Spring is in the Air

It seems that every February we get a few days of sun and warmer temperatures. We just had those days. It makes such a difference. The daffodils are peeking through the soil, John started on the annual chore of pressure washing the decks, I got out and pruned the apple trees and rose bushes, the 100+ fern on the property are getting cut back, and we even got the roof cleaned. This morning, we are back to our usual rain, but our little taste of spring was fun while it lasted. We have often had snow and wind storms in March, but hopefully, this year, we'll be spared.

Drew is over on our side of the mountains this week-end, so we're meetimg him for dinner later today. He's our family tax whiz, so we are going to pick his brain, since we are not at all happy with out potential tax bill.

Winter Sunset and a Grease Pot

This is an odd pairing of topics, but it's just what came up today.
To start....John took the sunset picture at our house a few days ago. In the winter, the sun sets behind our house - in the summer it sets more to the side (west) of our house. This time of year, the setting sun rays stream though the back windows and flood the house with sunshine. The picture turned out great, so we thought we'd post it. Today it is snowing again, but the sun was nice was it lasted.

As for the grease pot......Anyone remember grease pots that were kept next to the stove in years gone by? When I was growing up in the 1950's, my mother kept one next to the stove. After cooking bacon for breakfast, she would pour the residual grease in the pot. Then the next time she was frying eggs or cooking green beans, the grease was used in the place of butter. As we became more aware of health issues, the grease pot was packed away.....never to be used again. My sister found it and recently gave it to me as a gift, since I had the matching salt and pepper shakers that completed the set. The threesome now are displayed - but not used - in our kitchen. I thought it might bring back memories to others, too.