Daffodil sky Welcome, Spring! I created this soup for you because, yesterday, it was rainy and a little chilly here. I needed something bright and cheery to keep me warm. After going gluten and dairy free, I developed an intense friendship with Asian foods. When I crave something, it is usually a little spicy with a hint of curry. I don't mean traditional Chinese cuisine, which relies heavily on regular soy sauce (which we can't have,) but instead Thai and Vietnamese foods. After a long day, these rice based cuisines soothe my weary gf soul. Without further ado, I bring you: Asian inspired gluten free soup Asian Inspired Spring Soup One whole Chicken, cooked in salted and peppered water, and de-boned. I really like Smart Chicken. Chop up the meat into bite sized pieces. Into the remaining broth add: Two cups of gf noodles.I used Tinkyada penne. Cook the noodles...

It's time again for you to nominate your favorite gardening blogs for the Mousies. The Mouse & Trowel Awards were created by freelance writer and garden blogger Colleen Vanderlinden of In the Garden Online. According to her website, "the Mousies were created so that garden bloggers and webmasters could be recognized by the most important people: their readers and their blogging peers." Blogs, websites, and podcasters are honored each May. If you love garden blogs or have a favorite garden website, and who doesn't, go to nominate your favorites here. It's easy. It's fun. I already made my selections, and I can't wait to see the sites others choose. Go on . . . surprise me.

That's what HH asked me when I walked in the door, a pot clutched under each arm. No, really, he didn't, but the raised eyebrows gave him away. At the weekend's start, I had my photos ready. All the words were rattling around in my head just waiting for a post, but after a thunderstorm on Friday, my internet was out for three whole days. It gave me more time to garden. When I pruned the roses in the southeast border, I noticed two had succumbed, both Cl. 'Golden Showers.' To what? When I dug them, I saw that there was more clay in that bed than I remembered. Too much clay mixed with too much water (38 inches in June 2007) kills a rose faster than a Ferrari can gobble up race track. I also removed the two, long suffering 'Joseph's Coat' climbers. You know a rose is pitiful...

It's time. We can finally prune. I own a lot of roses. Too many in fact. At first look in spring, I am stunned by all the thorny canes I'll be facing. Until this year, I used regular gloves, which ensured numerous scratches up and down my forearms. I've actually been asked if I've been in a cat fight and lost. Very funny. Several years ago, I bought a pair of relatively inexpensive rose gloves. The jury's still out on whether I like them, but my forearms look better. I'd like a pair of Bionic Rose Gloves like the ones on the right, but it's only March, and I've already spent a small fortune on gardening implements. (I had to replace my trusty hoe, and of course, I couldn't decide, so I bought two.) Now, for the roses. Used to be, we all grew Hybrid Teas, the hot house flowers...