This is how Holden helps with cookie making.

Onion seedlings...they smell like onions already.

Artichokes and leeks. Notice the inches of snow on the railing.

Our albino artichoke. Unfortunately, this little guy won't make it due to his inability to photosynthesize.

Well, we have an official snow day today. Roads are icy, snow is blowing, cancellations abound, there is chili on the stove, and Grandma and Holden are making cookies. I figured it was the perfect time to chill a bottle of champagne on the porch, make myself a mimosa (mimosa is the new wine), and update my blog.

Things on the farm are going ...albeit a little slowly. The plants are growing, the hens are laying sporadically, and the garden is still in its winter rest. But we are planning for the busy part of the season by laying out the garden, putting in our seed orders, and organizing equipment. I am also compiling the formal list of mistakes we have made so that we do not repeat them again. On the other hand, I am also going over last year's records to see what great things we did that we need to continue and improve upon this year. That is what we do in the winter on the farm. That...and take time to rejuvenate.

Which brings me to my second order of business. I will warn you, this is about to get sappy. I am sure many of you have been reminded, more than once, as I was this week, of how short and precious life may be. So I just want to say that my garden will probably not be weed free, my house may rarely be clean, and my blog may not be updated every week. However, I can assure you that the time I would be taking to do those things I will instead spend reading to my boys, watching them spend precious time with their grandparents, and enjoying a mid winter blizzard from the warmth of the kitchen. And I must leave on that note to get a warm cookie before Holden and Grandma eat them all.