Today was predicted to be steady rain, heavy at times. We’ve had rain in the forecast quite a bit lately, but the days have turned out to be absolutely beautiful. This has meant dropping any competing plans wherever possible and working in the yard. Spring yard work is usually a narrow window of opportunity. Naturally, when it wasn’t raining when I got up this morning, I decided to see how much I could get done before it started.

It started raining almost as soon as I got outside, so naturally I told myself I’d work until it started raining hard. In the meantime, I was laying weed prevention cloth in the flower beds and covering the area with mulch. That meant I repeatedly decided I’d just finish the section of cloth I had laid, or work until I’d dumped the rest if the bag of mulch I’d just opened. As you can guess, I was pretty wet by the time I went inside for a late breakfast.

Actually, being out in the rain can be great if you’re dressed for it. I’ve many memories of hiking in the rain because I wanted the exercise and fresh air. I suppose that would explain why I spent so much time after breakfast this morning looking out the windows. Spring rains, they can be beautiful.

When I think of loving the outdoors, I usually think of hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing, sailing, and so on. It occurred to me that working in the yard, or on the outside of the house, can be compelling as well. It usually beats taking up the long list of indoor projects I have piled up and waiting. Even when it’s raining. Besides, the sourdough pancakes I made for breakfast tasted extra good for having done the work in the yard.

 

 

 

 

In Florida, you know spring is here because all the snowbirds pack up and leave for the north. It always seems that we have left too early when we get close to our northern home and find the trees still bare, the hillsides wet and brown, and the skies overcast. We’ve seen it snow three inches in the middle of May, though, so picking the time to return north becomes more a matter of appointments and commitments than weather.

Once back however, attention turns to all the work to be done, the flowers that have pushed through the snow, muck, mud, or whatever to make their annual appearance, and the condition of the raised beds that will produce the summer’s yield of vegetables. This has truly been a joy. We’ve become thoroughly spoiled on fresh-picked lettuce, squash, beans, tomatoes and cucumbers. I love salads, and I especially love garden-fresh salads.

Last summer we had so many cucumbers we made pickles, and we are still enjoying them. What a treat! We also canned applesauce and made strawberry jam. I can easily see why so many people are turning to growing and preserving their own foods these days. It’s a healthier way to eat and a tremendously satisfying way to get in touch with something that seems real and natural. There is so much information available on the net for cooking ideas, recipes, and techniques. It seems a logical extension to taking cooking to the next level of getting back to basics and grow and preserve some of the food we eat.

My niece Reseda used to write me about the foods she had grown and preserved at her home in Washington. I really loved getting those letters. We don’t grow nearly as much as she did, but we love the results of our garden nevertheless. So, a toast to all the folks who are adding the joy of fresh, home-grown vegetables to their culinary lives. I can’t wait for the first of our garden to find its way to the table.

By the way, I had another reason for this blog in addition to the season and the annual migration of self and neighbors. I was checking through my old blog and clicking on the follower icons. One of them turned out to be that niece’s oldest daughter. Talk about a special discovery! So with all the good thoughts of summer meals on the back deck, fresh salads from our own garden, and the simple joys of getting back to basics, this blog is to Reseda and Julie. Julie, I’m so delighted to discover you have been a follower.

I understand and respect the need to protect our forests and open areas. It means the guttering flame of a small camp stove may become more symbolic of experiences for some than the smells of wood smoke and the glowing embers of a campfire. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy campfires most places we take in on treks we take in the future.

I like to keep my campfires small. It’s easier to find adequate wood for a small fire, uses less of it, and you can huddle over, or near, a small fire to cook or warm up. I think small fires are less likely to get away from a camper and ignite a forest fire. On many hikes and cross-country ski runs, I’ve built a small fire to heat water for tea or soup. With small, dead twigs, it’s easy to build a quick fire, and just as easy to handle the remains when finished.

I understand fire was (and probably still is) considered a sacred gift to Native Americans. It’s hard to think of a more valuable one. I’ve been camping in wet, snow-slushy weather trying to get damp wood to provide a campfire and down to one match. Not often-but it happened once. That fire was greatly appreciated when I achieved it. Which brings me to thoughts about fire-building materials.

I grew up using wooden matches that would ignite when struck on almost anything, including my jeans. I learned to dip the heads in my mother’s clear fingernail polish to make the waterproof. The polish also the matchsticks a little extra zip. Now there are propane torches for lighting barbecues. I wonder how often they are also taken into the back country to start a fire? I have one of those survival bars you can scrape with a knife blade to produce a generous shower of sparks for starting fires. You can also use the knife to shave off bits of magnesium to use as tender. It works well. At the very least, it’s a terrific backup.

You know what also works well for tender? The cotton wads you can find in medicine bottles ignites very readily with a spark. Cotton is certainly light and packs down easily. I think it’s another must for backup fire-making material. If you are familiar with milkweed, the dried pods and fluff ignite extremely well from a spark. Of course, the cotton or milkweed pod is pretty much part of an ignition system. For the rest, you need slivers and small sticks of wood, of course, and if you’re in an area with birch trees, the resinous bark of birches is fabulous as starting tender.

I love the smell of birch wood burning, but I love the smell of cedar even more. I have many memories of evenings cooking on a campfire, and hours spent staring into the glowing embers while talking with a companion. I look forward to my next campfire, and hope you share my love for them. Thanks for visiting my blog. I’m sorry not to have any photos to share. I have been have been unable to insert them into my blog for some reason.