Of Spring and maybe Stonehenge?

[lady_karelia]

There are finally some tender signs of Spring here. Although the Winer Solstice at Stonehenge seems like yesterday, it also feels like it's been a particularly long Winter, what with February having had temperatures well below average throughout. But it's been above freezing during the day very recently, and I discovered some tiny stinging nettles this morning. Only two weeks to go till the Spring Equinox and hopefully, within the week there'll be enough nettles around for me to go harvesting. Nettle spinach is absolutely Yummy! If you've never tried it, do give it a try, especially if you like spinach, only nettles are far more delicate tasting and probably a hundred times more nutritious. And best, of course, the main ingredient is entirely free! How do I make it? Well first of all I find a place that is fairly remote, ie. NOT the roadside. Fields away from any main road are easy to find around here and the hedges are usually framed by stinging nettles. As long as you carefully pick the leaves ONLY, you won't get stung, but you can of course wear gloves. In any case, you only want the leaves for spinach. The small, tender, early leaves are the best, most nutritious and tastiest, come April, you won't enjoy nettle spinach anymore as the nettles are getting too old and woody. Wash the leaves very well. Chop a shallot (or onion, but shallots taste more delicate than onions and I find they go very well with it), fry in butter over medium heat and as soon as they glaze over, add the nettle leaves and cover the pot. cook for about 5 minutes, until the leaves look almost identical to spinach, just a little bit lighter in colour. Then add salt and some garlic according to taste. Then eat and know you've had just about your weekly requirement for lots of minerals and several vitamins. :-)
The Lady Joyous is leaving on a three week holiday tomorrow with her family - they're going to Malaysia. Nope, am not jealous. :-) I don't wanna go to Malaysia. I wanna go to Mississippi. One of these days *glares_at_questioning_looks*. This year, definitely. Anyways, Little One was very disappointed seeing that his buddies, Sir L and Sir G, won't join him in Moors Valley on Wednesday. In fact, he wishes to visit the Henge instead. Eventhough he was horrified at his buddy Sir G's extremely sophisticated musical taste and abilities, but that was only very temporary. Sir G sang to me. Yep. He did *looks_smug*. "...Phantom of the Opera..." 'Tis not every day that Little One's friend sings to me, I'll have you know. And what a good job he did, too! Am very impressed!
We've had quite a few new homeschooling families today! Well, I assume they're already homeschooling, I didn't speak to them, because they didn't speak to me, and I only speak when I'm spoken to *puts_on_innocent_look*. Okay, I'll admit it, I look scary. Not me, as such, but me in that impressive Cloak. The new ones apparently mixed with other mothers until I swept in, cloak all billowing of course *snicker*. When i was told this, while occuping the usual space in front of the boiler in the kitchen, three voices responded extremeley quickly with "aaaaawwwww" - pregnant pause - "you're not scary!". That reaction was just too fast to be genuine *raises_eyebrow_challengingly_at_ladies_J,_B,_and_K*. Teehee, I got a kick out of writing this last bit, LOL!
So Little One wants to visit Stonehenge on Wednesday. I'm all game for it, as is Lady Becca and her son, but we'll see if Little One changes his mind before then. Probably not, though, he loves going there.
Lady Joyous, have a wonderful holiday!