Signs of Spring
Everywhere I go, I hear cardinals singing to each other. And tonight the peepers are out. It’s impossible not to be obsessed with every little hint of new green and the promise of everything in bloom. The first to flower is the witch hazel tree. The blooms are sparse but lovely nonetheless. The forsythia is forced. Above is the before and after. You can begin picking as early as January and guaranteed fresh blooms about every two weeks. The pussy willows are a new discovery poached from the roadside. The snowdrops are all over the gardens, but I couldn’t resist potting one little plant for indoors. The cold frame is already full of baby spinach and lettuce ready to pick. Fresh salads are the dearest this time of year, full of memories of abundance last fall. Newly dug parsnips are so sweet from overwintering in the garden. It’s spring and we begin again.
For the last few years I have been teaching illustration. I am very proud of my Children’s Book Class at 
the blind men and the elephant©ryan haywood
little red riding hood©ken duquet
jack and the beanstalk ©caitlin guinta
©nate owens
little red riding hood©matt smiegel
the emperor’s new clothes©mike weinstein
the flower and the weed©keegan brennan
The gift below was for a seventh anniversary present incorporating both old and new traditions of copper and wool. Inside the wool is a copper tray.
The assignment was to include a visit to the library for research and inspiration to then include into an accordion book. I chose foxes and the “m” format and decided to make mine two sided. The orange paper was the creation of Remy and Sterling who made their own wrapping paper this year. I painted an orange wash over it to make the fox color. The decorative paper was also wrapping paper I couldn’t part with. The collaged foxes are made from tracing paper washed with acrylics a la Eric Carle. I gathered my fox facts and went to town.
some close-ups of some of the panels
This shows the two sides of the book when folded.
It’s hard to believe what we all accomplish in the month of December. No wonder we are all exhausted at the onset of the new year. We had a great holiday this year and hope that all of you did too!
Pots of amarylis and paperwhites, Frank’s preserved Meyer lemons and a little kitten I knit for Rainer.
I love to wrap! Pomander balls make everything smell delicious. 
On top of the cabinet are little white lights stuffed in canning jars, the idea courtesy of our friend Phyllis. The tree is covered in a collection of red ornaments and other little finds. I used to bake cookies for the tree, but after the dog ate the bottom two thirds leaving sad little strings behind, we stay away from edible ornaments. I had also made cookie gift tags which made for another impossible task of remembering of what went to who.
Christmas eve we spent the afternoon making cookies so Sterling could pick her favorite for Santa.
It is amazing that Santa always finds his way to Frajil Farms!
Sterling and her new doll.
Rainer having a private moment to herself. Photos courtesy of her mom, photographer Orianna Riley.
Of course we cooked a big dinner. Standing rib roast courtesy of Frank.
Roasted Brussels sprouts with grapes adapted from Whole Living Thanksgiving issue. They are so good and ridiculously easy, we keep making them. Usually we pick Brussel sprouts straight from the garden, but crop failure sent us to the farm stand this year.
Fresh baked challah and noodle pudding (kugel), sweet and creamy.
Charlotte, Jack and Jen making more cookies for New Years Eve which happens also to be our anniversary. No one quite made it to midnight, but almost!
The cover on the left is done by Sterling Weber, an artist you have seen before and who we will no doubt be seeing again and again. 
Frank prepares the wood for splitting. Sadie (above) enjoys the meditative arrangement before Frank whales through with his ax. We make a fire in the stove, fill the canning pot with water and put the canning jars through the dishwasher to sterilize.
