First Day of Spring

Today's the vernal equinox (<---- that would be an excellent word for Words With Friends).

So glad they got the couch in before this started.

NFLD is Starting to Get Civilized...

....because after waiting 9 weeks and spending that time sitting on the floor on a twin mattress to watch tv, we finally got our couch (and a new mirror) !!!   We are so looking forward to stretching out on this baby after dinner.  A few throw pillows and an end table and we'll be looking good.

Delivery men from Hayward's furniture store came 5 min ahead of the scheduled time (11:00a).  That must be another huge difference between NYC and NFLD; we were thinking we might see them closer to 12-12:30p, given our experience with deliveries in Manhattan.

They were great, bringing it all in and placing it just so.  They also took great care to hang the mirror for us.

Now if we get the dining area cleaned up, we could just be ready for some company, either from in-province or out.  :-)

xo

Balmy Sunday; +8C

I think this is the warmest (47F) weekend day we've had this year.  Looking forward to getting out - don't know what we'll do yet.  It's been a bit damp, walking trails have been muddy.

Here's some pix from last weekend, which was considerably colder and snowy.  We walked down an unpaved road in Tors Cove, that warned it wasn't maintained in winter.  We discovered a couple of very cute cottages that teased us Spring/Summer might be here soon.

Blizzard on Wednesday; Spring on Friday

Wicked weather on Wed; shut down schools and provincial offices.  The RMPC and RNC were cautioning drivers to keep off the roads unless absolutely necessary (and "watch how you go").  They predicted 20-25cm (7-10").

And today was practically balmy - did see someone out in shirt sleeves.  Temps got up to +12C to +15C on the Avalon (that's about 53-59F).

So I give you some run-off to consider; this was shot in a park not far from Greg's office (making for a nice lunchtime break for him once in a while):

Getting cold again and believe they're predicting another bit of snow for the Avalon this weekend...5-10cm.

March came in like a confused lion - hope it goes out like a level-headed lamb.

We inhaled.

The Wild Mushroom Risotto, that is.  Never got a chance to take any photos of the finished product.
Oh my yummy.

Whole lotta cookin' goin' on

Exploring new recipes and trying to get better at making ones I've tried before has been my 'thing' lately.

Been taking photos of dishes in progress but haven't gotten around to posting them until now.

Because I have some time.

Because I'm making risotto.

Barefoot Contessa's Wild Mushroom Risotto, to be specific.  

dried morels (recons) & porcinis

pancetta & scallions in butter

all of it simmering in the dutch oven

I attempted it for Greg in NY but think it was a middling effort.  Didn't really add the liquids as slowly - let them get absorbed before adding the next ladle full.  But I am now.  I'm in between ladle fulls now.  [stop to go stir]

It smells really good.... morels, porcinis, pancetta and scallions in a bunch of butter, wine and broth.  I optimistically told Greg we'd be eating around 8:30p.  It's 8:35 now and I think it's going to be another :45 at minimum.   He keeps coming in the kitchen trying to 'backseat chef'.  Hopefully his episodes of Mad Men will keep him occupied now. [stop for a stir]

Will update later with the end result and some of the other things I've tried (soup, soup & SOUP!).

xoxo

The weather

Here's a couple of videos I shot out our kitchen window; January Snow and February Wind/Rain:

Don't know how I'll be able to depict March weather .... maybe one of Greg scraping the frost off his windshield!  It's been CHILLY.

I had some fears of what the winter would be like here - imagined so much snow and ice that we'd lose power, be stranded, uncomfortable, etc.
Well, this winter here was much easier to deal with than last year in NYC.  There was much more snow than we've had here (so far....watch me jinx us).