Mid-winter Mid-age blahs

Sick of winter. Want, I say, YEARN for spring.

Two new sites to recommend: One about food and links to food blogs like you wouldn't believe. Fabulous food blog, Orangette. I'll make three new salads, 1. chickpea, 2. lentil, and 3. carrot.

The 2nd is linked to Orangette and provides some small, tidy moments of visual splendor, smosch.com.

Currently contemplating Easter dinner for 30. I don't want turkey or pork. What I really want is all end-of-winter things like when the larder is empty and all that's left are beans and lentils, cabbage and potatoes. It would be nice to have tender spring things but spring in the north doesn't arrive until the end of May. It could be raining, hailing or snowing. Or the sun could come out and we might sit outside to eat our salad plate - with homemade bread. Do you think I could get away with it?

Traditions are nice but get in the way of pleasure, relaxation and renewal. In l'age moyen we want to get rid of some of the old things that no longer fit, furniture, pictures, nik-naks, spouses, houses, and turkey dinners.

Paring Down

With the weather taking a decidely spring-like turn I am getting the planting itch. This itch has changed considerably in the age moyen. It used to be an ambitious vision of continuous blooms and balancing of colours, and weighting the garden evenly between steady perennials and robust annuals. Well, that is over.

The small garden that came ready-planted in my little city plot has been wiped out in favour of three slow-growing evergreens. The emphasis is on order and bird habitat. So, on one side is a line of green, on the other stones and large pots where I'll play with pinks and greens. The remaining part of the 'garden' will exist in pots with lots of herbs many of which will come indoors in the fall.

I know for others the draw is towards investing time in the garden and creating layers upon layers of interest. That appears to be over for me. I want to look at something that calms the eye, soothes the soul, produces a small but useful crop, and most of all frees me from weeding.

When I'm no longer looking after so many other things maybe then, after l'age moyen, I'll return to the garden with new vigour.

Maybe.

Bicycles

Spring has arrived in the melting north. That means bicycles and the official launch of bicycle season. We usually have bicycles around all winter but with so much snow this winter only the truly hardy or foolish were on their bicycles.

The old bikes are the best. When I was in Holland far too long ago I expected to see shiny bicycles in great repair. Just the opposite. Never seen so many beat up bicycles with bits dragging along behind. Speed did not seem to be a desired outcome of a bicycle ride. They meandered usually carrying some flowers which the Dutch can't do without. The problem in Holland is that if you have a nice bike it will be stolen so everyone rides these beat up things.

I hate all the gear but I hate that about all sports. I have a lovely old Dutch bike that is too heavy to go uphill so if I need to navigate some hills I take my trusty little CCM 3 speed. Old Dutch has saddlebags (purchased in Holland and long since faded from their jaunty green plaid) and my CCM has a lovely wire basket that sits on the back fender.

My favourite cyclists are those who maintain their individual style throwing caution to the wind, which means no helmets, gloves or bicycle shorts. Those that manage to look great and wear a helmet receive extra points.

Look for photos of dapper cyclists in the coming months. Look out, I'm packing my camera ....