As we
suffer through the first truly blustery storm of the season, I'm forced inside with my herb plants, the deck furniture covered
and the annual pots cleared out. I’m afraid there’ll be no more dining al fresco this year! But even as I frown
just a bit, I have to admit I love this time of year. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get outdoors in the winter and romp
and frolic in the snow, whether it be on a ‘mobile, skis, or sled, but I also love the excuse winter provides for us
true homebodies to just stay in and nest. Naturally that means cooking, and there’s been a fair bit of that this cold
week – Oatmeal Cherry Cookies, Buttermilk Biscuits, Pasta Fagioli, Whitefish Croquettes and Pasta with Sausage and Spinach,
just to name a few – but there’s also been a whole lot of cleaning. Now, I’ve never been much of a “spring
cleaner”. Frankly, by the time spring rolls around in these parts, I’m done with any and all indoor chores. Spend
a few hours shaking out the rugs and you’re likely to miss the brief appearance spring makes each year. No, I much prefer
doing my serious cleaning chores when I’m avoiding a bitter cold driving rain of late October. In addition to clearing
off the deck and patio and covering the outdoor furniture, I’ve recently rearranged the furniture in the office, living
and dining rooms, cleaned out the hall closet, washed out all the kitchen cabinets, organized the pantry and laundry room.
The refrigerator had her makeover today. Actually, my dear husband kicked things off a few days ago, when – unasked
– he pulled out and cleaned behind it. I merely finished the job. Not to be outshined, the freezer and the oven begged
to be spiffied up as well, and I found myself whiling away an afternoon, at the end of which I was certainly wishing for a
break in the cold that might drive me back outdoors. But, as there’s no end in sight, I suppose I’ll move on to
making use of the sparkling kitchen and try out a few more wintry dishes, which we’ll eat inside, in the rearranged
dining room, of course.
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