Seed Starting: My How-to for Beginning Your Own Veggie Garden Indoors (And Fingers Crossed It Works!)

Five days ago, I began my tomato seeds. I may have jumped the gun a bit. But I am banking on our spring to come earlier this year, just like the groundhog said it would. Just like the fur on my dogs is saying it will. (It is shedding time here. Dog Hair: Don't Leave Home without It.)

Vegan U.S. Senate Bean Soup (We're All Friends Here, Right?)

Yes, yes, I know. This soup goes by many names. When I was growing up it was known as "ham and beans" or maybe to you, "beans and hamhocks". We didn't use the term hamhock ever in my house. I had never heard of a hock-of-ham until we moved our Yankee selves south. Then one time a friend invited me over for dinner. They were having, you guessed it: hamhocks and beans. I looked at it, smelled it, then asked the obvious: What's a hamhock? We won't elaborate on this here. But suffice it to say, I'd put the thought of white bean soup out of my mind ever since.

A Master Gardener (ME!) Visits Snowy Missouri Botanical Garden And Falls in Love with Winter. . . Again

I'll admit it: I love snow. I begin praying for snow about mid-October. I think I got my wish this winter, and then some. Forecasters in the area say this is our ninth snowiest winter on record. This girl is loving it! Five more inches predicted for today. Growing up on Lake Michigan has, I'm sure, endeared me to snow-covered landscapes. I love getting my camera out and just taking photos of anything covered in the white stuff.