Let the gardening begin!

Spring has come early to the Pacific Northwest this year (well earned after all our weather drama last winter) and while the other Olympians are skiing and skating just a few hours north in Vancouver, this Olympian is gardening!  So far I've created a lovely color-coded Excel spreadsheet with my master plan for the year and a log to track each crop.  I cleaned up a small section of my garden last week and planted peas.  This weekend I started the first set of seeds I'm planting indoors.  I've started geraniums and carnations.  I'm not sure carnations really grow here - I've never seen them in anyone's yard - but what the heck.  I love geraniums and they grow really well here.  In the fall you can hang them upside down by the roots in cool garage or move them indoors in pots to extend them from annuals to perennials.  I've always bought small plants in the past, though, so we'll see how seeds go.  They are certainly cheaper!  For $1.99 plus a seeding dirt and a $4 reuseable plastic tray, I may have as many as 30 plants. The carnations are even less expensive.  I planted two seeds in 42 pots and still had a whole bunch left over.  I taped the envelope shut.  I have a feeling I'll be killing a few flowers along the way and I can use them to replant.

Delicious in so many ways

What I'm up to, at least as far as food is concerned...

• Reading: Finished Julia Child's wonderful memoir, My Life in France, which I highly recommend.  Now working my way through Julie and Julia, which I'm still not sure about.  Up next, Garlic and Sapphire: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise.
• Buying: I picked up my January CSA today and it's incredible.  Carrots, Parsnips, Leeks, Rutabagas, Carnival Squash, Yellow Finn Potatoes, Blue Potatoes, Carpathian garlic, Shallots, Cameo Apples, D'Anjou Pears, Curly Kale, Fresh thyme, Artisan Cheese from Black Sheep Creamery, and Locally Roasted Coffee from Santa Lucia.  It's been six long weeks since the last box arrived and I can't wait to dig in.  The fact that my CSA box now waits for me on a porch two houses away is just a dream come true.
• Baking: I'm still on my New Year's healthy living kick and I've discovered a really healthy, really tasty Cooking Light recipe for blueberry muffins.  Just 170 calories and the best part is that they freeze and reheat well, making my morning routine a teeny tiny bit easier.
• Watching: Food Network is always on in the cardio room at the gym, which really isn't fair at all.  But since I don't get that channel at home, I'm enjoying the educational benefits.
• Planning: I spent a few hours last weekend with all the seed catalogs.  I've planned the herb garden and I'm moving on to vegetables and flowers this weekend.
• Waiting: The daffodils in my garden are about four inches out of the ground.  I fully expect them to be blooming by Saint Patrick's Day.  
• And, of course, eating: Lots of vegetables, lean meats, bits of cheese and whole grains.  Like I said... still on the New Year's diet. But I have found one little treat my calorie counter will permit.  Trader Joe's sells really tasty Mochi... 110 calorie balls of ice cream in a great rice dough.  So good!  So worth it!