about it!
ReplyDeleteI have some herbs growing in my garden after I strap on my Yaktrax and wade through all the snow outside I'm going to use to bring it in and make a center piece. I really like yours, just simple, but still a vivid center piece.
ReplyDelete