I realize winter is necessary in some growing zones, but this has been such an easy winter to get through.......... so far.  We've had a few very cold dreary days in December and January but they were short-lived.  Daily I note the morning low and afternoon high temperatures on my calendar.  In the past couple of weeks temperatures have ranged from high 60's to low 70's.  We've had renewing rain showers so the streams are running again.  More birds and deer are being seen wandering through the forest.  "False" springs cause trees and shrubs to set buds for blooming. These warming spells followed by cold bursts confuse animals, insects, and plants.  They confuse me, too.  During the cold spells, I bake more, brew up more soups, crave  chocolate, gain needed winter weight for insulation.  I even knit hats.

This is my kind of knitting.  This hat pattern calls for size 13 needles and a skein of bulky yarn.  You can knit off and on during TV programs and in two days, it's a hat.

Yesterday as I was rearranging my lower kitchen cabinet, searching for gabanzo beans for my hummus recipe, I came across the jars of yellow beans I pickled last summer.  Whew!  They are hot and spicy but so-o-o good.  This recipe is a keeper and I'll do them again this summer and I have growing okra on my mind.  Pickled okra is good.   For Christmas, Lauria, Jim and the children sent me a gluten-free bread baking recipe book. She and Jim make their own bread often.  Bread making is not in my comfort zone but I'm ready to tackle it.

Will post pictures of successes and failures.