With the recent cold nights I have been watching these gorgeous ice crystals form and push out of the clay soil right outside of my studio. Oddly enough, the only clay soil on our property runs from the top of the slope, straight down the hill to the front of my studio.
How cool is that!

This time of year is wonderfully intense. Everything is growing a mile a minute and I am racing to get more things in the ground. After a couple of years of serious soil building and weeding I am now the proud garden mom of carrots, radishes, spinach, arugula, peas, beans, squash. Then, of course, there are the larger more serious crops like garlic, potatoes and herbs. We have lots of fresh herbs that I look forward to harvesting, drying and turning into tea when they are all ready.

Last week, just before the beginning of a very busy season, and to celebrate Victor’s birthday, we decided to go to Tofino for a little break. It was all very Tofino – windy, gorgeous, sandy, exhilarating and then…… it snowed! If you know Tofino and the West Coast you know how rare this is. It was odd to watch the snow falling on the beach. We enjoyed it, as did the dogs.

A few days after we got back to Cowichan, Spring arrived and we have been enjoying all the early budding. The garlic is out of the ground, peas, spinach and arugula on the way. The daffys are gracing the outside of the studio. Ahh, does it feel good!

I have just returned full of new ideas and inspiration from a trip to Denmark. I went to visit my family on the island of Fyn. I also had a chance to walk the streets of Copenhagen. The old city core of Copenhagen is as beautiful as ever. Being the tea fanatic that I am, I truly rejoiced in the tea houses of Copenhagen. Some new, some that have been around for close to two centuries. Tante T is one of the more recent additions. In 2008, Tante T was voted best tea house in Copenhagen. Check out their website for more information www.tante-t.dk

Here is what it looks like when you don’t eat your ARTichokes:

This season seems to be an amazing year for artichokes. I have three plants right outside the studio. Prolific to say the least. We have been eating lots, harvesting and giving away as well. Now I am going to let some of them flower. Curious to see what purple show that will be.