the languid step of spring

The house needed a little TLC both inside and out and because it was gorgeous over the long weekend I decided to start outside.

I cut at least 30 oak tree saplings out of our front bulb/fern garden…

cut back the MAMMOTH ROSE BUSHES without too much bloodshed, which was a first. One year I got my hair caught in a rose bush and it wasn’t pretty. I swear they’re related to the scary apple throwing trees on the Wizard of Oz. Mean!

Anyway, after that I could safely get to the side garden that was being overtaken by weeds and grapevines and I was amazed that my hostas were actually growing under there!

I cut some more lily of the valley for bouquets inside the house…

On Monday we got up bright and early to bring Gracie to school. She went with her class on an overnight adventure to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.

And while she was taking naturalist courses and zip-lining through the tree tops…

We had date night on the deck.

I made homemade buttermilk ice box dressing…

for this edible flower-fresh herb salad…

this yummy chicken…

~Greek Goddess Chicken~

Marinate a cut up fryer chicken in 1 cup dry red wine, 1 cup canola, juice and zest of 1 lemon, sea salt, a dash of cinnamon and fresh pepper for 3 hours. Grill on a charcoal grill.

…and a COBBLER for dessert. It was a beautiful evening.

Today I got a little more spring cleaning done. I’m just so happy that the warm months are finally here! Tomorrow is the last day of school here in Red Wing and we’re looking forward to so many things… beach days, going to the swimming hole in Welch, ice cream for lunch, hanging clothes on the line, our California vacation, making jam, and all of the other wonderful stuff this season holds.

What have you been up to?

What are you looking forward to?

~Melissa