Spring Break

I am happy to report that, as of yesterday, I am enjoying my annual Spring Break from work. Every school has a spring break, don’t they - and ours is ten days long. Usually on this break, my husband and I head down to visit friends who live on the Gulf Coast, in Mississippi. We take the dog along with us for a good, long road trip (good being a relative term) and we love visiting our friends.

This year, due to circumstances beyond our control, we’ll be staying put. I have no idea what the week will hold, but it doesn’t matter. I’m off from work, and yesterday began with a strong cup of coffee outside in the chill and the sunshine. As I walked by the curtains in the mud room, I wondered when the last time was that they’d been laundered. Within minutes, I had taken them, along with the lace curtains from the dining room and put them in the washing machine on gentle, using my favorite detergent from Melaleuca.





We hang things on our clothesline year-round. My electric bill at the manor house reflects that fact. I love it because the clothes and sheets always smell good, I actually enjoy hanging things on the line, and I save money.


You bored yet, listening to my drivel?

Quite the opposite of my previous, word-barren post, I should say.





I decided I couldn’t very well hang up clean curtains on dirty windows now, could I? So the next step was window washing – a chore I do not like in this house.

The windows here are very old (but beautiful). My ladder is short. I like short ladders – tall ones would get me into trouble.

After spending several hours cleaning several windows, then hemming the lace curtains that needed it, I decided it was time for a well-deserved rest.





I like this saying. I found it over at {Beth’s place}.





In the afternoon, after I’d gone to the grocery store, I sat in the sunshine with my aching legs up on a chair. All that going up and down the ladder and the window washing had done me in.





The sky was a brilliant blue.

And the dogwoods are in full bloom.

This male cardinal is fluffing his feathers.

I sat in the yard reading a book, as petals from the flowering trees fell in the breeze.





I wonder how they cleaned all these windows in the olden days. Because doing just a few of them about did me in. And there’s more to do today . . .





This was my dinner last night. My husband elected to get his own, so I made a salad and sprinkled sunflower seeds on top. I also had my favorite carrot salad. If you like carrots, and cilantro, and a little spice, try this! It’s so refreshing.

• MOROCCAN CARROT SALAD
• 1 pound carrots, peeled and trimmed
• 1/2 cup roasted cashews, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. harissa, plus additional, to taste, or Tabasco sauce, to taste
• 1/4 tsp. ground coriander
• Coarse sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1. Shred the carrots using a box grater or a food processor fitted with the grating attachment. Transfer the carrots to a bowl and add the cashews and cilantro.
• 2. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, harissa (or Tabasco), and ground coriander. Pour the mixture over the carrots and toss to combine, seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve.

from The Skinny: How to Fit into Your Little Black Dress Forever

I always use organic carrots because I believe they taste better. I don’t have harissa, so I used Tabasco and a little bit of Frank’s Red Hot. I really love this salad.

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Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter, Passover, or whatever it is that you celebrate in the spring. What are your plans for the weekend?