It May Be Winter Outside . . . But It's Spring Inside!

We live on the prairie

Weather can change almost minute by minute

In fact, a quote by Missouri's own "Mark Twain" is

if you don't like the weather in Missouri, wait a minute!

Yesterday it was in the mid 60's

Warm, way too warm for January

Today we awoke to a temperature in the 30's

And I think, the temperature went downhill from there.

And then it sleeted . . .

And then it snowed . . .

We were cozy and warm inside

And inside, it was Spring inside!

Tulips were some of the fresh flower offerings at the market

A bunch came home with me

And will weekly until our spring bulbs start blooming.

I simply adore tulips!

And . . .

The hyacinths have budded and soon will be in bloom.

Time to be the centerpiece on the breakfast room table.

Chilled bulbs, put in English forcing vases, their bloom and aroma remind us that Spring isn't all that far away!

And the paperwhites are also about to bloom.

Our first two pots.

Not used at Christmas . . . for to us they aren't Christmas flowers

but January ones

There's enough "bling" at Christmas and poinsettias add color

so paperwhites are saved for January.

These will be moved to tabletops so that we can enjoy both their bloom

And their aroma . . . for we like the fragrance of paperwhites!

And once the first batch starts to bud,

we start the next batch.

Two bulb bowls -- an open one and one with a top.    

Filled with tiny garden pebbles, we nestle the bulbs gently in the pebbles and then

add water to the base of the bulbs.

Put them in a warmish place and watch them grow!

We have one more bulb bowl and another package of bulbs.

We'll fill this one when the second batch starts to bud.

This is a special bowl

For it was my grandmother's

Every year, she filled it with paperwhite bulbs

She's the one who taught me to force bulbs for winter bloom.

At the instigation (and urging) of a Cavalier in New Jersey,

Dolly has decided that the sofa is a good place for a corgi to nap!

And I'm hosting a giveaway.

Not to celebrate anything

But because I found a "treasure" I wanted to share

A favorite cookbook author, one of my culinary heroes

Anna Pump

It's her second book complete with dust jacket.

Just leave a comment and I'll put your name in the drawing.

If you're a follower, I'll add your name twice.

It's The Loaves and Fishes Party Cookbook

(I'm not giving up my treasured copy, oh, no, it's one I found that I wanted to share!)

And each day that you make a comment, I'll add your name to the drawing!

It's Sunday and I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.     Of course, perhaps the snow outside is more seasonal than the blooming bulbs inside!