Different place, different things

Why don't people in New Mexico know about dutch oven cooking? I've been trying to figure that one out. After I mentioned a favorite dutch oven dish of mine to someone and got absolutely no reaction, I started to wonder. It was confirmed after asking someone else - they don't know about it. I must say that they are all missing out. I may just have to make some dutch oven potatoes sometime.

I ate peas fresh from the garden today. One of my favorite things. A suprise of this place that I like - my garden. There is no way I would be able to have all the things I have growing so early in Logan or Grace. I feel somewhat bad for those up north who are not able to safely plant anything until after memorial day (but inside I am laughing delightfully).

My apartment smells like onions. I think that it will smell like onions for two years straight. I may just turn into an onion. After all, I do have many layers. Maybe the winds here will blow the smell away.

I miss the true seasons. I miss the cool air. I miss the mountains. I miss loved ones.

I enjoy the pines around my apartment and how in the morning it reminds me of waking up in the woods. I enjoy incredibly nice neighbors. I enjoy feeling more unique. I enjoy such a mix of people.

It is different here, that is a given; and even though it is prolonged - I am starting to recognize things that I like. I'm sure this will be a place I will not forget, a place that will be it's own unique gem. Yet, however cliche it is there is no place like home.

A Day of Firsts in the Garden

It was a day of a few firsts. I spotted and got rid of quite a few worms after noticing that the holes in my brussels sprout and cabbage leaves were suddenly large overnight. And to think that I thought the butterfly I saw a day or two ago was too pretty to shoo away.... I have a feeling there will be more on the way. There will be no more free stays.

Today was also the first day that my squash has flowered! I did not expect that so soon. My spaghetti squash had a flower and my crookneck had a flower (with a small fruit too!).

This is the spaghetti squash.

The beginning of a fruit is just visible on one of the crookneck squash plants.

Today was also the first harvest of something from the garden. I decided that the arugula was big enough to eat some. Yum.

I'm getting the first of the pea pods forming too. I love fresh garden peas, so I can't wait.