Busy week with Doctor appointments that just slice up the week. But the weather is gorgeous, highs in the 70's and loads of sunshine, so I have no complaints.
First: This is a lovely Camellia that Mac cut and brought in for me this week. Our Camellia blooms in January and it is doing a wonderful job this year.
Second: Lettuce is growing out in the greenhouse and we'll be eating some in our salads today. How great to have homegrown lettuce in January.
Third: I love the cigar plant Mac has growing in the greenhouse, don't know its real name, we've always called it a cigar plant because that's what it looks like. It was one of my Mother-in-law's favorite plants and this is the first time we've had much luck with one.
Fourth: The smell of fresh vegetable beef soup. We're having steak sandwiches for lunch today and I cut up some of the steak to make soup. I've never made vegetable beef soup before, so I just winged it, chopping up carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic and green beans. When they were about done I added kidney beans and stewed tomatoes. Sure smells good.
Fifth: I finished another book, Coffin Road, by Peter May. I usually enjoy his books, but not this one. Told from 3 POVs just didn't hold my attention. The first POV starts with a man washing up on shore with no memory, that was interesting. The next POV was a rebellious, yawn, teenager, the 3rd was a rather boring policeman. By †he end I just didn't care.
Five of our 6 camellias froze last weekend. So sad as they were just covered with big blossoms. We do have one that was only budding and it may survive to bloom if it stays warmer and I dearly hope so as these are my first ever camellias.
ReplyDeleteI am ordering heirloom seeds for our garden today. How wonderful you have homegrown lettuce in January!
The camelia is so pretty and the flower on the cigar plant looks so unusual. Shame about the book, I'd looked at that one on my kindle recommended list but I will probably give it a miss now:)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have fresh lettuce on hand like that. I love the sound of the beef stew, perfect time of year for a warming stew, hope you enjoy it. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour flower is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend.
cheers, parsnip
How encouraging to see plants growing albeit in your greenhouse! It will be nice to enjoy your own homegrown lettuce!
ReplyDeleteThe camellia flower is so lovely to admire!
Happy weekend!
I just love Camellia's - your flower looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteGood wishes for the weekend
All the best Jan
Your garden goodies look wonderful. It's great to see some things growing. Everything here in Michigan is dormant, waiting for Spring to pop.
ReplyDeleteHappy Five on Friday!
you're lucky to be able to grow veggies in January for sure. And your camellia is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFUn post Janet. That flower is gorgeous.
ReplyDeletePeter May is unknown writer to me although I read a lot.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a lovely weekend.
Love the color of that camellia! The cigar plant is unusual - the perfect name :) So nice to have fresh lettuce. I'll bet it tastes so nice and tender. xx Karen
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful flower for the lovely Mac to have bought to you, he is a good fellow isn't he. Hope that you are feeling much better soon, I see from your recent posts that you haven't been so good, I hope things are on the mend. Enjoy the soup and good food!
ReplyDeleteYes, time flies by so quickly ! For the moment it doesn't bother me, I wait for sunshine and warm weather !
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit like that with soup. Chuck whatever in the pan and hope for the best. Usually works! Hate it when you read a book and it's not great. Always have to finish it tho! Have a good weekend. B x
ReplyDeleteOh my yes time goes to fast. Love your plants, and especially plants that bloom in the winter months! That soup will probably be the best ever and you'll never be able to recreate it because you threw in a bit of this and a bit of that. I do it all the time. Seems those are the best dishes! Boring books...I hate that. I've actually stopped reading books before I got to the end because I didn't care who killed whom, or whom killed who or whatever! Have a great weekend. Feel better.
ReplyDeleteCindy
I've never seen cigar plants.. The flower is beautiful..
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to be enjoying fresh lettuce already! The soup sounds delicious and I can just imagine the smell. Yum! That's a beautiful camellia.
ReplyDeleteYour camellia is such a gorgeous colour, it's nice to be able to cut a flower for the house so that it can be enjoyed at close quarters.
ReplyDeleteSince I have been surrounded by a lot of white snow this week, I especially appreciated seeing your pretty plants! Your soup sounds yummy. I have been flinging various veggies into water, boiling them , zapping them with a blender, then serving a portion with some no sugar added almond milk and sea salt. Wishing you well, Janet xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful camellia, our winter is to hard for them. By the way: I save money for a small greenhouse...
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany