Back in Maine and the sun is shining!

Even though there have been two weeks of rain and fog since we returned to the Maine coast, we still were greeted by the loveliest bunches of spring flowers in the garden.  Note the sneaky dandelion in the midst of these little bulbs.  Today, however, YIPEE!!!--sunshine!


The house was both familiar and unfamiliar after our three months in the motorhome.  I tried out the light switches to remember which one goes to what, looked through the cupboards at what we own, and brought my great knife and cast iron pan, as well as a slew of other things, back from the road kitchen.  It was the same as moving out of a small apartment.  I expect we will get better over time, at knowing what to leave in there and what to bring.

Yesterday I started planting the pots with annuals and brought the bare root geraniums up from the basement.  At the start of winter, I removed them from their pots, shook out the dirt, and hung them upside down all winter where they would not freeze.  Now they have been pruned to nearly nothing and planted in the pots.


Here is one pathetic-looking example, all snug in the perfect Maine coast potting soil that we buy at the local co-op.  It sure doesn't look like anything will come of it, but you can see the beginnings of little leaf shoots.  I just hate to throw away the annuals at the end of the summer.  You tend them all summer long and they flourish and glow and just get to perfection when the frost comes and they are toast.  Saving the geraniums give me a better than small sense of satisfaction that it was not all for naught.  Of course, the pleasure we derived all summer long from seeing the beautiful flowers was not naught... but just that it was so brief.  Especially in this north country,


I am restocking the fridge, making yogurt (I use the Brown cow Plain, Cream on Top) for the starter.  Got the brown rice cooked in the rice cooker.  And slowly getting the groove back here.  That is my pace sometimes...sloooow.  And I have learned that it is definitely so in transitions.  


We ate a lot of soup these past foggy days, but I think now that salads are going to take precedence .  Does anyone have a favorite?